Sulforaphane exerts its anti-inflammatory effect against amyloid-β peptide via STAT-1 dephosphorylation and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 cascade in human THP-1 macrophages

An, Y.W.,Jhang, K.A.,Woo, S.Y.,Kang, J.L.,Chong, Y.H. Elsevier Science Pub. Co 2016 NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING Vol.38 No.-

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, accounting for most cases of dementia in elderly individuals, and effective therapies are still lacking. This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of sulforaphane against Aβ<SUB>1-42</SUB> monomers in human THP-1 microglia-like cells. The results showed that sulforaphane preferentially inhibited cathepsin B- and caspase-1-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by mostly Aβ<SUB>1-42</SUB> monomers, an effect that potently reduced excessive secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that sulforaphane mitigated the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 induced by Aβ<SUB>1-42</SUB> monomers. Sulforaphane also increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, which was followed by upregulation of heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1). The anti-inflammatory effect of sulforaphane on Aβ<SUB>1-42</SUB>-induced IL-1β production was diminished by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Nrf2 or HO-1. Moreover, sulforaphane significantly attenuated the levels of microRNA-146a, which is selectively upregulated in the temporal cortex and hippocampus of AD brains. The aforementioned effects of sulforaphane were replicated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, and Nrf2 activator. These results indicate that signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 dephosphorylation, HO-1 and its upstream effector, Nrf2, play a pivotal role in triggering an anti-inflammatory signaling cascade of sulforaphane that results in decreases of IL-1β release and microRNA-146a production in Aβ<SUB>1-42</SUB>-stimulated human microglia-like cells. These findings suggest that the phytochemical sulforaphane has a potential application in AD therapeutics.

S-510 A case of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by Agromyces mediolanus

( Ju Hwan Oh ),( Min Woo An ),( Hyun Kwon Ju ),( Na Yun Kang ),( A Young Cho ),( In O Sun ),( Kwang Young Lee ) 대한내과학회 2016 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2016 No.1

Introduction:?Agromyces mediolanus (A.mediolanus) is an unusual pathogen in human infection. No case of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis by A.mediolanus has been reported. This is the first case report of PD-associated peritonitis by A.mediolanus in the world. We describe a case of PD-associated peritonitis by A.mediolanus that was cured after catheter removal.?Case: A 59-year-old man who had been treated with CAPD was admitted to our hospital because of turbid peritoneal effluent accompanied by constant diffuse abdominal pain. The patient had an exit-site infection with purulent secretion. The laboratory findings showed PD peritonitis: the white blood cell (WBC) count of the peritoneal effluents was 1157/mm3 with a neutrophil predominance (91.3%). Cefazolin and ceftazidime were given intraperitoneally per day. The peritoneal WBC decreased, but the patient’s clinical condition didn’t improve on the 5th day after starting intraperitoneal antibiotics. Culture of the peritoneal dialysate revealed Agromyces species, which was susceptible to meropenem, imipenem, vancomycin, but resistant to ceftriaxone. Thus, we changed antibiotics to intraperitoneal vancomycin and meropenem on the 5th day. Despite the intraperitoneal antibiotics for 4 days, the patient’s abdominal pain persisted and the peritoneal WBC count became elevated. Therefore, we removed the PD catheter and the patient was switched to hemodialysis on the 9th day. Vancomycin and imipenem was continued for another 2 weeks and the patient’s clinical condition improved. The patient has been maintained on hemodialysis.?Conclusions: There is no previous report of peritonitis associated with A.mediolanus in a CAPD patient. In this case, we used intraperitoneal cefazolin and ceftazidime and changed to vancomycin and imipenem according to the result of peritoneal dialysate. However the patient improved after removal of catheter. Therefore, early removal of the PD catheter in A. mediolanus related peritonitis without prompt reaction to antibiotic therapy should be considered.

