Advanced Abdominal MRI Techniques and Problem-Solving Strategies.

MRI plays an important role in abdominal imaging because of its ability to detect and characterize focal lesions. However, MRI examinations have several challenges, such as comparatively long scan times and motion management through breath-holding maneuvers. Techniques for reducing scan time with acceptable image quality, such as parallel imaging, compressed sensing, and cutting-edge deep learning techniques, have been developed to enable problem-solving strategies. Additionally, free-breathing techniques for dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, such as extra-dimensional-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination, golden-angle radial sparse parallel, and liver acceleration volume acquisition Star, can help patients with severe dyspnea or those under sedation to undergo abdominal MRI. We aimed to present various advanced abdominal MRI techniques for reducing the scan time while maintaining image quality and free-breathing techniques for dynamic imaging and illustrate cases using the techniques mentioned above. A review of these advanced techniques can assist in the appropriate interpretation of sequences.

Carbon-nanotube field-effect transistors for resolving single-molecule aptamer-ligand binding kinetics.

Small molecules such as neurotransmitters are critical for biochemical functions in living systems. While conventional ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry lack portability and are unsuitable for time-resolved measurements in situ, techniques such as amperometry and traditional field-effect detection require a large ensemble of molecules to reach detectable signal levels. Here we demonstrate the potential of carbon-nanotube-based single-molecule field-effect transistors (smFETs), which can detect the charge on a single molecule, as a new platform for recognizing and assaying small molecules. smFETs are formed by the covalent attachment of a probe molecule, in our case a DNA aptamer, to a carbon nanotube. Conformation changes on binding are manifest as discrete changes in the nanotube electrical conductance. By monitoring the kinetics of conformational changes in a binding aptamer, we show that smFETs can detect and quantify serotonin at the single-molecule level, providing unique insights into the dynamics of the aptamer-ligand system. In particular, we show the involvement of G-quadruplex formation and the disruption of the native hairpin structure in the conformational changes of the serotonin-aptamer complex. The smFET is a label-free approach to analysing molecular interactions at the single-molecule level with high temporal resolution, providing additional insights into complex biological processes.

Protocol for a scoping review on technology use and sexual and gender minority youth and mental health.

INTRODUCTION: Research indicates that sexual and gender minority youth [SGMY] may engage more with information communication technologies [ICTs] more than their non-SGMY counterparts Craig SL et al. 2020. While scholarship generally explores youth's use of ICTs, there are gaps in scholarship that connect SGMY, their ICT engagement and influences to mental health. This scoping review will synthesize the literature that connects these core concepts in order to better understand the influence ITCs have on the mental health of SGMY and to develop a more fulsome understanding of this emerging area of literature. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Following the scoping review framework of Arksey and O'Malley, the search will be conducted in the PsycINFO [Ovid interface, 1980-], MEDLINE [Ovid interface, 1948-], CINAHL [EBSCO interface, 1937-], Sociological Abstracts [ProQuest interface, 1952-], Social Services Abstracts [ProQuest interface, 1979-], and Scopus. Descriptive summaries and thematic analysis will summarize the articles that meet the inclusion criteria using an extraction table. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review outlined in this paper provides an overview of information that exists on the technology use of SGMY, ICTs and the interconnection with mental health. Results will be disseminated through peer reviewed journals and national and international conferences. As information collected for this paper as is retrieved from publicly available sources, ethics approval is not required.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous belimumab in a subgroup of South Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus enrolled into a Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in North East Asia.

AIM: This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg in the South Korean subgroup of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) enrolled in the North East Asia (NEA) study (GSK Study BEL113750; NCT01345253). METHODS: NEA was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase 3 trial. Patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE were randomized 2:1 to belimumab or placebo plus standard therapy administered on Days 0, 14, and 28, and then every 28 days up to Week 48. The primary efficacy endpoint in this analysis was SLE Responder Index 4 (SRI-4) response rate at Week 52, defined as the proportion of patients achieving a ≥4-point reduction in Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score, no worsening (<0.3 increase from baseline) in Physician Global Assessment, no new British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) A domain and <2 new BILAG B domain scores. RESULTS: Among 100 South Korean patients enrolled in NEA, 54/66 (81.8%) belimumab- and 24/34 (70.6%) placebo-treated patients completed the double-blind phase. Significantly more belimumab- than placebo-treated patients achieved SRI-4 response at Week 52 (n = 35/66, 53.0% vs. n = 8/34, 23.5%; odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval (CI)]: 3.67 [1.45, 9.28]; p = .0061). The proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 adverse event was similar between groups (belimumab: n = 60/66, 90.9% vs. placebo: n = 31/34, 91.2%). No new safety signals emerged in this subgroup analysis. CONCLUSION: Belimumab was efficacious for the treatment of SLE and well tolerated among the South Korean subgroup of patients from the NEA study.

Phylogenetic analysis of swine influenza A (H1N2) viruses isolated in Jinju City, Republic of Korea.

Genomic sequences of the swine influenza A (H1N2) viruses "A/Swine/South Korea/GN-1/2018" and "A/Swine/South Korea/GNJJ/2020" sampled from Jinju City, Republic of Korea, are reported here. The sequences of these viruses were 99% similar. These included eight genes from each of the H3N2pM, A(H1N1)2009pdm, and North American swine lineages.

Evaluation of Oxygen Absorbers Using Food Simulants and Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry.

In this study, we developed and validated an analytical method to evaluate the heavy metal elution from an active packaging material's oxygen absorber to a food simulant. Using water, 4% acetic acid, n-heptane, 20% ethanol, and 50% ethanol as food simulants, we quantified cobalt, copper, platinum, and iron with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The method was thoroughly validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, and LOQ through inter-day and intra-day analysis repetitions. R2 values ranged from 0.9986 to 1.0000, indicating excellent linearity. The LOD values ranged from 0.00002 to 0.2190 mg/kg, and the LOQ values ranged from 0.00007 to 0.6636 mg/kg. The method's accuracy was 95.14% to 101.98%, with the precision ranging from 0.58% to 10.37%. Our results confirmed the method's compliance with CODEX standards. Monitoring the oxygen absorber revealed undissolved platinum, cobalt levels from 0.10 to 19.29 µg/kg, copper levels from 0.30 to 976.14 µg/kg, and iron levels from 0.06 to 53.08 mg/kg. This study established a robust analytical approach for evaluating the heavy metal elution from oxygen absorbers, ensuring safety in the food industry.

Assessment of Equine Influenza Virus Status in the Republic of Korea from 2020 to 2022.

Equine influenza virus (EIV) causes acute respiratory disease in horses and belongs to the influenza A virus family Orthomyxoviridae, genus Orthomyxovirus. This virus may have severe financial implications for the horse industry owing to its highly contagious nature and rapid transmission. In the Republic of Korea, vaccination against EIV has been practiced with the active involvement of the Korea Racing Authority since 1974. In this study, we monitored the viral RNA for EIV using PCR, as well as the antibody levels against 'A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8, clade 1)', from 2020 to 2022. EIV was not detected using RT-PCR. The seropositivity rates detected using a hemagglutination inhibition assay were 90.3% in 2020, 96.7% in 2021, and 91.8% in 2022. The geometric mean of antibody titer (GMT) was 83.4 in 2020, 135.7 in 2021, and 95.6 in 2022. Yearlings and two-year-olds in training exhibited lower positive rates (59.1% in 2020, 38.9% in 2021, and 44.1% in 2022) than the average. These younger horses may require more attention for vaccination and vaccine responses against EIV. Continuous surveillance of EIV should be performed to monitor the prevalence and spread of this disease.

