• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.868-874
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• 2016

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 are members of the serine or threonine protein kinase superfamily that phosphorylates the hydroxyl group of serine or threonine through the highly conserved kinase region. The RIPK family plays a crucial role not only in inflammation and innate immunity, but also in mediating programmed cell death, such as apoptosis and necroptosis. The interaction between RIPK1 and other TNFR1-related proteins has been shown to assemble a signaling complex I that controls activation of the pro-survival transcription factor NF-κB upon binding of cytokines to TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). Moreover, RIPK1 and RIPK3 interact through their RIP homotypic interaction motifs (RHIMs) to mediate programmed necrosis, which has long been considered an accidental and uncontrolled cell death form with morphological characteristics differing from those of apoptosis. Highly conserved sequences of RHIM in RIPK1 and RIPK3 were shown to regulate their binary interaction, leading to assembly of a cytosolic amyloid complex termed the “necrosome”. The necrosome also contains mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), which has been found recently to be a substrate of RIPK3 to mediate downstream signaling. This review provides an overview of the functional and physiological characteristics of RIPKs and MLKL in TNF signaling.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiologic features of febrile illnesses in newborns and to predict the risk of serious infections in this population. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 123 full-term infants <30 days of age with an axillary temperature >38$^{\circ}C$ who were hospitalized between 2000 and 2006. Neonates with prenatal risk factors, congenital anomalies, antibiotic administration prior to admission to the hospital, or suspected hospital-acquired infections were excluded. We evaluated the symptoms, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and clinical course between the high- and low-risk groups for serious infections. Results : The high-risk group included 30 infants with the following diagnoses in order of frequency: aseptic meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacterial meningitis, infectious enteritis, sepsis concomitant with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, bacteremia, pneumonia, cellulitis, and omphalitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia were statistically different between the two groups. Factors, such as moaning signs, seizures, body temperature, and pulse rate were statistically significant. Conclusion : Unlike previous studies, we included newborns with clinical bacterial infections and aseptic meningitis as the high-risk group. Leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, moaning signs, seizures, and changes in vital signs were considered useful predictors for identifying febrile neonates at high-risk for serious infections in spite of a difference in the definition of serious infection.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-123
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• 2018

Purpose: This study empirically investigates the utilization and expenditure of health care and long-term care at the last year of life for long-term care beneficiaries in Korea. Methods: This study used National Health Insurance and Long-term Care Insurance claims data of 271,474 LTCI beneficiaries, who died from July 2008 to December 2012. Their cause of death, place of death, health care costs, and the provision of aggressive care were analyzed. Results: Cardio-vascular disease(29.8%) and cancer(15.3%) were reported as their major cause of death, and hospital(64.4%), home(22.0%), social care facility(9.2%) were analyzed as the place of death. 99.3% of subjects used both health care and long-term care during the last 1 year of life. The average survival period were 516.2 days after they were LTCI beneficiaries. The health care expenditure gradually increased near the death, and the last month were three times more rather than the first month. Furthermore, 31.8% experienced some aggressive cares(CPR, blood transfusion, hemo-dialysis, etc.) at the last month of life. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is important to develop the end of life care policies(for example, hospice, advanced care directives) for the LTCI beneficiaries. They might contribute to the improvement of quality of life and the reduction of health care expenditure of the elderly at the end-of-life.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2019

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome(WHS) is a congenital disorder caused by deletions of the short arm of chromosome 4. The most common characteristics are mental and growth retardation, dietary disorder and craniofacial features with a characteristic 'Greek warrior helmet' appearance. The dental characteristic of WHS includes delayed development, tooth agenesis, clefts, microdontia, taurodontism, and severely worn dentition. The purpose of this case report is to describe the dental treatment of a patient with WHS. 3-year-old boy with WHS visited the Seoul National University Dental Hospital for dental treatment. He had difficulty with nasotracheal intubation because of craniofacial anomalies and also had poor oral hygiene due to a limitation of mouth opening and dietary disorder. Due to his airway problem, behavior management and severity of dental conditions, dental treatment was performed under general anesthesia. This case suggests general anesthesia can be chosen with WolfHirschhorn syndrome patients to safely care for their dental problems.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2019

