Relaxin is up‐regulated in the rat ovary by orthodontic tooth movement

Yang, So&#x2010,Young,Ko, Hyun&#x2010,Mi,Kang, Jee&#x2010,Hae,Moon, Yeon&#x2010,Hee,Yoo, Hong&#x2010,Il,Jung, Na&#x2010,Ri,Kim, Min&#x2010,Seok,Cho, Jin&#x2010,Hyung,Oh, Won&#x2010,Mann,Kim, Sun&#x201 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 European journal of oral sciences Vol.119 No.2

<P> <I>Yang S‐Y, Ko H‐M, Kang J‐H, Moon Y‐H, Yoo H‐I, Jung N‐R, Kim M‐S, Cho J‐H, Oh W‐M, Kim S‐H. Relaxin is up‐regulated in the rat ovary by orthodontic tooth movement.</I> 
 <I>Eur J Oral Sci 2011; 119: 115–120. © 2011 Eur J Oral Sci</I> </P><P>Relaxin (Rln) is an ovarian hormone that stimulates osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities and connective tissue turnover. To investigate the expression of Rln during orthodontic tooth movement, rats were implanted with orthodontic appliances that connected a spring from the upper incisors to the first molar with a 70 cN force. Rats in each group were killed 6, 48, and 144 h after activating the appliance, and the levels of <I>Rln1</I> and <I>Rln3</I> expression in the ovary were determined by real‐time RT‐PCR, northern blots, western blots, and immunofluorescence analyses. The amount of tooth movement induced by the orthodontic force increased in a time‐dependent manner. The levels of <I>Rln1</I> mRNA increased by 12‐, 41‐, and 263‐fold at 6, 48, and 144 h, respectively, after orthodontic tooth movement. The time‐dependent increase in the concentration of Rln 1 protein in the ovary was also confirmed by western blotting. Rln 1 was localized in the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles, and the immunoreactivity against Rln 1 was increased by the movement. In contrast, the concentration of Rln 3 was below the level of detection. The results of this study suggest that local changes in periodontal tissues induced by orthodontic tooth movement may affect <I>Rln1</I> expression in the ovary. However, further studies are needed to decipher the mechanisms involved and the possible contribution of the increased level of expression of Rln 1 to the tooth movement.</P>

Serum Concentrations of Leptin and Adiponectin in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Kim, H.&#x2010,S.,Kang, J.&#x2010,H.,Jeung, E.&#x2010,B.,Yang, M.&#x2010,P. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2016 Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol.30 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>The concentrations of circulating adipokines in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) have not been investigated in detail.</P><P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>To determine whether serum concentrations of adipokines differ between healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD and whether circulating concentrations depend on the severity of heart failure resulting from MMVD.</P><P><B>Animals</B></P><P>In the preliminary study, 30 healthy dogs and 17 client‐owned dogs with MMVD, and in the subsequent study, 30 healthy dogs and 46 client‐owned dogs with MMVD.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Prospective case‐controlled observational study. In the preliminary study, serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐18, and tumor necrosis factor‐α were measured. In the subsequent study, MMVD dogs were divided into three groups according to the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) classification, and serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were measured.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>In the preliminary study, serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations differed significantly between dogs with MMVD and healthy dogs. Serum leptin (<I>P</I> = .0013) concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with MMVD than in healthy dogs, whereas adiponectin (<I>P</I> = .0009) concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with MMVD. However, we observed no significant differences in the other variables. In the subsequent study, dogs classified as ISACHC class 3 had higher serum concentrations of leptin (<I>P</I> = .0022) than healthy dogs but ISACHC class 1 or 2 dogs did not. Serum adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in ISACHC class 1 (<I>P</I> < .0001) dogs than in healthy dogs, whereas adiponectin concentrations in ISACHC class 3 dogs were significantly higher than in ISACHC class 1 dogs (<I>P</I> = .0081).</P><P><B>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</B></P><P>Circulating concentrations of leptin and adiponectin might be altered in dogs with MMVD.</P>

Zinc‐triggered induction of tissue plasminogen activator by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and metalloproteinases

Hwang, Ih&#x2010,Yeon,Sun, Eun&#x2010,Sun,An, Ji Hak,Im, Hana,Lee, Sun&#x2010,Ho,Lee, Joo&#x2010,Yong,Han, Pyung&#x2010,Lim,Koh, Jae&#x2010,Young,Kim, Yang‐,Hee Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Journal of Neurochemistry Vol.118 No.5

<P> <I>J. Neurochem.</I> (2011) <B>118</B>, 855–863.</P><P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is necessary for hippocampal long‐term potentiation. Synaptically released zinc also contributes to long‐term potentiation, especially in the hippocampal CA3 region. Using cortical cultures, we examined whether zinc increased the concentration and/or activity of tPA. Two hours after a 10‐min exposure to 300 μM zinc, expression of tPA and its substrate, plasminogen, were significantly increased, as was the proteolytic activity of tPA. In contrast, increasing extracellular or intracellular calcium levels did not affect the expression or secretion of tPA. Changing zinc influx or chelating intracellular zinc also failed to alter tPA/plasminogen induction by zinc, indicating that zinc acts extracellularly. Zinc‐mediated extracellular activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) underlies the up‐regulation of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) signaling. Consistent with these findings, co‐treatment with a neutralizing antibody against BDNF or specific inhibitors of MMPs or Trk largely reversed tPA/plasminogen induction by zinc. Treatment of cortical cultures with <I>p</I>‐aminophenylmercuric acetate, an MMP activator, MMP‐2, or BDNF alone induced tPA/plasminogen expression. BDNF mRNA and protein expression was also increased by zinc and mediated by MMPs. Thus, an extracellular zinc‐dependent, MMP‐ and BDNF‐mediated synaptic mechanism may regulate the levels and activity of tPA.</P>

Plant‐expressed Fc‐fusion protein tetravalent dengue vaccine with inherent adjuvant properties

Kim, Mi Young,Copland, Alastair,Nayak, Kaustuv,Chandele, Anmol,Ahmed, Muhammad S.,Zhang, Qibo,Diogo, Gil R.,Paul, Matthew J.,Hofmann, Sven,Yang, Moon&#x2010,Sik,Jang, Yong&#x2010,Suk,Ma, Julian K&#x20 BLACKWELL 2018 PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL Vol.16 No.7

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P>Dengue is a major global disease requiring improved treatment and prevention strategies. The recently licensed Sanofi Pasteur Dengvaxia vaccine does not protect children under the age of nine, and additional vaccine strategies are thus needed to halt this expanding global epidemic. Here, we employed a molecular engineering approach and plant expression to produce a humanized and highly immunogenic poly‐immunoglobulin G scaffold (PIGS) fused to the consensus dengue envelope protein III domain (cEDIII). The immunogenicity of this IgG Fc receptor‐targeted vaccine candidate was demonstrated in transgenic mice expressing human FcγRI/CD64, by induction of neutralizing antibodies and evidence of cell‐mediated immunity. Furthermore, these molecules were able to prime immune cells from human adenoid/tonsillar tissue <I>ex vivo</I> as evidenced by antigen‐specific CD4<SUP>+</SUP> and CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T‐cell proliferation, IFN‐γ and antibody production. The purified polymeric fraction of dengue PIGS (D‐PIGS) induced stronger immune activation than the monomeric form, suggesting a more efficient interaction with the low‐affinity Fcγ receptors on antigen‐presenting cells. These results show that the plant‐expressed D‐PIGS have the potential for translation towards a safe and easily scalable single antigen‐based tetravalent dengue vaccine.</P>

Immunosensor Based on Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺‐Doped Silica Nanoparticles and Calix[4]crown‐5 Self‐Assembled Monolayers

Kim, Yang‐,Rae,Seo, Hyo&#x2010,Ju,Oh, Jeong&#x2010,Wook,Lim, Hyunchang,Kim, Tae Hyun,Kim, Hasuck WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2013 Electroanalysis Vol.25 No.4

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>An electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL)‐based immunosensor for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) has been fabricated using Ru(bpy)<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>2+</SUP>‐doped silica nanoparticles and calix[4]crown‐5 self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). Ru(bpy)<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>2+</SUP>‐doped silica nanoparticles are prepared by the water‐in‐oil (W/O) microemulsion method. ProLinker B, a commercially available thiolated calix[4]crown‐5 derivative, is utilized for the immobilization of anti‐immunoglobulin G (Anti‐IgG) on a gold electrode. The concentration of IgG is measured using a sandwich‐type ECL immunosensor based on the proposed immunosensor. The ECL intensity is linearly proportional to the IgG concentration over the concentration range 5–30 µg mL<SUP>−1</SUP>. The detection limit of IgG is 1.5 µg mL<SUP>−1</SUP>.</P>

Bio‐Inspired Complementary Photoconductor by Porphyrin‐Coated Silicon Nanowires

Choi, Sung&#x2010,Jin,Lee, Young&#x2010,Chul,Seol, Myeong&#x2010,Lok,Ahn, Jae&#x2010,Hyuk,Kim, Sungho,Moon, Dong&#x2010,Il,Han, Jin&#x2010,Woo,Mann, Stephen,Yang, Ji&#x2010,Won,Choi, Yang‐,Kyu WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2011 Advanced Materials Vol.23 No.34

<P><B>A symbiotically bio‐inspired complementary photoconductor</B> is demonstrated using a well‐defined silicon nanowire (SiNW) and porphyrins. The observed direction of the conductance change by light illumination has opposite signs for n‐ and p‐type SiNWs. On the basis of this observation, it is concluded that complementary photoconductors can be used to form functional logic gates of optical input with remarkably low static power dissipation.</P>

On‐Nanowire Band‐Graded Si:Ge Photodetectors

Kim, Cheol&#x2010,Joo,Lee, Hyun&#x2010,Seung,Cho, Yong&#x2010,Jun,Yang, Jee&#x2010,Eun,Lee, Ru Ri,Lee, Ja Kyung,Jo, Moon&#x2010,Ho WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2011 Advanced Materials Vol.23 No.8

<P><B>An on‐nanowire (on‐NW) band‐graded photodetector that pertains to the on‐nanowire composition gradation from pure Si to pure Ge</B>, Si<SUB>1–<I>x</I></SUB>Ge<SUB><I>x</I></SUB> (0 ≤ <I>x</I> ≤ 1), is reported. The spectral onset of interband photocarrier generation and photocurrent amplitude are on‐NW de‐multiflexed over the continuously varying energy band gap and surface trap state density in an individually addressable manner. </P>

Patient‐specific 17‐segment myocardial modeling on a bull's‐eye map

Jung, Joonho,Kim, Young&#x2010,Hak,Kim, Namkug,Yang, Dong Hyun unknown 2016 Journal of applied clinical medical physics Vol.17 No.5

<P>The purpose of this study was to develop and validate cardiac computed tomography (CT) quantitative analysis software with a patient‐specific, 17‐segment myocardial model that uses electrocardiogram (ECG)‐gated cardiac CT images to differentiate between normal controls and severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients. ECG‐gated cardiac CT images from 35 normal controls and 144 AS patients were semiautomatically segmented to create a patient‐specific, 17‐segment myocardial model. Two experts then manually determined the anterior and posterior interventricular grooves to be boundaries between the 1st and 2nd segments and between the 3rd and 4th segments, respectively, to correct the model. Each segment was automatically identified as follows. The outer angle of two boundaries was divided to differentiate the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th segments in the basal plane, whereas the inner angle divided the 2nd and 3rd segments. The segments of the midplane were similarly divided. Segmental area distributions were quantitatively evaluated on the bull's‐eye map on the basis of the morphological boundaries by measuring the area of each segment. Segmental areas of severe AS patients and normal controls were significantly different (t‐test, all p‐values<0.011) in the proposed model because the septal regions of the severe AS patients were smaller than those of normal controls and the difference was enough to divide the two groups. The capabilities of the 2D segmental areas (p<0.011) may be equivalent to those of 3D segmental analysis (all p‐values<0.001) for differentiating the two groups (t‐test, all p‐values<0.001). The proposed method is superior to the conventional 17‐segment in relation to reflection of patient‐specific morphological variation and allows to obtain a more precise mapping between segments and the AHA recommended nomenclature. It can be used to differentiate severer AS patients and normal controls and also helps to understand the left ventricular morphology at a glance.</P><P>PACS number(s): 87.57.N‐, 87.57.R‐, 87.57.qp</P>

