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Ssu72, a dual-specificity protein phosphatase, not only participates in transcription biogenesis, but also affects pathophysiological functions in a tissue-specific manner. Recently, it has been shown that Ssu72 is required for T cell differentiation and function by controlling multiple immune receptor-mediated signals, including TCR and several cytokine receptor signaling pathways. Ssu72 deficiency in T cells is associated with impaired fine-tuning of receptormediated signaling and a defect in CD4+ T cell homeostasis, resulting in immune-mediated diseases. However, the mechanism by which Ssu72 in T cells integrates the pathophysiology of multiple immune-mediated diseases is still poorly elucidated. In this review, we will focus on the immunoregulatory mechanism of Ssu72 phosphatase in CD4+ T cell differentiation, activation, and phenotypic function. We will also discuss the current understanding of the correlation between Ssu72 in T cells and pathological functions which suggests that Ssu72 might be a therapeutic target in autoimmune disorders and other diseases.
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Objectives@#This study examined the results of the restandardization of the Korean Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The Korean PAI was first standardized in 2001 and then restandardized in 2019 to establish new normative data. On the other hand, differences may exist in the results of the restandardized version considering the time interval, which may include cultural and social differences. Thus, differences between the results of the Korean PAI administered in 2001 and 2019 must be examined to confirm its new normative data followed by restandardization. @*Methods@#Data from 2212 adults who administered the original Korean PAI in 2001 and 1263 adults who administered the Korean PAI in 2019 were collected. The study compared the reliability and mean scores. In addition, the mean scores of the Korean PAI administered in 2019 were converted to T-scores adapted to the normative data of 2001. The collected data was analyzed using a t-test and comparing the T-scores. @*Results@#The internal consistency reliability showed a similar pattern in both versions, but the differences among the mean scores and T-scores appeared to be significant. @*Conclusion@#The significant differences between the scores of the Korean PAI administered in 2001 and 2019 reflect the result of the restandardization. Therefore, the restandardized version of the Korean PAI may bring more precise information that can be adapted to the contemporary era.
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OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between insufficient sleep and visuospatial memory in adolescents using a computerized neurocognitive function test. METHODS: A total of 103 high school students (26 males and 77 females; mean age 17.11 ± 8.50 years) without a serious psychiatric problem was recruited. All subjects were requested to complete a self-report questionnaire about weekday total sleep time and weekend total sleep time. The epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and the beck depression inventory (BDI) were administered to measure daytime sleepiness and symptoms of depression. Seven subsets of the Cambridge Neuropsychological test automated battery were examined to assess visuospatial memory. RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex, ESS, and BDI, longer weekend total sleep time was correlated with poor performance on delayed matching to sample (r = −0.312, p = 0.002) and immediate recall on pattern recognition memory (r = −0.225, p = 0.025). Increased weekend catch-up sleep time was correlated with poor performance of delayed matching to sample (r = −0.236, p = 0.018), immediate recall on pattern recognition memory (r = −0.220, p = 0.029), and delayed recall on pattern recognition memory (r = −0.211, p = 0.036) after controlling for age, sex, ESS, and BDI. CONCLUSION: This study showed that increased weekend catch-up sleep time reflecting insufficient weekday sleep were associated with poor performance in delayed recall tasks of visual memory. This finding suggests that insufficient sleep during adolescence might produce a decline of visuospatial memory.
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Adolescente , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Depresión , Memoria , Memoria a Corto Plazo , Pruebas NeuropsicológicasRESUMEN
Hypoxic culture is widely recognized as a method to efficiently expand human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) without loss of stem cell properties. However, the molecular basis of how hypoxia priming benefits MSC expansion remains unclear. We report that hypoxic priming markedly extends the cell cycle lifespan rather than augmenting the multipotency of MSC differentiation lineage. Hypoxic priming does not affect to chromosome damage but significantly attenuates the susceptibility of chromosome damage. Our results provide important evidence that multipotency of human MSCs by hypoxic priming is determined by cell cycle lifespan.
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Humanos , Envejecimiento , Hipoxia , Ciclo Celular , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Métodos , Células MadreRESUMEN
Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous congenital anomaly. Mutations in the NIPBL gene account for a half of the affected individuals. We describe a family with CdLS carrying a novel pathogenic variant of the SMC1A gene identified by exome sequencing. The proband was a 3-yr-old boy presenting with a developmental delay. He had distinctive facial features without major structural anomalies and tested negative for the NIPBL gene. His younger sister, mother, and maternal grandmother presented with mild mental retardation. By exome sequencing of the proband, a novel SMC1A variant, c.3178G>A, was identified, which was expected to cause an amino acid substitution (p.Glu1060Lys) in the highly conserved coiled-coil domain of the SMC1A protein. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the three female relatives with mental retardation also carry this variant. Our results reveal that SMC1A gene defects are associated with milder phenotypes of CdLS. Furthermore, we showed that exome sequencing could be a useful tool to identify pathogenic variants in patients with CdLS.
