METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients wit

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients with singleton gestations who presented to our institution for second-trimester ultrasonography between 1990 and 2008. Study groups were defined by the presence or absence of echogenic bowel. Primary outcomes were IUGR, defined as birth weight less than the 10th percentile for gestational age and intrauterine fetal demise at 20 weeks or more of gestation. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of intrauterine fetal demise and IUGR in selleck compound fetuses with echogenic bowel. Analyses

were repeated after excluding cases of aneuploidy, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, other major congenital anomalies,

and abnormal second-trimester serum screening results.

RESULTS: Of 64,048 patients, the incidence of echogenic bowel was 0.4%. Of these, echogenic bowel was an isolated finding in 188 (72.3%) cases. There PD-1/PD-L1 activation were 579 (0.9%) cases of intrauterine fetal demise and 8,173 (12.8%) cases of IUGR in the entire cohort. After excluding cases of aneuploidy and CMV infection, the incidence of intrauterine fetal demise was 7.3% in the echogenic bowel group compared with 0.9% in the nonechogenic bowel group, translating to an absolute risk increase of 6.4%. The incidence of IUGR in the echogenic bowel group was 19.5% compared with 12.9% in the nonechogenic bowel group (absolute risk increase, 6.6%). After controlling for potential confounders, echogenic

bowel was significantly associated with both intrauterine fetal demise (adjusted ISRIB odds ratio [OR] 9.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.8-15.9) and IUGR (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.9). This risk association remained significant even when evaluating echogenic bowel as an isolated sonographic finding.

CONCLUSION: The presence of echogenic bowel on ultrasonography is independently associated with an increased risk for both IUGR and intrauterine fetal demise. Serial growth assessment and antenatal testing may be warranted in these patients. (Obstet Gynecol 2011;117:1341-8) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31821aa739″
“Research progress has provided detailed understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). This knowledge has been translated into new drug candidates with putative disease-modifying effects, which are now being tested in clinical trials. The promise of effective therapy has created a great need for biomarkers able to detect AD in the predementia phase, because drugs will probably be effective only if neurodegeneration is not too advanced. In this chapter, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma biomarkers are reviewed.


“Two new triterpenoid saponins celosin I (1) and celosin I


“Two new triterpenoid saponins celosin I (1) and celosin II (2) were isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea L. (Amaranthaceae). The structures of the

two new compounds were elucidated based on chemical analysis PD0332991 in vivo and spectral methods (IR, 1-D and 2-D NMR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS). They exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect on carbon tetrachloride-induced and N,N-dimethylformamide-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.”
“We report the synthesis of spherical core-shell structures of silicon and silicon oxide by a novel route of forced external oxidation of ball milled silicon. Structural investigations reveal the formation of a crystalline silicon core surrounded by an amorphous oxide shell, with core and shell dimensions varying approximately between 4-10 and 55-170 nm, respectively. The observations suggest partial amorphization of crystalline silicon, invasive oxygen induced passivation of dangling bonds, and formation of different types of defects in the nanocrystalline silicon/silicon oxide core-shell structure, particularly at the interfaces. No detectable photoluminescence (PL) is obtained from the as-milled silicon, but the oxidized core-shell structures exhibit strong room

temperature PL, detectable with unaided eye. The peak energy of the PL spectra blueshifts with an increase in excitation energy, with the peak positions varying from 2.24 to 2.48 BIBF 1120 eV under external excitation ranging from 2.41 to 3.5 eV. Pitavastatin The observed PL characteristics are explained in terms of dominant electronic transitions between the localized defect states and quantum confinement induced widened band states. c 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3100045]“
“To test the responsiveness of the Infant/Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL) to five health conditions. In addition, to evaluate the impact of the child’s age and gender on

the ITQOL domain scores.

