Relationship between estrogen receptor thymine-adenine repeat polymorphism and effects of hormone replacement therapy on serum lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed for estrogen-associated changes in lipid and bone metabolism. These effects are thought to be mediated via estrogen receptor (ER). Several polymorphisms in the gene encoding estrogen receptor alpha may modify the effects of hormone replacement therapy on lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We examined 284 postmenopausal women for thymine-adenine (TA) repeat polymorphism at the ER gene locus and its relationship to lipid and bone density. Their mean age was 52.2+/-5.0 years. We also investigated the association between ER TA repeat polymorphism and changes in lipid and bone density after 3 months and 1 year of hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: According to the mean number of TA repeats, the women were divided into two groups: group H, with higher number of repeats (TA>16)(n=110); group L, with lower number of repeats (TA

Deflazacort Increases Osteoclast Formation in Mouse Bone Marrow Culture and the Ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA Expression in Marrow Stromal Cells

Information on precise effects of deflazacort on bone cell function, especially osteoclasts, is quite limited. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to test effects of deflazacort on osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures and on the regulation of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligand (RANKL) mRNA expressions by RT-PCR in the ST2 marrow stromal cells. TRAP-positive mononuclear cells increased after the treatment of deflazacort at 10(-9) to 10(-7) M alone for 6 days in a dose-dependent manner. Number of TRAP-positive multi-nucleated cells (MNCs) increased significantly with combined treatment of deflazacort at 10(-7) M and 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10(-9) M compared to that of cultures treated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 alone (p<0.05). Exposure to deflazacort at 10(-7) M in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10(-9) M in the last 3-day culture had greater stimulatory effect on osteoclast-like cell formation than that of the first 3-day culture did. Deflazacort at 10(-10) -10(-6) M downregulated OPG and upregulated RANKL in mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that deflazacort stimulate osteoclast precursor in the absence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and enhance differentiation of osteoclasts in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3. These effects are, in part, thought to be mediated by the regulation of the expression of OPG and RANKL mRNA in marrow stromal cells.

The Effect of Exocelomic Fluid in the First Trimester Pregnancy on Trophoblast Cell Proliferation in Vitro / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of exocelomic fluid in first trimester pregnancy on trophoblast cell proliferation in vitro. METHODS: The coelomic fluid was obtained from women with apparently normal pregnancies (n=9) and women presenting with missed abortion (n=22). The concentrations of cytokines in coelomic fluid were determined by two steps sandwich ELISA. The detection limits were the 4 pg/ml for IFN-gamma, 1 pg/ml for TNF-alpha, 2 pg/ml for IL-6 and 5 pg/ml for IL-10, respectively. The data are presented as mean+/-SEM. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. Trophoblast cell (Jeg-3 choriocarcinoma cell line) proliferation in vitro was determined using colorimetric immunoassay, based on the measurement of BrdU incorporation using DNA synthesis. The optical absorbance of the samples at 450 nm was measured using an ELISA reader. The data are presented as absorbance in the samples (mean+/-SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using regression analysis and t-test. RESULS: Th-2 type cytokines are present to some extent and IL-6, one of Th-1 type cytokines, also exists in the coelomic fluid from the missed abortion. Coelomic fluids from the majority of normal pregnancies inhibited trophoblast proliferation in vitro significantly higher than fluids from the missed abortion. CONCLUSION: These data showed that exocoelomic fluids may have a unique immune privilege surrounding developing embryo in the early pregnancy. Further studies are required to determine the goowth factors in coelomic fluids from normal pregnancies and missed abortion, and to evaluate the influence on the development of early pregnancy complications.

Serum Fluoride Level in Normal Adult Women and Changes in Serum Fluoride Level after Disodium Monofluorophosphate Administration / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Since the morning fluoride level of 10 uM is recommended for adults patients being treated for osteoporosis so far, measurement of serum fluoride level is important to detect abnormally high levels or to detect levels below the therapeutic windows. Aims of this study are to determine the normal range of serum ionic fluoride levels in Korean female adults (from 5th to 7th decade), and to evaluate the in vivo fluoride pharmacokinetics of monofluorophosphate in Korean adults. METHODS: Serum level of fluoride was measured from blood samples of 72 female subjects (age 43-69years) using an ion selective electrode. For pharrnacokinetics of monofluorophosphate-calcium (MFP-Ca), 6 subjects (age 27~45 years) were included to be withdrawn the blood hourly for the first S hours and the blood was withdrawn at 24 hours after a single dose of MFP-Ca. RESULTS: Mean level of serum fluoride was 1.64+-0.12uM in 5th, 6th, 7th decades adults, and there was no difference of serum fluoride levels among age groups. Peak serum fluoride level exhibited 5.02+-0.67pM, and returned to basal level on 24 hours after a single dose of MFP-Ca. CONCLUSION: This study shows that mean serutn fluoride of Korean female adults (from 5th to 7th decade) is not different from that of other reports, and a single dose of MFP-Ca does not cause serum fluoride levels above the recommended therapeutic windows of 5-10uM for 24 hours.

CD5 mRNA Expression in Pepherial Blood Mononuclear Cell of Neonate / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: The CD5 molecules of mice (Ly-1) and humans (T1) are pan-T cell antigens and are also found on a minor subpopulation of B cells. Cl)5+ B cells constitute a large fraction of the B cells early in development and in neonate. There are many reports about the production and mRNA expression of CD5+ B cells and in this study CD5 mRNA expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) was examined in neonate and compared with those in normal children and childrens of acute febrile diseases. METHODS: Ten normal neonate(mean age, 1.2 days), ten children of acute febrile disease (mean age, 8.5 months) and ten nomal children (mean age 9 months) were studied. One mililiter of venous blood was drawn and immunophenotypes were determined using FACS (fluorescent activated cell sortor) with FITC-conjugated anti-CD5 and PE-conjugated anti-CD 19. PBMC was separated and CD5 mRNA expression was examined in these groups. RESULTS: 1) From the analysis using FACS, there was no significant difference for the CD5+ 1' cell fractions in white blood cells among neonates(78.52+13.98 %), acute febrile infectious disease controls (l0.86 + 5.56 %) and normal controls (73.53 + 4.62 %) (p>0.05). 2) The fractions of CD5+ H cell in B cells were markedly high in neonate (65.18+ 13.67 %) as compared to that in children of acute febrile disease controls (27.14+5.96 %) and normal controls (20.04+5.92 %) (p<0.001). 3) CD5 mRNA expression was detected only in neonate and not in children of acute febrile disease controls or normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: Neonate has a large fraction of CD5+ B cells in total H cells as compared to that of children of acute febrile diseases or normal controls. PHMC of neonate normally expressed CD5 mRNA but that of acute febrile group or normal control group did not. Further study about the roles and meanings of CD5 mRNA expression may be needed.