• 대한약침학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.17-37
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• 2006

Objectives : To observe the changes in the serum proteins after intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture. Methods : Blood was collected before and after the administration of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture and only the serum was taken. Then differences in the spots on the scanned image after carrying out 2-Dimensional electrophoresis were located and conducted mass analysis and protein identification. Results : Following results were obtained from the comparative analysis of serum proteins before and after the administration of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture. 1. 28 spots were identified before and after the administration. 2. In confirming manifestation degree, spots with more than two-times increase were 204, 1302, 2205, 3105, 7104, 8006, spots with more than one-time increase were 1101, 1505, 2013, 2403, 3009, 3010, 4002, 4009, 6704, 8101, and spots with decrease were 205, 801, 803, 3205, 5202, 6105, 6106, 7103, 9001, 9003. 3. After conducting protein identification, proteins 205, 804, 1302, 4009, 6105, 6106 are unidentified yet, and 1l01 is unnamed protein. Protein 204 is identified as complement receptor CR2-C3d, 801 as YAPl protein, 803 as antitrypsin polymer, 1505 as PRO0684, 2013 and 3010 as proapolipoprotein, 2205 as USP48, 2403 as vitamin D binding protein, 3009 as complement component 4A preprotein, 3105 as immunoglobulin lambda chain, 3205 as transthyretin, 4002 as Ras-related protein Ral-A, 4204 as beta actin, 5202 and 7104 as apolipoprotein Ll, 6704 as alpha 2 macroglobulin precursor, 7103 as complement component 3 precursor, 8006 as testis-specific protein Y, 8101 as transferrin, 9001 as (Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(Cl12g)deoxy) T-State Human Hemoglobin, and 9003 as human hemoglobin. 4. Immune protein CR2-C3d(204), which acts against microbes and pathogenic organisms, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 5. Antitrypsin(803), which is secreted with inflammatory response in the lungs, was reduced after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 6. Proapolipoprotein(2013, 3010) and apolipoprotein(7104), key components of the HDL-cholesterol which plays an important role in preventing arteriosclerosis, were increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 7. Vitamin D binding protein(DBP, 2403), protecting the lung at the time of inflammatory response, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 8. Transthyretin(TTR, 3205), which is the main protein causing familial amyloid polyneuropathy(FAP), was decreased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 9. Ras-related protein Ral-A(4002) that controls phospholipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, and membrane traffic, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 10. Testis-specific protein Y(8006), which takes part in determination of the gender, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 11. Transferrin(8101), which balances the iron level in the body, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Above results support the notion that intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture induce changes in serum proteins and this research can be a pioneer work in finding biomarkers.

• 대한소아신경학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.221-226
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• 2018

목적: 열성 경련은 생후 첫 5년간 흔히 발생하는 경련성 질환으로 바이러스 감염과 관련이 있다. 인플루엔자 감염은 열성경련을 포함한 다양한 신경학적 증상과 연관이 있다. 이 연구에서는 열성 경련에 대한 인플루엔자 감염의 임상적인 영향을 평가하고자 하였다. 방법: 총 388명의 소아 중 인플루엔자가 동반된 열성경련 환아 75명, 인플루엔자가 동반되지 않은 열성경련 환아는 313명의 두 그룹으로 나누었다. 이 환자들의 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하여, 발작 유형, 발작 빈도, 발작 기간, 열성경련의 가족력 및 간질의 발병과 임상적 특징을 비교하였다. 결과: 전체 388명의 열성 경련 환자 중 75명(19.3%)가 인플루엔자 감염이 동반되었다. 인플루엔자 감염이 동반된 열성경련 환자가 인플루엔자 감염이 동반되지 않는 환자보다 평균적으로 나이가 많았으며 ($34.9{\pm}22.3$개월 vs $24.4{\pm}14.2$개월, P<0.001), 이전에 열성경련의 병력이 있는 경우가 더 흔하였다(40/75 (53.3%) vs 92/313 (29.4%), P<0.01). 또한 60개월을 기준으로 환자 군을 나누어 보았을 때 60개월이상 열성경련 소아에서 인플루엔자 감염 비율이 60개월 미만인 소아보다 유의하게 높았다(11/22 (50%) vs 64/366 (17.5) %, P=0.001). 결론: 인플루엔자 감염은 연장아의 열성경련과 연관된 것으로 보이며, 열성경련의 병력이 있는 환자에서 재발과 관련이 있다. 인플루엔자 감염이 동반된 연장아의 열성 경련 환자에서 추후 뇌전증 발병이나 항경련제의 복용 여부에 대한 장기적 추적 관찰이 필요하다.

• 한국사회정책
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.137-161
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• 2012

전통적으로 아동과 노인의 돌봄은 가족의 책임으로 여겨지고 관행적으로 실천되어 왔다. 한국정부는 가족에 의해서 돌봄을 받지 못하는 아동과 노인에 국한된 잔여적 제도를 구축해 왔다. 그러나 21세기에 들어서 고령화, 저출산, 여성의 노동시장 참여 증가, 가족의 형성과 해체의 변화, 가족 내의 돌봄 제공에 대한 인식 변화 등의 사회적 변인들은 돌봄 제공에 있어서 국가의 개입의 필요성 형성의 주요한 요인들로 작용해왔다. 이 논문은 유엔사회개발연구소의 돌봄의 정치사회경제학 연구에서 개발된 케어 다이아몬드 개념을 적용하여 한국의 사회적 돌봄 정책 발전을 국가, 시장, 가족, 제3의 부문 간의 제도적 분배의 변화를 분석하고자 한다. 분석 결과, 아동 돌봄의 경우, 정부와 시장의 역할이 증대된 반면, 제3의 부문의 역할은 줄었다. 노인 돌봄의 경우, 정부, 시장, 제3의 부문의 개입의 성장을 보였다. 그러나 한국의 가족 중심의, 특히 여성에 의한, 돌봄 제공 원칙은 변화하지 않았다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.178-185
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• 2005

목 적 : JMML은 소아에서 발생하는 매우 드문 종류의 백혈병으로서 통상적인 항암화학요법만으로는 완치가 어려워 동종 조혈 모세포 이식을 시행하여야 한다. 아직 국내에서는 본 질환의 조혈 모세포 이식 성적에 대한 보고가 없어 저자들은 단일기관에서 경험한 JMML 환자의 동종 조혈 모세포 이식 성적을 보고하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 8개월에서 39개월 된 11명의 JMML 환자를 대상으로 동종 조혈 모세포 이식을 시행하였다. 조혈 모세포의 공급원으로 비혈연 골수 혹은 제대혈 7례, HLA 일치 형제 공여자 3례, HLA 1 항원 불일치 가족 공여자 1례 등을 이용하였다. 모든 환자들은 이식 전 항암화학요법을 시행 받았고 일부 환자에게는 13-cis-retinoic acid(CRA)를 사용하였다. 결 과 : 총 11례 중 3례만이 이식 전 치료로 혈액학적 및 임상적 완전관해에 도달하였다. 이식 후 1개월째 첫 키메리즘 평가 결과 완전 공여자 키메리즘 5례, 혼합 키메리즘 5례, 자가회복 1례였다. 혼합 키메리즘 상태에서 비장종대가 해소되지 않았던 1례에서 면역억제제의 급속 감량과 함께 CRA를 지속적으로 투여한 결과 완전 공여자 키메리즘으로의 전환과 함께 완전관해가 유도되었다. 자가회복 되었던 1례는 이식 후 조기 재발하였으나 복합 항암화학요법과 CRA의 투여로 이차 완전관해가 유도되었다. 결과적으로 11례 중 6례가 이식 후 정중 추적기간 15.5개월간 무사건 생존 중이다. 사망한 3례는 모두 완전 공여자 키메리즘에 실패하였던 경우들로서 질병의 재발 혹은 진행이 사망의 원인이었다. 결 론 : 본 연구 결과 JMML의 근치에는 동종 조혈 모세포 이식 후 이식편대 백혈병 효과가 중요한 역할을 담당하며 CRA도 긍정적 역할을 가지는 것으로 사료된다. 이식 후에도 완전관해에 도달하지 못하고 혼합 키메리즘 양상을 보이는 경우, 면역 억제제를 조기 감량하는 정책과 함께 CRA를 도입함으로써 완치의 가능성을 높일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2000년도 국제심포지움
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• pp.10-12
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.5-25
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• 2004

