• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.23-27
• /
• 2008

The Korean native black pig (KNP) have several desirable meat qualities, which are highly demanded by Koreans in spite of its slow growth rate, low feed efficiency, and small litter size. The aim of this study was to evaluate meat quality and fatty acid composition of KNP at different slaughter weight in order to provide information to industry. Ninety female KNP of the same age (220 days) were divided into three groups by live body weights (30 pigs per each group); live weight of 50$\sim$59 kg (T1), 60$\sim$69 kg (T2) and 70$\sim$80 kg (T3), respectively. After slaughtering the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) and backfat from each group were obtained after 24 hr chilling. Crude protein content and shear force of LD from T3 was higher than that from T1 and pH of LD was significantly lower in that from T1 than from T2 and T3. Color measurement indicated that LD of T2 group had a higher $L^*$-value and lower $a^*$-value than those of T1 and T3. Slaughter weight of KNP generally did not affect the fatty acid composition of LD and backfat but the content of oleic acid (C18:1) of T2 in LD was significantly higher than those of T1 and T3. The results may provide basic information to industry to promote the production and processing of KNP, and assist in meeting the Korean consumer's demand.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.163-171
• /
• 2007

Functional elements of the conserved helix 7 in the poreforming domain of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$- endotoxins have not yet been clearly identified. Here, we initially performed alanine substitutions of four highly conserved aromatic residues, $Trp^{243}$, $Phe^{246}$, $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$, in helix 7 of the Cry4Ba mosquito-larvicidal protein. All mutant toxins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli as 130-kDa protoxins at levels comparable to the wild-type. Bioassays against Stegomyia aegypti mosquito larvae revealed that only W243A, Y249A or F264A mutant toxins displayed a dramatic decrease in toxicity. Further mutagenic analysis showed that replacements with an aromatic residue particularly at $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ still retained the high-level toxin activity. In addition, a nearly complete loss in larvicidal activity was found for Y249L/F264L or F264A/ Y249A double mutants, confirming the involvement in toxicity of both aromatic residues which face towards the same direction. Furthermore, the Y249L/F264L mutant was found to be structurally stable upon toxin solubilisation and trypsin digestion, albeit a small change in the circular dichroism spectrum. Altogether, the present study provides for the first time an insight into the highly conserved aromaticity of $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ within helix 7 playing an important role in larvicidal activity of the Cry4Ba toxin.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.821-828
• /
• 2015

ASW0 is a polysaccharide derived from the perennial herb Aster scaber Thunberg. We isolated ASW0, a fraction of crude polysaccharide, by means of ethanol precipitation and dialysis after hot water extraction to investigate its physicochemical properties and immunostimulatory effects. ASW0 contains neutral sugar (45.7%), acidic sugar (51.6%), protein (2.3%), and 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octonate (KDO) (0.4%). The neutral sugar in ASW0 (in mole percentage) was mainly composed of arabinose (34.5 mol%), glucose (31.1 mol%), galactose (14.9 mol%), and rhamnose (8.1 mol%), which are characteristic of pectic polysaccharides. ASW0 also contained small amounts of xylose, mannose, and fucose. The anti-complementary activity of ASW-0 was similar to that of polysaccharide K (used as positive control). ASW0 exhibited no cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 macrophages and dramatically increased nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose dependent manner ($0.3{\sim}30{\mu}g/mL$). Also, macrophages stimulated with ASW0 showed enhanced production of immunostimulatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest that the ASW0 have a potent immunostimulatory effect and can be used as a natural immune health ingredient.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 1998

Mutant form of the p53 gene product is abnormally accumulated in the nuclei of the tumor cells due to prolonged half life, and readily detected by immunohistochemical methods. To determine the positivity rate of p53 in body cavity fluid according the primary site and histological types of tumors and the utility of p53 immunostaining as an adjunct in the diagnosis of malignancy, we reviewed 69 effusions, including pleural effusion, ascitic fluid, and pericardial fluid, that were diagnosed as overt malignancy and 21 effusions of suspicious malignancy, immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded cell blocks using a monoclonal antibody to p53 supressor gene product(Clone DO7) and a standard avidin-biotin complex technique with a citrate buffer antigen retrieval solution. The results were as follows; of the 46 pleural effusions with overt malignancy, 22 were immunopositive for p53 protein; of the 21 ascitic fluids with overt malignancy, 5 were positive for p53. Positivity rates according to the primary sites of tumors were 18 of 34(52.9%), 8 of 21(38.1%), 1 of 9(11.1%) cases of the tumors of the lung, GI tract, and ovary, respectively. According to the histologic types of lung cancer, 11 cases(61.6%) were positive out of 18 adenocarcinomas, 2 of 5 large cell undifferentiated carcinomas, and 1 of 2 small cell undifferentiated carcinomas. Of 21 cases of suspicious malignancy, 6 were positive for p53 and all of them(6/6) were confirmed as adenocarcinoma of the lung or GI tract. These findings indicate that p53 immunostaining using paraffin embedded cell block is useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in body fluid cytology although negative immunostaining does not exclude malignancy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2006

