Hwa-Young Lee

Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increase in the incidence of vascular diseases, including retinal vascular diseases. We examined the effects of high plasma levels of homocysteine on retinal glial cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a 3.0 g/kg homocystine diet or a control diet for 2 week. The homocystine-diet group had higher plasma levels of homocysteine and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and lower

Oxidative stress attributable to the activation of a Nox4-containing NADPH oxidase is involved in aging-associated vascular dysfunction. However, the Nox4-induced signaling mechanism for the vascular alteration in aging remains unclear. In an aged aorta, the expression of Nox4 mRNA and protein by Nox family of genes was markedly increased compared with a young aorta. Nox4 localization mainly to ER was also established. In the aorta of Nox4 WT mice aged 23-24 months (aged), reactive oxygen specie

Allergic airway inflammation is an increasing global health problem, and novel strategies to prevent or ameliorate the condition are needed. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in protein synthesis and maturation, and is a susceptible to sub-organelle stress including inflammation and ROS-amplifying signaling. Here, the effects of Platycodi Radix extracts (PRE) on house dust mite (HDM) extract (Dematophagoides pteronyssius)-induced asthma were investigated. Following 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg

OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to investigate whether breast-feeding is associated with early pubertal development among children 7-9 years old in Korea. DESIGN: Children were divided into those who did and did not receive breast-feeding for 6 months or longer in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO. Pubertal status was determined by clinical examination using Tanner staging. SETTING: Prospective observational study. SUBJECTS: We conducted a follow-up study of children aged

(IXD), a recently suggested regulator of amylase secretion in salivary cells. Vehicle-treated or diabetic rats were orally treated with either water or an IXD extract for 10 days to observe the effect on salivary flow. We found that the IXD extract increased aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and alpha-amylase protein expression in the submandibular gland along with salivary flow rate. Similarly, the IXD extract and its purified compound increased amylase secretion in high glucose-exposed human salivary gland c

We found that the 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with adiposity indices in preadolescent children. This study suggests that adequate vitamin D intake in growing children is crucial to maintain an optimal vitamin D level to prevent obesity and obesity-related health problems later in life.

Bone age (BA) advancement in prepubertal children may be associated with earlier onset of puberty and obesity. This study aimed to define the effects of adrenal androgen levels on the advancement of BA in prepubertal children, independent of obesity. During July and August 2011, we examined BA in 200 prepubertal children aged 7-9 years who were part of the Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort Study. BA was assessed by the Greulich-Pyle method. An index of BA advancement was calculated as the ratio of BA t

To assess the effect of urinary bisphenol A (BPA) on repeated measurements of androgenic hormones and metabolic indices, we used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) adjusted for potential confounders at baseline. During July to August 2011, 80 preadolescent girls enrolled in the Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort study participated in a follow-up study and then forty-eight of them (60.0%) came back one year later. Baseline levels of estradiol and androstenedione were higher in the BPA group t

Our results suggest an adverse relationship between maternal homocysteine level and birth weight. A reduction in homocysteine levels might positively affect birth outcomes.

PPHs protect cells against H2O2-induced cell damage when ER stress is involved. In addition, PPHs enhance osteoblast differentiation. This enhancement likely explains the regulatory effect of PPHs on bone metabolism disturbances, i.e. PPHs control ER stress and the related ROS production in osteoblasts.