• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1045-1052
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• 2002

Hyperhomocysteinemia, resulted from an interaction between the mutation of MTHFR gene and B vitamin deficiency, is suggested as a possible cause for complications and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the intakes of B vitamins and serum homocysteine concentrations with the C677T mutation in the MTHFR genotypes in 135 normal pregnant women of 24-28 weeks of gestation. Dietary intake of B vitamins did not differ among the three genotypes, but the negative correlation between dietary folate intake and the serum homocysteine level was the strongest in the T/T type (r ＝ -0.249) than in other genotypes (C/T: r＝ -0.040, C/C:r＝ 0.126, p＜0.05). Among the subject with the T/T type, the pregnant women who consumed folate less than 50% of the RDA had higher serum homocysteine levels than those who consumed folate greater than 125% of the RDA (10.4$\pm$5.9 vs 7.0$\pm$1.5 $\mu$mol/L, p＜0.05). Serum homocysteine levels were higher in the women with micronutrient supplements than those with no supplements in the T/T type, but such relation was not present in the C/C or the C/T type. In conclusion, serum homocysteine concentrations were influenced by the interrelationship between the MTHFR polymorphisms and dietary folate intake or micronutrient supplementation.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2010

The biodiversity of eukaryotic plankton has commonly been used to evaluate the status of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, an accurate and rapid method for species identification is needed to reveal the biodiversity of environmental water samples. To date, molecular methods have provided a great deal of information that has enabled identification of the hidden biodiversity in environmental samples. In this study, we utilized environmental polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and constructed the 18S nuclear ribosomal RNA clone library from environmental water samples in order to develop more efficient methods for species identification. For the molecular analysis, water samples were collected from the Seonakdong River (Gimhae Bridge) and the coast of Namhae，(Namhaedo). Colony PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR (PCR-RFLP) were then adopted to isolate unique clones from the 18S rDNA clone library. Restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern analysis of the Gimhae Bridge sample revealed 44 unique clones from a total of 60 randomly selected clones, while analysis of the Namhae sample revealed 27 unique clones from 150 clones selected at random. A BLAST search and subsequent phylogenetic analysis conducted using the sequences of these clones revealed hidden biodiversity containing a wide range of taxonomic groups (Heterokontophyta (7), Ciliophora (23), Dinophyta (1), Chytridiomycota (1), Rotifera (1) and Arthropoda (11) in the Gimhae Bridge samples Ciliophora (4), Dinophyta (3), Cryptophyta (1), Arthropoda (19) in the Namhae samples). Therefore, the molecular monitoring method developed here can provide additional information regarding the biodiversity and community structure of eukaryotic plankton in environmental samples and helps construct a useful database of biodiversity for aquatic ecosystems.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.548-553
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• 2008

The erect habit of fruit setting is a unique characteristic of ornamental peppers and wild pepper species. The erect habit is known to be controlled by the up locus on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) chromosome 12. The result of a genetic analysis using Saengryeog 211 (pendant), Saengryeog 213 (erect), and their $F_1$ and $BC_1$ progeny demonstrated that up is a recessive gene. To develop an up-linked marker, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were employed using 108 $F_{2:3}$ individuals. The closest AFLP marker, $A2C7_{469}$, was located at a genetic distance of 1.7 cM from the up locus and was converted into a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker. This marker was mapped at a genetic distance of 4.3 cM from the up locus. When the CAPS was applied to seven ornamental lines and 27 breeding lines with erect fruit, these genotypes of 28 lines were correctly predicted. Thus, the CAPS marker will be useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of pepper breeding lines with the up allele at the early seedling stage.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.395-404
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• 2019