여대생의 월경불편감 정도와 식습관에 관한 연구

김선영,김준희,김찬영,박정우,신선미,안선영,이민혜,이정아,임미선,전현정 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2010 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.44

Purpose: This study was done to identify the correlation between the menstrual discomforts and dietary habits of young university women in order to provide the basic needs and make improvements on the quality of life for women. Method: The Menstrual Discomfort Questionnaire (MDQ) and Nutrition Diagnosis for Health were the tools used. The participants were 279 female university students in Seoul. Result: Factors related to MDQ were found to be the VAS scores (r=.361, p=.002), menstrual discomfort according to stress consciousness (F=3.756, p=.025), experiences of taking medicine (F= 4.130 p= .043), the types of residential forms (F=6.197, p=.000), recognition of menstrual period (F=5.466, p=.020), eating breakfast, the frequency of carbohydrates intake (F=5.28, p=.006), the frequency of vegetable intake, seaweed and mushrooms (F=4.98, p=.008). As a result of the study, there is a correlation between menstrual discomforts of female university students and dietary habits. Conclusion: In order to decrease the discomforts of the menstrual cycle that usually includes pain and bloating a well-balanced dietary habit is needed. A balance diet includes grain, vegetables, and mushroom should be taken in normal meals. We should confine the dietary habits that form severe menstrual discomfort in people and give them recommendations for ideal dietary habits that would ideally decrease the pain caused by menstruation. Therefore it is necessary that the education program and nursing mediation should be developed as a program that would aid in decreasing menstrual discomforts. In future studies, a similar study with at a larger scale should be conducted with more recommended specified nutritional assessment.

Gα₁₂ gep oncogene deregulation of p53-responsive microRNAs promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma

Yang, Y M,Lee, W H,Lee, C G,An, J,Kim, E-S,Kim, S H,Lee, S-K,Lee, C H,Dhanasekaran, D N,Moon, A,Hwang, S,Lee, S J,Park, J-W,Kim, K M,Kim, S G Macmillan Publishers Limited 2015 Oncogene Vol.34 No.22

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis owing to aggressive phenotype. Gα<SUB>12</SUB> gep oncogene product couples to G-protein-coupled receptors, whose ligand levels are frequently increased in tumor microenvironments. Here, we report Gα<SUB>12</SUB> overexpression in human HCC and the resultant induction of zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) as mediated by microRNA deregulation. Gα<SUB>12</SUB> expression was higher in HCC than surrounding non-tumorous tissue. Transfection of Huh7 cell with an activated mutant of Gα<SUB>12</SUB> (Gα<SUB>12</SUB>QL) deregulated microRNA (miRNA or miR)-200b/a/429, -194-2/192 and -194-1/215 clusters in the miRNome. cDNA microarray analyses disclosed the targets affected by Gα<SUB>12</SUB> gene knockout. An integrative network of miRNAs and mRNA changes enabled us to predict ZEB1 as a key molecule governed by Gα<SUB>12</SUB>. Decreases of miR-200a/b, -192 and -215 by Gα<SUB>12</SUB> caused ZEB1 induction. The ability of Gα<SUB>12</SUB> to decrease p53 levels, as a result of activating protein-1 (AP-1)/c-Jun-mediated mouse double minute 2 homolog induction, contributed to transcriptional deregulation of the miRNAs. Gα<SUB>12</SUB>QL induced ZEB1 and other epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers with fibroblastoid phenotype change. Consistently, transfection with miR-200b, -192 or -215 mimic prevented the ability of Gα<SUB>12</SUB>QL to increase tumor cell migration/invasion. In xenograft studies, sustained knockdown of Gα<SUB>12</SUB> decreased the overall growth rate and average volume of tumors derived from SK-Hep1 cell (mesenchymal-typed). In HCC patients, miR-192, -215 and/or -200a were deregulated with microvascular invasion or growth advantage. In the HCC samples with higher Gα<SUB>12</SUB> level, a correlation existed in the comparison of relative changes of Gα<SUB>12</SUB> and ZEB1. In conclusion, Gα<SUB>12</SUB> overexpressed in HCC causes ZEB1 induction by deregulating p53-responsive miRNAs, which may facilitate epithelial–mesenchymal transition and growth of liver tumor. These findings highlight the significance of Gα<SUB>12</SUB> upregulation in liver tumor progression, implicating Gα<SUB>12</SUB> as an attractive therapeutic target.

