GI (GIGANTEA) is one of the output key genes for circadian clock in the plant. The JrGI gene was cloned and its expression in different tissues was analyzed to facilitate the functional research of JrGI. RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) was used to clone JrGI gene in present study. This gene was then analyzed by bioinformatics, subcellular localization and gene expression. The coding sequence (CDS) full length of JrGI gene was 3 516 bp, encoding 1 171 amino acids with a molecular mass of 128.60 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.13. It was a hydrophilic protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that JrGI of 'Xinxin 2' was highly homologous to GI of Populus euphratica. The result of subcellular localization showed that JrGI protein was located in nucleus. The JrGI, JrCO and JrFT genes in female flower buds undifferentiated and early differentiated of 'Xinxin 2' were analyzed by RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative PCR). The results showed that the expression of JrGI, JrCO and JrFT genes were the highest on morphological differentiation, implying the temporal and special regulation of JrGI in the differential process of female flower buds of'Xinxin 2'. In addition, RT-qPCR analysis showed that JrGI gene was expressed in all tissues examined, whereas the expression level in leaves was the highest. It is suggested that JrGI gene plays a key role in the development of walnut leaves.
Juglans/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

Child ; Humans ; Juglans ; Moxibustion

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Telomeres are located at the chromosomal ends and progressively shortened during each cell cycle. Telomerase, which is regulated by hTERT and c-MYC, maintains telomeric DNA sequences. Especially, telomerase is active in cancer and stem cells to maintain telomere length for replicative immortality. Recently we reported that walnut phenolic extract (WPE) can reduce cell viability in a colon cancer stem cell (CSC) model. We, therefore, investigated the effect of WPE on telomere maintenance in the same model. MATERIALS/METHODS: CD133+CD44+ cells from HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line, were sorted by Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and treated with WPE at the concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 40 µg/mL for 6 days. Telomere lengths were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) using telomere specific primers and DNA extracted from the cells, which was further adjusted with single-copy gene and reference DNA (ddCt ). Telomerase activity was also measured by qRT-PCR after incubating the PCR mixture with cell protein extracts, which was adjusted with reference DNA (dCt ). Transcriptions of hTERT and c-MYC were determined using conventional RT-PCR. RESULTS: Telomere length of WPE-treated cells was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner (5.16 ± 0.13 at 0 µg/mL, 4.79 ± 0.12 at 10 µg/mL, 3.24 ± 0.08 at 20 µg/mL and 3.99 ± 0.09 at 40 µg/mL; P = 0.0276). Telomerase activities concurrently decreased with telomere length (1.47 ± 0.04, 1.09 ± 0.01, 0.76 ± 0.08, and 0.88 ± 0.06; P = 0.0067). There was a positive correlation between telomere length and telomerase activity (r = 0.9090; P < 0.0001). Transcriptions of both hTERT and c-MYC were also significantly decreased in the same manner. CONCLUSIONS: In the present cell culture model, WPE reduced telomere maintenance, which may provide a mechanistic link to the effect of walnuts on the viability of colon CSCs.
Base Sequence ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; DNA ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Juglans ; Phenol ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; Telomerase ; Telomere

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several previous studies have investigated whether regular walnut consumption positively changes heart-health-related parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily walnut intake on metabolic syndrome (MetS) status and other metabolic parameters among subjects with MetS. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was a two-arm, randomized, controlled crossover study with 16 weeks of each intervention (45 g of walnuts or iso-caloric white bread) with a 6 week washout period between interventions. Korean adults with MetS (n = 119) were randomly assigned to one of two sequences; 84 subjects completed the trial. At each clinic visit (at 0, 16, 22, and 38 weeks), MetS components, metabolic parameters including lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), adiponectin, leptin, and apolipoprotein B, as well as anthropometric and bioimpedance data were obtained. RESULTS: Daily walnut consumption for 16 weeks improved MetS status, resulting in 28.6%-52.8% reversion rates for individual MetS components and 51.2% of participants with MetS at baseline reverted to a normal status after the walnut intervention. Significant improvements after walnut intake, compared to control intervention, in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.028), fasting glucose (P = 0.013), HbA1c (P = 0.021), and adiponectin (P = 0.019) were observed after adjustment for gender, age, body mass index, and sequence using a linear mixed model. CONCLUSION: A dietary supplement of 45 g of walnuts for 16 weeks favorably changed MetS status by increasing the concentration of HDL-C and decreasing fasting glucose level. Furthermore, consuming walnuts on a daily basis changed HbA1c and circulating adiponectin levels among the subjects with MetS. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03267901.
Adiponectin ; Adult ; Ambulatory Care ; Apolipoproteins ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dietary Supplements ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Juglans ; Leptin ; Lipoproteins

