The role of hepatic macrophages in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis / 한국실험동물학회지

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming common chronic liver disease because of the increasing global prevalence of obesity and consequently Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism for progression of NAFLD to NASH and then cirrhosis is not completely understood, yet. The triggering of these hepatic diseases is thought from hepatocyte injury caused by over-accumulated lipid toxicity. Injured hepatocytes release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which can stimulate the Kupffer cells (KCs), liver-resident macrophages, to release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and recruit monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). The increased activation of KCs and recruitment of MDMs accelerate the progression of NAFLD to NASH and cirrhosis. Therefore, characterization for activation of hepatic macrophages, both KCs and MDMs, is a baseline to figure out the progression of hepatic diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current understanding of mechanisms of NAFLD and NASH, mainly focusing on characterization and function of hepatic macrophages and suggests the regulators of hepatic macrophages as the therapeutic target in hepatic diseases.

Targeting Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming as Anticancer Therapeutics

Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to satisfy the demands of growth and survival, and this metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as an emerging hallmark of cancer. Lipid metabolism is pivotal in cellular process that converts nutrients into energy, building blocks for membrane biogenesis and the generation of signaling molecules. Accumulating evidence suggests that cancer cells show alterations in different aspects of lipid metabolism. The changes in lipid metabolism of cancer cells can affect numerous cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The potential dependence of cancer cells on the deregulated lipid metabolism suggests that enzymes and regulating factors involved in this process are promising targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we focus on the features associated with the lipid metabolic pathways in cancer, and highlight recent advances on the therapeutic targets of specific lipid metabolic enzymes or regulating factors and target-directed small molecules that can be potentially used as anticancer drugs.

Letter: The Effects of High Fat Diet and Resveratrol on Mitochondrial Activity of Brown Adipocytes (Endocrinol Metab 2016;31:328-35, Cheol Ryong Ku et al.)

No abstract available.

The effect of implant system with reverse beveled platform design on marginal bone stress distribution / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the surface morphology of the implant neck on marginal bone stress measured by using finite element analysis in six implant models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The submerged type rescue implant system (Dentis co., Daegu, Korea) was selected as an experimental model. The implants were divided into six groups whose implant necks were differently designed in terms of height (h, 0.4 and 1.0 mm) and width (platform width, w = 3.34 + 2b [b, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mm]). Finite element models of implant/bone complex were created using an axisymmetric scheme. A load of 100 N was applied to the central node on the top of crown in parallel with the implant axis. The maximum compression stress was calculated and compared. RESULTS: Stress concentration commonly observed around dental implants did not occur in the marginal bone around all six test implant models. Marginal bone stress varied according to the implant neck bevel which had different width and height. The stress was affected more markedly by the difference in height than in width. CONCLUSION: This result indicates that the implant neck bevel may play an important role in improving stress distribution in the marginal bone area.

Analysis of expression of survivin, caspase 3, and p53 protein in cervical neoplasia comparing with Ki-67 index / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the role of survivin, caspase 3, p53 and Ki-67 expression in the carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma and aggressiveness of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS: The pathology specimens of 94 patients with a diagnosis of Low grade CIN (31 cases), High grade CINL (32 cases) and squamous cell carcinoma (31 cases) were evaluated immunohistochemically for the expression of survivin, caspase 3, p53 and Ki-67 in paraffin sections. RESULTS: Survivin, p53 and Ki-67 expressions were progressively increased in accordance with the increasing degree of malignancy, but caspase 3 immunoreactivity was higher in high grade CIN than in low grade CIN and invasive cervical cancers. There was no significant difference between Ki-67 index and survivin, caspase 3 and p53 expression with the increasing degree of malignancy. The Ki-67 index was closely related to p53 overexpression in invasive cervical carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: A sequential increase of survivin, p53, and Ki-67 was observed in paralleling the progression of grade of CIN and cervical cancer. In addition, caspase 3 expression increased proportionally to the low-grade CIN to high grade CIN.

The effect of bisphenol A on cell apoptosis pattern in the spinal cord of chick embryos / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on cell death pattern in neuronal development of chick embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We planned to compare the cytokinetic features in the normal chick embryo and those with BPA. Fifteen eggs were divided into three GROUPS: the control group, BPA 50 microgram/g egg group and BPA 200 microgram/g egg group. Embryos were incubated for 56 hours (Hamburger & Hamilton stage 16) and then we injected BPA into embryos. The embryos were sectioned by 3 micrometer thickness at the level of wing buds and stained at 72 hours after incubation (HH stage 18). We observed cell death in the spinal cord using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: The TUNEL-positivity markedly increased in proportion to the doses of BPA. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per section was 15.2+/-2.14 in the control group, 34.6+/-3.44 in the BPA 50 microgram/g egg group, 87.6+/-4.32 in the BPA 200 g/g egg group. Furthermore the contour of spinal cord was deformed as the doses of BPA raised. CONCLUSION: BPA causes neuronal cell death and exerts cytotoxic effect on early chick embryos. It suggests that BPA might have an effect on cytogenesis during neural tube development.

Prediction of an actual birth within one week by ultrasonographic examination at 38 weeks' of gestation / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to predict spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days in low risk pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation by ultrasonographic examination of cervical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 singleton low risk pregnancies between 37(+0) and 37(+6) weeks of gestation. Fifteen cases were lost during follow-up and finally 95 pregnant women (58 nulliparous, 37 multiparous) were analysed. The study period was from Oct/2005 to May/2007. Four cervical changes (length, gland thickness, funneling and canal formation) were evaluated. Main outcome was remaining day to delivery after the examination. Remaining days to actual delivery with spontaneous labor onset were recorded and the pregnancies were divided into two groups according to remaining days (within 7 days, over 7 days) to compare predicting power of delivery within 7 days. ROC curves were drawn to find out cut-off values of cervical length and gland thickness. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were extracted from four cervical changes. RESULTS: Mean cervical length of pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation was 25.8 (+/-10.0) mm and mean cervical gland thickness was 4.3 (+/-1.2) mm. Funnelings of uterine cervix were detected in 13 cases (13.7%), canal formations in 6 cases (6.3%). All four cervical changes were statistically valuable to predict delivery within 7 days and the cervical length showed highest sensitivity. When the cervical length was measured under 20 mm, the possibility of delivery within 7 days was 78.6% (p<0.001). The cervical gland thickness less than 4 mm could predict the delivery within 7 days with sensitivity of 57.1% (p<0.01). Sensitivities of funneling and canal formation for delivery within 7 days were 54.5%, 36.4% each. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic examination of the cervical changes in low risk singleton pregnancy at 38 weeks' of gestation are valuable for predicting spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days. Among four cervical changes, cervical length is most sensitive ultrasonographic marker.

Statistical Analysis of Twin Pregnancy for 10 Years (1993~2002) / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical aspects of twin pregnancy and its outcome. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 2002, we reviewed the medical records of 249 cases of twin birth at least weighed 500 g or more and over 20 weeks of gestation among 14,273 deliveries at Hanyang University Hospital. Paired sample t test and linear regression test were used for statistical analysis. p<0.05 was defined significantly. RESULTS: The incidence of twin births was one in 59.6 birth, and the annual rate of twin births has increased since last 10 years (p<0.05). The predominant age group was 25-29 (47.0%) and mean age was 29.8 +/- 3.9 years old. According to parity, primipara (63.9%) was the most frequent. The predominant gestational age of twin births was 37-38 weeks (42.2%) and mean gestational weeks of twin births was 36.3 +/- 2.9 weeks. The ratio of spontaneous and iatrogenic twinning were 73.1% vs 26.9%. The cephalic-cephalic combination (49.8%) was the predominant presentation. The most common mode of twin delivery was cesarean section (76.5%) and its main indication was "elective" (33.5%). The mean interval between 1st and 2nd baby deliveries among normal spontaneous vaginal delivery was 6 minute 28 seconds. Both male group (43.0%) was predominant. The mean birth weights of 1st and 2nd baby were 2341 +/- 592 grams and 2200 +/- 594 grams respectively. No significant differences were seen in one minute and five minute Apgar scores between 1st and 2nd baby. The most common type of placental membrane was single placenta, two chorion, two amnion (40.6%). The most frequent maternal complication during pregnancy was anemia (41.8%), followed by preterm labor (39.0%) and preeclampsia (20.9%). The perinatal mortality rate was 50 per 1000 newborns and 2 cases (0.8%) of maternal death were encountered. The risk of intrauterine fetal death and abortion was 2.4% and 0.8% respectively. CONCLUSION: Recently, although the incidence of twin pregnancy has been increased, it has greater risks of obstetrical complications and higher perinatal mortality than singleton pregnancy. Therefore, further prospective studies of twin pregnancy are needed for counselling and effective management about perinatal prognosis.

HNF1 and/or HNF3 may contribute to the tissue specific expression of glucokinase gene

A possible role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) or HNF3, a predominant trans-acting factors of hepatic or pancreatic beta-cells, was examined on the tissue specific interdependent expression of glucokinase (GK) in liver, H4IIE, HepG2, HIT-T15 and MIN6 cell line. The tissues or cell lines known to express GK showed abundant levels of HNF1 and HNF3 mRNA as observed in liver, H4IIE, HepG2, HIT-T15 and MIN6 cells, whereas they were not detected in brain, heart, NIH 3T3, HeLa cells. The promoter of glucokinase contains several HNF3 consensus sequences and are well conserved in human, mouse and rat. Transfection of the glucokinase promotor linked with luciferase reporter to liver or pancreatic beta cell lines showed high interacting activities with HNF1 and HNF3, whereas minimal activities were detected in the cells expressing very low levels of HNFs. The binding of HNF1 or HNF3 to the GK promoter genes was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). From these data, we propose that the expression of HNF1 and/or HNF3 may, in part, contribute to the tissue specific expression of GK.