• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• 제49권1호
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2022

Background In addition to vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are subject to continuous shear stress because of blood circulation. The angiogenic properties of VSMCs in extracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may exceed those of normal blood vessels if the body responds more sensitively to mechanical stimuli. This study was performed to investigate the hypothesis that rapid angiogenesis may be achieved by mechanical shear stress. Methods VSMCs were obtained from six patients who had AVMs and six normal controls. The target genes were set to angiopoietin-2 (AGP2), aquaporin-1 (AQP1), and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR were implemented to identify the expression levels for target genes. Immunofluorescence was also conducted. Results Under the shear stress condition, mean relative quantity values of AGP2, AQP1, and TGFBR1 in AVM tissues were 1.927±0.528, 1.291±0.031, and 2.284±1.461 when compared with neutral conditions. The expression levels of all three genes in AVMs were higher than those in normal tissue except for AQP1 under shear stress conditions. Immunofluorescence also revealed increased staining of shear stress-induced genes in the normal tissue and in AVM tissue. Conclusions Shear stress made the VSMCs of AVMs more sensitive. Although the pathogenesis of AVMs remains unclear, our study showed that biomechanical stimulation imposed by shear stress may aggravate angiogenesis in AVMs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.347-351
• /
• 2021

Objective: We investigated the impact of vitamin D₃ (VD3) supplementation during mouse preantral follicle culture in vitro and the mRNA expression of 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse ovarian follicles at different stages. Methods: Preantral follicles were retrieved from 39 BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and then cultured in vitro for 12 days under VD3 supplementation (0, 25, and 50 pg/mL). Follicular development and the final oocyte acquisition were assessed. Preantral follicles were retrieved from 15 other BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and cultured without VD3 supplementation. Three stages of mouse ovarian follicles were obtained (preantral, antral, and ruptured follicles). Total RNA was extracted from the pooled cells (from 20 follicles at each stage), and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify mRNA for CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR. Results: The survival of preantral follicles, rates of antrum formation and ruptured follicles (per initiated follicle) and the number of total or mature oocytes were all comparable among the three groups. Both CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 were expressed in antral and ruptured follicles, but not in preantral follicles. VDR was expressed in all three follicular stages. Conclusion: VD3 supplementation in vitro (25 or 50 pg/mL) did not enhance mouse follicular development or final oocyte acquisition. Follicular stage-specific expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR was observed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제38권5호
• /
• pp.533-540
• /
• 2022

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii), a perennial used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a members of the family Liliaceae. The degeneration of germplasm is a severe problem in the production of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis. However, no information about viral infections of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis has been reported. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis from leaves and bulbs, and viruses were identified using a phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search for sequence. In addition, multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to rapidly detect viruses in this variety. Our study first reported that five viruses infected F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Among them, fritillary virus Y (FVY), lily mottle virus (LMoV), Thunberg fritillary mosaic virus (TFMV), and hop yellow virus (HYV) had been reported in F. thunbergii, while apple stem grooving virus was first reported in the genus Fritillaria. A multiplex RT-PCR method was developed to rapidly test the four viruses FVY, LMoV, TFMV, and HYV in F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Our results provide a better understanding of the infection of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis by viruses and a basic reference for the better design of suitable control measures.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.308-313
• /
• 2023

A 1-year-old castrated male Korean Shorthair cat presented with dyspnea, anorexia, lethargy, and seizures. Physical examination revealed salivation, right forelimb hemiparesis, and rapid breathing. No abnormalities were detected on auscultation. Laboratory findings revealed increased levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), globulin, glucose, and a decreased albumin-to-globulin (A:G) ratio. Both N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and feline serum amyloid A (fSAA) levels were significantly elevated. Thoracic radiography revealed mild cardiomegaly and diffuse increased interstitial infiltration with soft tissue opacity in the periphery of the right caudal pleural space. Echocardiography and lung ultrasonography were performed to investigate the cause of mild cardiomegaly and soft tissue opacity in the pleural space. Echocardiography revealed a mild amount of echogenic pericardial effusion, and lung ultrasonography showed an echogenic soft tissue mass with no blood signal in the right caudal pleural space, suggestive of a granulomatous lesion. After obtaining 5 mL of pericardial fluid through pericardiocentesis, cytology of the pericardial effusion sample revealed marked neutrophils and macrophages with no bacteria. IDEXX feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed the presence of the FIP virus biotype in the sample. This case presents a rarely reported atypical mixed form of FIP in a cat diagnosed ante-mortem using pericardial effusion analysis. In this case, ultrasound examination played a crucial role in the definitive diagnosis of FIP by PCR biotyping through pericardiocentesis. Ultrasonography can be highly beneficial in guiding the diagnosis and evaluation of cats with suspected FIP.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.59-72
• /
• 2024

A comprehensive survey of mungbean-growing areas was conducted to observe leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata. Alternaria leaf spot symptoms were observed on the leaves. Diversity of 50 genotypes of mungbean was assessed against A. alternata and data on pathological traits was subjected to cluster analysis. The results showed that genotypes of mungbean were grouped into four clusters based on resistance parameters under the influence of disease. The principal component biplot demonstrated that all the disease-related parameters (% disease incidence, % disease intensity, lesion area, and % of infection) were strongly correlated with each other. Alt a 1 gene that is precisely found in Alternaria species and is responsible for virulence and pathogenicity. Alt a 1 gene was amplified using gene specific primers. The isolated pathogen produced similar symptoms when inoculated on mungbean and tobacco. The sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, a 600 bp fragment amplified using specific primers, ITS1 and ITS2 showed 100% identity with A. alternata. Potato virus X (PVX) -based silencing vector expressing Alt a 1 gene was constructed to control this pathogen through RNA interference in tobacco. Out of 50 inoculated plants, 9 showed delayed onset of disease. Furthermore, to confirm our findings at molecular level semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used. Both phenotypic and molecular investigation indicated that RNAi induced through the VIGS vector was efficacious in resisting the pathogen in the model host, Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). To the best of our knowledge, this study has been reported for the first time.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제21권10호
• /
• pp.1150-1160
• /
• 2020

Objective: To describe the experience of implementing a deep learning-based computer-aided detection (CAD) system for the interpretation of chest X-ray radiographs (CXR) of suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients and investigate the diagnostic performance of CXR interpretation with CAD assistance. Materials and Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, initial CXR of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were investigated. A commercialized deep learning-based CAD system that can identify various abnormalities on CXR was implemented for the interpretation of CXR in daily practice. The diagnostic performance of radiologists with CAD assistance were evaluated based on two different reference standards: 1) real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results for COVID-19 and 2) pulmonary abnormality suggesting pneumonia on chest CT. The turnaround times (TATs) of radiology reports for CXR and rRT-PCR results were also evaluated. Results: Among 332 patients (male:female, 173:159; mean age, 57 years) with available rRT-PCR results, 16 patients (4.8%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Using CXR, radiologists with CAD assistance identified rRT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients with sensitivity and specificity of 68.8% and 66.7%, respectively. Among 119 patients (male:female, 75:44; mean age, 69 years) with available chest CTs, radiologists assisted by CAD reported pneumonia on CXR with a sensitivity of 81.5% and a specificity of 72.3%. The TATs of CXR reports were significantly shorter than those of rRT-PCR results (median 51 vs. 507 minutes; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Radiologists with CAD assistance could identify patients with rRT-PCR-positive COVID-19 or pneumonia on CXR with a reasonably acceptable performance. In patients suspected with COVID-19, CXR had much faster TATs than rRT-PCRs.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2016