Use of antegrade wire guidance for retrograde transjugular/transfemoral venous access in the treatment of dysfunctional hemodialysis access: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transvenous access for endovascular treatment of dysfunctional hemodialysis (HD) access can be technically difficult in the retrograde selection of the HD access. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of primary antegrade wire guidance in assisting transvenous access. METHODS: A total of 41 transvenous access procedures (17 with and 24 without antegrade wire guidance), performed between March 2019 and February 2023, were included. Electronic medical records and procedural images were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 41 procedures, 17 performed primary antegrade wire guidance (group A) and 24 did not (group B). The technical success rate was 100% in group A and 95.8% (23/24) in group B. The mean retrograde selection time was 16.7 min in group A, whereas it was 30.9 min in group B (p = 0.014). Additional intraprocedural fistulography was not performed in group A, while it was performed at an average of 1.5 times (range: 0-4) in group B (p = 0.001). One patient in group B experienced venous dissection as a minor complication; however, no major complications were observed in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Using primary antegrade wire guidance in endovascular treatment of dysfunctional HD access via alternative transvenous access is safe and time-saving.

First Detection of Influenza D Virus Infection in Cattle and Pigs in the Republic of Korea.

Influenza D virus (IDV) belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family, which also include the influenza A, B and C virus genera. IDV was first detected and isolated in 2011 in the United States from pigs with respiratory illness. IDV circulates in mammals, including pigs, cattle, camelids, horses and small ruminants. Despite the broad host range, cattle are thought to be the natural reservoir of IDV. This virus plays a role as a causative agent of the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). IDV has been identified in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. However, there has been no information on the presence of IDV in the Republic of Korea (ROK). In this study, we investigated the presence of viral RNA and seroprevalence to IDV among cattle and pigs in the ROK in 2022. Viral RNA was surveyed by the collection and testing of 999 cattle and 2391 pig nasal swabs and lung tissues using a real-time RT-PCR assay. IDV seroprevalence was investigated by testing 742 cattle and 1627 pig sera using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The viral RNA positive rate was 1.4% in cattle, but no viral RNA was detected in pigs. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion (HEF) gene was further conducted for a selection of samples. All sequences belonged to the D/Yamagata/2019 lineage. The seropositivity rates were 54.7% in cattle and 1.4% in pigs. The geometric mean of the antibody titer (GMT) was 68.3 in cattle and 48.5 in pigs. This is the first report on the detection of viral RNA and antibodies to IDV in the ROK.

Safety and effectiveness of ambrisentan in real clinical practice in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Results from the Korean post-marketing surveillance.

PURPOSE: This regulatory post-marketing surveillance (PMS) was organized to identify the safety and effectiveness of ambrisentan in the Korean population. METHOD: This was an open-label, multi-center PMS conducted from 31 institutions in Korea for 6 years from August 2015 to 2021, to evaluate the use of ambrisentan for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Inclusion criteria are Korean subjects with the World Health Organization functional classification (WHO Fc) II or III PAH who are new users or repeated users with ambrisentan (Volibris®) Tablet 5 or 10 mg per day (age >18 years old). RESULTS: A total of 293 cases were analyzed. The overall incidence of adverse events (AE) was 52.22% and adverse drug reactions (ADR) was 10.92%. Severe AEs occurred in 20.82% of patients. However, only 2 subjects (0.68%) reported serious ADR. The difference in AE incidence was statistically significant for concomitant medications other than PAH medications in the safety analysis and the new users (p = 0.0041 and p = 0.0299, respectively) and elderly population in the repeated users (p = 0.0319). Among the long-term 223 subjects, the WHO Fc II and III were 41.26% and 58.74% before ambrisentan, and changed after treatment to 3.09%, 66.05%, and 30.86% for Fc I/II/III, respectively. 217 of 249 subjects (87.15%) considered their symptoms to have 'improved' after the last administration. CONCLUSION: In real-world practice, ambrisentan demonstrated tolerable safety and favorable effectiveness in PAH patients in Korea. Age and concomitant drug use can affect the occurrence of AE.

LC-MS/MS Method Minimizing Matrix Effect for the Analysis of Bifenthrin and Butachlor in Chinese Chives and Its Application for Residual Study.

