• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.115-122
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• 1998

The maintenance of a viable pregnancy has long been viewed as an immunological paradox. The deveolping embryo and trophoblast are immunologically foreign to the maternal immune system due to their maternally inherited genes products and tissue-specific differentiation antigens (Hill & Anderson, 1988). Therefore, speculation has arisen that spontaneous abortion may be caused by impaired maternal immune tolerance to the semiallogenic conceptus (Hill, 1990). Loss of recall antigen has been reported in immunosuppressed transplant recipients and is associated with graft survival (Muluk et al., 1991; Schulik et al., 1994). Progesterone $(10^{-5}M)$ has immunosuppressive capabilities (Szekeres-Bartho et al., 1985). Previous study showed that fertile women, but not women with unexplained recurrent abortion (URA), lose their immune response to recall antigens when pregnant (Bermas & Hill, 1997). Therefore, we hypothesized that immunosuppressive doses of progesterone may affect proliferative response of lymphocytes to trophoblast antigen and alloantigen. Proliferative responses using $^3H$-thymidine ($^3H$-TdR) incorporation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to the irradiated allogeneic periperal blood mononuclear cells as alloantigen, trophoblast extract and Flu as recall antigen, and PHA as mitogen were serially checked in 9 women who had experienced unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Progesterone vaginal suppositories (100mg b.i.d; Utrogestan, Organon) beginning 3 days after ovulation were given to 9 women with unexplained RSA who had prior evidence of Th1 immunity to trophoblast. We checked proliferation responses to conception cycle before and after progesterone supplementation once a week through the first 7 weeks of pregnancy. All patients of alloantigen and PHA had a positive proliferation response that occmed in the baseline phase. But 4 out of 9 patients (44.4%) of trophoblast antigen and Flu antigen had a positive proliferative response. The suppression of proliferation response to each antigen were started after proliferative phase and during pregnancy cycles. Our data demonstrated that since in vivo progesterone treated PBMCs suppressed more T-lymphocyte activation and $^3H$-TdR incorporation compare to PBMCs, which are not influenced by progesterone. This data suggested that it might be influenced by immunosuppressive effect of progesterone. In conclusion, progesterone may play an important immunological role in regulating local immune response in the fetal-placental unit. Furthermore, in the 9 women given progesterone during a conception cycle, Only two (22%) repeat pregnancy losses occured in these 9 women despite loss of antigen responsiveness (one chemical pregnancy loss and one loss at 8 weeks of growth which was karyotyped as a Trisomy 4). These finding suggested that pregnancy loss due to fetal aneuploidy is not associated with immunological phenomena.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of maternal age on fertilization, embryo quality, and clinical pregnancy in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using testicular sperm from partners with azoospermia. Methods: A total of 416 ICSI cycles using testicular spermatozoa from partners with obstructive azoospermia (OA, n = 301) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 115) were analyzed. Female patients were divided into the following age groups: 27 to 31 years, 32 to 36 years, and 37 to 41 years. The rates of fertilization, high-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy, and delivery were compared across maternal age groups between the OA and NOA groups. Results: The rates of fertilization and high-quality embryos were not significantly different among the maternal age groups. Similarly, the clinical pregnancy and delivery rates were not significantly different. The fertilization rate was significantly higher in the OA group than in the NOA group (p< 0.05). Age-group analysis revealed that the fertilization and high-quality embryo rates were significantly different between the OA and NOA groups in patients aged 27 to 31 years old, but not for the other age groups. Although the clinical pregnancy and delivery rates differed between the OA and NOA groups across all age groups, significant differences were not observed. Conclusion: In couples using testicular sperm from male partners with azoospermia, pregnancy and delivery outcomes were not affected by maternal age. However, women older than 37 years using testicular sperm from partners with azoospermia should be advised of the increased incidence of pregnancy failure.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권8호
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• pp.718-727
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• 2020

The imbalance between the proliferation and apoptosis of B-cell precursors is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), while its specific regulatory mechanism remains perplexing. This study aimed to expound the underlying mechanism of the proliferation and apoptosis of BCP-ALL cells from the perspective of non-coding RNA. In this study, long non-coding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (LncRNA CRNDE) was upregulated in the bone marrow of BCP-ALL patients and BCP-ALL cell lines (NALM-6 and RS4;11). Functionally, LncRNA CRNDE knockdown restrained cell proliferation and boosted cell apoptosis in NALM-6 and RS4;11 cells. The subsequent investigation confirmed that LncRNA CRNDE bound to miR-345-5p and negatively regulated miR-345-5p expression. The overexpression of miR-345-5p suppressed cell proliferation and boosted cell apoptosis in NALM-6 and RS4;11 cells. Further experiments revealed that miR-345-5p downregulated cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) expression by targeting its mRNA directly. CREB overexpression reversed the effect of miR-345-5p mimic on cell proliferation and apoptosis in NALM-6 and RS4;11 cells. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that LncRNA CRNDE knockdown prolonged the survival of mice xenotransplanted with NALM-6 cells. In conclusion, LncRNA CRNDE upregulated CREB expression by suppressing miR-345-5p, thus promoting cell proliferation and reducing cell apoptosis in BCP-ALL.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.229-234
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• 2015

