• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2018

Morphological and molecular characteristics of spirometrid tapeworms, Spirometra decipiens, were studied, which were recovered from a heavily infected stray cat road-killed in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea). A total of 134 scolices and many broken immature and mature proglottids of Spirometra tapeworms were collected from the small intestine of the cat. Morphological observations were based on 116 specimens. The scolex was 22.8-32.6 mm (27.4 mm in average) in length and small spoon-shape with 2 distinct bothria. The uterus was coiled 3-4 times, the end of the uterus was ball-shaped, and the vaginal aperture shaped as a crescent moon was closer to the cirrus aperture than to the uterine aperture. PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the cox1 target fragment (377 bp in length and corresponding to positions 769-1,146 bp of the cox1 gene) were performed using total genomic DNA extracted from 134 specimens. The cox1 sequences (377 bp) of the specimens showed 99.0% similarity to the reference sequence of S. decipiens and 89.3% similarity to the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei. In the present study, we report a stray cat heavily infected with S. decipiens identified by mitochondrial cox1 sequence analysis and morphological examinations of the adult worms.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.1-15
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• 1999

In a case-control study to evaluate the factors involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, polymorphisms of the p53 gene were compared in 68 cases mostly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 68 controls matched for sex and age: DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism method and direct sequencing. Polymorphisms analyzed were those in exon 4 (CCC vs. CGC, Pro vs. Arg at codon 72, Al allele vs. A2 allele), intron 2 (C vs. G at nucleotide 38, Al vs. A2), intron 3 (C vs. A at nucleotide 65, Al vs. A2; absence and presence of 16 base pair repeat at nucleotides 24 to 39, Al vs. A2), intron 6 (A vs. G at nucleotide 62, Al vs. A2) and intron 7 (C and T vs. T and G at nucleotides 72 and 92, Al vs. A2). A significantly higher frequency of the allele for CCC (Pro, Al) at codon 72 of exon 4 was found in cases (39%) than in controls (26%) (p<0.05). Highly significant linkage of the polymorphisms in exon 4, intron 2, intron 3 and intron 7, and between the intron 3-16 bp duplication and polymorphism in intron 6 also was found. Matched Fair analysis showed significantly higher frequencies of certain haplotypes (1-1-1-1-2-2 or 1-1-2-1-2-1 for exon 4, intron 2, intron 3, the intron 3-16 bp duplication, intron 6 and intron 7) in cases than in controls (p=0.014, OR=2.27, 95% CI= 1.08-5.12). No preference of specific p53 polymorphisms for specific HCV genotype was detected. These findings suggest that in hepatocarcinogenesis mainly due to HCV infection, genetic factors may be involved and that genetic markers can serve as predictors of a high-risk group for hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.505-509
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• 2003

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by hyperuricemia, choreoathetosis, spasticity, mental retardation, and compulsive, self-injurious behavior. This disorder results from a complete deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase(HPRT). We report here on a case of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome in a 1-year, 7-month-old male who presented with frequent vomiting, failure to thrive, and developmental delay. The diagnostic work-up revealed hyperuricemia, hyperuricosuria, and medullary nephrolithiasis. The HPRT activity in the erythrocytes was undetectable with a biochemical assay. We also identified de novo mutation which was a deletion of the 649th base, adenosine, in HPRT gene(649delA) by analysis of cDNA using RT-PCR technique coupled with direct sequencing.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.551-556
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• 2005

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome(WAS) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency characterized by thrombocytopenia with small platelet volume, eczema, and recurrent infections, and is also characterized by increased incidence of auto immune diseases and malignancies. The phenotype observed in this syndrome is caused by mutation in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein(WASP) gene localized to the proximal short arm of the X chromosome and recently isolated through positional cloning. The gene encodes a 502 amino acid protein, which contains 12 exons and spans 9 kb of genomic DNA. The function of the encoded protein is not well understood. The clinical diagnosis of WAS can be difficult and is usually confirmed by the detection of WASP gene mutations and the expression of WSAP in patient blood sample using genetic analysis. We reported a case of a 13-month old boy with WAS who was identified with the novel mutation in exon 2 of WASP gene by direct sequencing and the complete absence of WASP expression by immunoblotting.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2005

연구목적: 단일 유전자 이상에 대한 착상전 유전진단을 성공적으로 시행하기 위해서는 효과적이고 신뢰도가 높은 PCR 방법의 확립이 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 alkaline lysis와 duplex nested PCR 방법을 단일 림프구와 할구의 유전자 분석에 적용하여 그 효용성을 확인하고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법: 단일 유전자의 이상이 확인된 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) 결핍증과 epidermolysis bullosa (EB) 가계의 대상자들에서 채취한 단일 림프구와 공여 받은 배아의 할구를 이용하여 각각 PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)와 direct DNA sequencing 분석을 시행하였다. 이러한 분석에서 유전자 증폭률 (amplification rate)과 두개의 allele 중에서 하나의 allele이 증폭되지 않는 allele drop-out (ADO) 빈도에 대해 살펴보았다. 결 과: 단일 림프구와 할구를 이용한 PCR 방법의 유전자 증폭률은 DMD에서 91.1%와 81.8%, OTC 결핍증에서 96.0%와 78.1%, EB에서 91.3%와 90.0%를 각각 나타냈으며, ADO 빈도는 OTC 결핍증에서 13.3%, EB에서 16.8%로 관찰되었다. 결 론: 본 연구에서 적용한 alkaline lysis와 duplex nested PCR 방법은 단일 유전자에 대한 착상전 유전진단에 성공적으로 적용할 수 있는 방법으로 생각되며, ADO 빈도를 최소화할 수 있는 효율적인 방법의 개발에 대한 지속적인 연구가 필요하다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.10009-10013
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• 2014

