To obtain information on the sanitary of indoor environment in greenhouses used for shiitake cultivation, bacteria associated with larvae and imagoes of Sciaridae flies, pest to shiitake mushroom, were isolated and identified. A total of 1,048 bacterial colonies were isolated from the flies’ larvae and 984 bacterial colonies were isolated from the flies’ imagoes. Based on molecular analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence, Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Tetrathiobacter kashmirensis of β-proteobacteria, Enterobacter asburiae and Raoultella ornithinolytica of γ -proteobacteria, Curtobacterium sp. and Microbacterium thalassium of Actinobacteria, and Penibacillus taichungensis of Firmicutes were identified from the colonies of the flies’ larvae. While, Bacillus megaterium, B. thuringiensis, Lysinbacillus sphaericus and L. fusifomis of Firmicutes, Microbacterium thalassium and Citricoccus parietis of Actinobacteria, and Enterobacter asburiae of γ-proteobacteria were identified from the flies’ imagoes. Some of the isolated bacterial species were known be human pathogens. Overall, the results of this study suggested that mushroom fly carrying human pathogenic bacteria is one of sources impact on the sanitary of indoor environment of greenhouses used for shiitake cultivation.

The anti-proliferative efficacy of t,t-conjugated linoleic acid (t,t-CLA), c9,t11-CLA, and t10,c12-CLA was compared in several human cancer cell lines. Gastric NCI-N87, liver Hep3B, pancreas Capan-2, and lung NCI-H522 cancer cells were incubated with 50 μM CLA isomers over a period of 6 days. The t,t-CLA inhibited the growth of all cancer cell lines to different extents, but c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA inhibited or stimulated the growth of the cancer cell lines. NCI-N87 cells were the most sensitive to growth inhibition and apoptosis from all CLA isomers tested. In NCI-N87 cells, CLA isomers reduced the release of arachidonic acid (AA) via the inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2 ) activity, consequently reducing the production of PGE2 through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The efficacies of CLA isomers were in the following order (from most to least effective): t,t-CLA, t10,c12-CLA and c9,t11-CLA. Overall, these results imply that the anti-proliferative efficacy of t,t-CLA on cancer cells, especially NCI-N87 cells, was greater than other CLA isomers due to its induction of apoptosis through the inhibition of cPLA2 and COX-2 activities.

We sequenced 17,329 bp of mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the black dwarf honey bee, Apis andreniformis (Hymenoptera: Apidae), that lacks ~200 bp of the A+T-rich region for the completion of the genomic sequence. The gene arrangement of A. andreniformis mitogenome is identical to that of A. cerana. However, the genome contains 5 additional tRNALeu(CUN) located 4 copies between tRNAMet and tRNAGln, and 1 copy between tRNAGln and tRNAAla, along with the typical sets of genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs) including regular tRNALeu(CUN) and the A+T-rich region (at least 923 bp). Only 1 copy of tRNALeu(CUN) differed by 1 bp from other 4 copies of tRNALeu(CUN). Each additional tRNALeu(CUN) is followed by nearly identical 68-bp long repeat sequence (95.6% identity). All 13 protein coding genes have typical start codons found in insect mitochondrial PCGs (2 ATA, 9 ATT, and 2 ATG).

Worldwide studies on Apis cerana variation for biogeography and genetic diversity depended largely on a 86~93 bp-long mitochondrial non-coding region (internal spacer region) located between tRNALeu and COII (named as NC2), possibly due to higher variability among available markers. In order to incorporate the A. cerana occurring in South Korea into world extensive data, we also sequenced the NC2 from 118 A. cerana samples collected over nine Korean localities and 66 A. cerana samples over seven Asian localities, such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand. These data were combined with preexisting world data to scrutinize genetic relationships of A. cerana in South Korea to outside distributional range. Sequencing of 184 samples provided a total of ten haplotypes: five from Korea, six from China, one from Vietnam, and two from Thailand. Among them eight were new, whereas two were previously reported ones. Phylogenetic analysis of A. cerana NC2 haplotypes so far found including ours has confirmed the presence of four major groups of A. cerana (Asian mainland group, Sundaland group, Palawan group, and Luzon-Mindahnao group) and all haplotypes found in this study also were included in the Asian mainland group. In order to find further variable regions that can be used as sequence-based marker several mitochondrial non-coding regions and nuclear intron regions are in the middle of testing.

