The Impact of Indoor Environmental Factors on Skin Hydration of Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Preliminary Study

Objective@#Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that is diagnosed by clinical characteristics including itchiness, eczema, dry skin, etc. High levels of indoor air pollutants may exacerbate atopic diseases, along with various allergic respiratory diseases, especially for those who spend most of their lives indoors. This study was conducted to evaluate the main components responsible for the aggravation of AD symptoms. @*Methods@#A total of 31 patients with AD aged 6 months and 6 years old were enrolled. The measurement of air quality included particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 in their homes. The symptom severity of AD was assessed by the daily record of symptom scores and the degree of skin hydration. @*Results@#The skin hydration level at the most severe area selected by the patient’s caregiver was decreased by median 1.7% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.4%–3.0%) or median 15% (IQR, 5.3%–24%) with a unit increase of indoor PM2.5 (P=0.0133) or room temperature (P=0.0034). CO2 also showed a potentially negative association with the change of skin hydration level but it was not statistically significant. @*Conclusion@#Our study showed that indoor PM2.5 and temperature could impact the aggravation of skin hydration in children. Therefore, further studies including a large number of cases and interventions are necessary.

The Impact of Indoor Environmental Factors on Skin Hydration of Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Preliminary Study

Objective@#Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that is diagnosed by clinical characteristics including itchiness, eczema, dry skin, etc. High levels of indoor air pollutants may exacerbate atopic diseases, along with various allergic respiratory diseases, especially for those who spend most of their lives indoors. This study was conducted to evaluate the main components responsible for the aggravation of AD symptoms. @*Methods@#A total of 31 patients with AD aged 6 months and 6 years old were enrolled. The measurement of air quality included particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 in their homes. The symptom severity of AD was assessed by the daily record of symptom scores and the degree of skin hydration. @*Results@#The skin hydration level at the most severe area selected by the patient’s caregiver was decreased by median 1.7% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.4%–3.0%) or median 15% (IQR, 5.3%–24%) with a unit increase of indoor PM2.5 (P=0.0133) or room temperature (P=0.0034). CO2 also showed a potentially negative association with the change of skin hydration level but it was not statistically significant. @*Conclusion@#Our study showed that indoor PM2.5 and temperature could impact the aggravation of skin hydration in children. Therefore, further studies including a large number of cases and interventions are necessary.

Correlation of Caries Experience and Activity between Mothers and Their Children Using a Colorimetric Test / 대한소아치과학회지

The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of Cariview®, a new colorimetric caries activity test, with CRT® bacteria, a conventional bacterial culture method. In addition, this study assesses the correlation between the dental caries experience and activity between mothers and their children.34 pairs of mothers and their children under the age of 6 years participated in this study with informed consent. After filling out a questionnaire and oral examination, the two caries activity tests above were performed on each subject.In the results, Cariview® scores were statistically significant with children's caries experience (r = 0.598, p <0.01) and showed higher correlation than CRT® bacteria scores. Cariview® scores showed statistically significant correlation with the number of decayed teeth in both mothers and children (p <0.05). In both Cariview® and CRT® bacteria tests, there was no statistically significant correlation between caries experience and caries activity (p > 0.05).Cariview® colorimetric test will be clinically useful for predicting future caries risk and establishing a preventative strategy in pediatric dentistry.

The Scaffolding Protein, Grb2-associated Binder-1, in Skeletal Muscles and Terminal Schwann Cells Regulates Postnatal Neuromuscular Synapse Maturation

The vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is considered as a “tripartite synapse” consisting of a motor axon terminal, a muscle endplate, and terminal Schwann cells that envelope the motor axon terminal. The neuregulin 1 (NRG1)-ErbB2 signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of the NMJ. We previously showed that Grb2-associated binder 1 (Gab1), a scaffolding mediator of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, is required for NRG1-induced peripheral nerve myelination. Here, we determined the role of Gab1 in the development of the NMJ using muscle-specific conditional Gab1 knockout mice. The mutant mice showed delayed postnatal maturation of the NMJ. Furthermore, the selective loss of the gab1 gene in terminal Schwann cells produced delayed synaptic elimination with abnormal morphology of the motor endplate, suggesting that Gab1 in both muscles and terminal Schwann cells is required for proper NMJ development. Gab1 in terminal Schwann cells appeared to regulate the number and process elongation of terminal Schwann cells during synaptic elimination. However, Gab2 knockout mice did not show any defects in the development of the NMJ. Considering the role of Gab1 in postnatal peripheral nerve myelination, our findings suggest that Gab1 is a pleiotropic and important component of NRG1 signals during postnatal development of the peripheral neuromuscular system.

Effect of CORE Program on Cognitive, Social and Emotional Characteristics of Sex Offenders / 대한법의학회지

The purpose of this study was to develop the CORE Program for sex offenders and to determine its effectiveness. The CORE Program was designed with an aim to achieve cognitive restructuring, improve the ability to empathize in interpersonal relationships, and enhance self-esteem and intimacy. We conducted this program over 48 sessions for 28 sex offenders. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated using the Interpersonal Responsiveness Index (IRI), Self-esteem Questionnaire (SEQ), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS), and Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ). The data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Our results showed no significant changes in the SEQ, UCLALS, and IRI scores after the treatment program. However, the scores for the CUSI, RMAS, and WSFQ significantly improved after this program. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the CORE Program for sex offenders. We also discuss the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research. Our findings indicate that this treatment program should be provided to sex offenders for preventing recidivism.

Investigation of Murine Norovirus Replication in RAW264.7 Cells by Strand-specific RT-PCR

Murine norovirus (MNV) is a non-enveloped virus with a positive-sense RNA genome and causes lethal infection in mice. MNV has been used as a model virus for human norovirus (NV) whose in vitro cell culture system has not been available to date since MNV and NV are genetically related. In this study, the genome replication of MNV was investigated using strand-specific RT-PCR in RAW264.7 cells. Reverse transcription (RT) using a sense primer followed by PCR showed that negative-sense RNAs were first detected in RAW264.7 cells between 6 and 9 [3 and 6] hours post infection (h.p.i.). However, these negative-sense RNAs were not detected when cells were treated with a translation inhibitor cycloheximide. Then, RT with an antisense primer followed by PCR was performed to detect positive-sense RNAs. RT-PCR results revealed that the amount of positive-sense RNAs began to increase from 9 [6] h.p.i., indicating the accumulation of the newly synthesized (+)RNA genome. Furthermore, cycloheximide abrogated the increase of newly made RNAs during MNV infection. In conclusion, strand-specific RT-PCR using a sense or antisense primer, in combination with cycloheximide treatment, enabled us to detect positive-sense and negative-sense RNAs selectively and provided a useful tool to understand the replication cycle of MNV.

Transient lysosomal activation is essential for p75 nerve growth factor receptor expression in myelinated Schwann cells during Wallerian degeneration / 대한해부학회지

Myelinated Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system express the p75 nerve growth factor receptor (p75NGFR) as a consequence of Schwann cell dedifferentiation during Wallerian degeneration. p75NGFR has been implicated in the remyelination of regenerating nerves. Although many studies have shown various mechanisms underlying Schwann cell dedifferentiation, the molecular mechanism contributing to the re-expression of p75NGFR in differentiated Schwann cells is largely unknown. In the present study, we found that lysosomes were transiently activated in Schwann cells after nerve injury and that the inhibition of lysosomal activation by chloroquine or lysosomal acidification inhibitors prevented p75NGFR expression at the mRNA transcriptional level in an ex vivo Wallerian degeneration model. Lysosomal acidification inhibitors suppressed demyelination, but not axonal degeneration, thereby suggesting that demyelination mediated by lysosomes may be an important signal for inducing p75NGFR expression. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been suggested to be involved in regulating p75NGFR expression in Schwann cells. In this study, we found that removing TNF-alpha in vivo did not significantly suppress the induction of both lysosomes and p75NGFR. Thus, these findings suggest that lysosomal activation is tightly correlated with the induction of p75NGFR in demyelinating Schwann cells during Wallerian degeneration.