Objectives : To observe changes in the serum proteins before and after intravenous injection of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture. Methods : Blood was collected before and after the administration of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture and only the serum was centrifuged. Then differences in the spots on the scanned image after running 2-Dimensionl electrophoresis were located and conducted mass analysis and protein identification. Results : Following results were obtained from the comparative analysis of serum proteins before and after the administration of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture. 1. 28 spots were identified before and after the administration. 2. In confirming manifestation degree, spots with more than two-times increase were 204, 803, 1505, 2205, 3105, 7104, 9001 spots, with more than one-time increase were 1101, 1302, 2013, 3009, 3010, 4002, 4009, 6706, 7103, 8006, 8101, and spots with decrease were 205, 801, 3205, 5202, 6105. 3. After conducting protein identification, proteins 205, 804, 1302, 4009, 6105, 6106 are unidentified yet, and 1101 is unnamed protein. Protein 204 is identified as complement receptor CR2-C3d, 801 as YAP1 protein, 803 as antitrypsin polymer, 1505 as PRO0684, 2013 and 3010 as proapolipoprotein, 2205 as USP48, 2403 as vitamin D binding protein, 3009 as complement component 4A preprotein, 3105 as immunoglobulin lambda chain, 3205 as transthyretin, 4002 as Ras-related protein Ral-A, 4204 as beta actin, 5202 and 7104 as apolipoprotein L1, 6704 as alpha 2 macroglobulin precursor, 7103 as complement component 3 precursor, 8006 as testis-specific protein Y, 8101 as Transferrin, 9001 as(Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(C112g)deoxy) T-State Human Hemoglobin, and 9003 as human hemoglobin. 4. Immune protein CR2-C3d, which acts against microbes and pathogenic organisms, and Antitrypsin(803), which is secreted with inflammatory response in the lungs, were increased by more than 200% after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 5. Immunoglobulin lambda chain(3105), Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(C112g)deoxy T-State Human Hemoglobin(9001), and human hemoglobin(9003) were increased by more than two-times after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 6. Proapolipoprotein(2013, 3010) and apolipoprotein(7104), key components of the HDL-cholesterol which plays an important role in preventing arteriosclerosis, were increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 7. Vitamin D binding protein(DBP, 2403), protecting the lung at the time of inflammatory response, was increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 8. Transthyretin(TTR, 3205), which is the main protein causing familial aimyloid polyneuropathy(FAP), was decreased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 9. Ras-related protein Ral-A(4002) that controls phospholipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, and membrane traffic, was increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 10. Testis-specific protein Y(8006), which takes part in determination of the gender, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 11. Transferrin(8101), T-State Human Hemoblobin(9001), and Human Hemoblobin(9003) which balances the iron level in the body, were increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. Conousion : Above results support the notion that intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture induce changes in serum proteins and this research can be a pioneer work in finding biomarkers.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.533-541
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• 2004

