Designing Tyrosinase siRNAs by Multiple Prediction Algorithms and Evaluation of Their Anti-Melanogenic Effects

Melanin is a pigment produced from tyrosine in melanocytes. Although melanin has a protective role against UVB radiation-induced damage, it is also associated with the development of melanoma and darker skin tone. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, which regulates the rate-limiting step during conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and dopaquinone. To develop effective RNA interference therapeutics, we designed a melanin siRNA pool by applying multiple prediction programs to reduce human tyrosinase levels. First, 272 siRNAs passed the target accessibility evaluation using the RNAxs program. Then we selected 34 siRNA sequences with ΔG ≥−34.6 kcal/mol, i-Score value ≥65, and siRNA scales score ≤30. siRNAs were designed as 19-bp RNA duplexes with an asymmetric 3′ overhang at the 3′ end of the antisense strand. We tested if these siRNAs effectively reduced tyrosinase gene expression using qRT-PCR and found that 17 siRNA sequences were more effective than commercially available siRNA. Three siRNAs further tested showed an effective visual color change in MNT-1 human cells without cytotoxic effects, indicating these sequences are anti-melanogenic. Our study revealed that human tyrosinase siRNAs could be efficiently designed using multiple prediction algorithms.

A Survey Study on Professional Women's Perception toward Cosmetic Surgery: 4 Year Comparison

BACKGROUND: The popular demand for cosmetic surgery is increasing explosively, but little is known about how perceptions of cosmetic surgery among women are related to demographics or psychological factors. A survey was conducted to compare changes in perception about cosmetic surgery among professional women in 2010 and 2014. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was performed at a general hospital by female nurses in 2010 and 2014. Participants included 350 women in 2010 and 470 women in 2014; 323 individuals in 2010 and 449 individuals in 2014 completed the survey (overall response rates of 92.3% and 95.5%, respectively). Participants identified their demographic data, which included age, educational level, marital status, monthly income, and previous experience with cosmetic surgery. The survey included standardized measures for appearance interest, body image satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceptions toward cosmetic surgery (delineated in terms of actual considerations). RESULTS: Compared to 2010, actual considerations for cosmetic surgery were higher in 2014, specifically for women in their 20s, a monthly income between 2 to 3 million won, and those with high scores of self-esteem, appearance interest, and body image satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in order for professional women to undergo appropriate cosmetic surgery and be satisfied with the results, it is necessary to obtain a deeper understanding about the factors that influence the perceptions of cosmetic surgery.

Plan and Operation of the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) / 한국역학회지

The general aim of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was to assess the health and nutritional status in the Korean population. The KNHANES began in 1998 and has been conducting as a series of surveys : 1998(1st), 2001(2nd), 2005(3rd) and 2007-2009(4th). Specific aims were, in a cross-sectional study of nationally representative samples of the noninstitutionalized civilian Korean population aged > or = 1 year (4,600 households each year), to monitor trends the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of selected chronic diseases, monitor trends in nutritional status and risk behaviors, and analyze risk factors for chronic diseases. For these purposes, with standardized high-quality methods, extensive data on health and nutrition are collected by health interview, health examination (physical examination, clinical measurements and tests) and dietary interview. In 2007, the 4th KNHANES became a continuous annual survey by highly trained field staff. In addition, the 4th KNHANES expanded examination components (addition of oral examination, pulmonary function test and laboratory test items such as ferritin, vitamin D, insulin, manganese, and arsenic), simplified survey procedure, and strengthened quality control. Further works will be focused on the selection of new examination and interview components, planning of KNHANES follow-up survey, continuous training of field staff and quality control, and improvement of dietary survey method.