The aim of this experiment was to count excreted oocysts and to evaluate gross lesions and histopathological changes in broiler chicks infected with Eimeria; E. acervulina (Ea), E. maxima (Em), and E. tenella (Et). Twelve-day-old broiler chicks without infection with Eimeria spp. were used in this experiment. On day 12, the chicks in group Ea (n=3), Em (n=3), and Et (n=3) received oral inoculation with 5 × 10 sporulated oocysts of Ea, Em, and Et per 1 mL of tap water, while control chicks were injected with tap water of equal amount. The prepatent period (PP) for Ea, Em, and Et was four, five, and six days, respectively. To evaluate the progress of the coccidiosis, post-mortem analysis method and histopathological evaluation were performed two days after PP of Ea and Et, and three days after PP of Em at two-day intervals on one bird from each group. Intestinal segments (Ea, duodenum and upper intestine; Em, mid intestine; and, Et, cecum) of all chicks were obtained from the autopsied birds. Among pathological changes of coccidiosis, target parts of small intestine and caecal pouches showed mucosal petechiation and white plaques streaks in the duodenum. Histopathological evidence showed upper small intestinal villus preserved with different phases of parasite (zygotes, oocysts, macro- and micro-gametocytes) after infection with Ea in broiler chicks. Zygotes in the lamina propria and fusion of middle small intestinal villi in broilers infected with Em and invasion of the caecal crypt of oocysts and granulomatous inflammation of caecal submucosa in broilers infected with Et were found.

True hermaphrodites are animals of equivocal sex in which both male and female gonads develop simultaneously. The frequency of true hermaphroditism is higher in pigs than in other domestic animals. Two Korean pigs were diagnosed with true hermaphroditism showing ovotestes, epididymes, penes, and uteri. Histomorphologically, the testicular tissues consisted of Sertoli cells that were devoid of spermatogenic germ cells and showed proliferation of interstitial cells. However, the uteri were of normal architecture and had well-developed uterine endometrial glands. The samples were 38, XX female karyotype without the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene. The findings of this study could contribute to the understanding of true hermaphroditism in the Korean pig industry. * This work was supported by a grant (Code# PJ008148) from BioGreen21 Program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acteoside (the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor) on the SCNT efficiency with adult fibroblasts in dog. Canine adult fibroblasts were obtained from muscle and cell cycle of fibroblasts was synchronized by culturing to confluency, serum starvation and treating with 30 μM acteoside for 48 h. Cell cycle stages, cell cytotoxicity (apoptosis) and, prduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed using flow cytometry. The canine cells, prepared by confluent-cell culture or treating with 30 μM acteoside for 48 h, were injected into enucleated in vivo matured oocytes, the couplets were electrical fused and activated by calcium ionomycin. SCNT embryos using acteoside-treated fibroblasts were surgically transferred into oviducts of estrus cycle synchronized recipient dogs. In cell cycle synchronization (G0/G1), there was no significant difference between serum starvations (83.9%) and acteoside treated groups (81.3%) that were higher than confluent group (78.5%). In production of apoptosis, confluent and acteoside treated groups (4.3 and 4.5%, respectively) were generated less than serum starvation group (21.8%). In case of ROS, serum starvation group was induced a significantly higher than other groups. After synchronization of the donor cell cycle, either confluent or acteoside treated, cells were placed with enucleated in vivo-matured dog oocytes, fused by electric stimulation, activated, and transferred into naturally estrus-synchronized surrogates. Fusion and cleavage rate of acteoside treated group were 64.1 and 41.5%, which were higher than those of confluent group (53.9 and 20.6%, respectively). The reconstructed embryo development rates to 4-cell and 8-cell in acteoside treated group were 29.5 and 14.8%, respectively, while confluent group showed 11.1 and 3.2%, respectively. Total 54 SCNT embryos using acteoside-treated fibroblasts were transferred into oviducts of 2 recipient dogs and one recipient finally delivered one puppy, whereas din`t detected pregnancy on transfer of cloned embryos reconstructed with confluent cells in 6 surrogate dogs. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that canine fibroblasts could be successfully arrested at the G0/G1 stage with reduced the formation of ROS and apoptosis after acteoside treatment. This results may contribute to improve the effi-ciency of canine SCNT. * This research was supported by iPET (Grants 110056-3), Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea.

