Background : When ginseng seeds were gathered, the seeds were unripe. To grow immature embryo definitely, special treatment called dehiscence must be performed. Even though dehiscence is completed, most ginseng seeds are on enforced dormancy. The breaking seed dormancy is generally achieved using cold treatment. Also it is reported that gibberellin treatment can replace the treatment. It is very time consuming process in order to develop new ginseng cultivar because ginseng flowers after 3 years of growth. To shorten the ginseng breeding period, it is necessary to establish fast generation progress. Therefore, this study examined the possibility of breaking seed dormancy of ginseng using GA3 treatment and alternating temperature. Methods and Results : Seeds were obtained from local variety fruit which is not inbred. Gibberellin of 100 ppm was treated at seeds for 24 hours. Fixed cold condition was treated on both –2℃ and 2℃. Alternating cold condition was treated on 2℃ and then –2℃, finally 2℃. Fixed and alternating temperature was continued for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 days that 15 days of alternating temperature is first 2℃ for 5days and then -2℃ for 5days, finally 2℃ for 5days. The other treatment periods such as 30, 45, 60, 90 days mean 10, 15, 20, 30 days respectively. Each of 48 seeds were sowed on tray in greenhouse at 3 replication. Experimental plot was completely randomized. Conclusion : Seeds untreated with GA3 were germinated little and there is no difference between 2℃ and –2℃. Alternating temperature until 60days made no difference with fixed temperature but germination rate increased up to 70.8% when seeds were treated for 90days. Germination of seeds treated with GA3 is much higher than untreated seeds especially combined with alternating temperature.

Heat shock protein (HSP) 70, the highly conserved stress protein families, plays important roles in protecting cells against heat and other stresses in most animal species. In the present study, we identified and characterized four Hsp70 (RuHSP4, RuHSC70, RuHSP12A, RuGRP78) family proteins based on the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of the Korean rose bitterling R. uyekii cDNA library. The deduced RuHSP70 family has high amino acid identities of 72-99% with those of other species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that RuHsp70 family clustered with fish groups (HSP4, HSC70, HSP12A, GRP78) proteins. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed the specific expression patterns of RuHsp70 family members in the early developmental stages and several tissues in Korean rose bitterling. The expression of 4 groups of Hsp70 family was detected in all tested tissue. Particularly, Hsp70 family of Korean rose bitterling is highly expressed in hepatopancreas and sexual gonad (testis and ovary). The expression of Hsp70 family was differentially regulated in accordance with early development stage of Rhodeus uyekii.

The blastocyst should initiate the dynamic changes in morphology and gene expression during hatching and implantation. Blastocyst morphogenesis includes two major events as the formation of blastocoel cavity for lineage differentiation into trophectoderm and inner cell mass, and the blastocyst hatching for implantation. However, there is little known about the relation of dynamic morphogenesis in blastocyst with hatching and implantation potential. In this study, we investigated effects of the dynamic morphogenesis in blastocyst on hatching and implantation potential by outgrowth assay. The cumulative time between each stages was calculated and analyzed. The feature of contraction was evaluated as follows: the number of contractions and the period of circumference was measured. The percentage of reduction during contraction was classified as weak when it was less than 20% and as strong when 20% or more. Compared to embryos of hatching group, embryos of non-hatching group were significantly delayed time at the compacted morula stage by 375.3 min (p<0.05) and at the early blastocyst stage by 650.1 min (p<0.01), respectively. Compared to blastocysts of outgrowth group, blastocysts of non-outgrowth group were significantly delayed at the compacted morula by 404.0 min (p<0.01) and at the early blastocyst stage by 535.4 min (p<0.01), respectively. There is no significant difference in the feature of contraction between hatching and non-hatching groups. However, blastocyst of outgrowth group showed more number of weak contraction and less number of strong contractions, compared with blastocysts of non-outgrowth group (p<0.01). Period of circumference was not significantly different in hatching and outgrowth process. These results suggested that time of blastocoel formation and number of weak contraction in blastocysts were closely related to hatching and outgrowth potential. Dynamic changes of blastocyst formation and contraction could be useful markers to select embryos for predicting the success implantation and pregnancy in human ART program.

Telomeres at the end of the eukaryotic chromosomes consist of tandem repeats of (TTAGGG)n DNA sequence and shelter in protein complex. Telomeres have the essential functions in chromosome stability and genome integrity and are hence related to cell senescence and cancer. Stripped, Black and White Cattle (Endangered Korean Native Cattle) characterized by their coat color, live in the Korean peninsula. However, they are endangered, with very small populations remaining. To investigate the karyotypic pattern of chromosome and also to quantify the amount of telomeric DNA was carried out from the traditional Korean beef cattle species, HanWoo and endangered cattle bull. We quantified the amount of telomeric DNA by the Quantitative-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using the telomeric DNA probe and chromosome analysis of lymphocytes was carried out using GTG-banding in 9 bull at age of 18 months. In results, we found that the normal (60, XY) male karyotype were detected in metaphase chromosomes from korean native cattle including Hanwoo, Stripped, Black and White cattle, respectively. In addition, there were no significant differences in the relative amount of telomeric DNA among the korean cattle bull. However, the relative amount of telomeric DNA of Hanwoo was slightly higher than that of White cattle. In conclusion, this study reported karytype and the amount of telomeric DNA which could serve as baseline information for comparison in conditions of physiological and health status of endangered Korean native cattle. Although we have no definitive explanations as to why this occurs, further investigations are needed to continue investigation of these animals throughout their life spans.

High yield is the most important trait in various agricultural characteristics. Many approaches to improve yield have been tried in conventional agricultural practice and recently biotechnological tools employed for same goal. Genetic transformation of key genes to increase yield is one way to overcome current limitation in the field. We are producing transgenic soybean plants through high efficient transformation method by introducing all gene member with AT-hook binding domain, hoping to obtain manageable delay of senescence. Many transgenic soybean plants are growing in greenhouse and GMO field, and will be evaluated their senescence and any association with yield increase.

This study was conducted to affirm the potential of seed priming techniques for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to maintain production of sustainable small cereal crops. Seed priming conditions were preliminary tested in laboratory. Sorghum seeds were hydroprimed and osmoprimed comprising a total of 33 treatments of different priming combination along with control. Seed primed in aerated solution of distilled water, PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and –0.3 MPa), KCl(1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3 (1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Maximum seed germination percentage, germination rate and reduced mean germination times (MGT) were observed when the seeds primed by CaCl2 1.0% for 24 h, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with KNO3 3% solution. Priming improved the MGT, germination index, and germination rate of all primed seeds statistically comparing to control. The MGT reduced by increase of treatment time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

Poor germination and labor intensive thinning of seedling after sowing are major deterrents in Setaria viridis production. Seed priming has the potential to improve the seedling emergence and economic feasibility by combined with seed coating for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to small cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effective seed priming conditions on the improved germination in the laboratory. Seeds were hydro primed with distilled water for 6, 12, 24 hours and osmoprimed with PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and -0.3 MPa), KCl (1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3(1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Our results demonstrate that treating S. viridis seeds with PEG -0.3 MPa solution for 12h increased to maximum germination percentage to 97%, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with by CaCl2 1.0% for 24h and KCl 1% for 6h. Priming reduced the mean germination times (MGT) of all priming treated seeds statistically comparing to control. There was significant interaction between treatment and time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

This study was conducted to affirm the potential of seed priming techniques for optimizing mechanized growing technologies to maintain production of sustainable small cereal crops. Seed priming conditions were preliminary tested in laboratory. Sorghum seeds were hydroprimed and osmoprimed comprising a total of 33 treatments of different priming combination along with control. Seed primed in aerated solution of distilled water, PEG8000 (-0.15 MPa and –0.3 MPa), KCl(1% and 2%), KH2PO4 (0.5% and 1.0%), KNO3 (1.0% and 3.0%), CaCl2 (1.0% and 3.0%) solutions for 6, 12, 24 hours at 15℃. Maximum seed germination percentage, germination rate and reduced mean germination times (MGT) were observed when the seeds primed by CaCl2 1.0% for 24 h, whereas the lowest germination percentage observed in seeds which treated with KNO3 3% solution. Priming improved the MGT, germination index, and germination rate of all primed seeds statistically comparing to control. The MGT reduced by increase of treatment time. Further studies for field performance of primed seeds are needed.

