Erratum: Authorship & Funding Acknowledgment Correction. The relationship of nutrition of rice and positive evaluation of the rice-based meal on the physical and emotional self-diagnosis and learning efficiency of the middle and highschool students in the Jeonju area / 한국영양학회지

The original version of this article contained errors in authorship and funding acknowledgment.

The relationship of nutrition of rice and positive evaluation of the rice-based meal on the physical and emotional self-diagnosis and learning efficiency of the middle and highschool students in the Jeonju area / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship of the nutrition of rice and the positive evaluation of the rice-based meal with the food consumption habits, physical and emotional health status, and learning efficacy of 601 middle and high school students in Jeonju area. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups using cluster analysis in that the participants belonging to the upper groups had a center score of 46.86 (n = 348), while the people belonging to the lower group had a center score of 36.89 (n = 253). Statistical differences were tested for all the relationships between the physical and emotional healths symptoms and learning efficacy between the groups at the α = 0.05 level. RESULTS: Significant differences in the physical self-evaluated symptoms were observed in all five items in each cluster (p < 0.05). In the case of the emotional health status, nine out of 10 items showed significant differences between the groups. Similarly, significant differences in all five items in learning efficacy questionnaire were noted (p < 0.05). Positive attitudes of the parents toward having breakfast also showed significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: The nutrition of rice and a positive evaluation of the rice-based meals significantly affect the physical and emotional health status and learning efficacy of juveniles. These findings can be used as baseline information for promoting nutrition education, particularly rice-based breakfast.

Transcriptome analyses of chronic traumatic encephalopathy show alterations in protein phosphatase expression associated with tauopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with repetitive head injury and has distinctive neuropathological features that differentiate this disease from other neurodegenerative diseases. Intraneuronal tau aggregates, although they occur in different patterns, are diagnostic neuropathological features of CTE, but the precise mechanism of tauopathy is not known in CTE. We performed whole RNA sequencing analysis of post-mortem brain tissue from patients with CTE and compared the results to normal controls to determine the transcriptome signature changes associated with CTE. The results showed that the genes related to the MAP kinase and calcium-signaling pathways were significantly downregulated in CTE. The altered expression of protein phosphatases (PPs) in these networks further suggested that the tauopathy observed in CTE involves common pathological mechanisms similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using cell lines and animal models, we also showed that reduced PPP3CA/PP2B phosphatase activity is directly associated with increases in phosphorylated (p)-tau proteins. These findings provide important insights into PP-dependent neurodegeneration and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the tauopathy associated with CTE.

Cytotoxicity and Structure-activity Relationships of Naphthyridine Derivatives in Human Cervical Cancer, Leukemia, and Prostate Cancer

Naphthyridine compounds are important, because they exhibit various biological activities including anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. Some naphthyridines have antimitotic effects or demonstrate anticancer activity by inhibiting topoisomerase II. These compounds have been investigated as potential anticancer agents, and several compounds are now part of clinical trials. A series of naphthyridine derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against human cervical cancer (HeLa), leukemia (HL-60), and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines using an MTT assay. Some compounds (14, 15, and 16) were more potent than colchicine against all three human cancer cell lines and compound (16) demonstrated potency with IC50 values of 0.7, 0.1, and 5.1 microM, respectively. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) were used for quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) molecular modeling of these compounds. We obtained accurate and predictive three-dimensional QSAR (3D-QSAR) models as indicated by the high PLS parameters of the HeLa (q2, 0.857; r2, 0.984; r2pred, 0.966), HL-60 (q2, 0.777; r2, 0.937; r2pred, 0.913), and PC-3 (q2, 0.702; r2, 0.983; r2pred, 0.974) cell lines. The 3D-QSAR contour maps suggested that the C-1 NH and C-4 carbonyl group of the naphthyridine ring and the C-2 naphthyl ring were important for cytotoxicity in all three human cancer cell lines.

