• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 2001

Background: Finding of the regulation of various gene expression by cytokine including $IFN-{\gamma}$ in hematopoietic stem cell will light up the understanding of pathogenesis of aplastic anemia in various aspects. To study on aplastic anemia, however, we have to circumvent the difficulty of directly obtaining bone marrow stem cells from the patient. Therefore, we tried to find out a cell can replace the bone marrow stem cells for study on cell signaling pathway and regulation of gene expression by $IFN-{\gamma}$. Materials and Methods: HL-60 cells, of 20 ng/mL of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Total RNA was isolated from the cells and RT-PCR of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), $IFN-{\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, and $TGF-{\beta}2$ was carried out for the estimation of the gene expression. Results: $IFN-{\gamma}$ induced IDO gene expression of mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood showed similar pattern as compared to that of bone marrow. Whether $INF-{\gamma}$ was treated or not, $TNF-{\alpha}$ was expressed in both mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow. However, HL-60 cells showed different expression patterns. HL-60 cells would express neither IDO nor $TNF-{\alpha}$ even under the culture with 20ng/mL of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Conclusion: Our results showed bone marrow can be replaced with mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood in the study on the relation between aplastic anemia and $IFN-{\gamma}$ including $IFN-{\gamma}$ cell signaling pathway.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2017

Infections of Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia microti are reported in many wild animals worldwide, but information on their incidence and molecular detection in Korean wild fields is limited. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti infection in blood samples of 5 animal species (37 Chinese water deer, 23 raccoon dogs, 6 roe deer, 1 wild boar, and 3 Eurasian badgers) was examined during 2008-2009 in Gangwon-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea) by using serological and molecular tests. The overall seropositivity of T. gondii was 8.6% (6/70); 10.8% in Chinese water deer, 4.3% in raccoon dogs, and 16.7% in roe deer. PCR revealed only 1 case of T. gondii infection in Chinese water deer, and phylogenic analysis showed that the positive isolate was practically identical to the highly pathogenetic strain type I. In B. microti PCR, the positive rate was 5.7% (4/70), including 2 Chinese water deer and 2 Eurasian badgers. Phylogenetic analysis results of 18S rRNA and the ${\beta}$-tubulin gene showed that all positive isolates were US-type B. microti. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. microti detected in Chinese water deer and Eurasian badger from Korea. These results indicate a potentially high prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti in wild animals of Gangwon-do, Korea. Furthermore, Chinese water deer might act as a reservoir for parasite infections of domestic animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.438-444
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• 2012

Mucolipidosis II (ML II) or inclusion cell disease (I-cell disease) is a rarely occurring autosomal recessive lysosomal enzyme-targeting disease. This disease is usually found to occur in individuals aged between 6 and 12 months, with a clinical phenotype resembling that of Hurler syndrome and radiological findings resembling those of dysostosis multiplex. However, we encountered a rare case of an infant with ML II who presented with prenatal skeletal dysplasia and typical clinical features of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism at birth. A female infant was born at $37^{+1}$ weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1,690 g (<3rd percentile). Prenatal ultrasonographic findings revealed intrauterine growth retardation and skeletal dysplasia. At birth, the patient had characteristic features of ML II, and skeletal radiographs revealed dysostosis multiplex, similar to rickets. In addition, the patient had high levels of alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone, consistent with severe secondary neonatal hyperparathyroidism. The activities of ${\beta}$-D-hexosaminidase and ${\alpha}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase were moderately decreased in the leukocytes but were 5- to 10-fold higher in the plasma. Examination of a placental biopsy specimen showed foamy vacuolar changes in trophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. The diagnosis of ML II was confirmed via GNPTAB genetic testing, which revealed compound heterozygosity of c.3091C>T (p.Arg1031X) and c.3456_3459dupCAAC (p.Ile1154GlnfsX3), the latter being a novel mutation. The infant was treated with vitamin D supplements but expired because of asphyxia at the age of 2 months.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.673-681
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• 2009

