Gut-Specific Delivery of T-Helper 17 Cells Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice

Hong, C.P.,Park, A.,Yang, B.G.,Yun, C.H.,Kwak, M.J.,Lee, G.W.,Kim, J.H.,Jang, M.S.,Lee, E.J.,Jeun, E.J.,You, G.,Kim, K.S.,Choi, Y.,Park, J.H.,Hwang, D.,Im, S.H.,Kim, J.F.,Kim, Y.K.,Seoh, J.Y.,Surh, C. Elsevier North Holland [etc.] 2017 Gastroenterology Vol.152 No.8

<P>BACKGROUND & AIMS: Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been associated with alterations to the intestinal microbiota. However, few studies examined the effects of obesity on the intestinal immune system. We investigated changes in subsets of intestinal CD4(+) T-helper (T-H) cells with obesity and the effects of gut-tropic T(H)17 cells in mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: We isolated immune cells from small intestine and adipose tissue of C57BL/6 mice fed a normal chow diet or a HFD for 10 weeks and analyzed the cells by flow cytometry. Mice fed a vitamin A-deficient HFD were compared with mice fed a vitamin A-sufficient HFD. Obese RAG1-deficient mice were given injections of only regulatory T cells or a combination of regulatory T cells and T(H)17 cells (wild type or deficient in integrin beta 7 subunit or interleukin 17 [IL17]). Mice were examined for weight gain, fat mass, fatty liver, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. Fecal samples were collected before and after T cell transfer and analyzed for microbiota composition by metagenomic DNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Mice placed on a HFD became obese, which affected the distribution of small intestinal CD4(+) T-H cells. Intestinal tissues from obese mice had significant reductions in the proportion of T(H)17 cells but increased proportion of T(H)1 cells, compared with intestinal tissues from nonobese mice. Depletion of vitamin A in obese mice further reduced the proportion of T(H)17 cells in small intestine; this reduction correlated with more weight gain and worsening of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Adoptive transfer of in vitro-differentiated gut-tropic T(H)17 cells to obese mice reduced these metabolic defects, which required the integrin beta 7 subunit and IL17. Delivery of T(H)17 cells to intestines of mice led to expansion of commensal microbes associated with leanness. CONCLUSIONS: In mice, intestinal T(H)17 cells contribute to development of a microbiota that maintains metabolic homeostasis, via IL17. Gut-homing T(H)17 cells might be used to reduce metabolic disorders in obese individuals.</P>

On the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) membrane for hydrogen separation from simulated biomass-derived syngas

Yin, H.,Lee, T.,Choi, J.,Yip, A.C.K. Elsevier 2016 Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol.233 No.-

<P>Hydrogen separation from biomass-derived syngas is a critical step in the utilization of gasification technology. Compared with the traditional methods, membrane technology provides an effective and low-cost solution for adjusting the gas composition and collecting H-2 in syngas environments. In this study, a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-based membrane, which is a potential candidate for H-2 separation from biomass-derived syngas, was successfully fabricated through the seeded (secondary) growth method and the subsequent post-treatments. The prepared ZIF-8 membrane exhibited a modest H-2 separation performance for H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO, with separation factors of 4.95 and 6.08, respectively, and a H-2 permeance of 7.81 x 10(-8) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa-1 at 200 degrees C in the simulated biomass-derived syngas environments (H-2/CO2/CO) with the presence of steam. In particular, the H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO separation factors were increased by 36% and 97%, respectively, with respect to those obtained through bare supports. Despite the promising H2 perm-selectivity, the H-2/CO2 and H-2/CO separation factors of ZIF-8 membranes at 200 degrees C under water-containing syngas environments were maintained up to 10 h but the longer exposure led to the gradual degradation and eventual reduction toward those of bare supports after 15 h seemingly due to the water-involved membrane degradation. This study provides the availability and limitation of ZIF-8 membranes for H-2 separations in stimulated biomass-derived syngas environments. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</P>

간호대학생의 정보활용능력의 영향 요인에 대한 연구 : 셀프 리더십을 중심으로

최선엽,최가을,이현정,유명혜,안서현,박수현,하재영,홍신해,김한나,김지아 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2015 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.49

