Comparative Study on Hepatoprotective Effects of Traditional Herbs, Roots of Nakai, Fischer, Mill., and Fruits of Pall., on Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with few effective treatments besides alcohol abstinence. Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AG), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GR), Paeoniae Radix (PR), and Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) are traditional herbs used to treat various ailments, including liver diseases. While several studies have reported the beneficial effects of GR on ALD, the effects of AG, PR, and ZF remain underexplored.

Lateral interactions between CD276 and CD147 are essential for stemness in breast cancer: a novel insight from proximal proteome analysis.

Oncogenic cell-surface membrane proteins contribute to the phenotypic and functional characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We employed a proximity-labeling proteomic approach to quantitatively analyze the cell-surface membrane proteins in close proximity to CD147 in CSCs. Furthermore, we compared CSCs to non-CSCs to identify CSC-specific cell-surface membrane proteins that are closely interact with CD147 and revealed that lateral interaction between CD147 and CD276 concealed within the lipid raft microdomain in CSCs, confers resistance to docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy agent for various cancer types, including metastatic breast cancer.

Association of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Alcohol Consumption on Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of both alcohol consumption and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean men. Methods: A cohort of 364 men included in this study was divided into four groups according to the amount of alcohol they consumed: the nondrinkers (ND), low moderate drinkers (LM, ≤7 standard drinks per week), high moderate drinkers (HM, 7 to 14 drinks per week), and heavy drinkers (HD, >14 drinks per week). Logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for age, exercise, and smoking.

TNF-α differentially modulates subunit levels of respiratory electron transport complexes of ER/PR +ve/-ve breast cancer cells to regulate mitochondrial complex activity and tumorigenic potential.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an immunostimulatory cytokine that is consistently high in the breast tumor microenvironment (TME); however, its differential role in mitochondrial functions and cell survival in ER/PR +ve and ER/PR -ve breast cancer cells is not well understood.

Methods: In the current study, we investigated TNF-α modulated mitochondrial proteome using high-resolution mass spectrometry and identified the differentially expressed proteins in two different breast cancer cell lines, ER/PR positive cell line; luminal, MCF-7 and ER/PR negative cell line; basal-like, MDA-MB-231 and explored its implication in regulating the tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells. We also compared the activity of mitochondrial complexes, ATP, and ROS levels between MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in the presence of TNF-α.

Multivalent Maxibody with a Broad Spectrum of Strain Specificity and Sensitivity for Gonorrhea Diagnosis.

Gonorrhea is one of the most common, but still hidden and insidious, sexually transmitted diseases caused by (). However, the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhea are hampered by antigenic variability among , the lack of acquired immunity, and antimicrobial resistance. Further, strains resistant to cephalosporins, including ceftriaxone, the last line of defense, represent a growing threat, which prompted us to develop -specific diagnostic antibodies with broad-spectrum binding to strains to generate gonorrhea-detecting reagents.

Targeting CALM2 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth and Metastasis by Suppressing E2F5-mediated Cell Cycle Progression.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to reveal the novel roles of calmodulin 2 (CALM2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

Materials And Methods: The effects of knockdown of CALM2 expression by siRNA were investigated using various experimental approaches in both cellular and molecular levels.

Results: Silencing of CALM2 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and colony formation through induction of apoptosis.

Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Modification of Mitochondrial Antiviral Signaling Protein Regulates Antiviral Signaling by Modulating Its Activity.

Post-translational modifications, including -GlcNAcylation, play fundamental roles in modulating cellular events, including transcription, signal transduction, and immune signaling. Several molecular targets of -GlcNAcylation associated with pathogen-induced innate immune responses have been identified; however, the direct regulatory mechanisms linking -GlcNAcylation with antiviral RIG-I-like receptor signaling are not fully understood. In this study, we found that cellular levels of -GlcNAcylation decline in response to infection with Sendai virus.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of TZAP Expression in Colorectal Cancers.

Purpose: The zinc finger protein, ZBTB48, is a telomere-associated protein. It was renamed as telomeric zinc finger-associated protein (TZAP) binding to elongated telomeres. However, its expression level was not measured in cancers.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based medical microrobot system for knee cartilage regeneration in vivo.

Targeted cell delivery by a magnetically actuated microrobot with a porous structure is a promising technique to enhance the low targeting efficiency of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in tissue regeneration. However, the relevant research performed to date is only in its proof-of-concept stage. To use the microrobot in a clinical stage, biocompatibility and biodegradation materials should be considered in the microrobot, and its efficacy needs to be verified using an in vivo model.

Influence of Facial Flushing on Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes Risk according to Alcohol Consumption in Korean Male.

Background: This study aims to examine the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of pre- or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by alcohol-induced flushing response in Korean male adults, particularly based on their body mass index (BMI).

Methods: This study selected 1,030 (158 non-drinkers, 364 flushers, and 508 non-flushers) male adults who had medical checkups. A logistic regression analysis was used to compare the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of pre- or T2DM.

Influence of Maitake () Particle Sizes on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Evaluation of Their Therapeutic Potential.

Maitake () mushroom has received an enormous amount of attention as a dietary supplement due to its high nutritional values. The particle sizes of mushrooms were monitored by a classifying mill. -Glucans are the bioactive component of the mushroom, and it was revealed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (H and C-NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, and time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry.

Association between Alcohol Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome Determined by Facial Flushing in Korean Women.

Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome in Korean women as determined by facial flushing.

Methods: Of the female patients aged <65 years who visited the health promotion center at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2016 to March 2017, 1,344 women were included. After adjusting for confounding factors such as age, body mass index, smoking, exercise, and menopausal status, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome in the facial flushing and non-facial flushing groups compared with the non-drinkers.

Enhanced osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells on electrospun cellulose nanocrystals/poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibers on graphene oxide substrates.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have received a great amount of attention to the production of micro/nano-platforms for tissue engineering applications. CNCs were extracted from rice husk biomass and characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. The biocompatibility of the extracted CNCs was revealed by the WST-1 assay technique in the presence of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) after different time intervals.

The Effect of Education and Vitamin D Supplementation on the Achievement of Optimal Vitamin D Level in Korean Postmenopausal Women.

Background: Despite daily vitamin D recommendations, women with osteoporosis may not achieve optimal 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of education and vitamin D supplementation (1,000 IU/day) in Korean women with osteoporosis.

Methods: Sixty-one women with osteoporosis who were taking cholecalciferol (800-1,000 IU/day) were enrolled during 2011 to 2012.

Structural Elucidation and Immune-Enhancing Effects of Novel Polysaccharide from .

Beta-glucan (-glucan) is a macromolecule structure where glucose unit has bonded through -glycosidic bond at 1 and 3 positions. It is well known as a natural immunomodulator without exhibiting any side effects via enhancing immunity. Mushroom contains a large amount of -glucan and it has anticancerous and antioxidant efficacy.

Stimuli-Responsive Graphene Nanohybrids for Biomedical Applications.

Stimuli-responsive materials, also known as smart materials, can change their structure and, consequently, original behavior in response to external or internal stimuli. This is due to the change in the interactions between the various functional groups. Graphene, which is a single layer of carbon atoms with a hexagonal morphology and has excellent physiochemical properties with a high surface area, is frequently used in materials science for various applications.

A subset of microRNAs defining the side population of a human malignant mesothelioma cell line.

This study was performed to investigate the global expression profile of microRNAs in distinct subpopulations of a human malignant mesothelioma cell line. Total RNAs were isolated from the sorted side population and non-side population of MS1. The RNAs were subjected to analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip microRNA Arrays.

An Integrated Analysis of the Genome-Wide Profiles of DNA Methylation and mRNA Expression Defining the Side Population of a Human Malignant Mesothelioma Cell Line.

Intratumoral heterogeneity is a hallmark of all cancers and functions as the major barrier against effective cancer therapy. In contrast to genetic mutations, the role of epigenetic modifications in the generation and maintenance of heterogeneous cancer cells remains largely undetermined. This study was performed to evaluate the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the tumor cell heterogeneity using side population (SP) and non-SP cells isolated from a human malignant mesothelioma (HMM) cell line.

Development of a Simple Tool for Identifying Alcohol Use Disorder in Female Korean Drinkers from Previous Questionnaires.

Background: This study aimed to develop a simple tool for identifying alcohol use disorders in female Korean drinkers from previous questionnaires.

Methods: This research was conducted on 400 women who consumed at least one alcoholic drink during the past month and visited the health promotion center at Chungnam National University Hospital between June 2013 to May 2014. Drinking habits and alcohol use disorders were assessed by structured interviews using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition diagnostic criteria.

The beneficial effect of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) leaf extracts in adults with prediabetes: a randomized placebo controlled trial.

The present study investigated the effects of soybean leaf extracts (SLEs) on blood glucose, insulin resistance, body fat and dyslipidemia in prediabetes subjects, and compared them with the effects of banaba extracts (BE) which is known to ameliorate diabetes in several animals and clinical studies. Overweight subjects with mild hyperglycemia (fasting blood glucose level of 100-125 mg dL(-1)) were randomly assigned to three groups and administered four capsules containing starch (2 g per day, Placebo), BE (300 mg per day, 0.3% corosolic acid) or SLE (2 g per day) during regular meals for 12 weeks.

Gα12gep oncogene inhibits FOXO1 in hepatocellular carcinoma as a consequence of miR-135b and miR-194 dysregulation.

The high mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with its fast-growing malignancy. In tumor microenvironments, certain GPCRs are coupled to Gα12 for signal transduction. Given the role of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in the inhibition of various tumors, this study investigated whether increase of Gα12 in HCC causes FOXO1 repression, and if so, whether this event occurs through microRNA dysregulation.

Comparison of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation and sphincterotomy in young patients with CBD stones and gallstones.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) results in permanent loss of sphincter function and its long-term complications are unknown. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an alternative procedure that preserves sphincter function, although it is associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis than is EBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of EPBD with limited indications for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones combined with gallstones in patients younger than 40 years.