• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2015

Classic galactosemia (OMIM #230400) is an autosomal recessive inherited metaboic disorder caused by a deficiency of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT, EC2.7.7.12) due to mutations in the GALT gene. If untreated, classic galactosemia is a potentially lethal disease presenting with poor feeding, vomiting, jaundice, liver failure, increased bleeding tendency, and septicemia leading to death within a few days after birth. Since 2006, expansion of newborn screening has been enabled the early diagnosis and early intervention of classic galactosemia in Korea. However, newborn screening, followup testing for confirmatory diagnosis and intervention for galactosemia continue to present challenges. In Korea, the prevalence of the classic galactosemia is considered relatively low compared to that of western countries. And the genotype is also clearly different from those of other population. Therefore, our own guideline for confirmatory diagnosis and intervention is needed. Here, the diagnostic algorithm for galactosemia after positive newborn screening result in Korea has been proposed. Considering the low prevalence and different mutation spectrum in Koreans, the early mutation analysis of GALT gene could be a useful tool for the accurate diagnosis and making any treatment decision.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2020

The antimicrobial resistance rate in bacteria has increased over the last several decades. The transfer of antimicrobial resistant determinants on mobile genetic elements could cause the accelerated emergence and spread of multidrug resistant bacteria. This study investigated the aminoglycoside resistance determinants transferred by mobile genetic elements in a total of 33 aminoglycoside non-susceptible E. coli isolated from clinical specimens in Chungcheong province. 16S ribosomal RNA methyl-transferases (RMTases) and aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AME) genes were detected via PCR and DNA sequencing. The most common AME genes were aac(3')-II gene (54.5%), followed by aph(3')-Ia (18.2%) and aac(6')-Ib (15.2%). None of the evaluated RMTase genes were detected in the 33 isolates. Seventeen of the 18 isolates harboring aac(3')-II gene were resistant to gentamicin, and 16 of them were resistant to tobramycin. The 5 isolates harboring aac(6')-Ib gene were all resistant to tobramycin. In this study, we confirmed that one of the important mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance in E. coli isolated from human is the acquisition of AME genes. Continuing investigations of antimicrobial resistant determinants in bacteria isolated from human may be required to prevent dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

Acinetobacter species isolates are important opportunistic pathogens and commonly implicated in nosocomial infections. The therapeutic options for treatment of the bacterial infections are limited because the bacteria isolates are usually multidrug resistant (MDR). In the current study, we investigated various carbapenemase genes in 68 Acinetobacter species isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested using the disk diffusion method. Screening of carbapenemase genes was performed via multiplex PCR. In addition, PCR and DNA sequencing were used to identify the carbapenemase genes. Repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (REP-PCR) was also performed to assess the clonality of isolates. In our study, A. baumannii isolates were highly resistant to all agents tested while all non-A. baumannii isolates were susceptible to all agents tested, with the exception of aztreonam and cefotaxime. All 51 A. baumannii isolates contained the $bla_{OXA-51}$ gene and 37 (72.5%) isolates also harbored the $bla_{OXA-23}$ gene. In addition, 39 MDR A. baumannii isolates were identified in our study and 37 isolates contained the $bla_{OXA-23}$ gene. The 37 MDR strains harboring $bla_{OXA-23}$ showed type I (n=22) or type II (n=15) banding patterns on their REP-PCR profiles. Our results suggest clonal relation and horizontal spreading of MDR A. baumannii isolates containing the $bla_{OXA-23}$ gene at the hospital located in Daejeon. Continuous investigation of antimicrobial resistant determinants and monitoring emergence and dissemination of MDR isolates is required to prevent and control infection and colonization of MDR A. baumannii isolates.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2021

