• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2007

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the attitude of Korean women towards IVF surrogacy which is not yet regulated by the law. Methods: We evaluated with a questionnaire, in how far IVF surrogacy was accepted in different groups of Korean women. Total 300 questionnaires were sent out to women who visited our infertility clinic, and to the nurses and office workers of our hospital. Among them, 246 questionnaires were returned, and 211 of them (85.7%) were complete and analyzed. The responders were 58 unmarried women and 153 married women including 60 infertile patients. Results: Only 17 (8.1%) women believed that IVF surrogacy was an acceptable treatment for infertile women without uterus (eg. MRKH or hysterectomized patients), and 125 (59.2%) women chose the adoption. There were no significant differences in response amongst different age group, marital status, or in relation to income level or educational level, or infertility status. A significantly higher level of acceptance was noted only in religious groups, especially in Christians. Most of responders (66.5%) chose unrelated and unknown women as a desirable host, and 28.4% of responders chose the sister or sister-in-law. Conclusions: Overall the different groups were critical towards IVF Surrogacy in Korea, irrespective of the infertile patient group. Despite the established clinical ability to have her own genetic child in women without uterus, this survey reveals that only minority supports the IVF surrogacy. So we need the survey with large, randomized population and then make a regulation about the IVF surrogacy in law.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1188-1194
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• 2006

Dementia is a progressive disease of increasing the dysfunction of intellectual and physical ability. In the aging society, many families are suffering from the caring the patients who are diagnosed with dementia. However, dementia is a complex disease affected by the genetic and environmental agents. In the present study, we investigated the transposable elements in relation to dementia. From the analysis of dementia EST (expressed sequence tag) sequences, we found dementia candidate genes, and analyzed expression profiles and repeat elements using bioinformatics tools. This analysis showed that 98 genes were affected in their mRNA sequences by transposable elements expression. Their expressions were affected by the integration of different transposable elements (SINE, LINE, LTR, DNA) during the primate evolution. We believe that our work will be of significant interest to genome scientists, and may help them gain insight into implication of transposable elements expression in dementia.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.83-93
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• 2006

This study was done for finding out if eating habits, eating behaviors were different between non-obese and obese elementary school students in Jeonju Area. Total 2568 students of 1364 male and 1204 female of the 4th, 5th, and 6th year in 5 elementary schools were surveyed and the statistics of the result was analyzed by SPSS program. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Obesity was defined as Body Mass Index(BMI) that exceeded 85th and Obesity Index(OI) that exceeded 110. First, subjects were divided into 4 groups : lean, normal, overweight and obese. Second subjects were reclassified into non-obese(lean and normal) and obese(overweight and obese) groups. Average height of male and female students were 142.5cm, 143.1cm and weight of those were 36.4kg and 37.9kg respectively. 2. As results of obesity computation, obese male students were 19.6%(overweight 11.3%, obese 8.3%) in BMI and obese male students were 25.0%(overweight 12.5.%, obese 12.5%) in OI. Especially Obesity percent rate of male student were significantly higher on that of female student in OI method. 3. Examining obesity between male and female, there were statistically different between male students and female students in OI, but there were not statistically different in BMI. With regard to grade level(4th, 5th, 6th), there were statistically different among grade levels. 4. Examining correlation between eating habits(eating behaviors) and obesity, there were statistically significant in some cases. For example, there were statistically significant correlation between fast eating habit and obesity. And the relation analysis of general environments and obesity showed that there were statistically significant in some cases. These results suggest that the number of overweight students can be increased due to the amount and kinds of food children have as well as the general causes of overweight such as genetic, environmental and psychological reason. Surveying about children's eating habits, eating behaviors this study methodically. Working with parents is necessary and comparison of eating habits, eating behaviors and nutrition knowledge between the past and their presents are also needed in a future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.868-874
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• 2007

Purpose : We performed this study to investigate the perinatal and developmental features of the patients with congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) confirmed by the molecular genetic method and the clinical characteristics of their mother, and to identify the relation between the number of CTG repeats and the clinical severity.Methods : A retrospective review of the medical records and the results of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene test was done for the patients who were confirmed as CDM through gene analysis from January 2001 to September 2006. Results : All of the eight patients (male 2, female 6) showed moderate to severe degree of perinatal distress and feeding difficulty associated with profound hypotonia. Three patients had the history of polyhydramnios and two patients had equinovarus deformity. The developmental milestones were delayed in all patients, which improved gradually with age. All of their mothers demonstrated myotonic symptoms and typical myopathic face. The number of CTG repeats in DMPK gene analysis ranged 1,000-2,083, and there was no significant correlation between the number of CTG repeats and the time of walking alone. Conclusion : All patients with CDM presented with severe hypotonia in perinatal period, and developmental delay thereafter, which were improved with age. All of their mothers manifested myotonic symptoms with typical myopathic face, and the identification of such features greatly contributed to the diagnosis of the patients. The number of CTG repeats had no significant influence on the motor development.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.309-313
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• 2006

Discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including small insertions and deletions, is one of the hot topics in genetic research. The most common type of sequence variant consists of single base differences or small insertions and deletions at specific nucleotide positions. Significance of SNPs in rice is increasing for genetic research, positional cloning and molecular breeding. $F_2$ 170 lines and $F_3$ 194 lines derived from Sangjuchalbyeo/HR13721-53-3-1-3-3-2-2 Were used for Searching SNP markers related to bacterial blight resistance. Sangjuchalbyeo is susceptible to bacterial blight, but HR13721-53-3-1-3-3-2-2 has Xa1 gene resistant to bacterial blight. Individual lines were inoculated with $K_1$ race of bacterial blight and resistant or susceptible was evaluated after 3 weeks from inoculation. The genotypes of population were analysed by PCR-RFLP for SNP marker developing. The segregation of $F_2\;and\;F_3$ population showed almost 3:1, 1:1 ratio, respectively. Analysis of genotype using SNP marker is capable of confirming resistance for $K_1$ race and genotype through amplifying the gene using 16PFXal primer and digested the PCR product with Eco RV. There were close relation between resistance test for $K_1$ race and SNP marker genotype. Especially, DNA analysis using SNP marker is capable of judging homozygote/heterozygote in $F_2$ population compared with resistant test for Kl race. So, it seems to improve the selection efficiency in disease resistant breeding.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1354-1361
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• 2015

This study was aimed to investigate the distribution status and phylogenetic relationship of Myotis aurascens in Jeju Ialnd, which has not clearly confirmed until now. We found three groups of M. aurascens from three different cave enforcements (CEs). The bat population of Jeju Island had smaller levels of HBL and Hfcu, but greater levels of TL, EL, FAL, and Tra than those of the Korean Peninsula population. Jeju bats had wide range in the lengths of FAL and Hfcu comparing to those of European bats. From the bimonthly monitoring to each finding site, we have actually failed to observe those again, estimating that they use those CEs as the daily-roosting place in activating seasons. The sequences of CYTB and COI genes showed identical sequences among Jeju bats tested, indicating that they are maternally related. The results from molecular phylogeny showed that the sequences of these bats located on the same branch with those for M. aurascens in the phylogenetic trees. Besides, the nucleotide sequences of the Jeju bats showed the closest relation with that of Korean Peninsula. Consequently, these findings indicate that the bats of M. aurascens, verified the natural distribution in Jeju Island, have originated from a single maternal origin and differences in morphological and genetic backgrounds form those of Korean Peninsula and the other countries, and had probably immigrated via Korean Peninsula. These findings will contribute as basic information for understanding the migration history and biogeographic relationship of mammals on Jeju Island in East Asia.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 1986

Because of the drastic development of nuclear industries, the contamination of natural environments by the disposal of radioactive materials which are released from nuclear facilities have aroused a considerable concern in relation to agricultural practices. Therefore the present investigation, through pot experiment, was performed to find out the aspect of the uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants and its distribution in them in five different types(physicochemical and minerallogical properties) of paddy soils. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Visual toxic symptoms on the growth of rice plant due to treatment of $Sr^{90}$ up to $40{\mu}Ci/10㎏$ in a pot were not observed even though uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plant was proportionally increased with the $Sr^{90}$ treatment. 2) Distribution of $Sr^{90}$ in the rice plant was the highest in the leaves (84.5%) followed in the order by stems (13.5%) and rough grain (2.0%). The ratio of $Sr^{90}$ to Ca was higher in the leaves (872) and stems (667) than in the rice grain (89). 3) $Sr^{90}$ absorption in the rice plant ranged $0.15{\sim}0.30%$ at harvesting time. Uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants decreased by the increase of soil pH and exchangeable canons in the soils, but $Sr^{90}$ uptake increased when nitrogen, organic matter and clay content in soil was high, and uptake of this nuclide in the rice plant was higher with low Illite and Vermiculite content in the soils.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1111-1120
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• 2017

This study was conducted to select pepper lines that were tolerant to excessive water injury among the pepper germplasm and investigate the genetic characteristics of those lines to contribute to the breeding of pepper cultivars with stable productivity in abnormal weather. Each of the tolerant and susceptible lines went through immersion treatment, and differentially expressed genes between them were analyzed. The tolerant line showed increased expression of the CA02g26670 gene, which is involved in the CONSTANS protein pathway and regulation of flowering by day length, but it exhibited decreased expressions of CA01g21450, CA01g22480, CA01g34470, CA02g00370 and CA02g00380. The susceptible line showed increased gene expressions of CA02g09720, CA02g21290, CA03g16520, CA07g 02110, and CA12g17910, which are involved in the inhibition of proteolytic enzyme activity, DNA binding, inhibition of cell wall-degrading enzyme, and inhibition of nodulin, respectively. Meanwhile the expressions of CA02g02820, CA03g21390, CA06g17700 and CA07g18230 decreased in the susceptible line, in relation to calcium-ion binding, high temperature, synthesis of phosphocholine and cold stress, respectively. The expressions of genes related to apoptosis and peroxidase increased, while that of CA02g16990, which functions as a nucleoside transporter, decreased in both the tolerant and susceptible lines. Based on the different gene expressions between the tolerant and susceptible lines, further studies are needed on breeding abiotic stress-tolerant lines.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.106-118
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• 2013

In this paper, we analyzed the Cognition of irradiated food and its relation with self-efficacy. The most important variables described behaviors based on health choices compared with the choice to choose irradiated food items. According to the survey, 33.1% of respondents said that the reason why irradiated food is considered to be a health risk is because "radiation is dangerous". 27.9% of respondents answered that "eating irradiated food is like eating a radioactive substance", 21.1% said radiated food is comparable to a "genetic variation in food" while 10.1% said "food goes bad during the irradiation process". On this basis, it is reasonable to conclude that respondents have a misunderstanding of irradiated food without reference to the general theory of irradiated knowledge. In this respect, it would be helpful to provide education showing that irradiated food is not related to eating harmful or genetically modified food to help high school students create informed opinions of irradiated food. In terms of relevance with health-specific self-efficacy, experience of acquiring information about irradiated food was marked at r=0.148 (p<0.01), experience of purchasing irradiated food was marked at r=0.077 (p<0.05), experience of eating irradiated food was marked at r=0.113 (p<0.01) while knowledge of irradiated food, attitude towards irradiated food and behavior was marked at r=0.103 (p<0.01), r=0.076 (p<0.05) and r=0.105 (p<0.01) respectively. This shows that self-efficacy is high when one has experience of acquiring information about irradiated food, purchasing or eating irradiated food resulting in a high level of knowledge, attitude and behavior. Education which serves to improve the level of self-efficacy needs to be provided along with an educational program which will increase the public's understanding of irradiated food. It is expected that if this education which increases the level of self-efficacy is provided together with correct information of irradiated food, behavior to choose and eat irradiated food will also improve.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.487-494
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• 2008

Background: Chromosome 17p allele losses and mutations of p53 gene are the most common genetic abnormalities in lung cancer. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the factors associated with p53 protein overexpression and to evaluate its prognostic value in patients with pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This is a retrospective review for the patients who underwent surgical resection at Samsung Medical Center between Jan 2003 and Jun 2004. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein was performed on tumor tissues from patients with lung cancer. The p53 overexpression was evaluated in relation to age, sex, smoking history, histology and pathologic stage by univariate and multivariate analyses. The disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier methods and the differences in DFS, DSS and OS were assessed by using the log-rank tests. Results: A total of 125 patients were included in the analysis and a median frequency of p53 expression in tumor tissue was 10%. The p53 overexpression (${\geq}10%$) was more common in squamous cell carcinoma (66%) than in adenocarcinoma (38%, p=0.002). The p53 overexpression was more common in pathologic stage IB (59%) than in IA (38%, p=0.002). Patients with p53-overexpressing tumor (27 years) smoked more years compared with those without it (20 years, p=0.032). Smoking history ${\geq}25$ pack-years was more common in patients with p53 overexpression (58%) than in those without it (38%, p=0.024). In the multivariate analysis, only histology was significantly associated with p53 overexpression. However, there were no significant differences of DFS, DSS and OS in relation to p53 status. Conclusion: The p53 overexpression was associated with histology, pathologic stage and smoking history in patients with pathologic stage I NSCLC. However, the p53 overexpression was not associated with patient's survival.