Urinary concentration of transforming growth factor-&bgr;-inducible gene-h3(&bgr;ig-h3) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cha, D. R.,Kim, I. S.,Kang, Y. S.,Han, S. Y.,Han, K. H.,Shin, C.,Ji, Y. H.,Kim, N. H. Blackwell Science Ltd 2005 Diabetic medicine Vol.22 No.1

<P>Abstract</P><P>Aims </P><P>The expression of TGF&bgr;-inducible gene h3(&bgr;ig-h3) has been used to assess the biological activity of TGF&bgr; in the kidney. In this study, we investigated whether the urinary concentration of &bgr;ig-h3 is associated with diabetic nephropathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We also evaluated the relationship between the urinary concentration of &bgr;ig-3 and proteinuria and microalbuminuria (AER) in a normal healthy population and in Type 2 diabetes patients.</P><P>Methods </P><P>Four hundred and seventy-nine Type 2 diabetic patients without non-diabetic kidney diseases and 528 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The study subjects were divided into five groups: a non-diabetic healthy control group with normal ACR (<I>n</I> = 443), a non-diabetic healthy control group with microalbuminuria (<I>n</I> = 85), a normoalbuminuric diabetic group (<I>n</I> = 198), a microalbuminuric diabetic group (<I>n</I> = 155) and an overt proteinuria group (<I>n</I> = 126). Urinary levels of &bgr;ig-h3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</P><P>Results </P><P>(i) Urinary excretion of &bgr;ig-h3 was significantly higher in the diabetic groups than in the controls, even in the normoalbuminuric stage (25.02 ± 8.84 vs. 18.67 ± 6.56, <I>P</I> = 0.03). In diabetic patients, urinary &bgr;ig-h3 levels increased significantly as diabetic nephropathy advanced (25.02 ± 8.84 vs. 34.06 ± 24.55 vs. 169.63 ± 57.33, <I>P</I> < 0.001). (ii) Proteinuria was found to be significantly correlated with urinary &bgr;ig-h3 (healthy control; <I>r</I> = 0.137, <I>P</I> = 0.019, diabetic patients; <I>r</I> = 0.604, <I>P</I> < 0.001). ACR was also found to be significantly related with urinary &bgr;ig-h3 in diabetic patients (<I>r =</I> 0.383, <I>P</I> = 0.006). (iii) In diabetic patients, urinary &bgr;ig-h3 was significantly related with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: <I>r</I> = 0.436, <I>P</I> = 0.024; diastolic blood pressure, <I>r</I> = 0.365, <I>P</I> = 0.042), total cholesterol and HbA<SUB>1c</SUB> (cholesterol: <I>r</I> = 0.169, <I>P</I> = 0.03, HbA<SUB>1c</SUB>; <I>r</I> = 0.387, <I>P</I> = 0.044). Logistic regression analyses showed that urinary &bgr;ig-h3 was associated with a significant increase in the risk of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in diabetic patients.</P><P>Conclusions </P><P>Longitudinal monitoring of urinary &bgr;ig-h3 may improve the likelihood of detecting diabetic nephropathy at an earlier stage and &bgr;ig-h3 could be a sensitive marker of diabetic kidney disease progression.</P>

Routine preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography might not be necessary for stroke prevention evaluation in AF patients on anticoagulation therapy

Han, J.H.,Shin, D.H.,Lee, H.J.,Kim, Y.J.,Lee, S.H.,Shim, J.,Uhm, J.S.,Kim, J.Y.,Chang, H.J.,Pak, H.N.,Lee, M.H.,Joung, B. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press 2013 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY Vol.168 No.3

Background: Preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is used to reduce the stroke during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. This study evaluated whether routine preprocedural TEE in addition to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is necessary to prevent periprocedural stroke in AF ablation. Methods: Each patient underwent MDCT and TEE (group 1, n=247) or MDCT alone (group 2, n=103) for the initial evaluation before AF ablation. In group 2, TEE was performed only in patients who had left atrial (LA) thrombus or blood stasis in MDCT. Results: There was no difference in sex, CHADS<SUB>2</SUB> score, or LA dimension between the two groups. In group 1, a thrombus was detected in 12 (5%) and 6 (2%) patients by the MDCT and TEE, respectively. All (100%) patients, who were revealed to have thrombus in TEE, also had a thrombus in MDCT. In group 2, 3 (3%) patients exhibited LA thrombus in MDCT, among whom thrombus was observed in only one patient (1%) in TEE. AF ablation was not performed in patients with thrombus. While one patient had a periprocedural stroke in group 1, no patient had in group 2 (P=0.52). Conclusion: The overall periprocedural stroke rate was low (0.3%) in AF patients on anticoagulation therapy. The preprocedural MDCT detected all patients with the LA thrombus. In AF patients with low CHADS2 score, optimal anticoagulation and relatively preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, routine preprocedural TEE in addition to the MDCT might not be necessary to decrease the periprocedural stroke rate.

