• 대한바이러스학회지
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 1999

We examined the hepatitis G virus infections among 227 Koreans who were healthy or were suspected of hepatitis and determined the phylogenetic relationship based on a part of the NS-5 region of 5 positive samples. Viral RNA was extracted from sera and cDNA was synthesized and subsequently amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) or RT-nested PCR using random hexamer and NS-5 specific primers (470-20-1-77F, 470-20-1-211R, HGVNESTFO, HGVNESTRE). Five positives were found to belong to samples of patients showing symptoms of viral hepatitis. Primers used for PCR or nested PCR were derived from the NS-5 region. On the other hand, no amplification was detected using primers derived from the 5'-NCR (G-146F, G-401R). We performed TA cloning and sequencing of 5 amplified fragments, and their sequences were compared with those of foreign isolates of HGV. The phylogenetic analysis using MegAlign programme of DNAstar has shown that the Korean isolates are clustered on the phylogenetic tree. In summary, we confirmed the hepatitis G virus infection in 5 cases out of 12 patients showing the symptoms of viral hepatitis. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences of 5 amplified fragments showed that their relations to each other were closer than those to the foreign HGV isolates reported.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.153-157
• /
• 2004

목 적 : TTV는 인체 감염이 확인된 최초의 circovirus로 간염을 유발할 가능성에 대해 연구가 이루어지고 있다. TLMV는 최근에 발견된 circovirus로 TTV보다 작지만 유사한 구조를 가진 것으로 알려져 있다. TLMV 감염의 성인 유병률은 약 70%인 것으로 알려지지만 소아의 유병률은 아직 확실하지 않다. 이에 저자들은 국내 소아의 TLMV 유병률을 알아보기 위하여 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2001년 6월부터 12월까지 인제의대 상계 백병원 외래를 방문한 환아중 TTV DNA에 대한 PCR이 시행되었던 88명의 혈청 검체를 대상으로 하였다. TLMV의 5'NCR(noncoding region) 특이적 시발체를 이용하여 PCR을 시행하였다. 1라운드 PCR은 M1359, M1365 시발체를 사용하여 $94^{\circ}C$ 10분, $94^{\circ}C$에서 40초, $60^{\circ}C$에서 40초, $72^{\circ}C$에서 50초, $72^{\circ}C$에서 10분의 조건에서 55회 시행하였다. 최종 산물 $2{\mu}L$에 M1360, M1366 시발체를 사용하여 1라운드와 동일한 조건에서 PCR을 55회 시행하였다. TLMV PCR 양성이 나온 10건에 대해 직접 염기 서열 분석과 계통 분석을 시행하였다. 결 과 : 소아 전체 연령에서 TLMV 감염 유병률은 49%였다. 연령별 유병률은 생후 1세 미만은 36%, 1~3세는 62%, 4~6세는 43%, 7~9세는 16%, 10~15세는 66%였다. 전체 소아의 22%에서 TTV와 TLMV의 혼합 감염이 확인되었다. TLMV PCR 산물 10건에 대한 염기 서열 분석을 시행한 결과 다른 나라의 TLMV 염기 서열과 많은 차이가 났다. 결 론 : 국내 소아의 TLMV 유병률은 49%로 비교적 높았으며 TLMV와 TTV와 혼합 감염이 발생함을 알 수 있었다. 국내에서 유행하는 TLMV의 유전형이 다른 나라와 큰 차이가 있을 가능성이 있지만 이에 대한 연구가 더 필요할 것으로 보인다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제58권1호
• /
• pp.73-79
• /
• 2020

Echinostoma revolutum is a zoonotic food-borne intestinal trematode that can cause intestinal bleeding, enteritis, and diarrhea in human and birds. To identify a suspected E. revolutum trematode from a red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and to reveal the genetic characteristics of its mitochondrial (mt) genome, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and complete mt genome sequence of this trematode were amplified. The results identified the trematode as E. revolutum. Its entire mt genome sequence was 15,714 bp in length, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and one non-coding region (NCR), with 61.73% A+T base content and a significant AT preference. The length of the 22 tRNA genes ranged from 59 bp to 70 bp, and their secondary structure showed the typical cloverleaf and D-loop structure. The length of the large subunit of rRNA (rrnL) and the small subunit of rRNA (rrnS) gene was 1,011 bp and 742 bp, respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that E. revolutum and E. miyagawai clustered together, belonging to Echinostomatidae with Hypoderaeum conoideum. This study may enrich the mitochondrial gene database of Echinostoma trematodes and provide valuable data for studying the molecular identification and phylogeny of some digenean trematodes.

