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.

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.

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.

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.

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>

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.

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.

Pivotal role of the RanBP9-cofilin pathway in Aβ-induced apoptosis and neurodegeneration

Woo, J A,Jung, A R,Lakshmana, M K,Bedrossian, A,Lim, Y,Bu, J H,Park, S A,Koo, E H,Mook-Jung, I,Kang, D E Macmillan Publishers Limited 2012 CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION Vol.19 No.9

Neurodegeneration associated with amyloid β (Aβ) peptide accumulation, synaptic loss, neuroinflammation, tauopathy, and memory impairments encompass the pathophysiological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously reported that the scaffolding protein RanBP9, which is overall increased in brains of AD patients, simultaneously promotes Aβ generation and focal adhesion disruption by accelerating the endocytosis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β1-integrin, respectively. Here, we show that RanBP9 protein levels are increased by fourfold in FAD mutant APP transgenic mice. Accordingly, RanBP9 transgenic mice demonstrate significantly increased synapse loss, neurodegeneration, gliosis, and spatial memory deficits. RanBP9 overexpression promotes apoptosis and potentiates Aβ-induced neurotoxicity independent of its capacity to promote Aβ generation. Conversely, RanBP9 reduction by siRNA or gene dosage mitigates Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Importantly, RanBP9 activates/dephosphorylates cofilin, a key regulator of actin dynamics and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and siRNA knockdown of cofilin abolishes both Aβ and RanBP9-induced apoptosis. These findings implicate the RanBP9–cofilin pathway as critical therapeutic targets not only for stemming Aβ generation but also antagonizing Aβ-induced neurotoxicity.

Guanylate cyclase activator YC-1 potentiates apoptotic effect of licochalcone A on human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells via activation of death receptor and mitochondrial pathways

Lee, C.S.,Kwak, S.W.,Kim, Y.J.,Lee, S.A.,Park, E.S.,Myung, S.C.,Kim, W.,Lee, M.S.,Lee, J.J. North-Holland ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2012 european journal of pharmacology Vol.683 No.1

Natural phenol licorice compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. 3-(5'-Hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1) may enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs. However, the combined effect of licochalcone A and YC-1 on cell death in ovarian cancer cells has not been studied. We assessed the combined effect of licochalcone A and YC-1 on apoptosis in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines in relation to the cell death process. In the OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3 cell lines, licochalocone A induced a decrease in Bid, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin protein levels; an increase in Bax levels; loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential; cytochrome c release; activation of caspases (-8, -9 and -3); cleavage of PARP-1; and an increase in the tumor suppressor p53 levels. YC-1 enhanced licochalcone A-induced apoptosis-related protein activation, nuclear damage and cell death. These results suggest that YC-1 may potentiate the apoptotic effect of licochalcone A on ovarian carcinoma cell lines by increasing the activation of the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathway and the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, leading to caspase activation. The combination of licochalcone A and YC-1 may confer a benefit in the treatment of human epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma.