• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2005

Background : The fact that only 10-20% of chronic cigarette smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reflects the presence of genetic factors associated with the susceptibility to COPD. Recently, it was reported that the surfactant protein A increases the secretion of matrix metalloprotease 9, which degrades extracellular matrices of the lung, through a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). In this context, possible role of TLR2 in the pathogenesis of COPD was postulated, and a functional dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in intron II of TLR2 was evaluated for any association with COPD. Method : Male patients with COPD and male smokers with a normal pulmonary function were enrolled in this study. The number of Guanine-Thymine repeats in intron II of the TLR2 gene were counted. Because the distributions of the repeats were trimodal, the alleles were classified into three subclasses, 12-16 repeats: short (S) alleles; 17-22 repeats: medium length (M) alleles; and 23-27 repeats: long (L) alleles. Result : 125 male patients with COPD and 144 age- and gender-matched blood donors with a normal lung function were enrolled. There were no differences in the distribution of each allele subclass (S, M and L) between the COPD and control group (p=0.75). The frequencies of the genotypes with and without each allele subclass in the COPD and control group were similar. Conclusion : A microsatellite polymorphism in intron II of TLR2 gene was not associated with the development of COPD in Koreans.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2006

Background: Post-transplant tuberculosis (TB) is a serious complication in solid organ transplant recipients worldwide, However there is little or no data on TB in liver or heart transplant recipients in Korea. Methods: The incidence and clinical characteristics of TB of 730 patients who had undergone a liver transplant in a university hospital in Korea between 1992 and 2004, and 110 heart transplant recipients in the same period, were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The incidence of TB was 1.5%(11/730) and 2.7%(3/110) in the liver and heart transplantation, respectively. The median time from the transplant to the development of TB was 8.4 months(1.0-30.8). and the mean time from the symptoms to the diagnosis of TB was $2.1{\pm}3.6$ months(0.3-13.2). Nine patients (65%) had pulmonary TB and five (35%) had extrapulmonary TB. The leukopenia and positive HbeAg at the baseline, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, and chronic rejection were associated with the development of TB in the liver transplant recipients. Ten patients were treated with a 4-drug standard regimen for a mean duration of $7.8{\pm}3.5$ months. One patients died of TB. Conclusion: The incidence of TB in liver or heart transplant recipients was similar to that reported in other countries with a similar TB-burden.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.651-658
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• 2004

Runx2 is a transcription factor in homologous with Drosophila runt gene and it is essential for bone formation during embryogenesis and a critical gene for osteoblast differentiation and osteoblast function. Runx2-haploinsufficency causes cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). CCD is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder characterized by hypoplastic clevicle and delayed ossification in fontanelles and wormian bones. Dental defects are possibly shown to CCD patients : multiple supernumerary teeth, irregular and compressed permanent tooth crowns, hypoplastic and hypomineralized defects in enamel and dentin, an excess of epithelial root remnants, the absence of cellular cementum, and abnormally shaped roots. In addition, delayed eruption of the secondary dentition is a constant finding. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of Runx2 in the tooth development and eruption through analyzing the expression pattern of Runx2 by in situ hybridization during crown (late bell stage) and root formation of tooth, using postnatal day 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 mice mandibular molar teeth. mRNA of Runx2-full length is expressed in dental follicle and surrounding tissue at postnatal day1 and 4. At postnatal day 7, it is expressed in ameloblasts of occlusal surface of enamel and bone area surrounding the tooth. In comparison with previous stage, at postnatal day 14, it is expressed in ameloblasts of proximal surface of enamel. At postnatal day 21 it's expression is observed only in bone area. mRNA of Runx2-typeII is not expressed. At postnatal day 1 and 7. At postnatal day 14 and 21, it's expression is observed in the bone area. In this study, we suggest that Runx2 have a relation of ameloblasts differentiation and an important role to tooth eruption made by dental follicle during intraosseous eruption stage. Also we can confirm that Runx2 has a role to bone formation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.217-229
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• 2010

