Gestational Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Adverse Maternofetal Outcomes

Background/Aims: The association between gestational estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and adverse pregnancy outcomes has not been fully investigated. Methods: This observational cohort study included pregnancy cases of singleton mothers whose serum creatinine levels were measured during pregnancy at two tertiary hospitals in Korea from 2000 to 2015. Those with identified substantial renal function impairment (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline, during, or after pregnancy) were excluded. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation was used for the eGFR calculation. We computed the time-averaged eGFR during gestation to determine representative values when there were multiple measurements. We studied the following three gestational complications: preterm birth (< 37 weeks’ gestational age), low birth weight (< 2.5 kg), and preeclampsia. Results: Among the 12,899 studied pregnancies, 4,360 cases experienced one or more gestational complications. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval of composite gestational complications for eGFR ranges other than the reference range of 120–150 mL/ min/1.73m2 were: ≥150 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 1.64 (1.38–1.95), P< 0.001; 90–120 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 1.41 (1.28–1.56), P< 0.001; and 60–90 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 2.56 (1.70–3.84), P< 0.001. Incidence of preterm birth or low birth weight showed similar U-shaped association with eGFR values; otherwise, preeclampsia or small for gestational age occurred more often in mothers with a lower gestational eGFR than in those with a higher value. Conclusion: Considering the unique association between gestational eGFR and pregnancy outcomes, carefully interpreting these results may help predict obstetric complications

Effect of optimal sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate supplementation on growth performance and blood and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers during the early fattening period

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL) supplementation on growth performance and blood and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers during the early fattening period. Methods Sixty Hanwoo steers (average body weight, 333±36.4 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 treatments, with twenty steers per treatment, and ten steers per pen with a size of 80 m2. Dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; treatment (TRT) 0.5, 0.5% down-spec of TDN with 0.1% SSL; TRT 1.0, 1.0% down-spec of TDN with 0.1% SSL. Results The results demonstrated that average daily gain and feed efficiency increased with TRT 0.5 (0.85 kg and 11.68) vs CON (0.82 kg and 11.27) or TRT 1.0 (0.78 kg and 10.74), indicating that 0.1% SSL supplementation in the feed of early fattening steers may result in a saving of 0.5% TDN. No significant differences were observed amongst all treatments (p> 0.05) for blood metabolite concentration and blood corpuscle values, which were all within the normally accepted range for healthy steers. Conclusion Our study suggests that a TDN 0.5% down spec with 0.1% SSL supplemented feed may be effective and profitable for the early fattening period of Hanwoo steers without causing adverse effects

Beta ig-h3 induces keratinocyte differentiation via modulation of involucrin and transglutaminase expression through the integrin alpha3beta1 and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.

Beta ig-h3 is an extracellular matrix protein whose expression is highly induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1. Whereas beta ig-h3 is known to mediate keratinocyte adhesion and migration, its effects on keratinocyte differentiation remain unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that expression of both beta ig-h3 and TGF-beta1 was enhanced during keratinocyte differentiation and that expression of the former was strongly induced by that of the latter. This study also asked whether changes in beta-h3 expression would affect keratinocyte differentiation. Indeed, down-regulation of beta ig-h3 by transfection with antisense beta ig-h3 cDNA constructs effectively inhibited keratinocyte differentiation by decreasing the promoter activities and thus expression of involucrin and transglutaminase. The result was an approximately 2-fold increase in mitotic capacity of the cells. Conversely, overexpression of beta ig-h3, either by transfection with beta ig-h3 expression plasmids or by exposure to recombinant beta ig-h3, enhanced keratinocyte differentiation by inhibiting cell proliferation and concomitantly increasing involucrin and transglutaminase expression. Recombinant beta ig-h3 also promoted keratinocyte adhesion through interaction with integrin alpha3beta1. Changes in beta ig-h3 expression did not affect intracellular calcium levels. Subsequent analysis revealed not only induction of Akt phosphorylation by recombinant beta ig-h3 but also blockage of Akt phosphorylation by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Taken together, these findings indicate that enhanced beta ig-h3, induced by enhanced TGF-beta during keratinocyte differentiation, provoked cell differentiation by enhancing involucrin and transglutaminase expression through the integrin alpha3beta1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. Lastly, it was observed that beta ig-h3-mediated keratinocyte differentiation was caused by promotion of cell adhesion and not by calcium regulation.This work was supported by Korea Health 21 R&D Project Grant 02-PJ1-PG3-20507-0038, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (to B.-M. M.). The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact

Cloning of E6/E7 Genes of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 DNA

To obtain the specific probe which can detect human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16)-specific transctipts encoding for E6 and E7 genes in cells or cell lines containing HPV-16 DNA, we cloned 0.57-kbp fragment (nucleotides 198-767) of the HPV-16 DNA into pUC18 and named pHPV-1616-E6E7R. To test the specificity of the cloned probe comparded with whole HPV-16 genome, we cultured normal human oral keratinocytes, and HOK-16B cells, human oral keratinocytes immortalized by transfection with recominant HPV-16 DNA, in koratinocyte growth medium supplemented with pituitary extract, isolated poly(A^(+))RNAs from the cells, and hybridized them with the cloned probe and whole HPV-16 genome. Northern blot analysis showed that multiple poly(A^(+))RNAs hybridized to whole HPV-16 genome were expressed from the HPV-16-immortalized HOK-16B cells, while only two transxripts with sized of 1.9-kb and 1.6-kb hybridized to HPV-16 E6/E7 gene fragment were detected from the cells. However, both probes did not detect the vtral transctipts in normal human oral keratinocytes which are anot infected with HPV-16. These data indicate that 0.57-kbp fragment representing HPV-16 E6/E7 gense can be used to detect HPV-16-specific transctipts encoding for E6 and E7 genes in cells or cell lines contraiing HPV-16 DNA.This study was supported by a grant no.01-95-116 from the Seoul National University Hospital Research Fund

Effects of Dexamethasone and Epidermal Growth Factor on Activity of Viral Promoter p97 and Expression of HPV-16 E6/E7 in Human Oral Keratinocytes Transformed with HPV-16 and Benzo(a)pyrene

Primary human oral keratinocytes were previously transformed by transfection with clned human papilloavtrus type 16 (HPV-16) DNA and subsequent exposure tobenzo(a)pyrene, and an oral cancer cell line, CTHOK-16B-Bap, was established. To determine the effects of dexamethasone and epodermal growth facotr (RGF) on cell proliferation, the expression of HPV-16 E6/E7 and several proto-oncogenes, and activity of HPV-16 E6/E7 promotor, p97, the CTHOK-16B Bap cells were exposed to either dexamethasone and EGF alone or together. After incubation for 3 days, the degrees of both cell proliferation and the expression of HPV-16 E6/E7, EGF receptor (EGFR), c-myc, and c-fos fenes was determined, Dexamethasone and EGF, when added alone or together in the culture media, increased cell proliferation. Although dexamethasone did not affect the transctiptional level of HPV-16 E6/E7, EGFR, or c-myc in the cells, ot downregulated c-fos mRNA expression. On the other hand, EGF, alone or in confunction with dexzmethasone. down-regulated the transcriptional levels of HPV-16 E6/E7, c0myc, and c-fos genes, but it had little effect on the level if EGFR transctiption. These results suggest that the increaed proliferation of CTHOK-16B-BaP cells in the presence of dexamethasone and/or EGF may not depend on the extent of expression of such gense as HPV-16 E6/E7, EGFR, c-myc, and c-fos. In addition, the HPV-16 E6/E7 mRNA level was not changed and reduced by treatment with dexamethasone and EGF, respectively. Unexpectedly, however, dexamathasone and EGF enhanced the activity of the viral promoter p97 in CTHOK-16B-BaP line as analyzed by transient expression assays using the chloramphenicol α-cetyltransferase gene as a reporter. It appears that dominant regulatiory mechanisms presumably depending on the chromosomal integration site are able to override the respomse of the viral promoter to dexamethasone and EGF, Another EGF-responsive element (7454-7643 m) which acts as an enhancer may be located within the HPV-16 LCR portion

Experimental antimicrobial orthodontic adhesives using nanofillers and silver nanoparticle

Objectives Experimental composite adhesives (ECAs) containing silica nanofillers and silver nanoparticles were compared with two conventional adhesives (composite and resin-modified glass ionomer [RMGI]) to analyze surface characteristics, physical properties and antibacterial activities against cariogenic streptococci. Methods Surface roughness and surface free energy (SFE) characteristics were measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy and the sessile drop method. Shear bond strength and bond failure interface were analyzed to compare the physical properties. Antimicrobial activities were analyzed by a bacterial adhesion assay, a disk diffusion test, and an optical density measurement of bacterial suspension containing each adhesive. Results ECAs had rougher surfaces than conventional adhesives due to the addition of silver nanoparticles. ECAs had more similar SFE characteristics to composite than to RMGI. Bacterial adhesion to ECAs was less than to conventional adhesives, which was not influenced by saliva coating. Bacterial suspension containing ECAs showed slower bacterial growth than those containing conventional adhesives. There was no significant difference in shear bond strength and bond failure interface between ECAs and conventional adhesives. Significance This study suggests that ECAs can help prevent enamel demineralization around their surfaces without compromising physical properties

