• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2023

Background: Pseudotyped virus systems that incorporate viral proteins have been widely employed for the rapid determination of the effectiveness and neutralizing activity of drug and vaccine candidates in biosafety level 2 facilities. We report an efficient method for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus with dual luciferase and fluorescent protein reporters. Moreover, using the established method, we also aimed to investigate whether Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), a valuable Korean herbal medicine, can attenuate infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. Methods: A pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2pv) was constructed and efficiently produced using lentivirus vector systems available in the public domain by the introduction of critical mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of the spike protein. KRG extract was dose-dependently treated to Calu-3 cells during SARS2-pv treatment to evaluate the protective activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The use of Calu-3 cells or the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in HEK293T cells enabled SARS-2pv infection of host cells. Coexpression of transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which is the activator of spike protein, with ACE2 dramatically elevated luciferase activity, confirming the importance of the TMPRSS2-mediated pathway during SARS-CoV-2 entry. Our pseudovirus assay also revealed that KRG elicited resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, suggesting its beneficial health effect. Conclusion: The method demonstrated the production of SARS-2pv for the analysis of vaccine or drug candidates. When KRG was assessed by the method, it protected host cells from coronavirus infection. Further studies will be followed for demonstrating this potential benefit.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.449-452
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• 2020

The inner ear is a complex and delicate structure composed of the cochlea and the vestibular system. To maintain normal auditory function, strict homeostasis of the inner ear is needed. A proper immune response against infection, thus, is crucial. Also, since excessive immune reaction can easily damage the normal architecture within the inner ear, the immune response should be fine regulated. The exact mechanism how the inner ear's immune response, specifically the innate immunity, is regulated was unknown. Recently, we reported a protein selectively localized in the inner ear during bacterial infection, named cochlin, as a possible mediator of such regulation. In this review, the immunological function of cochlin and the mechanism behind its role within inner ear immunity is summarized. Cochlin regulates innate immunity by physically entrapping pathogens within scala tympani and recruiting innate immune cells. Such mechanism enables efficient removal of pathogen while preserving the normal inner ear structure from inflammatory damage.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.87-99
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• 2022

A novel porcine circovirus 4 (PCV4) was recently emerged in Chinese and Korean pig herds, which provided epidemiological situation where three pathogenic PCVs, PCV2, PCV3, and newly emerged PCV4, could co-infect pig herds in these countries. In this study, a new triplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (tqPCR) method was developed for the rapid and differential detection of these viruses. The assay specifically amplified each viral capsid gene, whereas no other porcine pathogenic genes were detected. The detection limit of the assay was below 10 copies/µL and the assay showed high repeatability and reproducibility. In the clinical evaluation using 1476 clinical samples from 198 Korean pig farms, the detection rates of PCV2, PCV3 and PCV4 by the tqPCR assay were 13.8%, 25.4%, and 3.8%, respectively, which were 100% agreement with those of previously reported monoplex qPCR assays for PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4, with a κ value (95% CI) of 1 (1.00~1.00). The prevalence of PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 at the farm levels were 46.5%, 63.6%, and 19.7%, respectively. The co-infection analysis for tested pig farms showed that single infection rates for PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were 28.8%, 44.4%, and 9.6%, respectively, the dual infection rates of PCV2 and PCV3, PCV2 and PCV4, and PCV3 and PCV4 were 12.6%, 3.5%, and 5.1%, respectively, and the triple infection rate for PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 was 1.5%. These results demonstrate that three pathogenic PCVs are widely spread, and their co-infections are common in Korean pig herds, and the newly developed tqPCR assay will be useful for etiological and epidemiological studies of these pathogenic PCVs.

• Mycobiology
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.51-60
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• 2005

Pot greenhouse experiments were carried out to attempt to increase the salinity tolerance of one of the most popular legume of the world; cowpea; by using dual inoculation of an Am fungus Glomus clarum and a nitrogen-fixer Azospirillum brasilense. The effect of these beneficial microbes, as single- or dual inoculation-treatments, was assessed in sterilized loamy sand soil at five NaCl levels ($0.0{\sim}7.\;2ds/m$) in irrigating water. The results of this study revealed that percentage of mycorrhizal infection, plant height, dry weight, nodule number, protein content, nitrogenase and phosphatase activities, as well as nutrient elements N, P, K, Ca, Mg were significantly decreased by increasing salinity level in non-mycorrhized plants in absence of NFB. Plants inoculated with NFB showed higher nodule numbers, protein content, nitrogen concentration and nitrogenase activities than those of non-inoculated at all salinity levels. Mycorrhized plants exhibited better improvement in all measurements than that of non-mycorrhized ones at all salinity levels, especially, in the presence of NFB. The concentration of $Na^+$ was significantly accumulated in cowpea plants by rising salinity except in shoots of mycorrhizal plants which had $K^+/Na^+$ ratios higher than other treatments. This study indicated that dual inoculation with Am fungi and N-fixer Azospirillum can support both needs for N and P, excess of NaCl and will be useful in terms of soil recovery in saline area.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.548-552
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• 1991

Bradyrhizobium sp. R938과 VA 내성 균근균인 Glomus mosseae의 동시 접종이 영호 땅콩의 질소고정력에 미치는 영향을 포트 실험을 통하여 조사하였다. 땅콩에 Glomus mosseae와 Bradyrhizobium을 동시에 접종한 처리에서 질소고정력이 Bradyrhizobium만을 접종한 것보다 1.5배 증가되는 결과를 얻었다. 땅콩을 69일 동안 생육시킨 결과 근류의 크기도 내생균근균의 동시 접종으로 인해 증가되었다. 동시접종처리구에서 근류 하나의 평균 중량은 6.7mg으로, Bradyrhizobium만을 접종한 것보다 1.5배 증가되는 결과를 보였다. 이상의 결과로 Bradyrhizobium과 Glomus mosseae의 동시 접종은 양분 흡수의 증진을 통한 질소고정력 증진효과 이외에도 VA 내생균근균으로 인한 호르몬 효과가 있으리라는 점을 추정할 수 있었다.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

Background: The chin shape and position is important in determining the general shape of the face, and augmentation genioplasty is performed alone or in combination with other aesthetic procedures. However, augmentation genioplasty using osteotomy is an invasive and complex procedure with the potential to damage mentalis muscle and mental nerve, to affect chin growth, and prolonged recovery. Our aim was to present our experience with a modified augmentation genioplasty procedure for hypoplastic chins using a Gore-Tex implant. Methods: Two vertical slit incisions were made at the canine level to create a supra-periosteal pocket between the incisions, preserving the periosteum and mentalis muscle. Minimal sub-periosteal dissection was performed lateral to the incisions along the mandibular border. The both wings of implant were inserted under the periosteum to achieve a stable dual plane implantation. Results: In total, 47 patients underwent dual plane chin augmentation using a Gore- Tex implant between January 2008 and May 2013. The mean age at operation was 25.77 years (range, 15-55 years). There were 3 cases of infection; one patient was treated with antibiotics, the others underwent implant removal. Additionally, two patients complained of postoperative parasthesia that spontaneously improved without any additional treatment. Most patients were satisfied with the postoperative outcomes, and no chin growth problems were observed among the younger patients. Conclusion: Dual plane Gore-Tex chin augmentation is a minimally-invasive operation that is simple and safe. All implants yielded satisfactory results with no significant complications such as mental nerve injury, lower lip incompetence, or chin growth limitation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.498-502
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• 2018

Molecular imaging is a powerful method for tracking various infectious disease-causing pathogens in host organisms. Currently, a dual molecular imaging method that can provide temporal and spatial information on infected hosts at the organism, organ, tissue, and cellular levels simultaneously has not been reported for Burkholderia pseudomallei, a high-risk pathogen that causes melioidosis. In this study, we have established an experimental method that provides spatiotemporal information on infected hosts using luminescent and fluorescent dual-labeled B. pseudomallei. Using this method, we visualized B. pseudomallei infection at the organism, organ, and tissue levels in a BALB/c mouse model by detecting its luminescence and fluorescence. The infection of B. pseudomallei at the cellular level was also visualized by its emitted fluorescence in infected macrophage cells. This method could be an extremely useful and applicable tool to study the pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei-related infectious diseases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권5호
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• pp.577-585
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• 2019

Objective : Comparing the effects of magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) and traditional growing rod (TGR) techniques on the sagittal plane in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Methods : Twelve patients were operated using dual MCGR technique in one center, while 15 patients were operated using dual TGR technique for EOS in another center. Patients' demographic characteristics, complications and radiological measurements such as cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, T1-S1 range (mm), proximal junctional angle, distal junctional angle, sagittal balance, coronal balance, pelvic incidence, sacral slope and pelvic tilt were assessed and compared in preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up period. Results : Age and sex distributions were similar in both groups. The mean number of lengthening in the MCGR group was 12 (8-15) and 4.8 (3-7) in the TGR group. Two techniques were shown to be effective in controlling the curvature and in the increase of T1-S1 distance. In TGR group, four patients had rod fractures, six patients had screw pull-out and four patients had an infection, whereas three patients had screw pull-out and one patient had infection complications in the MCGR group. Conclusion : There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of cobb angle, coronal and sagittal balance and sagittal pelvic parameters. MCGR can cause hypokyphosis and proximal junctional kyphosis in a minimum 2-year follow-up period. The implant-related complications were less in the MCGR group. However, larger case groups and longer follow-up periods are required for the better understanding of the superiority of one method on other in terms of complications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2000

목 적: 소아의 만성 반복성 복통에서 H. pylori의 역할에 대해서는, 논란이 있지만 중요한 원인 중의 하나일 것으로 생각되고 있다. 성인과는 달리 소아에서는 궤양성 질환이 없는 경우에도 제균 치료를 하는 것이 상례이다. H. pylori 제균 치료는 제균효과와 안전성 그리고 환자의 순응도와 경제성 등의 기준에 따라 선택하여 사용하고 있다. 편이성과 경제성이 좋은 2제 요법으로는 omeprazole과 clarithromycin 병용 투여의 효과가 인정받고 있으며, omeprazole과 amoxicillin 병용 투여에 대해서는 보고에 따라 제균 효과가 35~85%로 일정하지 않았다. 이에 저자들은 만성 반복성 복통 환아에서 H. pylori 감염증에 대한 omeprazole 및 amoxicillin 2주 치료의 효과를 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 1998년 4월부터 1999년 4월까지 연세의대 세브란스병원 소아과에 만성 반복성 복통으로 내원하여 위십이지장 내시경을 시행받은 환아 중 생검 조직의 CLO 검사 또는 은염색에서 H. pylori 감염증으로 진단받은 57례에서 omeprazole (0.7 mg/kg/day)과 amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day)을 2주간 투여하였으며, 이들 중 추적 검사가 가능하였던 24례에 대해 H. pylori 제균 효과를 알아보았다. H. pylori 제균은 투약 종료 4주 이후에 위십이지장 내시경을 시행하여 얻은 생검 조직의 CLO 검사와 은염색에서 모두 음성인 경우로 정의하였다. 결 과: 대상 환아는 남아 15례(63%), 여아 9례(37%)였고 7세 미만이 4례(17%), 7세에서 12세 사이가 14례(58%), 12세 이상이 6례(25%)였다. 내시경 진단은 결절성 위염이 11례(46%), 표재성 위염7례(29%), 소화성 궤양 4례(17%), 정상이 2례(8%)였다. Omeprazole 및 amoxicillin 2제 2주 투약 종료 4주 후 시행한 내시경 검사상 12례에서 H. pylori가 제균되어 제균율은 50%이었으며, 나머지 12례에서는 제균이 되지 않았다. 제균이 되지 않았던 12례의 환아들 중 8례는 추적 관찰이 되지 않았고, 나머지 4례에서는 omeprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, colloidal bismuth subcitrate ($Denol^{(R)}$), metronidazole 중 2~3가지 약제를 조합하여 2~3주 병용요법을 시행한 결과 모두 제균이 되었다. 결 론: 만성 반복성 복통 환아에서 H. pylori 감염증에 대한 PPI (omeprazole) 및 amoxicillin 2제의 2주 치료요법의 제균율은 50%로 기존의 다른 보고들에서와 유사하였다. 그러나, H. pylori 제균요법의 선택에 있어서 가장 중요한 것은 H. pylori 제균율이므로, 만성 반복성 복통 환아에서 H. pylori 감염증에 대한 PPI (omeprazole) 및 amoxicillin 2제의 2주 요법은 일차 치료로서는 효과적이지 않은 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.58-61
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• 2008

A 66-year-old woman described a 6-month history of hoarseness after upper respiratory infection. She was a house wife and referred from an outside clinic under a diagnosis of vocal fold nodules. Strobovideolaryngoscopy revealed bilateral vocal fold lesions, and decreased mucosal wave of both vocal folds. She was brought to the operating room for microsuspension laryngoscopy. Under general anesthesia, dual intracordal cysts on left vocal fold were completely resected with microflap technique. The lesion on the right vocal fold turned out to be a reactive fibrous mass, which was also resected. Dual intracordal cysts were confirmed histopathologically. The one was an epidermoid cyst lined with squamous epithelium, and the other was a mucus retention cyst lined with cuboidal epithelium. Postoperative voice was acceptable by the patient and the mucosal vibration has much improved after the surgery.