• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 2011

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the degree of stress and social support among residents in a rural area. Methods: We used the baseline data of the Korean Genomic Rural Cohort (KGRC), a sub-cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KOGES) that collected data about relationships among environmental, genetic risk factors, and chronic illness in Korean adults since November 2005. The cases chosen for the study included 1737 men and women, aged 40 to 70, living in a rural area of Wonju-city, South Korea. A questionnaire interviewing method was addressed in 2006. The final participants consisted of 1349 participants, of which 589 were male (43.7%) and 760 were female (56.3%). We applied the hierarchical multiple regression analysis with three stages. The first and second stages include socio-demographic and health-related behaviour factors and the third stage includes more social support factors. Results: The main findings revealed that the amount of social support and health-related behaviour significantly influenced the level of stress the subjects reported. The degree of stress was shown to be significantly higher for the following individuals: females, those who were divorced, the bereaved, participants who suffer from chronic disease, and non-exercisers. Low social support was shown to be negatively associated with stress. Conclusion: Social support factors along with socio-demographic and health-related behavior had an influence on stress levels in Korean rural adults. It is necessary to relieve residents from stress through diverse social support programs and healthy living initiatives.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.166-177
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• 2013

Objectives: The genus Legionella is common in aquatic environments. Some species of Legionella are recognized as potential opportunistic pathogens for human, notably Legionella pneumophila that causes, Legionellosis. Thus, we investigated the contamination of Legionella pneumophila on water supply systems in Seoul, including cooling towers, public baths, hospitals and fountains. Methods: The existence of 16S rRNA and mip gene of L. pneumophila was confirmed in the genome of the isolated strains by PCR. Results: During the summer season of 2010 and 2011, Legionella pneumophila were detected from 163 samples (21.1%) out of 772 samples collected. Among the 163 strains of L. pneumophila, eighty one isolates belonged to serogroup 1 (57.4%), 23 isolates were serogroup 5 (16.3%), 21 isolates were serogroup 6 (14.9%), 8 isolates were serogroup 2 (5.79%), and 8 isolates were identified in serogroup 3 (5.7%). Through PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) analysis using Sfi I, genetic types of L. pneumophila were classified into five (A to E) patterns by the band similarity with excess of 70% from public baths. Conclusions: The PFGE patterns of the serotypes showed a tendency for diversity of L. pneumophila. Our results suggest the existence of serological and genetic diversity among the L. pneumophila isolates.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.297-304
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• 2001

Scrophularia buergeriana Misrule has been contaminated with various pathogens in condition of field and storage period. This study was carried out for production of multiple stress resistance plant containing disease resistance that CGST gene expressed in transgenic Scrophularia buergeriana Misrule genome. Glutathione S-Transferases (GSTs) detoxify endobiotic and xenobiotic compounds by covalent linking of tripeptide glutathione to hydrophobic substrate. GST enzymes have been identified and characterized in insects, bacteria, and many plant species. A cDNA clone of GST was introduced into Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel by transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciences. In coporation of the CGST gene into S. buergeriana Misrule was confirmed by PCR analysis of genomic DNA. Influence of exposure to darkness on the regeneration potential and transformation frequence were assessed. The activity of GST in transgenic plants was two times higher than that of non-transgenic plants. As a result of anti-microbe assays, the crude extract protein of transgenic plants showed the antimicrobial effects higher than control plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2015

Leaf discs from 'Yeobong' and 'Maehyang' strawberry plants were used as explants for transformation. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the monellin gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter was used in co-cultivation experiments. The frequencies of callus formation and plant regeneration from leaf explants after co-cultivation in 'Yeobong' were higher than those of 'Maehyang'. These transgenic plants showed normal growth patterns and flowering. PCR and Southern hybridization confirmed that 1 to 2 copies of the monellin gene were integrated into genome of the transgenic strawberry plants. Northern blot analysis confirm that the transcripts were expressed in transgenic strawberry plants. Although long-term subcultured transgenic strawberry plants showed a phenomenon to escape the transgene, the transformation system established in this study provides new opportunities for genetic improvement of strawberry plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2009

In order to develop transgenic sweetpotato plants [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv. Yulmi] with enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress, we constructed transformation vectors expressing 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx) gene under the control of the stress-inducible SWPA2 or enhanced 35S promoter (named as SP or EP). Transgenic sweetpotato plants were attempted to generate from embryogenic calli using an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Embryogenic calli gave rise to somatic embryos and then converted into plantlets on MS medium containing 100 mg/L kanamycin. Transgenic plants were regenerated in the same medium. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the Prx gene was inserted into the genome of the plants. To further study we selected the transgenic plant lines with enhanced tolerance against methyl viologen (MV). When sweetpotato leaf discs were subjected to methyl MV at $20{\mu}M$, transgenic plants showed about 40% higher tolerance than non-transgenic or empty vector-transformed plants.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.32-43
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• 2009

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity mainly through the depletion of glutathione. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effects of APAP on both a normal murine hepatic cell line, BNL CL.2, and its SV40-transformed cell line, BNL SV A.8. Gene expression profiles for APAP-treated cells were also obtained using microarray and analyzed to identify differences in genes or profiles that may explain the differences of susceptibility to APAP in these cell lines. These two cell lines exhibited different susceptibilities to APAP (0-$5,000{\mu}M$); BNL SV A.8 cells were more susceptible to APAP treatment compared to BNL CL.2 cells. A dose of $625{\mu}M$ APAP, which produced significant differences in cytotoxicity in these cell lines, was tested. Microarray analysis was performed to identify significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) irrespective of APAP treatment. Genes up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells were associated with immune response, defense response, and apoptosis, while down-regulated genes were associated with catalytic activity, cell adhesion and the cytochrome P450 family. Consistent with the cytotoxicity data, no significant DEGs were found in BNL CL.2 cells after treatment with $625{\mu}M$ APAP, while cell cycle arrest and apoptosis-related genes were up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells. Based on the significant fold-changes in their expression, a genes were selected and their expressions were confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR; there was a high correlation between them. These results suggest that gene expression profiles may provide a useful method for evaluating drug sensitivity of cell lines and eliciting the underlying molecular mechanism. We further compared the genes identified from our current in vitro studies to the genes previously identified in our lab as regulated by APAP in both C57BL/6 and ICR mice in vivo. We found that a few genes are regulated in a similar pattern both in vivo and in vitro. These genes might be useful to develop as in vitro biomarkers for predicting in vivo hepatotoxicity. Based on our results, we suggest that gene expression profiles may provide useful information for elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of drug susceptibility and for evaluating drug sensitivity in vitro for extrapolation to in vivo.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.408-418
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• 2020

The sinus node (SN) is located at the apex of the cardiac conduction system, and SN dysfunction (SND)-characterized by electrical remodeling-is generally attributed to idiopathic fibrosis or ischemic injuries in the SN. SND is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, including syncope, heart failure, and atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation. One of the histological SND hallmarks is degenerative atrial remodeling that is associated with conduction abnormalities and increased right atrial refractoriness. Although SND is frequently accompanied by increased fibrosis in the right atrium (RA), its molecular basis still remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated whether SND can induce significant molecular changes that account for the structural remodeling of RA. Towards this, we employed a rabbit model of experimental SND, and then compared the genome-wide RNA expression profiles in RA between SND-induced rabbits and sham-operated controls to identify the differentially expressed transcripts. The accompanying gene enrichment analysis revealed extensive pro-fibrotic changes within 7 days after the SN ablation, including activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and alterations in the levels of extracellular matrix components and their regulators. Importantly, our findings suggest that periostin, a matricellular factor that regulates the development of cardiac tissue, might play a key role in mediating TGF-β-signaling-induced aberrant atrial remodeling. In conclusion, the present study provides valuable information regarding the molecular signatures underlying SND-induced atrial remodeling, and indicates that periostin can be potentially used in the diagnosis of fibroproliferative cardiac dysfunctions.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2016

During a field survey in 2014, a Rorippa palustris plant showing virus-like symptom was collected from a pepper field in Dangjin in Korea. The collected sample was subjected to examine infection with pepper-infecting viruses. Molecular diagnosis assay showed that the collected R. palustris sample was co-infected with Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). This is the first identification of PMMoV from R. palustris and the first report of CMV infection of R. palustris in Korea. To examine phylogenetic positions of the identified PMMoV and CMV isolates, their complete genome sequences of were determined and compared with those of previously reported isolates of the cognate viruses. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the isolates of PMMoV and CMV obtained from R. palustris are closely related to the pepper isolates of the cognate viruses. Our results suggest that R. palustris could act a weed reservoir of PMMoV and CMV.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.64-65
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• 2005

Members of the Pumilio are the RNA binding proteins acting as translational repressors and required for germ cell development and asymmetric division. We identified chicken Pum1 and Pum2 that are similar to mouse and human in highly conserved C-terminal RNA-binding domain and eight tandem repeats. The comparative sequence analysis of Pum1 and Pum2 from fly, chicken, mouse and human shows high degree of evolutionary conservation in the homology of the peptide sequence and the structure of PUM-HD (Pumilio homology domain) with similar spacing between adjacent Pum repeats. Also, structures of chicken Pum1 and Pum2 genes are almost identical to those of mouse and human. We revealed that the expression levels of Pum1 and Pum2 were the highest in hatched female gonad among various embryonic tissues, and Pum2 expressed highly in 12-day and hatched gonad by real-time RT-PCR. These results suggest that Pum1 and Pum2 might have an effect on the development of chicken gonad.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1334-1341
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• 2007

This study identified hepatic differentially expressed genes (DEGs) affecting the marbling of muscle. Most dietary nutrients bypass the liver and produce plasma lipoproteins. These plasma lipoproteins transport free fatty acids to the target tissue, adipose tissue and muscle. We examined hepatic genes differentially expressed in a differential-display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (ddRT-PCR) analysis comparing high- and low-marbled Hanwoo steers. Using 60 arbitrary primers, we found 13 candidate genes that were upregulated and five candidate genes that were downregulated in the livers of high-marbled Hanwoo steers compared to low-marbled individuals. A BLAST search for the 18 DEGs revealed that 14 were well characterized, while four were not annotated. We examined four DEGs: ATP synthase F0, complement component CD, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) and phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP). Of these, only two genes (complement component CD and IGFBP3) were differentially expressed at p<0.05 between the livers of high- and low-marbled individuals. The mean mRNA levels of the PEBP and ATP synthase F0 genes did not differ significantly between the livers of high- and low-marbled individuals. Moreover, these DEGs showed very high inter-individual variation in expression. These informative DEGs were assigned to the bovine chromosome in a BLAST search of MS marker subsets and the bovine genome sequence. Genes related to energy metabolism (ATP synthase F0, ketohexokinase, electron-transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and NADH hydrogenase) were assigned to BTA 1, 11, 17, and 22, respectively. Syntaxin, IGFBP3, decorin, the bax inhibitor gene and the PEBP gene were assigned to BTA 3, 4, 5, 5, and 17, respectively. In this study, the in silico physical maps provided information on the specific location of candidate genes associated with economic traits in cattle.