Species Diversity, Composition and Stand Structure of Tropical Deciduous Forests in Myanmar

Thaung Naing Oo,Don Koo Lee,Marilyn Combalicer,Yin Yin Kyi 한국임학회 2008 한국산림과학회지 Vol.97 No.2

Antennal UDP-glycosyltransferase genes in the coffee white stemborer, Xylotrechus quadripes

Ning-Na Yin,Yu-Jie Zhao,Jia-Ying Zhu,Nai-Yong Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2019 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.22 No.4

The antenna of Xylotrechus quadripes is the principle olfactory organ that is subjected to a large number of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The gene families associated with the detoxification of these compounds are essential for the adaptive evolution of insect defensive strategies. However, knowledge on uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) of X. quadripes is unavailable. Here, we characterized 30 UGT genes identified from an antennal transcriptome of X. quadripes. Among them, 16 UGT genes encoding 508–527 amino acids shared the full-length sequences and signal peptides in N-terminus. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that X. quadripes UGTs had a variable N-terminus and a conserved C-terminus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that X. quadripes UGTs were classified into ten sub-families with the largest UGT one of UGT352 (nine genes) and a strict single copy of UGT50 within coleopteran species. Gene structural analysis indicated that coleopteran UGT50s underwent intron gains or losses. Expression profile revealed that all studied X. quadripes UGTs were transcribed in the antennae of both sexes, some of which exhibited sex-biased expression including UGT2, UGT6, UGT20 and UGT27 in females as well as UGT3, UGT11 and UGT12 in males. In addition, most of UGTs were widely expressed in other tissues, indicating their functional diversities in this beetle. Together, these findings provide valuable information for further functional studies of UGTs in X. quadripes, especially their roles in olfaction.

Species Diversity, Composition and Stand Structure of Tropical Deciduous Forests in Myanmar

Oo, Thaung Naing,Lee, Don Koo,Combalicer, Marilyn,Kyi, Yin Yin Korean Society of Forest Science 2008 한국산림과학회지 Vol.97 No.2

The characterization of tree species and forest stand conditions is useful in the planning of activities aimed to conserve biodiversity. The main objective of this study was to describe tree species diversity, species composition and stand structure of tropical deciduous forests distributed in three regions in Myanmar. Forest inventory was conducted in the Oktwin teak bearing forest, the Letpanpin community forest and Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park. According to the Jackknife estimator of species richness, 85 species (${\pm}18.16$), 70 species (${\pm}5.88$) and 186 species (${\pm}17.10$) belonging to 31 families were found in the Oktwin teak bearing forest, 33 families in Letpanpin community forest and 53 families in Alaungdaw Kathapa national park, respectively. Shannon's diversity indices were significantly different among the forests (p<0.05). It ranged from 3.36 to 4.36. Mean tree density (n/ha) of the Oktwin teak bearing forest, Letpanpin community forest and Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park were 488 (${\pm}18.6$), 535 (${\pm}15.6$) and 412 (${\pm}14.1$), while basal areas per hectare were $46.96m^2({\pm}3.23),\;49.01m^2({\pm}5.08)\;and\;60.03m^2({\pm}3.88)$, respectively. At the family level, Verbenaceae, Myrtaceae and Combretaceae occupied the highest importance value index, while at the species level it was Tectona grandis, Lagerstoremia speciosa and Xylia xylocarpa.

Modeling of Arrhythmogenic Automaticity Induced by Stretch in Rat Atrial Myocytes

Youm, Jae-Boum,Leem, Chae-Hun,Zhang, Yin Hua,Kim, Na-Ri,Han, Jin,Earm, Yung-E. The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2008 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.12 No.5

Since first discovered in chick skeletal muscles, stretch-activated channels (SACs) have been proposed as a probable mechano-transducer of the mechanical stimulus at the cellular level. Channel properties have been studied in both the single-channel and the whole-cell level. There is growing evidence to indicate that major stretch-induced changes in electrical activity are mediated by activation of these channels. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of stretch-induced automaticity by exploiting a recent mathematical model of rat atrial myocytes which had been established to reproduce cellular activities such as the action potential, $Ca^{2+}$ transients, and contractile force. The incorporation of SACs into the mathematical model, based on experimental results, successfully reproduced the repetitive firing of spontaneous action potentials by stretch. The induced automaticity was composed of two phases. The early phase was driven by increased background conductance of voltage-gated $Na^+$ channel, whereas the later phase was driven by the reverse-mode operation of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange current secondary to the accumulation of $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ through SACs. These results of simulation successfully demonstrate how the SACs can induce automaticity in a single atrial myocyte which may act as a focus to initiate and maintain atrial fibrillation in concert with other arrhythmogenic changes in the heart.

