• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.1 s.52
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• pp.27-34
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• 2006

Numerous studies reported the significant association between genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and various bone phenotypes such as bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality, although conflicting results were produced. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between a TaqI RFLP in the VDR gene and calcaneal BMD in Korean vegetarian men, and its interaction with nutrition status as an environmental factor. BUA (broadband ultrasound attenuation), SOS (sound of speed) and stiffness index of the calcaneus were measured using an ultrasound bone densitometer in 266 Korean men (age: $mean{\pm}SD;\;50.9{\pm}12.0$ year), and a TaqI RFLP in the VDR gene analysed by PCR-RFLP method. In total subjects, the distribution of TT, Tt and tt genotypes occurred with frequencies of 90.8%, 8.8% and 0.4%, respectively. There were no significant associations between this polymorphism and osteopenia-osteoporosis or several bone phenotypes in our subjects irrespectively of nutrition status (P>0.05). Therefore, our results suggest that a TaqI RFLP in the vitamin D receptor gene does not contribute to the susceptibility to the calcaneal BMD in Korean men.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene profiles that were up- or down-regulated in the livers of high-fat diet-induced obese mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice with deficient leptin receptor. C57/BL6 normal mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice, respectively, were divided into two groups and fed a standard or high-fat diet for four weeks. Liver weight was unchanged in the normal mice but the high-fat diet led to a 10% weight increase in the $db_-/db_-$mice. Adipose tissue mass increased by about 88% in the normal mice that were fed a high-fat diet and by about 17% in the $db_-/db_-$mice on the high-fat diet. In terms of serum lipids, total cholesterol significantly increased in mice on the high-fat diet. Microarray analysis was carried out using total RNA isolated from the livers of standard or high-fat diet-fed mice of the normal and $db_-/db_-$ strains. The change of gene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. About 1.6% and 6.8% of total genes, respectively, showed different expression patterns in the normal mice fed the high-fat diet and $db_-/db_-$ mice. As a result of microarray, many genes involved in metabolism and signal pathways were shown to have different expression patterns. Expression of Mgst3 gene increased in the livers of normal and $db_-/db_-$ mice that were fed a high-fat diet. Wnt7b and Ptk9l were down-regulated in the livers of the normal mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice that were fed a high-fat diet. In conclusion, a high-fat diet induced obesity and affected gene expression involved in metabolism and signal pathway.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 1997

The authors attempted to examine the allelic association between the A1 allele of Dopamine $D_2$ receptor and schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction in Koreans. Schizophrenic patients(n=31), alcoholism(n=65), drug addiction(n=18) and controls(n=52) were examined by case-control study for distribution of the TaqI polymorphism of the dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene in Korean population to minimize the effect of racial differencies in gene frequencies. In schizophrenics, the numbers of schizophrenics with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 9(29.0%), 15(48.4%) and 7(22.6%) respectively and in alcoholics with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 14(21.5%), 36(55.4%) and 15(23.1%) respectively and in drug addiction with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 2(11.1%), 10(55.6%) and 6(33.3%) respectively and in controls with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 4(7.6%), 24(46.2%) and 24(46.2%) respectively. The prevalence of the A1 allele in schizophrenics, alcoholics, drug addiction and controls were 77%, 76.9%, 67% and 53.8% respectively. And the frequency of the A1 allele in schizophrenics, alcoholics, drug addiction and controls were 0.53, 0.49 0.39 and 0.31 respectively. There was significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between schizophrenics, alcoholics and controls. We also classified our alcoholic population. For classification by severity, we used the median MAST score 30 in our samples. There was also significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between less severe group(0.42) and more severe group(0.57). This data suggest that the A1 allele is associated with schizophrenia and alcoholism in Koreans. Furthermore the prevalence of the A1 allele increassed in more severely affected alcoholics. The authors conclude that our data support an allelic association between the A1 allele at dopamine $D_2$ receptor and schizophrenia, alcoholism. These results suggest the A1 allele of the $DRD_2$ gene is associated with a number of behavior disorders in which it may act as a modifying gene rather than as the primary etiological agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2227-2230
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• 2015

