• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.102-106
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• 2009

We exposed ICR mice to low-dose (0.2 Gy) and low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/h) $\gamma$-radiation ($^{137}Cs$) in the Low-dose-rate Irradiation Facility at the Radiation Health Research Institute to evaluate systemic effects of low-dose radiation. We compared the body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells and platelets), levels of biochemical markers in serum, and frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes between low-dose irradiated and non-irradiated control mice. The ICR mice irradiated with total doses of 0.2 and 2 Gy showed no changes in body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells), or frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytes of peripheral blood. However, the number of platelets (P = 0.002) and the liver weight (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in mice exposed to 0.2 and 2 Gy, respectively. These results suggest that a low-dose-rate of 0.7 mGy/h does not induce systemic damage. This dose promotes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment and the proliferation of liver cells. In the future, the molecular biological effects of lower doses and dose rates need to be evaluated.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Objective. To investigate the effects of the hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activation-mimicking agent cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$) on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Study design. The dose and exposure periods for $CoCl_2$ in hMSCs were optimized by cell viability assays. After confirmation of $CoCl_2$-induced HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in these cells by RT-PCR, the effects of temporary preconditioning with $CoCl_2$ on hMSC osteogenic differentiation were evaluated by RT-PCR analysis of osteogenic gene expression, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and by alizarin red S staining. Results. Variable $CoCl_2$ dosages (up to $500{\mu}M$) and exposure times (up to 7 days) on hMSC had little effect on hMSC survival. After $CoCl_2$ treatment of hMSCs at $100{\mu}M$ for 24 or 48 hours, followed by culture in osteogenic differentiating media, several osteogenic markers such as Runx-2, osteocalcin and osteopontin, bone sialoprotein mRNA expression level were found to be up-regulated. Moreover, ALP activity was increased in these treated cells in which an accelerated osteogenic capacity was also verified by alizarin red S staining. Conclusions. The osteogenic differentiation potential of hMSCs could be preserved and even enhanced by $CoCl_2$ treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.20-25
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• 2009

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that is characterized by inflammation of the synovial tissue and deterioration of the joint and bone. A recent study reported a potential gene-environment interaction between HLA-DR and smoking. The present study investigated whether a specific gene was related to the association between smoking and the severity of RA (rheumatoid factor levels > 20 IU/ml). We used the resources of the NARAC family collection of GAW 15 databases, and 1139 subjects with RF>20 IU/ml were included in the current analysis. The linkage panel contained 5858 SNP markers, and 5744 SNPs passed quality control criteria. Linear regression analyses, using PLINK software and generalized estimating equation regression models, were used to test for associations between the SNPs and the severity of RA according to smoking groups. Two major findings were established. First, the severity of RA in smokers was associated with rs703618 (p=$6{\times}10^{-5}$), which lies in the intronic region of the stabilin 2 (STAB2) gene on chromosome 12. Second, there were significant differences in the levels of RF between 'ever smokers' and 'never smokers' according to the rs703618 genotype (G/G, A/G, A/A). We investigated whether a specific gene acts as a mediator between smoking and the severity of RA and found that the STAB2 gene could affect this relationship. Our finding indicates that smoking may mediate RA severity by affecting the expression level of a specific gene.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the relationships among five clinical measures for functional alignment of the lower extremity. Methods : Thirty healthy subjects (15 males and 15 females) were recruited for the study. The five clinical measures of functional alignment of the lower extremity included navicular drop, quadriceps angle, internal rotation of hip, and anterior and lateral pelvic tilt angles. The level of navicular drop was calculated by the difference between the height of the navicular bone in the sitting (non-weight bearing) and standing (weight bearing) positions. The quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip were measured using a standard goniometer with photographic markers while the subjects were lying in a prone position on a table with their knee at $90^{\circ}$ flexion. Anterior and lateral pelvic tilt angles were determined using a inclinometer. Results : Correlation and a simple linear regression analysis were used to assess relationships between the clinical measures. There were significant correlations between navicular drop and quadriceps angle (p<.05), between navicular drop and internal rotation of hip (p<.05), and between quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip (p<.01). In simple linear regression analysis, the navicular drop appeared to be a factor affecting the quadriceps angle and internal rotation of hip (p<.05). The findings suggest that navicular drop has a great impact on lower extremity alignment. Conclusion : This study might help us to examine lower extremity function and clarify its role as a potential injury risk factor.