• Journal of Breast Cancer
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.371-381
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Immune suppression is common in patients with advanced breast cancer but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we aimed to identify B7 family members that were able to predict the immune status of patients, and which may serve as potential targets for the treatment of breast cancer. We also aimed to identify microRNAs that may regulate the expression of B7 family members. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas data from 1,092 patients with breast cancer, including gene expression, microRNA expression and survival data, were used for statistical and survival analyses. Polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure messenger RNA and protein expression, respectively. Luciferase assay was used to investigate direct microRNA target. Results: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that microRNA (miR)-93, miR-195, miR-497, and miR-340 are potential regulators of the immune evasion of breast cancer cells, and that they exert this function by targeting CD274, PDCD1LG2, and NCR3LG1. We chose CD274 for further investigations. We found that miR-195, miR-497, and CD274 expression levels were inversely correlated in MDA-MB-231 cells, and miR-195 and miR-497 expressions mimic inhibited CD274 expression in vitro. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that miR-195 and miR-497 directly target CD274 3' untranslated region. Conclusion: Our data indicated that the level of B7 family members can predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients, and miR-195/miR-497 regulate CD274 expression in triple negative breast cancer. This regulation may further influence tumor progression and the immune tolerance mechanism in breast cancer and may be able to predict the effect of immunotherapy on patients.

• 대한조선학회논문집
• /
• 제56권1호
• /
• pp.34-46
• /
• 2019

This paper provides the numerical results for the self-propulsion performance in waves of a car ferry vessel with damage in one of its twin-screw propulsion systems without flooding the engine room. The numerical simulations were carried out according to the Safe Return to Port (SRtP) regulation made by the Lloyd's register, where the regulation requires that damaged passenger ships should have an ability to return to port with a speed of 6 knots in a Beaufort 8 sea condition. For the validation of the present numerical analysis study, the resistance performance and the self-propulsion performance of the car ferry in intact and damaged conditions in calm water were calculated, which showed a satisfactory agreement with the model test results of Korea Research Institute of Ship and Ocean engineering (KRISO). Finally, the numerical simulation of self-propulsion performance in waves of the damaged car ferry ship was carried out for a normal sea state and for a Beaufort 8 sea state, respectively. The estimated average Brake Horse Power (BHP) for keeping the damaged car ferry ship advancing at a speed of 6 knots in a Beaufort 8 sea state reached about 47% of BHP at MCR condition or about 56% of BHP at NCR condition of the engine determined at the design state. In conclusion, it can be noted that the engine power of the damaged car ferry ship in single propulsion condition is sufficient to satisfy the SRtP requirement.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.100007.1-100007.11
• /
• 2024

Recent evidence establishes a pivotal role for obesity-induced inflammation in precipitating insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. Central to this process is the proinflammatory M1 adipose-tissue macrophages (ATMs) in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Notably, natural killer (NK) cells are a crucial regulator of ATMs since their cytokines induce ATM recruitment and M1 polarization. The importance of NK cells is shown by the strong increase in NK-cell numbers in eWAT, and by studies showing that removing and expanding NK cells respectively improve and worsen obesity-induced insulin resistance. It has been suggested that NK cells are activated by unknown ligands on obesity-stressed adipocytes that bind to NKp46 (encoded by Ncr1), which is an activating NK-cell receptor. This was supported by a study showing that NKp46-knockout mice have improved obesity-induced inflammation/insulin resistance. We therefore planned to use the NKp46-knockout mice to further elucidate the molecular mechanism by which NKp46 mediates eWAT NK-cell activation in obesity. We confirmed that obesity increased eWAT NKp46⁺ NK-cell numbers and NKp46 expression in wild-type mice and that NKp46-knockout ablated these responses. Unexpectedly, however, NKp46-knockout mice demonstrated insulin resistance similar to wild-type mice, as shown by fasting blood glucose/insulin levels and glucose/insulin tolerance tests. Obesityinduced increases in eWAT ATM numbers and proinflammatory gene expression were also similar. Thus, contrary to previously published results, NKp46 does not regulate obesity-induced insulin resistance. It is therefore unclear whether NKp46 participates in the development of obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. This should be considered when elucidating the obesity-mediated molecular mechanisms that activate NK cells.