Observational study of 494 Dutch preschool-aged children with five clinical conditions and 410 healthy preschool children randomly sampled from the general population. The clinical conditions included neurofibromatosis type 1, wheezing illness, bronchiolitis, functional abdominal complaints, and burns. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed by a mailed parent-completed ITQOL. Mean ITQOL scale scores for all conditions were compared with scores obtained from the reference sample. The effect of patient’s age and gender on ITQOL scores was assessed using multi-variable regression analysis.

In all health conditions, substantially lower scores were found for several ITQOL scales. The conditions had a variable effect on the type of ITQOL domains and a different magnitude of effect. Scores for ‘physical functioning’, ‘bodily pain’, and ‘general health perceptions’ showed the greatest range.

The need for additional maneuvers was associated with higher rate

The need for additional maneuvers was associated with higher rates of neonatal injury. (Obstet Gynecol 2011;117:1272-8) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31821a12c9″
“Background: Disturbances in the myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV), such as diffuse or focal myocardial fibrosis or edema, are hallmarks of heart disease. Diffuse ECV changes are difficult to assess or quantify with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using conventional NVP-HSP990 clinical trial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), or pre- or post-contrast T1-mapping alone. ECV measurement circumvents

factors that confound T1-weighted images or T1-maps, and has been shown to correlate well with diffuse myocardial fibrosis. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate an automated

method for producing a pixel-wise map of ECV that would be adequately robust for clinical work flow.

Methods: ECV maps were automatically generated from T1-maps acquired pre- and post-contrast calibrated by blood hematocrit. The JNJ-26481585 mw algorithm incorporates correction of respiratory motion that occurs due to insufficient breath-holding and due to misregistration between breath-holds, as well as automated identification of the blood pool. Images were visually scored on a 5-point scale from non-diagnostic (1) to excellent (5).

Results: The quality score of ECV maps was 4.23 +/- 0.83 (m +/- SD), scored for n = 600 maps from 338 patients with 83% either excellent or good. Co-registration of the pre- and post-contrast images improved the image quality for ECV maps in 81% of the cases. ECV of normal myocardium was 25.4 +/- 2.5% (m +/- SD) using motion correction and co-registration values and was 31.5 +/- 8.7% without motion correction and co-registration.

Conclusions: Fully automated motion correction and co-registration of breath-holds significantly improve the quality of ECV maps, thus making the generation of ECV-maps feasible for clinical work PF-04929113 flow.”
“Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a device designed to deliver high-frequency vibratory stimulation through direct intravaginal tampon application (VIPON) compared with a low-dose over-the-counter pharmacologic

treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Methods: A randomized, open-label, prospective study comparing the investigational device to an oral self-administration of the over-the-counter dose of 200-400 mg of ibuprofen with the onset of menstrual discomfort was conducted at two academic medical centers in the Midwest region of the United States. Women age 18 and older with self-reported dysmenorrhea were treated with either VIPON or a single dose of 200-400 mg of ibuprofen, randomized for each of the next four menstrual cycles, and pain reduction from baseline was measured according to the Melzack-McGill pain scale.

Results: Overall, both ibuprofen and VIPON have significant effects on pain reduction according to the Melzack-McGill pain scale.

Arterial collaterals between the gastroduodenal, splenic artery a

Arterial collaterals between the gastroduodenal, splenic artery and the superior mesenteric artery were demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that global perfusion of the pancreatic graft and sufficient graft function is sustained after the thrombotic occlusion of one branch of the Y-graft by a complex system

of intraparenchymal anastomoses. These anatomical findings may have consequences for resection strategies in pancreas surgery.”
“Nylon 6 (N6)/mesoporous silica (MS) nanocomposites (NMSNs) buy PHA-739358 were synthesized via in situ synchronous hydrolytic polymerization of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and epsilon-caprolactam. The novelty of this technique lies in that the nanosilica generated in situ has unique mesoporous structure and ultrahigh-specific surface area (SSA). Mechanical test showed that, compared to conventional precipitated Ganetespib molecular weight silica (PS) nanofillers, the MS generated in situ shows better reinforcing efficiency on N6. At a loading of only 3.0 wt % MS, the tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and the heat distortion temperature of NMSNs exhibit increase of 54.8%, 77.9%, and 55.9 degrees C, respectively. The effects of MS on the crystallization behaviors

of N6 have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which shows that the incorporation of MS influences the crystallization behaviors of N6 obviously: (1) increases crystallization temperature (T(c)) by serving as heterogonous nucleating agent; (2) favors the formation of gamma-phase by hindering the mobility of N6 chains. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed that, compared ti that of neat N6, the temperature of the main alpha-relaxation (T(alpha)) and the secondary beta-relaxation (T(beta)) of NMSNs is shifted 6.1 degrees C and 5.3 degrees C toward higher temperature. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 1957-1964, 2011″
“Background: Little is known about the life satisfaction of the person with stroke combined with their caregiver, i.e. the dyad, despite the fact that life satisfaction 10058-F4 solubility dmso is an important rehabilitation outcome. The aim of this study was to describe the dyads combined

life satisfaction and to understand this in relationship to the perceived impact of stroke in everyday life and caregiver burden.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the life satisfaction of persons and their informal caregivers was measured in 81 dyads one year post stroke. Their global life satisfaction, measured with LiSat-11, was combined to a dyad score and the dyads were then categorized as satisfied, dissatisfied or discordant. The groups were compared and analyzed regarding levels of caregiver burden, measured with the Caregiver Burden scale, and the perceived impact of stroke in everyday life, measured with the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).

Results: The satisfied dyads comprised 40%, dissatisfied 26% and those that were discordant 34%.

95Mn0 05O doped by nitrogen

95Mn0.05O doped by nitrogen. buy TPCA-1 The critical parameters of the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition have been obtained through the analysis of the inverse of the thermal diffusivity near the Curie temperature.

Taking into account that the inverse of the thermal diffusivity has the same critical behavior as the specific heat, the critical exponent alpha has been determined. The results are consistent with the three-dimensional Heisenberg model for the magnetic phase transition. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3142244]“
“Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical contributors to the establishment and maintenance of immunological self-tolerance. Autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the loss of self-tolerance to the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and the destruction of b cells, resulting

in the development of chronic hyperglycemia at diagnosis. The application of strongagonistic T-cell receptor ligands provided under subimmunogenic conditions functions as a critical means for the efficient de novo conversion of naive CD4(+) T cells into Foxp3(+) Treg cells. The specific induction of Treg cells upon supply of strong-agonistic variants of certain selfantigens could therefore function as a critical Epigenetic inhibitors library instrument in order to achieve safe and specific prevention of autoimmunity such as T1D via the restoration of self-tolerance. Such immunotherapeutic strategies are being developed, and in the case of T1D aim to restrict autoimmunity and beta-cell destruction. In this review, we discuss the requirements and opportunities for Treg-based tolerance approaches with the goal of interfering with autoimmune T1D.”
“The aim of this study was to determine the intra- and interobserver reliability of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) staging in pelvic

organ prolapse patients. In 30 patients with pelvic organ prolapse, dynamic MR images were assessed independently VEGFR inhibitor by two observers. Various anatomical landmarks to asses pelvic organ prolapse were used in relation to the pubococcygeal line, H-line, and mid-pubic line. Clinical measurement points were assessed in relation to the mid-pubic line. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to describe the intra- and interobserver reliability. Overall, the intra- and interobserver reliability of MR imaging measurements was excellent to good. The pubococcygeal line showed superior reliability (ICC range 0.70-0.99). The reliability of clinical measurement points, however, were only moderate (ICC range 0.20-0.96). The intra- and interobserver reliability of quantitative prolapse staging on dynamic MR imaging were good to excellent. The pubococcygeal line appears the most reliable to use.

7; 95% confidence interval, 12 2-25 6; P<0 0001)

C

7; 95% confidence interval, 12.2-25.6; P<0.0001).

Conclusions In a large population of ICD recipients, specific patient and implanter characteristics predicted cardiac perforation risk. Cardiac perforation was associated with a substantially increased risk of other major complications, prolonged hospital stays, and death.”
“We report the case of a patient with a 20-year history of diabetes mellitus type 2 who developed sclerotic skin lesions on his neck and upper back. Physical

and histological findings were compatible with diabetic scleredema. T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse thickening of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with hyperintense signals. The MRI findings in the dermis corresponded with the accumulation of collagen tissue with deposition of glycosaminoglycans.”
“Identification Elacridar molecular weight of single gene mutations that lead to inherited forms of Parkinson’s selleck disease (PD) has provided strong impetus for the use of animal models to study normal functions of these “”PD genes”" and the cellular defects that occur in the presence of pathogenic PD mutations. Drosophila has emerged as an effective model in PD-related gene studies. Important insights into the cellular basis of PD pathogenesis include the demonstration that two PD genes, PINK1 and parkin, function in a common pathway, with PINK1 positively regulating parkin, to control mitochondrial integrity and maintenance. This is accomplished through

regulation of mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics. Subsequent observations in both fly and

mammalian systems showed that these proteins are important for sensing mitochondrial damage and recruiting damaged mitochondria to the quality-control machinery for subsequent removal. Here, I begin by reviewing the opportunities and challenges to understanding PD pathogenesis and developing new therapies. I then review the unique tools and technologies available in Drosophila for studying PD genes. Subsequently, I review lessons that we have learned from studies in Drosophila, emphasizing the PINK1/parkin pathway, as well as studies of DJ-1 and Omi/HtrA2, two additional genes associated with PD implicated in regulation of mitochondrial function. I end by discussing how Drosophila can be used LOXO-101 to further probe the functions of PINK1 and parkin, and the regulation of mitochondrial quality more generally. In additional to PD, defects in mitochondrial function are associated with normal aging and with many diseases of aging. Thus, insights gained from the studies of mitochondrial dynamics and quality control in Drosophila are likely to be of general significance.”
“In a previous study, we reported the short- and long-term effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on rabbit sperm quality. This study was aimed at exploring the spermatogenesis of the rabbit model focussing on the possible damages occurring to the testis and ejaculated sperm.

Results: From 1996-2006, 6 patients with idiopathic NS (4 MC, 2 F

Results: From 1996-2006, 6 patients with idiopathic NS (4 MC, 2 FSGS) developed ARF requiring dialysis early after onset of NS. At presentation all but 1 patient had elevated blood pressure. Patients were treated C59 Wnt concentration with dialysis from 7-40 days. All achieved complete or partial remission

after 4-8 weeks of steroids. Recovery of renal function paralleled with the reduction of proteinuria. At renal biopsy proximal tubules showed a large amount of protein droplets, flattening of epithelial cells, and focal detachment of cells from the basal membrane. After a follow-up of 24-60 months, 5 patients had a relapse. Of these 4 were responsive to steroids, while one progressed to dialysis after an episode of hemolytic uremic syndrome related to cyclosporine treatment. ARF did not recur.

Conclusion: ARF requiring dialysis is a rare and unexpected complication of idiopathic NS occurring in most cases early after presentation. These patients are sensitive to steroids that should be administered as

promptly as possible in view of the potential noxious effect of protein overload on proximal tubular cells.”
“We herein describe the identification of four new depsides present in methanol extract of Origanum dictamnus. O. dictamnus’ (dittany) aerial parts methanol extract was subjected to semi-preparative RP-HPLC fractionation followed by identification of individual compounds in each fraction using 1D/2D NMR, MS approaches and DFT calculations. The structural data revealed that AC220 in vitro 4 of the compounds were this website novel hitherto unidentified molecules, whereas the other 6 corresponded to known structures belonging to the groups of monoterpenes, phenolic acids and depsides. We have additionally estimated the antioxidant capacity of the methanol

extract and individual fractions using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH center dot) in vitro assay. Methanol extract exhibited significant scavenging activity, which was attributed predominantly to the depside group of phytochemicals. The scavenging activity of the new compounds is reported herein for first time. Moreover, the antimitotic activities of the methanol extract as well as that of rosmarinic acid were examined and appeared to be several fold weaker comparing to their scavenging capacity. (C) 2012 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Acute renal failure due to viral infections is rare. We assessed the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically compromised patients due to the H1N1 influenza virus.