Investigations on the study of the distribution aspects and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia pacifica were done from 2017 to 2018 in Korea. During the study period, the samples of I. pacifica were collected in 17 streams, 46 sites (from Baebongcheon Stream of Goseong-gun to Gunsuncheon Stream of Gangneung-si) among the noted 33 streams and 104 sampling sites investigated. The population size of I. pacifica was relatively large in streams such as Bukcheon, Baebongcheon, Hwasangcheon, Cheonjincheon, Ohhocheon Stream etc., but the population size was small in streams such as Sacheoncheon, Namcheon, Gangneung Namdaecheon Stream etc. The main habitat of I. pacifica was the downstream pool of clean water with slow velocity and sand bottoms, and their sensibility was estimated to be due to river work and water pollution. Comparing the previous records of the appearance of I. pacifica, they were first seen in Sampocheon Stream, but they did not appear in Jusucheon, Jeoncheon, Samcheok Osipcheon Stream. Given this evidence as noted for the 19.5% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations, in small appearance range ($1,343km^2$) and small occupancy area ($184km^2$), the number of locations were many (18) and the population was relatively large within the range of habitat. Therefore, I. pacifica is now considered a Near Threatened (NT) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2022

Mucosal immunity is a well-designed defense system that builds precise and dynamic relationships against pathogens, and the gastrointestinal tract is the most important organ with this system, acting as a guardian at the forefront of its activity. Salmonella spp. cause food poisoning, entering the body orally and mainly invading the Peyer's patches of the small intestine. Although Salmonella strains share similar mechanisms for inducing innate immunity, different serotypes may have different effects on the intestinal mucosa due to host specificities and pathogenicity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Salmonella enteritidis infections in mouse intestine and observed significantly reduced dose-dependent survival rates in a challenge test. Flow cytometry data showed no significant differences in intestinal immune cell populations, although histology indicated increased mucin production and decreased goblet cell counts in the Salmonella-treated groups. Furthermore, Claudin expression was significantly decreased in the samples with Salmonella. To investigate the relationship between S. enteritidis infection and inflammatory response, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was administered after infection and the results indicate lower survival rate after DSS treatment. In conclusion, we were able to identify the optimal concentration of S. enteritidis to modulate the intestinal mucosal immunity of mice and inflammatory response.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

The clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children is usually mild. Most of the affected patients completely recovered from COVID-19 before being released from approximately 7-day quarantine. However, children with comorbidities are at risk of more severe disease and adverse outcomes. We report three cases of COVID-19-affected adolescents with underlying chronic respiratory difficulty due to neurologic diseases who showed sudden clinical aggravations at the time of discharge, even after full clinical improvement. Patient 1 is a 17-year-old boy with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy who had cardiopulmonary arrest 9 days after the initial COVID-19 symptoms. Patient 2 is a 17-year-old girl with intracerebral hemorrhage with infarction in bed-ridden status who had cardiopulmonary arrest 11 days after the initial symptoms. Patient 3 is a 12-year-old boy with intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus in bed-ridden status who showed multiorgan failure 10 days after the initial symptoms. Remdesivir, dexamethasone, and empirical antibiotics were administered with mechanical ventilation and intensive unit care. Among the three patients, two (patients 1 and 3) were alive, and one (patient 2) expired. Clinicians caring for adolescents with chronic neurologic and/or pulmonary disease should keep in mind that these patients could have sudden deterioration after recovery from the acute phase of COVID-19 around or after the time of discharge.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.45
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• pp.1-35
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• 2023

This study aims at determining the meaning of Life in The Canonical Scripture of the Daesoon Thought upon the ontological bases of occidental philosophies; especially upon those of Plato and Bergson. In western philosophy, the word ontology designates investigating the meanings of being, which is derived from the Greek 'onto (being)' and 'logia (logical discourse).' The various meanings of life have been sought from ancient times all over the world, for these are the critical and vital questions that pertain to the nature of human existence. Plato had asserted that life, in his word, soul, had three different kinds of aspects of meaning. Immortal, reciprocal, and divine. Plato scheme was such that the soul could die, but after death it could became reborn into another various forms of living creatures. The real inner life of humans, the soul, would live eternally. Henri-Louis Bergson, a famous French philosopher from the 20^th century, claimed that life had three different kinds of aspects. Self-identity, Élan vital (vital impetus) and liberty. Bergson insisted especially the real meaning of life had been characterized by "unité multiple et multiplicitéune," "unity as something multiple and multiplicity something singular." The meaning of life in Daesoon Thought could be said to have three different characteristics, solidarity, earthly immortality and grievance-resolution. Some similarities can be found between certain western ontological meanings of life and those of Daesoon Thought. Namely, the qualities of eternity, reciprocity, and divinity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.23-28
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• 2023

