Vernalization Regulates Flowering Genes and Modulates Glucosinolates Biosynthesis in Chinese Cabbage

Kang Hajeong,앗지 바스코로,Park Minkyu,Kim Jin A.,Lee Sang Woo,Moon Heewon,Choi Dasom,Kim Sujeong,Kim Dong-Hwan 한국식물학회 2022 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.65 No.2

Long-term cold exposure, such as that in winter, termed vernalization, provides flowering competence in many winter-annual, biennial, and perennial plants, including Brassicaceae family plants. Vernalization results in significant phenotypic and physiological changes, including floral transition in plants, which are accompanied by transcriptomic changes. To date, studies attempting to determine the molecular processes underpinning vernalization responses, especially flowering, have mainly focused on model Arabidopsis thaliana plants. To better understand the vernalization response in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis), we investigated transcriptomic changes occurring during vernalization. We found that thousands of genes were dynamically modulated by both short-term (cold acclimation) and long-term cold (vernalization) exposure, compared with non-vernalized samples. Further, 15 hierarchical clusters of differentially expressed genes were identified based on their distinct expression patterns. A gene ontology analysis using upregulated and downregulated genes during the vernalization time course revealed that metabolic and physiological changes also occur during vernalization. Particularly, we noticed that vernalization upregulated the transcription of glucosinolate (GSL) pathway genes and the levels of corresponding GSL compounds in Chinese cabbage. Overall, vernalization triggers dynamic transcriptomic alterations to not only genes related to floral transition but also genes involved in GSL metabolism in Chinese cabbage plants.

Evolving outcomes of peritoneal dialysis: secular trends at a single large center over three decades

( Minjung Kang ),( Yae Lim Kim ),( Eunjeong Kang ),( Hyunjin Ryu ),( Yong Chul Kim ),( Dong Ki Kim ),( Hajeong Lee ),( Seung Seok Han ),( Kwon-wook Joo ),( Yon Su Kim ),( Curie Ahn ),( Kook-hwan Oh ) 대한신장학회 2021 Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Vol.40 No.3

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is improving as a renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We analyzed the main outcomes of PD over the last three decades at a single large-scale PD center with an established high-quality care system. Methods: As a retrospective cohort study, we included participants (n = 1,203) who began PD between 1990 and 2019. Major PD-related outcomes were compared among the three 10-year cohorts. esults: The 1,203 participants were 58.3% male with a mean age of 47.9 ± 13.8 years. The median PD treatment duration was 45 months (interquartile range, 19-77 months); 362 patients (30.1%) transferred to hemodialysis, 289 (24.0%) received kidney trans-plants, and 224 (18.6%) died. Overall, the 5- and 8-year adjust patient survival rates were 64% and 49%, respectively. Common caus-es of death included infection (n = 55), cardiac (n = 38), and cerebrovascular (n = 17) events. The 5- and 8-year technique survival rates were 77% and 62%, respectively, with common causes of technique failure being infection (42.3%) and solute/water clearance problems (22.7%). The 5-year patient survival significantly improved over time (64% for the 1990-1999 cohort vs. 93% for the 2010-2019 cohort). The peritonitis rate also substantially decreased over time, from 0.278 episodes/patient-year (2000-2004) to 0.162 episodes/patient-year (2015-2019). Conclusion: PD is an effective treatment option for ESRD patients. There was a substantial improvement in the patient survival and peritonitis rates over time. Establishing adequate infrastructure and an effective system for high-quality PD therapy may be warranted to improve PD outcomes.

Lifestyle Resulting in Seasonal PM2.5 Reduction and Its Impact on COPD

( Hajeong Kim ),( Geunjoo Na ),( Shinhee Park ),( Seung Won Ra ),( Sung-yoon Kang ),( Ho Cheol Kim ),( Hwan Cheol Kim ),( Sei Won Lee ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2021 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.129 No.-