한국인 여성의 임신과 관련된 치골 결합 관절 간격의 초음파에 의한 변화치 관찰

한정열(J.Y. Han),한병희(B.H. Han),문우남(W.N. Moon) 대한산부인과학회 2001 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.44 No.4

N/A Objective : To evaluate pregnancy associated change in width of the symphysis pubis. Materials and Methods : 497 women were evaluated from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2000. They were non-pregnant, pregnant and postpartum state without complaning of pelvis pain. Ultrasonographic measurements of the width of the symphysis pubis were performed. Results : The population study shows 29.3 year-old as the mean age., gravid 2 and parity 0.6 . They consist of non-pregnant(n=36), first trimester(n=79), second trimester(n=118), third trimester(n=94), postpartum 4 weeks(n=84) and postpartum 8 weeks(n=86) women. The width of symphyseal joint was 3.93+0.05 mm(0.8-8.8 mm) among the total population, 3.20+0.17 mm in non-pregnant, 3.76+0.14 mm in first trimester, 3.95+0.10 mm in second trimester, 4.72+0.15 mm in third trimester, 3.98+0.12 mm in postpartum 4 weeks, 3.37+0.12 mm in postpartum 8 weeks women. The difference of the symphyseal joint width is statistically significant between non-pregnant and pregnant women(P=0.00). However the width of symphyseal joint were recovered until postpartum 8 weeks. There was no statistical difference of the width between first and second trimester,however significant difference between third trimester and before(P=0.00). The equation of regression ananlysis in the width of symphyseal joint was Y=3.25+0.04 x Gestation weeks during pregnancy(P>0.05). Conclusion : The width of the symphyseal joint had increased as gestational week advanced, and recovered until postpartum 8 weeks in pregnant women not complaining of pelvic pain.

Effects of the novel angiotensin II receptor type I antagonist, fimasartan on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Han, J.,Park, S.J.,Thu, V.T.,Lee, S.R.,Long, L.T.,Kim, H.K.,Kim, N.,Park, S.W.,Jeon, E.S.,Kim, E.J.,Yoon, C.H.,Cho, G.Y.,Choi, D.J. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press 2013 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY Vol.168 No.3

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of fimasartan, a newly developed angiotensin II receptor type I blocker (ARB), against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to identify the mechanism by which it reduces mitochondrial damage. Methods: Fimasartan was administered intravenously to Sprague-Dawley rats (3mg/kg), cardiomyocytes (50μM), and H9c2 cells (50μM) before ischemia or hypoxia. Myocardial infarction (MI), echocardiograms, DNA fragmentation, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP in situ nick-end labeling, immunoblotting, oxygen consumption, confocal microscopic appearance, and L-type Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> current (I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB>) were then assessed. Results: Fimasartan pretreatment remarkably reduced the rate of MI and improved cardiac performance well after I/R (n=9/group). Fimasartan also reduced apoptotic cell death both in vivo and in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated H9c2 cells (n=5~8/group). H/R-induced mitochondrial O<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>-</SUP> production and collapse of membrane potential were markedly attenuated in fimasartan-treated cardiomyocytes (n=4~6/group). Additionally, mitochondrial Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> overload during reoxygenation was suppressed by fimasartan (n=4~6/group), and this was found to be possibly related to the inhibition of I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB> and mitochondrial Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> uniporter. Furthermore, fimasartan pretreatment increased phosphorylations of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (n=5~7/group), decreased pro-apoptotic p53 levels, and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels (n=4) during reperfusion. Conclusions: Fimasartan preconditioning has the potential to modulate Bcl-2 and suppress I/R-induced Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> overload by inhibiting I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB> and MCU. These beneficial effects could prevent the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis accompanied by I/R.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of expression in rice seedling roots in response to supplemental nitrogen

