• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.954-960
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• 2008

MiRNAs (microRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules of ~21 nucleotides that down- regulate the expression of target genes at post-transcriptional level. In this study, we first accomplished a preliminary scan of miRNA expression using 65 and 90 day fetal pig skeletal muscle samples by microarray hybridization, and 34 miRNAs showed strong positive signals. Five of these miRNAs were selected for further investigation by real-time RT-PCR. The statistical analyses indicated that three miRNAs exhibited significant differential expression (p<0.05) during porcine muscle development from 65 to 90 days of gestation, e.g., miR-24 and miR-424 were down-regulated while miR-133a was up-regulated. Multi-tissue RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression patterns of the five miRNA precursors. The results showed that most of these precursor miRNAs were ubiquitously expressed in different porcine tissues.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.219-229
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• 2022

In this study, we propose a miniaturized micro-ceramic heater device. After screen-printing a silver paste between pre-sintered two aluminum oxide plates to integrate a heating circuit, the device was fabricated through a low-temperature sintering process. In order to configure the optimal heating circuit integration condition, the output current evaluation and heating test were performed according to the number of screen prints of the silver paste at various voltages. A silver paste-based heating circuit printed with a line width of 200 ㎛ and a thickness of 60 ㎛ was successfully integrated on a pre-sintered alumina substrate through a low-temperature sintering process. In the case of the 5 times printed device, the thermal response showed a response rate of 18.19 ℃/sec. To demonstrate feasibility of the proposed device in the medical field, such as bio-tissue suturing and hemostasis, a voltage was applied to pig tissue in the device to test tissue change due to heat generated from the device. These results show the possibility that the proposed small ceramic heater could be used in the medical field based on its excellent temperature response.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.782-792
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• 2016

As the most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are two of the main health concerns for the elderly population. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been used as biomarkers of infectious, genetic, and metabolic diseases in humans but they have not been well studied in domestic animals. Here we describe a computational biology study in which human AD- and PD-associated miRNAs (ADM and PDM) were utilized to predict orthologous miRNAs in the following domestic animal species: dog, cow, pig, horse, and chicken. In this study, a total of 121 and 70 published human ADM and PDM were identified, respectively. Thirty-seven miRNAs were co-regulated in AD and PD. We identified a total of 105 unrepeated human ADM and PDM that had at least one 100% identical animal homolog, among which 81 and 54 showed 100% sequence identity with 241 and 161 domestic animal miRNAs, respectively. Over 20% of the total mature horse miRNAs (92) showed perfect matches to AD/PD-associated miRNAs. Pigs, dogs, and cows have similar numbers of AD/PD-associated miRNAs (63, 62, and 59). Chickens had the least number of perfect matches (34). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses suggested that humans and dogs are relatively similar in the functional pathways of the five selected highly conserved miRNAs. Taken together, our study provides the first evidence for better understanding the miRNA-AD/PD associations in domestic animals, and provides guidance to generate domestic animal models of AD/PD to replace the current rodent models.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2015

Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the current study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of let-7 family members in follicles and granulosa cells were similar to our microarray data, in which miRNAs let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, and let-7i were significantly decreased in early atretic and progressively atretic porcine ovary follicles compared with healthy follicles, while let-7g was highly expressed during follicle atresia. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst33342 staining demonstrated that let-7g increased the apoptotic rate of cultured granulosa cells. In addition, let-7 target genes were predicted and annotated by TargetScan, PicTar, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Our data provide new insight into the association between the let-7 miRNA family in granulosa cell programmed death.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.757-766
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• 2019

Objective: MicroRNAs are a class of endogenous small regulatory RNAs that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recent studies on miRNAs are mainly focused on mice, human and pig. However, the studies on miRNAs in skeletal muscle of sheep are not comprehensive. Methods: RNA-seq technology was used to perform genomic analysis of miRNAs in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle of sheep. Targeted genes were predicted using miRanda software and miRNA-mRNA interactions were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To further investigate the function of miRNAs, candidate targeted genes were enriched for analysis using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Results: The results showed total of 1,086 known miRNAs and 40 new candidate miRNAs were detected in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle of sheep. In addition, 345 miRNAs (151 up-regulated, 94 down-regulated) were differentially expressed. Moreover, miRanda software was performed to predict targeted genes of miRNAs, resulting in a total of 2,833 predicted targets, especially miR-381 which targeted multiple muscle-related mRNAs. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway analysis confirmed that targeted genes of miRNAs were involved in development of skeletal muscles. Conclusion: This study supplements the miRNA database of sheep, which provides valuable information for further study of the biological function of miRNAs in sheep skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.13
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• 2023

