• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.360-365
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• 2015

Multilocus sequence typing analysis was applied to determine the genotypes of 147 (137 clinical and 10 environmental) Cryptococcus neoformans and three clinical Cryptococcus gattii isolates from 1993 to 2014 in Korea. Among the 137 clinical isolates of C. neoformans, the most prevalent genotype was ST5 (n = 131), followed by ST31 (n = 5) and ST127 (n = 1). Three C. gattii strains were identified as ST57, ST7, and ST113. All environmental isolates were identified as C. neoformans with two genotypes, ST5 (n = 7) and ST31 (n = 3). Our results show that C. neoformans isolates in Korea are genetically homogeneous, and represent a close genetic relationship between clinical and environmental isolates.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2022

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing hematopoietic cell disorder. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) plays established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers, including leukemia. However, small-molecule inhibitors targeting SPHK1 in CML still need to be developed. This study revealed the role of SPHK1 in CML and investigated the potential anti-leukemic activity of hirsuteine (HST), an indole alkaloid obtained from the oriental plant Uncaria rhynchophylla, in CML cells. These results suggest that SPHK1 is highly expressed in CML cells and that overexpression of SPHK1 represents poor clinical outcomes in CML patients. HST exposure led to G2/M phase arrest, cellular apoptosis, and downregulation of Cyclin B1 and CDC2 and cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP in CML cells. HST shifted sphingolipid rheostat from sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) towards the ceramide coupled with a marked inhibition of SPHK1. Mechanistically, HST significantly blocked SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways. In addition, HST can be docked with residues of SPHK1 and shifts the SPHK1 melting curve, indicating the potential protein-ligand interactions between SPHK1 and HST in both CML cells. SPHK1 overexpression impaired apoptosis and proliferation of CML cells induced by HST alone. These results suggest that HST, which may serve as a novel and specific SPHK1 inhibitor, exerts anti-leukemic activity by inhibiting the SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways in CML cells, thus conferring HST as a promising anti-leukemic drug for CML therapy in the future.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.520-525
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• 2019

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been reported to possess anti-cancer activity against many cancers. However, the pharmacologic effect of DHA on HBV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Thus, the objective of the present study was to determine whether DHA could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2.2.15 cells and uncover the underlying mechanisms involved in the effect of DHA on HepG2.2.15 cells. We found that DHA effectively inhibited HepG2.2.15 HCC cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. DHA also reduced the migration and tumorigenicity capacity of HepG2.2.15 cells. Regarding the underlying mechanisms, results showed that DHA induced cellular senescence by up-regulating expression levels of proteins such as p-ATM, p-ATR, ${\gamma}-H_2AX$, P53, and P21 involved in DNA damage response. DHA also induced autophagy (green LC3 puncta gathered together and LC3II/LC3I ratio increased through AKT-mTOR pathway suppression). Results also revealed that DHA-induced autophagy was not linked to senescence or cell death. TPP1 (telomere shelterin) overexpression could not rescue DHA-induced anticancer activity (cell proliferation). Moreover, DHA down-regulated TPP1 expression. Gene knockdown of TPP1 caused similar phenotypes and mechanisms as DHA induced phenotypes and mechanisms in HepG2.2.15 cells. These results demonstrate that DHA might inhibit HepG2.2.15 cells proliferation through inducing cellular senescence and autophagy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.186-191
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• 2022

The use of earphones has recently been widely used around the world. In currently, students wear earphones a lot in a daily life. The types of earphones are open-earphones, Canalphones, and headphones. Many students don't periodically to sterilization their earphones. Therefore, it can be an incubator that can induced ear infections. The objective of this study was to detect the pathogenic bacteria from the earphones used by the students. A total of 3 type earphones swabs were collected by sterile cotton swabs. The swabs were inoculated onto BHI agar and incubated aerobically 48 hour at 37℃. 16s rRNA PCR, electrophoresis and sequencing were performed to confirm the identification of all the bacterial isolates. As a result, 24 pathogens were identified in sequencing. Three types of earphones were sterilized in three ways: ultraviolet (UV), 70% ethyl alcohol, and antibacterial wet tissue. If you use earphones for a long time without disinfecting them for a long time, it causes various diseases such as external ear infections. The findings of this study the users periodically to sterilization their respective earphones.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2006

