• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2005

Treponema maltophilum, a Group IV oral spirochete, is associated with periodontitis and endodontic infections. In this study we analyzed the functional role of the major surface protein of this organism (MspA) in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). The full-length gene encoding MspA was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli by using the expression vector pQE-30. The recombinant protein (rMspA) was purified by affinity chromatography with nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose and possible contamination of E. coli endotoxin in rMspA was removed by using polymyxin B-agarose. rMspA significantly induced the expression of pro inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and IL-8 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in HGFs, when analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicate that MspA of T. maltophilum may play an important role in amplifying the local immune response by upregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2007

The periodontal diseases and dental caries are major infectious diseases in oral cavity. Many of the preventive and therapeutic dental products contain the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components. But some of these antimicrobial have weak points such as coloration, burning sensation and insolubility in water. We have screened the therapeutic herbal extracts of the Plant Extract Bank for the antimicrobial activity on the major dental pathogens by growth inhibition assay. For the Porphyromonas gingivalis, 8 herbal extracts had an antimicrobial activity, 11 herbal extracts for the Prevotella intermedia, 43 herbal extracts for the Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans and 61 herbal extracts for the Streptococcus mutans. Among these extracts, 6 herbal extracts had an antimicrobial activity for more than 3 species of dental pathogens. These extracts are Araliae Cordatae Radix, Crassirhizomae Rhizoma, Mori Radicis Cortex, Psoraleae Semen, Pini Ramulus and Sieges- beckiae Herba. All of effective extracts were CA group, ethanol extracts. Among these 6 herbal extracts, only Crassirhizomae is known to have a antibacterial effects. Therefore these herbal extracts have a possibility to be a candidate for a major antibacterial components in dental products.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-88
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• 2011

The National Agricultural Biotechnology Information Center (NABIC) constructed an agricultural biology-based infrastructure and developed a biological information-based database. The major functions of the NABIC are focused on biotechnological developments for agricultural bioinformatics and providing a web-based service to construct bioinformatics workflows easily, such as protein function prediction and genome systems biology programs. The NABIC has concentrated on the functional genomics of major crops, building an integrated biotechnology database for agro-biotech information that focuses on the proteomics of major agricultural resources, such as rice, Chinese cabbage, rice Ds-tagging lines, and microorganisms.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.255-265
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare brain activation that appears in the self-regulation process of biology major and non-major college students in life science learning. The self-regulation task implemented a life science learning situation with the concept of biological classification. The brain activation of college students was measured and analyzed by fNIRS. In the assimilation process, bilateral FP and left DLPFC show significant activation, and the two groups show a difference in the left OFC activation related to motivation and reward. In the conflict process, the left DLPFC shows significantly lower activation in common, and the two groups show a difference in activation between BA 46, which is related to recent memory, and BA 47, which is related to long-term memory. In the accommodation process, a significantly high activation was found in right DLPFC in common, and the two groups show a difference in activation between right DLPFC and right FP. These areas are in the right frontal lobe area and are related to the understanding of life science knowledge. As a result of this study, it can be seen that the brain activation patterns of biology major and non-major college students are different in the self-regulation process. In addition, we will propose additional neurological studies on self-regulation and present systems and learning strategies that can be constructed in school settings.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2017

Four species of the family Lycosidae are reported. Alopecosa gachangensis n. sp. is described from Daegu, Korea. A. aculeata (Clerck, 1757), Lycosa boninensis Tanaka, 1989 and Pardosa hokkaido Tanaka and Suwa, 1986 are newly recorded to the Korean spider fauna.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2023

Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic liver damage and results in the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix during disease progression. Despite the identification of the HAT enzyme p300 as a major factor for liver fibrosis, the development of therapeutic agents targeting the regulation of p300 has not been reported. We validated a novel p300 inhibitor (A6) on the improvement of liver fibrosis using two mouse models, mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet and thioacetamide-treated mice. We demonstrated that pathological hall-marks of liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by A6 treatment through Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining on liver tissue and found that A6 treatment reduced the expression of matricellular protein genes. We further showed that A6 treatment improved liver fibrosis by reducing the stability of p300 protein via disruption of p300 binding to AKT. Our findings suggest that targeting p300 through the specific inhibitor A6 has potential as a major therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2006

Twenty-two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae were obtained from diseased strawberry plants and their characteristics were investigated by vegetative compatibility group (VCG), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and pathogenicity. Three major VCGs (A, B, and C) and one incompatible group were identified by nitrate reductase complementation test. The virulence pattern of the 22 isolates was studied in relation to four cultivars including Dochiodome, Red-pearl, Maehyang and Akihime. RAPD markers were used to determine genetic relationship, and created three major clusters among the 22 isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae. Isolates belong to VCG-C were strongly pathogenic, and relatively high correlation was existed among VCG and RAPD, and virulence. In addition, VCG and RAPD pattern between pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates were distinctly different.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.256-261
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• 2005

In silico analysis of genome of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 identified two genes, slr0329 and sll0593, that might participate in glucose (Glc) phosphorylation (www.kazusa.or.jp/cyano). In order to determine the functions of these two genes, we generated deletion mutants, and analyzed their phenotypes and enzymatic activities. In the presence of 10 mM Glc, wild-type (WT) and slr0329 defective strain (M1) grew fast with increased respiratory activity and NADPH production, whereas the sll0593 deletion mutant (M2) failed to show any of the Glc responses. WT and M1 were not significantly different in their glucokinase activity, but M2 had 90% less activity. Therefore, we propose that Sll0593 plays a major role in the phosphorylation of glucose in Synechocystis cells.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.292-301
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• 2018

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood and remains a major cause of cancer related mortality in children. Significant scientific advancements have transformed the understanding of medulloblastoma, leading to the recognition of four distinct clinical and molecular subgroups, namely wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog, group 3, and group 4. Subgroup classification combined with the recognition of subgroup specific molecular alterations has also led to major changes in risk stratification of medulloblastoma patients and these changes have begun to alter clinical trial design, in which the newly recognized subgroups are being incorporated as individualized treatment arms. Despite these recent advancements, identification of effective targeted therapies remains a challenge for several reasons. First, significant molecular heterogeneity exists within the four subgroups, meaning this classification system alone may not be sufficient to predict response to a particular therapy. Second, the majority of novel agents are currently tested at the time of recurrence, after which significant selective pressures have been exerted by radiation and chemotherapy. Recent studies demonstrate selection of tumor sub-clones that exhibit genetic divergence from the primary tumor, exist within metastatic and recurrent tumor populations. Therefore, tumor resampling at the time of recurrence may become necessary to accurately select patients for personalized therapy.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-144
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• 2002

There is an increasing appreciation of the vital role that biomechanics play in the performance of oral implant. The aim of this article is to provide some basic principles that will allow a clinician to formulate a biomechanically valid treatment plan. However, at this point in the history of oral implantology, the clinician should realize that we do not know enough to provide absolute biomechanical rules that will guarantee success of all implants in all situations. To examine the biomechanical questions, one must begin with an analysis of the distribution of biting forcess to implants. Related topics, such as stress transfer to surrounding tissues and interrelationships between bone biology and mechanical loading are major subjects, deserving a separate discussion. Once rigid fixation, angulation, crestal bone level, contour, and gingival health are achieved, stress beyond physiologic limits is the primary cause of initial bone loss around implants. The restoring dentist has specific responsibilities to reduce overload to the bone-implant interface. These include proper diagnosis, leading to a treatment plan designed with adequate retention and form, and progressive loading to improve the amount and density of bone and further reduce the risk of stress beyond physiologic limits. The major remaining factor is the development of occlusal concept in harmony with the rest of the stomagnetic system.