Novel amyloid precursor protein mutation, Val669Leu (“Seoul <i>APP</i>”), in a Korean patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease

Bagyinszky, Eva,Kang, Min Ju,Van Giau, Vo,Shim, KyuHwan,Pyun, Jung-Min,Suh, Jeewon,An, Seong Soo A.,Kim, SangYun Elsevier 2019 NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING Vol.84 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, a novel mutation in <I>APP</I> gene, Val669Leu (“Seoul <I>APP</I>”), was reported in a Korean female patient with Alzheimer's disease. She developed cognitive decline at 56 years of age, and her memory declined rapidly over one-year period from her 1st visit to the hospital. Her Mini-Mental State Examination scores dropped from 25/30 to 13/30. Two years later, she developed parkinsonian features, myoclonic jerk, and generalized seizure. As the disease progressed, aggravated diffuse brain atrophy and small-vessel ischemic lesion was also observed, and she became mute and vegetative in 4 years from the symptom onset. Magnetic resonance imaging showed mild medial temporal lobe and hippocampal atrophy, and 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed bilateral temporoparietal hypometabolism. Plasma amyloid oligomer analysis revealed highly elevated Aβ oligomers levels in the proband patient. Family history revealed positive without biochemical confirmation because family members testified similar type of cognitive decline from the proband's mother and one of her aunt/uncle. Her half-siblings did not present any signs of memory impairment. Sanger sequencing of the proband patient revealed a novel mutation in <I>APP</I> gene, Val669Leu, but mutation was not found in her unaffected half-sisters. A designed algorithm by Guerreiro et al. on early-onset Alzheimer's disease–associated mutations suggested the mutation as possibly pathogenic mutation. On the other hand, PolyPhen2 and SIFT tools suggested as otherwise. Since the mutation was located nearby the β-secretase cleavage site of APP, right next to the Swedish APP (Lys,Met670/671Asn,Leu) mutation, it was named as “Seoul <I>APP”</I> mutation. 3D modeling revealed that this mutation could result in significant changes in loop orientation of APP and also its intramolecular interactions. Hence, a novel <I>APP</I> Val669Leu mutation could alter the binding interactions between APP and β-secretase, which may influence the Aβ40 and Aβ42 generations.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A novel variant in APP, Val669Leu, was found in a Korean patient, named Seoul APP. </LI> <LI> Proband patient developed disease phenotype in her 50s. </LI> <LI> Family history may be positive, and mutation may segregate with disease. </LI> <LI> Mutation is located nearby the beta-secretase site of APP, and potentially disturbs the enzyme mechanism. </LI> </UL> </P>

Potential Fluid Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Giau, Vo Van,Bagyinszky, Eva,An, Seong Soo A. MDPI AG 2019 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES Vol.20 No.17

<P>Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a level of cognitive impairment that is lower than normal for a person’s age, but a higher function than that that observed in a demented person. MCI represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Much effort has been made towards determining the prognosis of a person with MCI who will convert to AD. It is now clear that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau and phosphorylated tau are useful for predicting the risk of progression from MCI to AD. This review highlights the advantages of the current blood-based biomarkers in MCI, and discusses some of these challenges, with an emphasis on recent studies to provide an overview of the current state of MCI.</P>

으름 열매 식초의 품질특성 및 항산화 활성

이은경(Eun-Kyoung Lee),권우영(Woo-Young Kwon),이지원(Ji-Won Lee),윤진아(Jin-A Yoon),정강현(Kang-Hyun Chung),송병춘(Byeong Chun Song),안정희(Jeung Hee An) 한국식품영양과학회 2014 한국식품영양과학회지 Vol.43 No.8

