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IMPORTANCE: The appropriate follow-up surveillance strategy for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical outcomes in patients with and without ACS who have undergone high-risk PCI according to a follow-up strategy of routine stress testing at 12 months after PCI vs standard care alone. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The POST-PCI (Pragmatic Trial Comparing Symptom-Oriented vs Routine Stress Testing in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) trial was a randomized clinical trial that compared follow-up strategies of routine functional testing vs standard care alone 12 months after high-risk PCI. Patients were categorized as presenting with or without ACS. Patients were enrolled in the trial from November 2017 through September 2019, and patients were randomized from 11 sites in South Korea; data analysis was performed in 2022. INTERVENTION: Patients categorized as presenting with or without ACS were randomized to either a routine functional testing or standard care alone follow-up strategy 12 months after high-risk PCI. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina at 2 years following randomization. Kaplan-Meier event rates through 2 years and Cox model hazard ratios (HRs) were generated, and interactions were tested. RESULTS: Of 1706 included patients, 350 patients (20.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) patient age was 64.7 (10.3) years. In total, 526 patients (30.8%) presented with ACS. Compared with those without ACS, patients with ACS had a 55% greater risk of the primary outcome (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03-2.33; P = .03) due to higher event rates in the first year. The 2-year incidences of the primary outcome were similar between strategies of routine functional testing or standard care alone in patients with ACS (functional testing: 16 of 251 [6.6%]; standard care: 23 of 275 [8.5%]; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.40-1.44; P = .39) and in patients without ACS (functional testing: 30 of 598 [5.1%]; standard care: 28 of 582 [4.9%]; HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.62-1.74; P = .88) (P for interaction for ACS = .45). Although a landmark analysis suggested that the rates of invasive angiography and repeat revascularization were higher after 1 year in the routine functional testing group, the formal interactions between ACS status and either invasive angiography or repeat revascularization were not significant. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Despite being at higher risk for adverse clinical events in the first year after PCI than patients without ACS, patients with ACS who had undergone high-risk PCI did not derive incremental benefit from routine surveillance stress testing at 12 months compared with standard care alone during follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03217877

The relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) and cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. Our study assessed the prognostic implications of visit-to-visit BPV in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study enrolled 7,375 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for AMI and at least five measurements of blood pressure after hospital discharge. Visit-to-visit BPV was estimated as variability independent of mean. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoints were major cardiovascular events (the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke) and hospitalization for heart failure. During a median follow-up of 5.8 years, adjusted risks of all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular events, and hospitalization for heart failure continuously increased as systolic BPV and diastolic BPV increased. Patients in the highest quartile of systolic BPV (versus lowest) had increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.51 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–1.85]), major cardiovascular events (aHR 1.31 [95% CI 1.1–1.55]), and hospitalization for heart failure (aHR 2.15 [95% CI 1.49–3.1]). Patients in the highest quartile of diastolic BPV was also associated with all-cause mortality (aHR 1.39 [95% CI 1.14–1.7]), major cardiovascular events (aHR 1.29 [95% CI 1.08–1.53]), and hospitalization for heart failure (aHR 2.01[95% CI 1.4–2.87]). Both systolic and diastolic BPV improved the predictive ability of the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score for both all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events. Higher visit-to-visit BPV was associated with increased risks of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients after AMI.

Little is known about the association between serial high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements and long-term outcomes in post–myocardial infarction (MI) patients. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of serial hsCRP measurements for risk stratification in stabilised post-MI patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objective: The authors investigated changes in medical students’ defenses during clerkship and examined the effects of these changes on students’ resilience. Methods: Between 2012 and 2014, all year-2 preclinical students (N= 249) at Gyeongsang National University Medical School were asked to participate. Those who agreed to participate (N= 237) completed the Korean version of the Defense Style Questionnaire (K-DSQ) and the Connor–Davidson resilience scale-10 (CD-RISC-10). After clerkship, students who proceeded to year 4 in 2 years (n= 187 (93 females), aged 24–38 years (mean, 28.9 ± 2.8 years)) completed the K-DSQ, CD-RISC-10, and the Korean version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (K-HADS) in September 2014, 2015, and 2016. Results: The use of adaptive (W= 11,603.5, p< 0.001, r= 0.39) and self-inhibiting (W= 10,901.5, p< 0.001, r= 0.32) styles increased significantly after clerkship. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in adaptive defense styles (B= 1.336, SE= 0.386, β = 0.218, p= 0.001) during clerkship were significantly related to resilience after adjusting for age, sex, depression, and anxiety. Conclusions: Both positive personality development and maladaptive changes in defenses were evident. An increase in the adaptive defense style score was related to resilience.

The purpose of this study is to identify major factors affecting the manufacture and quality of steamed bread, consumed in Southeast Asia including China, Japan, and Korea. Hence, flours of 11 Korean wheat cultivars were used to evaluate quality attributes of two different styles of steamed bread, Korean style steamed bread (KSSB) and northern-style Chinese steamed bread (NSCSB). KSSB prepared more ingredients and higher optimum water absorption of dough than NSCSB because Korean consumers prefer white and glossy surface and soft crumb. KSSB showed lower height, larger diameter and volume of steamed bread, higher stress relaxation, and softer texture of crumb than NSCSB. The correlation between flour characteristics and quality of steamed bread was different in KSSB and NSCSB. About 90% of variability in the height and volume of KSSB could be predicted from protein content, mixing tolerance of Mixograph, average particle size of flour, final viscosity and solvent retention capacity. Protein content and quality parameters also could explain the variation of steamed bread height in NSCSB. Korean wheat carrying Glu-A3callele produced higher volume of steamed bread (704.7 mL) than Glu-A3dallele (645.8 mL) in KSSB, although there was no significant difference in volume of NSCSB by glutenin compositions. Glu-D1dand Glu-A3calleles had softer texture of crumb than Glu-D1fand Glu-A3dalleles in KSSB, Glu-B3iallele also showed lower hardness of crumb than their counterpart allele in NSCSB. Hard wheat showed higher height and volume of steamed bread, and lower stress relaxation and hardness of crumb than soft wheat in KSSB.

The effects of protein characteristics and the proportion of gluten on end-use quality in 13 Korean wheat cultivars for three years were verified in this study. Year, cultivar, and the interaction between the year and the cultivar influenced protein characteristics, the proportion of gluten except for γ- and ω-gliadin using RP-HPLC (reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography), and end-use quality. Protein characteristics and the proportion of gluten in Korean wheat cultivars were between those of Australian standard white (ASW) and hard wheat (AH). Korean wheat cultivars exhibited a higher average α+β gliadin proportion than imported wheat, a γ-gliadin proportion similar to that of dark northern spring wheat, and the same ω-gliadin proportion as AH. They showed a bread-loaf volume intermediate between those of ASW and AH and a texture of cooked noodles similar to that of soft white wheat, but less springiness than imported wheat. The cookie diameter of Korean wheat cultivars was similar to that of hard red winter wheat. There was a correlation between bread-loaf volume and protein characteristics, except for the protein content in Korean wheat cultivars. Springiness and cohesiveness of cooked noodles were not correlated with protein characteristics, while hardness was correlated with the protein content and water absorption of a mixograph. Cookie diameter was negatively correlated with the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sedimentation volume and water absorption of a mixograph. The end-use quality was not correlated with any proportion of gluten composition. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the proportion of gluten was not related to the quality of the bread (both PCs, 81.3%), noodle (77.7%), and cookie (82.4%). PCA explained that Keumkang is suitable for superior bread, while Uri is good for cooked noodles and cookies.

This study was performed to identify how the different levels of nitrogen application affected the variances of gluten properties and end-use qualities and the differences of variances among Korean wheat cultivars. Protein and dry gluten content, SDS sedimentation volume and water absorption of Mixolab increased as nitrogen application increased. This ratio of the increase was higher in Korean wheat cultivars for bread than in Korean wheat cultivars for noodles and cookies. The proportion of (α+β)-gliadin measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) increased, but the proportion of ω- and γ-gliadin decreased as the protein content increased. The Korean wheat cultivars for bread showed a high proportion of (α+β)-gliadin increase, the Korean cultivars for noodles had a high proportion of γ-gliadin decrease and the Korean wheat cultivars for cookies had a high proportion of ω-gliadin decrease. However, there was no variation of the component in the proportion of glutenin component measured by RP-HPLC, even though the protein content was increased, but all of the protein fractions measured by size exclusion (SE)-HPLC were increased. The soluble monomeric protein showed a high proportion of Korean wheat cultivars for bread by the increase of protein content. Bread loaf volume increased by the increase of protein content but there were no variances in the ratio of increase among Korean wheat cultivars. The cookie diameter decreased with the increase of protein content, and this ratio of decrease was the highest in Korean wheat cultivars for cookies. The hardness of cooked noodles also increased by the increase of protein content but there were no variations in springiness and cohesiveness. The decrease proportion of ω-gliadin affected the increase of bread loaf volume, the hardness of cooked noodles, and the decrease of cookie diameter.

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and is a consequence of acute thrombotic events involving activation of platelets and coagulation proteins. Factor Xa inhibitors and aspirin each reduce thrombotic events but have not yet been tested in combination or against each other in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Patients with peripheral artery disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Antiplatelet agents are widely used to reduce these complications.

Purpose:We evaluated the incremental prognostic value of combining the CYP2C19 poor metabolizer (PM) and ABCB1 3435 TT for adverse clinical outcomes over conventional risk factors in a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cohort.Methods:We enrolled 2,188 patients. The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke during 1-year follow-up. The population was stratified into the following four groups: CYP2C19 EM/IM+ABCB1 3435 CC/CT, CYP2C19 EM/IM+ABCB1 3435 TT, CYP2C19 PM+ABCB1 3435 CC/CT, and CYP2C19 PM+ABCB1 3435 TT.Results:A total of 87 (3.97%) primary end-point events occurred (64 deaths, 8 non-fatal MIs and 15 strokes). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that CYP2C19 PM+ABCB1 3435 TT status was a significant predictor of the primary end point (hazard ratio = 4.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.92–10.58). However, addition of combined genetic status to the clinical risk model did not improve the model discrimination (C-statistic = 0.786 (95% CI = 0.734–0.837) to 0.785 (95% CI = 0.733–0.838)) or risk reclassification (categorical net reclassification improvement (0.040, P = 0.32), integrated discrimination improvement (0.021, P = 0.026)).Conclusions:In a real-world East Asian PCI population taking clopidogrel, although the concurrent presence of CYP2C19 PM and ABCB1 TT is a strong independent predictor of adverse outcomes, the combined status of two at-risk variants does not have an incremental prognostic value beyond that of the conventional clinical risk factors.Genet Med 18 8, 833–841.

We evaluated the incremental prognostic value of combining the CYP2C19poor metabolizer (PM) and ABCB13435 TT for adverse clinical outcomes over conventional risk factors in a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cohort.

Schizophrenia is regarded as a multifactorial and polygenic brain disorder that is attributed to different combinations of genetic and environmental risk factors. Recently, several genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) of schizophrenia have identified numerous risk factors, but the replication results remain controversial and ambiguous. To identify schizophrenia susceptibility loci in the Korean population, we performed a GWAS using the Illumina HumanOmni1‐Quad V1.0 Microarray. We genotyped 1,140,419 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 350 Korea schizophrenia patients and 700 control subjects, and approximately 620,001 autosomal SNPs were passed our quality control. In the case–control analysis, the rs9607195 A>G on intergenic area 250 kb away from the ISXgene and the rs12738007 A>G on the intron of the MECRgene were the most strongly associated SNPs with the risk of schizophrenia (P= 6.2 × 10−8, OR = 0.50 and P= 3.7 × 10−7, OR = 2.39, respectively). In subsequent fine‐mapping analysis, 6 SNPs of MECRwere genotyped with 310 schizophrenia patients and 604 control subjects. The association of the MECRrs12738007, a top ranked‐SNP in GWAS, was replicated (P= 1.5 × 10−2, OR = 1.53 in fine mapping analysis, P= 1.5 × 10−6, OR = 1.90 in combined analysis). The identification of putative schizophrenia susceptibility loci could provide new insights into genetic factors related with schizophrenia and clues for the development of diagnosis strategies. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A unique wheat genotype carrying waxy-type allelic composition at the Wxloci, Gunji-1, was developed, and its starch properties were evaluated in comparison to parental waxy and wild-type wheat varieties. Gunji-1 was null in all three of the Wxgenes but exhibited a lower level of Wx proteins than the wild-type. Starch amylose content and cold water retention capacity were 10.1 and 70.5% for Gunji-1, 4.2 and 76.6% for waxy, and 27.9 and 65.0% for wild-type, respectively. No significant differences were observed in microstructure, granule size distribution, and X-ray diffractograms of the starch granules isolated from Gunji-1 compared with those of waxy and wild-type wheat varieties. Starch pasting peak, breakdown, and setback viscosities and peak temperature of Gunji-1 were intermediate between waxy and wild-type wheat. In starch gel hardness, Gunji-1 (1.1 N) was more similar to waxy wheat (0.5 N) than to the wild-type variety (17.6 N). Swelling power, swelling volume, paste transmittance during storage, and gelatinization enthalpy of Gunji-1 were lower than those of waxy wheat but greater than those of wild-type wheat. Retrogradation of starch stored for one week at 4°C expressed with DSC endothermic enthalpy was absent in the waxy wheat variety, whereas Gunji-1 exhibited both retrogradation of amylopectin and amylose-lipid complex melting similar to the wild-type parent, even though enthalpies of Gunji-1 were much smaller than the wild-type parent.

Located on 6q15 and 1p36.11, cannabinoid receptor 1(CNR1) and cannabinoid receptor 2(CNR2) genes are considered to be a positional and functional candidate gene for the development of mental disorders such as schizophrenia because CNR1 is known as a regulator of dopamine signaling in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. However, few genetic studies have been carried out to investigate an association of CNR1and CNR2polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia. In this study, although the result indicates that CNR1and CNR2variations are unlikely to influence schizophrenia susceptibility in a Korean population, the findings would provide meaningful information for further genetic studies.

The no-reflow phenomenon is a potential complication of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Predictors of the no-reflow phenomenon and the impact on long-term mortality remain unclear.

More intensive platelet suppression is required in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than in those with stable angina because of differential platelet activation between AMI and stable angina. In this context, CYP2C19 genotype leading to reduced active metabolite formation may profoundly affect the clinical outcome of clopidogrel therapy in patients with AMI compared with those with stable angina.

The impact of the CYP2C1917 polymorphism on the clinical outcome in Asians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. We sought to assess the long-term impact of CYP2C1917 on the risk for adverse clinical events in 2188 Korean patients taking clopidogrel after PCI. The prevalence of the CYP2C1917 allele wt17: 2.4 (n=53), 1717: 0 was very low. The 2-year cumulative event rates for bleeding wt17 vs. wtwt: 2 vs. 2.3; adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.23; 95 confidence interval (CI), 0.16–9.45, stent thrombosis (2 vs. 1.1; HR, 3.98; 95 CI, 0.49–31.6) or composite of any death, and myocardial infarction or stroke (5.4 vs. 7.1; HR, 1.37; 95 CI, 0.32–5.73) did not differ on the basis of the presence of CYP2C1917. In conclusion, in our study population of Asian patients, the CYP2C1917 polymorphism was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes after PCI because of its low prevalence, the rarity of homozygotes, and the relatively low rate of adverse clinical events.

