• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.195-200
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• 2020

Soil-transmitted helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, are important intestinal parasites mostly affecting younger people in developing countries. In 2014-2015, we performed mass fecal examinations targeting a total of 2,227 schoolchildren in 3 districts (South Dagon, North Dagon, and Hlaing-thar-yar) of Yangon Region, Myanmar, using the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The egg positive children were subjected to a mass drug administration (MDA) using a single oral dose of 400 mg albendazole. The pre-treatment egg positive rate (EPG/person) of A. lumbricoides averaged 17.2% (15,532); it was 25.2% (21,796), 14.2% (11,816), and 12.8% (12,983) in 3 districts, respectively, and that of T. trichiura averaged 19.4% (1,074), and was 24.1% (1,040), 12.3% (852), and 21.2% (1,330) in 3 districts, respectively. Follow-up fecal examinations performed 4 months post-MDA revealed considerable decreases of A. lumbricoides prevalence (EPG/person) to av. 8.3% (12,429), and 13.7% (17,640), 8.0% (7,797), and 4.5% (11,849) in 3 districts, respectively. However, T. trichiura did not show any recognizable decrease in the prevalence (EPG/person) remaining at av. 18.2% (862), and 18.5% (888), 11.5% (812), and 23.3% (887) in 3 districts, respectively. The results demonstrated difficulty in short-term control of T. trichiura by MDA using albendazole and suggested necessity of either a long-term MDA (>10 years) or changing the albendazole regimen into 2~3-day course (total 800 or 1,200 mg), or using an alternative drug/drug combination.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.421-430
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate whether mass drug administration (MDA) intervention has an equivalent effect on reducing the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection regardless of the baseline values. A repeated cross-sectional survey was performed targeting students of 12 primary schools in Al Jabalain and El Salam districts of White Nile State, Sudan, at both 1 week before and 8 months after the MDA. Prior to the baseline survey, schoolaged children in Al Jabalain had received MDA interventions twice in 4 years, while those in El Salam had not. The baseline prevalence was 9.1% in Al Jabalain and 35.2% in El Salam, which were reduced to 1.8% and 5.5% at 8 months after the MDA, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 80.3% and 84.4%, not significant difference between both districts. However, changes in the geometric mean intensity (GMI) of egg counts were significantly different between both districts. The baseline GMIs were 14.5 eggs per 10 ml of urine (EP10) in Al Jabalain and 18.5 EP10 in El Salam, which were reduced to 7.1 and 11.2 EP10 after treatment, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 51.0% and 39.5%. In conclusion, MDA interventions were found to bring about similar relative reduction in prevalence regardless of the baseline value; however, the relative reduction in infection intensity was more salient in the district with a low baseline value for both prevalence and intensity. This clearly points to the importance of repeated MDA interventions in endemic areas, which will eventually contribute to schistosomiasis elimination.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.249-258
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• 2013

눈꽃 동충하초(PJ), 번데기 동충하초(CM), cordycepin 고함유 번데기 동충하초($CM{\alpha}$)의 수용성, 에탄올 및 메탄올 추출물의 생리활성 물질 분석과 항산화 활성(DPPH free radical scavenging 활성, Cu/Fe-환원력, 간 조직 microsome 생체막 및 linoleic acid 과산화지질, Tyrosinase 저해활성, 혈전용해효소 활성)을 측정하였다. PJ의 수용성추출물 수율 42.53%이며 폴리페놀 화합물 함량 2.72% 및 플라보노이드 함량 1.73%로 가장 높았고 PJ, CM, $CM{\alpha}$의 주요 지방산 성분으로 palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid였으며, 주요 미네랄은 K, Mg 및 Ca으로 나타났다. DPPH free radical scavenging 활성, Cu/Fe-환원력, linoleic acid의 과산화 지질 측정, Tyrosinase 저해 활성에 의한 여러 항산화 활성은 PJ가 가장 높았지만 $CM{\alpha}$가 CM보다는 항산화 활성이 높은 것을 확인했다. 또한 간 조직 microsome 생체막 지질 과산화 억제활성은 $CM{\alpha}$가 가장 활성이 좋았고 혈전 용해효소 활성에서도 $CM{\alpha}$가 높은 혈전 분해능이 있는 것을 확인하여 향후 건강기능식품이나 기능성 화장품, 혈전용해효소 개발 관련 연구의 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료되어 진다.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.299-308
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• 2000