The matrix effect refers to the change in the analytical signal caused by the matrix in which the sample is contained, as well as the impurities that are co-eluted with the target analyte. In crop sample analysis using LC-MS/MS, the matrix effect can affect the quantification results. Chinese chives are likely to exhibit a strong matrix effect when co-extracted with bifenthrin and butachlor due to the presence of phytochemicals and chlorophyll. A novel analytical method was developed to reduce the matrix effects of bifenthrin and butachlor to a negligible level in Chinese chives. The established method had a limit of quantitation of 0.005 mg/kg and correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 within the range of 0.005-0.5 mg/kg. Matrix effects were found to be negligible, with values ranging from -18.8% to 7.2% in four different sources of chives and two leafy vegetables. Compared to conventional analytical methods for the LOQ and matrix effect, the established method demonstrated improved performances. The analytical method was further applied in a residual study in chive fields. The active ingredient of butachlor 5 granule (GR) was not detected after soil admixture application, while that of bifenthrin 1 emulsifiable concentrate (EC) showed a range from 1.002 to 0.087 mg/kg after foliar spraying. The dissipation rate constant (k) of bifenthrin was determined to be 0.115, thus its half-life was calculated to be 6.0 days. From the results, PHI and safety use standards of both pesticides were suggested. The developed analytical method can be applied to accurately determine bifenthrin and butachlor residues in Chinese chives and provides a foundation for further research on the fate and behavior of these pesticides in the environment.

Prevalence and Genetic Analysis of Resistance Mechanisms of Linezolid-Nonsusceptible Enterococci in a Tertiary Care Hospital Examined via Whole-Genome Sequencing.

(1) Background: Linezolid plays an important role in the treatment of invasive infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci after its introduction to clinical practice. However, a detailed examination of linezolid-nonsusceptible enterococci (LNSE) is required. In this study, we attempted to analyze the mechanisms of LNSE strains isolated from a tertiary care hospital. (2) Methods: From 2019 to 2020, 18 Enterococcus faecalis, 14 E. faecium, and 2 E. gallinarum clinical isolates were collected at Severance Hospital. Agar dilution was performed to evaluate precise linezolid minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to analyze resistance determinants. (3) Results: The presence of the optrA gene was likely the primary resistance mechanism in these three species, typically demonstrating a MIC value of 8 µg/mL. The co-existence of the cfr(D) and poxtA2 gene was the second major mechanism, primarily predicting a phenotype showing intermediate susceptibility to linezolid. G2576U mutation on 23S rRNA was only found in E. faecium; it mediated the most significant increase in linezolid MIC. (4) Conclusion: This is the first report examining poxtA2-cfr(D) co-harboring clinical enterococcal isolates in Korea and demonstrating the poxtA EF9F6-harboring clinical E. gallinarum strain worldwide. The comparison with resistance-gene-containing fragments in the isolates obtained from different countries and different sources demonstrated the spread of linezolid-resistance genes and suggested the possibility of foodborne transmission.

Fluid-driven DNA stretching for single-molecule studies on chromatin-associated proteins.

There have been many attempts to understand the central principle of life mediated by DNA-protein interactions surrounding complex environments. Still, the mechanistic insight of individual protein functions has been lacking in traditional ensemble assays. Thus, techniques visualizing a single molecule have emerged to uncover the discrete roles of DNA-protein interactions and their biophysical properties. This paper will review the advances in single-molecule tools imaging long genomic DNA and their applications in studying dynamic protein interactions. We focus on the three representative techniques, including molecular combing, nanochannel confinement, and DNA curtain assays, which use fluid-driven force to elongate the individual DNA. We provide an integrated perspective and a direction for future use to those who want to observe single DNA molecules along with their cellular factor of interest and employ them for dissecting protein function.

A Plant-Produced Porcine Parvovirus 1-82 VP2 Subunit Vaccine Protects Pregnant Sows against Challenge with a Genetically Heterologous PPV1 Strain.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) causes reproductive failure in sows, and vaccination remains the most effective means of preventing infection. The NADL-2 strain has been used as a vaccine for ~50 years; however, it does not protect animals against genetically heterologous PPV strains. Thus, new effective and safe vaccines are needed. In this study, we aimed to identify novel PPV1 strains, and to develop PPV1 subunit vaccines. We isolated and sequenced PPV1 VP2 genes from 926 pigs and identified ten PPV1 strains (belonging to Groups C, D and E). We selected the Group D PPV1-82 strain as a vaccine candidate because it was close to the highly pathogenic 27a strain. The PPV1-82 VP2 protein was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. It formed virus-like particles and exhibited a 211 agglutination value. The PPV1-190313 strain (Group E), isolated from an aborted fetus, was used as the challenging strain because it was pathogenic. The unvaccinated sow miscarried at 8 days postchallenge, and mummified fetuses were all PPV1-positive. By contrast, pregnant sows vaccinated with PPV1-82 VP2 had 9-11 Log2 antibody titers and produced normal fetuses after PPV1-190313 challenge. These results suggest the PPV1-82 VP2 subunit vaccine protects pregnant sows against a genetically heterologous PPV1 strain by inducing neutralizing antibodies.

