A Validation Study of Mental Health Monitoring Through a Mobile Application

OBJECTIVE

Face-to-face evaluation is the most important in psychiatric evaluation, but smart healthcare, including non-face-to-face evaluation, can be beneficial considering the situation in which face-to-face evaluation is limited or the preventive aspect of mental illness. In this paper, we aimed to check whether mental health screening tests have the same significance as paper-based tests even when collected through mobile applications.

METHODS

A smart mental healthcare screening test was conducted on the 1,327 community subjects. We measured two indicators of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale, PHQ-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, GAD-7) to check mental health conditions.

RESULTS

The average Cronbach's alpha value of the PHQ-9 questionnaire was good at 0.870. As a result of PHQ-9's principal component analysis, one component with an eigenvalue of 1 or more was identified, which is suitable to be described as a single factor. The average Cronbach's alpha value of the GAD-7 was 0.919. The structural validity of the GAD-7 was confirmed through principal component analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales performed through mobile applications can have the same meaning as paper-based tests. Surveys using a tablet PC, or smartphone application can monitor residents' mental health and accumulate data. Based on these data, smart mental health management can check the mental health of residents and treat mental illness in connection with medical services.

Smaller hippocampal volume in APOE ε4 carriers independent of amyloid-β (Aβ) burden

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of the APOE ε4 genotype with hippocampal volume, independent of Aβ burden.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 71 participants with mild cognitive impairment or mild AD. All participants were divided into carriers or non-carriers of the ε4 allele. The main outcome was hippocampal volume measured using structural magnetic resonance imaging; ¹⁸F-florbetaben positron emission tomography was additionally performed to investigate the association of APOE ε4 genotype with hippocampal volumes, independently of Aβ burden. Analysis of covariance was conducted to compare the differences in hippocampal volumes between carriers and non-carriers of the ε4 allele after controlling for global Aβ burden or local hippocampal Aβ burden.

RESULTS

The APOE ε4 genotype was associated with a smaller right and total hippocampal volume (right: 3160.16 ± 365.71 vs. 3365.24 ± 434.88, p < 0.05; total: 6257.48 ± 790.60 vs. 6599.52 ± 840.58, p < 0.05), independent of Aβ burden.

CONCLUSION

Our findings on the association of APOEε4 genotype with hippocampal volume independent of Aβ burden suggest that the APOEε4 genotype may contribute to hippocampal neurodegeneration through an Aβ-independent mechanism.

Reduced Thickness of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex as a Predictor of Amnestic-Mild Cognitive Impairment Conversion to Alzheimer's Disease with Psychosis

BACKGROUND

A long-term follow-up study in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is needed to elucidate the association between regional brain volume and psychopathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease with psychosis (AD + P).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the thickness of the angular cingulate cortex (ACC) on the risk of AD + P conversion in patients with aMCI.

METHODS

This was a hospital-based prospective longitudinal study including 174 patients with aMCI. The main outcome measure was time-to-progression from aMCI to AD + P. Subregions of the ACC (rostral ACC, rACC; caudal ACC, cACC) and hippocampus (HC) were measured as regions of interest with magnetic resonance imaging and the Freesurfer analysis at baseline. Survival analysis with time to incident AD + P as an event variable was calculated with Cox proportional hazards models using the subregions of the ACC and HC as a continuous variable.

RESULTS

Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that the risk of AD + P was associated with sub-regional ACC thickness but not HC volume: reduced cortical thickness of the left cACC (HR [95%CI], 0.224 [0.087-0.575], p = 0.002), right cACC (HR [95%CI], 0.318 [0.132-0.768], p = 0.011). This association of the cACC with the risk of AD also remained significant when adjusted for HC volume.

CONCLUSION

We found that reduced cortical thickness of the cACC is a predictor of aMCI conversion to AD + P, independent of HC, suggesting that the ACC plays a vital role in the underlying pathogenesis of AD + P.

Anger-Related Characteristics According to Chronotypes in Bipolar or Depressive Disorders

OBJECTIVE

Though anger was highly associated with eveningness in general population, there is no study on the relationship between chronotype and anger-related characteristics in bipolar or depressive disorders. This study aimed to investigate the difference of anger-related characteristics according to chronotypes in bipolar or depressive disorders.

METHODS

Patients with bipolar or depressive disorders (n=238) were included in this study. Their chronotypes and anger-related characteristics were assessed with a self-evaluation of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and the Anger Coping Scale (ACS).

RESULTS

The eveningness group in patients with mood disorders showed the highest scores of anger-trait (p<0.001), anger-expression (p=0.002) and anger-in (p<0.001) in STAXI subscales, verbal aggression (p=0.010) in ACS subscales among three groups, but the morningess group showed the lowest scores of these subscales among three groups. However, there were no significant differences in all subscales of the STAXI and ACS according to diagnostic subtypes in the Friedman test.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggested that eveningness in patients with mood disorders might be related to anger proneness and maladaptive anger coping. To manage anger emotion in the patients with mood disorders, therapeutic interventions to modulate eveningness might be helpful.

Right hippocampus atrophy is independently associated with Alzheimer's disease with psychosis

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine whether regionally distributed medial temporal cortex thickness (or hippocampal volume) and frontal lobe volume are independently associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with psychosis.

METHODS

We identified 26 AD patients with psychosis (AD+P) and 48 AD patients without psychosis (AD-P) from the Memory Impairment Clinic at Pusan National University Hospital in South Korea. They were matched for age, gender, duration of AD, and Clinical Dementia Rating sum of box score. All participants met the National Institute of Neurological and Communication Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria for probable AD. Psychosis was diagnosed according to Jeste and Finkel's proposed diagnostic criteria for psychosis of AD. All participants underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging, and 3-D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo sequence was acquired for each. The FreeSurfer version 5.1 software package was used to analyze cortical thickness and volume on 3-D T₁ -weighted images. anova was used to investigate the differences in cortical thickness and the volume of the total frontal cortex, total temporal cortex, and subregions of the medial temporal cortex between groups after age, gender, years of education, Clinical Dementia Rating sum of box score, duration of AD, and total intracranial volume were controlled for. Furthermore, we added the total frontal volume as an additional variable to investigate whether the association between the medial temporal cortex and AD+P is independent of the frontal cortex.

RESULTS

We found that both left and right hippocampal volume were smaller in AD+P than in AD-P. In particular, there was a significant difference in right hippocampal volume between the AD+P and AD-P groups after total frontal volume was added as an additional variable.

CONCLUSION

We found that more severe hippocampal atrophy is associated with AD+P than with AD-P. In addition, atrophy of the right hippocampus remained significant among AD+P after adjustment for frontal volume. These findings suggest that right hippocampal atrophy is independently associated with AD+P.

LRRK2 kinase regulates α-synuclein propagation via RAB35 phosphorylation

Propagation of α-synuclein aggregates has been suggested as a contributing factor in Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying α-synuclein aggregation are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate in cell culture, nematode, and rodent models of PD that leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a PD-linked kinase, modulates α-synuclein propagation in a kinase activity-dependent manner. The PD-linked G2019S mutation in LRRK2, which increases kinase activity, enhances propagation efficiency. Furthermore, we show that the role of LRRK2 in α-synuclein propagation is mediated by RAB35 phosphorylation. Constitutive activation of RAB35 overrides the reduced α-synuclein propagation phenotype in lrk-1 mutant C. elegans. Finally, in a mouse model of synucleinopathy, administration of an LRRK2 kinase inhibitor reduced α-synuclein aggregation via enhanced interaction of α-synuclein with the lysosomal degradation pathway. These results suggest that LRRK2-mediated RAB35 phosphorylation is a potential therapeutic target for modifying disease progression.

Can Residual Symptoms During Inter-Episode Period after Partial Remission in Bipolar I Disorder Have Cyclic Patterns with Specific Frequencies?

This case report aimed to describe cyclic patterns of residual mood symptoms in partially remitted bipolar I patient. In a 24-year-old woman with bipolar I disorder, residual mood symptoms measured by self-rated daily mood chart for 18 months were analyzed using wavelet analysis. A 146-day periodicity was prominent for the first 100 days after discharge. Between 100-200 days, 146-day periodicity was progressively diminished and 21- and 8-day periodicity was prominent. Between 200-516 days, 21-day periodicity was diminished and 85-day periodicity became prominent. This case suggest that bipolar patients might have cyclic residual symptoms with specific frequencies.

Decreased gray matter volume is associated with the subtypes of psychotic symptoms in patients with antipsychotic-naïve mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease: A voxel-based morphometry study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between brain regional gray matter volume and two subtypes of psychotic symptoms, namely paranoid and misidentification subtypes, in antipsychotic-naïve mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Forty AD patients with psychotic symptoms and 25 AD patients without psychotic symptoms were assessed for cognitive and functional impairment. Presence and subtype of psychotic symptoms were assessed by using the delusion and hallucination subscale of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI). Structural MRI images were acquired on a 3 T scanner, and were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for automated analysis. The misidentification subtype is associated with more severe gray matter atrophy, and paranoid subtype is associated with less severe gray matter atrophy compared to non-psychosis group. These results suggest that the misidentification, the paranoid subtype and the non-psychosis group have a distinct neural correlation.

Apolipoprotein E genotype modulates effects of vitamin B12 and homocysteine on grey matter volume in Alzheimer's disease

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the effects of vitamin B12 and homocysteine on brain volume are influenced by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. We examined the effects in each subgroup (APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy normal controls.

METHODS

Forty participants with AD and 20 healthy normal controls were recruited from memory impairment clinics at Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. All participants were APOE genotyped and underwent magnetic resonance imaging, including 3-D volumetric images for grey matter (GM) volume. A multiple regression model integrated into statistical parametric mapping was used to see if there was any correlation between vitamin B12 or homocysteine and GM volume in each subgroup (APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers) of AD patients and healthy normal controls.