We investigated the relationship between frequently deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and enodometrial pathology in an attempt to find the most dependable miRNA or combination of miRNAs to identify normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrial tissues. We also investigated the association between those miRNAs and PTEN status. We measured the expression of six miRNAs (miR-21, 182, 183, 200a, 200c and 205) in 75 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrial tissue blocks using Taqman-based real-time PCR assays. PTEN loss of expression was assessed in the same endometrial tissues by immunohistochemistry. Expression of five miRNAs (miR-182, 183, 200a, 200c and 205) was significantly higher in endometrial carcinoma (CA) when compared with complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH), simple hyperplasia (SH) and normal endometrial tissue (P<0.05, respectively). Considering the likelihood ratio and number of parameters, the composite panel of six miRNAs was the best marker, revealing a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 94% in differentiating endometrial CA from endometrial hyperplasia or normal endometrium while the individual miRNAs exhibited 64–77% sensitivity and 66–91% specificity. Interestingly, in distinguishing endometrial CA from CAH, the composite panel of four miRNAs (miR-182, 183, 200a, 200c) was the best marker, producing 95% sensitivity and 91% specificity. The percentage of PTEN loss was significantly higher in endometrial CA compared with SH (68% vs 24%, P<0.05), and it was also higher in CAH compared with SH (71% vs 24%, P<005). Aberrant expression of miRNAs and loss of PTEN expression are common in endometrial hyperplasia and CA. They might serve to increase the diagnostic reproducibility and improve discrimination, especially, between CAH and CA by miRNA expression profiles and between simple and complex hyperplasia through PTEN expression patterns. Those expression profiles of biomarkers also might be used to predict the potential for progression from endometrial hyperplasia to invasive CA.

We investigated the relationship between frequently deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and enodometrial pathology in an attempt to find the most dependable miRNA or combination of miRNAs to identify normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrial tissues. We also investigated the association between those miRNAs and PTEN status. We measured the expression of six miRNAs (miR-21, 182, 183, 200a, 200c and 205) in 75 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrial tissue blocks using Taqman-based real-time PCR assays. PTEN loss of expression was assessed in the same endometrial tissues by immunohistochemistry. Expression of five miRNAs (miR-182, 183, 200a, 200c and 205) was significantly higher in endometrial carcinoma (CA) when compared with complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH), simple hyperplasia (SH) and normal endometrial tissue (P<0.05, respectively). Considering the likelihood ratio and number of parameters, the composite panel of six miRNAs was the best marker, revealing a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 94% in differentiating endometrial CA from endometrial hyperplasia or normal endometrium while the individual miRNAs exhibited 64–77% sensitivity and 66–91% specificity. Interestingly, in distinguishing endometrial CA from CAH, the composite panel of four miRNAs (miR-182, 183, 200a, 200c) was the best marker, producing 95% sensitivity and 91% specificity. The percentage of PTEN loss was significantly higher in endometrial CA compared with SH (68% vs24%, P<0.05), and it was also higher in CAH compared with SH (71% vs24%, P<005). Aberrant expression of miRNAs and loss of PTEN expression are common in endometrial hyperplasia and CA. They might serve to increase the diagnostic reproducibility and improve discrimination, especially, between CAH and CA by miRNA expression profiles and between simple and complex hyperplasia through PTEN expression patterns. Those expression profiles of biomarkers also might be used to predict the potential for progression from endometrial hyperplasia to invasive CA.

Doubled haploid wheat lines developed from a cross between a hard white winter wheat variety of normal starch endosperm and a waxy wheat variety were used to determine the effects of allelic variation in Wx-1, Glu-D1, Glu-B3, and Pinb-D1loci on physiochemical properties of flour, noodle dough properties, and textural quality of cooked noodles. Milling yield, damaged starch content, protein content, and SDS sedimentation volume of flour were influenced the most by allelic composition of Pinb-D1loci, less by Wx-1loci, and least by Glu-B3. Wheat lines carrying Pinb-D1bor Glu-B3halleles exhibited higher milling yield and damaged starch content of flour than those with Pinb-D1aand Glu-B3dalleles. Wheat lines carrying the Pinb-D1ballele were higher in protein content and SDS sedimentation volume than those carrying Pinb-D1a. Mixograph water absorption was largely influenced by allelic composition of Wx-1loci, whereas mixograph mixing time and mixing tolerance were predominantly determined by allelic composition of Glu-D1loci. Amylose content and pasting properties of starch were mainly determined by allelic composition of Wx-1loci with little influence by allelic compositions of Glu-D1, Glu-B3, and Pinb-D1loci. Allelic composition of Wx-1loci contributed 53.4% of the variation in optimum water absorption of noodle dough and 26.7% of the variation in thickness of the noodle dough sheet. The variation of 7.8% in optimum water absorption of noodle dough was contributed by the allelic composition of Pinb-D1loci. Allelic composition of Wx-1loci was responsible for 73.2, 74.4, and 59.6% in the variation of hardness, springiness, and cohesiveness of cooked noodles, respectively. Cohesiveness of cooked noodles was also influenced by the allelic compositions of Glu-B3and Pinb-D1loci to a smaller extent.