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Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Pueblo Asiatico/genética , Secuencia de Bases , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proteínas Cromosómicas no Histona/genética , ADN , Análisis Mutacional de ADN , Síndrome de Cornelia de Lange/diagnóstico , Heterocigoto , Linaje , Fenotipo , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Proteínas/genética , República de CoreaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Blood glucose control in diabetic mothers during pregnancy is very important because it can affect fetal and neonatal outcomes. We therefore investigated the clinical outcomes of infants of diabetic mothers in relation to the maternal HbA1c level. METHODS: The subjects were diabetic mothers and their newborns who were admitted in Wonkwang University Hospital from July 2007 to June 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 73 neonates, out of the 128 born to diabetic mothers and investigated neonatal and maternal characteristics based on the differences in maternal HbA1c levels. 55 neonates was excluded because maternal HbA1c was not measured. RESULTS: The mean time for testing the maternal HbA1c was 30+/-5.0 weeks, and the mean level was 6.7+/-1.4%. The mean birth weight in neonates was 3,094+/-831.6 g and was higher in the group with > or =7% HbA1c than in the group with or =7% HbA1c than in those with or =7% HbA1c than those with or =4,000g), there were no differences in birth weights between both groups. CONCLUSION: If the maternal HbA1c level during pregnancy is above 7% with glucose control failure, infants born to diabetic mothers are susceptible to hypoglycemia, large baby syndrome and CHD.
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Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Embarazo , Peso al Nacer , Glucemia , Glucosa , Cardiopatías Congénitas , Hipoglucemia , Registros Médicos , Madres , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: We are entering a new era of medicine in which an equal number of men and women are becoming doctors. Many factors combine in complex and poorly understood ways to influence a medical student's career and choice of specialty. This study investigated the preferences of medical students with regard to specialty and examined differences between genders. METHODS: We administered a survey to medical students at the end of their third- or fourth-year clinical clerkships. In addition to demographic data and specialty choice, medical students selected factors that were importance to their choice of specialty. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one medical students completed the survey (81 males, 57%). For medical students who had chosen a specialty, the most common specialty was internal medicine (20.5%). Significant gender differences were observed in choosing orthopedic surgery and family medicine-17 male students chose orthopedic surgery (10.5%) versus 3.3% of female students (p=0.02), and 11 females (9.2%) were drawn toward family medicine compared with 4 male students (2.5%). More female medical students chose lower workloads (19.9%) and low-risk work (14%) than male students (p<0.05). Lifestyle and income have become more important to medical students regarding their choice of specialty. CONCLUSION: There were significant gender differences concerning the choice of medical specialty. Controllable lifestyle remains an important factor for female medical students who are choosing a specialty. We must begin to make meaningful and thoughtful changes in medical center policies that affect a balance between work and home.
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Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Selección de Profesión , Prácticas Clínicas , Medicina Interna , Estilo de Vida , Ortopedia , Estudiantes de MedicinaRESUMEN
Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic, gram-positive bacillus. Listeria is commonly found in processed and prepared foods and listeriosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This bacterium is an important cause of severe infection in neonates and pregnant women. Pregnant women are at high risk for listeriosis, but symptoms are non-specific and diagnosis is difficult. Neonatal Listeriosis is generally a severe and fatal disease. There are two forms of the disease in the neonate, early- and late-onset, suggesting different modes of transmission. Generally, early detection and empirical treatment of listeriosis help to improve survival and prognosis. We explained two cases of L. monocytogenes sepsis with culture-proven in preterm and late preterm newborns from asymptomatic mothers. These neonates had fulminant clinical course even if standard antibiotics treatments were administrated.
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Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Antibacterianos , Bacillus , Listeria , Listeria monocytogenes , Listeriosis , Madres , Mujeres Embarazadas , Pronóstico , SepsisRESUMEN
Morsicatio labiorum is a form of tissue alteration caused by self-induced injury, mostly occurring on the lips, and is considered to be a rarely encountered mucocutaneous disorder. Clinically, it is a macerated grey-white patch and plaque of the mucosa caused by external stimuli (self-induced injury) such as habitual biting, chewing, or sucking of the lip. It is often confused with other dermatological disorders involving the oral mucosa, which can lead to a misdiagnosis. We herein report three cases of morsicatio labiorum; two cases were misdiagnosed as exfoliative cheilitis at the time of the first visit.