아토피 피부염은 다른 말로 태열이라고도 하며, 유아 시기에서부터 성인까지 광범위한 연령층에 병변의 특징적인 분포 그리고 개인적 혹은 가족적인 병력을 가진 특히 유전적 소인을 보이는 질환으로 심한 가려움증과 건조증 등을 동반하는 일종의 재발성, 만성의 알레르기성 습진을 말한다. 그 유병율은 매우 흔하여 어린이의 약 $9~12\%$ 에서발생한다. 그러나 최근에는 사회 자연환경의 변화와 음식문화의 변화, 삶의 방식의 변화에 의해서 계속 증가하는 추세를 보이고 있다. 인간의 피부는 외부 환경으로부터의 물리적, 화학적 자극에 대한 장벽기능의 역할을 하는데 아토피 피부염 환자의 피부는 각질층에서의 피부 장벽기능 및 수분유지 기능이 감소되어 있고 이러한 기능 장애의 원인으로 최근 연구에 의하면 세라마이드의 감소에 따른 것으로 밝혀지고 있다. 세라마이드는 스핑고신에 지방산이 연결되어 있는 구조를 가지고 있는 스핑고 지질의 일종이다. 세라마이드는 피부 각질층을 구성하는 각질세포간 지질 중 약 $40\%$를 차지하며, 수분 증발을 억제하는 지질 방어벽 역할과 각질층의 정연한 구조를 유지하게 하는 기능을 가지고 있다. 피부 각질층은 각화된 세포가 벽돌모양의 다층 구조로 구성되어 있으며 이러한 각화세포는 세라마이드, 콜레스테롤, 유리 지방산에 의해 견고히 결합되어 있다 따라서 이 세라마이드가 함유된 크림이나 연고를 아토피 피부염 환자에 도포함으로써 환자의 피부 장벽기능의 복구에 도움을 주어 아토피 피부염을 치료할 수 있다는 보고가 있다. 본 연구는 아토피 피부염 전용화장품으로서 아토피 피부에서 피부장벽을 복구하는데 기여한다고 증명된 각질 세포간 지질 성분들(세라마이드, 콜레스테롤, 유리지방산)을 포함하는 유액제품과 피부 면역조절과 항 염증 효과가 있다고 보고된 베타글루칸, 신이화 추출물 감초 추출물 등을 포함하는 세럼형태의 액상제품으로 구성된 두 가지 제품을 아토피 피부염 환자에게 도포하게 하여 그 제품의 안전성과 유효성을 확인하여 보았다. 그리고 그 제품이 새로운 시장인 아토피 피부염 전용 보습화장품으로서의 시장진입 가능성을 확인하여 보았다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.195-203
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• 2012

재발성 아프타성 구내궤양은 5~60%의 유병률을 가진 가장 흔한 형태의 구강 궤양이다. 가장 흔히 발병하는 나이는 10세~19세이며 환자의 성인기 및 평생 동안 지속될 수 있고, 성별의 차이는 없으며 소아프타, 대아프타 및 포진성 궤양의 세가지 형태로 나누어진다. 원인은 정확히 알려져 있지 않으나 다양한 유발인자 혹은 기여요인들이 있다. 이러한 기여요인에는 가족력 혹은 유전적 소인, Allergy 반응, 약물, 호르몬, 스트레스 또는 불안 및 면역계 이상 등을 들 수 있다. 구강 질환의 발병과정에 있어서 정신적 요인에 대한 고려의 필요성이 지난 몇 십 년 동안 점점 더 인정되고 있으며 많은 연구들이 구강질환에 있어서 정신사회적 요소들에 초점을 두고 있다. 이번 연구에서도 정서적 스트레스가 재발성 아프타성 구내궤양에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 평가하고자 한다. 임상검사 결과 재발성 아프타성 구내궤양으로 진단된 환자 30명과 부산대학교 치의학전문대학원 학생들 중 재발성 아프타성 구내염의 증상 및 병력이 없는 60명을 대상으로 하였다. 스트레스 상황의 평가를 위해서는 한국적 문화에 맞게 적절하게 변형한 Holmes와 Rahe의 사회적 재적응 평정척도 설문지(SRRS)를 이용하였다. 분석결과 재발성 아프타성 구내염 환자들이 대조군에 비해 내원 전 7개월에서 12개월 사이 기간 및 내원 전 1년 동안의 스트레스를 경험하는 빈도 및 스트레스의 정도에 있어서 유의하게 높은 것으로 나타났다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.4517-4525
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• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.