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease. Particularly, diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication for diabetic patients, yet the precise mechanisms that underline the initial stage of diabetic renal inflammation remain unknown. However, oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia in diabetes is implicated in diabetic renal disease. We hypothesized that dietary supplementation of antioxidants either VCE (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE) or Comb (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE + 2.5% N-acetylcysteine) improves acute diabetic renal inflammation through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Experimental animals (5.5 weeks old female ICR) used were treated with alloxan (180 mg/kg) once. When fasting blood glucose levels were higher than 250 mg/dL, mice were divided into 3 groups fed different levels of antioxidant supplementation, DM (diabetic mice fed AIN 93G purified rodent diet); VCE (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C and 0.5% vitamin E supplemented diet); Comb (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C, 0.5% vitamin E and 2.5% N-acetylcysteine supplemented diet), for 10 days and then sacrificed. Body weights were measured once a week and blood glucose levels were monitored twice a week. Lipid peroxidation products, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances were measured in kidney. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was indirectly demonstrated by pI${\kappa}B$-${\alpna}$ and expressions of selective inflammatory and oxidative stress markers including antioxidant enzymes were also determined. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved levels of blood glucose as well as kidney lipid peroxi-dation. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and protein expression of HO-1, but not mRNA expression levels in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. In contrast, the mRNA and protein expression of CuZnSOD was decreased in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. However, antioxidant supplementation did not improve mRNA and protein expressions of IL-$1{\beta}$ and MnSOD in diabetic mice. These findings demonstrate that acute diabetic renal inflammation was associated with altered inflammatory and antioxidant responses and suggest that antioxidant cocktail supplementation may have beneficial effects on early stage of diabetic nephropathy through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant enzyme expressions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.595-599
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• 1998

To investigate conformational information of a low oxygen affinity recombinant hemoglobin (rHb) containing $96Val{\rightarrow}Trp$ mutation at the ${\alpha}96$ position, we ave produced rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$) and rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr$), using the Escherichia coli expression system and site-directed mutagenesis. The oxygen affinity of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$) is similar to that of human normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A). However, the oxygen affinity of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr$) showed much lower oxygen affinity than Hb A which is similar to that of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr$), providing an opportunity as a potential candidate for a hemoglobin-based blood substitute. Both rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$) and rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr)$ showed high cooperativity in oxygen binding. IH-NMR spectroscopy shows that both rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$) and rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr$) have very similar tertiary structure around the heme pockets and uaternary structure in the ${\alpha}_1/{\beta}_2$ subunit interface ompared to Hb A. The low oxygen affinity of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Tyr$) has been suggested to be due to a hydrogen bond caused by an extra hydroxyl group not present in rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$). However, investigation of the carbonmonoxy form of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Phe$) and (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Try$) in the presence of inositol hexaphosphate at low temperature suggests that low oxygen affinity of (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Try$) may arise from a mechanism different to that of rHb (${\alpha}96Val{\rightarrow}Trp$).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2016

As the probability of exposure to radiation increases due to an increase in the use of radioisotopes and radiation generators, the importance of a radiation safety management field is being highlighted. We intend to help radiation workers with exposure management by identifying the degree of radiation exposure and contamination to determine an efficient method of radiation safety management. The personal exposure doses of the radiation workers at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences measured every quarter during a five-year period from Jan. 1, 2011 till Dec. 31, 2015 were analyzed using a TLD (thermoluminescence dosimeter). The spatial dose rates of radiation-controlled areas were measured using a portable radioscope, and the level of surface contamination was measured at weekly intervals using a piece of smear paper and a low background alpha/beta counter. Though the averages of the depth doses and the surface doses in 2012 increased from those in 2011 by about 14%, the averages were shown to have decreased every year after that. The exposure dose of 27 mSv in 2012 increased from that in 2011 in radiopharmaceutical laboratories and, in the case of the spatial dose rate, the rate of decrease in 2012 was shown to be similar to the annual trend of the whole institute. In the case of the surface contamination level, as the remaining radiation-controlled area with the exception of the I-131 treatment ward showed a low value less than $1.0kBq/m^2$, the annual trend of the I-131 treatment ward was shown to be similar to that of the entire institute. In conclusion, continuous attention should be paid to dose monitoring of the radiation-controlled areas where unsealed sources are handled and the workers therein.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.346-354
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• 1992

Cancer cells have several tumor-associated antigens on the cell surfaces, and antibodies against these antigens have been developed by many investigators. Radiolabeled antibodies have been used as new methods to diagnose and treat malignant tumors. Especially anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the most popular antibody for these purposes. In this investigation, we tried to label $^{131}I$ and $^{99m}Tc $ to anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies which were developed in the Seoul National University College of Medicine. We found CEA-79 and CEA-92 antibodies had the better immunological characteristics among 8 anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies. And radioiodination of CEA-79 could be performed by chloramine-T method, while radioiodination of CEA-92 by iodogen method. To label these antibodies with $^{99m}Tc $, we used pretargeting transchelation as direct labeling method. At first, $^{99m}Tc $ was bound to glucaric acid, and monoclonal antibody was reduced by $\beta-mercaptoethanol$. When these were incubated together. $^{99m}Tc $ bound to glucarate was switched to monoclonal antibody because of higher affinity. We established conditions of several steps in this method. Anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies labeled with $^{131}I$ and $^{99m}Tc $ are expected to be used valuably in the detection and treatment of malignant tumors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2012