• 구강회복응용과학지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.158-168
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• 2015

본 증례는 상 하악 완전 무치악 환자에서 진단, 식립 그리고 보철물 제작에 디지털 방식을 활용하는 방법에 대해 제시하였다. 상악은 구개 부위, 하악은 기존 의치에 방사선 불투과성 마커를 부착한 후 구강스캔 및 CBCT 촬영을 시행하였다. 구강스캔 이미지와 CBCT 이미지를 중첩시켜 진단 및 수술가이드와 임시보철물을 제작하였다. 골유착 후에는 스캔바디를 이용한 구강스캔을 통해 최종보철물을 제작하였다. 임플란트를 이용한 전악수복에서 디지털 방식을 다양하게 활용하였으며 정확성과 환자의 불편감 최소화라는 목적에 만족할만한 결과를 얻었기에 이 증례를 보고하고자 한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.463-472
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• 2020

Direct reprogramming, also known as a trans-differentiation, is a technique to allow mature cells to be converted into other types of cells without inducing a pluripotent stage. It has been suggested as a major strategy to acquire the desired type of cells in cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues. Studies related to switching the fate of cells through epigenetic modification have been progressing and they can bypass safety issues raised by the virus-based transfection methods. In this study, a protocol was established to directly convert fully differentiated fibroblasts into diverse mesenchymal-lineage cells, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and ectodermal cells, including neurons, by means of DNA demethylation, immediately followed by culturing in various differentiating media. First, 24 h exposure of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CN), a well-characterized DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, to NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells induced the expression of stem-cell markers, that is, increasing cell plasticity. Next, 5-aza-CN treated fibroblasts were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic media with or without bone morphogenetic protein 2 for a designated period. Differentiation of each desired type of cell was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/western blot assays for appropriate marker expression and by various staining methods, such as alkaline phosphatase/alizarin red S/oil red O/alcian blue. These proposed procedures allowed easier acquisition of the desired cells without any transgenic modification, using direct reprogramming technology, and thus may help make it more available in the clinical fields of regenerative medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

Chronic joint pain due to loss of cartilage function, degradation of subchondral bone, and related conditions are common plights of an arthritis patient. Antioxidant compounds could solve the problems in arthritic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. D-carvone was orally administered for 25 days at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg against CFA-induced arthritic rats. Changes in body weight, paw swelling, organ index, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology were recorded. Oral treatment of D-carvone significantly improved the body weight, reduced the paw swelling, edema formation, and organ index in arthritic rats. The levels of white blood cells were reduced, red blood cells and hemoglobin levels were improved in D-carvone treated arthritic rats. Lipid peroxidation levels were lowered whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly elevated by D-carvone administration against arthritic rats. D-carvone significantly modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and improved the ankle joint pathology against CFA-induced arthritic inflammation. In conclusion, D-carvone proved significant anti-arthritic activity against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.346-350
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• 2010

