• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.472-474
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• 2016

Fatal anaphylactic reactions to protamine sulfate during cardiac surgery are very rare. We report a case of catastrophic bronchial spasm due to an anaphylactic reaction to protamine. The patient was managed successfully using a bronchodilator, steroid treatment, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.57-62
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• 2001

One of recent advances of mammalian fertilization is the understanding of the molecular basis of fertilization. Several proteins localized in sperm nucleus or on sperm surface are necessary for the fertilization process. Protamines, sperm nuclear proteins, are required for normal sperm function that leads to fertilization. Fertilin and cyritestin are sperm surface proteins and essential for sperm-egg binding. Fertilin is also required for sperm transport in the female reproductive tracts. Metalloproteses on sperm plasma membrane are found to play a role in sperm-egg fusion. The functional analysis of these proteins provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian fertilization and male fertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2020

Objective: Since sperm abnormalities are known to be a major reason for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), any defects in DNA structure and chromatin condensation can place embryos at risk in the early stage of development and implantation. As antioxidants such as vitamin C may play a protective role against the destruction of protamine genes in sperm chromatin, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C on chromatin and the expression of protamine genes in the male partners of couples with RPL. Methods: Twenty male partners of couples with RPL were selected as the intervention group and received vitamin C supplementation (250 mg daily for 3 months). Healthy fertile men (n = 20) were included as controls. Sperm chromatin, DNA integrity, and the expression levels of protamine genes were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: Significant differences were found in sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis between the two groups and before and after vitamin C administration. A significant change was found in mRNA levels of PRM1, PRM2, and the PRM1/PRM2 ratio after treatment. Conclusion: Daily oral administration of vitamin C may improve human sperm parameters and DNA integrity by increasing protamine gene expression levels in the male partners of couples with RPL. The beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation as an antioxidant for the male partners of couples with RPL could lead to improved pregnancy outcomes in these cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.258-262
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with difficult heparin reversal by protamine after cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: Data from 120 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery from 2009 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) those in whom complete heparin reversal was achieved after a single infusion of protamine (group A, n=89); and (2) those who required more protamine for heparin reversal (group B, n=31). Results: Female sex, prolonged bypass time (>200 min), long aortic cross-clamping time (>120 min), and a lowest rectal temperature <26℃ were significant predictors of difficult heparin reversal. Larger amounts of fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrate were transfused in group B than in group A. Conclusion: Surgeons' efforts to reduce operative time and avoid deep hypothermia may be helpful for increasing the likelihood of easy heparin reversal, especially in female patients.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have stemness characteristics, including germ cell-specific imprints that allow them to form gametes. Spermatogenesis involves changes in gene expression such as a transition from expression of somatic to germ cell-specific genes, global repression of gene expression, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, highly condensed packing of the nucleus with protamines, and morphogenesis. These step-by-step processes finally generate spermatozoa that are fertilization competent. Dynamic epigenetic modifications also confer totipotency to germ cells after fertilization. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryos do not enter meiosis, remain in the proliferative stage, and are referred to as gonocytes, before entering quiescence. Gonocytes develop into SSCs at about 6 days after birth in rodents. Although chromatin structural modification by Polycomb is essential for gene silencing in mammals, and epigenetic changes are critical in spermatogenesis, a comprehensive understanding of transcriptional regulation is lacking. Recently, we evaluated the expression profiles of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and CP2c in the gonads of E14.5 and 12-week-old mice. YY1 localizes at the nucleus and/or cytoplasm at specific stages of spermatogenesis, possibly by interaction with CP2c and YY1-interacting transcription factor. In the present article, we discuss the possible roles of YY1 and CP2c in spermatogenesis and stemness based on our results and a review of the relevant literature.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.902-907
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• 2000

Protamine-strong basic protein was prepared from salmon(chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta) sperm by several pretreatment method. And there were determined yield, amino acid composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of protamine on each pretreatment condition. The yield of protamine was different according to pretreatment, and ultrasonicating, homogenizing and microwaving pretreatment were about 16.0%, 15.5% and 10%, respectively. The main amino acid of P60(microwaving pretreatment for 10 min at $80^{\circ}C$) and UU6(ultrasonicating pretreatment for 60 min at $20^{\circ}C$) were arginine, proline and tryptophan, and arginine content of P60 and UU6 were 61%, 53%, respectively. On the other hand, main amino acid of M(homogenizing pretreatment by mixer) were methionine, proline and arginine, the content were 34%, 28% and 11%, respectively. Also MC(homogenizing pretreatment with $H_{2}SO_{4}$ soln. by mixer) was very different with P60, UU6 and M, the content of MC were proline 44.8% and arginine 39.7%. Prepared protamines showed antimicrobial activity to several gram(+) and gram(-) strain. In particular, the UU6 and P60 protamine has strong antimicrobial activity to Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, and the activity was increased with concentration increasing. Regardless of pretreatment method, all protamine showed antioxidant activity and the $EDA_{50}$ of P60, UU6, M and MC were $101\;{\mu}g/mL$, $410\;{\mu}g/mL$, $523\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $490\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively.