• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.851-857
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop a real time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) method for the detection of viable Enterobacteriaceae in milk using primers based on the genes of ribosomal proteins S11 and S13 and to determine effects of heating and subsequent treatments on the threshold cycle (Ct) of the real time RT-PCR. Total RNA was isolated from 17 strains of bacteria including 11 strains of Enterobacteriaceae suspended in milk using a modified Tri reagent method. SYBR Green Master Mix was added to the RNA and the mixture was subjected to the real time RT-PCR. The Cts of eleven type strains of the Enterobacteriaceae in milk ($10^7$ cells) in the real time RT-PCR ranged from 21.5 to 24.6. However, the Cts of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and three gram-positive bacteria were more than 40. The real time RT-PCR detected as low as $10^3$ cells in agarose gel electrophoresis. The Cts increased from 22.0 to 34.2 when milk samples contaminated with Escherichia coli ($10^7$ cells/mL) were heated at $65^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. In addition, subsequent incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 6 and 24 h increased the Cts further up to 36.2 and 37.2, respectively. Addition of RNase A to the bacterial suspension obtained from the heated milk and subsequent incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 h increased the Cts to more than 40. The results of this study suggests that pretreatment of bacterial cells heated in milk with RNase A before RNA extraction might enhance the ability to differentiate between viable and dead bacteria using real time RT-PCR.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.467-472
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• 2018

Objective: Molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis of annexin A2 (ANXA2) gene in sika deer antler tip were conducted. The role of ANXA2 gene in the growth and development of the antler were analyzed initially. Methods: The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to clone the cDNA sequence of the ANXA2 gene from antler tip of sika deer (Cervus Nippon hortulorum) and the bioinformatics methods were applied to analyze the amino acid sequence of Anxa2 protein. The mRNA expression levels of the ANXA2 gene in different growth stages were examined by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR). Results: The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1,020 bp encoding 339 amino acids long protein of calculated molecular weight 38.6 kDa and isoelectric point 6.09. Homologous sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Anxa2 mature protein of sika deer had the closest genetic distance with Cervus elaphus and Bos mutus. Real time RT-PCR results showed that the gene had differential expression levels in different growth stages, and the expression level of the ANXA2 gene was the highest at metaphase (rapid growing period). Conclusion: ANXA2 gene may promote the cell proliferation, and the finding suggested Anxa2 as an important candidate for regulating the growth and development of deer antler.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.446-450
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• 2015

Purpose: Meningitis is among the most common infections affecting the central nervous system. It can be difficult to determine the exact pathogen responsible for the infection and patients are often treated with empiric antibiotics. This study was conducted to identify the most common clinical characteristics of enteroviral meningitis in children and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for early detection of an enterovirus. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of children admitted to Korea University Medical Center and diagnosed with meningitis on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and RT-PCR from CSF and other samples from January 2010 to August 2013. Results: A total of 333 patients were enrolled and classified into four groups based on diagnosis: enteroviral meningitis (n=110), bacterial meningitis (n=23), other viral meningitis (n=36), and unknown etiology (n=164). Patients with bacterial meningitis were younger than those in the other groups (P<0.001). Pleocytosis in CSF was similar across all groups. Of patients in the enteroviral meningitis group, 92.7% were diagnosed based on RT-PCR findings. Mean length of hospital stay for patients with enteroviral meningitis was 6.08 days, which was significantly shorter than that for patients with meningitis of bacterial etiology (19.73 days, P<0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis before viral culture results are available is possible using RT-PCR. Accurate diagnosis reduces the length of hospital stay and helps to avoid unnecessary empiric antibiotic treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$) agonist on the cell proliferation properties and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and aromatase in cultured endometrial stromal cell (ESC) from patients with endometriosis. Methods: Human endometrial tissues were obtained from women with endometriosis and healthy women (controls) using endometrial biopsy. Isolated ESCs were cultured and the cell proliferation was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and expression of hTERT, aromatase, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 by western blotting according to the addition of rosiglitazone (PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist). Results: We demonstrate that the cultured ESCs of endometriosis showed hTERT protein overexpression and increased cellular proliferation, which was inhibited by rosiglitazone, in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist also inhibited aromatase and COX-2 expression, resulting in decreased prostaglandin $E_2$ production in the ESCs of endometriosis. Conclusion: This study suggests that PPAR${\gamma}$ agonist plays an inhibitory role in the proliferative properties of eutopic endometrium with endometriosis by down-regulation of hTERT and COX-2 expression; this could be a new treatment target for endometriosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.287-303
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• 2007

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and differentially expressed cDNAs from the self-fertilizing fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus were mined to develop alternative biomarkers for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). 1,577 K. marmoratus cDNA clones were randomly sequenced from the 5'-end. These clones corresponded to 1,518 and 1,519 genes in medaka dbEST and zebrafish dbEST, respectively. Of the matched genes, 197 and 115 genes obtained Unigene IDs in medaka dbEST and zebrafish dbEST, respectively. Many of the annotated genes are potential biomarkers for environmental stresses. In a differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (DD RT-PCR) study, 56 differential expressed genes were obtained from fish liver exposed to bisphenol A. Of these, 16 genes were identified after BLAST search to GenBank, and the annotated genes were mainly involved in catalytic activity and binding. The expression patterns of these 16 genes were validated by real-time RT-PCR of liver tissue from fish exposed to bisphenol A. Our findings suggest that expression of these 16 genes is modulated by endocrine disrupting chemicals, and therefore that they are potential biomarkers for environmental stress including EDCs exposure.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2004

