• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 1988

To investigate and analyze the change in the forest community structure between non-attacked time(in 1980) and severly damaged time(in 1987) by pine gall midge, Thecodoplosis japonensis, four plots with five subplots were sampled at Cheongwon-gun of Chungcheungbuk-do. The total number of woody species per 0.2ha changed 32 in 1980 to 53 in 1987. According to the damage increasing, the importance value of the genus Quercus as a substituting species has sprung up. Especially the importance value of Quercus serrata and Q. aliena singnificantly increased in the heavily insect infested forest. As to changes of forest community structure during 7 years, diversity of investigation structure has increased. The similarity indices between 1980 and 1987 were 52.9% and 49.7% in the understory and shrub stratum, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2006

Objectives : Synapsin III near VCFS region on chromosome 22q affects. It could be an interesting candidate gene for schizophrenia. D22S280 is a highly polymorphic genetic marker residing in synapsin III. We examined association of D22S280 marker on synapsin III with Korean patients with schizophrenia. Methods : The subjects were 46 male Korean patients with schizophrenia and 60 male normal controls. Using polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, ABI 310 genetic analyzer, and GeneScan Collection 3.1 software, we confirmed genotypes of D22S280 marker. We examined Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and case-control association using SAS/Genetic 9.1.3. Results : Genotypes of both schizophrenia and control groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We could not find any significant statistical differences in allele-wise(${\chi}^2$=10.4, df=6, p=0.098) and genotype-wise (${\chi}^2$=22.1 df=19, p=0.258) analyses of D22S280 marker between schizophrenia and normal controls. Individual allele analyses with df=1 showed significant differences in A1(p=0.025) and A7(p=0.034) allele, which were not significant following Bonferroni corrections(A1:p=0.177, A7:p=0.235). Conclusion : We couldn't find any association between schizophrenia and the synapsin III gene. Given the small number of subjects studied, further investigations are needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.735-743
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• 2010

In order to inspect growth responses of Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance, Koelreuteria paniculata Laxmann, Quercus acutissima Carruther and Ulmus parvifolia Jacquin to NaCl treatment, NaCl solution was treated for four months with 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mM concentrations, then survival rate, change of relative growth rate, weight, dry weight and pigment content of leaf were investigated. According to NaCl treatment, pH and EC (electrical conductivity) of soil increased, and growth rates of four tree species fell apparently as treatment time became longer. U. parvifolia had the highest survival rate with 15% in the 200mM treatment, and the other three species withered in the treatment. Relative growth rate, weight and dry weight decreased when NaCl treatment time grew longer. The total chlorophyll declined after it rose to 60 days, and the total chlorophyll and carotenoid of the all species according to NaCl treatment did not change very much. With the result from anlayzing growth responses of four tree species to oxidative stress which occurs during NaCl treatment, U. parvifolia has the highest tolerance, followed by K. paniculata, F. rhynchophylla and Q. acutissima.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2005

We previously demonstrated the ability of ginseng saponins (active ingredients of Panax ginseng) to enhance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current. The mechanism for this ginseng saponin-induced enhancement was proposed to be the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from $IP_{3}-sensitive$ intracellular stores through the activation of PTX-insensitive $G\alpha_{q/11}$ proteins and PLC pathway. Recent studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) regulates $IP_{3}$ receptor-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ release in both $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ and -independent manner. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of CaM on ginseng saponin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current responses in Xenopus oocytes. Intraoocyte injection of CaM inhibited ginseng saponin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement, whereas co-injection of calmidazolium, a CaM antagonist, with CaM blocked CaM action. The inhibitory effect of CaM on ginseng saponin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement was dose- and time-dependent, with an $IC_{50} of 14.9\pm3.5 {\mu}M$. The inhibitory effect of CaM on saponin's activity was maximal after 6 h of intraoocyte injection of CaM, and after 48 h the activity of saponin recovered to control level. The half-recovery time was calculated to be $16.7\pm4.3 h$. Intraoocyte injection of CaM inhibited $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement and also attenuated $IP_{3}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement. $Ca^{2+}$/CaM kinase II inhibitor did not inhibit CaM-caused attenuation of ginseng saponin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement. These results suggest that CaM regulates ginseng saponin effect on $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^{-}$ current enhancement via $Ca^{2+}$-independent manner.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2018