Expression of Amino Acid Transporter LAT1 During Ameloblast Differentiation

Amino acid transporters play important roles in supplying nutrients to cells. In our current study, we investigated the expression of LAT1 and measured the amino acid uptake in ameloblast cultures to further elucidate the roles of this transporter during the differentiation of these cells. RT-PCR, observations of cell morphology, Alizaline red-S staining, and uptake analyses were performed following the experimental induction of differentiation in the cultures. LAT1 mRNA was detectable and found to gradually increase over time whereas LAT2 mRNA was not evident in the ameloblast cultures. Transcripts of 4F2hc, a cofactor of LAT1 and LAT2, were also found to be expressed in ameloblast cultures and increase with time. Amelogenin mRNA was expressed in the early stage ameloblast cultures. L-leucine uptake was observed to increase over 14 days of growth in culture. Our data suggest that LAT1 has a key role in the differentiation of ameloblasts and in providing these cells with neutral amino acids, including several essential amino acids.이 연구는 2008년도 조선대학교 교내연구비 지원에 의해 수행되었음

Effect of aging on expression of nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase in human gingival fibroblasts

치주질환의 진행이 나이에 의해 영향을 받는다는 사실은 알려져 있으나 노화에 따른 치주조직 세포의 기능적인 변화에 관한 사실은 많이 알려져 있지 않다. 노화에 따른 세포의 노화가 치주질환의 진행에 어떠한 여향을 끼치는가를 아는 것은 중요하다. 염증 상태에서 nitric oxide (NO)는 조직 파괴에 관여하는 인자로 작용하여 치주질환의 진행에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 이 연구는 사람의 치은에서 배양된 치은섬유아세포를 이용하여 세포의 노화에 따른 NO와 이의 합성효소인 inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)의 발현을 알아봄으로써 세포의 노화가 치주질환의 진행에 끼치는 영향에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 10세의 환자와 55세의 환자에서 각각 채취한 치은에서 배양된 세포와 10세의 환자에서 채취한 세포를 계속적인 계대배양을 통해 얻은 실험실 상 노화된 세포를 포함하여 총 3 종류의 치은섬유세포를 실험에 이용하였다. Hot phenol-water extraction을 통해 추출된 Porphyromonas, gingivalis ATCC 33277 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)와 재조합 를 세포에 적용시켜 Griess assay를 통해 조건화된 배지에서 NO를 측정하였다. 20세와 55세의 환자에서 채취된 치은 조직과 총 3 종류의 배양된 세포에 NOS-II 항체를 적용시켜 iNOS 단백질 발현을 관찰하였다. Total RNA를 추출하여 RT-PCR를 통해 iNOS mRNA의 발현을 분석하였다. 치은섬유아세포에서 NO는 자발적으로 발생되었고, 이러한 발현은 젊은 세포보다 노화된 세포에서 강하였다. P, gingivalis LPS와 제조합 는 치은섬유아세포에서 NO의 발현을 증가시켰고, 이러한 발현은 젊은 세포보다 노화된 세포에서 강하였다. 면역조직화학 염색에서 iNOS 단백질은 젊은 사람과 노화된 사람의 치은 조직 모두에서 치은섬유아세포와 상피의 기저층 세포와 염증세포에서 발현되었으나 노화에 따른 발현의 차이를 구별할 수는 없었다. 세포의 면역염색에서 iNOS 단백질은 노화된 세포에서 강하게 발현되었고 이러한 발현은 LPS와 에 의해 강화되었다. LPS와 의 조건이 주어지지 않은 상태에서 iNOS mRNA는 젊은 세포에서보다 노화된 세포에서 강하게 발현되었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 세포의 노화가 NO와 iNOS 발현을 증가시킴으로서 치주질환의 진행에 영향을 끼칠 수 있음을 시사하였다.This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health 21 R&D project, Ministy of Health & Welfare, Republix of Korea(03-PJ1-CH08-001)