Acteoside acts as an anti-oxidative activity and anti-apoptosis in the cells. But, it has been not studied on maturation and development of porcine oocytes. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of acteoside on the morphological progress of meiosis, developmental competence, and ROS in porcine oocytes. Oocytes were matured in tissue culture medium-199, supplemented with acteoside at various concentrations: 0 (control), 10, 30 and 50 μM. The oocytes maturation rates of groups supplemented with acteoside were no significantly different (81.13, 85.96, 82.95 and 83.68%, respectively). Level of ROS was significantly decreased in acteoside treated group. Furthermore, the parthenogenetic blastocyst rate was significantly improved in 10 μM acteoside treated group compared with control group (44.83 vs. 27.75%). And we investigated effect of acteoside on the oocytes condition represented by cytoplasmic maturation by homogeneous distribution and formation of cytoplasmic organelles and regulation of apoptosis-related genes. In the results. during IVM, 10 μM acteoside treated oocytes showed that the mitochondria and lipid droplet were smaller and homogeneous distribution in cytoplasm compare with control oocytes. And reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) of parthenogenetic blstocysts revealed that acteoside increased the anti-apoptotic genes (Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), whereas reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bak). In conclusion, based on the results, the effect of acteoside on IVM was not attractive. However, in acteoside treated group, cytoplasmic maturation seemed to be improved with morphologically uniform distribution of cytoplasmic organelles. Furthermore, embryonic development in acteoside treated group was significantly highly increased than that of non-treated group. Our results represents that addition of acteoside to the IVM medium has a beneficial effect in physiology of porcine oocytes, providing a improved method for porcine oocytes in vitro. * This work was supported by a grant (Code# PJ008148) from BioGreen21 Program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The leaf beetle, Chrysolina aurichalcea (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae), is a pest damaging plants of Compositae. In order to understand the genetic diversity and geographic variation we sequenced a portion of mitochondrial COI gene (658 bp) and complete nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the species collected from seven Korean localities. A total of 17 haplotypes (CACOI01 ~ CACOI17), with the maximum sequence divergence of 3.04% (20 bp) were obtained from COI gene sequence, whereas 16 sequence types (ITS2CA01 ~ ITS2CA16), with the maximum sequence divergence of 2.013% (9 bp) were obtained from ITS2, indicating substantially larger sequence divergence in COI gene sequence. Phylogenetically, the COI gene provided two haplotype groups with a high nodal support (≥ 87%), whereas ITS2 provided one sequence type group with a high nodal support (≥ 92%). The result of COI gene may suggest the presence of historical biogeographic barriers that bolster genetic subdivision in the species. Different grouping pattern between COI gene and ITS2 sequences were interpreted in terms of recent dispersal, reflected in the ITS2 sequence. Finally, finding of unique haplotypes and sequence types only from Beakryeng-Islet population was interpreted as an intact remnant of ancient polymorphism. As more samples are analyzed using further hyper-variable marker, further fruitful inference on the geographic contour of the species might be available.

The leaf beetle, Chrysolina aurichalcea (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae), is a pest damaging plants of Compositae. In order to understand the genetic diversity and geographic variation of the species we sequenced a portion of mitochondrial COI gene (658 bp) and complete nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) collected from seven Korean localities. A total of 18 haplotypes (BARCA01 ~ BARCA18), with the maximum sequence divergence of 3.04% (20 bp) were obtained from COI gene sequence, whereas 17 sequence types (ITS2CA01 ~ ITS2CA17), with the maximum sequence divergence of 2.013% (9 bp) were obtained from ITS2, indicating substantially larger sequence divergence in mitochondrial gene sequence. Phylogenetically, the mitochondrial DNA has shown several haplotypes formed independent groups with substantially high node support (≥ 90%), whereas no such grouping was evidenced for ITS2, indicating different behaviors of the two molecules. Such difference may reflect a diverse dynamics of the species such as biogeographic history, mating behaviors, and also possibly different mode of inheritance of the two molecules, but requires further scrutinized examination of the dataset. In terms of population genetic perspective, overall no population subdivision was detected from both molecules, except for locality 7 (Eocheong islet) from mitochondrial DNA. As more scrutinized analysis is performed, further fruitful inference on the geographic contour of the species might be available.

