Assessment of the Caries Detection Ability of Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) in Primary Teeth in vitro / 대한소아치과학회지

The aim of this study was to evaluate QLF (quantitative light-induced fluorescence) technology for the caries detection in primary teeth and validate the relationships between the cavity volume of carious lesions and QLF analysis results. Total 125 tooth surfaces include 53 occlusal surfaces, and 72 proximal surfaces were investigated with the portable QLF device for detection of dental caries in primary molars. Micro-CT radiograph was also performed to classify carious lesions and calculate the cavity volume. QLF showed good accuracy and reliability (sensitivity 0.75 - 0.94, specificity 0.82 - 0.95, and AUROC 0.88 - 0.98) for the caries detection in primary teeth except ΔR average results of proximal caries which showed relatively low values. Statistically significant relationships were found between ΔF average, QS-Index and the cavity volume according to Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients (r = 0.805 - 0.832, p < 0.001). QLF detection method would be a harmless and reliable way for children to diagnose dental caries without the concern about radiation exposure.

Association between periodontal flap surgery for periodontitis and vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in Koreans

PURPOSE: The National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort and medical checkup data from 2002 to 2013 were used to evaluate the association between periodontal surgery for the treatment of periodontitis (PSTP) and vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (VED). METHODS: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to a longitudinal retrospective database to assess the association between PSTP and VED while adjusting for the potential confounding effects of sociodemographic factors (age, household income, insurance status, health status, residence area, and smoking status) and comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction, and myocardial infarction). RESULTS: Among the 7,148 PSTP within the 268,296 recruited subjects, the overall prevalence of VED in PSTP was 1.43% (n=102). The bivariate analysis showed that VED was significantly related to PSTP (odds ratio [OR], 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38–2.06; P<0.001), and this was confirmed in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06–1.58; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with a history of periodontal flap surgery had a significantly higher risk of VED, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Further studies are required to identify the key mechanisms underlying the association between severe periodontal disease and VED.

Impaired Antioxidant Ability of HDL and More Oxidized LDL are associated with Male Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia which is generally more prevalent in the elderly population. However, the new onset of AF is frequently found in young populations. In order to identify putative prognostic biomarkers for detection of young-onset AF, we purified and characterized lipoproteins in terms of oxidative and inflammatory properties. METHODS: Male patients with AF (46±7 years of age, n=19) were recruited. Their serum and individual lipoproteins were analyzed and compared with healthy controls (48±9 years of age, n=17). RESULTS: The patients with AF revealed hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia with mild obesity, elevated levels of CRP, and a normal level of cholesterol. All lipoproteins from patients with AF demonstrated higher levels of TG and advanced glycated end products, and decreased particle size than controls. AF-LDL showed an increased extent of oxidation with increased atherogenic macrophage phagocytosis. AF-HDL showed impaired antioxidant ability and a lower level of apoA-I expression. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that lipoprotein properties are severely modified in young AF patients, which were correlated with increased oxidation and inflammation.

Gene Expression Profiles of Uterine Normal Myometrium and Leiomyoma and Their Estrogen Responsiveness In Vitro

BACKGROUND: Uterine leiomyomas are common benign smooth muscle tumors among the reproductive aged-women. The research has been aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes between normal myometrium and leiomyoma and to investigate the effects of E2 on their expression. METHODS: Gene microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes between normal myomerium and leiomyoma. The data was confirmed at protein level by tissue microarray. RESULTS: Gene microarray analysis revealed 792 upregulated genes in leiomyoma. Four genes (tropomyosin 4 [TPM4], collagen, type IV, alpha 2 [COL4alpha2], insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 [IGFBP5], tripartite motif-containing 28 [TRIM28]) showed the most dramatic upregulation in all leiomyoma samples. Tissue microarray analyses of 262 sample pairs showed significantly elevated expression of TPM4, IGFBP5, estrogen receptor-alpha, and progesterone receptor (PR) protein in leiomyoma from the patients in their forties, COL4alpha2 in the forties and fifties age-groups, and TRIM28 in the thirties age-group. PR, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and IGFBP5 were induced by E2 in in vitro culture of tissue explants from which cells migrated throughout the plate. Among these, PR, IGF-1, IGFBP5 genes showed higher expression in tissue compared to cells-derived from tissue in leiomyoma and IGF-1R in leiomyoma cell. CONCLUSIONS: This observation implies the importance of the whole tissue context including the cells-derived from tissue in the research for the understanding of molecular mechanism of leiomyoma. Here, we report higher expression of TRIM28 in leiomyoma for the first time and identify E2-responsive genes that may have important roles in leiomyoma development.

A reconstituted HDL containing V156K or R173C apoA-I exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in apo-E deficient mice and showed resistance to myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidation

It has been hypothesized that blood infusion of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) is a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of coronary artery disese. To compare short-term anti-inflammatory activity of wildtype (WT) apoA-I and point mutants, each rHDL containing WT, V156K, or R173C was infused into apo-E deficient atherosclerotic mice. Each rHDL was injected via the tail vein at a dosage of 120 mg/kg of body weight in 0.4 ml of tris-buffered saline (TBS), and blood was then collected at 24 and 48 h post-injection. Although regression activity was observed in each of the rHDL infused groups, a 30% reduction in the lipid-stained area of the aortic sinus was observed in the V156K and R173C-rHDL groups when compared to that of the WT-rHDL group, and this reduction was well correlated with an approximately 60% reduction in the accumulation of macrophages in the lesion area. Additionally, the groups that received the V156K and R173C-rHDL treatments showed smaller increases in the GOT, GPT, interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) serum levels than those that received the WT-rHDL treatment. In addition, the strongest serum paraoxonase and ferric reducing ability was observed in the V156K and R173C-rHDL groups. In vitro nitration and chlorination of apoA-I by MPO treatment revealed that V156K-rHDL and R173C-rHDL were less susceptible to chlorination. Furthermore, rHDL treatment inhibited cellular uptake of oxidized LDL by macrophage cells and the production of proatherogenic species in culture media. In conclusion, blood infusions of the rHDLs exerted in vivo regression activity with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in apo-E deficient mice and THP-1 cells, especially in those that were treated with V156K and R173C apoA-I.

Myocardial infarction patients show altered lipoprotein properties and functions when compared with stable angina pectoris patients

Several parameters and risk factors were compared between Korean male myocardial infarction (MI) patients (n = 10) and angina pectoris (AP) patients (n = 17) to search unique biomarkers for myocardial infarction (MI) in lipoprotein level. Individual serum and lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL, HDL2, HDL3) were isolated and analyzed by lipid and protein determination and enzyme assay. The MI group was found to have a 25 and 30% higher serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) level than the AP group, respectively, however, their body mass index (BMI), LDL-cholesterol (C), HDL-C, and glucose levels fell within the normal range. MI patients were found to have an approximately two-fold higher level of serum IL-6 and an 18% lower serum apoA-I level than that of the AP group. LDL and HDL2 fraction of the MI group were more enriched with TG than those of AP group. The increased TG was correlated well with the increased level of apoC-III in the same fraction. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and protein level were greatly increased in MI patients in the LDL and HDL3 fractions. MI patients showed more severely oxidized LDL fraction than patients in the AP group, as well as the weakest antioxidant ability of serum. Conclusively, MI patients were found to have unique serum and lipoprotein characteristics including increased IL-6 and TG in serum, with CETP and apoC-III in the LDL and HDL fractions, as well as severely impaired antioxidant ability of HDL.

Myocardial infarction patients show altered lipoprotein properties and functions when compared with stable angina pectoris patients

Several parameters and risk factors were compared between Korean male myocardial infarction (MI) patients (n = 10) and angina pectoris (AP) patients (n = 17) to search unique biomarkers for myocardial infarction (MI) in lipoprotein level. Individual serum and lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL, HDL2, HDL3) were isolated and analyzed by lipid and protein determination and enzyme assay. The MI group was found to have a 25 and 30% higher serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) level than the AP group, respectively, however, their body mass index (BMI), LDL-cholesterol (C), HDL-C, and glucose levels fell within the normal range. MI patients were found to have an approximately two-fold higher level of serum IL-6 and an 18% lower serum apoA-I level than that of the AP group. LDL and HDL2 fraction of the MI group were more enriched with TG than those of AP group. The increased TG was correlated well with the increased level of apoC-III in the same fraction. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and protein level were greatly increased in MI patients in the LDL and HDL3 fractions. MI patients showed more severely oxidized LDL fraction than patients in the AP group, as well as the weakest antioxidant ability of serum. Conclusively, MI patients were found to have unique serum and lipoprotein characteristics including increased IL-6 and TG in serum, with CETP and apoC-III in the LDL and HDL fractions, as well as severely impaired antioxidant ability of HDL.

A point mutant of apolipoprotein A-I, V156K, exhibited potent anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerotic activity in hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6 mice

In our previous study, two point mutants of apolipoprotein A-I, designated V156K and A158E, revealed peculiar characteristics in their lipid-free and lipid-bound states. In order to determine the putative therapeutic potential of these mutants, several in vitro and in vivo evaluations were conducted. In the lipid-free state, V156K showed more profound antioxidant activity against LDL oxidation than did the wildtype (WT) or A158E variants in an in vitro assay. In the lipid-bound state, V156K-rHDL showed an enhanced cholesterol delivery activity to HepG2 cells in a time-dependent manner, as compared to WT-rHDL, A158E-rHDL, and R173C-rHDL. We assessed the physiological activities of the mutants in circulation, using hypercholesterolemic mice (C57BL6/J). Palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC)-rHDL preparations containing each of the apoA-I variants were injected into the mice at a dosage of 30 mg of apoA-I/kg of body weight. Forty eight hours after injection, the sera of the V156K-rHDL injected group showed the most potent antioxidant abilities in the ferric acid removal assay. The V156K-rHDL- or R173C-rHDL-injected mice showed no atherosclerotic lesions and manifested striking increases in their serum apo-E levels, as compared to the mice injected with WT-rHDL or A158E-rHDL. In conclusion, V156K-rHDL exhibited the most pronounced antioxidant activity and anti-atherosclerotic activity, both in vitro and in vivo. These results support the notion that HDL-therapy may prove beneficial due to its capacity to induce accelerated cholesterol excretion, as well as its enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and lesion regression effect.

A Case of Lipid Cell Tumor of the Ovary / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Lipid cell tumors of the ovary are the rarest functional ovarian neoplasm, and malignant variants are unusual. Although rare, due to endocrinological activity, these tumors are of great clinical interest. Recently we experienced a case of lipid cell tumor of the right ovary in 21 years old female, who presented with menometrorrhagia and menorrhagia, and reported it with a brief review of literatures.