본 연구에서는 으름 열매를 각각 0, 1, 3, 5 및 7%를 첨가하여 2단계 발효한 으름 열매 식초의 발효 중 이화학적 특성과 항산화 활성에 대하여 조사하였다. 식초의 이화학적 특성은 pH, 총산, 알코올, 총당, 아미노산으로 평가하였고, 항산화 활성은 ABTS?+ 라디칼 소거능, SOD 유사활성능, 환원력으로 평가하였다. 알코올 발효 중 총산과 알코올 함량은 증가하였고 총당 함량은 감소하였다. 초산 발효에서는 총산 함량이 유의적으로 증가하였다. 관능검사 평가에서는 으름 열매7% 첨가군에서 종합적 기호도가 가장 높게 나타났다. 발효1일째보다 발효 13일째에 대조군과 으름 열매 첨가 1%에서는 총 폴리페놀 함량에 유의적 차이가 없었으나 으름 열매첨가군 3, 5, 7%에서 총 폴리페놀 함량이 각각 136.6, 381.59, 415.35 mg/100 g으로 유의적으로 증가됨을 볼 수 있었다. 총 플라보노이드 함량은 발효 1일째보다 발효 13일째에 대조군이 21.73 mg/100 g, 으름 열매 첨가군 1, 3, 5, 7%에서 각각 15.79, 15.15, 26.19, 26.87 mg/100 g으로 발효가 진행됨에 따라 유의적으로 증가하였고 으름 열매 첨가량에 따라서도 유의적으로 증가되었다. 탄닌의 함량도 발효 1일째보다 발효 13일째에 대조군이 0.2042 mg/100 g, 으름 열매 첨가군 1, 3, 5, 7%에서 각각 0.2004, 0.1255, 0.1384, 0.1255 mg/100 g으로 유의적으로 증가됨을 보였다. ABTS?+ 라디칼 소거 활성은 발효 1일째보다 발효 13일 째에 5 mg/mL 농도에서 대조군이 5.87%, 으름 열매 첨가군1, 3, 5, 7%에서 각각 12.59, 25.63, 34.02, 35.25%로 라디칼 소거능이 증가하였고, SOD 유사활성능도 5 mg/mL 농도에서 발효 1일째보다 발효 13일째에 대조군이 8.22%, 으름열매 첨가군 1, 3, 5, 7%에서 각각 17.49, 16.86, 16.89, 15.68% 증가하였다. 환원력은 으름 열매 첨가군 7%에서 발효 1일째에 0.527, 발효 13일째에 1.539로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과에서 항산화 활성은 발효가 진행되는 동안 증가하였고 으름 열매 첨가량에 따라서도 증가하였다. 으름 열매식초가 발효됨에 따라 ABTS?+ 라디칼 소거능, SOD 유사활성능, 환원력이 증가하였으며 이것은 높은 폴리페놀, 플라보노이드, 탄닌의 함량이 밀접하게 관여한 것으로 보인다. 그러므로 으름 열매의 높은 항산화 활성이 식초 및 기타 식품에서 기능성 소재로 이용될 것으로 보여준다. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of vinegar added with different levels (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) of Akebia quinata fruit during two-step fermentation. The physicochemical properties of vinegar evaluated were pH, total acidity, alcohol, and total sugar and amino acid contents. The antioxidant activities were based on ABTS radical scavenging activity, SOD-like activity, and reducing power. During alcohol fermentation, total acidity and alcohol contents of vinegar increased, but total sugar contents decreased. During acid fermentation, total acidities of vinegar increased. Vinegar added with 7% A. quinata fruit showed the highest total sensory score. Total polyphenol contents of vinegar added with 0% and 1% A. quinata fruit were not significantly different. However, vinegar added with 3, 5, and 7% A. quinata fruit showed significantly higher total polyphenol contents of 136.6, 381.59, and 415.35 mg/100 g, respectively, after 13 days of fermentation. Further, total flavonoid contents of vinegar added with 0~7% A. quinata fruit significantly increased to 21.73, 15.79, 15.15, 26.19, and 26.87 mg/100 g, respectively, after 13 days of fermentation. In addition, tannin contents of vinegar added with 0~7% A. quinata fruit significantly increased to 0.2042, 0.2004, 0.1255, 0.1384, and 0.1255 mg/100 g, respectively, after 13 days of fermentation. Moreover, ABTS radical scavenging activities of vinegar added with 0~7% A. quinata fruit significantly increased to 5.87, 12.59, 25.63, 34.02, and 35.25, respectively, after 13 days of fermentation at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Additionally, SOD-like activities of vinegar added with 0~7% A. quinata fruit significantly increased to 8.22, 17.49, 16.86, 16.89, and 15.68%, respectively, after 13 days of fermentation. Reducing power of 7% A. quinata fruit was 0.527 after 1 day and 1.539 at the end of fermentation. Our results demonstrate that antioxidant activity significantly increased during fermentation according to the content of A. quinata. Further, the total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents were shown to be closely related with antioxidant activities. Thus, A. quinata could be effectively used as a vinegar and functional food material based on its antioxidant activity.

