• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the association between fracture risk and levothyroxine use in elderly women with hypothyroidism, according to previous osteoporosis history. Methods: We conducted a cohort study from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims database from January 2005 to June 2006. The study population comprised women aged ${\geq}65$ years who had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and prescribed levothyroxine monotherapy. We excluded patients who met any of the following criteria: previous fracture history, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, or pituitary disorder; low levothyroxine adherence; or a follow-up period <90 days. We categorized the daily levothyroxine doses into 4 groups: ${\leq}50{\mu}g/d$, 51 to $100{\mu}g/d$, 101 to $150{\mu}g/d$, and > $150{\mu}g/d$. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with the Cox proportional hazard model, and subgroup analyses were performed according to the osteoporosis history and osteoporosis-specific drug prescription status. Results: Among 11 155 cohort participants, 35.6% had previous histories of osteoporosis. The adjusted HR of fracture for the > $150{\mu}g/d$ group, compared with the 51 to $100{\mu}g/d$ group, was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.37) in osteoporosis subgroup. In the highly probable osteoporosis subgroup, restricted to patients who were concurrently prescribed osteoporosis-specific drugs, the adjusted HR of fracture for the > $150{\mu}g/d$ group, compared with the 51 to 100 ${\mu}g/d$ group, was 1.93 (95% CI, 1.14 to 3.26). Conclusions: While further studies are needed, physicians should be concerned about potential levothyroxine overtreatment in elderly osteoporosis patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.543-549
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• 2021

Approximately 10% of all angiosperms belong to the Asteraceae family. Plant species belonging to this family have traditionally been used as medicinal plants in the Korean Peninsula. We investigated the antioxidant activity of seed extracts from 14 species belonging to the Asteraceae family. Seeds with ≥ 90% percentage of filled seed and ≥ 50% final germination were used. The total phenolic content was the highest in Dendranthema zawadskii var. tenuisectum (13.5 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g seeds), followed by Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (11.8 mg of GAEs/g seeds), and Callistephus chinensis (11.0 mg of GAEs/g seeds). The total flavonoid content was highest in C. chinensis (9.8 mg of quercetin equivalents (QEs)/g seeds), followed by D. zawadskii var. tenuisectum (7.2 mg of QEs/g seeds) and Taraxacum officinale (6.3 mg of QEs/g seeds). Our results showed that 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity was highest in D. zawadskii var. tenuisectum (57.4 ㎍/ml), followed by T. officinale (59.1 ㎍/ml) and D. zawadskii var. latilobum (65.0 ㎍/ml), with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of DPPH scavenging activity. Furthermore, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was highest in C. chinensis (26.2 ㎍/ml), followed by D. zawadskii var. tenuisectum (38.4 ㎍/ml), T. officinale (40.2 ㎍/ml), with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of ABTS scavenging activity. Based on a cluster analysis according to the antioxidant activity, the 14 species were classified into five groups, with group 4 having the highest antioxidant activity and group 0 having the lowest antioxidant activity. D. zawadskii var. latilobum, D. zawadskii var. tenuisectum, T. officinale, and C. chinensis belonging to groups 3 and 4, exhibited high phenolic content and antioxidant activity and can be considered potent plant-derived natural antioxidants.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.114-123
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• 2017

Purpose: The goal of this study was the early diagnosis of ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders, especially those focused on benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Fifty patients presenting neonatal cholestasis were evaluated to identify underlying etiologies. Genetic analysis was performed on patients suspected to have syndromic diseases or ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders. Two families with proven ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders were subjected to genetic analyses to confirm the diagnosis and were provided genetic counseling. Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed on the patients and the family members. Results: Idiopathic or viral hepatitis was diagnosed in 34%, metabolic disease in 20%, total parenteral nutrition induced cholestasis in 16%, extrahepatic biliary atresia in 14%, genetic disease in 10%, neonatal lupus in 2%, congenital syphilis in 2%, and choledochal cyst in 2% of the patients. The patient with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis had novel heterozygous mutations of ABCB11 c.11C>G (p.Ser4*) and c.1543A>G (p.Asn515Asp). The patient with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis had homozygous mutations of ABCB11 c.1331T>C (p.Val444Ala) and heterozygous, c.3084A>G (p.Ala1028Ala). Genetic confirmation of ABCB11 spectrum liver disorder led to early liver transplantation in the progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis patient. In addition, the atypically severe benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis patient was able to avoid unnecessary liver transplantation after genetic analysis. Conclusion: ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders can be clinically indistinguishable as they share similar characteristics related to acute episodes. A comprehensive genetic analysis will facilitate optimal diagnosis and treatment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

