The mre genes of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are cell shape determination genes. Mutants affected in mre function are spheres instead of the normal rods. Although the mre determinants are not required for viability in E. coli, the mreB determinant is an essential gene in B. subtilis. Conflicting results have been reported as to whether the two membrane-associated proteins MreC and MreD are essential proteins. Furthermore, although the MreB protein has been studied in some detail, the roles of the MreC and MreD proteins in cell shape determination are unknown. We constructed a strain of B. subtilis in which expression of the mreC determinant is dependent upon the addition of isopropyl-␤-D-thiogalactopyranoside to the culture medium. Utilizing this conditional strain, it was shown that mreC is an essential gene in B. subtilis. Furthermore, it was shown that cells lacking sufficient quantities of MreC undergo morphological changes, namely, swelling and twisting of the cells, which is followed by cell lysis. Electron microscopy was utilized to demonstrate that a polymeric material accumulated at one side of the division septum of the cells and that the presence of this material correlated with the bending of the cell. The best explanation for the results is that the MreC protein is involved in the control of septal versus long-axis peptidoglycan synthesis, that cells lacking MreC perform aberrant septal peptidoglycan synthesis, and that lysis results from a deficiency in long-axis peptidoglycan synthesis.Bacteria have characteristic shapes, which are important taxonomic features. Most bacteria possess a fixed shape, although members of the genus Arthrobacter transition from rods to cocci depending on growth conditions (12). The bacterial cell wall is thought to be the major determinant of cell shape, as the purified murein sacculus retains the characteristic morphology of the cell, and specific changes in the chemical composition of the peptidoglycan have been noted in shape-altered mutants (25). However, shape determination is a complicated process, which involves not only the topology of peptidoglycan biosynthesis but also contributions of other components of the cell envelope as well as involvement of the cell division machinery. A mutation in the tagF (rodC) determinant of Bacillus subtilis gives rise to a shift from rod-shaped to spherical cells, indicating a contribution by teichoic acid to the determination of cell morphology (4,16,23).A model for bacterial shape regulation, the two-competingsites model, which relates cell shape to a balance between cell wall synthesis along the long axis of a rod-shaped cell and septum-specific peptidoglycan synthesis, has been proposed (21,24). This model proposes that shape determination in bacterial rods depends on the activity of two peptidoglycan synthesis reactions (sites) which are mutually exclusive. Consequently, the lateral wall is not extended during the septum formation step of cell division, and septal peptidoglycan synthesis does not occur during lat...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of idiopathic scoliosis on the human body by comparing the postural balance of adolescents with and without idiopathic scoliosis, to provide basic data for the optimal desirable growth and development of adolescents. [Subjects] The subjects were 128 adolescents diagnosed with scoliosis on X-ray by orthopedists. The subjects were divided into a 10 to 19 degree group, 20 to 29 degree group, and 30 degree and over group according to the degree of scoliosis. For comparison, 15 normal adolescents without orthopedic injury within the last 6 months were selected as a control group. [Methods] As measurement tools, DK2 525R (Dongkang Medical: Korea) was used to measure the Cobb angle and a multifunktional traininggeraete device (MFT, Germany) was used to measure balance. One-way variance of analysis was conducted in order to examine differences among the four groups in left and right balance, forward and backward balance, and overall postural balance, and when there were differences, they were compared in detail using Duncan’s post-hoc test. [Results] The results of scoliosis angle and body mass index (BMI) showed significant differences between the normal group (NG) and the scoliosis groups (GI, G II, G III), but there were no significant differences among the scoliosis groups. The scoliosis groups showed a significantly lower BMI than that of the normal group. In addition, the results of the left/right and the front/rear balance abilities showed significant differences between the normal group and the scoliosis groups. Furthermore, the results of whole body balance ability were showed significant differences between the normal group and the scoliosis groups.

[Purpose] The present study aimed to investigate whether the effects of rehabilitation exercise performed after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on proprioceptive sensory and dynamic balancing functions differ between males and females. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen subjects aged between 20–30 years enrolled in this study. The ages did not significantly differ between the males and females. The rehabilitation exercise program was performed three times per week for 12 weeks (3 months), and was initiated immediately after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Thereafter, the patients visited the hospital once per week to perform rehabilitation exercise during weeks 12–24 (3–6 months), and education on self-exercise and assessments were conducted during the visits. Self-exercise was performed two times per week according to the determined program. [Results] The extension active joint position sense, extension passive joint position sense, and flexion passive joint position sense of the affected and unaffected knees did not show any interaction effects between the measurement periods or between the groups. In the case of the affected knee, the results of two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the measurement periods or between the groups; moreover, no, interaction effects were observed between the measurement periods or between the groups. In the case of the unaffected knee, although no significant difference was observed between the measurement periods, significant differences were observed between the groups. [Conclusion] In conclusion, this study revealed that most knee rehabilitation exercise training programs can be applied to both genders during the recovery period after ACL reconstruction, except for the knee rotational feedback/feedforward function exercise that may exhibit different effects based on the gender.

[Purpose] To examine changes in the knee joint’s isokinetic muscle functions following systematic and gradual rehabilitation exercises lasting for 12 weeks for male and female patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Differences in muscle functions between the uninvolved side (US) and the involved side (IS) before surgery, differences in muscle functions between US and IS after rehabilitation exercises lasting for 12 weeks, and changes in muscle functions on US and IS between before and after surgery were analyzed to examine the effects of accelerated rehabilitation exercises after ACL reconstruction. [Subjects] The study subjects were 10 patients, five females and five males, who underwent ACL reconstruction performed by the same surgeon. [Methods] As a measuring tool, a Biodex Multi-joint system 3pro (USA), which is an isokinetic measuring device, was used to examine the flexion and extension forces of the knee joint. During isokinetic muscle strength evaluation, the ROM of US was set to be the same as that of IS for consistency of measurement. [Results] At 60°/s, the isokinetic muscle functions of the females did not show any significant change between before and after surgery in any of the variables on both US and IS. At 60°/s, the isokinetic muscle functions of the males did not show any significant change between before and after surgery in the peak torque, average power, and entire work done on US. In extension, peak torque on IS did not show any significant change.

[Purpose] The study investigated stretching for safer a golf swing compared to present stretching methods for proper swings in order to examine the effects of stretching exercises on golf swings. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 amateur golf club members who were divided into two groups: an experimental group which performed stretching, and a control group which did not. The subjects had no bone deformity, muscle weakness, muscle soreness, or neurological problems. [Methods] A swing analyzer and a ROM measuring instrument were used as the measuring tools. The swing analyzer was a GS400-golf hit ball analyzer (Korea) and the ROM measuring instrument was a goniometer (Korea). [Results] The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in driving distance. After the special stretching training for golf, a statistically significant difference in hit-ball direction deviation after swings were found between the groups. The experimental group showed statistically significant decreases in hit ball direction deviation. After the special stretching training for golf, statistically significant differences in hit-ball speed were found between the groups. The experimental group showed significant increases in hit-ball speed. [Conclusion] To examine the effects of a special stretching program for golf on golf swing-related factors, 20 male amateur golf club members performed a 12-week stretching training program. After the golf stretching training, statistically significant differences were found between the groups in hit-ball driving distance, direction deviation, deflection distance, and speed.