• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2007

Background: The genus Flavivirus consists of many emerging arboviruses, including Dengue virus (DV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Effective preventive vaccines remain elusive for these diseases. Mice are being increasingly used as the animal model for vaccine studies. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of these viruses are not clearly understood. Here, we investigated the interaction of DV and JEV with murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (bmDC). Methods: ELISA and FACS analysis were employed to investigate cytokine production and phenotypic changes of DCs obtained from bone marrow following flavivirus infection. Results: We observed that these viruses altered the cytokine profile and phenotypic markers. Although both viruses belong to the same family, JEV-infected bmDC produced anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) along with pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas DV infection induced production of large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$) and no IL-10 from murine bmDCs. Both flaviviruses also up-regulated the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80 and CD86. JEV infection led to down-regulation of MHC II expression on infected bmDCs. We also found that cytokine production induced by JEV and DV is MyD88-dependent. This dependence was complete for DV, as cytokine production was completely abolished in the absence of MyD88. With regard to JEV, the absence of MyD88 led to a partial reduction in cytokine levels. Conclusion: Here, we demonstrate that MyD88 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. Our study provides insight into the pathogenesis of JEV and DV in the murine model.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.463-471
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• 2005

Recently, the number of diabetic patients have been increased with westernized living way and meal habitation. The regulation of blood sugar concentration is very important for diabetic patients to keep homeostasis and, to prevent acute or chronic complications. Epinephrine combined with lidocaine is used in dental clinic extensively. And epinephrine combined with lidocaine also effects on decreasing the blood leakage volume by constricting micro vessle and arteriole. But, So far there are few researches about the effect of epinephrine contained in dental local anesthetic agent on the blood sugar of diabetes during minor oral surgery. The purpose of this study was intended to investigate whether epinephrine which combined with dental local anesthetics influence body glucose level in diabetes patients by glucose monitoring. The subject of this study were 38 diabetic patients and 38 normal adults, each patient was checked body glucose after a meal 2 hours later with resting state, and injection 1:100000 epinephrine with dental lidocaine 54 ml or lidocaine 54 ml only. And then the body glucose level was checked 5 minutes and 30 minutes after injection. The results were analyzed by two way ANOVA test (p<0.05). The results were as follows: In the experimental group 1, the mean of the blood sugar level was 180.3 mg/dl before an anesthetic injection, 182.8 mg/dl after 5minutes of the anesthetic injection and 182.2 mg/dl after 30minutes of the anesthetic injection. The change of the blood sugar level was not statistically by two-way ANOVA tests (p<0.05). In the experimental group 2, the mean of the blood sugar level was 237 mg/dl before an anesthetic injection, 234.5 mg/dl after 5minutes of the anesthetic injection and 231.8 mg/dl after 30minutes of the anesthetic injection. The change of the blood sugar level was not statistically by two-way ANOVA tests (p<0.05). In the controlled group 1, the mean of the blood sugar level was 117.6 mg/dl before an anesthetic injection, 119.1 mg/dl after 5minutes of the anesthetic injection and 129.3 mg/dl after 30minutes of the anesthetic injection. The change of the blood sugar level was not statistically by two-way ANOVA tests (p<0.05). In the controlled group 2, the mean of the blood sugar level was 104.2 mg/dl before an anesthetic injection, 102 mg/dl after 5minutes of the anesthetic injection and 105.3 mg/dl after 30minutes of the anesthetic injection. The change of the blood sugar level was not statistically by two-way ANOVA tests (p<0.05).