The beta2-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}2AR$) belongs to the G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which is the largest family of cell surface receptors in humans. Extra attention has been focused on the human GPCRs because they have been studied as important protein targets for pharmaceutical drug development. In fact, approximately 40% of marketed drugs directly work on GPCRs. GPCRs respond to various extracellular stimuli, such as sensory signals, neurotransmitters, chemokines, and hormones, to induce structural changes at the cytoplasmic surface, activating downstream signaling pathways, primarily through interactions with heterotrimeric G proteins or through G-protein independent pathways, such as arrestin. Most GPCRs, except for rhodhopsin, which contains covalently linked 11 cis-retinal, bind to diffusible ligands, having various conformational states between inactive and active structures. The first human GPCR structure was determined using an inverse agonist bound ${\beta}2AR$ in 2007 and since then, more than 20 distinct GPCR structures have been solved. However, most GPCR structures were solved as inactive forms, and an agonist bound fully active structure is still hard to obtain. In a structural point of view, ${\beta}2AR$ is relatively well studied since its fully active structure as a complex with G protein as well as several inactive structures are available. The structural comparison of inactive and active states gives an important clue in understanding the activation mechanism of ${\beta}2AR$. In this review, structural features of inactive and active states of ${\beta}2AR$, the interaction of ${\beta}2AR$ with heterotrimeric G protein, and the comparison with ${\beta}1AR$ will be discussed.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of family strength as a parameter on the relationship between grit, and learning satisfaction of university students. The grit scale, family strength scale and learning satisfaction scale were applied to data from surveys conducted on 194 students recruited from a university in G gun, C province. This study examined the mediating effects of family strength in relation to grit and learning satisfaction using the hierarchical regression analysis. Results showed that family strength had partial mediating effects in the between grit and learning satisfaction. Therefore, it seems that grit directly and indirectly affect learning satisfaction through family strength. This result indicates that the importance of family strength for learning satisfaction and suggest that family strength should be included in developing learning satisfaction improvement programs.

• ALGAE
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2009

The genus Grateloupia is the largest with more than 96 currently recognized species in the family Halymeniaceae, but morphological features of the genus are highly homoplasious making species identification difficult. In this study, we analyzed rbcL gene from 34 samples collected in Korea and compared the haplotypes of Korean species with those already published. The rbcL tree confirmed the occurrence of eight species in Korea: G. asiatica, G. catenata, G. divaricata, G. elliptica, G. imbricata, G. lanceolata, G. subpectina, and G. turuturu. All, except G. asiatica and G.catenata, been introduced from their native northeastern Asian waters to Australasian, European, and North American waters. The introduced haplotypes of G. lanceolata in Europe and North America were absent in Korea, while haplotype sharing of G. turuturu in Korea and Europe was common. Further sampling will show a source population of each introduced species and also provide a correct list of Grateloupia from Korea, including the other remaining 11 species of the genus.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.244-257
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• 2023

The family Ameiridae Boeck, 1865 (Copepoda; Harpacticoida) consists of about 380 species in 47 genera, but only 10 species have been reported in Korea. A benthic ameirid species was collected from the East Sea of Korea. Specimens were identified as members of the genus Ameiropsis Sars G.O., 1907, and this is the first record of the genus Ameiropsis in the Pacific Ocean. Ameiropsis gyeongjuensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to A. mixta Sars G.O., 1907 and A. longicornis Sars G.O., 1907 from Norway. However, the new species is clearly distinguishable from the others based on the following morphological characteristics: the proximal segment of antennary exopod with a bulge in the middle, and with one pinnate seta; the distal segment of antennary exopod with a thickened, blade-shaped outer seta; and female P5 baseoendopod with five setae and exopod with six setae. An identification key to species is provided for the 11 valid species of the genus Ameiropsis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2019

Lauraceae is a family medicinal plant whose tubers possesses antimicrobial, and cytotoxic, such as antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory special effects and has been used for the medicine in the cure of hepatitis and rheumatism. The antimicrobial activities of bioactive compounds including one neolignan; kunstlerone (1) and two alkaloids include isocaryachine (2) and noratherosperminine (3) as well as crude hexane, methanol and dichloromethane extracts were evaluated. Additionally, the effect of compounds 1, 2 and 3 were evaluated on A549, PC-3, A375, HT-29 and WRL-68 cell lines. In conclusion, kunstlerone 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines such as A549, PC-3, A375, HT-29 and WRL-68, respectively with $EC_{50}$ values of 28.02, 26.78, 33.78, 33.65 and $16.46{\mu}g/mL$. The crude methanol extract showed antigrowth activity against S. pyogenes II and B. cereus, with MICs of $256{\mu}g/mL$. The compounds kunstlerone (1), isocaryachine (2) and noratherosperminine (3) showed complete inhibition against P. shigelloides, with MIC ${\leq}60{\mu}g/mL$ compare to ampicillin, as a positive control, which showed antigrowth activity against P. shigelloides at MIC $10{\mu}g/mL$.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2004

Objective:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting 3-5% of school-aged 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 serotonin 1B(5HT1B) receptor gene G861C polymorphism. The aim of this study is to test for the association between ADHD and 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in Korean population. Method:We processed DNA extraction and genotyping. 106 Korean children with ADHD and their parents were analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk (HHRR). And the ADHD children were compared with 212 age and gender matched normal controls. Results:There was no statistical difference of distributions between ADHD cases and controls. We did not observe any preferential transmission of alleles of 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in ADHD. Conclusions:Though there is the possibility of failing to detect small genetic effects, our results show no evidence of an association between ADHD and 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in the Korean population and indicate that it is unlikely that the 5HT1B receptor is implicated in the susceptibility to ADHD.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.216-220
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• 2009

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 B10 (AKR1B10) has been considered as a potential cancer therapeutic target. Ethanol extracts prepared from 82 Korean local plants were examined for their antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on recombinant human AKR1B10 (rhAKR1B10) in vitro. 21 extracts showed more than 80% of ABTS radical scavenging activity at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ and 11 extracts inhibited more than 50% of rhAKR1B10 activity at $10\;{\mu}g/mL$. Especially, 9 extracts showed potent inhibition on rhAKR1B10 activity compared with positive control tetramethylene glutaric acid.