• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2003

Background : The SCL began screening of newborns and high risk group blood spots with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in April 2001. Our goal was to determine approximate prevalence of metabolic disorders, optimization of decision criteria for estimation of preventive effect with early diagnosis. This report describes the ongoing effort to identify more than 30 metabolic disorders by MS/MS in South Korea. Methods : Blood spot was collected from day 2 to 30 (mostly from day 2 to 10) after birth for newborn. Blood spot of high risk group was from the pediatric patients in NICU, developmental delay, mental retardation, strong family history of metabolic disorders. One punch (3.2 mm ID) of dried blood spots was extracted with $150{\mu}L$ of methanol containing isotopically labelled amino acids (AA) and acylcarnitines (AC) internal standards. Butanolic HCl was added and incubated at $65^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The butylated extract was introduced into the inlet of MS/MS. Neutral loss of m/z 102 and parent ion mode of m/z 85 were set for the analyses of AA and AC, respectively. Diagnosis was confirmed by repeating acylcarnitine profile, urine organic acid and plasma amino acid analysis, direct enzyme assay, or molecular testing. Results : Approximately 31,000 neonates and children were screened and the estimated prevalence (newborn/high risk group), sensitivity, specificity and recall rate amounted to 1:2384/1:2066, 96.55%, 99.98%, and 0.73%, respectively. Confirmed 28 (0.09%) multiple metabolic disorders (newborn/high risk) were as follows; 13 amino acid disorders [classical PKU (3/4), BH4 deficient-hyperphenylalaninemia (0/1), Citrullinemia (1/0), Homocystinuria (0/2), Hypermethioninemia (0/1), Tyrosinemia (1/0)], 8 organic acidurias [Propionic aciduria (2/1), Methylmalonic aciduria (0/1), Isovaleric aciduria (1/1), 3-methylcrotonylglycineuria (1/0), Glutaric aciduria type1 (1/0)], 7 fatty acid oxidation disorders [LCHAD def. (2/2), Mitochondrial TFP def. (0/1), VLCAD def. (1/0), LC3KT def. (0/1). Conclnsion : The relatively normal development of 10 patients with metabolic disorders among newborns (except for the expired) demonstrates the usefulness of newborn screening by MS/MS for early diagnosis and medical intervention. However, close coordination between the MS/MS screening laboratory and the metabolic clinic/biochmical geneticists is needed to determine proper decision of screening parameters, confirmation diagnosis, follow-up scheme and additional tests.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1117-1123
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• 2019

Control of pine wilt disease, which is caused by pine wilt nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is heavily dependent on the use of chemicals such as abamectin. Although such chemicals are highly effective, demands for alternatives that are derived preferentially from natural sources, are increasing out of environmental concerns. One of the challenges to discovery of alternative control agents is lack of fast and efficient screening method that can be used in a high-throughput manner. Here we described the development of colorimetric assay for the rapid and accurate screening of candidate nematicidal compounds/biologics targeting B. xylophilus. Contrary to the conventional method, which relies on laborious visual inspection and counting of nematode population under microscope, our method utilizes a redox dye that changes its color in response to metabolic activity of nematode population in a given sample. In this work, we optimized parameters of our colorimetric assay including number of nematodes and amount of redox dye, and tested applicability of our assay for screening of chemicals and biologics. We demonstrated that our colorimetric assay can be applied to rapid and accurate quantification of nematode viability/mortality in a nematode population treated with candidate chemicals/biologics. Application of our method would facilitate high-throughput endeavors aiming at finding environment-friendly control agents for deadly disease of pine trees.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.958-964
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• 1997

The three medicinal herbs-Curcuma longa Linne, Paeonia japonica Miyabe, Scutellaria baikalensis George-irradiated with gamma rays have been tested for their possible genotoxicity. The methanol-soluble and water-soluble fractions of the 10kGy gamma-iradiated herbs were examined in the Salmonella typhimurium histidine reversion assy(Ames test) using S. typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA102 as tester strains. No mutabenicity was detected in this assay with or without metabolic activation. The safety of the herbs irradiated with gamma rays at practical doses needs to be evaluated in further tests of genotoxicity in vivo and chronic and reproductive toxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.131-141
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• 2017

