• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.354-362
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• 2018

Periogen is a new caries activity test using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of Periogen by evaluating the correlation with dmft, dmfts indices and comparing with Cariview and caries risk assessment tool (CAT). 83 children under 6 participated in this study. Dmft, dmfts indices and CAT were collected through an examination of oral health status. Plaque samples for Periogen and Cariview were collected and manipulated according to the manufactures' instructions. The correlation coefficient of Periogen, Cariview and CAT with the dmfts index were 0.38, 0.56 and 0.66 in each (p < 0.01). The sensitivity of Periogen, Cariview and CAT were 43%, 76% and 95% and specificity were 80%, 72% and 74% respectively. Area under curve under the receiver operating characteristic curves in each method indicated 0.69, 0.81 and 0.85. CAT and Cariview were more effective in evaluation the risk of dental caries than Periogen so far. To be used Periogen clinically, more improvements for higher validity were needed.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2016

To establish a rapid and accurate detection of Phytophthora pinifolia, which is a quarantine pathogenic fungus in Korea, a species-specific primer was developed based on the ras-related protein (Ypt1) gene. Species-specific primer based on the DNA sequences of Ypt1 gene amplified 193 bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product for P. pinifolia. The primer pair yielded the predicted PCR product size exactly in testing with target pathogen DNAs, but not from the other 10 species of Phytophthora and 14 species of other phytopathogenic fungi. The primer pair also showed only the species-specific amplification curve on realtime PCR on target pathogen DNA. The detection sensitivity of real time PCR using species-specific primer pair was 10 to 100 times higher than conventional PCR, with 1 to $10pg/{\mu}L$.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.51.1-51.10
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• 2022

Background: Due to the unavailability of an effective vaccine or antiviral drug against the African swine fever virus (ASFV), rapid diagnosis methods are needed to prevent highly contagious African swine fever. Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish the ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) assay for the detection of ASFV. Methods: LMTIA primers were designed with the p72 gene of ASFV as the target, and plasmid pUC57 was used to clone the gene. The LMTIA reaction system was optimized with the plasmid as the positive control, and the performance of the LMTIA assay was compared with that of the commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit in terms of sensitivity and detection rate using 200 serum samples. Results: Our results showed that the LMTIA assay could detect the 10⁴ dilution of DNA extracted from the positive reference serum sample, which was the same as that of the commercial real-time PCR kit. The coincidence rate between the two assays was 100%. Conclusions: The LMTIA assay had high sensitivity, good detection, and simple operation. Thus, it is suitable for facilitating preliminary and cost-effective surveillance for the prevention and control of ASFV.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.237-241
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• 2011

The toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum has been implicated in numerous fish kill events around the world. Since this species commonly co-occurs with other morphologically similar dinoflagellates, field monitoring of this species in natural waters via light microscopy only has been problematic. In this study, we investigated temporal changes in K. veneficum's abundance in the waters of Obido, Tongyeong, using a species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The field survey, from April to December 2010, revealed K. veneficum occurred at low densities (12 to 425 cells $L^{-1}$) during this time and that cell numbers peaked in June (early summer in Korea), indicating this species generally occurs in the warmer season (mostly at $16.9-22.3^{\circ}C$ and 33.4-34.5‰) in the Obido area.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3189-3194
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• 2015

Background: To explore the expression of TS, RRM, ERCC1, TUBB3 and STMN1 genes in the tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its significance in guiding the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect the expression of TS, RRM, ERCC1, TUBB3 and STMN1 genes in the tissues of NSCLC patients so as to analyze the relationship between the expression of each gene and the clinical characteristics and to guide the postoperative individualized chemotherapy according to the detection results of NSCLC patients. Results: Expression of TS gene was evidently higher in patients with adenocarcinoma than those with non-adenocarcinoma (P=0.013) and so was the expression of ERCC1 (P=0.003). The expression of TUBB3 gene was obviously higher in NSCLC patients in phases I/II and IV than those in phase III ($P_1=0.021$; $P_2=0.004$), and it was also markedly higher in patients without lymph node metastasis than those with (P=0.008). The expression of STMN1 gene was apparently higher in patients in phase I/II than those in phase IV (P=0.002). There was no significant difference between the rest gene expression and the clinical characteristics of NSCLC patients (P>0.05). Additionally, the diseasefree survival (DFS) was significantly longer in patients receiving gene detections than those without (P=0.021). Conclusions: The selection of chemotherapeutic protocols based singly on patients' clinical characteristics has certain blindness. However, the detection of tumor-susceptible genes can guide the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and prolong the DFS of NSCLC patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Background: Korean ginseng is an important cash crop in Asian countries. However, plant yield is reduced by pathogens. Among the Ilyonectria radicicola-species complex, I. mors-panacis is responsible for root-rot and replant failure of ginseng in Asia. The development of new methods to reveal the existence of the pathogen before cultivation is started is essential. Therefore, a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method was developed to detect and quantify the pathogen in ginseng soils. Methods: In this study, a species-specific histone H3 primer set was developed for the quantification of I. mors-panacis. The primer set was used on DNA from other microbes to evaluate its sensitivity and selectivity for I. mors-panacis DNA. Sterilized soil samples artificially infected with the pathogen at different concentrations were used to evaluate the ability of the primer set to detect the pathogen population in the soil DNA. Finally, the pathogen was quantified in many natural soil samples. Results: The designed primer set was found to be sensitive and selective for I. mors-panacis DNA. In artificially infected sterilized soil samples, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction the estimated amount of template was positively correlated with the pathogen concentration in soil samples ($R^2=0.95$), disease severity index ($R^2=0.99$), and colony-forming units ($R^2=0.87$). In natural soils, the pathogen was recorded in most fields producing bad yields at a range of $5.82{\pm}2.35pg/g$ to $892.34{\pm}103.70pg/g$ of soil. Conclusion: According to these results, the proposed primer set is applicable for estimating soil quality before ginseng cultivation. This will contribute to disease management and crop protection in the future.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2022