Icariside II (ICA II) is used in erectile dysfunction treatment. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are efficient at improving erectile function. This study aimed to explore the action mechanism of ADSCs in improving erectile function. ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissues of rats. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expressions of mRNA and protein were determined separately through qRT-PCR and western blot. The endogenous expressions of related genes were regulated using recombinant plasmids and cell transfection. A Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was performed to determine the interaction between miR-34a and STAT3. Rat models with bilateral cavernous nerve injuries (BCNIs) were used to assess erectile function through the detection of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP). ICA II promoted ADSCs' proliferation and differentiation to Schwann cells (SCs) through the inhibition of miR-34a. Suppressed miR-34a promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs by upregulating STAT3. ICA II promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR-34a/STAT3 pathway. The combination of ICA II and ADSCs preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats. ADSCs treated with ICA II markedly preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats, which was reversed through miR-34a overexpression. ICA II promotes the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR34a/STAT3 pathway, contributing to erectile function preservation after the occurrence of a cavernous nerve injury.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

Purpose: 본 연구는 한국인 성인 조혈모세포이식환자를 대상으로 경구용 사이클로스포린의 집단약동학 분석을 통하여 사이클로스포린의 약동학적 파라미터에 영향을 미치는 요인 분석을 실시하고자 하였다. Methods: 2000년 12월부터 2006년 8월까지 서울대학교병원에서 동종조혈모세포이식을 받고 면역억제제로 사이클로스포린을 복용한 성인 백혈병환자를 대상으로 후향적으로 자료를 수집하였다. 사이클로스포린의 약동학에 영향을 미치는 인자로는 연령, 성별, 이식 후 날짜, 신기능, 공여자와의 관계, 질병의 종류, 혈중 빌리루빈 농도, 사이클로스포린의 대사를 유도하는 프레드니솔론의 투여량, 헤마토크리트, 사이클로스포린의 대사를 저해하는 약물의 병용여부 등을 검토하였다. 분석은 NONMEM$^{(R)}$ VI 프로그램을 이용하였으며, 변수를 추가하지 않은 기본 모형을 만든 후에 단계적인 요인의 추가와 제거를 통해 최종모형을 제작하였다. Results: 최종 상관 모형은 다음과 같다; CL/F (L/h) = $85.6{\times}e^{(0.646\;{\times}\;HCT/28.9\;+\;0.0464\;{\times}\;Gender)}$. 사이클로스포린의 겉보기 클리어런스는 환자의 성별이 남자일 때 또는 헤마토크릿이 감소할수록 증가하였다. 그 외 파라미터는 다음과 같이 계산되었다; $K_{\alpha}=0.0787\;(h^{-1})$; Q=57.1(L/kg/h); $V_{d-central\;compartment}$=1,100 (L); $V_{d-peripheral\;compartment}$ = 213,000(L). 개체간 편차는 40% 미만이었으며, 개체내 편차를 포함하는 잔차는 24.02%였다. Conclusions: 사이클로스포린의 약동학적 특징과 그 클리어런스에 영향을 끼칠 수 있는 임상적 요인을 이해하는 것은 환자 개개인의 용량과 용법의 결정 및 이상반응 발생의 예방에 유용할 수 있다. 한국인 조혈모세포이식환자에서 사이클로스포린의 약동학에 영향을 미치는 최종 파라미터를 구한 본 연구의 결과는 조혈모세포이식을 받은 한국인 성인환자에서 사이클로스포린의 모니터링 및 용량조절에 유용할 것으로 전망된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2006

