• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.6-13
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• 2023

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been found to cause life-threatening respiratory failure, which can progress to irreversible lung damage. Lung transplantation can be a life-saving treatment in patients with terminal lung disease (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by infection). This study aimed to present the clinical course and results after initial lung transplantation in patients with severe COVID-19 who did not recover even with optimal medical care. Methods: From August 2019 to February 2022, this study enrolled 10 patients with COVID-19 (5 men; median age, 55.7 years) who underwent lung transplantation at a single center in Korea. All patients' characteristics, clinical pathway, overall survival, complications, and operative data were collected and analyzed. Results: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or an oxygenator in a right ventricular assist device circuit was applied to 90% of the patients, and the median length of extracorporeal life support before operation was 48.5 days. There were no cases of mortality after a median follow-up of 372.8 days (interquartile range, 262.25-489 days). The major complications included the requirement for postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in 2 cases (20%), re-transplantation in 1 case (10%), and re-exploration due to bleeding in 2 cases (20%). During the follow-up period, 3 out of 10 patients died. Conclusion: Excellent early outcomes were observed for patients who underwent lung transplantation. Thus, lung transplantation can be an effective and feasible treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease caused by COVID-19.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.484-495
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• 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be defined as a progressive chronic pulmonary disease showing scarring in the lung parenchyma, thereby resulting in increase in mortality and decrease in the quality of life. The pathophysiologic mechanism of fibrosis in IPF is still unclear. Repetitive microinjuries to alveolar epithelium with genetical predisposition and an abnormal restorative reaction accompanied by excessive deposition of collagens are involved in the pathogenesis. Although the two FDA-approved drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, are under use for retarding the decline in lung function of patients suffered from IPF, they are not able to improve the survival rate or quality of life. Therefore, a novel therapeutic agent acting on the major steps of the pathogenesis of disease and/or, at least, managing the clinical symptoms of IPF should be developed for the effective regulation of this incurable disease. In the present review, we tried to find a potential of managing the clinical symptoms of IPF by natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling the pulmonary inflammatory diseases in traditional Asian medicine. A multitude of natural products have been reported to exert an antifibrotic effect in vitro and in vivo through acting on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway, transforming growth factor (TGF)- β-induced intracellular signaling, and the deposition of extracellular matrix. However, clinical antifibrotic efficacy of these natural products on IPF have not been elucidated yet. Thus, those effects should be proven by further examinations including the randomized clinical trials, in order to develop the ideal and optimal candidate for the therapeutics of IPF.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.103-111
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• 2024

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Mayer) is an important natural medicine. However, a long culture period and challenging quality control requirements limit its further use. Although artificial cultivation can yield a sustainable medicinal supply, research on the association between the transplantation and chaining of metabolic networks, especially the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthetic pathways, is limited. Methods: Herein, we performed Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry based metabolomic measurements to evaluate ginsenoside accumulation and categorise differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs). Transcriptome measurements using an Illumina Platform were then conducted to probe the landscape of genetic alterations in ginseng at various ages in transplantation mode. Using pathway data and crosstalk DAMs obtained by MapMan, we constructed a metabolic profile of transplantation Ginseng. Results: Accumulation of active ingredients was not obvious during the first 4 years (in the field), but following transplantation, the ginsenoside content increased significantly from 6-8 years (in the wild). Glycerolipid metabolism and Glycerophospholipid metabolism were the most significant metabolic pathways, as Lipids and lipid-like molecule affected the yield of ginsenosides. Starch and sucrose were the most active metabolic pathways during transplantation Ginseng growth. Conclusion: This study expands our understanding of metabolic network features and the accumulation of specific compounds during different growth stages of this perennial herbaceous plant when growing in transplantation mode. The findings provide a basis for selecting the optimal transplanting time.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.668-679
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• 2024

Background/Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate biologics treatment disparities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Data from the KOrean Observational Study Network for Arthritis (KORONA) database were analyzed to assess various factors associated with SES, health behaviors, and biologics use. Logistic regression and structured equation modeling (SEM) were utilized for data analysis. Results: Among 5,077 RA patients included, 393 (7.7%) patients were identified as biologics users. Within the entire cohort, 31.8% of the participants were in the low-income and low-education groups, and 39.3% of the participants were in the high-income and high-education groups. Despite the patients with low income or low education experienced higher disease activity at diagnosis, had more comorbidities, exhibited higher medication compliance, underwent more check-ups, and had more hospital admissions than their counterparts, the odds of patients with low-income receiving biologics were 34% lower (adjusted odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.96, p = 0.021) after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities. SEM and pathway analyses confirmed the negative impact of low SES on biologics use. Conclusions: The findings suggest that SES plays a significant role in biologics use among RA patients, indicating potential healthcare inefficiencies for low SES patients. Moreover, adverse healthcare habits negatively affect biologics use in RA patients. The study highlights the importance of considering socioeconomic factors while discussing biologics use and promoting equitable access to biologics for optimal RA management.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.355-359
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• 1998