Development of RT-PCR Method to Detect Various Human Enteric Viruses

Human enteric viruses are one of the major causes of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks. A rapid and precise detection of virus is critical for prompt diagnosis. For this purpose, nucleic acid-based techniques such as reverse transcription (RT)-PCR have been developed. Although RT-PCR is a rapid, specific and sensitive method to detect virus, many steps or reactions are required, especially when various types of viruses are targeted. In this study, we developed a quick and effective method to detect human enteric viruses with a few reactions. Our candidate viruses were as follows: one DNA virus (adenovirus: AdV) and seven RNA viruses including poliovirus (PV), coxsackievirus A (CoxA) and B (CoxB), human rotavirus (HRV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), norovirus (NorV), and astrovirus (AstV). With this amount of samples, theoretically, a total of fifteen biomolecular reactions have to be performed, which include seven RT reactions and eight subsequent PCR with specific primers in each case. Specific primers, enterovirus universal primers, and random primers were applied independently to compare the outcomes of RT and PCR steps in each viral sample. We found that random 9-mer is ideal for the RT reactions of RNA viruses with negligible differences in sensitivity and specificity of viral detection except HRV. Hence, HRV cDNA generated by HRV-specific primer and AdV DNA were amplified in a single tube by duplex PCR. The cDNAs generated by RT using random 9-mers were divided into two reaction tubes without losing sensitivity: one duplex PCR detects enteroviruses (PV, CoxA, CoxB) and HAV, the other detects NorV and AstV. In conclusion, it is possible to detect eight enteric viruses with a substantially reduced number of reactions, which are composed of five reactions, two RT and three PCR reactions.

Surveillance of Acute Gastroenteritis in Seoul, Korea, During May 2004 and June 2007

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE), which is one of the most common diseases worldwide, primarily occurs in infants and young children in both developed and developing countries. To investigate the prevalence of AGE in Korea, 6,788 stool specimens collected from hospitalized patients with AGE in Seoul, Korea from March 2004 to June 2007 were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay, reverse transcription-PCR, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Enteric viruses and bacteria were detected in 2,955 (43.5%) and 1,389 (20.5%) specimens, respectively. Among the enteric viruses detected, rotavirus (19.7%) and norovirus (18.9%) were the predominant causative agents, followed by adenovirus (2.5%) and astrovirus (2.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly observed bacteria (8.0~19.2%). The epidemic peaks of the enteric viruses were October to December for norovirus, January to May for rotavirus, and August to October for adenovirus. The seasonal activity of rotavirus was shifted from winter to late spring. However, astrovirus did not display seasonal activity in this study. Although viral AGE primarily occurred in patients younger than 5 years of age, the incidence of viral AGE in children aged 6 to 14 years was significant. The results of this study will contribute to the currently available epidemiological data and improve public health and hygiene via amelioration of diagnostic methods and longitudinal surveillance.

Transient downregulation of protein O-N-acetylglucosaminylation by treatment of high-dose nicotinamide in human cells

Nicotinamide at millimolar concentrations affects cell survival in various conditions, and is being utilized therapeutically in many human diseases. However, the effect of an acute treatment of nicotinamide at such high dose on gene expression and cellular metabolism has rarely been determined previously. In this study, we found that levels of O-N-acetylglucosamin(O- GlcNAc)ylated proteins including Sp1 acutely decreased upon treatment of 10 mM nicotinamide. Concomitantly, Sp1 protein level decreased rapidly through accelerated proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Cotreatment of glucosamine or 2-deoxyglucose, which inhibits protein deGlcNAcylation, effectively blocked the decrease induced by nicotinamide. Interestingly, the decline in the levels of Sp1 and protein O- GlcNAcylation was only transient lasting for two days post treatment, and this pattern matched closely the rapid fluctuation of the cellular [NAD(+)]. Our results suggest a possible link between cellular nicotinamide metabolism and protein O-GlcNAcylation, and an existence of cellular [NAD(+)] homeostasis.