Association between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of the Pelvic Floor and de novo Stress Urinary Incontinence after Vaginal Delivery

Na Li,Can Cui,Yue Cheng,Yanhong Wu,Jianzhong Yin,Wen Shen 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.4

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the contributions of levator ani muscle (LAM) injury, vesical neck movement, urethral length and mobility, and urethral sphincter dysfunction observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) towards stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after vaginal delivery. Materials and Methods: Fifty primiparous women after 6 months of delivery (15 with SUI and 35 without) and 35 nulliparous as continent controls underwent MRI at rest and Valsalva maneuver. A published levator ani scoring system was used to characterize morphological changes of LAM. The severity of the injury was divided into three categories as none, minor, and major. A series of common parameters including levator plate angle, iliococcygeal angle, and levator hiatus were used to describe the functional conditions of LAM. Urethral mobility was defined based on the rotation of the urethra between Valsalva and rest status. Vesical neck movement was evaluated by its distance to the pubococcygeal line. Urethral sphincter dysfunction was defined as the widening of the proximal urethra and/or funneling at the urethrovesical junction during Valsalva. Results: Primiparous incontinent (PI) women had additional major levator ani defects (33.3% vs. 17.1%) while less minor defects (0.7% vs. 31.4%) than primiparous continent (PC) women. Vesical neck downward movement in PI women was more obvious than PC women (28.5 mm vs. 24.2 mm, p = 0.006). Urethral mobility was more active in primiparous women than in nulliparous continent controls (57.4 vs. 52.4), whereas no difference was observed on urethral mobility in the primiparous group (p = 0.25). Urethral sphincter dysfunction and funneling were present in 80% of PI women versus 22.9% in PC women (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The MRI findings revealed that de novo SUI was associated with major LAM injury, vesical neck downward movement as well as urethral sphincter dysfunction. Vesical neck funneling on sagittal images can be treated as a valuable predictor for SUI. The intervention for the PI should focus on the elevation of vesical neck, rehabilitation of LAM as well as recovery of the urethral sphincter muscle.

Effects of Copolymerization Temperatures on Structure and Properties of Melt-Spinnable Acrylonitrile-Methyl Acrylate Copolymers and Fibers

Na Han,Xing-xiang Zhang,Wan-yong Yu,Xi-yin Gao 한국고분자학회 2010 Macromolecular Research Vol.18 No.11

A series of 85/15 AN/MA copolymers (acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers with feed ratio of 85/15 mol%) were synthesized by aqueous precipitation polymerization at 20, 30, and 40 oC, and the copolymers were used to produce a series of fibers by melt spinning. The copolymers and fibers were characterized by element analysis (EA), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR), capillary rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The average length of the contiguous AN units synthesized at 30 oC had a maximum value of 10.53. Aqueous polymerization at 30 oC resulted the lowest glass transition temperature (Tg) of 87.1 oC, the lowest melting point (Tm) of 154.5 oC,and the highest decomposition temperature (Td) of 325.0 oC. 85/15 AN/MA prepared at 20 and 30 oC exhibited a better fluidity at 210 oC. The ideal reaction temperatures for melt processing of the AN/MA copolymers were found to be 20 and 30 oC.

Triterpenoid saponins from Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze and their biological activity

Yin-Di Zhu,Jing-Yi Hong,Feng-Da Bao,Na Xing,Ling-Tian Wang,Zhong-Hao Sun,Yun Luo,Hai Jiang,Xudong Xu,Nai-Liang Zhu,Hai-Feng Wu,Gui-Bo Sun,Jun-Shan Yang 대한약학회 2018 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.41 No.12

Four new ursane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopoursaponins A–D (1–4), six new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopodiside VII–XII (5–10), as well as eight known triterpene analogues (11–18), were isolated from the aerial parts of Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on extensive spectral analyses, including 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, 2D TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC), HR-ESI-MS and chemical methods. Compounds 1–18 were evaluated for their protective effects against anoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells and cytotoxicities against murine mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1. Compounds 8, 9 and 18 exhibited significant protective effects, while compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC50 value of 7.4 μm compared to 7.6 μm for the positive control 10-hydroxycamptothecin.

