• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.101-109
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• 2018

Objectives According to previous studies, the Chromogranin B (CHGB) gene could be an important candidate gene for schizophrenia which is located on chromosome 20p12.3. Some studies have linked the polymorphism in CHGB gene with the risk of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality has been regarded as one of the most consistent endophenotype of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphisms in CHGB gene and SPEM abnormality in Korean patients with schizophrenia. Methods We measured SPEM function in 24 Korean patients with schizophrenia (16 male, 8 female) and they were divided according to SPEM function into two groups, good and poor SPEM function groups. We also investigated genotypes of polymorphisms in CHGB gene in each group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to find the association between SPEM abnormality and the number of polymorphism. Results The natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio (Ln S/N ratio) of good SPEM function group was $4.19{\pm}0.19$ and that of poor SPEM function group was $3.17{\pm}0.65$. In total, 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms of CHGB were identified and the genotypes were divided into C/C, C/R, and R/R. Statistical analysis revealed that two genetic variants (rs16991480, rs76791154) were associated with SPEM abnormality in schizophrenia (p = 0.004). Conclusions Despite the limitations including a small number of samples and lack of functional study, our results suggest that genetic variants of CHGB may be associated with SPEM abnormality and provide useful preliminary information for further study.nwhile, smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality has been regarded as one of the most consistent endophenotype of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphisms in CHGB gene and SPEM abnormality in Korean patients with schizophrenia. MethodsZZWe measured SPEM function in 24 Korean patients with schizophrenia (16 male, 8 female) and they were divided according to SPEM function into two groups, good and poor SPEM function groups. We also investigated genotypes of polymorphisms in CHGB gene in each group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to find the association between SPEM abnormality and the number of polymorphism. ResultsZZThe natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio (Ln S/N ratio) of good SPEM function group was $4.19{\pm}0.19$ and that of poor SPEM function group was $3.17{\pm}0.65$. In total, 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms of CHGB were identified and the genotypes were divided into C/C, C/R, and R/R. Statistical analysis revealed that two genetic variants (rs16991480, rs76791154) were associated with SPEM abnormality in schizophrenia (p = 0.004). ConclusionsZZDespite the limitations including a small number of samples and lack of functional study, our results suggest that genetic variants of CHGB may be associated with SPEM abnormality and provide useful preliminary information for further study.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes various infections on urinary track, cornea, respiratory track, and burn wound site, and mainly relies on quorum sensing (QS) for its virulence. To control the infectivity of P. aeruginosa, we previously synthesized the structural analogues of a major QS signal, N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL) to use as a QS inhibitor. Two of them (5b and 5f) had been confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on LasR, a major QS signal receptor of P. aeruginosa in the screening by the recombinant Escherichia coli reporter. To further evaluate these compounds, we tested their efficacy to control the QS and virulence of P. aeruginosa. Unlike the result from E. coli reporter, both 5b and 5f failed to affect the LasR activity in P. aeruginosa, but instead they selectively affected the activity of QscR, another 3OC12-HSL receptor of P. aeruginosa. Interestingly, their effect on QscR was complex and opposite to what we obtained with E. coli system. Both 5b and 5f enhanced the QscR activity at the low concentration range (< 10 ${\mu}m$), but high concentration of 5f (${\approx}$1 mM) strongly inhibited QscR. While 5b and 5f didn't affect the production of proteases, the key virulence factor, they significantly reduced the biofilm formation that is important in mediating chronic infections. Especially, 5f inhibited the initial attachment of P. aeruginosa, rather than the biofilm maturation. Based on our results, we suggest that 5f can be applied for an anti-biofilm agent without increasing virulence of P. aeruginosa.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.14-30
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• 1998

Manganese is an essential element in the body. It is mainly deposited in the liver and to a lesser degree in the basal ganglia of the brain and eliminated through the bile duct. Rapid turnover of managanese in the body makes it difficult to evaluate the manganese exposure in workers, esecially in those with irregular or intermittent exposure, like welders. Therefore, conventional biomarkers, including blood and urine manganese can provide only a limited information about the long-tern or cumulative exposure to manganese. Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) made a progress in the assessment of manganese exposure in the medical conditions related to manganese accumulation, e. g. hepatic failure and long-term total parenteral nutrition. Manganese shortens spin-lattice(T1) relaxation time on MRI due to its paramagnetic property, resulting in high signal intensity (HSI) on T1-weighted image(T1W1) of MRI. Manganese deposition in the brain, therefore, can be visualizedas an HSI in the globus pallidus, the substantia nigra, the putamen and the pituitary. clinical and epidemiologic studies regarding the MRI findings in the cases of occupational and non-occupational manganese exposure were reviewed. relationships between HSI on T1W1 of MRI and age, gender, occupational manganese exposure, and neurological dysfunction were analysed. Relationships betwen biological exposure indices and HSI on MRE werealso reviewed. Literatures were reviewed to establish the relationships between HSI, Manganese deposition in the brain, pathologic findings, and neurological dysfunction. HSI on T1W1 of MRI reflects regional manganese deposition in the brain. This relationship enables an estimation of regional manganese deposition in the brain by analysing MR signal intensity. Manganese deposition in the brain can induce a neuronal loss in the basal ganglia but functional abnormality is supposed to be related to the cumulative exposure of manganese in the brain, use of brain MRI for the assessment of exposure in a group of workers seems to be hardly rationalized, while ti can be a useful adjunct for the evaluation of manganese exposure int he cases with suspected manganese-related health problems.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2006

The most biofilm forming bacteria in catheter, Esctherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated and identified from a patient's catheter occuring catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI). We examined mRNA expression and its quantification of AIs synthetic genes encoding signal substance of quorum sensing from each bacterial species in order to elucidated quorum sensing mechanism. Both pure cultures for each bacterial strains and a mixed cultures with three were grown for 24 hr and 30 days. Initial densities to be able to detect mRNA expression oil single strains culture were shown at $2.4{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml, $5.4{\times}10^6$ CFU/ml of E. coli for ygaG and S. aureus for luxS, and at $6.9{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml of P. aeruginosa for rhlI and lasI. Also, in mixed culture of three, initial cell densities of mRNA expression were appear to at $7.3{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml, $1.6{\times}10^7$ CFU/ml of E. coli for ygaG and S. aureus for luxS, and at $2.1{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml of P. aeruginosa for rhlI and lasI. Each AIs synthetic gene was expressed in initial cell density and the mRNA expression of the genes were detected continously during 30 days. And then, the quantification of mRNA expression level of ygaG, rhlI, last, and luxS which were related AIs synthesis was done each time point by real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of ygaG, rhlI, lasI, and luxS from the mixed culture was higher than those from each single strain culture. In the case of E. coli ygaG, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 30 times for that from single culture. In the case of P. aeruginosa rhlI and lasI, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 40 times and 250 times for that from single strain culture. In the case of S. aureus luxS, the amount of transcript from the mixed culture was at least 5 times for that from single strain culture. And specially, the mRNA expression of rhlI and lasI of P. aeruginosa showed the highest efficency among four AIs synthetic genes.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.607-616
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• 2013

Light with two faces, beneficial and harmful effects is an important signal for every living cell. Optimal adaptation to light environment enhances the fitness of an organism and survival in nature. Understandings of light quality and plant growth provide with the economical guides for artificial light sources like LEDs. Compared with those under white light, the 1 week seedlings of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) under monochromic red and blue light showed normal development and growth. In contrast to extremely long and etiolated hypocotyls of the seedlings under dark, those under far-red etiolated were extremely short. Based on the microarray analysis, blue light induced the vigorous development and growth and two fold changes of transcripts than red light condition. To have insight of gene products under different light qualities conditions, GO term enrichments were calculated and each gene according to their GO terms were categorized. The blue and red lights affected the expressions of genes related to biological process. Especially, the genes related to metabolic process and developmental process and plastid and chloroplast in the cellular component category were induced under blue light. This study provided the molecular biological evidence for various light qualities on the growing process of B. rapa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.292-301
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• 2010

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary glycoprotein hormone that is encoded by separate alpha- and betasubunit genes. It plays a key role in stimulating and regulating ovarian follicular development and egg production in chicken. FSH signal transduction is mediated by the FSH receptor (FSHR) that exclusively interacts with the beta-subunit of FSH, but characterization of prokaryotic expression of the FSHb gene and its effect on the expression of the FSHR gene in local chickens have received very little attention. In the current study, the cDNA fragment of the FSHb gene from Dagu chicken was amplified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and inserted into the pET-28a (+) vector to construct the pET-28a-FSHb plasmid. After expression of the plasmid in E. coli BL21 (DE3) under inducing conditions, the recombination protein, $FSH{\beta}$ subunit, was purified and injected into the experimental hens and the effect on the mRNA expression levels of the FSHR gene was investigated. Sequence comparison showed that the coding region of the FSHb gene in the local chicken shared 99%-100% homology to published nucleotides in chickens; only one synonymous nucleotide substitution was detected in the region. The encoded amino acids were completely identical with the reported sequence, which confirmed that the sequences of the chicken FSHb gene and the peptides of the $FSH{\beta}$ subunit are highly conserved. This may be due to the critical role of the normal function of the FSHb gene in hormonal specificity and regulation of reproduction. The results of gene expression revealed that a recombinant protein with a molecular weight of about 19 kDa was efficiently expressed and it was identified by Western blotting analysis. After administration of the purified $FSH{\beta}$ protein, significantly higher expression levels were demonstrated in uterus, ovary and oviduct samples (p<0.05). These observations suggested that the expressed $FSH{\beta}$ protein possesses biological activity, and has a potential role in regulation of reproductive physiology in chickens.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.23-29
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• 2015

In this study, human is the subject of driving a car, the actual EEG is a biological information in a number of reactions that are displayed while driving the vehicle by using a measuring device, occurs during travel of the road EEG to be collected, number of experiments the collected material on the basis of changes associated with running time, extracts the factors such as changes due to road geometry, and analysis was performed. The required changes in the EEG occurring during traveling experiment analysis alpha (${\alpha}$) waves, beta (${\beta}$) wave, after the primary extraction in the form of gamma (${\gamma}$) faction, the brain wave frequency of the entire period of the experiment change rate extracts, to calculate the change in frequency in response to EEG characteristics by applying the regression model to observe a learning effect in response to an increase in the number of experiments, as a result, depending on the number of experiments, EEG changes due to individual differences. The show, by repeatedly driving a section like this, it was possible to verify that comfortably travels driver accustomed in accordance with the stored road geometry and signal, safety facilities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.900-907
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• 2018

This study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of unripe apple peel water extracts as cosmetic materials and to evaluate the biological activities of the antioxidant and whitening effects of the samples. The antioxidative properties of the samples were confirmed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) cation radical scavenging ability. To evaluate the whitening effect of the samples, several analytical techniques were used, including toxicity evaluations of the samples by MTT assays. Measurements of the inhibition rates of cellular tyrosinase, melanin synthesis rates, and expression rates of whitening-related proteins and genes were confirmed using melanoma (B16F10 cell). At equivalent unripe apple peel water concentrations ($1,000{\mu}g/ml$), the DPPH radical scavenging and the ABTS cation radical scavenging activities were 77.3% and 93.1%, respectively. The whitening activity evaluation showed that tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis were inhibited by 19.8% and 17.3%, respectively, at unripe apple peel water extract concentrations of $50{\mu}g/ml$. In B16F10 cells induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH, the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 decreased. Also, the activity of the transcription factor MITF was inhibited. In real-time PCR experiments, the expression of related genes at the upstream signal level was also found to be progressively lowered as the concentration of unripe apple peel water extracts increased. From these results, it was confirmed that the unripe apple peel water extracts showed excellent whitening efficacy and could be used as safe, natural, raw cosmetic material in the future.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 1995

RF (radio-frequency) probes of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance are one of the important factors and should be designed and built properly depending upon the geometry of the samples and the information. In general there are two kinds of rf probes : one encircles the sample while the other is placed on the surface of the sample. However, in case that the samples on human internal organs have a tube shape, the two kinds of rf probes, as specified above, are usually unsuitable for the internal imaging due to the degradation of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's). In this case a probe should be positioned as close to the area as possible by putting the probe in the tubelike sample to improve filling factor In the present study inside-out probes have been constructed in the three different shapes such as an anti-solenoidal, a saddle and a dual surface types. RF-field distributions have also been calculated depending upon the geometrical changes of anti-solenoid probes. Moreover, the performance of the inside-out probes has been checked by measuring SNR's of the images acquired. The inside-out probes constructed in this study produced better SWR's and rf-field uniformity in the area close to the probes in comparing with any other commercial probes. There is a high feasibility that the constructed probes in the present study are applicable to the diagnosis of human bodies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 1998

Electromagnetic waves may induce various effects on nervous tissues either by thermal or non-thermal mechanisms. This paper intoduces a method to evalute the non-thermal effect to central nervous system by measuring the EEGs of the rabbits treated by nimodipine before exposed to weak microwave field. 20 rabbits were divided into 2 groups and their EEGs were measured after their head section were exposed to 2,450 MHz microwave with the power density of 10 dBm and 20 dBm respectively for 10 minutes and compared with those of the 3rd group of 10 rabbits which were not exposed. The 4th group of 10 rabbits were intravenously given with nimodipine before exposed to 20 dBm field to determine whether this drug would reverse the EEGs changes induced by weak microwave irradiation. As field poser exceeded 20 dBm although no significant physiological changes were observed, total induced EEGs power was remarkably decreased suggesting the presence of CNS activation. Using Fourier analysis on the EEGs signal it was found that remarkable decrease in delta band and increase in the alpha and beta bands in a significant manner(P<0.05) compared to control group. The changes were, however, not reversed by nimodipine-treatment. The effects may be pure thermal in nature because no significant change has been observed in nimodipine treated rabbits.