• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2018

Background: Anti-E or paired anti-E/-c antibodies can develop in patients with the Rh CDe phenotype. This study examined the differences in transfusion in patients with the CDe phenotype according to formation of anti-E or anti-E/-c antibodies. Methods: Retrospective reviews were carried out on the results of antibody identification tests performed in 2014. The Rh phenotype and antibody specificity were investigated. The transfusion and medical records of patients with the CDe phenotype were examined. Results: In total, 76 patients were included in the review. Of these 76 patients, 38 (50.0%) were of the CDe phenotype. Anti-E antibodies were the most frequent (60.5%), followed by anti-E/-c antibodies (23.7%). The total transfusion units and platelet transfusion units were significantly higher in patients with anti-E/-c antibodies (P=0.028 and P=0.01, respectively). The distribution of categorized diseases was similar in the patients with the anti-E and anti-E/-c antibodies. A frequency of transfusion episodes greater than or equal to four was higher in patients with hepatobiliary diseases (85.7%). Conclusion: In CDe phenotype patients, platelet transfusion was significantly higher in the anti-E/-c positive group than the anti-E positive group, indicating that platelets play a role in red blood cell alloimmunization. Because E is the most immunogenic antigen in Korea, it is important to define the disease group, in which patients with CDe phenotype require a transfusion of E and c-negative blood.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.585-590
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• 2018

Background: Although testing to detect weak D antigens using the antihuman globulin reagent is not required for D- patients in many countries, it is routinely performed in Korea. However, weak D testing can be omitted in D- patients with a C-E- phenotype as this indicates complete deletion of the RHD gene, except in rare cases. We designed a new algorithm for weak D testing, which consisted of RhCE phenotyping followed by weak D testing in C+ or E+ samples, and compared it with the current algorithm with respect to time and cost-effectiveness. Methods: In this retrospective study, 74,889 test results from January to July 2017 in a tertiary hospital in Korea were analyzed. Agreement between the current and proposed algorithms was evaluated, and total number of tests, time required for testing, and test costs were compared. With both algorithms, RHD genotyping was conducted for samples that were C+ or E+ and negative for weak D testing. Results: The algorithms showed perfect agreement (agreement=100%; ${\kappa}=1.00$). By applying the proposed algorithm, 29.56% (115/389 tests/yr) of tests could be omitted, time required for testing could be reduced by 36% (8,672/24,084 min/yr), and the test cost could be reduced by 16.53% (536.11/3,241.08 USD/yr). Conclusions: Our algorithm omitting weak D testing in D- patients with C-E- phenotype may be a cost-effective testing strategy in Korea.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.145-155
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• 2001

