HIGH GLUCOSE-INDUCED INHIBITION OF 2-DEOXYGLUCOSE UPTAKE IS MEDIATED BY cAMP, PROTEIN KINASE C, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES IN MOUSE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Han, Ho Jae,Heo, Jung Sun,Lee, Yun Jung,Min, Jung Jun,Park, Kwang Sung Blackwell Science Pty 2006 Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiolog Vol.33 No.3

<P>SUMMARY</P><OL TYPE='1'><li level='1'>Abnormally high glucose levels may play an important role in early embryo development and function. In the present study, we investigated the effect of high glucose on 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake and its related signalling pathway in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.</LI><li level='1'>2-Deoxyglucose uptake was maximally inhibited by 25 mmol/L glucose after 24 h treatment. However, 25 mmol/L mannitol and dextran did not affect 2-DG uptake. Indeed, 25 mmol/L glucose decreased GLUT-1 mRNA and protein levels. The glucose (25 mmol/L)-induced inhibition of 2-DG uptake was blocked by pertussis toxin (a G<SUB>i</SUB>-protein inhibitor; 2 ng/mL), SQ 22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor; 10<SUP>-6</SUP> mol/L) and the protein kinase (PK) A inhibitor myristoylated PKI amide-(14–22) (10<SUP>-6</SUP> mol/L). Indeed, 25 mmol/L glucose increased intracellular cAMP content.</LI><li level='1'>Furthermore, 25 mmol/L glucose-induced inhibition of 2-DG uptake was prevented by 10<SUP>-4</SUP> mol/L neomycin or 10<SUP>-6</SUP> mol/L U 73122 (phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors) and staurosporine or bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase (PK) C inhibitors). At 25 mmol/L, glucose increased translocation of PKC from the cytoplasmic fraction to the membrane fraction. The 25 mmol/L glucose-induced inhibition of 2-DG uptake and GLUT-1 protein levels was blocked by SQ 22536, bisindolylmaleimide I or combined treatment. In addition, 25 mmol/L glucose increased cellular reactive oxygen species and the glucose-induced inhibition of 2-DG uptake were blocked by the anti-oxidants <I>N</I>-acetylcysteine (NAC; 10<SUP>-5</SUP> mol/L) or taurine (2 ¥ 10<SUP>-3</SUP> mol/L).</LI><li level='1'>Glucose (25 mmol/L) activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p44/42 MAPK. Staurosporine (10<SUP>-6</SUP> mol/L), NAC (10<SUP>-5</SUP> mol/L) and PD 98059 (10<SUP>-7</SUP> mol/L) attenuated the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK. Both SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor; 10<SUP>-7</SUP> mol/L) and PD 98059 (a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor; 10<SUP>-7</SUP> mol/L) blocked 25 mmol/L glucose-induced inhibition of 2-DG uptake.</LI><li level='1'>In conclusion, high glucose inhibits 2-DG uptake through cAMP, PLC/PKC, oxidative stress or MAPK in mouse ES cells.</LI></OL>

Persistent cognitive dysfunction in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A naturalistic study

ROH, KYU SIK,SHIN, MIN SUP,KIM, MYUNG-SUN,HA, TAE-HYUN,SHIN, YONG-WOOK,LEE, KYUNG JIN,KWON, JUN SOO Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol.59 No.5

<P>Abstract </P><P>The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes in the cognitive dysfunctions of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over a 1-year period of pharmacological treatment. Twenty-one OCD patients and 20 normal subjects underwent neuropsychological tests and clinical evaluations on three separate occasions (baseline, 4 months, and 1 year after the start of medications). OCD patients continued to show significant impairments in the following cognitive measures compared with the normal controls: accuracy of immediate and delayed recall on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure tests, the numbers of responses on the category fluency test, the response time on the trail making test – part A, and the number of perseverative response and perseverative errors on the Wisconsin card sorting test. The findings in this study suggested that impaired performance on cognitive domains, such as visuospatial memory and verbal fluency may underline the pathology of OCD.</P>

Expression of gonadotropin genes in Manchurian trout <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> and production of recombinant gonadotropins

CHOI, Eunju,KO, Hyeyeon,SHIN, Jihye,KIM, Mi-Ae,SOHN, Young Chang Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Fisheries science Vol.71 No.6

<P>ABSTRACT: </P><P>Manchurian trout <I>Brachymystax lenok</I> is an endangered fish species in East Asia including the Korean peninsula. To establish a method for artificial propagation and to improve our understanding of reproduction in the species, cloning of the pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) subunit cDNAs encoding the Manchurian trout gonadotropin common α (mtGTHα), follicle-stimulating hormone &bgr; (mtFSH&bgr;), and luteinizing hormone &bgr; (mtLH&bgr;) by polymerase chain reaction, were attempted. The open reading frames of the mtGTHα, mtFSH&bgr;, and mtLH&bgr; encoded 114, 137, and 142 amino acid residues, respectively. The mature peptides showed strikingly high sequence identities to those of salmonid species GTHα2, FSH&bgr;, and LH&bgr; subunits (92–100%). In an examination of tissue distribution of the mtGTHα, mtFSH&bgr;, and mtLH&bgr;, it was revealed that all of the three subunit genes are specifically expressed in the pituitary by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis. Next, single-chain recombinant FSH and LH constructs using the mtGTHα, mtFSH&bgr;, and mtLH&bgr; cDNAs were produced. In a transient transfection of the FSH and LH constructs into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells followed by Western blot analysis, the tethered FSH in cell lysates or LH secreted into a medium was detected from 48 to 72 h after transfection. The present study provides a possibility of bioactive GTH production for studies on the reproductive physiology of GTH in the Manchurian trout.</P>

Physiological basis of differential phytotoxic activity between fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and cyhalofop-butyl-treated barnyardgrass

KIM, JIN-SEOG,OH, JUNG-IM,KIM, TAE-JOON,PYON, JONG YEONG,CHO, KWANG YUN Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Weed Biology and Management Vol.5 No.2

<P>This study investigated the physiological causes of differences in phytotoxic symptoms shown in barnyardgrass from foliar applications of the herbicides fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and cyhalofop-butyl. When these were applied to the third leaves of the whole plant, the chlorosis and desiccation in the third leaf was greater in fenoxaprop-P-ethyl than cyhalofop-butyl. However, initial growth inhibition of the fourth leaf was greater when using cyhalofop-butyl than when using fenoxaprop-P-ethyl. In the shoot regrowth test, regrowth at five days after treatment (DAT) was smaller in cyhalofop-butyl than in fenoxaprop-P-ethyl; the regrowth at 10 DAT exhibited the reverse trend. The chlorosis (decrease of chlorophylls: carotenoids ratio) in barnyardgrass leaf segments that were floated on herbicide solution was greater in the fenoxaprop-P-ethyl treatment. These results indicate that different herbicidal responses induced by the two herbicides are likely to be related to differential translocation and metabolism. The relatively light chlorosis and desiccation in treated leaves, severe cessation of initial growth (but a lower final herbicidal efficacy in the cyhalofop-butyl treatment) are probably related to its rapid translocation to the meristem region from the treated leaf, followed by faster metabolism. In contrast, the relatively greater chlorosis and desiccation compared to inhibition of initial growth in the fenoxaprop-P-ethyl treatment is likely to be related to its relatively slower translocation and metabolism in the treated leaf.</P>

Phenotypic alterations of mucins and cytokeratins during gallbladder carcinogenesis

Chang, Hee Jin,Kim, Sun Whe,Lee, Byung Lan,Hong, Eun Kyung,Kim, Woo Ho Blackwell Science Pty 2004 Pathology international Vol.54 No.8

<p>In order to evaluate the significance of altered expression of mucin and cytokeratin during gallbladder carcinogenesis, we characteriazed the expressional profiles of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, CK7 and CK20 in 33 normal mucosa, 31 adenomas, 55 dysplasias and 131 carcinomas of the gallbladder. In normal gallbladder mucosa, the expressions of MUC5AC and MUC6 were diffuse and MUC1 expression was absent. However, in adenomas, dysplasias and carcinomas, the expressions of MUC5AC and MUC6 tended to decrease, whereas MUC1 expression was elevated. MUC2 and CK20 were infrequently expressed in all of the gallbladder epithelia, but adenomas expressing MUC2 and/or CK20 were more frequently associated with carcinomas and showed a higher grade of atypia than those without these antigens. In carcinomas, MUC1 expression was related to invasive growth, lymph node metastasis and a non-papillotubular type, whereas MUC6 expression was related to non-invasive growth. CK7 was diffusely expressed in almost all lesions, but carcinomas with a loss of CK7 expression showed poor survival. In conclusion, normal gallbladder mucosa has a gastric phenotype, but during carcinogenesis and tumor progression, the gastric phenotype is gradually lost and the aberrant expression of MUC1 occurs. The intestinal phenotype is not common in the gallbladder.</p>

Effects of temperature changes on the endogenous rhythm of oxygen consumption in the Japanese flounder <i>Paralichthys olivaceus</i>

KIM, Wan Soo,YOON, Seong-Jin,KIM, Jong Man,GIL, Joon Woo,LEE, Tae Won Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Fisheries science Vol.71 No.3

