Factors Affecting Happiness Among Rural Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey.

This cross-sectional and descriptive study aimed to investigate factors that affected the happiness of rural residents. The study used a convenience sample consisting of 1029 Korean rural residents from the Gyeong-gi Province collected between November and December 2014. The results found that people aged 60 and over were happier than those between 15 and 19 years old. Happiness was correlated with age, income, violence, social support, subjective health, depression, and suicidal ideation. Factors affecting the happiness of rural residents were depression, social support, suicidal ideation, and age, and these factors explained 48.0% of the variance in happiness. The results demonstrate that the happiness of rural residents was affected by various psychological factors and supportive intervention should be developed to enhance the happiness of people living in rural areas.

An Imported Case of Disseminated Echinococcosis in Korea.

A complicated case of echinococcosis with multiple organ involvement is reported in a 53-year-old businessman who frequently traveled overseas, including China, Russia, and Kazakhstan from 2001 to 2007. The patient was first diagnosed with a large liver cyst during a screening abdomen ultrasonography in 2011, but he did not follow up on the lesion afterwards. Six years later, dizziness, dysarthria, and cough developed, and cystic lesions were found in the brain, liver and lungs. The clinical course was complicated when the patient went through multiple surgeries and inadequate treatment with a short duration of albendazole without a definite diagnosis. The patient visited our hospital for the first time in August 2018 due to worsening symptoms; he was finally diagnosed with echinococcosis using imaging and serologic criteria. He is now on prolonged albendazole treatment (400 mg twice a day) with gradual clinical and radiological improvement. A high index of suspicion is warranted to early diagnose echinococcosis in a patient with a travel history to endemic areas of echinococcosis.

Factors Affecting Suicidal Ideation Among Middle-Aged Korean Women in an Urban-Rural Province.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect suicidal ideation among middle-aged Korean women in an urban-rural province. METHODS: This study used a convenience sample consisting of 196 middle-aged Korean women who live in Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected between November 2013 and January 2014. RESULTS: There were significant correlations among social relationships (r=-.18, p=.013), previous experiences of violence (r=.15, p=.032), subjective happiness (r=-.36, p<.001), depression (r=.44, p<.001), and suicidal ideation. Economic status, subjective happiness, and depression were found to have an effect on suicidal ideation (R(2)=.26). CONCLUSIONS: The study's results demonstrate that there needs to be greater focus on middle-aged women when considering mental health interventions in rural areas of Korea. The results may also contribute to the development of improved interventions for psychological health care.

Homer2 protein regulates plasma membrane Ca²âº-ATPase-mediated Ca²âº signaling in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.

Homer proteins are scaffold molecules with a domain structure consisting of an N-terminal Ena/VASP homology 1 protein-binding domain and a C-terminal leucine zipper/coiled-coil domain. The Ena/VASP homology 1 domain recognizes proline-rich motifs and binds multiple Ca(2+)-signaling proteins, including G protein-coupled receptors, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors, ryanodine receptors, and transient receptor potential channels. However, their role in Ca(2+) signaling in nonexcitable cells is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Homer2 on Ca(2+) signaling in parotid gland acinar cells using Homer2-deficient (Homer2(-/-)) mice. Homer2 is localized at the apical pole in acinar cells. Deletion of Homer2 did not affect inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor localization or channel activity and did not affect the expression and activity of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase pumps. In contrast, Homer2 deletion markedly increased expression of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) pumps, in particular PMCA4, at the apical pole. Accordingly, Homer2 deficiency increased Ca(2+) extrusion by acinar cells. These findings were supported by co-immunoprecipitation of Homer2 and PMCA in wild-type parotid cells and transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. We identified a Homer-binding PPXXF-like motif in the N terminus of PMCA that is required for interaction with Homer2. Mutation of the PPXXF-like motif did not affect the interaction of PMCA with Homer1 but inhibited its interaction with Homer2 and increased Ca(2+) clearance by PMCA. These findings reveal an important regulation of PMCA by Homer2 that has a central role on PMCA-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in parotid acinar cells.

Pseudoxanthomonas humi sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from rhizospheric soil of Fraxinus chinensis in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

A novel bacterial strain THG-MM13(T) was isolated from rhizospheric soil sample and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, and optimum growth temperature and pH were 28 °C and 7.0, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-MM13(T) (KM598260) belongs to the genus Pseudoxanthomonas and is most closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas wuyuanensis KCTC 23877(T) (97.4 %) (JN247803), followed by Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis KCTC 12208(T) (96.7 %) (AY550263) and Pseudoxanthomonas yeongjuensis KACC 11580(T) (96.7 %) (DQ438977). The DNA G + C content was 63.7 mol%, and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (31.3 %) and iso-C16:0 (19.3 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain THG-MM13(T) and P. wuyuanensis KCTC 23877(T) was below 50 %. The DNA-DNA hybridization result and results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain THG-MM13(T) represented a novel species within the genus Pseudoxanthomonas, for which the name Pseudoxanthomonas humi is proposed. The type strain is THG-MM13(T) (=KACC 18280(T) = CCTCC AB 2015122(T)).

De novo biosynthesis of 2'-fucosyllactose by bioengineered Corynebacterium glutamicum.

2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) which is well-known human milk oligosaccharide was biotechnologically synthesized using engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum, a GRAS microbial workhorse. By construction of the complete de novo pathway for GDP-L-fucose supply and heterologous expression of Escherichia coli lactose permease and Helicobacter pylori α-1,2-fucosyltransferase, bioengineered C. glutamicum BCGW_TL successfully biosynthesized 0.25 g L-1 2'-FL from glucose. The additional genetic perturbations including the expression of a putative 2'-FL exporter and disruption of the chromosomal pfkA gene allowed C. glutamicum BCGW_cTTLEΔP to produce 2.5 g L-1 2'-FL batchwise. Finally, optimized fed-batch cultivation of the BCGW_cTTLEΔP using glucose, fructose, and lactose resulted in 21.5 g L-1 2'-FL production with a productivity of 0.12 g L-1 •h, which were more than 3.3 times higher value relative to the batch culture of the BCGW_TL. Conclusively, it would be a groundwork to adopt C. glutamicum for biotechnological production of other food additives including human milk oligosaccharides.

Radiologic differences in white matter maturation between preterm and full-term infants: TBSS study.

BACKGROUND: Widespread white matter (WM) pathology in preterm children has been proposed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate maturational differences of WM between preterm infants with thinning of the corpus callosum and full-term infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 preterm children and 18 full-term children were divided into three subgroups according to the corrected age at the time of diffusion tensor imaging scanning. Tract-based spatial statistics was used for assessing differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between preterm and full-term children, and between each age-related subgroup in preterm and in full-term children. RESULTS: In the preterm group, FA values of overall WM showed an increase with age. This trend indicates that WM maturation is a gradual occurrence during a child's first 2 years. In the full-term group, most WM structures had reached maturation at around 1 year of age; however, centrum semiovale level showed sustained maturation during the first 2 years. CONCLUSION: Results of our study demonstrate radiologic maturational differences of WM and provide evidence of the need for therapeutic intervention within 2 years of birth to prevent specific functional impairment and to improve clinical outcome in preterm children.

Mental Health and Smoking-Related Determinants of Alcohol Drinking Experience in Korean Adolescents.

This study aimed to identify the determinants of mental health and smoking-related behaviors among Korean adolescents with drinking experience. Secondary data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2021) were analyzed. The final study sample consisted of data from 5905 adolescents with a history of smoking. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the factors related to drinking experience. The factors that influenced alcohol drinking were sex, school level, academic performance, self-reported depression, and smoking. The results of this study showed that there are numerous factors affecting adolescents' drinking experience. Early education and interventions are needed to reduce alcohol consumption among adolescents. Integrated attention and support from society, school, and family are necessary so that they can cope with and adapt to stress in a healthy way.

High energy dissipation-based process to improve the rheological properties of bentonite drilling muds by reducing the particle size.

