Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection results in liver injury and long-term complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver injury in HCV infection is believed to be caused by host immune responses, not by viral cytopathic effects. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory processes of hepatitis C. TNF-α induces cell death that can be ameliorated by nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) activation. We investigated the regulation of TNF-α signal transduction in HCV-infected cells and identified HCV proteins responsible for sensitization to TNF-α-induced cell death. We studied the effect of HCV infection on TNF-α signal transduction using an in vitro HCV infection model (JFH-1, genotype 2a) with Huh-7 and Huh-7.5 cells. We found that TNF-α-induced cell death significantly increased in HCV-infected cells. HCV infection diminished TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of IKK and IκB, which are upstream regulators of NF-κB activation. HCV infection also inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB and expression of NF-κB-dependent anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-xL, XIAP and c-FLIP(L). Decreased levels of Bcl-xL, XIAP, and c-FLIP mRNA and protein were also observed in livers with chronic hepatitis C. Transfection with plasmids encoding each HCV protein revealed that core, NS4B, and NS5B attenuated TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation and enhanced TNF-α-induced cell death. Conclusion: HCV infection enhances TNF-α-induced cell death by suppressing NF-κB activation, through the action of core, NS4B, and NS5B. This mechanism may contribute to immune-mediated liver injury in HCV infection.(HEPATOLOGY 2012.).

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. SETTING: Three multispecialty ophthalmology practices and one glaucoma specialty group. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative case series. METHODS: Review of medical records of patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had had unilateral phacoemulsification (without other prior or concurrent ophthalmic procedure) with the fellow eye remaining phakic at least 3 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the IOP in the surgical and fellow eyes in the 29 patients was 15.66 mm Hg ± 3.33 (SD) and 15.64 ± 4.23 mm Hg (P=.98), respectively. Postoperatively, it was 13.56 ± 2.04 mm Hg and 14.92 ± 2.85 mm Hg, respectively, at 4.5 months (P=.06); 14.88 ± 3.20 mm Hg and 15.27 ± 3.19 mm Hg, respectively, at 1 year (P=.67); 14.16 ± 2.61 mm Hg and 14.95 ± 2.79 mm Hg, respectively, at 2 years (P=.37); and 14.68 ± 3.44 mm Hg and 14.68 ± 2.68 mm Hg at 3 years (P=1.00), respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean number of IOP-lowering medications used in the surgical eyes (1.96 ± 1.40) and fellow eyes (2.08 ± 1.44) postoperatively (P=.77). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of ocular hypertensive and glaucoma patients, uncomplicated phacoemulsification had no significant IOP-lowering effect compared with the phakic fellow eye for up to 3 years postoperatively. There was also no difference between the mean number of postoperative IOP-lowering medications used in the surgical and fellow eyes. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Status epilepticus increases brain-blood barrier (BBB) permeability leading to vasogenic edema. This BBB disruption is usually confined within relatively limited cerebral regions including the piriform cortex (PC), and leads to epileptogenesis and contributes to progression of epilepsy. Although cytokines are at least partly responsible for changes in BBB permeability, the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in vasogenic edema is not yet explored in detail. In the present study, we investigated the role of IL-18 in SE-induced vasogenic edema formation. Following SE, IL-18/interferon-γ (IFN-γ) system was up-regulated in astrocytes and microglia/macrophages. Recombinant rat (rr) IL-18 infusion decreased vasogenic edema formation, while anti-rat IL-18 infusion increased it. In contrast, rrIFN-γ, and anti-rat IFN-γ infusion showed reverse effects on vasogenic edema formation. rrIL-18 or anti-rat IFN-γ IgG infusion elevated dystrophin expression accompanied by the reduction in vasogenic edema. However, rr-IFN-γ or anti-rat IL-18 IgG infusion significantly decreased dystrophin immunoreactivity within the PC following SE. These findings indicate that IL-18-mediated up-regulation of dystrophin expression may play either a direct or indirect role in maintenance of BBB function following SE. Therefore, our findings suggest that IL-18 may have protective effect on SE-induced BBB disruption in IFN-γ independent mechanism.

