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Clinical practice guidelines recommend a target blood pressure (BP)<130/80 mm Hg to reduce cardiovascular risk. However, the optimal BP to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown.

Time-in-target range (TTR) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is determined by the proportion of time during which SBP remains within a defined optimal range. TTR has emerged as a useful metric for assessing SBP control over time. However, it is uncertain if SBP-TTR can predict the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we investigated the association between SBP-TTR during the first year of enrollment and CKD progression among 1758 participants from the KNOW-CKD (KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease). Baseline median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 51.7 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Participants were categorized into four SBP-TTR groups (0%, 1–50%, 51–99%, and 100%). The primary outcome was CKD progression defined as 50% or more decline in eGFR from baseline measurement or the initiation of kidney replacement therapy. During the follow-up period (9212 person-years over a median 5.4 years), the composite outcome occurred in 710 participants. In the multivariate cause-specific hazard model, a one-standard deviation increase in SBP-TTR was associated with an 11% lower risk of the composite outcome with hazard ratio, 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.97). Additionally, compared to patients with SBP-TTR 0%, the respective hazard ratios for those with SBP-TTR 1–50%, 51–99%, and 100% were 0.85 (0.68–1.07), 0.76 (0.60–0.96), and 0.72 (0.55–0.94), and the respective corresponding slopes of eGFR decline were –3.17 (–3.66 to –2.69), –3.02 (–3.35 to –2.68), –2.62 (–2.89 to – 2.36), and –2.33 (–2.62 to –2.04) ml/min/1.73 m2. Thus, higher SBP-TTR was associated with a decreased risk of CKD progression in patients with CKD.

Buckwheat has been considered as a potential source of nutraceutical components on the world market of probiotic foodstuffs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) sprouts on oxidation and pro-inflammatory mediators.

The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of 115 kDa glycoprotein isolated from Zanthoxylum piperitumDC leaves (ZPDC glycoprotein) in primary cultured mouse thymocytes. To determine whether the ZPDC glycoprotein has inhibitory capacity against inflammation in vitro, we evaluated the activities of inflammation-related factors such as phosphorylations of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and the activities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetata (PMA, 50 nM)-treated mouse thymocytes. Our results showed that the ZPDC glycoprotein (200 μg/ml) has a suppressive effect on the expression of MAPK (ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK), on mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), and on protein expression of pro-inflammatory proteins (iNOS and COX-2). We speculate that the ZPDC glycoprotein is an example of a natural compound that blocks pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways.

Perilla frutescens(L.) Britton var. frutescensis extensively cultivated on a large scale throughout the Korea, whereas var. crispais not. The weedy types of both var. frutescensand var. crispaare often found along roadsides, waste lands, and around farmers' fields. Although Perillais one of the important leafy vegetable and oil crops in Korea, systematic analyses on its genetic structure have been limited and are needed for future breeding progress. The objective of this study was to determine genetic diversity and relatedness in Korean accessions of Perilla. Field surveys and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were conducted to determine genetic diversity. Analyses of 30 Perillaaccessions by seven AFLP primer combinations identified a total of 121 fragments, of which 72 (60%) were polymorphic at the species level. Shanon's index of diversity Hsof the AFLP variations for cultivated type of var. frutescens, weedy type of var. frutescens, and weedy type of var. crispawere 0.63, 2.00, and 1.75, respectively. The weedy type of var. frutescensexhibited the highest variation. Most of the AFLP variation (78%) resided within populations. In the phylogenetic tree, two major clusters were recognized: (i) cultivated type of var. frutescensand weedy type of var. frutescensand (ii) weedy type of var. crispa. Although the wild species of P. frutescenshas not been identified, the weedy Perillais the key taxon for our understanding of the origin of cultivated var. frutescens.

To produce an artificial fruiting body of Armillaria melleaon the oak sawdust medium, seven strains of A. melleawere used. The top surface of oak sawdust medium covered with ground raw carrot was inoculated with each of 7 strains and cultured for 30 days at 25°C in the dark condition until the myeelia of A. melleacompletely colonized the medium from top to bottom. Then, the mycelia which were fully covered on the top surface of the medium were scratched slightly’ with a spatula and filled with tap water for 3 hours. To induce the primordial formation, the 7 strains of A. melleawere transferred to the growth chamber under the illumination (350 lux) of 12 hours and relative humidity of 85 ± 5% in a day and then cultured at 16 ± 1°C. Only A. melleaIUM 949 could form primordia on the sawdust medium, but the other strains did not make primordia at the same condition. The primordia of A. melleaIUM 949 were formed 10 days after complete colonization of the medium and the fruiting bodies were produced 7 days after a primordial formation. The experimental results suggested that IUM 949 strain might be a good candidate for mass production of fruiting bodies of A. mellea.

Effect of Cu foil substrate surface conditions on the electrochemical performance of Si thin film anode was investigated on four substrate surface conditions, smooth Cu foil, island-shaped s Cu foil, roughened Cu foil with sandpaper, and Cu foil implanted by plasma immersion lanthanum ion implantation (LaPIII). The relationship of effect significant with the thickness of Si was identifiedned. Sample on island-shaped surface and LaPIII treated on one showed better performance. For the thicker Si films, more roughness is better for the substrate. An optimized substrate surface condition according to the film thickness is necessary for the deposition of Si films.