• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2015

Purpose: Conventional methods for the prenatal detection of fetal RhD status involve invasive procedures such as fetal blood sampling and amniocentesis. The identification of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma creates the possibility of determining fetal RhD status by analyzing maternal plasma DNA. However, some technical problems still exist, especially the lack of a positive control marker for the presence of fetal DNA. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility and accuracy of fetal RHD genotyping incorporating the RASSF1A epigenetic fetal DNA marker from cffDNA in the maternal plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed maternal plasma from 41 pregnant women identified as RhD-negative by serological testing. Multiplex real-time PCR was performed by amplifying RHD exons 5 and 7 and the SRY gene, with RASSF1A being used as a gender-independent fetal epigenetic marker. The results were compared with those obtained by postnatal serological analysis of cord blood and gender identification. Results: Among the 41 fetuses, 37 were RhD-positive and 4 were RhD-negative according to the serological analysis of cord blood. There was 100% concordance between fetal RHD genotyping and serological cord blood results. Detection of the RASSF1A gene verified the presence of cffDNA, and the fetal SRY status was correctly detected in all 41 cases. Conclusion: Noninvasive fetal RHD genotyping with cffDNA incorporating RASSF1A is a feasible, reliable, and accurate method of determining fetal RhD status. It is an alternative to amniocentesis for the management of RhD-negative women and reduces the need for unnecessary RhIG prophylaxis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.609-617
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• 2020

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in 1993. It has been sustained for more than 25 years and become one of the important indigenous parasitic diseases in northern and western parts of the Republic of Korea near the demilitarized zone. In particular, relapse is a significant concern for the control of malaria, as short- and long-term incubation periods vary among those infected in Korea. In this study, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was examined among residents of high endemic areas of vivax malaria during nonseasonal transmission of mosquitoes. Blood samples from 3 endemic regions in northwestern Korea were evaluated by microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic testing, and nested PCR to identify asymptomatic patients carrying malaria parasites in the community. However, no positive malaria case among residents of endemic areas was detected. Additionally, serological analysis was carried out to measure antibodies against 3 antigenic recombinant proteins of P. vivax, merozoite surface protein 1-19, circumsporozoite surface protein-VK210, and liver-stage antigen (PvLSA-N), by the protein array method. Interestingly, seropositivity of sera between previous exposure and samples without exposure to malaria was significantly higher using the PvLSA-N antigen than the other antigens, suggesting that PvLSA-N can be used as a serological marker to analyze the degree of exposure for malaria transmission in endemic areas. This indicates a very low asymptomatic carrier prevalence during the nonmalaria season in the endemic areas of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2008

Colorectal carcinoma from various cancers is fourth ranked occurred to Korean. Due to western dietary life, this cancer has been increased continuously. Therefore, the further study will be needed to find a candidate gene involved in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma as well as to diagnose and treatment helpfully. The purpose of this study was designed to find a carcinogenesis gene using microsatellite marker on chromosomes 7th and 20th from 30 colon cancer patients. The amplification was investigated in order of D20S97 57% (17/30), D20S101 57% (17/30), D20S119 53% (16/30), D7S483 50% (15/30), D7S495 47% (14/30), D7S498 47% (14/30). The genetic mutation pattern depends on loci of colorectal carcinoma was shown highly amplified with 3.77 from colon cancer than with 2.08 from right colorectal carcinoma (P<0.018). The genetic mutation with lymph nodes was investigated higher with 4.13 at metastasized group than with 1.93 at non-metastasized group (P<0.001). There was no difference at comparison between histological classfication and serological CEA increase as well as on genetic mutated pattern depends on disease stage. It is suggested that the amplification on chromosomes 7q and 20q determines a pivotal role from first stage to metastasis cancer and also functions as an useful marker on diagnosis and treatment of colorectal carcinoma patients as well as follow-up checkup. Recently, the diagnosis and study using genetic analyzer are necessary for efficient application. Fortunately, several university hospitals run this genetic analyzer currently so it is expected that this method makes full use of clinical application.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1685-1688
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• 2014