Since the global shock caused by COVID-19, interest in immune-enhancing materials is rapidly increasing, therefore, the development of novel materials is necessary from the industrial and health perspectives. In this study, we selected Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner Seed Extract (NSE) and evaluated immune enhancement effect by using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. NSE significantly up-regulated production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species without affecting cell viability in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, NSE exhibited an increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in RAW 264.7 cells. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that NSE-treatment significantly enhanced production of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, we observed that NSE significantly up-regulated phosphorylation of p65, I kappa B kinase α/β, and I kappa B (IκB) α as well as down-regulation of IκB α expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings indicate that NSE could be the potential health-functional food material with capacity of improving immunity via Nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.178-187
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• 2013

분자단계에서 천연소재 유래 다당체는 면역 세포 표면(예, 대식세포)에 있는 한가지 또는 여러가지 수용체(${\beta}$-glucan 수용체, mannose 수용체, complement 수용체 3, Toll-like 수용체, scavenger 수용체)와 면역 반응을 시작하기 위하여 결합할 수 있고, 그 후에 신호전달을 위하여 cytokine과 second messenger($Ca^{2+}$, cAMP, cGMP, NO 등등)들을 생성한다. 그 결과로 선천면역과 적응면역을 유도하여 다양한 질환에 영향을 미친다. 추가적으로 다당체들의 면역조절은 신경내분비 체계의 조절과도 연관되어 있다. 최근 수많은 천연소재유래 다당체의 생리활성에 관한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 다양한 연구를 통해 정확한 약효, 낮은 독성과 부작용을 가진 일단의 다당체가 발견되어 현재 임상에서 암 치료에도 사용되고 있다. 이러한 사실들은 면역증진 다당체들이 항 종양치료를 위한 새로운 치료제로서 큰 시장을 개척할 수 있다는 가능성을 보여주고 있다. 이러한 사실에도 불구하고 현재 다당체에 대한 연구는 다음과 같은 취약점을 내포하고 있다. 첫째 다당체의 생리활성에 대한 정해진 비교기준이 없다. 특별히 임상 환경에서는 이러한 연구들이 중국, 일본, 한국과 일부 다른 동양국가들에 국한되어 있어 유럽이나 미국에서의 연구 자료가 결여되어있다. 둘째 현재 연구에 사용되고 있는 대다수의 천연소재 유래 다당체는 순수한 다당체가 아닌 천연 그대로의 것을 사용하고 있어 소재로부터 유래하는 다른 활성성분에 의해 쉽게 영향을 받을 수 있어 순수 다당체가 면역체계에 어떠한 역할을 수행하는지 진단하는데 어려움이 있다. 셋째 면역조절 경로에서 다당체의 정확한 신호전달 경로가 아직 정확하게 밝혀지지 않았고, 또한 동물과 임상실험에서 다당체가 작용하는 수용체 및 신호전달 경로에 대한 상반되는 결과가 발표되고 있기도 하다. 따라서 다당체의 면역조절활성에 대한 연구에 있어 다음과 같은 점들에 주목해야 할 필요가 있다. 첫째 다당체의 구조와 활성간의 상관관계를 밝혀야 할 것이다. 특히 다당체의 세부 구조 및 활성 부위를 밝혀낸다면 분자수준의 면역조절 기작을 명확히 하는데 도움을 줄 수 있을 것이다. 이러한 정보를 확보할 수 있다면 다당체의 구조를 변형시켜 활성을 증진시킬 수 있을 것이며, 또한 활성이 증가된 다당체를 합성하는 일도 가능해 질 것으로 예상된다. 마지막으로 ${\beta}$-glucan과 lentinan과 같은 정제된 다당체의 연구를 지속적으로 수행하여 효과적인 동물실험 및 임상실험 protocol을 확보하고 연구결과들에 대한 database를 구축해야 할 필요가 있다. 이러한 노력들이 성공적으로 수행된다면 천연소재유래 다당체들이 가까운 장래에 암 치료를 포함한 다양한 질병에 적용 가능한 새로운 면역조절제로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.