• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.170-175
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• 1999

Until recently, the etiology of schizophrenia was generally attributed to abnormalities in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Specifically, an excess of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system has been postulated to produce the positive symptoms, while decreased dopaminergic activity in the mesocortical system has been suggested to cause negative symptoms. Accordingly, we performed an association study of schizophrenia with TH gene. Three hundred and seventy four biologically unrelated schizophrenic patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria from Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital affiliated with Catholic university of Korea were recruited for our study. The 393 healthy controls were volunteers for DNA library of Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital without personal or family history of psychiatric and neurologic illness. DNA was extracted from peripheral mononuclear cells and polymorphic region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. TH intron 1 VNTR polymorphism was typed by silver staining. The allele distributions of TH gene were not different between schizophrenics and controls. However, the frequency of allele A was significantly higher in positive group than that of negative group of schizophrenics. These findings suggest that poitive schizophrenia may be associated with allele A of TH gene.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2006

Purpose : We hypothesized that mannose binding lectin gene(MBL2), a key molecule of innate immunity, may contirbute to the development and the outcome of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) disease in early childhood. This study was performed to investigate the genetic basis of polymorphisms and haplotypes of MBL2 for RSV disease severity in Korean children. Methods : Cases with severe RSV diseases are 99 children with severe RSV lower respiratory tract infections, who were admitted to the Seoul National University Children's Hospital through 1993~2000. The control subjects consisted of 224 anonymous healthy Korean blood donors. The frequency of promoter variant(-221, X/Y) and structural variant(codon 54) were compared between the case patient group and the control subject group. Results : The mean age of patients was 11.8 months; 49% were <6 months, 39% were 6-24 months and 12% were >24 months. In the cohort of cases of severe RSV diseases, the genotypic frequencies of structural variant in codon 54 were 61% for AA, 34% for AB, and 5% for BB. Those of the promoter X/Y variant were 85% for YY and 15% for XY. There were no significant differences in overall distribution of both structural and promoter variants between the cases and the control subjects. We did not observe statistical difference in the haplotypic frequencies of MBL2. Conclusion : Common variants of MBL2 gene most likely do not contribute to the risk for severe RSV diseases in Korean children. Further genetic association studies should be conducted in a larger propsectively recruited cohort of children with RSV infection.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.533-544
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• 1994

정신분열 살인환자로 격리 치료를 받고 있는 집단을 대상으로 이들을 치료하고자 복용시키는 Haloperidol, Perphenazine, Lithium carbonate 등과 같은 항정신질환 치료제가 자매염색분체 교환(Sister Chromatid Exchange SCE)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 항정신질환 치료제를 계속적으로 복용하고 있는 환자 100명(남자: 76명, 여자: 24명)과 치료제를 전혀 복용하지 않은 남자 환자 10명을 대조군으로 하여 SCE의 빈도를 분석한 결과 항정신질환 치료제를 복용한 환자군에서의 SCE 평균빈도는 세포당 12.24$\pm$0.20으로 항정신질환 치료제를 복용하지 않은 대조군에서의 평균빈도인 세포당 8.77$\pm$0.20보다 높아 유의한 차이를 볼 수 있었다 그러나 항정신질환 치료제를 복용하지 않은 대조군에서의 평균빈도는 이미 보고된 바 있는 정상인 한국인 집단에서의 평균빈도인 세포당 8.78$\pm$0.24(Park et al. , 1992)와 별 차이가 없었다 한편 항정신질환 치료제를 장기간 복용하는데 따른 SCI 빈도의 차이가 있는지의 여부를 보기 위하여 1년 미만에서 6년 정도까지의 치료제 복용기간에 따른 SCE의 평균빈도를 비교 분석한 바 복용기간에 따른 SCE 평균빈도의 유의한 차이는 볼 수 없었다. 정신분열환자들이 복용하고 있는 항정신질환 치료제가 SCE에 영향을 줄 수 있다는 결과를 얼었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.570-575
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• 2007

Purpose : To demonstrate genetic background of pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD), I examined the genetic polymorphism of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in KD patients. Methods : PCR-RFLP of PAI- 1 promotor gene was analyzed in 56 KD patients admitted to Kyunghee University Hospital, Gachon Medical School Gil Hospital, and Eulji Hospital from March to August 2000 and 206 normal control populations. Results : There were no differences in the genotype and allelic frequency of the PAI-1-675 (4G/5G) and PAI-1-844 (G/A) polymorphic site (which are located in the promoter region) between KD and control subjects. Also I could not detect any significant differences in specific genotypes between patients with the coronary artery lesion (CAL) and patients without CAL. Conclusion : No association was observed in -844 G/A and -675 4G/5G of PAI-1 gene polymorphism with KD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.412-416
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• 2011

Taste sensation plays a crucial role in selecting and ingesting foods with different qualities which convey information about their nutrient content and/or safety. Sweetness is one of the five modalities in humans and serves as an energy resource for metabolism. There are reports on allelic polymorphisms which influence perception of sweetness in mice and humans. Since the influence of genetic factors on taste disorder has not been studied, we investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms in TAS1R3 and guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha transducing 3 (GNAT3) genes and taste disorder. A total of 150 individuals composed of 50 patients with taste disorder and 100 healthy controls were recruited for the study and PCR-mediated directing sequencing method was used to genotype for two different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) - rs307355 (T>C) and rs35744813 (T>C) in the TAS1R3 gene, and rs7792845 (T>C) and rs1524600 (C>T) in the the GNAT3 gene. The allele and genotype frequencies of rs307355 and rs35744813 in the TAS1R3 gene showed a significant association between patients with taste disorder (p=0.022 and p=0.013 in both of SNPs, respectively). In addition, the frequency of T-T haplotype in the TAS1R3 gene was higher in taste disorder cases than in the controls (OR, 1.93: 95%. CI, 1.09-3.39, p=0.022). In the GNAT3, the genotype frequency of rs7792845 in the patients was also different from the controls (p=0.048), but allele frequency was not significantly associated in either group. Our result provides the frequencies of SNPs and haplotypes of the TAS1R3 and GNAT3 genes for the fundamental information of nutrigenetics in perception of the taste of sweetness in the Korean population. Also, the study suggests that the allelic polymorphisms of TAS1R3 and GNAT3 genes may be useful as a molecular marker for evaluating patients with taste disorder. Further studies with large samples are required to clarify our observation.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2005

Objective : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting $3-5\%$ of school age children. Although the biological basis of ADHD is unknown, family studies provide strong evidence that ADHD has a genetic basis. Recent genetic studies have suggested associations between ADHD and Taq I polymorphism of dopamine beta hydroxylase gene(DBH) . The aim of this study is to test the association between ADHD and Taq I polymorphism of DBH in Korean population. Method : We processed DNA extraction and genotyping for 106 korean children with ADHD and their parents. Genotyping was additionally performed for 212 age and gender matched normal controls. Case-control association study was applied. And we tested the association using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk test (HHRR). Results : There were no statistical differences of genotype distributions between cases and controls. However, we did observe preferential transmission of allele Al of DBH Taq T polymorphism in ADHD. Conclusion : On the whole, our results lend credence to the notion that the relationship between ADHD and DBH is complex. The number of cases and informative transmissions were small, therefore it would be premature to make any conclusions from our study concerning the role of DBH in ADHD. Further work is needed to support these findings.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2000

Background : No association between schizophrenia and dopamine D4 receptor polymorphisms have been reported. Despite these results, it is premature to exclude the association. It has been suggested that the susceptibility to develop schizophrenia could result from variation at a number loci which may interact or coact with each other. Therefore, we investigated a possible association of combinations of exon III 48bp polymorphism[D4E3] and exon I 12bp polymorphism of the DRD4 gene [D4E1] with schizophrenia. Methods : 207 unrelated Korean schizophrenic patients and 191 healthy controls were recruited. DRD4 genotype was established using the polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis consisted of ${\chi}^2$ tests for Hardy-Weinberg proportions and genotypic and allelic frequencies in the patients and control groups. Results : There were no statistically significant differences in the each polymorphisms between schizophrenics and controls. And all genotype frequencies were within Hardy-Weinberg expectations. When the combinations of the polymorphism in schizophrenia and controls were compared, however, there were significant differences at $A1A2^*2/4$ in the distributions of the combinations of D4E1 and D4E3(p<0.01). Conclusions : These findings suggest that the certain combination of D4E1 and D4E3($A1A2^*2/4$) has the protective role to a susceptibility for schizophrenia.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2003

고혈압은 다양한 유전적 요인과 환경적 요인이 상호작용하는 다인자성 질환으로 알려져 있으며, 최근의 연구에 의하면 사립체 DNA에 존재하는 유전적 다형성이 고혈압과 유의한 관련성을 나타낸다는 보고가 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 한국인 집단을 대상으로 하여 사립체 DNA의 5178번째 위치의 염기서열에 존재하는 A/C 다형성이 고혈압과 관련성을 나타내는 지를 분석하였다. 환자-대조군 연구를 수행한 결과, 사립체 DNA의 5178번째 위치에 존재하는 다형성의 대립 유전자 빈도는 한국인에서 고혈압군과 정상 혈압군 사이에 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 따라서, 이 다형성은 적어도 한국인에 대해서는 고혈압에 유의하게 영향을 미치는 유전적 소인은 아닌 것으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.534-546
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• 1997

