재구성과 희석 과정 개선을 위한 정맥주사 정보 시스템의 평가

학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 약학과, 2017. 2. 신완균.Background: There are very few studies reporting the impact of providing intravenous (IV) preparation information on quality use of antimicrobials, particularly regarding their reconstitution and dilution. Therefore, to improve these processes in IV antimicrobial administration, an IV preparation information system (IPIS) was implemented in a hospital. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of improving reconstitution and dilution by implementing an IPIS in the electronic medical record (EMR) system. Methods: Prescriptions and activity records of nurses for injectable antimicrobials requiring reconstitution and dilution for IV preparation from January 2008 to December 2013 were retrieved from EMR, and assessed the accuracy of reconstitution or dilution solutions based on the instructions provided by the package insert. We defined proper reconstitution and dilution as occurring when the reconstitution and dilution solutions prescribed were consistent with the nurses' acting records. The types of intervention in the IPIS were as follows: a pop-up alert for proper reconstitution and passive guidance for proper dilution. We calculated the monthly proper reconstitution rate (PRR) and proper dilution rate (PDR) and evaluated the changes in these rates and trends using interrupted time series analyses. Results: Prior to the initiation of the reconstitution alert and dilution information, the PRR and PDR were 12.7% and 46.1%, respectively. The reconstitution alert of the IPIS rapidly increased the PRR by 41% (p < 0.001), after which the PRR decreased by 0.9% (p = 0.013) per month after several months. However, there was no significant change in the rate or trend of the PDR during the study period. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the provision of reconstitution alerts by the IPIS contributed to improving the reconstitution process of IV antimicrobial injection administration. However, the sustainability of the impact was not evident. Furthermore, solutions to ensure the continuous effectiveness of alert systems are warranted and should be actively sought.INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 4 RESULTS 18 DISCUSSION 31 CONCLUSION 41 RFERENCES 43 국문초록 51Docto

Perceived Parental Role and Emotion Regulation in College Students with Internet Gaming and SNS Addictive Tendencies

학위논문 (석사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 심리학과, 2014. 2. 이훈진.Behavioral Addiction is a recently emerging research topic, particularly due to the explosive use of the internet, which is no longer limited to a personal computer. The mobility of internet use has resulted in a rampant rise in internet gaming and SNS addictions, especially with the high and easy accessibility in South Korea. The purpose of this study aims to explore variables and characteristics that may affect undergraduate students internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies. This study explored the retrospective and current parental role and emotion regulation of internet gaming and SNS addictive college students. In study 1, perceived parental behavior (further categorized into maternal care and overprotection, paternal care and overprotection) and emotion regulation difficulties in students with internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies were examined. Male students heavily concentrated the internet gaming addictive condition. Students with internet gaming addictive tendencies reported experiencing less retrospective parental care, more parental overprotection while reporting less current parental attachment. On the other hand, students with SNS addictive tendencies reported a parallel pattern in terms of retrospective maternal role and current maternal attachment. However, there was an opposite directionality in retrospective paternal care. In study 2, specific emotion regulation strategies used by those with internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies were explored. Also, an experimental study using the emotional go/no-go task was conducted to identify emotion regulation difficulties among students with addictive tendencies. The SNS addictive group showed greater support-seeking emotion regulation strategy, whereas the internet gaming addictive group did not show a tendency toward any emotion regulation strategy. The behavioral go/no-go task failed to display emotion regulation difficulties for the internet gaming addictive group. On the other hand, the SNS addictive group showed difficulties for both the classic and emotional go/no-go task, demonstrating an overall deficit in behavioral inhibition in comparison to the control condition. The findings of the present study suggest significant gender differences in internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies, and the differential roles of the mother and father in internet gaming and SNS addictive behavior. Greater emotion regulation difficulties were found in the SNS addictive condition. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study, and suggestions for future studies were discussed.Abstract i Introduction 1 Behavioral Addiction 3 Perceived Parental Role and Behavioral Addiction 8 Emotion Regulation and Behavioral Addiction 11 Study 1: Parental role and emotion regulation in college students with Internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies. 16 Method 17 Results 22 Discussion 29 Study 2: Emotion regulation strategies in college students with Internet gaming and SNS addictive tendencies.. 33 Method 35 Results 41 Discussion 48 General Discussion 51 References 58 Appendix 68 Abstract in Korean 82Maste

