Clinical Impact of Exosomal microRNA as a Novel Biomarker of Liver Fibrosis

( Young Chang ),( Jae-a Han ),( Suk Min Kang ),( Soung Won Jeong ),( Tom Ryu ),( Han Seul Park ),( Jeong-ju Yoo ),( Sae Hwan Lee ),( Sang Gyune Kim ),( Young Seok Kim ),( Hong Soo Kim ),( So Young Jin 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: Many approaches have been suggested for the non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis, including the use of serum biomarkers and ultrasound-based elastography, but none has yet replaced liver biopsy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as potential diagnostic tools for liver diseases. We investigated alterations in the expression of serum exosomal miRNAs with the progression of liver fibrosis and evaluated their clinical applicability as biomarkers. Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 71 patients who underwent liver biopsy at a large-volume academic hospital in Korea. Exosomes were extracted from serum samples, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of miRNAs was conducted in patients from different stages of liver fibrosis. Differential expression of miRNAs was quantified using targeted real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A model was derived to discriminate advanced fibrosis based on miRNA levels using multivariate logistic regression. The performance of this model was evaluated and compared using area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and De- Long’s test. Results: NGS data revealed the relationship between exosomal miR-122 expression and liver fibrosis progression. The level of miR-122 decreased as the pathologic fibrosis grade progressed from stage 0 to 4. Patients with biopsy-proven advanced fibrosis had significantly lower levels of exosomal miR-122 (P<0.001) than those without advanced fibrosis. Exosomal miR-122 exhibited a fair performance in discriminating advanced fibrosis with an AUC of 0.77, which improved to 0.86 in combination with fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4) and transient elastography (TE). This value was higher than that reported for any other non-invasive modalities, including TE (AUC of 0.80) or FIB-4 (AUC of 0.57) alone. In a subgroup of patients with a non-viral etiology of liver disease, the performance of exosomal miR-122 as a biomarker improved, evident from the increase in the AUC value to 0.87. In this subpopulation, the combination model of miR- 122, FIB-4, and TE showed the best discrimination ability (AUC of 0.90), which was significantly higher than that of TE alone (AUC of 0.83; DeLong’s test P=0.046). Inhibition of miR-122 expression increased the proliferation of the human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2, and upregulated the expression of collagen- 1A, a-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor-ß. Conclusions: Exosomal miR-122 may serve as a novel biomarker for discriminating advanced liver fibrosis, and its accuracy may enhanced in combination with other non-invasive tests such as FIB-4 and TE.

Preparation and characterization of a poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)-grafted FEP membrane

Fei, Geng,Shin, Junhwa,Kang, Sung-A,Ko, Beom-Seok,Kang, Phil-Hyun,Lee, Youn-Sik,Nho, Young Chang Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2010 Journal of polymer science Part A, Polymer chemist Vol.48 No.3

<P>In this study, a novel polymer electrolyte membrane, poly(vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid)-grafted poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP-g-PVBSA), has been successfully prepared by simultaneous irradiation grafting of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomer onto a FEP film and taking subsequent chemical modification steps to modify the benzyl chloride moiety to the benzyl sulfonic acid moiety. The chemical reactions for the sulfonation were carried out via the formation of thiouronium salt with thiourea, base-catalyzed hydrolysis for the formation of thiol, and oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. Each chemical conversion process was confirmed by FTIR, elemental analysis, and SEM-EDX. A chemical stability study performed with Fenton's reagent (3% H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> solution containing 4 ppm of Fe<SUP>2+</SUP>) at 70 °C revealed that FEP-g-PVBSA has a higher chemical stability than the poly(styrene sulfonic acid)-grafted membranes (FEP-g-PSSA). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 563–569, 2010</P> <B>Graphic Abstract</B> <P>A novel polymer electrolyte membrane, FEP-g-PVBSA, has been successfully prepared by using a simultaneous irradiation grafting of vinylbenzyl chloride monomer onto a poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) film and taking subsequent chemical modification steps to modify the benzyl chloride moiety to the benzyl sulfonic acid moiety. <img src='wiley_img/0887624X-2010-48-3-POLA23762-gra001.gif' alt='wiley_img/0887624X-2010-48-3-POLA23762-gra001'> </P>

인삼 추출물 함유 한방화장품이 건강한 성인 여성의 삶의 질에 미치는 영향에 관한 예비 연구; Skindex-16을 중심으로

조가영 ( Ga Young Cho ),박효민 ( Hyo Min Park ),권이경 ( Lee Kyung Kwon ),조성아 ( Sung A Cho ),강병영 ( Byung Young Kang ),김윤범 ( Yoon Bum Kim ) 대한화장품학회 2015 대한화장품학회지 Vol.41 No.4

본 연구에서는 건강한 성인 여성을 대상으로 인삼 추출물을 함유한 스킨케어 제품의 시료 제시 방법과 여성들의 삶의 질 개선 효과 간의 상관 관계를 분석하였다. 삶의 질이란 질병이나 건강 상태가 일상생활에 미치는 신체적, 정신적 그리고 사회적 영향에 대한 개인적인 반응을 나타내는 개념이다. 이에 저자들은 45명의 건강한 성인 여성을 두 그룹으로 나누어 한 그룹(Group A)에는 브랜드 고유의 패키지를 유지한 인삼 크림 시료를 제공하였고, 다른 그룹(Group B)은 브랜드와 제품명을 알 수 없는 하얀색 통에 담은 동일한 시료를 제공하여 8주간 사용하게 하였다. 피부 관련 삶의 질 평가는 Skindex-16 설문지를 사용하여 시험 초기와 4주 후, 8주 후에 걸쳐 시행되었다. 시험 참여를 중지한 2명의 피험자를 제외한 43명의 Skindex-16 초기값의 평균은 22.70 ± 4.82점이었다. 8주 후, 그룹 A의 Skindex-16 지표는 초기값 23.30 ± 5.14에서 20.20 ± 4.83으로, 그룹 B는 22.17 ± 4.58에서 20.52 ± 3.60로 통계적으로 유의한 정도로 개선되었다. 세부 항목에서는 그룹 A의 ‘증상’ 항목이 4주 후, ‘감정’ 항목이 8주 후에 통계적으로 유의하게 개선되었으며, ‘기능’ 항목은 어느 그룹에서도 통계적으로 유의한 변화가 관찰되지 않았다. 또한, 총합과 세부 항목 모두 측정 시기 및 그룹에 따른 교호작용은 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 확인되지 않았다. 본 실험을 통해 인삼 크림이 포함된 스킨케어가 건강한 성인 여성의 삶의 질에 긍정적인 영향을 줄 수 있음을 확인하였으며, 스킨케어 행위 자체가 패키지에 대한 영향보다 삶의 질의 개선에 주는 영향이 큼을 추측할 수 있다. 장기적으로 ‘삶의 질’이란 기존의 피부과학 지표의 개선과 주관적 만족도의 개념을 넘어 신규한 화장품 효능 영역으로 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다. This study is designed to analyze the effect of skincare using cosmetic containing ginseng extract, on improving quality of life (QOL) of healthy women, with blind testing. QOL is a concept that represents how one’s disease or health condition can physically, psychologically, and socially influence his or her daily life. The study was conducted to assess the effect of a ginseng cosmetic preparation on quality of life (QOL) using the Skindex-16 score, stratified by blind versus non-blinded option. 45 healthy women aged between 30 and 49 years with no skin disease were recruited for this study. Volunteers were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 22) received anti-aging cream with ginseng extract in the original packaging, which included the brand name and logo. Group B (n = 23) received the same cream in a plain white jar without any package decoration or logo. Both groups used the cream for 8 weeks. For the skin-related QOL assessment, Skindex-16 was used at baseline, forth, and eighth week. All volunteers except two dropouts in Group A completed the dermatology-specific QOL measure, Skindex-16, at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks of treatment with the provided samples. As a result, the mean score of 43 participants at baseline was 22.70 ± 4.82. There was a significant difference between the baseline score and the score after 8 weeks in both groups: The scores changed from 23.30 ± 5.14 to 20.20 ± 4.83 in Group A, from 22.17 ± 4.58 to 20.52 ± 3.60 in Group B. The “Symptom” subscale of Skindex-16 improved after 4 weeks and the “Emotion” subscale improved after 8 weeks in Group A. The “Function” subscale did not show improvement in either groups. Both groups showed no interaction effect between follow up time and groups in Skindex-16 and subscale. This research opens up the possibility of skincare using ginseng cream having a positive effect on QOL in healthy women. Moreover, one can predict that skincare ritual itself may have greater impact on the improvement of QOL, compared to the product packaging.