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been a subject of extensive pharmacogenetic research recently. Association studies between different types of cancers including prostate cancer (PCa) and VDR gene polymorphism have also been conducted. The objective of this study was to find possible associations between PCa and VDR gene polymorphisms in the Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: A total of 162 subjects, including prostate cancer patients and controls, were genotyped for Apa I, Taq I and Fok I polymorphisms in the VDR gene using allele specific PCR, PCR-RFLP and direct DNA sequencing. Allelic frequencies were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and associations between the genetic markers and PCa were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Apa I CC genotype was found to have strongest association with PCa risk, and "A" genotype was found to have protective effect. Fok I and Taq I did not have appreciable levels of association with PCa, although Taq I "TC" heterozygotes seemed to have some protective effect. Similarly the "C" allele of Fok I also seemed to have protective effect. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report showing association between VDR gene polymorphisms and PCa in Pakistan. Our findings may be somewhat skewed because of small sample size and tendency of consanguineous marriages in Pakistani society; nevertheless, it shows the trend of association and protective effects of certain VDR gene polymorphisms against PCa.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10387-10391
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to identify any association between the p73 gene G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism and risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the south of China. Materials and Methods: We genotyped the p73 gene polymorphism of peripheral blood DNA from 168 patients with NSCLC and 195 normal controls using HRM (high resolution melting) and PCR-CTPP (polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers). Results: The results of genotyping by HRM and PCR-CTPP were consistent with direct sequencing, the p73 genotype distribution in 168 lung cancer patients being as follows: GC/GC 101 cases (60.1%), GC/AT 59 cases (35.1%), AT/AT 8 cases (4.8%). The carriers of AT/AT genotype had a significantly reduced risk of NSCLC (OR=0.370; 95%CI: 0.170-0.806; p=0.010) as compared with non-carriers. However, we found no relations between p73 genotypes and histological type (p=0.798, $x^2=0.452$), tumor stage (p=0.806, $x^2=0.806$), or lymph node metastasis (p=0.578, $x^2=1.098$). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism may be a modifier of NSCLC susceptibility in the Chinese population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4589-4592
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• 2015

Background: Missense and frame-shift mutations within the dimer forming domain of the caspase 8 gene have been identified in several cancers. However, the genetic status of this region in precancerous lesions, like oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), and well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) in patients from southern region of India is not known, and hence the present study was designed to address this issue. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA isolated from biopsy tissues of thirty one oral submucous fibrosis and twenty five OSCC samples were subjected to PCR amplification with intronic primers flanking exon 7 of the caspase 8 gene. The PCR amplicons were subsequently subjected to direct sequencing to elucidate the status of mutation. Results: Sequence analysis identified a frame-shift and a novel missense mutation in two out of twenty five OSCC samples. The frame-shift mutation was due to a two base pair deletion (c.1225_1226delTG), while the missense mutation was due to substitution of wild type cysteine residue with phenylalanine at codon 426 (C426F). The missense mutation, however, was found to be heterozygous as the wild type C426C codon was also present. None of the OSMF samples carried mutations. Conclusions: The identification of mutations in OSCC lesions but not OSMF suggests that dimer forming domain mutations in caspase 8 may be limited to malignant lesions. The absence of mutations in OSMF also suggests that the samples analyzed in the present study may not have acquired transforming potential. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to have explored and identified frame-shift and novel missense mutations in OSCC tissue samples.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the beef cattle adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein 3 and 4 (FABP3 and FABP4) genes are associated with carcass weight (CW) and back fat thickness (BF) of beef cattle. By direct DNA sequencing in 24 unrelated Korean native cattle, we identified 20 SNPs in FABP3 and FABP4. Among them, 10 polymorphic sites were selected for genotyping in our beef cattle. We performed SNP, haplotype and linkage disequilibrium studies on 419 Korean native cattle with the 10 SNPs in the FABP genes. Statistical analysis revealed that 220A>G (I74V) and 348+303T>C polymorphisms in FABP4 showed putative associations with BF traits (P=0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Our findings suggest that the polymorphisms in FABP4 may play a role in determining one of the important genetic factors that influence BF in beef cattle.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 1997

The mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is inherited maternally, in which the MTTL1*MELAS 3243 mutation has been most commonly found as a heteroplasmy of A to G point mutation in the $tRNA^{Leu(UUR)}$ gene. The MTTL1*MELAS 3271 mutation is known to be the second common mutation, though clinical features of both mutations are not remarkably different. Recently, a variety of minor mutations have been reported in patients with MELAS. In this study, major efforts have been made to investigate the allele frequency of major three mutations including MTTL1*MELAS 3243, 3252, 3271 in 10 Korean families with MELAS probands. The PCR and subsequent direct sequencing of the PCR product in the regions spanning these three mutation sites were employed to identify the mutation in each proband. All family members have been screened for the presence of these three mutations by PCR-RFLP assay using Apa I, Acc I and Bfr I restriction enzymes. The MTTL1*MELAS 3243 mutation was most commonly found (7 out of 10 families tested) followed by the MTTL1*MELAS 3271 which was identified in 1 out of 10 families. In the remaining 2 families none of three mutations were found, indicating the presence of either nuclear mutation or yet unidentified mitochondrial DNA mutation in these families.