Cheol Park

Cloning and expression pattern of a hemolin homologue from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

Hemolin has been known to play a key role in insect innate immunity. In an attempt to examine expression pattern of the Hemolin gene in the diamondback moth, Plutellea xylostella, the full-length cDNA of Hemolin was cloned using 5′-RACE PCR technique. The cDNA contained a 5′ untranslated region of 48 nucleotides and a 3′ untranslated region of 198 nucleotides, including a stop codon (TAA) and a poly (A) tail. It consists of 1,401 bp with an open reading frame of 1,245 bp, encoding 414 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of PxHemolin has relatively low identities (35−42%) to various insect Hemolins. However, it has high three-dimensional structural similarity to Hemolin. Interestingly, analysis of spatial expression pattern of PxHemolin shows that it was highly expressed in the Malpighian tubule and the silk gland although it was also detected in fat body and gut. Furthermore, PxHemolin mRNA was highly induced 3 hr after immune-challenging with lipopolysaccharide and was gradually up-regulated after laminarin treatment. These data suggest that PxHemolin may play a role in innate immune responses although it remains to further elucidate the precise biological functions in P. xylostella.

Effects of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Young Patients in the Early Stage of Psychosis

Objective To develop a model of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for Korean patients with early psychosis. Methods The group CBT utilized in the present study consisted of metacognitive training, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle managements. The Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics (SWN-K), Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire (AIHQ), Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) were administered prior to and after CBT sessions. The participants were categorized into two groups according to the median duration of untreated psychosis (DUP; 4 months). Results A total of 34 patients were included in this analysis. From pre- to post-therapy, there were significant increases in the SWN-K and DAI scores and significant decreases in the hostility subscale of the AIHQ, PSS, and CGI scores. Significant time × DUP interaction effects were observed for the SWN-K, DAI, and BDI scores, such that there were significant changes in patients with a short DUP but not in those with a long DUP. Conclusion The group CBT program had a positive effect on subjective wellbeing, attitude toward treatment, perceived stress, and suspiciousness of young Korean patients with early psychosis. These effects were particularly significant in patients with a short DUP.

Cloning and induction patterns of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in responses to immune elicitors and nucleopolyhedrovirus in the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide anion to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, and has accordingly been known to play an important role in reducing oxidative stresses induced by various stresses and infection. In an attempt to investigate whether it is involved in antiviral immune responses in insects, the full‐length cDNA of SeCu/ZnSOD was obtained from the cDNA library of Spodoptera exigua. It is 1,008u2003bp long (excluding poly‐A tail) with the open reading frame of 459u2003bp encoding 152 amino acids. Sequence analysis with BLAST shows identities to various insects such as Bombyx mori (80%), Hyphantria cunea (80%), Plutella xylostella (77%), Aedes aegypti (73%), Apis mellifera (71%), Lasius niger (70%), Drosophila melanogaster (69%) and Gryllotalpa orientalis (67%). During development, S. exigua expressed SeCu/ZnSOD predominantly at embryonic stage, pupal stage and adult female stage, whereas it was slightly expressed in larvae and adult male. In addition, SeCu/ZnSOD was highly expressed in the fat body, hemocyte, silk gland and Malpighian tubule, although the levels of SeCu/ZnSOD transcripts were very low in the gut. Furthermore, SeCu/ZnSOD mRNA was slightly induced in response to either lipopolysaccharide or laminarin. Finally, SeCu/ZnSOD mRNA was induced in carcass in response to S. exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeNPV) infection, whereas it was not strikingly induced in the gut. The precise roles of SeCu/ZnSOD in antiviral immune response remains to be further studied.

S219. RISK FACTORS FOR LOW BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN PATIENTS TAKING ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to explore potentially modifiable risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in adults with psychotic disorders. Furthermore, we sought to identify gender-specific risk factors. Methods The study included 285 community-dwelling patients with psychotic disorders. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD. Laboratory examinations included vitamin D and prolactin levels. Low BMD was defined as<1 standard deviation below the mean for young adults. Clinical characteristics associated with low BMD were identified with logistic regression analysis in total population and each gender. Results Fifty-eight (20.4%) subjects had low BMD. Low BMD was more common in men and in patients with low body mass indices (BMIs), as well as in those with shorter treatment durations, those on Medicaid, and patients using serotonergic antidepressants. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low BMD was negatively associated with BMI and treatment duration and positively with gender (male) and serotonergic antidepressants use in the overall population. In men, low BMD was associated with treatment duration and BMI; in women, low BMD was associated with BMI, prolactin level, vitamin D, and serotonergic antidepressant use. Discussion Low BMI was risk factor for reduced BMD in both genders. Shorter treatment duration was associated with low BMD in men, whereas higher prolactin levels, lower vitamin D, and the use of serotonergic antidepressants were associated with low BMD in women. Psychotropic agents should be prescribed mindful of their effects on bone, as use of these medications is a modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis in women with psychotic disorders.