RESULTS

There was a significant positive correlation between serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and regional GM volume in APOE ε4 carriers with AD but not in non-carriers. We also found that there was a significant negative correlation between serum concentrations of homocysteine and regional GM volume in APOE ε4 non-carriers with AD but not in carriers (P < 0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons; extent threshold = 100 voxel).

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that the effects of vitamin B12 and homocysteine on GM volume might be influenced by APOE genotype.

Gray matter volumes and treatment response of psychotic symptoms to risperidone in antipsychotic-naïve Alzheimer's disease patients

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gray matter volumes are associated with treatment response of psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

METHOD

Risperidone, which is commonly used as an atypical antipsychotic drug, was administered in a clinical setting for 6 weeks from April 2012 to February 2013 to 25 antipsychotic-naïve AD patients with psychosis, diagnosed according to Jeste and Finkel's proposed diagnostic criteria for psychosis of Alzheimer's disease. Psychotic symptoms were rated with the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI) at baseline and at 6 weeks, and treatment response was defined as the change in K-NPI score from baseline to 6 weeks. Gray matter volumes were measured with magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry at baseline. Age, gender, years of education, total intracranial volume, apolipoprotein E genotype, dosage of risperidone, the baseline scores on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the baseline psychotic and nonpsychotic symptoms scores on the K-NPI were measured as covariates of no interest.

RESULTS

We found that treatment response of psychotic symptoms to risperidone in antipsychotic-naïve AD patients was positively associated with both left and right putamina, left parahippocampal gyrus, and left amygdala volume after controlling covariates of no interest (uncorrected P < .001, KE > 100 voxels).

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, we conclude that gray matter volumes of putamina, left parahippocampal gyrus, and left amygdala are associated with treatment response of psychotic symptoms after 6 weeks of treatment with risperidone in antipsychotic-naïve AD patients with psychosis. These results suggest that the volumes of specific gray matter regions probably contribute to treatment response of psychotic symptoms in AD patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01198093.

Impact of Apolipoprotein E4 Polymorphism on the Gray Matter Volume and the White Matter Integrity in Subjective Memory Impairment without White Matter Hyperintensities: Voxel-Based Morphometry and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study under 3-Tesla MRI

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare gray matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) integrity in Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE ε4) carriers with that of ApoE ε4 noncarriers using the voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the effect of the ApoE ε4 on brain structures in subjective memory impairment (SMI) without white matter hyperintensities (WMH).

METHODS

Altogether, 26 participants with SMI without WMH were finally recruited from the Memory impairment clinics of Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. All participants were ApoE genotyped (ApoE ε4 carriers: n = 13, matched ApoE ε4 noncarriers: n = 13) and underwent 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including 3-dimensional volumetric images for GM volume and DTI for WM integrity.

RESULTS

ApoE ε4 carriers compared with noncarriers in SMI without WMH showed the atrophy of GM in inferior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, anterior cingulum, middle frontal gyrus, and precentral gyrus and significantly lower fractional anisotropy WM values in the splenium of corpus callosum and anterior corona radiate.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the ApoE ε4 is associated with both atrophy of GM volume and disruption of WM integrity in SMI without WMH.

Supplementation of graded levels of organic zinc in the diets of female broilers: effects on performance and carcase quality

Zinc is an essential trace element. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of various levels of organic zinc (OZ) supplementation on growth performance and carcase quality of female broiler chickens. A total of 3200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 floor pens with 200 birds per pen. A maize-wheat-soyabean meal basal diet (Control) was formulated and 20 mg/kg OZ (20 OZ), 40 mg/kg OZ (40 OZ), and 80 mg/kg OZ (80 OZ) were added to the basal diet to form 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicates per treatment. The OZ source was zinc proteinate which contained 15% zinc. Results showed no significant difference between the treatments in growth performance. A significant increase in thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness was shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect was found on the thickness of back skin epidermis and dermis. Collagen contents in breast and thigh meats were not influenced by OZ supplementation but a significant increase in collagen content was found in the back and thigh skin. This increase in collagen content was significantly greater in the back and thigh skin of OZ 80 than with OZ 20. Shear force value and zinc concentration in skins and meat were not significantly influenced by supplementation with OZ. It is concluded that dietary OZ does not improve growth performance of broilers; however, it could increase skin thickness by increasing collagen content in skin, thereby improving carcase quality.

Effect of compost-, sand-, or gypsum-amended waste foundry sands on turfgrass yield and nutrient content

To prevent the 7 to 11 million metric tons of waste foundry sand (WFS) produced annually in the USA from entering landfills, current research is focused on the reuse of WFSs as soil amendments. The effects of different WFS-containing amendments on turfgrass growth and nutrient content were tested by planting perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub) in different blends containing WFS. Blends of WFS were created with compost or acid-washed sand (AWS) at varying percent by volume with WFS or by amendment with gypsum (9.6 g gypsum kg(-1) WFS). Measurements of soil strength, shoot and root dry weight, plant surface coverage, and micronutrients (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Na) and macronutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) were performed for each blend and compared with pure WFS and with a commercial potting media control. Results showed that strength was not a factor for any of the parameters studied, but the K/Na base saturation ratio of WFS:compost mixes was highly correlated with total shoot dry weight for perennial ryegrass (r = 0.995) and tall fescue (r = 0.94). This was further substantiated because total shoot dry weight was also correlated with shoot K/Na concentration of perennial ryegrass (r = 0.99) and tall fescue (r = 0.95). A compost blend containing 40% WFS was determined to be the optimal amendment for the reuse of WFS because it incorporated the greatest possible amount of WFS without major reduction in turfgrass growth.