Objective: Apoptosis plays an important role for the maintenance of the normal pregnancy. Expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is able to effectively prevent apoptosis and controls trophoblast cells death throughout placental development, but it is still unknown in the function of XIAP in trophoblast cells exposed to hypoxic condition, which is one of the factors causing preeclampsia. Therefore, we conducted to compare XIAP expression in normal and pre-eclamptic placenta tissues and analyzed the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell line exposed to hypoxic condition. Methods: The expression of XIAP was analyzed in placental tissues from the following groups of patients (none underwent labor): 1) term normal placenta (n=15); 2) term with pre-eclamptic placeneta (n=15); and 3) pre-term with pre-eclamptic placenta (n=11) using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. In order to evaluate the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells under hypoxic condition, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ plasmids, and hypoxic condtion were transfected and treated into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells for 24 hours, respectively. Results: We observed that XIAP are expressed in the syncytiotrophoblasts and syncytial knot of placental villi. The expression of XIAP was significantly decreased in preeclamptic placenta tissues than in normal placenta tissues without labor (p<0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed the XIAP expression in HTR-8/SVneo trophbolast cells exposed to hypoxia was translocated from cytoplasm into nucleus and decreased XIAP by hypoxic condition induced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells through up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of XIAP is involved in placental development as well as decreased expression of XIAP by hypoxia is associated with pre-eclampsia through inducing trophoblast cells apoptosis.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2009

This study theoretically reviews the basin storage coefficient and concentration time using the Nash model, a simple unit hydrograph theory. First, the storage coefficient and concentration time of Nash instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) are derived based on their definitions, whose characteristics as well as their relationship are also reviewed. Additionally, several empirical equations of storage coefficient and concentration time commonly used in Korea are evaluated by comparing them with those for the Nash IUH. Major results of this study are summarized as follows. (1) The concentration time of Nash IUH is approximately linearly proportional to the number of linear reservoirs, but the storage coefficient non-linearly to the square root. That is, if increasing the number of linear reservoirs by four times, the concentration time becomes also increased by about four times, but the storage coefficient only about two times. This result has a special meaning to understand the effect of basin subdivision on the concentration time and storage coefficient. (2) The storage coefficient and concentration time of Nash IUH are not independent each other, so their independent estimation does not make any physical sense. As the concentration time among the two is more sensitive to the number of linear reservoirs, which should be estimated first, then the storage coefficient considering the concentration time estimated. (3) Empirical equations of concentration time can be divided into two groups, one following the linear channel theory and the other not, whose equation forms are also found to be very similar. This result indicates that the characteristic factors dominating the concentration time are very similar, indicating the possibility of its regionalization over a basin with consistent equation forms. (4) Those for storage coefficient like the Russell formulae are found to consider the physical characteristics of a basin, so their unreasonable applications could sufficiently be excluded.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1301-1309
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• 2011

The major function of adipocytes is to store fat in the form of triglycerides. One of the signaling pathways known to affect adipogenesis, i.e. fat formation, is the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which inhibits the expression and activity of key regulators of adipogenesis. The purpose of this research is to find genes among the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which regulate adipogenesis by using small interfering (si) RNA and to find the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the gene with serum triglyceride levels in the human population. To elucidate the effects of ${\beta}$-catenin siRNA on adipogenesis key factors, PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$, we performed real-time PCR and western blotting experiments for the analyses of mRNA and protein levels. It was found that the siRNA-mediated knockdown of ${\beta}$-catenin upregulates adipogenesis key factors. However, upstream regulators of the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway, such as DVL2 and LRP6, had no significant effects compared to ${\beta}$-catenin. These results indicate that ${\beta}$-catenin is a candidate gene for human fat accumulation. In general, serum triglyceride level is a good indicator of fat accumulation in humans. According to statistical analyses of the association between serum triglyceride level and SNPs of ${\beta}$-catenin, -10,288 C>T SNP (rs7630377) in the promoter region was significantly associated with serum triglyceride levels (p<0.05) in 290 Korean subjects. On the other hand, serum cholesterol levels were not significantly associated with SNPs of the ${\beta}$-catenin gene. The results of this study showed that ${\beta}$-catenin is associated with fat accumulation both in vitro and in the human population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1688-1696
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• 2012