Background Particulate matter (PM) is a major air pollutant that has been raising global health concerns and it can cause and progress chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To provide an effective seasonal strategy to reduce PM diameter < 2.5um (PM2.5) exposure, we performed detailed questionnaire about lifestyles to avoid PM2.5 in patients with COPD and analyzed the relationship between ambient PM2.5 and lifestyles. Methods We enrolled 104 COPD patients prospectively from four hospitals of different areas in Korea. Detailed questionnaire were conducted two times and Internet of things based sensors were installed at their home for continuous measurement of PM2.5 concentration for a year. The relationship between PM2.5 concentration, lifestyles, and COPD exacerbation were analyzed as seasons. Results Except summer, outdoor PM2.5 were higher than indoor, and the difference was the largest in winter (4.31±.02ug/m3) (Figure1). Some lifestyles were effective to reduce indoor PM2.5 compared to outdoor and effect lifestyles were different as seasons. The lifestyles which lowered annual indoor PM2.5 compared to outdoor significantly include 1) indoor air purifier operated (4.69±1.12ug/m3, p=0.001), 2) ventilating home by opening windows (-5.29±0.89ug/m3, p <0.001), 3) checking filters of the air purifier (-4.00±1.01ug/m3, p=0.031), 4) refraining from going out when outside PM2.5 is high (-3.8±1.26ug/ m3, p=0.038), 5) choosing places with little traffic when going out (-3.39±1.09ug/m3, p=0.020), and 6) windows closed while driving (-4.33±0.77ug/m3, p=0.002). The higher the economic status and educational level, the lower indoor PM2.5 was noted compared to outdoor(Figure2). There were lifestyles associated with lower small airway resistance presented as R5-R20 from impulse oscillometry and SGRQ-C and those lifestyles include checking air quality forecast and indoor mopping. Conclusion Lifestyle habits were associated with indoor PM2.5 concentrations, and they can even affect clinical outcomes including small airway resistance and quality of life in COPD.

Sex-specific Relationship of Serum Uric Acid with All-cause Mortality in Adults with Normal Kidney Function: An Observational Study

Kang, Eunjeong,Hwang, Seung-sik,Kim, Dong Ki,Oh, Kook-Hwan,Joo, Kwon Wook,Kim, Yon Su,Lee, Hajeong The Journal of Rheumatology 2017 The Journal of rheumatology Vol.44 No.3

<B>Objective.</B><P>To explain the clinical effect of serum uric acid (SUA) levels as a risk factor for mortality, considering exclusion of kidney function.</P><B>Methods.</B><P>Participants aged over 40 years who underwent health checkups were recruited. Individuals with estimated glomerular filtrations rates < 60 ml/min/1.73 m<SUP>2</SUP> and who received laboratory study and colonoscopy on the same day were excluded.</P><B>Results.</B><P>SUA levels were higher in men than in women (5.7 ± 1.2 mg/dl for men and 4.2 ± 0.9 mg/dl for women, p < 0.001). During 12.3 ± 3.6 years of followup, 1402 deaths occurred among 27,490 participants. About 6.9% of men and 3.1% of women died. The overall mortality rate had a U-shaped association with SUA levels, a U-shaped association in men, and no association in women. There was a significant interaction of sex for the SUA-mortality association (p for interaction = 0.049); therefore, survival analysis was conducted by sex. In men, the lower SUA group had a higher mortality rate after adjustment (SUA ≤ 4.0 mg/dl, adjusted HR 1.413, 95% CI 1.158-1.724, p = 0.001) compared with the reference group (SUA 4.1-6.0 mg/dl). A higher SUA contributed to an insignificant increased mortality in men (> 8.0 mg/dl, adjusted HR 1.140, 95% CI 0.794-1.636, p = 0.479). Women failed to show any significant association between SUA and mortality.</P><B>Conclusion.</B><P>This study provided novel evidence that SUA-mortality association differed by sex. We demonstrated that a lower SUA was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in men with normal kidney function.</P>

The Impact of Life Behavior and Environment on Indoor Particulate Matter in Patients with COPD

( Hajeong Kim ),( Geunjoo Na ),( Shinhee Park ),( Seung Won Ra ),( Sung-yoon Kang ),( Ho Cheol Kim ),( Hwan Cheol Kim ),( Sei Won Lee ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2020 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.128 No.-

Background The human health effects of exposure to air pollutants is a global public health concern. To develop the effective strategy to reduce PM exposure, we performed detailed questionnaires about the lifestyle to avoid PM in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and correlated it with the real-time PM concentration during winter season. Methods We enrolled 110 COPD patients of 40 years or older. The detailed questionnaires were taken from participants and IoT based sensors were installed at their home to measure indoor PM2.5 concentration. Indoor PM2.5 was continuously monitored from Dec 2019 to Feb 2020. The associations of PM2.5 concentration, their lifestyles, and their impact on COPD exacerbation were analyzed. Results Mean outdoor PM2.5 concentration was higher than indoor PM2.5 this period (21.28±5.09ug/m3 vs. 12.75±7.64ug/m3) with mean difference of 8.53±7.99ug/m3. Among the various social and practice factors to avoid PM, economic status and six items about practice were confirmed to reduce indoor PM2.5 compared with outdoor one, in other word, make significant difference between outdoor and indoor PM2.5. The higher the household income and economic level, the greater the difference in the PM2.5 concentration. Six practice items to make significant difference in the PM2.5 concentrations between indoor and outdoor were as below; 1) checking air quality forecast (the difference: 13.31±1.35ug/m3 ,p=0.013), 2) indoor air purifier operated (15.43±1.32ug/m3, p <0.001), 3) ventilating home by opening windows (13.14±1.28ug/m3, p=0.013), 4) checking filters of the air purifier (13.95±1.50ug/m3, p=0.002), 5) refraining from going out when outside PM is high (12.52±1.37ug/m3, p=0.039), 6) wearing a mask when going out (13.38±1.32ug/m3, p=0.017). For COPD acute exacerbation, we found that the subjects experienced more exacerbation, as the exposure time of PM2.5≥35ug/m3 or PM2.5≥75ug/m3. Conclusion The lifestyle can affect the indoor PM2.5 concentration, which can also impact the risk of exacerbation in patients with COPD.