Nafamostat mesilate (NM) is a serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effects. NM has been used in Asia for anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation. Oxidative stress is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and is associated with vascular endothelial function. We investigated whether NM could inhibit endothelial dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ ). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ for 24 h. The effects of NM on monocyte adhesion, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein expression, p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and intracellular superoxide production were then examined. NM ($0.01{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect HUVEC viability; however, it inhibited the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and p66shc expression elicited by TNF-${\alpha}$ (3 ng/mL), and it dose dependently prevented the TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced upregulation of endothelial VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. In addition, it mitigated TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and the adhesion of U937 monocytes. These data suggest that NM mitigates TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced monocyte adhesion and the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, and that the anti-adhesive effect of NM is mediated through the inhibition of p66shc, ROS production, and p38 MAPK activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.241-248
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• 2010

The present sutdy aimed to determine whether olmesartan, an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor blocker, can influence the CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Olmesartan ($5{\sim}50{\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane-depolarizer), DMPP (100 ${\mu}M$) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$). Olmesartan did not affect basal CA secretion. Also, in adrenal glands loaded with olmesartan (15 ${\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, an activator of voltage-dependent L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}M$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase), veratridine (100 ${\mu}M$, an activator of voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channels), and Ang II (100 nM) were markedly inhibited. However, at high concentrations ($150{\sim}300{\mu}M$), olmesartan rather enhanced the ACh-evoked CA secretion. Taken together, these results show that olmesartan at low concentrations inhibits the CA secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by direct membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla, but at high concentrations it rather potentiates the ACh-evoked CA secretion. It seems that olmesartan has a dual action, acting as both agonist and antagonist at nicotinic receptors of the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla, which might be dependent on the concentration. It is also thought that this inhibitory effect of olmesartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is thought to be relevant to the $AT_1$ receptor blockade, in addition to its enhancement on the CA secreton.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제96권4호
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• pp.414-418
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• 2007

북방수염하늘소의 산란흔은 잣나무의 산란가지 상부(햇빛을 바로 받는 부위)에서 $3.3{\pm}3.6$개, 하부(지면을 향하는 부위)에서 $16.3{\pm}13.9$개로 하부를 선호하여 산란하는 것으로 나타났다. 산란흔과 실제 부화 유충 수를 비교 한 결과 실험실 산란목의 산란흔은 $64.7{\pm}23.8$개였고, 유충 수는 $18.8{\pm}10.0$마리였다. 반면, 야외 산란목의 산란흔은 $63.6{\pm}31.1$개 였고, 유충 수는 $2.0{\pm}2.6$마리 였다. 잣나무 내수피와 목질부를 함께 공급한 유충들은 체중이 증가 하며 발육상태가 정상이었으나 목질부만 공급한 유충들의 경우 체중이 감소 하며 발육상태는 불량 하였다. 그러나 목질부만 급여한 유충들에게 잣나무 내수피를 함께 공급한 결과 몸무게와 발육상태가 회복 되는 것을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 지방체를 이용한 Esterase 활성 실험에서는 잣나무 내수피와 목질부를 함께 먹인 유충에서 Est1이 강한 활성을 나타냈다.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.99-109
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• 2008

Protein phosphorylation at tyrosine residues is a key regulatory event that modulates insulin signal transduction. We studied the PTPN1 gene with regard to susceptibility to Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its related quantitative traits. A total of seven SNPs [g.36171G>A (rs941798), g.58166G>A (rs3787343), g.58208A>G (rs2909270), g.64840C>T (rs754118), g.69560C>G (rs6020612), g.69866G>A (rs718050), and g.69934T>G (rs3787343)] were selected based on frequency (>0.05), linkage disequilibrium (LD) status, and haplotype tagging status. We studied the seven SNPs in 483 unrelated patients with type 2 diabetes (age: $64{\pm}2.8$ years, onset age: $56{\pm}8.1$ years; 206 men, 277 women) and 1138 nondiabetic control subjects (age: $64{\pm}2.9$; 516 men, 622 women). The SNP rs941798 had protective effects against T2DM with an odds ratio of 0.726 (C.I. $0.541{\sim}0.975$) and p-value=0.034, but none of the remaining six SNPs was associated with T2DM. Also, rs941798 was associated with blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, insulin sensitivity. rs941798 also has been associated with T2DM in previous reports of Caucasian-American and Hispanic-American populations. This is the first report that shows an association between PTPN1 and T2DM in the Korean as well as Asian population.