The differentiation and development of preadipocyte into mature adipocyte are regulated by transcription factors, such as CCAAT enhancer binding protein (Cebp) gene family and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebp1). Steroid hormones give influences on the development and function of adipocyte. The present research examined expression patterns of CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (Cebpa), CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta (Cebpb), CCAAT enhancer binding protein gamma (Cebpg), sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebp1), androgen receptor (Ar), and estrogen receptors (Esr) among different epididymal fat parts during postnatal period by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In the distal epididymal fat, expression of Cebpa, Cebpb, Cebpg, Srebp1, Ar, and Esr2 was increased until 12 months of age, while expression of Esr1 was decreased at 5 months of age and was not detectable after 8 months of age. In the proximal epididymal fat, transcript levels of Cebps and Srebp1 were increased at 8 months of age, followed by decreases of Cebpb and Cebpg transcript levels at 12 months of age. An additional increase of Srebp1 expression was observed at 12 months of age. Expression of Ar and Esr2 were increased until 8 months of age, followed by a drop of Ar expression level at 12 months of age. Expression pattern of Esr1 was similar to that in the distal epididymal fat. In the tail epididymal fat, expression of Cebpa, Cebpg, Srebp1, Ar, and Esr2 was increased with age. Esr1 was not detectable at all. The highest level of Cebpb was observed at 8 months of age. These data suggest the possibility of developmental and functional differentiation among the epididymal fat parts.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

The absence of functional estrogen receptor α (Esr1) results in an overgrowth of the epididymal fat, as observed in estrogen receptor α knockout (ERαKO) mouse. The present research was aimed to evaluate expression of various molecules associated with adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the epididymal fat of ERαKO mouse at several postnatal ages by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The highest transcript levels of all molecules were detected at 12 months of postnatal age, except leptin which the mRNA level was increased at 5 months of age and was unchanged until 12 months of age. The expression levels of CCAAT enhancer binding protein (Cebp) alpha, androgen receptor, and lipoprotein lipase were decreased at 5 months of age but increased at about 8 months of age. The mRNA levels of Cebp gamma and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 remained steady until 8 months of age. Continuous increases of transcript levels during postnatal period were found in Cebp beta, estrogen receptor (ER) beta, fatty acid binding protein 4, and delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1. The increases of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adiponectin mRNA levels were detected as early as 8 months of age. The levels of fatty acid synthase and resistin transcript at 5 and 8 months of age were lower than that at 2 months of age. These findings show the aberrant expression patterns of genes related to adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the postnatal epididymal fat pad by the disruption of ER alpha function.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.10
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• 2023

Accurate and efficient microbial diagnosis is crucial for effective molecular diagnostics, especially in the field of human healthcare. The gold standard equipment widely employed for detecting specific microorganisms in molecular diagnosis is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). However, its limitations in low metagenomic DNA yield samples necessitate exploring alternative approaches. Digital PCR, by quantifying the number of copies of the target sequence, provides absolute quantification results for the bacterial strain. In this study, we compared the diagnostic efficiency of qRT-PCR and digital PCR in detecting a particular bacterial strain (Staphylococcus aureus), focusing on skin-derived DNA samples. Experimentally, specific primer for S. aureus were designed at transcription elongation factor (greA) gene and the target amplicon were cloned and sequenced to validate efficiency of specificity to the greA gene of S. aureus. To quantify the absolute amount of microorganisms present on the skin, the variable region 5 (V5) of the 16S rRNA gene was used, and primers for S. aureus identification were used to relative their amount in the subject's skin. The findings demonstrate the absolute convenience and efficiency of digital PCR in microbial diagnostics. We suggest that the high sensitivity and precise quantification provided by digital PCR could be a promising tool for detecting specific microorganisms, especially in skin-derived DNA samples with low metagenomic DNA yields, and that further research and implementation is needed to improve medical practice and diagnosis.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2023

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are widely used genetic markers with applications in human disease diagnostics, animal breeding, and evolutionary studies, but existing genotyping methods can be labor-intensive and costly. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and rapid method for identification of a single nucleotide change. Methods: A modified Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification of Multiple Specific Alleles (PAMSA) and high resolution melt (HRM) analysis was performed to discriminate a bovine polymorphism in the NCAPG gene (rs109570900, 1326T > G). Results: The inclusion of tails in the primers enabled allele discrimination based on PCR product lengths, detected through agarose gel electrophoresis, successfully determining various genotypes, albeit with some time and labor intensity due to the use of relatively costly high-resolution agarose gels. Additionally, high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis with tailed primers effectively distinguished the GG genotype from the TT genotype in bovine muscle cell lines, offering a reliable way to distinguish SNP polymorphisms without the need for time-consuming AS-PCR. Conclusions: Our experiments demonstrated the importance of incorporating unique mismatched bases in the allele-specific primers to prevent cross-amplification by fragmented primers. This efficient and cost-effective method, as presented here, enables genotyping laboratories to analyze SNPs using standard real-time PCR.