Enhancing oxidative stability of tocopherol-enriched edible oils using short-term exposure to microwave irradiation.

The effect of microwave irradiation on the oxidative stability of tocopherol-enriched corn oil at temperatures of 60 or 100°C was evaluated using the Rancimat assay. Short durations of microwave treatment (1 min) on 10-g oil aliquots were found to increase the induction period of corn oil samples containing 500 and 1000 ppm tocopherol by 7.7% and 9.9%, respectively compared to control oils. The moisture content of tocopherol-enriched corn oil decreased by 15% compared to that of corn oil after 1 min of microwave treatment. At 100°C, 1000 ppm tocopherol-enriched corn oil received 3 min of microwave treatment had 5.8% and 9.9% lower primary and secondary oxidation products than control groups, respectively while this effect was not clearly observed for oils stored at 60°C. However, 15 min of microwave irradiation accelerated the rates of lipid oxidation in corn oils irrespective of the addition of tocopherol. Content of α- and γ-tocopherols in 1 min of microwave irradiated samples remained more by 28.8 and 5.8%, respectively than those of controls after 9 h heat treatment at 100°C. Overall, microwave irradiation within 3 min can increase the oxidative stability of 10 g-corn oils, especially at 100°C, which could be due to the reduced moisture content in the bulk oil matrix. Practical Application: A microwave oven is an irreplaceable home appliance and is widely used in households. Short time exposure to microwave irradiation can remove moisture efficiently from edible oils without the formation of oxidation products, which could increase the oxidative stability of these oils, especially under frying conditions. The results of this study can be utilized to ensure a longer shelf-life of fried products in the food industry by short time treatment of microwave irradiation.

Novel method to repair articular cartilage by direct reprograming of prechondrogenic mesenchymal stem cells.

Age-related cartilage loss is worsened by the limited regenerative capacity of chondrocytes. The role of cell-based therapies using mesenchymal stem cells is gaining interest. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are an attractive source to generate the optimal number of chondrocytes required to repair a cartilage defect and regenerate hyaline articular cartilage. Here, we report an outstanding technique to prepare chondrocytes for cartilage repair using canine ADSCs. We hypothesized that external electrical fields promote prechondrogenic condensation without requiring genetic modifications or exogenous factors. We analyzed the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on the differentiation of ADSC micromass into chondrocytes. Highly compact structures were formed within 3 days of ES of canine ADSC micromass. The expression of type I collagen gene was abolished in these cells compared with that in control micromass cultures and monolayer cultures. We further found that ES enhanced the production of proteoglycan, a highly produced extracellular matrix component in chondrocytes. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis showed that canine ADSC micromass undergoing ES developed a prechondrogenic cell aggregation, suggesting their metabolic conversion, biogenesis, and calcium ion change. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the capacity of ES to drive the chondrogenesis of ADSCs in the absence of exogenous factors and confirm its commercial potential as a budget-friendly therapy for the repair of cartilage defects.

Chemical changes and antioxidant activities of heated whole barley extracts.

Chemical profiles of ethanolic (70%) and aqueous extracts of whole barley heated at 150, 190, and 230 °C were analyzed by GC-MS and their antioxidant properties were studied in vitro, in bulk oil, or in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion systems. More chemicals were detected in the ethanolic extract than in the aqueous extract from heated barley; heating decreased the contents of detected chemicals. Organic acids, mono- and di-saccharides, sugar alcohols, and glycerol were the major chemicals detected in both the extracts. Ethanolic extracts possessed higher in vitro antioxidant activities than the aqueous extracts. However, this trend was not clearly observed in the bulk oil and O/W emulsion. For O/W emulsions, ethanolic extracts obtained following heating at 150 °C prevented lipid oxidation better than others. Therefore, heat treatment at 150 °C is recommended to enhance the antioxidant activities of whole barley.

Canine Natural Killer Cell-Derived Exosomes Exhibit Antitumor Activity in a Mouse Model of Canine Mammary Tumor.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key immune cells engaged in fighting infection and malignant transformation. In this study, we found that canine NK cell-derived exosomes (NK-exosomes) separated from activated cytotoxic NK cell supernatants express specific markers including CD63, CD81, Alix, HSP70, TSG101, Perforin 1, and Granzyme B. We examined the antitumor effects of NK-exosomes in an experimental murine mammary tumor model using REM134 canine mammary carcinoma cell line. We observed changes in tumor size, tumor initiation, progression, and recurrence-related markers in the control, tumor group, and NK-exosome-treated tumor group. We found that the tumor size in the NK-exosome-treated tumor group decreased compared with that of the tumor group in the REM134-driven tumorigenic mouse model. We observed significant changes including the expression of tumorigenesis-related markers, such as B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallopeptidase-3 (MMP-3), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), multidrug resistance protein (MDR), tumor suppressor protein p53 (p53), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the apoptotic markers, B cell lymphoma-2 associated X (Bax) and B cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) belonging to the Bcl-2 family, in the tumor group compared with those in the control group. The expression of CD133, a potent cancer stem cell marker, was significantly higher than that of the control. By contrast, the NK-exosome-treated tumor group exhibited a significant reduction in Bmi-1, MMP-3, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, Bax, Bcl-xL, and PCNA expression compared with that in the tumor group. Furthermore, the expression of CD133, which mediates tumorigenesis, was significantly decreased in the NK-exosome-treated tumor group compared with that in the tumor group. These findings indicate that canine NK-exosomes represent a promising therapeutic tool against canine solid tumors, including mammary carcinoma.

Bovine tongue epithelium-derived cells: A new source of bovine mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess the ability to differentiate into multiple cell lineages, and thus, confer great potential for use in regenerative medicine and biotechnology. In the present study, we attempted to isolate and characterize bovine tongue tissue epithelium-derived MSCs (boT-MSCs) and investigate the culture conditions required for long-term culturing of boT-MSCs. boT-MSCs were successfully isolated by the collagenase digestion method and their proliferative capacity was maintained for up to 20 or more passages. We observed a significant increase in the proliferation of boT-MSCs during the 20 consecutive passages under low-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium culture condition among the three culture conditions. These boT-MSCs presented pluripotency markers (octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (Oct3/4) and sex determining region Y-box2 (Sox2)) and cell surface markers, which included CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (MHC-I) but not CD11b, CD14, CD31, CD34, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD106, CD117, and MHC-II at third passage. Moreover, these boT-MSCs could differentiate into mesodermal (adipocyte, osteocyte, and chondrocyte) cell lineages. Thus, the present study suggests that the tongue of bovines could be used as a source of bovine MSCs.

Development of a Quantitative RT-PCR Assay to Differentiate Rift Valley Fever Virus Smithburn Vaccine Strain from Clone 13 Vaccine Strain.

A new quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed to differentiate Rift Valley fever (RVF) Smithburn vaccine strain from Clone 13 vaccine strain. The new qRT-PCR assay targeting the S segment (NSs and N gene) was tested on synthesized standard RNA and MP-12 strain viruses. The detection limit of the new qRT-PCR assay is 1 copy/µL of NSs and N, and is able to differentiate the Smithburn vaccine strain of RVF from the Clone 13 vaccine strain. No cross-reactivity with other vector-borne viruses was observed, a factor that is especially important in the Republic of Korea (ROK). To examine the performance of the qRT-PCR, intra- and inter-assay variability data were analyzed and showed high reproducibility. These results indicate that the new qRT-PCR can be used as a safe and cost-effective test. Furthermore, this result suggests the possibility of differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals diagnostic test in RVF-free countries including ROK.