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Mordeduras y Picaduras , Queilitis , Errores Diagnósticos , Labio , Masticación , Mucosa Bucal , Membrana Mucosa , Conducta en la LactanciaRESUMEN
In this study, we investigated the effect of methanolic extract isolated from the root of Lycoris aurea (LA) on the growth of cancer cells and the tube formation activity of endothelial cells. Various cancer cells were treated with LA at doses of 0.3, 1, 3, 10 or 30 microg/ml and LA significantly suppressed the growth of several cancer cell lines, including ACHN, HCT-15, K-562, MCF-7, PC-3 and SK-OV-3, in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that LA induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in ACHN renal cell adenocarcinoma cells. Further study demonstrated that LA concentration-dependently inhibited the tube formation, which is a widely used in vitro model of reorganization stage of angiogenesis, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Collectively, these results show that LA inhibits the growth of cancer cells and tube formation of endothelial cells and the growth-inhibitory effect of LA might be mediated, at least in part, by blocking cell cycle progression.
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Carcinoma de Células Renales , Ciclo Celular , Puntos de Control del Ciclo Celular , Línea Celular , Células Endoteliales , Células Endoteliales de la Vena Umbilical Humana , Lycoris , MetanolRESUMEN
'Rice body' is a soft tissue nodule resembling shiny white rice-bean, which is occasionally observed at the juxta-articular area among patients with rheumatic arthritis and tuberculosis arthritis. A 45-year-old man was presented with tender cystic tumor on the volar aspect of the left third finger, which was noted 5 months prior to the visit. When performing a biopsy, numerous, whitish granular, 5~10 mm in size, and ovoid substances were observed, and found to be the major component of the cystic tumor. Histologically, the granules were consistent with the so-called 'rice bodies' (granules of inner acidophilic material surrounded by fibrin/collagen). With these findings, we report a case of rice body-containing cystic tumor clinically reminiscent of other cystic lesions, which can be seen on the finger around the joint structure.
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Humanos , Artritis , Biopsia , Dedos , Articulaciones , Fiebre Reumática , TuberculosisRESUMEN
Neurenteric cyst is a rare, congenital, and benign cystic lesion of the central nervous system, which is generally thought to result from failure of separation of the neuro-ectodermal and neuro-endodermal elements during week 3 of embryogenesis. Neurenteric cysts in the intracranial area are very rare lesions that typically occur in the spinal canal or even more seldom in the posterior cranial fossa. A girl presented to the outpatient clinic with complaints of moderate to severe episodes of headache with associated vomiting for 2 weeks. There was a positive sign of severe neck stiffness. Her brain MRI showed a neurenteric cyst located within the anterior intradural space of the foramen magnum. We report our experience with an intracranial neurenteric cyst located in the anterior brain stem area.
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Femenino , Embarazo , Instituciones de Atención Ambulatoria , Encéfalo , Tronco Encefálico , Sistema Nervioso Central , Fosa Craneal Posterior , Desarrollo Embrionario , Foramen Magno , Cefalea , Cuello , Defectos del Tubo Neural , Canal Medular , VómitosRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to demonstrate and assess C-reactive protein (CRP) changes in dogs with induced bacterial cystitis with or without antibiotics. We also evaluated availability of CRP levels to serve as an indicator for monitoring or diagnosing bacterial cystitis. Serial CRP concentrations in dogs with induced bacterial cystitis were higher than those of controls (p < 0.001). CRP concentrations peaked on day 7 and gradually decreased thereafter. In the treatment group, CRP concentrations decreased after medication compared to the untreated group (p = 0.032). CRP levels had a linear correlation with urine white blood cell counts among all groups (r = 0.837, p < 0.001, n = 140). Compared to the negative urine culture group, dogs with positive urine culture results had higher CRP concentrations (median 43.8 mg/L vs. 5.9 mg/L; p < 0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.955; when cut-off value was 12.2 mg/L, CRP measurements were found to have a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 86.4%. This result indicates that rapid increases of CRP occurred after inducing bacterial cystitis and CRP may be a useful indicator for monitoring or diagnosing canine bacterial cystitis together with sediment urinalysis and urine bacterial culture.
