Suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-coactivator-1alpha normalizes the glucolipotoxicity-induced decreased BETA2/NeuroD gene transcription and improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats.

Kim, Ji-Won,You, Young-Hye,Ham, Dong-Sik,Cho, Jae-Hyoung,Ko, Seung-Hyun,Song, Ki-Ho,Son, Ho-Young,Suh-Kim, Haeyoung,Lee, In-Kyu,Yoon, Kun-Ho Association for the Study of Internal Secretions 2009 Endocrinology Vol.150 No.9

<P>Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) is significantly elevated in the islets of animal models of diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism has not been clarified. We investigated whether the suppression of PGC-1alpha expression protects against beta-cell dysfunction in vivo and determined the mechanism of action of PGC-1alpha in beta-cells. The studies were performed in glucolipotixicity-induced primary rat islets and INS-1 cells. In vitro and in vivo approaches using adenoviruses were used to evaluate the role of PGC-1alpha in glucolipotoxicity-associated beta-cell dysfunction. The expression of PGC-1alpha in cultured beta-cells increased gradually with glucolipotoxicity. The overexpression of PGC-1alpha also suppressed the expression of the insulin and beta-cell E-box transcription factor (BETA2/NeuroD) genes, which was reversed by PGC-1alpha small interfering RNA (siRNA). BETA2/NeuroD, p300-enhanced BETA2/NeuroD, and insulin transcriptional activities were significantly suppressed by Ad-PGC-1alpha but were rescued by Ad-siPGC-1alpha. PGC-1alpha binding at the glucocorticoid receptor site on the BETA2/NeuroD promoter increased in the presence of PGC-1alpha. Ad-siPGC-1alpha injection through the celiac arteries of 90% pancreatectomized diabetic rats improved their glucose tolerance and maintained their fasting insulin levels. The suppression of PGC-1alpha expression protects the glucolipotoxicity-induced beta-cell dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. A better understanding of the functions of molecules such as PGC-1alpha, which play key roles in intracellular fuel regulation, could herald a new era of the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by providing protection from glucolipotoxicity, which is an important cause of the development and progression of the disease.</P>

Adult invasive pneumococcal disease in the Republic of Korea: Risk medical conditions and mortality stratified by age group

Kim, Jong Hun,Baik, Seung Hee,Chun, Byung Chul,Song, Joon Young,Bae, In-Gyu,Kim, Hyo Youl,Kim, Dong-Min,Choi, Young Hwa,Choi, Won Suk,Jo, Yu Mi,Kwon, Hyun Hee,Jeong, Hye Won,Kim, Yeon-Sook,Kim, Jeong Elsevier 2018 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES Vol.74 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P><B>Objectives</B></P> <P>This study aimed to characterize the risk factors for mortality in adult patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) stratified by age groups, after implementation of the national immunization program of 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for those aged ≥65 years in the Republic of Korea (ROK).</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>Clinical data and pneumococcal isolates from adult patients with IPD (≥18 years of age) were collected prospectively from 20 hospitals through the nationwide surveillance program from March 2013 to October 2015.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>A total of 319 patients with IPD were enrolled. Median age was 69 years. Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.2%: 17.1% in those aged 18–49 years, 23.7% in those aged 50–64 years, 33.0% in those aged 65–74 years, and 51.0% in those aged ≥75 years (<I>p<</I> 0.001). In particular, early death within 7days of hospitalization accounted for 60.6% (66/109). While old age (≥65 years), higher Pitt bacteremia score (≥4), and bacteremic pneumonia were independently associated with IPD mortality in all age groups, an additional mortality risk factor of immunocompromised status was identified for patients aged 50–64 years. PPSV23 serotypes accounted for 64.4% (122/189) of the pneumococcal isolates serotyped.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>This study suggests that vaccine-type IPD continues to place a substantial burden on older adults in the ROK, necessitating an effective vaccination strategy for those at higher risk.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> National immunization of the elderly with the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) was implemented in Korea in 2013. </LI> <LI> Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.2% for adult invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and 51.0% for patients ≥75 years of age. </LI> <LI> Mortality risks were older age, higher bacteremia score, and immunocompromised status. </LI> <LI> An effective vaccination strategy for those at higher risk of IPD is needed. </LI> </UL> </P>

<i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> evaluation of a novel polymer-free everolimus-eluting stent by nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide film deposition

Park, Dae Sung,Bae, In-Ho,Jeong, Myung Ho,Lim, Kyung Seob,Sim, Doo Sun,Hong, Young Joon,Lee, So-Youn,Jang, Eun Jae,Shim, Jae-Won,Park, Jun-Kyu,Lim, Han Chul,Kim, Han Byul Elsevier 2018 Materials Science and Engineering C Vol.91 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Inflammation and thrombosis are linked to the use of polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES). The aim of this study was to develop a polymer-free everolimus (EVL)-eluting stent using nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB>) and verify its efficacy by <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I> assessment in a porcine coronary model. Various analytical approaches such as scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, electron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and contact angle measurement were employed for the characterization. As a part of biocompatibility assessment, platelet adhesion and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation were examined. Bare metal stent (BMS), N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> stent, everolimus-eluting N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> (N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB>-EVL) stent, and commercialized EVL-eluting stent (EES) were randomly placed in forty coronary arteries in twenty pigs. After four weeks of implantation, the stents were subjected to histological and quantitative analysis. The N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> film used in this study was well coated without any cracks or peeling. Surface hydrophilicity (88.8% of angle decrement) could be associated with the decrease in surface roughness post N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> deposition (37.0%). The platelet adhesion on the N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> surfaces was less than that on the BMS surface. The proliferation of SMC was suppressed in the N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB>-EVL group (30.2%) but not in the BMS group. In the animal study, the percent area restenosis was significantly decreased in the N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB>-EVL group compared to that in the BMS group. The results (BMS; 47.0 ± 11.00%, N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB>-EVL; 31.7 ± 10.50%, and EES; 29.1 ± 11.21%, <I>n</I> = 10, <I>p</I> < 0.05) were almost at par with those of the commercialized EVL-eluting stent. The introduction of N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> deposition during fabrication of polymer-free DES may be an efficient accessorial process for preventing in-stent restenosis and thrombosis.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> surfaces can help to reduce the platelet adhesion. </LI> <LI> In porcine model, N-TiO<SUB>2</SUB> everolimus decreased in-stent restenosis and fibrin deposition. </LI> </UL> </P>

Enhanced activation of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 attenuates spontaneous hypertension by improvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling via tumor suppressor kinase liver kinase B1/adenosine 5&vprime;-monophosphate-activated protein kina

Kim, Yong-Hoon,Hwang, Jung Hwan,Kim, Kyung-Shim,Noh, Jung-Ran,Gang, Gil-Tae,Oh, Won Keun,Jeong, Kyeong-Hoon,Kwak, Tae Hwan,Choi, Hueng-Sik,Lee, In-Kyu,Lee, Chul-Ho Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams Wilkin 2014 Journal of Hypertension Vol.32 No.2

AIMS:: Guanosine 5&vprime;-triphosphate cyclohydrolase-1 (GTPCH-1) is a rate-limiting enzyme in de-novo synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) coupling. Adenosine 5&vprime;-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is crucial for GTPCH-1 preservation, and tumor suppressor kinase liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK, is activated by NAD-dependent class III histone deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-mediated deacetylation. &bgr;-Lapachone has been shown to increase cellular NAD/NADH ratio via NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activation. In this study, we have evaluated whether &bgr;-lapachone-induced NQO1 activation modulates blood pressure (BP) through preservation of GTPCH-1 in a hypertensive animal model. METHODS AND RESULTS:: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), primary aortic endothelial cells, and endothelial cell line were used to investigate the hypotensive effect of &bgr;-lapachone and its action mechanism. &bgr;-Lapachone treatment dramatically lowered BP and vascular tension in SHRs and induced eNOS activation in endothelial cells. Consistent with these effects, &bgr;-lapachone treatment also elevated levels of both aortic cGMP and plasma nitric oxide in SHRs. Meanwhile, &bgr;-lapachone-treated SHRs showed significantly increased levels of aortic NAD, LKB1 deacetylation, and AMPK Thr phosphorylation followed by increased GTPCH-1 and tetrahydrobiopterin/dihydrobiopterin ratio. In-vitro study revealed that AMPK inhibition by overexpression of dominant-negative AMPK nearly abolished GTPCH-1 protein conservation. Enhanced LKB1 deacetylation and AMPK activation were also elicited by &bgr;-lapachone in endothelial cells. However, inhibition of LKB1 deacetylation by blocking of NQO1 or SIRT1 blunted AMPK activation by &bgr;-lapachone. CONCLUSION:: This is the first study demonstrating that eNOS coupling can be regulated by NQO1 activation via LKB1/AMPK/GTPCH-1 modulation, which is possibly correlated with relieving hypertension. These findings provide strong evidence to suggest that NQO1 might be a new therapeutic target for hypertension.

In-vitro and in-vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the methanol extract of the roots of Morinda officinalis

Kim, In-Tae,Park, Hee-Juhn,Nam, Jung-Hwan,Park, Young-Mi,Won, Jong-Heon,Choi, Jong-Won,Choe, Bong-Keun,Lee, Kyung-Tae EAST-WEST MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE KYUNG HEE UNI 2005 東西醫學硏究所 論文集 Vol.2005 No.-

The anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of the roots of Morinda officinalis (MEMO) (Rubiaceae) were evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo. The effects of MEMO on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)induced responses in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 were examined. MEMO potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Consistent with these results, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the protein level, and of iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α at the mRNA level, was also inhibited by MEMO in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, MEMO inhibited the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation induced by LPS, and this was associated with the prevention of degradation of the inhibitor κB (IκB), and subsequently with attenuated p65 protein in the nucleus. The anti-inflammatory effect of MEMO was examined in rats using the carrageenan-induced oedema model. The antinociceptive effects of MEMO were assessed in mice using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test and the hot-plate test. MEMO (100, 200㎎㎏^(-1) per day, p.o.) exhibited anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in these animal models. Taken together, the data demonstrate that MEMO has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity, inhibiting iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α expression by down-regulating NF-κB binding activity.

Four Taeniasis saginata Cases Diagnosed at a University Hospital in Korea

Eun Jeong Won,신주현,이유정,김문주,강승지,Sook In Jung,Soo Hyun Kim,Jong Hee Shin,채종일,신성식 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2019 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.57 No.3

In recent years, the taeniasis has been rarely reported in the Republic of Korea (Korea). But in this study, we in- tend to report 4 taeniasis cases caused by Taenia saginata during a 5-month period (February to June 2018) at a unversity hospital in Gwangju, Korea. Worm samples (proglottids) discharged from all cases were identified by phenotypic and mo- lecular diagnostics. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences showed 99.4-99.9% identity with T. sagina- ta but, differed by 4% from T. asiatica and by 7% from T. multiceps, respectively. We found that tapeworms in 2 cases (Cases 2 and 3) yielded exactly the same sequences between them, which differed from those in Cases 1 and 4, sug- gesting intra-species variation in tapeworms. These taeniasis cases by T. saginata infection in this study, which occurred within a limited time period and region, suggest the possibility of a mini-outbreak. This study highlights the need for fur- ther epidemiological investigation of potentially overlooked cases of T. saginata infection in Korea.

Probing the Issue of Informed Consent in Health Care in Korea―Concept Analysis and Guideline Development

Won-Hee Lee,In-Sook Kim,Byung-Hye Kong,Sue Kim,Sunhee Lee 한국간호과학회 2008 Asian Nursing Research Vol.2 No.2

Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify how informed consent is conceptualized by patients, family members, physicians, and nurses in Korea, and to develop guidelines for clinical practice in Korea. Methods This study employed the hybrid model to define the concept of informed consent through theoretical and fieldwork phases. For the theoretical phase, attributes of informed consent were identified through a review of the literature, and in-depth interviews were conducted for the fieldwork phase to develop attributes from the data and to verify the attributes identified from the literature review. Purposive sampling was done for 48 participants (12 patients, 12 family members, 12 physicians, 12 nurses), who were interviewed from selected units (orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics/gynecology) from two university hospitals in Seoul and Kwangju, Korea. Attributes and processing issues of informed consent were extracted from both phases. Results Core attributes of informed consent include the patient’s self-directed decision-making, fulfillment of legal responsibility, focusing on forging a trusting relationship, assuming active responsibility for explanations (physicians) and granting consent (patient), factors related to sufficient explanation, and the role of family. Findings were integrated into a set of guidelines for patients and family and health care professionals. Conclusion The guidelines developed in the present study offer empirical parameters for an effective process of obtaining informed consent in Korea by seeking to decrease the gap in perceptions of informed consent among patients, family members, physicians, and nurses. The importance of advocating patients and developing a trusting relationship between health care providers and patients is especially noteworthy. [Asian Nursing Research 2008;2(2):102–112] Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify how informed consent is conceptualized by patients, family members, physicians, and nurses in Korea, and to develop guidelines for clinical practice in Korea. Methods This study employed the hybrid model to define the concept of informed consent through theoretical and fieldwork phases. For the theoretical phase, attributes of informed consent were identified through a review of the literature, and in-depth interviews were conducted for the fieldwork phase to develop attributes from the data and to verify the attributes identified from the literature review. Purposive sampling was done for 48 participants (12 patients, 12 family members, 12 physicians, 12 nurses), who were interviewed from selected units (orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics/gynecology) from two university hospitals in Seoul and Kwangju, Korea. Attributes and processing issues of informed consent were extracted from both phases. Results Core attributes of informed consent include the patient’s self-directed decision-making, fulfillment of legal responsibility, focusing on forging a trusting relationship, assuming active responsibility for explanations (physicians) and granting consent (patient), factors related to sufficient explanation, and the role of family. Findings were integrated into a set of guidelines for patients and family and health care professionals. Conclusion The guidelines developed in the present study offer empirical parameters for an effective process of obtaining informed consent in Korea by seeking to decrease the gap in perceptions of informed consent among patients, family members, physicians, and nurses. The importance of advocating patients and developing a trusting relationship between health care providers and patients is especially noteworthy. [Asian Nursing Research 2008;2(2):102–112]

Factors of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Outcome for In-hospital Adult Patients

In Byung Kim,Sang Won Chung,Dong Seok Moon,Ki Hyun Byun Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine 2007 Acute and Critical Care Vol.22 No.2

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcome for in-hospital adult patients, acquiring data with standardized reporting guideline of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Korea. METHODS: All adult cardiac arrest patients from July 2004 to December 2006 in this general hospital were included. Their clinical spectrums were reviewed retrospectively using Utstein-style based template. RESULTS: For the study time period, one hundred and forty-two patients underwent cardiac arrest in this hospital. 136 patients were performed CPR. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurred in 42 cases, and 15 patients were survived to hospital discharge. A shorter CPR time and a lower Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) were significant for survivor to hospital discharge (p

In-line 마그네트론 스퍼터 장치를 사용하여 산소 분위기에서 제작한 Ag 박막의 특성

구대영,김원목,조상무,황만수,이인규,정병기,이택성,이경석,조성훈,Ku, Dae-Young,Kim, Won-Mok,Cho, Sang-Moo,Hwang, Man-Soo,Lee, In-Kyu,Cheong, Byung-Ki,Lee, Taek-Sung,Lee, Kyeong-Seok,Cho, Sung-Hun 한국재료학회 2002 한국재료학회지 Vol.12 No.8

A study was made to examine the electrical, compositional, structural and morphological properties of Ag thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering in $O_2$ atmosphere with deposition temperature from room temperature to 15$0^{\circ}C$ using in-line sputter system. The Ag films deposited at temperature above $100^{\circ}C$ in oxygen atmosphere gave a similar specific resistivity to and even lower oxygen content than those deposited using pure Ar sputter gas The Ag films deposited with pure Ar gas was mainly composed of crystallites with [111] preferred orientation, while, for those deposited in oxygen atmosphere, more than 50% of the volume was composed of crystallites with [100] orientation. The difference in the micro structure did not cause any difference in the specific resistivity of Ag films. The results showed that the transparent conducting oxide films and the Ag films could be processed sequentially in the same deposition chamber with careful control of deposition temperature, which might result in a cost reduction for constructing the large scale in-line deposition system.

Validation of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from Satellite Passive Microwave Sensor (GPM/GMI) and Causes of SST Errors in the Northwest Pacific

Kim, Hee-Young,Park, Kyung-Ae,Chung, Sung-Rae,Baek, Seon-Kyun,Lee, Byung-Il,Shin, In-Chul,Chung, Chu-Yong,Kim, Jae-Gwan,Jung, Won-Chan The Korean Society of Remote Sensing 2018 大韓遠隔探査學會誌 Vol.34 No.1

Passive microwave sea surface temperatures (SST) were validated in the Northwest Pacific using a total of 102,294 collocated matchup data between Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) / GPM Microwave Sensor(GMI) data and oceanic in-situ temperature measurements from March 2014 to December 2016. A root-mean-square (RMS) error and a bias error of the GMI SST measurements were evaluated to $0.93^{\circ}C$ and $0.05^{\circ}C$, respectively. The SST differences between GMI and in-situ measurements were caused by various factors such as wind speed, columnar atmospheric water vapor, land contamination near coastline or islands. The GMI SSTs were found to be higher than the in-situ temperature measurements at low wind speed (<6 m/s) during the daytime. As the wind speed increased at night, SST errors showed positive bias. In addition, other factors, coming from atmospheric water vapor, sensitivity degradation at a low temperature range, and land contamination, also contributed to the errors. One of remarkable characteristics of the errors was their latitudinal dependence with large errors at high latitudes above $30^{\circ}N$. Seasonal characteristics revealed that the errors were most frequently observed in winter with a significant positive deviation. This implies that SST errors tend to be large under conditions of high wind speeds and low SSTs. Understanding of microwave SST errors in this study is anticipated to compensate less temporal capability of Infrared SSTs and to contribute to increase a satellite observation rate with time, especially in SST composite process.