디지털 방식의 인접면 접촉강도 측정장치의 개발 및 평가

최우진,김경화,김진아,강동완,오상호,Choi, Woo-Jin,Kim, Kyung-Hwa,Kim, Jin-A,Kang, Dong-Wan,Oh, Sang-Ho 대한치과보철학회 2007 대한치과보철학회지 Vol.45 No.5

Statement of problem: The proper contact relation between adjacent teeth in each arch plays an important role in the stability and maintenance of the integrity of the dental arches. Proximal contact has been defined as the area of a tooth that is in close association, connection, or touch with an adjacent tooth in the same arch. Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a digital device for measuring the proximal tooth contact tightness by pulling a thin stainless steel strip (2mm wide, 0.03mm thick) inserted between proximal tooth contact. Material and method: This device consists of measuring part, sensor part, motor part and body part. The stainless steel strip was connected to a stain gauge. The strain gauge was designed to convert the frictional force into a compressive force. This compressive force was detected as a electrical signal and the electrical signal was digitalized by a A/D converter. The digital signals were displayed by a micro-processor. The pulling speed was 8mm/s. Results: For testing reliability of the device in vivo, two healthy young adults (A, B) participated in this experiment. The tightness of proximal tooth contact between the second premolar and the first molar of mandible (subject A) and maxilla (subject B) was measured fifteen times for three days at rest. We double-checked the accuracy of the device with a Universal Testing Machine. Output signals from the Universal Testing Machine and the measuring device were compared. Regression analysis showed high linearity between these two signals. In vivo test, no significant differences were found between measurements. Conclusion: This device has shown to he capable of producing reliable and reproducible results in measuring proximal tooth contact. Therefore, it was considered that this device was appropriate to apply clinically.

Suppressive Effect of Fermented Angelica tenuissima Root Extract against Photoaging: Possible Involvement of Hemeoxygenase-1

( Yun-a Park ),( Sung Ryul Lee ),( Jin Woo Lee ),( Hyun Jung Koo ),( Seon-a Jang ),( Seung-won Yun ),( Hyun Ju Kim ),( Jeong Suk Woo ),( Myung Rye Park ),( Se Chan Kang ),( Youn Kyu Kim ),( Eun-hwa So 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2018 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.28 No.8

Angelica tenuissima root has historically been used as a traditional medicine in Korea. Previous studies have identified the anti-melanogenic effects of the extract of A. tenuissima root fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (FAT). This study investigated the protective effects of FAT against ultraviolet light B exposure (UVB; 30 mJ/㎠) in HaCaT (human keratinocyte) or Hs68 (human foreskin fibroblast) skin cells. FAT treatment was able to stimulate wound healing rate at the basal condition. FAT also favored the maintenance and/or improvement of extracellular matrix impairment caused by UVB irradiation through: 1) upregulation of procollagen Type-1 synthesis and secretion; 2) suppression of MMP-1 and elastase expression. FAT was able to play a role in the attenuation of inflammatory responses caused by UVB irradiation via upregulation of photo-protective hemeoxygease-1 and suppression of proinflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 expression. After further verification of the anti-photoaging potential of FAT, it could be utilized as an effective ingredient in anti-aging and anti-wrinkle cosmetics.

Water-soluble thin film transistors and circuits based on amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide.

Jin, Sung Hun,Kang, Seung-Kyun,Cho, In-Tak,Han, Sang Youn,Chung, Ha Uk,Lee, Dong Joon,Shin, Jongmin,Baek, Geun Woo,Kim, Tae-il,Lee, Jong-Ho,Rogers, John A American Chemical Society 2015 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.7 No.15

<P>This paper presents device designs, circuit demonstrations, and dissolution kinetics for amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) comprised completely of water-soluble materials, including SiNx, SiOx, molybdenum, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Collections of these types of physically transient a-IGZO TFTs and 5-stage ring oscillators (ROs), constructed with them, show field effect mobilities (10 cm2/Vs), on/off ratios (210(6)), subthreshold slopes (220 mV/dec), Ohmic contact properties, and oscillation frequency of 5.67 kHz at supply voltages of 19 V, all comparable to otherwise similar devices constructed in conventional ways with standard, nontransient materials. Studies of dissolution kinetics for a-IGZO films in deionized water, bovine serum, and phosphate buffer saline solution provide data of relevance for the potential use of these materials and this technology in temporary biomedical implants.</P>

한국인 탈색모발에 블루계열 염색 시 지렁이 자가분해물의 처리 효과

박정아 ( Jeong-a Park ),석지한 ( Ji-han Suk ),강상모 ( Sang-mo Kang ) 대한미용학회(구 대한미용과학회) 2018 대한미용학회지 Vol.14 No.2

In Korean hair, blue-dyeing causes severe hair damage due to a pre-bleaching step. Due to such damage, color retention period of the hair becomes very short. The prsent study aimed to address this problem, and to this end, samples were prepared as follows: blue-dyed hair (control group), dyed hair after pre-treatment with earthworms autolysate on bleached hair (pre-group), dyed hair with a mixture of dye and earthworms autolysate (mixed group). After blue-dyeing bleached hair once and 3 times, L^*a^*b^* values measured to examine the color retention after shampoo application, at frequency once, 10 times, 20 times. For blue-dyeing, the hair was dyed well, where a^* was close to ‘0’ in proportion to b^* as brightness (L^*) and yellow (b^*) were relatively low. L^*a^*b^* values were found to be highest in a pre-group when bleached hair (once, 3 times) was blue-dyed and shampooed up to 20 times while the color retention was the best in the pre- and mixed-groups. In regard to the dependence of color retention on shampoo frequency, the pre-group was more than 3 times greater than the control group and mixed-group. In terms of ‘dyeing uniformity’, ‘vividness’, ‘glossiness’ and ‘smoothness’, the pre-treated group was the best for both one-time and 3-times bleached hair. With respect to ‘texture roughness’, the control group was the highest. Regarding ‘hair dye deodorization effects’, the mixed group was the greatest. Just like the spectrophotometer measurement, the pre-treated group was the best at an expert group questionnaire. Since the earthworms autolysate treatment was found to enhance hair coloration and color durability during blue hair dyeing, it is reasonable to say that such treatment is commercially valuable.

비전이성 골육종환자에서 술전 Cisplatin, Adriamycin 복합항암화학요법의 효과

오현아 ( Hyun A Oh ),이구 ( Gu Lee ),강희정 ( Hee Jung Kang ),이재련 ( Jae Lyun Lee ),이경희 ( Kyung Hee Lee ),현명수 ( Myung Soo Hyun ),신덕섭 ( Duk Sub Sin ),배성화 ( Sung Hwa Bae ),류헌모 ( Hun Mo Ryoo ) 대한내과학회 2003 대한내과학회지 Vol.65 No.1