Ochrobactrum anthropi, previously known as Achromobacter species biotypes 1 and 2 (CDC groups Vd-1, Vd-2), belong to the groups of non-Enterobacteriaceae- nonfermentative Gram negative bacilli. Achromobacter is not presently a recognized genus. Achromobacter xylosoxidans has been transferred to genus Alcaligenes as A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans, and "Achromobacter" sp. group Vd has been named Ochrobactrum anthropi. O. anthropi was isolated from a blood culture. Organisms were identified as O. anthropi by use of the biochemical test and the VITEK 2(bioMerieux, USA). The Organism was susceptible only to colistin, imipenem, meropenem, and tetracycline, but were resistant to amikacin, aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, cefpirome, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, isepamcin, netilmicin, pefloxacin, piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, ticarcillin, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, tobramycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. We report the clinical and microbiologic characteristics of O. anthropi infection in the patient. This is the first case of O. anthropi infection after using a plant as medicine at Chosun University Hospital.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.67-69
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• 2018

Three dogs were referred for emergency care after fall accidents. All cases showed hyperglycemia at initial testing, with no history of diabetes mellitus. After varying periods of time, the blood glucose levels in all cases returned to within the reference range. The present report describes three cases of typical trauma-associated hyperglycemia in dogs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2020

There is a noticeable gap in the personnel structures of clinical laboratories between North Korea and South Korea. In North Korea, 'Laboratory Doctor' is similar to the workforce of 'Medical Technologist (commonly known as Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist)' in South Korea. Considering preceding research based on the verbal evidence of North Korean healthcare personnel defectors, it is estimated that the status of laboratory doctor in North Korea generally corresponds to physician and feldsher (such as physician assistant in Western countries). Physicians and feldshers are trained and fostered for five and a half years in medical universities and for three years in medical vocational schools (so-called junior college of medicine). Unlike South Korea, the North Korea's healthcare personnel system does not subdivide the tasks, education, qualifications and law regarding the specialties of health experts. It is thought that the Korean Association of Medical Technologists needs to collaboratively search and present the milestones for establishment of a professional system on clinical laboratory personnel in North Korea through cooperative research on policies with the related organizations for better preparation of the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.34.1-34.4
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• 2021

An 11-year-old obese dog was referred for a liver mass. Cytologic examination revealed vacuolated hepatocytes with mild pleomorphism. A partial liver lobectomy was performed. On histopathologic examination, the mass was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma composed of hepatocytes with clear vacuoles. These findings were consistent with clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma (CCHCC). The CCHCC is a rare subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma in dogs, and clinical features are poorly defined. This is the first report on the cytological, histological and clinical aspects of CCHCC, suggesting that obesity and hyperlipidemia are potential risk factors for CCHCC in dogs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.293-297
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• 2022

In 2022, Korea reported a total of 224 perfusionists, employing nurses or clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical technologists) to provide hospital self-education or reliable education. In 2021, the total number of perfusionists in Japan was 2,100, mainly supported by clinical engineering technologists. During the same period, the number of perfusionists reported in the United States was 4,212, who had received training in the master's program, post-bachelor certificate program, and bachelor's program. Most personnel in the USA were graduates of healthcare sciences or life sciences. Perfusionists must be knowledgeable in heart anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, hemodynamics, laboratory analysis, and quality assurance, as well as techniques to operate the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung bypass machine). These are jobs similarly handled by clinical laboratory technologists. The importance of perfusionists became more prominent during two major crises: the MERS-CoV and COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, perfusionists play a significant role in the rapidly expanding field of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery. Results of the current study indicate that hospitals offering cardiac surgery and infectious disease hospitalization need to be institutionalized to secure a certain number of qualified perfusionists. In the future, we look forward to establishing a perfusion technology association under the Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Physiology to provide academic exchanges.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.252-259
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• 2019

This study examined the satisfaction of clinical laboratory science students practiced in clinical practice. In addition, the satisfaction of clinical practice and the satisfaction of the clinical practicum affecting the major satisfaction were investigated. From February 20, 2019 to March 10, 2019, a questionnaire survey was conducted on clinical laboratory science students who performed clinical practice in eight weeks of 2018. A total of 344 people were selected for the final analysis data. The questionnaire was comprised of 46 items, which consisted of three items of the general characteristics and 43 items of the clinical practice satisfaction. The satisfaction level of the clinical practice evaluation part was lowest in average 3.88 points. Male students were more satisfied with clinical practice than female students. The satisfaction level was higher in the group with more than the average degree of satisfaction than the group with less than the average. The factors that affect the satisfaction of clinical practice and the degree of satisfaction with majors are the satisfaction with the clinical practice time and satisfaction with interpersonal relationships.