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BackgroundEven though radiologic diagnosis of bone tumors and tumor-like lesions is usually based on radiographs, radiographically faint imaging features sometimes remain challenging due to overlapping anatomical structures.PurposeTo compare tomosynthesis with radiography for the evaluation of bone tumors and tumor-like lesions.Material and MethodsForty-seven bone tumors and tumor-like lesions were assessed with radiographs and tomosynthesis images. Two radiologists independently analyzed imaging features of lesions, including margin, periosteal reaction, cortical thinning, matrix mineralization, cortical destruction (such as pathologic fracture), and extraosseous soft-tissue extension. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was used as a reference method. Diagnostic performances of radiography and tomosynthesis were analyzed and compared based on sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Effective radiation dose was compared among the three imaging modalities by phantom studies.ResultsInter-observer variability (kappa value) for imaging features was slight to moderate on radiography (0.167–0.588), whereas it was nearly perfect on tomosynthesis (0.898–1.000) except for extraosseous soft-tissue extension (0.647 vs. 0.647). Tomosynthesis showed significantly higher sensitivity than radiography in evaluating the margin for bone tumors or tumor-like lesions (1.00 vs. 0.85; P = 0.016), and significantly higher accuracy than radiography in evaluating the margin and matrix mineralization for those (1.00 vs. 0.85; P = 0.016 and 0.91 vs.0.77; P = 0.023, respectively). In phantom studies, mean effective radiation doses were highest in order of CT, tomography, and radiography.ConclusionTomosynthesis increases sensitivity and accuracy of the margin as well as accuracy of the matrix mineralization of bone tumors and tumor-like lesions compared to radiography.

The control of exosome release is associated with numerous physiological and pathological activities, and that release is often indicative of health, disease, and environmental nutrient stress. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) regulates the cell viability via the negative regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC1) during glucose deprivation. However, the mechanism by which viability of TSC-null cells is regulated by mTORC1 inhibition under glucose deprivation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that exosome release regulates cell death induced by glucose deprivation in TSC-null cells. The mTORC1 inhibition by rapamycin significantly increased the exosome biogenesis, exosome secretion, and cell viability in TSC-null cells. In addition, the increase in cell viability by mTORC1 inhibition was attenuated by two different types of inhibitors of exosome release under glucose deprivation. Taken together, we suggest that exosome release inhibition might be a novel way for regression of cell growth in TSC-null cells showing lack of cell death by mTORC1 inhibition.

Summary Background & aims Trials investigating the efficacy of different interventions for overweight children are limited and controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to perform a network meta-analysis on the efficacy of various interventions for children with obesity (an average age of 6–12 years old). Methods We obtained the data of trials reporting pre-post obesity relevant outcomes (e.g. BMI, BMI z-score, percent body fat, or percent overweight) from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, and Web of Science databases (completed before February 25, 2019) and included at least one pair of direct comparison groups. The mean difference of outcomes and their associated 95% CI were used to determine the efficacy. The P-score was calculated to illustrate the rank probability of various treatments for different outcomes using a network meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis included 24 studies that evaluated the interventions for childhood obesity. Results All 24 trials had no high risk of bias. Interventions such as exercise without parents (E w/o P); diet with parents (D w/P); and diet, exercise, and lifestyle with parents (D+E+L w/P) were significantly effective for children with obesity when compared with no intervention. Conclusions E w/o P exhibited the highest P-score, with the D w/P and D+E+L w/P ranks having P-scores of 0.7486 and 0.5464, respectively. Moreover, the results indicate that E w/o P, D w/P, and D+E+L w/P were significantly effective treatments for children with obesity when compared with no intervention.

To evaluate the intervention effect of omega-3 fatty acids on changes in periodontal parameters.This meta-analysis included studies published in English language between 2010 and 2020, which were extracted from the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. The effects of omega-3 fatty acid intervention were investigated using the amount of omega-3 intake, periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). The random-effects model was generated for data analysis. To obtain robustness of the model, sensitivity analysis was implemented. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the intervention period for each parameter.All 13 studies included in the meta-analysis were interventional, randomized controlled trials. Two studies implemented omega-3 fatty acid-rich diets, while 11 studies used supplements. Risk of bias was low, and publication bias was not shown. Meta-analysis showed a statistically significant PPD reduction (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.81, absolute mean difference [MD] = -0.44 mm), CAL gain (SMD = -0.77, MD = -0.51 mm), and BOP reduction (SMD = -0.65, MD = -9.45%) for the omega-3 fatty acid intervention overall.This study suggests that supplemental or dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of periodontitis may have a positive impact on the disease.

Objective Facial affect recognition is associated with neuropsychological status and psychiatric diseases. We hypothesized that facial affect recognition is associated with psychological status and perception of other affects.Methods A total of 80 images depicting facial affect, including 20 Neutral, 20 Angry, 20 Fear, and 20 Sad, were screened for use in our research. A total of 100 healthy individuals were asked to rate these images using a 10-point Likert scale and complete psychological scales assessing the emotional statuses and cognitive functions.Results The participants’ emotional state of aggression, attention, and impulsivity may have been associated with their interpretation of the Angry facial expressions. The participants often rated the Angry facial expressions as Fear. The participants rated Fear images as Angry or Sad. In response to a Sad facial expression, the participants reported psychological statuses of attention and impulsivity which were associated with the facial expression rating. The participants rated the Sad expression as Angry or Fear.Conclusion The psychological statuses of the participants were significantly correlated with their interpretation of facial affects. In particular, a psychological state of attention was often correlated with incorrect affect ratings. Attention and impulsivity could affect the rating of the sad facial expressions.