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the microleakage of 5 curing methods in class V composite restorations which are composed of two-step light curing, pulse-delay cure, low curing-light intensity, moderate curing-light intensity and high curing-light intensity. In this study, class V cavities were prepared on buccal and lingual surfaces of 50 extracted human upper or lower molars on cementum margin. Single Bond adhesive and Z-100 shade A2 were applied for each group following the manufacture's instruction. The experimental teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 samples (20 surfaces) each. Group 1: two-step light curing; Group 2: pulse-delay cure; Group 3: low curing-light intensity; Group 4: moderate curing-light intensity; Group 5: high curing-light intensity. After 500 thermocycling between $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, the 60 teeth were placed in 2% methylene blue dye for 24 hours, then rinsed with tab water. The specimens were embedded in clear resin, then sectioned buccolingually through the center of restoration with a low speed diamond saw. The dye penetration on each of the specimen was then observed with a stereomicroscope at ${\times}20$. The composite resin/tooth interfaces were examined under Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis One Way ANOVA and Dunn's Method. The results of this study were as follows. 1. In all groups, the leakage values seen at the enamel margin were significantly lower than those seen at the dentin margin(P<0.05). 2. No group in this study showed significant differences in leakage values at both the enamel and the dentin margins(P<0.05). 3. In all groups, the gaps seen at the enamel margin were significantly lower than those seen at the dentin margin(P<0.05). 4. The gaps in this study showed significant differences and two-step light-curing and low curing-light intensity produced significant less gap than high curing-light intensity(P<0.05).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.358-367
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• 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as an international health emergency. Current diagnostic tests are based on the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method, which is the gold standard test that involves the amplification of viral RNA. However, the RT-qPCR assay has limitations in terms of sensitivity and quantification. In this study, we tested both qPCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect low amounts of viral RNA. The cycle threshold (CT) of the viral RNA by RT-PCR significantly varied according to the sequences of the primer and probe sets with in vitro transcript (IVT) RNA or viral RNA as templates, whereas the copy number of the viral RNA by ddPCR was effectively quantified with IVT RNA, cultured viral RNA, and RNA from clinical samples. Furthermore, the clinical samples were assayed via both methods, and the sensitivity of the ddPCR was determined to be equal to or more than that of the RT-qPCR. However, the ddPCR assay is more suitable for determining the copy number of reference materials. These findings suggest that the qPCR assay with the ddPCR defined reference materials could be used as a highly sensitive and compatible diagnostic method for viral RNA detection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.1165-1176
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• 2019

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by Clostridium botulinum, are the most toxic substances known. However, the number of currently approved medical countermeasures for these toxins is very limited. Therefore, studies on therapeutic antitoxins are essential to prepare for toxin-related emergencies. Currently, more than 10,000 Halla horses, a crossbreed between the native Jeju and Thoroughbred horses, are being raised in Jeju Island of Korea. They can be used for equine antitoxin experiments and production of hyperimmune serum against BoNT/A1. Instead of the inactivated BoNT/A1 toxoid, Halla horse was immunized with the receptor-binding domain present in the C-terminus of heavy chain of BoNT/A1 (BoNT/A1-HCR) expressed in Escherichia coli. The anti-BoNT/A1-HCR antibody titer increased rapidly by week 4, and this level was maintained for several weeks after boosting immunization. Notably, $20{\mu}l$ of the week-24 BoNT/A1-HCR(-immunized) equine serum showed an in vitro neutralizing activity of over 8 international units (IU) of a reference equine antitoxin. Furthermore, $20{\mu}l$ of equine serum and $100{\mu}g$ of purified equine $F(ab^{\prime})_2$ showed 100% neutralization of 10,000 $LD_{50}$ in vivo. The results of this study shall contribute towards optimizing antitoxin production for BoNT/A1, which is essential for emergency preparedness and response.

• 수면정신생리
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.82-91
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• 2018

목 적 : 본 연구는 전 수면 주기 동안 수면단계에 따른 전체 뇌 영역과 수면 관련 뇌 영역들의 뇌기능 연결망의 변화를 살펴보기 위해 동기화된 뇌파(EEG)-자기기능공명영상(fMRI)를 전 수면 주기 동안 측정하고 신호처리 기법을 사용함으로 수면 단계에 따른 뇌 연결망의 탐구가 가능함을 살펴 보기 위해 수행되었다. 방 법 : 정상 성인 피험자 5인을 대상으로 6~7시간의 수면동안 MRI 기계 안에서 안전도, 심전도, 근전도와 EEG-fMRI를 측정하였고 EEG에 발생한 MRI 자장 변화 잡음과 심박관련 잡음을 제거하였다. fMRI에서는 피험자의 움직임에 의해 발생하는 영상 왜곡을 보정하는 부분볼륨활용기법을 제안하여 사용하였다. 잡음이 제거된 수면중 fMRI에 독립성분분석기법을 적용하여 뇌 전체를 68 영역으로 구획하여 수면 연구에 적합한 뇌 구획 지도를 만들고 이를 바탕으로 각 구획들간의 연결성을 계산하였다. 수면관련 뇌심부 영역을 선택하여 연결망 분석을 수행하였다. 결 과 : 뇌파를 비롯한 수면 생리적 신호들은 잡음 제거의 방법을 이용하게 되면 수면단계설정에 문제가 없으며 수면 단계별 뇌 연결망 연구가 가능함을 보여 주었다. 뇌연결망 분석에서 수면 관련 뇌심부 연결망은 렘과 비렘수면에 따라 다른 특성이 나타나는데 비렘수면에서 전반적으로 높은 연결성을 보였다. 대뇌를 포함한 전체 뇌 연결망의 경우 각성에 비해서 수면 중에 뇌 연결성이 떨어지는 양상을 보였다(Kolmogorov-Smirnov 검정 ; p < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). 결 론 : 본 연구를 통해서 장시간 수면 EEG-fMRI 측정과 수면단계설정이 가능하고 신호처리 기법을 통해서 보정하게 되면 뇌기능 연결망을 이용한 전체 수면 뇌 연구가 가능함을 시사한다.

