• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.9 s.254
• /
• pp.609-615
• /
• 2005

Background: Some controversy still exists concerning the operative indications of coronary fistulas. Nevertheless, a short-term and long-term outcomes are excellent with surgical interventions. In this study, we assessed our surgical results on this disease entity during the last 20 years. Anatomic diversity was described as well. Material and Method: From April 1986 to March 2005, 20 patients with coronary fistulas underwent surgical correction in Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Result: Twelve patients ($60\%$) were asymptomatic prior to surgery. All had electrocardiogram and echocardiogram and all but 3 had coro-nary angiogram preoperatively. Anatomically, none of them had two or more coronary fistulas. The sites of origin were left coronary system in 11 patients and right in 9. The draining sites were right ventricle in 11, right atrium in 3, left ventricle in 3, main pulmonary artery in 2, and superior vena cavae in 1. All of the involved, the coro-nary arteries were dilated or aneurismal. In 1 case, there was atherosclerotic change but no ischemic evidence in preoperative electrocardiogram. Operative techniques included external obliteration (13), internal obliteration (5), and both (2). External obliteration was done by ligation of the fistulous tract only in T patients, by fstula ligation plus plication in 3 and by plication or patch closure via fistulotomy in 3. There was no operative mortality. All of postoperative morbidities including transient sinus arrhythmia (2), complete atrioventricular block (1), decreased left ventricular function (2), ventricular tachycardia (1), pericarditis (1), and seizure (1) improved on discharge. The mean follow-up was 55.1$\pm$50.2 months (4.0 months${\~}$18.0 years) and there were no recurrences of fistula. There was 1 second operation for aortic root aneurysm, which developed after external patch closure of right coronary fistula. Conclusion: We demonstrated here that coronary fistulas can be cured with excellent clinical outcome and low operative risk under precise diagnosis. Understanding the anatomic diversity will help to construct surgical plans.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2007

The centromere is a highly differentiated structure of the chromosome that fulfills a multitude of essential mitotic and meiotic functions. Alphoid DNA (${\alpha}$-satellite) is the most abundant family of repeated DNA found at the centromere of all human chromosomes, and chromosomes of primates in general. The most important parts in the development of Human Artificial Chromosomes (HACs), are the isolation and maintenance of stability of centromeric region. For isolation of this region, we could use the targeting hook with alphoid DNA repeat and cloned by Transformation-Associated Recombination (TAR) cloning technique in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The method includes rolling-circle amplification (RCA) of repeats in vitro to 5 kb-length and elongation of the RCA products by homologous recombination in yeast. Four types of $35\;kb{\sim}50\;kb$ of centromeric DNA repeat arrays (2, 4, 5, 6 mer) are used to examine the stability of repeats in homologous recombination mutant strains (rad51, rad52, and rad54). Following the transformation into wild type, rad51 and rad54 mutant strains, there were frequent changes in inserted size. A rad52 mutant strain showed extremely low transformation frequency, but increased stability of centromeric DNA repeat arrays at least 3 times higher than other strains. Based on these results, the incidence of large mutations could be reduced using a rad52 mutant strain in maintenance of centromeric DNA repeat arrays. This genetic method may use more general application in the maintenance of tandem repeats in construction of HAC.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2015

CpBV (Cotesia plutellae bracovirus) is a polydnavirus and encodes a cystatin (CpBV-CST1) gene. Its overexpression suppresses insect immunity and alters insect developmental processes. This study aimed to construct a genetically modified (GM) tobacco to further explore the physiological function of the viral cystatin and to apply to control insect pests. To this end, the transgenic tobacco lines were screened in expression of the target gene and assessed in insecticidal activity. A recombinant vector (pBI121-CST) was prepared and used to transform a bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefasciens. The transformed bacteria were used to generate transgenic tobacco lines, which were induced to grow callus and resulted in about 92% of shoot regeneration. The regenerated plants were screened by PCR analysis to confirm the insertion of the target gene in the plant genome. In addition, the expression of the target gene was assessed in the regenerated plants by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the transgenic line plant expressed the target gene about 17 times more than the control tobacco, indicating a stable insertion and expression of the target gene in the transgenic tobacco line. The insecticidal activity was then analyzed using the screened transgenic tobacco lines against the teneral 1st instar larvae of the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta. Though there was a variation in the insecticidal efficacy among transgenic lines, T9 and T12 lines exhibited more than 95% mortality at 7 days after feeding treatment. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 is a useful genetic resource to be used to generate GM crop against insect pests.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.342-347
• /
• 2004

