• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

In chronic airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, it has been suggested that matrix metalloproteinases secreted from infiltrating neutrophil contribute the pathogenesis of the disease and have been a focus of intense investigation. We report here that hamster tracheal surface epithelial goblet cells (HTSE cells) produce matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). Matrix metalloproteinase activities were investigated using [$^3H$]collagen-digestion assay and gelatin zymography. The subtype of matrix metalloproteinases expressed from HTSE cells was MMP-2 (gelatinase A), which was determined by Western blot with various subtype selective anti-matrix metalloproteinase antibodies. The MMP-2 and TIMP-2 cDNAs from HTSE cells were partially cloned by RT-PCR and they reveal more than 90% of sequence homology with those from human, rat and mouse. The collagenolytic activity was increased with the secretory differentiation of the HTSE cell and it was found that zymogen activation was responsible for the increased MMP-2 activity in HTSE cells. The results from the present study suggest that the metaplastic secretory differentiation of airway goblet cells may affect chronic airway inflammatory process by augmenting the zymogen activation of MMP-2.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2015

Purpose: Recent studies have revealed recurrent alterations in the cell adhesion gene FAT4, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, in cancer. FAT atypical cadherin 4 (FAT4) is a transmembrane receptor involved in the Hippo signaling pathway, which is involved in the control of organ size. Here, we investigated the loss of FAT4 expression and its association with clinicopathological risk factors in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We assessed the expression of FAT4 by using immunohistochemistry on three tissue microarrays containing samples from 136 gastric cancer cases, radically resected in the Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008. Cytoplasmic immunoexpression of FAT4 was semi-quantitatively scored using the H-score system. An H-score of ${\geq}10$ was considered positive for FAT4 expression. Results: Variable cytoplasmic expressions of FAT4 were observed in gastric cancers, with 33 cases (24.3%) showing loss of expression (H-score <10). Loss of FAT4 expression was associated with an increased rate of perineural invasion (H-score <10 vs. ${\geq}10$, 36.4% vs. 16.5%, P=0.015), high pathologic T stage (P=0.015), high tumor-node-metastasis stage (P=0.017), and reduced disease-free survival time (H-score <10 vs. ${\geq}10$, mean survival $62.7{\pm}7.3$ months vs. $79.1{\pm}3.1$ months, P=0.025). However, no association was found between the loss of FAT4 expression and tumor size, gross type, histologic subtype, Lauren classification, lymphovascular invasion, or overall survival. Conclusions: Loss of FAT4 expression appears to be associated with invasiveness in gastric cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.151-159
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• 2016

Nanoparticles have wide-scale applications in various areas, including medicine, chemistry, electronics, and energy generation. Several physical, biological, and chemical methods have been used for synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plants provide advantages over other methods as it is easy, efficient, and eco-friendly. Nanoparticles have been extensively studied as potential antimicrobials to target pathogenic and multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Their applications recently extended to development of antivirals to inhibit viral infections. In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon) and evaluated their activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H7N3. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UVVis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cinnamon bark extract and its nanoparticles were tested against H7N3 influenza A virus in Vero cells and the viability of cells was determined by tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay. The silver nanoparticles derived from Cinnamon extract enhanced the antiviral activity and were found to be effective in both treatments, when incubated with the virus prior to infection and introduced to cells after infection. In order to establish the safety profile, Cinnamon and its corresponding nanoparticles were tested for their cytotoxic effects in Vero cells. The tested concentrations of extract and nanoparticles (up to 500 μg/ml) were found non-toxic to Vero cells. The biosynthesized nanoparticles may, hence, be a promising approach to provide treatment against influenza virus infections.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.413-423
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• 1997

The importance of the kidney in the development of hypertension was first demonstrated by Goldblatt and his colleagues more than fifty years ago. Many hormones and other regulatory factors have been proposed to play a major role in the development of hypertension. Among these factors angiotensia II (ANG II) is closely involved in renal hypertension development since it directly regulates $Na^+$ reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Thus the aim of the present study was to examine signaling pathways of low dose of ANC II on the $Na^+$ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) in hormonally defined seum-free medium. The results were as follows: 1) $10^{-11}$ M ANG II has a significant stimulatory effect on growth as compared with control. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited significantly increased activity. However, leucine aminopeptidase and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase activity were not significant as compared with control. In contrast to $10^{-11}$ M ANG II stimulated $Na^+$ uptake $(108.03{\pm}2.16% of that of control)$, $10^{-9}$ M ANG II inhibited ($92.42{\mu}2.23%$ of that of control). The stimulatory effect of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake was amiloride-sensitive and inhibited by losartan (ANG II receptor subtype 1 antagonist) and not by PD123319 (ANG II receptor subtype 2 antagonist). 2) Pertussis toxin (PTX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $85.52{\pm}3.52%$ of that of control. In addition, PTX pretreatment prevented the AMG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), forskolin, and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $88.79{\pm}2.56,\;80.63{\pm}4.38,\;and\;84.47{\pm}4.74%$ of that of control, respectively, and prevented the ANG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. However, $10^{-11}$ M ANG II did not stimulate cAMP production. 3) The addition of 12-O-te-tradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 0.01 ng/ml) to the PTCs produced significant increase in $Na^+$ uptake ($114.43{\pm}4.05%$ of that of control). When ANG II and TPA were added together to the PTCs, there was no additive effect on $Na^+$ uptake. Staurosporine alone had no effect on $Na^+$ uptake, but led to a complete inhibition of ANG II- or TPA-induced stimulation of Na'uptake. ANG II treatment resulted in a $111.83{\mu}4.51%$ increase in total protein kinase C (PKC) activity. In conclusion, the PTX-sensitive PKC pathway is the main signaling cascade involved in the stimulatory effects of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake in the PTCs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2012

The worldwide distribution and continuing genetic mutation of avian influenza virus (AIV) has been posed a great threat to human and animal health. A comparison of 3 isolates of AIV H9N2, A/chicken/Korea/KBNP-0028/00 (H9N2) (KBNP-0028), A/chicken/Korea/SNU8011/08 (H9N2) (SNU 8011) and an inactivated oil vaccine strain A/chicken/Korea/01310/01 (H9N2) (01310), was performed. The former 2 AIVs were isolated from field cases before and after the application of an inactivated H9N2 vaccine in 2007, respectively. The antigenic relationship, viral shedding, tissue tropism and genetic analysis were examined. The comparison of virus shedding from the cloaca and the oropharynx revealed that both isolates were more frequently isolated from the upper respiratory tract (90~100%) 1 day post inoculation (DPI) compared with isolation 5 DPI from gastrointestinal tracts (10~60%). Moreover, the isolate KBNP-0028 were recovered from all organs including bone marrow, brain and kidneys, indicating higher ability for broad tissue dissemination than that of SNU 8011. KBNP-0028 replicated earlier than other strains and with a higher titer than SNU 8011. In full-length nucleotide sequences of the NA gene and a partial sequence of the HA gene of SNU 8011, we found that there might be significant changes in tissue tropism, virus replication and genetic mutation in AIV H9N2 isolates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.282-282
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• 1994

Radioligand결합실험에 의하여 7가지 이상의 5-hydroxytryptamine serotonin, 5-HT)수용체 subtype가 규명되어 있고, 1983년 5-HT agonist로 알려져 있던 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT)가 〔$^3$H〕5-HT수용체에 대한 결합만을 선택적으로 억제하며, 본 수용체를 직접 표식함이 알려진 이래, 본 수용체의 기능에 대한 연구가 계속되어 오고있다. 특히 항불안약으로 임상에 사용되어 왔던 benzodiazepines이 5-HT neuron의 활성을 억제한다는 사실이 보고되면서 5-HT neuron과 불안과의 관련에 관한 연구가 계속되고 있는 가운데, 새로운 항불안약으로 주목을 받고 있던 buspirone이 5-$HT_{1A}$ 수용체에 높은 친화성을 가짐이 확인되었다. 그 외에도 5-$HT_{1A}$ 수용체작용약이 항우울약, 항고혈압약으로서의 응용가능성 이 시사되면서 본 수용체작용약의 개발 및 그 기능해명이 주목을 받고 있다. 본 연구에서는, 5-$HT_{1A}$ 수용체작용약인 8-OH-DPAT와 항불안약을 개발할 목적으로 합성된 화합물인 1-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenoxy)propy〕-4-phenyl piperazine (8P-554)을 이용하여, 화합물의 5-HT$_{1A}$수용체에 대한 친화성을 검토하는 방법과. 본 수용체를 통하여 나타난다고 알려져 있는 5-HT의 약리작용을 검토하는 방법을 기술하므로서, 여러가지 임상적 응용을 위하여 새롭게 합성되는 화합물의 5-$HT_{1A}$ 수용체와의 상호작용을 검색하는 방법을 제시하고자 한다.다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.886-891
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• 2010

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with the novel influenza A (H1N1) in the winter of 2009 at a single medical institution. Methods: Out of 545 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) in children, using the real time RT-PCR method at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from September to December of 2009, 149 patients and their medical records were reviewed in terms of symptoms, laboratory findings, complications and transmission within a family. Results: Median age of subjects was 7 years (range: 2 months-18 years). New cases increased rapidly from September to reach a peak in November, then declined rapidly. Most frequently observed symptoms were fever (96.7%), cough (73.2%), rhinorrhea (36.9%) and sore throat (31.5%). Average body temperatures on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hospital day were $38.75{\pm}0.65^{\circ}C$, $38.08{\pm}0.87^{\circ}C$ and $37.51{\pm}0.76^{\circ}C$, respectively. Complete blood counts and biochemical tests performed on the first admission day showed within the reference values in most cases. Of the 82 patients with simple chest radiography, 18 (22%) had pneumonic lesions; multi-focal bronchopneumonia in eleven, single or multi-segmental lobar pneumonia in five, and diffuse interstitial pneumonia in two patients. All of the 149 patients improved from their symptoms and discharged within 9 days of admission without any late complication. Conclusion: Children with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at our single institution displayed nonspecific symptoms and laboratory findings, resembling those of common viral respiratory illnesses, and did not appear to develop more severe disease.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1999

The etiology of inverted papilloma(IP) remains unknown, but several studies have reported that Human Papillomavirus(HPV) may play a role in the pathogensis of sinonasal inverted papilloma(IP). And recent reports demonstrate the possible etiologic role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in sinonasal IP. The aim of this study is to detect HPV and EBV in sinonasal IP, to examine the relationship between HPV subtype and sinonasal IP, to investigate the relation between HPV and EBV. We reviewed 30 cases of sinonasal IP(simple IP 19 cases, IP with dysplasia 8 cases, IP with squamous cell carcinoma 3 cases). Paraffin embedded archival tissue was used in this study. Detection of HPV, EBV were examined by in situ hybridization(ISH) using HPV type 6/11, 16/18, 31/33/35 DNA probe and EBER probe. The HPV was detected in 6(20%) out of 30 cases. The HPV 6/11 was dectected in 4 out of 19 cases of simple IP, HPV 16/18 in 1, HPV 31/33/35 in 1 out of 8 cases of IP with dysplasia respectively. The EBV was not detected in 30 cases. HPV may play a role in the pathogensis of sinonasal inverted papilloma. But EBV is not a etiopathologic factor to be considered in the development of sinonasal IP.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2009

Novel influenza A virus, subtype H1N1 of swine-lineage, has been transmitted rapidly to many regions of the world. Rapid detection of the virus is essential to instigate appropriate patient care and public health management and for disease surveillance. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Korea using reverse-transcription real time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Novel H1N1 virus was detected in a total of 8,948 nasopharyngeal samples from patients with influenza-like illness throughout Korea from August to September 2009. RNA was extracted from $300{\mu}l$of sample using an RNA extraction kit (Zymo Research, CA, USA). In the present study, Genekam kit (Genekam, Duisburg, Germany) was used to detect novel H1N1 virus. Novel H1N1 virus was found in 1,130 samples from a total of 8,948 samples (12.6%). The highest frequency was found in 10- to 19-year-olds (M: 29.3% vs. F: 16.4%), followed by 20- to 29-year-olds (M: 17.9% vs. F: 15.4%), 40- to 49-year-olds (M: 6.5% vs. F: 8.1%), 50- to 59-year-olds (M: 6.0% vs. F: 5.5%), and 30- to 39-year-olds (M: 4.6% vs. F: 3.8%). The mean positive rate was higher in men than in women (M: 14.7% vs. F: 7.4%). Novel H1N1 virus showed the lowest prevalence in patients over 60 years old. The positive rate increased daily and showed a significant high peak in mid-September 2009. In 19 provinces of Korea, Cheonan (41.1%), Busan (37.3%), Gangneung (33.3%), Jinju (32.1%), Ulsan (24.6%), Deajeon (23.7%) areas showed high frequencies and other provinces were found less than 10% of novel H1N1 virus. Since reverse-transcription real time PCR assay is rapid, accurate, and convenient, it may assist public health laboratories in detecting novel H1N1 virus. Moreover, these data could be useful for the management of patients with influenza-like illness.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.36.1-36.14
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• 2022

Background: Since 2003, the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype has caused massive economic losses in the poultry industry in South Korea. The role of inland water bodies in avian influenza (AI) outbreaks has not been investigated. Identifying water bodies that facilitate risk pathways leading to the incursion of the HPAI virus (HPAIV) into poultry farms is essential for implementing specific precautionary measures to prevent viral transmission. Objectives: This matched case-control study (1:4) examined whether inland waters were associated with a higher risk of AI outbreaks in the neighboring poultry farms. Methods: Rivers, irrigation canals, lakes, and ponds were considered inland water bodies. The cases and controls were chosen based on the matching criteria. The nearest possible farms located within a radius of 3 km of the case farms were chosen as the control farms. The poultry farms were selected randomly, and two HPAI epidemics (H5N8 [2014-2016] and H5N6 [2016-2017]) were studied. Conditional logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that inland waters near poultry farms were significant risk factors for AI outbreaks. The study speculated that freely wandering wild waterfowl and small animals contaminate areas surrounding poultry farms. Conclusions: Pet birds and animals raised alongside poultry birds on farm premises may wander easily to nearby waters, potentially increasing the risk of AI infection in poultry farms. Mechanical transmission of the AI virus occurs when poultry farm workers or visitors come into contact with infected water bodies or their surroundings. To prevent AI outbreaks in the future, poultry farms should adopt strict precautions to avoid contact with nearby water bodies and their surroundings.