3′‐Sialyllactose protects against osteoarthritic development by facilitating cartilage homeostasis

Jeon, Jimin,Kang, Li&#x2010,Jung,Lee, Kwang Min,Cho, Chanmi,Song, Eun Kyung,Kim, Wook,Park, Tae Joo,Yang, Siyoung John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2018 JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE Vol.22 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>3′‐Sialyllactose has specific physiological functions in a variety of tissues; however, its effects on osteoarthritic development remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated the function of 3′‐sialyllactose on osteoarthritic cartilage destruction. <I>In vitro</I> and <I>ex vivo</I>, biochemical and histological analysis demonstrated that 3′‐sialyllactose was sufficient to restore the synthesis of Col2a1 and accumulation of sulphated proteoglycan, a critical factor for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritic development, and blocked the expression of Mmp3, Mmp13 and Cox2 induced by IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐17 and TNF‐α, which mediates cartilage degradation. Further, reporter gene assays revealed that the activity of Sox9 as a transcription factor for Col2a1 expression was accelerated by 3′‐sialyllactose, whereas the direct binding of NF‐κB to the <I>Mmp3</I>,<I> Mmp13</I> and <I>Cox2</I> promoters was reduced by 3′‐sialyllactose in IL‐1β‐treated chondrocytes. Additionally, IL‐1β induction of Erk phosphorylation and IκB degradation, representing a critical signal pathway for osteoarthritic development, was totally blocked by 3′‐sialyllactose in a dose‐dependent manner. <I>In vivo</I>, 3′‐sialyllactose protected against osteoarthritic cartilage destruction in an osteoarthritis mouse model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus, as demonstrated by histopathological analysis. Our results strongly suggest that 3′‐sialyllactose may ameliorate osteoarthritic cartilage destruction by cartilage regeneration <I>via</I> promoting Col2a1 production and may inhibit cartilage degradation and inflammation by suppressing Mmp3, Mmp13 and Cox2 expression. The effects of 3′‐sialyllactose could be attributed in part to its regulation of Sox9 or NF‐κB and inhibition of Erk phosphorylation and IκB degradation. Taken together, these effects indicate that 3′‐sialyllactose merits consideration as a natural therapeutic agent for protecting against osteoarthritis.</P>

Photoinduced Memory with Hybrid Integration of an Organic Fullerene Derivative and an Inorganic Nanogap‐Embedded Field‐Effect Transistor for Low‐Voltage Operation

Kim, Chung&#x2010,Jin,Choi, Sung&#x2010,Jin,Kim, Sungho,Han, Jin&#x2010,Woo,Kim, Hoyeon,Yoo, Seunghyup,Choi, Yang‐,Kyu WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2011 Advanced Materials Vol.23 No.29

<P><B>A photoinduced hybrid memory operating with a low voltage</B> is demonstrated by embedding the fullerene derivative, [6,6]‐phenyl‐C<SUB>61</SUB>‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), into a conventional silicon‐channel FET with a nanogap, upon application of both electrical and optical pulses. The nanogap geometry allows high mobility, which is the same as that of conventional silicon and organic–inorganic hybrid integration without thermal instability.</P>