Mutation of GmIPK1 Gene Using CRISPR/Cas9 Reduced Phytic Acid Content in Soybean Seeds.

Phytic acid (PA) acts as an antinutrient substance in cereal grains, disturbing the bioavailability of micronutrients, such as iron and zinc, in humans, causing malnutrition. GmIPK1 encodes the inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase enzyme, which converts myo-inopsitol-1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (IP5) to myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (IP6) in soybean (Glycine max L.). In this study, for developing soybean with low PA levels, we attempted to edit the GmIPK1 gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to introduce mutations into the GmIPK1 gene with guide RNAs in soybean (cv. Kwangankong). The GmIPK1 gene was disrupted using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, with sgRNA-1 and sgRNA-4 targeting the second and third exon, respectively. Several soybean Gmipk1 gene-edited lines were obtained in the T0 generation at editing frequencies of 0.1-84.3%. Sequencing analysis revealed various indel patterns with the deletion of 1-9 nucleotides and insertions of 1 nucleotide in several soybean lines (T0). Finally, we confirmed two sgRNA-4 Gmipk1 gene-edited homozygote soybean T1 plants (line #21-2: 5 bp deletion; line #21-3: 1 bp insertion) by PPT leaf coating assay and PCR analysis. Analysis of soybean Gmipk1 gene-edited lines indicated a reduction in PA content in soybean T2 seeds but did not show any defects in plant growth and seed development.

Cell Therapy Products in Alzheimer Disease.

We are rapidly becoming an aging society, with the ongoing increase in challenges of the elderly. The age-related cognitive decline in accordance with aging society is of major importance in public health. Recent studies have proved the impacts of sex-steroid hormone on the brain; compliant with aging, menopause and decrease in estrogen have an effect on the occurrence and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. A new hypothesis states that Alzheimer's disease is a postmenopausal dementia, and is a negative form of estrogen deficiency. In this review article, we reckoned the cause of postmenopausal Alzheimer's disease. We further investigated new cell therapies for postmenopausal Alzheimer's disease, which are under development in some pharmaceutical companies. One remedy is cell therapy that inhibits the amyloid beta formation, and the other is the umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

Decompression alone versus fusion for pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: A spinal infection is a serious problem for a spine surgeon, and there is currently much debate regarding how best to treat pyogenic spondylodiscitis using antibiotics and the instrumentations that have been developed to date. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine which method is better for treating pyogenic spondylodiscitis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed. PATIENT SAMPLE: Thirty-one patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis underwent surgical treatment between 2000 and 2016 at the authors' institution. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). We measured translation and rotation on flexion and extension X-rays to identify instability. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups: Group I, decompression group; Group II, decompression plus fusion group. Group I exhibited no instability according to a preoperative radiographic study, whereas Group II exhibited instability. Both groups were compared with respect to demographics and laboratory findings, including tests to determine C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), organisms, and the total duration of antibiotic treatment after the operation. We compared the results of the preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up radiographic examinations of the sagittal alignment of the infected segment. This study was supported by a clinical research fund (4,500 dollars) from the National Health Insurance Service, Ilsan Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were included; 22 (71%) were in Group I and 9 (29%) were in Group II. On radiological examination, the mean preoperative translation and rotation values in Group I were 2.45±1.22 mm and 5.64±1.98°, and in Group II were 5.35±1.65 mm and 12.01±4.22°. At the last follow-up, the mean translation and rotation values in Group I were 1.95±1.75 mm and 2.69±1.61°, and in Group II were 1.77±1.02 mm and 3.44±2.07°. Both Groups I and II exhibited stability after the operation. No differences were detected in preoperative ESR and CRP levels between the two groups. Group I, compared with Group II, experienced a shorter duration of treatment with antibiotics and normalization of ESR and CRP levels after the operation and a shorter hospitalization period. CONCLUSIONS: If the appropriate antibiotics are administered quickly when there is no instability, decompression alone is effective; however, if instability is detected, decompression plus fusion can be used to achieve stability.

Cell Therapy Products in Menopausal Medicine.

The incidence of postmenopausal diseases increases with the age of women. In this review, we introduce cell therapy products, a new treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis, which often occurs in postmenopausal women. We also figure out the trends of research on cell therapy products and emphasize the necessity and importance of this research for researchers and postmenopausal women. Finally, we suggest the direction for improvement of postmenopausal osteoporosis and research on cell therapy products. We investigated which medication have been used so far. We also examined the development and technical problems of technologies that are currently in use.

Microstructural and chemical properties of ZnO films formed using electrodeposition.

We investigated the effect of bath temperature and electrodeposition potential on the microstructural and chemical properties of ZnO films formed on Mo-coated soda-lime glass substrates using electrodeposition. The electrodeposition was performed using an electrolytic solution containing 0.05 M Zn(NO3)2 for 6 min. The ZnO islands grew larger to impinge with other islands until the bath temperature was increased up to 40 degrees C, above which continuous ZnO film was eventually formed. An increase in the electrodeposition potential resulted in enhancement of the growth rate of the electrodeposited ZnO film with the facilitation of film texturation. The c-axis was perpendicular to surface, which could be associated with the preferential orientation along the (002) direction. At the electrodeposition potential of -1.3 V (vs. a saturated calomel electrode), significant amounts of hydrogen bubbles that electrochemically evolved near the surface of the working electrode hampered the homogenous growth of the ZnO film, which could be responsible for morphological degradation of the ZnO film.