• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2008

Our previous study showed that transgenic (TG) pigs harboring human EPO (hEPO) gene have been shown to have reproductive disorders, including low pregnancy rates, irregular estrus cycle and low little size. To investigate these reasons, we assessed estrus behavior (standing response) and plasma $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) level, which partly reflect reproductive function, during the estrus cycles after synchronization and superovulation by hormone treatments. Then, we analysed blood composition and expression of hEPO gene in TG pigs. Pigs were injected with PG600. After 10 days, pigs were fed with Regumate porcine for 6 days. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein. Analysis of blood composition and $E_2$ level were measured by Hemavet 950 and $E_2$ ELISA kit, respectively. And, the expression of hEPO gene in reproductive organs was quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. The percentage of estrus behavior in TG was significantly decreased. Hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and red blood cell (RBC) number were significantly higher in TG than wild type (WT). On the other hand, high expression of hEPO gene in TG was observed in the mammary gland as well as in the uterus. Moreover, plasma $E_2$ level was significantly higher in TG than WT. These results suggest that nonspecific expression of hEPO gene in the other organs of TG may affect blood composition and plasma $E_2$ level, thereby causing reproductive disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.419-425
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• 2010

Mast cells are activated by specific allergens and also by various nonspecific stimuli, which might induce physical urticaria. This study investigated the functional expression of temperature sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) subfamily in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. The temperature of perfusate was raised from room temperature (RT, $23{\sim}25^{\circ}C$) to a moderately high temperature (MHT, $37{\sim}39^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV3/4, a high temperature (HT, $44{\sim}46^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV1, or a very high temperature (VHT, $53{\sim}55^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV2. The membrane conductance of HMC-1 was increased by MHT and HT in about 50% (21 of 40) of the tested cells, and the I/V curves showed weak outward rectification. VHT-induced current was 10-fold larger than those induced by MHT and HT. The application of the TRPV 4 activator $3{\alpha}$-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate ($4{\alpha}$ PDD, $1\;{\mu}M$) induced weakly outward rectifying currents similar to those induced by MHT. However, the TRPV3 agonist camphor or TRPV1 agonist capsaicin had no effect. RT-PCR analysis of HMC-1 demonstrated the expression of TRPV4 as well as potent expression of TRPV2. The $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ of HMC-1 cells was also increased by MHT or by $4{\alpha}$ PDD. In summary, our present study indicates that HMC-1 cells express $Ca^{2+}$-permeable TRPV4 channels in addition to the previously reported expression of TRPV2 with a higher threshold of activating temperature.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2017

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are major methods to treat cancer. However, current cancer treatments report severe side effects and high recurrences. Recent studies about engineering nanoparticles as a drug carrier suggest possibilities in terms of specific targeting and spatiotemporal release of drugs. While many nanoparticles demonstrate lower toxicity and better targeting results than free drugs, they still need to improve their performance dramatically in terms of targeting accuracy, immune responses, and non-specific accumulation at organs. One possible way to overcome the challenges is to make precisely controlled nanoparticles with respect to size, shape, surface properties, and mechanical stiffness. Here, we demonstrate $500{\times}200nm$ discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs (DPNs) as a drug delivery carrier. DPNs were prepared by using a top-down fabrication method that we previously reported to control shape as well as size. Moreover, DPNs have multiple payloads, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), lipid-Rhodamine B dye (RhB) and Salinomycin. In this study, we demonstrated a potential of DPNs as a drug carrier to treat cancer.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2001

Objectives : Fatigue is a common symptom in primary medical care and has nonspecific and highly subjective features. So it has been difficult to define and measure fatigue, especially those present without any organic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Fatigue severity scale(FSS) in patients with persistent fatigue who were free of any organic diseases or psychiatric disorders of depression or anxiety. Methods : Subjects consisted of 45 controls, 44 fatigued patients and 43 psychiatric patients with depression or anxiety. They all completed the fatigue severity, modified Bepsi stress, and Hospital anxiety and depression scales. Chalder fatigue scale was administrated randomly in 30 of them. Data were analyzed for reliability and validity of the FSS. Results: Cronbach's a coeffient of FSS was 0.929, and the Pearson correlation coefficient for test-retest was 0.916(p<0.01). ANCOVA for discriminant validity revealed that there were significant differences in mean FSS values among the three groups. The fatigue group had significantly higher FSS value than the other two groups. The psychiatric group also had significantly higher FSS value than the control group. The Pearson correlation coefficient for convergent validity by comparing FSS with Chalder fatigue scale was 0.782(p<0.01). Using FSS index 3.22 as the cut-off point, sensitivity was 84.1% and specificity was 85.7% for the fatigue and control groups, respectively. Conclusion : Results suggested the clinical application of the FSS to be a useful measurement for distinguishing fatigue between patients with physiologic fatigue and psychiatric patients with depression or anxiety.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.437-440
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• 2010

