• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2009

Controlled gene expression in specific cells is a valuable tool for gene therapy. We attempted to determine whether the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On inducible system could be applied to cancer gene therapy. In order to select the genes that induce cancer cell death, we compared the ability of the known pro-apoptotreic genes, Bax and tBid, and a cell cycle inhibitor, p21cip1/waf1, and determined that Bax was the most effective. For the cancer cell-specific expression of $rtTA2^S$-M2, we tested the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoter and determined that it is highly expressed in cancer cell lines, including SNU475 cells. The co-transduction of two lentiviruses that contain sequences for TRE-Bax and $rtTA2^S$-M2, the expression of which is controlled by the MMP-2 promoter, resulted in the specific cell death of SNU475, whereas other cells with low MMP-2 expression did not evidence significant cell death. Our data indicate that the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On system using the cancer-specific promoter is applicable for cancer gene therapy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.492-503
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spiritual wellbeing year to prepare for death, and attitudes afterlife view. In addition, the purpose of this study is to form a correct attitude toward the death to develop the practical skills and interventions to alleviate death anxiety, to live the life of a satisfactory old age. Main results are as follows First, a sense of spiritual well prepared even death afterlife view and the analysis of the impact on attitudes toward death significantly (P<.001) showed that differences appeared unaffected. Second, afterlife view death readiness and spiritual wellbeing is a result of analyzing the relative importance of the impact of differences in attitudes toward death (P<.001) in that there is a statistically significant effect relationship in 99.9% confidence level It appeared. That death is also ready, exerts an influence on the sense of spiritual well the attitude of the order of death, afterlife view appeared as a variable that does not significantly affected if the other two variables influence. Third, after the death that included demographic variables readiness, afterlife view and spiritual wellbeing is having an economic level differences only result of analyzing the impact (p<.05) in a statistically significant negative effect on attitudes to death It appeared. So that the death readiness, spiritual well influenced to relieve the sense of death anxiety as a part of influencing the quality of life of the elderly it was identified in this study. Thus the meaning of the present study is meant I was able to verify that it can solve the anxiety about the death positively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2012

HoxB4, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, is involved in the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells in vivo and in vitro, and plays a key role in regulating the balance between hematopoietic stem cell renewal and cell differentiation. However, the biological activity of HoxB4 in other cells has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of overexpressed HoxB4 on cell survival under various conditions that induce death, using the Ba/F3 cell line. Analysis of phenotypical characteristics showed that HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells reduced cell size, death, and proliferation rate. Moreover, the progression from early to late apoptotic stages was inhibited in Ba/F3 cells subjected to HoxB4 overexpression under removal of interleukin-3-mediated signal, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and attenuated cell death by Fas protein stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death induced by doxorubicin-treated G2/M phase cell-cycle arrest also decreased with HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells. From these data, we suggest that HoxB4 may play an important role in the regulation of pro-B cell survival under various apoptotic death environments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.65-71
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• 2003

Bax, a mammalian pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, induces cell death when expressed in yeast. To investigate whether Bax expression can induce cell death in plant, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis plants that contained murine Bax cDNA under control of a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter. Transgenic plants treated with dexamethasone, a strong synthetic glucocorticoid, induced Bax accumulation and cell death, suggesting that some elements of cell death mechanism by Bax may be conserved among various organisms. Therefore, we developed novel yeast genetic system, and cloned several Plant Bax Inhibitors (PBIs). Here, we report the function of two PBIs in detail. PBI1 is ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX). Fluorescence method of dihydrorho-damine 123 oxidation revealed that expression of Bax in yeast cells generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and which was greatly reduced by co-expression with sAPX. These results suggest that sAPX inhibits the generation of ROS by Bax, which in turn suppresses Baxinduced cell death in yeast. PBI2 encodes nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK). ROS stress strongly induces the expression of the NDPK2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNDPK2). Transgenic plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 have lower levels of ROS than wildtype plants. Mutants lacking AtNDPK2 had higher levels of ROS than wildtype. $H_2O_2$ treatment induced the phosphorylation of two endogenous proteins whose molecular weights suggested they are AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. In the absence of $H_2O_2$ treatment, phosphorylation of these proteins was slightly elevated in plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 but markedly decreased in the AtNDPK2 deletion mutant. Yeast two-hybrid and in vitro protein pull-down assays revealed that AtNDPK2 specifically interacts with AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. Furthermore, AtNDPK2 also enhances the MBP phosphorylation activity of AtMPK3 in vitro. Finally, constitutive overexpression of AtNDPK2 in Arabidopsis plants conferred an enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses that elicit ROS accumulation in situ. Thus, AtNDPK2 appears to play a novel regulatory role in $H_2O_2$-mediated MAPK signaling in plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2003

Bax, a mammalian pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family induces cell death when expressed in yeast. To investigate whether Bax expression can induce cell death in plant, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis plants that contained murine Bax cDNA under control of a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter. Transgenic plants treated with dexamethasone, a strong synthetic glucocorticoid, induced Bax accumulation and cell death, suggesting that some elements of cell death mechanism by Bax may be conserved among various organisms. Therefore, we developed novel yeast genetic system, and cloned several Plant Bax Inhibitors (PBIs). Here, we report the function of two PBIs in detail. PBI1 is ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX). Fluorescence method of dihydrorhodamine123 oxidation revealed that expression of Bax in yeast cells generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and which was greatly reduced by co-expression with sAPX. These results suggest that sAPX inhibits the generation of ROS by Bax, which in turn suppresses Baxinduced cell death in yeast. PBI2 encodes nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK). ROS stress strongly induces the expression of the NDPK2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNDPK2). Transgenic plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 have lower levels of ROS than wildtype plants. Mutants lacking AtNDPK2 had higher levels of ROS than wildtype. $H_2O_2$ treatment induced the phosphorylation of two endogenous proteins whose molecular weights suggested they are AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. In the absence of $H_2O_2$ treatment, phosphorylation of these proteins was slightly elevated in plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 but markedly decreased in the AtNDPK2 deletion mutant. Yeast two-hybrid and in vitro protein pull-down assays revealed that AtNDPK2 specifically interacts with AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. Furthermore, AtNDPK2 also enhances the MSP phosphorylation activity of AtMPK3 in vitro. Finally, constitutive overexpression of AtNDPK2 in Arabidopsis plants conferred an enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses that elicit ROS accumulation in situ. Thus, AtNDPK2 appears to playa novel regulatory role in $H_2O_2$-mediated MAPK signaling in plants.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2008