식물중에서 배당체 일종인 saponins을 다량 함유한 시호(Bupleurum falcatum)로부터 생체 조절 기능을 갖는 유효성분을 분리하여 혈소판 활성화 작용을 통하여 뇌심혈관계 질환 연구에 이용하고자 시호 용매 분획물에서 분리 및 동정한 Saikosapini을 thronbin, collagen, arachidonic acid 등의 효능제(agonist)와 세포의 $Ca^{2+}$ 의존성을 비교연구하였다. 시호 용매추출물 중에 acetone 추출물이 혈소판 응집작용이 강하며, 그 유효성분을 분리 및 동정한 saikosaponin a와 d는 C16 위치에 각각 ${\alpha}와\;{\beta}$형의 OH기를 갖는 이성체로, saikosapnin d가 a보다 강한 응집작용을 갖는 구조활성관계를 나타내고 있다. 각 효능제에 따라서 혈소판 활성화에 대한 세포의 $Ca^{2+}$ 의존성은 thrombin > colagen $\geq$ PAF>PMA> arachidonic acid $\geq$ Ionophore A23187순으로 나타났다. 시호 추출물 및 saikosaponin의 혈소판 활성화 작용은 기존 효능제와 다른 세포의 $Ca^{2+}$의존성을 나타내는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.622-631
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• 2006

In this study we purified a fibrinolytic enzyme from Cordyceps militaris using a combination of ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE Sephadex A-50 column, gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G-75 column, and FPLC on a HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75 column. This purification protocol resulted in a 191.8-fold purification of the enzyme and a final yield of 12.9 %. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 52 kDa by SDS-PAGE, fibrin-zymography, and gel filtration chromatography. The first 19 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence were ALTTQSNV THGLATISLRQ, which is similar to the subtilisin-like serine protease PR1J from Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliase. This enzyme is a neutral protease with an optimal reaction pH and temperature of 7.4 and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. Results for the fibrinolysis pattern showed that the enzyme rapidly hydrolyzed the fibrin $\alpha$-chain followed by the $\gamma$-$\gamma$ chains. It also hydrolyzed the $\beta$-chain, but more slowly. The A$\alpha$, B$\beta$, and $\gamma$ chains of fibrinogen were also cleaved very rapidly. We found that enzyme activity was inhibited by $Cu^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$, but enhanced by the additions of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ ions. Furthermore, fibrinolytic enzyme activity was potently inhibited by PMSF and APMSF. This enzyme exhibited a high specificity for the chymotrypsin substrate S-2586 indicating it's a chymotrypsin-like serine protease. The data we present suggest that the fibrinolytic enzyme derived from the edible and medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris has fibrin binding activity, which allows for the local activation of the fibrin degradation pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.69-76
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• 2014

This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between threonine (Thr) efficiency and Thr dehydrogenase (TDG) activity as an indicator of Thr oxidation on chicks fed with levels of diets (CP [17.5% and 21.5%] and Thr [3.8 and 4.7 g/100 g CP]; glycine [Gly][0.64% and 0.98%] and true digestible Thr [dThr] [0.45% and 0.60%]). Calculation of the Thr efficiency was based on N-balance data and an exponential N-utilization model, and TDG activity was determined as accumulation of aminoacetone and Gly during incubation of hepatic mitochondria. This study found that in the liver of chicks who received a diet containing up to 0.79% Thr (4.7 g Thr/100 g of CP) in the 17.5% CP diet, no significant (p>0.05) effect on TDG activity was observed. However, significantly (p = 0.014) increased TDG activity was observed with a diet containing 21.5% CP (4.7 g Thr/100 g of CP) and the efficiency of Thr utilization showed a significant (p = 0.001) decrease, indicating the end of the Thr limiting range. No significant (p>0.05) effect on the total TDG activity and accumulation of Gly was observed with addition of Gly to a diet containing 0.45% dThr. In addition, addition of Gly to a diet containing 0.60% dThr also did not result in a change in accumulation of Gly. Due to an increase in accumulation of aminoacetone, an elevated effect on total TDG activity was also observed. No significant (p>0.05) reduction in the efficiency of Thr utilization was observed after addition of Gly at the level of 0.45% dThr. However, significantly (p<0.001) reduced efficiency of Thr utilization was observed after addition of Gly at the level of 0.60% dThr. Collectively, we found that TDG was stimulated not only by addition of Thr and protein to the diet, but also by addition of Gly, and efficiency of Thr utilization was favorably affected by addition of Gly at the level near to the optimal Thr concentration. In addition, no metabolic requirement of Gly through the TDG pathway was observed with almost the same accumulation of Gly and a slight increase in TDG activity by addition of Gly. Thus, our findings suggest that determination of TDG activity and parameter of efficiency of Thr utilization may be useful for evaluation of dietary Thr level.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제65권4호
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• pp.274-283
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• 2020

