• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.292-295
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• 2016

Objective : To investigate the variation of pelvic radius and related parameters in low-grade isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods : Seventy-four patients with isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis and 47 controls were included in this study. There were 17 males and 57 females between 30 and 66 years of age, including 30 with grade I slippages and 44 grade II slippages; diseased levels included 34 cases on L4 and 40 cases on L5. Thoracic kyphosis (TK), the pelvic radius (PR), the pelvic angle (PA), pelvic morphology (PR-S1), and total lumbopelvic lordosis (PR-T12) were assessed from radiographs. Results : Statistically significant differences were found for the PA, PR-T12, and PR-S1 ($24.5{\pm}6.6^{\circ}$, $83.7{\pm}9.8^{\circ}$, and $25.4{\pm}11.2^{\circ}$, respectively) of the patients with spondylolisthesis and the healthy volunteers ($13.7{\pm}7.8^{\circ}$, $92.9{\pm}9.2^{\circ}$, and $40.7{\pm}8.9^{\circ}$, respectively). The TK/PR-T12 ratios were between 0.15 and 0.75. However, there were no differences in all the parameters between the L4 and L5 spondylolysis subgroups (p>0.05). The TK and PR-S1 of grade II were less than grade I, but the PA was greater. The PR-T12 of female patients were less than male patients, but the PA was greater (p<0.05). Conclusion : Pelvic morphology differed in patients with low-grade isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis compared to controls. Gender and the grade of slippage impacted the sagittal configuration of the pelvis, but the segment of the vertebral slip did not. Overall, the spine of those with spondylolisthesis remains able to maintain sagittal balance despite abnormal pelvic morphology.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2003

Background: One of the important factors in the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B patient is the degree of replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV). It has been known that HBV DNA polymerase plays the essential role in the replication of HBV. HBV DNA polymerase is composed of four domains, TP (Terminal protein), spacer, RT (Reverse transcriptase) and RNaseH. Among these domains, tyrosine, the $65^{th}$ residue of TP is an important residue in protein-priming reaction that initiates reverse transcription. If monoclonal antibody that recognizes around tyrosine residue were selected, it could be applied to further study of HBV replication. Methods: To produce TP-specific scFv (single-chain Fv) by phage display, mice were immunized using synthetic TP-peptide contains $57{\sim}80^{th}$ amino acid residues of TP domain. After isolation of mRNA of heavy-variable region ($V_H$) and light-chain variable region ($V_L$) from the spleen of the immunized mouse, DNA of $V_H$ and $V_L$ were obtained by RT-PCR and joined by a DNA linker encoding peptide (Gly4Ser)3 as a scFv DNA fragments. ScFv DNA fragments were cloned into a phagemid vector. scFv was expressed in E.coli TG1 as a fusion protein with E tag and phage gIII. To select the scFv that has specific affinity to TP-peptide from the phage-antibody library, we used two cycles of panning and colony lift assay. Results: The TP-peptide-specific scFv was isolated by selection process using TP-peptide as an antigen. Selected scFv had 30 kDa of protein size and its nucleotide sequences were analyzed. Indirect- and competitive-ELISA revealed that the selected scFv specifically recognized both TP-peptide and the HBV DNA polymerase. Conclusion: The scFv that recognizes the TP domain of the HBV DNA polymerase was isolated by phage display.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2015

Super- and sub-critical water treatments have been of interest as novel methods for protein hydrolysis. In the present study, we studied the effect of sub-critical water (Sub-$H_2O$, $300^{\circ}C$, 80 bar) treatment as well as super-critical water (Super-$H_2O$, $400^{\circ}C$, 280 bar) treatment on the physicochemical properties of porcine skin (PS), which has abundant collagen. Porcine skin was subjected to pre-thermal treatment by immersion in water at $70^{\circ}C$, and then treated with sub- or super-critical water. Physicochemical properties of the hydrolysates, such as molecular weight distribution, free amino acid content, amino acid profile, pH, color, and water content were determined. For the molecular weight distribution analysis, 1 kDa hydrolyzed porcine skin (H-PS) was produced by Super-$H_2O$ or Sub-$H_2O$ treatment. The free amino acid content was 57.18 mM and 30.13 mM after Sub-$H_2O$ and Super-$H_2O$ treatment, respectively. Determination of amino acid profile revealed that the content of Glu (22.5%) and Pro (30%) was higher after Super-$H_2O$ treatment than after Sub-$H_2O$ treatment, whereas the content of Gly (28%) and Ala (13.1%) was higher after Sub-$H_2O$ treatment. Super-$H_2O$ or Sub-$H_2O$ treatment affected the pH of PS, which changed from 7.29 (Raw) to 9.22 (after Sub-$H_2O$ treatment) and 9.49 (after Super-$H_2O$ treatment). Taken together, these results showed that Sub-$H_2O$ treatment was slightly more effective for hydrolysis than Super-$H_2O$ was. However, both Sub-$H_2O$ and Super-$H_2O$ treatments were effective processing methods for hydrolysis of PS collagen in a short time and can be regarded as a green chemistry technology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.966-974
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• 2015