We investigated death rates, growth rates and recruitment of culms in two neighboring bamboo (Phyllostachys bamboosoides) stands nested in by two different bird species to analyze stand structure and to design conservation strategies. A third bamboo grove not used by birds, the Taewha stand, was included as a control stand. The bamboo stand occupied by birds in the family Ardeidae (the Ardeidae stand) had an approximately 1.5 times higher culm density than the stand occupied by birds in the family Corvidae (the Corvidae stand). The crude death rate and the number of newly emerged shoots were also higher in the Ardeidae stand than the Corvidae stand. The death rate for bamboo in the Ardeidae stand was not dependent on diameter at breast height (DBH) and was almost 40% for culms of all sizes, whereas most dead culms in the Corvidae stand were < 4 cm DBH. Consequently, we conclude that in the Ardeidae stand, density-independent causes of death are operating, while density-dependent factor are more important in the Corvidae site. The results of soil analysis in these stands suggest that the density-independent death pattern observed in the Ardeidae stand may be due to soil acidification resulting from wastes produced by the birds during breeding. On the other hand, the culm distribution and death patterns in the Corvidae stand suggest that the stand characteristics were not affected by the nesting birds. These results suggest that different conservation strategies must be applied to conserve bamboo groves used by ardeids and corvids for nesting.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.74-79
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• 2020

It is necessary to expand organ donations of the deceased, as more ethical problems are emerging from the increase in organ donations from the living. As the legal and ethical discussions on donation after circulatory death (DCD) as a field with the potential to expand such domestic organ donation are being held, the need for a social consensus is increasingly highlighted. Organ DCD refers to the donation of an organ from a patient whose spontaneous blood circulation has stopped due to cardiac death. In this study, we aimed to examine whether there are legal and ethical obstacles or medical uncertainties for expanding the practice of DCD. By law, death is recognized as cardiac death, and brain death is recognized as an exception for organ transplantation. Although circulatory death precedes brain death, this paper presents a discussion to begin the process of reaching an ethical and legal agreement on whether or not circulatory death can be recognized as death. Successful implementations of DCD, including Category III DCD, in other countries are currently being reviewed to introduce Category III DCD in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.322-331
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• 2021

This article has attempted to explore the topic of everyday life and memory based on theoretical and methodological discussions on daily life, everydayness, sociology of everyday life, memory, social construction of memory, and social memory. In order to do this, Koreeda Hirokazu's debut feature film (Hirokazu Koreeda, 1995) which inquires about the encounters and separations, life and death in everyday life was selected as a research subject. According to the results, structured with 61 scenes talked that Yumiko's daily life was shattered in an instant due to Ikuo's death and her memory was also fragmented. But after that, her social memory can reconstruct a new daily life through the 'light' of will or hope for life. Hirokazu Koreeda tried to confirm that human encounters and partings, life and death are daily life itself or a part of it through 'light' such as sunlight and moonlight, street lamps and electric lamps in this film.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aims to identify factors that influence middle-aged men's attitude towards death. Methods: The study enrolled 204 middle-aged (range=40~59 years) male residents of Daegu in Korea. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected in October 4~30, 2010. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheff$\grave{e}$'s test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS WIN 14.0. Results: Participants' attitude towards death significantly differed according to educational level, religion, volunteer activities, and perceived health status. Moreover, their attitude towards death was negatively correlated with life stress and depression and positively correlated with self-esteem, life satisfaction, and coping behavior. The factors influencing the attitude towards death were life satisfaction, daily stress, religion, and depression, which explained approximately 25.7% of the total variance. Conclusion: Middle-aged men perform a crucial role in our society, and their attitude toward death affects how they cope with a situational crisis such as a terminal cancer or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement a support program for middle-aged men, which offers them with various strategies to better manage their daily stress and improve their life satisfaction and coping skills.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.612-623
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to explore children's reactions in the process of reading books dealing with death. As a result, there was a reflection of their religious assumptions. The participants interpreted the stories based on their belief systems. If the stories did not match with their assumptions, they used another strategy. Also, it is indicated that they recalled death-related memories and applied those stories to their own loss experiences and social events. Furthermore, they recognized the importance of their own everyday lives rather than immersing in death itself. It means that death-related stories help the participants express their passion towards life and resolve to live their lives to the utmost. Contrary to their first drawings before reading books, their second drawings contained the joy of living and reflected the details of death they developed while reading books. Also, the colors they used in their second drawings were brighter than the previous ones. Their passionate attitude towards life above was equally shown in their poems as well. In conclusion, reading death stories turned out to be a process in which children develop and reflect on their understanding of death. Abundant opportunities to express their own feelings are offered. Furthermore, it is showed that death stories can help the children love their lives and provide a strong will for their living sincerely. Based on the results, some educational suggestions were provided.