Background: As Actinobacillus pleuropneumonniae (APP) infection causes considerable losses in the pig industry, there is a growing need to develop effective therapeutic interventions that leverage host immune defense mechanisms to combat these pathogens. Objectives: To demonstrate the role of microRNA (miR)-127 in controlling bacterial infection against APP. Moreover, to investigate a signaling pathway in macrophages that controls the production of anti-microbial peptides. Methods: Firstly, we evaluated the effect of miR-127 on APP-infected pigs by cell count/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then the impact of miR-127 on immune cells was detected. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were evaluated by ELISA. The expression of cytokines (anti-microbial peptides [AMPs]) was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression level of IL-6, TNF-α and p-P65 were analyzed by western blot. The expression of p65 in the immune cells was investigated by immunofluorescence. Results: miR-127 showed a protective effect on APP-infected macrophage. Moreover, the protective effect might depend on its regulation of macrophage bactericidal activity and the generation of IL-22, IL-17 and AMPs by targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor3 (SIPR3), the element involved in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) cascades. Conclusions: Together, we identify that miR-127 is a regulator of S1PR3 and then regulates TLR/nuclear factor-κB signaling in macrophages with anti-bacterial acticity, and it might be a potential target for treating inflammatory diseases caused by APP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.367-368
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• 2002

The design of capsule body for self-propelled endoscope is important from the frictional resistance point of view. The capsule should be able to overcome the frictional resistance in order to move along the intestine. The motivation of this work was to gain a better understanding of the capsule body design on the frictional resistance of the capsule inside an intestine. A special experimental set-up was built to measure the frictional resistance as the capsule was being pulled inside the pig intestine specimen. Tests were performed with open and closed intestine specimens. Experimental data showed that smooth cylindrical capsule geometry resulted in the least frictional resistance. The resistance inside the closed intestine specimen was about four times higher than that of the open specimen. It is expected that the results of this work will be used to design the optimum propulsion system for the microendoscope.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22 nucleotides of small noncoding RNAs that control gene expression at the posttranscriptional level through translational inhibition and destabilization of their target mRNAs. The miRNAs are phylogenetically conserved and have been shown to be instrumental in a wide variety of key biological processes including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, metabolism, imprinting, and differentiation. Recently, a paper has shown that expression of the miRNA-302/367 cluster expressed abundantly in mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can directly reprogram mouse and human somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) efficiently in the absence of any of the four factors, Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4. To apply this efficient method to porcine, we analyzed porcine genomic sequence containing predicted porcine miRNA-302/367 cluster through ENSEMBL database, generated a non-replicative episomal vector system including miRNA-302/367 cluster originated from porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEF), and tried to make porcine iPSCs by transfection of the miRNA-302/367 cluster. Colonies expressing EGFP and forming compact shape were found, but they were not established as iPSC lines. Our data in this study show that pig miRNA-302/367 cluster could not satisfy requirement of PEF reprogramming conditions for pluripotency. To make pig iPSC lines by miRNA, further studies on the role of miRNAs in pluripotency and new trials of transfection with conventional reprogramming factors are needed.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2005

Purpose : To investigate the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) bone imaging parameters and trabecular strength in the mandible. Materials and Methods : Bone specimens were obtained from the mandibles of five male pigs weighing around 110 kg each. Of those, 43 samples were selected for 3D analysis and measured by micro-computed tomography. The five morphometric parameters were trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), bone specific surface (BS/BV), percent bone volume (BV/TV), structure model index (SMI) and degree of anisotropy (DA). Through destructive mechanical testing, strength parameters were obtained. Results : BV/TV, SMI, BS/BV, and Tb.Th showed significant correlations with strength parameters. DA did not show any correlation with the other parameters. In multiple linear regression analysis, BV/TV alone explained $43\%$ of the variance in Young's modulus. By stepwise inclusion of SMI, the variance in the Young's modulus was better explained up to $52\%$. Conclusions : Predicting trabecular strength in the mandible through architectural analysis would be possible. Further study is needed to establish the tendency and variety of trabecular architecture and strength according to the locations within the mandible.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 1996

Seventy-nine strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 117 slaughtered pigs (bile, urine, small intestine, cecum and rectum) in 1995 were examined for biotypes and susceptibility to 19 antibiotics with MicroScan WalkAway 40/96. The obtained results were as follows : 1. Among the twenty-two species isolated from the samples, Proteus mirabilis, E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae were commonly encountered. 2. The distribution frequency of isolates from cecum, small intestine, rectum, bile, and urine was 31(38.8%), 25(31.3%), 18(22.8%), 3(3.7% ), and 2(2.5% ), respectively. 3. A majority of isolates were sensitive to 16 antibiotics, singly or in combination. And these isolates were commonly susceptible to various antibiotics such as Cp, Ts, Azt, Caz, To, Gm, Cfz, Crm, Am and Cfx, in order. Whereas the Salmonella spp was susceptible to Cf, Ti and Pi, and Proteus mirabilis to Imp, Tim, Cft and Cz. Meanwhile, no effect was found to Cf, Ak and Cax. 4. Among the antibiotic resistant strains, a total of 17 reistant patterns was noted End of these Ak Tim 45(57.0%), Ak Am Cf Cfx Cfz Tim 8(10.1%) and Ak Ti Tim 6(7.6% ) were frequently encountered.