Amelioration of physical strength in waste foundry green sands for reuse as a soil amendment

To avoid increasing costs of landfill disposal, it has become increasingly important for U.S. foundries to identify beneficial reuses for the 8 to 12 million tons of waste foundry sand (WFS) generated annually. A major drawback to the reuse of some WFSs as a soil amendment is their high soil strength, under dry conditions, where root growth may be limited. Fifteen WFSs were analyzed for strength to rupture using lab-formed clods, exchangeable cations (Na, Mg, Ca), metal oxide concentration (Fe, Mn, Al, Si), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and % clay. Several WFS samples from gray iron foundries demonstrated high strength to rupture values (> 1.5 MPa), and could potentially restrict root growth in amended soils. The percentage of Na-bentonite exhibited a positive correlation (R(2) = 0.84) with strength to rupture values. When WFSs containing more Na-bentonite were saturated with 1 mol L(-1) Ca ions, strength values decreased by approximately 70%. Waste foundry sands containing less Na-bentonite were saturated with 1 mol L(-1) Na ions and exhibited a threefold increase in strength. Additions of gypsum (up to 9.6 g kg(-1) sand) to high strength waste foundry sands also caused decreases in strength. These results indicate that high strength WFSs have properties similar to hardsetting soils which are caused by high Na(+) clay content and can be ameliorated by the addition of Ca(2+).

Enhanced light output from a nitride-based power chip of green light-emitting diodes with nano-rough surface using nanoimprint lithography

Enhanced light extraction from a GaN-based power chip (PC) of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a rough p-GaN surface using nanoimprint lithography is presented. At a driving current of 350 mA and with a chip size of 1 mm × 1 mm packaged on transistor outline (TO)-cans, the light output power of the green PC LEDs with nano-rough p-GaN surface is enhanced by 48% when compared with the same device without a rough p-GaN surface. In addition, by examining the radiation patterns, the green PC LED with nano-rough p-GaN surface shows stronger light extraction with a wider view angle. These results offer promising potential to enhance the light output powers of commercial light-emitting devices by using the technique of nanoimprint lithography under suitable nanopattern design.

Epidermal growth factor increases insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose in diabetic mice

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is synthesized in the pancreas and diabetic animals have low levels of EGF. However, the role of EGF in regulating the major function of the pancreas, insulin secretion, has not been studied. Here, we show that EGF rapidly increased insulin secretion in mouse pancreatic islets, as well as in a pancreatic β-cell line. These events were dependent on a Ca²⁺ influx and phospholipase D (PLD) activity, particularly PLD2, as determined using pharmacological blockers and molecular manipulations such as over-expression and siRNA of PLD isozymes. In addition, EGF also increased plasma insulin levels and mediated glucose lowering in normal and diabetic mice. Here, for the first time, we provide evidence that EGF is a novel secretagogue that regulates plasma glucose levels and a candidate for the development of therapeutics for diabetes.

Ligand profiling and identification technology for searching bioactive ligands

We introduce a new methodology named ligand profiling and identification for effective discovery of bioactive ligands such as peptide hormones. This technology was developed from a new concept of parallel column chromatography and active fraction profiling by nano-LC MS. Traditional methods use sequential column chromatography, and thus are inevitably limited by the low abundance of the peptide of interest and by a low yield due to the many column steps. Using this new technology, insulin was successfully identified and diarginylinsulin, a minor intermediate form of insulin, was unexpectedly also identified simultaneously from 100 mg of porcine pancreatic tissue. This integrative technology could be used to search for various low-abundance peptides (or bioactive molecules) rapidly and simultaneously, by applying this to the later stages of traditional sequential purification.

Photodegradation of pentachlorophenol and its degradation pathways predicted using density functional theory

The objectives of the present research were (i) to report the mass balance of chlorine during pentachlorophenol (PCP) photodegradation and (ii) to reveal the photodegradation pathway experimentally with a theoretical proof based on the density functional theory (DFT). The chlorine of PCP was completely mineralized to produce chloride ions after 24h of UV irradiation. As intermediates, 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and 2,5-dichlorophenol were identified. At least 80% of the chlorine balance during PCP photodegradation was accounted by PCP, these intermediates, and chloride ions. A DFT calculation showed differences in the C-Cl bond dissociation energy level and the positions of respective PCP molecular and the PCP intermediates. The dechlorination intermediates predicted using the calculated C-Cl bond dissociation energy were consistent with those experimentally confirmed, indicating the feasibility of this theoretical method in predicting the dechlorination pathway.

Effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cell components on growth performance, meat quality, and ileal mucosa development of broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted with 240, 1-d-old, male broilers to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) cell components on the growth performance, meat quality, and ileal mucosa development. There were 4 dietary treatments, each consisting of 6 replicates. Whole yeast (WY), SC extract (YE), and SC cell wall (CW) were added at 0.5, 0.3, and 0.3%, respectively, to the control starter and finisher diets. From 0 to 3 wk of age, a lower feed/gain ratio (P < or = 0.05) was observed with CW, whereas the WY-fed birds at 4 to 5 wk of age showed a lower feed/gain ratio compared with the control. From 0 to 5 wk of age, WY and CW gave higher BW gains than did the control. The shear force of raw drumstick decreased in the WY treatment relative to the control, and YE and CW treatments were intermediate. The shear forces in cooked breast and drumstick in treatments WY and YE decreased when compared with the control. The amount of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the breast meats of WY, YE, and CW were lower than the control at 10 d of incubation. In raw drumstick meats, TBARS values were lower in treatments WY and YE than that of the control at 6 and 10 d of incubation. At 10 d of incubation, skins from YE and CW treatments had lower TBARS values than did the control. Villus height was greater in WY and CW compared with those in control and YE. No differences were found in crypt depth among the 4 treatments. The villus height/ crypt depth ratios in WY and CW were greater than those of the control and YE. It could be concluded that dietary yeast components, such as WY or CW supplementation improved growth performance. Meat tenderness could be improved by the WY or YE. Both YE and CW had oxidation-reducing effects. Yeast cell wall may improve ileal villus development.

Development of bovine oocytes reconstructed with different donor somatic cells with or without serum starvation

We conducted this study to examine whether serum starvation in culture contributes to better development of bovine reconstructed oocytes and to evaluate which serum-starved somatic cell is the most effective for cloned calf production. In Experiment 1, donor cells of four different types (cumulus cells, ear fibroblasts, oviduct cells and uterine cells) were either serum-starved or not before fusion with enucleated oocytes, and reconstructed oocytes were further cultured for 168 h. Regardless of serum starvation, cumulus cells or ear fibroblasts yielded higher (P < 0.05) rates of fusion than other cells (62.6-69.3 versus 33.3-38.7%). In the serum-starved group, the first cleavage after reconstruction was significantly increased in cumulus cells and ear fibroblasts, compared with oviduct cells (93.4-94.3 versus 78.8-86.0%), and oocytes reconstructed with either of these yielded more blastocysts than oocytes reconstructed with oviduct or uterine cells (40.6-43.8 versus 20.3-19.0%). We observed a similar pattern in the non-starved group, but we found a significant increase in blastocyst formation was found only in cumulus cells compared with other donor cells (42.6 versus 15.4-27.7%). Overall comparison showed that serum starvation increased the rates of cleavage and development to the blastocyst stage, but we found a statistical significance only in the cleavage rate (80.0 versus 89.5%). In Experiment 2, we transferred randomly selected 59 blastocysts that were developed from oocytes reconstructed with serum-starved cells to 44 synchronised recipients. Of those recipients, 23 became pregnant on Day 60 after transfer (52.3%) and 12 (27.3%) delivered cloned calves. The mean gestation length and birth weight was 275 +/- 8 days and 39.6 +/- 15.6 kg, respectively. Although there was no significant difference among donor cells, blastocysts that were derived from oocytes reconstructed with ear fibroblasts yielded the highest rates of pregnancy (50.0%) and delivery (27.3%). In conclusion, serum starvation is effective for improving preimplantation development of oocytes reconstructed with cumulus or ear fibroblast cells and it may positively influence on obtaining better pregnancy outcome.

Isolation and characterization of the ethynylestradiol-biodegrading microorganism Fusarium proliferatum strain HNS-1

We cultivated hundreds of sediment, soil, and manure samples taken from rivers and farms in a medium containing ethynylestradiol (EE2) as the sole source of carbon, so that microorganisms in the samples would acclimatize to the presence of EE2. Finally, we isolated an EE2-degrading microorganism, designated as strain HNS-1, from a cowshed sample. Based on its partial nucleotide sequence (563 bp) of the 28S rRNA gene, strain HNS-1 was identified as Fusarium proliferatum. Over 15 days, F. proliferatum strain HNS-1 removed 97% of EE2 at an initial concentration of 25 mg.L-1, with a first-order rate constant of 0.6 d-1. Unknown products of EE2 degradation, which may be more polar compounds that have a phenolic group, remained in the culture medium.

