• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1600-1607
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• 2012

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family plays essential roles in physiological processes such as embryonic development, angiogenesis, wound healing, and tissue homeostasis as a consequence of MMPr capacity for breaking down many types of extracellular matrix proteins. Imbalanced regulation of MMP expression can also lead to pathological conditions such as tumor progression. We recently reported that the Drosophila Mmp1 gene is highly expressed in the digestive tract and is required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis such as by restriction of uncontrolled intestinal stem cell proliferation. However, the regulatory mechanisms of MMP gene expression in the intestine remain unclear. In this study, we determined that the expression of Mmp1 is regulated by the homeodomain transcription factor Caudal. Experiments using the targeted expression of Caudal under the regulation of Gal4-UAS system indicated that endogenous Caudal is required for the Mmp1 gene expression in the adult Drosophila intestine and that exogenous Caudal induces Mmp1 expression. Transient transfection experiments indicated that Caudal can activate the promoter activity of Mmp1 and that several putative Caudal binding sites in the 5'-flanking region of the Mmp1 gene may be critical to the upregulation by Caudal. Our data suggest that Mmp1 is one of the target genes of Caudal in physiological normal condition and in tumorigenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1078-1085
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• 2017

Free radicals have long been considered damaging to various tissues. An excessive amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to have detrimental effects on the body and to be linked to numerous pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and skeletal muscle atrophy. On the other hand, recent findings suggest that ROS is important for maintenance and development of cellular activity. Cells respond to increased oxidative stress by adaptive changes in the expression of a variety of proteins involved in the maintenance of cellular integrity. ROS is also essential for skeletal muscle function and metabolism. It is well known that physical exercise has many health benefits. Paradoxically, physical exercise also stimulates the production of ROS, which result in oxidative stress. Based on evidence amassed in the past decade, exercise itself may be considered an antioxidant because training increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes. In this review, we discuss the processes underlying the generation of ROS and its role in exercise-induced adaptation based on recent evidence. Furthermore, we discuss the possible role of NADPH oxidase in exercise-induced activation of insulin signaling and its effect on longevity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2009

Population viability analysis of a Gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) population at Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk, in South Korea was conducted and we proposed several suggestions for effective conservation and re-introduction of the species. Simulating a developed model over 1,000 times predicted that the population will exist over 30 years with a relatively low growth rate of 0.113, but with a high probability of extinction as 81.1%. Population growth and extinction probability were the most greatly depended on the rate of successful metamorphosis. In the case of outbreak of amphibian diseases such as Chytridiomycosis and Ranavirus, the population will be easily extinct within 4 years with 100% probability. In a habitat of which carrying capacity is 200, to successfully re-introduce an extinct population, it is initially needed to put 100 individuals of which 83% is males and its age structure is normal-distributed. If we additionally conducts artificial supplementation of 10% individuals every 2 years from 4 years to 10 years after initial reintroduction, the population will become a stable with 0.297 growth rate and 0.290 extinction rate. Our results are the first case of amphibian population viability analysis in Korea and could be used to develop effective conservation and re-introduction plans for endangered Gold-spotted pond frog.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2018

The pathogenic free-living amoebas (FLAs), Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria fowleri, can cause fatal infections, including amoebic encephalitis. They are ubiquitously distributed in nature, including in diverse bodies of water. In order to survey Acanthamoeba spp. and N. fowleri in source water in Korea, we used culture-based real-time PCR to detect viable FLAs in 52 source water samples collected between July 2017 and December 2017. Acanthamoeba spp. and N. fowleri were detected in 42 samples (80.8%) and 6 samples (11.5%), respectively. Acanthamoeba spp. were detected at approximately the same frequency in all seasons, but N. fowleri was mainly detected in summer and autumn, with no N. fowleri detected in winter. These results demonstrate that these pathogenic FLAs, especially N. fowleri, which has caused deaths in the United States and China, are widely distributed in the Korean aquatic environment.