Cytochrome P4502C19 (CYP2C19) is one of human polymorphic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. The enzyme has been reported to catalyze more than 70 substrates, involving more than 100 reactions. These include several classes of therapeutic agents (e.g. anti-microbial. cardiovascular, psycho-active, etc.), sex hormones and insecticides. Associations of the CYP2C19 genotype/phenotype with individual differences in drug efficacy (e.g. diazepam, omeprazole, proguanil) and toxicity (e.g. mephenytoin, barbiturates) have been documented by many investigators. At least 11 allelic variants of CYP2C19 gene were reported to date. Most of the mutant alleles found in the poor metabolizer (PM) led to the production of truncated and/or inactive proteins. Except for the exon 6, single-nucleotide mutations were reported in all nine exons of the gene. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 shows marked interethnic variation with the population frequencies of PM phenotype ranging from 1∼2% up to more than 50%. The prevalence of CYP2C19 PM tends to be higher in Asian and certain Pacific Islanders than other race or ethnic specificity. Genotyping results of CYP2C19 also revealed that there are different proportions of individual mutant alleles among ethnic populations. This may, in part, explains the interethnic difference in the metabolism of certain drugs (i.e. diazepam), though they were from the same CYP2C19 phenotype. Recently, our research group has studied the genotype and phenotype of CYP2C19 and found that the PM frequency (7∼8%) in Thais is lower than other Asian populations. Molecular and clinical impacts of this finding warrant to further investigation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.148-151
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the erythromycin resistance patterns of Enterococci sp. present in cow milk. A total 110 erythromycin resistant Enterococci were isolated from milk samples; E. faecalis (n=101), E. avium (n=7), and E. durans (n=2). The minimum inhibitory concentration of erythromycin against 110 Enterococci were determined. The 66.3% of Entercocci (n=73) showed high level resistance (${\geq}64$ mg/ml). Among 110 isolates, 86.3% (n=95) showed $cMLS_B$ phenotype and 13.6% (n=15) showed $iMLS_B$ The aim of this study was to investigate the erythromycin resistance patterns of Enterococci sp. present in cow milk. A total 110 erythromycin resistant Enterococci were isolated from milk samples; E. faecalis (n=101), E. avium (n=7), and E. durans (n=2). The minimum inhibitory concentration of erythromycin against 110 Enterococci were determined. The 66.3% of Entercocci (n=73) showed high level resistance (${\geq}64$ mg/ml). Among 110 isolates, 86.3% (n=95) showed $cMLS_B$ phenotype and 13.6% (n=15) showed $iMLS_B$ phenotype. All of isolates have erm(B) determinant, 75.45% (n=83) have mef(A) an efflux system determinant. The majority of Enetrcococci isolated from raw milk samples in northern area of Gyeonggi-Do showed high level of resistance to erythromycin.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2004

Antibiotic resistance is often associated with the production of inner membrane proteins (for example, AcrAB/TolC efflux pump) that are capable to extrude antibiotics, detergents, dyes and organic solvents. In order to evaluate the unknown MarB function of Escherichia coli, especially focused on the function of OmpF porin, several mutants were construted by T4GT7 transduction. MarA plays a major roles in mar (multiple antibiotic resistance) phenotype with AcrAB/TolC efflux pump in E. coli K-12. Futhermore, MarA decreases OmpF porin expression via micF antisense RNA. Expression of acrAB is increased in strains containing mutation in marR, and in those carrying multicopy plasmid expressing marA. MarB protein of E. coli K-12 showed its activity at OmpF porin & TolC protein as target molecule. Some paper reported MarB positively regulates OmpF function. MarA shows mar phenotype, and MarB along with MarA show decreased MIC through OmpF function. By this experiment, MarB could decrease MIC through the OmpF porin & TolC protein as target.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 1997

The MTF1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a 43 kDa MITOCHONDRIAL RNA polymerase specificity factor which recognizes mitochondrial promoters to initiate correct transcription. To better understand structure-function of the MTF1 gene as well as the transcription mechanism of mitochondrial RNA polymerase, two cold-sensitive alleles of the MTF1 mutation were isolated by plasmid shuffling method after PCR-based random mutagenesis of the MTF1 gene. The mutation sites were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing. These cs phenotype mtf1 mutants were respiration competent on the nonfermentible glycerol medium at the permissive temperature, but incompetent at 13.deg.C. The cs phenotype allele of the MTF1, yJH147, encoded an L146P replacement. The other cs allele, yJH148, contained K179E and K214M double replacements. Mutations in both alleles were in a region of Mtflp which is located between domains with amino acid sequence similarities to conserved regions 2 and 3 of bacterial s factors.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2016

