• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.602-614
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• 2023

Purpose: The balance between synthesis and degradation of proteins plays a critical role in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been closely associated with skeletal muscle atrophy caused by aging, cancer, and chemotherapy. Polygalacin D is a saponin derivative isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polygalacin D on myoblast differentiation and muscle atrophy in association with mitochondrial function in in vitro and in zebrafish models in vivo. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in differentiation media containing different concentrations of polygalacin D, followed by the immunostaining of the myotubes with myosin heavy chain (MHC). The mRNA expression of markers related to myogenesis, muscle atrophy, and mitochondrial function was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Wild type AB^* zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with or without polygalacin D, and immunostained to detect slow and fast types of muscle fibers. The Tg(Xla.Eef1a1:mitoEGFP) zebrafish expressing mitochondria-targeted green fluorescent protein was used to monitor mitochondrial morphology. Results: The exposure of C2C12 myotubes to 0.1 ng/mL of polygalacin D increased the formation of MHC-positive multinucleated myotubes (≥ 8 nuclei) compared with the control. Polygalacin D significantly increased the expression of MHC isoforms (Myh1, Myh2, Myh4, and Myh7) involved in myoblast differentiation while it decreased the expression of atrophic markers including muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)2, and Smad3. In addition, polygalacin D promoted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (Pgc1α) expression and reduced the level of mitochondrial fission regulators such as dynamin-1-like protein (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1). In a zebrafish model of FOLFIRI-induced muscle atrophy, polygalacin D improved not only mitochondrial dysfunction but also slow and fast muscle fiber atrophy. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that polygalacin D promotes myogenesis and alleviates chemotherapy-induced muscle atrophy by improving mitochondrial function. Thus, polygalacin D could be useful as nutrition support to prevent and ameliorate muscle wasting and weakness.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2016

Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLH) is a major input parameter for weather forecasting and atmosphere diffusion models. In order to estimate the sub-grid scale variability of PBLH, we need to monitor PBLH data with high spatio-temporal resolution. Accordingly, we introduce a LIdar observation VEhicle (LIVE), and analyze PBLH derived from the lidar loaded in LIVE. PBLH estimated from LIVE shows high correlations with those estimated from both WRF model ($R^2=0.68$) and radiosonde ($R^2=0.72$). However, PBLH from lidar tend to be overestimated in comparison with those from both WRF and radiosonde because lidar appears to detect height of Residual Layer (RL) as PBLH which is overall below near the overlap height (< 300 m). PBLH from lidar with 10 min time resolution shows typical diurnal variation since it grows up after sunrise and reaches the maximum after 2 hours of sun culmination. The average growth rate of PBLH during the analysis period (2014/06/26 ~ 30) is 1.79 (-2.9 ~ 5.7) m $min^{-1}$. In addition, the lidar signal measured from moving LIVE shows that there is very low noise in comparison with that from the stationary observation. The PBLH from LIVE is 1065 m, similar to the value (1150 m) derived from the radiosonde launched at Sokcho. This study suggests that LIVE can observe continuous and reliable PBLH with high resolution in both stationary and mobile systems.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.736-741
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• 2008

Purpose : The incidence of thromboembolic episodes in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) is low; however, these episodes are often severe. Moreover, both pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and renal vein thrombosis (RVT) rarely show clinical symptoms. This study was performed to determine the benefits of routine screening in the detection of thrombosis in childhood NS. Methods : Among 62 children with nephrotic syndrome, a total of 54 children (43 males, 11 females) were included in this study. When the patients experienced their first NS episode, we performed renal Doppler ultrasonography in order to detect RVT. To rule out the possibility of PTE, a lung perfusion scan was performed. Computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography was recommended to patients who showed possible signs of PTE. All patients were evaluated for clinical signs of thrombosis, biochemical indicators of renal disease, as well as clotting and thrombotic parameters. Results : RVT or related clinical symptoms were not observed in any children. Based on the findings of the lung perfusion scans, 15 patients (27.8%) were observed with as a high probability of PTE. We were able to perform a CT pulmonary angiography only on 12 patients, and 5 patients were diagnosed with PTE (prevalence 8.1%). The serum fibrinogen level in the group with PTE was significantly higher ($776.7{\pm}382.4mg/dL$, P<0.05) than that in the group without PTE, and other parameters were not significantly different between each group. Conclusion : Further studies are required for clarifying the role of renal Doppler ultrasonography for the detection of RVT in NS. Children with NS who developed non-specific respiratory symptoms should be evaluated for the diagnosis of PTE. In the management of NS, a lung perfusion scan should be performed at the time of the initial episode of NS regardless of the pulmonary symptoms, since patients having PTE are either often asymptomatic, or present with nonspecific symptoms.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.299-308
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a bioinformatics software and to test it in serum samples of papillary thyroid cancer using mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Materials and Methods: Development of 'Protein analysis' software performing decision tree analysis was done by customizing C4.5. Sixty-one serum samples from 27 papillary thyroid cancer, 17 autoimmune thyroiditis, 17 controls were applied to 2 types of protein chips, CM10 (weak cation exchange) and IMAC3 (metal binding - Cu). Mass spectrometry was performed to reveal the protein expression profiles. Decision trees were generated using 'Protein analysis' software, and automatically detected biomarker candidates. Validation analysis was performed for CM10 chip by random sampling. Results: Decision tree software, which can perform training and validation from profiling data, was developed. For CM10 and IMAC3 chips, 23 of 113 and 8 of 41 protein peaks were significantly different among 3 groups (p<0.05), respectively. Decision tree correctly classified 3 groups with an error rate of 3.3% for CM10 and 2.0% for IMAC3, and 4 and 7 biomarker candidates were detected respectively. In 2 group comparisons, all cancer samples were correctly discriminated from non-cancer samples (error rate = 0%) for CM10 by single node and for IMAC3 by multiple nodes. Validation results from 5 test sets revealed SELDI-TOF-MS and decision tree correctly differentiated cancers from non-cancers (54/55, 98%), while predictability was moderate in 3 group classification (36/55, 65%). Conclusion: Our in-house software was able to successfully build decision trees and detect biomarker candidates, therefore it could be useful for biomarker discovery and clinical follow up of papillary thyroid cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.797-806
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• 1999