Despite the presence of toll like receptor (TLR) expression in conventional $TCR{\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells, the direct role of TLR signaling via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) within T lymphocytes on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains unknown. In the allo-SCT model of C57BL/6 ($H-2^b$) ${\rightarrow}$ B6D2F1 ($H-2^{b/d}$), recipients received transplants of wild type (WT) T-cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) and splenic T cells from either WT or MyD88 deficient (MyD88KO) donors. Host-type ($H-2^d$) P815 mastocytoma or L1210 leukemia cells were injected either subcutaneously or intravenously to generate a GVHD/GVL model. Allogeneic recipients of MyD88KO T cells demonstrated a greater tumor growth without attenuation of GVHD severity. Moreover, GVHD-induced GVL effect, caused by increasing the conditioning intensity was also not observed in the recipients of MyD88KO T cells. In vitro, the absence of MyD88 in T cells resulted in defective cytolytic activity to tumor targets with reduced ability to produce IFN-${\gamma}$ or granzyme B, which are known to critical for the GVL effect. However, donor T cell expansion with effector and memory T-cell differentiation were more enhanced in GVHD hosts of MyD88KO T cells. Recipients of MyD88KO T cells experienced greater expansion of Foxp3- and IL4-expressing T cells with reduced INF-${\gamma}$ producing T cells in the spleen and tumor-draining lymph nodes early after transplantation. Taken together, these results highlight a differential role for MyD88 deficiency on donor T-cells, with decreased GVL effect without attenuation of the GVHD severity after experimental allo-SCT.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2016

Effects of environmental factors on the zoospore release and germling growth of Chaetomorpha linum were examined. Zoospore release and germling growth experiments were carried out under a combination of temperatures ${\times}$ irradiances, and a single factor of irradiances, salinities, daylength and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). Zoospore release was maximal under condition of $20^{\circ}C{\times}100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ in a factorial experiment (temperatures ${\times}$ irradiances), at $100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ in irradiance experiment and at 34 psu in salinity conditions. After 24 days in culture, germling growth was maximal at $25^{\circ}C{\times}100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ in temperatures ${\times}$ irradiances and at normal seawater (34 psu) in salinity. Germling growth is faster at higher irradiance under same temperature condition and it increased with increasing daylengths (8-16 h). Chaetomorpha linum grew in wide range of N and P concentrations. The growth of germling was maximal at $50{\mu}M\;{PO_4}^{3-}$ and $40{\mu}M\;{NH_4}^+$. Germling growth was more effective under nitrogen addition than phosphorus addition in culture. In conclusion, optimal environmental conditions for zoospore release were $20^{\circ}C$, $100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, and 34 psu. In addition, the optimal germling growth was observed at $25^{\circ}C$, $100{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, 34 psu, 16 h, $50{\mu}M\;({PO_4}^{3-})$ and $40{\mu}M\;{(NH_4}^+)$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess the whitening effects of an extract from Smilax china L., which is a vine shrub belonging to the lily family. With regard to the whitening effects, 70% ethanol and water extracts from Smilax china L. showed more than 77.6% and 40.2% tyrosinase inhibition at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}l$. Furthermore, the 70% ethanol extract showed cytotoxicity of 89% at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ in melanoma cells. Western blot showed that the inhibitory effect of the 70% ethanol extract on MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase protein expression decreased by 89.9%, 46.2%, 57.6%, and 55.8%, respectively, at a concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$. Moreover, reverse transcription-PCR showed that the inhibitory effect of the 70% ethanol extract on MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase mRNA expression decreased by 78.5%, 58.0%, 78.8%, and 70.8%, respectively, at the same concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. Further, realtime PCR showed that the 70% ethanol extract-induced decrease in MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase quantitative mRNA expression rate was concentration-dependent. The findings suggest that the extract from Smilax china L. has great potential as a cosmetic ingredient with whitening effects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.48-57
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• 2017

Background: Rounded shoulder posture (RSP), a postural abnormality, might cause shoulder pain and pathologic conditions. Although most previous research has investigated RSP focusing on the proximal structures of the shoulder, such as the scapula and pectoralis muscles, the relationship between RSP and anterior distal structures of the upper extremity, such as the biceps brachii muscle and elbow joint, is not clearly understood. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between RSP and the biceps brachii length, elbow joint angle (EJA), pectoralis minor length, general pectoralis major length, humeral head anterior translation (HHAT), glenohumeral internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), and horizontal adduction (HAD). Methods: Twelve subjects with RSP (6 male, 6 female) were recruited. All subjects fulfilled the RSP criteria indicated by a distance ${\geq}2.5cm$ from the posterior aspect of the acromion to the table in the supine position. The examiner measured each of the following parameters twice: RSP, biceps brachii length, EJA, pectoralis minor length, pectoralis major length, HHAT, glenohumeral IR, ER, and HAD. Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) was used to assess the correlation between RSP and all the variables. Results: There was a significant moderate positive correlation between RSP and biceps brachii length (r=.55, p=.032), moderate negative correlation between RSP and pectoralis minor length (r=-.62, p=.015), and moderate positive correlation between RSP and HHAT (r=.53, p=.038). Conclusion: The biceps brachii length, pectoralis minor length, and HHAT could be used to evaluate patients with RSP. Better understanding of the correlation between these factors and RSP could help in the development of effective methods to treat patients with this condition in clinical management.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2013

Mushrooms have a shorter shelf-life than most vegetables because of their very high respiration rates, sensitivity to enzymatic browning and susceptibility to microbial spoilage. This study was conducted to investigate effects of various packaging materials and precooling on the quality of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Mushrooms were precooled at $4^{\circ}C$ for three hours and packaged using the following packaging materials; 1) polyethylene (PE) film bags of 0.03 mm thickness, 2) polypropylene (PP) film bags of 0.03 mm thickness, and 3) polystyrene (PS) tray+polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wrapper. The physiological changes (weight loss, gas composition, color, firmness, and sensory evaluation) associated with postharvest deterioration were monitored for 17 days at $10^{\circ}C$. The results showed that the PP film bag maintained quality of mushrooms most effectively, especially PP film bags inhibited decreasing firmness. The samples also exhibited smaller decreases in weight loss rate (0.57%) and Hunter L value (84.44) than PS tray+PVC wrapper (7.73%, 82.19) and PE film bags (0.89%, 82.96). Sensory evaluation level in all samples remained relatively constant during the first 5 days of storage. However, PE film bags and PS tray+PVC wrapper showed lower score of flavor, texture and color than PP film bags after 8 days of storage. This study suggested that PP film bag packaging effectively extends shelf-life of mushrooms during storage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a stabilization treatment for As contaminated soil. A combination of hydrated lime, Portland cement, $FeCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$, and NaOH were used as stabilizing agents. The effectiveness of stabilization treatment was evaluated by the Korean Standard Test (KST) method (1N HCl extraction). Sequential extractions were performed to investigate the As distribution after treatment. Following the application of the treatment, curing periods of up to 7 and 28days were investigated. The experimental results showed that a combination of hydrated lime/Portland cement was more effective than treatments of hydrated lime or Portland cement at immobilizing As in the contaminated soil. The treatment of 25wt% hydrated lime and 5wt% Portland cement was effective in reducing As leachability less than the Korean warning standard of 20 mg/kg. However, the treatments of hydrated lime and Portland cement failed to meet the Korean warning standard even when up to 30 wt% was used. The treatment utilizing hydrated lime and $FeCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$ was not effective in properly reducing As leachability. The addition of $FeCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$ was negative in terms of pH condition. Moreover, the treatment with hydrated lime/NaOH was effective in reducing As leachability but not as much as hydrated lime/Portland cement. The sequential extraction results indicated that the residual phase was greatly increased upon the treatment of hydrated lime/Portland cement. It was concluded that the hydrated lime/Portland cement treatment was the best among the other combinations studied at achieving trace As concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed, first, to develop core strength training equipment with elderly-friendly, easy-to-use features and, second, to investigate the effect of core strength training using the equipment on the performance and stability of the elderly in activities of daily living. Method: In this study, we developed training equipment with a stability ball that can be used for performing core strength exercises in the elderly. Twenty-three elderly subjects (age: $77.87{\pm}6.95years$, height: $149.78{\pm}6.95cm$, and weight: $60.57{\pm}7.21kg$) participated in this study. The subjects performed the core strength training exercise with 16 repetitions for 8 weeks (2 repetitions per week). Performance in activities of daily living was assessed by using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), a test of going up and down 4 stairs, and one-leg static balance test. Stability was quantified as changes in the center of pressure (COP) and C90 area. Results: With the core strength equipment, trunk core strength exercise could be performed by pulling or pushing a rope with 2 hands on the stability ball. During the task, the tension in the rope was manipulated by a motor connected to the rope and the COP of the subject was measured by 4 load cells mounted in the equipment. Our results showed that the SPPB score was significantly higher (p < .05), the time to complete the "going up and down 4 stairs" test was significantly shorter (p < .05), and one-leg static balance statistically improved under an eyes-open condition (p < .05) after as compared with before the core strength training. The changes in the COP in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions, and C90 area were significantly lower in the posttest (p <. 05) than in the pretest. Conclusion: The core strength training exercise using the equipment developed in the present study improved the performance and stability of the elderly in activities of daily living.