Effects of Advanced Glycation End Products on Differentiation and Function of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts

Background@#Risk of fragility fractures increases in patients with diabetes mellitus, independent of bone mineral density. In the present study, the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were investigated. @*Methods@#AGEs and 25 mM glucose were administered to marrow-derived macrophages and MCT3T3-E1 cells. The effects of AGEs on osteoclast differentiation was investigated using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay. The effects of AGEs on osteoblast differentiation was investigated using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone nodule formation assays. Expression of osteoclast-specific and osteoblast-specific genes and effects on cell signaling pathways associated with cell differentiation were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. @*Results@#AGEs significantly decreased TRAP-positive multinucleated cell formation in receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-induced marrow-derived macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. AGEs suppressed the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, JNK, p38, AKT, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 in marrow-derived macrophages. AGEs decreased ALP activity and showed a tendency to decrease bone nodule formation in MC3T3-E1 cells. AGEs suppressed the expression of osteoblast-specific genes, lysyl hydroxylase and lysyl oxidase in MC3T3-E1 cells. @*Conclusion@#AGEs suppressed differentiation and function of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and collagen cross-linking activity. It suggests that AGE may induce bone fragility through low bone turnover and deterioration of bone quality.

Effects of Advanced Glycation End Products on Differentiation and Function of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts

Background@#Risk of fragility fractures increases in patients with diabetes mellitus, independent of bone mineral density. In the present study, the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were investigated. @*Methods@#AGEs and 25 mM glucose were administered to marrow-derived macrophages and MCT3T3-E1 cells. The effects of AGEs on osteoclast differentiation was investigated using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay. The effects of AGEs on osteoblast differentiation was investigated using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone nodule formation assays. Expression of osteoclast-specific and osteoblast-specific genes and effects on cell signaling pathways associated with cell differentiation were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. @*Results@#AGEs significantly decreased TRAP-positive multinucleated cell formation in receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-induced marrow-derived macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. AGEs suppressed the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, JNK, p38, AKT, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 in marrow-derived macrophages. AGEs decreased ALP activity and showed a tendency to decrease bone nodule formation in MC3T3-E1 cells. AGEs suppressed the expression of osteoblast-specific genes, lysyl hydroxylase and lysyl oxidase in MC3T3-E1 cells. @*Conclusion@#AGEs suppressed differentiation and function of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and collagen cross-linking activity. It suggests that AGE may induce bone fragility through low bone turnover and deterioration of bone quality.

The Effect of Computer-Based Cognitive Training Program On Cognition

BACKGROUND: Effective non-pharmacological cognitive program to prevent Alzheimer's dementia or slow its progression are an urgent international priority. The effect of computer-based cognitive training program has not been demonstrated yet in dementia. The purpose of this study is to know whether the computer-based cognitive training improved cognitive abilities in patients with mild cognitive disorder and early stage of dementia. METHODS: Totally 20 participants (14 with MCI and 6 with mild Alzhiemer dementia) participated in this study. To test the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training programs to cognition, all patient were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=10) An intervention group received regularly computer-based cognitive training totally 20 times for 10 weeks. Neuropsychological examinations were conducted before and after this period. RESULTS: After 10 weeks, intervention group showed a significant change in language of K-MMSE compared with baseline cognitive examinations. Also, there was improvement in attention (backward digit span), calculation, memory, and frontal function for the intervention group as compared with controls. Patients with mild cognitive disorder showed marked improvements in language and visuospatial capacity, while patients with dementia showed no or slight improvement in these fields. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-based cognitive training program might have beneficial effect on general cognitive function in both mild cognitive disorder and dementia. Especially, conspicuous effectiveness showed in patients with mild cognitive disorder.