Drilling mud is a multi-phase fluid that is used in the petroleum drilling process. Bentonite is the most important constituent of drilling mud; it endows the drilling mud with its rheological behaviors, such as viscosity, yield stress, and shear thinning. The process of manufacturing microscale bentonite at the nanoscale level is very promising for commercializing nano-based drilling mud. In contrast to the conventional method using the impeller, bentonite was manufactured in its nanoparticle state in the present work through ultrasonic and homogenizer processes in the solution state. In case of the ultrasonic process, the viscosity increase in the low shear rate region before and after processing of the 5 wt% bentonite-based mud and the rheological properties in the presence of polymer additive were compared. In case of the homogenizer process, the rheological properties of 3 wt% bentonite-based mud employed through the homogenizer process and 5 wt% mud prepared generally were compared. Both processes reported improvement of rheological properties, in which shear thinning behavior strongly occurred when particle size decreased through FE-SEM, TEM image analysis, and particle size analyzer. A regularized Herschel-Bulkley model suitable for rheological quantitative explanation of drilling mud including yield stress was selected. The homogenizer process has the potential to be applied in the petroleum drilling industry for large-scale production, and the mechanism was confirmed by numerical analyses. In conclusion, we presented a simple and easy-to-apply process to rapidly produce nano-based drilling mud.

A comparison of microstructural maturational changes of the corpus callosum in preterm and full-term children: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm children with thinning of the corpus callosum (CC) frequently achieve poor neurodevelopmental outcomes despite the absence of a definite brain lesion. Here, the authors compared the microstructural characteristics of the CC in preterm and full-term children using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: Twenty-two preterm children with no definite focal lesion but with thinning of the CC by conventional magnetic resonance imaging and 23 age-matched full-term children were investigated by DTI. CCs were subdivided into genu, rostral body, body, isthmus, and splenium, and voxel counts (VC), fractional anisotropies (FA), and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were measured in each subdivision. Eleven preterm and 11 age-matched full-term subjects underwent follow-up scanning and interval changes in these parameters for each subdivision were compared. RESULTS: VC and FA were significantly lower in the preterm group than in the full-term group, particularly in the isthmus. Furthermore, incremental changes in VC and FA were significantly smaller in the preterm group. Differences in maturation between the two groups were more pronounced with age in all subdivisions except the splenium. At all ages, noticeable FA differences between the two groups were observed in the isthmus. For white matter tracts, the preterm group displayed lower FA and fiber number, higher ADC values than the term group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that thinning of the CC is correlated with lower FA value and that it is more pronounced in preterm children. In addition, the isthmus was found to be the most vulnerable subdivision in preterm children.

Silver nanoparticles enhanced luminescence of terbium complex in solution for L-dopa determination.

Luminescent properties of a terbium (Tb3+)-L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) complex by binding to colloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been presented. Luminescence intensity of the L-dopa complex was dramatically enhanced about 6-7 times by introducing Ag NPs. The Ag NPs concentration on the luminescent intensity was regarded as a main factor that balancing between an enhancing and a quenching effect of the Ag NPs. It was observed that changing the concentration of L-dopa causes the change in luminescence intensity. Under the optimized condition, the luminescence intensity of the system was linearly related to the concentration of L-dopa. Based on this observation, L-dopa-Tb3+ complex containing Ag NPs has been applied for the determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical formulation. Linear responses of luminescence intensity were observed in the concentration range of 0.25 to 1.5 nM (r = 0.9934) of L-dopa with limit of detection 0.042 nM. The performance of the system was tested using 1.0 x 10(-9) M of L-dopa, yielding a precision of 1.21% RSD for nine replicate measurements. The present method has been successfully applied to determine L-dopa in pharmaceutical samples.

Antimicrobial and indicator properties of edible film containing clove bud oil-loaded chitosan capsules and red cabbage for fish preservation.

