CycloZ Improves Hyperglycemia and Lipid Metabolism by Modulating Lysine Acetylation in KK-Ay Mice

Background@#CycloZ, a combination of cyclo-His-Pro and zinc, has anti-diabetic activity. However, its exact mode of action remains to be elucidated. @*Methods@#KK-Ay mice, a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model, were administered CycloZ either as a preventive intervention, or as a therapy. Glycemic control was evaluated using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Liver and visceral adipose tissues (VATs) were used for histological evaluation, gene expression analysis, and protein expression analysis. @*Results@#CycloZ administration improved glycemic control in KK-Ay mice in both prophylactic and therapeutic studies. Lysine acetylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, liver kinase B1, and nuclear factor-κB p65 was decreased in the liver and VATs in CycloZ-treated mice. In addition, CycloZ treatment improved mitochondrial function, lipid oxidation, and inflammation in the liver and VATs of mice. CycloZ treatment also increased the level of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which affected the activity of deacetylases, such as sirtuin 1 (Sirt1). @*Conclusion@#Our findings suggest that the beneficial effects of CycloZ on diabetes and obesity occur through increased NAD+ synthesis, which modulates Sirt1 deacetylase activity in the liver and VATs. Given that the mode of action of an NAD+ booster or Sirt1 deacetylase activator is different from that of traditional T2DM drugs, CycloZ would be considered a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of T2DM.

Peroxiredoxin 6 Overexpression Induces Anxiolytic and Depression-Like Behaviors by Regulating the Serotonergic Pathway in Mice

Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) is a bifunctional protein with both glutathione peroxidase and calcium-independent phospholipase activity. Recently, we reported that PRDX6 plays an important role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease.However, the relationship between PRDX6 function and emotional behavior remains elusive. In the present study, we examined depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in PRDX6-overexpressing transgenic (PRDX6-Tg) mice using the forced swim test, tail suspension test, open field paradigm, and elevated plus-maze. PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited depression-like behaviors and low anxiety. In particular, female PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited anxiolytic behavior in the open field test. Furthermore, the serotonin content in the cortex and 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head twitch response were both reduced in PRDX6-Tg mice. Interestingly, levels of dopa decarboxylase expression in the cortex were decreased in male PRDX6-Tg mice but not in female mice. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of PRDX6 in 5-HT synthesis and suggest that PRDX6 overexpression can induce depression-like behaviors via downregulation of the serotonergic neuronal system.

Factors Influencing Middle-aged Women's Depression

BACKGROUND: According to the 2013 statistics, The prevalence rate of depression of women was twice compare to man. Especially, about 53% of depression patients were women over age 40. So this study was conducted to analyze whether women's depression is influenced by their socio-demographic characteristics, life stress, and social support. METHODS: This study was a descriptive survey, and data were collected during the period from the 1st to 31st of August in 2015, using a self-reporting questionnaire from 196 women aged between 40 and 60 who were sampled from an urban area through convenient sampling. RESULTS: First, among the sub-factors of life stress, health-related & role conflict stress were highest. And life stress was higher when social support was low. Second, social support was higher when exercise was done regularly. Lastly, the results of structural equation modeling analysis showed that life stress and social support had a significant effect on depression. Life stress had a significant direct effect on social support, and social support had a significant direct effect on depression. Life stress had an indirect effect on depression through the medium of social support, and their explanatory power was R2=0.68 and R2=0.64, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that depression was in a very close relationship with life stress and social support. This finding suggests that future health policies for managing middle-aged women's depression should focus on reducing life stress and reinforcing their social support.

Superoxide Dismutase 1 Inhibits Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone and Ultraviolet B-Induced Melanogenesis in Murine Skin

BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, the incidence of ultraviolet B (UVB)-related skin problems has increased. Oxidative stress caused by UVB induces the secretion of melanocyte growth and activating factors from keratinocytes, which results in the formation of cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Therefore, increasing the antioxidant abilities of skin cells is thought to be a beneficial strategy for the development of sunscreen agents. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that is known to exhibit antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SOD1 on alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and UVB-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of SOD1 on tyrosinase activity was evaluated in a cell-free system. Additional experiments were performed using B16F10 melanoma cells to demonstrate the effects of SOD1 in vitro, and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice were used to evaluate the antimelanogenic effects of SOD1 in vivo. RESULTS: We found that SOD1 inhibited melanin production in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells. SOD1 did not inhibit tyrosinase activity under cell-free conditions. The results indicate that SOD1 may reduce pigmentation by an indirect, nonenzymatic mechanism. We also found that SOD1 decreased UVB-induced melanogenesis in HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice, as visualized through hematoxylin and eosin staining and Fontana-Masson staining. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that SOD1 has an inhibitory effect on alpha-MSH and UVB-induced melanogenesis, indicating that SOD1 may be a promising sunscreen agent.