Efficiency of laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection in a human assisted reproductive techniques program / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (LA-ICSI), also known as micro-opening or thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP) prior to ICSI, may help to reduce mechanical damage to the oocyte during the procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of our institutional LA-ICSI program, which features laser-assisted ZP thinning prior to ICSI, in comparison with conventional ICSI (C-ICSI), performed on patients with different clinical characteristics. METHODS: Patients undergoing a total of 212 ICSI cycles were randomly divided into an LA-ICSI group (106 cycles) and a conventional ICSI group (106 cycles). To reduce tissue damage, we thinned the ZP by approximately 70%, using a laser, before ICSI. Patients thus treated formed the LA-ICSI group. Comparisons included the morphological quality of transferred embryos, blastocyst development of the remaining embryos, and clinical pregnancy, in terms of ICSI method and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Fertilization, development of remaining embryos, and pregnancy rate were significantly higher in the LA-ICSI group compared with the C-ICSI group. Fertilization, embryonic development, and the pregnancy rate were all improved in younger patients (<38 years of age) and in those who underwent a low number of IVF-ET attempts (<3 trials). In addition, the pregnancy rate was increased in older patients. CONCLUSION: LA-ICSI may be useful in improving the chance of pregnancy in all ICSI patients.

Comparison of Forced Air Warming and Radiant Heating on Body Temperature and Shivering of Post-operative Patients / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of forced air warming and radiant heating on body temperature and shivering of patients with postoperative hypothermia. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted with two experimental groups who had surgery under general anesthesia; 20 patients of group 1 experimented with the Bair Hugger as a forced air warming and 20 patients of group 2 experimented with the Radiant heater. The study was performed from July 3 to August 31, 2006 in a recovery room of an university hospital in a city. The effects of the experiment were measured by postoperative body temperature and chilling score at arrival and after every 10 minutes. The data were analyzed by t-test or chi-square-test, repeated measures ANCOVA using SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The mean body temperature showed differences between the Bair Hugger group and Radiant Heater group at 40 minutes(F=-2.579, p=.034), 50minutes(F=-2.752, p=.027), and 60 minutes(F=-2.470, p=.047) after arrival to the recovery room. So, hypothesis 1 was partially accepted. The mean score of shivering showed differences between the Bair Hugger group and the Radiant Heater group, but it had no significant meaning. Hypothesis 2 was not accepted. CONCLUSION: We need more study to explore the effects and side effects of heating modalities to select a more effective heat treatment. The efficiency of heat modalities with regards to cost benefit, time consumption, and patients' discomfort such as burns should be considered.

In Vitro Neural Cell Differentiation Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Effects of PDGF-bb and BDNF on the Generation of Functional Neurons / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the generation of the functional neuron derived from human embryonic stem(hES,MB03) cells on in vitro neural cell differentiation system. METHODS: For neural progenitor cell formation derived from hES cells, we produced embryoid bodies (EB: for 5 days, without mitogen) from hES cells and then neurospheres (for 7~10 days, 20 ng/ml of bFGF added N2 medium) from EB. And then finally for the differentiation into mature neuron, neural progenitor cells were cultured in i) N2 medium only (without bFGF),ii) N2 supplemented with 20 ng/ml platelet derived growth factor-bb (PDGF-bb) or iii) N2 supplemented with 5 ng/ml brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) for 2 weeks. Identification of neural cell differentiation was carried out by immunocytochemistry using betaIII-tubulin (1:100) and GFAP (1:500). Also, generation of functional neuron was identified using anti-glutamate (Sigma, 1:1000), anti-GABA (Sigma, 1:1000), anti-serotonin (Sigma, 1:1000) and anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (Sigma, 1:1000). RESULTS: In vitro neural cell differentiation, neurotrophic factors (PDGF and BDNF) treated cell groups were high expressed MAP-2 and GFAP than non-treated cell group. The highest expression pattern of MAP-2 and betaIII-tubulin was indicated in BDNF treated group. Also, in the presence of PDGF-bb or BDNF, mostof the neural cells derived from hES cells were differentiated into gultamate and GABA neuron in vitro. Furthermore, we confirmed that there were a few serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase positive neuron in the same culture environment. CONCLUSION: This results suggested that the generation of functional neuron derived from hES cells was increased by addition of neurotrophic factors such as PDGF-bb or BDNF in b-FGF induced neural cell differentiation system and especially gultamate and GABA neurons were mainly produced in the system.