Purpose: This study identifies the factors in nursing undergraduate curriculum related to improved information literacy, and the degree of relationship between information literacy and self-leadership among nursing undergraduate students. Method: Participants were 338 nursing undergraduates selected by convenience sampling at 19 Korean universities. Instruments were the self-leadership tool by Manz(1983), modified by Cho(2003) and the information literacy tool developed by Rhee(2008). The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchial multiple regression analysis with SPSS 22.0 Windows software. Results: Participants’ age(F=2.962, p<.001), grade(F=5.757, p=.001), experience in clinical nursing-practice(t=3.792, p<.001), GPA(F=3.373, p=.019) and experience in informatics education (t=3.291, p<.001) were statistically significant differences in the information literacy. Age(F=4.995, p=.007), Religion (t=3.593, p<.001), GPA (F=8.878, p<.001), satisfaction with the major subject (t=-4.399, p<.001) and the degree of information education necessity(t=1.993, p=.047) showed statistically significant differences in the self-leadership. Also there was a strong correlation between information literacy and self-leadership (Pearson’s r=.578, p<.001). Hierarchical-regression analysis revealed that the better self-leadership was associated with the higher information literacy(Adjusted R²=.355, R²=.382, p<.001). However, age, time using a computer, grade, religion, GPA, satisfaction with nursing as a major, and experience in informatics education were not significantly associated with information literacy. Conclusion: These findings implied the importance of educating information literacy which is a foundation for evidence-based-practice for nursing students. Considering the importance of self-leadership on information literacy, it is also essential to develop the current nursing undergraduate curriculum for maximizing the effectiveness of information literacy education reflecting the relationship between self-leadership and information literacy.

A new compound, 1H,8H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1,8-dione, suppresses airway epithelial cell inflammatory responses in a murine model of asthma.

Lee, H,Han, A R,Kim, Y,Choi, S H,Ko, E,Lee, N Y,Jeong, J H,Kim, S H,Bae, H Biomedical Research Press 2009 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOPATHOLOGY AND PHARM Vol.22 No.3

<P>Clinical and experimental studies have established eosinophilia as a sign of allergic disorders. Activation of eosinophils in the airways is believed to cause epithelial tissue injury, contraction of airway smooth muscle and increased bronchial responsiveness. As part of the search for new antiasthmatic agents produced by medicinal plants, the effects of 270 standardized medicinal plant extracts on cytokine-activated A549 human lung epithelial cells were evaluated. After several rounds of activity-guided screening, the new natural compound, 1H,8H-Pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1,8-dione (PPY), was isolated from Vitex rotundifolia L. To elucidate the mechanism by which the anti-asthmatic responses of PPY occurred in vitro, lung epithelial cells (A549 cell) were stimulated with TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-1beta to induce the expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. PPY treatments reduced the expression of eotaxin, IL-8, IL-16 and VCAM-1 mRNA significantly. Additionally, PPY reduced eotaxin secretion in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited eosinophil migration toward A549 medium. In addition, PPY treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of p65 and ERK1/2, suggesting that it can inhibit the MAPK/NF-KB pathway. To clarify the anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic effects of PPY in vivo, we examined the influence of PPY on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of asthma. To accomplish this, mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and then examined for the following typical asthmatic reactions: an increase in the number of eosinophils in BALF; the presence of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in the BALF; the presence of allergen-specific IgE in the serum; and a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung. Taken together, our results revealed that PPY exerts profound inhibitory effects on the accumulation of eosinophils into the airways while reducing the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the BALF. Therefore, these results suggest that PPY may be useful as a new therapeutic drug for the treatment of allergic asthma.</P>

Benzo(a)pyrene induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma cancer cells through reactive oxygen species-induced endoplasmic reticulum-stress pathway

Kim, S.M.,Lee, H.M.,Hwang, K.A.,Choi, K.C. Pergamon ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2017 Food and chemical toxicology Vol.107 No.1

Cigarette smoke (CS) contains over 60 well established carcinogens. In this study, we examined the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), a main CS component, on the viability and apoptosis of JEG-3 and BeWo human choriocarcinoma cancer cell lines. An MTT assay confirmed that B(a)P decreased the cell viability of JEG-3 and BeWo cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, Western blot (WB) assay revealed that protein expression of cyclin D and cyclin E decreased, while protein expression of p21 and p27 was increased in response to B(a)P treatment for 48 h. The changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in JEG-3 and BeWo cells exposed to B(a)P were also measured by a dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay, which revealed that ROS levels increased in response to B(a)P treatment for 48 h. WB assay also confirmed that each B(a)P treatment of JEG-3 and BeWo cells for 4 h promoted the expression of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha protein (p-eIF2α) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), which are known to be involved in ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) related apoptosis. Overall, the protein expression of Bax (a pro-apoptosis marker) increased, while the expression of Bcl-xl (an anti-apoptotic marker) decreased and the number of apoptotic cells increased in response to B(a)P treatment for 48 h. Taken together, these results suggest that B(a)P has the potential to induce apoptosis of JEG-3 and BeWo human choriocarcinoma cancer cells by increasing the ROS level and simultaneously activating ER-stress.

