• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.237-242
• /
• 2018

$^{18}F$-fludeoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET) can help finding an abnormal metabolic activity in brain. In this study, we evaluated an efficiency of volume- and cortical surface-based analysis which were used to determine whether standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) of FDG-PET was different among Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy control (HC). Each PET image was rigidly co-registered to the corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using mutual information. All voxels of the co-registered PET images were divided by the mean FDG uptake of the cerebellum cortex which was thresholded by partial volume effect (>0.9). Also, the SUVR value of each vertex was linearly interpolated from volumetric SUVR image which was thresholded by gray matter partial volume effect (>0.1). Lobar mean values were calculated from both volume- and cortical surface-based SUVRs. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare two measures for AD, MCI and HC groups. Even though the results of volume (SUVR_vol) and cortical surface-based SUVR (SUVR_surf) analysis were not significantly different from each other, the latter would be better for detecting group differences in SUVR of PET.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2022.10a
• /
• pp.143-143
• /
• 2022

Plant defense systems against pathogens have been studied extensively and are currently a hot topic in plant science. Using a reverse genetics technique, this study looked into the involvement of the NO-downregulated NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-fold superfamily gene in plant growth and defense in Arabidopsis thaliana. For this purpose, the knockout and overexpressing plant of the candidate gene along with the relevant controls were exposed to control, oxidative and nitro-oxidative stresses. The results showed that candidate gene negatively regulates plants' root and shoot lengths. To investigate the role of the candidate gene in plant basal defense, R-gene-mediated resistance and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) plants were challenged with virulent or avirulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato (Psf) DC3000. The results showed that the candidate gene negatively regulates plants' basal defense, R-gene-mediated resistance and SAR. Further characterization via GO analysis associated the candidate gene with metabolic and cellular processes and response to light stimulus, nucleotide binding and cellular location in the cytosol and nucleus. Protein structure analysis indicated the presence of a canonical Oxidoreductase family NAD (P)-binding Rossmann fold domain of 120 amino acids with a total of 121 plant homologs across 35 different plant species in the clad streptophyta. Arabidopsis eFP browser showed its expression in almost all the above-ground parts. Protein analysis indicated C225 and C359 as potential targets for S-Nitrosylation by NO. SMART analysis indicated possible interactions with mevalonate/galactokinase, galacturonic acid kinase, arabinose kinase, putative xylulose kinase, GroES-like zinc-binding alcohol dehydrogenase and various glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.283-294
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study primarily aimed to investigate the short- and long-term remission rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer, especially patients who were non-obese, and secondarily to determine the potential factors associated with remission. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients with T2D who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, from January 2008 to December 2012. Results: T2D improved in 39 out of 70 (55.7%) patients at the postoperative 2-year follow-up and 21 of 42 (50.0%) at the 5-year follow-up. In the 2-year data analysis, preoperative body mass index (BMI) (P=0.043), glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level (P=0.039), number of anti-diabetic medications at baseline (P=0.040), reconstruction method (statistical difference was noted between Roux-en-Y reconstruction and Billroth I; P=0.035) were significantly related to the improvement in glycemic control. Unlike the results at 2 years, the 5-year data analysis revealed that only preoperative BMI (P=0.043) and A1C level (P=0.039) were statistically significant for the improvement in glycemic control; however, the reconstruction method was not. Conclusions: All types of gastric cancer surgery can be effective in short- and long-term T2D control in non-obese patients. In addition, unless long-limb bypass is considered in gastric cancer surgery, the long-term glycemic control is not expected to be different between the reconstruction methods.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.699-709
• /
• 2021

Muscle mass improvement through lifestyle modification has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. This study examined the capacity of ethanol extracts of Scytosiphon lomentaria (SLE) to suppress the bioactivity of myostatin, a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, as well as the effect of SLE treatment on metabolic homeostasis in obese zebrafish induced by high feeding. A total of 10 ㎍/ml SLE completely blocked myostatin (1 nM/ml) signaling in the pGL3-(CAGA)₁₂ luciferase assay and suppressed myostatin-induced Smad2 phosphorylation in the Western blot analysis. In the zebrafish larvae analysis, the whole body glucose concentration of the high feeding control (HFC) group was significantly higher than that of the normal feeding control (NFC) group. However, the glucose levels of the high feeding group treated with 12.5 ug SLE and of the high feeding group treated with 18.75 ug SLE were similar to those of the NFC group. The mRNA expression level of the GLUT2 gene of the HFC group was significantly lower than that of the NFC group. SLE treatment restored the expression of the GLUT2 gene to a level that was close to that of the NFC group, indicating that SLE is capable of regulating glucose levels in zebrafish larvae. The current results highlight the potential of SLE as a natural MSTN inhibitor and supplement that can be used to facilitate the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2016

Background: Prevalence of adenoma in males aged 40-49 years in Korea was higher than expected. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of colorectal adenoma in males aged 40-49 years. Methods: Total 1,902 asymptomatic subjects with a mean age of $47.9{\pm}6.7years$, who underwent a screening colonoscopy in a health promotion center of Myongji Hospital from 2010 to 2013 were enrolled in this study. We conducted a case-control study to determine the risk factors for adenoma. The subjects were classified into two groups (adenoma vs. controls). To validate the diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for adenoma, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated. Results: At least one colorectal adenoma was identified in 385 subjects (20.2%). Among these 385 subjects, 372 subjects were found to have a non-advanced adenoma, 13 subjects had an invasive adenoma. One subject had cancer. Male sex, age, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and elevated CEA level were significantly associated with a colorectal adenoma in univariate analysis. However, metabolic syndrome was not significant in multivariate analysis. In the male group, the AUROC of CEA for colorectal adenoma was 0.600 (0.543 to 0.656) in non-smokers under 50 years of age, and 0.615 (0.540 to 0.690) in smokers under 50 years of age. Conclusion: Male sex, smoking, and high levels of CEA seem to be associated with colorectal adenoma. High levels of CEA and smoking may be diagnostic markers for any colorectal adenoma in Korean males aged 40-49 years.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 1992

The induction of hepatic cytochromes P450 and metabolic effects have been examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following treatment with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. Hepatic cytochrome P450 levels were higher in males than in females by ~40%. Treatment of male and female rats with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in an ~1.6 and 2-fold increase, respectively, in heptic microsomal cytochrome P450 levels in both sexes, relative to untreated animals. Immunoblot analyses were performed to compare sex-related changes in P450 levels. Hepatic P45IIB1 levels in males were greater than those in females following phenobarbital treatment. 3-Methylcholanthrene-induced male hepatic microsomes exhibited greater levels of P450 females failed to exhibit a band. Mab PCN 2-13-1 against P-45-IIIA recognized an intense in uninduced microsomes from female rats. The levels of P450IIIA in males were increased 2 to 3-fold following treatment with phenobarbital, while the increase of IIIA levels in females by phenobarbital was minimal, as monitored by immunoblot analysis. Solid phase radiommunoassay using monoclonal antibodies supported the results of immunoblot analysis. Phenobarbital treatment caused a 6.5-fold increase in the monoclonal iantibody binding to IIBI in males, whereas treatment of females with phenobarbital resulted of IA levels by 3-methylcholanthrene was also greater in females than in males (10-vs. 8-fold) although the levels of induced IA were comparable inboth sexes, as assessed by radiommunoassay. Radioimmunoassay also showed that hepatic IIEI level was 1.5-fold higher in males than in females and that either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene treatment caused 80% to 40% decrease in IIEL levels, relative to control, in both sexes. Sex-related metabolic activities were examined in hepatic microsomes. Hexobarbital hydroxylase activity was 2-to 3-fold higher in uninduced microsomes from males than that from females. This hydroxylase activity was increased 2-and 3-fold in males and females, respectively, following phenobarbital treatment, as compared to controls. Addition females produced 64% and 84% inhibition of hexobarbital oxidation, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was increased -12 and 26-fold in males and females respectively. Following phenobarbital treatment, as compared to controls. Addition of anti-P450IIB1 antibody to phenobarbital-induced hepatic microsomes from males and females produced 64% and 84% inhibition of hexobarbital oxidation, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was increased -12 and 26 fold in males and females, respectively, following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment relative to controls. The anti-P-450IA antibody inhibitable rate of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was comparable in both sexes following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment relative to controls. The anti-P450LA antibody inhibitable rate of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was comparable in both sexes following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment (-70%). These results demonstrate that levels of hepatic P450IIB1 or P450IA are greater in male than in female for untreated, phenobarbital-or-3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative for untreated phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of P450IIB1 or IA phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene is more significant in females.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.10
• /
• pp.711-720
• /
• 2019

Sink strength optimizes sucrose import, which is fundamental to support developing seed grains and increase crop yields, including those of rice (Oryza sativa). In this regard, little is known about the function of vacuolar invertase (VIN) in controlling sink strength and thereby seed size. Here, in rice we analyzed mutants of two VINs, OsVIN1 and OsVIN2, to examine their role during seed development. In a phenotypic analysis of the T-DNA insertion mutants, only the OsVIN2 mutant osvin2-1 exhibited reduced seed size and grain weight. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the small seed grains of osvin2-1 can be attributed to a reduction in spikelet size. A significant decrease in VIN activity and hexose level in the osvin2-1 spikelets interfered with spikelet growth. In addition, significant reduction in starch and increase in sucrose, which are characteristic features of reduced turnover and flux of sucrose due to impaired sink strength, were evident in the pre-storage stage of osvin2-1 developing grains. In situ hybridization analysis found that expression of OsVIN2 was predominant in the endocarp of developing grains. A genetically complemented line with a native genomic clone of OsVIN2 rescued reduced VIN activity and seed size. Two additional mutants, osvin2-2 and osvin2-3 generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, exhibited phenotypes similar to those of osvin2-1 in spikelet and seed size, VIN activity, and sugar metabolites. These results clearly demonstrate an important role of OsVIN2 as sink strength modulator that is critical for the maintenance of sucrose flux into developing seed grains.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2016

