• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8311-8317
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• 2014

Background: Evidence supporting an association between the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been reported in North American and Europe populations, though data from Asian populations remain limited. We therefore investigated this association by clinical detection in China, and meta-analysis in Asian, Caucasian and African-American populations. Materials and Methods: Blood samples and clinical information were collected from ethnically Chinese men from Northern China with histologically-confirmed PCa (n=335) and from age-matched normal controls (n=347). The 8q24 (rs4242382) gene polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting analysis. We initially analyzed the associations between the risk allele and PCa and clinical covariates. A meta-analysis was then performed using genotyping data from a total of 1,793 PCa cases and 1,864 controls from our study and previously published studies in American and European populations, to determine the association between PCa and risk genotype. Results: The incidence of the risk allele was higher in PCa cases than controls (0.222 vs 0.140, $P=7.3{\times}10^{-5}$), suggesting that the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism was associated with PCa risk in Chinese men. The genotypes in subjects were in accordance with a dominant genetic model (ORadj=2.03, 95%CI: 1.42-2.91, $Padj=1.1{\times}10^{-4}$). Presence of the risk allele rs4242382-A at 8q24 was also associated with clinical covariates including age at diagnosis ${\geq}65$ years, prostate specific antigen >10 ng/ml, Gleason score <8, tumor stage and aggressive PCa, compared with the non-risk genotype ($P=4.6{\times}10^{-5}-3.0{\times}10^{-2}$). Meta-analysis confirmed the association between 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and PCa risk (OR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.39-1.88, $P=1.0{\times}10^{-5}$) across Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. Conclusions: The replicated data suggest that the 8q24 rs4242382-A variation might be associated with increased PCa susceptibility in Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. These results imply that this polymorphism may be a useful risk biomarker for PCa in multi-ethnic populations.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Demand for a new anti-malarial drug has been dramatically increasing in the recent years. Plasmodium falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) plays a vital role in fatty acid elongation process, which now emerged as a new important target for the development of anti-microbial and anti-parasitic molecules. In the present study, 19 compounds namely alginic acid, atropine, chlorogenic acid, chrotacumine A & B, coenzyme $Q_1$, 4-coumaric acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, embelin, 5-O-methyl embelin, eugenyl glucoside, glabridin, hyoscyamine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, rohitukine, scopolamine, tlatlancuayin and ursolic acid were evaluated on their docking behaviour on P. falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) using Auto dock 4.2. The docking studies and binding free energy calculations exhibited that glabridin gave the highest binding energy (-8.07 kcal/mol) and 4-coumaric acid in contrast showed the least binding energy (-4.83 kcal/mol). All ligands except alginic acid, ellagic acid, hyoscyamine and glabridin interacted with Gln409 amino acid residue. Interestingly four ligands namely coenzyme $Q_1$, 4-coumaric acid, embelin and 5-O-methyl embelin interacted with Gln409 amino acid residue present in both chains (A & B) of PfENR protein. Thus, the results of this present study exhibited the potential of these 19 ligands as P. falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) inhibitory agents and also as anti-malarial agents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.449-455
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• 2018

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between changes in white matter and homocysteine concentration through brain computed tomography of healthy 50-75 year old subjects without stroke or dementia history. We studied 722 out of 900 patients who underwent health screening at one hospital from 2016 to 2017. Based on the medical records, retrospective studies were conducted and analyzed using SPSS. A chi-square test, T-test and univariate logistic regression analysis were used for analysis. After the subjects were divided into the group with and without white matter changes, the population characteristics were analyzed. The mean age, homocysteine concentration and prevalence of hypertension and diabetes were higher and the duration of education was shorter in the group with white matter changes. In the group with white matter changes, the population increased as homocysteine concentration increased. When the odds ratio was compared based on the lowest group (Q1), age [p<0.001], hypertension [p<0.001] and hyperhomocysteinemia [p=0.021] were risk factors for white matter changes. We also identified modifiable risk factors such as hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia to prevent complications of white matter changes. However, there has been no report of risk for the each causes of hyperhomocysteinemia and relationship between white matter changes and homocysteine concentration in Koreans. Therefore, large scale prospective studies are needed to better understand this topic.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 1999