Oroxylin A is a flavone isolated from a medicinal herb reported to be effective in reducing the inflammatory and oxidative stresses. It also modulates the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cortical neurons by the transactivation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). As a neurotrophin, BDNF plays roles in neuronal development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and neural protection from the harmful stimuli. Adenosine $A2_A$ receptor colocalized with BDNF in brain and the functional interaction between $A2_A$ receptor stimulation and BDNF action has been suggested. In this study, we investigated the possibility that oroxylin A modulates BDNF production in cortical neuron through the regulation of $A2_A$ receptor system. As expected, CGS21680 ($A2_A$ receptor agonist) induced BDNF expression and release, however, an antagonist, ZM241385, prevented oroxylin A-induced increase in BDNF production. Oroxylin A activated the PI3K-Akt-GSK-$3{\beta}$ signaling pathway, which is inhibited by ZM241385 and the blockade of the signaling pathway abolished the increase in BDNF production. The physiological roles of oroxylin A-induced BDNF production were demonstrated by the increased neurite extension as well as synapse formation from neurons. Overall, oroxylin A might regulate BDNF production in cortical neuron through $A2_A$ receptor stimulation, which promotes cellular survival, synapse formation and neurite extension.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2019

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors influencing progression-free survival (PFS) of aggressive fibromatosis (AF) after postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and assess correlations between immunohistochemistry (IHC) features of β-catenin/smooth muscle actin (SMA) and PFS. Materials and Methods: Records of 37 patients with AF treated by PORT from 1984 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen patients underwent wide excision for AF and 22 patients received debulking operation. The median total dose of PORT was 59.4 Gy. IHC staining results of β-catenin and SMA were available for 11 and 12 patients, respectively. Results: The median follow-up duration was 105.9 months. Five-year PFS rate was 70.9%. Tumor size or margin status was not related to PFS in univariate analysis (p = 0.197 and p = 0.716, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that increased interval from surgery to PORT (>5.7 weeks) was a marginal risk factor for PFS (p = 0.054). Administration of PORT at the initial diagnosis resulted in significantly improved PFS compared to deferring PORT after recurrence (p = 0.045). Patient with both risk factors of deferring PORT after recurrence and interval from surgery to PORT >5.7 weeks had significantly lower 5-year PFS than patients without risk factor (34.1% vs. 100.0%; p = 0.012). Nuclear β-catenin intensity tended to inversely correlate with 5-year PFS, although it did not reach statistical significance (62.5% at low vs. 100.0% at high; p = 0.260). SMA intensity was not related to PFS (p = 0.700). Conclusion: PORT should be performed immediately after surgery irrespective of margin status or tumor size especially in recurrent case. Nuclear β-catenin staining intensity of IHC might correlate with local recurrence.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2011

Background: Metabolic disorders, including type II diabetes and obesity, present major health risks in industrialized countries. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has become the focus of a great deal of attention as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic syndromes. In this study, we evaluated whether dietary aloe could reduce obesity-induced inflammation and adipogenesis. Methods: Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 54 days received a supplement of aloe formula (PAG, ALS, Aloe QDM, and Aloe QDM complex) or pioglitazone (PGZ) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (high-fat diet; HFD) or mice fed a regular diet (RD). RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify the expression of obesity-induced inflammation. Results: Aloe QDM complex downregulated fat size through suppressed expression of scavenger receptors on adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) compared with HFD. Both white adipose tissue (WATs) and muscle exhibited increased AMPK activation through aloe supplementation, and in particular, the Aloe QDM complex. Obesity-induced inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$ and -6) and $HIF1{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein were decreased markedly, as was macrophage infiltration by the Aloe QDM complex. Further, the Aloe QDM complex decreased the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 from the cytosol in the WAT. Conclusion: Dietary aloe formula reduced obesity-induced inflammatory responses by activation of AMPK in muscle and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines in the WAT. Additionally, the expression of scavenger receptors in the ATM and activation of AMPK in WAT led to reduction in the percent of body fat. Thus, we suggest that the effect of the Aloe QDM complex in the WAT and muscle are related to activation of AMPK and its use as a nutritional intervention against T2D and obesity-related inflammation.