Nowhere is the agenda for the inter religious dialogue more pressing than with the adherents of the two largest religious communities, Christians and Muslims. Together, these two communities encompass nearly half of the world’s population. In attempting to discuss the present dialogic relationship between Islam and Christianity, there are at least two major levels. The first level is that of the politico religious discussions and their acceleration in various countries. On the more traditional second level are the actual attempts at a religious/theological dialogue between representative Christians and Muslims. The second level is the primary focus of this study, which focuses on the Qur’anic teaching regarding relationship with the people of other faiths. One of the most influential factors which affect Muslim Christian relations is the Quran. Since the Quran is central in determining Muslim attitudes, it is important to know what the Quran says about other faiths, Christianity in particular for the Christian Muslim dialogue. As many contemporary Quranic commentators argue, Quran maintains that the universal faith in God encompasses, but at the same time transcends, all religions. In this framework of the universality of faith within a great diversity of religions, the Quran calls upon faithful Christians and Muslims to live in amity and engage in a genuine dialogue of faith. It is true that the Qur’an declares the Muslim community to be the best that has been raised up for humankind, as they enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong in the context of faith in God(3:110). It is also true that the Qur’an declares God has willed Muslims to be com-munity of the middle way so that they might bear witness before human-kind(2:143to live in amity and engage in a genuine dialogue of faith Furthermore, the Qur’an has specifically prescribed kindness and tact and gracious manners for Muslims when dealing with people of other faiths. The Qur’an, the foundation on which the religion of Islam is based, expresses in a number of ways a fundamental tolerance of earlier religions whose faith, like that of Islam, centers on the one and only God. It can be said, in this regard, that one of the doctrinal principles enunciated in the Qur’an is that of religious tolerance. I believe that we have in this doctrinal principle the basis for interfaith dialogue and cooperation which has the potential for leading us to a better world in this religious pluralistic world.

Inhibitory effect of colchicine on growth and gravitropic responses in Arabidopsis root was explored to find whether there was an involvement of ethylene production. It has been known that cytoskeleton components are implicated in sedimentation of statoliths to respond to gravitropism and growth. The root growth was inhibited by 25% and 40% over control for 8 hr treatment of colchicine at a concentration of 10-5 M and 10-7 M, respectively. The roots treated with colchicine at the concentration of 10-7 M showed the same pattern as control in 3 hr, however, gravitropic response was decreased in the next 5 hr. The colchicine treatment at the concentration of 10-5 M inhibited the gravitropic response resulting in 60° of curvature. In order to better understand the role of colchicine, the production of ethylene was measured with and without the treatment of colchicine. Colchicine increased the ethylene production by 20% when compared to control via the activation of ACC oxidase and ACC synthase activity. These results suggest that the inhibition of the growth and gravitropic responses of Arabidopsis roots by the treatment of colchicine could be attributed to the rearrangement of microtubule, and increase of ethylene production.

Background : Recently, ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer.) berry has been used as a health-promoting supplements. Also, Mulberries (Morus alba L.) fruit have been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat and prevent diabetes. In this study, we measured the cytotoxicity after fermentation of the extracts in Panax Ginseng Berry and Mulberry Fruit. Methods and Results : The extracts were prepared by decoction for 3 hours in distilled water (100 g/L). The dried extract was then dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in preparation for use. Cell viability was examined by an MTT assay. RAW 264.7 cells were seeded at 1 × 104/mL densities in 96-well plates. Each grouping had a non-treated group as the control. The extracts were added to each well and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C and 5% CO2. The MTT solutions (5 mg/mL) were added to each well, and the cells were cultured for another 2 hours. The supernatant was then discarded, and 100 μL of dimethyl sulfoxide was added to each well. The optical density was read at 540 nm. Conclusion : Probiotics and prebiotics modulate the composition of human and domestic animal gut microbiota. The beneficial effects may result from suppression of harmful microorganisms or stimulation of organisms which contribute in a positive way to the nutrition and health of human and domestic animal. Recently, fermentation using microorganisms for the production of more effective compounds has been extensively studied. In particular, the novel pharmacological effects of a new compound generated by fermentation have been reported. Some previous studies have demonstrated that Fermented herbal medicine extract showed better bioactivity than normal herbal Plants extract when used at the same concentration.

A 67-year-old man visited our hospital with anorexia and abdominal discomfort after taking herb for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomograpy showed splenomegaly. Blood test showed elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level, thrombocytopenia, and there was no viral or autoimmune hepatitis. Liver biopsy showed comprehensive fibrotic changes and necrosis on iver parenchyma. He recovered within 1 week after stopping the herb. There was no disease recurrence for 1 year. No case of toxic hepatitis by taking Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel has been reported. Thus, this case proved for the first time that Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel could cause drug induced liver injury.

Treatment of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage (SRH) is mainly conservative. However, if intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) or abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) develops, the treatment strategy should be more aggressive. Surgical decompression has been the gold standard; however, it is very invasive and highly morbid. Thus, percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) has been introduced as an alternative therapeutic option. We report on a case of successful PCD for prevention of progression of IAH to ACS in a patient with SRH after coronary stent implantation. This case showed that PCD can be an efficacious and safe method for treatment of IAH with impending ACS.