Heterotrimeric G proteins are key intracellular coordinators that receive signals from cells through activation of cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The details of their atomic interactions and structural mechanisms have been described by many biochemical and biophysical studies. Specifically, a framework for understanding conformational changes in the receptor upon ligand binding and associated G protein activation was provided by description of the crystal structure of the β2-adrenoceptor-Gs complex in 2011. This review focused on recent findings in the conformational dynamics of G proteins and GPCRs during activation processes.
GTP-Binding Proteins* ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins

Meniscal tears are a common source of knee pain in military personnel. We aimed to investigate the arthroscopic findings of isolated meniscal tears in soldiers younger than 30 years of age. Between May 2011 and April 2014, a total of 36 soldiers with 37 knees who underwent arthroscopic surgeries for isolated meniscal tears were included in this study. All patients were male soldiers and average age was 22 years (range, 19 to 30 years). Thirty patients (83%) were identified as having trauma in sports activity or military training, but no definite trauma was documented in six patients. We analyzed whether medial or lateral meniscus, the location and type of tear according to the arthroscopic findings. The incidence of meniscal tears was nearly same for both knees (right 18 and left 19). Twenty-six of 37 tears (70%) were found in the lateral meniscus and 11 (30%) in the medial meniscus. Twenty-five tears (68%) were located in mid body and traumatic vertical type tears (65%) were more common than degenerative horizontal type tears (35%). Although our study based on relatively small cohort, isolated meniscal tears in young soldiers were usually resulted from trauma such as sports or ranger training and commonly located in lateral meniscus. Regarding the type of tear, traumatic vertical type was more common than degenerative horizontal type.
Arthroscopy ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; Military Personnel* ; Sports ; Tears*

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest superfamily of transmembrane receptors and have vital signaling functions in various organs. Because of their critical roles in physiology and pathology, GPCRs are the most commonly used therapeutic target. It has been suggested that GPCRs undergo massive genetic variations such as genetic polymorphisms and DNA insertions or deletions. Among these genetic variations, non-synonymous natural variations change the amino acid sequence and could thus alter GPCR functions such as expression, localization, signaling, and ligand binding, which may be involved in disease development and altered responses to GPCR-targeting drugs. Despite the clinical importance of GPCRs, studies on the genotype-phenotype relationship of GPCR natural variants have been limited to a few GPCRs such as β-adrenergic receptors and opioid receptors. Comprehensive understanding of non-synonymous natural variations within GPCRs would help to predict the unknown genotype-phenotype relationship and yet-to-be-discovered natural variants. Here, we analyzed the non-synonymous natural variants of all non-olfactory GPCRs available from a public database, UniProt. The results suggest that non-synonymous natural variations occur extensively within the GPCR superfamily especially in the N-terminus and transmembrane domains. Within the transmembrane domains, natural variations observed more frequently in the conserved residues, which leads to disruption of the receptor function. Our analysis also suggests that only few non-synonymous natural variations have been studied in efforts to link the variations with functional consequences.
Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA ; Genetic Variation ; Pathology ; Physiology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Opioid ; Vital Signs

Seven phenolic compounds including p-coumaric acid (1), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), vanillic acid (4), luteolin (5), acacetin (6), and tricin (7), were isolated from the methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions of Echinochloa utilis grains. Compounds (1 - 4, 6) were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds were tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 5 and 6 displayed significant inhibitory effects, with IC₅₀ values of 27.9 ± 2.6 and 14.0 ± 1.1 µM, respectively. The results suggested that E. utilis ethanolic extract may be used as a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents and functional foods for the treatment of allergic diseases.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Echinochloa* ; Ethanol ; Functional Food ; Luteolin ; Methylene Chloride ; Phenol* ; Plants ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Vanillic Acid

