• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.4
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• pp.640-647
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• 2012

A metabolomic study was conducted to identify key metabolic components, which are correlated with the growth of 4-year-old Pinus koraiensis seedlings harvested at actively height growing season (May 18th). Among 105 individual metabolites identified by GC/MS analysis, alanine, threonine, oleic acid, and butanoic acids were negatively correlated with both height and weight of 4-year-old seedlings, while malic acid, xylose, glucose, d-turanose and inositol had positive correlation with various growth parameters. During the actively growing season, the concentrations of both amino acids and organic acids in the main stem of Superior seedling group were lower but the photosynthates such as mono-saccharide and sucrose were higher than in other seedling groups such as Intermediate and Inferior. Interestingly, d-turanose, an analogue of sucrose that is not metabolized in higher plants but used as carbon source by many organisms including numerous species of bacteria and fungi, showed the highest correlation (r=0.896, p<0.001) with height of 4-year-old seedlings, indicating that possible interaction with mycorrhizal organisms. Therefore we suggest that several metabolites selected in this study may be used as metabolic markers for complex traits in P. koraiensis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.6
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• pp.757-763
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• 2009

ISSR PCR technique was applied to investigate genetic relationship among 5 Mountain cultivated ginseng populations (Jinan, Hongcheon, Punggi, Andong and Yeongju) and cDNA libraries of wild ginseng roots were constructed and analyzed functional genes related to morphogenesis via EST. Twenty four ISSR markers tested produced 127 polymorphic loci from 5 regional Mountain cultivated ginseng. Among the regional samples, Yeongju was made 18 polymorphic loci that were the highest level of variations among the cultivated regions. The range of similarity coefficient was 0.46~0.58 and the regional samples of Punggi and Hongcheon, Jinan and Andong were classified to similar groups respectively, whereas Yeongju was shown to be separate group with high level of genetic variation in UPGMA cluster analysis. As a result, there was no relationship according to geographical distance and genetic similarity. Eleven cDNA clones were consisted of 9 known genes and 2 unknown genes analyzed by BLAST program of NCBI. To recognize expression pattern of Homeodomain transcription factor related genes, Northern Blot analysis was performed for wild ginseng's leaf and root. As a result, the gene was only expressed by Mountain wild ginseng root.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1075-1085
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• 2012

In clinical research using medical images, the image segmentation is one of the most important processes. Especially, the hippocampal atrophy is helpful for the clinical Alzheimer diagnosis as a specific marker of the progress of Alzheimer. In order to measure hippocampus volume exactly, segmentation of the hippocampus is essential. However, the hippocampus has some features like relatively low contrast, low signal-to-noise ratio, discreted boundary in MRI images, and these features make it difficult to segment hippocampus. To solve this problem, firstly, We selected region of interest from an experiment image, subtracted a original image from the negative image of the original image, enhanced contrast, and applied anisotropic diffusion filtering and gaussian filtering as preprocessing. Finally, We performed an image segmentation using two level set methods. Through a variety of approaches for the validation of proposed hippocampus segmentation method, We confirmed that our proposed method improved the rate and accuracy of the segmentation. Consequently, the proposed method is suitable for segmentation of the area which has similar features with the hippocampus. We believe that our method has great potential if successfully combined with other research findings.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.6
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• pp.667-675
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• 2007

The genetic diversity and the spatial structure in two populations of Abelia tyaihyoni in Yeongwol region were studied by employing I-SSR markers. In spite of the limited distribution and small population sizes of Abelia tyaihyoni, the amount of genetic diversity estimated at the individual level was comparable to other shrub species (S.I.=0.336, h=0.217). Genetic diversity at the genet level was very similar to that at individual level. (S.l.=0.339, h=0.219). About 18.7 percent of total variation was allocated between two populations, which was slightly higher or similar level as compared with other shrub species. Genotypic diversity estimated by the ratio of the number of genets ($N_G$) over the total number of individuals (N) and a modified Simpson's index ($D_G$) were also higher than those of other shrubs. The maximum diameter of a genet did not exceed 5.5 m. The high level of gene and genotypic diversity, and the relatively limited maximum diameter of a genet suggested that the clonal propagation is not the most dominant factor in determining the population structure of Abelia tyaihyoni. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed significant spatial genetic structure within 12 m and 18 m distances in two populations A and B, respectively. Autocorrelations among individuals at the both individual and genet levels in each population didn't show any considerable differences. As a sampling strategy for ex-situ conservation of populations showing continuous distribution, a minimum distance of 18 m between individuals was recommended. For the populations with many segments, it was considered very crucial to sample materials from as many segments as possible.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.133-152
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• 2005

1. 목적 Prostaglandin은 치주질환과 관련된 국소적 골 대사에 중요한 역할을 한다. ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$는 생체 내에서 혈장의 존재 하에 형성되는 천연 $PGD_2$ 대사산물이며 peroxisome- proliferator에 의해 활성화되는 감마 수용체 (PPAR ${\Gamma}$)에 대해 높은 친화성을 갖는 리간드로서 핵 수용체군에 속하는 전사조절인자이다. 이 연구의 목적은 골화 과정에서 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$의 역할을 규명하기 위해, 조골세포주의 증식과 분화에 미치는 영향과 그에 관련된 세포기전을 조사하는 데에 있다. 2. 방법 인간 골육종세포주인 Saos-2 (ATCC.HTB 85)와 쥐의 조골세포주 (MC3T3-E1)를 배양한 후 실험군에 농도가 각각 $10^{-5}$, $10^{-6}$, $10^{-7}$, $10^{-8}$, $10^{-9}$ 몰인 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 ciglitazone (합성 PPAR 감마 길항체)를 첨가하였다. 조골세포에서 PPAR 감마의 발현을 관찰하기 위해 역전사효소-중합효소연쇄반응(RT-PCR)을 특정한 primer를 이용하여 시행하였다. 세포 증식은 1일, 2일, 3 일째에 MIT 분석법으로 측정하였고, 2 일째에 알칼리성 인산효소 (ALPase) 생산을 측정하였다. 위의 결과에서 얻은 적정한 농도에서 다양한 조골세포 분화의 표지자들-제 1 형 교원질, 알칼리성 인산효소, osteopontin 및 bone sialoprotein-에 대한 간이 정량적 역전사효소-중합효소연쇄반응 (semiquantitative RT-PCR)을 실시하였으며 골결절 형성에 대한 효과를 알아보고자 석회화 분석도 시행하였다. 3. 결과 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 ciglitazone 모두 Saos-2 세포주의 증식을 촉진시켰다 .$10^{-8}$ 몰의 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 $10^{-6}$몰의 ciglitazone을 첨가한 실험군을 대조군과 비교했을 때, 시간에 비례하여 세포 증식률이 증가되었다. 알칼리성 인산효소의 활성화 검사에서도 증식률에서와 유사한 결과를 보여주었다. 간이 정량적 RT-PCR에서는 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$로 처리한 군의 경우 제 1 형 교원질, 알칼리성 인산효소, osteopontin, 그리고 bone sialoprotein의 상대적 mRNA 수준이 유의하게 높았다. 석회화 분석에서는 MC3T3-E1 세포를 $10^{-6}$ 몰의 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$로 처리한 군과 $10^{-5}$ 몰의 ciglitazone으로 처리한 군에서 현저한 골결절 형성을 보였다. 이러한 결과들은 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$가 유용한 골 유도물질이 될 수 있으며 또한 그 작용기전이 PPAR 감마-의존형 경로와 연관되어 있음을 보여준다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.515-521
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• 2007

Aprotinin, a serine protease inhibitor, has been used to ameliorate the inevitable consequences, including blood component injury after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, there are many arguments on its dosage or usage. We assessed whether administration of low dose of aprotinin in only priming solution has any beneficial effect or reduces its side effects on cardiac surgery. Thirty patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to aprotinin group (n=15) which received aprotinin in priming solution (two million kallikrein inhibitory unit, KIU) and added one million KIU at 1 hour after the beginning of CPB or control group (n=15) which did not receive it. Hematological and biochemical variables, cytokines and cardiac marker levels, and postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups at before, during or after operation. Platelet count in aprotinin group was higher than that of control group at postoperative 24 hr. Activated partial thromboplastin time in aprotinin group was longer than that of control group at intensive care unit (ICU). Troponin-I level and postoperative blood loss volumes in aprotinin group were lower than those of control group at ICU. There were no significant differences between the two groups on the others. These results showed that low dosage of only priming solution during cardiac surgery with CPB reduced platelet destruction and postoperative bleeding, and attenuates myocardial damage. However, further studies need to be carried out with more population or pediatric patients for evaluating various aprotinin usage.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome resulting in kidney damage and malfunction within a few days or even a few hours. The diagnosis of AKI depends on routine biochemical tests, including serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and electrolytes. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker that shows correlation with the severity of acute infections and kidney injuries. The predictive value in other conventional assays for kidney functions has been reported to cause distraction for AKI syndrome. The aim of this study is to verify the predictive value of plasma NGAL in patients with established AKI. The NGAL kit for checkup demonstrates sensitivity of ${\geq}300$ (92.2%), ${\geq}200$ (95.6%), ${\geq}100$ (99.6%), specificity of ${\geq}300$ (95.1%), ${\geq}200$ (97.3%), ${\geq}100$ (99.4%), positive predictability of ${\geq}300$ (93.3%), ${\geq}200$ (93.4%), ${\geq}100$ (99.2%), and negative predictability of ${\geq}300$ (96.7%), ${\geq}200$ (97.7%), ${\geq}100$ (98.1%), respectively. The plasma NGAL compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to be an early predictive biomarker of AKI. The NGAL kit, recently developed for point-of-care of plasma specimens, is thought to be a useful and reliable biomarker for the early diagnosis of decreased kidney functions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.831-837
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• 2010