Methods: All patients with a PCR-confirmed diagnosis of H1N1 influenza infection admitted to the intensive care unit between May and July 2009 were retrospectively studied. Thereafter, the risk factors associated with the development of acute renal injury, the requirements of acute hemodialysis (HD) and death were analyzed.

Results: Twenty-two patients with H1N1 pneumonia were included: age: 52.91 +/- 18.

The

impact of surgical experience on crossovers was less

The

impact of surgical experience on crossovers was less clear, although there was some evidence that noncompliance with more difficult surgery was more frequent for less experienced surgeons. This raises the possibility that experience may be an important factor in other scenarios, affecting both compliance and patient outcomes.

Conclusion: In randomized clinical trials, noncompliance by clinicians with the randomly assigned treatment can be highly detrimental to the power of the study. Further research is needed in this area to identify, quantify, and understand the factors associated with noncompliance, selleck chemicals llc including clinical experience. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“A patient with bladder frequency and urgency associated with pelvic pain had no control of symptoms by previous bladder distention, hysterectomy, or sacral nerve root stimulator. A clinical and neurophysiological diagnosis of pudendal neuropathy was made.

Treatment with a nerve protection program and pudendal nerve perineural injections of local anesthetics selleck chemical and corticosteroids has provided total symptomatic relief that is durable.”
“Reactions of acyloxyalkyl chloride with alkaline salts of alkylxanthic, butyltrithiocarbonic, and diethyldithiocarbamic acids afforded a series of acyloxyalkyl esters of various nature and positions of the acyl groups in the molecule.”
“Aims Micturition process is a spinobulbospinal reflex that is affected by the viscero-visceral interactions due to convergent inputs into spinal and/or supraspinal centers controlling that reflex. Although interaction between bladder and other pelvic organs, such as colon, are well studied, the viscero-visceral interaction between urinary bladder and internal organs in other regions are rarely studied. Methods: In the present study, Acadesine order continuous filling

cystometry recordings, in male rats, were used to investigate the effects of mechanical stimulation of distal- esophagus ( distention), as well as, electrical stimulation of abdominal branches of the vagus nerve on urinary bladder micturition cycles. Results: Distal esophagus distention and electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve significantly increased the micturition frequency through decreasing the time of the storage phase of the micturition cycle. However, bilateral cervical vagotomy eliminated the effects of distal esophagus distention and electrical stimulation of vagus nerve on micturition cycles. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is a viscero- visceral interaction between esophagus and urinary bladder, which is mediated through vagal afferents. Understanding the properties of the viscero- visceral interactions affecting the urinary bladder will help in the diagnosis and management of micturition problems. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31: 174-177, 2012. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Objective: To determine the content, structural, and construct validity of the Dutch version of the Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Additionally, our theory explains the relationship between such s

Additionally, our theory explains the relationship between such slowly changing firing rates and precisely timed spikes, and it reveals a novel relationship between

WM and the perception of time on the order of seconds.”
“Oligo2,20-1,4-phenylenebis[nitrilomethylylidene] bis(6-methoxyphenol) (OPNMMP) was synthesized from o-vanillin and p-phenylene diamine by oxidative polycondensation with NaOCl in an aqueous alkaline. Then, a new Schiff Base epoxy oligomer resin, OPNMMP-epichlorohydrine (EPC), was produced with EPC. The structures of the resulting compounds were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, 5-Fluoracil H-1-NMR, and C-13-NMR. Further characterization processes were preformed by thermogravimetry (TG)-differential thermal analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and solubility testing. Also, the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of OPNMMP-EPC were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The TG curves showed that the thermal decomposition of OPNMMP-EPC occurred in one stage. The kinetic parameters related to the decomposition kinetics of OPNMMP-EPC were obtained from