The microrchidia (MORC)-family CW-type zinc finger 2 (MORC2) gene is related to DNA repair, adipogenesis and epigenetic silencing via the human silencing hub (HUSH) complex. MORC2 missense mutation is known to cause peripheral neuropathy of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 Z (CMT2Z). However, there have been reports of peripheral and central neuropathy in patients, and the disease has been co-categorized with developmental delay, impaired growth, dysmorphic facies and axonal neuropathy (DIGFAN). The etiology of MORC2 mutation-mediated neuropathy remains uncertain. Here, we established and analyzed Morc2a p.S87L mutant mice. Morc2a p.S87L mice displayed the clinical symptoms expected in human CMT2Z patients, such as axonal neuropathy and skeletal muscle weakness. Notably, we observed severe central neuropathy with cerebella ataxia, cognition disorder and motor neuron degeneration in the spinal cord, and this seemed to be evidence of DIGFAN. Morc2a p.S87L mice exhibited an accumulation of DNA damage in neuronal cells, followed by p53/cytochrome c/caspase 9/caspase 3-mediated apoptosis. This study presents a new mouse model of CMT2Z and DIGFAN with a Morc2a p.S87L mutation. We suggest that neuronal apoptosis is a possible target for therapeutic approach in MORC2 missense mutation. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper., Summary: We present a new mouse model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 Z and developmental delay, impaired growth, dysmorphic facies and axonal neuropathy syndrome with a Morc2a p.S87L mutation, exhibiting peripheral and central neuronal apoptosis.

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease and is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and a high risk of fracture. Despite advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, complex gene-environment interactions that influence osteoporosis development remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to identify genetic loci associated with low BMD and to evaluate these genetic variants under individual and environmental factors.A genome-wide association analysis was conducted using 500,568 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8842 individuals aged 40-69 years using clinical, demographic, and dietary data (260 traits) established by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The gPLINK program was used to detect SNPs associated with osteoporosis at a genome-wide significance level (P 1.0 × 10Of the seven SNPs that were associated with osteoporosis, both rs10977574 and rs4390000 lay in the PTPRD locus encoding a protein tyrosine phosphatase-receptor type D, which has been implicated in bone metabolism. Haplotype analysis identified two minor alleles, C and G, at the rs10977574 and rs4390000 loci, respectively, forming a linkage disequilibrium block. The subsequent gender-stratified analysis using dietary calcium intake revealed an increased correlation between the CG haplotype and osteoporosis (OR = 2.069) in the low-calcium-intake-female group but not in the high-calcium-intake-female or any male group.This study revealed novel evidence of the sex-specific association of the CG haplotype in the PTPRD locus with osteoporosis and indicated that the association can be influenced by dietary calcium intake.

Uncontrolled cell proliferation associated with cancer depends on the functional abrogation of at least one of tumor suppressor. In response to nutrient cue, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) works as a tumor suppressor which inhibits cell growth via negative regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC1). However, the regulation mechanism of nutrient-dependent cell proliferation in TSC-null cells remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that leucine is required for cell proliferation through the activation of leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS1)-mTORC1 pathway in TSC-null cells. Cell proliferation and survival were attenuated by LARS1 knock-down or inhibitors in TSC-null cells. In addition, either rapamycin or LARS1 inhibitors significantly decreased colony formation ability while their combined treatment drastically attenuated it. Taken together, we suggest that LARS1 inhibitors might considered as novel tools for the regression of tumor growth and proliferation in TSC-null tumor cells which regrow upon discontinuation of the mTORC1 inhibition.

Purpose This study evaluated the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and characterized the sonographic features of lymph nodes (LNs) with Kikuchi disease in pediatric patients. Methods Seventy-six cervical LN biopsies were performed for the diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy. ARFI imaging was performed, and the characteristic ultrasound features of the biopsied LNs and the contralateral LNs were analyzed. We also reviewed clinical and conventional ultrasonographic findings. Results On histology, 56 patients were diagnosed with Kikuchi disease. These LNs were large and elongated, with increased perinodal echogenicity and capsular thickening. In 38 of them, ARFI elastography was performed, and the median shear wave velocity (SWV) of the biopsied LNs with Kikuchi disease (2.19 m/sec; range, 1.45 to 4.57 m/sec) was higher than of the contralateral LNs (1.72 m/sec; range, 0.95 to 2.65 m/sec; P

Objectives Childhood obesity is a critical health issue. The etiology of childhood obesity is multifactorial, with age, gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status interacting to affect risk. Food insecurity is known to be associated with risk of childhood obesity, but the body of evidence regarding Koreans is lacking. This study investigated the association between childhood obesity and household food insecurity in Koreans. Other lifestyle and nutritional factors associated with obesity were also examined. Methods Using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 1527 boys and 1366 girls. A comparison of general characteristics and nutritional intake between the groups was made using Student's t tests, χ2 tests, and general linear models. The association between childhood obesity and food insecurity was estimated with logistic regression models, and presented with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals either with or without covariates. Results Boys who were obese dined out less frequently and engaged less in regular exercise, but no differences in nutrition intake were observed between children who were and were not obese. Girls who were obese were less likely to have a caregiver and consumed a higher percentage of energy from protein. Boys experiencing household food insecurity were less likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.99), but girls with food insecurity were at three times higher risk of obesity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–7.31). Conclusions Differential lifestyle factors are associated with obesity phenotypes in boys and girls. Food insecurity also showed a contrasting association with obesity risk by gender in young Koreans.

The Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR/Cas9 (SpCas9) system is now widely utilized to generate genome engineered mice; however, some studies raised issues related to off-target mutations with this system. Herein, we utilized the Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 (CjCas9) system to generate knockout mice. We designed sgRNAs targeting mouse Tyr or Foxn1 and microinjected into zygotes along with CjCas9 mRNA. We obtained newborn mice from the microinjected embryos and confirmed that 50% (Tyr) and 38.5% (Foxn1) of the newborn mice have biallelic mutation on the intended target sequences, indicating efficient genome targeting by CjCas9. In addition, we analyzed off-target mutations in founder mutant mice by targeted deep sequencing and whole genome sequencing. Both analyses revealed no off-target mutations at potential off-target sites predicted in silico and no unexpected random mutations in analyzed founder animals. In conclusion, the CjCas9 system can be utilized to generate genome edited mice in a precise manner., Highlights • Generate genetically engineered mice using the Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 (CjCas9) system. • CjCas9 showed reasonably high biallelic InDel mutation rate (up to 50%) in newborn mice. • CjCas9 system showed relatively higher specificity compared to SpCas9 system.

Herein, we hypothesized that ZIP11 variants would be important risk factors for chronic gastritis and that there would be an interaction effect of the relationship between their variants and spicy food intake on the development of chronic gastritis. Participants in this cross-sectional study (n = 3882 + 252) were recruited from a cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study in 2001. Age, sex, education, smoking and drinking status, exercise, stress, and income level of all participants were determined by a questionnaire. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected. Fasting blood samples were collected to determine the serum levels of glucose, insulin, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. The presence of chronic gastritis was defined as a confirmed diagnosis by a physician. Food consumption was determined using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. We found 8 different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are significantly different between subjects without gastritis and those with gastritis. Of these 8 SNPs, 3 SNP (rs17183225 [C/T], rs17780814 [A/C], and rs17780820 [A/G]) are closely located in the intronic region of zinc transporter SLC39A11, commonly known as ZIP11, and show linkage disequilibrium (D′ = 1.0). We also found that participants with (TCA + TCG) haplotype of ZIP11 at high levels of dietary intake of spicy foods show a significantly increasing tendency in the odds of having chronic gastritis when compared with those with CAA haplotype (odds ratio, 2.620; 95% confidence interval, 1.207-5.689). The data indicate positive associations between higher meal frequency and lower spicy food preference and gastritis. In conclusion, we found that zinc transporter gene ZIP11 is associated with chronic gastritis in the Korean population and it may interact with spicy food, which suggests ZIP11 as a therapeutic target for precision nutrition.

Dental caries remains one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children worldwide with a multi-factorial etiology. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES), dietary intake, food insecurity (FI), and dental caries in Korean children and adolescents. The study utilized data from the 2-year Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted with 1,559 Korean boys and 1,391 girls aged 2 to 18 years from 2012 to 2013. Fathers’ education (P=0.017), mothers’ education (P

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely applied in genome engineering due to its simplicity and versatility. Although this has revolutionized genome-editing technology, knockin animal generation via homology directed repair (HDR) is not as efficient as nonhomologous end-joining DNA-repair-dependent knockout. Although its double-strand break activity may vary, Cas9 derived from Streptococcus pyogenens allows robust design of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) within the target sequence; However, prescreening for different sgRNA activities delays the process of transgenic animal generation. To overcome this limitation, multiple sets of different sgRNAs were examined for their knockin efficiency. We discovered profound advantages associated with single-stranded oligo-donor-mediated HDR processes using overlapping sgRNAs (sharing at least five base pairs of the target sites) as compared with using non-overlapping sgRNAs for knock-in mouse generation. Studies utilizing cell lines revealed shorter sequence deletions near target mutations using overlapping sgRNAs as compared with those observed using non-overlapping sgRNAs, which may favor the HDR process. Using this simple method, we successfully generated several transgenic mouse lines harboring loxP insertions or single-nucleotide substitutions with a highly efficiency of 18–38%. Our results demonstrate a simple and efficient method for generating transgenic animals harboring foreign-sequence knockins or short-nucleotide substitutions by the use of overlapping sgRNAs., Genome editing: Improving efficiency by improving DNA repair A method to improve the efficiency of repairing double-stranded DNA breaks facilitates the production of animals with edited genomes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been revolutionising biomedical research as it allows the insertion or deletion of any DNA sequence at specific sites by making double-strand DNA breaks. However, the insertion of precise genetic changes is limited by the relatively low efficiency of the repair mechanism, which requires a template DNA molecule to promote error-free repair of the DNA strands. A team of South Korean scientists led by Su Cheong Yeom at Seoul National University and Han Woong Lee at Yonsei University show that delivering multiple overlapping single-guide RNAs (that share at least five base pairs of the target sequence) as a DNA template significantly improves the repair and thus the production of mice with a targeted gene insertion.

One of the typical symptoms of a psychological crisis is depression, an increasing concern in the elderly population. Although omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are reported to be promising nutrients for treating depression, currently, there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized control trials that provide critical evidence regarding the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in elderly patients with depression. This analysis was conducted to provide evidence for the clinical application of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive symptoms of elderly subjects older than 65 years. Seven databases were searched from their inception date until September 2016. Following this search, 6 studies were selected, which included 4605 patients (mean age, 76.97 years; male-female ratio=3752:853; mean dose of omega 3 intake, 1.3 g/d). These results were divided into 2 categories: well-being mental health group and depressive group. In the well-being mental health group, the Hedges g was 0.12 (95% confidence interval, -0.05 to 0.29), which indicated no significant effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on depressed mood compared with placebo. In the depressive group, the pooled Hedges g was -0.94 (95% CI, -1.37 to -0.50]) for the random-effects model, which indicated a large effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on those with depressed mood compared with placebo. Although this review shows that omega-3 fatty acids are effective in the treatment of elderly depressed patients, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation were significant only in the elderly patients with mild to moderate depression.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) is the most common hereditary axonal neuropathy caused by mutations in MFN2 encoding Mitofusin-2, a multifunctional protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane. In order to study the effects of a novel MFN2K357T mutation associated with early onset, autosomal dominant severe CMT2A, we generated a knock-in mouse model. While Mfn2K357T/K357T mouse pups were postnatally lethal, Mfn2+/K357T heterozygous mice were asymptomatic and had no histopathological changes in their sciatic nerves up to 10 months of age. However, immunofluorescence analysis of Mfn2+/K357T mice revealed aberrant mitochondrial clustering in the sciatic nerves from 6 months of age, in optic nerves from 8 months, and in lumbar spinal cord white matter at 10 months, along with microglia activation. Ultrastructural analyses confirmed dysmorphic mitochondrial aggregates in sciatic and optic nerves. After exposure of 6-month-old mice to lipopolysaccharide, Mfn2+/K357T mice displayed a higher immune response, a more severe motor impairment, and increased CNS inflammation, microglia activation, and macrophage infiltrates. Overall, ubiquitous Mfn2K357T expression renders the CNS and peripheral nerves of Mfn2+/K357T mice more susceptible to mitochondrial clustering, and augments their response to inflammation, modeling some cellular mechanisms that may be relevant for the development of neuropathy in patients with CMT2A.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that results in spot baldness in humans. Adequate animal models for AA are currently lacking. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of autoimmune-like alopecia (ALA) in C57BL/6.CD80CD86-deficient (B6.CD80CD86-/- ) mice. Incidence and severity of alopecia were analysed in 58 B6.CD80CD86-/- mice using histological examination, flow cytometry, multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative RT-PCR and CD25 inhibition test. Both male and female B6.CD80CD86-/- mice showed almost 100% incidence of hair loss at 40 weeks of age. Moreover, CD4+FoxP3+Treg (Treg) cell population in B6.CD80CD86-/- mice was significantly lower than in B6 mice, which presumably underlined autoimmune reaction. Histologically, B6.CD80CD86-/- mice showed CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell infiltration around terminal follicle region and exhibited hair follicle destruction in the anagen or catagen stage. Negative correlation between the number of CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs and ALA was confirmed by the CD25 depletion test in B6 mice, as follicle destruction was similar to that observed in B6.CD80CD86-/- animals. CD80CD86 deficiency disrupted CD4+FoxP3+ Treg homoeostasis and prompted the development of ALA. We demonstrated that B6.CD80CD86-/- mice might have several advantages as an ALA model, because they exhibited high incidence of disease phenotype and epipathogenesis similar to that observed in human AA.

Objectives Despite the evidence supporting the use of vitamin D supplements for managing atopic dermatitis (AD), no meta-analysis providing definite conclusions in this field has been reported. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all controlled studies of vitamin D for treating AD to elucidate the efficacy of vitamin D for alleviating the symptoms of AD. Methods Literature searches were conducted using Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Korean and Chinese databases. Search terms used were “vitamin D”, “atopic dermatitis”, “randomized”, “controlled trial”, and “clinical trial”. Random effects models were used to calculate the mean difference, with 95% confidence intervals to analyze the effects of vitamin D supplementation for severity of AD. Results Initial searches yielded 266 citations. Of these original results, nine met specific selection criteria. Four of the randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of vitamin D with a placebo on severity of AD and were included in the meta-analysis. The vitamin D supplementation interventions showed a higher mean difference in severity of AD symptoms (mean difference = −5.81, 95% CI: −9.03 to −2.59, P = 0.0004, I2 = 50%). Conclusions Vitamin D has a potentially significant role for improving the symptoms of AD. The results from this study suggest that vitamin D supplementation may help ameliorate the severity of AD, and can be considered as a safe and tolerable therapy. However, larger-scale studies over a longer duration of treatment are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Anagen effluvium develops because of disturbances in the hair follicle cycle, leading to acute and severe hair loss in humans. The objective of this study was to establish a mouse model of anagen effluvium by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment, and evaluate the pathological changes and underlying mechanisms. We treated 9-10-day-old pups and 3-7-week-old C57BL/6 mice with BrdU. After successfully inducing hair loss in the neonatal pups, microscopic, immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analyses were conducted. BrdU induced early onset alopecia in neonates and caused epidermal thickening and hair shaft breakage. BrdU appeared to incorporate the CD326-positive keratinocyte layer and induced p53-related apoptosis. Keratinocyte apoptosis caused immune cell infiltration in the dermal region; M2 macrophages and neutrophils were dominant. The BrdU-induced hair loss was dose-dependent, and alopecia was visible at a dose range of 25-200 μg/g bodyweight. The BrdU-induced anagen effluvium mouse model is novel and easily established by administrating four simple BrdU injections to pups; these mice showed synchronized onset of alopecia symptoms with little individual variation. Moreover, this model showed an alopecia phenotype similar to that of human anagen effluvium with acute, severe and widespread hair loss.

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has continuously increased throughout the world in every age group, and the recent increase in AD in Korean adults may be related to changes in nutrient intakes due to westernization of dietary patterns. We hypothesized that the prevalence of AD is associated with the different dietary patterns and fermented food intakes of the Korean adult population. We examined the hypothesis using 9763 adults 19 years or older using the 2012-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We identified 4 dietary patterns in addition to that including fermented foods using principal component analysis on data obtained from a 116-item validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire: meat and processed foods; vegetables, fruits, legumes, seafood, and seaweed; rice and grains; and coffee, chocolate, and ice cream. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for AD were calculated according to dietary patterns after adjusting for potential confounders. High levels of consumption (>92 times/month) of fermented foods such as doenjang, chungkookjang, kimchi, fermented seafood, makgeolli, and beer were associated with a lower prevalence of AD (OR, 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.84). In contrast, high levels of consumption of meat and processed foods were strongly associated with the prevalence of AD (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.48-3.94). Interestingly, the consumption of coffee, chocolate, and ice cream was significantly negatively associated with the prevalence of AD (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34-0.82). In conclusion, the hypothesis was accepted. The results can be applied to nutrition education programs for the general population to decrease risk factors for AD.

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of treatment of non-odontogenic atypical orofacial pain using botulinum toxin-A. Methods This study involved seven patients (seven females, mean age 65.1 years) who had non-odontogenic orofacial pain (neuropathic pain and atypical orofacial pain) and visited the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2015 and 2017. All medication therapies were preceded by botulinum toxin-A injections, followed by injections in the insignificant effects of medication therapies. Five of the seven patients received intraoral injections in the gingival vestibule or mucosa, while the remaining two received extraoral injections in the masseter and temporal muscle areas. Results In five of the seven patients, pain after botulinum toxin-A injection was significantly reduced. Most of the patients who underwent surgery for dental implantation or facial nerve reconstruction recovered after injections. However, the pain did not disappear in two patients who reported experiencing persistent pain without any cause. Conclusions The use of botulinum toxin-A for the treatment of non-odontogenic neuropathic orofacial pain is clinically useful. It is more effective to administer botulinum toxin-A in combination with other medications and physical therapy to improve pain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40902-018-0159-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objectives Understanding the reason for an unsuccessful non-surgical endodontic treatment outcome, as well as the complex anatomy of the root canal system, is very important. This study examined the cross-sectional root canal structure of mandibular first molars confirmed to have failed non-surgical root canal treatment using digital images obtained during intentional replantation surgery, as well as the causative factors of the failed conventional endodontic treatments. Materials and Methods This study evaluated 115 mandibular first molars. Digital photographic images of the resected surface were taken at the apical 3 mm level and examined. The discolored dentin area around the root canal was investigated by measuring the total surface area, the treated areas as determined by the endodontic filling material, and the discolored dentin area. Results Forty 2-rooted teeth showed discolored root dentin in both the mesial and distal roots. Compared to the original filled area, significant expansion of root dentin discoloration was observed. Moreover, the mesial roots were significantly more discolored than the distal roots. Of the 115 molars, 92 had 2 roots. Among the mesial roots of the 2-rooted teeth, 95.7% of the roots had 2 canals and 79.4% had partial/complete isthmuses and/or accessory canals. Conclusions Dentin discoloration that was not visible on periapical radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography was frequently found in mandibular first molars that failed endodontic treatment. The complex anatomy of the mesial roots of the mandibular first molars is another reason for the failure of conventional endodontic treatment.

Jeju citrus, which contains an abundance of calcium and vitamin, was used to develop fermented citrus peel extract. A total of seven probiotic strains were applied to tangerine dermis to select the best growing bacteria in citrus peel extracts. B. longum, B. bifidum, and L. mesenteroides were found to grow best in citrus peel extract culture containing glucose, yeast extracts, peptone, and potassium phosphate. Citrus peel extract culture consisting of 1% yeast extract, 5% peptone, and 0.1% phosphate was the best environment for growth of probiotics. The pH, acidity, and viable cell numbers of these fermented extracts were measured. The initial pH level of fermented extracts with nutrients was 5.25 and dropped rapidly to 3.39 after 72 hours of fermentation. The acidity of fermented extracts increased to 4.08 % after 72 hours of fermentation, and the viable cell number in fermented extracts after refrigeration for 2 weeks was . The antimicrobial activity of citrus peel fermented extracts against Campylobacter jejuni was determined, and concentrations more than 25,000 ppm showed antimicrobial activity.

This study prospectively evaluated the clinical prognoses of short implants (7-mm long) in the mandible. We investigated the clinical prognosis of short implants in 20 patients (46 implants) according to the installation technique (submerged or nonsubmerged), installation depth (5.5-mm depth, 7-mm depth), and crown/implant ratio. We investigated the marginal bone loss and peri-implant soft-tissue index 12 months after the final prosthetic delivery. Twelve months after prosthetic delivery, no statistically significant differences were observed in bone loss in relation to the type of installation technique, installation depth, or crown/implant ratio. The plaque index and pocket depth indexes were not influenced by the installation technique, installation depth, or crown/implant ratio. We observed marginal bone loss of 3.3 mm in 1 implant from the nonsubmerged group. The total 1-year success rate was 97.83%. Based on this 1-year success rate, short implants had a good clinical prognosis, regardless of the installation technique, installation depth, or crown/implant ratio.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder involving changes in normal bowel movements. The pathophysiology of IBS is not clearly understood owing to the lack of identifiable pathological abnormalities and reliable biomarkers. The aim of this study was to discover the novel and reliable biomarker for IBS. In this study, neonatal maternal separation (NMS) stress model was used for the IBS mouse model. Further assessment was conducted with whole gastrointestinal transit test, quantitative RT-PCR, histological examination, and western blot. Male pups developed symptoms similar to those of human IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), such as low-grade inflammation, stool irregularity, and increased bowel motility. NMS stress influenced to the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and induced altered bowel motility, resulting in IBS-D-like symptoms. In addition, we found neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to be a novel biomarker for ICC under NMS stress. nNOS expression was only observed in the ICC of the submucosal plexus of IBS-D mice, and the inhibition of nNOS changed the phenotype from IBS-D to IBS with constipation. Our study demonstrates that early-life stress can influence to ICC and modulate bowel activity and that nNOS might be used as a biomarker for ICC stimulation in IBS.

Necroptosis is an active and well-orchestrated necrosis, distinctive from apoptosis in microscopic structure, and biochemical and molecular features. Unlike apoptosis-undergoing cells, which are removed by macrophage or neighboring cells, necrotic cell death releases danger signals and provokes inflammation, and further a severe damage to neighbor tissue. A regulated necrosis, termed as necroptosis or programmed necrosis, is emerging as a new paradigm of cell death that can be activated when apoptotic machinery is genetically or pathogenically defective. It plays biological significances in pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory diseases as well as in a beneficial innate immune defense mechanism. This review highlights the identification of hits against necroptosis, and comprehensive approaches to discovery of small molecules that regulate necroptotic cell death. Also, the signaling molecular mechanism of necroptosis and future clinical uses of necroptosis inhibitor will be described in brief.

Recently, techniques have been reported that involve the preparation of extracted teeth from patients used as particulated bone graft materials for bone graft purposes. For implant placement and bone graft, autogenous teeth bone graft materials were used in 15 patients, and clinically excellent results were obtained. In histological examination, favorable bony healing by osteoconduction was observed.

Background and purpose Cognitive training refers to a series of standardized tasks with inherent challenges that target specific cognitive domains. Positive outcome of cognitive training in persons with Alzheimer's disease has been reported. In this study, the objective was to design sets of cognitive training program, "Gipum-seo" which is combined cognitive training, consists of different levels of difficulty using predesigned paper-and-pencil exercises. Also, to evaluate the effects of the cognitive training on patients' with early stage of Alzheimer's disease. Methods The subjects for this study were forty participants who were diagnosed with early stage of Alzheimer's dementia. To test the efficacy of paper-based cognitive training programs to cognition, all patients were randomly grouped to either an intervention group (n=20) or a control group (n=20). The intervention group regularly received 24 sessions of paper-based cognitive training over a 12-week period. Neuropsychological examinations were conducted before and after this training period. Results After the 12 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant change in Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (25.90±3.8), compared to the control group (23.7±2.8) (p=0.042). The training group also showed a significant improvement in language, attention and executive function, as compared with controls. Conclusions Paper-based cognitive training might have beneficial effects on the general cognitive functions in the early stage of Alzheimer's dementia.

This study investigated the estrogen-like activity of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica, which has been shown to have pharmacological activities. Water extracts from A. triphylla (ATWE) could bind to estrogen receptors and displaced binding of E2 to ERα and ERβ. ATWE stimulated the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells in a dose dependent manner (p

The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) is known to catalyse inactive glucocorticoids into active forms, and its dysregulation in adipose and muscle tissues has been implicated in the development of metabolic syndrome. To delineate the molecular mechanism by which active cortisol has an antagonizing effect against insulin, we optimized the metabolic production of cortisol and its biological functions in myotubes (C2C12). Myotubes supplemented with cortisone actively catalysed its conversion into cortisol, which in turn abolished phosphorylation of Akt in response to insulin treatment. This led to diminished uptake of insulin-induced glucose. This was corroborated by the application of 11β-HSD1 inhibitor glycyrrhetinic acid and a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486, which reversed completely the antagonizing effects of cortisol on insulin action. Therefore, development of specific inhibitors targeting 11β-HSD1 might be a promising way to improve impaired insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is continuously increasing in industrialized countries, possibly due to dietary and lifestyle changes. However, the association between processed food intake and AD has not been studied in a large adult population.We investigated the association between dietary habits and AD in 17,497 adults in the 2009-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).We identified 4 dietary patterns using principal components analysis of a 63-item food frequency questionnaire: the "traditional dietary pattern", rich in rice and kimchi; the "processed food pattern", with more meat, instant noodles, soda, and processed foods; the "healthy dietary pattern", high in grains, vegetables, fruits, and seaweeds; and the "drinking dietary pattern", mainly drinking coffee and alcohol. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for AD were calculated according to dietary patterns after adjusting for potential confounders with incorporation of sample weights for the complex sample design. The "meat and processed food" pattern was associated with a significant 1.57 fold higher OR for atopic dermatitis than the low consumption group. Further analysis revealed that the increased atopic dermatitis was most closely associated with instant noodles. In contrast, the groups with high intake of rice and kimchi exhibited lower ORs, 0.38 and 0.43 folds, compared to the low intake group.Consuming instant noodles, meat and processed foods was associated with increased prevalence of atopic dermatitis, whereas consuming rice and kimchi, and coffee was associated with decreased prevalence of atopic dermatitis.背景与目的：特应性皮炎的发生率在工业化国家持续增加，可能是由于饮食 和生活方式的改变。然而，加工食品与特应性皮炎的关系还没有在大人群中研 究过。方法与研究设计：我们研究了2009-2011 年韩国全国健康和营养调查中 17,497 名成年人饮食习惯与特应性皮炎的关系。结果：我们采用主成分法分析 了含有63 个条目的食物频率问卷，确定了4 个膳食模式：“传统膳食模式”： 富含大米和泡菜；“加工食品模式”：更多的肉、方便面、饮料、加工食品； “健康膳食模式”：高谷物、蔬菜、水果和海藻；“饮用膳食模式”：主要饮用咖 啡和酒精。校正掺入复杂样本设计的样本权重等潜在混杂因素，根据膳食模式 计算校正的比值比（ORs）。“肉和加工食品”模式高摄入组比低摄入组特应性 皮炎的OR 值高1.57 倍。进一步分析显示：特应性皮炎的增加与方便面关系 最密切。相反，大米和泡菜高摄入组与低摄入组相比，OR 值较低，分别为 0.38 和0.43。结论：方便面、肉类和加工食品的摄入与特应性皮炎的患病率增 加有关，而大米、泡菜和咖啡的摄入与特应性皮炎的患病率降低有关。.

