• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• 제59권9호
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• pp.1096-1106
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• 2018

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. MicroRNAs have been identified as vital players in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. microRNA-128 (miR-128) has been shown to be dysregulated in AD. This study aimed to explore the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-128 in AD progression. Materials and Methods: Expression patterns of miR-128 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) messenger RNA in clinical samples and cells were measured using RT-qPCR assay. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein levels were determined by Western blot assay. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry via double-staining of Annexin V-FITC/PI. Caspase 3 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity was determined by a Caspase 3 Activity Assay Kit or $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 Transcription Factor Assay Kit, respectively. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate interactions between miR-128 and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ 3'UTR. Results: MiR-128 expression was upregulated and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was downregulated in plasma from AD patients and $amyloid-{\beta}$ $(A{\beta})-treated$ primary mouse cortical neurons (MCN) and Neuro2a (N2a) cells. Inhibition of miR-128 decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity through inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Moreover, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ was a target of miR-128. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ upregulation attenuated $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by inactivating $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Furthermore, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ downregulation was able to abolish the effect of anti-miR-128 on cytotoxicity and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in MCN and N2a cells. Conclusion: MiR-128 inhibitor decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by upregulating $PPAR-{\gamma}$ via inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells, providing a new potential target in AD treatment.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.362-368
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• 2022

CATA 방법을 이용하여 저장용기를 달리하여 숙성한 증류식 소주와 시판 제품의 감각 특성을 파악하고 소비자 기호도를 조사하였다. CATA 용어의 총 합을 분석한 결과 총 21가지 특성 중 14가지 특성에서 빈도수 차이가 10 이상으로 나타났으며, 11가지 특성에서 시료간의 유의적인 차이가 존재한 것으로 나타났다. 대응 분석 결과 F1상에서 오크 숙성 시료가 양의 방향으로 분포하였으며, 나머지 시료가 음의 방향으로 분포하여 오크 숙성에 의한 증류식 소주의 감각특성의 차이를 확인하였다. 전반적으로 오크숙성과 관련 특성이 높게 나타난 JRJ, 6RO, 18RO가 기호도 평가에서 전반적으로 높은 평가를 나타내었다. 기호도와 감각 묘사용어 빈도수 합의 관계를 살펴보면, 단향, 과일맛, 단맛의 경우 기호도에 긍정적인 영향을 미치며, 알코올향, 아세톤향, 쓴맛은 부정적인 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있다. 스테인레스 스틸과 옹기 같은 숙성용기와 숙성기간에 따른 감각특성의 차이는 CATA 평가를 통해서는 뚜렷한 차이를 확인하지 못 하였다. 향후 CATA 조사 인원 확대 및 다양한 감각평가 방법의 적용을 통해 이러한 차이도 파악이 가능하리라 여겨진다.

• 천문학회지
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.123-130
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• 2022

We present the analysis of a planetary microlensing event OGLE-2019-BLG-0362 with a shortduration anomaly (~0.4 days) near the peak of the light curve, which is caused by the resonant caustic. The event has a severe degeneracy with ∆𝜒² = 0.9 between the close and the wide binary lens models both with planet-host mass ratio q ≃ 0.007. We measure the angular Einstein radius but not the microlens parallax, and thus we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate the physical parameters of the lens. We find that the OGLE-2019-BLG-0362L system is a super-Jovian-mass planet $M_p=3.26^{+0.83}_{-0.58}M_J $ orbiting an M dwarf $M_h=0.42^{+0.34}_{-0.23}M_{\odot}$ at a distance $D_L=5.83^{+1.04}_{-1.55}kpc$. The projected star-planet separation is ${\alpha}_{\bot}= 2.18^{+0.58}_{-0.72}AU$, which indicates that the planet lies beyond the snow line of the host star.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.275-280
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• 2022

The treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is challenging due to its complex etiology. From epidermal disruption to chronic inflammation, various cells and inflammatory pathways contribute to the progression of AD. As with immunosuppressants, general inhibition of inflammatory pathways can be effective, but this approach is not suitable for long-term treatment due to its side effects. This study aimed to identify a plant extract (PE) with anti-inflammatory effects on multiple cell types involved in AD development and provide relevant mechanistic evidence. Degranulation was measured in RBL-2H3 cells to screen 30 PEs native to South Korea. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Parasenecio auriculatus var. matsumurana Nakai extract (PAE) in AD, production of cytokines and nitric oxide, activation status of FcεRI and TLR4 signaling, cell-cell junction, and cell viability were evaluated using qRT-PCR, western blotting, confocal microscopy, Griess system, and an MTT assay in RBL-2H3, HEK293, RAW264.7, and HaCaT cells. For in vivo experiments, a DNCBinduced AD mouse model was constructed, and hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, toluidine blue, and F4/80-staining were performed. The chemical constituents of PAE were analyzed by HPLC-MS. By measuring the anti-degranulation effects of 30 PEs in RBL-2H3 cells, we found that Paeonia lactiflora Pall., PA, and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Steud. show an inhibitory activity of more than 50%. Of these, PAE most dramatically and consistently suppressed cytokine expression, including IL-4, IL-9, IL-13, and TNF-α. PAE potently inhibited FcεRI signaling, which mechanistically supports its basophil-stabilizing effects, and PAE downregulated cytokines and NO production in macrophages via perturbation of toll-like receptor signaling. Moreover, PAE suppressed cytokine production in keratinocytes and upregulated the expression of tight junction molecules ZO-1 and occludin. In a DNCB-induced AD mouse model, the topical application of PAE significantly improved atopic index scores, immune cell infiltration, cytokine expression, abnormal activation of signaling molecules in FcεRI and TLR signaling, and damaged skin structure compared with dexamethasone. The anti-inflammatory effect of PAE was mainly due to integerrimine. Our findings suggest that PAE could potently inhibit multi-inflammatory cells involved in AD development, synergistically block the propagation of inflammatory responses, and thus alleviate AD symptoms.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제112권1호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2023

산림생산력의 예측은 지속가능한 산림경영이나 산림생태계서비스 증진을 위한 산림관리에 필수적인 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 전국 112개 신갈나무 임분을 대상으로 입지 및 토양 특성의 속성변수를 이용하여 지위 추정 모형을 개발하였다. 신갈나무 임분의 지위지수는 입지 및 토양 특성을 독립변수 한 일반최소제곱(Ordinary Least Squares, OLS) 및 부분최소제곱(Partial Least Squares, PLS) 회귀모형을 이용하여 유의적인 추정(P<0.05)이 가능하였다. 지위추정 회귀모형의 수정 결정계수(adjusted R²)는 입지 및 토양단면 속성변수의 회귀모형(A층: R²=0.29; B: R²=0.32)이, 토양 물리·화학적특성의 속성변수(A층: R²=0.09; B층: R²=0.21)보다 높게 나타났다. 한편, PLS 회귀모형(R²=0.20~0.32)은 OLS 회귀모형(R²=0.09~0.31)에 비해 지위지수 추정식의 설명력이 높았다. 본 연구로부터 신갈나무 임분의 입지 및 토양 특성을 이용한 지위 추정 회귀 모형이 개발되었으나, 결정계수 값이 낮아 회귀모형의 설명력을 향상시킬 수 있는 새로운 변수 개발이 필요할 것으로 사료되었다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권10호
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• pp.1489-1498
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify polymorphism in olfactomedin like 3 (OLFML3) gene, and association analysis with meat quality, carcass characteristics, retail meat cut, and fatty acid composition in sheep, and expression quantification of OLFML3 gene in phenotypically divergent sheep. Methods: A total of 328 rams at the age of 10 to 12 months with an average body weight of 26.13 kg were used. A novel polymorphism was identified using high-throughput sequencing in sheep and genotyping of OLFML3 polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Among 328 rams, 100 rams representing various sheep genotypes were used for association study and proc general linear model was used to analyse association between genotypes and phenotypic traits. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for the expression analysis of OLFML3 mRNA in phenotypically divergent sheep population. Results: The findings revealed a novel polymorphism in the OLFML3 gene (g.90317673 C>T). The OLFML3 gene revealed three genotypes: CC, CT, and TT. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) associated with meat quality traits such as tenderness and cooking loss; carcass characteristics such as carcass length; retail meat cut such as pelvic fat in leg, intramuscular fat in loin and tenderloin, muscle in flank and shank; fatty acids composition such as tridecanoic acid (C13:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), ginkgolic acid (C17:1), linolenic acid (C18:3n3), arachidic acid (C20:0), eicosenoic acid (C20:1), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), heneicosylic acid (C21:0), and nervonic acid (C24:1). The TT genotype was associated with higher level of meat quality, carcass characteristics, retail meat cut, and some fatty acids composition. However, the mRNA expression analysis was not different among genotypes. Conclusion: The OLFML3 gene could be a potential putative candidate for selecting higher quality sheep meat, carcass characteristics, retail meat cuts, and fatty acid composition in sheep.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권10호
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• pp.1292-1298
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• 2023