수해양성 병원성 미생물로 알려진 Vibrio anguillarum으로부터 mannose-1-phosphate를 mannose-6-phosphate, glucose-1-phosphate를 glucose-6-phosphate로 가역적으로 변환시키는 phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (pmm/pgm)의 유전자를 sequencing하여 1338 bp의 open reading frame (ORF)을 밝혔다. 이는 446개의 아미노산을 포함하며 47,625 Da을 가지고 있다. 보고된 다른 Vibrio sp.의 pmm/pgm 유전자와 상동성을 비교하였을 때 V. mimicus V. vulnificus, V. splendidus, V. harveyi와 92.3%, 91.4%, 89.9%, 89.9%에 해당하는 상동성을 지니고 있었다. 증폭된 목적 유전자를 pET-28a(+) vector에 연결하여 대장균에서 단백질의 대량발현을 유도하였으며 이는 주로 soluble한 상태로 나왔다. Soluble fraction을 Ni-NTA column chromatography로 정제하여 약 50 kDa의 단백질을 얻었고 이는 주로 mannose-1-phosphate를 이용하는 효소로 확인되었으며 Mg²⁺ 이온이 존재할 때 효소의 활성이 나타나는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구의 유전자는 낮은 온도의 stress하에서 발현이 증가됨을 Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)을 통해 확인하였고, 상동성 재조합 (homologous recombination)에 의한 돌연변이 균주 제작을 통해 PMM/PGM protein과 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)의 생합성과의 관계를 규명하였다. V. anguillarum wild type과 mutant로부터 LPS를 분리하였고 sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)후 silver staining을 통해 LPS의 high molecular weight (HMW) 부분인 O-antigen에서의 변화를 확인하였다. 또한 V. anguillarum wild type과 mutant의 growth와 viability를 확인한 결과 mutant가 wild type보다 정지기까지 더 낮은 생육을 보였으며 viability가 감소함을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통하여 V. anguillarum의 pmm/pgm 유전자가 미생물의 생육과 LPS 생합성에 관여하고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.356-363
• /
• 2010

배경: 승모판막의 석회화는 죽상경화와 밀접한 연관관계가 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나, 승모판막 질환에서 혈관 죽상경화에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 Connexin43 매개에 의한 Gap junction의 신호전달의 변화는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 따라서, 저자들은 승모판막의 퇴행성 변화과정이 Gap junction을 통한 세포간 신호전달의 변화와 연관이 있을 것이라고 가정하였다. 대상 및 방법: 뉴질랜드산 토끼 20마리를 2군으로 나눈후, 1군(10마리)에서는 정상식이를 시행하였고, 2군(10마리)에서는 1% 콜레스테롤식이를 12주간 시행하였다. 각군의 토끼들의 혈장에서 총 콜레스테롤, 중성지방, 저밀도 콜레스테롤, 고밀도 콜레스테롤 수치를 측정하였으며, 승모판막을 절제하여 Connexin43, 근육섬유모세포 그리고 대식세포에 대한 면역조직화학염색을 시행하였으며, Connexin43에 대한 정량적 검사를 위하여 Real-time Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR)을 시행하였다. 결과: 면역조직화학염색에서 근육섬유모세포와 대식세포의 발현은 콜레스테롤 식이를 시행한 군의 승모판막에서 증가되었으며, Connexin43의 발현도 콜레스테롤 식이군에서 증가되어 있었다. RT-PCR을 이용한 정량적 검사에서 Connexin43의 발현은 콜레스테롤 식이군에서 의미있게 증가되어 있었다(p<0.01). 결론: 고콜레스테롤혈증이 유발된 토끼의 승모판막의 변화는 초기 죽상경화와 유사한 과정을 보이며, Connex43의 발현이 증가되었다. 따라서 고콜레스테롤혈증에서의 승모판막질환은 증가된 Connexin43매개 Gap junction을 통한 세포간 신호전달의 변화가 중요한 역할을 한다고 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제60권6호
• /
• pp.663-672
• /
• 2006