• 한국정보통신학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정보통신학회 2014년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.981-984
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• 2014

IBASPM(Individual Brain Atlases using Statistical Parametric Mapping Software)를 이용하여 해마의 체적 측정시, Atlas의 종류(Atlas69, Atlas71, Atlas84, Atlas116)에 따른 체적의 변화를 평가하기 위해 20대 정상 성인 10명(남5/여5, $23.3{\pm}2.66$)으로부터 뇌 영상을 획득하였다. 1.5T MRI system(Siemens, Avanto, Erlangen, Germany)의 머리 격자코일(Head matrix coil)을 사용하여 3차원 경사에코 펄스 열(3-D gradient echo pulse sequence)인 MPRAGE(Magnetization Prepared Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo)영상을 획득하였다. Atlas의 종류에 따라 획득된 해마의 체적을 이용하여 대응표본 t 검정(Paired t-test)을 수행한 결과, 좌측 해마옆이랑(parahippocampal gyrus - left) Atlas69-Altas84, Atlas69-Atlas116(p=0.729, 0.729), 우측 해마형성체(hippocampal formation - right) Atlas69-Atlas84, Atlas69-Atlas116(p=0.219, 0.219)는 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 이를 제외한 부분에서 유의한 차이가 있었다(p=0.000). 그러고 Atlas84와 Atlas116을 이용한 해마의 체적은 모두 동일한 값을 나타내어 유의한 차이가 없었다(p=0.000). Atlas영상과 원본 영상의 overlay를 이용한 영상분석에서는 Atlas71에서만 해마의 부위가 잘 못 정합되는 것을 발견할 수 있었다. 본 연구에 사용된 Atlas의 경우에는 서양인을 바탕으로 개발되었기 때문에 동양인의 뇌와는 차이가 있으며, 정확성 높은 체적의 측정을 위해서는 상황에 맞는 Atlas의 개발이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.302-309
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• 2019

BACKGOURND/OBJECTIVES: Vascular inflammation is an important feature in the atherosclerotic process. Recent studies report that leaves and branches of Carpinus turczaninowii (C. turczaninowii) have antioxidant capacity and exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has reported the regulatory effect of C. turczaninowii extract on the arterial inflammatory response. This study therefore investigated modulation of the arterial inflammatory response after exposure to C. turczaninowii extract, using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs). MATERIALS/METHODS: Scavenging activity of free radicals, total phenolic content (TPC), cell viability, mRNA expressions, and secreted levels of cytokines were measured in LPS-stimulated (10 ng/mL) HAoSMCs treated with the C. turczaninowii extract. RESULTS: C. turczaninowii extract contains high amounts of TPC ($225.6{\pm}21.0mg$ of gallic acid equivalents/g of the extract), as well as exerts time-and dose-dependent increases in strongly scavenged free radicals (average $14.8{\pm}1.97{\mu}g/mL$ $IC_{50}$ at 40 min). Cell viabilities after exposure to the extracts (1 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) were similar to the viability of non-treated cells. Cytokine mRNA expressions were significantly suppressed by the extracts (1 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) at 6 hours (h) after exposure. Interleukin-6 secretion was dose-dependently suppressed 2 h after incubation with the extract, at $1-10{\mu}g/mL$ in non-stimulated cells, and at 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ in LPS-stimulated cells. Similar patterns were also observed at 24 h after incubation with the extract (at $1-10{\mu}g/mL$ in non-stimulated cells, and at $10{\mu}g/mL$ in the LPS-stimulated cells). Soluble intracellular vascular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1) secreted from non-stimulated cells and LPS-stimulated cells were similarly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h exposure to the extracts, but not after 2 h. In addition, sICAM-1 concentration after 24 h treatment was positively related to IL-6 levels after 2 h and 24 h exposure (r = 0.418, P = 0.003, and r = 0.524, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C. turczaninowii modulates the arterial inflammatory response, and indicates the potential to be applied as a therapeutic use for atherosclerosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.414-422
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• 2019

There is accumulating evidence that microRNAs are emerging as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of neuropathic pain. MicroRNA-15a/16 (miR-15a/16) have been reported to play an important role in various diseases and inflammation response processes. However, whether miR-15a/16 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain development remains unknown. In this study, we established a mouse model of neuropathic pain by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerves. Our results showed that both miR-15a and miR-16 expression was significantly upregulated in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Downregulation of the expression of miR-15a and miR-16 by intrathecal injection of a specific inhibitor significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of CCI rats. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 downregulated the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor-necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), an important regulator in neuropathic pain and inflammation, was a potential target gene of miR-15a and miR-16. Inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 markedly increased the expression of GRK2 while downregulating the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in CCI rats. Notably, the silencing of GRK2 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-15a/16 inhibition in neuropathic pain. In conclusion, our results suggest that inhibition of miR-15a/16 expression alleviates neuropathic pain development by targeting GRK2. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing neuropathic pain development.