• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

Prostaglandins are generated through two isoforms of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, constitutively expressed cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 and COX-2, which is induced at sites of inflammation. Inhibition of COX-2 is desirable as this may avoid side effects seen with NSAIDs. We examined the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and cold therapy on the levels of muscle cycloooxygenase-2 mRNA in rats of carrageenan-induced inflammatory. The method of behavioral assessment were paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and tail flick test(TFT). The COX-2 mRNA levels were quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Following the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and cold therapy, PWL and TFT were increased and COX-2 mRNA expression in gastrocnemius muscles were decreased. These results suggest that a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and cold therapy were good therapy for a muscle pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.128-139
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• 2004

말초신경은 외상이나 질병 등 여러 가지 원인으로 손상되기 쉬우며, 손상의 정도가 심하거나 치료가 지연되는 경우에는 심각한 기능 소실을 초래할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 수영이 말초신경손상후 운동기능의 회복과 뇌유인성 신경영양인자 (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) mRNA의 발현에 미치는 효과를 알아보기 위하여, 흰쥐 좌골신경에 압박 손상을 가하고 수영을 적용한 후 보행궤적분석 (walking track analysis)과 역전사연쇄반응 (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR)을 실시하였다. 그 결과, 좌골신경 압박손상된 쥐는 특징적인 보행패턴을 나타내어 좌골신경기능지수 (sciatic function index, SFI)가 현저히 낮아졌으며, BDNF mRNA의 발현이 증가하였다. 좌골신경 압박 손상후 수영을 한 쥐에서는 SFI가 현저히 향상되었으며, BDNF mRNA의 발현은 억제되었다. 이러한 결과는 말초신경손상후 수영이 BDNF mRNA의 발현을 조절함으로써 기능 회복을 촉진시키는 효과적인 치료방법이 될 수 있음을 제안하고 있다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.87-92
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on the wound closure rate, collagen deposition, and TGF-${\beta}$1 mRNA expression in skin wound of rat. Methods: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (222~271 g) were randomly divided into ES (n=10) and control group (n=10). The ES group received a cathodal stimulation with 50 V at 100 pps for 30 minutes for 7 days, while the control group was not given electrical stimulation. The wound closure rate, collagen density and TGF-${\beta}$1 mRNA ratio were measured. Results: The mean wound closure rates in the ES and control groups were $83.79{\pm}16.35$% and $51.57{\pm}17.76$%, respectively (p<0.001). The collagen density in the ES and control groups were $46.67{\pm}10.68$% and $25.03{\pm}13.09$%, respectively (p<0.001). The TGF-${\beta}$1 mRNA ratio in the ES and control groups were $1.35{\pm}0.60$ and $0.63{\pm}0.30$, respectively at 6 hours post-wound (p<0.01) and $1.69{\pm}0.47$ and $1.32{\pm}0.28$, respectively, at 7 days post-wound (p<0.05). Conclusions: ES accelerated the wound closure rate of skin incision wounds and was accompanied by an increase in collagen deposition in the regenerating dermis. In addition, ES increased TGF-${\beta}$1 mRNA expression during wound healing process. These findings suggest that ES may activate TGF-${\beta}$1 expression, and may increase synthesis activities of fibroblasts in regenerating skin wounds in rats.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2007

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is an enzymatic ribonucleoprotein that prolongs the replicative life span of cells by maintaining protective structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomerase activity is highly up-regulated in 85-90% of human cancers, and is predominately regulated by hTERT expression. In contrast, most normal somatic tissues in humans express low or undetectable levels of telomerase activity. This expression profile identifies TERT as a potential anticancer target. By using an RNA mapping strategy based on a trans-splicing ribozyme library, we identified the regions of mouse TERT (mTERT) RNA that were accessible to ribozymes. We found that particularly accessible sites were present downstream of the AUG start codon. This mTERTspecific ribozyme will be useful for validation of the RNA replacement as cancer gene therapy approach in mouse model with syngeneic tumors.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.657-665
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• 2009

The ovomucoid pre-mRNA has been folded into mini-hairpins adaptable for the RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein binding. The number of mini-hairpins were 372 for pre-mRNA and 83-86 for mature mRNA. The spatial arrangements are, in average, 16 nucleotides per mini-hairpin which includes 7 nt in the stem, 5.6 nt in the loop and 3.7 nt in the inter-hairpin spacer. The constitutive splicing system of ovomucoid-pre-mRNA is characterized by preferred order of intron removal of 5/6 > 7/4 > 2/1 > 3. The 5' splice sites (5'SS), branch point sequences (BPS) and 3' splice sites (3'SS) were identified and free energies involved have been estimated in 7 splice sites. Thermodynamic barriers for splice sites from the least (|lowest| -Kcal) were 5, 4, 7, 6, 2, 1, and 3; i.e., -18.7 Kcal, -20.2 Kcal, -21.0 Kcal, -24.0 Kcal, - 25.4 Kcal, -26.4 Kcal and -28.2 Kcal respectively. These are parallel to the kinetic data of splicing order reported in the literature. As a result, the preferred order of intron removals can be described by a consideration of free energy changes involved in the spliceosomal assembly pathway. This finding is consistent with the validity of hnRNP formation mechanisms in previous reports.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1070-1076
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• 2009