A new virus with a dsRNA genome was isolated and characterized from the Suhan-:neutari strain (ASI 2504) of Pleurotus ostreatus, which was characterized as long and slightly bent with small caps on the stipe of fruit body. Thirty nm isometric viruses with three dsRNA segments (approximately 2.0, 1.84 and 1.82 kb in sizes) were isolated by ultracentrifugation in sucrose gradients. Western analysis of protein extracted purified viruses with anti-virus polyclonal antibody confirmed that viruses have two specific proteins (36 and 68 kDa). Computer analysis of 2.0 kb segment shows that high. sequence identity with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of partitiviruses, respectively. When compared to other dsRNA mycoviruses in a phylogenetic analysis, OMDV was most related to Pleurotus ostreatus virus 1.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.312-315
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Amelanotic melanoma represents a melanoma with an absence or a small number of melanin pigments and comprises 2% of all melanomas. These melanomas are frequently misdiagnosed, probably because of its nonspecific clinical features and difficulty in diagnosis, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We report a patient with amelanotic melanoma, who underwent surgical treatment with sentinel lymph node biopsy using gamma probe. Methods: A 32-year-old female was presented with a slowly growing ill-defined, hypopigmented nonerythematous lesion with nail defect on right index finger tip. Preoperative punch biopsy was performed, showing an amelanotic melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was done using gamma probe(Crystal probe system, CRYSTAL PHOTONICS GmbH, Germany) and confirmed no evidence of regional lymph node metastases. The patient underwent amputation at the proximal interphalangeal joint. Results: Histopathologic findings showed superficial spreading melanoma. There were no melanin pigments in Hematoxylin & Eosin stain but positive immunohistochemical stainings for S-100 protein and Hmb45, which were consistent with amelanotic melanoma. Patient's postoperative course was uneventful without any complication and had no evidence of recurrence of tumor in 6 months follow-up period. Conclusion: Amelanotic melanoma is extremely rare subtype of malignant melanoma with histopathologic findings of atypical melanocytes without melanin pigments. Early detection is crucial since survival is strongly related to tumor thickness and tissue invasion at the time of diagnosis. Wide excision is the treatment of choice and other conjunctive therapy has not been successful.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.417-421
• /
• 2016

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Panax ginseng breeding line 'G07006', showing higher salt tolerance, was confirmed by de novo assembly using whole genome next-generation sequences. The complete chloroplast (CP) genome size is 156,356 bp, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 52,060 bp, separated by the large single-copy (LSC 86,174 bp) and the small single-copy (SSC 18,122 bp) regions. One hundred fourteen genes were annotated, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Among them, 18 sites were duplicated in the inverted repeat regions. By comparative analyses of the previously identified CP genome sequences of nine cultivars of P. ginseng and that of G07006, five useful SNPs were defined in this study. Since three of the five SNPs were cultivar-specific to Chunpoong and Sunhyang, they could be easily used for distinguishing from other ginseng accessions. However, on arranging SNPs according to their gene location, the G07006 genotype was 'GTGGA', which was distinct from other accessions. This complete chloroplast DNA sequence could be conducive to discrimination of the line G07006 (salt-tolerant) and further enhancement of the genetic improvement program for this important medicinal plant.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.587-599
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to observe the severity of the disease and pathogenecity of Babesia gibsoni parasite on the splenectomized dogs(SPD) and nonsplenectomized(intact) dogs (NSPD) experimentally infected with B gibsoni. The average prepatent period was 4 days in the SPD and 8 days in the NSPD, respectively. Peak parasitaemia(PE) ranged from 26% to 34% of erythrocytes infected in the SPD and from 4% to 5% in the NSPD. Latent parasitaemia was still detectable 40 days as low as under 1.0% of erythrocytes infected after the initial parasitaemia in the SPD. Blood packed cell volume(PCV) decreased to as little as 6.4% to 6.9% in the SPD. The clinical signs were mild fever and anemia in the NSPD, remissions and exacervations of temperature, intermittent or spike-like increases of temperature, progressive polychromatophilic macrocytic anemia with anisocytosis, icterus, marked loss of appetite, rarely haemoglobinuria, and deep brown-yellowish urine in the SPD. Gross pathologic changes mainly involved slightly enlargement of liver and spleen in the NSPD and marked enlargement of liver in the SPD. Anatomic changes associated with the disease included diffuse periportal and centrilobular hephatitis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Hyaline droplets, resulting protein metabolic alterations, were found in the convoluted ephithelium of the kidney. The density of lymphocytes within the liver sinusoids was markedly increased. Aggregates of large monocytes and macrophages were demonstrated in the centrilobular veins of the liver. The density of these cells in the centrilobular veins were greatest in the SPD. The forms of B gibsoni parasite found in the acute stage of SPD were large signet ring form, small signet ring form, pyriform, elongated form, comma form, head-phone form, oval form, peared form, racket-like form, amoeboid form, triangle form, quartered form, dot form, band form and multiple, and rosette form, et al. The severity of the disease and pathogenecity of B gibsoni parasite were mild in the NSPD but fatal in the SPD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 1975

