BACKGROUND: Since 2005, the commercial patch test panel, the TRUE-test, has been available. However, there have been no reports regarding the results of the TRUE-test compared with previously used Korean Standard Series in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the contact allergy, causative allergens, and source of allergens in patients who were diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis, and to compare the findings with previously used Korean Standard Series. METHODS: We reviewed the results of the TRUE-test from 2005~2010 in Wonju Christian Hospital. We patch-tested 843 patients who were diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis. The patch test reading was performed on day 2 and days 3 or 4, according to the patients' needs. Epidemiologic findings of patients and the results of the patch tests were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 843 patch-tested cases were compiled and analyzed. Of 843 patch-tested patients (male, 309; female, 534), 65.8% had at least 1 positive reaction and 30.2% at least 2 positive reactions. The highest age distribution was the 5th decade in females. The face, with the exception of the eyelids, ears, and lips, was the most frequently affected site (comprising 50.3%). The highest sensitization rates were found with nickel (29.1%), thiomersal (10.9%), and cobalt dichloride (9.7%). The lowest positivity included caine mix (0.7%), mercaptobenzothiazole (1.2%), and quinolone mix (1.2%). Metal allergens displayed higher positive rates than any other standard allergens. The overall prevalence was similar with a recent report in Korea. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of the most sensitized allergen compared with the reports about previously used Korean standard series.
Age Distribution ; Allergens ; Cobalt ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Ear ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lip ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Prevalence ; Thimerosal

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

Many biobanks were established as biorepositories for biomedical research, and a number of biobanks were founded in the 1990s. The main aim of the biobank is to store and to maintain biomaterials for studying chronic disease, identifying risk factors of specific diseases, and applying personalized drug therapies. This report provides a review of biobanks, including Korean biobanks and an analysis of sample volumes, regulations, policies, and ethical issues of the biobank. Until now, the top 6 countries according to the number of large-scale biobanks are the United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Italy, and there is one major National Biobank of Korea (NBK) and 17 regional biobanks in Korea. Many countries have regulations and guidelines for the biobanks, and the importance of good management of biobanks is increasing. Meanwhile, according to a first survey of 456 biobank managers in the United States, biobankers are concerned with the underuse of the samples in their repositories, which need to be advertised for researchers. Korea Biobank Network (KBN) project phase II (2013-2015) was also planned for the promotion to use biospecimens in the KBN. The KBN is continuously introducing for researchers to use biospecimens in the biobank. An accreditation process can also be introduced for biobanks to harmonize collections and encourage use of biospecimens in the biobanks. KBN is preparing an on-line application system for the distribution of biospecimens and a biobank accreditation program and is trying to harmonize the biobanks.
Accreditation ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bioethics* ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy ; Ethics ; France ; Great Britain ; Humans ; Italy ; Korea ; Netherlands ; Risk Factors ; Social Control, Formal ; Sweden ; United States

BACKGROUND: Topical steroid treatment induces diverse local Wand systemic adverse effects. Several approaches have been tried to reduce the steroid-induced adverse effects. Simultaneous application of physiological lipid mixture is also suggested. OBJECTIVE: Novel vehicles for topical glucocorticoids formulation were evaluated for the efficacy of reducing side-effects and the drug delivery properties of desonide, a low potency topical steroid. METHODS: Transcutaneous permeation and skin residual amount of desonide were measured using Franz diffusion cells. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using murine model. RESULTS: Topical steroids formulation containing desonide, in either cream or lotion form, were prepared using multi-lamellar emulsion (MLE), and conventional desonide formulations were employed for comparison. MLE formulations did not affect the anti-inflammatory activity of the desonide in phobol ester-induced skin inflammation model, compared with conventional formulations. While the penetrated amounts of desonide were similar for all the tested formulations at 24 hours after application, the increased lag time was observed for the MLE formulations. Interestingly, residual amount of desonide in epidermis was significantly higher in lotion type MLE formulation. Steroid-induced adverse effects, including permeability barrier function impairment, were partially prevented by MLE formulation. CONCLUSION: Topical desonide formulation using MLE as a vehicle showed a better drug delivery with increased epidermal retention. MLE also partially prevented the steroid-induced side effects, such as skin barrier impairment.
Desonide ; Diffusion ; Epidermis ; Glucocorticoids ; Inflammation ; Permeability ; Retention (Psychology) ; Skin ; Steroids

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) has a central role in regulating muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism. PGC-1α stimulates muscle growth and muscle fiber remodeling, concomitantly regulating lactate and lipid metabolism and promoting oxidative metabolism.Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thumb.) has been widely employed as a traditional herbal medicine and possesses antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, hypolipemic, hypoglycemic, and anticancer properties. We investigated whether G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its active compound, gypenoside L (GL), affect muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism via activation of the PGC-1α pathway in murine C2C12 myoblast cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were treated with GPE and GL, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels. Myh1 was determined using immunocytochemistry.Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation was measured using the 2′7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. RESULTS: GPE and GL promoted the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes and elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of Myh1 (type IIx). GPE and GL also significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of the PGC-1α gene (Ppargc1a), lactate metabolismregulatory genes (Esrra and Mct1), adipocyte-browning gene fibronectin type III domaincontaining 5 gene (Fndc5), glycogen synthase gene (Gys), and lipid metabolism gene carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b gene (Cpt1b). Moreover, GPE and GL induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, p38, sirtuin1, and deacetylated PGC-1α. We also observed that treatment with GPE and GL significantly stimulated the expression of genes associated with the anti-oxidative stress response, such as Ucp2, Ucp3, Nrf2, and Sod2<>/i>. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that GPE and GL enhance exercise performance by promoting myotube differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism through the upregulation of PGC-1α in C2C12 skeletal muscle.

This study evaluated the incidence, the survival outcomes and its prognostic factors for male breast cancer (MBC) in Korea. Using the National Health Insurance Service database of Korea, we identified MBC patients who had the new claim code of C50. Medical records including type of surgeries and radiotherapy within one year of the first claim and death records were reviewed. Between 2005 and 2016, 838 newly diagnosed MBC patients were included (median follow-up, 1,769 days). The 70–74-year age group had the highest incidence of MBC. The 5-year survival rate was 73.7%. Age > 65 years, low income, no surgical intervention, no tamoxifen use, and > 2 comorbidities correlated with a worse outcome. MBC incidence has increased over time, and its peak is noted at age > 70 years. Age > 65 years, > 2 comorbidities, no surgical intervention, and no tamoxifen use correlate to poor prognosis.