With increasing need to prevent serious food allergy reactions, Korean food allergen labeling regulation has been revised repeatedly. This paper aims to summarize current statuses of food allergen labeling in Korea and foreign countries and to analyze the issue of food allergen labeling regulation. Korean food labeling regulation currently requires 19 items and 22 foods to be reported on labels (eggs, milk, buckwheat, peanut, soybean, wheat, mackerel, crab, shrimp, pork, peach, tomato, sulfite, walnut, chicken, beef, squid, shellfish, and pine nut). However, some common food triggers (for example, almond, cashew nut, and kiwi fruit) are not included in the current labeling regulation. Another issue is that the Korean labeling regulation has not yet been fully implemented for nonprepacked foods; thus, consumers still have difficulty in correctly identifying allergenic ingredients in food. It should be assessed whether warning statements for cross-contamination are reasonable. To prevent the occurrence of serious reactions from accidental ingestion, efforts must be made to solve recently raised issues including the items required to be listed on food labels, the system of standards for labeling and display methods.
Anacardium ; Arachis ; Chickens ; Decapodiformes ; Eating ; Fagopyrum ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Food Labeling ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Korea ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Milk ; Nuts ; Perciformes ; Prunus dulcis ; Prunus persica ; Red Meat ; Shellfish ; Soybeans ; Triticum

Fourteen chemical constituents, including 5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-tetralone(1), 4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone(2), 4,5-dihydroxy-α-tetralone(3), blumenol B(4), dehydrovomifoliol(5), megastigm-5-ene-3,9-diol(6), juglanin B(7), blumenol C(8), loliolide(9), oleracone B(10), syringarsinol(11), pinoresinol(12), methyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate(13), and isovanillic acid(14), were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of 95% methanol extract of green walnut husks by silica gel and MCI column chromatography, and Pre-HPLC. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, such as NMR, MS and so on. Among them, compounds 1, 4-6, 8-13 were isolated from the green walnut husks for the first time, and compounds 4-6, 8, 10, 12, 13 were isolated from the Juglans genus for the first time. All of isolates were detected their inhibitory activities against HeLa, HGC-27 and Ht-29 cell lines by the MTT assay. The result showed that compounds 2, 3, 7, 9 and 11 exhibited inhibitory activity against the tested cell line. The IC_(50) of 7 were 26.5, 9.0, 25.4 μmol·L~(-1), respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; HT29 Cells ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Juglans ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Phytochemicals ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry

PURPOSE: Many studies have reported that pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) can cause anaphylaxis. No comprehensive investigations into anaphylaxis in PFAS have been conducted, however. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations and risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationwide cross-sectional study that previously reported on PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. Data from 273 patients with PFAS were collected, including demographics, list of culprit fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. We analyzed 27 anaphylaxis patients and compared them with patients with PFAS with oropharyngeal symptoms only (n=130). RESULTS: The most common cause of anaphylaxis in PFAS was peanut (33.3%), apple (22.2%), walnut (22.2%), pine nut (18.5%), peach (14.8%), and ginseng (14.8%). Anaphylaxis was significantly associated with the strength of sensitization to alder, hazel, willow, poplar, timothy, and ragweed (p<0.05, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that the presence of atopic dermatitis [odds ratio (OR), 3.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–10.23; p=0.017]; sensitization to hazel (OR, 5.27; 95% CI, 1.79–15.53; p=0.003), timothy (OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 2.70–51.64; p=0.001), or ragweed (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.03–9.87; p=0.045); and the number of culprit foods (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15–1.37; p<0.001) were related to the development of anaphylaxis in PFAS. CONCLUSION: The most common culprit foods causing anaphylaxis in PFAS were peanut and apple. The presence of atopic dermatitis; sensitization to hazel, timothy, or ragweed; and a greater number of culprit foods were risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Nuts ; Panax ; Pollen ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Risk Factors ; Salix ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: To investigate the causative allergens and clinical characteristics of Korean adult patients with food allergy (FA). METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional single-institutional study enrolled Korean adult patients (n = 812) suspected of having FA. For diagnosis, causality assessment history taking, ImmunoCAP specific immunoglobulin E measurement and/or skin prick test were performed. RESULTS: Among 812 patients, 415 were diagnosed as having FA. The most common causative allergen was fruit, with a diagnosis of pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS: 155, 37.3%), followed by crustaceans (111, 26.7%), wheat (63, 15.1%), fruits in patients without PFAS(43, 10.3%), buckwheat (31, 7.4%), peanut (31, 7.4%), walnut (25, 6.0%), red meat due to reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) (8, 1.9%), and silkworm pupa (13, 3.1%). Allergy to egg, milk, fish, or shellfish was rare in Korean adults. One-third of patients with FA exhibited multiple FAs (238/415, 57.3%); the average number of causative allergens was 2.39. About 129 patients (31.0%) were diagnosed as having anaphylaxis; in these patients, wheat was the most frequent causative food. Twenty patients were further diagnosed with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA); all were due to wheat. In particular, crustaceans, wheat, PFAS, buckwheat, and red meat (α-Gal) were also frequent causes of anaphylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Wheat, fruits with or without PFAS, and crustaceans are important and frequent causative allergens in Korean adult FA; these allergens differ from those found in childhood FA. It is notable that non-classic allergies, such as PFAS, FDEIA, and α-Gal allergy, are the important causes of anaphylaxis in Korean adult FA.
Adult ; Allergens ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Bombyx ; Diagnosis ; Fagopyrum ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Juglans ; Korea ; Milk ; Ovum ; Pollen ; Pupa ; Red Meat ; Retrospective Studies ; Shellfish ; Skin ; Triticum

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is increasing in young children. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of anaphylaxis in Korean infants, with a focus on food triggers. METHODS: The study analyzed the medical records of infants aged 0 to 2 years old who had been diagnosed with anaphylaxis in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: We identified 363 cases of infantile anaphylaxis (66.9% male). Cutaneous symptoms were most prevalent (98.6%), followed by respiratory (83.2%), gastrointestinal (29.8%), and neurologic (11.6%) symptoms. Cardiovascular symptoms were noted in 7.7% of the cases. Most of the cases of anaphylaxis (338; 93.1%) were induced by foods. The most common trigger food was cow's milk and cow's milk products (43.8%), followed by hen's eggs (21.9%), walnuts (8.3%), wheat (7.7%), peanuts (4.8%), other nuts (3.0%), and fish (2.1%). In cow's milk-induced anaphylaxis cases, more than half the cases had cow's milk specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels that were lower than the diagnostic decision points (DDPs), which is 5 kUA/L for those under the age of 1 and 15 kUA/L for those over the age of 1. In anaphylaxis induced by hen's egg, most of the cases (91.8%) had hen's egg sIgE levels that were higher than the DDP, which is 2 kUA/L for those under the age of 2 and 7 kUA/L for those over the age of 2. Of the infantile anaphylaxis cases, 46.8% had been treated with epinephrine, and 25.1% had been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector. CONCLUSION: Cow's milk is the most frequent trigger food of anaphylaxis in Korean infants. However, we found no significant correlation between the sIgE level and clinical severity. Education is required regarding the importance of epinephrine as the first line therapy for anaphylaxis and on properly prescribing epinephrine for infants with a history of anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Child ; Education ; Eggs ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Juglans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Nuts ; Ovum ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triticum

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, there is a lack of epidemiological information related to food hypersensitivity, including nuts and seafood. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the prevalence of allergic reactions and clinical manifestations associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds or seafood in university students. METHODS: We designed an observational cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire was applied to Mexican university students to identify allergic reactions associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds, and seafood. RESULTS: A sample of 1,200 students was included; mean age of 19.7 ± 1.7 years. Prevalence of symptoms associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds, and seafood were 2.8% (33 of 1,200) and 3.5% (42 of 1,200) respectively. The main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (63.6% in nuts and seeds), flushing (50% in seafood), and pharyngeal oppression (19% in seafood). Prevalence of perceived, probable and systemic allergy to nuts and seeds was 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5%–3.0%), 0.8% (95% CI, 0.3%–1.3%) and 0.2% (95% CI, 0%–0.4%) respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence (perceived, probable, and systemic) associated with seafood consumption was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.5%–4.5%), 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0%–2.5%), and 0.5% (95% CI, 0.1%–0.9%). Walnut and shrimp were the most frequently reported foods. CONCLUSION: For every 100 Mexican university students, approximately 3 or 4 perceived to have allergy attributed to the consumption of some nuts and seeds or seafood, while 1 or 2 students would have a probable reaction to this same type of food. Walnut and shrimp would be causing the higher quantity of food allergic reactions.
Abdominal Pain ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Developing Countries ; Flushing ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Nuts ; Prevalence ; Seafood ; Self Report ; Young Adult