• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.707-713
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• 2000

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused mainly by autoantibodies directed against acetylcholine receptors located in the postsynaptic muscle cell membrane. Using in vitro selection techniques, we isolated an RNA containing 2'-fluoro pyrimidines that can specifically and avidly ($K_d$ ~25 nM) bind rat monoclonal antibody called mAb198, which recognizes the main immunogenic region on the acetylcholine receptors. This RNA can act as a very effective decoy and block mAb198 binding to the receptors in vitro. Furthermore, this RNA decoy can prevent the antigenic modulation of the acetylcholine receptor caused by mAb198 in human muscle cell cultures with and $IC_{50} $of approximately $2.4{\mu}M$. These results indicate that the RNA selected in this study is a more potent decly inhibitor of myashthenic antibodies than the previously identified RNA with 2'-amino pyrimidines [11]. Moreover, this RNA cross-reacts with autoantibodies from patients with MG and can protect human cells from the effects of these antibodies. These observations have important implications for developing an antigen-specific treatment of autoimmune diseases including MG, which is based on decoy RNAs selected in vitro.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.52-57
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• 2015

커패시턴스 용량의 변화를 측정할 수 있는 박막 Si3N4 캔틸레버 센서 어레이를 이용한 질병진단 시스템을 설계하고 구현하였다. 시스템은 32 비트 RISC 프로세서, 메모리, 버스, 통신용 IP, ADC, LCD 디스플레이로 구성되어 있다. 10개 내외의 마커를 이용하여 수십 개의 마커를 사용했을 경우와 같은 정확도를 얻을 수 있는 마커선정 방법을 제안한다. 개발된 진단기의 커패시턴스 분해능은 1fF 이하이고, 트롬빈 10nM 까지 감지할 수 있다.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.149-159
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• 2016

With the success of the genome-wide association studies (GWASs), many candidate loci for complex human diseases have been reported in the GWAS catalog. Recently, many disease prediction models based on penalized regression or statistical learning methods were proposed using candidate causal variants from significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms of GWASs. However, there have been only a few systematic studies comparing existing methods. In this study, we first constructed risk prediction models, such as stepwise linear regression (SLR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and Elastic-Net (EN), using a GWAS chip and GWAS catalog. We then compared the prediction accuracy by calculating the mean square error (MSE) value on data from the Korea Association Resource (KARE) with body mass index. Our results show that SLR provides a smaller MSE value than the other methods, while the numbers of selected variables in each model were similar.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.55-63
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• 2023

In 2021, a new chapter on the general management of glomerulonephritis (GN) was added to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). It emphasizes the importance of early general management of GN for improving long-term kidney outcomes and prognosis. The chapter introduces the management of glomerular diseases in 18 subchapters. Here, kidney biopsy for the diagnosis and evaluation of kidney function and the management of complications, such as hypertension, infection, and thrombosis, are presented. Moreover, the adverse effects of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy, which are commonly used drugs for glomerular disease, are mentioned, and a guideline for drug selection is presented. Each subtheme focused on items reflecting the interpretation of the "practice points" of the expert working group are introduced. In this review of the general treatment for GN in the KDIGO guidelines, excluding pregnancy and reproductive health, we focused on and compared various references pertaining to pediatric GN management.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권1호
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• pp.12-21
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• 2024

The management of severe asthma presents a significant challenge in asthma treatment. Over the past few decades, remarkable progress has been made in developing new treatments for severe asthma, primarily in the form of biological agents. These advances have been made possible through a deeper understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of asthma. Most biological agents focus on targeting specific inflammatory pathways known as type 2 inflammation. However, recent developments have introduced a new agent targeting upstream alarmin signaling pathways. This opens up new possibilities, and it is anticipated that additional therapeutic agents targeting various pathways will be developed in the future. Despite this recent progress, the mainstay of asthma treatment has long been inhalers. As a result, the guidelines for the appropriate use of biological agents are not yet firmly established. In this review, we aim to emphasize the current state of biological therapy for severe asthma and provide insights into its future prospects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.142-150
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• 2006