• 사료
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• s.42
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• pp.20-25
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• 2010

2009년은 그야말로 새옹지마(塞翁之馬 : 인생에 있어서 길흉화복은 항상 바뀌어 미리 헤아릴 수 없다)와 같은 한 해로 기억에 오래 남을 듯 하다. 2008년 말에 2009년 양돈산업을 전망할 때 미국발 금융위기에도 불구하고 국내산 돈육 공급량 부족과 환율상승 및 급변으로 인한 돈육 수입량 부족, 그리고 수급 불균형으로 대부분의 전문가들이 역대 최고의 돈가를 예상했고, 실제로 3월에 지육가격이 5,000원/지육kg(전국 비육돈 평균시세)을 상회하면서 성수기에 돈가가 6,000원/지육 kg에 육박할 것이라 기대했었다. 그러나 4월 미국에서 발생한 신종인플루엔자가 초기에 돼지에서 유래된 인플루엔자라고 보도되면서 돈육소비량이 급감하였고 이로 인해 성수기에 돈가가 오히려 하락하는 기현상을 보였다. 다행히 신종플루가 돼지와 무관하다는 사실이 밝혀지면서 소비가 회복되었고 돈가 또한 회복되어 올해는 역대 최고의 돈가가 형성될 것으로 예상되고, 여기에 국제곡물시세가 안정되면서 사료가격도 여러 차례 인하되어 양돈 농장의 수익성은 상당부분 향상될 것으로 판단된다. 하지만 신종플루 사망자가 증가하면서 지금도 여전히 돈육소비가 위축되어 있어 막연히 호황을 기대하기 쉽지 않은 실정이다. 돈가의 급등과 급락, 외부요인에 의한 경제환경의 변화로 인한 환율의 변동 및 소비량의 변화는 2009년 양돈산업에 대한 불안감을 증폭시켜 높은 돈가와 수익성에도 불구하고 전체 산업의 규모가 커지지는 못했다. 여기에 국산 돈육에 대한 소비자들의 무한 신뢰로 인해, 2008년 12월 돈육 원산지 표시제 확대 실시로 국내산 돈육 수요가 증가 하여 여전히 75% 가량의 국산 돈육 자급율을 유지함에도 불구하고 아직까지 맛의 차별화 및 도축, 유통의 안전성에 대한 확고한 신뢰 구축을 위한 브랜드 돈육 유통의 확대가 소비자의 기대치만큼 자리 잡지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 또한 친환경적인 양돈산업 육성 및 분뇨 처리 관련하여도 뚜렷한 해답을 찾지 못하고 있어, 양돈 농가의 입장에서는 규모의 확장 및 신규 진입이 극도로 제한되어 있고 일부 지역에서는 사업의 존폐를 결정하는 주요 원인이 되고 있다. 그간 대한민국 양돈 산업의 경쟁력에 발목을 잡고 있던 낮은 생산성 문제와 소모성 질병에 의한 높은 폐사율 문제 또한 아직도 여전히 해결되지 못한 과제이다. <그림 1> 국가별 양돈 농장 생산성 현황에서 보는 바 와 우리나라 양돈 농장의 생산성은 여전히 PSY(모돈당 연간 이유자돈 두수)가 18두에 못 미치고 있어 국제 경쟁력을 논하기 자제 가 부끄러운 실정이다. 여러 가지 내 외부적인 어려운 환경에도 불구하고 올 2009년은 양돈농가들이 최고의 수익성을 기록한 한 해가 될 것이라는 사실에는 이의가 별로 없을 듯하다. 2년 여간의 고돈가로 인해 대한민국 양돈산업은 새로운 도약을 위한 밑천이 마련된 셈이라고 할 수 있다. 본고에서는 2009년 양돈산업 현황을 돌아보고 다가올 미래를 준비한다는 의미에서 우리나라 양돈산업이 집중해야 할 분야를 짚어보고자 한다.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2018

Purpose: Viral gastroenteritis is a common disease in infants and children. Seizures can be associated with viral gastroenteritis as benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG). After the development of the rotavirus vaccination, norovirus has become inreasingly significant in children. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features in a pediatric population presenting with seizures and confirmed enteral viral infections, especially norovirus infections. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients aged <15 years admitted due to convulsions and gastroenteritis to the Department of Pediatrics of Myongji Hospital between July 2014 and June 2016. Results: A total of 46 patients (24 male and 22 female) were included. Norovirus was detected in 21 (45.7%) patients, adenovirus in three (6.5%), rotavirus in two (4.3%), astrovirus in one (2.2%), and none of agents were detected in 19 (41.3%) patients. Patients in the norovirus gastroenteritis (NGE) group had a higher incidence of diarrhea than that among in the non-norovirus gastroenteritis (NNGE) group (61.9% vs 28.0%; P<0.05). Twelve patients experienced status epilepticus, including five (23.8%) in the NGE group and seven (33.0%) in the NNGE group (P=0.837). Seizures were effectively terminated by intravenous benzodiazepines in 8 (66.7%) of 12 patients. Additional long-acting antiepileptic drugs such as fosphenytoin or levetiracetam were required in three (25%) of 12 patients. Conclusion: Patients with CwG with and without noroviurs infection did not differ in terms of clinical features. However, status epilepticus was not uncommon among patients with CwG by definition.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.37
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• pp.5-33
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• 2008