To elucidate the biodiversity of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Korea, 7,638 bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of plant species growing in many different regions were screened. A large number of PGPR were identified by testing the ability of each isolate to promote the growth of cucumber seedlings. After redundant rhizobacteria were removed via amplified rDNA restriction analysis, 90 strains were finally selected as PGPR. On the basis of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences, 68 Gram-positive (76%) and 22 Gram-negative (24%) isolates were assigned to 21 genera and 47 species. Of these genera, Bacillus (32 species) made up the largest complement, followed by Paenibacillus (19) and Pseudomonas (11). Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the Grampositive PGPR fell into two categories: low- and high- G+C (Actinobacteria) strains. The Gram-negative PGPR were distributed in three categories: alpha-proteobacteria, beta- proteobacteria, and gamma-proteobacteria. To our knowledge, this is the largest screening study designed to isolate diverse PGPR. The enlarged understanding of PGPR genetic diversity provided herein will expand the knowledge base regarding beneficial plant-microbe interactions. The outcome of this research may have a practical effect on crop production methodologies.

Mulberry heart disease (MHD) in pigs is characterized by lesions of acute haemorrhagic myocarditis and myocardial necrosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of vitamin E and selenium and 13 other trace minerals in heart and liver tissues and to determine the prevalence of certain viral infections in heart tissues from MHD-affected and MHD-unaffected pigs and the vitamin E and selenium concentration in feed samples from selected farms with MHD. Based on the pathological examination, 114 pigs were separated into MHD lesion-negative (L-NEG)(n = 57) and MHD lesion-positive (L-POS)(n = 57) groups. Seventy-three samples (40 L-NEG and 33 L-POS) were subjected to chemical analysis, and 66 (32 L-NEG and 34 L-POS) were subjected to PCR detection for viral pathogens. Lower (P < 0.05) levels of myocardial copper, lower (P < 0.05) levels of hepatic magnesium and higher (P < 0.05) levels of myocardial and hepatic sodium were detected in the L-POS cases. Although lower (P < 0.05) levels of hepatic selenium were detected in L-POS group, all were within the normal range. Analysis of feed samples (n = 22) revealed that selenium levels in all the samples were above the legal limit (0.3 ppm) for pigs. Vitamin E levels in all feed samples were above 20 IU/kg. Among the 66 pigs subjected to PCR detection, there were 19, 4, 13, 8, 2 and 1 animals positive for porcine circovirus type 2, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, pan-herpes virus, porcine enterovirus, pan-pestivirus and porcine parvovirus, respectively. Clear evidence of viral association with L-POS was lacking.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were measured in ambient air samples collected from different parts of South Korea in 2008, and the measured levels were used for assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric PCDDFs and DL-PCBs in South Korea. The average concentrations of atmospheric PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs among the 37 sites were 28 fg I-TEQ m(-3)(ND~617) and 1 fg WHO-TEQ m(-3)(ND~0.016). Elevated atmospheric levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs observed at residential/industrial sites and in the north-west of Korea, indicated a potential contribution and impacts of anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. These levels were similar or lower than those previously reported in other ambient air surveys. Average concentrations of PCDD/Fs showed small seasonal variations (ANOVA analysis, p=0.144). The highest concentrations of PCDD/Fs were observed during winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. Atmospheric PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in South Korea rapidly decreased during the last 10 years (1998-2008), demonstrating the efficiency of stricter regulations and the application of best available technologies/best environmental practices at emission sources. Comparison of the congener profiles and principal component analysis showed that current atmospheric PCDD/Fs are mostly influenced by industrial sources and PCBs from old commercial PCB uses. Nationwide POPs monitoring will continue and allows an effective evaluation of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

