Effects of Fulvic Acid on Homocysteine-Induced Upregulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE 2 in Human Monocytes

( Tzong-shean Chin ),( Cheng-nan Chen ),( Jan-jeng Huang ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

Homocysteine and pro-inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) have been linked to vascular dysfunction and risks of cardiovascular diseases. Fulvic acid (FA), a class of compounds of humic substances, possesses various pharmacological properties. However, the effect of FA on inflammatory responses of the monocytes remains unclear. We investigated the regulatory effect of FA on homocysteine-induced COX-2 expression in human monocytes. The effects of FA on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways in homocysteine-induced U937 monocytes were also identified. Pretreating monocytes with FA inhibited the homocysteine-induced COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation of U937 monocytes with homocysteine induced rapid increases in the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK; the inhibitor for ERK and JNK attenuated this homocysteine-induced COX-2 expression. Transcription factor ELISA and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that FA blocked the homocysteine-induced increases in the binding activity and in vivo promoter binding of NF-κB in monocytes. Our findings provide a molecular mechanism by which FA inhibits homocysteine-induced COX-2 expression in monocytes, and a basis for using FA in pharmaceutical therapy against inflammation.

A comparison of 6 osteoporosis risk assessment tools among postmenopausal women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Li Shean Toh,Pauline Siew Mei Lai,David Bin-Chia Wu,Brian G. Bell,Cuu Phuong Linh Dang,Bee Yean Low,Kok Thong Wong,Giuseppe Guglielmi,Claire Anderson 대한골다공증학회 2019 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.5 No.3

Objectives: To compare and assess the performance of 6 osteoporosis risk assessment tools for screening osteoporosis in Malaysian postmenopausal women. Methods: Six osteoporosis risk assessments tools (the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation [SCORE], the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument, the Age Bulk One or Never Estrogen, the body weight, the Malaysian Osteoporosis Screening Tool, and the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians) were used to screen postmenopausal women who had not been previously diagnosed with osteoporosis/osteopenia. These women also underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan to confirm the absence or presence of osteoporosis. Results: A total of 164/224 participants were recruited (response rate, 73.2%), of which only 150/164 (91.5%) completed their DXA scan. Sixteen participants (10.7%) were found to have osteoporosis, whilst 65/150 (43.3%) were found to have osteopenia. Using precision-recall curves, the recall of the tools ranged from 0.50 to 1.00, whilst precision ranged from 0.04 to 0.14. The area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 0.027 to 0.161. The SCORE had the best balance between recall (1.00), precision (0.04e0.12), and AUC (0.072e0.161). Conclusions: We found that the SCORE had the best balance between recall, precision, and AUC among the 6 screening tools that were compared among Malaysian postmenopausal women.

Challenges and strategies for implementing Chinese medicine during COVID-19 in Malaysia

Chiah Shean Teo,Pik Munn Tan,Connie Siew Ing Shu,Zi Xian Choo,Kian Keong Te 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.-

Background Implementing Chinese medicine (CM) for COVID-19 in Malaysia is challenging for local CM practitioners. The successful experience of CM in China can only be partially adopted in Malaysia due to differences in the national health care system and legislation, geographical health disparities and cultural diversity. Despite all the challenges, Malaysian CM practitioners have managed to thrive and found a Malaysian CM solution amid COVID-19. Methods A literature review was conducted using various databases and gray literature from inception to August 15, 2021, to evaluate the challenges faced by Malaysian CM practitioners and the corresponding strategies in Malaysia's country context during COVID-19. Results A total of 9 challenges and issues faced by Malaysian CM practitioners during COVID-19 were identified. Their corresponding strategies were further categorized into 3 phases, namely, preparation, development and implementation. The strategies were appraised using the SWOT analysis method, and 17 factors were identified. Strength analysis includes personalized CM prescriptions with online consultations in Malaysia. Limited research input for CM in COVID-19 and the inadequate research capacity of local CM institutions are discussed in threat analysis. Conclusion Various approaches have been implemented by Malaysian CM practitioners to provide safe, qualified and effective CM services for COVID-19 at the community level, aiming to reduce the national health care burden. A public-private partnership initiative can bridge the knowledge gap and optimize the role of CM in the health emergency system. This Malaysian CM solution can provide insights to interested countries to capitalize on the potential contribution of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in the era of COVID-19. Background Implementing Chinese medicine (CM) for COVID-19 in Malaysia is challenging for local CM practitioners. The successful experience of CM in China can only be partially adopted in Malaysia due to differences in the national health care system and legislation, geographical health disparities and cultural diversity. Despite all the challenges, Malaysian CM practitioners have managed to thrive and found a Malaysian CM solution amid COVID-19. Methods A literature review was conducted using various databases and gray literature from inception to August 15, 2021, to evaluate the challenges faced by Malaysian CM practitioners and the corresponding strategies in Malaysia's country context during COVID-19. Results A total of 9 challenges and issues faced by Malaysian CM practitioners during COVID-19 were identified. Their corresponding strategies were further categorized into 3 phases, namely, preparation, development and implementation. The strategies were appraised using the SWOT analysis method, and 17 factors were identified. Strength analysis includes personalized CM prescriptions with online consultations in Malaysia. Limited research input for CM in COVID-19 and the inadequate research capacity of local CM institutions are discussed in threat analysis. Conclusion Various approaches have been implemented by Malaysian CM practitioners to provide safe, qualified and effective CM services for COVID-19 at the community level, aiming to reduce the national health care burden. A public-private partnership initiative can bridge the knowledge gap and optimize the role of CM in the health emergency system. This Malaysian CM solution can provide insights to interested countries to capitalize on the potential contribution of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in the era of COVID-19.