KR-31125 (2-butyl-5-dimethoxymethyl-6-phenyl-7-methyl-3-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is a potent inhibitor of angiotensin II type 1 ($AT_1$) receptors in human recombinant $AT_1$ receptors and rabbit aorta. These in vitro studies revealed that KR-31125 inhibited specific [$^{125}I$] [$Sar^1$, $Ile^8$]-angiotensin II binding to human recombinant $AT_1$ receptors in a concentration dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of $19.72{\pm}2.65$ nM. However, no interaction with $AT_2$ receptors was detected as displayed by the competition binding of [$^{125}I$] CGP 42112A to human recombinant $AT_2$ receptor. The binding action was also confirmed as a competitive mode that was identical to the previously studied compound, losartan. In addition, KR-31125 caused a nonparallel shift to the right in the concentration response curves to angiotensin II with a 30-80% decrease in the maximum contractile responses ($pK_B$: 7.63). Compared to the previous studies with losartan that showed a parallel right shift in the maximum contractile responses to AII ($pA_2$: 7.59), KR-31125 presented a different mode of action with a similar potency to losartan. These results demonstrate that KR-31125 is a highly potent and $AT_1$ selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist that can be applied to the fields of new diagnostic and research tools with upcoming in vivo study results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.1
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• pp.122-128
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• 2013

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure were estimated in nine natural populations of Exochorda serratifolia in South Korea using ISSR marker system. Average of polymorphic loci per primer was 5.8 (S.D.=2.32) and percentage of polymorphic loci per population was 78.7% with total 35 loci from 6 ISSR primers. In AMOVA, 27.8% of total genetic variation came from genetic difference among populations and 72.2% was resulted from difference among individual trees within populations. Genetic differentiations by Bayesian inference were 0.249 of ${\theta}^{11}$ and 0.227 of $G_{ST}$. Inbreeding coefficient for total populations was 0.412. There was significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance among populations. On the results of Bayesian cluster analysis, nine populations were assigned into three groups. The first group included 5 populations, and the second and the third had two populations per group, respectively. These three regions could explain 10.0% of total genetic variation from hierarchical AMOVA, and the levels of among-population and among-individual were explained 19.7% and 70.3%, respectively. The geographic distribution of populations following the three Bayesian clusters could be explained with mountain range as Baekdudaegan which is the main chain of mountains in Korea. The mountains as the physical barrier might hamper gene flow in the pearlbush. So when protected areas are designated for conservation of this species, we should consider those three regions into considerations and would better to choose at least one population per region.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2007

Background: Mutated or deregulated expression of C-erbB-2 causes this gene to function as a potent oncogene. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a crucial angiogenic molecule in lung cancer. Both C-erbB-2 and VEGF can promote growth, proliferation and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to investigate evaluate the relationship between the expressions of the C-erbB-2 and VEGF genes using immunohistochemistry. Materials and Methods: Ninety-five patients with NSCLC were involved (60 squamous cell carcinoma and 35 adenocarcinoma). The formalin-fixed paraffin embedded specimens were immunohistochemically stained for C-erbB-2 and VEGF using the avidin-biotin complex method. Results: Positive C-erbB-2 expression was observed more often in adenocarcinomas than squamous cell carcinomas (p<0.05). Although the immunohistochemical expressions of C-erbB-2 and VEGF in non-small-cell lung cancer showed increased tendencies at an advanced stage, the correlation between early and advanced cancers was insignificant. In adenocarcinomas, the expressions of VEGF and C-erbB-2 were significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: The overexpression fo C-erbB-2 was significantly higher in adenocarcinomas than squamous cell carcinomas, and correlated with the expression of VEGF in adenocarcinomas of the lungs.