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Animales , Perros , Masculino , Combinación Amoxicilina-Clavulanato de Potasio/uso terapéutico , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Proteína C-Reactiva/genética , Cistitis/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , Inflamación/metabolismo , Infecciones por Proteus/tratamiento farmacológico , Proteus mirabilisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is in vivo cutaneous surface microscopy at 10~20 X magnification. It has been gaining in popularity in clinical dermatology. The recognition of dermoscopic features of melanoma and other skin lesions including seborrheic keratosis (SK) is valuable for improving clinical diagnostic accuracy and for reducing unnecessary excisions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the dermoscopic features observed in SK, estimate the prevalence of the findings among Korean patients, and compare findings between Koreans and Caucasian peoples. METHODS: A total of twenty five patients with biopsy-proven SK were selected. The dermoscopic features of SK that we investigated have been well described by Braun et al. including 'milia-like cyst' and 'comedo-like opening'. We determined the frequency of each feature. RESULTS: Among the twenty five SK cases, the main dermoscopic features of SK such as 'milia-like cyst' and 'comedo-like opening' were found in about half of cases (52% and 52%, respectively). Additional dermoscopic features and frequencies (in parenthesis) were: 'sharp demarcation' (92%), 'fissure' (72%), 'moth-eaten border' (56%), 'hairpin blood vessel' (20%), 'network-like structure' (20%), 'exophytic papillary pattern' (20%), and 'globular pattern' (4%). The frequency of 'hairpin blood vessel' and 'network-like structure' was significantly lower in Koreans than in Caucasians (p<0.05). The small size is a limitation of the study. CONCLUSION: Most dermoscopic features (morphology and frequency) of SK observed in Korean patients (with the relatively rare exception of additional features) are similar to the features reported for Caucasians.
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Humanos , Dermatología , Dermoscopía , Queratosis Seborreica , Melanoma , Microscopía , Prevalencia , PielRESUMEN
Infectious upper respiratory disease (IURD) of Thoroughbred racehorses has been a frequent problem (29.6% of incidence) at the Seoul Race Park (Korea). Risk factors for IURD include the season with a high transfer rate (summer and fall), the stabling period (< or = 3 months), and age (2 to 3 years old), suggesting that the movement and new environment may have depressed the immune system of the horses and decreased their ability to respond properly to pathogens. The bacterial strains (n = 98) isolated from IURD horses included Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and zooepidemicus.
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Animales , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones Bacterianas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/epidemiología , Caballos , Incidencia , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , República de Corea/epidemiología , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/epidemiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The number of the repatriated Korean students who had overseas study at early ages is increasing. They received foreign education, they can speak international languages, but they have many difficulties in articulation and intonation of the Korean language. This study aims to measure closure and aspiration duration, length of consonants, length of subsequent vowels, and ratio of consonants against subsequent vowels in vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) syllables. METHODS: This study compares the acoustic and phonetic characteristics of repatriated and native students, the ratio of articulation error of Korean plosives, the closure and aspiration duration, and the ratio of the aspiration duration against the closure duration. RESULTS: The ratio of articulation error of Korean plosives between repatriated and native students is 19% and 2%, respectively. The closure duration was significantly longer in repatriated students than in native students. The aspiration duration was significantly longer in repatriated students than in native students. No difference was found in the ratio of aspiration duration against closure duration between the native and repatriated students. CONCLUSION: This study can be a good reference for estimating the phonetic difficulties of Korean elementary students who had overseas study at early ages.
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Humanos , AcústicaRESUMEN
BubR1 mitotic checkpoint kinase monitors attachment of microtubules to kinetochores and links regulation of the chromosome-spindle attachment to mitotic checkpoint signaling. Defects in BubR1-mediated signaling severely perturb checkpoint control and are linked to diseases such as cancer. Studies using BubR1 mouse models suggest that BubR1 activities prevent premature aging and infertility. In this study, we show that BubR1 depletion in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) precedes loss of the differentiation potential and induction of replicative senescence. These effects occur independently of p16(INK4A) expression and may involve DNA methylation. Our results reveal a new and unsuspected feature of BubR1 expression in regulation of adult stem cell differentiation.
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Adulto , Humanos , Adipogénesis , Tejido Adiposo/citología , Senescencia Celular , Células Cultivadas , Metilación de ADN , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Genes p16 , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/genéticaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Epilepsy affects more than 0.5% of the world's population. It has a large genetic component and is caused by electrical hyperexcitability in the central nervous system. Despite its prevalence, the disease lacks definitive diagnostic serological biomarkers. To identify potential biomarkers for epilepsy by a convenient method, we analyzed the expression of serum proteins, reflecting alterations in the patient's proteomes. METHODS: We compared two-dimensional electrophoretic band patterns of human sera from eight patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with those of eight control subjects. The differentially expressed bands were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Twelve proteins were differentially expressed in the TLE group, of which 6 were identified. Expression of haptoglobin Hp2, PRO2675, immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gamma 2, an unnamed protein, and three unidentified proteins were upregulated in serum from the patients with TLE, whereas those of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen, plasma retinol-binding protein precursor, and three unidentified proteins were downregulated in these patients. After resection of the epileptogenic zone, the expressions of MHC class I antigen, immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gamma 2, two of the downregulated unidentified proteins, and one of the upregulated unidentified proteins returned to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The 12 serum proteins in this study are potentially useful biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of TLE.