목적 : 골육종환자에서 cisplatin과 adriamycin을 사용한 술전 화학요법을 시행하여 반응율 및 생존율을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 골육종 환자 24명 중 보조요법만 시행한 4명의 환자를 제외한 20명의 환자를 대상으로 술전 화학요법과 술후 화학요법을 시행한 14명의 환자군을 A군으로 하고 술후에 화학요법을 시행한 6명의 환자군을 B군으로 하였다. A군 중 12명은 사지구제술을 시행하고 2명은 진행하여 사지절단술을 시행하였고 B군 중 사지외 Background : Adjuvant chemotherapy is the most accepted treatment for localized osteosarcoma. We studied the effectiveness of preoperative cisplatin and adriamycin combination chemotherapy in non-metastatic osteosarcoma. Methods : Twenty four cases of pat

Characterization of the autophosphorylating kinase, PkaF, in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) M130

Oh, Eun A.,Chi, Won-Jae,Kim, Mi-Soon,Kang, Sang Sun,Chun, Jaesun,Hong, Soon-Kwang Springer-Verlag 2011 Archives of microbiology Vol.193 No.12

<P>Streptomyces coelicolor, the model species for morphologically complex actinomycete bacteria, has unique characteristics such as morphological and physiological differentiation, which are controlled by various factors and several protein kinases. From the whole genomic sequence of S. coelicolor A3(2), 44 putative serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases were identified, and the pkaF gene was chosen as the best-conserved protein for typical Ser/Thr protein kinases. pkaF encodes a 667-amino acid protein with a predicted N-terminal Ser/Thr kinase domain and four repeated C-terminal penicillin-binding domains and Ser/Thr kinase-associated (PASTA) domains. Based on PCR, a pkaF gene was cloned and heterologously expressed. PkaF expressed in Escherichia coli had the bigger molecular size than the expected value (75 kDa) and was further purified by Ni2+-NTA agarose affinity column chromatography to homogeneity. The purified PkaF was autophosphorylated through the transfer of the gamma-phosphate group of ATP. The extent of phosphorylation was proportional to the amount of PkaF, and the phospho-PkaF was dephosphorylated by the addition of the cell lysate of S. coelicolor A3(2). Although no change was observed in the pkaF disruptant, overexpression of pkaF induced severe repression of morphogenesis and actinorhodin production, but not undecylprodigiosin production, implying that PkaF specifically regulates morphogenesis and actinorhodin production in S. coelicolor.</P>

Prevalence of Anaplasma and Bartonella spp. in Ticks Collected from Korean Water Deer(Hydropotes inermis argyropus)

Jun-Gu Kang,Sungjin Ko,Heung-Chul Kim,Sung-Tae Chong,Terry A. Klein,Jeong-Byoung Chae,Yong-Sun Jo,Kyoung-Seong Choi,Do-Hyeon Yu,Bae-Keun Park,Jinho Park,Joon-Seok Chae 대한기생충학열대의학회 2016 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.54 No.1

Deer serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens that impact on medical and veterinary health worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, the population of Korean water deer (KWD, Hydropotes inermis argyropus) has greatly increased from 1982 to 2011, in part, as a result of reforestation programs established following the Korean War when much of the land was barren of trees. Eighty seven Haemaphysalis flava, 228 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 8 Ixodes nipponensis, and 40 Ixodes persulcatus (21 larvae, 114 nymphs, and 228 adults) were collected from 27 out of 70 KWD. A total of 89/363 ticks (266 pools, 24.5% minimum infection rate) and 5 (1.4%) fed ticks were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum using nested PCR targeting the 16S rRNA and groEL genes, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene fragment sequences of 88/89 (98.9%) of positive samples for A. phagocytophilum corresponded to previously described gene sequences from KWD spleen tissues. The 16S rRNA gene fragment sequences of 20/363 (5.5%) of the ticks were positive for A. bovis and were identical to previously reported sequences. Using the ITS specific nested PCR, 11/363 (3.0%) of the ticks were positive for Bartonella spp. This is the first report of Anaplasma and Bartonella spp. detected in ticks collected from KWD, suggesting that ticks are vectors of Anaplasma and Bartonella spp. between reservoir hosts in natural surroundings.