This field study investigated the effects of dystocia on the postpartum complications, milk production, and reproductive performance in Holstein dairy cows. Calving difficulty was scored on a rank scale of 1 to 5. Cows with a calving score of three or higher were judged to have dystocia. The cows (n = 565) were categorized based on the presence (n = 61) or absence (n = 504, control) of dystocia. The incidence of retained placenta (45.9% vs. 16.3%), metritis (39.3% vs. 17.1%), endometritis (47.5% vs. 16.3%) and pyometra (9.8% vs. 1.2%) were greater in cows from the dystocia group than those from the control group (p < 0.0001); however, there was no difference in the incidence of metabolic disorders (32.8% vs. 31.0%) between the two groups (p > 0.05). The prevalence of culling was higher in cows from the dystocia group (26.2%) than in those from the control group (14.5%, p < 0.05). During the 5-month postpartum period, milk production was lower (p < 0.05) in cows from the dystocia group than in those from the control group. Furthermore, the hazard of insemination by 150 days in milk (DIM) was lower in cows from the dystocia group (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.64, p < 0.005) than in those from the control group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio for the probability of pregnancy after the first artificial insemination was 0.36 times (p < 0.05) higher in cows from the dystocia group than in those from the control group. The hazard of pregnancy by 360 DIM was lower in cows from the dystocia group (HR = 0.45, p = 0.0001) than in those from the control group. In conclusion, dystocia resulted in increased postpartum complications, and decreased milk production and reproductive performance in Holstein dairy cows, leading to increased culling.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Osteoporosis, which occurs after menopause, is a kind of metabolic bone disorder. It develops when the bone mass begins to decrease radically, and its main symptoms are bone fracture and height-shortening. This thesis aims at what effects the Cuscutae Semen Extract(CSE) has on the prevention of osteoporosis in SD-rat that is caused by ovariectomy. Methods: The 24 female white rats, after removing their ovaries, were divided into the Normals, the Control group, and the CSE administrated group. For the next 8 weeks, distilled water to the normals and the control, and the CSE(45.9 mg/100 g) to the CSE administrated group were given in the mouths of them. After 8 weeks the rats were sacrificed. Weight, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total-cholesterol, triglyceride, phosphorus, calcium, tetraiodothyronine, estradiol, the weight of the femur, the amount of tibia ash, the area of trabecular bone, and the thickness of trabecular bone were measured. Results: The serum analysis shows that the calcium and phosphorous of the CSE administrated group significantly increased compared to that of the control group. Aspartate aminotransferase, alkalinephosphatase, total cholesterol, tetraiodothyronine of CSE group were decreased, but not so significant. Albumin, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride and estradiol of the group showed the tendency to increase, but the significance wasn't admitted. Regarding the variation of bone, the femur weight and the ash content of tibia, CSE group was more increased than the control group but the significance wasn't admitted. The histological observation shows that the trabecular thickness was more increased than the control group, and trabecular area increased significantly compared to those of the control group. The number of osteoclast and osteoblast area of the CSE groups decreased significantly compared to those of the control group. Conclusions: From the result of the above study, CSE should be effective for the osteoporosis cure and precaution and deeper study through bedside and clinical demonstration is much needed from now on.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.10
• /
• pp.734-741
• /
• 2014

Histone modifications on major transcription factor target genes are one of the major regulatory mechanisms controlling adipogenesis. Plant homeodomain finger 2 (PHF2) is a Jumonji domain-containing protein and is known to demethylate the histone H3K9, a repressive gene marker. To better understand the function of PHF2 in adipocyte differentiation, we constructed stable PHF2 knock-down cells by using the mouse pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. When induced with adipogenic media, PHF2 knock-down cells showed reduced lipid accumulation compared to control cells. Differential expression using a cDNA microarray revealed significant reduction of metabolic pathway genes in the PHF2 knock-down cell line after differentiation. The reduced expression of major transcription factors and adipokines was confirmed with reverse transcription- quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. We further performed co-immunoprecipitation analysis of PHF2 with four major adipogenic transcription factors, and we found that CCATT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\delta}$ physically interact with PHF2. In addition, PHF2 binding to target gene promoters was confirmed with a chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment. Finally, histone H3K9 methylation markers on the PHF2-binding sequences were increased in PHF2 knock-down cells after differentiation. Together, these results demonstrate that PHF2 histone demethylase controls adipogenic gene expression during differentiation.