Background : The p53 and retinoblastoma(Rb) tumor suppressor genes are associated with the pathogenesis of several types of human cancer. Substantial proportion of the primary lung cancers or cell lines have been reported to have the p53 and/or the Rb gene mutations. But, so far there is no report on the analysis of the Rb gene polymorphism as one of the genetic susceptibility marker. This study was undertaken to establish the gene frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes of the p53 and Rb genes in Koreans to evaluate the possible involvement of these genotypes as a risk factor of lung cancer. Methods : In this study 145 controls without previous and present tumor history and 128 lung cancer patients were subjected to analysis. The two intragenic polymorphisms of the p53 gene(exon 4/ AccII, intron 6/MspI) and one intron 17/XbaI polymorphism of the Rb gene were analysed by the method of polymersae chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphisms(PCR-RFLPs). The genotype of the intron 3/16 bp repeat polymorphism of p53 was determined by PCR and direct gel electrophoresis. Results : There were no significant differences in the genotype distributions of the p53 gene between lung cancer patients and controls. But heterozygotes(Arg/Pro) of the exon 4/AccII polymorphisms were slightly over-represented than controls, especially in the Kreyberg type I cancer, which was known to be associated with smoking. The intron 3/16 bp duplication and the intron 6/MspI polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium. About 95% of the individuals were homozygotes of the common alleles both in the 16 duplication and MspI polymorphisms, and no differences were deteced in the genotype distributions between lung cancer patients and controls. Overall genotype distributions of the Rb gene polymorphisms between lung cancer patients and controls were not significantly different However, the genotype distributions in the Kreyberg type I cancer were significantly different from those of controls(p = 0.0297) or adenocarcinomas(p = 0.0008). It was noticeable that 73.4% of the patients with adenocarcinomas were heterozygotes(r1/r2) whereas 39.2% of the Kreyberg type I cancer were heterozygous at this polymorphisms. In the lung cancer patients, significant differences were also noted between the high dose smokers and low dose smokers including non-smokers(p = 0.0258). The relative risk to Kreyberg type I cancer was significantly reduced in the individuals with the genotype of r1/r2(odds ratio = 0.46, 95% C.I. = 0.25-0.86, p = 0.0124). The combined genotype distribution of the exon 4 AccII of the p53 and the intron 17 Rb gene polymorphisms in Kreyberg type I cancers were significantly different from dose of controls or adenocarcinomas. The highest odds ratio were observed in the individuals with the genotypes of Arg/Pro and r2/r2(odds ratio = 1.97,95% C.I. = 0.84-4.59) and lowest one was in the patients with Arg/Arg, r1/r2 genotype(odds ratio = 0.54, 95% C.I. = 0.25-1.14). Conclusion : The p53 and the Rb gene polymorphisms modulate the risk of smoking induced lung cancer development in Koeans. However, the exact mechanism of risk modulation by these polymorphism remains to be determined. For more discrete clarification of associations between specific genotypes and lung cancer risk, the evaluations of these polymorphisms in other ethnics and more number of patients will be needed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2007

Purpose: Henoch-Sch$\"{o}$nlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis involving the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Although the pathogenesis of HSP is still unclear, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) is regarded as an important cytokine contributing to the disease. The goal of this study was to determine the role of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pathogenesis of HSP, and to evaluate the TNF-${\alpha}$ polymorphism for genetic susceptibility to HSP. Methods: From March 2004 to November 2005, 40 children with HSP and 32 healthy controls were included. Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were measured using the ELISA method during the acute and convalescent phase of HSP. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the TNF-${\alpha}$ gene polymorphisms at positions -308 and -238 were evaluated in patients and controls. Results: Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were $23.17{\pm}11.31$ pg/mL in the acute phase of children with HSP and $10.56{\pm}5.59$ pg/mL in the convalescent phase (p=0.000). There was no significant correlation between the serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels and the clinical scores of HSP (r=0.310, p=0.070). The genotypic frequency of the TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 polymorphism in children with HSP was not significantly different compared to healthy controls (GG 80%, GA 20% vs. GG 93.8%, GA 6.2%; p=0.094). The genotypic frequency of the TNF-${\alpha}$ -238 polymorphism in children with HSP was not significantly different (GG 97.5%, GA 2.5% vs. GG 93.8%, GA 6.3%; p=0.429). Conclusion: TNF-${\alpha}$ is assumed to be the main cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of HSP during the acute phase. However, the presence of TNF-${\alpha}$ gene polymorphisms at positions -308 and -238 did not distinguish children with HSP from normal controls.