Marginal Zn deficiency is prevalent through the world and yet human zinc status has not been properly assessed due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic indicator. One potential possibility for zinc status assessment using Zn-binding protein, metallothionein (MT)-mRNA, has been proposed. The purpose of the present study was aimed to show whether measurement of mononuclear cell (MNC) MT mRNA, using a competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (competitive-RT-PCR) assay, could indicate zinc status in human subjects. In this study, MNC MT-mRNA expression was measured using a competitive-RT-PCR to compare before and after 14 days of zinc supplementation (50 mg Zn/das zinc gluconate). RT-PCR oligonucleotide primers which were designed to amplify both a 278 bp segment of the human MT-2A cDNA and a 198 bp mutant competitor cDNA template from MNCs, were prepared. MT-2A mRNA was normalized by reference to the housekeeping gene, $\beta$-actin, mRNA for which was also measured by competitive-RT-PCR. There was considerable inter-individual variation in MT-mRNA concentration and yet, the mean MT-2A mRNA level increased 4.7-fold after Zn supplementation, as compared to before Zn supplementation. This MT-2A mRNA level was shown as the same pattern and, even more sensitive assay, compared to the conventional plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) Zn assessment in which plasma and RBCs zinc levels increased 2.3- and 1.2-fold, respectively (p<0.05). We suggest that MT competitive-RT-PCR can be a useful assessment tool for evaluating human zinc status.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 1984

The structural gene of rabbit hemoglobin was cloned into Pst I site of pBR322 in E. coli. The complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from rabbit globin mRNA with avian myeloblastosis viral reverse transcriptase, and then RNA was destroyed at pH 11. The double stranded cDNA was synthesized with both Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I and reverse transcriptase and then the hairpin loop was opened with Sl nuclease. Double stranded cDNA was subsequently tailed with dCTP and annealed to dGMP-tailed vector DNA. After transformation and initial screening of appropriate clones by plasmid size, the cloned colonies were identified by in situ colony hybridization using by plasmid size, the cloned colonies were identified by in situ colony hybridization using $[^32P]$-labeled cDNA probes and characterized the inserts with restriction endonucleases. The expression of cloned globin gene was investigated by standard radioimmunoassay using rat anti-rabbit Hb serum as primary antibody and goat antirat IgG serum as secondary antibody. The result suggested that the chimeric proteins (the part of $\\beta$-lactamase from the vector pBR322 and globin from rabbit) were supposedly produced in E. coli and the product had the antigenic determinant of rabbit hemoglobin.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2014

In this study, we conducted the anti-HIV-1 enzymes assay in vitro and its active components were predicted by QSAR in silico for the elucidation of action mechanism on anti-HIV of natural resources. The extracts of Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans Makino were tested for their inhibitory effects on the reverse transcriptase (RT), protease and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. In the enzyme inhibition assay, the methanol extracts of Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans Makino stem showed a strong activity of 32.5% on the enzyme activity to cleave an oligopeptide, resembling one of the cleavage sites in the viral polyprotein which can only be processed by HIV-1 protease. Moreover the methanol extracts of stem exhibited alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities of 26.1%. The methanol extracts ($100{\mu}g/ml$) of stem showed a weak activity of 13.4% on anti-HIV-1 RT using Enzyme Linked Oligonucleotide Sorbent Assay (ELOSA) method. However, all extracts of leaf and stem didn't exhibit the HIV-1-induced cytopathic effects with IC (inhibitory concentration) of $100{\mu}g/ml$ in HIV-1-infected human T-cell line. From these results, it is suggested that Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans Makino extracts may possibly be involved in the inhibition of reverse transcriptase, protease and alpha-glucosidase but can't vitally concerned with the viral replication in vitro.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.67-69
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• 1995

reverse transcription은 AIDS를 일으킨다고 알려진 바이러스인 HIV-1의 번식에는 필수적이나 인체 세포에는 필수적이 아니기에 이 단계를 표적으로 하는 AIDS 치료제가 우선적으로 개발되었다. 그 단계에 필요한 효소가 바이러스에 의해 만들어진 RT이며 이 효소의 작용을 저해하는 nucleoside 유도체들인 AZT, DDC, DDI 들이 현재 AIDS 환자의 치료에 사용되고 있다. 이들 nucleoside 유도체들은 세포안으로 들어가 triphosphate 형태로 변화된 후 dNTP와 상경적으로 경쟁하며 합성 중인 바이러스의 DNA에 들어가 DNA의 합성을 정지시켜 바이러스의 증식을 억제한다. 그러나, 이들 nucleoside 유도체들은 치료용량에서 심한 독성을 나타낼 뿐만 아니라 장기 투여시 내성을 나타내는 바이러스가 생겨나 AIDS의 치료를 불가능하게 하고 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.132.2-132.2
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• 2003