• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7621-7628
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• 2013

Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) status is an important prognostic factor in breast cancer. There is no globally accepted method for determining its status, and which method is most precise is still a matter of debate. We here analyzed HER2 mRNA expression by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and HER2 DNA amplification using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). In parallel, we performed a routine evaluation of HER2 protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC). To assess the accuracy of the RT-PCR and MLPA techniques, a combination of IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used, substituting FISH when the results of IHC were ambiguous (2+) and for those IHC results that disagreed with MLPA and qRT-PCR, this approach being termed IHC-FISH. The IHC results for four samples were not compatible with the MLPA and qRT-PCR results; the MLPA and qRT-PCR results for these samples were confirmed by FISH. The correlations between IHC-FISH and qRT-PCR or MLPA were 0.945 and 0.973, respectively. The ASCO/CAP guideline IHC/FISH correlation with MLPA was (0.827) and with RT-PCR was (0.854). The correlations between the IHC results (0, 1+ as negative, and 3+ as positive) and qRT-PCR and MLPA techniques were 0.743 and 0.831, respectively. Given the shortcomings of IHC analysis and greater correlations between MLPA, qRT-PCR, and FISH methods than IHC analysis alone with each of these three methods, we propose that MLPA and real-time PCR are good alternatives to IHC. However a suitable cut-off point for qRTPCR is a prerequisite for determining the exact status of HER2.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.640-647
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• 2016

By minimizing fluorescence interference phenomena, aequorin-based luminescence technology can provide a relatively sensitive detection platform with integration of $G{\alpha}16$ protein in order to track internal calcium mobilization by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In this type of cell-based functional assay format, it is essential to optimize the transfection process of a receptor and $G{\alpha}16$ protein. For this study, corticotropin releasing factor receptor subtype 2(CRF2) was set as a model system to generate three stable cells with CRF2 and $G{\alpha}16$ in addition to transiently transfected cells under three different conditions. Agonist (sauvagine) and antagonist (K41498) responses in those cells were analyzed to develop the optimum transfection process. As a result, the effective signal ratio in the dose response experiments of sauvagine and K41498 were at least 10-fold higher (z'=0.77) in CRF2-$G{\alpha}16$ stable cells. For the transient transfection cells, stable expression of $G{\alpha}16$ prior to the CRF2 represented a two-fold higher signal (z'=0.84) than the other cases of transient transfection. In conclusion, for the utilization of transient transfection processes to develop a cell-based GPCR functional assay system, it is suggested to introduce various target receptors after stable expression of $G{\alpha}16$ protein.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.780-803
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• 2003

Exposure of skin cells, particularly keratinocytes to various nuclear factor-kappaB ($\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$) activators [e.g. tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin-1, lipopolysaccharides, and ultraviolet light] leads to phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitory protein, $\textrm{I}_{{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$. Liberated $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ is translocated into the nucleus where it can change or alter expression of target genes, resulting in the secretion of extracellular signaling molecules including melanotrophic factors affecting melanocyte. In order to demonstrate the possible role of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation on the synthesis of melanotrophic factors from the keratinocytes, the activities of $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ induced by melanogenic inhibitors (MIs) were determined in human HaCaT keratinocytes transfected with $\textrm{pNF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$-SEAP-NPT plasmid. Transfectant cells released the secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a transcription reporter in response to the $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activity and contain the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT) gene for the dominant selection marker for geneticin resistance. MIs such as niacinamide, kojic acid, hydroquinone, resorcinol, arbutin, and glycolic acid were preincubated with transfectant HaCaT cells for 3 h and then ultraviolet B (UVB) was irradiated. $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation was measured with the SEAP reporter gene assay using a fluorescence detection method. Of the Mis tested, kojic acid ($IC_{50}$/ = 60 $\mu$M) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of UVB-upregulating $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ activation in transfectant HaCaT cells, which is followed by niacinamide ($IC_{50}$/= 540 $\mu$M). Pretreatment of the transfectant HaCaT cells with the Mis, especially kojic acid and niacinamide, effectively lowered $\textrm{NF}_{-{\kappa}}\textrm{B}$ binding measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, these two inhibitors remarkably reduced the secretion level of IL-6, one of melanotrophic factors, triggered by UV-radiation of the HaCaT cells. These observations suggest that Mis working at the in vivo level might act partially through the modulation of the synthesis of melanotrophic factors in keratinocyte.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.385-395
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the residue level of fluoroquinolones in hen's general eggs and specific eggs by microbiological assay method and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. HPLC separation was carried out by reversed phase chromatography on a Symmetry $C_{18}$ (250${\times}$4.6 mm, $5{\mu}m$ particle size) with a phase composed of distilled water (containing 0.4% triethylamine and phosphoric acid) : Methanol (780 : 220, v/v), pumped isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0ml/min. A fluorescence detector was utilized with an excitation wavelength of 278nm and an emission wavelength of 456nm. The calibration curves were linear $({\gamma}^2{\geq}0.999)$ over a concentration range of $0.025{\sim}0.4{\mu}g/ml$. Average recoveries of the five fluoroquinolones in whole eggs at fortified levels of $0.05{\sim}0.2{\mu}g/g$ were ranged mean $78.1{\sim}91.7%$ and low coefficient of variation was less than 10% for all analysed samples. The limits of detection and limits of quantification for whole eggs were $1.2{\sim}6.0ng/g$ and $2.3{\sim}9.1ng/g$, respectively. Only one hen's general eggfrom chicken farm in Incheon was detected with the residual fluoroquinolones (Microbiological assay method; 1 of 47 general eggs) ; the range of residual concentration enrofloxacin was 0.12ppm. Those in food stores were detected with the residual fluoroquinolones (Microbiological assay method; 4 of 88 general eggs) ; the ranges of residual concentration enrofloxacin were $0.15{\sim}2.2 ppm$, ciprofloxacin $0.01{\sim}0.06ppm$, and hen's specific eggs (40) in food stores were not detected. For the microbiological assay method of fluoroquinolones in hen's eggs, as the results of comparative analysis, the disc diffusion method with E coli may be a little highly detected for the residual fluoroquinolones.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2018

Climate change is believed to increase the amount of dissolved organic matter in surface water, as a result of the release of bulk organic matter, which make difficult to achieve a high quality of drinking water via conventional water treatment techniques. Therefore, the natural water treatment techniques, such as managed aquifer recharge (MAR), can be proposed as a alternative method to improve water quality greatly. Removal of bulk organic matter using managed aquifer recharge system is mainly achieved by biodegradation. Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) can be used as water quality indicators for biological stability of drinking water. In this study, we compared the change of BDOC and AOC with respect to pretreatment methods (i.e., ozone or peroxone). The oxidative pretreatment can transform the recalcitrant organic matter into readily biodegradable one (i.e., BDOC and AOC). We also investigated the differences of organic matter characteristics between BDOC and AOC. We observed the decreases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the tryptophan-like fluorescence intensities. Liquid chromatographic - organic carbon detection (LC-OCD) analysis also showed the reduction of the low molecular weight (LMW) fraction (15% removed, less than 500 Da), which is known to be easily biodegradable, and the biopolymers, high molecular weight fractions (66%). Therefore, BDOC consists of a broad range of organic matter characteristics with respect to molecular weight. In AOC, low molecular weight organic matter and biopolymers fraction was reduced by 11 and 6%, respectively. It confirmed that biodegradation by microorganisms as the main removal mechanism in AOC, while BDOC has biodegradation by microorganism as well as the sorption effects from the sand. $O_3$ and $O_3+H_2O_2$ were compared with respect to biological stability and dissolved organic matter characteristics. BDOC and AOC were determined to be about 1.9 times for $O_3$ and about 1.4 times for $O_3+H_2O_2$. It was confirmed that $O_3$ enhanced the biodegradability by increasing LMW dissolved organic matter.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.61-86
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• 2001

All cancers are caused by abnormalities in DNA sequence. Throughout life, the DNA in human cells is exposed to mutagens and suffers mistakes in replication, resulting in progressive, subtle changes in the DNA sequence in each cell. Since the development of conventional and molecular cytogenetic methods to the analysis of chromosomal aberrations in cancers, more than 1,800 recurring chromosomal breakpoints have been identified. These breakpoints and regions of nonrandom copy number changes typically point to the location of genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. With the introduction of molecular cytogenetic methodologies based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), namely, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and multicolor FISH (m-FISH) in carcinomas become susceptible to analysis. Conventional CGH has been widely applied for the detection of genomic imbalances in tumor cells, and used normal metaphase chromosomes as targets for the mapping of copy number changes. However, this limits the mapping of such imbalances to the resolution limit of metaphase chromosomes (usually 10 to 20 Mb). Efforts to increase this resolution have led to the "new"concept of genomic DNA chip (1 to 2 Mb), whereby the chromosomal target is replaced with cloned DNA immobilized on such as glass slides. The resulting resolution then depends on the size of the immobilized DNA fragments. We have completed the first draft of its Korean Genome Project. The project proceeded by end sequencing inserts from a library of 96,768 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) containing genomic DNA fragments from Korean ethnicity. The sequenced BAC ends were then compared to the Human Genome Project′s publicly available sequence database and aligned according to known cancer gene sequences. These BAC clones were biotinylated by nick translation, hybridized to cytogenetic preparations of metaphase cells, and detected with fluorescein-conjugated avidin. Only locations of unique or low-copy Portions of the clone are identified, because high-copy interspersed repetitive sequences in the probe were suppressed by the addition of unlabelled Cotl DNA. Banding patterns were produced using DAPI. By this means, every BAC fragment has been matched to its appropriate chromosomal location. We have placed 86 (156 BAC clones) cytogenetically defined landmarks to help with the characterization of known cancer genes. Microarray techniques would be applied in CGH by replacement of metaphase chromosome to arrayed BAC confirming in oncogene and tumor suppressor gene: and an array BAC clones from the collection is used to perform a genome-wide scan for segmental aneuploidy by array-CGH. Therefore, the genomic DNA chip (arrayed BAC) will be undoubtedly provide accurate diagnosis of deletions, duplication, insertions and rearrangements of genomic material related to various human phenotypes, including neoplasias. And our tumor markers based on genetic abnormalities of cancer would be identified and contribute to the screening of the stage of cancers and/or hereditary diseases

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2018

This study was carried out to identify medicinal mushrooms with protective effects against oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cell line, followed by evaluation of their antioxidant property. Extracts of medicinal mushrooms, including Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), antler-shaped Ganoderma lingzhi extract (AGLE), Hericium erinaceus extract (HEE), and Sanghuangporus baumii extract (SBE), were screened for cytotoxicity using MTT assay. None of the extracts up to $10{\mu}g/ml$ concentration affected cell viability. These extracts were further checked for their protective effect against oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Exposure to $50{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ induced ROS generation in PC12 cells, which was inhibited only by treatment with AGLE. In addition, inhibition of $H_2O_2-induced$ ROS generation by AGLE was found to be in a dose-dependent manner (2.5, 5, and $10{\mu}g/ml$). Microscopic examination of DCF fluorescence for detection of ROS showed a similar pattern. Further, antioxidant activity of AGLE was determined by ABTS radical cation assay, and its $IC_{50}$ was found to be $46.90{\pm}0.31{\mu}g/ml$. Taken together, these results suggest that AGLE may help to alleviate oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cells.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.108-115
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• 2015

Vinca alkaloid compounds including vincamine from Vinca minor L. have been extracted by ethanol and hot water extraction methods. Antimicrobial properties of those extracts have been investigated against dandruff causing microorganism Malassezia furfur, yeast, Gram positive and negative bacteria. Vincamine standard and ethanol extract showed no sign of antimicrobial activity, whereas hot-water extract had the activity against M. furfur. Furthermore hot water extract had antimicrobial activity against Gram positive Bacillus sp. and Gram negative Escherichia coli. Cytotoxic properties of those extracts have also been investigated with HaCaT cell (human keratinocyte), HT-29 cell (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell) and Raw cell, showing no significant cytotoxic effects. We also measured the ROS using dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), a popular fluorescence-based probe for reactive oxygen species detection. The result showed the increasement of reactive oxygen species formation (20%) in HaCaT and HT-29 cell lines.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2012

We tested for pesticide residues in 124 samples of 22 different items of imported fruits circulated in Gyeonggido. Total 218 pesticides were analyzed by multi-residue method using gas chromatography/nitrogen phosphorus detector-electron capture detector (GC/NPD-ECD), time of flight/mass spectrometer (TOF/MS), ultra performance liquid chromatography/photo diode array (UPLC/PDA), high performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence detector (HPLC/FLD) and mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS). The pesticides were detected in 18 fruits samples, ranging 0.003~0.3 mg/kg and no samples had violative residue. The separation test to 14 sample pesticides detected was conducted to monitor the current status of pesticide residues according to the partial characteristic. The pesticides were detected in 14 peels ranging 0.03~1.5 mg/kg and 2 fleshes in less than detection limits. These results indicate that imported fruits are safe when the human takes normally but even the small amount of pesticides is harmful when the human takes it in a prolonged period. Therefore, the pesticide residual amounts of imported friuts should be constantly monitored for food safety.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.319-323
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• 2008

Analytical method for determination of florfenicol was developed for estimate veterinary drug residue of unestablished MRLs in meat. The method was validated in correspondence with the CODEX guideline for florfenicol residue in meat. The samples mixed with sodium sulfate were extracted with ethyl acetate. After clean-up, the residue was dissolved in mobile phase and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. The calibration curve showed good linearity($r^2=0.9997$) within the concentration range of $0.05{\sim}1.0\;mg/kg$. The limit of detection(LOD) and limit of quantification(LOQ) were validated at 0.012 and 0.039 mg/kg, respectively. The recoveries in fortified meat ranged from 85.6 to 95.6%($1.1{\sim}5.3%$ RSD) at the 0.05 to 0.4 spiking levels. We monitored 150 samples of meats that were purchased in Korea(Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju). Among tested samples, florfenicol was detected in 1 of pig at the level of 0.040 mg/kg, and below LOQ in 1 of cattle, 2 of pig and 2 of chicken. The residues of florfenicol in the tested samples were within the MRLs.