Semi-crystalline photovoltaic polymers with efficiency exceeding 9% in a ∼300 nm thick conventional single-cell device

Nguyen, T. L.,Choi, H.,Ko, S.-J.,Uddin, M. A.,Walker, B.,Yum, S.,Jeong, J.-E.,Yun, M. H.,Shin, T. J.,Hwang, S.,Kim, J. Y.,Woo, H. Y. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Vol.7 No.9

<P>We report a series of semi-crystalline, low band gap (LBG) polymers and demonstrate the fabrication of highly efficient polymer solar cells (PSCs) in a thick single-cell architecture. The devices achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 7% without any post-treatment (annealing, solvent additive, <I>etc.</I>) and outstanding long-term thermal stability for 200 h at 130 °C. These excellent characteristics are closely related to the molecular structures where intra- and/or intermolecular noncovalent hydrogen bonds and dipole–dipole interactions assure strong interchain interactions without losing solution processability. The semi-crystalline polymers form a well-distributed nano-fibrillar networked morphology with PC<SUB>70</SUB>BM with balanced hole and electron mobilities (a h/e mobility ratio of 1–2) and tight interchain packing (a π–π stacking distance of 3.57–3.59 Å) in the blend films. Furthermore, the device optimization with a processing additive and methanol treatment improves efficiencies up to 9.39% in a ∼300 nm thick conventional single-cell device structure. The thick active layer in the PPDT2FBT:PC<SUB>70</SUB>BM device attenuates incident light almost completely without damage in the fill factor (0.71–0.73), showing a high short-circuit current density of 15.7–16.3 mA cm<SUP>−2</SUP>. Notably, PPDT2FBT showed negligible changes in the carrier mobility even at ∼1 μm film thickness.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>New semi-crystalline photovoltaic polymers were synthesized and the optimized device exhibited 9.39% efficiency in a ∼300 nm thick single-cell device. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c4ee01529k'> </P>

Evaluation of the zoonotic potential of a novel reassortant H1N2 swine influenza virus with gene constellation derived from multiple viral sources

Lee, J.H.,Pascua, P.N.Q.,Decano, A.G.,Kim, S.M.,Park, S.J.,Kwon, H.I.,Kim, E.H.,Kim, Y.I.,Kim, H.,Kim, S.Y.,Song, M.S.,Jang, H.K.,Park, B.K.,Choi, Y.K. Elsevier Science 2015 INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION Vol.34 No.-

In 2011-2012, contemporary North American-like H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) possessing the 2009 pandemic H1N1 matrix gene (H3N2pM-like virus) were detected in domestic pigs of South Korea where H1N2 SIV strains are endemic. More recently, we isolated novel reassortant H1N2 SIVs bearing the Eurasian avian-like swine H1-like hemagglutinin and Korean swine H1N2-like neuraminidase in the internal gene backbone of the H3N2pM-like virus. In the present study, we clearly provide evidence on the genetic origins of the novel H1N2 SIVs virus through genetic and phylogenetic analyses. In vitro studies demonstrated that, in comparison with a pre-existing 2012 Korean H1N2 SIV [A/swine/Korea/CY03-1½012 (CY03-1½012)], the 2013 novel reassortant H1N2 isolate [A/swine/Korea/CY0423/2013 (CY0423-12/2013)] replicated more efficiently in differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells. The CY0423-12/2013 virus induced higher viral titers than the CY03-1½012 virus in the lungs and nasal turbinates of infected mice and nasal wash samples of ferrets. Moreover, the 2013 H1N2 reassortant, but not the intact 2012 H1N2 virus, was transmissible to naive contact ferrets via respiratory-droplets. Noting that the viral precursors have the ability to infect humans, our findings highlight the potential threat of a novel reassortant H1N2 SIV to public health and underscore the need to further strengthen influenza surveillance strategies worldwide, including swine populations.

Exploration of the metal coordination region of concanavalin A for its interaction with human norovirus

Kim, D.,Lee, H.M.,Oh, K.S.,Ki, A.Y.,Protzman, R.A.,Kim, D.,Choi, J.S.,Kim, M.J.,Kim, S.H.,Vaidya, B.,Lee, S.J.,Kwon, J. IPC Science and Technology Press 2017 Biomaterials Vol.128 No.-

Rapid methods for the detection and clinical treatment of human norovirus (HuNoV) are needed to control foodborne disease outbreaks, but reliable techniques that are fast and sensitive enough to detect small amounts of HuNoV in food and aquatic environments are not yet available. We explore the interactions between HuNoV and concanavalin A (Con A), which could facilitate the development of a sensitive detection tool for HuNoV. Biophysical studies including hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) revealed that when the metal coordinated region of Con A, which spans Asp16 to His24, is converted to nine alanine residues (mCon A<SUP>MCR</SUP>), the affinity for HuNoV (GII.4) diminishes, demonstrating that this Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> and Mn<SUP>2+</SUP> coordinated region is responsible for the observed virus-protein interaction. The mutated carbohydrate binding region of Con A (mCon A<SUP>CBR</SUP>) does not affect binding affinity significantly, indicating that MCR of Con A is a major region of interaction to HuNoV (GII.4). The results further contribute to the development of a HuNoV concentration tool, Con A-immobilized polyacrylate beads (Con A-PAB), for rapid detection of genotypes from genogroups I and II (GI and GII). This method offers many advantages over currently available methods, including a short concentration time. HuNov (GI and GII) can be detected in just 15 min with 90% recovery through Con A-PAB application. In addition, this method can be used over a wide range of pH values (pH 3.0 - 10.0). Overall, this rapid and sensitive detection of HuNoV (GI and GII) will aid in the prevention of virus transmission pathways, and the method developed here may have applicability for other foodborne viral infections.

Effective connectivity during working memory and resting states: A DCM study

Jung, Kyesam,Friston, Karl J.,Pae, Chongwon,Choi, Hanseul H.,Tak, Sungho,Choi, Yoon Kyoung,Park, Bumhee,Park, Chan-A,Cheong, Chaejoon,Park, Hae-Jeong Elsevier 2018 NeuroImage Vol.169 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Although the relationship between resting-state <I>functional</I> connectivity and task-related activity has been addressed, the relationship between task and resting-state directed or <I>effective</I> connectivity – and its behavioral concomitants – remains elusive. We evaluated effective connectivity under an N-back working memory task in 24 participants using stochastic dynamic causal modelling (DCM) of 7 T fMRI data. We repeated the analysis using resting-state data, from the same subjects, to model connectivity among the same brain regions engaged by the N-back task. This allowed us to: (i) examine the relationship between intrinsic (task-independent) effective connectivity during resting (A<SUB>rest</SUB>) and task states (A<SUB>task</SUB>), (ii) cluster phenotypes of task-related changes in effective connectivity (B<SUB>task</SUB>) across participants, (iii) identify edges (B<SUB>task</SUB>) showing high inter-individual effective connectivity differences and (iv) associate reaction times with the similarity between B<SUB>task</SUB> and A<SUB>rest</SUB> in these edges. We found a strong correlation between A<SUB>rest</SUB> and A<SUB>task</SUB> over subjects but a marked difference between B<SUB>task</SUB> and A<SUB>rest</SUB>. We further observed a strong clustering of individuals in terms of B<SUB>task</SUB>, which was not apparent in A<SUB>rest</SUB>. The task-related effective connectivity B<SUB>task</SUB> varied highly in the edges from the parietal to the frontal lobes across individuals, so the three groups were clustered mainly by the effective connectivity within these networks. The similarity between B<SUB>task</SUB> and A<SUB>rest</SUB> at the edges from the parietal to the frontal lobes was positively correlated with 2-back reaction times. This result implies that a greater change in context-sensitive coupling – from resting-state connectivity – is associated with faster reaction times. In summary, task-dependent connectivity endows resting-state connectivity with a context sensitivity, which predicts the speed of information processing during the N-back task.</P>

여대생 1인가구의 사회적지지, 주거환경, 식습관과 건강 관련 삶의 질의 상관관계 연구

구정연,김근영,김다희,김선미,김수연,김지아,배춘화,임혜윤,최유현,황선영,정덕유,김지연 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2017 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.51

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among female college students living alone and analyze the relationship among HRQOL, eating habits, residential environments and social support among female college students living alone. Method: Using a descriptive correlation study design, 151 female college students living alone were recruited through convenience sampling. Instruments were the social support tool developed by Park(1985), residential environment tool developed by Kim and Nam(2015), eating habit tool developed by Park et al(2005), modified by Choi(2012) and the HRQOL tool developed by EuroQol Group(1990). The data were analyzed by average, standard deviation, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and scheffe test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient using the SPSS 22.0 Version program. Results: Participants’ economic level showed statistically significant differences in social support.(F=4.33, p=.009). There was a statically significant relationship among the types of resident and residential environment evaluation score.(F=4.33, p=.009). Also, there were correlations between HRQOL and social support(Pearson’s r=.165, p=.043), residential environment evaluation score.(r=.284, p<.001). There was a correlation between social support and residential environment evaluation score(r=.202, p=.013). Eating habit showed a correlation between emotional support(r=.164, p=.044) and residential environment evaluation score(r=.200, p=.014). However, perceived health status and eating habit were not significantly associated with HRQOL. Conclusion: As a result of this study, the following conclusions were obtained. There were strong relationships among social support, residential environment and HRQOL in female college students living alone. These findings implied the importance of framing university's guideline and overnment’s policy such as financial support, residential counsel and mental health programs to improve HRQOL for female college students living alone. Since the importance of HRQOL has acquired a great importance, it is critical to collect the data of related factors of HRQOL considering only little research on female college students living alone has been done.