The influence of chlorine on marine bacterial communities was examined in this study. A non-chlorine-adapted marine bacterial community (NCAM) and a chlorine-adapted bacterial community (CAM, bacterial community treated with $0.2mg-Cl_2/L$ chlorine) were cultivated for 1 month. A distinct difference was observed between the NCAM and CAM, which shared only eight operational taxonomic units (OTUs), corresponding to 13.1% of the total number of identified OTUs. This result suggested that chlorine was responsible for the changes in the marine bacterial communities. Kordiimonas aquimaris was found to be a chlorine-resistant marine bacterium. The effect of intermittent chlorination on the two marine biofilm communities formed on the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane surface was investigated using various chlorine concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg $Cl_2/L$). Although the average number of adherent marine bacteria on the RO membrane over a period of 7 weeks decreased with increasing chlorine concentration, disinfection efficiencies showed substantial fluctuations throughout the experiment. This is due to chlorine depletion that occurs during intermittent chlorination. These results suggest that intermittent chlorination is not an effective disinfection strategy to control biofilm formation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.380-386
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• 2005

Purpose : The incidence of nonphysiologic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is twice as high in East Asians as in whites. Recently, UGT1A1 mutation was found to be a risk factor for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In congenitally-jaundiced Gunn rats, which lack expression of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, alternative pathways can be stimulated by inducers of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 enzymes. CYP1A2 plays a major role in bilirubin degradation of the alternate pathway. We studied the relationship between UGT1A1 and CYP1A2 gene polymorphism of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Koreans. Methods : Seventy-nine Korean full term neonates who had hyperbilirubinemia(serum bilirubin >12 mg/dL) without obvious causes of jaundice, were analyzed for UGT1A1 and CYP1A2 gene polymorphism; the control group was sixty-eight. We detected the polymorphism of Gly71Arg of UGT1A1 gene by direct sequencing and T2698G of CYP1A2 by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) using MboII and direct sequencing. Results : Allele frequency of Gly71Arg mutation in the hyperbilirubinemia group was 32 percent, which was significantly higher than 11 percent in the control group(P<0.0001). Mutant gene frequency of T2698G was 41.8 percent in patients and 32.3 percent in the control group(P=0.015), but allele frequency was 21 percent in patients and 19 percent in the control group, which was not significantly higher(P=0.706). There was no relationship between mutations of two genes(P=0.635). Conclusion : The polymorphism of UGT1A1 gene(Gly71Arg) and CYP1A2 gene(T2698G) was detected in Korean neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Only polymorphisms of Gly71Arg in UGT1A1 were significantly higher than control group.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.590-598
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• 2006

In-situ Air sparging (IAS) is a groundwater remediation technique, in which organic contaminants volatilize into air form the saturated to vadose zone. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of sludge and soil microbial community structure on air sparging of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) contaminated groundwater soils. In the laboratory, diesel (10,000 mg TPH/kg) contaminated saturated soil. The Air was injected in intermittent (Q=1500 mL/min, 10 minute injection and 10 minute idle) modes. For Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of eubacterial communities in sludge of wastewater treatment plants and soil of experiment site, the 16S rDNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from the sludge and the soil. The obtained 16S rDNA fragments were digested with Msp I and separated by electrophoresis gel. We found various sequence types for experiment with sludge soil samples that were closely related to Agrococcus, Flavobacterium, Thermoanaerobacter, Flexibacter and Shewanella, etc, in the clone library. The results of the present study suggests that T-RFLP method may be applied as a useful tool for the monitoring in the TPH contaminated soil the fate of microorganisms in natural microbial community.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.443-452
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• 2004

Habit is the description of the outer appearance of a crystal. If the environment of a growing crystal affects its external shape without changing its internal structure, a different habit results. Crystal habit and the internal structure of a drug can affect bulk and physicochemical properties, which range from flowability to chemical stability. A polymorph is a solid crystalline phase of a given compound resulting from the possibility of at least two different arrangements of the molecules of that compound in the solid state. Chemical stability and solubility changes due to polymorphism can have an impact on a drug's bioavailability and its development program. During crystallization from a solution, crystals separating may consist of a pure component or be a molecular compound. Solvates are molecular complexes that have incorporated the crystallizing solvent molecule in their lattice. When the solvent incorporated in the solvate is water, it is called a hydrate. To distinguish solvates from polymorphs, which are not molecular compounds, the term pseudopolymorph is used. Identification of possible hydrate compounds is important since their aqueous solubilities can be significantly less than their anhydrous forms. Conversion of an anhydrous compound to a hydrate within the dosage form may reduce the dissolution rate and extent of drug absorption. An amorphous solid may be treated as a supercooled liquid in which the arrangement of molecules is random. Amorphous solids lack the three-dimensional long-range order found in crystalline solids. Since amorphous forms are usually of higher thermodynamic energy than corresponding crystalline forms, solubilities as well as dissolution rates are generally greater. A study on crystal form includes characterization of (l)crystal habit, (2)polymorphism, (3)pseudopolymorphism, (4)amorphous solid.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.667-673
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• 2009