변박(卞璞)의 <왜관도(倭館圖)> 연구

학위논문 (석사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 인문대학 고고미술사학과, 2017. 8. 장진성.1783년에 제작된 는 지금은 사라진 초량왜관(草梁倭館) 및 대일(對日) 관계 시설이 명칭과 함께 상세하게 표현된 그림이다. 작품의 주제인 조선 후기 왜관(倭館)은 조선 땅에서 유일하게 일본인의 거주가 허용된 공간으로 일본과의 무역 및 외교 업무가 이루어진 곳이었다. 조선 후기 대일 관계 중심지를 시각화한 는 조선에서 단독으로 제작된 초량왜관 그림이라는 점에서 중요한 작품이다. 와 관련하여 그림의 제작자인 변박(卞璞, 18세기 중·후반 활동)과 1783년 여름이라는 제작 연대만 남아 있을 뿐 그 외의 기록은 남아 있지 않다. 는 선행 연구에서 많은 관심을 받지 못했다. 선행 연구에서 이 작품은 18세기 후반의 번성한 초량왜관 및 그 일대를 그린 관수회화(官需繪畫)정도로만 인식되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 그 중요성에도 불구하고 미술사적 시각에서 본격적으로 논의되지 못한 의 의의에 대해 규명하고자 한다. 변박은 동래무청(東萊武廳)에 소속되어 화가로 활동했는데 현재 를 포함하여 10점의 그림 및 글씨를 남겼다. 그의 서화(書畫) 작품들은 관청 및 재지(在地) 세력을 위한 작품 외에도 초량왜관에서 교역을 통해 건너간 대일 교역용 회화도 있었다. 변박의 작품은 대부분 주문을 받아 제작되었는데 이를 통해 그가 관의 명령이나 주문에 따라 일했던 화가였음을 알 수 있다. 변박이 제작한 작품들 중 는 그가 꼼꼼한 필치로 상당히 공들여 그린 그림이다. 1802년에 편찬된 『증정교린지(增正交隣志)』의 기록에 근거하면 에 18세기 후반의 초량왜관 및 주변 시설들이 비교적 정확하게 그려져 있음을 알 수 있다. 또한 변박은 그림에 나타난 거의 모든 건물에 명칭을 병기하였는데 그는 초량왜관과 그 주변 지역에 대해 상당한 지식을 갖고 있었던 것으로 보인다. 의 가장 특징적인 부분은 초량왜관을 포함한 대일 관계 시설의 시각화이다. 는 설문(設門)을 경계로 하여 초량왜관과 대일 관계 시설들만 표현되어 있는데 이는 조선 후기 일본과의 외교 및 무역을 위한 장소들만 그려냈기 때문으로 보인다. 이와 관련해서 1740년에 편찬된 『동래부지(東萊府誌)』의 기록을 살펴볼 필요가 있다. 이 읍지(邑誌)에 초량왜관을 포함하여 그림에 묘사된 장소들이 초량공해(草梁公廨)로 분류되어 있다. 이 기록은 당시 그림에 나타난 건물들이 별도로 인식되었음을 의미하며 따라서 는 초량공해를 시각화한 그림이라고 할 수 있다. 1725년에 제작된 『봉래수창록(蓬萊酬唱錄)』에 수록되어 있는 동래부를 그린 그림은 18세기 초 동래 지역의 회화 전통을 보여준다. 이 그림과 를 비교해보면 에 나타난 산과 소나무의 표현 방식에서 정선(鄭敾, 1676-1759)의 산수화풍이 드러난다. 이는 이전의 작품들에서 찾아보기 어려운 부분이다. 변박은 공무(公務) 또는 여행을 목적으로 동래부를 방문한 인문들과의 교류를 통해 정선의 화풍을 배웠을 것으로 여겨진다. 이러한 인물들 중 변박이 참여한 1763-64년 통신사(通信使)의 수행 화원이었던 김유성(金有聲, 1725-?)과 당시 여행 중에 동래부를 방문했던 김윤겸(金允謙, 1711-1775)이 주목된다. 에 나타난 산수 표현은 1770년에 김윤겸이 영남(嶺南) 일대를 여행한 뒤 그린 《영남기행화첩(嶺南紀行畵帖)》 중 와 유사하다. 또한 이러한 산수 표현은 변박 이후에 활동한 동래 지역 화가들의 작품에서도 나타나고 있어 그의 산수화풍이 19세기까지 이 지역에서 유행했음을 알 수 있다. 주지하듯이 는 초량왜관을 주제로 했다는 점에서 흥미롭다. 초량왜관이 1678년에 준공될 때부터 1876년에 개항(開港)되기 전까지 조선과 일본에서 각각 초량왜관과 관련된 그림이 제작되었다. 현재 이 작품들은 한국과 일본 양국에 남아있다. 먼저 조선에서 제작된 초량왜관 그림은 군현 지도를 제외할 경우 를 포함하여 세 점만이 남아있을 뿐이다. 일본에서 제작된 초량왜관 그림은 지도, 두루마리, 병풍 등 형식이 다양한데 전시 도록 및 선행 연구에서 11점이 확인된다. 조선과 일본에서 제작된 초량왜관 그림과의 비교는 의 특징을 더욱 돋보이게 한다. 는 동일한 형식의 조일(朝日) 양국 그림들 중에서 가장 자세한 초량왜관 그림이라고 할 수 있다. 에서 주목할 부분은 1780년 화재로 소실된 서관의 동대청(東大廳) 서행랑(西行廊)이 온전한 모습으로 그려져 있다는 점이다. 이는 주문자가 당시의 상황과 상관없이 초량왜관을 완전하게 그리도록 요구한데에서 비롯되었을 가능성이 높다. 이러한 정황은 그림이 제작될 때 별도의 목적이 있었음을 시사한다. 당시 동래부와 초량왜관과 관련된 기록들은 그림의 제작 배경을 이해할 수 있는 단서가 될 수 있다. 1783년 2월경 심기태(沈基泰, 1728-?)는 정조의 명으로 약 3개월간 암행어사로 영남 지역에 파견되었다. 