Chandran, A.K.N.,Priatama, R.A.,Kumar, V.,Xuan, Y.,Je, B.I.,Kim, C.M.,Jung, K.H.,Han, C.d. G. Fischer 2016 Journal of plant physiology Vol.200 No.-

<P>Nitrogen (N) is the most important macronutrient for plant growth and grain yields. For rice crops, nitrate and ammonium are the major N sources. To explore the genomic responses to ammonium supplements in rice roots, we used 17-day-old seedlings grown in the absence of external N that were then exposed to 0.5 mM (NH4)(2)SO4 for 3 h. Transcriptomic profiles were examined by microarray experiments. In all, 634 genes were up-regulated at least two-fold by the N-supplement when compared with expression in roots from untreated control plants. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that those upregulated genes are associated with 23 GO terms. Among them, metabolic processes for diverse amino acids (i.e., aspartate, threonine, tryptophan, glutamine, L-phenylalanine, and thiamin) as well as nitrogen compounds are highly over-represented, demonstrating that our selected genes are suitable for studying the N-response in roots. This enrichment analysis also indicated that nitrogen is closely linked to diverse transporter activities by primary metabolites, including proteins (amino acids), lipids, and carbohydrates, and is associated with carbohydrate catabolism and cell wall organization. Integration of results from omics analysis of metabolic pathways and transcriptome data using the MapMan tool suggested that the TCA cycle and pathway for mitochondrial electron transport are co-regulated when rice roots are exposed to ammonium. We also investigated the expression of N-responsive marker genes by performing a comparative analysis with root samples from plants grown under different NH4+ treatments. The diverse responses to such treatment provide useful insight into the global changes related to the shift from an N-deficiency to an enhanced N-supply in rice, a model crop plant. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.</P>

Emergence of Amantadine-Resistant H3N2 Avian Influenza A Virus in South Korea

Lee, J.,Song, Y. J.,Park, J. H.,Lee, J.-H.,Baek, Y. H.,Song, M.-S.,Oh, T.-K.,Han, H.-S.,Pascua, P. N. Q.,Choi, Y.-K. American Society for Microbiology 2008 Journal of clinical microbiology Vol.46 No.11

<P>We found a relatively high frequency of unique amantadine-resistant H3N2 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses (Val27Ile on M2 protein) isolated from live poultry markets in South Korea and confirmed that a Val27Ile single substitution in the M2 protein is enough to acquire the amantadine resistance phenotype by using reverse-genetically created human-avian reassortant viruses.</P>

Diabetes augments cognitive dysfunction in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by increasing neuronal cell death: Implication of cilostazol for diabetes mellitus-induced dementia

Kwon, K.J.,Lee, E.J.,Kim, M.K.,Kim, S.Y.,Kim, J.N.,Kim, J.O.,Kim, H.J.,Kim, H.Y.,Han, J.S.,Shin, C.Y.,Han, S.H. Blackwell Science ; Academic Press 2015 Neurobiology of disease Vol.73 No.-

Many patients with diabetes are at increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Diabetes mellitus is a vascular risk factor that may increase the risk of dementia through its associations with vascular dementia. We tested whether cognitive impairment could be exacerbated in combined injury using a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion with diabetes. We also determined whether a potent inhibitor of type III phosphodiesterase could prevent the cognitive decline caused by this combined injury. We used Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats as a model of type II diabetes (T2DM) and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats as a control. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was modeled by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). At 24weeks, the non-diabetic and T2DM rats were randomly assigned into groups for the following experiments: analysis I (1) sham non-diabetic rats (n=8); (2) hypoperfused non-diabetic rats (n=9); (3) sham T2DM rats (n=8); (4) hypoperfused T2DM rats (n=9); analysis II- (1) sham T2DM rats without treatment (n=8); (2) cilostazol-treated T2DM rats (n=8); (3) hypoperfused T2DM rats (n=9); and (4) hypoperfused T2DM rats and cilostazol treatment (n=9). The rats were orally administered cilostazol (50mg/kg) or vehicle once a day for 2weeks after 24weeks. Rats performed Morris water maze tasks, and neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation were investigated via Western blots and histological investigation. Spatial memory impairment was exacerbated synergistically in the hypoperfused T2DM group compared with the hypoperfused non-diabetic group and sham T2DBM group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, neuronal cell death was increased in the hippocampus of the hypoperfused T2DM group. Cilostazol, a PDE-3 inhibitor, improved the memory impairments through inhibition of neuronal cell death, activation of CREB phosphorylation and BDNF expression in the hypoperfused T2DM group. Our experimental results support the hypothesis that there are deleterious interactions between chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and T2DM. That is, metabolic diseases such as diabetes may exacerbate cognitive impairment in a rat model of vascular dementia. We also suggest that surprisingly, the phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, cilostazol may be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment in diabetes mellitus-induced dementia. In conclusion, diabetes can aggravate cognitive dysfunction in vascular dementia, and PDE-3 inhibitors, such as cilostazol, may form the basis of a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetes-associated cognitive impairment or vascular dementia.

