Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

Cytokine secreted by S100A9 via TLR4 in monocytes delays neutrophil apoptosis by inhibition of caspase 9/3 pathway

Lee, N.R.,Park, B.S.,Kim, S.Y.,Gu, A.,Kim, D.H.,Lee, J.S.,Kim, I.S. Saunders Scientific Publications, W.B. Saunders ; 2016 Cytokine Vol.86 No.-

Dysregulation of neutrophil apoptosis causes pathogenesis and aggravation of allergy. S100A9 exists as one of the proteins in the neutrophils, triggering inflammatory responses by activating the immune cells. In this study, we investigated whether S100A9 affects constitutive neutrophil apoptosis by activating the monocytes in normal and allergic subjects. Supernatant from human monocytic THP-1 cells after treatment with S100A9 suppressed normal neutrophil apoptosis by inhibiting the activations of caspase 9 and caspase 3. S100A9 upregulated the release of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in THP-1 cells. An increase in cytokine was suppressed by CLI-095, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 inhibitor, PP2, a Src inhibitor, rottlerin, a PKCδ inhibitor, MAP kinase inhibitors, including PD98059, SB202190, and SP600125, and BAY-11-7085, an NF-κB inhibitor. Src, PKCδ, ERK½, p38 MAPK, and JNK were phosphorylated by S100A9. The phosphorylation of Src and PKCδ was suppressed by CLI-095, and the activation of ERK½, p38 MAPK, and JNK was inhibited by CLI-095, PP2, and rottlerin. S100A9 induced NF-κB activity, and the activation was suppressed by CLI-095, PP2, rottlerin, and MAPK kinase inhibitors. In normal and allergic subjects, supernatant from normal and allergic monocytes after stimulation with S100A9 suppressed normal and allergic neutrophil apoptosis, respectively; MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in the supernatant was increased by S100A9. The cytokine secretion induced by S100A9 is related to TLR4, Src, PKCδ, ERK½, p38 MAPK, JNK, and NF-κB. Taken together, S100A9 induces anti-apoptotic effect on normal and allergic neutrophils by increasing cytokine secretion of monocytes. These findings may help us to better understand neutrophil apoptosis regulated by S100A9 and pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

Quadratic Derivations on non-Archimedean Banach Algebras

Park, C.,Shagholi, S.,Javadian, A.,Savadkouhi, M.B.,Gordji, M.E. Eudoxus Press LLC 2014 Journal of computational analysis and applications Vol.16 No.3

Let A be an algebra and X be an A-module. A quadratic mapping D : A X is called a quadratic derivation ifD(ab) = D(a)b(2) + a(2) D(b)for all a(1), a(2) is an element of A. We investigate the Hyers-Ulam stability of quadratic derivations from a non-Archimedean Banach algebra A into a non-Archimedean Banach A-module.

Sensitivity of surface characteristics on the simulation of wind-blown-dust source in North America

Park, S.H.,Gong, S.L.,Gong, W.,Makar, P.A.,Moran, M.D.,Stroud, C.A.,Zhang, J. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier [distribution] 2009 Atmospheric environment Vol.43 No.19

Recently, a wind-blown-dust-emission module has been built based on a state-of-the-art wind erosion theory and evaluated in a regional air-quality model to simulate a North American dust storm episode in April 2001 (see Park, S.H., Gong, S.L., Zhao, T.L., Vet, R.J., Bouchet, V.S., Gong, W., Makar, P.A., Moran, M.D., Stroud, C., Zhang, J. 2007. Simulation of entrainment and transport of dust particles within North America in April 2001 (''Red Dust episode''). J. Geophys. Res. 112, D20209, doi:10.1029/2007JD008443). A satisfactorily detailed assessment of that module, however, was not possible because of a lack of information on some module inputs, especially soil moisture content. In this paper, the wind-blown-dust emission was evaluated for two additional dust storms using improved soil moisture inputs. The surface characteristics of the wind-blown-dust source areas in southwestern North America were also investigated, focusing on their implications for wind-blown-dust emissions. The improved soil moisture inputs enabled the sensitivity of other important surface characteristics, the soil grain size distribution and the land-cover, to dust emission to be investigated with more confidence. Simulations of the two 2003 dust storm episodes suggested that wind-blown-dust emissions from the desert areas in southwestern North America are dominated by emissions from dry playas covered with accumulated alluvial deposits whose particle size is much smaller than usual desert sands. As well, the source areas in the northwestern Texas region were indicated to be not desert but rather agricultural lands that were ''activated'' as a wind-blown-dust sources after harvest. This finding calls for revisions to the current wind-blown-dust-emission module, in which ''desert'' is designated to be the only land-cover category that can emit wind-blown dust.

간호 대학생의 성 지식, 성 태도와 성 건강 간호 장애감 간의 관계

김다연,김은아,노수경,류아인,박나은,박지혜,서정민,심효정,주성민,한진실,이건정,박수민 이화여자대학교 간호과학대학 2017 이화간호학회지 Vol.- No.51

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation among sexual knowledge, attitude and Barriers to patient’s sexual health of nursing undergraduate students and to provide objective data to promote sexual health-care. Method: Using a descriptive correlation, 304 nursing undergraduate students were recruited through convenience random sampling from August 1st to December 20th, 2016. Data were analyzed using average, standard deviation, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson’s correlation and Multiple linear regression analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The correlation between Sexual knowledge and Sexual attitude is statistically significant(r=.289, p<.01). As the level of sexual knowledge is higher, the sexual attitude is more open. And, Sexual knowledge(r=-.307,p<.01) and Sexual attitude(r=.180,p=.002) had a negative relationship with Barriers to patient’s sexual health. Also, Sexual knowledge was the greatest influencing factor on Barriers to patient’s sexual health. Conclusion: This study showed as the level of Sexual knowledge is higher, the Sexual attitude is more open. As the degree of Sexual knowledge is lower, the Sexual attitude is more conservative, and Barriers to patient’s sexual health is more higher. Also, Sexual knowledge is the most influential factor on Barriers to patient’s sexual health.

Projection of future climate change impacts on nonpoint source pollution loads for a forest dominant dam watershed by reflecting future vegetation canopy in a Soil and Water Assessment Tool model

Park, Min J.,Park, Jong Y.,Shin, Hyung J.,Lee, Mi S.,Park, Geun A.,Jung, In K.,Kim, Seong J. IWA Publishing 2010 Water Science & Technology Vol.61 No.8

<P>This study is to assess the future impact of climate change on hydrological behavior considering future vegetation canopy prediction and its propagation to nonpoint source pollution (NPS) loads. The SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model was used for the assessment. For a forest dominant ChungjuDam watershed of South Korea, the MIROC3.2hires climate data of SRES A1B and B1 scenarios were adopted and downscaled for the watershed. The future vegetation canopy information was projected by the monthly relationship between Terra MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) LAI (Leaf Area Index) and temperature. The future predicted LAI increased up to 1.9 in 2080s April and October because of the temperature increase 3.6°C and 5.3°C respectively. By reflecting the future LAI changes, the future estimated percent changes of maximum annual dam inflow, SS, T-N, and T-P were + 42.5% in 2080s A1B,−35.6% in 2020s A1B,+73.7% in 2080s A1B and−21.0% in 2080s B1 scenario respectively. The increase of T-N load was from the increase of subsurface lateral flows and the groundwater recharges by the future rainfall increase. The decrease of T-P load was by decrease of sediment load during wet days because the effect of LAI increase is greater than the increase of rainfall.</P>

Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance of Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus parauberis isolated from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Park, Y.K.,Nho, S.W.,Shin, G.W.,Park, S.B.,Jang, H.B.,Cha, I.S.,Ha, M.A.,Kim, Y.R.,Dalvi, R.S.,Kang, B.J.,Jung, T.S. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2009 Veterinary microbiology Vol.136 No.1

The rates of antibiotic susceptibility and resistance were investigated in Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus parauberis isolates obtained from diseased olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus) collected from fish farms in Jeju Island, Korea. Isolates of S. iniae (n=65) were susceptible to cefotaxime, erythromycin, ofloxacin, penicillin, tetracycline and vancomycin, as demonstrated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. Isolates of S. parauberis (n=86) were highly resistant to erythromycin (58% of the 86 isolates tested) and tetracycline (63% of the 86 isolates tested). Fifty-four isolates of tetracycline-resistant S. parauberis contained the tet(M/O/S) genes, of which 39 and 12 isolates contained the tet(M) and tet(S) genes, respectively, whereas 3 isolates contained both the tet(M) and tet(S) genes. Among the erythromycin-resistant isolates of S. parauberis (n=50) only 14 contained the erm(B) gene. These results suggest that the tet(S) and erm(B) genes of S. parauberis are involved in the acquisition of high-level resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline. Our findings reveal a high rate of antibiotic resistance among strains of S. parauberis and emphasize the need to develop an appropriate vaccine to reduce the use of antibiotics.