18세기 중엽부터 공작미(公作米)와 관련된 폐단이 발생하면서 조정은 이를 해결하고자 했지만 통제하지 못했다. 따라서 18세기 후반에 이르기까지 연이은 문제의 발생으로 인해 조정은 이 지역에 관심을 가졌을 것으로 생각된다. 즉 가 제작될 무렵 심기태의 업무 수행과 조정의 관심은 초량왜관을 둘러싼 문제라는 점에서 그림의 제작과 밀접한 연관성이 있을 것으로 여겨진다. 이와 비슷한 사례로 1789년에 김응환(金應煥, 1676-1759)과 김홍도(金弘道, 1745-1806 이후)는 대마도(對馬島) 지도를 그려오라는 정조(正祖)의 명을 받았다. 이 때 동래부에서 일어난 일들 및 통신사 파견에 관련된 외교 문제로 인해 중앙의 관심이 이 지역으로 증대되었다. 이는 정조가 화원(畫員)을 파견하여 대마도 지도를 그려오게 하는 계기가 되었을 것으로 생각된다. 는 조일(朝日) 교류의 중심지였던 초량왜관의 모습을 살필 수 있는 중요한 그림이다. 동래부는 일본을 마주한 중요한 관방(關防) 및 선린(善隣) 외교의 장소였기 때문에 조정은 대내외적으로 마찰이 일어나지 않도록 해야 했다. 1783년을 전후로 대일 무역과 관련하여 발생한 일들은 중앙에서 초량왜관에 대해 관심을 갖는 계기가 되었으며 는 이러한 정황 속에서 제작된 그림으로 볼 수 있다.Waegwan do (倭館圖), dated 1783, now in the National Museum of Korea, is a picture depicting the Choryang Waegwan (草梁倭館), the trading and living quarters for the Japanese in Choryang (present-day Busan) in great detail. In the late Joseon period, the Waegwan (倭館) is the only place where Japanese people in Korea were allowed to live and carry out business and diplomacy. Waegwan do is an important painting because it shows us the Choryang Waegwan now vanished. Waegwan do has no other records except that it was painted in the summer of 1783 by Byeon Bak (卞璞, active mid-18th century). Waegwan do received little attention prior to this research. Waegwan do has been considered an official painting for Dongnaebu (東萊府 Dongnae County), describing the result of repairs and extensions of the building after its completion in 1678. Therefore, this study attempts to review the value of Waegwan do which has received little attention despite its art historical significance. Byeon Bak was a painter for the local military division of Dongnaebu (東萊武廳) and left ten art works including paintings and calligraphies. He produced art works not only for Dongnaebu and local elites, but also for trade with Japan through the Choryang Waegwan. Given that most of his art works were commissioned, he must have worked primarily for the local authority. Byeon Bak elaborately painted Waegwan do with meticulous brush strokes that are rarely found in his other paintings. Compared with the documents of the Jeungjeong Gyorinji (增正交隣志, Records of Joseon Koreas Diplomatic Relations with Japan, Expanded and Enlarged Edition) concerning architectural buildings, the Choryang Waegwan and other facilities were depicted almost exactly in Waegwan do. Furthermore, as Byeon Bak labeled buildings in the painting, he must have had profound knowledge of the Choryang Waegwan. The