Deoxynivalenol exposure induces autophagy/apoptosis and epigenetic modification changes during porcine oocyte maturation

Han, J.,Wang, Q.C.,Zhu, C.C.,Liu, J.,Zhang, Y.,Cui, X.S.,Kim, N.H.,Sun, S.C. Academic Press 2016 Toxicology and applied pharmacology Vol.300 No.-

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a widespread trichothecene mycotoxin which contaminates agricultural staples and elicits a complex spectrum of toxic effects on humans and animals. It has been shown that DON impairs oocyte maturation, reproductive function and causes abnormal fetal development in mammals; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigate the possible reasons of the toxic effects of DON on porcine oocytes. Our results showed that DON significantly inhibited porcine oocyte maturation and disrupted meiotic spindle by reducing p-MAPK protein level, which caused retardation of cell cycle progression. In addition, up-regulated LC3 protein expression and aberrant Lamp2, LC3 and mTOR mRNA levels were observed with DON exposure, together with Annexin V-FITC staining assay analysis, these results indicated that DON treatment induced autophagy/apoptosis in porcine oocytes. We also showed that DON exposure increased DNA methylation level in porcine oocytes through altering DNMT3A mRNA levels. Histone methylation levels were also changed showing with increased H3K27me3 and H3K4me2 protein levels, and mRNA levels of their relative methyltransferase genes, indicating that epigenetic modifications were affected. Taken together, our results suggested that DON exposure reduced porcine oocytes maturation capability through affecting cytoskeletal dynamics, cell cycle, autophagy/apoptosis and epigenetic modifications.

재래돼지 Melanocortin Receptor 1(MCIR)의 변이에 관한 연구

한재용,정일정,김태헌,윤두학,연성흠,최봉환,노환국,김남순,이화진 한국동물자원과학회 2001 한국축산학회지 Vol.43 No.3

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene is the major candidate gene for coat color in pig since it is assumed to be controlled by an allele at the Extension (E) locus. A 702 by fragments of the MC1R gene were amplified by PCR, cloned and sequenced from 6 heads of Korean native pig. Of them, 4 pigs possessed allele#2 which is associated with black coat color in pig, the others had allele#1 which revealed a unique allele in European wild boar reported by Kijas et al. (1998). PCR-RFLP was carried out to observe their alleles from 6 different pig breeds including Korean native pig, Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, Large White, and Meishan pig. Two pairs of primers were designed for amplifying the MC1R gene fragment corresponding to five polymorphic sites. PCR products were digested 5 different restriction enzymes. Nsp I , MspA 1 I , Rca I , Hha I and Acc II , and electrophoresed in 2.5% Metaphor agarose gel. All breeds except for Korean native and Meishan breeds were the same alleles reported by Kijas et al. (1998). Of 9 Meishan pigs tested in this study, 4 heads possessed the same allele, 5 heads were different alleles reported by Kijas et al. (1998). A total of 15 different alleles revealed in Korean native pig. The results of this study strongly suggest that black coat color in Korean native breed was associated with a constitutively active receptor at codon 99 (L99P).

승압형 컨버터에서의 임계모드에 대한 연구

이철환,조정민,전기영,함년근,김성남,김용주,한경희 明知大學校 産業技術硏究所 2002 産業技術硏究所論文集 Vol.21 No.-

In this paper, show that inductor current mode change continuous mode and discontinuous mode, according to value of boost inductor using for power factor correction(PFC) circuit is composed of boost converter, and compared to harmonic content in input current and inductor current at continuous mode and discontinuous mode. In result, ascertain whether it is true inductor current is low than critical mode at continuous mode for harmonic content, and input current is similer to harmonic content at continuous mode and critical mode. According to the value of boost inductor produce at critical mode, PFC circuit design gor the smallest inductor capacity.