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Untreated, it is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. The past decade has seen remarkable improvements in therapy, driven largely by the conduct of randomized controlled trials. Still, the selection of most appropriate therapy is complex, and requires familiarity with the disease process, evidence from treatment trials, complicated drug delivery systems, dosing regimens, side effects, and complications. We tried to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for physicians involved in the care of these complex patients. Due to the complexity of the diagnostic evaluation required, and the treatment options available, it is strongly recommended that consideration be given to referral of patients with PAH to a specialized center.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2010

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has several advantages over conventional open surgery. Less pain, less morbidity, early recovery and better cosmetic outcomes are well-known benefits of MIS. However, indications of MIS are highly dependent on the experience of surgeon and the disease status, In the benign diseases with less surgical complexity, MIS can be performed relatively and safely. However. in advanced malignant diseases which require more complex surgical manipulation, the of patients and the principles of oncologic surgery should be considered before the selection of surgical methods, MIS would be performed more and more with aid or technologic advancement. However, long-term result with equivalent oncologic outcomes to open surgery is necessary to be one of standard surgical treatments in thoracic surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제75권5호
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• pp.181-187
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• 2013

The emergence of new therapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) implies that histologic subtyping and molecular predictive testing are now essential for therapeutic decisions. Histologic subtype predicts the efficacy and toxicity of some treatment agents, as do genetic alterations, which can be important predictive factors in treatment selection. Molecular markers, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement, are the best predictors of response to specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment agents. As the majority of patients with NSCLC present with unresectable disease, it is therefore crucial to optimize the use of tissue samples for diagnostic and predictive examinations, particularly for small biopsy and cytology specimens. Therefore, each institution needs to develop a diagnostic approach requiring close communication between the pulmonologist, radiologist, pathologist, and oncologist in order to preserve sufficient biopsy materials for molecular analysis as well as to ensure rapid diagnosis. Currently, personalized medicine in NSCLC is based on the histologic subtype and molecular status. This review summarizes strategies for tissue acquisition, histologic subtyping and molecular analysis for predictive testing in NSCLC.

• Mycobiology
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.463-467
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• 2023

Soybean is one of the world's most widely cultivated food crops, and soybean seeds are supplied from national seed resources in Korea. However, the transmission of seed-borne diseases through infected soybean seeds is problematic. Among these diseases, soybean seed decay is caused by Diaporthe spp. Infecting the pods, and the infected seeds show rotting symptoms. Most diseased seeds are removed during the selection process; however, it is difficult to distinguish infected seeds that do not display symptoms. Hence, a sequencebased method was devised to screen Diaporthe-infected seeds. Based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribe spacer (ITS) region of the pathogen, a primer was designed to distinguish the infection from other soybean seed pathogens. As a result of the comparison between healthy and Diaporthe-diseased seeds by using the primers, Diaporthe was detected only in the diseased seeds. Therefore, it is possible to distribute healthy soybean seeds by detecting Diaporthe-diseased seeds at the genetic level using the Diaporthe-specific primers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2015

Antibodies are powerful defense tools against pathogens but may cause autoimmune diseases when erroneously directed toward self-antigens. Thus, antibody producing cells are carefully selected, refined, and expanded in a highly regulated microenvironment (germinal center) in the peripheral lymphoid organs. A subset of T cells termed T follicular helper cells (Tfh) play a central role in instructing B cells to form a repertoire of antibody producing cells that provide life-long supply of high affinity, pathogenspecific antibodies. Therefore, understanding how Tfh cells arise and how they facilitate B cell selection and differentiation during germinal center reaction is critical to improve vaccines and better treat autoimmune diseases. In this review, I will summarise recent findings on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Tfh generation and function with an emphasis on T cell costimulation.