Recently, there have been many studies in medicine related to genetic analysis. Many genetic studies have been performed to find genes associated with complex diseases. To find out how genes are related to disease, we need to understand not only the simple relationship of genotypes but also the way they are related to phenotype. Multi-block data, which is a summation form of variable sets, is used for enhancing the analysis of the relationships of different blocks. By identifying relationships through a multi-block data form, we can understand the association between the blocks in comprehending the correlation between them. Several statistical analysis methods have been developed to understand the relationship between multi-block data. In this paper, we will use generalized canonical correlation methodology to analyze multi-block data from the Korean Association Resource project, which has a combination of single nucleotide polymorphism blocks, phenotype blocks, and disease blocks.
Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is extensively utilized as an anti-aging agent and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4, a process modulated by intracellular signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study investigated the impact of NMN on osteogenesis in the presence of LPS. Methods: To elucidate the role of NMN in osteogenesis in the context of Gram-negative bacterial infection after LPS treatment, we cultured a mouse pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) and subsequently incubated it with NMN and/or LPS. We then evaluated osteogenic activity by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity, assessing gene expression and protein levels, and performing Alizarin Red S staining and immunocytochemistry. Results: MC3T3-E1 cells underwent successful differentiation into osteoblasts following treatment with osteogenic induction medium. LPS diminished features related to osteogenic differentiation, which were subsequently partially reversed by treatment with NMN. The restorative effects of NMN on LPS-exposed MC3T3-E1 cells were further substantiated by elucidating the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as confirmed through immunocytochemistry. Conclusion This study showed that infection with Gram-negative bacteria disrupted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. This adverse effect was partially reversed by administering a high-dose of NMN. Drawing on these results, we propose that NMN could serve as a viable therapeutic strategy to preserve bone homeostasis in elderly and immunocompromised patients.

Objective: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is extensively utilized as an anti-aging agent and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4, a process modulated by intracellular signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study investigated the impact of NMN on osteogenesis in the presence of LPS. Methods: To elucidate the role of NMN in osteogenesis in the context of Gram-negative bacterial infection after LPS treatment, we cultured a mouse pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) and subsequently incubated it with NMN and/or LPS. We then evaluated osteogenic activity by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity, assessing gene expression and protein levels, and performing Alizarin Red S staining and immunocytochemistry. Results: MC3T3-E1 cells underwent successful differentiation into osteoblasts following treatment with osteogenic induction medium. LPS diminished features related to osteogenic differentiation, which were subsequently partially reversed by treatment with NMN. The restorative effects of NMN on LPS-exposed MC3T3-E1 cells were further substantiated by elucidating the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as confirmed through immunocytochemistry. Conclusion This study showed that infection with Gram-negative bacteria disrupted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. This adverse effect was partially reversed by administering a high-dose of NMN. Drawing on these results, we propose that NMN could serve as a viable therapeutic strategy to preserve bone homeostasis in elderly and immunocompromised patients.

Objective: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is extensively utilized as an anti-aging agent and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4, a process modulated by intracellular signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study investigated the impact of NMN on osteogenesis in the presence of LPS. Methods: To elucidate the role of NMN in osteogenesis in the context of Gram-negative bacterial infection after LPS treatment, we cultured a mouse pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) and subsequently incubated it with NMN and/or LPS. We then evaluated osteogenic activity by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity, assessing gene expression and protein levels, and performing Alizarin Red S staining and immunocytochemistry. Results: MC3T3-E1 cells underwent successful differentiation into osteoblasts following treatment with osteogenic induction medium. LPS diminished features related to osteogenic differentiation, which were subsequently partially reversed by treatment with NMN. The restorative effects of NMN on LPS-exposed MC3T3-E1 cells were further substantiated by elucidating the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as confirmed through immunocytochemistry. Conclusion This study showed that infection with Gram-negative bacteria disrupted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. This adverse effect was partially reversed by administering a high-dose of NMN. Drawing on these results, we propose that NMN could serve as a viable therapeutic strategy to preserve bone homeostasis in elderly and immunocompromised patients.

Objective: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is extensively utilized as an anti-aging agent and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4, a process modulated by intracellular signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study investigated the impact of NMN on osteogenesis in the presence of LPS. Methods: To elucidate the role of NMN in osteogenesis in the context of Gram-negative bacterial infection after LPS treatment, we cultured a mouse pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) and subsequently incubated it with NMN and/or LPS. We then evaluated osteogenic activity by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity, assessing gene expression and protein levels, and performing Alizarin Red S staining and immunocytochemistry. Results: MC3T3-E1 cells underwent successful differentiation into osteoblasts following treatment with osteogenic induction medium. LPS diminished features related to osteogenic differentiation, which were subsequently partially reversed by treatment with NMN. The restorative effects of NMN on LPS-exposed MC3T3-E1 cells were further substantiated by elucidating the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as confirmed through immunocytochemistry. Conclusion This study showed that infection with Gram-negative bacteria disrupted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. This adverse effect was partially reversed by administering a high-dose of NMN. Drawing on these results, we propose that NMN could serve as a viable therapeutic strategy to preserve bone homeostasis in elderly and immunocompromised patients.

PURPOSE: To report a patient with Coats' disease who presented with a premacular membrane that was peeled off after laser photocoagulation. CASE SUMMARY: A 17-year-old male presented with decreased visual acuity of the right eye, and showed serous elevation, subretinal hemorrhage, telangiectasis and thick premacular membrane upon fundus examination. Upon diagnosis with Coats' disease, the telangiectatic area was treated with argon laser photocoagulation. Two weeks later, the premacular membrane was peeled off spontaneously and the decrease of macular thickness was verified by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The patient's visual acuity was improved to 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: The visual acuity of the patient with Coats' disease was improved by spontaneous peeling of the premacular membrane after photocoagulation.
Adolescent ; Argon ; Eye ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Membranes ; Telangiectasis ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

Background: and PurposeInterhospital transfer is an essential practical component of regional stroke care systems. To establish an effective stroke transfer network in South Korea, an interactive transfer system was constructed, and its workflow metrics were observed. Methods: In March 2019, a direct transfer system between primary stroke hospitals (PSHs) and comprehensive regional stroke centers (CSCs) was established to standardize the clinical pathway of imaging, recanalization therapy, transfer decisions, and exclusive transfer linkage systems in the two types of centers. In an active case, the time metrics from arrival at PSH (“door”) to imaging was measured, and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT) were used to assess the differences in clinical situations. Results: The direct transfer system was used by 27 patients. They stayed at the PSH for a median duration of 72 min (interquartile range [IQR], 38–114 min), with a median times of 15 and 58 min for imaging and subsequent processing, respectively. The door-to-needle median times of subjects treated with IVT at PSHs (n=5) and CSCs (n=2) were 21 min (IQR, 20.0–22.0 min) and 137.5 min (IQR, 125.3–149.8 min), respectively. EVT was performed on seven subjects (25.9%) at CSCs, which took a median duration of 175 min; 77 min at the PSH, 48 min for transportation, and 50 min at the CSC. Before EVT, bridging IVT at the PSH did not significantly affect the door-to-puncture time (127 min vs. 143.5 min, p=0.86). Conclusions The direct and interactive transfer system is feasible in real-world practice in South Korea and presents merits in reducing the treatment delay by sharing information during transfer.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed optimized in vitro culture (OIVC) dish for cultivating preimplantation mouse embryos. This dish minimizes the need for mineral oil and incorporates microwells, providing a stable culture environment and enabling independent monitoring of individual embryos. Methods: Mouse pronuclear (PN) zygotes and two-cell-stage embryos were collected at 18 and 46 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection, respectively. These were cultured for 120 hours using potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) to reach the blastocyst stage. The embryos were randomly allocated into three groups, each cultured in one of three dishes: a 60-mm culture dish, a microdrop dish, and an OIVC dish that we developed. Results: The OIVC dish effectively maintained the osmolarity of the KSOM culture medium over a 5-day period using only 2 mL of mineral oil. This contrasts with the significant osmolarity increase observed in the 60-mm culture dish. Additionally, the OIVC dish exhibited higher blastulation rates from two-cell embryos (100%) relative to the other dish types. Moreover, blastocysts derived from both PN zygotes and two-cell embryos in the OIVC dish group demonstrated significantly elevated mean cell numbers. Conclusion Use of the OIVC dish markedly increased the number of cells in blastocysts derived from the in vitro culture of preimplantation mouse embryos. The capacity of this dish to maintain medium osmolarity with minimal mineral oil usage represents a breakthrough that may advance embryo culture techniques for various mammals, including human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programs.

Monospermy occurs in the process of normal fertilization where a single sperm fuses with the egg, resulting in the formation of a diploid zygote. During the process of fertilization, the sperm must penetrate the zona pellucida (ZP), the outer layer of the egg, to reach the egg’s plasma membrane. Once a sperm binds to the ZP, it undergoes an acrosomal reaction, which involves the release of enzymes from the sperm’s acrosome that help it to penetrate the ZP. Ovastacin is one of the enzymes that is involved in breaking down the ZP. Studies have shown that ovastacin is necessary for the breakdown of the ZP and for successful fertilization to occur. However, the activity of ovastacin is tightly regulated to ensure that only one sperm can fertilize the egg. One way in which ovastacin helps to prevent polyspermy (the fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm) is by rapidly degrading the ZP after a sperm has penetrated it. This makes it difficult for additional sperm to penetrate the ZP and fertilize the egg. Ovastacin is also thought to play a role in the block to polyspermy, a mechanism that prevents additional sperm from fusing with the egg’s plasma membrane after fertilization has occurred. In summary, the role of ovastacin in monospermic fertilization is to help ensure that only one sperm can fertilize the egg, while preventing polyspermy and ensuring successful fertilization.

PURPOSE: To identify altered patterns of retinal mRNA expression in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats from P2 to P14 were exposed to hyperoxia (80% oxygen) to induce OIR and then returned to normoxic conditions. Control rats were sustained in room air. Retinal gene expression between the rats of OIR and the controls was compared using cDNA microarray analysis. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to verify the microarray results. RESULTS: Among a total of 12,731 cDNAs analyzed by mircroarray, 13 genes were strongly up- or down-regulated (>2-fold change over controls) in the OIR rats. We found a significant increase in expression of 10 genes (CaM-kinase II inhibitor; acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family, member A; vascular endothelial growth factor; interferon alpha-inducible protein 27-like; similar to enthoprotin, epsin 4, clathrin interacting protein; nidogen [entactin]; tubulin, beta5; fibrillin-1; spectrin beta2; and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 2) and a significant decrease in expression of 3 genes (myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein, heat shock protein, and decorin) in OIR rats compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed changes in expressions of various retinal genes in a rat model of OIR by microarray and RT-PCR. This study should contribute to the understanding of genetic indicators associeated with OIR.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Microarray Analysis ; *Oxygen ; RNA, Messenger/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina/*metabolism ; Retinal Diseases/*chemically induced/*metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation