• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2014

The downregulation of A-type $K^+$ channels ($I_A$ channels) accompanying enhanced somatic excitability can mediate epileptogenic conditions in mammalian central nervous system. As $I_A$ channels are dominantly targeted by dendritic and postsynaptic processings during synaptic plasticity, it is presumable that they may act as cellular linkers between synaptic responses and somatic processings under various excitable conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically tested if the downregulation of somatic $I_A$ channels was sensitive to synaptic activities in young hippocampal neurons. In primarily cultured hippocampal neurons (DIV 6~9), the peak of $I_A$ recorded by a whole-cell patch was significantly reduced by high KCl or exogenous glutamate treatment to enhance synaptic activities. However, the pretreatment of MK801 to block synaptic NMDA receptors abolished the glutamate-induced reduction of the $I_A$ peak, indicating the necessity of synaptic activation for the reduction of somatic $I_A$. This was again confirmed by glycine treatment, showing a significant reduction of the somatic $I_A$ peak. Additionally, the gating property of $I_A$ channels was also sensitive to the activation of synaptic NMDA receptors, showing the hyperpolarizing shift in inactivation kinetics. These results suggest that synaptic LTP possibly potentiates somatic excitability via downregulating $I_A$ channels in expression and gating kinetics. The consequential changes of somatic excitability following the activity-dependent modulation of synaptic responses may be a series of processings for neuronal functions to determine outputs in memory mechanisms or pathogenic conditions.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2008

The factors influencing somatic embryo maturation, high frequency somatic embryo germination, and plantlet formation were studied in Terminalia chebula Retz. Maturation of somatic embryo were influenced by a number of factors such as in vitro culture passage, concentrations of sucrose, levels of abscisic acid (ABA), basal media and media additive combinations. Maximum frequency of somatic embryo maturation ($57.22{\pm}2.02$), was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 50 g/l sucrose. Different factors such as strengths of MS nutrients, plant growth regulators, media additives and their combinations controlling somatic embryo germination and plantlet formation were studied. High frequency of germination and plantlet formation ($58.80{\pm}1.47$) were achieved by subsequent subculture of mature somatic embryos on MS medium containing 30 g/l sucrose and 0.5 mg/l benzyl-adenine (BA). However, although duration of in vitro passage of the callus tissue was critical, contribution of the combinations of plant growth regulators and media additives showed nugatory effect on somatic embryo maturation and germination as evident from variable responses.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2005

A protocol was developed for somatic embryogenesis with 100% induction rate from immature zygotic embryo axes of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. DRG-12) cultured on MS medium containing $18.09\;{\mu}M$ 2,4-D. The frequency of somatic embryogenesis (31.7%) as well as the number of somatic embryos induced per explant (6.6) decreased when the concentration of 2,4-D was increased to $72.4\;{\mu}M$. Morphologically abnormal somatic embryos were observed at a frequency of 43.3% on MS medium containing $72.4\;{\mu}M$ 2,4-D. Somatic embryos isolated from 30-day-old cultures of immature zygotic embryo axes exhibited precocious germination with varied responses when placed on MS basal medium with 3% sucrose. Maximum shoot induction (80.0%) was observed from somatic embryos isolated from 60-day-old cultures of immature zygotic embryo axes when placed as a clump rather than individually on MS medium supplemented with $26.63\;{\mu}M$ BA and $0.54\;{\mu}M$ NAA. Shoots developed from somatic embryos rooted with higher frequency (93.3%) on Blaydes' medium containing $5.4\;{\mu}M$ NAA.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 2011

An efficient protocol was established for high frequency somatic embryogenesis through a callus culture of Coelogyne cristata. The best frequency of callusing was obtained from a PLB segment (3-5 mm) cultured on MS medium supplemented with coconut water (CW) and a combination of both 3 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of 2,4-D and BA. When the calli were sub-cultured on the MS medium without any PGRs, the average number of somatic embryos were higher than those with PGRs treatment. NAA is the most critical factor among PGRs, which dramatically hindered for the formation of a somatic embryo. The efficacy of the addition of coconut powder (CP) for somatic embryogenesis was almost the same in all treatments. However, the number of somatic embryos formed distinctly depended on age of the callus. The somatic embryos converted into healthy plants with well-developed shoots on the same medium. Plantlets showed the best responses of root and shoot growth when transferred to $\frac{1}{2}$ MS medium containing 1.5 $g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of activated charcoal. All plants with above 3.0-cm-high were successfully acclimatized in the greenhouse.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.625-635
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• 2004

Trichnuris suis does not excrete eggs during larval stage as well as in particular adult stage, It is impossible to diagnose by use of fecal examination method in those periods. Therefore, serological diagnostic method can be very useful for those stages. In order to produce monoclonal antibody, specific somatic and secretory-excretory (SE) antigens of T. suis were identified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma cells were cloned, which were made of popliteal lymph node of BALB/c mice immunized with a 45 kDa somatic antigen of T. suis. Five clones (1B9, 2C4, n2C5, 2D7 and 2D8) showing strong responses to T. suis antigens were selected and the isotype identified. All monoclonal antibodies were IgG1 isotype and the light chains were k chain. Established monoclonal antibodies reacted specifically to somatic and SE antigens of T. suis and did not cross-reacted to antigens of ascaris suum, trichuris vulpis, or Trichinella spiralis. The sensitivity of somatic and SE antigens against these monoclonal antibodies were significant (p<0.01) associated with those of positive and negative sera.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.272-278
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• 2005

Background : The immune responses mediated by CD8+T cells are known to be significant in controlling M. tuberculosis infections. In order to determine the role of cytotoxic CD8+T cells in the protective immune mechanism in latently infected subjects, this study examined whether or not the cytotoxic immune responses of CD8+T cells specific to the M. tuberculosis somatic antigens are induced in BCG vaccinated healthy subjects. Methods : Cytotoxicity and $IFN-{\gamma}$ elispot assays were used to investigate the activities of CD8+T cells specific for the $thyA_{30-38}$ peptide epitope in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from BCG-vaccinated HLA-A*0201 and A*0206 subjects. Results : The results indicate the cytotoxic and $IFN-{\gamma}$ immune responses of CD8+T cells specific for $thyA_{30-38}$ were induced in BCG vaccinated healthy subjects. Conclusion : The cytotoxic and $IFN-{\gamma}$ responses by CD8+T cells specific for the M. tuberculosis somatic antigens are induced in BCG-vaccinated subjects, and appear to be involved in the protective immune mechanism in latently infected people against a M. tuberculosis infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

Canine sarcoptic mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis) is ectoparasite which burrow usually in the stratum corneum of the skin of dogs. Antigens from the burrowing mites induce humoral and cellmediated immune responses in the hosts. The effect of antigenecity induced by somatic antigens of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) isolated by continuous elution has been evaluated in canine sarcoptic mites infestation. Continuous elution was carried out in 7.5% SDS-PAGE to isolate proteins of common antigens from somatic antigens of house dust mite. These eluted proteins from somatic antigens of house dust mite were confirmed by Western blotting in 7.5% SDS-PAGE, and eluted proteins (65, 60 kDa) were isolated. To evaluate the antigenetic effect of eluted proteins, eight dogs were divided as 4 groups such as non-vaccinated and non-challenged control (Group I), challenged control (Group II), vaccinated (Group III), and vaccinatedandchallenged (Group IV) groups. Group II and IV were artificially infested canine sarcoptic mites. Group III and IV were immunized with eluted proteins (65, 60 kDa). At the 6th week of the vaccination, the antibody titers of Group of IV were statistically significant higher than those of Group II (p<0.05). And antibody titers of Group III were also statistically significant higher than those of Group I (p<0.05). From these result, it is possible to replace somatic antigens of canine sarcoptic mites with eluted proteins from somatic antigens of house dust mites in order to diagnose and prevent the canine sarcoptic mite infestations.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-41
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• 1999

The perceived stress response inventory(PSRI) was developed to measure 4 types of current stress responses : emotional, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral responses. 242 patients with psychiatric disorders(71 patients with anxiety disorders, 73 patients with depressive disorders, 47 patients with somatoform disorders, 51 patients with psychosomatic disorders) and 215 healthy subjects completed the questionnaire including the PSRI. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale, perceived stress questionnaire(PSQ) and symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R) were also administered at the same time. Factor analysis for each of 4 types of stress responses yielded 8 factors : negative emotional responses, general somatic symptoms, specific somatic symptoms, lowered cognitive function and general negative thinking, self-depreciative thinking, impulsive-aggressive thinking, passive-responsive and careless behavior, and impulsive-aggressive behavior. Both test-restest reliability(r= .83 -.93) and internal consistency(Cronbach's alpha : .79 -.96 for each of 8 subscales and .98 for total items of the scale) were all at statistically significant levels. Total scores of the PSRI significantly correlated with total scores of GARS scale, PSQ, and global indicies of SCL-90-R, respectively. The patient group had significantly higher scores than healthy subjects in each of all the subscales except impulsive-aggressive behavior subscale. These results suggest that the PSRI is a reliable and valid tool stable over time which may be effectively used for the research in stress-related field including psychosomatic medicine.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.362-369
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• 2019

Background: Chronic nonspecific symptoms attributed to indoor nonindustrial work environments are common and may cause disability, but the medical nature of this disability is unclear. The aim was to medically characterize the disability manifested by chronic, recurrent symptoms and restrictions to work participation attributed to low-level indoor pollutants at workplace and whether the condition shares features with idiopathic environmental intolerance. Methods: We investigated 12 patients with indoor aire-related work disability. The examinations included somatic, psychological, and psychiatric evaluations as well as investigations of the autonomic nervous system, cortisol measurements, lung function, and allergy tests. We evaluated well-being, health, disability, insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, and burnout via questionnaires. Results: The mean symptom history was 10.5 years; for disabling symptoms, 2.7 years. Eleven patients reported reactions triggered mainly by indoor molds, one by fragrances only. Ten reported sensitivity to odorous chemicals, and three, electric devices. Nearly all had co-occurrent somatic and psychiatric diagnoses and signs of pain, insomnia, burnout, and/or elevated sympathetic responses. Avoiding certain environments had led to restrictions in several life areas. On self-assessment scales, disability showed higher severity and anxiety showed lower severity than in physician assessments. Conclusion: No medical cause was found to explain the disability. Findings support that the condition is a form of idiopathic environmental intolerance and belongs to functional somatic syndromes. Instead of endless avoidance, rehabilitation approaches of functional somatic syndromes are applicable.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.35-46
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• 2010

Various electrophysiological tests have provided a large body of valuable information on neuronal responses to a presented stimulus. The special and general somatic sensory pathways are main targets of evoked potentials. Two types of evoked potentials, exogenous and endogenous, are commonly used. Exogenous evoked potentials of general and special somatic sensory systems will be reviewed. One of general somatic sensory functional pathways, proprioception, can be evaluated by general somatosensory evoked potentials with electrical stimulation on nerves. The special somatosensory functional pathways, including vision, and audition, can be evaluated by visual evoked potentials and auditory evoked potentials. Also laser-evoked potentials are newly developed for pain pathway, including lateral spinothalamic pathway, and vestibular myogenic evoked potentials for sacculocollic pathways. The evoked potentials of sensory system have maximal clinical utility in evaluating functional deficits along the sensory pathways. They are used for evaluating comatose patients, hysterical patients, premature infants, patients with suspected demyelinating diseases or neoplasms, and research. We discuss the neurophysiologic tests of sensory systems in views of practical points. The organized evaluation of sensory electrophysiologic tests can be helpful in detecting and estimating the abnormalities in neurological diseases.