Cancer is a global health problem. There are diverse types of cancers, but there are several common pathways which lead to the development of cancer. Changes in gene expression might be the most common similarity found in almost all cancers. An understanding of the underlying changes in gene expression during cancer progression could lay a valuable foundation for the development of cancer therapeutics and even cancer vaccines. In this study, a well-known carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), was employed to induce changes in gene expression in normal stomach cells. MNNG is known to cause cancer by inducing damage to DNA in MNNG-treated mammalian cells and animals fed with this carcinogen. An analysis was performed by comparing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) caused by MNNG treatment with DEGs in stomach cancer cell lines. To this end, methods of analysis for functional categorization and protein-protein interaction networks, such as gene ontology (GO), the database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery (DAVID), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomics (KEGG) and search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING), were used. As a result of these analyses, MNNG-regulated specific genes and interaction networks of their protein products that contributed to stomach cancer were identified.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2023

Since the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, it has been generally believed that a medical technologists (MTs) are supposed to perform polymerase chain reaction tests and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the hospitals. However, many do not recognize that the duty of MT for clinical genetic testing has not been stated in the Medical Laws (72.5% for MT, N=200; 62.8% for students, N=123). In this regard, to evaluate the feasibility of MT's role for NGS genetic testing, we requested our subjects to fill out an online survey and analyzed the data. Among them, it shows that the scope of MT's role, including NGS performance should include clinical genetic testing (99.5% for MT, N=200; 86.8% for students, N=123). Also, questions on clinical genetics, which is associated with both cellular genetics and molecular genetic questions should be included in the National MT License Problem Bank (97.5% for MT; 71.4% for students). Based on these results, the Korean Association of Medical Technologists needs to cooperate synergically with the Academic Association of Biomedical Laboratory Science with respect to genetic education and legislation for the future benefit of both MTs and students.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

Purpose : Genetic and clinical factors can influence the permeability of the peritoneal membrane. The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) is helpful in measuring peritoneal permeability in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We investigated the influence of genetic polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the PET parameters. Methods : Pediatric patients who underwent PET within 12 months of initiating PD at Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Samsung Medical Center were selected. The patients with positive history of peritonitis before PET were excluded. The VEGF -2578C/A, -14978T/C, -1154G/A, -634G/C, and +936C/T single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped. Results : The mean 4-hour dialysate-to-plasma ratio for creatinine (D/P creatinine) and the mean 4-hour dialysate glucose to baseline dialysate glucose ratio (D/$D_0$ glucose) were $0.56{\pm}0.13$ and $0.43{\pm}0.11$, respectively. The patients with haplotype CTGGC showed higher 4-hour D/P creatinine ($0.67{\pm}0.12$ vs $0.50{\pm}0.09$, P=0.007) and lower 4-hour D/$D_0$ glucose ($0.35{\pm}0.12$ vs $0.47{\pm}0.08$, P=0.037) than those without haplotype CTGGC. Conclusion : The VEGF genetic polymorphism may influence the peritoneal solute transport.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2022

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) poses an increasing public health threat and has limited treatment options with high associated mortality. Genotypes of carbapenemase that threaten public health (bla_KPC, bla_NDM, bla_IMP, and bla_VIM) and bla_OXA-48-like genes were detected by phenotypic and molecular diagnosis, and related gene distribution patterns were investigated. Phenotypic testing using the modified Hodge test confirmed positivity in all 41 strains examined, and carbapenemase inhibitory testing using meropenem+phenyl boronic acid or meropenem+EDTA confirmed positivity in 18 and 8 strains, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of amplification products in 28 strains of bla_KPC, 25 strains of bla_NDM, 5 strains of bla_IMP, 1 strain of bla_VIM, and 13 bla_OXA-48-like strains. In addition, 7 strains of bla_KPC+bla_NDM, 1 strain of bla_KPC+bla_IMP, 1 strain of bla_NDM+bla_OXA-48-like, 1 strain of bla_NDM+bla_VIM, 4 strains of bla_KPC+bla_NDM+bla_IMP, and 4 strains of bla_KPC+bla_NDM+bla_OXA-48-like were identified. Melting curve analysis using real-time PCR was wholly consistent with PCR results. The study shows genetic identification of highly specific CRE by real-time PCR could be used to provide early diagnoses and infection control, improve surveillance, and prevent the transmission of CRE.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2010