Background: CEA and CA 15.3 serum tumor markers are currently used in clinical practice for monitoring therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum level of these markers among healthy females and invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) patients and to determine any relationships with clinicopathological factors. Materials and Methods: 60 Iranian females were enrolled in this study, 30 healthy and 30 diagnosed with breast cancer who had not received any preoperative chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used for the quantitative determination of the cancer associated antigens, CEA and MUC1 (CA15-3). Results: The serological levels of CEA and CA15-3 ($5.0033{\pm}0.49{\mu}g/L$ and $178.1667{\pm}15.11$ U/ml) in the breast cancer patients were significantly higher (p=0.00) than the serum levels of normal controls ($1.1237{\pm}0.11{\mu}g/L$ and $21.13{\pm}3.058$ U/ml). Regarding the CEA marker, a significant correlation with grade of tumor was shown. Furthermore, there was a low correlation between CA15-3 and CEA marker with correlation coefficient r=0.08. Conclusions: Collectively, markedly high levels of CEA and CA15-3 were found in our patients, pointing to their use as additional tools after clinical diagnosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3063-3066
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• 2013

Objective: To test the microRNA-181c (miR-181c) expression in tissues and plasma of gastric cancer (GC) cases, analyze any correlations, and explore the possibility of miR-181c as a potential molecular marker for GC diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Relative miR-181c expression levels in cancers and plasma from 30 GC patients was tested using reverse transcription-real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR and compared to that in samples from 30 gastric ulcer and 30 chronic gastritis patients. Results: The miR-181c expression level in the GC tissues was significantly higher than that in the gastric ulcer and chronic gastritis tissues (P = 0.000), as was the miR-181c expression level in the GC plasma (P = 0.000). We determined that miR-181c expression in GC plasma was positively correlated to its expression in the GC tissues (P = 0.000). Conclusions: The expression of miR-181c is upregulated in GC tissues and plasma, and the miR-181c expression level in GC plasma is positively correlated to that in the corresponding cancer tissues. Plasma miR-181c is possibly a new serological marker for GC diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

Colorectal carcinoma is occurred frequently to Korean and so ranked the fourth from various cancers. Due to western dietary life, this cancer has been increased continually. Therefore, the study will be needed to find a candidate gene involved in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma and to diagnose and treatment helpfully. The striking feature from cancer suppressor genes is known for LOH (loss of heterozygosity), which is the method to find allele genetic loss or mutation of cancer cell. The purpose of this study was designed to find a carcinogenic gene from colon cancer using microsatellite marker on 17th and 18th chromosome from 30 subjects. The LOH was investigated in order of D18S59 57% (17/30), TP53CA 50% (15/30), D18S68 47% (14/30), D18S69 43% (13/30). The genetic mutation depends on loci of colorectal carcinoma was shown higher with 2.44 from colon cancer than with 1.25 from right colorectal carcinoma (p<0.032). The genetic mutation with lymph nodes was investigated higher with 2.69 at mutated group than with 1.14 at non-mutated group (p<0.003). At genetic mutated pattern depends on disease stage, there was higher significant difference at III-IV stage 2.50 than that of I-II stage 1.17, respectively (p=0.015). There was no difference at comparison between histological classification and serological CEA increase. The loss on 18q21 found in this study is highly recurrence loci and was observed 43% for Korean with high recurrence. Therefore, LOH is a very useful tool to detect 18q21 loci in clinical application, prior to the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. After the operation of colorectol carcinoma, the efficient application using LOH at operated part tissue which is designed to protect the recurrence as well as its cure will be needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.416-423
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• 2009

Hepatitis B core antigen(HBcAg) is an important serological marker used in the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infections. In the current study, a fast and efficient preparative purification protocol for truncated HBcAg from Escherichia coli disruptate was developed. The recombinant HBcAg was first captured by anion exchange expanded bed adsorption chromatography integrated with a cell disruption process. This online capture process has shortened the process time and eliminated the "hold-up" period that may be detrimental to the quality of target protein. The eluted product from the expanded bed adsorption chromatography was subsequently purified using size-exclusion chromatography. The results showed that this novel purification protocol achieved a recovery yield of 45.1% with a product purity of 88.2%, which corresponds to a purification factor of 4.5. The recovered HBcAg is still biologically active as shown by ELISA test.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2019

Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis, but it is invasive and has a risk for complications. For this reason, recently, study has been actively conducted on non-invasive liver fibrosis evaluation method. But, there is no established standard for the type of diffuse liver disease. Therefore, this study was suggest the usefulness and cut-off values of Fibroscan, FIB-4, APRI and AAR of patients with hepatitis C in Korea. According to the diagnosis, 240 people in hepatitis C are classified into fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. The statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA to verify difference between groups. The ROC curve was analyzed to determine the usefulness and practical cut-off value. As a result, for all diseases, the AUC value for Fibroscan was 0.8 over and the APRI was 0.7 over. Cut-off value of serum based liver fibrosis markers was increased in order of fatty liver, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. If Fibroscan and serological liver fibrosis markers are applied to predict liver fibrosis, it is expected that excessive liver biopsy can be reduced.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-194
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• 2001

The oxidative stress causes the cell damage and death and thereby, stimulates membrane lipid peroxidation. In this study, the correlation between the lipid peroxidation product and the parameter of liver fibrosis (cirrhosis) was investigated in cholestasis induced rats. The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (sham: sham operation, BDL/S-I and BDL/S-II : bile duct ligation/scission) and were observed for 2 or 4 weeks. After observation period, the organs were weighed and the ratio of organ weight/body weight was calculated. Sera and liver tissue were used for the measurement of malondealdehyde (MDA), parameter of clinical biochemistry, total collagen content and the staining. The ratio of organ weight/body weight in BDL/S-I and BDL/S-II was significantly increased compared to sham operated group. Serological parameters (Alanine transaminase, Aspartate transaminase, Alkaline phosphatase and Total bilirubin) in BDL/S-I and BDL/S-II group were significantly higher than those in sham operated group. Concentration of MDA in BDL/S-I (261%) and BDL/S-II(790%) was significantly increased compared to MDA in sham operated group. And the content of hydroxyproline (hyp) in BDL/S-I and BDL/S-II group was significantly increased 2~4 times than in sham operated group. The good correlations between hyp in liver tissue and MDA in sera of sham operated group and all operated group were found (r=0.825). The significantly higher value of MDA, hyp and serological parameters in BDL/S-I and BDL/S-II group suggests the stimulation of lipid peroxidation and chronic liver damage. Especially the activation of lipid peroxidation and the stimulation of liver fibrosis was stronger in BDL/S-II group than in BDL/S-I group. The stronger fibrosis, portal-portal septum formation, the more massive bile duct proliferation in portal triads and stroma, and hepatocytes swelling were observed in liver tissue of and BDL/S-II group compared to BDL/S-I group. Conclusively, a good correlation between MDA as a lipid peroxidation marker and hyp as a liver fibrotic parameter could be connected with the process of liver fibrosis. Moreover, cholestasis condition may cause jaundice, activation of lipid peroxidation, and collagen accumulation in liver. Additionally, optimal observation period of bile duct obstruction for the screening of antioxidant and antifibrotic effect in rats would be four weeks.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2012

Microscopic polyangiitis is a necrotizing vasculitis, characterized by inflammation of small vessels (capillaries, venules, and arterioles) with few or no immune deposits. The kidneys are the most commonly affected organs and are involved in 90% of patients, whereas pulmonary involvement occurs in a minority of cases (10% to 30%). In cases of lung disease, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with pulmonary capillaritis is the most common manifestation. Microscopic polyangiitis is strongly associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody, which is a useful diagnostic serological marker. We report a case of microscopic polyangiitis presented as pleural effusion in a 67-year-old female. Pleural effusions have been reported in some cases previously, but the number of cases were small and their characteristics have not been well described. This report describes characteristic findings of pleural fluid and its histological features in a case of microscopic polyangiitis.