realistic rendering of the Choryang Waegwan and its related facilities is the most distinctive characteristic of Waegwan do. Waegwan do describes only the Choryang Waegwan and other facilities related to Japanese trade. Examining the relevant records in the Dongnaebu ji (東萊府志 Gazetteer of Dongnae County), the facilities depicted in Waegwan do are separately categorized as public office buildings of Choryang (草梁公廨). Thus, Waegwan do is the visualization of the public office buildings of Choryang. The Bongrae suchang rok (蓬萊酬唱錄, Collection of Jo Seokmyeongs and His Friends Poems and Writings), dated 1725, has records of Dongnabu. A painting of Dongnaebu in the Bongrae suchang rok can be compared with Waegwan do. Unlike the painting in the Bongrae suchang rok, the representation of mountains and trees in Waegwan do strongly shows the styles of Jeong Seon (鄭敾, 1676-1759), the most eminent landscapist of the time. This is not found in previous paintings by Byeon Bak. It is assumed that Byeon Bak learned the styles of Jeong Seon through Kim Yuseong (金有聲, 1725-?) when Byeon Bak went to Japan as a member of the 1763 Tongsinsa (通信使, Korean emissaries to Edo Japan). The depiction of mountains and trees in Waegwan do are similar to that in Molundae (沒雲臺) in The Album of the Travel to Yeongnam Province which Kim Yungyeom (金允謙, 1711-1775) painted after he traveled to Yeongnam Province (嶺南). Jeong Seons style used by Byeon Bak was used by other Dongnae painters after Byeon Bak. This proves that the masters style was popular in this region well into the 19th century. Waegwan do is interesting because its subject is the Choryang Waegwan. Joseon Korea and Edo Japan produced paintings related to the Choryang Waegwan since its establishment in 1768 until the opening of the Busan port in 1876. These paintings have existed in both countries. Except for old county-maps, only three paintings of the Choryang Waegwan remain among paintings of the same subject produced by Joseon painters. However, eleven paintings of the Choryang Waegwan by Japanese painters have survived. These paintings are executed in various formats such as maps, scrolls, and folding screens. The comparison of paintings of the Choryang Waegwan produced in Joseon Korea and Edo Japan makes the characteristics of Waegwan do stand out. Waegwan do is the most detailed and elaborate among the paintings depicting the Choryang Waegwan created in Joseon Korea and Edo Japan. The most distinctive