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms and the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the Western world. Vitamin D (1,25dihydroxy vitamin D) is linked to many biological processes that influence oncogenesis but data on relations between its genetic variants and cancer risk have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine associations between a vitamin D genetic polymorphism and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 124 Jordanian prostate cancer patients and 100 healthy volunteers. Ethical approval was granted from the ethical committee at Hashemite University and written consent was given by all patients. PCR was used to amplify the vitamin D receptor Fok1 polymorphism fragment. 25(OH)D serum levels were measured by competitive immunoassay. Results: All genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Genotype frequency for Fok1 genotypes FF, Ff and ff was 30.7%, 61.3% and 8.06%, for prostate cancer patients, while frequencies for the control group was 28.0%, 66.0% and 6.0%, respectively, with no significant differences. Vitamin D serum level was significantly lower in prostate cancer patients (mean 7.7 ng/ml) compared to the control group (21.8 ng/ml). No significant association was noted between 25(OH)D and VDR Fok1 gene polymorphism among Jordanians overall, but significant associations were evident among prostate cancer patients (FF, Ff and ff : 25(OH)D levels of 6.2, 8.2 and 9.9) and controls (19.0, 22.5 and 26.3, respectively). An inverse association was noted between 25(OH)D serum level less than 10ng/ml and prostate cancer risk (OR 35.5 and 95% CI 14.3- 88.0). Conclusions: There is strong inverse association between 25(OH)D serum level less than 10ng/ml level and prostate cancer risk.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2001

Objectives：This study evaluated the association between behavioral characteristics and polymorphisms in DAT1, DRD2, DRD3, and DRD4 genes. Methods：The subjects were 114 neonates, who were born by normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and had no physical problems. The behavioral characteristics were evaluated using Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale(NBAS) at $17.8{\pm}7.0$ hours after their birth to minimize environmental influences, and cord blood was used to analyze the gene polymorphisms. Results：In comparison to DAT1 gene 10/10 genotype group(N=93), other genotype group(N=19) showed significantly high NBAS scores on social-interaction, state organization, and state regulation. DRD2 gene Ser311/Cys311, TaqI A, and TaqI B polymorphisms showed no significant differences on NBAS scores when they were grouped by genotypes. DRD3 gene polymorphism and DRD4 gene promotor polymorphism showed no significant difference on NBAS scores when they were grouped by genotypes. In comparison to the short repeats(N=102), long repeats(N=10) in DRD4 gene showed significantly high habituation score of NBAS. Conclusion：These results suggest that the genetic effects of the neonatal behavioral characteristics may be mediated via DAT1 and DRD4 genes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 1994

The author examined the relationship of two markers, D5S39(p105-153Ra), D5S76(p105-599Ha) of chromosome 5 and $D_2$, $D_3$ receptor genes in a Korean schizophrenic pedigree using polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The results were as follows : 1) On D5S39 locus, 5 different alleles(224/226 bp : 4 cases, 218/226 bp : 3 cases, 222/226 bp : 3 cases, 218/230 bp : 1 case, 222/224 bp : 1 case) were produced. 2) On D5S76 locus, 5 different alleles(102/112 bp : 4 cases, 94/112 bp : 3 cases, 108/112 bp 3 cases, 94/94 bp : 1 case, 102/108 bp 1 case) were produced. 3) On $D_2$ receptor gene, 3 different alleles($A_1A_2$ : 8 cases, $A_1A_1$ : 2 cases, $A_2A_2$ : cases) were produced. 4) On $D_3$ receptor gene, 2 different alleles(1/2 : 7 cases, 1/1 : 5 cases) were produced. The author had not find any specific alleles on all four loci in all pedigree nor any specific alleles in the schizophrenic patients. Though the author has not found absolute relationship between the four loci and the onset of schizophrenia, there still remains the possibilities if the more detailed and elaborated pedigree studies are done.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.109-112
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• 2015

Diphyllobothrium latum and Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense are morphologically similar to each other, and only genetic method can differentiate clearly between the 2 species. A strobila of diphyllobothriid tapeworm discharged from a 7-year-old boy was analyzed to identify the species by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequencing. He and his family (total 4 persons) ate slices of 3 kinds of raw fish 16 days before visiting our outpatient clinic. All family members complained of abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. They all expelled tapeworm strobilae in their stools. They were treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel and then complained of no more symptoms. The cox1 gene sequencing of the strobila from the boy revealed 99.9% (687/688 bp) similarity with D. nihonkaiense and only 93.2% (641/688 bp) similarity with D. latum. Thus, we assigned this tapeworm as D. nihonkaiense. This is the first report of D. nihonkaiense infection in a family in Korea, and this report includes the 8th pediatric case in Korea. The current report is meaningful because D. nihonkaiense infection within a family is rare.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1992

