Influence of preparation design on fit and ceramic thickness of CEREC 3 partial ceramic crowns after cementation.

Objective: This study investigated the influence of preparation design on the marginal and internal gap and ceramic thickness of partial ceramic crowns (PCCs) fabricated with the CEREC 3 system.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen extracted human mandibular molars were prepared according to two different preparation designs (n = 8): a retentive preparation design with traditional cusp capping (Group I) and a non-retentive preparation design with horizontal reduction of cusps (Group II). PCCs were fabricated from IPS Empress CAD with the CEREC 3 system.

Chromatin decondensation and T cell hyperresponsiveness in diabetes-associated hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is linked to increased inflammation and susceptibility to certain infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB). We previously reported that aerosol TB in mice with chronic (≥ 12 wk) hyperglycemia features increased bacterial load, overproduction of several cytokines, and increased immune pathology compared with normoglycemic controls. A similar phenotype exists in human patients with diabetes with TB.

Gestational loss and growth restriction by angiogenic defects in placental growth factor transgenic mice.

Objective: Angiogenesis is an important biological process during development, reproduction, and in immune responses. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of vascular endothelial growth factor that is critical for angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We generated transgenic mice overexpressing PlGF in specifically T cells using the human CD2-promoter to investigate the effects of PlGF overexpression.

ChIP-less analysis of chromatin states.

Background: Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are key epigenetic regulators in chromatin-based processes. Increasing evidence suggests that vast combinations of PTMs exist within chromatin histones. These complex patterns, rather than individual PTMs, are thought to define functional chromatin states.

Metabolic syndrome as a predictor of type 2 diabetes, and its clinical interpretations and usefulness.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia and central obesity with insulin resistance as the source of pathogenesis. Although several different combinations of criteria have been used to define metabolic syndrome, a recently published consensus recommends the use of ethnic-specific criteria, including waist circumference as an indicator of central obesity, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol as indicators of dyslipidemia, and blood pressure greater than 130/85 mmHg. The definition of dysglycemia, and whether central obesity and insulin resistance are essential components remain controversial.

Predicting the development of diabetes using the product of triglycerides and glucose: the Chungju Metabolic Disease Cohort (CMC) study.

Background: To determine whether the TyG index, a product of the levels of triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) might be a valuable marker for predicting future diabetes.

Methods: A total of 5,354 nondiabetic subjects who had completed their follow-up visit for evaluating diabetes status were selected from a large cohort of middle-aged Koreans in the Chungju Metabolic Disease Cohort study. The risk of diabetes was assessed according to the baseline TyG index, calculated as ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × FPG (mg/dL)/2].

Cross-sectional analysis of the seropositivity and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among veterinarians, in relation to their public professional activities.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic pathogen that can infect most warm-blooded animals and humans. Although numerous epidemiological studies of T. gondii have been published, very limited data exist on the prevalence of T.

Protective efficacy in mice of monovalent and trivalent live attenuated influenza vaccines in the background of cold-adapted A/X-31 and B/Lee/40 donor strains.

Influenza virus continues to take a heavy toll on human health and vaccination remains the mainstay of efforts to reduce the clinical impact imposed by viral infections. Proven successful for establishing live attenuated vaccine donor strains, cold-adapted live attenuated influenza vaccines (CAIVs) have become an attractive modality for controlling the virus infection. Previously, we developed the cold-adapted strains A/X-31 and B/Lee/40 as novel donor strains of CAIVs against influenza A and B viruses.

Engrafted human cells generate adaptive immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection in humanized mice.

Background: Currently used mouse models fail to fully reflect human immunity to tuberculosis (TB), which hampers progress in research and vaccine development. Bone marrow-liver-thymus (BLT) mice, generated by engrafting human fetal liver, thymus, and hematopoietic stem cells in severely immunodeficient NOD/SCID/IL-2Rγ(-/-) (NSG) mice, have shown potential to model human immunity to infection. We engrafted HLA-A2-positive fetal tissues into NSG mice transgenically expressing human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice.

This study investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice. C3H/HeN mice were divided into sham and irradiation (3 Gy, gamma-ray) groups. The irradiated mice were treated for 12 wk with vehicle, KRG (per os, p.

High-yield soluble expression of recombinant influenza virus antigens from Escherichia coli and their potential uses in diagnosis.

Although antiviral drugs and vaccines have been successful for mitigating influenza virus infections, the lack of general technical platform for the timely supply of soluble and highly purified influenza viral antigens presents a serious bottleneck for the subsequent analysis for the effective control of the viral disease. Using the Escherichia coli (E. coli) lysyl tRNA synthetase (LysRS) as a novel fusion partner, this study reports the soluble expression of influenza viral proteins in E.

Automatic polymerase chain reaction product detection system for food safety monitoring using zinc finger protein fused to luciferase.

An automatic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product detection system for food safety monitoring using zinc finger (ZF) protein fused to luciferase was developed. ZF protein fused to luciferase specifically binds to target double stranded DNA sequence and has luciferase enzymatic activity. Therefore, PCR products that comprise ZF protein recognition sequence can be detected by measuring the luciferase activity of the fusion protein.

Host defense mechanism-based rational design of live vaccine.

Live attenuated vaccine (LAV), mimicking natural infection, provides an excellent protection against microbial infection. The development of LAV, however, still remains highly empirical and the rational design of clinically useful LAV is scarcely available. Apoptosis and caspase activation are general host antiviral responses in virus-infected cells.