Nutritive and economic values of high oil corn in layer diet

Two layer feeding trials were conducted to demonstrate the nutritive and economic values of recently developed high oil corn (HOC) in Korea. A corn-soybean meal-based commercial layer diet was chosen as the control diet. The yellow dent corn in the control diet was replaced with HOC to give an isocaloric diet, or replaced with HOC on a 1:1 basis to give a high energy diet. In Trial 1, 510 23-wk-old ISA Brown layers were allotted to three dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment. In Trial 2, 600 38-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were allotted to three dietary treatments, again with five replicates per treatment. Both trials were conducted for 15 wk. To measure the ME values of typical corn and HOC, two metabolism trials were performed with layers and adult roosters. The HOC used in this trial contained approximately 94% higher crude fat (6.60% as-fed basis) compared with typical corns. The gross energy, AMEn, and TME values of HOC, are 5.7 to 7.7% higher than those of typical corns, indicating that the energy use of each corn were similar. Oil from the HOC contains 6.5 to 8.3% more oleic acid and 6 to 7% less linoleic acid than oil from typical corns. HOC feeding, on an isocaloric basis or on 1:1 replacement with typical corn, did not exert any effect on various laying performances, including the physical quality of egg. This result reflects the quality of the commercial diet chosen as the control diet, which was already fairly good, such that the performance was already maximal. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content in yolk from hens fed HOC was higher than that from hens fed typical corns, reflecting higher linoleic acid content in the HOC. HOC feeding decreased the saturated fatty acid content in the yolk, due primarily to decreased palmitic acid. If used alone replacing typical corn completely in a layer diet, the acceptance price of HOC was estimated to be 154 won/kg when the price of typical corn was 131 won/kg (118:100). When both corns were allowed to be used, the acceptance price of HOC increased to 184 won/kg (140:100), indicating that a lot cheaper layer diet can be formulated when both HOC and typical corn are used in laying hen diet formulation.

A hybrid fenton oxidation-microbial treatment for soil highly contaminated with benz(a)anthracene

In order to mitigate the strong microbial resistance of benz(a)anthracene [B(a)A] in soil, a hybrid treatment of Fenton oxidation followed microbial culture was carried out. Based on optimal Fenton oxidation. i.e., 1.0 ml of ethanol, 0.2 ml of 0.5 M Fe2+, and 0.3 ml of 30% H2O2 per 1 g of 500 mg B(a)A/kg soil, about 43% of B(a)A-7,12-dione was generated during oxidation of 97% B(a)A. When the comparative biodegradability between B(a)A-contaminated soil and B(a)A-contaminated soil after Fenton oxidation was examined, it was found that 98% of B(a)A-7,12-dione degraded after 63 d in comparison with only 12% of B(a)A over the same period; results demonstrating that Fenton oxidation enhances biodegradability of B(a)A through B(a)A-7,12-dione.

Fenton oxidation of ethanol-washed distillation-concentrated benzo(a)pyrene: reaction product identification and biodegradability

After multiple ethanol washings followed by distillation, concentrated benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in ethanol (approximately 85 mg L(-1)) was treated by Fenton oxidation, where > 99.8% of B(a)P was removed under a pseudo-first-order reaction. GC-MS and HPLC analysis identified B(a)P-1,6-, -3,6-, and -6,12-dione as Fenton oxidation products; all of which are known to have lower toxicity than B(a)P. Microbial resistance experiments demonstrated that B(a)P-1.6-, -3.6-, and -6,12-dione are more easily degraded than B(a)P. These results indicate that the proposed treatment can be effectively applied to remediate B(a)P-contaminated soil.

Localization of phospholipase C-gamma1 signaling in caveolae: importance in EGF-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis but not in tyrosine phosphorylation

Upon epidermal growth factor treatment, phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) translocates from cytosol to membrane where it is phosphorylated at tyrosine residues. Caveolae are small plasma membrane invaginations whose structural protein is caveolin. In this study, we show that the translocation of PLC-gamma1 and its tyrosine phosphorylation are localized in caveolae by caveolin-enriched low-density membrane (CM) preparation and immunostaining of cells. Pretreatment of cells with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), a chemical disrupting caveolae structure, inhibits the translocation of PLC-gamma1 to CM as well as phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) turnover. However, MbetaCD shows no effect on tyrosine phosphorylation level of PLC-gamma1. Our findings suggest that, for proper signaling, PLC-gamma1 phosphorylation has to occur at PtdInsP(2)-enriched sites.

Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous perchloroethylene: products and pathway

Batch photocatalytic degradation of 1000-ppm gaseous perchloroethylene (PCE) was conducted with UV irradiation such that nearly 100% was decomposed within 10 min. The main intermediate and final product were identified as trichloroacetylchloride (TCAC) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), respectively, and minor ones as dichloroacetic acid (DCAC), monochloroacetic acid (MCAC), carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and phosgene. More than 90% of Cl- equivalent, i.e., the sum of the chlorine number in PCE, intermediates, and HCl, was compensated for during the time of PCE degradation; a result indicating that no other major chlorinated intermediates are present during the time of PCE degradation. In a similar experiment, 500 ppm of gaseous TCAC degraded into HCl within 3 h without producing DCAC or MCAC, where like PCE, more than 90% of Cl- equivalent, i.e., the sum of the chlorine number in TCAC and HCl, was compensated for during time of TCAC degradation. Accordingly, gaseous PCE is concluded to predominantly follow a degradation pathway of PCE --> TCAC --> HCl.

