Ecology of Hantaan virus at Twin Bridges Training Area,Gyeonggi Province,Republic of Korea, 2005–2007

The Twin Bridges Training Area (TBTA) in the Republic of Korea consists of dirt roads, barren training areas, and forested hillsides adjacent to linear and broad expanses of tall grasses, herbaceous, and scrub vegetation. Of the six species of small mammals, the striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, was the most frequently captured (96.1%). Apodemus agrarius capture rates varied from 17.7 to 33.2% during three trapping periods. Gravid females were observed during November‐December 2006 (8.4%) and March 2007 (5.1%). In 2005, the overall seroprevalence of Hantaan virus (HTNV) was high (34.4%) and lower during surveys in 2006 (14.2%) and 2007 (13.8%). Seroprevalence was directly correlated with weight increase of A. agrarius.     

High concentration of sodium chloride could induce the viable and culturable states of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

In the present study, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis were transferred into Luria–Bertani medium without NaCl (LBWS) and adjusted to various pHs (4, 5, 6 and 7) with lactic acid containing 0·75, 5, 10 and 30% NaCl, and stored at 25°C until the bacterial populations reached below detectable levels on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Although E. coli O157:H7 and S. Enteritidis did not grow on TSA when incubated in LBWS with 30% NaCl for 35 and 7 days, more than 60 and 70% of the bacterial cells were shown to be viable via fluorescent staining with SYTO9 and propidium iodide (PI), respectively, suggesting that a number of cells could be induced into the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. These bacteria that were induced into a VBNC state were transferred to a newly prepared tryptic soy broth (TSB) and then incubated at 37°C for several days. After more than 7 days, E. coli O157:H7 and S. Enteritidis regained their culturability. We, therefore, suggest that E. coli O157:H7 and S. Enteritidis entered the VBNC state under the adverse condition of higher salt concentrations and were revived when these conditions were reversed.     

High glucose protects cardiomyocytes against ischaemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing myocardiocyte apoptosis via circHIPK3/miR-29b/AKT3 signalling

High glucose promoted expression of AKT3, a direct target gene of miR-29b, by regulating circHIPK3 that functioned as ceRNA to sponge and down-regulate miR-29b. As a potential target gene of miR-29b, AKT3 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and this study aimed to investigate the potential role of high glucose in the outcome of I/R injury. qPCR and luciferase assay were carried out to investigate the relationship between the expression of circHIPK3, miR-29b and ATK3 mRNA. Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL were performed to analyse the relationship between AKT3 expression and apoptosis of myocardiocytes in vivo. No obvious difference in myocardial functions was observed between I/R and control rats under hyperglycaemia (HG) and normal glucose (NG) conditions, except that the infarct size/area at risk (IS/AR) ratio and the amount of h-FABP expression were different under HG and NG conditions. The expression of circHIPK3 and ATK3 was significantly elevated in the rats preconditioned by NG, whereas the expression of miR-29a was remarkably decreased. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of myocardial tissue was reduced in the rats preconditioned by NG. Luciferase assay confirmed that miR-29a played a repressive role in the expression of circHIPK3 and ATK3. And subsequent study indicated that the over-expressed AKT3 could rescue the increased cell apoptosis rate induced by the knockdown of circHIPK3. In this study, we demonstrated that high glucose protects cardiomyocytes against I/R associated injury by suppressing apoptosis and high glucose promoted the expression of AKT3 by regulating the expression of circHIPK3/miR-29b.     

Role of the APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 Polymorphism in the Development of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Evidence from a Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The association between the APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 polymorphism and the risk of POAG has been widely reported, but the results of previous studies remain controversial. To comprehensively evaluate the APOE ɛ2/ɛ3/ε4 polymorphism on the genetic risk for POAG, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published studies. The PubMed and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Data were extracted from these studies and odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed to estimate the strength of the association. Stratified analyses according to ethnicity and sensitivity analyses were also conducted for further confirmation. A total of nine studies were eligible for the meta-analysis, and these studies included data on 1928 POAG cases and 1793 unrelated match controls. The combined results showed that there were no associations between the APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 polymorphism and POAG risk in any of the 10 comparison models. The analysis that was stratified by ethnicity subgroups also failed to reveal a significant association. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability and reliability of the findings. There was no risk of publication bias. Our meta-analysis provides strong evidence that the APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 polymorphism is not associated with POAG susceptibility in any populations.     

Naphthazarin derivatives (II): formation of glutathione conjugate, inhibition of DNA topoisomerase-I and cytotoxicity.

6-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones, expressing a higher reactivity in conjugation with glutathione, showed a greater potency in the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase-I and the cytotoxicity against L1210 cells than 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-DMNQ derivatives, implying the participation of electrophilic arylation in the bioactivities. In further study 6-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones with an alkyl group of shorter chain length (C2-C6) exerted a greater bioactivities than those with longer chain length(>C6).     

Scanning electron microscopic studies of the vasa vasorum of thoracic aortas

Using hot alkaline solution, the elastic laminae were extracted from aortas and observed with scanning electron microscopy. Vascular structures were found in the elastin layers of the tunica media in descending thoracic aortas of sheep, dogs, and pigs, and these tube-like structures were filled with elastomer which was injected through the heart of the animal in vivo. Sub-intimal microvessels were also found to be filled with the elastomer and it is concluded that vasa vasorum can exist close to the internal elastic lamina in these animals.     

Preparation of Agglutinating Antisera and Fluorescent-Antibody Conjugates Against Pasteurella tularensis in Equines

The serological response in burros and horses to the viable LVS strain of Pasteurella tularensis was studied. High-titered agglutinating antisera and fluorescent-antibody conjugates were obtained in both groups of animals. Maximum titers were obtained in horses 14 to 21 days after the start of vaccination and in burros 21 to 28 days after the start of vaccination. The use of Woodhour's adjuvants or booster inoculations did not result in increased titers.