The isolated single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly, in which both coronary arteries arise from a solitary ostium. Diagnosis of coronary anomalies and identification of the exact anatomy of coronary arteries has significant clinical importance, hence, myocardial ischemia or sudden cardiac death is usually related to its course of anomalous coronary artery. Most patients with a single coronary artery are asymptomatic and have normal electrocardiogram and negative stress tests. However, if the patient has other structural abnormalities, for example, ventricular hypertrophy, the exam is determined. This report describes a case of single coronary artery, where the right coronary artery originated from the distal left circumflex artery in a patient with hypertrophic ardiomyopathy.

Polyethyleneglycol-adsorbed–superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD), has been proposed as an effective agent for reducing free radical-mediated injury. The objective of this study was to investigate a protective effect of PEG-SOD supplementation on ovarian tissue during transplantation. Ovaries from F-1 mice were collected and vitrified. After warming, ovaries were autotransplanted under kidney capsule. Mice were randomly divided into four groups according to dose of PEG-SOD, (0 U/ml, 100 U/ml, 1,000 U/ml and 10,000 U/ml respectively). Grafted ovaries were retrieved 2, 7 and 21 days later. PEG-SOD was treated by intraperitoneal injection once every 48 hours and especially for 21 days group, after first week treatment, PEG-SOD was treated once every 4 days. Morphology of ovaries was assessed histological analysis and ELISA for FSH was performed to evaluate restoration of ovarian function. In 2 days groups, morphologically intact follicle ratio of 10,000 U/ml group was significantly higher than other groups. In 7 days groups, morphologically intact follicle ratio was significantly higher in all treatment groups. In 21 days groups, there was no significant difference of intact follicle ratio in total follicles in all groups but intact primordial, primary and secondary follicles ratio was higher in 10,000 U/ml group. FSH levels in blood serum were decrease as time goes on, but there is no statistical difference in each groups. In conclusion, the data of the present study show that PEG-SOD has a beneficial effect on preservation of the morphologically intact follicle.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation causes follicle depletion. To overcome this problem, we investigate the effect of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a follicle recruitment control hormone, supplementation before and/or after mouse ovarian transplantation. A total of 120 5-week-aged BD F-1 female mice were used. The mice were randomly divided into four groups according to AMH doses (0, 5, 25, 125 μg/mL, respectively). AMH was injected intraperitoneally on every other day for a week before, after, or before and after transplantation of ovaries under kidney capsules was performed. One week after transplantation, follicular normality was evaluated by histological analysis and TUNEL assay. In Group A and C, morphologically intact follicle (G1) ratios of AMH treated groups showed no statistically significant difference. In Group B, G1 ratios of 25 and 125 μg/mL of AMH treated groups were higher than those of 5 μg/mL treated group, but there was no improvement in G1 ratio after AMH treatment. In every group, apoptotic follicle ratios did not show any trend according to AMH treatment. Proportions of primordial follicle were not significantly different according to AMH treatment in all groups. The result of the present study demonstrated that AMH treatment during on transplantation of cryopreserved ovaries has no significant effect on follicle survival and prevention of follicle depletion.

