• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.595-598
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• 2006

Semi-quantitative monitoring of Lactobacillus sake and Lactobacillus plantarum, major and minor microorganisms in kimchi, respectively, and Lactobacillus paraplantarum, recently shown to be present in kimchi, was carried out by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Changes in the 3 species during kimchi fermentation were monitored by the threshold cycle ($C_T$) of real-time PCR. As fermentation proceeded at $15^{\circ}C$, the number of L. sake increased dramatically compared to those of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum. During fermentation at $4^{\circ}C$, the growth rates of the 3 species decreased, but the proportions of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum in the microbial ecosystem were almost constant. Considering the $C_T$ values of the first samples and the change in the $C_T$ value, the number of L. sake is no doubt greater than those of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum in the kimchi ecosystem. L. sake seems to be one of the major microorganisms involved in kimchi fermentation, but there is insufficient evidence to suggest that L. plantarum is the primary acidifying bacterium.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.555-565
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze peri-implantitis bacteria and identify their associations with health status and health activities. Methods: Gingival sulcus fluid at the implant's periodontal pockets sampled from the participants were analyzed by multiplex real time PCR. Results: Participants had strains in the order of 100% F. nucleatum, 98.0% E. corrodens, and 96.0% P. micra, and the correlation between C. rectus and E. nodatum was high (p<0.01). Diabetic group (P. gingivalis, P. nigrescens) hypertension (P. nigrescens), group with four or more periodontal pockets (P. gingivalis, T. dentica, P. intermedia, E. nodatum, and C. rectum), smoking (P. micra, E. corrodens), drinking (T. dentola), and scaling groups (C. rectus) were found to have more strains (p<0.05). Conclusions: Representative pathogenic microorganisms detected in periodontal pockets of implants were similar to dental periodontal pockets; however there were differences in the amount and distribution of microorganisms, and they were affected by health status and health behavior.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2017

Pfiesteria piscicida is one of heterotrophic dinoflagellate having toxic metaboliges, and it is difficult to detect and quantify this dinoflagellate via light microscope due to small size and morphological similarity with Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellate (PLD) species. Alternatively, we developed quantitative real-time PCR assay based on EvaGreen and determined field accessibility throughout the investigation of distribution in the entire Korean coastal waters and population dynamics in Shihwa Lake. The P. piscicida-specific primers based on internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) were designed and the specificity of primers was confirmed by PCR with other genomic DNAs which have genetic similarity with target species. Through real-time PCR assay, a standard curve which had a significant linear correlation between log cell number and $C_T$ value ($r^2{\geq}0.999$) and one informative melting peak ($88^{\circ}C$) were obtained. These results implies that developed real-time PCR can accurately detect and quantify P. piscicida. Throughout the field applications of real-time PCR assay, P. piscicida was distributed in western (Mokpo and Kimje) and easthern (Gangneng) Korean coastal water even though light microscopy failed to identify P. piscicida. In the investigation of population dynamics in Shihwa Lake, the density of P. piscicida was peaked in June, July and August 2007 at St. 1 where salinity (${\leq}15psu$) was lower than the other 2 sites. In this study, we successed to develop EvaGreen bassed real-time PCR for detection and quantification of P. piscicida in fields, so this developed assay will be useful for various ecological studies in the future.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.593-598
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• 2009

Cell cycle progression is regulated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as a new class of small non-coding RNA regulators of cell cycle as recent evidence suggests. It is hypothesized that expression of specific miRNAs oscillates orderly along with cell cycle progression. However, the oscillated expression patterns of many candidate miRNAs have yet to be determined. Here, we describe miRNA expression profiling in double-thymidine synchronized HeLa cells as cell cycle progresses. Twenty-five differentially expressed miRNAs were classified into five groups based on their cell cycle-dependent expression patterns. The cyclic expression of six miRNAs (miR-221, let-7a, miR-21, miR-34a, miR-24, miR-376b) was validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). These results suggest that specific miRNAs, along with other key factors are required for maintaining and regulating proper cell cycle progression. The study deepens our understanding on cell cycle regulation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.480-484
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• 2010

The Bombyx mori Microarray Database (BmMDB; http://silkworm.swu.edu.cn/microarray) provides information for tissue-specific gene expression by using the whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray in the silkworm. We analyzed the tissue-specific expression patterns in the silk gland, fat body, and midgut five days of fifth instar larvae during the development of B. mori. To verify the tissue-specific expression, analysis was conducted using quantitative Real-time RT-PCR and the highly expressed endogenous Actin RNA as an intrinsic reference. Finally, we confirmed five genes, (sw15872, sw00692, sw20990, sw05300,and sw2250), out of 18 candidates expressed in two different tissues, which was consistent with the data published by Dr. Xiang's group, thereby supporting the BmMDB. Further studies for promoter regions of candidate genes can be applied in creating transgenic silkworms as biomedical insects for use in producing biomaterials, and to serve as well-characterized models for understanding the mechanism for the genetic regulation of tissue-specific development.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2012

The expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines viz. interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interferon-${\gamma}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in response to subclinical mastitis in indigenous cattle breed Kankrej (n = 6), Gir (Bos indicus) (n = 12) and crossbred (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) (n = 7) were investigated using quantitative real time PCR. Significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between total bacterial load and somatic cell count (SCC) in all three breeds of cattle. All the cytokines were observed to be up-regulated compared to cows with healthy quarters, however, level of their expression varied among three breeds of cattle. In Kankrej most cytokines were found to be transcribed to higher levels than in other two breeds; the milk had higher load of bacteria but not so high SCC, implying that Kankrej has a higher inherent resistance against mastitis. The results of present study indicated that mammary glands of crossbred cattle are more sensitive to bacterial infection than indigenous breed of cattle as they elicit immune response at lower bacterial load and result into higher SCC. Research on identification of factors responsible for differentially expressed cytokines profiles and use of cytokines as immunomodulatory tools can pave way for formulating control strategies against bovine mastitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7551-7554
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• 2013

Tumor-associated microRNAs have been detected in serum or plasma, but whether plasma microRNA-21 (miR-21) could be a potential circulating biomarker for gastric cancer (GC) prognosis in Chinese is still uncertain. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed in this study to compare the relative expression of miR-21 between pre-operative and post-operative paired plasmas from 42 patients with primary GCs. The results showed that the expression levels of miR-21 in the post-operative plasmas were significantly reduced by an average of 18.2 times in all patients when compared to the pre-operative plasmas, and by 22.1 times in the subgroup of patients without family history, while only 1.76 times in the subgroup of patients with a family history. With respect of clinicopathological characteristics, the plasma miR-21 expression was highly associated with differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis rate. The results suggested plasma miR-21 could be a novel potential biomarker for GC prognosis and evaluation of surgery outcomes, especially in patients without a family history.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

The mu opioid receptor (MOR) has been regarded as the main site of interaction with analgesics in major clinical use, particularly morphine. The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) functions as a transcriptional repressor of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. However, it is expressed in certain mature neurons, suggesting that it may have complex and novel roles. In addition, the interactions between MOR and REST and their functions remain unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of morphine on the expression of REST mRNA and protein in human neuroblastoma NMB cells to investigate the roles of REST induced by MOR activation in neuronal cells. To determine the effects of morphine on REST expression, we performed RT-PCR, real-time quantitative RT-PCR, western blot analysis and radioligand binding assays in NMB cells. By RTPCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the expression of REST was found to be unchanged by either the MOR agonist morphine or the MOR specific antagonist CTOP. By western blot, morphine was shown to significantly inhibit the expression of REST, but this suppression was completely blocked by treatment with CTOP. In the radioligand binding assay, the overexpression of REST led to an increased opioid ligand binding activity of endogenous MOR in the NMB cells. These results together suggest that morphine inhibits the expression of REST in human neuroblastoma cells through a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism mediated through MOR.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2012

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) hepatitis is a usually asymptomatic and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent patients. However, the range of severity is wide, and the serological diagnosis is typically difficult until the convalescent phase. Thus, we examined the value of plasma EBV DNA real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in EBV hepatitis for the timely diagnosis and the relationship between EBV viral load and clinical severity. Methods: Sixty samples were confirmed as having EBV infection by RT-qPCR with the EBV BALF5 gene sequence. We examined the clinical characteristics of EBV hepatitis by reviewing medical records. Results: The median total duration of fever was 8 days (range: 0-13 days). The mean peak value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was $241{\pm}214$ U/L, and the mean peak value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was $298{\pm}312$ U/L. There was no correlation between the serum levels of liver enzyme and plasma EBV DNA titer ($p$=0.1) or between median total duration of fever and EBV DNA titer ($p$=0.056). The median age of the EBV VCA IgM-negative group was lower compared with the EBV VCA IgM-positive group in EBV hepatitis (2 years vs. 6 years, $p$=0.0009). Conclusion: The severity of EBV hepatitis does not correlate with circulating EBV DNA load according to our data. Furthermore, we suggest that plasma EBV PCR may be valuable in young infants in whom the results of serology test for EBV infection commonly are negative.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.591-598
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• 2012

Denitrification is an important biological mechanism in wastewater treatment process because this process is technically to remove nitrogen from water to air. There have been lots of study about denitrification engineering and molecular biological research about denitrifying bacteria, respectively. However, combination of these researches was unusual and rare. This study is about the correlation between quantity of denitrifying bacteria and denitrification potential, and consists of NUR batch test as analysis method of denitrification potential and quantitative molecular analysis for denitrifying bacteria. Three reactors (A/O, MLE and A/O of nitrogen deficiency) are operated to get activated sludge with various denitrification potential. All samples which were acquired from reactors were measured denitrification potential by NUR test and NUiR test. Also, Real-time PCR was conducted for quantification of denitrifying bacteria composition in activated sludge. The various denitrification potentials were measured in the reactors. The denitrifiaction potential was the highest in MLE process and the reactor of the nitrogen deficiency showed the lowest. Genomic DNA of activated sludge was obtained and consequently, real-time PCRuse the primer sets of nirK and nirS　were conducted to quantify genes involving denitrification reductase production. As the result of real-time PCR, nirK gene showed more significant influence on denitrification potential comapred with nirS gene.