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.30 no.6 s.83
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• pp.713-721
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• 2000

Bone cells produce multiple growth factors and cytokines that have effects on bone metabolism and can be incorporated into the bone matrix. The present study was designed to extend these observations by examining the interactions between transforming growth factor-$\beta$(TGF-$\beta$) or interleukin-$1\beta$(rhIL-$1\beta$) and bone cells in a rat long bone culture model. IL-$1\beta$ regulates several activities of the osteoblast cells derived from rat long bone explants in vitro. IL-$1\beta$ stimulated cellular proliferation as well as the synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$ and Plasminogen activator activity in the cultured cells in a dose-dependent manner. TGF-$\beta$ is present in the bone matrix and potentially released during bone resorption. TGF-$\beta$ reduced basal bone resorption and inhibited vitamin $D_3[1,25(OH)_2D_3]$-induced bone resorption in rat long bone cells. These results support the role of IL-$1\beta$ in the pathological modulation of bone cell metabolism, with regard to implication in the Pathogenesis of osteoporosis by IL-$1\beta$, and that TGF-$\beta$ positively inhibits the bone resorption.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.163-177
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• 2008

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 ($fimA^-$), CW120 ($ppk^-$) and KS7 ($relA^-$) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2008

Gingival overgrowth can cause dental occlusion and seriously interfere with mastication, speech, and dental hygiene. It is observed in 25 to 81% of renal transplant patients treated with cyclosporine A (CsA). CsA-induced gingival overgrowth (CIGO) is caused by quantitative alteration of the extracellular matrix components, particularly collagen. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of CIGO remain poorly understood, despite intense clinical and laboratory investigations. The aim of the present work is to identify differentially expressed genes closely associated with CIGO. Human gingival fibroblasts were isolated by primary explant culture of gingival tissues from five healthy subjects (HGFs) and two patients with the CIGO (CIGO-HGFs). The proliferative activity of CsA-treated HGFs and CIGO-HGFs was examined using the MTT assay. The identification of differentially expressed genes in CsA-treated CIGO-HGF was performed by differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by DNA sequencing. CsA significantly increased the proliferation of two HGFs and two CIGO-HGFs, whereas three HGFs were not affected. Seven genes, including the beta subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4HB) and testican 1, were upregulated by CsA in a highly proliferative CIGO-HGF. The increased P4HB and testican-1 mRNA levels were confirmed in CsA-treated CIGO-HGFs by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, CsA increased type I collagen mRNA levels and suppressed MMP-2 mRNA levels, which are regulated by P4HB and testican-1, respectively. These results suggest that CsA may induce gingival overgrowth through the upregulation of P4HB and testican-1, resulting in the accumulation of extracellular matrix components.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.197-213
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• 2020

This study analyzed the impact of information security service company certification on financial performance. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the "Information Security Service Certification Company" system from a financial point of view for information security service certified & non-certified companies, and listed & unlisted companies. From a financial point of view, performance analysis was conducted using two-way ANOVA on sales, operating profit, and profit rate. This study verified whether there is a difference in management performance between an information security service certified company and an uncertified company. In the financial performance indicators of sales, operating profit, and profit rate, the information security service certification system showed an impact on financial performance because the information security service certification company showed better management performance than the uncertified company. The implications of this study are that the empirical performance analysis from the financial point of view of the information security service certified company system can be used as a basis for negative regulatory policies to revitalize the information security industry in the future, contributing to the growth of information security companies with excellent growth potential.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.659-666
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• 2006

Servo-motors are used as key components of automated system by performing precise motion control as accurate positioning and accurate speed regulation in response to the commands from computers and sensors. Especially, the linear brushless servo-motors have numerous advantages over the rotary servo motors which have connection with the friction induced transfer mechanism such as ball screws, timing belts, rack/pinion. This paper proposes an estimation method of unknown motor system parameters using the informations from the sinusoidal driving type linear brushless DC motor dynamics and outputs. The estimated parameters can be used to tune the controller gain and a disturbance observer. In order to meet this purpose high performance Digital Signal Processor, TMS320F240, designed originally for implementation of a Field Oriented Control(FOC) technology is adopted as a controller of the liner BLDC servo motor. Having A/D converters, PWM generators, rich I/O port internally, this servo motor application specific DSP play an important role in servo motor controller. This linear BLDC servo motor system also contains IPM(Intelligent Power Module) driver and hail sensor type current sensor module, photocoupler module for isolation of gate signals and fault signals.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.519-526
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• 2013