This study was carried out to perform genotoxicological safety evaluation of crude antifungal compounds produced by Bacillus subtilis SN7 (B. subtilis SN7) isolated from meju. Bacterial reverse mutation assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537 or Escherichia coli WP2uvrA in the presence and absence of the S9 metabolic activation system was carried out, and the crude antifungal compounds produced by B. subtilis SN7 showed no significant increase in the number of revertant colonies. In the chromosomal aberration tests using Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, sample treatment groups showed no increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations compared to the negative control group. Furthermore, in the micronucleus formation test, the crude antifungal compounds showed no significance increase in the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei. These results suggest that the crude antifungal compounds produced by B. subtilis SN7 isolated from meju showed no harmful genotoxic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.536-539
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• 2011

Nowadays, there are a number of colorimetric techniques available for the determination of a time killing assay in a manner much easier and faster than those previously more commonly used, which were much more time-consuming and laborious colony counting procedures. Here, an attempt has been made to test the antimicrobial peptides of Citropin 1.1, Palm-KK-$NH_2$, and Temporin A on a reference strain of Staphylococcus aureus using resazurin as the cell viability reagent. Staphylococcus aureus was exposed to the test compounds over varying periods of time and the metabolic activity measured, with a profile of antimicrobial activity then established. The results are in agreement with data from previous literature, thus confirming the relevance of the application of resazurin for the testing of antimicrobial agents.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.141-167
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• 2006

The genotoxicity of water extract of Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang was tested by In Vitro Chromosome Aberration Test. Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay and Micronucleus test according to OECD Guidelines and KFDA Guidelines. The obtained results were as follows : 1. Chromosome Aberration Test: In Vitro Chromosome Aberration Test of Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts was carried out using cultured Chinese hamster lung cells in the presence and absence of metabolic activation system(S-9 mix). No significant changes in the number of aberrant metaphases having structural and number of aberrations were detected in Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts treated groups. 2. Bacterial Reveres Mutation Assay: Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts was evaluated for its potential to induce reverse mutation in the histidine auxotroph strains of Salmonella typhimurium such as TA100, TA1535, TA98 and TAl537 and the tryptophan auxotroph strain of Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA. No significant changes in the number of revertant colonies compared to its negative control were detected in Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts treated groups against all 5 strains. 3. Micronucleus test: Micronucleus test of Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts were performed using specific pathogen free 7-week old male ICR mouse. No significant changes in the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes among 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes compared to negative control were detected in all Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts treated groups. In summarized above-mentioned results, it is concluded that Bojungikkeehapdaechilki-tang extracts have not genotoxicity against In Vitro Chromosome Aberration Test, Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay and Micronucleus test.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

Allograft cardiac valves have been used for over 30 years to replace diseased cardiac valves, reconstruct right or left ventricular outflow tract. With increasing its requirement, the establishment of a viable bank capable of maintaining the viability of graft over a prolonged period would be desirable. The method for determining the viability of allograft by metabolic assay technique using radiolabeled aminoacids has been used recently. An experimental study was done for evaluation of viability of cardiac allograft which was preserved for 14 days at 4oC in nutrient medium[fresh preservation] by metabolism assay technique using 3H-glycine. Also, the effectiveness of low concentration antibiotic solution[CLPV] for sterilization was evaluated. The effectiveness of CLPV solution for sterilization of allograft was perfect. Pre-treatment cultured organisms were not cultured after treatment at all in every cases. The viability of allograft after sterilization was reduced to 66.4%[aortic wall], 74.7%[pulmonary wall], 76.3%[aortic valve], 67.9%[aortic wall]. And after the fresh preservation for 14 days, the viability was reduced to 14.7%, 18.5%, 17.7%, 19.0%, respectively.In conclusion, viability of allograft was reduce to 71.3[66.4-76.3]% after sterilization and 17.5[14.7-19.0]% after fresh preservation. And sterilization effect of CLPV solution was satisfactory.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.81-81
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• 2018