Differential effects of triterpene glycosides, frondoside A and cucumarioside A₂-2 isolated from sea cucumbers on caspase activation and apoptosis of human leukemia cells

Jin, J.O.,Shastina, V.V.,Shin, S.W.,Xu, Q.,Park, J.I.,Rasskazov, V.A.,Avilov, S.A.,Fedorov, S.N.,Stonik, V.A.,Kwak, J.Y. North-Holland Pub ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2009 FEBS letters Vol.583 No.4

Frondoside A is a pentaoside having an acetyl moiety at the aglycon ring and xylose as a third monosaccharide residue. Cucumarioside A<SUB>2</SUB>-2 is a pentaoside having glucose as a third monosaccahride unit. We compared the effects of frondoside A and A<SUB>2</SUB>-2 for cell death-inducing capability with close attention paid to structure-activity relationships. Both frondoside A and A<SUB>2</SUB>-2 strongly induced apoptosis of leukemic cells. Frondoside A-induced apoptosis was more potent and rapid than A<SUB>2</SUB>-2-induced apoptosis. A<SUB>2</SUB>-2-induced but not frondoside A-induced apoptosis was caspase-dependent. This suggests that holothurians may induce apoptosis of leukemic cells caspase-dependently or -independently, depending on the holothurian structure.

β-Amyloid induces nuclear protease-mediated lamin fragmentation independent of caspase activation

Ramasamy, V.S.,Islam, Md.I.,Haque, Md.A.,Shin, S.Y.,Park, I.S. Elsevier Biomedical Press 2016 Biochimica et biophysica acta, Molecular cell rese Vol.1863 No.6

β-Amyloid (Aβ), a hallmark peptide of Alzheimer's disease, induces both caspase-dependent apoptosis and non-apoptotic cell death. In this study, we examined caspase-independent non-apoptotic cell death preceding caspase activation in Aβ42-treated cells. We first determined the optimal treatment conditions for inducing cell death without caspase activation and selected a double-treatment method involving the incubation of cells with Aβ42 for 4 and 6h (4+6h sample). We observed that levels of lamin A (LA) and lamin B (LB) were reduced in the 4+6h samples. This reduction was decreased by treatment with suc-AAPF-CMK, an inhibitor of nuclear scaffold (NS) protease, but not by treatment with z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor. In addition, suc-AAPF-CMK decreased the changes in nuclear morphology observed in cells in the 4+6h samples, which were different from nuclear fragmentation observed in STS-treated cells. Furthermore, suc-AAPF-CMK inhibited cell death in the 4+6h samples. LA and LB fragmentation occurred in the isolated nuclei and was also inhibited by suc-AAPF-CMK. Together, these data indicated that the fragmentation of LA and LB in the Aβ42-treated cells was induced by an NS protease, whose identity is not clearly determined yet. A correlation between Aβ42 toxicity and the lamin fragmentation by NS protease suggests that inhibition of the protease could be an effective method for controlling the pathological process of AD.

Hierarchical 3D ZnIn₂S₄/graphene nano-heterostructures: their <i>in situ</i> fabrication with dual functionality in solar hydrogen production and as anodes for lithium ion batteries

Kale, Sayali B.,Kalubarme, Ramchandra S.,Mahadadalkar, Manjiri A.,Jadhav, Harsharaj S.,Bhirud, Ashwini P.,Ambekar, Jalinder D.,Park, Chan-Jin,Kale, Bharat B. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Vol.17 No.47

<P>Hierarchical 3D ZnIn2S4/graphene (ZnIn2S4/Gr) nano-heterostructures were successfully synthesized using an in-situ hydrothermal method. The dual functionality of these nano-heterostructures i.e. for solar hydrogen production and lithium ion batteries has been demonstrated for the first time. The ZnIn2S4/Gr nano-heterostructures were optimized by varying the concentrations of graphene for utmost hydrogen production. An inspection of the structure shows the existence of layered hexagonal ZnIn2S4 wrapped in graphene. The reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to graphene was confirmed by Raman and XPS analyses. The morphological analysis demonstrated that ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanopetals are dispersed on graphene sheets. The optical study reveals the extended absorption edge to the visible region due to the presence of graphene and hence is used as a photocatalyst to transform H2S into eco-friendly hydrogen using solar light. The ZnIn2S4/Gr nano-heterostructure that is comprised of graphene and ZnIn2S4 in a weight ratio of 1 : 99 exhibits enhanced photocatalytically stable hydrogen production i.e. B6365 mmole h(-1) under visible light irradiation using just 0.2 g of nano-heterostructure, which is much higher as compared to bare hierarchical 3D ZnIn2(S4). The heightened photocatalytic activity is attributed to the enhanced charge carrier separation due to graphene which acts as an excellent electron collector and transporter. Furthermore, the usage of nano-heterostructures and pristine ZnIn2S4 as anodes in lithium ion batteries confers the charge capacities of 590 and 320 mA h g(-1) after 220 cycles as compared to their initial reversible capacities of 645 and 523 mA h g(-1), respectively. These nano-heterostructures show high reversible capacity, excellent cycling stability, and high-rate capability indicating their potential as promising anode materials for LIBs. The excellent performance is due to the nanostructuring of ZnIn2S4 and the presence of a graphene layer, which works as a channel for the supply of electrons during the charge-discharge process. More significantly, their dual functionality in energy generation and storage is quite unique and commendable.</P>