PURPOSE: We aimed to report the clinical results of diaphyseal osteoplasty and primary soft tissue closure in recalcitrant poor skin lesion with superficial or localized bone infection on the anterior shin after chronic osteomyelitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 7 patients with poor shin skin lesion complicated by superficial and localized bone infection after chronic osteomyelitis. The average duration of chronic osteomyelitis was 39 years. After excision of the poor skin lesion, diaphyseal osteoplasty of the tibia was performed for the resection of infected bone and primary closure of the soft tissue defect. Postoperative results were evaluated with recovery of skin lesion, the amount of bone resection by osteoplasty and complications including recurrence of osteomyelitis. RESULTS: Mean size of excised skin lesion during surgery was 3.0×14.1 cm and successful primary closures of the defect were possible in all cases. All shin skin lesions were recovered and the amount of resected bone was mean of 18.7% of the anteroposterior diameter of the tibia. There was no recurrence of skin lesion, osteomyelitis or stress fracture. CONCLUSION: After treatment of a previous intramedullary infection in chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia, recalcitrant poor shin skin lesion complicated with superficial or localized bone infection was effectively recovered by diaphyseal osteoplasty and primary soft tissue closure. This procedure is relatively simple compared to other surgeries and effective in recovery of healthy shin skin without recurrence of osteomyelitis.
Fractures, Stress ; Humans ; Osteomyelitis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Tibia*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to reveal the correlation between the posterior vaginal wall and apex in pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all new patient visits to a urogynecology clinic between January 2013 and December 2015. RESULTS: Four hundred five cases were enrolled in our study. When all POP stages were included, the Bp (pelvic organ prolapse quantification point) had a moderate correlation with the C (Pearson's r=0.419; P < 0.001). Cases where Bp was stage 3 and above presented strong positive correlations with C (Spearman's ρ=0.783; P < 0.001). Cases where C was stage 3 and above presented also strong positive correlations with Bp (Spearman's ρ=0.718; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Posterior vaginal wall prolapse and apical prolapse were correlated with each other, and this correlation was more prominent as stage increased. Therefore, when admitting a patient suspected of posterior vaginal wall prolapse or apical prolapse, it is necessary to evaluate both conditions. Especially in cases more severe or equal to stage 3, it is a must to suspect both conditions as the 2 are strongly correlated.
Cystocele ; Humans ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse* ; Prolapse ; Rectocele ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Prolapse ; Vagina

Development of a pseudoaneurysm around the ankle is an uncommon complication after surgery. We experienced a case of a pseudoaneurysm, which developed from the anterior tibial artery. A 44-year-old woman had sustained painful swelling of her right ankle after the removal of implants for a distal fibular fracture. The pseudoaneurysm was confirmed by ultrasonography and angiography. The patient was treated with an intervention using a coil and recovered without further complaints. This case report aims to increase the awareness of this complication with review of literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Ankle ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Female ; Humans ; Tibial Arteries* ; Ultrasonography

Background: Sepsis, an uncontrolled host response to infection, may be life-threatening organ injury. Neutrophils play a critical role in regulation of host immune response to infection. Curcumin, known as a spice and food coloring agent, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neutrophil activation with its signaling pathways. Methods: Isolated human neutrophils were incubated without or with LPS and curcumin, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases such as p38, extracellularsignal- regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Neutrophil apoptosis was also measured by fluorescenceactivated cell sorting (annexin V/propidium iodide) in LPS-stimulated neutrophils under treatment with curcumin. Results: Curcumin attenuated expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 and the phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK, but not ERK1/2, in LPS-stimulated neutrophils. Additionally, curcumin restored the delayed neutrophil apoptosis by LPS-stimulated neutrophils(19.7 ± 3.2 to 38.2 ± 0.5%, P < 0.05). Conclusions Our results reveal the underlying mechanism of how curcumin attenuate neutrophil activation and suggest potential clinic applications of curcumin supplementation for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Additional clinical studies are required to confirm these in vitro findings.

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and chicken immunoglobulin (IgY) were developed by immunizing with flagella purified from Listeria monocytogenes 4b and the five MAbs have been confirmed to be specific against three different epitopes of flagellin. The antibodies showed specific reaction to Listeria genus and no cross-reactivity with other bacteria tested in this experiment including E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using the MAbs and IgY were developed to detect Listeria species and the sensitivity and specificity of the developed ELISA have been analyzed. The detection limit of ELISA using MAb 2B1 and HRP labeled IgY was 1 x105cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 1x106 cells/0.1 ml at 30degrees C. ELISA using the pair of MAbs (MAbs 2B1 and HRP labeled MAbs 7A3) detected up to 104cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 30degrees C. Detection limit of sandwich ELISA using IgY was 10 times lower than MAb pair. Using the developed ELISA, we could detect several Listeria contaminated in food samples after 48 h-culturing. In conclusion, both MAbs and IgY have been proved to be highly specific to detect Listeria flagella and the developed sandwich ELISA using these antibodies would be useful tool for screening Listeria spp. in food.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*chemistry ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibody Specificity ; Antigens, Bacterial/analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/*methods ; Flagella/*genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Immunoglobulins/analysis ; Listeria/*classification/immunology/*isolation&purification ; Meat/microbiology ; Milk/microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine

Acquired hemophilia is a rare disorder associated with serious bleeding in nonhemophilic patients. We had a 40-year-old woman who was diagnosed as acquired hemophilia with a factor VIII inhibitor level of 27.5 BU/mL. She was presented with gross hematuria and severe right shoulder pain, and was successfully treated with daily oral cyclophosphamide and prednisone for 2 weeks. After the remission, the doses of prednisone and cyclophosphamide were slowly decreased and she remained in complete remission without further bleeding episodes.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Case Report ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use+ACo- ; Female ; Hemophilia A/drug therapy+ACo- ; Human ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use+ACo- ; Prednisone/therapeutic use+ACo-