In recent years the number of patients waiting for organ transplantation has greatly outpaced the supply of human organs available, which leads to a renewed interest in pig-to-human xenotransplantation as an alternative. However, one of the biggest barriers in the xenotransplantation is presence of porcine endogenous retroviruses(PERV) that can infect human cells. In this study, to present a possible solution for this problem we tried to inhibit expression of PERVs using shRNAs(short hairpin RNA) at the level of RNA synthesis and virus release. The shRNA targeting the sequence of PERV A, B type was cloned into pSIREN-RetroQ vector under the control of polymerase-III U6-RNA gene promoter. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect my alterations in mRNA production of PERV A, B targeted by the shRNA in each done. Depending on the target sequence of the shRNA, the transcription of PERV was decreased to as much as 4% and the number of progeny viruses was reduced to less than 1/200,000. Transgenic pigs producing such shRNAs may result in a highly reduced PERV expression in cells and organs, which is a prerequisite for safe xenotransplantations.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 1996

Predetermination of sex in mammalian species has many aspects of application including the prenatal diagnoses of genetic disorders in humans and sex-selected breeding programs in the animal industry. Embryos sexing can be carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific sequences present in the sex chromosomes, or by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of specific probes to the X and Y chromosomes. A 3.3 kb porcine male-specific DNA fragment (pEM39) was cloned previously in our laboratory. In this study, FISH and PCR methods were employed to examine if the pEM39 can be used a sex-specific DNA probes Porcine ovaries were obtained from a local slaughter house and oocytes collected. All oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation followed by 1n vitro fertilization. Parthenogenetically activated embryos were served as a negative control. Embryonic samples were collected at the 2-cell stages and PCR was performed to analyze DNA. Among 10 embryos examined, four embryos were identified as males and six were females. The cloned male-specific DNA fragment showed male-specificity for the cells in the liver tissue and the porcine early embryos by FISH. It was also demonstrated that the cloned male-specific DNA is localized on the hetero chromatic region of the long arm in the Y chrom-osome (Yq) as shown by the FISH and karyotyping. The results suggest that the cloned male-specific DNA fragment may be useful for predetermination of sex with a few embryonic cells. The porcine male-specific sequence can be a reliable index for embryo sexing by PCR.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

Intramuscular fat content(lMF) is considered as one of major economic traits in the pig breeding and industry. In general, high IMF results in better meat quality. Several approaches to detect quantitative trait 10ci( QTL) for IMF indicated a strong possibility of the existence of a QTL related to IMF between the microsatellite marker SW71 and SW1881 on SSC6q. Porcine FABP3 has been considered as a candidate gene affecting IMF due to its physiological roles and position on the pig genome. Two novel mutations, g.-114T> C and g.-158T>G were detected by duplicate sequencing of the porcine FABP3 promoter region. These two mutations were identified as absolute linkage disequilibrium. The g.-158T> G mutation was used for investigating relationships with growth and fat deposition traits. The GG genotype of the g.-158T> G polymorphism showed highly negative effects(P< 0.01) on body weights at 3 and 12 weeks of age, and a positive effect(P< 0.05) on IMF. However, backfat thickness(BF) and carcass fat(CF) content were not significantly associated with the genotype. The result indicates that the novel mutations, identified in this study, could be utilized as possible genetic markers to improve IMF, independent with BF.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2011

A breeding population of Quercus glauca has been established via simple direct selection. Seedlings from naturally crossed seeds of 35 selected families growing in Jeju Island were placed using stroll repeated planting into two experimental forest located at Hannam and Sanghyo in Jeju. After 3 years of planting, characteristics of growth were examined. Growth pattern of trees in Sanghyo was better than those in Hannam. The average heights of filial were 66.8 cm in Hannam and 92.5 cm in Sanghyo. Root collar diameters of filial in Hannam and Sanghyo were 9.3 mm and 12.2 mm, respectively. A great weather differences especially in precipitation and temperature were shown between two test sites. The result of difference of growth pattern between two sites could be useful in provenance adaptability test. Data within families and individuals obtained from this study was also useful for establishment of seed orchard of Q. glauca.