SoxD transcription factor subfamily includes three members, Sox5, Sox6, and Sox13. Like other Sox genes, they contain the High-Mobility-Group (HMG) box as the DNA binding domain but in addition feature the subgroup-specific leucine zipper motif. SoxD genes are expressed in diverse cell types in multiple organs during embryogenesis and in adulthood. Among the cells expressing them are those present in the developing nervous system including neural stem (or progenitor) cells as well as differentiating neurons and oligodendrocytes. SoxD transcription factors do not contain distinct activator or repressor domain, and they are believed to function in modulation of other transcription factors in promoter- specific manners. This brief review article will attempt to summarize the latest studies on the function of SoxD genes in embryogenesis with a particular emphasis on the regulation of neural development.
DNA ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Leucine Zippers ; Nervous System ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; Pregnancy ; SOXD Transcription Factors* ; Transcription Factors

BACKGROUND: Melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r), a key signaling receptor for melanogenesis, has been reported to mediate migration of B16F10 melanoma cells. Interestingly, this activity appears to be a part of the constitutive signaling of Mc1r. METHODS: We carried out small interfering RNA-mediated knock-down of Mc1r on murine melanoma B16F10 cells and performed microarray analysis to characterize changes in the gene expression profile. RESULTS: We isolated 22 and four genes whose expression decreased and increased, respectively, by 2.5-fold or higher as the result of Mc1r knock-down. Several down-regulated genes have been proposed to be involved in cell migration. Among these genes are several members of the chemokine gene family. CONCLUSION: We provide a gene set for further functional analyses of Mc1r. The Mc1r target genes we present may be particularly relevant for understanding the ligand-independent activity of Mc1r. Further examination of the mode of action may lead to novel strategies in regulating the migration and metastasis of melanoma cells.
Cell Movement ; Chemokines ; Gene Expression Regulation* ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Microarray Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1* ; Transcriptome

Several recent studies have reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), play important roles in various cellular signaling networks. NADPH oxidase (Nox) isozymes have been shown to mediate receptor-mediated ROS generation for physiological signaling processes involved in cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Detectable intracellular levels of ROS can be induced by the electron leakage from mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as by activation of cytochrome p450, glucose oxidase and xanthine oxidase, leading to oxidative stress. The up-regulation and the hyper-activation of NADPH oxidases (Nox) also likely contribute to oxidative stress in pathophysiologic stages. Elevation of the renal ROS level through hyperglycemia-mediated Nox activation results in the oxidative stress which induces a damage to kidney tissues, causing to diabetic nephropathy (DN). Nox inhibitors are currently being developed as the therapeutics of DN. In this review, we summarize Nox-mediated ROS generation and development of Nox inhibitors for therapeutics of DN treatment.

Abdominal pregnancy is a rare variation of ectopic pregnancy, which has been classified as primary or secondary. The clinical characteristics of abdominal pregnancy are extremely variable, so early diagnosis is very difficult. Because of high maternal morbidity and mortality, the prompt surgical intervention is required. Omental pregnancy is a very rare form of abdominal pregnancy, which is hard to detect early. The diagnosis of omental pregnancy is hardly ever made prior to laparotomy. We have experienced a case of omental pregnancy in a 36-year-old woman and report this case with brief review of literature.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Mortality ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Abdominal ; Pregnancy, Ectopic

PURPOSE: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes endemic or epidemic outbreaks of CHIKV fever, which is a mosquitoe-transmitted viral disease in Africa, India, South-East Asia, and recently Southern Europe. Currently, serological diagnostic tests such as hemagglutination inhibition test (HI test), in-house IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and indirect immunofluorescence test were used for diagnosis of chikungunya fever, which are based on whole virus antigens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CHIKV E1, and E2 envelope proteins for the CHIKV-specific serodiagnostic reagents for chikungunya fever were expressed in baculovirus expression system. The seroreactivity of recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins were evaluated using sera panels of patients from Laboratoire Marcel Merieux by indirect IgM capture ELISA. RESULTS: The recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope protein showed sensitivity of 77.5% and 90%, respectively. The specificities of both CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins were 100%. CONCLUSION: The recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins could be a useful diagnostic reagent for CHIKV infection.
Alphavirus Infections/*diagnosis ; Animals ; Baculoviridae/genetics/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chikungunya virus/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests/*methods ; Viral Envelope Proteins/*immunology

Purpose: To compare serum selenium levels in Graves patients and non-Graves control participants and to evaluate associations between serum selenium levels and clinical features of Graves orbitopathy (GO). Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective case-control study among 33 patients with Graves disease without GO (GD), 31 patients with diagnosed GO, and 27 unaffected healthy participants enrolled between 2013 and 2020 at Severance Hospital. We compared serum selenium concentrations between the GD, GO, and healthy control groups, and analyzed associations between serum selenium and GO patients’ clinical activity scores, severity (assessed through modified NOSPECS scores), and other clinical features using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: Mean serum selenium levels were 109.30 ± 16.39, 111.39 ± 14.04, and 126.09 ± 21.09 ng/mL in GO patients, GD patients, and healthy control participants, respectively. Mean serum selenium levels in Graves patients with and without orbitopathy were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (p < 0.05), and mean selenium levels were slightly lower in GO than those in GD patients (p = 0.594). Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in GO patients with eyelid retraction than in patients without retraction (p = 0.038). However, serum selenium levels were not associated with clinical activity scores and modified NOSPECS scores (p = 0.241 and 0.801, respectively). Conclusions Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in Graves patients with or without GO, compared to non-Graves control participants. Selenium levels were not associated with clinical activity scores or NOSPECS scores, though we observed an association with eyelid retraction.

Here we describe characterization of chicken neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain 3 (NPAS3) gene during embryogenesis including examinations of expression pattern and function of the gene. RTPCR assay showed that the primary tissue of expression for this gene is the central nervous system (CNS) while RNA in situ hybridization assay confirmed that NPAS3 was expressed in the ventricular zone of developing neural tube as early as Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stage 20. Ectopic over-expression of the gene in ovo in the developing chicken neural tube by electroporation had little effect on stem cell population, overall neurogenesis, and motor neuron differentiation. We discuss the implications of our observation.
Central Nervous System ; Chickens ; Electroporation ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization ; Motor Neurons ; Neural Tube ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Pregnancy ; RNA ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: To determine the sustaining effects of orthokeratology. METHODS: This study enrolled 58 eyes with moderate myopia. LK-DM lenses (Lucid Korea Dream Lens(TM)) were fitted daily for at least eight hours on an overnight regimen. The effects of orthokeratology and it's sustainability throughout the day were recorded twice; immediately after removal in the morning and eight hours later. Sustainability was measured by comparing the changes from morning to afternoon for best uncorrected visual acuity, apical corneal power, keratometric values, spherical equivalent and induced astigmatism. RESULTS: UCVA demonstrated improved values at all follow up periods. Fluctuations during the day stabilized after 4 weeks of lens wear. K values averaged a mean of 42.4 mm at baseline, and reduced to 40.9 mm by week 12. Unaided logMAR visual acuity changed from 0.94+/-0.14 at baseline to -0.11+/-0.17 by week 12. The sustainability of orthokeratology, defined as the difference between morning and afternoon values of unaided logMAR visual acuity, increased from -0.82 on day 1 to -0.11 on week 12. CONCLUSIONS: UCVA and spherical refractive error did not change to a significant degree after 4 weeks. Although statistically insignificant minute fluctuations during the day were observed up to week 12, these fluctuations decreased to a statistically significant level after week 4.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear ; Cornea/*pathology ; *Corneal Topography ; Equipment Design ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myopia/pathology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Refraction, Ocular/physiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surface Properties ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity/physiology

PURPOSE: To determine the sustaining effects of orthokeratology. METHODS: This study enrolled 58 eyes with moderate myopia. LK-DM lenses (Lucid Korea Dream Lens(TM)) were fitted daily for at least eight hours on an overnight regimen. The effects of orthokeratology and it's sustainability throughout the day were recorded twice; immediately after removal in the morning and eight hours later. Sustainability was measured by comparing the changes from morning to afternoon for best uncorrected visual acuity, apical corneal power, keratometric values, spherical equivalent and induced astigmatism. RESULTS: UCVA demonstrated improved values at all follow up periods. Fluctuations during the day stabilized after 4 weeks of lens wear. K values averaged a mean of 42.4 mm at baseline, and reduced to 40.9 mm by week 12. Unaided logMAR visual acuity changed from 0.94+/-0.14 at baseline to -0.11+/-0.17 by week 12. The sustainability of orthokeratology, defined as the difference between morning and afternoon values of unaided logMAR visual acuity, increased from -0.82 on day 1 to -0.11 on week 12. CONCLUSIONS: UCVA and spherical refractive error did not change to a significant degree after 4 weeks. Although statistically insignificant minute fluctuations during the day were observed up to week 12, these fluctuations decreased to a statistically significant level after week 4.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Contact Lenses, Extended-Wear ; Cornea/*pathology ; *Corneal Topography ; Equipment Design ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myopia/pathology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Refraction, Ocular/physiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surface Properties ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity/physiology