The relationship between floristic composition and soil environmental conditions was investigated in the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun. The forest vegetation unit of Mt. Paekun was divided into six plant communities by Zurich-Montpellier method, such as Quercus mongelica community (Typical subcommunity, Rhododendron schlippenbaohii subcommunity), Q. variabilis community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla community, Pinus densiflora community, Larix Eeptolepis community and Pinus koraiensis community. Q. mongolica community group was distributed at the altitude over 500 meter, Q. variabilis and P. densiflora communities appeared on the southwestern slope at the altitudes of 600 ~ 700 m and 290 ~ 700 m. However, L. leptolepis and P. koraiensis plantation were distributed at lower altitude, on hillside or around homestead. The DBH class distribution of dominant species in each community showed that Q. mongolica had 10.9 individuals/a at 6~10 cm class, Q. variabilis 2.5 individuals/a at 11~15 cm class, P. densiflora 1.8 individuals/a at 26~30 cm class, F. rhynchophylla 3.3 individuals/a at 2~5 cm class, and L. leptolepis 5.9 individuals/a at 11~ 15 cm class. Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis communities showed a stable bell-shaped pattern of distribution. The contents of organic matters and soil water, and cation exchange capacity of the soil increased, and the pH decreased as the altitude gets higher increased altitude at the each communities. The contents of the soil water and organic matters of the forest soil collected in Q. mongolica community were in the 17.81% to 51.20% and 5.51% to 14.90%, respectively. These tendency is similar to the contents of N, P and K, but those of Ca, Mg, and CEC was lower than in other communities. Cation exchange capacity was suspected to be correlated to the pH. The hypothetical successional sere of the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun is as follows: Pinus densiflora community longrightarrowQ. variabilis community longrightarrowQ. mongolica community.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.220-229
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the forest community classification and vegetation structure in NYNRF(National Yonghyeon Natural Recreation Forest). We studied by 26 plots($20{\times}20m$) from April to September 2014. NYNRF were classified into the Quercus mongolica Community, Quercus variabilis community and Acer pictum community in the 3 community units. The Q. mongolica Community was subdivided into the Pinus densiflora group and Typical group and A. pictum community was also subdivided into the Euonymus sachalinensis group and Typical group. NYNRF were classified into 3 communities and 4 groups and 5 VU(vegetation units). According to the result of importance value analysis between vegetation units, VU 1 P. densiflora(65.1%), VU 2 Q. mongolica(73.6%), VU 3 Q. variabilis(75.1%), VU 4 E. sachalinensis(33.3%) and VU 5 Lindera erythrocarpa(27.1%) were highly showed in tree layer and VU 1 Rhododendron mucronulatum (19.3%), VU 2 Calamagrostis arundinacea (16.9%), VU 3 Indigofera kirilowii (75.1%), VU 4 and VU 5 Pseudostellaria heterophylla(each other 14.8% and 24.7%) were highly showed in herb layer. In INSPAN(INdicator SPecies ANalysis) of vegetation units, 33 species were analyzed significantly(p<0.05).

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.216-227
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• 2013

Purpose: Despite the well-known public health benefits of vaccination, increasing public concern about the safety of childhood vaccinations has led some parents to refuse or hesitate having their children immunized. The purpose of this study was to identify the subjectivity of parents toward refusal of childhood vaccination. Methods: Q-methodology, in which subjective viewpoints are explored and analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, was used. Thirty-five participants were asked to rank 42 statements on diverse issues of childhood vaccination according to a continuous 9-point scale ranging from -4 for strongly disagree to +4 for strongly agree. Collected data was analyzed using the PC-QUANAL program. Results: The results revealed three discrete groups of parents in the refusal of children's immunization: type I, distrust; type II, concern about side effects, and type III, belief that vaccinations are unnecessary. Conclusion: Special nurse counselors who can provide correct information about vaccination based on the three types should be part of the government policy. Customized education programs to shift viewpoints should be also redeveloped according to the results in this study.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.288-296
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• 1995

To investigate high-level expression of Serratia marcescens metalloprotease (SMP) in Escherichia coli and S. marcescens, we constructed various recombinant plasmids: pSP2, containing SMP gene and lac promoter; pKSP2, containing SMP gene and tac promoter; pTSP2, containing SMP gene, trc99a promoter, and lacI$^{q}$. The recombinant E. coli (pKSP2) strain expressed SMP to a high-level, about 36% of total cellular proteins but accumulated inactive SMP precursors intracellularly, which indicated that E. coli does not have activation and secretion system for SMP. To overproduce active SMP, we transformed S. marcescens with the recombinant plasmids by a modified CaCl$_{2}$ method. The recombinant S. marcescens ATCC27117 (pSP2) containing lac promoter for SMP transcription produced 530 U/ml of active SMP on LB broth, which is about 5.1 times of the SMP yield, 105 U/ml of a control strain, S. marcescens ATCC27117 (pUC19). However, S. marcescens ATCC27117 (pKSP2) containing tac promoter for SMP transcription did not grow healthy and hardly produced SMP. To overcome a harmful effect of the strong tac promoter, we constructed a regulatory plasmid pTSP2 containing a strong trc99a promoter and its repressor gene lacI$^{q}$. When S. marcescens ATCC27117 (pTSP2) was induced with 1.0 mM IPTG after 9 hr cultivation, 2,200 U/ml of SMP was obtained in LB broth, which is about 21 times of that of a control strain.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2022

Objectives: Thiamine is thought to modify sleeping patterns, while alcohol use diminishes internal thiamine levels. We investigated the association between thiamine intake and sleep duration and explored possible heterogeneity in the effect according to alcohol use. Methods: In total, 15 384 participants aged 19-64 were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012-2016. Nutrient intake, including thiamine, was measured using a food frequency questionnaire. Sleep duration was measured by a self-reported questionnaire. The highest thiamine intake quartile was set as the reference group. Participants were divided into 3 groups, with 7-8 hours of daily sleep as a reference group and those who slept more or less than that as "oversleeping" and "insufficient sleeping," respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used, adjusting for socioeconomic, medical, and nutritional factors. Additionally, participants were stratified according to high-risk alcohol use defined by the World Health Organization standards on alcohol use. Results: Low thiamine intake was associated with oversleeping (Q3: odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 1.32; Q2: OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.55; Q1: OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.91) and showed a significant trend for higher ORs at lower intake levels (p-trend<0.001). The effect was stronger in the high-risk alcohol use group (Q1: OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.49). Conclusions: Low thiamine intake was associated with oversleeping, and alcohol use intensified that association. These results were found in a context where overt clinical symptoms due to thiamine deficiency are considered rare. More awareness of the potential relationship of thiamine intake with oversleeping and its related risks should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

To provide the basic information about slope stability analysis, tensile force and strength of tree roots like Pinus koraiensis, Larix leptolepis, Pinus densiflora, Quercus mongolica, and Alnus japonica were measured and analyzed. As a result, tensile force increases in forms of involution of root diameter. The mean tensile strength of roots like P. koraiensis, L. leptolepis, P. densiflora, A. japonica and Q. mongolica were calculated as $165.38kgf/cm^2$, $172.78kgf/cm^2$, $176.25kgf/cm^2$, $214.29kgf/cm^2$ and $224.19kgf/cm^2$ respectively. It was shown that tensile strength decreasing tendency as root diameter increases. Also, recalculated soil shear strength by tensile strength of the roots like P. koraiensis, L. leptolepis, P. densiflora, A. japonica and Q. mongolica were $0.099kgf/cm^2$, $0.104kgf/cm^2$, $0.106kgf/cm^2$, $0.129kgf/cm^2$ and $0.135kgf/cm^2$ respectively.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Despite it has been mentioned that the successful restoration in landscape level was achieved in the Young-il soil erosion control project, quantitative evaluation of restored plant communities (Alnus firma as introduced species and Pinus thunbergii as native species) was hardly founded. Light availability, litter and woody debris cover, and forest structure and composition were determined for 500 m² band-quadrat in three forest types. Abiotic factors of Q. serrata stands, as reference forest, and A. firma stands were similar but not for P. thunbergii stands. There were no significant difference on mean stem density (stems ha^-1, H = 3.6, p = 0.162), and the mean basal area of each stand had marginal significance (m² ha^-1, H = 5.7, p = 0.058) among stands as total basal area was higher with the order of A. firma (21.4 m² ha^-1), P. thunbergii (19.8 m² ha^-1) and Q. serrata (16.2 m² ha^-1). Restoration of vegetation structure was more effective in fast-growing and N-fixing A. firma, as introduced species plantation. However, result of MRPP, NMS ordination and ISPAN for herbaceous layer, not for tree and shrub species composition, indicated that restoration of ground vegetation was likely influenced highly from local environment. Propagule availability from landscape context such as connectedness to natural vegetation and management practices in restored isolated stands are available explanations for restoration effects and gaps between restored plantations and secondary oak forest.