feature of Waegwan do is that some part of the Choryang Waegwan was destroyed by the fire of 1780, but the Choryang Waegwan was depicted undamaged in the painting. Byeon Bak must have been asked to paint the Choryang Waegwan in its perfect form, regardless of the destruction. This implies that there was a particular purpose in producing the painting. Some of the records of Dongnaebu and the Choryang Waegwan around the time the painting was produced in 1783 are important clues to resolving this issue. In February 1783, Sim Gitae (沈基泰, 1728-?) was dispatched as a royal inspector in Yeongnam Province under the order of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800). The Joseon government focused on this region as one of the areas that had problems with gongjakmi (公作米), the Korea-Japan trade rice. The gongjakmi issue persisted despite the governments attempts to solve the administrative problem in handling the rice. Given that the dispatching of Sim Gitae and the concerns of the government are related to the Choryang Waegwan, the production of Waegwan do would be correlated to these problems. There is a similar case to help understand the production of Waegwan do. King Jeongjo commissioned Kim Hondo (金弘道, 1745-after 1806) and Kim Eunghwan (金應煥, 1676-1759) to paint a map of Tsushima (大馬島) in 1789. The Korean governments focus on Dongnaebu and the diplomatic tension with Japan related to Korean missionaries to Japan seem to have provided reasons for King Jeongjo to dispatch the court painters to create the map of Tsushima. The production of Waegwan do in 1783 can be understood in a similar way. Waegwan do is important because this picture shows the Choryang Waegwan which was the center of trade and diplomacy between Joseon Korea and Edo Japan. Dongnaebu tried not to cause trouble because it was not only one of the strategic points but also the place for Koreas diplomacy with Japan. A series of problems related to the Korea-Japan trade, which happened in Dongnaebu in 1783, would have made the Korean government pay attention to the Choryang Waegwan and Waegwan do was produced under such circumstances.Ⅰ. 서론 1 Ⅱ. 변박(卞璞)과 7 1. 동래(東萊) 지역 화가 변박(卞璞)과 그의 작품 활동 7 2. : 초량공해(草梁公廨)의 시각화 16 III. 의 회화적 특징 31 1. 『봉래수창록(蓬萊酬唱錄)』의 동래부(東萊府) 그림과 31 2. 초량왜관(草梁倭館)을 그린 조일(朝日) 양국의 그림 38 Ⅳ. 1783년 의 제작과 그 의의 55 1. 초량왜관(草梁倭館)의 화재와 초량공해(草梁公廨)의 시각화 56 2. 1783년 영남어사(嶺南御史)의 파견과 동래부(東萊府) 58 3. 의 제작과 그 의미 66 Ⅴ. 결론 74 참고문헌 77 도판목록 85 도판 88 Abstract 108Maste

Vasculoprotective Effects of 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde against VSMCs Proliferation and ECs Inflammation

3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3-HBA) is a precursor compound for phenolic compounds like Protocatechuic aldehyde (PCA). From recent reports, PCA has shown vasculoprotective potency, but the effects of 3-HBA remain unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the vasculoprotective effects of 3-HBA in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and various animal models. We tested effects of 3-HBA in both vitro and vivo. 3-HBA showed that it prevents PDGF-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) migration and proliferation from MTS, BrdU assays and inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. It arrested S and G0/G1 phase of VSMC cell cycle in PI staining and it also showed inhibited expression levels of Rb1 and CD1. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), 3-HBA inhibited inflammatory markers and signaling molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, p-NF-κB and p-p38). For ex vivo, 3-HBA has shown dramatic effects in suppressing the sprouting from aortic ring of Spargue Dawley (SD) rats. In vivo data supported the vasculoprotective effects of 3-HBA as it inhibited angiogenesis from Matrigel Plug assay in C57BL6 mouse, prevented ADP-induced thrombus generation, increased blood circulation after formation of thrombus, and attenuated neointima formation induced by common carotid artery balloon injury of SD rats. 3-HBA, a novel therapeutic agent, has shown vasculoprotective potency in both in vitro and in vivo.ope

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde accelerates acute wound healing through activation of focal adhesion signalling in keratinocytes

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (4-HBA) is a naturally occurring benzaldehyde and the major active constituent of Gastrodia elata. While recent studies have demonstrated metabolic effects of 4-HBA, little is known about the physiological role of 4-HBA in acute wound healing. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of 4-HBA on acute wound healing. Using an in vitro approach, we found that 4-HBA significantly promoted keratinocyte cell migration and invasion by increasing focal adhesion kinase and Src activity. In addition, 4-HBA treatment also promoted wound healing and re-epithelialization in an in vivo excision wound animal model. Combination treatment with 4-HBA and platelet-derived growth factor subunit B homodimer showed synergistic effects in promoting wound healing. Taken together, our results demonstrated that treatment with 4-HBA promoted keratinocyte migration and wound healing in mouse skin through the Src/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Therefore, 4-HBA could be a candidate therapeutic agent with the potential to promote acute wound healing.ope

노인의 안전의식과 안전사고 발생에 관한 연구

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate safety awareness and accidents in elders. Method: A descriptive survey was done to determine the incidence of accidents and level of safety awareness. The participants were 300 elders 65 or over living in Seoul. Data were collected from May 1 to July 31, 2007 through personal interview using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The results are as follows. 1. The average safety awareness score was 44.57 of a maximum of 54. 2. Most of accidents were caused by falls (25.7%), followed by bumping into something (11.0%), and traffic accidents (3.6%). 3. There was no statistically significant difference between accidents and safety awareness level. 4. There were significant correlations between incidence of burns and health status (p<.05), and incidence of bumps and age (p<.01) and incidence of arthritis (p<.05). 5. There were significant correlations among safety awareness level and age (p<.05), health status (p<.01), and incidence of hypertension (p<.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that safety education programs are necessary to achieve safety for elders and to prevent accidents.ope

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 is involved in the protective effect of protocatechuic aldehyde against endothelial dysfunction.

Protocatechuic aldehyde (PCA), a phenolic aldehyde, has therapeutic potency against atherosclerosis. Although PCA is known to inhibit the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and intravascular thrombosis, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of PCA on endothelial cells and injured vessels in vivo in association with G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER-1). With PCA treatment, cAMP production was increased in HUVECs, while GPER-1 expression was increased in both HUVECs and a rat aortic explant. PCA and G1, a GPER-1 agonist, reduced H2O2 stimulated ROS production in HUVECs, whereas, G15, a GPER-1 antagonist, increased ROS production further. These elevations were inhibited by co-treatment with PCA or G1. TNFα stimulated the expression of inflammatory markers (VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and CD40), phospho-NF-κB, phospho-p38 and HIF-1α; however, co-treatment with PCA or G1 down-regulated this expression significantly. Likewise, increased expression of inflammatory markers by treatment with G15 was inhibited by co-treatment with PCA. In re-endothelization, aortic ring sprouting and neointima formation assay, rat aortas treated with PCA or G1 showed accelerated re-endothelization of the endothelium and reduced sprouting and neointima formation. However, aortas from G15-treated rats showed decelerated re-endothelization and increased sprouting and neointima formation. The effects of G15 were restored by co-treatment with PCA or G1. Also, in the endothelia of these aortas, PCA and G1 increased CD31 and GPER-1 and decreased VCAM-1 and CD40 expression. In contrast, the opposite effect was observed in G15-treated endothelium. These results suggest that GPER-1 might mediate the protective effect of PCA on the endothelium.ope

