• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.284-289
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• 2020

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, is used routinely as a chemotherapeutic agent for ER-positive breast cancer. However, it is also causes side effects, including retinotoxicity. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been recognized as the primary target of tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity. The RPE plays an essential physiological role in the normal functioning of the retina. Nonetheless, potential therapeutic agents to prevent tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity in breast cancer patients have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the action mechanisms of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death. Tamoxifen induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated autophagic cell death and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in RPE cells. However, sulfasalazine reduced tamoxifen-induced total ROS and ROS-mediated autophagic RPE cell death. Also, mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced pyroptosis-related genes, IL-1β, NLRP3, and procaspase-1, also decreased in the presence of sulfasalazine in RPE cells. Additionally, the mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced AMD-related genes, such as complement factor I (CFI), complement factor H (CFH), apolipoprotein E (APOE), apolipoprotein J (APOJ), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), were downregulated in RPE cells. Together, these data provide novel insight into the therapeutic effects of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2011

Perceived exertion involves detection and interpretation of sensations arising from the body during physical exercise. Physiological variables such as heart rate and oxygen consumption positively correlate with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). It is unknown whether the accuracy of predicting exercise intensity from RPE differs between men and women. Therefore, it was examined whether men or women could predict relative exercise intensity, determined by oxygen consumption, more accurately from RPE. Ten male and ten female young adult subjects aged 25.1${\pm}$3.52 yr volunteered to participate. RPE were determined by the Borg 15-category scale, and a standard Bruce treadmill protocol was used to perform graded exercise testing. There was no significant difference in slope means between males and females (p=0.501). No significant difference was observed when plotting rates of perceived exertion (RPE) vs. percentage of $VO_2$ max. The relative maximal oxygen consumptions ($VO_{2max,\;}_{rel}$) were 52.36${\pm}$7.35 ml/kg/min for males and 41.44${\pm}$6.71 ml/kg/min for females, respectively and there was a significantly high difference between the two groups in the relative $VO_{2max}$, as well as figures of 4.05${\pm}$0.36 l/min for males and 2.53${\pm}$0.39 l/min for females in the absolute $VO_{2max}$ in this study. There were no significant differences in slope, y-intercept, and standard error of estimate (SEE) between males and females. No significant difference with RPE according to exercise intensity was found between males and females. However, RPE was a useful predictor of exercise intensity in independent genders.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.364-370
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• 2014

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays an important role in maintaining a healthy retina and the degeneration of RPE caused a number of retinal diseases. The transplantation of RPE has recently become a possible therapeutic modality for retinal degeneration. To transplant RPE cells securely, substrates are essential, and then as a substrate, we fabricated films using silk that has unique mechanical properties and biocompatibility. After the FTIR spectra, contact angle and biodegradation of silk films were confirmed, RPE cells were seeded and the influence of RPE cells on silk films was examined. We measured the cell adhesion, cell viability, morphology and specific mRNA expression by MTT assay, SEM, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. In this study, we confirmed that attachment, proliferation and phenotype maintenance of RPE cells cultured on silk films were great, and thereby we were able to confirm the potential applications of silk films as tissue engineering carrier for regeneration of retina.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.06a
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• pp.164-167
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• 1995

RPE 음성부호화기에서 합성 필터로 인한 구동벡터 양자화잡음의 증폭효과를 분석하고 regular pulse 시퀀스의 양자화로 인한 성능감쇄를 줄이기 위해 pyramid vector 양자화방식을 도입하였다. 제안된 방식의 성능평가는 구동시퀀스 양자화를 위해 adaptive PCM을 이용하는 GSM 표준 RPE 방식과의 객관적 및 주관적 성능비교를 통해 수행하였다.T JDSMDQLRY 결과 제안된 방식은 대략 1dB의 SNR 및 segmental SNR 값 증가를 가져왔고, 또한 비공식 청취시험결과 명료도의 증가를 느낄 수 있었다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.718-721
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• 1993

Reexpansion pulmonary edema[ RPE ] with hypoxemia and hypotension is a very rare complication of the treatment of lung collapse secondary to pneumothorax and pleural effusion. We experienced two cases of RPE. One is a 29 year old male with complete right pneumothorax and the other is a 20 year old female with massive right pleural effusion. Life threatening pulmonary edema was developed soon after insertion of chest tube in both. Fortunately, RPE was detected early and intensive treatment was performed. They were discharged without complication. Although RPE with hypoxemia and hypotension is rare , it is very serious and occasionally life-threatening. So, chest surgeon treating lung collapse must be aware of the possibility of RPE and make an effort to prevent the occurence of this condition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2023

The implications of nutrient starvation due to aging on the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is yet to be fully explored. We examined the involvement of AMPK activation in mitochondrial homeostasis and its relationship with the maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial population and epithelial characteristics of RPE cells under nutrient starvation. Nutrient starvation induced mitochondrial senescence, which led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RPE cells. As nutrient starvation persisted, RPE cells underwent pathological epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the upregulation of TWIST1, a transcription regulator which is activated by ROS-induced NF-κB signaling. Enhanced activation of AMPK with metformin decelerated mitochondrial senescence and EMT progression through mitochondrial biogenesis, primed by activation of PGC1-α. Thus, by facilitating mitochondrial biogenesis, AMPK protects RPE cells from the loss of epithelial integrity due to the accumulation of ROS in senescent mitochondria under nutrient starvation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.613-622
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• 2021