We cloned a gene cluster encoding phenanthrene-degrading enzymes on a 6.8-kb Xhol fragment from the Pseudomonas sp. DJ77 chromosomal DNA into the vector pBLUESCRIPT SIC(+). The resultant clone, containing the recombinant plilsmid pHENX7, was able to convert 3-methylcatechol to a yellow mela-cleavage compound. Since the pHENX7R in which the DNA insert was cloned in the opposite orientation lacked extradiol dioxygenase activity. the direction of transcription was established. Four polypeptides, PhnC (24 kDa). PhnD (31 kDa), PhnE (34 kDa). and PhnF (15 kDa), were identified in E coli JM101 transformed with several pHENX7-derived plasmids. The locations and extents of ~ndividual genes were determined by subcloning. The gene order was phnC-phnD-phnE-phnF-phnG, and phnC, phnD, phnE, and phnG genes encoded glutathione S-transferase, mrta-cleavage compound hydrolase, extradiol dioxygenase, mera-cleavage compound dehydrogenase, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.295-299
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• 2003

Adenovirus (Ad) precursor to the terminal protein (pTP) plays an essential roles in the viral DNA replication. Ad pTP serves as a primer for the synthesis of a new DNA strand during the initiation step of replication. In addition, Ad pTP forms organized spherical replication foci on the nuclear matrix (NM) and anchors the viral genome to the NM. Here we identified the interferon inducible gene product 1-8D (Inid) as a pTP binding protein by using a two-hybrid screen of a HeLa cDNA library. Of the clones obtained in this assay, nine were identical to the Inid, a 13-kDa polypeptide that shares homology with genes 1-8U and Leu-13/9-27, most of which have little known functions. The entire open reading frame (ORF) of Inid was cloned into the tetracycline inducible expression vector in order to determine the biological functions related with adenoviral infection. When Inid was introduced to the cells along with adenoviruses, fifty to sixty percent of Ad-infected cells expressing Inid had rounded morphology, which was suggestive of apoptosis. Results from the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed that Inid induces apoptosis in Ad-infected or in uninfected cells. The Inid binding to pTP may target the cell for apoptotic destruction as a host defense mechanism against the viral infection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objective: A 14-d trial was conducted to determine the effects of feeding corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) on growth performance, apparent ileal digestibility, serum hormones levels and gene expression of $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ in ducklings. Methods: A total of 704 ducklings were blocked on the basis of sex and body weight (BW), and then allocated randomly to one of the following two treatments: i) CON, basal diet and ii) $AFB_1$, diets with 100% of normal corn replaced with $AFB_1$ contaminated corn. There were 22 pens per treatment and 16 birds per pen. The concentration of $AFB_1$ was 195.4 and $124.35{\mu}g/kg$ in the contaminated corn and $AFB_1$ diet, respectively. Results: The $AFB_1$ decreased average daily gain, average daily feed intake, d 7 BW, final BW in the whole trial, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during d 8 to 14 and d 1 to 14 by 10% to 47% (p<0.05), while FCR during d 1 to 7 was increased (p<0.05). $AFB_1$ did not affect mortality to 7 d of age, and then increased to 5.8% from 8 to 14 d of age (p<0.01). Apparent ileal gross energy digestibility was reduced by $AFB_1$, whereas apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and amino acid was improved (p<0.01). Feeding $AFB_1$ diets increased serum concentration of leptin and insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) (p<0.05), but had no effect on neuropeptide Y, ghrelin, cholecystokinin-8 or insulin (p>0.05). Dietary treatments did not influence relative expression of jejunal $Na^+$, $K^+-ATPase$ gene (p>0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, feeding corn naturally contaminated with $AFB_1$ reduced growth performance, improved apparent ileal digestibility, and affected serum leptin and IGF-1 in ducklings from d 1 to 14.