Translocation of p53 Protein in Melanocytes and Malignant Melanoma Cells After UVB Irradiation

BACKGROUND: UVB is responsible for most of the carcinogenic effects of sun exposure. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to investigate the regulation and intracellular redistribution of p53 protein after UVB irradiation. METHODS: Cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 melanoma cells were used for west-ern blotting and confocal microscopic examination for determining expression and distribution of p53. RESULTS: UVB irradiation increased p53 expression in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells according to increasing doses of UVB. Furthermore, p53 moved from cytosol to nucleus after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: UVB irradiation induced overexpression and redistribution of p53 in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells.

Study on Platelet Counts and Indices in Neonates

PURPOSE: The platelet number alone does not give a complete picture of platelet maturity and function, therefore, the platelet indices have been the subject of intensive study in recent years, but they have not been firmly established in the neonates. METHODS: Blood samples collected in K2 EDTA bottle from femoral vein of 176 neonates (54 healthy fullterm, 96 sick fullterm, 10 sick preterm, 9 healthy preterm and 7 healthy small for gestational age) were analyzed with CELL-DYN 1600. RESULTS: 1) Platelet counts (PC) and platelet indices of 70 healthy neonates correlated neither with gestational age, nor with birth weight. 2) Significant correlations were found between PC and plateletcrit and between PC and mean platelet volume with the correlation coefficients being 0.937 and -0.284 respectively. Other indices did not show any significant correlation. 3) There were no significant differences of PC and platelet indices between healthy neonates and sick neonates, between healthy fullterm and sick fullterm, between healthy preterm and sick preterm, between healthy fullterm and healthy preterm, and between healthy fullterm and healthy small for gestational age. 4) Sick fullterm neonates suffering certain diseases showed altered indices, compared with healthy fullterm neonates. In diarrhea, PC, plateletcrit and platelet distribution width were higher than those in healthy fullterm neonates. In hyperbilirubinemia and urinary tract infection, PC and plateletcrit were higher, whereas in sepsis, platelet distribution width was lower. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that PC and platelet indices of healthy neonates did not correlate with gestational age, nor with birth weight, and show some significant correlations between PC and platelet indicies. Further studies will be needed in clinical application of platelet indices to each neonatal disease.

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita in Siblings

No abstract available.

The Usefulness of Dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI Myocardial Scintigraphy in the Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

Though exercise T1-201 myocardial perfusion-scintigraphy is an important test in the diagnosis and evaluation of coronary artery disease, this test is limited in cases with poor physical conditions and unstable angina and the physical characteristics of thallium are not ideal for nuclear imaging of the myocardium. Recently, technetium-99m-labelled agent(99mTc-MIBI) has been developed to improved the quality of imaging and for easy usage in myocardial perfusion scan. Therefore, we performed dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography on 25 subjects who were suspeced to have coronary artery disease and the results obtanined were as follows ; 1) The overall diagnostic sensitivity of dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI perfusion scintigraphy was 73.4%, while specificity was 66.7%. 2) Per vessel sensitivity for coronary artery disease diagnosis by the test was 71.4% and a per vessel specificity for coronary artery disease was 95.7%. 3) In all 75 coronary arteries, LAD had a sensitivity of 66.7%(10/15) and a specificity of 100%(10/10); RCA had a sensitivity of 75%(6/8) and a specificity of 82.4%(14/17); LCX had a sensitivity of 60%(3/5) and a specificity of 100%(20/20). 4) After infusion of dipyridamole, the most frequent adverse effect was chest pain which was seen in 8 cases(32%). The headache was seen in 7 cases(28%). Most of the symptoms were mild in severity and subsided spontaneously but 3 subjects were severe enough to require intravenous administration of aminophylline. In conclusion, dipyridamole 99m2011-06-17Tc-MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a useful and safe test for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.