• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2004

Objectives : There has been gradually increasing concern about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiation originating from cell phones which are widely used in modern life. Cell phone radiation may affect human health by increasing free radicals of human blood cells. This study has been designed to identify DNA damage of blood cells by electromagnetic radiation caused by cell phone use. Methods : This study investigated the health effect of acute exposure to commercially available cell phones on certain parameters such as an indicator of DNA damage for 14 healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer during the experiment talked over the cell phone with the keypad facing the right side of the face for 4 hours. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay), which is very sensitive in detecting the presence of DNA strand-breaks and alkali-labile damage in individual cells, was used to assess peripheral blood cells (T-cells, B-cells, granulocytes) from volunteers before and after exposure to cell phone radiation. The parameters of Comet assay measured were Olive Tail Moment and Tail DNA %. Results : The Olive Tail Moment of B-cells and granulocytes and Tail DNA % of B-cells and granulocytes were increased by a statistically significant extent after 4-hour use of a cell phone compared with controls. Conclusion : It is concluded that cell phone radiation caused the DNA damage during the 4 hours of experimental condition. Nonetheless, this study suggested that cell phone use may increase DNA damage by electromagnetic radiation and other contributing factors.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.505-510
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• 2002

An improved kinetic assay for prekallikrein activator (PKA), a potential vasodilator, has been developed to be used as an indicator for quality control during production of human albumin preparations. It consists of two reaction stages. In the first stage, PKA and prekallikrein are incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 45 min to allow the transformation into kallikrein. Kallikrein, a serine protease, catalyzes the splitting of p-nitroaniline (pNA) from its substrate H-D-Pro-Phe-Arg-pNA(S-2302). The rate at which pNA is released was measured spectrophotometrically at 405 nm. Prekallikrein, a substrate of PKA was purified by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography and the major potential variations in the assay were optimized; pH 8.0 and 150 mM sodium chloride were chosen to give a proper ionic strength. Reaction times in the range of 10 to 360 min provided linear dose-response curves. The concentration of prekallikrein was adjusted to fall between 1:1 and 1:3 dilutions to generate a linear standard calibration curve. Under the optimized conditions, reproducibility was checked. In a precision test, the coefficient of variation (CV) stayed within ${\pm}4%$ and the dose-response curve showed a good correlation (${r^2}=0.999$). An accuracy test with an international standard of PKA afforded a mean recovery of 97.5%.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.909-920
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• 2020

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca²⁺]_c concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca²⁺]_c is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models. GECI have some advantages over chemically synthesized indicators, although they also have some drawbacks such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), low positive signal, delayed response, artifactual responses due to protein overexpression, and expensive detection equipment. Here, we developed an indicator based on interactions between Ca²⁺-loaded calmodulin and target proteins, and generated an innovative GECI sensor using split nano-luciferase (Nluc) fragments to detect changes in [Ca²⁺]_c. Stimulation-dependent luciferase activities were optimized by combining large and small subunits of Nluc binary technology (NanoBiT, LgBiT:SmBiT) fusion proteins and regulating the receptor expression levels. We constructed the binary [Ca²⁺]_c sensors using a multicistronic expression system in a single vector linked via the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and examined the detection efficiencies. Promoter optimization studies indicated that promoter-dependent protein expression levels were crucial to optimize SNR and sensitivity. This novel [Ca²⁺]_c assay has high SNR and sensitivity, is easy to use, suitable for high-throughput assays, and may be useful to detect [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.169-181
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• 1997

Kimi(氣味) means five tastes(五味), sour, bitterness, sweetness, hot taste and astringency, and four conditions(四氣), cold, hot, warm and cool, in the oriental medicine. This is defined based on yn-yang 5 evolutive phasis(陰陽五行), and 5 evolutive phasis on the change of season. Four seasons, spring, summer, autumm, winter are clearly different but, the rainy season(長夏) is not. In the thee of Ki (氣), not worm not hot(平) is included in addition to the four conditions that is because the rainy season is not differentiated clearly. KImi have realations to the four seasons, that is, warm and hot taste is considered as spring, hot and astringency as summer, not worm not hot and sweetness as rainy season, cool and sour as autumm, and cold and bitterness as winter. 4 conditions can be classified more detail, because the changes of the seasons are continuous. In the action mechanisms, Gardeniae Fructus reduces Heat of Insufficency Type(虛熱) of the upper class of medicinal herbs(上焦), and Rhel Rhizoma reduces Exessive Heat(實熱) of the under class of them(下焦). The assay methods for four groups medicines can be developed in three ways according to the indicators as follows. First, by the indicator which defines cold-acting medicine(寒性藥) such as Rhei Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus and is differentiated clearly from Hot-acting medicine(熱性藥) at the same time. Second, when the medicines are classified into another four groups as Drugs for Dispelling Internal Cold(溫裏藥), Drugs for Relieving Exterior Syndrome(解表藥), Drugs for Dispelling Phlegm(祛痰藥), Drugs for Regulatings Ki Flow(理氣藥), by the indicator which satisfies each group and is differentiated from other groups, at the same time. Third, by the indicator which has to be defined for each medicinal herb for four classification, individually.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8595-8601
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• 2014

Background: miR-200a expression is frequently altered in numerous cancers. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of microRNA-200a in advanced ovarian carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We measured miR-200a expression in 72 matched normal ovarian tissues and advanced ovarian carcinomas, and also two ovarian carcinoma cell lines (SKOV3 and SKOV3.ip1 - the latter being more invasive and metastatic than the parental SKOV3) by stem-loop real-time RT-PCR based on TaqMan microRNA assay using U6 as a reference. Levels of miR-200a expression were compared by disease stage, tumor grade, histology, and lymph node involvement. To evaluate the role of microRNA-200a, cell proliferation and invasion of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3.ip1 were analyzed with miR-200a inhibitor/mimic transfected cells. Results: Of 72 paired samples, 65 cancer tissues overexpressed microRNA-200a greater than two fold in comparison with matched normal epithelium. Specifically, patients with lymph node metastasis showed significant elevation. The level correlated with clinicopathological features, including high tumor grade, late disease stage, most notably with lymph node metastasis, but not with tumor histology. In addition, SKOV-3.ip1 cells also overexpressed miR-200a compared with SKOV-3, and miR-200a inhibitor transfected SKOV-3.ip1 cells showed significant reduction in cellular proliferation and invasion, while a miR-200a mimic stimulated the opposite behavior. Conclusions: We provide definitive evidence that miR-200a is up-regulated in a significant proportion of advanced ovarian carcinomas, and that elevated miR-200a expression facilitates tumor progression. Our findings support the notion that miR-200a is an onco-microRNA for ovarian cancer, and elevation is a useful potential diagnostic indicator. This study also provides a solid basis for further functional analysis of miR-200a in advanced ovarian cancer.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2001

To determine if micronucleus (MN) assay could be used to predict the absorbed dose of victims after accidental radiation exposure, we carried out to assess the absorbed dose depending on the numerical changes of MN in human peripheral blood lymphocytes after $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-rays$ exposure in the range of 0.25 to 1 Gy, respectively. The MNs were observed at very low doses, and the numerical changes according to doses. Satisfactory dose-effect calibration curve is observed after low dose irradiation of human lymphocytes in vitro. When plotting on a linear scale against radiation dose, the line of best fit was $Y=(0.02{\pm}0.0009)+(0.033{\pm}0.010)D+(0.012{\pm}0.012)D^2$. The dose-response curve for MN induction immediately after irradiation was linear-quadratic and has a significant relationship between the frequencies of MN and dose. These data show a trend towards increase of the numbers of MN with increasing dose. The number of MN in lymphocytes that were observed in the control group is $0.1610{\pm}0.0093/cell$. Accordingly, MN assay in human peripheral lymphocytes could be a useful in viva model for studying radio-protective drug sensitivity or screening test, microdosimertic indicator and radiation-induced target organ injury. Since MN assay is simple, rapid and reproducible, it will also be a biodosimetric indicator for individual dose assessment after accidental exposure.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.361-371
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• 2014

Mycoplasma is well recognized as one of the most prevalent and serious microbial contaminants of biologic manufacturing processes. Conventional methods for mycoplasma testing, direct culture method and indirect indicator cell culture method, are lengthy, costly and less sensitive to noncultivable species. In this report, we describe a new TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR method for rapid and quantitative detection of mycoplasma contamination during manufacture of biologics. Universal mycoplasma primers were used for mycoplasma PCR and mycoplasma DNA was quantified by use of a specific TaqMan probe. Specificity, sensitivity, and robustness of the real-time PCR method was validated according to the European Pharmacopoeia. The validation results met required criteria to justify its use as a replacement for the culture method. The established real-time PCR assay was successfully applied to the detection of mycoplasma from human keratinocyte and mesenchymal stem cell as well as Vero cell lines artificially infected with mycoplasma. The overall results indicated that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be reliably used for quantitative detection of mycoplasma contamination during manufacture of biologics.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.244-250
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• 2002

Grapevine leafroll-associated 3 virus (GLRaV-3) and Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) are important viral diseases of grapevine in the world. In this study, the most reliable woody indicator plants were selected for virus indexing. Two grapevines, LN33 (Couderc 1613x vitis berlandieri) and Vitis riparia Gloire, were selected for CLRaV-3 and CFLV graft indexing, respectively. The specific characteristics of Closterovirus isolated from grapevines cultivated in Korea were identified. filamentous virus-like particles only existed in the phloem parenchyma cell. In particular, the vesiculation of mitochondria was observed. This mitochondrial vesicu-lation was considered to be one of the most reliable cytopathic features of Closterovirus. During observation of GFLV-infected Chenopodium quinoa sections, virus-like particles arranged consistently were found forming several layers in cytoplasm. Moreover, virus-like particles in tubules were observed and were associated with plasmodesmata in cytoplasm. This is the first report on cytopathological characteristics of Closterovirus and Nepovirus identified from grapevines in Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 1995

Urinary dipeptidase(Udpase) was assayed by fluorometric analysis of NADH which was produced from an indicator enzyme, L-alanine dehydrogenase. The reaction mixture was consisted of a dipeptide(L-ala-L-ala), ${\beta}-NAD^+$, L-alanine dehydrogenase in 12.5 mM sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.0, and urinary dipeptidase which initiated the reaction. The fluorescence intensity of NADH was measured as a function of time with the excitation wavelength at 340nm and emission at 460nm. Comparison of this fluorometric method with the conventional spectrophotometric method utilizing glycyldehydrophenylalanine(Gdp) as substrate provided the correlation coefficient of 0.996 and increased the sensitivity more than ten times.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of galangin towards hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage. The calf thymus DNA and Chinese Hamster Lung (CHL) cells were used to measure 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine(8-OH2'dG) as an indicator of DNA oxidative damage using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of Fe(II) ion induced the formation of 8-OH2'dG in both calf thymus DNA and CHL cells. The DNA damage effects were enhanced by increasing the concentration of Fe(II) ion and inhibited by galangin. In the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay), galangin and dl-a-tocopherol showed an inhibitory effect in CHL on hydrogen peroxide induced DNA single strand breaks. Galangin showed more potent activity than dl-$\alpha$-tocopherol under our experimental conditions. These results indicate that galangin can modify the action mechanisms of the oxidative DNA damage and may act as chemopreventive agents against oxidative stress.