• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2006

Kimura's disease is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which appears primarily in young Asian males as non-tender subcutaneous swellings in the head and neck region. Histologic characteristics are the presence of lymphoid follicles, vascular proliferation and infiltration of eosinophils. Peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE are frequently combined. Systemic steroid therapy with surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment, though recurrence after surgery or discontinued steroid treatment is common. It has been known that about 16% of the cases are associated with renal diseases, particularly nephrotic syndrome. We present an 8-year-old boy with a past history of steroid-responsive, infrequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome who developed right buccal swelling and peripheral eosinophilia during the remission state. He has been managed with surgical resection, steroid and cyclosporine due to multiple recurrences.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to estimate the appropriate Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) fare for bus users upon introduction of the system, which is to improve ridership on economically non-profitable routes and to conform to the mobility right of those living in presently non-serviced rural areas. For this, a stated preference (SP) survey was adopted to assess respondents' preferences regarding DRT introduction, while the contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to calculate their willingness to pay (WTP) for DRT services. The analysis results show that, compared to the existing bus services with a 1,000 won bus fare, the value of DRT is considered to be 38.85%, 31.03% and 30.12% higher in terms of overall assessment, usability and convenience, respectively. The results of this study are expected to facilitate the decision making aimed at setting the appropriate DRT fare and implementing a DRT system that meets sustainability requirements.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.603-611
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• 2021

Taste-responsive neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), the first gustatory nucleus, often respond to thermal or mechanical stimulation. Alcohol, not a typical taste modality, is a rewarding stimulus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol (EtOH) and/or temperature as stimuli to the tongue on the activity of taste-responsive neurons in hamster NST. In the first set of experiments, we recorded the activity of 113 gustatory NST neurons in urethane-anesthetized hamsters and evaluated responses to four basic taste stimuli, 25% EtOH, and 40℃ and 4℃ distilled water (dH₂O). Sixty cells responded to 25% EtOH, with most of them also being sucrose sensitive. The response to 25% EtOH was significantly correlated with the sucrose-evoked response. A significant correlation was also observed between sucrose- and 40℃ dH₂O- and between 25% EtOH- and 40℃ dH₂O-evoked firings. In a subset of the cells, we evaluated neuronal activities in response to a series of EtOH concentrations, alone and in combination with 32 mM sucrose (EtOH/Suc) at room temperature (RT, 22℃-23℃), 40℃, and 4℃. Neuronal responses to EtOH at RT and 40℃ increased as the concentrations increased. The firing rates to EtOH/Suc were greater than those to EtOH or sucrose alone. The responses were enhanced when solutions were applied at 40℃ but diminished at 4℃. In summary, EtOH activates most sucrose-responsive NST gustatory cells, and the concomitant presence of sucrose or warm temperatures enhance this response. Our findings may contribute to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying appetitive alcohol consumption.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2019

Upon viral infection, the 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-ribonuclease L (RNaseL) system works to cleave viral RNA, thereby blocking viral replication. However, it is unclear whether OAS proteins have a role in regulating gene expression. Here, we show that OAS1 and OAS3 act as negative regulators of the expression of chemokines and interferon-responsive genes in human macrophages. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease (Cas9) technology was used to engineer human myeloid cell lines in which the OAS1 or OAS3 gene was deleted. Neither OAS1 nor OAS3 was exclusively responsible for the degradation of rRNA in macrophages stimulated with poly(I:C), a synthetic surrogate for viral double-stranded (ds)RNA. An mRNA sequencing analysis revealed that genes related to type I interferon signaling and chemokine activity were increased in $OAS1^{-/-}$ and $OAS3^{-/-}$ macrophages treated with intracellular poly(I:C). Indeed, retinoic-acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I- and interferon-induced helicase C domain-containing protein (IFIH1 or MDA5)-mediated induction of chemokines and interferon-stimulated genes was regulated by OAS3, but Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- and TLR4-mediated induction of those genes was modulated by OAS1 in macrophages. However, stimulation of these cells with type I interferons had no effect on OAS1- or OAS3-mediated chemokine secretion. These data suggest that OAS1 and OAS3 negatively regulate the expression of chemokines and interferon-responsive genes in human macrophages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1522-1542
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• 2019

To adapt to environmental changes and to maintain cellular homeostasis, microorganisms adjust the intracellular concentrations of biochemical compounds, including metal ions; these are essential for the catalytic function of many enzymes in cells, but excessive amounts of essential metals and heavy metals cause cellular damage. Metal-responsive transcriptional regulators play pivotal roles in metal uptake, pumping out, sequestration, and oxidation or reduction to a less toxic status via regulating the expression of the detoxification-related genes. The sensory and regulatory functions of the metalloregulators have made them as attractive biological parts for synthetic biology, and the exceptional sensitivity and selectivity of metalloregulators toward metal ions have been used in heavy metal biosensors to cope with prevalent heavy metal contamination. Due to their importance, substantial efforts have been made to characterize heavy metal-responsive transcriptional regulators and to develop heavy metal-sensing biosensors. In this review, we summarize the biochemical data for the two major metalloregulator families, SmtB/ArsR and MerR, to describe their metal-binding sites, specific chelating chemistry, and conformational changes. Based on our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms, previously developed metal biosensors are examined to point out their limitations, such as high background noise and a lack of well-characterized biological parts. We discuss several strategies to improve the functionality of the metal biosensors, such as reducing the background noise and amplifying the output signal. From the perspective of making heavy metal biosensors, we suggest that the characterization of novel metalloregulators and the fabrication of exquisitely designed genetic circuits will be required.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2021

