• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.20-24
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• 2019

Purpose Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) scan is used in nuclear medicine, for which $^{99m}Tc-sestaMIBI$ is administered by intravenous injection. However, the breast uptake rate of $^{99m}Tc-sestaMIBI$ is less than 1% of the total dose administered, relying on blood flow conditions of organs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of changes to body temperature on the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-sestaMIBI$ in breast tissue. Materials and Methods We investigated 30 breast cancer patients who performed more than one follow-up MBI scan. All scans were acquired by Discovery 750B (Genral Electric Healthcare, USA). $^{99m}Tc-sestaMIBI$ injected with 740 MBq (20 mCi), after 60 minutes, gained bilateral breast CC (CranioCaudal), MLO (Medio Lateral Oblique) View. The follow-up examination was then classified into 15 body temperature control group and 15 body temperature non-control group, and gained breast image in the same way as before. The breast uptake rate was analyzed in the MLO View of the opposite side of the lesion, and blind images were evaluated. Results The breast uptake rate increased by 30.31% in the body temperature control group and it was statistically significant(P<0.05), and 0.96% in the body temperature non-control group, and it was not statistically significant(P=0.955). There was a significant difference in the uptake rate between the body temperature control and the non-control group of P value of 0.01. Evaluation of blind images showed significant results in terms of the quality of the images. Conclusion Increased breast tissue uptake was observed when the subject was kept warm. When the body temperature was raised after injection, dilation of the peripheral blood vessels can be achieved. As a result, the blood flow became smooth and the breast uptake rate increased. In addition, an increase in breast tissue uptake will improve the quality of images.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2012

Triploids are a useful tool for biomass production and molecular breeding of trees with a long life span. Triploids of the poplar 'Hyunsasi' (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) have been developed by crossing between female diploids and a male tetraploid. The tetraploid was developed around the 1970s at Korea Forest Research Institute by colchicine-induced chromosome doubling. Seedlings of the $F_1$ generation were analyzed using flow cytometry to verify their ploidy status. The mean relative fluorescence index of 3 F1 poplars, labeled as Line- 1, Line-17, Line-18, were approximately 1.5 times higher than those of diploid poplars, and the results clearly indicated that they were triploids. The phenotype of the F1 poplars included larger leaves and thicker stem than diploids, and abnormal leaf morphology, especially in the triploid 'Line-18'. Three triploid lines developed roots more slowly and had less roots than diploid. However, 3 poplar cytotypes (2x, Line-1, Line-17) rooted within 10 days on MS medium. In contrast, compared with the 3 cytotypes, the Line-18 showed about 80% and 70% in the rooting rate and the number of roots. The triploid poplars could be directly utilized for biomass production and with their sterility, they could serve as basic material for genetic transformation. In addition, flow cytometric analysis proved to be an effective and reliable method for screening forest trees for their ploidy level.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.427-434
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• 2019

The role of hydrophobic residues on protein folding reaction was studied by folding kinetics measurements in conjunction with protein engineering. The HubWA, which was derived from human ubiquitin by mutating the residues at 45 (Phe to Trp) and 26 (Val to Ala), was used as a mutational background. Fourteen hydrophobic residues were mutated to alanine. Among fourteen variants generated, only four variant proteins (V5A, I13A, V17A, and I36A) were suitable for folding study. The folding kinetics of these variants was measured by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. The folding kinetics of HubWA and V17A was observed to follow a three-state on-pathway mechanism. On the other hand, folding kinetics of V5A, I13A, and I36A was observed to follow a two-state mechanism. Based on these observations, transition of protein folding reaction from collision-diffusion mechanism to nucleation-condensation mechanism was discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.728-735
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• 2013

Plantago asiatica (Plantaginaceae) is a wind-pollinated plant that grows mainly on fields in East Asia. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the allozyme diversity and population structure of 18 populations of this species. Although the plantain populations were isolated and patchily distributed, they maintained a high level of genetic diversity; the average percentage of polymorphic loci was 57.1%, the mean number of alleles per locus was 2.07, and the average heterozygosity for 18 populations was 0.201. The combination of a predominant wind-pollinated, mix-mating reproduction, large population sizes, high gene flow between subpopulations, and a propensity for high fecundity may explain the high level of genetic diversity within populations. A direct gradient in overall genetic diversity is associated with latitude. Genetic diversity of P. asiatica is markedly decreased from $35^{\circ}3^{\prime}$ to high latitude and decreased from $35^{\circ}3^{\prime}N$ to low latitude, whereas there does not show a longitudinal gradient in genetic diversity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.179-179
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• 2016

A radio-frequency (RF) Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) torch system was used for boron-nitride nano-tube (BNNT) synthesis. Because of electrodeless plasma generation, no electrode pollution and effective heating transfer during nano-material synthesis can be realized. For stable plasma generation, argon and nitrogen gases were injected with 60 kW grid power in the difference pressure from 200 Torr to 630 Torr. Varying hydrogen gas flow rate from 0 to 20 slpm, the electrical and optical plasma properties were investigated. Through the spectroscopic analysis of atomic argon line, hydrogen line and nitrogen molecular band, we investigated the plasma electron excitation temperature, gas temperature and electron density. Based on the plasma characterization, we performed the synthesis of BNNT by inserting 0.5~1 um hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) powder into the plasma. We analysis the structure characterization of BNNT by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), also grasp the ingredient of BNNT by EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. We treated bundles of BNNT with the atmospheric pressure plasma, so that we grow the surface morphology in the water attachment of BNNT. We reduce the advancing contact angle to purity bundles of BNNT.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 1987