쇼그렌 증후군에 동반된 원위신세관산증 2예

( Eunjeong Kang ),( Seokwoo Park ),( Sehoon Park ),( Hajeong Lee ),( Kwon Wook Joo ),( Jin Suk Han ) 대한내과학회 2015 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2015 No.1

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a syndrome characterized by hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and an inability to excrete a highly acid urine, in which impairment of acid excretion is out of proportion to reduction of glomerular filtration rate. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is frequently associated with immune-mediated disease including Sjigren’s syndrome. Sjigren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands such as lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in xerophtalmia and xerostomia. Extrglandular manifestations are frequent and may include renal involvement. Recently, we experienced two cases of renal tubular acidosis in Sjigren’s syndrome. The 1st case was a patient who had lower extremities weakness and hypokalemia, and the 2nd case was a patient who had nephrocalcinosis. We discussed the frequencies and the pathogenesis of dRTA in Sjigren’s syndrome. Keywords: Sjigren’s syndrome; Distal renal tubular acidosis; Hypokalemia; Nephrocalcinosis

증례 : 신장 ; 쇼그렌증후군에 동반된 원위신세관산증 2예

강은정 ( Eunjeong Kang ),박석우 ( Seokwoo Park ),박세훈 ( Sehoon Park ),이하정 ( Hajeong Lee ),이은영 ( Eun Young Lee ),한진석 ( Jin Suk Han ),주권욱 ( Kwon Wook Joo ) 대한내과학회 2016 대한내과학회지 Vol.90 No.3

저자들은 저칼륨혈증 및 신석회증을 각각 주 증상으로 발현된 쇼그렌증후군 동반 원위신세관산증 2예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다. Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a syndrome characterized by hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and an inability to excrete highly acid urine, in which the impaired acid excretion is disproportional to the reduction in the glomerular filtration rate. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is frequently associated with immune-mediated disease, including Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects exocrine glands, such as the lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in xerophthalmia and xerostomia. Extraglandular manifestations are frequent and may include renal involvement. Recently, we experienced two cases of renal tubular acidosis in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome. The first patient had lower extremity weakness and hypokalemia and the second had nephrocalcinosis. We discuss the frequency and pathogenesis of dRTA in Sjogren’s syndrome. (Korean J Med 2016;90:248-252)

Contrast Induced Nephropathy after Outpatient Computed Tomography Examinations

( Sehoon Park ),( Eunjeong Kang ),( Hajeong Lee ),( Kwon Wook Joo ),( Yon Su Kim ),( Dong Ki Kim ) 대한내과학회 2015 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2015 No.1

Background: Most studies regarding contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) were done in angiography era. However computed tomography (CT) is more common cause of contrast exposure in general populaton. There were few prognosis data concerning CIN after outpatient CT. Methods: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 underwent outpatient CIN prophylaxis program for contrast CT from 2008 to 2014 in Seoul National University Hospital. Patients received intravenous isotonic saline and oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Baseline blood sample was done within 2 weeks before CT. Basic data was colleted retrospectively by medical chart review. Prognosis was surveyed from death registry of National Statics Korea and dialysis registry of The Korean Society of Nephrology. CIN was defined by ≥0.5 mg/dl or ≥25% increase of serum creatinine (sCr) from baseline within 48-96 hours after CT. Primary outcome was event of renal replacement therapy (RRT), duration from CT to RRT and survival period after CT. Results: 12,179 cases of CT were performed with CIN prophylaxis protocol and 2816 cases of CT had baseline eGFR <60 without RRT history and follow up sCr 48-96 hours after CT. 84 (3%) cases of CIN were found and 99 (3.5%) cases went RRT, 551 death reported after CT. Prognosis was analyzed after adjustment with age, sex, baseline eGFR, history of diabetes and hypertension. No statisticalsignificant relationship between death, RRT incidence, doubling of sCr and CIN was shown. However, we found shorter period from CT to RRT in CIN cases. This relationship disappeared when analysis was done excluding RRT start within 6 months. Conclusions: Incidence of CIN was low after outpatient CT with appropriate prophylaxis measures. CIN was not a significant risk factor of long term mortality or renal function aggravation. CIN was only a risk factor for acute period start of RRT.