The aim of the present study is to determine the characteristics of genotype and phenotype of Echinococcus granulosus derived from wild sheep and to compare them with the strains of E. granulosus sensu stricto (sheep-dog) and E. granulosus camel strain (camel-dog) in Iran. In Khojir National Park, near Tehran, Iran, a fertile hydatid cyst was recently found in the liver of a dead wild sheep (Ovis orientalis). The number of protoscolices (n=6,000) proved enough for an experimental infection in a dog. The characteristics of large and small hooks of metacestode were statistically determined as the sensu stricto strain but not the camel strain (P=0.5). To determine E. granulosus genotype, 20 adult worms of this type were collected from the infected dog. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase 1 subunit (COX1) of the mitochondrial DNA were amplified from individual adult worm by PCR. Subsequently, the PCR product was sequenced by Sanger method. The lengths of ITS2 and COX1 sequences were 378 and 857 bp, respectively, for all the sequenced samples. The amplified DNA sequences from both ribosomal and mitochondrial genes were highly similar (99% and 98%, respectively) to that of the ovine strain in the GenBank database. The results of the present study indicate that the morpho-molecular features and characteristics of E. granulosus in the Iranian wild sheep are the same as those of the sheep-dog E. granulosus sensu stricto strain.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2017

Mutations in the DNA methyltransferase 1 gene (DNMT1) were reported to cause two phenotypes: OMIM 604121 and OMIM 614116. The first phenotype includes autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia, deafness, and narcolepsy, which were reported to be caused by mutations in exon 21. The second phenotype includes hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1E, which was suggested to be caused by mutations in exon 20 and 21. In this article, we report a novel heterozygous missense variant c.898A>C, p.(Lys300Gln) in exon 12 of DNMT1 in a young woman who presented with pure cerebellar ataxia. This report indicates that a mutation in exon 12 may lead to pure cerebellar ataxia. Another possibility is that the patient is currently in an early stage of the disease, and as the disease progresses, she will have more manifestations. To confirm or exclude this possibility, a subsequent follow-up study reporting the disease progression in this patient may be needed. Further reports of cases with the same mutation are needed to confirm the phenotype of this mutation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.401-406
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• 2017

In this study, using the VITEK 2 system, 74 samples (22.6%) out of 327 specimens were identified by the growth of Enterococcosel media (EV6 agar) supplemented with $6{\mu}g/mL$ of vancomycin. Enterococcus faecium was identified as 55 strains (74.3%), Enterococcus casseliflavus as 2 strains (2.7%), Enterococcus avium as 1 strain (1.4%), and Enterococcus gallinarum as 16 strains (21.6%). Among the 55 phenotypes of Enterococcus faecium, 42 (76.4%), 9 (16.4%), and 4 strains (7.3%) showed the vanA, vanB, and vanC phenotype, respectively. The 16 strains of Enterococcus gallinarum and 2 strains of Enterococcus casseliflavus showed the vanC phenotype and the 1 strain of Enterococcus avium had the vanB phenotype. The one strain of Enterococcus faecium propagated only in EV4 and was susceptible to both vancomycin and teicoplanin according to the antimicrobial susceptibility test using the VITEK 2 system. The vancomycin resistance phenotype gene was not detected by PCR. A total of 327 specimens were cultured in Enterococcosel broth supplemented with $6{\mu}g/mL$ of vancomycin (EV6 broth), and 120 strains (36.7%) were isolated. These 120 strains were subjected to vancomycin resistant genotyping by a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction and 51 strains (42.5%) showed vanA; 5 strains (4.2%) showed vanA and vanC; and 18 strains (15%) showed vanC. Vancomycin resistance genotypes were not detected in the remaining 46 strains (38.3%).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.412-417
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• 2015

A critical element in tissue engineering approaches is a control of the mechanical properties of polymer scaffolds to regulate cell phenotype, which may lead to clinically successful tissue regeneration. In this study, we hypothesized that gel stiffness could be a key factor to manipulate adhesion and proliferation of different types of cells. RGD-modified alginate gels with various mechanical properties were prepared and used as a substrate for MC3T3-E1 and H9C2 cells. Adhesion and growth rate of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro were increased in parallel with an increase of gel stiffness. In contrast, those of H9C2 cells were decreased. This approach to control the mechanical properties of polymer scaffolds depending on the cell types may find useful applications in the tissue engineering.