This study examines the use of medical care by the poor through analysing KNHANES III databases, and the focus of the study is on under-satisfaction of medical needs and the impact of the medicare system. The results of analysis are summerized as follows; the poor had generally suffered from poor health condition, and did not have economic resoure to satisfy the medical needs. But, the beneficiaries of the medicare used much more medical care than non-poor. The result of logistic regression suggest that the medicare affected significantly on increase of uses. Consquently, the medicare system effectively made up the lack of economic resoure of the poor. However, the Medicare did not sufficient to satisfy all the medical needs of the poor. Over 20% of the poor had experinced the abandonment of meical care uses, "the lack of econmic resource" was most important reason. The result of logistic regression suggest that all the poor such as Medicare I and Medicare II beneficiaries, and near-poor class had much more probabilities of giving up the use of medical care than non-poor. It is necessary to raise up the benefit level of the current medicare system such as the reduction of non-secured medical cost, the alleviation of user's burden etc.

• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2018

Background: Anti-E or paired anti-E/-c antibodies can develop in patients with the Rh CDe phenotype. This study examined the differences in transfusion in patients with the CDe phenotype according to formation of anti-E or anti-E/-c antibodies. Methods: Retrospective reviews were carried out on the results of antibody identification tests performed in 2014. The Rh phenotype and antibody specificity were investigated. The transfusion and medical records of patients with the CDe phenotype were examined. Results: In total, 76 patients were included in the review. Of these 76 patients, 38 (50.0%) were of the CDe phenotype. Anti-E antibodies were the most frequent (60.5%), followed by anti-E/-c antibodies (23.7%). The total transfusion units and platelet transfusion units were significantly higher in patients with anti-E/-c antibodies (P=0.028 and P=0.01, respectively). The distribution of categorized diseases was similar in the patients with the anti-E and anti-E/-c antibodies. A frequency of transfusion episodes greater than or equal to four was higher in patients with hepatobiliary diseases (85.7%). Conclusion: In CDe phenotype patients, platelet transfusion was significantly higher in the anti-E/-c positive group than the anti-E positive group, indicating that platelets play a role in red blood cell alloimmunization. Because E is the most immunogenic antigen in Korea, it is important to define the disease group, in which patients with CDe phenotype require a transfusion of E and c-negative blood.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cytokine and chemokine levels and the clinical severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters were performed. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were measured. The severity of patients' clinical course and radiologic findings were also assessed. Results: Seventy-two patients (35 males and 37 females) with a median age of 3.9 years (range, 1-16 years) were enrolled. Patients with lobar pneumonia (n=29) had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and IL-18 values than those with broncho-interstitial pneumonia (n=43). However, the cytokine and chemokine values did not differ between the group that was treated with corticosteroids (n=31) and the one that was not (n=41). The CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, and IP-10 values showed positive correlations with fever duration prior to admission. The CRP and ESR values were positively correlated with IL-18, and LDH, with IP-10 levels. Conclusions: CRP, ESR, LDH, IL-18, and IP-10 values were associated with the severity of the disease, manifesting lobar pneumonia or prolonged fever duration prior to admission.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.221-234
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• 2019

Cancer is genetically, metabolically and infectiously induced life threatening disorder showing aggressive growing pattern with invasive tendency. In order to prevent this global menace from jeopardizing human life, enormous studies on carcinogenesis and treatment for chemotherapy resistance have been intensively researched. Hinokitiol (${\beta}$-thujaplicin) extracted from heart wood of cupressaceous is a well-known bioactive compound demonstrating anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria and anti-cancer effects on several cancer types via apoptosis and autophagy. This study proposed that hinokitiol activates transcription factor EB (TFEB) nuclear translocation for autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis regardless of nutrient condition in cancer cells. Mitophagy and ${\beta}$-catenin translocation into the nucleus under treatment of hinokitiol on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and HeLa cells were investigated. Hinokitiol exerted cytotoxicity on HeLa and HCC827 cells; moreover, artificially induced autophagy by overexpression of TFEB granted imperfect sustainability onto HeLa cells. Taken together, hinokitiol is the prominent autophagy inducer and activator of TFEB nuclear translocation. Alternative cancer therapy via autophagy is pros and cons since the autophagy in cancer cells is related to prevention and survival mechanism depending on nutrition. To avoid paradox of autophagy in cancer therapy, fine-tuned regulation and application of hinokitiol in due course for successful suppressing cancer cells are recommended.