• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. But, the adverse effects of oxidative biomarkers on sperm quality remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO), 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) oxidative biomarkers in seminal plasma and their relationship with sperm parameters. Methods: A total of 77 volunteers participated in the study, including fertile (n = 40) and infertile men (n = 37). NO, 8-OHdG, and TAC levels were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma, Griess reagent method and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, respectively. Results: The mean values of sperm parameters in the infertile group were significantly lower than those in the fertile group (p< 0.001). The mean 8-OHdG in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher (p= 0.013) than those of controls, while the mean TAC was significantly lower (p= 0.046). There was no significant difference in NO level between the two groups. The elevated seminal 8-OHdG levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p< 0.001, p= 0.001 and p= 0.052, respectively). NO levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p= 0.014, p= 0.020 and p= 0.060, respectively). Positive correlations between TAC and both sperm count and morphology (p= 0.043 and p= 0.025, respectively) were also found. Conclusion: These results suggested that increased levels of NO and 8-OHdG in seminal plasma could have a negative effect on sperm function by inducing damage to the sperm DNA hence their fertility potentials. Therefore, these biomarkers can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2013

Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by impaired transport of cystine and dibasic amino acids in the proximal renal tubule, resulting in the formation of cystine stones. It is believed to account for about 1% of all kidney stones and up to 10% of pediatric stones. Here we report a case of cystinuria with multiple renal stones confirmed by genetic mutational analysis. An 8-month-old girl was admitted to AMC with persistent fever and multiple renal stones. A renal sonogram showed multiple stones at the right renal pelvis, right distal ureter, and left renal medullary portion. An approximately 1 cm renal stone was extracted spontaneously, and stone analysis revealed it to be composed entirely of cystine. Cystinuria was confirmed by increased urine dibasic amino acid levels, including cysteine, and genetic mutational analysis showed the patient to be a homozygote for the pathogenic c. 1820del (p.L607fs) of SLC3A1. Despite treatment with oral hydration and urinary alkalinization, and restricted intake of animal protein, the stones increased in size and number. The patient has since been treated with tiopronin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

The genus Mycobacterium includes crucial animal and human pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Mycobacterium bovis. Although it is important to understand the genetic basis for their virulence and persistence in host, genetic analysis in mycobacteria was hampered by a lack of sufficient genetic tools. Therefore, many functional vectors as molecular genetic tools have been designed for understanding mycobacterial biology, and the application of these tools to mycobacteria has accelerated the study of mechanisms involved in virulence and gene expression. To overcome the pre-existing problems in genetic manipulation of mycobacteria, this paper reports new vector systems as effective genetic tools in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Three vectors were developed; pKOTs is a suicide vector for mutagenesis containing a temperature-sensitive replication origin (TSRO) and the sacB gene encoding levansucrase as a counterselectable marker. pMV306lacZ is an integrative lacZ transcriptional fusion vector that can be inserted into chromosomal DNA by site-specific recombination. pTnMod-OKmTs is a minitransposon vector harboring the TSRO that can be used in random mutagenesis. It was demonstrated in this study that these vectors effectively worked in M. smegmatis. The vector systems reported here are expected to successfully applicable to future research of mycobacterial molecular genetics.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.759-766
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• 1998

It was determined whether thermoluminescence (TL) technique is a potential method to detect post-irradiation of dry soup base mix for instant noodle and its ingredients. The ingredients or the mixtures were irradiated, from which minerals were isolated using sodium polytungstate solution. Their TL signals (1st glow TL intensity/2nd glow TL intensity reirradiated at 48.6 Gy) were measured. The TL signals in temperature ranges of $229{\sim}295^{\circ}C$ and $229{\sim}361^{\circ}C$ showed larger differences between unirradiated and irradiated samples compared to other ranges. The average TL signals for unirradiated garlic powder, ginger powder, black pepper powder, onion powder, red pepper powder, and sesame seeds were below 0.2, while those for onion powder, red pepper powder, and sesame seeds irradiated at 10 kGy were over 20 in the two temperature ranges. The average TL signals for unirradiated soup mixture were 0.08 and 0.1, respectively, in the two temperature ranges, while those for the mixtures containing 10 kGy-irradiated onion powder, red pepper powder, and sesame seeds individually or in combination were over 7. The average TL signals for the mixtures irradiated 1, 5, and 10 kGy were over 10.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.662-669
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• 2021

