β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist formoterol suppresses differentiation of L6 myogenic cells by blocking PI3K-AKT pathway.

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) is implicated in muscle metabolic activities such as glycogen metabolism, glucose uptake, lipolysis and muscle growth. However, the functional role of β-AR in the differentiation of skeletal muscle is largely unknown. Here, we examined the functional role of β-AR in L6 myoblast differentiation using the long-term-acting β-AR-specific agonist formoterol.

Carboxy-terminal domain of Cas differentially modulates expression, DNA synthesis, and membrane ruffling induced by insulin, EGF, and IGF-1.

p130 Crk-associated substrate (Cas) is an adaptor protein associating with many other signaling proteins and regulates a various biological processes including cell adhesion, migration, and growth factor stimulation. However, the exact functional role of Cas in growth factor signaling pathway was poorly understood. Here we investigated the role of Cas and its domains in the effects of insulin, EGF, and IGF-1 on c-Jun gene expression, DNA synthesis, cytoskeletal reorganization.

Oncogenic N-Ras Stimulates SRF-Mediated Transactivation via H3 Acetylation at Lysine 9.

Signal transduction pathways regulate the gene expression by altering chromatin dynamics in response to mitogens. Ras proteins are key regulators linking extracellular stimuli to a diverse range of biological responses associated with gene regulation. In mammals, the three ras genes encode four Ras protein isoforms: H-Ras, K-Ras4A, K-Ras4B, and N-Ras.

Interventions for Preventing Childhood Obesity with Smartphones and Wearable Device: A Protocol for a Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Childhood obesity is a critical health issue, both currently and for the foreseeable future. To prevent obesity, behavior changes are essential. Smartphones can be a good tool, as the number of child smartphone users is rapidly increasing.

Functional roles of BCAR3 in the signaling pathways of insulin leading to DNA synthesis, membrane ruffling and GLUT4 translocation.

Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance 3 (BCAR3) is an SH2-containing signal transducer and is implicated in tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells. In this study, we found that BCAR3 mediates the induction of ERK activation and DNA synthesis by insulin, but not by IGF-1. Specifically, the SH2 domain of BCAR3 is involved in insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis.

Factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in Korea: data from a national community health survey.

This study investigated factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening using data from a nationwide community survey. A nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in all 253 administrative districts of Korea. The breast and cervical cancer screening rate was negatively associated with the obesity (β = -2.

Alcohol consumption shows a J-shaped association with lower urinary tract symptoms in the general screening population.

Purpose: Controversial and contradictory data on the association between alcohol consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms are currently available in the literature. In this study we determined the association between alcohol consumption and lower urinary tract symptoms, including voiding and storage symptoms, in a large general screening population.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30,196 men 30 years old or older participating in a comprehensive health evaluation at the Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center.

Hepatitis B virus X protein inhibits extracellular IFN-α-mediated signal transduction by downregulation of type I IFN receptor.

We have previously shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein X (HBX), a regulatory protein of HBV, activates Stat1, leading to type I interferon (IFN) production. Type I IFN secreted from HBX-expressing hepatic cells enforces antiviral signals through its binding to the cognate type I IFN receptor. We therefore investigated how cells handle this detrimental situation.

Metabolic syndrome and accompanying hyperinsulinemia have favorable effects on lower urinary tract symptoms in a generally healthy screened population.

Purpose: We assessed the association of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and lower urinary tract symptoms in a large, screened adult population.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 33,841 Korean men 30 years old or older who underwent routine health assessments from October 2003 to February 2010. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the modified Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

Cost-effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in the management of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review.

Background And Purpose: This work was undertaken to review the current cost-effectiveness analysis data on thrombolysis by intravenous (IV) therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: PubMed was searched for articles published between 1995 and 2008. The cost-effectiveness analysis data from eight eligible studies were reviewed, paying particular attention to their modeling assumptions and the quality of the source data.

BCAR3 regulates EGF-induced DNA synthesis in normal human breast MCF-12A cells.

BCAR3 (breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance 3) is a signal transducer containing an SH2 domain, a proline/serine-rich domain and a GDP-exchange factor homologous domain, whose role in signaling pathways is currently unclear. Furthermore, BCAR3 is implicated in anti-estrogen resistance of breast cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in a mitogenic signaling pathway of EGF in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial MCF-12A cells.

Efficacy of protein A-HRP in an immunological study of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf) humoral immune responses.

The efficacy of protein A-horse radish peroxidase (HRP), as compared to that of mouse polyclonal antibody raised against purified Ig, in detection of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf) immunoglobulin (Ig) was examined. Protein A affinity chromatography successfully purified Ig from black rockfish serum; the purified-Ig could be visualised as two protein bands (MW 70 and 25kDa) following resolution with sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. In SDS-PAGE immunoblot profiles of the purified-Ig, the mouse polyclonal antibody recognised both the light chain and heavy chains of rockfish Ig, whereas protein A-HRP immunostained only the heavy chain of rockfish Ig.