본 연구는 조평과 조운의 벼 출수 후 적산온도와 검정온도에 따른 수발아 발생 정도를 조사하고, RNA-sequencing 방법을 사용하여 수발아 발생 원인을 찾았다. 품종간 수발아성에 관여하는 생리적, 유전학적 요인을 구명하고자 수행하였으며 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 출수 후 적산온도가 높아질수록, 검정온도가 높아질수록 수발아 처리시 수발아율이 높았고, 조운벼가 내수발아성이 강하고, 조평벼가 수발아성이 높은것으로 나타났다. 2. 수발아성이 높은 조평벼를 대상으로 한 RNA-sequencing 결과 ABA 생합성에 관여하는 OsNCEDs의 발현이 감소하고, ABA 분해에 관여하는 OsCYP707As의 발현이 증가하였다. 3. 조평과 조운의 OsNCEDs와 OsCYPY707As의 Quantitation Real-Time PCR 결과 조평보다 조운에서 OsNCEDs의 발현이 높게 나타나 수발성과 상관관계를 보였으나, OsCYP707As는 수발아성과 상관관계를 보이지 않았다. 4. 조운벼는 등숙기간중 종실내 ABA함량이 조평보다 높으며 수발아 처리시 남아있는 ABA함량이 높아 내수발아성이 상대적으로 강하게 나타났다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.583-591
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• 2002

Biodegradation of fat, oil, and grease (FOGs) plays an Important role in wastewater management and water pollution control. However, many industrial food-processing and food restaurants generate FOG-containing waste waters for which there Is no acceptable technology for their pretreatment. To solve these problems, this study evaluated the feasibility of effective FOG-degrading microorganisms on the biodegradation of olive oil and FOG-containing wastewater. Twenty-two strains capable of degrading FOGs were isolated from five FOG-contaminated sites for the evaluation of their FOG degradation capabilities. Among twenty-two strains tested, the lipase-producing Pseudomonas sp. strain D2D3 was selected for actual FOG wastewater treatment. Its biodegradability was performed at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and pH 8. The extent of FOG removal efficiency was varied for each FOG tested, being the highest for olive oil and animal fat (94.5% and 94.4%), and the lowest for safflower oil (62%). The addition of organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, soytone, and peptone enhanced the removal efficiency of FOGs, but the addition of the inorganic nitrogen nutrients such as $NH_4$Cl and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ did not increase. The $KH_2PO_4$ sources in 0.25% to 0.5% concentrations showed more than 90% degradability. As a result, the main pathway for the oxidation of fatty acids results in the removal of two carbon atoms as acetyl-CoA with each reaction sequence: $\beta$-oxidation. Its lipase activity showed 38.5 U/g DCW using the optimal media after 9 h. Real wastewater and FOGs were used for determining the removal efficiency by using Pseudomonas sp. strain D2D3 bioadditive. The degradation by Pseudomonas sp. strain D2D3 was 41% higher than that of the naturally occurring bacteria. This result indicated that the use of isolated Pseudomonas sp. strain D2D3 in a bioaugmentating grease trap or other processes might possibly be sufficient to acclimate biological processes for degrading FOGs.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.394-399
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• 2013

가정 하수구의 주요 오물은 난분해성 모발로서 이것이 하수의 악취를 막기 위한 유트랩 장치에 다량으로 쌓이게 된다. 이러한 오물은 물의 흐름을 막는 현상을 일으키기 때문에 대부분의 가정에서 이를 해결하기 위해 상업적으로 제조된 화학적 분해 용액을 하수구에 과량 투입하여 하수구의 막힘 현상을 해결하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 난분해성 케로틴 단백질이 주성분인 모발을 절단 분쇄하는 장치를 개발하여 실험하였다. 실험을 위하여 모발을 효과적으로 절단할 수 있는 절단 분쇄장치를 설계하였으며 그 절단 성능을 실험적인 방법을 통해 규명하였다. 모발 절단 분쇄 장치의 성능을 평가하기 위하여 섬유다발을 부분 절단한 후 무게를 측정하는 방법을 사용하여 절단 모발의 평균길이를 구하였다. 이 방법은 비교적 간단한 무게 측정 방법을 통해 섬유상의 평균 길이를 구하는 것인데, 이를 모발에 적용하여 평균 모발 길이를 크지 않은 오차 범위에서 구할 수 있었다. 또한, 평균절단수를 정의하여 본 연구를 위해 고안된 모발 절단 분쇄 장치의 성능을 평가하였다. 평균절단수 분석 방법을 적용하여 주어진 실험 조건에서 최적의 구조와 최적의 작동시간을 구하는 기준을 제시할 수 있었다. 이러한 실험 방법과 결과는 섬유형태 물질의 절단 분쇄가 필요한 다른 장치에서도 설계와 분석에 사용할 수 있는 하나의 좋은 예시가 될 것이다. 본 연구에서 고안된 절단 분쇄 장치가 실험을 통하여 효과적으로 모발을 절단 분쇄하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 장치를 일반 가정에 설치하여 보급함으로써 최근 심각해지고 있는 하수구에 의한 수질환경 오염 방지에도 효과적인 도움이 될 것이다.