Cardiac mesotheliomas are rare. It is difficult to diagnose them at an early stage because the symptoms are nonspecific. Here we report two cases that had been initially diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis but later were definitively diagnosed, after pericardiectomy, as mesothelioma. The two patients complained of dyspnea that lasted 4 months and 10 years. Chest CT showed mild pericardial effusion and thickened pericardium, which was found enveloping the heart without any lumps. Median sternotomy showed that the overall pericardium was thickened by more than 10 mm. Pericardiectomy (phrenic nerve to phrenic nerve) was performed and post-operative histology confirmed malignant mesothelioma. In one patient the disease recurred near the pericardium post-operatively at 7 months and the patient died at 11 months. The other patient received chemotherapy and was still alive at post-operative month 16. Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare disease exhibiting clinical signs similar to those of constrictive pericarditis, and should be diagnosed at an early stage of onset.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2004

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a nonspecific inflammatory injury affecting primarily the small airways. Its inflammatory process is characterized by fibrotic obliteration of the lumen of bronchioles. BO can be idiopathic or associated with connective tissue disease, inhaled toxins, infections, drugs, and chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). Pulmonary complications occur in 40~60% of patients who undergo allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), causing 10~40% of transplant-related deaths. BO is a characteristic pulmonary complication which occurs usually within a few years after BMT. Documented complications of BO include air-leak syndromes such as pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax. We report a case of a 30-year-old male patient with BO due to chronic GVHD after allogenic BMT who presented with recurrent bilateral pneumothoraces.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by a sustained eosinophilia of $1,500/mm^3$ or more in the absence of any known causes or the signs and symptoms of organ involvement. We report a 64-year-old man with HES initially presenting with involvement of the liver and bone marrow. Despite controlling the eosinophilia by corticosteroid, he developed a cerebral infarction and later progressive interstitial pneumonia. Brain angiography revealed a severe stenosis of the proximal right internal carotid artery (ICA) and a complete obstruction of the intracranial ICA. An open lung biopsy revealed fibrosis and lymphoplasma cell infiltration without eosinophils, which were consistent with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2009

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) is a rare disorder characterized by a diffuse infiltration of the alveolar space, interstitium by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and reticuloendothelial cells. Although its etiology is unknown, LIP has been associated with autoimmune disorders and with viral infections. Because it's clinical and radiographic features are nonspecific, a confirmatory diagnosis is performed by open lung biopsy. A 59-year-old female presented dry cough, which had been present for 1 month. On initial findings of multifocal consolidation at the right middle lobe on both lower lobes in chest radiography, the first diagnosis of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia was suggested. On open lung biopsy, LIP was diagnosed. The patient had no autoimmune disease, viral infection or monoclonal gammopathy. After 3 months of corticosteroid treatment, the patient experienced improved symptoms, reduced abnormalities on chest radiography, and improved pulmonary function testing.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 2011

Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is mostly a disease of young adults and it presents as unexplained, asymptomatic, localized or generalized lymphadenopathy that is usually persistent or recurrent over a period of many years. PTGCs are larger than regular germinal centers and they contain a variable proportion of small mantle zone lymphocytes and so they become progressively transformed and they may result in the loss of clear demarcation between them and the mantle zone. PTGC may resemble the nodules of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) and it may be mistaken for NLPHD. Histological and immunohistochemical studies are helpful in differentiating these diseases. Because of the relatively frequent recurrences of PTGC, follow-up and repeat biopsy are indicated. Although PTGC is not considered to be a premalignant condition, PTGC may occur prior to, concurrent with or following NLPHD. This emphasizes the need for ongoing follow-up and repeat biopsy. Although PTGC is reported in 3.5% to 10% of the cases of chronic nonspecific lymphadenopathy, oral & maxillofacial surgeons are not widely aware of this condition and its clinical implications. Herein, we present a case of PTGC. A 24-year-old male without any history of immunodeficiency or autoimmune disease was admitted to the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery at Ulsan University Hospital for evaluation of a right submandibular swelling. He had another mass on the right thigh that was noticed about 1 year ago. The submandibular lesion was completely resected and biopsied. The histological findings and immunohistochemical stains (CD3, CD15, CD20, CD30, CD57, BCL-2, EMA) were consistent with PTGC. He was followed up without any other complaints for 9 months.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the knowledge and ability levels of middle school students in four areas: conceptual understanding, argument construction, justification schemes, and use of scientific knowledge in a causal explanation for a genetic phenomenon. A group of 162 middle school students who have taken a class titled Genetics and Evolution participated in the study. Each student answered-and justified the answer to-one question pertaining to genetics. Ability levels were rated from level 0 to level 4, with 4 being the top rating. Students were required to choose one of two competing arguments to explain whether green seed pimps and red seed pimps of the same size and shape were the same species or not. Analyzing conceptual understanding: 47% of the respondents provided the correct answer. Analyzing their abilities for constructing an argument: 75% of the students with the correct answer and 42% of the students with the incorrect answer were evaluated to be at ability level 3 or 4 for argument construction. Analyzing the students' justification schemes: "Scientific idea" and "Analogy" were the most frequently used schemes. Analyzing their use of scientific knowledge: of the students who selected the scientific idea justification scheme, 36% used the correct scientific knowledge, but the remainder used inaccurate or nonspecific scientific knowledge. These findings provide implication for encouraging argumentative writing explaining scientific phenomena regarding epistemic practice.