Molecular classification of hepatocellular adenoma: A single-center experience

Xue-Yin Shen,Xu-Guang Hu,Young-Bae Kim,Mi-Na Kim,Sung-Yeon Hong,Bong-Wan Kim,Hee-Jung Wang 한국간담췌외과학회 2019 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.23 No.2

Backgrounds/Aims: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign tumor that has a risk of malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bleeding. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of HCA by performing molecular classification. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from nine patients who were diagnosed with HCA from 1995 to 2016. The patients underwent liver surgery due to the existence of clinical symptoms. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to classify the subgroups of HCA. Results: Four patients with both β-catenin and inflammation were classified as β-IHCA. Two patients were defined as β-HCA. Two patients were classified as HHCA. Only one patient was defined as IHCA. None of the patients had unclassified HCA. Seven of nine patients had a malignant transformation. By comparing the characteristics of HCA between two groups, we found the mean tumor size in the malignant transformation group was greater than the non-malignant transformation group. Conclusions: Taken together, the mean tumor size and activation of catenin β1 mutation status might be the risk factors for the malignant transformation of HCA into HCC. Moreover, IHCA without the catenin β1 mutation could also have a possibility of malignant transformation into HCC.

A novel NPHS2 mutation (c.865A > G) identified in a Chinese family with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome alters subcellular localization of nephrin

Wu Na,Zhu Yingchuan,Jiang Wenhao,Song Yue,Yin Lan,Lu Yilu,Tao Dachang,Liu Yunqiang,Ma Yongxin 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.5

Background: NPHS2 is the causative gene of nephrotic syndrome type 2 (MIM 600995) which often clinically manifests as steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The NPHS2 gene encodes a slit diaphragm (SD) associated protein podocin. Objective: This study reported a novel disease-causing mutation of NPHS2 in a Chinese family with SRNS. We also investigated the pathogenic mechanism of the variants in this family. Method: A Chinese family with SRNS was recruited. Whole exome sequencing was performed to screen for disease-causing mutation. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the results. In vitro functional experiments including immunoblotting, co-immunoprecipitation and double immunofluorescence staining were performed to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of mutations. Results: In this family, compound heterozygous mutations of NPHS2 (c.467dupT and c.865A > G) were identified and segregated with the disease. The maternal c.865A > G was a novel variant, leading to amino acid substitution (p.K289E). In vitro functional assays indicated that c.467dupT (p.L156FfsX11) mutant lost interaction with nephrin. Both K289E and L156FfsX11 mutants showed sharply diminished plasma membrane localization. Furthermore, abnormal distribution of podocin mutants also altered the cell membrane localization of nephrin. Conclusion: We reported a family with SRNS caused by compound heterozygous mutations of NPHS2 (c.467dupT and c.865A > G). c.865A > G (p.K289E) in NPHS2 was a novel causative variant associated with SRNS. Both variants in this family not only affected the normal cell membrane localization of podocin, but also altered the cell membrane localization of nephrin which is the major architectural protein of SD.

Can we delineate preoperatively the right and ventral margins of caudate lobe of the liver?

Xue-Yin Shen,Hee-Jung Wang,Bong-Wan Kim,Sung-Yeon Hong,Mi-Na Kim,Xu-Guang Hu 대한외과학회 2019 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.97 No.3

Purpose: Complete removal of the caudate lobe, which is sometimes necessary, is accomplished via isolated caudate lobectomy or hepatectomy that includes the caudate lobe. It is impossible, however, to confirm the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe by preoperative imaging. This study was undertaken to determine whether we could identify the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe preoperatively using Synapse 3D visualization software. Methods: Ninety-four preoperative 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic images (1-mm slices) of the liver from candidate donors were examined. The images of the caudate lobe were subjected to a counter-staining method according to Synapse 3D to delineate their dimensions. We first examined whether the right margin of the caudate lobe exceeded the plane formed by the root of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and the right side of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Second, we determined whether the ventral margin of the caudate lobe exceeded the plane formed by the root of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) and the root of the RHV. Results: For the right margin, 17 cases (18%) exceeded the RHV-IVC plane by a mean of 10.2 mm (range, 2.4–27.2 mm). For the ventral margin, 28 cases (30%) exceeded the MHV-RHV plane by a mean of 17.4 mm (range, 1.2–49.1 mm). Conclusion: Evaluating the anatomy of caudate lobe using Synapse 3D preoperatively could be helpful for more precise anatomical resection of the caudate lobe.