Mixture is that DNA profiles of samples contain material from more than one contributor, especially common in rape cases. In this situation, first, the method based on enumerating a complete set of possible genotype that may have generated the mixed DNA profile have been studied for interpreting DNA mixtures. More recently, the methods utilizing peak area information to calculate likelihood ratios have been suggested. This study is concerned with the analysis and interpretation of mixed forensic stains using quantitative peak area information and the method of forensic inference for extension of material from more than or equal to three contributors. Finally, the numerical example will be outlined.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2001

배경: 최근 치료법의 진보에도 불구하고 진행성 식도암의 예후는 5년 생존율이 10% 이하로매우 불량하기 때문에 식도암에 대한 새로운 치료방법의 하나로 암면역 치료가 대두되고 있다. 암면역 치료를 위해서 MAGE 등 종양 특이항원이 연구의 대상이 되고 있으나 국내에서는 아직 이에 대한 연구가 없다. 대상 및 방법: 1995년 1월부터 1998년 12월까지 고신대학교 복음병원 흉부외과에서 수술 치험한 125례의 식도암중 병리조직 보관상태가 양호한 편평세포암 79례를 병기에 따라(1병기 19례, IIa병기 19례, IIb병기 10례, III병기 21례, IV병기 10례) 무작위로 추출하고 대조군으로 평활근종 20례와 정상 식도점막 20례를 대조군으로 하여 DO7 단클론 항체와 항 MAGE-3 단클론 항체 57B를 이용하여 면역조직화학검사를 시행하여 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율을 조사하고 식도암 조직에서 질병의 진행도를 반영하는 병기에 따른 발현율 및 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율간의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 결과: 식도암조직에서 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율은 각각 51.9%, 60.8%의 발현율을 보였으나 식도평활근종과 정상 식도점막에서는 한례도 발현되지 않아 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물은 대조군에 비해 식도암 조직에서 의미있게 발현되었다(p<0.001). 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현은 I병기에서 68.4%, 52.6%, IIa병기에서 57.9%, 47.6%, IIb병기에서 60%, 70%, III병기에서 33.3%, 71.4%, IV병기에서 40%, 70% 각각 발현되어 병기에 따른 발현율의 차이는 없었다(p=0.193, p=0.452). 식도암 조직내에서 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현간에는 상관관계가 없는 것으로 나타났다(p=0.679). 결론: 이상의 결과로 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현은 식도암에서 예후인자로서의 역할은 할수 없으나 식도 편평세포 암조직에서만 특이하게 높은 빈도로 발현됨으로써 식도암도 면역치료의 대상이 될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.669-674
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• 2005

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a disorder in which the secretion of antidiuretic hormone is normal, but the response of the renal collecting tubules to vasopressin is impaired. Compared with acquired NDI (a-NDI), which is secondary to chronic bilateral incomplete urinary tract obstruction with hydronephrosis, congenital NDI (c-NDI) is a very rare heritable disorder that usually follows the X- linked recessive pattern. Clinical symptoms of c-NDI can be non specific, and often the disease ultimately results in failure to thrive, or mental retardation. Recently, the diagnosis can be confirmed by direct sequencing analysis of the peripheral blood specimens. The long-term results of treatment for c-NDI are not satisfactory. Reports on the follow up of c-NDI cases are rare and there is no report on the cases treated with combinations of three drugs. We report herein a case of severe c-NDI in an 8 year-old-boy with a severely dysconfigurated urinary tract system. The patient and his mother showed a frameshift mutation on the AVPR2 gene on chromosome Xq28:.847_851delTGCTG (p.C283fsX90). The patient showed normal growth and development by treatment with combinations of hydrochlorothiazide ($65mg/m^2$), amiloride (0.3 mg/kg/d) and indomethacin ($100mg/m^2$), yet after five years he needed adjuvant cystostomy to relieve him from the residual symptoms of urgency with polyuria.