Insufficient early renal recovery and progression to subsequent chronic kidney disease in living kidney donors

Yaerim Kim,Eunjeong Kang,Dong-Wan Chae,Jung Pyo Lee,Sik Lee,Soo Wan Kim,Jang-Hee Cho,Miyeun Han,Seungyeup Han,Yong Chul Kim,Dong Ki Kim,Kwon Wook Joo,Yon Su Kim,Hajeong Lee 대한내과학회 2022 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.37 No.5

Background/Aims: Renal recovery of a kidney donor after undergoing nephrectomy though challenging is essential. We aimed to examine the effect of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) percent change at 1-month post-donation on insufficient kidney function after kidney donation. Methods: A total of 3,952 living kidney donors who underwent donor nephrectomy from 1982 to 2019 from eight different tertiary hospitals in Korea were initially screened. Percent changes in the eGFR from baseline to 1-month post-donation were calculated. The degree of percent changes was categorized by quartile, and the 1st quartile was regarded as the group with the lowest decreased eGFR at 1-month after donation. The remaining eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was the endpoint. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for evaluating the impact of initial eGFR and eGFR percent change at 1-month post-donation on the condition with remaining eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. In the multivariate analysis, we used variables with a p < 0.1 in the univariate analysis. Results: A total of 1,585 donors were included in the analysis. During 62.2 ± 49.3 months, 13.7% of donors showed renal insufficiency. The 4th (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 10.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.15 to 21.04) and the 3rd (aHR, 4.29; 95% CI, 2.15 to 8.56) quartiles of percent change in eGFR and the pre-donation eGFR (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.88 to 0.92) were associated with the development of renal insufficiency. Conclusions: The impact of worse initial renal recovery on renal insufficiency was pronounced in donors with lower pre-donation eGFRs. Additionally, worse initial renal recovery of remaining kidney affected the long-term development of renal insufficiency in kidney donors.

Seasonal Variations in PM2.5 Concentrations and Clinical Impact on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

( Jin-young Huh ),( Hajeong Kim ),( Geunjoo Na ),( Shinhee Park ),( Seung Won Ra ),( Sung-yoon Kang ),( Ho Cheol Kim ),( Hwan-cheol Kim ),( Sei Won Lee ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2021 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.129 No.-

Background The high concentration of particulate matter of diameter < 2.5mm (PM2.5) is a known risk factor of COPD. However, there have been few prospective studies that measured ambient PM2.5 of individual COPD patients. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the seasonal individual PM2.5 concentrations and assess their clinical impact. Methods A total of 105 COPD patients were followed-up for one year. Individual PM2.5 concentrations were monitored continuously, indoors by sensors installed at patients’ residence, and outdoors by national observatories. Clinical parameters were evaluated at three months interval. The relationships between PM2.5 concentrations and clinical parameters were evaluated with Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis. Results The mean age of patients was 68.2 ± 7.2 years and 92.4% were male (Table 1). The mean indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were 16.2 ± 8.4μg/m3 and 17.2 ± 5.0μg/m3 respectively. The season with the highest concentration was winter (indoor: 18.8 ± 11.7μg/m3; outdoor; 22.5 ± 5.0μg/m3). The indoor/outdoor ratio was the lowest in winter (0.837) followed by spring (0.918), fall (1.059) and summer (1.112) (Figure 2). Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-C) and acute exacerbation (AE) had significant correlation with PM2.5 levels. The correlations were most prominent in winter and absent in summer (Figure 2). In linear regression, changes in SGRQ-C in winter was the largest with duration of PM2.5 ≥ 35μg/ m3, six days before (β: 1.089, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.216-1.962; p < 0.001) and changes in AE in winter was the largest with duration of PM2.5 ≥ 75μg/m3, four days before (β: 0.246, 95% CI: 0.102-0.390; p < 0.001). Conclusions There were seasonal patterns in ambient PM2.5 concentration, and its impact on clinical parameters of individual COPD patients. SGRQ-C and AE were affected by PM2.5 and the effect was most notable in winter.