Objective : To investigate the effects of Simvastatin and Methylprednisolone on ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation using mouse models. Methods : The mice were randomly distributed into 1 control and 3 experimental groups. The B6D2F1 mice were given oral Simvastatin (5 mg/kg), intravenous Methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg), or a combination of both at 2 hours before ovariectomy. Same volume of normal saline was given perorally in the control group at 2 hours before ovariectomy. The ovarian tissues were vitrified accrording to our protocols. The vitrified ovaries were warmed 1 week later and auto-transplanted under bilateral kidney capsules. The ovaries and blood sera were collected at 2, 7 or 21 days after transplantation. Histological analysis, TUNEL assay, immuno-histochemistry for CD31, serum AMH level and embryonic development after in vitro fertilization were assessed for evaluation. Results : With regard to the total grade 1 follicle rate, both Simvastatin or Methylprednisolone treated groups were significantly increased at 2, 7 or 21 days after transplantation (except Simvastatin treated group at 7 days). A combination of Simvastatin and Methylprednisolone group was significantly improved in terms of the total G1 follicle rate, apoptotic follicle rate, CD31 positive area and serum AMH after ovarian tissue transplantation. However, there were no statistically difference with respect to the oocyte maturation rate, blastulation rate, and the other embryonic development parameters after in vitro fertilization procedure among the four groups. Conclusion : Our results suggest that combined donor Simvastatin and Methylprednisolone have beneficial effects on the quality and function of transplanted ovarian tissues.

Genome sequencing researches for considerable numbers of crops and wild plants are being developed. Cytogenetic researches according to chromosome number and size are essential to confirm and comprehend ploidy level and genome size before genome sequencing project is actually conducted. Cytogenetic researches on six food crop plants were carried out by DAPI staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method. Fagopyrum esculentum Moench showed 2n=2x=16, each chromosome length of 1.42㎛ to 1.77㎛, total chromosome length of 13.31㎛, and karyotypic formula of 2n=8m; Phaseolus angularis W.F. Wight, 2n=2x=22, 2.01㎛ to 3.84㎛, total 28.03㎛, 2n=9m+2sm, Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara, 2n=2x=40, 1.73㎛ to 2.76㎛, total 44.36㎛, 2n=5m+13sm+2st. Chromosome sizes of the other three species such as, Panicum miliaceum L., 2n=2x=36, total chromosome length of 30.83㎛, Sesamum indicum L., 2n=2x=26, 27.39㎛, lpomoea batatas L., 2n=2x=30, total 33.51㎛ were too small for each chromosome type to be identified and analyzed. The result of FISH analysis using 5S and 45S rDNA probe showed species-specific chromosome locations in the genome. These preliminary analyses were carried out to decide which food crop to prioritize for genome sequencing. This work was supported by the “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (No.PJ009837), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The fruit shape is an important character in tomato. OVATE is one of genes controlling fruit elongation in tomato. Two loci suppress the ovate mutation, sov1 and sov2, on chromosome 10 and chromosome 11 respectively. sov1 appears to control neck constriction in the fruits (Rodriguez et al, 2013). We sequenced the genomes of Gold Ball Livingston and Yellow Pear using the Illumina Hiseq 2000 generating 101 PE reads and developed molecular markers tightly linked to sov1. The locus was confirmed by fruit shape index analysis, marker genotyping and progeny testing of recombinants. We find mapped sov1 to a 145 kb interval corresponding to a region comprising two candidate genes. One of the candidate genes for sov1 is SlOFP20 another member of the Ovate Family Protein class. Although there is no difference expression of SlOFP20 in the parents at anthesis, when the gene is expressed very high, the mutation appears to be a 34 kb promoter deletion of SlOFP20 in Yellow Pear, conferring a pear shaped and neck-constricted fruit.

Acinetobacter baumannii is usually considered an opportunistic pathogen that it responsible for a variety of nosocomial infections, such as, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, meningitis, endocarditis, peritonitis, skin and soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections. However, over the years, the organism has developed substantial antimicrobial resistance, and thus, the management of infections has become more difficult. The less common infective endocarditis is one of the more serious consequences of nosocomial bacteremia. Here, we report the successful treatment of the first case of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii endocarditis in a 33-year-old patient.