• 산업융합연구
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2020

본 연구는 당뇨병 환자의 건강인식, 운동욕구, 자기효능감이 운동빈도에 미치는 영향을 파악하기 위해 시행된 서술적 연구이다. 2018년 6월부터 7월에 걸쳐, A광역시에 속한 두 개의 대학병원 내분비내과 외래를 방문한 당뇨병 진단을 환자들 중에서 자발적으로 설문지를 작성할 수 있는 86명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 연구결과는 서술적 기술 통계량과 Pearson 상관계수, 단계적 회귀분석을 사용하여 분석하였다. 연구결과 운동빈도는 건강인식(r=..215, p=.043), 자기효능감(r=.440, p<.001)과 유의한 양의 상관관계를 나타내었고 운동욕구(r=.144, p=.304)와는 유의한 상관관계를 나타내지 않았다. 회귀분석을 시행한 결과 운동빈도에 미치는 요인은 자기효능감(β=.440, p<.001)만이 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며 모형의 설명력은 18.4%(F=20.836, p<.001)로 나타났다. 결론적으로 건강에 대한 긍정적인 인식은 자기효능감과 양의 상관관계가 있으며 자기효능감이 높을수록 운동빈도가 증가하게 된다. 따라서, 당뇨병 환자의 건강인식을 높이는 중재와 자기효능감 강화 교육 프로그램이 개발된다면 당뇨병 환자의 운동빈동, 즉 실질적 운동 자기관리를 증진시키는데 도움이 될 것이다.

• 약학회지
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.9-13
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• 2012

We previously reported that the extract of Taraxacum platycarpum (AF-343) had several biological properties such as skin hydration and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby AF-343 be a promising anti-atopic dermatitis agent. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate its effect on modulation of extracellular matrix proteins in human skin fibroblasts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expressions of type I collagen, MMP-1, Smad2/3, and TIMP-1 proteins in AF-343-treated human skin fibroblasts. Human skin fibroblasts were treated by various concentrations of AF-343 (0~2 mg/ml). The expressions of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), Smad2/3, and TIMP-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blot analysis. In addition, level of type I collagen mRNA was analyzed by CAT assay. Expression of type I collagen protein was increased in AF-343-treated human skin fibroblasts by dose and time-dependent manners. Consistent with this result, the expressions of phospho-Smad2/3 in skin fibroblasts were increased and MMP-1 expression was decreased by AF-343 treatment. TIMP-1 expression was not significantly changed in AF-343 treated skin fibroblasts. Extract of Taraxacum platycarpum (AF-343)-induced up-regulation of type I collagen expression was through increased expression of phospho-Smad2/3. These results were occurred combined with down-regulation of MMP-1 in skin fibroblasts. Taken together, this study indicated that AF-343 has property of the modulation of ECM in tissue as well as skin hydration and anti-inflammation.

• 농약과학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.171-178
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• 2007

소나무 수피와 잣나무 수피를 먹이로 사육한 북방수염하늘소(M. saltuarius)의 종령유충의 소화액을 추출하여 4가지 기질(${\alpha}$-naphthyl acetate, ${\beta}$-naphthyl acetate, ${\alpha}$-naphthyl butyrate, ${\beta}$-naphthyl stearate)에 대한 에스테라제(esterase) 활성도 변화를 조사하였다. ${\alpha}$-naphthyl acetate를 기질로 하여 조사한 결과 Est7이 잣나무수피를 먹인 유충에서 강하게 활성화되었다. 또한, ${\beta}$-naphthyl acetate와 ${\alpha}$-naphthyl butyrate 기질을 사용한 경우에도 Est6과 Est7이 잣나무수피를 먹인 유충에서 강한 활성이 관찰 되었다. 그러나 ${\beta}$-naphthyl stearate에서 활성화 되는 에스테라제는 관찰할 수 없었다. 추출한 소화액에 카바메이트계와 유기인계 약제를 처리한 경우 Est7을 포함하여 Est3과 Est6이 강하게 저해되는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, eserine을 처리한 경우 Est4, Est6, Est7에서 강한 활성저해가 관찰되었다. Methoprene, bornyl acetate, linal, cineol, citral을 소화액에 첨가한 경우 에스테라제의 활성저해는 관찰되지 않았으나 이상의 결과는 in vitro에서 실시된 실험으로 추후 in vivo에서 재검증이 필요 할 것이다.