Prediction of Fenton oxidation positions in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Frontier electron density

Five recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ethanol were subjected to Fenton oxidation, and following GC-MS identification of respective oxidation products, their oxidation positions were compared to those predicted by Frontier electron density. Quinone forms of oxidation products were identified in each PAH. With the exception of fluorene, oxidation positions of quinone forms of products of acenaphthylene, anthracene, benz(a)anthracene, and benzo(a)pyrene corresponded with predicted positions in which Frontier electron density was high. From these results, it appears that determining the Frontier electron density of a PAH is a promising method for predicting the Fenton oxidation position.

Bradykinin activates phospholipase D2 via protein kinase cdelta in PC12 cells

Bradykinin (BK) activates phospholipase D (PLD) and induces several responses such as catecholamine secretion, collapse of growth cones, and gene expression in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Although two distinct PLD isozymes, PLD1 and PLD2, have been cloned from mammalian cells, the regulatory mechanism for each PLD isozyme by BK is not clear. In our present study, we investigated the activation mechanism of PLD2 by BK in PLD2-overexpressing PC12 cells. BK stimulated PLD2 activity in a concentration-dependent manner within 1 min and this activation was inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. PKCalpha and PKCdelta translocated from cytosol to membrane upon BK treatment, and rottlerin potently inhibited the activation of PLD2 by BK. These results suggest that BK activates PLD2 via PKCdelta in PC12 cells.

Phospholipase D2 activity suppresses hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays an important role as an effector in the membrane lipid-mediated signal transduction. However, the precise physiological functions of PLD are not yet well understood. In this study, we examined the role of PLD activity in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with H(2)O(2) resulted in induction of apoptosis in these cells, which is accompanied by the activation of PLD. This H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis was enhanced remarkably when phosphatidic acid production by PLD was selectively inhibited by pretreating the PC12 cells with 1-butanol. Expression of PLD2, but not of PLD1, correlated with increased H(2)O(2)-induced PLD activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Concomitant with PLD activation, the PLD2 activity suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Expression of PLD2 lipase-inactive mutant (K758R) had no effect on either PLD activity or apoptosis. PLD2 activity also suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced cleavage and activation of caspase-3. Taken together, the results suggest that PLD2 activity is specifically up-regulated by H(2)O(2) in PC12 cells and that it plays a suppressive role in H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis.

Phospholipase D1 is phosphorylated and activated by protein kinase C in caveolin-enriched microdomains within the plasma membrane

Activities of phospholipase D (PLD) in diverse subcellular organelles have been identified but the details of regulatory mechanisms in such locations are unknown. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a major regulator of PLD. Serine 2, threonine 147, and serine 561 residues of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) were determined as sites of phosphorylation by PKC (Kim, Y., Han, J. M., Park, J. B., Lee, S. D., Oh, Y. S., Chung, C., Lee, T. G., Kim, J. H., Park, S. K., Yoo, J. S., Suh, P. G., Ryu, S. H. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 10344-10351). In our present study, a triple mutation of these phosphorylation sites diminished markedly phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced PLD1 activity in COS-7 cells. We looked at the location of the PLD1 phosphorylation by PKC by observing PMA induced band shifts and by use of anti-phospho-PLD1 monoclonal antibody. The shifted PMA-induced proteins and the immunoreactivity of the anti-phospho-PLD1 antibody were mainly found in the caveolin-enriched membrane (CEM) fraction. Depletion of cellular cholesterol led to a loss of this compartmentalization of phosphorylated PLD1 in the CEM. Replacement of the cellular cholesterol led to the restoration of phosphorylated PLD1 in the CEM. Immunocytochemical studies of COS-7 cells revealed that PLD1 was localized in the plasma membrane as well as in the vesicular structures in the cytoplasm, but the phosphorylation of PLD1 occurred only in the plasma membrane. Our results, therefore, show that phosphorylation, and thereby activation, of PLD1 by PKC occurs in the caveolin and cholesterol-enriched low density domain of the plasma membrane in COS-7 cells.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced phospholipase D2 activation in lymphocytic leukemic L1210 cells

Extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been implicated in the activation of phospholipase D (PLD). However, it was still unclear how this activation occurs and what the molecular identity of the H2O2-stimulated PLD isozyme is. This study shows that H2O2 potently increases the PLD activity in mouse lymphocytic leukemic L1210 cells, which contain exclusively PLD2. In addition, H2O2 increased PLD activity only in PLD2-transfected COS-7 cells and not in PLD1-transfected cells. This suggests that PLD2 is selectively activated by H2O2. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA completely blocked the H2O2-induced PLD activation, indicating that Ca2+ influx is required. Moreover, pretreatment of the cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors GF-109203X and RO-31-8220 and down-regulation of PKCalpha by prolonged treatment with 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibited the H2O2-stimulated PLD2 activity, which points to the involvement of PKCalpha. Based on these new findings we suggest that PLD2 activity is specifically up-regulated by H2O2 and that the H2O2-induced PLD2 activation is mediated by Ca2+ influx and PKCalpha activation.

Cytosolic phospholipase A2-mediated regulation of phospholipase D2 in leukocyte cell lines

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including inflammation, secretion, and respiratory burst. Two distinct PLD isoforms, designated PLD1 and PLD2, have been cloned; however, the regulatory mechanism for each PLD isoform is not clear. In our present study we investigated how PLD2 activity is regulated in mouse lymphocytic leukemia L1210 cells, which mainly contain PLD2, and in PLD2 -transfected COS-7 cells. Intriguingly, A23187, a calcium ionophore that induces calcium influx, potently stimulates PLD activity in these two cell lines, suggesting that Ca2+ might be implicated in the regulation of the PLD2 activity. In addition to the A23187-induced PLD2 activation, A23187 also increases PLA2-mediated arachidonic acid release, and the A23187-stimulated PLD2 and PLA2 activities could be blocked by pretreatment of the cells with cytosolic calcium-dependent PLA2 (cPLA2) inhibitors, such as arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone and methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate in these two cell lines. Moreover, the A23187-induced PLD2 and PLA2 activities could be inhibited by cotransfection with antisense cPLA2 oligonucleotide. These results suggest a role for cPLA2 in the regulation of PLD2 activity in vivo. The inhibitory effect of arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone on the A23187-induced PLD2 activity could be recovered by addition of exogenous lysophosphatidylcholine. This study is the first to demonstrate that PLD2 activity is up-regulated by Ca2+ influx and that cPLA2 may play a key role in the Ca2+-dependent regulation of PLD2 through generation of lysophosphatidylcholine.

Removal of low concentrations of carbon tetrachloride in compost-based biofilters operated under methanogenic conditions

Research was performed to demonstrate the removal of carbon tetrachloride (CT) using compost biofilters operated under methanogenic conditions. Biofilters were operated at an empty-bed residence time of 2.8 minutes using nitrogen as the atmosphere. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were supplied as an electron donor and carbon source, respectively, during acclimation of the bed medium microbes. Once methanogenesis was demonstrated, CT flow to the biofilter was established. Biofilters were operated over a CT concentration range from 20 to 700 ppbv for 6 months. Bed medium microbes were able to remove up to 75% of the inlet CT. At excessively high CT concentrations (> 500 ppmv), methane production and hydrogen utilization by the bed medium microbes appeared to be inhibited. CT removal by the biofilter decreased when the hydrogen supply was removed from the biofilter inlet, indicating that hydrogen acted as the electron donor for reductive dechlorination. The removal efficiency and relatively low empty bed residence times demonstrated by these laboratory-scale biofilters indicate that anaerobic biofiltration of CT may be a feasible full-scale process.

Effects of feather cover and insulative jackets on metabolic rate of laying hens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of feather cover and newly-devised insulative jackets on the heat production in Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens at 20 C. An open-circuit calorimeter was used to measure the gaseous exchange of the birds. With ad libitum feeding, birds with clipped back and breast feathers produced 6% more heat than did normally feathered hens. This difference was removed by placing jackets on the defeathered birds. The jackets also decreased the surface temperature of the feather-clipped areas, indicating an effective insulation. When the jackets were applied to naturally poor-feathered hens, fasting heat production decreased significantly, but not to the base level of that of normally feathered hens.

Effect of the addition of varied salt levels on the performance of growing chickens fed rye diets

A series of feeding trials were conducted with Single Comb White Leghorn cockerels and broiler chickens to determine if salt per se was a contributing factor in the growth-depressing properties of rye. When added salt level increased from .3 to .6% in rye-based diets growth rate and feed conversion efficiency in young chickens improved significantly (P less than or equal to .05) but not to that of corn-fed birds. The relative growth rate of chickens fed rye diets containing .3% added salt was 78 to 86% of that of birds fed rye diets with .6% added salt.

Influence of rye and dietary salt level on water and sodium metabolism in intact and colostomized roosters

A study of water and Na metabolism was conducted with 24 roosters fed diets based on either corn or rye with two levels (.4 and 1.0%) of added salt. A diet containing water-extracted rye and a diet based on corn with a freeze-dried water extract of rye added at a level of 12% were also used in the study. Measurements were made on intact and colostomized roosters. In intact roosters dry matter metabolizability was depressed when rye diets were compared with corn diets. Measurements in feces from colostromized roosters fed rye as compared to those fed corn indicated that moisture, viscosity, and water holding capacity were increased and that bulk density was decreased. Diet salt level did not influence the responses regarding these parameters, but water extraction of rye completely alleviated the effects of rye on dry matter metabolizability and viscosity and partially reduced the influence of rye on fecal moisture while not altering the responses regarding water holding capacity or bulk density of feces. With the exception of feces moisture, the water extract of rye had no influence regarding these parameters. Roosters fed rye in comparison to those fed corn showed increases in water intake and excreta moisture content and decreases in urine sodium concentrations and plasma clearance of sodium. The response to rye regarding these latter parameters was dependent on diet salt level. The data indicated a reduced availability of sodium at the cellular level in rye-fed birds, which was manifest in a difference in route of excretion of sodium such that urine was the major route in corn-fed birds and feces was the major route for birds fed rye. The dietary fiber content of rye appeared to be a major factor in rye influencing sodium availability.