• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1514-1521
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• 2009

To evaluate the feasibility of cathepsin-B levels in preoperatively screening patients with thyroid cancer, we assigned these patients to either the thyroid cancer group (n=32) or the nodular hyperplasia group (n=7). Five healthy volunteers served as controls (n=5). We quantified cathepsin-B expressions in cancerous lesions with follicular carcinoma and hyperplastic lesions with nodular hyperplasia, and compared the degrees to those of normal thyroid tissue, which was obtained from matched contralateral lobe. The activity of serum cathepsin B was significantly higher in patients with thyroid carcinoma ($284.87{\pm}79.32$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) and those with nodular hyperplasia ($255.45{\pm}95.68$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) than compared to normal control ($168.94{\pm}15.10$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) (p<0.05). Based on the results of immunoassay, the concentrations of cathepsin B in the thyroid cancer group ($15.50{\pm}7.86\;ng/ml$) and the nodular hyperplasia group ($17.64{\pm}7.49\;ng/ml$) were higher than those of the control group ($4.85{\pm}0.61\;ng/ml$). The degree of cathepsin-B mRNA expression was significantly higher in cancerous or hyperplastic lesions than normal thyroid tissues from matched contralateral lobe with follicular carcinoma or non-neoplastic thyroid disease. Our results indicate that the activity of serum cathepsin B is a useful indicator in screening patients with nodular hyperplasia or neoplastic thyroid disease and it may be involved in the abnormal proliferation of cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.334-339
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• 2007

We evaluated the potential of 20 herbal medications (HMs), commonly used in Korea, to inhibit the catalytic activities of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The abilities of 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ of aqueous extracts of 20 HMs to inhibit phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2), coumarin 6-hydroxylation (CYP2A6), bupropion hydroxylation (CYP2B6), rosiglitazone hydroxylation (CYP2C8), tolbutamide 4-methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation (CYP2E1), and midazolam 1'-hydroxylation (CYP3A) were tested using human liver microsomes. The HMs Woohwangcheongsimwon suspension and Hwanglyeonhaedok-Tang strongly inhibited CYP2B6 and CYP2D6 isoform activity, respectively. These results suggest that some of the HMs used in Korea have potential to inhibit CYP isoforms in vitro. Although the plasma concentrations of the active constituents of the HMs were not determined, some herbs could cause clinically significant interactions because the usual doses of those individual herbs are several grams of freeze-dried extracts.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2006

Early diagnosis and medical intervention are critical for the treatment of patients with metabolic disorders. A rapid analytical method was developed for simultaneous quantification of organic acids and amino acids in urine without labor-intensive pre-extraction procedure showing high sensitivity and specificity. A new method consisted of simple two-step trimethylsilyl (TMS)-trifluoroacetyl (TFA) derivatization using GC/MS-selective ion monitoring (SIM). Filter paper urine specimens were dried under nitrogen after being fortified with internal standard (tropate) in a mixture of distilled water and methanol. Methyl orange was added to the residue as indicator reagent. Silyl derivative of carboxylic functional group was followed by trifluoroacetyl derivative for amino functional group. N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide) and N-methyl-bistrifluoroacetamide were consecutively added and heated for 15-20 min at $65^{\circ}C-70^{\circ}C$, for TMS-TFA derivative, respectively. This reactant was analyzed by GC/MS-SIM. Linear dynamic range showed 0.001-50 mg with the detection limit of (S/N=3) 10-200 ng, and the quantification limit of 80-900 ng in urine. Correlation coefficient of regression line was 0.994-0.998. When the method was applied to the patients 'urine, it clearly differentiated the normal from the patient with metabolic disorder. The study showed that the developed method could be the method of choices in rapid and sensitive screening for organic aciduria and amino acidopathy.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.198-202
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• 2004

It was carried out to compare the relationship of EEC 4-plate test method and Charm II test method by HPLC. 46 only tetracyclines, 4 only sulfonamides, 4 sulfonamides+tetracyclines, one amphenicols+tetracyclines, and one amphenicols+sulfonarnides+tetracyclines, it was detected on 71 porks of EEC 4-plate positive or Charm II positive by HPLC. In case of sulfonamides and chloramphenicols, two test methods had related with each other, but had no relation in tetracyclines. Also, it was $10.5\%(6/57)$ tetracyclines, $81.8\%(9/11)$ chloramphenicols that were EEC 4 plate positive or Charm II positive, but not detectrd by HPLC. Consequently, EEC 4-plate test method and Charm II test method were suitable by screening test on antibiotics and sulfonamides etc.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2015

Aquatic plant Hydrocharis dubia (Blume) Backer was collected from the Dalsung wetland in Daegu. Sixteen endophytic fungi with different colony morphologies were isolated from the roots of aquatic plants. Waito-c rice (WR) seedlings were treated with fungal culture filtrates (FCF) for screening plant growth-promoting activity. In the results, HD1008 strain isolated from aquatic plant showed highest plant growth-promoting activity. The FCF of HD1008 strain was analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). Analysis of the FCF of HD1008 strain found that it contained gibberellins (GA) ($GA_1$, 1.2 ng/100 mL; $GA_4$, 5 ng/100 mL). Phylogenetic tree of HD1008 strain was constructed by partial internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and partial beta-tubulin gene sequences. Therefore, we describe HD1008 strain as a new gibberellin-producing Penicillium trzebinskii based on morphological and molecular characteristics.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.233-242
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• 2019

Substance identification is the first step of the REACH registration. It is essential in terms of Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation and because even trace amounts of impurities or additives can affect the classification. In this study, a scheme for the screening, quantification, and interpretation of trace amounts of hazardous inorganic substances is proposed to detect the presence of more than 0.1% hazardous inorganic substances that have been affecting the hazard classification. An exemplary list of hazardous inorganic substances was created from the substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in REACH. Among 201 SVHCs, there were 67 inorganic SVHCs containing at least one or ~2-3 heavy metals, such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Sb, and Sn, in their molecular formula. The inorganic SVHCs are listed in excel format with a search function for these heavy metals so that the hazardous inorganic substances, including each heavy metal and the calculated ratio of its atomic weight to molecular weight of the hazardous inorganic substance containing it, can be searched. The case study was conducted to confirm the validity of the established scheme with zinc oxide (ZnO). In a substance that is made of ZnO, Pb was screened by XRF analysis and measured to be 0.04% (w/w) by ICP-OES analysis. After referring to the list, the presence of Pb was interpreted just as an impurity, but not as an impurity relevant for the classification. Future studies are needed to expand on this exemplary list of hazardous inorganic substances using proper regulatory data sources.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2010

Patterning bacteria and cells on substrates has potential applications in molecular biology, antimicrobial drug screening, environmental monitoring and tissue engineering. We developed a technique to deposit two-dimensional array of bacterial cells onto an agar plate by modifying commercially available thermal inkjet printers. The concentration of the bacterial solution in the cartridge was carefully determined to ensure a single cell suspension in a droplet ejected from a nozzle. We measured quantitatively the effects of the bacterial concentration and the agar concentration on patterning performance. Bacterial patterning by inkjet printer is a low-cost and versatile technique which may replace the existing sophisticated methods.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.569-574
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• 2015

Arthrospira platensis has high lipid and pigment (such as chlorophyll and carotenoid) contents and thus evaluated as an important resource in functional food production. The cell growth rate and pigment concentration of EM24 increased by approximately 1.2-fold than those of the wild-type strain (WT). Fluorescence intensity levels in EM24, which were quantified with a lipid triolein standard curve, also increased by approximately 1.5-fold than those in WT (62.9 mg/Lvs. 38.9 mg/L). The analysis of fatty acid profiles indicated that the gamma-linoleic acid level in EM24 increased by 1.5-fold than that in WT.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.321-332
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• 2009

본 연구의 목적은 다이아지논(Diazinon; O, O-diethyl O-[6-methyl-2 (1-methylethyl)-4-pyrimidinyl] phosphorothioate)에 노출된 모델 생물체(송사리)의 행동변화와 관련된 분자생물학적 기전 규명을 통하여 비정상적 행동의 모니터링을 위한 생물지표(biomarker)를 개발하는데 있다. 이를 위해 우선 suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) 및 DNA microarray 기법을 활용하여 다양한 유전자를 스크리닝하였다. 다이아지논에 노출시킨 송사리에서 발현의 차이가 나는 상향 조절된 유전자 97개 (알려지지 않은 유전자 27개 포함)와 하향 조절된 유전자 99개 (알려지지 않은 유전자 60개 포함)를 동정 하였고 이들 중 이상행동과 관련되는 것으로 보이는 유전자 10개 (상향조절 5개, 하향조절 5개)를 선발하였다. 이들 중에서 primer 제작이 잘된 beta-1, Orla C3-1, parvalbumin 및 apolipoprotein E을 선발하여 그 유전자 발현을 real-time PCR 기법을 사용하여 정량적으로 모니터링 하였다. Orla C3-1, parvalbumin 및 apolipoprotein E는 고농도의 다이아지논 처리(1000 ppb; 24 h)에서 그 발현이 억제됨이 관찰되었다. 다이아지논 처리 시 신경질환 (알츠하이머 병 및 다운신드롬)에 관련된 apolipoprotein E와 근육세포의 유연화에 작용하는 parvalbumin 등의 발현억제는 송사리의 인지능력 교란 및 근육세포의 경직 등을 각각 유도하여 송사리의 비정상적 행동을 야기하는 것으로 판단되었다. 따라서 이들 생물지표는 신경독성물질에 의한 송사리 및 기타 어류의 이상행동의 변화의 감지에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.57-62
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• 2010

본 연구는 자유수면형 인공습지에서의 시기적인 중금속 제거율의 변동을 평가하기 위하여 수행되었다. 대상 인공습지의 유입수는 하수처리수가 포함된 하천수이다. 인공습지에는 갈대 (Phragmites australis)와 부들 (Typha latifolia)이 주로 분포하며, 이들 두 종은 습지의 95 % 이상을 차지하는 우점종이다. 2009년 5월부터 9월까지 습지의 유입과 유출부분에서 유입수와 유출수를 시료 채취하였다. 채취된 시료는 ICP-AES 방법을 이용하여 6가지 중금속을 분석하였으며, 위해성 평가를 이용하여 카드뮴 (Cd), 크롬 ($Cr^{+6}$), 비소 (As), 납 (Pb), 니켈 (Ni), 구리 (Cu)의 분석 결과를 평가하였다. 위해성평가는 농부와 레크리에이션에 대한 두가지 시나리오를 바탕으로 이루어졌다. 연평균 중금속 제거율은 계절적인 변화 측면에서 큰 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 위해성 평가 결과 시료가 채취된 부분 및 계절적인 변화 대부분에서 US EPA의 기준인 $10^{-4}$를 초과하지 않는 수준으로 허용가능한 수준이었다. 하지만, 봄철 농부에 대한 위해성평가 결과 위해도가 $10^{-4}$ 수준이며, $10^{-6}-10^{-8}$ 수준은 질병의 이동이 우려되는 수준 (US EPA)임을 감안하여, 인공습지에 중금속 농도 저감 시설의 설치를 고려해야 한다. 본 연구에서는 위해성 평가를 가상의 시나리오에 적용하여 평가를 시도함으로서, 수치적인 자료로 제시할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 중금속의 정량적인 평가를 수행할 수 있었다. 따라서 위해성 평가는 인공습지의 안전성에 대하여 대중과 소통할 수 있는 도구로서 이용할 수 있으며, 인공습지의 효율적인 운영 및 현장 적용에 있어서 스크리닝 도구로서의 역할이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.