A surveillance of chigger mites was performed to monitor the incidence of scrub typhus vectors at 4 environmental collection points of 6 locations from September to November 2014 in Korea. During the survey period, 420 chigger mites were collected and the dominant species was Leptotrombidium scutellare (42.6%). The first appearance of chigger mite was at 37th week (9.3.-9.10.) and the collected numbers of chigger mites was the highest at 43rd week (10.17.-10.23.). In Goryeong-gun, 299 chigger mites were collected, whereas 5 chigger mites were collected In Yesan-gun. The high environmental collecting rates were recorded at rice field (56%) and waterway (20%). The annually collected numbers (2012-2014) of chigger mites were compared with the average temperatures in August. This result suggests that the average temperature in August might be related with the annual incidence of scrub typhus vectors in Korea. However, the relationship between climate factors and the density of chigger mites needs to be studied by long-term periodical surveillance.

A surveillance of chigger mites was conducted to clarify the incidence of scrub typhus vectors by new chigger mite collecting traps instead of trapping wild rodents for surveillance from each 4 collection points of 5 regions from September to November 2012 in Korea. During the surveillance period, 2,829 chiggers were collected and 10 species of 4 genera were identified. The first appearance of chigger mite and patients was 39 week (9.19~9.25) and the density of chigger mites had the peak in 43 week (10.17~10.23) and the density of patients had the peak in 44 week (10.24~10.30), respectively. In Goryeong-gun, a total of 1,797 mites representing 4 genera and 6 species were collected and the predominant species were Leptotrombidium scutellare (86.0%), L. pallidum (6.5%) and L. palpale (4.7%) whereas, In Gurye-gun, a total of 89 mites representing 2 genera and 3 species were collected and the predominant species were L. scutellare (46.5%) and L. palpale (36.2%) in similar to the natural environment. The high collecting rates were recorded at rice field (71.8%) and waterway (11.6%). This result shows that the surveillance of scrub typhus vectors by new chigger mite collecting trap is useful as an eco-friendly method.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of macrophages on growth of human colon cancer cells. The results showed that co-culture of colon cancer cells with macrophages inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells (HCT116 and SW620) depending on the number of macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells, and activated THP-1 cells accompanied by down regulation of pSTAT3 in cancer cells. We also found that expression and release of cancer cell growth inhibitory cytokines, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and IL-10, was increased in macrophages. Blocking of the STAT3 pathway with specific inhibitor and siRNA of STAT3 abolished the growth of colon cancer cells and expression of IL-1ra and IL-10. In addition, neutralization of IL-1ra and IL-10 with antibodies resulted in reversal of macrophage-induced inhibition of cancer cell growth. These data showed that IL-1ra and IL-10 released from macrophages inhibit growth of colon cancer cells through inhibition of the STAT3 pathway.

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in bone mineral density in long-stay patients of a geriatric hospital in relation to physical therapy, thereby providing basic data for preventing the onset or deterioration of osteoporosis in inpatients of geriatric hospitals or relevant facilities. The subjects of this study were 133 elderly patients who had been in H geriatric hospital in Yongin-si for more than four years. Their bone mineral density T-scores at admission and those after four years were measured to compare and analyze the changes in bone mineral density in relation to physical therapy. According to the results, the decrease in T-score for the group without physical therapy was greater by .40 than that for the group with physical therapy, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups(p<.01). Accordingly, physical therapy proved to be effective in preventing bone mineral density loss and maintaining the current density.

The majority of strokes are caused by ischemia and result in brain tissue damage, leading to problems of the central nervous system including hemiparesis, dysfunction of language and consciousness, and dysfunction of perception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) on necrosis in neuronal cells that have undergone needle electrode electrical stimulation(NEES) prior to induction of ischemia. Ischemia was induced in male SD rats(body weight 300g) by occlusion of the common carotid artery for 5 min, after which the blood was reperfused. After induction of brain ischemia, NEES was applied to Zusanli(ST 36), at 12, 24 and 48 hours. Protein expression was investigated using immuno-reactive cells, which react to PARP antibodies in cerebral nerve cells, and Western blotting. The results were as follows: In the cerebral cortex, the number of PARP reactive cells after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. PARP expression after 24 hours significantly decreased(p<.05) in the NEES group compared to the GI group. As a result, NEES showed the greatest effect on necrosis- related PARP immuno-reactive cells 24 hours after ischemia, indicating necrosis inhibition, blocking of neural cell death, and protection of neural cells. Based on the results of this study, NEES can be an effective method of treating dysfunction and improving function of neuronal cells in brain damage caused by ischemia.

