Effectiveness of Non-Contact Dietary Coaching in Adults with Diabetes or Prediabetes Using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary coaching and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in patients with diabetes or prediabetes to improve their behavioral skills and health outcomes. A randomized controlled study with pre- and post-testing was conducted. Data were collected between November 2020 and April 2021. Forty-five patients with diabetes or prediabetes who used a CGM device were enrolled and analyzed. Dietary education, individual coaching and group coaching were provided to participants in the experimental group for 4 weeks. After the intervention, the thigh circumference in men significantly differed between the two groups (z = -2.02, p = 0.044). For women, participants in the experimental group showed greater improvement in eating self-efficacy compared with those in the control group (z = -2.66, p = 0.008). Insomnia was negatively related to the change in eating self-efficacy (r = -0.35, p = 0.018) and increase in thigh circumference (r = -0.35, p = 0.017). Even if used within a short intervention period, non-contact dietary coaching programs can help enhance behavioral skills, such as eating self-efficacy and health outcomes, such as thigh circumference. Moreover, the changed variables can indirectly improve other health outcomes in patients with diabetes or prediabetes.

Comparison of postoperative pain according to the harvesting method used in hair restorative surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is one of the most common concerns of patients undergoing hair transplantation surgery. Because most patients are satisfied with the cosmetic improvement after transplantation, amelioration of postoperative pain would help to increase patient accessibility to hair restorative surgery and greatly impact patient satisfaction with the final cosmetic results. This study was performed to investigate postoperative pain after hair transplantation. METHODS: In total, 241 patients (202 who underwent follicular unit transplantation [FUT] and 39 who underwent follicular unit extraction [FUE]) were eligible for the study. Postoperative pain was evaluated on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale. The patients' medical records were retrospectively reviewed for information on the harvesting method, number of transplanted grafts, size of donor design, and laxity, elasticity, and glidability of the scalp in relation to postoperative pain. RESULTS: Postoperative pain after hair transplantation, assessed with the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, seemed to provide very subjective results. None of the variables were correlated with postoperative pain in the FUT group. Such pain, however, tended to disappear by postoperative day 3. Patients in the FUE group experienced significantly less severe pain than those in the FUT group. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pain was significantly less severe in patients whose donor hair was harvested by the FUE than FUT method. Postoperative pain had almost disappeared by postoperative day 3 in the FUT group, whereas only minimal pain was present even on postoperative day 1 in the FUE group.

Hair transplantation in patients with hair loss or scar deformity in the side hairline after midfacelifting surgery.

BACKGROUND: Successful aesthetic plastic surgery is devoid of both unsightly scarring and postoperative disfigurement. Patients undergoing midface-lifting surgery are very often disconcerted by an altered side hairline, including sideburns, despite considerable amelioration of facial wrinkles. This study was conducted to identify an effective means of approaching an altered hairline and the unavoidable scarring arising from midface-lifting surgery. METHODS: A total of 37 patients who underwent corrective surgery with hair transplantation for hair loss or scar deformity arising from midface-lifting surgery from June 2014 to June 2017, and were observed for more than 6 months thereafter, were enrolled in the study. Prior to corrective surgery, the patients were administered a multiple-choice survey regarding their dissatisfaction arising from midface-lifting surgery. Among the 37 patients, 24, 12, and one underwent donor harvesting by the strip method, non-shaven follicular unit extraction, and partial shaving follicular unit extraction, respectively. Additionally, 33 of the 37 patients underwent hair transplantation in the frontotemporal recess area along with hairline correction surgery. The average number of transplanted grafts was 1,025. RESULTS: Surgery resulted in a natural and satisfactory appearance in all patients. The average patient and physician subjective satisfaction scores were 4.6 and 4.8, respectively. No adverse events such as folliculitis occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Side-hairline correction surgery by hair transplantation can be considered an effective method of realigning an altered hairline accompanied by scars following midfacelifting surgery.

