Fe65 has been characterized as an adaptor protein, originally identified as an expressed sequence tag (EST) corresponding to an mRNA expressed at high levels in the rat brain. It contains one WW domain and two phosphotyrosine interaction/phosphotyrosine binding domains (PID1/PID2). As the neuronal precursor cell expressed developmentally down regulated 4-2 (Nedd4-2) has a putative WW domain binding motif (72PPLP75) in the N-terminal domain, we hypothesized that Fe65 associates with Nedd4-2 through a WW domain interaction, which has the characteristics of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. In this paper, we present evidence for the interaction between Fe65 WW domain and Nedd4-2 through its specific motif, using a pull down approach and co-immunoprecipitation. Additionally, the co-localization of Fe65 and Nedd4-2 were observed via confocal microscopy. Co-localization of Fe65 and Nedd4-2 was disrupted by either the mutation of Fe65 WW domain or its putative binding motif of Nedd4-2. When the ubiquitin assay was performed, the interaction of Nedd4-2 (wt) with Fe65 is required for the cell apoptosis and the ubiquitylation of Fe65. We also observed that the ubiquitylation of Fe65 (wt) was augmented depending on Nedd4-2 expression levels, whereas the Fe65 WW domain mutant (W243KP245K) or the Nedd4-2 AL mutant (72PPLP75 was changed to 72APLA75) was under-ubiquitinated significantly. Thus, our observations implicated that the protein-protein interaction between the WW domain of Fe65 and the putative binding motif of Nedd4-2 down-regulates Fe65 protein stability and subcellular localization through its ubiquitylation, to contribute cell apoptosis.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; *Down-Regulation ; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mutation ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Protein Structure, Tertiary/*physiology ; Transfection ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitination

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the relationship between community-based social support and psychosocial distress in workers. METHODS: The study subjects were 596 workers recruited from 11 companies in Chungju city. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, job stress, work-based social support, community-based social support and level of psychosocial distress. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that workers with no chronic disease, exercise and sufficient sleep had a higher score of psychosocial distress than those with chronic disease, no exercise, and not enough sleep. Coworker's work-based social support and community-based social support were negatively associated with psychosocial distress. The R square value of total independent variables on psychosocial distress was 0.409, and that of community-based social support on psychosocial distress was 0.052. CONCLUSION: This study showed that community-based social support served as a protective factor against psychosocial distress in some workers. We recommend the establishment of a worksite stress reduction program in occupational level as well as community-based social support.
Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Questionnaires ; Workplace

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2008 with average 822 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 96.5%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC was stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell count. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2005 with about 500 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology. The response rate was more than 97%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin and RBC number was stable but variable in platelet number and WBC number according to measuring cell counts. Test results showed wide variation according to measuring machine and reagents.
Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive and progressive disease caused by alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GaL A) deficiency. We sought to assess the prevalence of unrecognized Fabry disease in dialysis-dependent patients and the efficacy of serum globotriaosylceramide (GL3) screening. METHODS: A total of 480 patients of 1,230 patients among 17 clinics were enrolled. Serum GL3 levels were measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, we studied the association between increased GL3 levels and cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had elevated serum GL3 levels. The alpha-GaL A activity was determined for the 26 patients with high GL3 levels. The mean alpha-GaL A activity was 64.6 nmol/hr/mg (reference range, 45 to 85), and no patient was identified with decreased alpha-GaL A activity. Among the group with high GL3 levels, 15 women had a alpha-GaL A genetics analysis. No point mutations were discovered among the women with high GL3 levels. No correlation was observed between serum GL3 levels and alpha-GaL A activity; the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.01352 (p = 0.9478). No significant correlation was observed between increased GL3 levels and the frequency of cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fabry disease is very rare disease in patients with end-stage renal disease. Serum GL3 measurements as a screening method for Fabry disease showed a high false-positive rate. Thus, serum GL3 levels determined by tandem mass spectrometry may not be useful as a screening method for Fabry disease in patients with end stage renal disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Fabry Disease/blood/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Renal Dialysis ; Trihexosylceramides/*blood ; alpha-Galactosidase/genetics/metabolism