One hundred seven plant essential oils were tested for insecticidal activities against Bemisia tabaci B and Q biotype adults, using the fumigation and direct spray methods. In the fumigation assay with the Q biotype adults, garlic oil was the most toxic (1.5×10-3 μl/cm3) on the basis of the LC50 value. Clove leaf, thyme, oregano (origanum), clove bud, savory, cinnamon bark, dabana, vetiver haiti and catnip essential oils also gave potent toxicity with the range of 1.7 to 4.5×10-3 μl/cm3 of LC50 values. These essential oils showed similar strong toxicity against B biotype. Based on the results obtained from fumigation test, nine plant essential oils were selected for the direct spray application at three concentrations (0.5, 0.1 and 0.02%). A litter difference was obtained between B and Q types in mortality to the tested oils. At the 0.5% concentration, they gave considerable mortality of 76 to 100%. At 0.1%, only garlic essential oil produced 96 to 100% mortality, but the others showed less than 76% mortality. Several plant essential oils appear to be candidates for the control of B. tabaci.

Disulfide bond formation, reduction and isomerization are important posttranslational modification in proteins that occur in most, if not all, living organisms. In eukatoyes, disulfide bond in substrate proteins are primarily formes by ERO1 and PDI. ERO1, oxidized by molecular oxygen, acts as a specific oxidant of PDI, which then makes disulfide bonds in folding proteins oxidized directly. It means that ERO1 plays an essential role in setting the redox potential in the ER, and the regulation of Ero1p activity is critical to maintain redox homeostasis and proper ER folding activity. We have isolated and analysed a endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase (ERO1) from Bombye mori. It apperas that both an N-terminal CxxxxC motif and a C-terminl CxxCxxC motif are necessary for Ero1p fuction. In vivo, the result of the 5day of 5th instar larvae by RT-PCR and Real-Time PCR shows that posterior silkgland, skin and mid silkgland are revealed more than rhose of other tissues. The same result for tissue distribution of transcripts is appeared about ERO1 and PDI. In Bombyx mori, ERO1 is also supposed to correlate with PDI. Afterwards, more experiments are needed to figure out accurate interrelation between ERO1 and PDI.

Background : Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable with pantropical distribution and contains the active ingredient, such as momordicine and charantin. Moreover, bitter gourd has been reported to exhibit antidiabetic, anticancer, cardiovascular-protective and antioxidant effects. But, the distinctive bitter taste of bitter gourd was not suitable for food preference. This study was conducted to evaluate the improvement effects of bitter taste of bitter gourd with natural fermentation and roasting process. Methods and Results : Bitter gourd fruits were obtained from Headeulnyeokae Co., Ltd.(Gang-Jin 59253, Repubilc Korea). Fruits of bitter gourd were prepared by natural fermentation process for 4h at 25℃. After natural fermentation, the fruits were dried in hot-air dryer for 15h at 49-55℃. The dried fruits were roasted in 500 g batches at 120℃ for 10 min in the electric rotisserie oven. After roasting, fruit pieces were extracted with hot water and cold water. One of them was cool-type, and the other was hot-type bitter gourd tea. In the sensory evaluation, hot tea and cold tea showed the high scores on color, flavor and overall acceptability. Conclusion : These mean that roasted bitter gourd had less bitter, and it could be utilized widely as drink and food material.

Cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) is a multiple systemic disease caused by the embolization of cholesterol crystals from an atherosclerotic plaque of a proximal large-caliber artery, which results in the occlusion of distal small to mediumsized arteries. CES is characterized by development of a multitude of small emboli over time, and should be distinguished from arterial thromboembolism, which occurs through the obstruction of medium-sized to large arteries by one or a few large emboli. We report on a case of CES initially presenting as acute limb ischemia following an intervention for iliac artery occlusion.

The groundnut or cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Korea consists of 36 domestic varieties which have been developed and registered as cultivars for the public during last 25 years. To screen and identify of Korean peanut varieties and genetic resources, we present a simple and reliable method. A methodology based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed and widely used for prominent gene identification and variety discrimination. For identification of those 36 Korean peanut varieties, 238 unique peanut SSR markers were selected from some previously reported results, synthesized and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were taken through acryl amide gel electrophoresis and changed into proper formats for application of data mining analysis using Biomine (all-in-one functional genomics data mining program). Consequently, twelve SSR primers were investigated and revealed the differences between those 36 varieties. These primer pairs amplified 27 alleles with an average of 2.3 allele per primer pair. In addition, those results showed genetic relationship by classification method within 36 varieties. The approach described here could be applied to monitoring of our varieties and adapting to peanut breeding program.