Purpose : Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is critical in the immune response to mycobacterial infections. The purpose of this study was to analyze TLR2 surface expressions and TLR2-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis. Methods : Peripheral monocytes were separated from 16 patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis and 10 healthy controls using a magnet cell isolation kit. Monocytes ($1{\times}10^6$ cells/well) were incubated with a constant amount of $Pam_3CSK_4$ ($100{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 hours. TLR2 surface expression on monocytes was analyzed by FACS analysis and TLR-2 mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were measured by ELISA. Results : In patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis, low TLR2 expression on monocytes ($3.39{\pm}$1.2% versus $4.64{\pm}2.6%$) together with significantly lower TLR2 mRNA expression than in the healthy controls was seen after $Pam_3CSK_4$ stimulation. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $775.5{\pm}60.8pg/mL$; IL-6, $4,645.8{\pm}583.9pg/mL$) were also lesser than that in healthy controls ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $1,098.5{\pm}94.3pg/mL$; IL-6, $6,696.3{\pm}544.3pg/mL$). Conclusion : These findings suggest that low TLR2 expression on monocytes might be associated with increased susceptibility to BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2010

Lophatheri Herba is the aerial part of Lophatherum gracile Bronghiart(淡竹葉, Gramineae). 25~75 cm in length. Stem: cylindrical with nodes, empty inside, externally pale yellowish green. Leaf: dehiscent of lanceolate lamina, shrunken and rolled, 5~20 cm long, 10~35 mm wide; surface: pale green ~ yellowish green, parallel-formed with veins of square reticulate, more distinct of appearance on the lower surface. Banbusae Caulis In Taeniam is the stringy strip derived from the stem with the peeled-off epidermis of Phllostachys nigra Munro var. henosis Stapf, and Phllostachys bambusoides Siebold et Zuccarini(竹葉, Gramineae). Irregular in size and shape, thin plane ~ strip-shaped, sometimes powdery, sometimes 1~3 mm thick. Outer surface: pale green ~ yellowish green, sometimes grayish white L. gracile and P. nigra have different origins although they show similar morphologic features. We were able to distinguish between L. gracile and P. nigra which are almost indistinguishable through this study. AFLP(Amplifide Fragment Length Polymorphism) was more suitable for identifying differences between L. gracile and P. nigra in comparison with other genetic analysis using chemical analysis. Therefore. molecular biological methods are believed to be useful for discovering origins of herbal medicines.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.58-61
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• 2015

Objective: The XIST gene is considered to be an attractive candidate gene for skewed X-chromosome inactivation and a possible cause of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the XIST gene promoter mutation is associated with idiopathic POI in a sample of the Korean population. Methods: Subjects consisted of 102 idiopathic POI patients and 113 healthy controls with normal menstrual cycles. Patients with the following known causes of POI were excluded in advance: cytogenetic abnormalities, prior chemo- or radiotherapy, or prior bilateral oophorectomy. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: The mean age of onset of ovarian insufficiency was $28.7{\pm}8.5years$ and the mean values of serum luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones and estradiol in the POI group were $31.4{\pm}18.2mIU/mL$, $74.5{\pm}41.1mIU/mL$, and $30.5{\pm}36.7pg/mL$, respectively. We found no cytosine to guanine (C43G) variation in the XIST gene in both POI patients and controls. Conclusion: The C43G mutation in the promoter region of the XIST gene was not present in the Korean patients with idiopathic POI in our study, in contrast to our expectation, suggesting that the role of XIST in the pathogenesis of POI is not yet clear.