• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2016

Objective: To study the clinical outcomes of single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles according to the hatching status of frozen-thawed blastocysts. Methods: Frozen-thawed blastocysts were divided into three groups according to their hatching status as follows: less-than-expanded blastocyst (${\leq}EdB$), hatching blastocyst (HgB), and hatched blastocyst (HdB). The female age and infertility factors of each group were evaluated. The quality of the single frozen-thawed blastocyst was also graded as grade A, tightly packed inner cell mass (ICM) and many cells organized in the trophectoderm epithelium (TE); grade B, several and loose ICM and TE; and grade C, very few ICM and a few cells in the TE. The clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were compared between each group. The data were analyzed by either t-test or chi-square analysis. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in average female ages, infertility factors, or the distribution of blastocyst grades A, B, and C in each group. There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate of each group according to their blastocyst grade. However, there was a significant difference in the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate between each group. In the HdB group, the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were similar regardless of the blastocyst quality. Conclusion: There was an effect on the clinical outcomes depending on whether the blastocyst hatched during single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer. When performing single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer, the hatching status of the frozen-thawed blastocyst may be a more important parameter for clinical outcomes than the quality of the frozen-thawed blastocyst.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3243-3248
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• 2013

The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) inhibits matrix metalloproteinases activity and modulates cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The human serum albumin-TIMP-2 with folic acid conjugate (termed HT2-folate) was synthesized to promote uptake through folate receptors (FRs), and a corresponding radio-labeled compound was prepared for tumor diagnosis by positron emission tomography (PET). $^{68}Ga$-NOTA-HT2-folate was synthesized from $^{68}Ga$ and the NOTA chelator with HT2-folate. The fusion protein was identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The radioligand was prepared with a high radiochemical yield. Cell-surface association of $^{68}Ga$-NOTA-HT2-folate significantly increased over time in FR-positive tumor cells. In animal PET and biodistribution studies, tumor uptake was very high as early as 1 h after radioligand injection. Folate conjugation enhanced the selective receptor-targeting efficacy of HT2 in FRexpressing tumors, and its radioligand will be useful as an in vitro tool and for in vivo tumor diagnosis by PET imaging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.334-343
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• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

We herein report an analysis of a female baby with a de novo dup(10p)/del(10q) chromosomal aberration. A prenatal cytogenetic analysis was performed owing to abnormal ultrasound findings including a choroid plexus cyst, prominent cisterna magna, and a slightly medially displaced stomach. The fetal karyotype showed additional material attached to the terminal region of chromosome 10q. Parental karyotypes were both normal. At birth, the baby showed hypotonia, upslanting palpebral fissures, a nodular back mass, respiratory distress, neonatal jaundice and a suspicious polycystic kidney. We ascertained that the karyotype of the baby was 46,XX,der(10)($pter{\rightarrow}q26.3::p11.2{\rightarrow}pter$) by cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analyses including high resolution GTG-and RBG-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization, comparative genomic hybridization, and short tandem repeat marker analyses. While almost all reported cases of 10p duplication originated from one of the parents with a pericentric inversion, our case is extraordinarily rare as the de novo dup(10p)/del(10q) presumably originated from a rearrangement at the premeiotic stage of the parental germ cell or from parental germline mosaicism.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.326-334
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• 2010

In this study, characterization and performance of membrane humidifier using membrane distillation was evaluated for moisture of fuel gas in the PEMFC. The data were expressed dew point. The best results show $51.19^{\circ}C$ at $60^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, $54.22^{\circ}C$ at 900 mL/min and $60.03^{\circ}C$ at 100 strands. The mass transfer modelling of membrane humidifier were able to predict humidification of fuel gases for operating PEMFC. When the membrane humidifier was applied to the 100 W stack, it showed stable voltage and power. The volume of membrane humidifier was small however, showed better performance than bubble humidifier.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2006

The photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum S1, when grown under anaerobic conditions, generated three different types of catalases. In this study, we purified and characterized the highest molecular weight catalase from the three catalases. The total specific catalase activity of the crude cell extracts was 88 U/mg. After the completion of the final purification step, the specific activity of the purified catalase was 1,256 U/mg. The purified catalase evidenced an estimated molecular mass of 318 kDa, consisting of four identical subunits, each of 79 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited an apparent Km value of 30.4 mM and a Vmax of 2,564 U against hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme also exhibited a broad optimal pH $(5.0{\sim}9.0)$, and remained stable over a broad temperature range $(20^{\circ}C{\sim}60^{\circ}C)$. It maintained 90% activity against organic solvents (ethanol/chloroform) known hydroperoxidase inhibitors, and exhibited no detectable peroxidase activity. The catalase activity of the purified enzyme was reduced to 19 % of full activity as the result of the administration of 10 mM 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, a heme-containing catalase inhibitor. Sodium cyanide, sodium azide, and hydroxylamine, all of which are known heme protein inhibitors, inhibited catalase activity by 50 % at concentrations of $11.5{\mu}M,\;0.52{\mu}M,\;and\;0.11{\mu}M$, respectively. In accordance with these findings, the enzyme was identified as a type of monofunctional catalase.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2012

Mass production-capable $Li_2MnSiO_4$ powder was synthesized for use as cathode material in state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are main powder sources for high tech-end digital electronic equipments and electric vehicles in the near future and they must possess high specific capacity and durable charge-discharge characteristics. Amorphous silicone was quite superior to crystalline one as starting material to fabricate silicone oxide with high reactivity between precursors of sol-gel type reaction intermediates. The amorphous silicone starting material also has beneficial effect of efficiently controlling secondary phases, most notably $Li_xSiO_x$. Lastly, carbon was coated on $Li_2MnSiO_4$ powders by using sucrose to afford some improved electrical conductivity. The carbon-coated $Li_2MnSiO_4$ cathode material was further characterized using SEM, XRD, and galvanostatic charge/discharge test method for morphological and electrochemical examinations. Coin cell was subject to 1.5-4.8 V at C/20, where 74 mAh/g was observed during primary discharge cycle.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 1999

An adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase (AMP aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6) was purified to homogeneity from the cell-free extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DKCTC7248. The molecular mass of subunit was estimated to be 80 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and that of the holoenzyme was shown to be 240 kDa by gel filtration. The isoelectric point of the enzyme (AMP deaminase D) was determined to be 6.2. The AMP deaminase D was specific towards AMP with an apparent $K_m$ value of 4.1 mM and a Hill coefficient, $n_H$, of 2.2. Both ATP and ADP were positive allosteric effectors of the AMP deaminase D: The apparent $K_{m}$ was decreased to 1.6 mM and 3.3 mM in the presence of 0.1 mM ATP and ADP, respectively, lowering $n_{H}$ to 1.0. Univalent cations like $K^+, Na^+ and Li^ +$ activated the enzyme but some divalent cations such as $Cu^{ 2+} and Cd^{2+}$ showed strong inhibitory effects. This enzyme displayed optimum activity at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0. In addition, it was stable up to $45^{\circ}C$ and over a wide pH range(pH 5.5-9.0). Amino acid sequences of its N-terminal region were analyzed to be ADYKMQMFADDA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.474-481
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• 1996

Since the commercially available rabbit anti-cyclin D3, generated from c-terminal 16 amino acid residues which are common to human and murine cyclin D3, is highly cross-reactive with many other cellular proteins of mouse, a new rabbit polyclonal anti-cyclin D3 has been raised by using murine cyclin D3 protein expressed at a high level in Escherichia coli as the immunogen. To express murine cyclin D3 protein in E. coli, the cyclin D3 cDNA fragment encoding c-terminal 236 amino acid residues obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was inserted into the NcoI/BamHI site of protein expression vector, pET 3d. Molecular mass of the cyclin D3 overexpressed in the presence of IPTG (Isopropyl $\beta$-D-thiogalactopyranoside) was approximately 26 kDa as calculated from the reading frame on the DNA sequence, and the protein was insoluble and mainly localized in the inclusion bodies that could be easily purified from the other cellular soluble proteins. When renaturation was performed following denaturation of the insoluble cyclin D3 protein in the inclusion bodies using guanidine hydrochloride, 4.4 mg of soluble form of cyclin D3 protein was produced from the transformant cultured in 100ml of LB media under the optimum conditions. Four-hundred micrograms of the soluble form of cyclin D3 protein was used for each immunization of a rabbit. When the antiserum obtained 2 weeks after tertiary immunization was applied to Western blot analysis, it was able to detect 33 kDa cyclin D3 protein in both murine lymphoma cell line BW5147.G.1.4 and human Jurkat T cells at 3,000-fold dilution with higher specificity to murine cyclin D3, demonstrating that the new rabbit polyclonal anti-murine cyclin D3 generated against c-terminal 236 amino acid residues more specifically recognizes murine cyclin D3 protein than does the commercially available rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against c-terminal 16 amino acids residues.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.713-722
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• 2000

This study analysed error of measurement and reproducibility for particle size analysis by the laser diffraction spectrometer. Laser diffraction spectrometers has become a very important method of particle size analysis. This measuring method has the advantage of simple operation, good reproducibility and rapid analysis. A feeding and dispersing system have been developed, which allows mass throughputs between 0.1~23 g/min in flowing air and 1.4~35% in flowing liquid. It has been used as a feeder unit for wet and dry particle size analysis from diffraction patterns. Relevant parameters, such as particle shape, particle size, dispersion, flow rate, concentration were analysed for measuring error. And system parameters of instruments for measurement of dynamic processes, eg, measuring time, focal plane, injection pressure drop and dispersion effect by the ultrasonic and mixing of preliminary treatment, were also discussed.