A bacterial strain YC4963 with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, a causal organism of cucumber anthracnose was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino in Korea. Based on physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bac­terial strain was identified as Pseudomonas aurantiaca. The bacteria also inhibited mycelial growth of several plant fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani on PDA and 0.1 TSA media. The antifungal activity was found from the culture filtrate of this isolate and the active compound was quantitatively bound to XAD adsorption resin. The antibiotic compound was purified and identified as phenazine-l-carboxylic acid on the basis of combined spectral and chemical analyses data. This is the first report on the production of phenazine-l-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas aurantiaca.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.278-285
• /
• 2016

The bifunctional PheA protein, having chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase (CMPD) activities, is one of the key regulatory enzymes in the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, and is negatively regulated by an end-product, phenyalanine. Therefore, PheA protein has been thought as useful for protein engineering to utilize mass production of essential amino acid phenylalanine. To obtain feedback resistant PheA protein against phenylalanine, we mutated by using random mutagenesis, extensively screened, and obtained $pheA^{FBR}$ gene encoding a feedback resistant PheA protein. The mutant PheA protein contains substitution of Leu to Phe at the position of 118, displaying that higher affinity (about $290{\mu}M$) for prephenate in comparison with that (about $850{\mu}M$) of wild type PheA protein. Kinetic analysis showed that the saturation curve of $PheA^{FBR}$ against phenyalanine is hyperbolic rather than that of $PheA^{WT}$, which is sigmoidal, indicating that the L118F mutant enzyme has no cooperative effects in prephenate binding in the presence of phenylalanine. In vitro enzymatic assay showed that the mutant protein exhibited increased activity by above 3.5 folds compared to the wild type enzyme. Moreover, L118F mutant protein appeared insensitive to feedback inhibition with keeping 40% of enzymatic activity even in the presence of 10 mM phenylalanine at which the activity of wild type $PheA^{WT}$ was not observed. The substitution of Leu to Phe in CMPD may induce significant conformational change for this enzyme to acquire feedback resistance to end-product of the pathway by modulating kinetic properties.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.255-268
• /
• 2006

Twenty four Hanwoo cull cows were assigned to 2 groups, control and melengerol acetate(MGA)+selenium supplement containing vitamin E(SeE), based on the parity(6.5±1.7 birth) and body weight (493.17±55.61kg), and the experiment was conducted to establish the reasonable fattening method of cull cows for 240 days. Average daily body gains during 240 days were 0.51kg and 0.63kg in control and MGA+SeE, respectively(P<0.10). DDMI/ADG of MGA+SeE group improved compared to control group(P<0.05). Therefore, supplementation of MGA+SeE in concentrates may accelerate both of the growth rate and feed efficiency in Hanwoo cull cows. MQI from MGA+SeE was more developed based on the larger rib-eye area and thinner backfat thickness in carcass than that from control. Marbling score for MGA+SeE tended to increase compared to control. Dietary Se supplementation significantly affected muscle Se concentration in longissimus dorsi meat of MGA+SeE group(P<0.05). Similar results to Se were obtained from α-Tocoperol concentration. During 7 days of simulated retail display, accumulations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) concentration in beef was greater(P<0.05) in control than in supplemented cows. These results supported the hypothesis that supplementation of MGA+SeE improve the growth performance and carcass grade both by the growth stimulating effect of MGA+SeE and by preventing the oxidation of the longissimus dorsi muscle in Hanwoo cull cows.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2010

As one of the mucous components of Cheonggukjang, traditional fermented soybean paste, $\gamma$-PGA is a natural substance with diverse functions. In this paper, an in-vivo experiment has been performed using NC/Nga mice in order to find out the efficacy of $\gamma$-PGA in human atopic dermatitis. The NC/Nga mice with BMAC-induced atopic dermatitis were administered $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-HM) with 300 kDa and low-molecular $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-LM), respectively. As a result, a significant decrease in clinical skin severity score was detected in the group that was administered PGA-LM. In terms of serum IgE levels, a significant decline was observed in PGA-LM, compared to the control group. The serum IgG1 levels also decreased more in PGA-LM than in the control group. However, no significant difference was observed in both groups. To witness the induction of $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells, mRNA was sampled from the back of PGA-HM- and PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. In terms of the production amount of foxp3 mRNA, which was measured in real-time PCR, the group that was administered PGA-LM was twice as high as the control group. According to a biopsy on the skin on the backs of the mice, the experimental group was also far lower than the control group in terms of epidermis thickness, mast cell infiltration and the number of $CCR3^+$ cells. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the atopic dermatitis symptoms decreased more in the PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice than the PGA-HM-administered group by facilitating $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells and suppressing the activity of eosinophils and production of IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.600-605
• /
• 2011

'Boseogheugchal', a new black pericarp glutinous rice cultivar (Oriza sativa L.), was developed by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Suwon, Korea during the period from 1997 to 2008 and released in 2008. It was derived from a cross between SR18638-B-B-B-18-2/ Heugmi H31. The maturity of this cultivar is about 135 days from seedling to heading. This cultivar has about 12 tillers per hill and 94 spikelet numbers per panicle. Ripening ratio is about 72% and 1000 grain weight is 21.6 g in brown rice. This new variety shows grain shattering resistance and susceptible for blast, bacterial leaf blight and stripe virus. 'Boseogheugchal' has glutinous endosperm and low protein contents. It has higher anthocyanin content compared to black pigmented check cultivar 'Hegjinjubyeo'. The yield performance of brown rice was 4.82 MT/ha in local adaptability test for three years. 'Boseogheugchal' is adaptable to central plain area of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to examine immuno-regulatory activities of Ehpedrae Sinica STAPF, Rubus Coreanus Miq. and Angelica gigas Nakai extracts in conbination with ultrasonification. The extract yields of plants were the highest in the extraction system of $60^{\circ}C$ and 40 kHz of ultrasonification. The immune cell growth ratio of human immune B and T cells was increased compared to other fractions by the water fraction of the plants at $60^{\circ}C$ and 40 kHz. The water fractions of the plants at $60^{\circ}C$ and 40 kHz increased the specific secretion of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ of human immune B and T cells compared to other fractions of the plants. The water fraction of Ehpedrae Sinica STAPF among the plants was observed to show the highest specific secretion of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Also, NK-92 MI cells growth was increased in adding the water fractions of the plants at $60^{\circ}C$ and 40 kHz. The water fraction of Ehpedrae Sinica STAPF among the plants showed the highest in NK-92 MI cell growth ratio. The differentiation activity of the HL-60 cells significantly increased in adding the water fraction of Ehpedrae Sinica STAPF compared to other fractions of the plants. These results suggest that the water fractions of the plants in extraction system of temperature $60^{\circ}C$ and ultrasonification 40 kHz have marked useful immuno-stimulatory activities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.56-60
• /
• 2005

In order to increase the storage stability of watermelon stalk, storage environments such as temperature and other treatments such as vaseline, mixture of soybean oil and wheat flour, and coated paper label were tested separately after harvesting. At different storage temperatures (7, 18 and $30^{\circ}C$) shelf-life of stalk was inversely proportional to temperature. The results showed that during storage at $30^{\circ}C$ they were completely wilted in 7 days, at $18^{\circ}C$ in 15 days and at $7^{\circ}C$ in 19 days. Our data also showed that stability of watermelon stalk depending on temperature was very closely correlated with water content of watermelon stalk; during storage at $30^{\circ}C$ the water content of watermelon stalk was decreased to 21.1 % in 7 days, whereas at $7^{\circ}C$ the water content was decreased gradually to 71.2 % for 19 days of storage. In order to reduce the physiological changes in watermelon stalk at $30^{\circ}C$, following treatments such as vaseline, mixture of soybean oil and wheat flour, and coated paper label were tested. As a result, watermelon stalk without any treatment was completely wilted in 9 days, while stalks treated with vaseline and mixture of soybean oil with wheat flour were wilted in 15 and 12 days, respectively. The wilt delay was noted in the watermelon stalk for $3{\sim}6$ days during both treatments but the outward quality was found detracted, whereas when treated with coated paper label, the wilt of stalk was delayed for 3 days along with the improvement in the outward quality. Therefore this data indicate that the treatment of coated paper label during storage at $30^{\circ}C$ can be considered as a potent method for maintaining the physiology of watermelon stalk.