EXPANDING THE APPLICABILITY OF SECANT METHOD WITH APPLICATIONS

A. Alberto Magre˜n´an,Ioannis K. Argyros 대한수학회 2015 대한수학회보 Vol.52 No.3

We present new sufficient convergence criteria for the convergence of the secant-method to a locally unique solution of a nonlinear equation in a Banach space. Our idea uses Lipschitz and center–Lipschitz instead of just Lipschitz conditions in the convergence analysis. The new convergence criteria can always be weaker than the corresponding ones in earlier studies. Numerical examples are also provided in this study to solve equations in cases not possible before.

금화규(Abelmoschus manihot) 꽃 추출물의 In Vitro 피부 미백 및 주름 개선 효능 연구

권현지 ( Hyun-ji Kwon ),범석현 ( Seok-hyun Beom ),현진아 ( Jin-a Hyun ),강은빈 ( Eun-bin Kang ),박하은 ( Ha-eun Park ),한동근 ( Dong-geun Han ),김현정 ( Hyun-jeong Kim ),최은영 ( Eun-young Choi ),안봉전 ( Bong-jeon An ) 대한화장품학회 2021 대한화장품학회지 Vol.47 No.4

본 연구는 화장품 소재로서 금화규(Abelmoschus manihot) 꽃의 미백 활성율 및 항주름 활성을 평가하기 위해 수행하였다. 금화규 꽃은 물과 70% 에탄올을 이용하여 추출하였다. Tyrosinase 억제 활성은 물과 70% 에탄올 추출물 모두 농도 의존적으로 억제 활성이 증가 된다고 평가되었으며, B16F10 세포주에서 생존율에 영향을 미치지 않은 농도인 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL에서 멜라닌 생합성을 저해하는 것으로 확인되었다. 금화규 꽃의 항주름 효능으로는 collagenase와 elastase의 활성 저해 능력을 측정한 결과 70% 에탄올 추출물이 물 추출물보다 높은 항주름 활성을 보였다. 본 연구 결과를 통하여 금화규 꽃 추출물은 미백 활성과 항주름 활성을 가지는 기능성 화장품 소재로 사용 가능할 것으로 사료된다. In this study, the skin whitening and anti-wrinkle activity of Abelmoschus manihot (A. manihot) flowers were evaluated as a cosmetic material. A. manihot flowers were extracted using water and 70% ethanol. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was evaluated to increase concentration-dependent inhibitory activity in both water (AMW) and 70% ethanol extracts (AME), and was found to inhibit melanin biosynthesis at concentrations that did not affect survival in B16F10 cell lines at 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/mL. As a result of measuring the anti-wrinkle effectiveness of A. manihot flowers, 70% ethanol extract (AME) showed higher anti-wrinkle activity than water extract (AMW). Through the results of this study, it is considered that the A. manihot flower extract can be used as a functional cosmetic material with whitening and anti-wrinkle activity.

LIPCA 작동기를 이용한 곤충모방로봇

압둘 아지스,안재범,이상윤 건국대학교 산업기술연구원 2006 건국기술연구논문지 Vol.31 No.-

In this paper we present the design and prototype of a six-legged walking robot which uses Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite curved Actuator (LIPCA) as its actuator. LIPCA consists of multiple layers of glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy that encapsulate a unimorph piezoelectric ceramic actuator. It uses lightweight fiber-reinforced plastic layers and it generates a higher force and a larger displacement than other conventional piezo-composite type actuators. Like most six-legged walking insects including cockroaches, our robot uses the alternating tripod gait where the front and rear legs on the same side move together with the middle leg on the other side for its locomotion. Two LIPCA strips in different phases are used for actuating each tripod so that only one tripod can touch the ground. All the experiments with the prototype show that LIPCA can be used as an alternative actuator for small and light mobile robots.