Association of Variants in PPARgamma2, IGF2BP2, and KCNQ1 with a Susceptibility to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Korean Population

PURPOSE: Patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been reported to exhibit the same genetic susceptibility as that observed in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent polymorphism studies have shown that several genes are related to T2DM and GDM. The aim of this study was to examine whether certain candidate genes, previously shown to be associated with T2DM, also offer a specific genetic predisposition to GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was conducted in 136 Korean pregnant women, who gave birth at Gil Hospital, from October 2008 to May 2011. These study subjects included 95 subjects with GDM and 41 non-diabetic controls. We selected the specific genes of PPARgamma2, IGF2BP2, and KCNQ1 for study and amplified them using the polymerase chain reaction. This was followed by genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphisms. We then compared the genotype frequencies between patients with GDM and non-diabetic controls using the chi2 test. We obtained and analyzed clinical information using Student's t-test, and statistical analyses were conducted using logistic regression with SPSS Statistics software, version 19.0. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in maternal age, body mass index, weight gain and weight at time of delivery between the groups compared. Among pregnant women, polymorphisms in PPARgamma2 and IGF2BP2 were shown to be highly correlated with GDM occurrence, whereas no correlation was found for KCNQ1 polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that genetic polymorphisms could also be of value in predicting the occurrence and diagnosis of GDM.

Cytotoxic Activity and Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships of Arylpropyl Sulfonamides

B13 is a ceramide analogue and apoptosis inducer with potent cytotoxic activity. A series of arylpropyl sulfonamide analogues of B13 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity using MTT assays in prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines. Some compounds (4, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 20) showed stronger activities than B13 in both tumor cell lines, and compound (15) gave the most potent activity with IC50 values of 29.2 and 20.7 microM, for PC-3and HL-60 cells, respectively. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) analysis was performed to build highly reliable and predictive CoMSIA models with cross-validated q2 values of 0.816 and 0.702, respectively. Our results suggest that long alkyl chains and a 1R, 2R configuration of the propyl group are important for the cytotoxic activities of arylpropyl sulfonamides. Moreover, the introduction of small hydrophobic groups in the phenyl ring and sulfonamide group could increase biological activity.

The Expression of Heat Shock Protein 60 kDa in Tissues and Cell Lines of Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Breast cancer has been reported as the most common cancer of women in the United States, Western Europe and Korea and about 210,000 and 10,000 women in United States and Korea every year, respectively are diagnosed with it. Breast cancer is curable with an early diagnosis, and many researchers have made efforts to find a marker for this malady, heat shock protein (HSP) consists of 6 groups, it is highly preserved throughout both the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and it acts as a molecular chaperone that's involved in protein folding. HSPs have been recently reported to be related with breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the changes of expression of HSP60 in tissues and cell lines of breast cancer. METHODS: We obtained breast cancer tissues and normal tissues from breast cancer patients, and we purchased several cancer cell lines from American tissue culture correction. We treated the tissues and the cell lines of human breast cancer with heat shock protein. Proteins and mRNAs were isolated from the tissues and the cells and then we performed Western blotting, reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain Reaction and fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis on them. RESULTS: On Western blot, HSP60 was more overexpressed in the tissues and the cell lines of breast cancer than in the normal breast tissues and cell lines. The expression of HSP60 showed 2 types of molecular weight differences in the tissues and cell lines of breast cancer, and specifically, low HSP60 was over-expressed in the cancer tissues. There was no difference between the breast cancer cell lines and the normal cell lines in the expressions of HSP60 mRNA, according to the treatment with heat shock. Also, there was no relationship between phosphorylation and the structural difference of HSP60 protein, according to HSP60 protein's molecular weight. The expression of HSP60 has been mostly reported at the mitochondria; however, in this study, it was more predominantly detected at the cytoplasm than at the mitochondria in the breast cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: We conclude that HSP60 may be used as a diagnostic marker for breast cancer. Detailed investigation of the usefulness and significance of the HSP60 expression as a prognostic factor is required in further studies.

Exposure Assessment of Vitamins and Minerals from Various Sources of Koreans

In recent years a concern of excessive intakes of vitamins and minerals from various sources is increasing, since there has been a marked increase in production and consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements and fortified foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from various sources including diet, fortified foods, and health functional foods among Koreans. As a result, the highest exposure group of most vitamins and minerals from diet was adults (30 - 49 years of age) according to 2001 Korean National Nutrition and Health Survey Report. Maximum dietary intakes of vitamin A, B1, B2, C, nicotinamide, calcium, phosphorus and iron were 0.5 - 7 times of the RDA for Koreans, 7th ed. Maximum intakes of vitamins and minerals from fortified foods by adults (20 - 59 years of age) were 8 - 760% of the Korean RDA. In addition, maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from vitamin.mineral health functional foods by middle aged people was 35 - 140% of the upper limits (UL: DRI for Koreans). As a consequence, maximum combined intakes of vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc from the above sources including diet, fortified foods and vitamin.mineral health functional foods were greater than the UL. These results would be applied for determining the safe upper limits of vitamin and mineral of health functional foods.

