• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.924-927
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• 1998

Background: Myocardial cell death after myocardial infarction or reperfusion is classified into necrosis and apoptosis. Bcl-2 protein is a cytoplasmic protein, which inhibits apoptosis and is expressed in acute stage of myocardial infarction but not in normal heart. This study was performed to investigate whether Bcl-2 protein was expressed respectively to the reperfusion time. Materials and methods: Thirty nine New Zealand white rabbits weighing 1.5-4.8 kg (mean, 2.9kg) were alloted into 7 groups (n=5 in each group) which underwent left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD) occlusion for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours, and 3, 7 days after occlusion. Ventricle was excised immediately after intervention. Tissues were fixed in 10% buffured formalin and embedded in paraffin. Bcl-2 protein was detected by immunohistochemical stain with using monoclonal antibody against Bcl-2 protein. Results: The positive immunohistochemical reactivity for Bcl-2 protein was observed in 12, 24 hours, and 3 days reperfusion groups. Bcl-2 protein was detected in salvaged myocytes surrounding the infarcted area. Conclusions: Bcl-2 protein is expressed at the late acute stage of infarct. Therefore, the expression of Bcl-2 protein may not protect acute cell death, but may play a role in the prevention of late cell death after myocardial is chemia-reperfusion.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2018

The gut microbiome has been studied extensively over the past decade with most scientific reports focused on the adverse role of the gut microbiome on gastrointestinal diseases. For example, the altered gut microbiome exacerbates the development of immune system-mediated damage in many diseases. The most studied pathologies include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and colitis-associated cancer. On the other hand, intestinal microflora is also beneficial and contributes to the intestinal physiology by the synthesis of vitamins, production of short chain fatty acids and bile acid metabolism, thereby maintaining gut homeostasis. Therefore, the balance between commensal and pathogenic bacteria populations influences mainly the maintenance of intestinal health. Changes in the intestinal microflora have been suspected to be the underlying causes of multiple diseases. Despite the immense amount of published data, the optimal gut microbiome composition is still controversial. This review briefly outlines the connection between the gut microbiome and critical gastrointestinal diseases focusing on three prominent intestinal disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and colitis-associated cancer disorders. Finally, intervention strategies using natural products for the alleviation of these diseases and the maintenance of a health gut microbiome are suggested.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.86-96
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• 1996

The authors experienced 52 patients with myasthenia gravis who were diagnosed at the Department of Neurology, Yeungnarn University Hospital from August 1985 to January 1996. The following results were obtained through diagnostic evaluation and treatment. 1. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.7 and the most prevalent age group was second decade. 2. The most common initial presentation symptom was ocular(71.2%) and the peak incidence group was stage I (69.3%) according to the modified Osserman's classification. 3. In 16 patients(30.8%), it took more than a year to diagnose due to symptoms which were relapsed and remitting. 4. Of 52 patients, 2 cases were associated with thyroid disease(3.8%) and 2 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(3.8%). 5. All of those who received anticholinesterase and corticosteroid therapy were improved with the exception of 5 cases which were improved after thymectomy and/or plasmapheresis. 6. Spontaneous remission was occured in 2 cases(3.8%) of ocular myasthenia gravis. And 1 case of group II. was cured through thymectomy and long-term corticosteroid therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2004