For safe preservation and consumption of fish, freshness monitoring and antimicrobial control is crucial. Edible films comprising natural antimicrobial and spoilage indicator agents represent a convenient method for such preservation. Edible chitosan-based films were prepared using red cabbage (RC) and clove bud oil (CBO)-loaded chitosan/carrageenan capsules as spoilage indicator and antimicrobial agents, respectively. CBO-loaded capsules were prepared by the ionic gelation of chitosan and carrageenan. Films containing CBO capsules exhibited significantly higher antimicrobial activity than films containing non-encapsulated free CBO, as confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration and time-kill assays. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed in the largest capsules (1.7 µm). After incubation for 48 h, the pH of fish peptone agar containing Pseudomonas fluorescens increased from approximately 6.0 to 9.0, and a color change from purple to deep blue was clearly observed during the growth of fish-spoiling bacteria. Thus, our results suggested that edible films containing CBO-loaded capsules and RC showed the potential to inhibit microbial growth in fish and to visibly indicate fish freshness.

[Factors influencing suicidal ideation among female late adolescents from a Korean rural province]. / 한국 농촌 후기 ì²­ì†Œë „ 여성의 자살 생각에 영향을 미치는 요인.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine factors affecting suicidal ideation among female late adolescents from a Korean rural province. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design involving self-reported questionnaires was used. The data were collected from female adolescents aged 18 to 22 years, from high schools, universities, churches, and local community centers. The sample consisted of 197 female late adolescents from three rural areas in Korea. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and the Suicidal Ideation Scale were used to measure depression and suicidal ideation, respectively. Results: Suicidal ideation was correlated with having a specific suicide plan (r=.65, p<.001), depression (r=.39, p<.001), subjective well-being (r=-.46, p<.001), ever experienced violence (r=.15, p=.029), and age (r=-.21, p=.003). Factors affecting suicidal ideation among rural female adolescents were having a specific suicide plan (ß=.56, p<.001), subjective well-being (ß=-.23, p=.001), and suicide of a close person (ß=.12, p=.035). These factors explained 48.0% of the variance in suicidal ideation (F=37.62, p<.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that affective factors and personal experiences regarding suicide were critical indicators for suicidal ideation among female late adolescents. These factors should be managed and tailored nursing should be offered to prevent suicide and enhance the psychiatric health of female late adolescents.

Unusual Thermal Conductivity of Carbon Nanosheets with Self-Emerged Graphitic Carbon Dots.

The thermal conductivity (κ) of two-dimensional conducting and transparent carbon nanosheets (CNSs) prepared by a catalyst- and transfer-free process is calculated for the first time by the optothermal Raman technique. A systematic structural analysis of CNSs reveals that the thickness of polymer films affects the interaction between molecules and a Si wafer significantly, thus helping to determine the ratio of sp2 and sp3 bonding configurations of carbon (C) atoms in the CNS. Notably, the holding time of carbonization can realize a hierarchical structure with graphitic carbon dots emerging from the CNS through the rearrangement of carbon atoms, leading to the excellent κ value of 540 W/(m·K) at 310 K. It is demonstrated that an appropriate increase in carbonization time can be an effective approach for improving the ratio of sp2- to sp3-bonded C atoms in the CNS. The thermal conductivity of the CNS with the highest ratio of sp2- to sp3-bonded C atoms exhibits superior behavior and is comparable to that of reduced graphene oxide and supported graphene, respectively. Finally, when the CNS with the highest κ value of 540 W/(m·K) was applied to a heater as the heat-dissipating material, the heater showed the temperature decrease by 14 °C compared to the case without the CNS. The catalyst- and transfer-free approach for the synthesis of CNSs is highly desirable for use as heat sink materials or substrates with heat dissipation functions for extensively integrated electronic devices.

Chrysanthemum Morifolium Extract And Ascorbic Acid-2-Glucoside (AA2G) Blend Inhibits UVA-Induced Delayed Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer (CPD) Production In Melanocytes.