Inflammatory Cytokines and Dietary Factors in Korean Elderly with Chronic Disease

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory cytokines and chronic disease status in Korean elderly. The subjects were 248 elderly people aged over 65 years recruited from Health Center in Seoul. The subjects were classified into 3 groups based on their disease (diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) status: subjects with one diagnosed disease of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia fall into singular group (n=89), subjects with more than 2 disease into multiple group (n=39), and those with free of the diseases into normal (n=122). Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, and dietary intakes were assessed. Dietary intakes were surveyed by 24-recall method. The means of IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1 and C3 were not differ among 3 groups. However, when subjects classified into tertiles of IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-alpha and C3 and frequencies of each tertile were compared, the multiple group showed significantly lower frequencies in lowest tertile than normal group (p < 0.05), suggesting higher tendency of inflammatory responses. For hematological values, blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose levels were highest in multiple group (p < 0.05) compared to other 2 groups. BMI, body fat (kg), and triceps skinfold thickness were also significantly higher in multiple group than in 2 other groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of IL-2, IL-6 and C3 were significantly correlated with hematologic values of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides or obesity factors such as triceps skinfold thickness, BMI, and body fat (%). Among singular and multiple group, the subjects with higher intakes for vitamins A, C, and E showed the higher level of IL-2 and the lower level of MCP-1, and C3. In conclusion, blood concentrations of triglycerides and proinflammatory cytokines, blood pressure, obesity parameters (BMI, body fat, triceps skinfold thickness) were higher in multiple group than in normal, but this result strongly suggest that the increasement of the vitamin A, C, and E intakes would modify the cytokine levels to reduce the inflammatory response in the elderly people with chronic diseases.

Baicalein Protects 6-OHDA-induced Neuronal Damage by Suppressing Oxidative Stress

The protective effects of baicalein, one of the flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, were evaluated against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neuronal damage in mice and cultured human neuroblastoma cells. Nigrostriatal damage was induced by stereotaxically injecting 6-OHDA into the right striatum. Baicalein was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before and 90 min after lesion induction. Animals received a further daily injection of baicalein for 3 consecutive days. Two weeks after 6-OHDA injection, contralateral rotational asymmetry was observed by apomorphine challenge in lesioned mice. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry revealed a significant loss of terminals in lesioned striatum and the reduction of the numbers of TH-positive cell in the ipsilateral substantia nigra (SN). In addition, the levels of dopamine (DA) and DA metabolites were reduced and lipid peroxidation was increased in lesioned striatum. However, baicalein treatment reduced apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in 6-OHDA-lesioned mice, and increased TH immunoreactivity in the striatum and SN, and DA levels in lesioned striatum. Lipid peroxidation induced by 6-OHDA was also inhibited by baicalein treatment. Furthermore, when SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were treated with baicalein, 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were significantly reduced. These results indicate that baicalein effectively protects 6-OHDA-induced neuronal damage through antioxidant action.

Telomerase and Apoptosis in the Placental Trophoblasts of Growth Discordant Twins

In an effort to investigate the molecular basis of growth discordance in embryos that experience the same uterine environment, we compared telomerase activity and apoptosis in placental trophoblasts obtained from growth discordant twins. Between January 2003 and February 2005, placental tissue from twenty pairs of twins was obtained within thirty minutes of delivery. Eleven cases were classified as growth discordant, with birth weight discordance greater than 20%. Nine cases comprised the control group, with less than 20% discordance. Telomerase and apoptotic activities in placental trophoblasts were analyzed by ELISA and immunoblot. Statistical significance was analyzed by a paired t-test, chi- squared test, and ANOVA (SPSS ver 11.0). The average growth discordance was 26.8% in the growth discordant group and 14.4% in the control group. There were no significant differences in maternal age, week of gestation at delivery, parity, or chorionisity between the two groups. In the growth discordant group, the larger twin showed significantly higher telomerase activity (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was observed in the control group (p = 0.36). In addition, there was no definitive correlation between telomerase activity and the degree of growth discordance in the larger or smaller twins (R = -0.521 and -0.399, p = 0.15 and 0.25, respectively). The apoptosis proteins Bax and Bcl 2 were detected in both the larger and smaller twins in the growth discordant and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in Bax expression between the larger and smaller twins (p = 0.25 and 0.92, respectively) for either the growth discordant or the control groups. Bcl 2 expression also showed no significant difference between groups. In Conclusion, A tendency toward reduced telomerase activity and increased apoptosis was discovered in placental trophoblasts of the smaller growth- discordant twin, possibility resulting in delayed fetal growth.

The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and 27 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To study for the expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and hsp27 when human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was treat with heat shock and H2O2. METHODS: We collected HUVEC from fresh umbilical vein within 30 minutes after delivery by 0.25% trypsin and cultured them at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, using EBM2 media. The cells were fed twice a week with a complete change of fresh culture medium. The cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by western blot using CD34, and vWF markers. We divided HUVEC as control group applying heat stress at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, stress group applying heat stress at 43 degrees C for 30 minutes, H2O2 treatment group exposing of 100 micrometer H2O2 for 60 minutes, and heat stress + H2O2 treatment group applying same state of heat stress and exposing of H2O2 for 60 minutes. We extract protein and examine the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 by western blot. RESULTS: HUVEC reached full confluence state in our culture condition at 7 days on 25 mL flask. We observed the constant expression character of CD 34 and vWF in cultured cell. Under the every experimental condition, we observed the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 in HUVEC. And we observed that hsp27 was more strongly expressed in heat shock + H2O2 treatment group and heat shock group than control group and H2O2 treatment group. CONCLUSION: By identifying the expression difference of hsp in vitro oxidative stress, fetal tissue might play the protective role in the intrauterine stress.

The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and 27 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To study for the expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 90 and hsp27 when human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) was treat with heat shock and H2O2. METHODS: We collected HUVEC from fresh umbilical vein within 30 minutes after delivery by 0.25% trypsin and cultured them at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, using EBM2 media. The cells were fed twice a week with a complete change of fresh culture medium. The cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by western blot using CD34, and vWF markers. We divided HUVEC as control group applying heat stress at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes, stress group applying heat stress at 43 degrees C for 30 minutes, H2O2 treatment group exposing of 100 micrometer H2O2 for 60 minutes, and heat stress + H2O2 treatment group applying same state of heat stress and exposing of H2O2 for 60 minutes. We extract protein and examine the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 by western blot. RESULTS: HUVEC reached full confluence state in our culture condition at 7 days on 25 mL flask. We observed the constant expression character of CD 34 and vWF in cultured cell. Under the every experimental condition, we observed the expression of hsp90 and hsp27 in HUVEC. And we observed that hsp27 was more strongly expressed in heat shock + H2O2 treatment group and heat shock group than control group and H2O2 treatment group. CONCLUSION: By identifying the expression difference of hsp in vitro oxidative stress, fetal tissue might play the protective role in the intrauterine stress.

Use of Functional Foods for Health by 14-18 Year Old Students Attending General Junior or Senior High Schools in Korea

Various types of functional foods for health (FFH) are popularly used among adolescents. We surveyed 858 students, 15.0 +/- 1.6 (14 - 18)years of age, attending general junior or senior high schools in Korea for FFH use and significant variables for their FFH use including demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of FFH was 47.8%, and among all types of FFH, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng products > enzyme containing products > plant extract-fermented products. FFH use was higher in older aged-group, subjects lived in small or middle city, and those from families with a high socioeconomic status in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents and usage ratio of FFH by family was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of FFH than did nonusers. Most users of FFH took FFH when they were healthy (50.7%), and they did not feel special effects through the FFH use (57.1%). Most users of FFH got the information on FFH through family and relatives (61.5%), and most of them purchased FFH at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (55.1%). FFH users preferred vitamin C-and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin.mineral supplements belonged to FFH. Given the widespread use of FFH by adolescents, the reasonable use of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being is a subject that is emphasized in nutrition education for them.

A study on the solubility and the water sorption of various resin cements / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Among the physical properties of adhesion luting cement, the aspect that requires the most important factor is the degree of solubility and water sorption. Dissolution or an inadequate due to excessive water sorption inside the oral cavity compromises the while concurrently increasing the susceptibility to secondary dental caries. Susceptibility to dissolution and difficulty of removing remnant cement from the gingival sulcus have hindered the use of dental resin cement in the clinical practice, but the improved characteristics of newer generation resin cements have interest in and enabled resin cements to be widely used in adhesion of fixed prosthesis, such as laminate veneers and all-ceramic crowns. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the degrees of solubility and water sorption of a variety of resin cements widely used for clinical purposes with different curing methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-curing resin cements, Avanto(R), CandB(TM) CEMENT and Superbond CandB cements comprised group 1, 2 and 3. The dual-curing resin cements Panavia(TM) F, Calibra(R) and Variolink(R) II were divided into groups 4, 5, and 6, respectively. The investigation was carried out using disc-shaped specimens as specified by ANSI/ADA Specification No. 27. The degree of water sorption, water solubility and lactic acid solubility of each test group was analyzed statistically leading to the following conclusion. RESULTS: The degree of water sorption was shown to increase in the following order : group 6, 5, 4, 2, 1 and 3. There were significant differences between the water sorption of each group. Results of the degree of water solubility were shown to increase in the following order : group 6, 5, 4, 2, 1 and 3. Statistically significant differences were found between each group, with the exception of groups 1 and 3. Finally, the degree of lactic acid solubility was found to increase in the following order : group 6, 5, 4, 2, 3 and 1. Significant differences were found between each group. In general dual-curing resin cements displayed substantially lower values than self-curing resin cements with regard to water sorption, water solubility, and lactic acid solubility. CONCLUSIONS: From the results of this study, dual-curing resin cements show a significantly lower degree of water sorption and solubility than their self-curing counterparts. Clinically, when selecting resin cements, the product with a lower degree of water sorption and solubility are preferred. The results of this study indicate that the use-of dual-curing resin cements is preferable to self-curing cements.

Effects of Fetal Mesencephalic Cell Grafts on the Intrastriatal 6-hydroxydoapmine Lesioned Rats

The effects of fetal mesencephalic cell grafts on the restoration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic function were studied in the intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Four weeks after lesioning, transplantation of ventral mesencephalic cells from embryonic day 14 fetuses showed the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells and fiber outgrowth in the grafted striatum, and significantly ameliorated symptomatic motor behavior of the animals, as determined by apomorphine-induced rotation. Furthermore, in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), the numbers of TH cells and fibers were markedly restored. Dopamine content of ipsilateral SNc was close to that of contralateral SNc (91.9 9.8%) in the transplanted animals, while the ratio was approximately 32% in sham-grafted animals. These results indicate that grafted cells restored the activity for the dopaminergic neurons located in SNc, although they were transplanted into striatum. In addition, we showed that the implanted fetal cells expressed high level of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), suggesting that the transplanted fetal cells might serve as a dopamine producer and a reservoir of neurotrophic factors. These results may be helpful in consideration of the therapeutic transplantation at early stage of PD.

Comparison of Fungus Detection between PCR and Fungus Culture in Chronic Sinusitis and Normal Controls / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fungi are found in normal flora in various amounts. However, fungi in chronic sinusitis are poorly understood, and it is not clearly defined whether it is a pathogen or simply a part of normal flora. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is proposed as a more reliable test to detect fungal DNA than the conventional culture technique. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of conventional culture technique and PCR analysis in detecting fungus of the nasal cavity and to compare fungal species found in normal controls and patients with chronic sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sterile saline irrigation was performed and then mucin filled saline was collected from the nasal cavity of patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. Fungus culture and PCR analysis were carried out with irrigated saline. RESULTS: PCR for panfungal gene was positive in 92.5% and 97.5% while fungus cultures were positive in 23.3% and 30.5% of patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of fungus and species of fungus between patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. CONCLUSION: PCR for panfungal gene was more sensitive for fungus detection than fungus culture in patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls. Presence of fungus alone was insufficient to implicate it as the pathogen of chronic sinusitis. It will be necessary to study further about fungal species in patients with chronic sinusitis and normal controls.