Background: About 20% of small cell lung cancer(SCLC) patients have bone marrow(EM) metastasis at the time of diagnosis and the remaining patients are also considered with micrometastasis. In an attempt to detect EM micrometastasis, we used cytokeratin(CK)-20 as a molecular marker, which is specific for epithelial cells. Method: A sensitive RT-PCR assay was used to compare CK-20 expression both in SCLC cell line H209 and normal leukocyte and to evaluate EM aspirates of 28 SCLC patients. Result: H209 cell line showed CK-20 expression but normal leukocyte did not, suggesting CK-20 expression is lung tissue-specific. Of 28 patients(11 limited disease, 17 extensive disease), only 2(1/11, 1/17) samples tested revealed positive signal for CK-20. Two patients with CK-20 expression had EM metastasis or multiple bone involvement during follow-up. Conclusion: Although circulating tumor cells were detected in EM of small portion of patients with bone metastasis, CK-20 doesn't seem to be a reliable marker for the detection of micrometastasis in SCLC. This study emphasizes that identification of more specific marker for micrometastsis is mandatory prior to clinical application.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.252-258
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• 2001

Purpose : The objectives of this study are to investigate the significance of apoptotic death compared to total cell death after $\gamma-ray$ irradiation in human H&N cancer cell lines and to find out correlation between apoptosis and radiation sensitivity. Materials and method : Head and neck cancer cell lines (PCI-1, PCI-13, and SNU-1066), leukemia cell line (CCRF-CEM), and fibroblast cell line (LM217) as a normal control were used for this study. Cells were irradiated using Cs-137 animal experiment irradiator. Total cell death was measured by clonogenic assay. Annexin-V staining was used to detect the fraction of apoptotic death. Results : Surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF2) were 0.741, 0.544, 0.313, 0.302, and 0.100 for PCI-1, PCI-13, SNU-1066, CCRF-CEM, and LM217 cell lines, respectively. Apoptosis was detected in all cell lines. Apoptotic index reached peak value at 72 hours after irradiation in head and neck cancer cell lines, and that was at 24 hours in CCRF-CEM and LM217. Total cell death increased exponentially with increasing radiation dose from 0 Gy to 8 Gy, but the change was minimal in apoptotic index. Apoptotic fractions at 2 Gy were $46\%,\;48\%,\;46\%,\;24\%,\;and\;19\%$ and at 6 Gy were $20\%,\;33\%,\;35\%,\;17\%,\;and\;20\%$ for PCI-1, PCI-13, SNU-1066, CCRF-CEM, and LM217, respectively. The radioresistant cell lines showed more higher apoptotic fraction at 2 Gy, but there was not such correlation at 6 Gy. Conclusion : All cell lines used in this study showed apoptosis after irradiation, but time course of apoptosis was different from that of leukemia cell line and normal fibroblast cell line. Reproductive cell death was more important mode of cell death than apoptotic death in all cell lines used in this study. But there was correlation between apoptotic fraction and radiation sensitivity at 2 Gy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2009

Objective: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins are important in regulating cellular signaling pathways. Bead-based multiplex phosphorylation assay was conducted to detect the phosphorylation of seven proteins to maximize the information obtained from a single lysate of stage-specific mouse oocytes at a time. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 2 h, 8 h, and 16 h, respectively to address phosphorylation status of seven target proteins during oocyte maturation process. We analyzed the changes in phosphorylation at germinal vesicle (GV, 0 h), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD, 2 h), metaphase I (MI, 8 h), and metaphase II (MII, 16 h in vitro or in vivo) mouse oocytes by using Bio-Plex phosphoprotein assay system. We chose seven target proteins, namely, three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and other 4 well known signaling molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and STAT3 to measure their phosphorylation status. Western blot analysis and kinase inhibitor treatment for ERK1/2, JNK, and Akt during in vitro maturation of oocytes were conducted for the confirmation. Results: Phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK and STAT3 was increased over 3 folds up to 20 folds, while phosphorylation of the other three signal molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, and $I{\kapa}B{\alpha}$ was less than 3 folds. All of these results except for Akt were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This is the first report on the new and valuable method measuring many phosphoproteins simultaneously in one minute sample such as oocyte lysates. All of the three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK are involved in the process of mouse oocyte maturation. In addition, STAT3 might be important regulator of oocyte maturation, while Akt phosphorylation at Serine 473 may not be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.298-309
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• 2021