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which prolongs the replicative life span of cells, is highly upregulated in 85-90% of human cancers, whereas most normal somatic tissues in humans express limited levels of the telomerase activity. Therefore, TERT has been a potential target for anticancer therapy. Recently, we described a new approach to human cancer gene therapy, which is based on the group I intron of Tetrahymena thermophila. This ribozyme can specifically mediate RNA replacement of human TERT (hTERT) transcript with a new transcript harboring anticancer activity through a trans-splicing reaction, resulting in selective regression of hTERT-positive cancer cells. However, to validate the therapeutic potential of the ribozyme in animal models, ribozymes targeting inherent transcripts of the animal should be developed. In this study, we developed a Tetrahymena-based trans-splicing ribozyme that can specifically target and replace the mouse TERT (mTERT) RNA. This ribozyme can trigger transgene activity not only also in mTERT-expressing cells but hTERT-positive cancer cells. Importantly, the ribozyme could selectively induce activity of the suicide gene, a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, in cancer cells expressing the TERT RNA and thereby specifically hamper the survival of these cells when treated with ganciclovir. The mTERT-targeting ribozyme will be useful for evaluation of the RNA replacement approach as a cancer gene therapeutic tool in the mouse model with syngeneic tumors.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.433-444
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• 2001

This review highlights the ontogenesis and the differentiation of motor neuron in spinal cord, and introduce the survival motor neuron(SMN) which is associated with growth and survival of motor neurons. The differentiation of floor plate cells and motor neurons in the vertebrate neural tube appears to be induced by signals from the notochord. This signal is Sonic hedgehog(Shh). The early development of motor neurons involves the inductive action of Shh. The SMN gene is essential for embryonic viability. SMN mRNA is also expressed in virtually all cell types in spinal cord, including large motor neurons. The SMN protein is involved in RNA processing and during early embryonic development is necessary fer cell survival. Two SMN genes are present in 5q 13 in humans: the telomeric gene(SMNt), which is the SMA-determining gene, and the centromeric analog gene(SMNc). The majority of transcripts from the SMNt gene are full length but, major transcripts of the SMNc gene have a high degrees of alternative splicing and tend to have little or no exon 7. The SMN is involved in the RNA processing(the biogenesis of snRNPs and pre-mRNA splicing), the anti-apoptotic effects, and regulating gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.89-97
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• 2011

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection has been strongly associated with pathogenesis of uterine cervix carcinoma. HPV type 16, a causative agent of uterine cervix carcinoma, encodes the E6 and E7 oncogenes, expression of which is pivotal for malignant transformation and maintenance of malignant phenotypes. To develop a gene therapy for HPV-related carcinoma, We investigated the effect of E6 short-interfering RNA (E6 siRNA) on the expression of this oncogene and on the growth of HPV 16-related uterine cervix carcinoma cells. SiHa cells, a uterine cervix carcinoma cell line, which contain a single copy of HPV 16 integrated in the chromosome and express the E6 and E7 oncogenes. Before 24 hr of transfection, cells were seeded and transfected with control plasmid or E6 siRNA-expressing plasmid. The mRNA was analysed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cell growth rate was investigated by MTT method. The E6 mRNA level in SiHa cells was decreased in HPV 16 E6 siRNA-expression vector transfected cells and a decrease in the growth of these cells was also observed. From these results. it is evident that E6 siRNA played a role in suppression of growth of SiHa cells and has a fair chance as a candidate for gene specific therapy for HPV related uterine cervix carcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TENS on muscle pain induced by carrageenan. Muscle pain was induced in male Sprague-Dowley rats by intra-muscular injection of gastrocnemius with $3\%$ carrageenan. nNOS was measured to assess the effect of TENS on muscle pain induced by Carrageenan. The lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord was removed in different groups of animals 24 h after induction of muscle pain. The level of nNOS mRNA was measured in the lumbar section of the spinal cord using RT-PCT. The expression of nNOS was analyzed in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord by immunohistochemistry. TENS decreased nNOS immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord when compared with controls(p<.05). In RT-PCR, TENS decreased nNOS mRNA level of lumbar spinal cord when compared with controls(p<.05). These results suggested that application of TENS attributed to decrease muscle pain.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2023

Fabry disease (FD), a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A gene gene encoding α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A). The functional deficiency of α-Gal A results in progressive accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, causing multi-organ damages including cardiac, renal, cerebrovascular systems. The current treatment is comprised of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), oral pharmacological chaperone therapy and adjunctive supportive therapy. ERT has been introduced 20 years ago, changing the outcome of FD patients with proven effectiveness. However, FD patients have many unmet needs. ERT needs a life-long intravenous therapy, inefficient bio-distribution, and generation of anti-drug antibodies. Migalastat, a pharmacological chaperone, augmenting α-Gal A enzyme activity only in patients with mutations amenable to the therapy, is now available for clinical practice. Furthermore, these therapies should be initiated before the organ damage becomes irreversible. Development of novel drugs aim at improving the clinical effectiveness and convenience of therapy. Clinical trial of next generation ERT is underway. Polyethylene glycolylated enzyme has a longer half-life and potentially reduced antigenicity, compared with standard preparations with longer dosing interval. Moss-derived enzyme has a higher affinity for mannose receptors, and seems to have more efficient access to podocytes of kidney which is relatively resistant to reach by conventional ERT. Substrate reduction therapy is currently under clinical trial. Gene therapy has now been started in several clinical trials using in vivo and ex vivo technologies. Early results are emerging. Other strategic approaches at preclinical research level are stem cell-based therapy with genome editing and systemic mRNA therapy.