Short-term changes of human acellular dermal matrix (Megaderm) in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Physicians tend to overcorrect when applying the acellular dermal matrix for reconstructive option because of volume decrement problem after absorption comparing with initial volume. However, there are no studies on the exact volume decrement and absorption rate with commercial products in South Korea. To figure out absorption rate of acellular dermal matrix product in South Korea (Megaderm), authors designed this experiment. METHODS: Nine mice were used and randomly divided into three groups by the time with sacrificing. The implant (Megaderm) was tailored to fit a cuboid form (1.0 cm× 1.0 cm in length and width and 2.0 mm in thickness). A skin incision was made at anterior chest with blade #15 scalpel with exposing the pectoralis major muscle. As hydrated Megaderm was located upon the pectoralis major muscle, the skin was sutured with Ethilon #5-0. After the surgical procedure, each animal group was sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively, for biopsies and histological analysis of the implants. All samples were stained with routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining and the thickness were measured. A measurements were analyzed using Friedman test. Statistically, the correlation between thicknesses of Megaderm before and after implantation was analyzed. RESULTS: After sacrificing the animal groups at postoperative 4, 8, 12 weeks, the mean tissue thickness values were 2.10± 1.03 mm, 2.17± 0.21 mm, and 2.40± 0.20 mm (p= 0.368), respectively. The remaining ratios after absorption comparing with after initial hydrated Megaderm were 82.7%, 85.4%, and 94.5%, respectively. In histopathological findings, neovascularization and density of collagenous fiber was increased with time. CONCLUSION: Author's hypothesis was absorption rate of implant would be increased over time. But in this experiment, there is no statistical significance between mean absorption thickness of implant and the time (p= 0.368). Also it can be affected by graft site, blood supply, and animals that were used in the experiment.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma on right lower eyelid previously diagnosed as lymphoid hyperplasia.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an uncommon form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Most commonly affected organ is the stomach. But, it could affect almost every organ in the whole body. If they have suspicious lesion, excision biopsy could be made. For staging, blood test including blood smear, abdomen and chest tomography or scan will be checked. Also, bone marrow test can be done if it is needed. The patient had visited the clinic for palpable mass on right lower eyelid. With excisional biopsy, it was diagnosed as lymphoid hyperplasia on pathologic test. But 2 years later, the patient came with recurrent symptom for our department with worry. At that time, we recommended excisional soft tissue biopsy under general anesthesia. Unfortunately, it was revealed MALT lymphoma on pathologic finding. It turned out to be stage 3 in Ann Arbor staging system without B symptoms. Hematologic consultation was made and she was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for eight cycles to complete remission. We report a case of MALT lymphoma on subcutaneous tissue at right lower eyelid previously diagnosed as lymphoid hyperplasia.

Potential protective effects of rhEGF against ultraviolet A irradiation-induced damages on human fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays reach the dermal skin layer and generate oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell inflammation, which in turn lead to photo-aging and photo-carcinogenesis. While there have been many studies about the beneficial effects of topical epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment in the healing of wounds, the effect of EGF on UVA-induced skin irritation remains unknown. To clarify the effects of EGF on UVA-induced skin damage, it was investigated whether EGF signaling can affect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damages in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fibroblasts cultured with or without rhEGF were UVA-irradiated at 40 mJ/cm2 twice per day for 5 days. After the irradiation, the intracellular ROS levels and expression of catalase and superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) in the fibroblasts were ascertained. Further investigation to determine the effects of EGF on UVA-induced DNA damage, including a single cell gel electrophoresis assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was carried out. Moreover, the NF-κB activity was ascertained in order to investigate the effects of EGF on UVA-irradiated fibroblasts. RESULTS: As a result, it was revealed that recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) inhibited UVA- increased intracellular ROS in the fibroblasts and increased the expression of catalase and SOD-1. Moreover, in UVA-irradiated fibroblasts, the longest DNA-damaged tails were observed, but this phenomenon was not detected in cells cotreated with both UVA and rhEGF. Also, it was observed that DNA damage induction, including that of cyclobutene pyrimidine dimers, pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, was caused by UVA irradiation. Similar to previous results, it was downregulated by rhEGF. Furthermore, rhEGF also inhibited NF-κB gene expression and the NF-κB p65 protein level in the nucleus induced by UVA irradiation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EGF might be a useful material for preventing or improving photo-aging.

Malignant pilomatricoma of the cheek in an infant.

Malignant pilomatricoma (pilomatrical carcinoma) is a rare, locally occurring malignant tumor with a high rate of recurrence in the case of incomplete excision. This tumor has two characteristics. First, recurrences of pilomatrical carcinoma are common; second, distant metastasis is rare, but if it occurs, it is very fatal. It has characteristic features of high mitotic counts, cellular atypia, and local invasion. Although fine needle aspiration and excisional biopsy could help to confirm this tumor diagnosis, pathologic findings are critical. Pilomatricomas have some characteristic features in histological aspect, such as epithelial islands of basaloid cells and shadow cells or ghost cell. Also, various types of immunohistochemical staining are used to confirm the diagnosis. Despite the lack of clear surgical criteria, treatment is a wide local excision with histologically clear resection margins with or without adjuvant radiotherapy.

