• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.205-208
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• 2004

Neutrophils are important effector cells against protozoan extracellular parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic colitis and liver abscess in human beings. Apoptotic cell death of neutrophils is an important event in the resolution of inflammation and parasite's survival in vivo. This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural aspects of apoptotic cells during neutrophil death triggered by Entamoeba histolytica. Isolated human neutrophils from the peripheral blood were incubated with or without live trophozoites of E. histolytica and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Neutrophils incubated with E. histolytica were observed to show apoptotic characteristics, such as compaction of the nuclear chromatin and swelling of the nuclear envelop. In contrast, neutrophils incubated in the absence of the amoeba had many protrusions of irregular cell surfaces and heterogenous nuclear chromatin. Therefore, it is suggested that Entamoeba-induced neutrophil apoptosis contribute to prevent unwanted tissue inflammation and damage in the amoeba-invaded lesions in vivo.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1629-1637
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• 2007

An immunochromatography (ICG) strip test using a nanocolloidal gold-antibody probe was developed and optimized for the rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A monoclonal antibody specific to AFB1 was produced from the cloned hybridoma cell (AF78), coupled with nanocolloidal gold, and distributed on the conjugate pad of the ICG strip test. The visual detection limit of the ICG strip test was 0.5 ng/ml, and this method showed a cross-reaction to aflatoxin B2, G1, and G2. In total, 172 grain and feed samples were collected and analyzed by both the ICG strip test and HPLC. The results of the ICG strip test showed a good agreement with those obtained by HPLC. These results indicated that the ICG strip test has a potential use as a rapid and cost-effective screening tool for the determination of AFB1 in real samples and could be applied to the preliminary screening of mycotoxin in food and agricultural products, generating results within 15 min without complicated steps.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2011

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease due to infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and it can cause serious consequences for women's health. To study the virulence factors of this pathogen, T. vaginalis surface proteins were investigated using polyclonal antibodies specific to the membrane fractions of T. vaginalis. The T. vaginalis expression library was constructed by cloning the cDNA derived from mRNA of T. vaginalis into a phage ${\lambda}$ Uni-ZAP XR vector, and then used for immunoscreening with the anti-membrane proteins of T. vaginalis antibodies. The immunoreactive proteins identified included adhesion protein AP65-1, ${\alpha$-actinin, kinesin-associated protein, teneurin, and 2 independent hypothetical proteins. Immunofluorescence assays showed that AP65-1, one of the identified immunogenic clones, is prevalent in the whole body of T. vaginalis. This study led us to identify T. vaginalis proteins which may stimulate immune responses by human cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2023

Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic liver damage and results in the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix during disease progression. Despite the identification of the HAT enzyme p300 as a major factor for liver fibrosis, the development of therapeutic agents targeting the regulation of p300 has not been reported. We validated a novel p300 inhibitor (A6) on the improvement of liver fibrosis using two mouse models, mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet and thioacetamide-treated mice. We demonstrated that pathological hall-marks of liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by A6 treatment through Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining on liver tissue and found that A6 treatment reduced the expression of matricellular protein genes. We further showed that A6 treatment improved liver fibrosis by reducing the stability of p300 protein via disruption of p300 binding to AKT. Our findings suggest that targeting p300 through the specific inhibitor A6 has potential as a major therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2009

Silibinin is a polyphenolic flavonoid compound isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), with known hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant effects. Herein, we show that silibinin inhibits receptor activator of $NF-{\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis from RAW264.7 cells as well as from bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage cells in a dose-dependent manner. Silibinin has no effect on the expression of RANKL or the soluble RANKL decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) in osteoblasts. However, we demonstrate that silibinin can block the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in osteoclast precursors in response to RANKL. Furthermore, silibinin attenuates the induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR) expression during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. We demonstrate that silibinin can inhibit $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced osteoclastogenesis as well as the expression of NFATc1 and OSCAR. Taken together, our results indicate that silibinin has the potential to inhibit osteoclast formation by attenuating the downstream signaling cascades associated with RANKL and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.623-630
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• 2008

A non-instrumental immunochromatographic (ICG) strip-test and direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DC-ELISA) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) determination were developed and optimized. The detection limits of ICG strip-test and DC-ELISA were 0.5 and 0.004 ng/mL, respectively, and these methods possessed a cross-reaction to aflatoxins. The results of spiked samples by both methods were coincided with the amount spiked AFB1 and the comparative analyses of 172 real samples by 2 immunoassays and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed a good agreement. Especially, the ICG strip-test is easier to perform and quicker, but less sensitivity than DC-ELISA. Both methods could analyze a high sample throughput with short time, but the sample throughput of ICG strip-test was better. Therefore, the ICG strip-test can be used as a simple, easy, non-instrumental, and fast screening technique for AFB1 determination.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2010

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate relapse, comparing large and small maxillary advancements with four-plate rigid fixation and without bone grafting. All patients had skeletal class III malocclusion, and underwent bimaxillary surgery. Standardized cephalometric analysis by one examiner was performed on serial radiographs of 14 patients immediately before surgery, and within 1 week and at least 6 months postoperatively (mean 10 months). The group was divided into two subsets to determine whether the magnitude of relapse. In group 1 ($\leq$ 5 mm, n = 8), the average advancement was $4.0{\pm}0.9\;mm$, with a mean relapse of $0.1{\pm}0.5\;mm$. In group 2 (6-8 mm, n = 4), the average advancement was $6.8{\pm}0.9\;mm$, with a mean relapse of $0.7{\pm}0.4\;mm$. There was no statistical difference in the measured relapse among the groups. Maxillary advancement with a 1-piece Le Fort I osteotomy is a relatively stable procedure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.344-344
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• 2013

칩의 크기가 감소함에 따라 RC (Resistance, Capacitance) 지연, 전력소비증가 및 신호잡음 등이 문제가 되어왔다. RC지연 문제는 배선에 알루미늄 보다 비저항이 낮은 구리를 사용하고 절연막으로 유전상수가 낮은 물질을 사용하여 개선될 수 있다. 이와 같은 맥락에서 점차 저유전상수 박막의 필요성은 증가하고 있다. 그러므로 이를 개선하기 위해 저 유전상수 값을 가지는 물질을 개발 혹은, UV나 플라즈마 그리고 열을 이용하여 처리하는 연구가 절실히 요구되고 있으며, 현재 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 이 논문에서 저유전박막은 HDP-CVD (High Density Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition) 시스템에서 (CyOz)-SiHx와 O2의 비율을 각각 변화시키면서 증착 되었다. (CyOz)-SiHx와 O2의 비율은 60/150, 60/180, 60/210, 60/240로 증가하면서 증착하였다. 그리고 surface profilometer을 이용하여 박막의 증착율을 측정하고 LCR meter를 이용하여 정전용량을 측정하여 유전상수 값을 얻었다. 박막의 화학적 조성과 구조는 FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy)로 측정하였다. 박막의 유동 특성은 SEM (Scanning electron microscope) 이미지로 살펴보았다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1167-1175
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• 2013

Paratuberculosis (PTB) or Johne's disease is one of the most serious chronic debilitating diseases of ruminants worldwide that is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). MAP is a slow-growing bacterium that has very long latent periods, resulting in difficulties in diagnosing and controlling the disease, especially regarding the diagnosis of fecal shedders of MAP without any clinical signs. Based on this situation, attempts were made to identify biomarkers that show early responses to MAP infection in a macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. In response to the infection with the bacterium, a lot of genes were turned on and/or off in the cells. Of the altered genes, three different categories were identified based on the time-dependent gene expression patterns. Those genes were considered as possible candidates for biomarkers of MAP infection after confirmation by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt at discovering the host transcriptomic biomarkers of PTB, although further investigation will be required to determine whether these biomarker candidates are associated within the natural host.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2005

Grp78, discovered as one of the putative target genes of Hoxc8, is a highly conserved stress protein and functions as a molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In order to see the stage-specific expression pattern of Grp78 during development, mouse embryos from day 7.5 to 17.5 p.c. were isolated, and RT-PCR as well as in situ hybridization was performed. When RT-PCR was performed using Grp78 specific primers, periodic expression pattern was detected. And also a region-specific expression pattern was detected with a strong expression in the trunk part of day 11.5 p.c. embryo, like that of Hoxc8. When in situ hybridization was performed, Grp78 was revealed to be expressed in the endoderm, somite, neuroepithelium cells of neural tube in early embryos. In the case of late embryos, Grp78 expression was detected in the liver, segmental bronchus within cranial lobe of lung, ossification center within the cartilage primordium of rib and vertebra, submandibular gland, as well as metanephros. These expression patterns are very much similar to those of Hoxc8. Since Hoxc8 has been reported to regulate apoptosis during organogenesis, it might be possible that the apoptotic function could have been conveyed through the expression of Grp78, implying that the Grp78 is one of the Hoxc8 downstream target genes.