In vertebrate eyes, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides structural and functional homeostasis to the retina. The RPE takes up retinol (ROL) to be dehydrogenated and isomerized to 11-cis-retinaldehyde (11-cis-RAL), which is a functional photopigment in mammalian photoreceptors. As excessive ROL is toxic, the RPE must also establish mechanisms to protect against ROL toxicity. Here, we found that the levels of retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) are commonly decreased in phosphatase tensin homolog (Pten)-deficient mouse RPE, which degenerates due to elevated ROL and that can be rescued by feeding a ROL-free diet. We also identified that RDH gene expression is regulated by forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors, which are inactivated by hyperactive Akt in the Pten-deficient mouse RPE. Together, our findings suggest that a homeostatic pathway comprising PTEN, FOXO, and RDH can protect the RPE from ROL toxicity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.168-178
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• 2021

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms a monolayer sheet separating the retina and choroid in vertebrate eyes. The polarized nature of RPE is maintained by distributing membrane proteins differentially along apico-basal axis. We found the distributions of these proteins differ in embryonic, post-natal, and mature mouse RPE, suggesting developmental regulation of protein trafficking. Thus, we deleted tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a key component of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT), in embryonic and mature RPE to determine whether ESCRT-mediated endocytic protein trafficking correlated with the establishment and maintenance of RPE polarity. Loss of Tsg101 severely disturbed the polarity of RPE, which forms irregular aggregates exhibiting non-polarized distribution of cell adhesion proteins and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. These findings suggest that ESCRT-mediated protein trafficking is essential for the development and maintenance of RPE cell polarity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.304-313
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• 2010

Out of the tenth graders of K girl's high school in J city, 24 students whose %fat was over 30% were divided into 3 groups through Purposing Sampling. Groups A and B were exercise groups and C was the control group. Using Borg's RPE (rating of perceived exertion), RPE 15-17 (hard-very hard) $\times$ 3 sets were set up for group A, RPE 11-13 (fairly light-somewhat hard) $\times$ 3 sets were set up for group B, and both groups performed step aerobics (step box: 68cm in length, 28cm in width, 15cm in hight, 450g in weight) for 50-60 minutes a day, 3 days a week for 8 weeks in total. This research was conducted to find out the effects of various RPE in step aerobics on the immunologic function (neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, IgG, IgA, and IgM levels) of overweight female high school students. By using SPSS Ver. 14.0, a repeated two-way ANOVA was conducted to find out the effects of interaction between the groups and time period, paired t-test to evaluate data within each group, and pre- and post experiment difference rates (%diff) to perform one-way ANOVA for group comparisons. The following results were found. As for WBC, within group A, neutrophil, monocyte, basophil, and eosinophil levels increased, while lymphocyte levels remained the same. Within group B, eosinophil levels decreased while neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and basophil levels showed no differences. Within the control group, neutrophil, basophil, and eosinophil levels decreased while lymphocyte and monocyte levels showed no differences. As for the group comparisons, neutrophil levels increased more in group A than group B and the control group. There were no differences in lymphocyte levels among the three groups. Monocyte levels increased more in group A and B than the control group. Basophil and Eosinophil increased more in group A than group B and the control group. As for immunoglobin, within group A, the IgG level increased but the levels of IgA and IgM did not change. Within group B, the IgA level increased but the level of IgG decreased, and the level of IgM did not change. Within the control group, the IgG level decreased but the levels of IgA and IgM did not change. As for the group comparisons, the level of IgA increased more in group A than the control group, and the level of IgG increased more in group A than group B and the control group, but levels of IgM among the three groups did not show any difference. In summary, WBC and Ig levels showed that the three groups remained at the reference interval even after the exercise program. However, group A, which performed RPE 15-17 in step aerobics, showed increase in more measured items than the other groups, and this implies that the immunologic function has improved in the range of the reference intervals. Therefore, it will be effective to conduct step aerobics with the RPE 15-17 (hard-very hard) in order to increase the immunologic function.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.61-65
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• 2021

Although re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is rare (incidence rate <1%), it is associated with a mortality rate of >20%; therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important. We report a case of RPE following chest tube insertion in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax. We have specifically focused on the mechanism underlying RPE and the possible etiology. An 82-year-old man with a history of chronic anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was referred to the emergency department for management of recurrent right-sided pneumothorax. We performed emergency closed thoracostomy for suspected tension pneumothorax, which led to stabilization of the patient's vital signs; however, he coughed up frothy pink sputum accompanied by severe right-sided chest pain 30 min postoperatively. The patient showed new-onset right pulmonary consolidation on chest radiography, as well as desaturation, tachycardia, and tachypnea and was diagnosed with RPE. He was transferred to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation and supportive treatment using diuretics, ionotropic agents, and prophylactic antibiotics. RPE gradually resolved, and the patient was extubated 3 days after admission. He has not experienced recurrent pneumothorax or pulmonary disease for 4 months. We emphasize the importance of RPE prevention and that aggressive ventilator care and supportive treatment can effectively treat RPE following an accurate understanding of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and risk factors.