연구배경: 미세먼지는 여러 가지 유기물과 무기물의 복합체로 그 구성 성분이 시간과 장소에 따라 다르고 모양과 크기도 일정하지 않으며, 특히 지름 $10{\mu}m$이하의 미세먼지 (particulate matter 10; $PM_{10}$)는 흡입이 가능한 입자의 크기여서 하부기관지 및 폐의 가스-교환부분까지 침착하여 호흡기계에 손상을 일으킬 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 황사에 포함된 $PM_{10}$과 비황사 시기에 포집된 $PM_{10}$이 폐상피세포주에 작용하여 전염증성 사이토카인(proinflammatory cytokine) 및 cytokine messenger RNA(mRNA)의 발현에 어떤 영향이 있는지를 관찰하여 기관지 천식과 만성 폐쇄성 폐질환등 호흡기 질환의 증상 악화기전에 미치는 역할을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 공기 포집기(HV 500F, sibata model)를 이용하여 황사와 비황사 기간에 하루 6시간씩 실외의 장소에서 대기분진을 membrane filter에 포집한 다음, $PM_{10}$입자를 추출하고 폐암 상피세포주인 A549 cells(한국세포은행주)에 $PM_{10}$을 농도에 맞게($10{\mu}g/ml$, $100{\mu}g/ml$, $500{\mu}g/ml$) 노출시켰다. 각각의 노출된 세포로부터 interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-8, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF)의 mRNA를 역전사중합효소연쇄반응(reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; RT-PCR) 방법으로 측정하였다. 결 과: 황사 및 비황사 기간 중 포집된 $PM_{10}$을 가했을 시 가하지 않은 대조군에 비하여 $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-8, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)의 m'RNA와 cytokine의 발현이 유의하게 높았으며, 황사 기간의 고농도의 $PM_{10}$에 노출된 세포의 $IL-1{\alpha}$ mRNA는 비황사 기간의 $PM_{10}$에 노출된 세포의 mRNA보다 증가되어 있었다. 결 론: $PM_{10}$은 A549 cells에서 전염증성 사이토카인의 발현을 증가시키고 비황사 기간보다 황사 기간 중 대기 중에서 채취한 $PM_{10}$에 노출된 A549 cells에서 일부의 전염증성 사이토카인의 mRNA발현을 더욱 증가시키는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 황사 기간의 $PM_{10}$에 의한 일부의 전염증성 사이토카인의 발현 증가가 만성 호흡기 질환의 증상 악화기전에 연관되어 있을 가능성을 시사하였다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.234-240
• /
• 2008

매향' 딸기의 안토시아닌 생합성은 개화 후 26일째 시작되어 과실의 성숙기 동안 계속된다. 딸기로부터 안토시아닌의 생합성에 관여하는 주요 유전자를 분리하였다. 각각의 유전자에 대해, 다양한 식물체의 유사 유전자의 염기서열을 비교하여 PCR (polymerase chain reaciton) primer를 제작하였다. 숙기의 딸기에서 분리된 total RNA로부터 합성된 CDNA와 각 primer를 이용하여 RT (reverse transcriptase)-PCR을 수행하였다. 각 CDNA clone의 염기서열을 작성하여 분석한 결과, 이들은 안토시아닌 생합성에 관여하는 phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-cummarate CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidine synthase (ANS) 그리고 UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) 효소에 해당되었다. Northern blot 분석 결과, 이들 유전자는 과실 발달과정에서 시기적으로 조절되었다. 특히 PAL을 제외한 모든 유전자는 과실에서만 주로 발현되었다. PAL, DFR 그리고 ANS유전자는 과실 초기 발달 단계인 개화 후 10일에 검출된 후 감소하다가, 22일에 다시 증가하기 시작하여 34일에 최대가 되었다. 한편, 다른 유전자들은 초기에는 발현되지 않다가, 안토시아닌이 축적되기 시작하는 개화 후 $22{\sim}30$일에 처음으로 검출되었다. 본 연구를 통해, 딸기 과실 발달과정에서 안토시아닌 생합성 과정에 관여하는 여러 유전자가 과실 숙기에 함께 조절되는 현상을 알 수 있다. 이러한 연구 결과는 안토시아닌 합성과정을 제어하는 조절 유전자가 존재한다는 것을 시사한다. 그리고 딸기의 안토시아닌 생합성 유전자의 발현패턴을 크게 두 가지로 나눌 수 있는 것으로 보아, 딸기의 안토시아닌 생합성에는 적어도 두 가지 서로 다른 조절 기작이 관여하여 색소 발달 과정을 제어할 것으로 보인다.