• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.765-770
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• 2007

Forsythiae fructus has traditionally been used for the treatment of erysipelas, skin rash and acute or chronic inflammatory disorders. The effect of Forsythiae fructus against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), on mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages. Forsythiae fructus extract suppressed the expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-$_K$B mRNAs on the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated enhancement in RAW 264.7 macrophages. We examined the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both mRNA and protein levels to investigate the mechanism by which Forsythiae fructus extract inhibits NO production. Forsythiae fructus extract significantly reduced iNOS, NF-$_K$B and PGE$_2$, but didn't inhibit COX-2 expression which was induced by LPS treatment in Raw 264.7 cells. These results suggest that Forsythiae fructus exerts anti-inflammatory effects probably by suppression of the iNOS and NF-$_K$B expressions.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.29.1-29.6
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• 2021

West Nile virus (WNV), a neurotropic arbovirus, has been detected in mosquitos, birds, wildlife, horses, and humans in Malaysia, but limited information is available on WNV infection in Malaysian pigs. We tested 80 archived swine serum samples for the presence of WNV antibody and West Nile (WN) viral RNA using ID Screen West Nile Competition Multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and WNV-specific primers in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. A WNV seroprevalence of 62.5% (50/80) at 95% confidence interval (51.6%-72.3%) was recorded, with a significantly higher seroprevalence among young pigs (weaner and grower) and pigs from south Malaysia. One sample was positive for Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies; WN viral RNA was not detected in any of the serum samples.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.185-189
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• 2019

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women with approximately 522,000 deaths annually worldwide. microRNAs have recently been studied as potential biomarkers that regulate gene expression and are involved in tumorigenesis. Here we evaluated circulating miR-221 and miR-222 as potential biomarkers for breast cancer by quantitative reverse transcription PCR using blood plasma of 30 healthy controls and 30 breast cancer patients. The TNM stage on circulating miR-221 and miR-222 was also investigated. Circulating miR-221 and miR-222 were significantly up-regulated in breast cancer patients compared to those in healthy controls (P < 0.0022 and P = 0.0058, respectively). Furthermore, the relative expression level of circulating miR-221 in patients with stage III breast cancer was higher than in those with stage I and II. Taken together, we have shown circulating miR-221 and miR-222 could be useful biomarkers for the screening of breast cancer patients.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.107-115
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• 2022

Kisspeptins, products of KISS1 gene, are ligands of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPR54), and the kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling has an important role as an upstream regulator of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Interestingly, extrahypothalamic expressions of kisspeptin/GPR-54 in gonads have been found in primates and experimental rodents such as rats and mice. Hamsters, another potent experimental rodent, also have a kisspeptin-GPR54 system in their ovaries. The presence of testicular kisspeptin-GPR54 system, however, remains to be solved. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the kisspeptin is expressed in hamster testis. To do this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed. After the nest PCR, two cDNA products (320 and 280 bp, respectively) were detected by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis, and sequencing analysis revealed that the 320 bp product was correctly amplified from hamster kisspeptin cDNA. Modest immunoreactive (IR) kisspeptins were detected in Leydig-interstitial cells, and the weak signals were detected in germ cells, mostly in round spermatids and residual bodies of elongated spermatids. In the present study, we found the kisspeptin expression in the testis of Syrian hamster. Further studies on the local role(s) of testicular kisspeptin are expected for a better understanding the physiology of hamster testis, including photoperiodic gonadal regression specifically occurred in hamster gonads.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2023

Epidemiological control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is needed to estimate the infection period of confirmed cases and identify potential cases. The present study, targeting confirmed cases for which the time of COVID-19 symptom onset was disclosed, aimed to investigate the relationship between intervals (day) from symptom onset to testing the cycle threshold (CT) values of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Of the COVID-19 confirmed cases, those for which the date of suspected symptom onset in the epidemiological investigation was specifically disclosed were included in this study. Interval was defined as the number of days from symptom onset (as disclosed by the patient) to specimen collection for testing. A locally weighted regression smoothing (LOWESS) curve was applied, with intervals as explanatory variables and CT values (CTR for RdRp gene and CTE for E gene) as outcome variables. After finding its non-linear relationship, a polynomial regression model was applied to estimate the 95% confidence interval values of CTR and CTE by interval. The application of LOWESS in 331 patients identified a U-shaped curve relationship between the CTR and CTE values according to the number of interval days, and both CTR and CTE satisfied the quadratic model for interval days. Active application of these results to epidemiological investigations would minimize the chance of failing to identify individuals who are in contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases, thereby reducing the potential transmission of the virus to local communities.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2024

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is a zoonotic soil-derived nematode that parasitizes the intestines of humans and animals (dogs and cats), leading to malnutrition and iron-deficiency anemia. Helminth parasites secrete calreticulin (CRT), which regulates or blocks the host's immune response. However, no data on A. ceylanicum calreticulin (Ace-CRT) are available. We investigated the biological function of recombinant Ace-CRT (rAce-CRT). rAce-CRT showed reliable antigenicity and stimulated the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR assays revealed that rAce-CRT primarily promoted the expression of T helper 2 cytokines, particularly IL-13, in canine peripheral blood lymphocytes. rAce-CRT inhibited complement-mediated sheep erythrocyte hemolysis in vitro. Our findings indicate that Ace-CRT plays an immunomodulatory role and may be a promising candidate molecule for a hookworm vaccine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2002

Under normal conditions, women produce a single dominant follicle that participates in a single ovuation each menstrual cycle. But Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) conditions, folliculogenesis does not proceed normally. This condition leads to the accumlation of large numbers of small graffian follicles in which the theca interstitial cells (TIC) produce abnormally large amounts of androgen. PCOS is probably the most common endocrine disorder, affecting women of reprodutive age with 5-10% prevalence estimate. Chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, obesity, infertility and polycystic ovaries are clinical hallmarks of women with PCOS. Its etiology remains unknown. To investigate the gene expression pattern of ovary in PCO-induced rat, we used cDNA expression analysis. Total RNA was extracted from the ovary of PCO-induced rat and reverse-transcribed in the presence of［$\alpha$$^{32}$P］-dATP Which were hybridized to Atlas$^{TM}$ Rat Toxicology 1.2 array (Clontech) representing approximately 1176 rat genes. We compared gene expression between ovary of pco-induced immature female rats and control. Differential gene expression profiles were revealed (LIFR-alpha, ADRA1A, Heat shock 90-kDa protein A, PDGFRA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to validate the relative expression pattern obtained by the cDNA array. The precise relationship between the altered expression of genes and PCO is a matter of further investigation. This study was supported by Korea Science and Engineering Foundation(KOSEF)

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2006

Virion captured reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (VC/RT-PCR) could detect plant virus quickly and accurately. In the VC/RT-PCR, no antibody is needed unlike immuno-captured RT-PCR (IC/RT-PCR) which had been improved method of RT-PCR for plant viruses, and virus nucleic acids can be obtained easily within 30minutes by property of polypropylene PCR tube which is hold and immobilized viral particles on its surface. For the virion capture of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), the extraction buffer was tested. The optimum macerating buffer for TSWV was 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.5% sodium sulfite. The viral crude sap was incubated for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$. The virions in the PCR tubes were washed two times with 0.01M PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20. The washed virions were treated at $95^{\circ}C$ immediately for 1 min containing RNase free water and chilled quickly in the ice. Disclosed virions' RNAs by heat treatment were used for RT-PCR. Dilution end point of $10^{-5}$ from plant's crude sap infected with TSWV showed relatively higher detection sensitivity for VC/RT-PCR. During multiple detection using two or more primers, interference was arisen by interactions between primer-primer and plant species. The result of multiplex RT-PCR was influenced by combinations of primers and the kind of plant, and the optimum extraction buffer for the multiplex detection by VC/RT-PCR should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 1999

Isolation of PRRSV was attempted from 646 swine sera collected from swine farms. The MARC-145 cell, which is highly permissive to PRRSV, was used for virus isolation, propagation, IFA test, and VN test. Total 36 cytopathic viruses to MARC-145 cells were isolated. The virus isolates were identified as a PRRSV by the IFA test and VN test using the reference sera prepared by experimental infection of reference PRRSV CNV-1 into 30 day-old pig. In addition to serological conformation, ORF5 of genomic RNA of 6 selected cytopathic viruses were amplified by the RT-PCR. The resulting PCR products were examined by electrophoresis in 1.2% agarose gel. An appropriate bands of about 680bp including the flanking sequence of total 80bp were seen on agarose gel.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.695-701
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• 1999

The hypothalamus is the classic site of synthesis of arginine vasotocin as neurohypophyseal hormone in the chicken. However, high concentrations of arginine vasotocin were also measured in ovarian tissues by radioimmunoassay. At first, we observed specific positive signal of mRNA encoding AVT in the hypothalamus by Northern hybridization. However, we could not find any specific bands in ovarian and uterine tissues. For evidence of transcription of the arginine vasotocin gene ingonadal tissues of the chicken, this study has applied the polymerase chain reaction as a highly sensitive assay. The hypothalamus, the four largest preovulatory ovarian follicles and the shell gland (uterus) were collected at 4 h and 20 h before oviposition. The ovarian follicular tissues were separated into granulose theca interns and theca externa layers. The uterine tissues were separated into myometrium and endometrium The extracted mRNA was converted to cDNA by reverse-transcriptase using oligo-$d(T)_{15}$ primer. Then, the cDNA was amplified by Vent polymerase and arginine vasotocin specific primers. The amplification reaction was incubated by 30 cycles successively, $95^{\circ}C$, $55^{\circ}C$ and $72^{\circ}C$ earth for 1 min. Te comparisons of the mRNA levels encoding arginine vasotocin between the tissues were determined by semi-quantification methods. After amplification of the cDNA, the PCR products were detected in hypothalamus, ovarian tissues and uterine tissues. The results of semi-quantification showed that the levels of arginine vasotocin mRNA in ovarian iud uterine tissues were about from 1/50 to 1/1000 when compared to that in the hypothalamus. The very low levels of mRNA encoding arginine vasotocin in ovarian and uterine tissues probably led us to conclude that arginine vasotocin may play a role of local mediate acting autocrine and/or paracrine.