Genetic diversity of cryptic species of Bemisia tabaci in Asia.

Bemisia tabaci is a species complex consisting of various genetically different cryptic species worldwide. To understand the genetic characteristics and geographic distribution of cryptic species of B. tabaci in Asia, we conducted an extensive collection of B. tabaci samples in ten Asian countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam) from 2013 to 2020 and determined 56 different partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA. In addition, information on 129 COI sequences of B. tabaci identified from 16 Asian countries was downloaded from the GenBank database. Among the total 185 COI sequences of B. tabaci, the sequence variation reached to 19.68%. In addition, there were 31 cryptic species updated from 16 countries in Asia, that is, Asia I, Asia I India, Asia II (1-13), Asia III, Asia IV, Asia V, China 1-6, MEAM (1, 2, K), MED, Australia/Indonesia, Japan (1 and 2). Further, MED cryptic species consisted of 2 clades, Q1 and Q2. This study provides updated information to understand the genetic variation and geographic diversity of B. tabaci in Asia.

Emergence of Asian endemic begomoviruses as a pandemic threat.

Plant viruses are responsible for the most devastating and commercially significant plant diseases, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus begomovirus is the largest one in the family Geminiviridae, with a single-stranded DNA genome, either monopartite or bipartite. Begomoviruses are transmitted by insect vectors, such as Bemisia tabaci. Begomoviruses are the major causative agents of diseases in agriculture globally. Because of their diversity and mode of evolution, they are thought to be geographic specific. The emerging begomoviruses are of serious concern due to their increasing host range and geographical expansion. Several begomoviruses of Asiatic origin have been reported in Europe, causing massive economic losses; insect-borne transmission of viruses is a critical factor in virus outbreaks in new geographical regions. This review highlights crucial information regarding Asia's four emerging and highly destructive begomoviruses. We also provided information regarding several less common but still potentially important pathogens of different crops. This information will aid possible direction of future studies in adopting preventive measures to combat these emerging viruses.

The threat of seed-transmissible pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus in chili pepper.

Recently, chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants in Indonesia have been devastated by a notorious bipartite begomovirus infection named Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV), which causes a distinct decrease in chili pepper production. Pepper yellow diseases have been known since early 2000; however, the spread of this virus thus far is distressing. These diseases can reduce chili yields by 20-100% in Indonesia. As previously known, begomovirus can be transmitted through whitefly to several host plants from the families Solanaceae, Compositae, and Leguminosae. In the field, a single plant was observed with severe symptoms of pepper yellow leaf curl disease, while other plants in the same field were asymptomatic and healthy. The observation leads to the possibility that the virus can be transmitted from previously infected chili pepper plants through seeds, as begomovirus transmission through seeds has been reported before. This study was conducted using seeds from chili peppers infected with viruses from different places in Indonesia. Whole seeds, embryos, and seedlings from PepYLCIV infected seeds were investigated in this study by performing viral genome DNA extraction, uracil DNA glycosylase-PCR, and sequencing analysis. Results revealed that both DNA-A and DNA-B of PepYLCIV in seeds and embryos of infected chili pepper plants were detected. The results also showed that 25-67% of PepYLCIV DNA-A and 50-100% of DNA-B were detected from seedlings grown from infected chili pepper seed collected from different location, thus confirming PepYLCIV as a seed-transmissible virus in chili pepper plants.

Comparative study on long-term stability in mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy: hydroxyapatite/poly-l-lactide mesh versus titanium miniplate.

BACKGROUND: Resorbable devices have recently been adopted in the field of orthognathic surgery with controversies about their postoperative skeletal stability. Hence, we determined the long-term skeletal stability of unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-l-lactic acid (HA/PLLA) mesh for osteofixation of mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), and compared it with that of titanium miniplate. METHODS: Patients were divided into resorbable mesh and titanium miniplate fixation groups. A comparative study of the change in the mandibular position was performed with preoperative, 1-day, 6-month, and 2-year postoperative lateral cephalograms. RESULTS: At postoperative 6 months-compared with postoperative 1 day, point B (supra-mentale) was significantly displaced anteriorly in the titanium-fixation group. Moreover, at postoperative 2 years-compared with postoperative 6 months, point B was significantly displaced inferiorly in the titanium-fixation. However, the HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group did not show any significant change with respect to point B postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group demonstrated superior long-term skeletal stability with respect to the position of mandible, when compared with the titanium-fixation group.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease in the temporomandibular joint: diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD) is a rare disease in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space. It forms a calcified crystal mass and induces a limitation of joint movement. CASE PRESENTATION: The calcified mass in our case was occupied in the left TMJ area and extended to the infratemporal and middle cranial fossa. For a complete excision of this mass, we performed a vertical ramus osteotomy and resected the mass around the mandibular condyle. The calcified mass in the infratemporal fossa was carefully excised, and the segmented mandible was anatomically repositioned. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis was performed to evaluate the calcified mass. The result of SEM/EDS showed that the crystal mass was completely composed of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. This result strongly suggested that the calcified mass was CPDD in the TMJ area. CONCLUSIONS: CPDD in the TMJ is a rare disease and is difficult to differentially diagnose from other neoplasms. A histological examination and quantitative microanalysis are required to confirm the diagnosis. In our patient, CPDD in the TMJ was successfully removed via the extracorporeal approach. SEM/EDS microanalysis was used for the differential diagnosis.

Use of mandibular chin bone for alveolar bone grafting in cleft patients.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated and compared the outcomes of different ossification processes in patients with alveolar cleft in whom correction was performed using endochondral bone graft or intramembranous bone graft. METHODS: The patients were divided into two groups: the endochondral bone (iliac bone or rib bone) graft group and the intramembranous bone (mandibular bone) graft group. Medical records and radiologic images of patients who underwent alveolar bone grafting due to alveolar cleft were analyzed retrospectively. Through postoperative and follow-up radiologic images, the height of the interdental bone septum was classified into four types based on the highest point of alveolar ridge. Then, the height of the interdental bone septum and the area of the bone graft were evaluated according to the type of bone graft. In addition, the occurrence of complications and the need for an additional bone graft, the result of postoperative orthodontic treatment, and the eruption of impacted teeth were investigated. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in this study. There was no significant difference in the change of the interdental bone height and the area of the bone graft according to the type of bone. There was no significant difference in the success rate of the surgery according to the type of bone. One patient underwent an additional bone graft surgery during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of alveolar bone grafting were not significantly different according to the type of bone graft. If appropriate to the size of the recipient site, the chin bone is a useful graft material in alveolar cleft, as is the iliac bone.

Topical delivery of 4-hexylresorcinol promotes wound healing via tumor necrosis factor-α suppression.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate (1) the effect of 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) application on TNF-α expression in RAW264.7 cells and (2) the effect of 4HR ointment on burn wound healing in a rat burn wound model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of 4HR, and the attached cells were sampled for western blot analysis at each time point. Animal studies were conducted on male Wistar rats (n=24). Three treatment groups were evaluated in this study: (1) treatment with ointment alone (negative control), (2) treatment with ointment containing 0.2wt% 4HR, and (3) treatment with ointment containing 2wt% 4HR. For the assessment of wound healing, digital photographs were taken at 1, 5, and 14 days. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 5, and 14 days for histological examination or ELISA analysis. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that TNF-α protein levels were reduced following treatment with 4HR at concentrations between 1 and 10µg/mL. In animal studies, the average denuded area 14 days after burn was smaller in the 2wt% 4HR treatment group compared with the control group (P=0.022). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed lower TNF-α expression in the 2wt% 4HR treatment group compared with the control group 14 days after burn (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: 4HR reduced TNF-α expression in RAW264.7 cells and in the burn wounds of rats. Burn wounds dressed with ointment containing 4HR also exhibited rapid epithelization and collagen regeneration.

A novel method for the management of proximal segment using computer assisted simulation surgery: correct condyle head positioning and better proximal segment placement.

Computer Assisted Simulation Surgery (CASS) is a reliable method that permits oral and maxillofacial surgeons to visualize the position of the maxilla and the mandible as observed in the patient. The purpose of this report was to introduce a newly developed strategy for proximal segment management according to Balanced Orthognathic Surgery (BOS) protocol which is a type of CASS, and to establish the clinical feasibility of the BOS protocol in the treatment of complex maxillo-facial deformities. The BOS protocol consists of the following 4 phases: 1) Planning and simulation phase, 2) Modeling phase, 3) Surgical phase, and 4) Evaluation phase. The surgical interventions in 80 consecutive patients were planned and executed by the BOS protocol. The BOS protocol ensures accuracy during surgery, thereby facilitating the completion of procedures without any complications. The BOS protocol may be a complete solution that enables an orthognatic surgeon to perform accurate surgery based on a surgical plan, making real outcomes as close to pre-planned outcomes as possible.

Water extract of Aralia elata prevents cataractogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

The water extract of Aralia elata (Aralia extract) has been used in Korean traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the aldose reductase inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity and anticataract capacity of Aralia extract using various experimental systems. To determine its aldose reductase inhibitory activity and its antioxidant effect, we used rat lens homogenates. Rat lens cultures and a rat model were used to observe anticataract activity. The resulting IC50 value of Aralia extract in vitro as an aldose reductase inhibitor was 11.3 microg/ml and as an antioxidant was 25.1 microg/ml. Rat lenses in media containing 20 mM xylose developed a distinctly opaque ring in 9h, and treatment with Aralia extract at a concentration of 1mg/ml lowered lens opacity by 36.4 and 31.3% after 24 and 48 h, respectively. In vivo experiments were performed with streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The diabetic control animals developed cataracts at 11 weeks after STZ injection, while oral Aralia extract administered at 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight for 11 weeks reduced cataract formation by 15 and 12%, respectively. The present study shows that Aralia extract inhibits aldose reductase and acts in vitro as an antioxidant, and suggests that these activities have a preventive effect on cataractogenesis in xylose containing lens organ cultures and in in vivo in STZ induced diabetic rats.