Oenanthe javanica has been used as a food source and also in traditional folk medicine for its detoxifying properties and anti-microbial effects since ancient times. In this study, we evaluated the effect and mechanism of O. javanica seed methanol extract (OJSE) on adipocyte differentiation by 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Under non-toxic conditions, OJSE treatment resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of lipid droplet generation and triglyceride accumulation by suppressing adipocyte differentiation, which are associated with the decreased expression of key proadipogenic transcription factors including CCAAR/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). OJSE also significantly inhibited proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through G1-phase arrest, indicating that OJSE blocked mitotic clonal expansion during adipocyte differentiation. Investigation of the alteration of G1 phase arrest-related proteins indicated a dose-dependent increase in the expression of p21 and reduction in expression of cyclin E, Cdk2, E2F-1 and phospho-Rb by OSJE. Taken together, these results suggest that OJSE inhibits adipocyte differentiation by blocking the mitotic clonal expansion, which is accompanied by preadipocyte cell cycle arrest.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1205-1213
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• 2011

The optimal concentrations of salts in medium for cell growth and the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) by a recombinant E. coli JM109/DL-3 were established using two statistical methods: orthogonal array method (OAM) and response surface method (RSM). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data based on OAM indicated that $K_2HPO_4$ gave maximum sum of square (S) and percentage contribution (P) for cell growth as well as production of CMCase. The optimal concentrations of $K_2HPO_4$, NaCl, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in medium for cell growth extracted by Qualitek-4 (W32b) Software were 10.0, 1.0, 0.2, and 0.6 g/l, respectively, whereas those for the production of CMCase by E. coli JM109/DL-3 were 5.0, 1.0, 0.4, and 0.6 g/l. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) resulting from RSM indicated that a highly significant salt for cell growth was $K_2HPO_4$ ("probe>F" less than 0.0001), whereas $K_2HPO_4$ and $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ were significant for the production of CMCase. The optimal concentrations of $K_2HPO_4$, NaCl, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software were 7.44, 1.08, 0.22, and 0.88 g/l, respectively, whereas those for production of CMCase were 5.84, 0.69, 0.28, and 0.54 g/l. The optimal concentrations of salts and their influences on cell growth and production of CMCase extracted by OAM were almost the same as those by RSM. Production of CMCase by a recombinant E. coli JM109/DL-3 under optimized concentration of salts was 1.93 times higher than that by Bacillus amyloliquifaciens DL-3.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1078-1085
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• 2010

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) are bioaccumulative chemicals that are considered to be toxic contaminants based on several epidemiological studies. These chemicals in colostrum were investigated and estimated for their residual consistencies by maternal characteristics like parity and maternal ages. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 31.5 (S.D=3.6) in 2007. Seven isomers of PCDDs, 10 of PCDFs, 4 of non-orthopolychlorinated biphenyls(non-ortho PCBs) and 8 of mono-orthochlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (mono-ortho PCBs) were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. From the analyzed data, the mean level of total WHO-TEQs was 9.41 pg TEQ/g lipid, which is significantly lower than the level found in individuals from other countries. The main contributors to the total WHO-TEQs with increasing percentages were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 3,3',4,4',5-PCB (#126), and they accounted for more than 60% of the total WHO-TEQs. PCDFs concentrations and total WHO-TEQs were negatively associated with parity (p<0.05), and maternal age was positively associated with total WHO-TEQs (p<0.01). However, the associations with body mass index (BMI) and fish intake during pregnancy were not significant. These results were suggested that parity and maternal age are an important factor affecting the concentrations of PCDD/DFs and dl-PCBs in these specimens.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1019-1026
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• 2010

Obesity and being overweight are strongly associated with the development of metabolic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia. High-fat diet (HFD) is one of the most important factors which cause obesity. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were treated with a HFD for 22 weeks in order to induce obesity and hyperglycemia. Twenty-two weeks later, body weight and plasma glucose level of the HFD group were significantly increased, compared with the normal diet (ND) group. Intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) showed glucose intolerance in the HFD group compared with the ND group. These results confirmed that a HFD induced obesity and hyperglycemia in C57BL/6 mice. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were increased in the HFD group compared with the ND group. Hepatic levels of TG and TC were also increased by a HFD. To investigate the alteration of lipid metabolism in liver, proteins which are related to lipid metabolism were observed. Among lipid synthesis related enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and glycerol phosphate acyl transferase (GPAT) were significantly increased in the HFD group. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) and microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTP), which are related to lipid transport, were significantly increased in the HFD group. Interestingly, protein level and phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is known as a metabolic regulator, were significantly increased in the HFD group compared with the ND group. In the present study we suggest that HFD may physiologically increase the proteins which are related with lipid synthesis and lipid transport, but that HFD may paradoxically induce the activation of AMPK.