Associations between periodontal infection and cardiovascular disease have been documented. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a well-established periodontal pathogen, and tissue factor (TF) is a key initiator of the coagulation cascade. In this context, P. gingivalis has been reported to enhance TF expression in human endothelial cells. The present study investigated the underlying mechanisms of TF induction by P. gingivalis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. P. gingivalis increased TF expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Not only live bacteria but also glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria increased TF expression to the same extent. However, sonicates of P. gingivalis did not induce TF expression. Cytochalasin D and SMIFH2, which are inhibitors of actin polymerization and actin nucleation, respectively, inhibited the TF expression induced by P. gingivalis . Finally, TF production was decreased or increased in the presence of various signaling inhibitors, including mitogen-activated protein kinases. These results suggest that P. gingivalis induces endothelial TF expression by a bacterial internalization-dependent mechanism and through diverse signal transduction mechanisms.

Background: A pressure ulcer is common in soft tissue over the greater trochanter (GT) in side-lying position, and sustained tissue deformation induced by the prolonged external force is a primary cause, which can be discussed with soft tissues’ viscoelastic properties (i.e., stress relaxation, creep response). Objects: Using an automated hand-held indentation device, we measured the viscoelastic properties of soft tissue over the hip area, in order to examine how the properties are affected by site with respect to the GT. Methods: Twenty participants (15 males and 5 females) who aged from 21 to 32 were participated. An automated hand-held indentation device was used to measure the stress relaxation time and creep response. Trials were acquired for three different locations with respect to the GT (i.e., right over the GT, 6 cm anterior or posterior to the GT). For each location, five trials were acquired and averaged for data analyses. Results: Soft tissues’ stress relaxation time and creep response were associated with site (F = 23.98, p < 0.005; F = 24.09, p < 0.005; respectively). The stress relaxation time was greatest at posterior gluteal region (19.22 ± 2.49 ms), and followed by anterior region (15.39 ± 2.47 ms) and right over the GT (14.40 ± 3.18 ms). Similarly, creep response was greatest at posterior gluteal region (1.16 ± 0.14), and followed by anterior region (0.95 ± 0.14) and right over the GT (0.89 ± 0.18). Conclusion: Our results showed that the stress relaxation and creep were greatest at the posterior gluteal region and least at right over the GT, indicating that the gluteal soft tissue is more protective to the prolonged external force, when compared to the trochanteric soft tissue. The results suggest that a risk of pressure ulcer over the GT may decrease with slightly posteriorly rotated side-lying position.

Recently, with the increase of meat production, high quality and safety of meat have been strongly emphasized by Korean consumers. Marbling in beef has been regarded as an important criterion deciding meat quality in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify the transcriptional level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in longissimus muscle samples of 46 Hanwoo. The level of IGF-1 transcripts was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular connection of IGF-1 was analyzed using the Pathway Studio program (Ver 9.0). Increase of marbling score (MS) induced increase of IGF-1 transcripts level in the muscle and there is a significant correlation (p<0.05) between IGF-1 mRNA expression and MS. The pathway study showed that IGF-1 genes are regulated in insulin, fatty acid synthase, leptin, and corticotrophin releasing hormone. These results suggest that IGF-1 might be used as a useful marker for the improvement of economic traits in Hanwoo.

Ovulation resembles a tissue remodeling process such as a blood coagulation. The present study was aimed to examine the involvement of tissue factor, a primary factor for extrinsic coagulation pathway, in the ovulation. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA levels of tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI-2) in the ovary were stimulated by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment in surperovulation model, of immature rats. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of tissue factor and TFPI-2 was stimulated in granulosa and theca cells of preovulatory follicles, respectively. The induction of tissue factor mRNA was blocked by the progesterone receptor antagonist RU486. Tissue factor protein was not detected in the ovary by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis due to the lack of a specific antibody. Interestingly, the levels of tissue factor and TFPI-2 mRNA were increased in the ovarian cells of rats induced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and in granulosa cells of OHSS patients undergiong in vitro fertilization. The present findings indicate the stimulation of tissue factor system during ovulation, and in OHSS patients, implicating the possible involvement of tissue factor system in OHSS.

The present study was performed to identify the role of plasminogen activator (PA) and the location of PA expression in porcine uterus tissues during the estrous cycle. Porcine uterus tissues were obtained from ovary in pre-ovulatory (Pre-Ov), post-ovulatory stage (Post-Ov) and early to mid-luteal stage (Early-mid L). The uterus tissue was immediately fixed by PBS with 10% formalin. There were fixed porcine uterus tissue for 24 hours at room temperature and porcine uterus tissue dehydrate for 12 hour in sucrose solution. For immunohistochemical staining, porcine uterus tissues were cut to 4 μm by micro frozen section microtome. The nucleus and cytoplasm of porcine uterus tissues were stained by Hematoxin and Eosin. Porcine uterus tissues were evaluated by Immunofluorescence using anti-tissue type PA (tPA) and urokinase type PA (uPA). The location of PA expression was identified by observing the PA fluorescence using fluorescent microscope and optical telescopes. As a results, when Pre-Ov and Post-Ov were identified endometrial blood vessel in an inner layer that were observed tPA and uPA. Especially, expression of PA was observed around secretory gland. But the expression of PA were not confirm in Early-mid L. Also, The expression of PA were higher in Post-Ov than Early-mid L. In conclusion, during the estrous cycle, the expression of PA were increased from Pre-Ov to Post-Ov and was decreased from Post-Ov to Early-mid L.

The present study was performed to identify the role of plasminogen activator (PA) and the location of PA expression in porcine uterus tissues during the estrous cycle. Porcine uterus tissues were obtained from ovary in pre-ovulatory (Pre-Ov), post-ovulatory stage (Post-Ov) and early to mid-luteal stage (Early-mid L). The uterus tissue was immediately fixed by PBS with 10% formalin. There were fixed porcine uterus tissue for 24 hours at room temperature and porcine uterus tissue dehydrate for 12 hour in sucrose solution. For immunohistochemical staining, porcine uterus tissues were cut to 4 μm by micro frozen section microtome. The nucleus and cytoplasm of porcine uterus tissues were stained by Hematoxin and Eosin. Porcine uterus tissues were evaluated by Immunofluorescence using anti-tissue type PA (tPA) and urokinase type PA (uPA). The location of PA expression was identified by observing the PA fluorescence using fluorescent microscope and optical telescopes. As a results, when Pre-Ov and Post-Ov were identified endometrial blood vessel in an inner layer that were observed tPA and uPA. Especially, expression of PA was observed around secretory gland. But the expression of PA were not confirm in Early-mid L. Also, The expression of PA were higher in Post-Ov than Early-mid L. In conclusion, during the estrous cycle, the expression of PA were increased from Pre-Ov to Post-Ov and was decreased from Post-Ov to Early-mid L.

Ovulation resembles a tissue remodeling process such as a blood coagulation. The present study was aimed to examine the involvement of tissue factor, a primary factor for extrinsic coagulation pathway, in the ovulation. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA levels of tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI-2) in the ovary were stimulated by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment in surperovulation model, of immature rats. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of tissue factor and TFPI-2 was stimulated in granulosa and theca cells of preovulatory follicles, respectively. The induction of tissue factor mRNA was blocked by the progesterone receptor antagonist RU486. Tissue factor protein was not detected in the ovary by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis due to the lack of a specific antibody. Interestingly, the levels of tissue factor and TFPI-2 mRNA were increased in the ovarian cells of rats induced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and in granulosa cells of OHSS patients undergiong in vitro fertilization. The present findings indicate the stimulation of tissue factor system during ovulation, and in OHSS patients, implicating the possible involvement of tissue factor system in OHSS.