Anemia is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the bare-metal stent era. However, there have been no data concerning the clinical importance of anemia improvement during the follow-up period after discharge from the hospital during the drug-eluting stent era.

The construction of a high-speed railway in South Korea was recently impeded by the unexpected problem of cracks in sleepers. These were presumably induced by the volume expansion of freezing water entrapped in the fastening assemblies during the winter. A total of 306,000 sleepers had to be investigated on an urgent basis for hairline cracks and possible latent cracks. These findings suggested that an appropriate nondestructive testing (NDT) technique for the inspection of concrete sleepers should be designed to meet two requirements: speed and reliability in testing. Research was performed to identify an optimal NDT technique by using sleepers with three different crack conditions: without any cracks, with a surface-opening crack, and with a hairline crack and possible latent cracks. Flexural rigidity rather than material stiffness or depth to multiple reflections was chosen as a key parameter for assessment of the structural integrity of a sleeper. The results allowed the design of a two-stage testing procedure: the flexural rigidity assessment of concrete tracks by antisymmetric Lamb (FRACTAL) waves technique for preliminary scanning and spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) tests for in-depth investigation. A total of 18,177 sleepers that required testing were examined using FRACTAL tests, and 387 of these sleepers were double-checked using SASW tests. Before the overall examination of sleepers, a series of statistical analyses were performed to establish the criteria for defining the quality of a sleeper. The results of the FRACTAL test agreed with those of the SASW test in identifying sleepers with hairline cracks or possible latent cracks.

The zinc finger DHHC domaincontaining protein 8 ZDHHC8 is located in the 22q11 microdeletion region and may contribute to the behavioral deficit associated with 22q11 deletion syndrome. Although polymorphisms of ZDHHC8have been reported to be associated with the risk of schizophrenia, those associations are still controversial. This study was performed to validate the genetic association of ZDHHC8polymorphisms with the risk of schizophrenia, and also to scrutinize the association with smooth pursuit eye movement SPEM abnormality in a Korean population. Five SNPs of ZDHHC8were genotyped by TaqMan assay. Their genetic effects on the risk of schizophrenia were analyzed in 354 patients and 396 controls using allelebased χ2analyses. Association of ZDHHC8polymorphisms with SPEM abnormality among 166 schizophrenic patients were analyzed using multiple regressions. No ZDHHC8polymorphisms were found to be associated with the risk of schizophrenia. However, four SNPs and one haplotype ht4 were strongly associated with the risk of SPEM abnormality even after multiple correction P  0.00005–0.0007, Pcorr  0.0001–0.002. The results of the present study provide the first evidence that ZDHHC8on the 22q11 locus might have influence on SPEM function of schizophrenia patients in a Korean population and may provide a new clue for understanding differential effects of candidate genes in schizophrenia. © 2010 WileyLiss, Inc.

The construction of a high-speed railway in South Korea was recently impeded by the unexpected problem of cracks in sleepers. These were presumably induced by the volume expansion of freezing water entrapped in the fastening assemblies during the winter. A total of 306,000 sleepers had to be investigated on an urgent basis for hairline cracks and possible latent cracks. These findings suggested that an appropriate nondestructive testing (NDT) technique for the inspection of concrete sleepers should be designed to meet two requirements: speed and reliability in testing. Research was performed to identify an optimal NDT technique by using sleepers with three different crack conditions: without any cracks, with a surface-opening crack, and with a hairline crack and possible latent cracks. Flexural rigidity rather than material stiffness or depth to multiple reflections was chosen as a key parameter for assessment of the structural integrity of a sleeper. The results allowed the design of a two-stage testing procedure: the flexural rigidity assessment of concrete tracks by antisymmetric Lamb (FRACTAL) waves technique for preliminary scanning and spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) tests for in-depth investigation. A total of 18,177 sleepers that required testing were examined using FRACTAL tests, and 387 of these sleepers were double-checked using SASW tests. Before the overall examination of sleepers, a series of statistical analyses were performed to establish the criteria for defining the quality of a sleeper. The results of the FRACTAL test agreed with those of the SASW test in identifying sleepers with hairline cracks or possible latent cracks.

We examined the effects of baking time and temperature for the preparation of par-baked French bread, and of thawing and second baking conditions on the characteristics of bread prepared from par-baked bread. Par-baked French bread with loaf volume and crumb structure comparable to fully baked bread (control) was obtained with =6 min baking at 218°C, which increased the crumb temperature to 97°C. Freezing, thawing, and second baking of par-baked bread decreased loaf volume by =100 mL. The second baking time of par-baked bread, which was adjusted to have the bread crumb subjected to 97°C for 14 min based on the crumb temperature profile, produced a darker crust of bread compared with the control. The par-baked bread with 6 min of initial baking at 218°C and frozen at -30°C required 12 min of second baking after thawing for 180 min to ˜20°C to produce crust color, crumb moisture, and firmness comparable to that of the control. When thawing time of par-baked bread was shortened from 180 to 0 min, the second baking time required to yield crust color similar to the control increased from 12 to 16 min. The crumb moisture content was higher in bread baked for 16 min without thawing par-baked bread than those baked after thawing for 45 or 180 min. Lowering the initial baking temperature of par-baked bread from 246 to 163°C with the adjustment of baking time from 4 to 12 min decreased crumb firmness of the re-baked (218°C, 16 min) bread from 2.5 to 1.5 N at 2 hr after baking and from 9.8–10.3 to 6.2–6.3 N at 48 hr.

The effect of amylose content of starch on processing and textural properties of instant noodles was determined using waxy, partial waxy, and regular wheat flours and reconstituted flours with starches of various amylose content (3.0–26.5). Optimum water absorption of instant noodle dough increased with the decrease of amylose content. Instant noodles prepared from waxy and reconstituted wheat flours with =12.4% amylose content exhibited thicker strands and higher free lipids content than wheat flours with =17.1% amylose content. Instant noodles of =12.4% amylose content of starch exhibited numerous bubbles on the surface and stuck together during frying. Lightness of instant noodles increased from 77.3 to 81.4 with the increase of amylose content of starch in reconstituted flours. Cooking time of instant noodles was 4.0–8.0 min in wheat flours and 6.0–12.0 min in reconstituted flours, and constantly increased with the increase in amylose content of starch. Hardness of cooked instant noodles positively correlated with amylose content of starch. Reconstituted flours with =12.4% amylose content of starch were higher in cohesiveness than those of wheat flours of wild-type and partial waxy starches and reconstituted flours with =17.1% amylose content. Instant fried noodles prepared from double null partial waxy wheat flour exhibited shorter cooking time, softer texture, and higher fat absorption (1.2%) but similar color and appearance compared with noodles prepared from wheat flour of wild-type starch.

Optimum cooking time of white salted noodles determined by sensory panel test ranged from 13.6 to 16.2 min in wheat of wild type in granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), from 16 to 17.4 min in B null in GBSS, from 11.4 to 12.4 min in commercial noodle flours, from 8.0 to 8.2 min in waxy wheat, and 14.2 min in BD double null. Both protein and starch amylose content of wheat significantly influenced water absorption for making noodles and cooking time of white salted noodles. Optimum cooking time of noodles increased as protein content of flour increased, except in waxy wheat flours. Waxy wheat flours, despite their high protein content (>17.1%), exhibited the shortest cooking time of noodles, signifying the influence of starch amylose content on cooking time of noodles. Gelatinization enthalpy of starch in noodles from waxy wheat, commercial noodle flour, and wild type wheat flour disappeared after 2, 6, and 10 min of cooking, respectively. Estimated cooking time based on the changes in amylograph onset temperature of noodles during cooking well matched with optimum cooking time as determined by sensory panel test, with a standard error of estimation of 1.23.

We investigated the relationship between the protein content and quality of wheat flours and characteristics of noodle dough and instant noodles using 14 hard and soft wheat flours with various protein contents and three commercial flours for making noodles. Protein content of wheat flours exhibited negative relationships with the optimum water absorption of noodle dough and lightness (L*) of the instant noodle dough sheet. Protein quality, as determined by SDS sedimentation volume and proportion of alcohol- and salt-soluble protein of flour, also influenced optimum water absorption and yellow-blueness (b*) of the noodle dough sheet. Wheat flours with high protein content (>13.6%) produced instant noodles with lower fat absorption, higher L*, lower b*, and firmer and more elastic texture than wheat flours with low protein content (<12.2%). L* and free lipid content of instant noodles were >76.8 and <20.8% in hard wheat flours of high SDS sedimentation volume (>36 mL) and low proportion of salt-soluble protein (<12.5%), and <75.7 and >21.5% in soft wheat flours with low SDS sedimentation volume (<35 mL) and a high proportion of salt-soluble protein (>15.0%). L* of instant noodles positively correlated with SDS sedimentation volume and negatively correlated with proportion of alcohol- and salt-soluble protein of flour. These protein quality parameters also exhibited a significant relationship with b* of instant noodles. SDS sedimentation volume and proportion of salt-soluble protein of flours also exhibited a significant relationship with free lipid content of instant noodles (P< 0.01 and P< 0.001, respectively). Protein quality parameters of wheat flour, as well as protein content, showed significant relationship with texture properties of cooked instant noodles.

Protein characteristics of wheat flours from various wheat classes, and of commercial flours for making noodles, were evaluated to determine the effects of protein content and quality on processing and textural properties of white salted noodles, as well as to identify protein quality required for making white salted noodles. SDS sedimentation volume based on constant protein weight, mixograph mixing time, and proportions of salt- and alcohol-soluble protein of three commercial flours for making noodles were more similar to those of hard wheat than to soft wheat flours. SDS sedimentation volume of commercial flours for making noodles based on constant protein weight ranged from 38.5 to 40.0 mL and was higher than those of most soft wheat flours. Mixograph mixing time and proportion of salt-soluble protein of hard and commercial flours for making noodles were >145 sec and mostly <13.8%, respectively, while those of club and soft wheat flours were < 95 sec and >15.0%. Both protein content and protein quality, as determined by SDS sedimentation volume based on constant protein weight, mixograph mixing time, proportion of salt-soluble protein, and score of HMW-GS compositions correlated with optimum water absorption of noodle dough and hardness of cooked white salted noodles.

We examined the possible alteration of circulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) concentrations in a time-dependent fashion in human plasma. Plasma TGF-β1 was measured three times at 2 week-intervals from each of 12 healthy participants. Platelet factor 4 (PF4) was measured in parallel with TGF-β1 to estimate the degree of platelet degranulation. TGF-β1 levels of the second and third plasma samples, in which PF4s were measured as <∼1000IU/ml, were relatively low and fell in a narrow range. However, TGF-β1 levels of the first samples, in most of which PF4s were >∼1000IU/ml, appeared much higher and more variable than those of the second or third samples. These results indicate that the platelet degranulation accounted for the higher TGF-β1 levels in the first samples, and thus did not support our initial assumption. We, nevertheless, could propose a useful guidance in the assessment of TGF-β1 levels in plasma. When the PF4 level is measured as <∼1000IU/ml under our assay conditions, the TGF-β1 level in a given plasma sample might be accepted as a reliable value considering the effect of platelet degranulation on TGF-β1 level.

A clock and data recovery circuit using the clock jitter reduction technique is proposed for a 622-Mbit/s burst-mode data stream. The clock jitter reduction is achieved by controlling the clock duty cycle with the phase information of the recovered clock. The proposed clock recovery circuit, based on the gated oscillator, recovers a low-jitter output clock with up to 4090 consecutive zeros.