BAIBA Attenuates the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Attachment Molecules and ER Stress in HUVECs and THP-1 Cells

Lee, Wonjae,Yun, Subin,Choi, Geum Hee,Jung, Tae Woo S. Karger AG 2018 Pathobiology Vol.85 No.5

<P><B><I>Objective:</I></B> β-Aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), a myokine, is a thymine catabolite that is induced during exercise, leading to browning of white fat, hepatic fatty acid oxidation, and suppression of hepatic lipogenesis. However, the effects of BAIBA on the progression of atherosclerosis remain unclear. <B><I>Methods:</I></B> We performed a Western blot analyses to determine various protein expression. ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), cell adhesion assays, and cell viability assays were also performed on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human monocytes (THP-1 cells). <B><I>Results:</I></B> In the current study, we demonstrate that BAIBA suppresses atherosclerotic reactions caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment via an AMPK-dependent pathway. Treatment of HUVECs and THP-1 cells with BAIBA inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. In HUVECs, expression of adhesion molecules and LPS-stimulated adhesion of THP-1 cells to the endothelium were significantly decreased after BAIBA treatment. Furthermore, LPS-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell toxicity were significantly decreased after BAIBA treatment of HUVECs. Notably, all of these proatherosclerotic effects were fully abrogated by treatment with small interfering RNA targeting AMPK. <B><I>Conclusion:</I></B> BAIBA ameliorates LPS-induced atherosclerotic reactions via AMPK-mediated suppression of inflammation and ER stress.</P>

Long-term Prognosis of Mild to Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease

Lee Wonjae,Choi Wonsuk,강시혁,Hwang In-Chang,Choi Hong-Mi,Yoon Yeonyee E.,Cho Goo-Yeong 대한의학회 2021 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.36 No.6

Background: There is an incomplete understanding of the natural course of mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to evaluate the natural course of patients with mild to moderate AS and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 787 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AS using echocardiography between 2004 and 2010. Cardiac death and aortic valve replacement (AVR) for AS were assessed. Results: A median follow-up period was 92 months. Compared to the general population, patients with mild to moderate AS had a higher risk of cardiac death (hazard ratio [HR], 17.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.65–21.59; P < 0.001). Established CAD was detected in 22.4% and associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiac mortality (adjusted HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.04–2.53; P = 0.033). The risk of cardiac death was lower when patients were taking statin (adjusted HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41–0.98; P = 0.041), which was clear only after 7 years. Both patients with CAD and on statin tended to undergo more AVR, but the difference was not statistically significant (the presence of established CAD; adjusted HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.51–3.51; P = 0.214 and the use of statin; adjusted HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.76–4.58; P = 0.177). Conclusion: Mild to moderate AS does not have a benign course. The presence of CAD and statin use may affect the long-term prognosis of patients with mild to moderate AS.

Grinding characteristics of waste printed circuit boards in hammer mill using population balance model

Lee Wonjae,Park Seungsoo,Park Jaikoo 한국자원공학회 2021 Geosystem engineering Vol.24 No.4

In this study, the grinding characteristics of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) were evaluated using a population balance model (PBM). The grinding characteristics under various conditions (hammer rotational speeds of 1600, 2000, and 2400 rpm; screen aperture sizes of 0.71, 1.0, and 1.40 mm; and maximum feed sizes of 4, 6, and 8 mm) were identified. A PBM for a continuous hammer mill was used to quantitatively demonstrate the grinding characteristics. No significant difference was observed in the particle sizes of the products for various hammer rotational speeds. Nevertheless, the specific rate of breakage increased with the hammer rotational speed. As expected, a narrow screen aperture yielded a fine product. The mean residence time was increased in this case to comminute the particles to a finer size. Furthermore, a finer feed was predicted to yield a finer product; however, a coarser feed was observed to yield such a product instead. Each hammer milling condition should be controlled with respect to the hammer milling performance and target particle size of the product.

Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 4 attenuates hyperlipidemia-induced insulin resistance via suppression of inflammation and ER stress through HO-1 expression in adipocytes

Lee, Wonjae,Yun, Subin,Choi, Geum Hee,Jung, Tae Woo Elsevier 2018 Biochemical and biophysical research communication Vol.502 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Although Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 4 (FNDC4) has been reported to be involved in the modulation of inflammation in macrophages, its effects on inflammation and insulin resistance in adipose tissue are unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effects of FNDC4 on hyperlipidemia-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance in adipocytes via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-mediated pathway. Hyperlipidemia-induced nuclear factor κB (NFκB), inhibitory κBα (IκBα) phosphorylation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and MCP-1 were markedly mitigated by FNDC4. Furthermore, FNDC4 treatment attenuated impaired insulin signaling in palmitate-treated differentiated 3T3-L1 cells and in subcutaneous adipose tissue of HFD-fed mice. FNDC4 administration ameliorated glucose intolerance and reduced HFD-induced body weight gain in mice. However, FNDC4 treatment did not affect calorie intake. Additionally, treatment with FNDC4 attenuated hyperlipidemia-induced phosphorylation or expression of ER stress markers such as IRE-1, eIF2α, and CHOP in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in subcutaneous adipose tissue of mice. FNDC4 treatment stimulated AMPK phosphorylation and HO-1 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in subcutaneous adipose tissue of mice. siRNA-mediated suppression of AMPK and HO-1 abrogated the suppressive effects of FNDC4 on palmitate-induced ER stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance. In conclusion, our results show that FNDC4 ameliorates insulin resistance via AMPK/HO-1-mediated suppression of inflammation and ER stress, indicating that FNDC4 may be a novel therapeutic agent for treating insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.</P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A (NABOTA) for Post-stroke Upper Extremity Spasticity: A Multicenter Phase IV Trial

Wonjae Hwang,Seong Min Kang,Sang Yoon Lee,Han Gil Seo,박윤길,Bum Sun Kwon,Kwang Jae Lee,김덕용,김형섭,Shi-Uk Lee 대한재활의학회 2022 Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol.46 No.4

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Daewoong botulinum toxin type A (NABOTA) after its launch in South Korea.Methods This prospective, multicenter, open-label phase IV clinical trial included 222 patients with stroke. All patients visited the clinic at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after injection of upto 360 units of NABOTA into the wrist, elbow, and finger flexor muscles at the first visit. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score for the wrist flexor muscles between baseline and week 4. The secondary outcomes were the changes in MAS, Disability Assessment Scale (DAS), and Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) scores between baseline and each visit, and the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) score at week 12.Results There was a statistically significant decrease in the MAS score for the wrist flexors between baseline and week 4 (-0.97±0.66, p<0.001). Compared with baseline, the MAS, DAS and CBS scores improved significantly during the study period. The GAS was rated as very good or good by 86.8% of physicians and by 60.0% of patients (or caregivers). The incidence of adverse events was 14.4%, which is smaller than that in a previous trial.Conclusion NABOTA showed considerable efficacy and safety in the management of upper limb spasticity in stroke patients.

3D-Printed Monolithic SiCN Ceramic Systems Derived from Single Preceramic Resin

Wonjae LEE,Dong-Pyo KIM 한국고분자학회 2016 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.41 No.2

Comparison of Expert and Novice Pilot Situation Awareness during Landing

Wonjae Lee,Chunghoon Kim,Sungho Kim 대한인간공학회 2017 대한인간공학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2017 No.11