Objective: Effects of linseed oil (LO) supplementation on the fat content and fatty acid profile of breast meat, and the expression of three genes in the liver, breast muscle and fat tissues of commercial 154-day-old hybrid male turkeys were investigated. Methods: The animals in the control group were fed a commercially available feed and received no LO supplementation (n = 70), whereas animals in the LO group (n = 70) were fed the same basic diet supplemented with LO (day 15 to 21, 0.5%; day 22 to 112, 1%). The effect of dietary LO supplementation on fatty acid composition of breast muscle was examined by gas chromatography, and the expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) genes was analysed by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The LO supplementation affected the fatty acid composition of breast muscle. Hepatic FADS2 levels were considerably lower (p<0.001), while adipose tissue expression was higher (p<0.05) in the control compared to the LO group. The PPARγ expression was lower (p<0.05), whereas IGF1 was higher (p<0.05) in the fat of control animals. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in FADS2, PPARγ, and IGF1 gene expressions of breast muscle; however, omega-6/omega-3 ratio of breast muscle substantially decreased (p<0.001) in the LO group compared to control. Conclusion: Fatty acid composition of breast meat was positively influenced by LO supplementation without deterioration of fattening parameters. Remarkably, increased FADS2 expression in the liver of LO supplemented animals was associated with a significantly decreased omega-6/omega-3 ratio, providing a potentially healthier meat product for human consumption. Increased PPARγ expression in fat tissue of the LO group was not associated with fat content of muscle, whereas a decreased IGF1 expression in fat tissue was associated with a trend of decreasing fat content in muscle of the experimental LO group.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2015

Chicken is one of the major livestock, especially for supplying proteins to human. The chicken genome size is approximately one-third compared with that of the human genome and regarded as a valuable model animal for genetics and development biology. In this study, we constructed the genetic linkage map for Korean native chicken (KNC) using 131 microsatellite (MS) and 8 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. As a result, the total map length was calculated as 2729.4 cM and the average genetic distance between markers was 19.64 cM. The marker orders and genetic distances were well matched with the consensus linkage map except for the physical order of ADL0278 and MCW0351 in GGA8. In addition, the recombination rates in marcrochromosomes were 3.7 times higher than that of microchromosomes. The average numbers of alleles, expected heterozygosity (Hexp) and polymorphic information content (PIC) values were calculated as 5.5, 0.63 and 0.58, respectively. These results will give useful information for the understanding of genetic structure and QTL studies in KNC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.347-355
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• 1999

Background: Phospholipase C(PLC) plays a central role in cellular signal transduction and is important in cellular growth, differentiation and transformation. There are currently ten known mammalian isozymes of PLC reported to this date. Hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate($PIP_2$) by PLC produces two important second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate($IP_3$) and diacylglycerol. PLC-${\gamma}1$, previously, was known to be activated mainly through growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. Other mechanisms of activating PLC-yl have been reported such as activation through tau protein in the presence of arachidonic acid in bovine brain and activation by $IP_3$, phosphatidic acid, etc. Very recently, another PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator protein such as tau has been found in bovine lung tissue, which now is considered to be AHNAK protein. But there has been no report concerning AHNAK and its associated disease to this date. In this study, we examined the expression of the PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator, AHNAK, in lung cancer specimens and their paired normal. Methods: From surgically resected human lung cancer tissues taken from twenty-eight patients and their paired normal counterparts, we evaluated expression level of AHNAK protein using immunoblot analysis of total tissue extract Immunohistochemical stain was performed with primary antibody against AHNAK protein. Results: Twenty-two among twenty-eight lung cancer tissues showed overexpression of AHNAK protein (eight of fourteen squamous cell lung cancers, all of fourteen adenocarcinomas). The resulting bands were multiple ranging from 70 to 200 kDa in molecular weight and each band was indistinct and formed a smear, reflecting mobility shift mainly due to proteolysis during extraction process. On immunohistochemistry, lung cancer tissues showed a very heavy, dense staining with anti-AHNAK protein antibody as compared to the surrounding normal lung tissue, coresponding well with the results of the western blot Conclusion: The overexpression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ activator protein, AHNAK in lung cancer may provide evidence that the AHNAK protein and PLC-${\gamma}1$ act in concerted manner in carcinogenesis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.310-322
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• 2000

Background : Phospholipase C(PLC) plays an important role in cellular signal transduction and is thought to be critical in cellular growth, differentiation and transformation of certain malignancies. Two second messengers produced from the enzymatic action of PLC are diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3). These two second messengers are important in down stream signal activation of protein kinase C and intracellular calcium elevation. In addition, functional domains of the PLC isozymes, such as Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, Src homology 3 (SH3) domain, and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain play crucial roles in protein translocation, lipid membrane modificailon and intracellular memrane trafficking which occur during various mitogenic processes. We have previously reported the presence of PLC-${\gamma}1$, ${\gamma}2$, ${\beta}1$, ${\beta}3$, and ${\delta}1$ isozymes in normal human lung tissue and tyrosine-kinase-independent activation of phospholipase C-${\gamma}$ isozymes by tau protein and AHNAK. We had also found that the expression of AHNAK protein was markedly increased in various mstologic types of lung can∞r tissues as compared to the normallungs. However, the report concerning expression of various PLC isozymes in lung canærs and other lung diseases is lacking. Therefore, in this study we examined the expression of PLC isozymes in the paired surgical specimens taken from lung cancer patients. Methods : Surgically resected lung cancer tissue samples taken from thirty seven patients and their paired normal control lungs from the same patients, The expression of various PLC isozymes were studied. Western blot analysis of the tissue extracts for the PLC isozymes and immunohistochemistry was performed on typical samples for localization of the isozyme. Results : In 16 of 18 squamous cell carcinomas, the expression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ was increased. PLC-${\gamma}1$ was also found to be increased in all of 15 adenocarcinoma patients. In most of the non-small cell lung cancer tissues we had examined, expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was decreased. However, the expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was markedly increased in 3 adenocarcinomas and 3 squamous carcinomas. Although the numbers were small, in all 4 cases of small cell lung cancer tissues, the expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was nearly absent. Conclusion : We found increased expression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ isozyme in lung cancer tissues. Results of this study, taken together with our earlier findings of AHNAK protein-a putative PLD-${\gamma}$, activator-over-expression, and the changes observed in PLC-${\delta}1$ in primary human lung cancers may provide a possible insight into the derranged calcium-inositol signaling pathways leading to the lung malignancies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the laboratory system for successful PGD using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the clinical outcome of PGD cycles in five years experiences. Methods: A total of 181 PGD-FISH cycles of 106 couples were performed, and diagnosed chromosome normality in the preimplantation embryos. The laboratory and clinical data were classified by the following optimization steps, and statistically analyzed. Phase I: Blastomere biopsy with two kinds of pipettes, removal of cytoplasmic proteins without treatment of pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with single medium; Phase II: Blatomere biopsy with single pipette, removal of cytoplasmic proteins with pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with single medium; Phase III: Blastomere biopsy with single pipette, removal of cytoplasmic proteins with pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with sequential media. Results: A total of 3, 209 oocytes were collected, and 83.8% (2, 212/2, 640) of fertilization rate was obtained by ICSI procedure. The successful blastomere biopsies were accomplished in 98.6% (2, 043/2, 071) of embryos, and the successful diagnosis rate of FISH was 94.7% (1, 935/ 2, 043) of blastomeres from overall data. Embryo transfers with normal embryos were conducted in 93.9% (170/181) of started cycles. There was no difference in the successful rate of biopsy and diagnosis among Phase I, II and III. However, the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer of Phase III (38.8%, 26/67) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of Phase I (13.9%, 5/36) and Phase II (14.9%, 10/67). Conclusions: The laboratory optimization and experience for the PGD with FISH procedure can increase the pregnancy rate to 38.8% in the human IVF-ET program. Our facility of PGD with FISH provides the great possibility to get a normal pregnancy for the concerned couples by chromosomal aberrations.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2009

Purpose: To assess the value of first-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), nuchal translucency (NT) and second-trimester alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin-A in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in 3,121 singleton pregnancies with integrated testing was performed at Kangnam CHA hospital between January 2005 and December 2006. Baseline characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and serum marker levels were obtained by review of the medical records. We analyzed the data to identify associations between the integrated screening markers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS program. Results: In preterm labor and preeclampsia, high AFP, hCG, and inhibin-A levels and low PAPP-A and NT levels were found to be significantly correlated (P<0.05). Elevated second-trimester inhibin-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 2.843), low birth weight (odds ratio 1.446), and preterm labor (odds ratio 1.287), and while decreased first-trimester PAPP-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.51) and preterm labor (odds ratio 0.75). Conclusion: First- and second-trimester maternal serum markers screening can be used for predicting high-risk pregnancies.