Type 2 diabetes genetic association database manually curated for the study design and odds ratio.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, and the incidence of life-threatening complications of diabetes through continued exposure of tissues to high glucose levels is increasing. Advances in genotyping technology have increased the scale and accuracy of the genotype data so that an association genetic study has expanded enormously. Consequently, it is difficult to search the published association data efficiently, and several databases on the association results have been constructed, but these databases have their limitations to researchers: some providing only genome-wide association data, some not focused on the association but more on the integrative data, and some are not user-friendly. In this study, a user-friend database of type 2 diabetes genetic association of manually curated information was constructed. DESCRIPTION: The list of publications used in this study was collected from the HuGE Navigator, which is an online database of published genome epidemiology literature. Because type 2 diabetes genetic association database (T2DGADB) aims to provide specialized information on the genetic risk factors involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, 701 of the 1,771 publications in the type 2 Diabetes case-control study for the development of the disease were extracted. CONCLUSIONS: In the database, the association results were grouped as either positive or negative. The gene and SNP names were replaced with gene symbols and rsSNP numbers, the association p-values were determined manually, and the results are displayed by graphs and tables. In addition, the study design in publications, such as the population type and size are described. This database can be used for research purposes, such as an association and functional study of type 2 diabetes related genes, and as a primary genetic resource to construct a diabetes risk test in the preparation of personalized medicine in the future.

Susceptibility for ischemic stroke in Korean population is associated with polymorphisms of the Fc gamma receptor IIA.

Fc gamma receptor IIA could influence atherogenic processes through the production of superoxide anions, cytokines, and proteolytic enzymes as well as by oxidation of lipoproteins and enhancement of foam cell formation. In this study, we performed an interaction analysis between FCGR2A polymorphisms and ischemic stroke using direct DNA sequencing after the selection of Fc gamma receptor IIA gene based on genome-wide association study. Four of the FCGR2A polymorphisms, rs7511868 [odds ratio (OR) = 3.21; P = 0.027], rs6427595 (OR = 3.12; P = 0.008), rs7512140 (OR = 5.71; P = 0.002), and rs6696854 (OR = 3.65; P = 0.004) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke. These four polymorphisms still showed significant association after stratification analysis using the Mantel-Haenszel method. In the multivariate logistic regression, the adjusted OR estimates for rs6427595, rs7512140, and rs6696854 were 3.04 (P = 0.016), 4.84 (P = 0.015), and 3.80 (P = 0.006), respectively. The diplotype consisting of two homozygous haplotypes (H2 = AAAC) was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (OR = 17.39; P < 0.001). These results suggest that FCGR2A polymorphisms may be associated with a genetic susceptibility to ischemic stroke in a Korean population.

Recent progress in toxicogenomics research in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: The importance of toxicogenomics was recognized early in Korea and a group of researchers was trying to build up a research infrastructure and educational system. However, since the scale of the Korean pharmaceutical industry, which was expected to play the key role in toxicogenomics was small compared to that of advanced countries, industry-sponsored large-scale research projects and supporting infrastructures have been lacking in Korea. RESULTS: To improve this situation, the Korean government has exerted special efforts to promote toxicogenomics research and development the last few years as an initiative to stimulate a premature drug development industry on par with global competition and launched several large scale research projects recently. Researchers are also trying to keep pace with government efforts by organizing local scientist groups, training young toxicogenomics scientists, and widening the toxicogenomic research efforts to environmental toxicity as well. Research and development from bioinformatics and genomics venture companies are also contributing to uplifting the competitiveness of the toxicogenomics industry. CONCLUSION: Toxicogenomics in Korea is making steady progress in many directions. It is gaining ground by government and related industries as well, the research is diversified to embrace environmental genomics, and local research groups are making strategic links to international research groups such as the MicroArray Quality Control (MAQC) consortium. We expect the advancement of the Korean toxicogenomics research program will be beneficial not only to the local society alone, but also to international scientists as a whole.

Constituents of Asarum sieboldii with inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in BV-2 microglial cells.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the root extract of Asarum sieboldii led to the isolation of the four active compounds (-)-sesamin (1), (2E,4E,8Z,10E)-N-(2-methylpropyl)dodeca-2,4,8,10-tetraenamide (2), kakuol (3), and '3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene' (=1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-methylbenzene; 4), in terms of inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Compounds 1-4 showed potent inhibition of NO production, with IC(50) values in the low nanomolar-to-micromolar range. Also isolated were the known compounds methylkakuol (5), '3,5-dimethoxytoluene', safrole, asaricin, methyleugenol, and (-)-asarinin, which were found to be inactive in the above assay. Among the ten known isolates, compounds 1, 2, and 5 were found for the first time in this plant.

Systematic analysis of cDNA microarray-based CGH.

cDNA microarray-based CGH (Microarray-CGH) is a useful technique for detecting genomic aberrations with a high resolution. However, the criteria for determining a genomic alteration have not been determined. We evaluated the genome-wide measurement of copy number of each gene in normal gastric and placenta tissues with both sex-matched, direct and sex-mismatched, indirect designs using 17K cDNA microarray. The results revealed the range of genomic copy number of normal tissues to be +/-0.3 of the log(2) ratio (gain >0.3, loss <-0.3) in the autosomal genes with direct and indirect designs. The copy number at a gene level from the X chromosomal genes using the direct and indirect sex-mismatched designs was +/-0.68 of the log(2) ratio (amplification >0.68, deletion <-0.68). In summary, the suggested method can be used as a guideline for analysis of genomic aberration using a Microarray-CGH in both direct and indirect designs.

Attenuation of telomerase activity by hammerhead ribozyme targeting human telomerase RNA induces growth retardation and apoptosis in human breast tumor cells.

Ribozyme possesses specific endoribonuclease activity and catalyzes the hydrolysis of specific phosphodiester bonds, which results in the cleavage of target RNA sequences. Here, we evaluated the ability of hammerhead ribozymes targeting human telomerase RNA (hTR) to inhibit the catalytic activity of telomerase and the proliferation of cancer cells. Hammerhead ribozymes were designed against 7 NUX sequences located in open loops of the hTR secondary structure. We verified the ribozyme specificity by in vitro cleavage assay by using a synthetic RNA substrate. Subsequently, we introduced ribozyme expression vector into human breast tumor MCF-7 cells and assessed the biologic effects of ribozyme. Hammerhead ribozyme R1 targeting the template region of hTR efficiently cleaved hTR in vitro, and stable transfectants of this ribozyme induced the degradation of target hTR RNA and attenuated telomerase activity in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the ribozyme R1 transfectant displayed a significant telomere shortening and a lower proliferation rate than parental cells. Clones with reduced proliferation capacity showed enlarged senescence-like shapes or highly differentiated dendritic morphologies of apoptosis. In conclusion, the inhibition of telomerase activity by hammerhead ribozyme targeting the template region of the hTR presents a promising strategy for inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cells.

The intelligent data management system for toxicogenomics.

Toxicogenomics is now emerging as one of the most important genomic application because the toxicity test based on gene expression profiles is expected to be more precise and efficient than current histopathological approaches in a pre-clinical phase. One of the challenging issues in toxicogenomics is the construction of intelligent database management system which can deal with heterogeneous and complex data from many different experimental and information sources. TEST(Toxicogenomics for Efficient Safety Test) database is especially focused on the connectivity of heterogeneous data and the intelligent query system which enable users to obtain relevant useful information from the complex data sets. The database deals with four kinds of information; compound, histopathology, gene expression, and annotation information. Currently, TEST database maintains toxicogenomics information for 16 compounds, 45 microarrays, 190 animal experiments, and customized 4.8 K rat clone set. Our presented system is expected to be a good information source for studying of toxicology mechanism in the genome-wide level and can also be applied to the designing toxicity test chip.

A graph-theoretic modeling on GO space for biological interpretation of gene clusters.

MOTIVATION: With the advent of DNA microarray technologies, the parallel quantification of genome-wide transcriptions has been a great opportunity to systematically understand the complicated biological phenomena. Amidst the enthusiastic investigations into the intricate gene expression data, clustering methods have been the useful tools to uncover the meaningful patterns hidden in those data. The mathematical techniques, however, entirely based on the numerical expression data, do not show biologically relevant information on the clustering results. RESULTS: We present a novel methodology for biological interpretation of gene clusters. Our graph theoretic algorithm extracts common biological attributes of the genes within a cluster or a group of interest through the modified structure of gene ontology (GO) called GO tree. After genes are annotated with GO terms, the hierarchical nature of GO terms is used to find the representative biological meanings of the gene clusters. In addition, the biological significance of gene clusters can be assessed quantitatively by defining a distance function on the GO tree. Our approach has a complementary meaning to many statistical clustering techniques; we can see clustering problems from a different viewpoint by use of biological ontology. We applied this algorithm to the well-known data set and successfully obtained the biological features of the gene clusters with the quantitative biological assessment of clustering quality through GO Biological Process.