Since 1959 the authors experienced 43 cases of chronic constrictive pericarditis treated surgically at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, the National Medical Center in Seonl. Of 43 cases, detailed patients' records could be obtainable in 36 cases, and most of our studies. were made on the basis of these 36 available cases. About 84 per cent of the cases were male with several pediatric cases, and duration of symptoms ranged between 2 months and 10 years. The diagnosis of this condition is not difficult, however, about half of our cases were previously treated under the impression rf various other conditions such as liver cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome at other hospitals and clinics. Many of our cases showed hepatic functional disturbances and about 89 per cent of the cases showed reversed A/G ratio, and we are sure that some of them had so-called protein losing enteropathy. Three of 36 cases showed normal electrocardiogram, and most peculiar electrocardiographic findings were ST or T changes and low amplitude of QRS complexes. Seven cases showed auricular fibrillation and five had first degree A-V block. Mean preoperative peripheral venous pressure at the antecubital fossa and arm-to-tongue circulation time were 273 mm $H_2O$and 20.2 seconds, respectively, and they were markedly reduced postoperatively to 152 mm $H_2O$ and 13 seconds, respectively. Several different approaches were made with various extents of pericardial decortication according to patients' condition and probably surgeon's preference. In 12 cases we met cardiovascular injuries during decortication and one of them died of massive bleeding through the torn right atrium, and we experienced excellent postoperative result in a grave case operated on just a small pericardial window. Eleven of 35 cases were tuberculous pericarditis and others were non-specific pericarditis histopathologically, and 6 of total 43 cases operated on passed away by various ways with the mortality rate of 13.9 per cent.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.09a
• /
• pp.31-45
• /
• 2011

The amyloid ${\beta}$-peptide ($A{\beta}$), which originates from the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mounting evidence indicates that different species of $A{\beta}$, such as $A{\beta}$ oligomers and fibrils, may contribute to AD pathogenesis via distinct mechanisms at different stages of the disease. Importantly, elevation and accumulation of soluble $A{\beta}$ oligomers closely correlate with cognitive decline and/or disease progression in animal models of AD. In agreement with these studies, oligomers of $A{\beta}$ have been shown to directly affect synaptic plasticity, a neuronal process that is known to be essential for memory formation. Our previous studies showed that $A{\beta}$ induces the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), a phospholipid that regulates key aspects of neuronal function. PI(4,5)P2 breakdown was found to be a key step toward synaptic and memory dysfunction in a mouse model of AD. To this end, we seek to identify small molecules that could elevate the levels of PI(4,5)P2 and subsequently block $A{\beta}$ oligomer-induced breakdown of PI(4,5)P2 and synaptic dysfunction.. We found that (20S)Rg3, an active triterpene glycoside from heat-processed ginseng, serves as an agonist for phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIalpha (PI4KIIalpha), which is a lipid kinase that mediates a rate-limiting step in PI(4,5)P2 synthesis. Consequently, (20S)Rg3 stimulates PI(4,5)P2 synthesis by directly stimulating the activity of PI4KIIalpha. Interestingly, treatment of a mouse model of AD with (20S)Rg3 leads to reversal of memory deficits. Our data suggest that the PI(4,5)P2-promoting effects of (20S)Rg3 may help mitigate the cognitive symptoms associated with AD.