Liability of newness: assessing couple social support when starting a new business venture.

Study purpose was to investigate adapted social support instruments of nurturance and affiliation with male and female entrepreneurs and spouses starting a new business. Family Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation theory was the theoretical grounding. Business structure differed by entrepreneur gender in both direct and indirect spousal involvement.

Nutritional intake of pregnant women with gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Adequate intake of nutrients by pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is very important for appropriate weight gain and maintenance of normoglycemia without ketonuria. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional intake of pregnant women with GDM or T2DM who had not been provided with nutritional education regarding blood glucose management. Between June 2008 and May 2010, 125 pregnant women who had been diagnosed with GDM or T2DM and had not received any nutrition education regarding glycemic control and proper diet during pregnancy were interviewed to collect data regarding background characteristics, health-related behaviors, and course of pregnancy and instructed to record their dietary intake using a 24-hour recall method for one day.

Comparison of dietary food and nutrient intakes by supplement use in pregnant and lactating women in Seoul.

This study was performed to compare the dietary food and nutrient intakes according to supplement use in pregnant and lactating women in Seoul. The subjects were composed of 201 pregnant and 104 lactating women, and their dietary food intake was assessed using the 24-h recall method. General information on demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as health-related behaviors, including the use of dietary supplements, were collected.

Application of IgG-derived natural Treg epitopes (IgG Tregitopes) to antigen-specific tolerance induction in a murine model of type 1 diabetes.

HLA class II-restricted regulatory T cell (Treg) epitopes in IgG (also called "Tregitopes") have been reported to suppress immune responses to coadministered antigens by stimulating the expansion of natural Tregs (nTregs). Here we evaluate their impact on human immune responses to islet cell antigens ex vivo and on the modulation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a murine model in vivo. Co-administration of Tregitopes and T1D antigens delayed development of hyperglycemia and reduced the incidence of diabetes in NOD mice.

α-Lipoic acid prevents p53 degradation in colon cancer cells by blocking NF-κB induction of RPS6KA4.

α-Lipoic acid (α-LA) is a biogenic antioxidant that has been used successfully in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy and its application to many oxidative stress-associated chronic diseases has increased. In this study, we investigated the effect of α-LA on colorectal cancer cell growth and its underlying mechanism. α-LA treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the growth of HCT116 colon cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner through the G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis induction.

PPARδ promotes oncogenic redirection of TGF-β1 signaling through the activation of the ABCA1-Cav1 pathway.

TGF-β1 plays biphasic functions in prostate tumorigenesis, inhibiting cell growth at early stages but promoting malignant progression at later stages. However, the molecular basis for the oncogenic conversion of TGF-β1 function remains largely undefined. Here, we demonstrate that PPARδ is a direct transcription target of TGF-β1 and plays a critical role in oncogenic redirection of TGF-β1 signaling.

Establishment of a murine model for radiation-induced bone loss using micro-computed tomography in adult C3H/HeN mice.

Bone changes are common sequela of radiation therapy for cancer. The purpose of this study was to establish an experimental model of radiation-induced bone loss in adult mice using micro-computed tomography (µCT). The extent of changes following 2 Gy gamma irradiation (2 Gy/min) was studied at 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks after exposure.

Intracellular bacillary burden reflects a burst size for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo.

We previously reported that Mycobacterium tuberculosis triggers macrophage necrosis in vitro at a threshold intracellular load of ~25 bacilli. This suggests a model for tuberculosis where bacilli invading lung macrophages at low multiplicity of infection proliferate to burst size and spread to naïve phagocytes for repeated cycles of replication and cytolysis. The current study evaluated that model in vivo, an environment significantly more complex than in vitro culture.

Prevention of diabetes: a strategic approach for individual patients.

The 'diabetes epidemic' is an important health and socioeconomic problem worldwide. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease with gradual deterioration in glucose metabolism which causes multiple systemic complications. Therefore, early intervention in the prediabetic stage is a valuable approach to reduce diabetes development and related complications.

Mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan from Mycobacterium tuberculosis preferentially inhibits sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced migration of Th1 cells.

Chemokine receptor cross-desensitization provides an important mechanism to regulate immune cell recruitment at sites of inflammation. We previously reported that the mycobacterial cell wall glycophospholipid mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM) could induce human peripheral blood T cell chemotaxis. Therefore, we examined the ability of ManLAM to desensitize T cells to other chemoattractants as a potential mechanism for impaired T cell homing and delayed lung recruitment during mycobacterial infection.

Ten-year trends in HIV prevalence among visitors to public health centers under the National HIV Surveillance System in Korea, 2000 to 2009.

Background: Korea saw a sharp increase in HIV diagnosis from 2000. This serious public health concern must be monitored diligently. We identified the characteristics and trends in HIV prevalence among visitors to public health centers (PHCs) from 2000 to 2009.

Dual-mode fluorescence switching induced by self-assembly of well-defined poly(arylene ether sulfone)s containing pyrene and amide moieties.

A new class of fluorescent organogelators, pyrene-containing poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, showed two fluorescence switching modes in different gelation solvents. The THF gel exhibited excimer emission due to dimerization of the pyrene groups. In contrast, excimer emission was quenched after gelation in MC because of stacking among the pyrene groups.