연구 목적: 난소에서 분비되는 스테로이드 호르몬인 에스트로젠과 프로게스테론은 포유동물의 생식기관 발달과 정상적인 생식 기능, 수정과 배아의 착상에 중요한 역할을 한다. 특히 에스트로젠은 자궁내액을 내강으로 분비하여 자궁부종 기작에 중요한 역할을 한다. 자궁내액은 정자의 수정능력 획득과 착상전 배아의 발달에 매우 중요하다. Aquaporin (AQP)은 막관통 물수송 단백질로서 여러 조직에 넓게 분포되어 있으며, 세포간 또는 상피세포간 물의 이동에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 자궁에서 스테로이드 호르몬에 의해 조절되는 자궁내액의 이동에 AQP 유전자가 관여하는지를 알아보았다. 연구 재료 및 방법: 난소 절제술을 시행한 생쥐에 스테로이드 호르몬을 피하주사하고 6, 12, 24시간 간격으로 자궁조직을 적출하였다. 대조군은 sesame oil만을 주사한 후 6시간째에 수획한 자궁조직을 사용하였으며, 실험군은 시간대별과 스테로이드 처리별로 채취한 자궁조직에서 역전사중합효소반응을 수행하였다. 역전사중합효소반응을 통해 막관통 단백질인 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA의 발현양상을 살펴보았다. 또한 mRNA의 위치를 살펴보기 위해 laser microdissection을 이용하여 RT-PCR을 수행하였다. 마지막으로 자궁조직내에서의 단백질 발현 부위를 관찰하기 위해 면역조직화학염색을 실시하였다. 결 과: AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA은 프로게스테론을 처리한 군보다 에스트로젠을 처리한 군에서 많이 발현되었으며, 에스트로젠을 주사한 지 6시간째 발현정도를 대조군과 비교할 때 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA가 각각 7.9배, 2.8배, 3.8배로 나타났다. AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA는 간충조직보다 자궁내 상피조직에서 스테로이드 호르몬의 영향을 받아 발현양상의 차이가 나타났으며, 주로 에스트로젠의 영향을 받아 발현이 증가하였다. AQP-4 단백질은 에스트로젠을 24시간 처리한 후 프로게스테론을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 많이 발현되었으며, AQP-5와 -8 단백질은 에스트로젠을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 발현이 증가하였다. 결 론: 이상의 결과를 통해 AQP-4, -5, -8은 주로 에스트로젠에 의해 자궁내 상피세포에서 발현이 증가되는 것으로 보아 에스트로젠의 영향하에 일어나는 자궁내액의 이동으로 인한 자궁부종기작에 이동통로로서 관여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.714-717
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• 2006

Heart and kidney transplantation has made great progress in the modern era. Coupled with the growing successes in individual solid organ transplantation, there has also been an increase in the number of multiple organ transplants, such as heart-kidney transplantation. This trend has been in part due to a better understanding of immunobiology, advances in surgical technique and postoperative care, and an often-common pathologic association between dual-organ failure. This pathologic course is representative for end-stage heart failure leading to secondary renal dysfunction or failure, or for end-stage renal failure as a cause for (uremic) cardiomyopathy. However, refractory cardiac failure has long been considered a contraindication to kidney transplantation. Additionally, cardiac transplantation has been denied for patients with end-stage renal disease. Over recent years, combined heart-kidney transplantation has been offered to select patients who were once denied transplantation. We report the first experience of combined heart-kidney transplantation with one year follow-up results.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.923-930
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• 2007

Thymus can regenerate to its normal mass within 14 days after acute involution induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) in adult rat. Despite the established role of Wnt pathways in the process of thymus development, they have not yet been associated with the regeneration of adult thymus. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Wnt7b, which is expressed in developing thymic epithelial cells rather than in thymocytes, is modulated during thymic regeneration in adult rat. Here, we show that Wnt7b expression was up-regulated in the regenerating thymus. Cells immunolabeled for the Wnt7b were identified as macrophages. Furthermore, Wnt7b gene expression was decreased by the treatment of receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). Taken together, our results demonstrate that Wnt7b gene expression was increased in macrophages during thymic regeneration and negatively regulated by RANKL.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1021-1032
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• 2020

Numbers of companion animals and people rearing them are increasing in developed countries. As a result, businesses related to companion animals are becoming more advanced and specialized. Dogs have been cohabiting with humans as companions (pets) for thousands of years and, as a result, eat carbohydrate-rich foods similar to humans and maintain lives similar to their owners. Tight bonds between dogs and their owners are formed by sharing similar lifestyles, including a dwelling and food. Owners are responsible for their pets and treat them with emotional stability. Pets depend on their owners, although the food situation can cause stress. Since pet dogs are carnivorous in nature, providing pet dogs with a nutritionally balanced diet and functional materials is important for a healthy gut microbiome. Recently, the gut microbiota has become a research focus because it is associated with protection from harmful pathogens and immune regulation while maintaining physiological homeostasis. An abnormal gut microbiota is related to pathogenic processes and various gut, metabolic, mental, and neurological diseases. Additionally, pet dogs at risk of disease affect the health of their owners. Therefore, this review discusses the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota of dogs and the relationships between the gut microbiota and diseases.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2012

Evidence suggests that even low-dose irradiation can lead to progressive cognitive decline and memory deficits, which implicates, in part, hippocampal dysfunction in both humans and experimental animals. This study examined whether diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) could attenuate memory impairment, using passive avoidance and object recognition test, and suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis, using the TUNEL assay and immunohistochemical detection with markers of neurogenesis (Kiel 67 (Ki-67) and doublecortin (DCX)) in adult mice treated with gamma radiation (0.5 or 2 Gy). DDC was administered intraperitonially at a dosage of 1,000 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ of body weight at 30 min. before irradiation. In passive avoidance and object recognition memory test, the mice, trained for 1 day after acute irradiation (2 Gy) showed significant memory deficits compared with the sham controls. The number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei in the dentate gyrus (DG) was increased 12 h after irradiation. In addition, the number of Ki-67- and DCX-positive cells were significantly decreased. DDC treatment prior to irradiation attenuated the memory defect, and blocked the apoptotic death. DDC may attenuate memory defect in a relatively low-dose exposure of radiation in adult mice, possibly by inhibiting a detrimental effect of irradiation on hippocampal neurogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.318-324
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• 2019

Squamous cell carcinoma is the primary tumor type in head and neck cancers, the fifth most common malignant neoplasm world-wide. Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family, is highly expressed in head and neck carcinoma patients and correlated with more aggressive forms. In this study, we investigated whether YM155, a specific survivin inhibitor, could induce apoptosis in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells. YM155 was found to markedly induce apoptosis and cleavage of PARP, a marker of apoptosis. Furthermore, YM155 promoted apoptosis in other cancer cells, such as glioma (U251MG) and renal carcinoma (Caki) cells. In contrast, YM155 had no effect on apoptosis in normal mesangial cells. YM155 significantly induced caspase activation, and pan caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk markedly blocked apoptosis, PARP cleavage, and caspase-3 cleavage. Therefore, YM155 was seen to instigate caspase-dependent apoptosis in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells, inducing downregulation of survivin as well as other apoptotic proteins such as c-FLIP and Mcl-1. In addition, the induction of apoptosis and PARP cleavage by YM155 treatment was effectively inhibited in survivin-, c-FLIP- and Mcl-1-over-expressing head and neck AMC-HN4 cells. In conclusion, YM155 is a potent candidate for inducing cell death in head and neck AMC-HN4 cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2022

Vitamin A (Vit A) is a lipid-soluble vitamin required for diverse normal body functions, including good vision, reproduction, growth, development, and cellular differentiation. The therapeutic effects of Vit A have been demonstrated for the treatments of inflammation, low immunity, and cancer. The present review discusses the scientific evidence for establishing the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI) for Vit A, issues caused by unit change of Vit A, and suggestions for the 2025 KDRI revision. Due to the changes in the standard bodyweight observed in several age groups, the 2020 KDRI had minor revisions as compared to the 2015 KDRI. In the 2015 KDRI, the Vit A unit has changed from retinol equivalent (RE) to retinol activity equivalent (RAE) and the activity of carotenoids became half with RAE compared to RE due to this unit change. Since the Vit A intake of Koreans relies heavily on plant-based carotenoids, the dietary intake of Vit A in Koreans as determined by considering the RAE was much lower than values obtained with RE. The analysis for Vit A intake by the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey only reflects intakes of retinol and beta-carotene. Thus, it would be necessary to include the consumption of other provitamin A, such as alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. Moreover, assessing the amounts of Vit A in foods should be customized to Korean diets since there are seasonal variations in the carotenoid concentration of plants. Moreover, other factors such as age- and sex-specific intake data and considerations of baseline micronutrient status, body mass index, and dietary patterns should be considered for developing more precise KDRI. In particular, the Vit A requirement needs to be met by consuming diverse foods, including animal foods.