In managing shipping business, the concept of seaworthiness of the vessel has developed in accordance with the development of the shipping industry. However, despite of the development of the vessel's seaworthiness, marine accident has continuously occurred at sea. International Maritime Organization(IMO) has paid attention to the research and investigation of Human Error in shipping operations in addition to physical seaworthiness of the vessel. In 1994, IMO adopted the "International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention(ISM code)" of "SOLAS 1974" Annex, to take countermeasure against this human error. In 1999, Korea adopted the 'ISM Code' and then enacted the Maritime Safety Act (previously Maritime Traffic Safety Act). The Maritime Safety Act regulates necessary qualifications of the Human Resources of shipping companies for establishment and implementation of the safety management system. However, there has been a discrepancy between shipowners and ship management companies in interpreting the legislative texts, finally causing confusion. In this paper, I would like to examine the deficiencies in the regulation on the standard of qualifications of the Designated Person under the Maritime Safety Act and thereby suggest any possible improvements in it.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

A potent demethylating agent, 5-Azacytidine (5-AzaC) has been widely used as in many studies on DNA methylation, regulation of gene expression, and cancer biology. The mechanisms of the demethylating activity were known to be formation of complex between DNA and DNA methyltransferase (MTase), which depletes cellular MTase activity. However, 5-AzaC can also induce hypermethylation of a transgene in a transgenic cell line, G12 cells and it was explained as a result of defense mechanisms to inactivate foreign gene(s) somehow. This finding evoked the question that whether the phenomenon of hypermethylation induced by 5-AzaC is limited to the transgene or it can be occurred in endogenous gene(s). In order to answer the question, mutagenicity test of 5-AzaC and molecular characterization of mutants obtained from the test were performed using an endogenous gene, thymidine kinase (tk) in Chinese hamster V79 cells. When V79 and V79-J3 subclone cells were treated with 1, 2.5 ,5, $10{\mu}M$ of 5-AzaC for 48 hours, their maximum mutant frequencies were revealed as $6\times10^{-3}\;at\;5{\mu}M$(350-fold induction over background) and $8\times10^{-3}\;at\;2.5{\mu}M$ (l,800-fold induction over background) respectively. Since the induction rates were too high to be induced by true mutations, many trifluorothymidine (TFT)-resistant $(TFT^R)$ cells were subjected to Northern blot analysis to check the presence of tk transcripts. Surprisingly, all clones tested possessed the transcripts in a similar level, that implicates the $TFT^R$ phenotype induced by 5-AzaC has not given rise to hypermethylation of the gene in spite of unusually high mutation frequency. In addition, it has shown that the TK activity in the pool of 5-AzaC-induced $TFT^R$ cells has about a half of that in spontaneously-induced $TFT^R$ cells or in non-selected parental V79-J3 cells. This result suggests that the mechanism(s) underlying the TFT-resistance between spontaneously occurred and 5-AzaC-induced cells may be different. These findings have shown that the $TFT^R$ phenotype induced by 5-AzaC has not given rise to hypermethylation of the tk gene, and 5-AzaC may be induced by one or combined pathways among many drug resistance mechanisms. The exact mechanisms for the 5-AzaC-induced $TFT^R$ phenotype remain to elucidate.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1997

A regulation of differentiation in human neuroblastoma cells remains poorly understood, although it is of great importance in the clinical therapy of neuroblastoma. This study was aimed to elucidate effects of DNA synthesis inhibitors on the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells on the basis of morphological, biochemical and molecular respects. Three DNA synthesis inhibitors, sodium butyrate, hydroxyurea, cytosine arabinoside were used to explore their effects on the cellular morphology, the expression of c-myc and the elevation of choline acetyltransferase activity. They led to the extension or neurite-like processes reflecting differentiation or IMR-32 cells. In addition, the treatment of three DNA synthesis inhibitors resulted in the remarkable increases in the expression of c-myc as well as the stimulation of choline acetyltransferase activity which is involved in the synthesis of acetylcholine in the differentiated cholinergic neurons. Taken together, these results indicate that DNA synthesis inhibitors play an important role in the induction of cellular differentiation in IMR-32 cells. Furthermore these DNA synthesis inhibitors seem to be future useful to give an important clue (for the treatment of neuroblastoma).