Purpose: Diagnosis of diabetic foot infection is sometimes difficult, since the classical inflammatory signs and leukocytosis may be absent due to the decreased host immune response in diabetics. Therefore inflammatory blood markers, such as white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been commonly needed to confirm the diagnosis of infection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of WBC, ESR and CRP for detection of diabetic foot infection. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 113 patients with diabetic foot ulcers admitted from June 2007 to April 2009. Diabetic foot infection was diagnosed according to the microbiological culture from soft tissue and bone specimens. Reference values of tests were 4500-11000 /${\mu}L$ for WBC count, 0-20 mm/hr for ESR, and 0-5 mg/L for $CRP^{13,14}$. Sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of laboratory tests were calculated and analysed. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was also created. Results: There was a significant difference in WBC, ESR, and CRP between infectious group and noninfectious group (p<0.05). The sensitivity of WBC>11,000 /${\mu}L$ ESR > 20 mm/hr, and CRP > 5 mg/L was 30%, 96%, and 84%. The specificity was 86%, 14%, and 50% for WBC, ESR, and CRP, respectively. Positive predictive value was 88%, 78%, and 84%, and negative predictive value was 28%, 50%, and 50% respectively. The areas under the ROC curve for WBC, ESR and CRP were 0.72, 0.75, and 0.78 respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we conclude that CRP is more useful method in predicting and diagnosing infection than WBC, ESR in diabetic foot ulcer patients.

• 대한병리학회지
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.404-410
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• 2018

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology serves as a safe, economical tool in evaluating thyroid nodules. However, about 30% of the samples are categorized as indeterminate. Hence, many immunocytochemistry markers have been studied, but there has not been a single outstanding marker. We studied the efficacy of CD56 with human bone marrow endothelial cell marker-1 (HBME-1) in diagnosis in the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) category III. Methods: We reviewed ThinPrep liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples with Papanicolaou stain from July 1 to December 31, 2016 (2,195 cases) and selected TBSRTC category III cases (n=363). Twenty-six cases were histologically confirmed as benign (six cases, 23%) or malignant (20 cases, 77%); we stained 26 LBC slides with HBME-1 and CD56 through the cell transfer method. For evaluation of reactivity of immunocytochemistry, we chose atypical follicular cell clusters. Results: CD56 was not reactive in 18 of 20 cases (90%) of malignant nodules and showed cytoplasmic positivity in five of six cases (83%) of benign nodules. CD56 showed high sensitivity (90.0%) and relatively low specificity (83.3%) in detecting malignancy (p=.004). HBME-1 was reactive in 17 of 20 cases (85%) of malignant nodules and was not reactive in five of six cases (83%) of benign nodules. HBME-1 showed slightly lower sensitivity (85.0%) than CD56. The specificity in detecting malignancy by HBME-1 was similar to that of CD56 (83.3%, p=.008). CD56 and HBME-1 tests combined showed lower sensitivity (75.0% vs 90%) and higher specificity (93.8% vs 83.3%) in detecting malignancy compared to using CD56 alone. Conclusions: Using CD56 alone showed relatively low specificity despite high sensitivity for detecting malignancy. Combining CD56 with HBME-1 could increase the specificity. Thus, we suggest that CD56 could be a useful preoperative marker for differential diagnosis of TBSRTC category III samples.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.139-146
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• 2021

Mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) produces NADPH, which is known to inhibit mitochondrial oxidative stress. Ureteral obstruction induces kidney inflammation and fibrosis via oxidative stress. Here, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of IDH2 in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced kidney inflammation using IDH2 gene deleted mice (IDH2-/-). Eight- to 10-week-old female IDH2-/- mice and wild type (IDH2+/+) littermates were subjected to UUO and kidneys were harvested 5 days after UUO. IDH2 was not detected in the kidneys of IDH2-/- mice, while UUO decreased IDH2 in IDH2+/+ mice. UUO increased the expressions of markers of oxidative stress in both IDH2+/+ and IDH2-/- mice, and these changes were greater in IDH2-/- mice compared to IDH2+/+ mice. Bone marrow-derived macrophages of IDH2-/- mice showed a more migrating phenotype with greater ruffle formation and Rac1 distribution than that of IDH2+/+ mice. Correspondently, UUO-induced infiltration of monocytes/macrophages was greater in IDH2-/- mice compared to IDH2+/+ mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IDH2 plays a protective role against UUO-induced inflammation through inhibition of oxidative stress and macrophage infiltration.