Purpose: To test the apical leakage prevention performance of three different materials through protein leakage procedures using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Bradford protein reagent. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 human single-rooted teeth were divided into 4 groups, and conventional root canal fi lling was done. The root was cut 3 mm from the apex, and a cavity was formed. Proroot MTA (MTA), Fuji II LC (GI), Fuji II LC with XP bond (GIA), and Caviton (CA) were used as experimental materials to fi ll the cavity in a retrograde fi lling manner. The extent of BSA leakage was then measured with a ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer 24, 48, and 72 hours after fi lling. Result: After 24 hours, among the 15 teeth of each group, 2 in MTA, 4 in GI, 3 in GIA, and 7 in CA showed leakage. After 48 hours, 3 in MTA, 5 in GI, 5 in GIA, and 10 in CA had leakage and discoloration. After 72 hours, among the 15 teeth of each group, 3 in MTA, 6 in GI, 5 in GIA, and 10 in CA showed leakage. The leakage in the CA group was greater than that in the MTA group at 48 and 72 hours based on Fisher’s exact test (P=0.025), and the difference was statistically signifi cant. Similarly, the leakage in the CA group was greater than that in the MTA group over time based on the Kaplan-Meier survival estimate (P=0.011), and the difference was statistically signifi cant. Conclusion: Glass ionomer, glass ionomer after adhesive application, and MTA all showed leakage. Caviton showed greater leakage compared to MTA 48 and 72 hours after fi lling, and the difference was statistically signifi cant; thus suggesting that Caviton is not appropriate as retrograde fi lling material considering its sealing ability.

Diarrheal diseases constitute one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children globally. One of the main microorganisms causing diarrheal diseases is Campylobacter jejuni. For treatment of these diseases, Portulaca oleracea has been widely used as a folk remedy for a long time. This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of P. oleracea against gastroenteritis pathogens including C. jejuni. P. oleracea was extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate, methanol, and hot water. The antimicrobial activity of the P. oleracea extracts was determined using the paper disc method, minimum inhibitory concentration, and the liquid culture method. The 10 ㎎/㎖ ethylacetate extract showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteriditis, and Shigella spp.. The hot water extract from P. oleracea showed the highest anti-microbial activity against C. jejuni at 10 ～ 20 ㎎/㎖. The hot water extract of P. oleracea retarded the growth of C. jejuni for 36 hr at 42℃.Key words: Portulaca oleracea, Campylobacter jejuni, antimicrobial activity

One of the main microorganisms causing diarrheal diseases is Campylobacter jejuni. Purslane or Portulaca oleracea is an edible plant containing polyphenols that has been widely used as a folk remedy for treatment of diarrhea for a long time. This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of fermented P. oleracea extracts made with probiotics and plant-origin lactic acid bacteria(PLAB) isolated from P. oleracea against C. jejuni. Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Bifidobacterium longum were applied to P. oleracea to make a fermentation broth of purslane. Leuconostoc mesenteroides and the lactic acid bacteria isolated from P. oleracea grew best in the fermentation broth of P. oleracea extracts when the broth was combined with 2% yeast extract, 1% peptone, and 0.05 to 1% potassium phosphate. The number of viable cells in the fermentation broth containing purslane extracts after 48 hours increased to 1×10 12 CFU/㎖ and remained at 1.3×10 10 CFU/㎖ after refrigeration for 2 weeks. The pH and acidity of purslane-fermented broth after 48 hours of fermentation was 3.7 and 3.14, respectively, which show that the fermentation broth was within the range of the general standards of fermented dairy products. The antimicrobial activity of the fermented P. oleracea extracts was determined using the liquid culture method. The 10 ㎎/㎖ concentration of the fermented P. oleracea extract made with Leuconostoc mesenteroides and the lactic acid bacteria isolated from purslane showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against C. jejuni. The fermentation broth of purslane with the probiotics retarded the growth of C. jejuni for 48 hours at 42℃.

The purpose of this research was to provide basic educational data on the proper eating habits of children who use the community children center. The results of the research conducted by polling the fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade children of the community children centers are summarized as follows. Male children had more meals and ate them faster than those of female children, and they also tended to watch more TV and read books. Moreover, children of families headed by fathers ate until they were full, whereas children of households headed by mothers ate less. More female than male children skipped breakfast, and the percentage of children who had their meals alone was high among children reared by their grandfathers. Most of the children ate only what they liked. Moreover, male children ate only particular fruits and vegetables, whereas female children ate only beans and miscellaneous cereals. Most of the children recognized that they had eating problems, such as eating only what they liked and eating meals on irregular schedules. Such eating habits were affected mainly by family members such as parents, brothers, and sisters. Female children scored higher than male children in terms of nutrition and hygiene knowledge. Approximately 40~50.3% of all subjects became interested in nutrition and hygiene education at the community children center. Most of the children recognized that nutrition and hygiene education is necessary at the community children center. They also recognized their own eating problems and wanted nutrition and hygiene education to be taught at the community children center. Accordingly, regular educational activities and meals for children in the community children center considered a children's particular home background to improve eating habits in the children.

In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects and possible mechanisms of action of 8'-hydroxydaidzein and 3'-hydroxydaidzein, two ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from Korean fermented soybean paste, on melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells. The two hydroxydaidzeins reduced melanin synthesis comparably to treatment with kojic acid, a proven whitening agent, in B16 melanoma cells. Furthermore, when in vitro human skin equivalents were treated with the hydroxydaidzeins, the levels of melanogenesis were significantly reduced relative to a kojic acid control. The RT-PCR results demonstrated that depigmentation was due to transcriptional repression of several melanogenesis genes, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), by the hydroxydaidzeins. The immunoblotting results confirmed that diminution of MITF expression subsequently decreased expression of tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related proteins 1 and 2. Cumulatively, these results suggest that hydroxydaidzeins would be potent attenuators of melanin synthesis as well as effective inhibitors of hyperpigmentation in human skin. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleracea extract on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Helicobacter pylori. The each solvent extracts prepared from Portulaca oleracea were investigated by measuring total phenolic compounds, electron donating ability, superoxide dismutase-like ability and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances The herb extractor extract yielded the highest content of total phenolic compounds(72.2 ㎎%). The electron donating abilities(EDA) of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed high antioxidant activity. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like abilities of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts also showed some activity. The antioxidant activity of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was not significant. The petroleum ether extract of Portulaca oleracea showed the highest antimicrobial activity at 10,000 ppm concentration.

We investigated the eating habits and food preferences of middle school students to provide material for establishing dietary and nutritional education at the elementary level. We questioned 270 male and female students attending certain middle schools in the Daegu area about their eating habits and food preferences. Eating habits were found to be most regular for students in families where only one parent worked and irregular for students in families where both parents worked. There was a positive correlation between a higher level of academic education of the father and the frequency of consumption of instant foods. There was also a positive correlation between a higher level of academic education of the mother and the frequency of snack consumption. Male students had a higher preference for consuming animal foods than did female students. Students that lived in extended families tented to have a higher preference for vegetable foods. On the other hand, students that lived in nuclear families and students that lived in families where both parents worked preferred snacks more. Based on these results, parental employment and academic education level influences the eating habits and food preferences of middle school students.

This study investigated the effects of mulberry fruit extract on antioxidant activities and the alleviation of an alcohol- induced hangover, which was measured with alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) enzyme activity. The antioxidative capacity of each mulberry extract was measured by total phenolic compounds, electron donating ability, superoxide dismutase-like ability, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and nitrite scavenging ability. The 60% methanol extract yielded the highest total phenolic compounds. The electron donating ability of the 40% ethanol and 40% methanol extracts were 68% and 67%, respectively. The superoxide dismutase-like abilities of the 40% methanol and 40% ethanol extracts were 30% and 28%, respectively, when extracts were assayed at 2.5 ㎎/㎖. The nitrite scavenging ability of the 60% ethanol and 40% methanol extracts were 98% and 97%, respectively. The 60% ethanol extract yielded the highest ADH.Key words: antioxidative activity, mulberry, alcohol dehydrogenase

This present study was performed to investigate estrogenic activity of Korean edible wild plants for alternative of estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. When the estrogenic activity was measured by estrogen induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells, of investigated 29 extracts, 3 samples of kudzu vine (Pueraria thunbergiana), Cardamine leucantha, and David Vetchling (Lathyrus davidii) exhibited a significant proliferation of above 20% at concentration of 100 μg/mL. This stimulation of MCF-7 cell proliferation could be completely blocked by addition of estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780 (100 nM), indicating estrogen receptor-dependent mechanism of these estrogenic effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation.

– Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of dental emergency patients who visited a university hospital emergency center and to evaluate the incidence of dental trauma. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with dental complaints and who visited the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) emergency center in Gyeonggi-do, Korea, from January 2009 to December 2009 was conducted. Information regarding age, gender, the time, day, and month of presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow up was collected and analyzed. Results: One thousand four hundred twenty-five patients with dental problems visited the SNUBH emergency center. Dental patients accounted for 1.47% of the total 96 708 patients at the emergency center. The male-to-female ratio was 1.68:1, with a considerably larger number of male patients (62.7%). The age distribution peak was at 0–9 years (27.5%), followed by patients in their forties (14.1%). The number of patients visiting the dental emergency center peaked in May (14.2%), on Sundays (22.4%), and between 2100 and 2400 h (20.8%). The patients’ chief complaints were as follows: dental trauma, dental infection, oral bleeding, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The prevalence of dental trauma was 66%. Conclusions: The reasons for dental emergency visits included the following: dental trauma, dental infection, oral bleeding, and TMD, with 66% of the patients requiring management of dental trauma. It is important that dentists make a prompt, accurate diagnosis and initiate effective treatment in case of dental emergencies, especially dental trauma.