Calf diarrhea is a major economic burden to the bovine industry. Since multiple infectious agents can be involved in calf diarrhea, and the detection of each of the causative agents by traditional methods is laborious and expensive, a panel of 2 multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays was developed for rapid and simultaneous detection of the 5 major bovine enteric pathogens (i.e., Bovine coronavirus [BCoV; formally known as Betacoronavirus 1], group A Bovine rotavirus [BRV], Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli K99(+), and Cryptosporidium parvum). The estimated detection limit (i.e., analytic sensitivity) of the panel was 0.1 TCID(50)(50% tissue culture infective dose) for BCoV and group A BRV; 5 and 0.5 colony-forming units for E. coli K99(+) and Salmonella, respectively; and 50 oocysts for Cryptosporidium per reaction. In testing 243 fecal samples obtained from submissions to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory or from experimental animals with known infection status, the newly developed multiplex real-time PCR panel simultaneously detected all 5 pathogens directly from fecal samples and was more rapid and sensitive than the traditional diagnostic tests. The PCR panel showed 89%-97% agreement with those conventional diagnostic tests, demonstrating diagnostic sensitivity equal to or better than that of the conventional tests. In conclusion, the multiplex real-time PCR panel can be a tool for a timely and accurate diagnosis of calf diarrhea associated with BCoV, group A BRV, E. coli K99(+), Salmonella, and/or Cryptosporidium.

HASH(0x1e6711b0)

The aim of this study was to provide a basis for examining the molecular mechanism for the pharmacological action of dopamine.HCl (DA) and chlorpromazin.HCl (CPZ). Radiationless energy transfer from the surface fluorescent probe, 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid, to the hydrophobic fluorescent probe, bispyrenylpropane (Py-Py), was used to examine the effects of DA and CPZ on the thickness (D) of the liposomal lipid bilayers prepared with total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from neuronal membranes. The thickness (D) of intact SPMVTL and SPMVPL (37 degrees C, pH 7.4) were 0.914 +/- 0.010 and 0.886 +/- 0.009 (arbitrary units, n = 5), respectively. DA decreased the thickness of both SPMVTL and SPMVPL in a dose-dependent manner with a significant decrease in thickness observed even at 40 x 10(-9) M and 40 x 10(-9) M, respectively. On the other hand, CPZ increased the thickness of both SPMVTL and SPMVPL in a dose-dependent manner with a significant increase in thickness observed even at 35 x 10(-5) M and 35 x 10(-5) M, respectively. The sensitivities to the decreasing and increasing effect of the membrane lipid bilayers thickness by DA and CPZ, respectively, differed according to the liposomes in descending order of SPMVPL and SPMVTL. The decreasing and increasing action of DA and CPZ, respectively, on the membrane thickness had many effects that may be responsible for the dopaminergic receptor-DA and -CPZ interaction as well as the protein-lipid interaction.

BACKGROUND: Multiple needle attempts to gain a muscle twitch or a paresthesia for a classical supraclavicular brachial plexus block can increase the risks of nerve damage or pain. The aims of this study were to obtain reliable clinical data on ultrasound-guided supraclavicular blocks, demonstrate the higher success rate and fewer complications, and design an injection method for patients whose brachial plexus can not be located. METHODS: 105 patients received an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block. 40 ml of 1% mepivacaine was injected without a muscle twitch or paresthesia. The groups were divided into two groups - Group A (n = 92, patients who had visible brachial plexus) and Group B (n = 13, patients whose brachial plexus can't be located). After the blocks, the clinical characteristics such as the success rate, the time to onset, the extent of the sensory block, and occurrence of complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The Success rate of Group A (98.9%) was higher than that of Group B (84.6%)(P < 0.05). The overall success rate was 97.1%. All patients could be operated on under sedation. The time to onset of Group A (12.6 +/- 4.4 min) was shorter than that in Group B (23.1 +/- 5.1 min)(P < 0.05). The overall time to onset was 13.8 +/- 5.5 min. There were no serious complications such as pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: An ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block is very effective in even patients whose brachial plexus can not be located.