• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the effect of Baekho-tang extract on epidermal barrier recovery and inflammation relief in atopic dermatitis-induced mice through Endocanabinoid system (ECS) regulation. Methods In this study, we used 4-week-old NC/Nga mice were divided into 4 group: lipid barrier elimination group (LBEG), palmitoylethanolamide treated group after lipid barrier elimination (PEAT), Baekho-tang extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination (BHTT) and control group (Ctrl). Each group was assigned 10 animals. We identified that cannabinoid receptor (CB) 1, CB2, CD (Cluster of Differentiation) 68, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), substance P and Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) through our immunohistochemistry. Results We discovered that when compared to PEAT, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative stress in the epidermal barrier, and CB1 and CB2, markers of ECS modulation, were less activated in BHTT. These results led to an anti-inflammatory response in BHTT, with a significant decrease in several inflammatory mediators such as CD 68, iNOS, substance P and MMP-9 compared to PEAT and LBEG. Conclusions These results suggest that the Baekho-tang extract can reduce the inflammation of atopic dermatitis by restoring the structural damage of the skin lipid barrier through ECS modulation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2024

Purpose: The updated ROME IV criteria for functional constipation (FC) in children were published in 2016. However, information on the use of these criteria is scarce. This study aimed to report the frequency of the use of the ROME IV criteria by Indonesian pediatricians and general practitioners (GPs) in FC management in infants and toddlers. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Results: A total of 248 respondents (183 pediatricians and 65 GPs) from 24 Indonesian provinces completed the survey. Most respondents reported an estimated prevalence of FC to be less than 5% both in infants and toddlers. On average, only 64.6% of respondents frequently used the ROME IV criteria. Pediatricians used the ROME IV criteria more often than GPs did (p<0.001). The most frequently used criteria were painful or hard bowel movements (75.0%) and ≤2 defecations/week (71.4%). Lactulose as a laxative was the preferred treatment choice, followed by changing the standard formula to a specific nutritional formula. Most of the respondents carried out parenteral reassurance and education. Normal growth, as a marker of good digestion and absorption function, and normal stool consistency and frequency were the most reported indicators of gut health. Conclusion: The ROME IV criteria for functional constipation are not extensively used by pediatricians and GPs in Indonesia. Laxatives and specific nutritional formulas were the most used management approaches in infants and toddlers. Medical education, especially for general practitioners, should be updated.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2018

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the leading cause of death among hematologic neoplasms. Recently, microRNA has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This study examined whether miR-221 could be used as a diagnostic marker for multiple myeloma. The study was performed on 20 patients with multiple myeloma without any other hematological diseases. MicroRNA extraction was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues obtained from the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma. miR-15a, miR-16, miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-221 were selected as the microRNA target genes for multiple myeloma. The significance of microRNA was based on a fold change of <1.5. To quantify the fold changes, data normalized to the human gene, SNORD43, were used as the values of the patient group. Fold change values greater than 1.5 were defined as "overexpression", whereas values less than -1.5 were defined as "underexpression". Of note, 65.0% (13/20) of samples showed significant "overexpression" in the levels of miR-221 expression and plasma cells with a group of more and less than 30% in MM patients did not show any significance of plasma cell (P<0.05). The results of other studies showing a correlation between the expression of miR-221 and MM in Caucasians were confirmed. These results suggest that miR-221 may be a useful indicator for diagnosing patients with MM. In conclusion, miR-221 is useful in the diagnosis and determining the prognosis of multiple myeloma in Koreans.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2006

The effects of fermented chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) powder on the lipid concentrations and the activities of liver marker enzymes of serum in genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats were investigated. Rats were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 50 g/kg chaga mushroom powder (CM) or 50 g/kg fermented chaga mushroom powder (FCM) for 8 weeks (26 to 34 weeks of age). Nondiabetic Long-Evans Toknshima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as age-matched nondiabetic control animals. Water consumption was significantly higher in the OLETF control than the LETO rats. Water consumption in the FCM-fed OLETF rats tended to be less than in both the OLETF control and CM-fed OLETF rats. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher in the OLETF control rats than in the LETO rats while within the OLETF rat groups, the consumption of FCM resulted in a significantly lower serum triglyceride concentration and slightly lowered serum total cholesterol concentration when compared to the OLETF control and CM-fed rats. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in the OLETF control than in the LETO rats, but this difference was significantly reduced compared to the CM-fed rats and essentially no difference in the ALT levels was observed between the LETO and OLETF-FCM rats. This observation suggests an adaptive effect of the fermented chaga mushroom in liver function. Livers of the LETO rats showed no histopathological changes, whereas those of the OLETF control rats were characterized by many fat depositions in the central zone of the hepatocytes. The livers of the OLETF CM-fed rats showed less fatty changes compared to the OLETF control rats and fat deposition in the hepatocytes was nearly absent. These results suggest that orally ingested fermented chaga mushroom has a potential beneficial effect on the complications known to occur in the obesity-related non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NlDDM) OLETF rat.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.35.1-35.16
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• 2023

Defining the molecular dynamics associated with T cell differentiation enhances our understanding of T cell biology and opens up new possibilities for clinical implications. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of CD5 expression in CD8⁺ T cell differentiation and explored its potential clinical uses. Using PBMCs from 29 healthy donors, we observed a stepwise decrease in CD5 expression as CD8⁺ T cells progressed through the differentiation stages. Interestingly, we found that CD5 expression was initially upregulated in response to T cell receptor stimulation, but diminished as the cells underwent proliferation, potentially explaining the differentiation-associated CD5 downregulation. Based on the proliferation-dependent downregulation of CD5, we hypothesized that relative CD5 expression could serve as a marker to distinguish the heterogeneous CD8⁺ T cell population based on their proliferation history. In support of this, we demonstrated that effector memory CD8⁺ T cells with higher CD5 expression exhibited phenotypic and functional characteristics resembling less differentiated cells compared to those with lower CD5 expression. Furthermore, in the retrospective analysis of PBMCs from 30 non-small cell lung cancer patients, we found that patients with higher CD5 expression in effector memory T cells displayed CD8⁺ T cells with a phenotype closer to the less differentiated cells, leading to favorable clinical outcomes in response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. These findings highlight the dynamics of CD5 expression as an indicator of CD8⁺ T cell differentiation status, and have implications for the development of predictive biomarker for ICI therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2017

Purpose Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a biologic marker of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), produced by normal thyroid tissue or thyroid cancer tissue. Therefore, the Tg values of DTC patients is the most specific indicator for judging whether recurrence occur or whether the remaining thyroid cancer is present. Thyroid cancer is currently the most common cancer in Korea, of which 90% is differentiated thyroid cancer. The number of patients with thyroid disease of this application also increased, and an accurate and prompt results are required. However, the incubation time of the Tg commonly takes about 24 hours in our hospital, and the result reporting time is delayed, and We could not satisfied with the requirements of clinical departments and patients. In order to fulfill these requirements, experiments were conducted by shortening the incubation time between company B's Kit currently in use and company C's Kit used in other hospitals. Through these experiments, we could perform the correlation with the original method and shortening method, and could find the optimum reaction time to satisfy the needs of the departments and the patients, and we will improve the competitiveness with the EIA examination. Materials and Methods In September 2016, we tested 65 patients company B's kit and company C's kit by three incubation ways. First method $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 2hr/2hr, Second method RT shaking 3hr/2hr, Third method 1hr/1hr shaking at $37^{\circ}C$. Fourth method RT shaking 3hr method which is the original method of Company C's Kit. Fifth method, the incubation time was shortened under room temperature shaking 2hr, Sixth method $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 2hr. And we performed and compared the correlation and coefficient of each methods. Results As a result of performing shortening method on company B currently in use, when comparing the Original method of company B kit, First method $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 2hr/2hr was less than Tg 1.0 ng/mL and the ratio of $R^2=0.5906$, above 1.0 ng/mL In the value, $R^2=0.9597$. Second method RT shaking 3hr/2hr was $R^2=0.7262$ less than value of 1.0 ng/mL, $R^2=0.9566$ above than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Third method $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 1hr/1hr was $R^2=0.7728$ less than value of 1.0 ng/mL, $R^2=0.8904$ above than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Forth, Company C's The original method, RT shaking 3hr was $R^2=0.7542$ less than value of 1.0 ng/mL, and $R^2=0.9711$ above than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Fifth method RT shaking 2hr was $R^2=0.5477$ less than value of 1.0 ng/mL, $R^2=0.9231$ above than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Sixth method $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 2hr showed $R^2=0.2848$ less than value of 1.0 ng/mL, $R^2=0.9028$ above than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Conclusion Samples with both values of 1.0 ng/mL or higher in both of the six methods showed relatively high correlation, but the correlation was relatively low less than value of 1.0 ng/mL. Especially, the $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 2hr method of company C showed a sharp fluctuation from the low concentration value of 1.0 ng/mL or less. Therefore, we are planning to continuously test the time, equipment, incubation temperature and so on for the room temperature shaking 2hr method and $37^{\circ}C$ shaking 1hr/1hr of company C which showed a relatively high correlation. After that, we can search for an appropriate shortening method through additional experiments such as recovery test, dilution test, sensitivity test, and provide more accurate and prompt results to the department of medical treatment, It is competitive with EIA test.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.452-461
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• 1994

Background: Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-$\alpha$ and Interleukin(lL)-$1{\beta}$ are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the septic syndrome, which is frequently associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). In spite of many reports for the role of TNF-$\alpha$ in the pathogenesis of ARDS, including human studies, it has been reported that TNF-$\alpha$ is not sensitive and specific marker for impending ARDS. But there is a possibility that the results were affected by the diversity of pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the ARDS because of various underlying disorders of the study group in the previous reports. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the roles of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ as a predictable marker for development of ARDS in the patients with septic syndrome, in which the pathogenesis is believed to be mainly cytokine-mediated. Methods: Thirty-six patients of the septic syndrome hospitalized in the intensive care units of the Asan Medical Center were studied. Sixteens suffered from ARDS, whereas the remaining 20 were at the risk of developing ARDS(acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, AHRF). In all patients venous blood samples were collected in heparin-coated tubes at the time of enrollment, at 24 and 72 h thereafter. TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All data are expressed as median with interquartile range. Results: 1) Plama TNF-$\alpha$ levels: Plasma TNF-$\beta$ levels were less than 10pg/mL, which is lowest detection value of the kit used in this study within the range of the $mean{\pm}2SD$, in all of the normal controls, 8 of 16 subjects of ARDS and in 8 in 20 subjects of AHRF. Plasma TNF-$\alpha$ levels from patients with ARDS were 10.26pg/mL(median; <10-16.99pg/mL, interquartile range) and not different from those of patients at AHRF(10.82, <10-20.38pg/mL). There was also no significant difference between pre-ARDS(<10, <10-15.32pg/mL) and ARDS(<10, <10-10.22pg/mL). TNF-$\alpha$ levels were significantly greater in the patients with shock than the patients without shock(12.53pg/mL vs. <10pg/mL) (p<0.01). There was no statistical significance between survivors(<10, <10-12.92pg/mL) and nonsurvivors(11.80, <10-20.8pg/mL) (P=0.28) in the plasma TNF-$\alpha$ levels. 2) Plasma IL-$1{\beta}$ levels: Plasma IL-$1{\beta}$ levels were less than 0.3ng/mL, which is the lowest detection value of the kit used in this study, in one of each patients group. There was no significant difference in IL-$1{\beta}$ levels of the ARDS(2.22, 1.37-8.01ng/mL) and of the AHRF(2.13, 0.83-5.29ng/mL). There was also no significant difference between pre-ARDS(2.53, <0.3-8.34ngfmL) and ARDS(5.35, 0.66-11.51ng/mL), and between patients with septic shock and patients without shock (2.51, 1.28-8.34 vs 1.46, 0.15-2.13ng/mL). Plasma IL-$1{\beta}$ levels were significantly different between survivors(1.37, 0.4-2.36ng/mL) and nonsurvivors(2.84, 1.46-8.34ng/mL). Conclusion: Plasma TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ level are not a predictable marker for development of ARDS. But TNF-$\alpha$ is a marker for shock in septic syndrome. These result could not exclude a possibility of pathophysiologic roles of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in acute lung injury because these cytokine could be locally produced and exert its effects within the lungs.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2008

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of 68 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, including 11 reference strains and 57 isolates from imported US beef, domestic meats(beef, pork, chicken meat), raw milk, and milk plants. L. monocytogenes was to evaluate the production of virulence proteins, such as hemolysin(LLO) and lecithinase(LCP), the adsorption of Congo red(CRA), and to detect virulence genes using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). In the study of virulence protein production, 68(100%), 62(91.2%), and 54(79.4%) of the 68 L. monocytogenes strains were positive for LLO production, the LCP test, and the CRA test, respectively, while strains of other species, such as L. innocua, L. gray, L. murrayi, and L. welshimeri, were not. There were no significant differences between L. monocytogenes serotypes and the ability to produce LLO or LCP. L. monocytogenesstrains had very high hemolytic titers(2 to 16 fold), while the other Listeria species, other than L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri, did not. The hemolysin activities of L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, and L. seeligeri usually exceeded 1.0 HU/mg, while those of other Listeria spp. were less than 0.04 HU/mg. In the PCR assay, all of the L. monocytogenes strains contained the hlyA, plcA, plcB, inlA, and inlB virulence genes and produced a product of the expected size. In the PCR of the actA gene, the expected 385-bp product was seen in 39(57.4%) L. monocytogenesstrains, while an unexpected 268-bp product was seen in 29(42.6%) strains. Most L. monocytogenes strains isolated from Hanwoo beef produced the 385-bp actA gene product, while strains of imported US beef usually produced the 268-bp actA gene product. By contrast, no virulence gene products were amplified in the other Listeria spp.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.323-329
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• 2012

Genome-wide association study was performed on data from 266 Hanwoo steers derived from 66 sires using bovine 10K mapping chip in Hanwoo (Korean cattle). SNPs were excluded from the analysis if they failed in over 5% of the genotypes, had median GC scores below 0.6, had GC scores under 0.6 in less than 90% of the samples, deviated in heterozygosity more than 3 standard deviations from the other SNPs and were out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for a cut-off p-value of $1^{-15}$. Unmapped and SNPs on sex chromosomes were also excluded. A total of 4,522 SNPs were included in the analysis. To test an association between SNP and QTL, a single marker regression analysis was implemented in this study. SNP was assumed to be in LD with QTL in close proximity and the effect evaluated was additive effect (QTL allele substitution effect). The number of significant SNP at a threshold of P<0.001 was 3, 5, 5 and 4 loci for live weight at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. For live weight at different ages, significant SNP were spread out across chromosome but some of significant SNP (rs29012453 and rs29012456 on BTA24) had shown highly significant effects. As for the distribution of size of SNP effects, few loci for live weight at different age had moderate effects (6~11%) but most of significant loci had small effects (2 to 5% of additive genetic variance) against total additive genetic variance. In conclusion, live weight at different age might be affected by few loci with moderate effect and many loci with small effects across genome in Hanwoo.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.10-10
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• 2017

Rice consumption has been continuously decreasing as the eating habits of Koreans have become westernized and diversified. The per capita annual rice consumption in Korea has dropped sharply from 136.4 kg in 1970 to 61.9 kg in 2016. The Korean government, therefore, has been trying to promote rice consumption by invigorating the processed food industry using rice flour. To facilitate the market for processed rice foods, it is essential to develop proper milling technology in terms of flour particle size and damaged starch content to produce high quality rice flour at competitive cost. Dry milling and wet milling are the two major processes used to produce rice flour. Although the dry milling process is relatively simple with a lower production cost, damaged starch content increases because of the high grain hardness of rice. In wet milling, the quality of rice flour is improved by reducing flour particle size as well as damaged starch content through soaking procedures. However, the production costs are high because of the additional expenses associated with the disposal of waste water, sterilization and drying of the wet flour. Recently developed technologies such as jet milling and cryogenic milling also require expensive investment and production. Therefore, developing new rice cultivars with dry milling adaptability as well as good processing properties is an important goal of rice breeding in Korea. 'Suweon 542' is a floury endosperm mutant line derived from sodium azide treatment on a high-yield, early maturing, and non-glutinous japonica rice cultivar, 'Namil'. Compared with the wild type, after dry milling process, the grain hardness of 'Suweon 542' was significantly lower because of its round and loosely packed starch granules. Also, the flour of 'Suweon 542' had significantly smaller particles and less damaged starch than 'Namil' and other rice cultivars and its particle size distribution was similar to a commercial wheat cultivar. Recently, through collaborations with nine universities and food companies, a total of 21 kinds of processed prototypes, using the dry milling flour of 'Suweon 542', were evaluated. In the production of major rice processing products, there was no significant quality difference between the flours prepared by wet milling and dry milling. Although the amount of water added to the dough was slightly increased, it was confirmed that the recipe applying the wet flour could be used without significant change. To efficiently transfer the floury endosperm characteristics of 'Suweon 542' to other commercial rice cultivars, it is essential to develop DNA marker tightly linked to the target gene. Association analysis using 70 genome-wide SSR markers and 94 F2 plants derived from 'Suweon 542'/'Milyang 23' showed that markers on chromosome 5 explained a large portion of the variation in floury grains percentage (FGP). Further analysis with an increased number of SSR markers revealed that the floury endosperm of 'Suweon 542' was directed by a major recessive locus, flo7(t), located in the 19.33-19.86 Mbp region of chromosome 5, with RM18639 explaining 92.2% of FGP variation in the F2 population. Through further physical mapping, a co-segregate and co-dominant DNA marker with the locus, flo7(t) was successfully developed, by which, thereby, breeding efficiency of rice cultivars having proper dry milling adaptability with high yield potential or useful functional materials would be improved. 'Suweon 542' maintained the early maturity of the wild type, Namil, which can be used in rice-wheat double cropping systems in Korea not only for improved arable land but also for sharing flour production facilities. In addition to the high susceptibility against major rice diseases, nevertheless, another possible drawback of 'Suweon 542' is the high rate of viviparous under prolonged rainfall during the harvesting season. To overcome susceptibility and vivipary of 'Suweon 542', the progeny lines, derived from the crosses 'Suweon 542' and 'Jopyeong', an early maturing rice cultivar with multiple resistance against rice blast, bacterial blight, and rice strip virus, and 'Heugjinju', a anthocyanin pigment containing black rice cultivar, were intensively evaluated. As the outputs, three dry milling suitable rice elite lines, 'Jeonju614', 'Jeonju615', and 'Jeonju616' were developed.