A 2-year-old intact female Maltese dog was presented with generalized involuntary tremors and nystagmus without regular direction. The dog was conscious the whole time while it was trembling. Its involuntary tremors were alleviated at rest or during sleep. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed asymmetric hydrocephalus and caudal occipital malformation. In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, a trace of protein was found and total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was slightly increased. However, infectious pathogens were not found. In complete blood count, there was a mild leukocytosis. After the patient received anticonvulsants (midazolam, phenobarbital, KBr), diuretics (furosemide) with an anti-inflammatory drug (prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg PO bid), and a proton-pump inhibitor (omeprazole), it showed no improvement. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with corticosteroid responsive tremor syndrome. So the anticonvulsants and diuretics were discontinued and the dose of prednisolone was increased to an immunosuppressive dose (1 mg/kg PO bid). After administering the immunosuppressive dose of prednisolone, the patient did not show nystagmus. Its tremors were much alleviated. However, they did not disappear. Five weeks later, the patient showed gradual improvement but still was trembling when moving around. Nine weeks later, its tremors were similar to before. So diazepam (0.3 mg/kg PO sid) was added to the treatment. After that, its tremors were alleviated more. Prednisolone and diazepam were maintained for about five months, with tapering of the dose of prednisolone (until 0.5 mg/kg PO sid). About 7 months later after the treatment was started, the dog was trembling rarely except when it was excited. Therefore, diazepam was discontinued. This case describes a refractory white dog shaker syndrome successfully managed with long-term administration of a steroid and diazepam.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2008

We have fabricated a novel thermo-responsive nanofibrous surfaces by grafting PIPAAm by electron beam irradiation onto poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)(PHBV) nanofibrous mats. The electrospun PHBV nanofiber structures revealed randomly aligned fibers with average diameter of 400 nm. Increased atomic percent of nitrogen was observed on the PIPAAm-grafted PHBV mats after electron beam irradiation determined by ESCA. The amounts of PIPAAm-grafted onto PHBV films were $6.49{\mu}g/cm^2$ determined by ATR-FTIR. The PIPAAm-grafted surfaces exhibited decreasing contact angles by lowering the temperature from 37 to $20^{\circ}C$, while ungrafted PHBV surfaces had negligible contact angle change. This result indicates that PIPAAm surfaces, which are hydrophobic at the higher temperature, became markedly more hydrophilic in response to a temperature reduction due to spontaneous hydration of the surface-grafted PIPAAm. Thermo-responsive nanofibers showed good tissue compatibility. Cultured cells were well detached and recovered from the surfaces by changing culture temperature from 37 to $20^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.337-339
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• 2006

A 4-year-old, spayed female Maltese dog was presented for evaluation of acute onset of generalized tremor, right-sided head tilt, horizontal nystagmus, and mild ataxia with 4-day duration. However, the dog was bright, alert, and responsive. The neurological examinations revealed that bilateral horizontal-, positional nystagmus, and mild ataxia. Menace responses were also absent in both eyes. Typically, moderate generalized intension tremors were noted in four limbs and the head. No abnormalities were found in hemogram, radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Cytologic examination of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) revealed a mild nonsuppurative inflammation. Thus, steroid responsive tremor syndrome(SRTS) was strongly suspected because of its inflammatory and idiopathic features. The dog excellently responded to immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroid. Therefore, we definitively diagnosed the dog as SRTS based on the exclusion of other causes of the tremor, clinical signs, and response to treatment. This is a first case report of SRTS in our country and we here describe clinical and neurological features in SRTS.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2014

This study presents a micromolding for the synthesis of Janus particles with reconfigurable shape by pH stimuli. First, we use acrylic acid (AA) as pH responsive monomer in the hydrophilic part and trimethylolpropane triacylate (TMPTA) in the hydrophobic part, respectively. The change of acidity in solvent induces the swelling of hydrophilic part in the Janus particles. The pH-responsive Janus particles show different swelling ratio of hydrophilic part in according to composition of acrylic acid in diverse range (0-70% v/v) and pH (3-11). As the concentration of acrylic acid in the hydrophilic part and environmental pH increase, the hydrophilic part in the Janus particles is proportionally swelled. Second, we fabricate novel type of Janus particles with two different hydrophilicities. As a proof of concept, we have applied acrylic acid (AA) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DAEMA) into each part because the monomers provide reverse responsive activity. As expected, these Janus particles show different shape anisotropies with reconfigurable property in accordance with the polarity of each part at same acidity of environmental solvent. We envision that the stimuli responsive Janus particles have a wide application from fundamental science to diagnostic apparatus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.571-577
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• 2017

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone involved in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The group A bZIP transcription factors play important roles in the ABA signaling pathway in Arabidopsis but little is known about their functions in rice. In our current study, we have isolated and characterized a group A bZIP transcription factor in rice, OsABF3 (Oryza sativa ABA responsive element binding factor 3). We examined the expression patterns of OsABF3 in various tissues and time course analysis after abiotic stress treatments such as drought, salinity, cold, oxidative stress, and ABA in rice. Subcellular localization analysis in maize protoplasts using a GFP fusion vector further indicated that OsABF3 is a nuclear protein. Moreover, in a yeast one-hybrid experiment, OsABF3 was shown to bind to ABA responsive elements (ABREs) and its N-terminal region found to be necessary to transactivate a downstream reporter. A homozygous T-DNA insertional mutant of OsABF3 is more sensitive to salinity, drought, and oxidative stress compared with wild type plants ＆ OsABF3OX plants. In addition, this Osabf3 mutant showed a significantly decreased sensitivity to high levels of ABA at germination and post-germination. Collectively, our present results indicate that OsABF3 functions as a transcriptional regulator that modulates the expression of abiotic stress-responsive genes through an ABA-dependent pathway.