TG curves with the following methods: Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Kissinger, invariant kinetic parameter, and Coats-Redfern (CR), under an N-2 dynamic atmosphere and different heating Dehydrogenase inhibitor rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 degrees C/min). The mechanism function and pre-exponential factor were also determined by a master plots method. The apparent activation energies of the thermal decomposition were calculated from these methods for OPNMMP-EPC. The analysis Apoptosis inhibitor of the results obtained by the CR and master plots methods showed that the decomposition mechanism of OPNMMP-EPC in N-2 was a deceleration-type mechanism. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 3211-3222, 2011″
“This paper presents an analysis of piezomagnetoelastic energy harvesters under broadband random ambient excitations for the purpose of powering low-power electronic sensor systems. Their nonlinear behavior as a result of vibration in a magnetic field makes piezomagnetoelastic

energy harvesters different from classical piezoelastic energy harvesters. An equivalent linearization-based analytical approach is developed for the analysis of harvested power. A closed-form approximate expression for the ensemble average of the harvested power is derived and validated against numerical Monte Carlo simulation results. Our results show that it is possible to optimally design the system such that the mean harvested power is maximized for a given strength of the input broadband random ambient excitation. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3560523]“
“Understanding how multiple signals are integrated in living cells to produce a balanced response is a major challenge in biology.

We identified a set of specificity correlations -determined by tw

We identified a set of specificity correlations -determined by two AAs of the TFs and two NTs in the binding sites- that is conserved throughout a dominant subgroup within the family regardless of the evolutionary distance, and that act as a relatively consistent recognition code. The proposed rules are confirmed with data of previous experimental studies and by events of convergent evolution in the phylogenetic tree. The presence of a code emphasizes the stable structural

context of the LacI family, while defining a precise blueprint to reprogram TF specificity with many practical applications.”
“Background: The clinical impact of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) selleck infections in the early post-transplantation period are poorly documented. We investigated the prevalence and timing of EBV and CMV infections during the first 21 d post-transplantation in relation to graft function and acute cellular rejection in a large cohort of pediatric liver Autophagy inhibitor transplantation recipients.

Patients and methods: Clinical, biochemical, virological, and histopathological data of 62 consecutive children who received a liver transplant were reviewed retrospectively.

Results:

Seventeen patients (27%) developed EBV and 11 (18%) CMV viremia (mean interval from surgery: 7.6 d, SD 3.6 and 8.7 d, SD 6.4, respectively). EBV and CMV viremia were more common as a consequence of reactivation than of primary infection. EBV viremic recipients had more often abnormal bilirubin levels [p = 0.01; OR 5.8: 95% CI 1.3-25.5]. Acute rejection was diagnosed in 20 recipients (32.3%). No correlation was found between rejection and EBV and CMV serology

before transplantation and viremia after transplantation (mean interval between the diagnosis of rejection see more and the detection of EBV DNA and CMV DNA: one d, SD 4.4 and five d, SD 9.2, respectively).

Conclusion: EBV and CMV viremia occur at a very early-stage post-transplantation and do not appear to affect the short-term outcome of the transplant.”
“The haloarchaea Haloferax mediterranei and Haloarcula hispanica are both polyhydroxyalkanoate producers in the domain Archaea, and they are becoming increasingly attractive for research and biotechnology due to their unique genetic and metabolic features. To accelerate their genome-level genetic and metabolic analyses, we have developed specific and highly efficient gene knockout systems for these two haloarchaea. These gene knockout systems consist of a suicide plasmid vector with the pyrF gene as the selection marker and a uracil auxotrophic haloarchaeon (Delta pyrF) as the host. For in-frame deletion of a target gene, the suicide plasmid carrying the flanking region of the target gene was transferred into the corresponding Delta pyrF host.