Totally, 26 collections, 17 from Korea and 9 from China, were investigated for their sequences of 5S rDNA, especially the non-transcribed spacers (NTSs). Sequences of 5S rDNA were isolated by PCR using the primers, 5s-rRNA1 and 5s-rRNA2. Genomic DNA PCR produced single amplification of 300, 330, or 350 base pair fragments. Sequence analysis revealed that all inserts contained the part of 5S rDNA gene sequence and the full length of the NTS region. Three different sizes of the fragments were confirmed due to different size of NTS and their length were 300bp, 330bp and 350bp, respectively. Among 17 Korean foxtail millets tested, 14 collections showed single 300bp amplification. Longest fragment amplification, 350bp, was obtained only from the foxtail millet from China origin, even though 2 of them include 300bp fragment. CLUSTALW multiple alignments of 26 foxtail millets clearly revealed 4 areas with certain degree of sequence heterogeneity (region I, II, III, IV). Among 4 boxed areas, foxtail millet genotypes from China have distinct insertion especially in region III. Five of them have extra insertion of sequence and their additional sequences were either 45 or 48 base pair. Three Korean foxtail millets have 32 bp insertion. Other 8 Korean collections have short insert sequences (6 to 8 bp), 3 with 8 bp and 5 with 6 bp. In addition to insert, deletion sequences were also confirmed as major deletion was observed in region II of Chinese collection. The size of deletion was 7 bp long. According to phylogenic tree constructed using MEGA4 program, clear grouping was not revealed. To obtain more convincing results various collections from many countries should be obtained and analyzed to distinguish different germplasm from different origin.

Twenty two common millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) varieties collected from Korea, China and Russia were investigated for their phylogenetic relationship using 5S ribosomal DNA sequences with a hope to provide the basic information on their exact origin. Sequences of 5S rDNA were isolated by PCR. The primers, 5s-rRNA1 and 5s-rRNA2, were designed to isolate the complete NTS. Genomic DNA amplification produced two fragments with different length, 900 bp and 400 bp fragments, confirming the presence of two types of 5S rDNA repeats that differed from each other in the length of the NTS region. Amplified DNAs of 400 bp fragment were subcloned and used for further investigation. The obtained NTS sequences ranged from 200 to 300 bp and homology of sequences among plant materials was much higher than long repeat. CLUSTALW multiple aligment of 5S rDNA sequences from 22 different common millets revealed the clear difference by their origin. And critically different areas with insert or deletion were also confirmed. Those sequence difference seems to be used for discrimination of cultivars from different origin and use as molecular markers for origin identification. In phylogenic tree construction, the clear classification was shown where the genotypes from China and Russia is positioned together and stay away from domestic genotypes.

Herb extracts commercially used in Korea were screened for PPAR-γ agonist test and α-glucosidase inhibition assay. Total 16 herb plants had a PPAR-γ agonist activity. Specially, Alisma orientale Juz (108.41%), Ephedra sinica (98.22%), Sasa japonica Makino var. purpurascens Nakai (140.68%), Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (106.79%) and Cnidium officinale Makino (113.00%) showed high PPAR-γ agonist activity rate compared with rosiglitazone's (167.46%). And Cornus officinalis S. et Z. (90.3%), Cinnamomum cassia Blume (89.2%), Psoralea corylifolia L. (89.8%), Paeonia japonica (Makino) Miyabe (92.4%) and Paeonia suffruticosa Andr (93.2%), showed high α-glucosidase inhibition rates. These results support previous reports of the efficacy of Oriental medicinal plants used for diabetes mellitus.

Muscle strength and endurance activities of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer; KG) were compared with those of wild simulated cultivation ginseng (WCG) in mice. Fifty male ICR mice were divided into five groups: A (vehicle); B (WCG 100 mg/kg); C (WCG 500 mg/kg); D (KG 100 mg/kg); E (KG 500 mg/kg). Subsequently, the mice were subjected to the forced swimming test (FST) and treadmill test at the 4th and 7th weeks. The glycogen content in the muscle and blood analysis (levels of glucose, triglyceride (TG), IGF-1) were also performed immediately after the last FST and treadmill test at the 7th week. Immobility times in FST were shorter in WCG- than KG-treated groups, and the results of the treadmill tests were also significant except for KG-treated at 100 mg/kg. The glycogen content was increased in both groups with a peak at 500 mg/kg of WCG groups. Serum concentrations of TG and glucose were decreased by administration of KG and WCG and all treated groups showed increase in the level of IGF-1 in serum. These results suggest that KG and WCG supplementations are effective in escalating the muscle strength and endurance.