The foam separation of bovine serum proteins was investigated and the protein fractionation by foam separation was analyzed by PAG electrophoresis. The protein concentration for the surface excess formation of bovine serum was in the range of $20-800\;{\mu}g/ml$. At pH 5, the foamate volume was maximum, but the enrichment ratio minimum. As the temperature was elevated, the foamate volume decreased and the enrichment ratio increase. As the gas flow rate increased from 25 to 100 ml/min, the foamate volume decreased and the enrichment ratio increased. The enrichment ration became maximum when the added ionic strength of serum solution was in the range of 1-3 by the addition of different types of salts, and this was related to the reduction of surface tension of the solution. In general, BSA, ${\alpha}_1$, and ${\alpha}_2-globulins$, which have relatively small molecular weight and high hydrophobicity, moved easily to the foam, and the separation of protein fractions in the serum varied with the changes in pH, temperature, gas flow rate and ionic strength of the solution.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.317-331
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• 2014

Objectives: The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has been known to possess a range of pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. The present study was designed to investigate whether or not PG-induced cell death was connected with autophagy and apoptosis in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. Methods: Effects on the cell viability and apoptotic activity were quantified using MTT assays and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Protein activation was measured by immunoblotting. Autophagy was measured by LC3 immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. ROS production and loss of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) were checked with flow cytometry analysis. Results: Following exposure to PG, NCI-H460 cell proliferation decreased simultaneously inducing autophagic vacuoles and up-regulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 and beclin-1 protein expressions. Interestingly, pre-treated with autophagy inhibitors, 3-methyladenin or bafilomycin A1 further triggered reduction of cell viability. PG treatment also induced apoptosis that was related modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, death receptors and activation of caspases. In addition, PG stimulation clearly enhanced loss of MMP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PG elicited both autophagy and apoptosis by increasing loss of MMP and ROS production. PG induced-autophagy may play a cell protective role.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.479-485
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• 2014

Cryptosporidium diarrhea represents a relevant clinical problem in developing countries. In Al-Taif, a city of Saudi Arabia that lies at an altitude of an around 2 km above the sea level, Cryptosporidium infection seems to be undiagnosed in nearly all clinical laboratories. Furthermore, nothing was published regarding Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea in this area. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the Cryptosporidium prevalence among patients with diarrhea and (2) to estimate the performances of 3 different diagnostic methods. Total 180 diarrheal fecal samples, 1 sample per patient, were collected between January and August 2013. Samples were screened for Cryptosporidium with modified Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) microscopy, $RIDA^{(R)}$ Quick lateral flow (LF) immunotest, and a previously published PCR. The Cryptosporidium prevalence rate was 9.4% (17/180), 10% (18/180), and 11.6% (21/180) by microscopy, LF, and PCR test, respectively. Infection was significantly (P=0.004) predominant among children <5 years (22%) followed by children 5-9 years (11.1%). Although infection was higher in males than in females (16.2% males and 8.5% females), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.11). Compared to PCR, the sensitivity of microscopy and the LF test were 80.9%, 85.7%, respectively. To conclude, high Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea was found in this area especially in children ${\leq}9$ years. The PCR test showed the best performance followed by the LF test and ZN staining microscopy. The primary health care providers in Al-Taif need to be aware of and do testing for this protozoon, particularly for children seen with diarrhea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.476-482
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• 2002

Methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) and c-type cytochromes from marine methanol-oxidizing bacterium, Methylophaga sp. MP, were purified and characterized. The native MDH had a molecular mass of 148 kDa and its isoelectric point was 5.5. Two c-type cytochromes, $c_L\;and\;c_H$, were found, and their isoelectric points were 3.4 and 8.0, respectively. The purified MDH had higher thermal stability than that of the other soil methylotrophic bacteria. The electron flow rate from MDH to cytochrome $c_L$was higher than that from MDH to cytochrome $c_H$, indicating that the physiological primary electron acceptor for MDH is cytochrome $c_L$. The electron transfer from MDH to phenazine ethosulfate (PES, artificial electron acceptor) in the two dye (PES/DCPIP)-linked assay system was not inhibited by NaCl, whereas the electron flow from MDH to cytochrome $c_L$ in the cytochrome/DCPIP-linked assay system was suppressed significantly by NaCl. Metal chelating agents such as EDTA showed the same effects on the MDH activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.607-612
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• 2003

To elucidate the action mechanism of MCS-C2, a novel analogue of toyocamycin and sangivamycin, its effect on the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in the human myelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 was examined using Western blotting and a flow cytometric analysis. MCS-C2, a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, was found to inhibit cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and inhibits cell cycle progression by inducing the arrest at G1 and G2/M phases, in HL-60 cells. The flow cytometric analysis revealed an appreciable arrest of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle after treatment with MCS-C2. The HL-60 cell population increased gradually from 13% at 0 h, to 28% at 12 h in the G2/M phase, after exposure to $2{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2. Furthermore, Western blot analysis demonstrated that MCS-C2 induced the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the inhibition of pRb phosphorylation. Hypophosphorylated pRb accumulated after treatment with $5{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2 for 12 h, whereas, the level of hyperphosphorylated pRb was reduced. Thus, treatment of the cell with MCS-C2 suppressed the hyperphosphorylated form of pRb with a commensurate increase in the hypophosphorylated form.