PAMB 00755^T, a bacterial strain, was isolated from Korean fir leaves. The strain exhibits yellow colonies and consists of Gram-negative, non-motile, short rods or ovoid-shaped cells. It displays optimal growth conditions at 20℃, 0% NaCl, and pH 6.0. Results of 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analyses showed that strain PAMB 00755^T was most closely related to Sphingomonas chungangi MAH-6^T (97.7%) and Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans B2-7^T (97.4%), and ≤96.5% sequence similarity to other members of the genus Sphingomonas. The values of average nucleotide identity (79.9-81.3%), average amino acid identity (73.3-75.9%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (73.3-75.9%) were significantly lower than the threshold values for species boundaries; these overall genome-related indexes (OGRI) analyses indicated that the strain represents a novel species. Genomic analysis revealed that the strain has a 4.4-Mbp genome encoding 4,083 functional genes, while the DNA G+C content of the whole genome is 66.1%. The genome of strain PAMB 00755^T showed a putative carotenoid biosynthetic cluster responsible for its antioxidant activity. The respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone 10 (Q-10), while the major fatty acids in the profile were identified as C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c (summed feature 8). The major polar lipids of strain PAMB 00755^T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, and phosphatidylcholine. Based on a comprehensive analysis of genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we proposed the name Sphingomonas abietis sp. nov. for this novel species, with PAMB 00755^T as the type strain (= KCTC 92781^T = GDMCC 1.3779^T).

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권9호
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• pp.545-557
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• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제113권1호
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• pp.51-65
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• 2024

본 연구는 도시숲 이용 및 관리방안에 필요한 식생구조 정보를 제공하기 위하여 수행되었다. 세종특별자치시 괴화산을 대상으로 상관우점종 및 종조성에 의한 식생유형을 분석한 결과, 2개의 군락군(졸참나무-생강나무군락군과 큰금계국군락군)으로 대별되었다. 졸참나무-생강나무군락군은 인공림과 천연림 식생을 포함하고 있는데, 인공림은 리기다소나무군락, 밤나무군락, 아까시나무군락, 천연림은 굴참나무군락, 상수리나무군락, 소나무군락의 6개 단위로, 큰금계국군락군은 임연부의 식생을 구성하고 있는 큰낭아초군락, 싸리군락, 족제비싸리군락, 비수리군락의 4개 단위로 각각 분류되어 총 10개의 식생단위 체계로 나타났다. 중요치 분석결과 전체 종에서 밤나무가 6.7%로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 리기다소나무 6.4%, 아까시나무 6.3% 순으로 나타나 괴화산은 인공조림 수종의 생태적 영향력이 큰 것으로 나타났다. 군락유사도에서 인공림과 천연림은 서로 간 종 구성이 동질적이나 임연부와는 이질적인 것으로 나타났으며, DCA분석에서도 동일한 결과로 나타났다. CCA분석 결과, 인공림과 천연림은 해발고도, 암석노출도, 출현종수에서 양의 상관관계로 나타났으며 임연부와는 음의 상관관계로 나타났다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.584-595
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• 2021

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has shown activity against melanoma brain metastases. Recently, promising results have also been reported for ICI combination therapy and ICI combined with radiotherapy. We aimed to evaluate radiologic response and adverse event rates of these therapeutic options by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of Ovid-MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed up to October 12, 2019 and included studies evaluating the intracranial objective response rates (ORRs) and/or disease control rates (DCRs) of ICI with or without radiotherapy for treating melanoma brain metastases. We also evaluated safety-associated outcomes. Results: Eleven studies with 14 cohorts (3 with ICI combination therapy; 5 with ICI combined with radiotherapy; 6 with ICI monotherapy) were included. ICI combination therapy {pooled ORR, 53% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44-61%); DCR, 57% (95% CI, 49-66%)} and ICI combined with radiotherapy (pooled ORR, 42% [95% CI, 31-54%]; DCR, 85% [95% CI, 63-95%]) showed higher local efficacy compared to ICI monotherapy (pooled ORR, 15% [95% CI, 11-20%]; DCR, 26% [95% CI, 21-32%]). The grade 3 or 4 adverse event rate was significantly higher with ICI combination therapy (60%; 95% CI, 52-67%) compared to ICI monotherapy (11%; 95% CI, 8-17%) and ICI combined with radiotherapy (4%; 95% CI, 1-19%). Grade 3 or 4 central nervous system (CNS)-related adverse event rates were not different (9% in ICI combination therapy; 8% in ICI combined with radiotherapy; 5% in ICI monotherapy). Conclusion: ICI combination therapy or ICI combined with radiotherapy showed better local efficacy than ICI monotherapy for treating melanoma brain metastasis. The grade 3 or 4 adverse event rate was highest with ICI combination therapy, and the CNS-related grade 3 or 4 event rate was similar. Prospective trials will be necessary to compare the efficacy of ICI combination therapy and ICI combined with radiotherapy.