BACKGROUND: Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) induces DNA damages in skin via direct absorption of UVB or indirectly by photosensitization mediated through UVA. Recent findings have revealed that UVA induces cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) generation via chemiexcitation in melanocytes hours after the exposure. This UVA-induced delayed CPD (dark CPD) constitutes the majority of CPD in melanocytes. These findings indicate that sun light can damage the skin hours after the exposure, suggesting the need for skin care products post sun exposure. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether a blend of Chrysanthemum Morifolium flower extract (Chrys) and vitamin C derivative, Ascorbic Acid-2-Glucoside (AA2G), can provide protective effects against reactive oxygen species, melanin formation and UVA-induced dark CPD. METHODS: Intracellular ROS levels were measured in epidermal keratinocytes using DHR123 dye. Melanogenesis inhibition efficacy was determined using B16 cells. As for the dark CPD measurement, Melan-a cells were treated with or without actives for 6 days, then irradiated with UVA at various doses. Cells were exposed with anti-CPD mAb followed by secondary Ab. CPD levels were determined by measuring fluorescent intensity using a high content imaging analysis. RESULTS: Chrys, AA2G and their blend at various concentrations demonstrated ROS scavenging activity. Though Chrys alone did not show significant melanogenesis inhibition in B16 assay, the blend of Chrys with AA2G demonstrated additive effects in comparison with AA2G alone. The blend of AA2G and Chrys at various concentrations exhibited enhanced efficacy for inhibiting dark CPD compared to AA2G alone. CONCLUSION: The results from this study indicate that the use of natural antioxidant, Chrys in combination with AA2G, provides protection against UVA-induced delayed CPD formation by enhancing ROS scavenging activity and melanogenesis inhibition. These findings could potentially be applied for formulating post-sun exposure skin care products, possibly extending to evening-after care products.

Influence of MoS2 Nanosheet Size on Performance of Drilling Mud.

Water-based drilling mud (WBM) is a non-Newtonian fluid that has a variety of applications such as in transporting cuttings during drilling, protecting the borehole, and cooling the drill bit. With the development of nano-technology, various nanoparticles have been synthesized and have been added to WBM to improve its performance. Shear thinning is the most important factor in drilling mud and this attribute can be improved when two-dimensional particles are added. MoS2 nanoparticles, which represent a typical two-dimensional material, are easy to synthesize in large quantities and have a high thermal conductivity and low coefficient of friction. Since the two-dimensional structure, thermal conductivity, and low coefficient of friction of MoS2 would improve the performance of WBM, we experimented with MoS2 nanosheets as an additive, under optimal conditions, using various samples each with uniform sizes and thicknesses of nanosheets. A large amount of MoS2 nanosheets was synthesized, sorted by thickness and diameter, and added to drilling mud. The diameter of MoS2 was divided into a small diameter group (about 100⁻400 nm) and a big diameter group (about 300⁻650 nm), and the thickness was divided into 1⁻2 nm and 5⁻10 nm groups. Experimental results showed that when MoS2 is added to WBM, shear thinning occurs more strongly. In addition, the addition of MoS2 with a thickness of 1⁻2 nm and a diameter of 300⁻650 nm resulted in the highest increase in viscosity and thermal conductivity of WBM. As a result, we experimentally confirmed that MoS2 can be used as an additive to increase the thermal conductivity and viscosity of WBM and to make shear thinning phenomenon more.

K6PC-5, a sphingosine kinase activator, induces anti-aging effects in intrinsically aged skin through intracellular Ca2+ signaling.