Olfactory marker protein regulation of glucagon secretion in hyperglycemia

The olfactory marker protein (OMP), which is also expressed in nonolfactory tissues, plays a role in regulating the kinetics and termination of olfactory transduction. Thus, we hypothesized that OMP may play a similar role in modulating the secretion of hormones involved in Ca2+ and cAMP signaling, such as glucagon. In the present study, we confirmed nonolfactory α-cell-specific OMP expression in human and mouse pancreatic islets as well as in the murine α-cell line αTC1.9. Glucagon and OMP expression increased under hyperglycemic conditions. Omp knockdown in hyperglycemic αTC1.9 cells using small-interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced the responses to glucagon release and the related signaling pathways compared with the si-negative control. The OMPlox/lox;GCGcre/w mice expressed basal glucagon levels similar to those in the wild-type OMPlox/lox mice but showed resistance against streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. The ectopic olfactory signaling events in pancreatic α-cells suggest that olfactory receptor pathways could be therapeutic targets for reducing excessive glucagon levels.ope

Cleaved CD44 intracellular domain supports activation of stemness factors and promotes tumorigenesis of breast cancer.

CD44 plays a role in the progression of tumors and is expressed in cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, the mechanisms underlying the crosstalk of CD44 with stemness genes in CSC maintenance remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated how the cleaved intracellular domain of CD44 (CD44ICD) activates stemness factors such as Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4, and contributes to the tumorigenesis of breast cancer. We have found that the overexpression of CD44ICD increased mammosphere formation in breast cancer cells. Treatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), which blocks the cleavage of CD44ICD, interfered with mammosphere formation. Interestingly, CD44ICD decreased the expression levels and nuclear localization of stemness factors, but overexpression of CD44ICD reversed these effects. In addition, we showed that nuclear localization of CD44ICD is important for transcriptional activation of the stemness factors. Furthermore, CD44ICD-overexpressed cells exhibited strong tumorigenecity and greater metastatic potential than did the control cells or CD44-depleted cells in vivo in mice models. Taken together, it was supposed that CD44 promotes tumorigenesis through the interaction and nuclear-translocation of its intracellular domain and stemness factors. We suggest that the prevention of cleavage and nuclear-translocation of CD44ICD is a potential target in treating breast cancer.ope

Potential of an Enzyme Mixture of Glucose Oxidase, Glucosyl Transferase, and Fructosyl Transferase as an Antidiabetic Medicine

An enzyme mixture (EM) of glucose oxidase, glucosyl transferase, and fructosyl transferase can regulate glucose absorption into the body by converting carbohydrates in food to indigestible oligosaccharides. We evaluated the antidiabetic effects of repeated oral administration of EM in db/db mice. Seven-week-old db/db mice were divided into control, voglibose, and EM groups. Drugs were administered orally mixed with limited feed for one month. Glucose levels were measured every week. A meal tolerance test was conducted after overnight fasting, before the mice were sacrificed. There were no differences in body weight or food intake between the groups. EM treatment reduced blood glucose levels compared with those in the control group. Blood glucose levels during the meal tolerance test were significantly lower in the EM group than those in the control group. A significant decrease in triglyceride level and a tendency for decreased low-density lipoprotein were observed in the EM group compared with in the control group. The Bacteroidetes-to-Firmicutes ratio was higher in the EM group than that in the control group. EM may be useful for people at risk of hyperglycemia or diabetes who need to safely regulate their blood glucose levels. EM may also improve lipid and gut microbiota profiles.ope