<P>ABSTRACT: </P><P>The effects of temperature changes on the endogenous rhythm of oxygen consumption in the Japanese flounder <I>Paralichthys olivaceus</I> which were acclimated to 3, 14 or 20°C in advance were investigated. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of individuals (total length >28 cm) that were acclimated to 3°C, maintained a relatively low value of 6.9 ± 2.3 mL (mean ± SD) O<SUB>2</SUB>/kg ww (wet weight)/h till 5.8°C, which is considered a ‘minimum’ rate. Thereafter, the OCR gradually increased up to 18.7 mL O<SUB>2</SUB>/kg ww/h at the temperature of 10.6°C. The OCR of individuals acclimated to 14°C stabilized with 124.2 ± 24.1 mL O<SUB>2</SUB>/kg ww/h, when tested at the relatively constant temperature of 14.4 ± 0.17°C. Maximum entropy spectral analysis revealed that the peak OCR occurred at 23.9 h intervals, which could be a circadian rhythm. The mean OCR showed a peak at 06.00–08.00 hours. For the temperature above 25°C in which the fish were acclimated to 20°C, the rhythmic patterns of OCR were observed until the experimental temperature reached 26.4°C. For the temperature above 28.4°C, the metabolic activity rhythm of the OCR was dampened and then the OCR abruptly rose again. It is assumed that the oscillator of the endogenous rhythm lost the governing of normal metabolic activity in Japanese flounders above 28.4°C. These results suggest that the temperatures of around 5.8, 26.4 and 28.4°C are the ‘lower limit temperature’, ‘upper incipient lethal temperature’, and the ‘critical thermal maximum’, respectively, for the endogenous rhythm of oxygen consumption in the Japanese flounder.</P>

Spawning dates and early growth of chub mackerel <i>Scomber japonicus</i> as indicated by otolith microstructure of juveniles in the inshore nursery ground

HWANG, Sun-Do,LEE, Tae-Won Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Fisheries science Vol.71 No.5

Latency of auditory P300 correlates with self-control as measured by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire

LEE, HEON-JEONG,KIM, LEEN,HAN, CHANG-SU,KIM, YONG-KU,KIM, SEUNG-HYUN,LEE, MIN-SOO,JOE, SOOK-HAENG,JUNG, IN-KWA Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol.59 No.4

<P>Abstract </P><P>The reception, processing, and storage of information about experience define personality. The present study investigated the relationship between auditory event-related potentials (AERP) and personality traits. The AERP were recorded using a standard auditory oddball paradigm, and personality was evaluated by Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) in 20 healthy young male subjects. The P300 latency was found to be significantly associated with rule consciousness (factor G in the 16PF), perfectionism (factor Q3), and self-control (factor SC): it was negatively correlated with G score (<I>r</I> =−0.56, <I>P</I> = 0.01), Q3 score (<I>r</I> =−0.67, <I>P</I> = 0.001), and SC score (<I>r</I> =−0.65, <I>P</I> = 0.002). Moreover, the P300 amplitude and N100 amplitude were negatively correlated with reasoning (factor B; <I>r</I> =−0.46, <I>P</I> = 0.044; and <I>r</I> = −0.72, <I>P</I> = 0.002, respectively). These results indicate that the personality traits of self-control, perfectionism, high superego, and reasoning are related to information processing in the brain.</P>

Prevalence of insomnia and its relationship to menopausal status in middle-aged Korean women

SHIN, CHOL,LEE, SANGYEOL,LEE, TAEWOOK,SHIN, KYUNGRIM,YI, HYERYEON,KIMM, KUCHAN,CHO, NAMHAN Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol.59 No.4

<P>Abstract </P><P>Although the prevalence of insomnia and the association of insomnia with menopause have been well reported, not much work has been conducted in population-based research on insomnia and menopause in Korea. The purpose of the present report was to determine overall and different prevalence of insomnia by menopausal status, and the relationship between insomnia and menopause in a population-based sample of middle-aged Korean women. A total of 96.1% of 2497 randomly selected middle-aged Korean women participated. Insomnia was defined as occurring three times a week or more in the previous month. Subjects were categorized into three groups: premenopaues, perimenopause, and postmenopause. The overall prevalence of insomnia in middle-aged Korean women was 14.3%. The most common symptom of insomnia was difficulty maintaining sleep (9.7%), followed by difficulty initiating sleep (7.9%), and early morning awakening (7.5%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that menopause was independently associated with insomnia after adjusting for confounding factors such as age, income, and depression. Perimenopause was significantly associated with a dramatic increase in the risk of insomnia, but there was no significant association for postmenopause. The major finding is that insomnia is significantly associated with the menopausal transition. The prevalence of insomnia increases significantly by the transition from premenopause to perimenopause, but not to postmenopause. A further prospective study is needed to investigate the influence of menopause on insomnia.</P>

Protective effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma agonists on diabetic and non-diabetic renal diseases

CHUNG, BYUNG HA,LIM, SUN WOO,AHN, KYUNG OHK,SUGAWARA, AKIRA,ITO, SADAYOSHI,CHOI, BUM SOON,KIM, YONG SOO,BANG, BYUNG KEE,YANG, CHUL WOO Blackwell Science Pty 2005 Nephrology Vol.10 No.suppl2

<P>SUMMARY: </P><P>Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR&ggr;) agonist has not only antidiabetic effect but also a protective effect against various types of injury of the kidney. The protective effects of PPAR&ggr; agonists are observed in diabetic nephropathy and non-diabetic renal diseases such as 5/6 ablation model of renal failure, experimental glomerulonephritis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, hypertensive nephropathy and cyclosporin-induced renal injury. The mechanism of renoprotection by PPAR&ggr; agonist is multifactorial. Anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects, suppression of renin-angiotensin system, vascular protective effect and antiapoptotic effect were proposed.</P>