두피 전체의 발모광을 보이는 정신분열병 1례

고정인,신성훈,이상열 圓光大學校 醫科學硏究所 1998 圓光醫科學 Vol.14 No.1

Trichotillomania is characterized by recurrent pulling of one's hair, resulting in significant hair loss and involves many hours each day of pulling hair or thinking about pulling hair. Patients pulled hair from a variety of sites, including scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic region, face, and body, but the highest incidence and severity involved scalp hair. This symptom arises as a part of symptom complexes in a variety of psychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, mental retardation, eating disorder and schizophrenic disorder. The authors experienced a case of trichotillomania in a 42 year old schizophrenic patient whose total hair in scalp was pull out. Several literatures were reviewed and psychiatric aspect of trichotillomania were discussed. For the treatment of this patient, haloperidol and supportive psychotherapy had been tried and been proven effective.

Stability Analysis for Cofferdams of Pile Wall Frame Structures

Runze Xue,Shean Bie,Linlin Guo,Peiliang Zhang 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.23 No.9

Pile wall frame structures (PWFSs) are double-wall sheet-pile structures with an integrally precast framework of reinforced concrete to connect double rows of closely placed piles. An engineering test on a cofferdam of PWFSs was conducted in Binzhou, where lateral displacement along pile shaft was carefully monitored during the hydraulic filling process. A 3D finite element model (FEM) of the test was established to study the stability failure mechanism of PWFSs. Then, a design method for PWFSs was proposed through a structural stability analysis based on the limit equilibrium method, with special consideration of the cutting pile force influenced by row spacing. According to FE results, lateral pile displacements drawn from the FEM correspond well with field observations, and earth pressures applied on closely spaced piles are in line with Rankine’s theory. Results of the theoretical analysis indicate that the control slip surface lies on the bottom of a soil layer with a poorer shear strength index. The effects of framework width, pile spacing, pile length and diameter on structural stability are also evaluated. The feasibility of PWFSs has been verified by an engineering test, and the simplified design method established here is reasonable and effective for structural stability prediction.

두피 전체의 발모광을 보이는 정신분열병 1례

고정인,신성훈,이상열 圓光大學校 醫科大學 神經精神科學敎室 1998 圓光精神醫學 Vol.14 No.1

Trichotillomania is characterized by recurrent pulling of one's hair, resulting in significant hair loss and involves many hours each day of pulling hair or thinking about pulling hair. Patients pulled hair from a variety of sites, including scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic region, face, and body, but the highest incidence and severity involved scalp hair. This symptom asries as a part of symptom complexes in a variety of psychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, mental retardation, eating disorder and schizophrenic disorder. The authors experienced a case of trichotillomania in a 42 year old schizophrenic patient whose total hair in scalp was pull out. Several literatures were reviewed and psychiatric aspect of trichotillomania were discussed. For the treatment of this patient, haloperidol and supportive psychotherapy had been tried and been proven effective.

보고편 - 제18차 국제가정학회 주제발표 및 발표논문초록

( Min Ja Jeoung,Shean Ok Shon ) 대한가정학회 1996 Family and Environment Research Vol.34 No.5

기능성 상부 위장관 증상을 호소하는 환자의 스트레스, 불안 및 우울

이상열,신성훈,최석채,Lee, Sang-Yeol,Shean, Sung-Hun,Choi, Suk-Chei 한국정신신체의학회 1998 정신신체의학 Vol.6 No.1

Objective : The sensation of dysphagia, heartburn, globus hystericus, and functional dyspepsia are common symptoms of the functional upper gut disorders. This study was designed to investigate quantity of perceived stress, depression, and anxiety in the patients with functional upper gut symptoms whose esopahgeal manometry(EM) and gatroesophageal reflux (GERT) test were normal. Methods : A total of 38 patients who complained of the symptoms had been tested with 24-hour ambulatory EM and conventional GERT in our gastrointestinal clinic. Thirty patients whose tests had been normal(patients group) were assessed with Symptom Checklist-90-Revision(SCL-90-R), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and Spielberger Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and compared with 30 patients(control group) without functional upper gut symtpoms in the hepatobiliary clinic. The two groups were also assessed by quantity of perceived stress during the last year through self-report. Results: 1) These patients tended to be predominently female, older, and possessed a lower education than control group. 79% of 38 patients who had been tested were normal. 2) Compared to the control group, the patients had significantly higher mean scores on four subscales(somatization, depression, anxiety, and positive symptom distress index). 3) The patient group had significantly more perceived stress than the control group. 4) The patients group had significantly higher levels of depression than the control gorup, but there was not any significant difference in the STAI. 5) There were significant positive correlations between the BDI score and the STAI-trait, the STAI-stait and the STAI-trait, the quantity of perceived stress and the STAI-trait. Conlusion : The patients with functional upper gut symptoms displayed more, psychological distress, sornatization, anxiety, and deperssion. Among them, patients had higer depression than control group. Functional upper gut symtoms could be more appropriately viewed as somatic symptoms of depression. These findings suggest that such patients need to have psychiatric intervention and treatment.

Elucidation of the mechanisms of optical clearing in collagen tissue with multiphoton imaging.

Hovhannisyan, Vladimir,Hu, Po-Sheng,Chen, Shean-Jen,Kim, Chang-Seok,Dong, Chen-Yuan SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engine 2013 Journal of biomedical optics Vol.18 No.4

<P>Optical clearing (OC) is a promising method to overcome limitations in biomedical depth-resolved optical studies. Mechanisms of OC in purified bovine Achilles tendon, chicken skin, and chicken tendon were studied using time-lapsed, three-dimensional second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon fluorescence microscopic imaging. Quantified nonlinear optical measurements allowed temporal separation of two processes in collagen OC with glycerol. The first one is a fast process of tissue dehydration accompanied with collagen shrinkage and the second relatively slow process is glycerol penetration into the interfibrillar space of collagen alongside with CF swelling. The use of 50% glycerol induced less-expressed OC via partial substitution of water molecules with glycerol molecules. We also found that phosphate-buffered saline- and glycerol-treatments were reversible, and fiber morphology and SHG signal intensity were recovered after the removal of immersion agents. It was shown that tissue OC was a dynamic process and elucidation of its physical mechanisms may help choose optimal diagnostic, treatment, and modification regimes for collagen-based as well as other types of biomaterials.</P>

Zeolitic imidazolate framework membranes for gas separations: Current state-of-the-art, challenges, and opportunities

Mohamad Rezi Abdul Hamid,Thomas Choong Shean Yaw,Mohd Zahirasri Mohd Tohir,Wan Azlina Wan Abdul Karim Ghani,Putu Doddy Sutrisna,Hae-Kwon Jeong 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.98 No.-

Advanced porous materials with uniform molecular scale apertures are highly desirable for energyrelated separations. Among them, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have received significantinterest as separation membranes owing to their narrow apertures that can target small gases. ZIFsexhibit excellent gas transport properties, such as unprecedentedly high C3H6 permeability andremarkable C3H6/C3H8 selectivity, inaccessible by other porous inorganic materials and polymers. Deposition of ultrathin ZIFs on porous substrates to form gas-selective barriers has been a major focus inthis area. There has been a significant development in the synthesis of ultrathin ZIF membranes for gasseparations. In this review, we present a summary of current state-of-the-art in ZIF membrane processingand highlight unique microstructural features of the prepared membranes. Following this, we discusslevel of separation performances of these advanced membranes focusing on three emerging/unsolvedapplications. Finally, we provide our perspectives on future research directions in the area.