The present study was investigated on in vitro anti-obesity effect of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol from Cudrania tricuspidata. We isolated various compounds from Cudrania tricuspidata. Among these compounds, anti-obesity effects of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was examined by lipase activity assay, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE4) activity assay, and citrate synthase activity assay. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts inhibited the enzymatic activities of lipase, PDE4, and citrate synthase. Lipase is known to mediate the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in adipose tissue and cholesterol esters in other tissue or cells. Also, PDE4 hydrolyses cAMP, a crucial secondary messenger for in metabolic pathways including glucose and lipid metabolism, lipolysis, and thermogenic function. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts induced the inhibitory effect against each enzymatic activity on several specific substrates as observed by detection at 405 or 412 nm. These findings might be attributable to the inhibition of adipogenesis, and partial prevention of obesity. In conclusion, these results show that 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata may be a critical candidate as a natural anti-obesity source.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.964-973
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• 2020

Recent studies have highlighted that early enhancement of the glycolytic pathway is a mode of maintaining the proinflammatory status of immune cells. Thiamine, a wellknown co-activator of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, a gatekeeping enzyme, shifts energy utilization of glucose from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, we hypothesized that thiamine may modulate inflammation by alleviating metabolic shifts during immune cell activation. First, using allithiamine, which showed the most potent anti-inflammatory capacity among thiamine derivatives, we confirmed the inhibitory effects of allithiamine on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and maturation process in dendritic cells. We applied the LPS-induced sepsis model to examine whether allithiamine has a protective role in hyper-inflammatory status. We observed that allithiamine attenuated tissue damage and organ dysfunction during endotoxemia, even when the treatment was given after the early cytokine release. We assessed the changes in glucose metabolites during LPS-induced dendritic cell activation and found that allithiamine significantly inhibited glucose-driven citrate accumulation. We then examined the clinical implication of regulating metabolites during sepsis by performing a tail bleeding assay upon allithiamine treatment, which expands its capacity to hamper the coagulation process. Finally, we confirmed that the role of allithiamine in metabolic regulation is critical in exerting anti-inflammatory action by demonstrating its inhibitory effect upon mitochondrial citrate transporter activity. In conclusion, thiamine could be used as an alternative approach for controlling the immune response in patients with sepsis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1351-1360
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• 2023

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that disturb hormonal homeostasis by binding to receptors. EDCs are metabolized through hepatic enzymes, causing altered transcriptional activities of hormone receptors, and thus necessitating the exploration of the potential endocrine-disrupting activities of EDC-derived metabolites. Accordingly, we have developed an integrative workflow for evaluating the post-metabolic activity of potential hazardous compounds. The system facilitates the identification of metabolites that exert hormonal disruption through the integrative application of an MS/MS similarity network and predictive biotransformation based on known hepatic enzymatic reactions. As proof-of-concept, the transcriptional activities of 13 chemicals were evaluated by applying the in vitro metabolic module (S9 fraction). Identified among the tested chemicals were three thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonistic compounds that showed increased transcriptional activities after phase I+II reactions (T3, 309.1 ± 17.3%; DITPA, 30.7 ± 1.8%; GC-1, 160.6 ± 8.6% to the corresponding parents). The metabolic profiles of these three compounds showed common biotransformation patterns, particularly in the phase II reactions (glucuronide conjugation, sulfation, GSH conjugation, and amino acid conjugation). Data-dependent exploration based on molecular network analysis of T3 profiles revealed that lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most enriched biotransformants. The subsequent subnetwork analysis proposed 14 additional features, including T4 in addition to 9 metabolized compounds that were annotated by prediction system based on possible hepatic enzymatic reaction. The other 10 THR agonistic negative compounds showed unique biotransformation patterns according to structural commonality, which corresponded to previous in vivo studies. Our evaluation system demonstrated highly predictive and accurate performance in determining the potential thyroid-disrupting activity of EDC-derived metabolites and for proposing novel biotransformants.