BACKGROUND: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite, regulates multiple cellular responses such as Ca(2+) signaling, growth, survival, and differentiation. Because sphingosine kinase (SK) is the enzyme directly responsible for the production of S1P, many factors have been identified that regulate its activity and subsequent S1P levels. To date, there are no reports to demonstrate a chemically induced, direct activation of SK. OBJECTIVE: Here we have studied the effects of K6PC-5 as a newly synthesized SK activator on fibroblast proliferation in both human fibroblasts and aged mouse skin. To demonstrate that K6PC-5 has S1P-mediated action mechanism in fibroblasts, we have measured SK-dependent intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. METHODS: Fibroblasts were cultured primarily from human foreskin and were used to study the effect of K6PC-5 and S1P on intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and fibroblast proliferation. Changes in intracellular Ca(2+) were detected by fluorescence with fura-2/AM. To study skin anti-aging effects of K6PC-5, we used intrinsically aged hairless mice (56 weeks old). RESULTS: K6PC-5 promoted fibroblast proliferation and procollagen production in human fibroblasts significantly. K6PC-5 induced intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) oscillations in human fibroblasts. Both dimethylsphingosine and dihydroxysphingosine, SK inhibitors, and the transfection of SK1-siRNA blocked the K6PC-5-induced increases in [Ca(2+)](i), an effect independent of the classical PLC/IP(3)-mediated pathway. The K6PC-5-induced [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations were dependent on thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+) stores and Ca(2+) entry. Topical application of K6PC-5 for 2 weeks to intrinsically aged hairless mice enhanced fibroblast proliferation, collagen production, and eventually increased dermal thickness (10%). K6PC-5 also promoted specific epidermal differentiation marker proteins, including involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, and keratin 5, without any alterations on epidermal barrier function. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that K6PC-5 acts to regulate fibroblast proliferation through intracellular S1P production, and can further promote keratinocyte differentiation. We anticipate that the regulation of S1P levels may represent a novel approach for the treatment of skin disorders, including skin aging.

Alteration of expression of Ca2+ signaling proteins and adaptation of Ca2+ signaling in SERCA2+/- mouse parotid acini.

PURPOSE: The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), encoded by ATP2A2, is an essential component for G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-dependent Ca2+ signaling. However, whether the changes in Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ signaling proteins in parotid acinar cells are affected by a partial loss of SERCA2 are not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In SERCA2+/- mouse parotid gland acinar cells, Ca2+ signaling, expression levels of Ca2+ signaling proteins, and amylase secretion were investigated. RESULTS: SERCA2+/- mice showed decreased SERCA2 expression and an upregulation of the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase. A partial loss of SERCA2 changed the expression level of 1, 4, 5-tris-inositolphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), but the localization and activities of IP3Rs were not altered. In SERCA2+/- mice, muscarinic stimulation resulted in greater amylase release, and the expression of synaptotagmin was increased compared to wild type mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a partial loss of SERCA2 affects the expression and activity of Ca2+ signaling proteins in the parotid gland acini, however, overall Ca2+ signaling is unchanged.

E2F1 Mediates the Retinoic Acid-Induced Transcription of Tshz1 during Neuronal Differentiation in a Cell Division-Dependent Manner.

The involvement of cell division in cellular differentiation has long been accepted. Cell division may be required not only for the expansion of a differentiated cell population but also for the execution of differentiation processes. Nonetheless, knowledge regarding how specific differentiation processes are controlled in a cell division-dependent manner is far from complete. Here, we determined the involvement of cell division in neuronal differentiation. We initially confirmed that cell division is an essential event for the neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells. We investigated the induction mechanisms of Tshz1, whose expression is induced by retinoic acid (RA) in a cell division-dependent manner. Promoter analysis of Tshz1 revealed a specific region required for RA-dependent transcription. A series of experiments was used to identify E2F1 as the induction factor for the RA-dependent transcription of Tshz1 We propose that E2F1 mediates neuronal differentiation in a cell division-dependent manner.

Alveolar Bone Protective Effect of Hiziki Extracts on the Progression of Periodontitis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hiziki extract on alveolar bone loss, inflammation, and osteo-biomarker expression in hPDL cells (10, 50, 100 µg/ml final concentrations in culture medium) and on a ligature-induced periodontitis rat model (50, 100, 200 mg/kg with oral administration). Hiziki extract increased alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralized nodule formation in hPDL cell. In western blot analysis, hiziki extract resulted in increased expression of osteoblast markers, including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), SMAD anchor for receptor activation (SARA) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) in hDPL cells. Additionally, expression of osteoclast markers and inflammatory cytokines was inhibited, which were receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), RANK receptor (RANKL) and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1). Hiziki extract also prevented alveolar bone loss in a ligature-induced periodontitis rat model through reducing the distance between cementoenamel junction and alveolar bone crest (CBJ-ABC) and furcation involvement. These findings suggested that hiziki extract has prophylactic potential for the prevention of periodontitis through anti-inflammation and, anti-bone resorption effects and the inhibition of alveolar bone destruction.