Development of UPSR Primer Design Program for Efficient Detection of Viruses

PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for detection of viruses from clinical samples and good primers are essential for successful PCR. However, high mutation rate of viral genomes often results in failure in detecting viruses, and there have been attempts to develop primers from multiple viral sequences. Thus, we developed a program called Universal Primers Score Ranking (UPSR) which generates primers from multiple sequences and ranks the quality of primers automatically. The feasibility of the UPSR program was tested using hepatitis B viruses (HBV) isolated from Korean patients. UPSR generated primer candidates with quality score ranks according to two T(m) values. We found that T(m2) values calculated based on the thermodynamics of nearest neighboring bases were better correlated with actual detection rate of HBV from patients' sera. The primer with number 1 rank by T(m2) values detected more samples than any other primers designed by UPSR, commercial primer, or other reference primers suggested by previous literatures. Thus, UPSR proved to be easy and useful to design primers from multiples sequences in detecting viruses.

Effect of Dietary Fat and Genistein on Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidant Activity in Hyperlipidemic Male Rats induced High Fat Diet

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary factors, normal fat and genistein leads to beneficial improvement of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in adult hyperlipidemic male rats. Seven wk-old male SD rats were fed high fat diet (15% fat, 1% cholesterol) for 4 wks for induction of hyperlipidemic model rat. Weight-matched rats were then assigned to four groups according to dietary fat level (7% or 15% fat) and genistein contents (0 or 320 mg/kg diet). Food intake was significantly decreased by both high fat intake and genistein supplementation compared with normal fat intake and genistein no supplementaion. But weight gain was significantly decreased by genistein supplementation in normal fat intake compared with the other groups. Total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum and liver were significantly decreased by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. But total cholesterol in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation in both high fat and normal fat intake. TBARS in serum and liver was less produced by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake but TBARS in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation compared with genistein no supplementation in normal fat intake. Glutathione reductase activity in erythrocytes was significantly reduced by genistein supplementation in normal fat intake compared with the other groups. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in liver were significantly inhibited by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. Catalase activity in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation compared with genistein no supplementation in high fat intake. Nitrite was significantly decreased by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. These results suggest that normal fat intake has the treatment effect against risk factors related with cardiovascular disease by reducing lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation. And genistein shows action as a antioxidant replacing antioxidant enzymes but also may act as prooxidant causing the production of TBARS.

Effects of Soy Isoflavone Intake on Nitrite Content and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Male Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

This study was performed to investigate the effect of soy isoflavone on plasma nitrite concentration and the antioxidant enzyme activities of erythrocyte and the liver using adult male rats fed high fat diet. Seven-week old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed high fat diet (15% beef tallow, 1% cholesterol; control: IF0) or high fat diets containing isoflavone 80 ppm (IF80) or 320 ppm (IF320) for 10 weeks. Plasma nitrite concentration as a vasodilator, and antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes and the liver were measured. Plasma nitrite concentration was increased by 45% and 35%, respectively, in IF80 and IF320 than in IF0 group. Erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased by 31%, 30% and 40% in IF320 compared to IF0 group. Especially, erythrocyte GR activity increased by 61% in IF80 group. However, catalase activity in the liver was decreased in IF80 group. GPx and GR activities in the liver were not differ among groups. The results suggest that soy isoflavone have the protective effect against risk factors related with cardiovascular disease by improving vasodilator factor, nitrite, and antioxidant enzyme activities in blood.