In this study we sought to develop a simultaneous analysis method for cis-bixin and cis-norbixin, the main components, to detect annatto pigment in food. To establish the optimal test method, the HPLC analysis methods of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) were compared and reviewed. In addition, a new pretreatment method applicable to various foods was developed after selecting conditions for simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis in consideration of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and analysis time. The HPLC analysis method of NIFDS showed the best linearity (R² ≥ 0.999), exhibiting low detection and quantification limits for cis-norbixin and cis-bixin as 0.03, 0.05 ㎍/mL, and 0.097, 0.16 ㎍/mL, respectively. All previously reported pretreatment methods had limitations in various food applications. However, the new pretreatment method showed a high recovery rate for all three main food groups of fish meat and meat products, processed cheese and beverages. This method showed an excellent simultaneous recovery rate of 98% or more for cis-bixin and cis-norbixin. The HPLC analysis method with a new pretreatment method showed high linearity with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 1 for both substances, and the accuracy (recovery rate) and precision (%RSD) were 98% and between 0.4-7.9, respectively. From this result, the optimized analytical method was considered to be very suitable for the simultaneous analysis of cis-bixin and cis-norbixin, two main components of annatto pigment in food.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2018

The epidemic of disorders associated with synthetic stimulants, such as methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AP), is a health, social, legal, and financial problem. Owing to the high potential of their abuse and addiction, reliable analytical methods are required to detect and identify MA, AP, and their metabolites in biological samples. Thus, a dilute-and-shoot liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of MA, 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (4HMA), AP, and 4-hydroxyamphetamine (4HA) in urine. Urine sample ($100{\mu}L$) was mixed with $50{\mu}L$ of mobile phase consisting of 0.4 % formic acid and methanol and $50{\mu}L$ of working internal-standard solution. Aliquots of $8{\mu}L$ diluted urine was injected into the LC-MS/MS system. For all analytes, chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 reversed-phase column with gradient elution and a total run time of 5 min. The identification and quantification were performed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Linear least-squares regression was conducted to generate a calibration curve, with $1/x^2$ as the weighting factor. The linear ranges were 2.0-200, 1.0-800, and 10-2500 ng/mL for 4HA and 4HMA, AP, and MA, respectively. The inter- and intraday precisions were within 6.6 %, whereas the inter- and intraday accuracies ranged from -14.9 to 11.3 %. The low limits of quantification were 2.0 ng/mL (4HA and 4HMA), 1.0 ng/mL (AP), and 10 ng/mL (MA). The proposed method exhibited satisfactory selectivity, dilution integrity, matrix effect, and stability, which are required for validation. Moreover, the purification efficiency of high-speed centrifugation was clearly higher than 6-15 % for QC samples (n=5), which was higher than that of the membrane-filtration method. The applicability of the proposed method was tested by forensic analysis of urine samples from drug abusers.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.243-251
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• 2019

Microplastics (MP) are found in large quantities in the oceans, posing a major threat to the ecosystem. In Korea, MPs have been reported to be detected in sea salts. In order to analyze MPs, information on their composition, size, and shape is required. FT-IR microscopy is used frequently to measure sizes larger than 20 ㎛. Recently, however, Raman microscopy, which can analyze ultrafine plastics below 20 ㎛, has been applied extensively. In this study, 10.0 g samples of commercially available salts were dissolved and filtered through a 45 ㎛ mesh filter with a size of 25.4 mm × 25.4 mm. These filtered samples were then analyzed by both FT-IR microscopy and Raman microscopy. A total of four MPs, including three polyethylene (PE) of size 70-100 ㎛ and a polypropylene (PP) of size 170 ㎛, were detected by FT-IR microscopy, while 10 MPs, including nine PE of size 10-120 ㎛ and one polystyrene (PS) of size 40 ㎛, were detected by Raman microscopy. Approximately, 1,000 MPs/kg was estimated, which was almost two times higher than the previous reported levels (~550-681 particles/kg in sea salts); this is because Raman microscopy can detect much smaller MPs than FT-IR microscopy. A total of 113 particles were found using Raman microscopy: Carbon (35, 31.5 %), minerals (28, 25 %), and glass (16, 14.4 %) were dominant, forming around 70% of the total, but MPs (10, 8.8 %) and cellulose (5, 4.5 %) were also found. Raman microscopy has great potential as an accurate method for measuring MPs, as it can measure smaller size MPs than FT-IR microscopy. It also has a reduced sample preparation time.