Objective: This study was to compare and quantify the level of situation awareness (SA) between expert and novice pilots using eye tracking features. Background: Successful and safe landing requires a high SA of pilots. However, existing studies have examined simple SA status, which was lack of comprehensively understanding by linking SA model and quantitative features. Method: The experiments were conducted by five repeated landing for four expert and four novice pilots using flight simulator and eye tracking equipment. Three eye tracking features (visit frequency, dwell time ratio, scan path entropy) were calculated for reflecting three level of SA model (perception, comprehension, projection). The classification of SA status was performed by applying significant eye tracking features, developing binary logistic regression model, testing 5-fold cross validation. Results: Visit frequency of expert pilots was 138%, 47%, 85%, 67%, 117%, and 91% higher than novice pilots in RPM, VVI, altimeter, heading, airspeed, and attitude areas of interest (AOIs) respectively; while 50% and 33% lower in runway and outside AOIs respectively. Dwell time ratio of expert pilots was 38% and 42% higher than novice pilots in runway and outside AOIs respectively; while 62%, 62%, and 65% lower in altimeter, airspeed, and attitude AOIs respectively. Scan path entropy of expert pilots was 33% higher than novice pilots in outside AOI; while 29% lower in attitude AOI. Sensitivity of the classification model for SA high and low status was 73.7%.Conclusion: This study showed that the difference between SA level of expert and novice pilots could be identified by using novel eye tracking features and applied to develop classification model for SA high and low status. Application: The results of this study can be used as objective data of strategy establishment or training feedback for novice pilots.

Investigation of Enantiomer Separation Using Chiral Crown Ethers as Chiral Selectors

Lee, Wonjae The Basic Science Institute Chosun University 2016 조선자연과학논문집 Vol.9 No.1

A number of chiral selectors have been developed and applied for enantiomer separation of a variety of chiral compounds. Among these chiral selectors are chiral crown ethers, a class of synthetic host polyether molecules that bind protonated chiral primary amines with high selectivity and affinity. In this paper, two important chiral crown ethers as chiral selectors of bis-(1,1'-binaphthyl)-22-crown-6 and (18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid (18-C-6-TA) are focused. They have been widely used to resolve the enantiomers of chiral compounds containing a primary amino moiety using chiral stationary phases (CSPs) or chiral selectors by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and so on in chirotechnology. Also, it was described that the commercially available covalent type HPLC CSPs derived from (+)- and (-)-18-C-6-TA have been developed and successfully applied for the resolution of various primary amino compounds including amino acids.

Construction of Organophosphorus Pesticide Whole-cell Biosensor using Bio-part Library

Wonjae SEONG,Haseong KIM,Eugene RHA,Hyewon LEE,Hyeryeon YOON,Seung-Goo LEE 한국생물공학회 2019 한국생물공학회 학술대회 Vol.2019 No.4

Evaluation of Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in Asymptomatic Individuals with an Initial Score of Zero

Wonjae Lee,Yeonyee E. Yoon,Ohkyung Kwon,이희선,Hyo Eun Park,Eun Ju Chun,Su-Yeon Choi,Goo-Yeong Cho,Hyuk-Jae Chang 대한심장학회 2019 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.49 No.5

Background and Objectives: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in the asymptomatic population can improve cardiovascular risk prediction. We aimed to assess CAC progression and the impact of coronary risk factors on the CAC progression rate in asymptomatic Korean individuals with a baseline CAC score of zero. Methods: The study population was derived from the Korea Initiatives on Coronary Artery Calcification (KOICA) registry: a retrospective, single ethnicity, multicenter registry of asymptomatic individuals who underwent CAC scoring as a part of a health checkup. Individuals with at least two CAC scores and an initial score of zero were included. CAC progression was defined as [√CAC score (follow-up) − √CAC score (baseline)] ≥2.5. The 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk was calculated. Results: Among 6,268 participants (mean age, 48.0±7.1 years; male, 80.5%), 719 (11.5%) experienced CAC progression during follow-up (median, 109 months; interquartile range, 78–208 months). The CAC progression rate was 0.3%, 1.9%, 4.3%, 8.6%, and 16.7% in years 1–5, respectively. The chance of CAC progression at 5 years was 13.1%, 22.0%, and 27.9% for individuals with a 10-year ASCVD risk of <5%, ≥5% but <7.5%, and ≥7.5%, respectively. A multivariable analysis revealed age, male sex, waist circumference, diabetes, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level as independently associated with annualized CAC progression (p<0.001, p=0.017, p=0.025, p=0.032, and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: The probability of CAC progression is very low in Korean individuals with a CAC score of zero. However, the risk of CAC progression increases nonlinearly over time, and increases as the 10-year ASCVD risk increases.