Clinical and Virologic Characteristics of Lamivudine Resistance in HBV-associated Chronic Liver Disease / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine therapy in chronic hepatitis B has been shown to be effective in inhibiting HBV replication. However, lamivudine resistance has been developed with prolonged use. We studied to determine the prevalence, predictive factors, and clinical outcomes of lamivudine resistance. Mutations in YMDD motif of HBV polymerase, which have been associated with lamivudine resistance, were also assessed. METHODS: 170 patients with HBV-associated chronic liver disease who have received lamivudine for at least one year, were studied. The clinical, biochemical, and virologic characteristics were analyzed and compared according to presence (resistance group) or absence (non-resistance group) of DNA breakthrough. Their clinical outcomes were regularly followed. Stored sera before treatment and after DNA breakthrough were examined for detection of HBV polymerase mutation by direct sequencing and/or RFLP. RESULTS: Cumulative rates of lamivudine resistance after one and two years of treatment were 11% and 34%, respectively. In the resistance group, as compared to the non-resistance group, age, the presence of HBeAg before treatment, and disappearance of HBeAg during treatment, were significantly different. The predictive factors associated with lamivudine resistance were not found. ALT and HBV-DNA level after lamivudine resistance was variable, but jaundice or hepatic failure was absent. Mutation in YMDD motif was detected in 73% and other variable mutations were detected before treatment and after DNA breakthrough. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine resistance increases the longer the duration of treatment and clinical outcomes are variable. The mutation in YMDD motif was found in about 2/3 of cases. Other causes for lamivudine resistance may be considered.

Antimicrobial Peptide (LL-37) Expression In Nasal Mucosa / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epithelial cells are the first line of defense in the innate immune system against microorganisms. The antimicrobial peptides are major participants in this system. LL-37, a kind of antimicrobial peptide, is the only cathelicidin protein so far identified in humans. Since the level of the peptide is known to increase in inflamed areas, we tried to find the correlation of the peptide with inflammation in nasal mucosa by examining the expression level of LL-37. Furthermore, we determined the mRNA expression level of IL-1beta and IL-8, both of which are known to be involved in inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasal mucosa specimens were obtained from nasal polyps, chronic infective rhinitis, and normal inferior turbinate mucosa. The LL-37 protein was localized by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA expression of LL-37, IL-1beta, IL-8 were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In immunohistochemical study, LL-37 immunoreactive cells were primarily localized in the surface epithelia, the serous and mucous cells of the submucosal glands, and some stromal inflammatory cells. In normal tissue, 2 out of 6 samples (33%) studied exhibited immunoreactivity against LL-37 antibody, but in nasal polyps, 5 out of 8 (63%) and in infective rhinitis, 6 out of 7 (85%) showed positive reaction to the antibody. The number of positive cells were increased in inflammatory specimens, but there was no statistical difference between the normal and inflammatory specimens in epithelial layer, submucosal gland, and stromal inflammatory cells (p<0.05). In RT-PCR, LL-37 mRNA was detected in three of the six normal turbinate samples, but in all fifteen cases of inflammatory nasal tissues. The expression of LL-37 mRNA was correlated with the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-8 mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that LL-37 is one of antimicrobial peptides found in the human nasal mucosa, and participates in the innate immune system of the nasal mucosa.

Expression of NF-K B and I-K B in Allergic Rhinitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: K B is a transcription factor in immune and inflammatory reactions, and exerts its effect by expressing cytokines and chemokines, enzymes, receptors and adhesion molecules. Many of the inflammatory proteins that are expressed in respiratory airways are also regulated, at least in part, by NF-K B. The purpose of this study is to investigate the NF-K B and its inhibitory protein, I-K B expression in normal nasal mucosa and allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have evaluated 20 allergic rhinitis mucosa and 7 normal inferior turbinate. Immunohistochemical study and RT-PCR were done for NF-K B and I-K B expression. RESULTS: NF-K B and I-K B were localized at the epithelium, and in the subepithelial inflammatory cells, vascular endothelial cells, and glandular endothelial cells in both normal nasal mucosa and allergic rhinitis. Compared to normal nasal mucosa, both activated and inactivated forms of NF-K B were significantly increased in the epithelial cell layer of allergic rhinitis. However, for the I-K R expression, no difference could be observed. RT-PCR revealed a significant difference in the expression level of NF-K B mRNA between nasal mucosa and allergic rhinitis, but I- K B expression showed no difference. CONCLUSIONS: This results show that NF-K B is usually activated in the nasal epithelial cell layer and NF-K B may play a role in the inflammatory reaction of allergic rhinitis. But further study is required for the role of I-K B.