A Nudix Hydrolase Protein, Ysa1, Regulates Oxidative Stress Response and Antifungal Drug Susceptibility in Cryptococcus neoformans

A nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X (Nudix) hydrolase-like gene, YSA1, has been identified as one of the gromwell plant extract-responsive genes in Cryptococcus neoformans. Ysa1 is known to control intracellular concentrations of ADP-ribose or O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, and has diverse biological functions, including the response to oxidative stress in the ascomycete yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we characterized the role of YSA1 in the stress response and adaptation of the basidiomycete yeast, C. neoformans. We constructed three independent deletion mutants for YSA1, and analyzed their mutant phenotypes. We found that ysa1 mutants did not show increased sensitivity to reactive oxygen species-producing oxidative damage agents, such as hydrogen peroxide and menadione, but exhibited increased sensitivity to diamide, which is a thiol-specific oxidant. Ysa1 was dispensable for the response to most environmental stresses, such as genotoxic, osmotic, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In conclusion, modulation of YSA1 may regulate the cellular response and adaptation of C. neoformans to certain oxidative stresses and contribute to the evolution of antifungal drug resistance.

A Ferroxidase, Cfo1, Regulates Diverse Environmental Stress Responses of Cryptococcus neoformans through the HOG Pathway

The iron uptake and utilization pathways play a critical role in allowing human pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans, the causative agent of fatal meningoencephalitis, to survive within the mammalian body by competing with the host for iron. Here we show that the iron regulon is also required for diverse environmental stress responses and that in C. neoformans, it is regulated by the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway. Between CFO1 and CFO2, two ferroxidase genes in the iron regulon, CFO1 but not CFO2 was induced during oxidative and osmotic stress. Interestingly, we found that the HOG pathway repressed basal expression of both CFO1 and CFO2. Furthermore, when the HOG pathway was blocked, CFO2 also responded to oxidative and osmotic stress and the response of CFO1 was increased. We also established that CFO1 plays a major role in responding and adapting to diverse environmental stresses, including oxidative and genotoxic damage, osmotic fluctuations, heavy metal stress, and stress induced by cell membrane destabilizers. Therefore, our findings indicate that in C. neoformans, the iron uptake and utilization pathways are not only required for iron acquisition and survival, but also play a significant role in the environmental stress response through crosstalk with the HOG pathway.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

Structural Equation Modeling of Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors among Elderly Women in Korea

BACKGROUND: Although the suicide rate in Korea is the highest in the world, only limited studies have been done on suicide and its associated factors. In this regard, we studied a conceptual model and the relationships and interactions of activity of daily living (ADL), social support, depression, and suicidal ideation among elderly women in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study, subjects included 194 community-dwelling elderly women. Their ADL, multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), depression, and suicidal ideation (SI) were examined. The t-test, ANOVA test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized in data analysis. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between SI and economic status, social support, and depression. Depression was correlated with not only SI but also ADL (r=0.195, P=0.006) and social support (r=-0.337, P<0.001). Absolute fit indices demonstrated that the research model had a good model fit. There were significant factor loading values from depression to SI (standardized estimate=0.157, P=0.023) and from social support to SI (standardized estimate=-0.308, P<0.001). There were two indirect effects from social support to SI and from ADL to SI. The mediating factor of these two indirect effects was depression. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation in the elderly needs to be prevented; and more attention should be given to this end. Social support programs encouraging family participation are greatly effective in prevention of senior citizens' suicidal ideation.

A Case of Hair Follicle Nevus with Dermal Melanocytosis / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

Effects of a Cognition Activation Program for the Institutionalized Old-Old in Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test effects of a cognition activation program on ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL in the institutionalized elderly. METHODS: The subjects were 40 elders who were admitted to a nursing home, with 20 of them in the experimental group and the other 20 in the control group. Data were collected from September 1 to December 17, 2012. The experimental group participated in a 12 week intervention program. ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by t-test and regression analysis of the SPSS and AMOS programs. RESULTS: ADL (t=2.468, p=.017), depression (t=-2.625, p=012), and QOL (t=2.428, p=.020) were more significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group, but there were no statistical differences in cognitive function between the two groups. Cognitive functions had positive effects on ADL (CR=-2.263, p=.024) and depression affected QOL (CR=-7.248, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention program had positive effects on ADL, depression, and QOL except cognition. Cognitive functions of elders dramatically decrease after age 85, and it takes too much time to improve it. Therefore the program for the improvement of cognitive functions should be provided as early as possible.