• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.7
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• pp.298-302
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• 2016

Purpose: Recent reports showed that plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could be a useful biomarker of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) unresponsiveness and coronary artery lesion (CAL) development in Kawasaki disease (KD). The levels of these peptides are critically influenced by age; hence, the normal range and upper limits for infants and children are different. We performed an age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level to validate its clinical use in the diagnosis of KD. Methods: The data of 131 patients with KD were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups-group I (high NT-proBNP group) and group II (normal NT-proBNP group)-comprising patients with NT-proBNP concentrations higher and lower than the 95th percentile of the reference value, respectively. We compared the laboratory data, responsiveness to IVIG, and the risk of CAL in both groups. Results: Group I showed significantly higher white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein level, aspartate aminotransferase level, and troponin-I level than group II (P<0.05). The risk of CAL was also significantly higher in group I (odds ratio, 5.78; P=0.012). IVIG unresponsiveness in group I was three times that in group II (odds ratio, 3.35; P= 0.005). Conclusion: Age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level could be helpful in predicting IVIG unresponsiveness and risk of CAL development in patients with KD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng total saponin (GTS) contains various ginsenosides. These ginsenosides are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases in Asian communities. The aim of this study was to study the effects of GTS on cardiac injury after global ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) in isolated guinea pig hearts. Methods: Animals were subjected to normothermic ischemia for 60 minutes, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. GTS significantly increased aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. Moreover, GTS significantly increased left ventricular systolic pressure and the maximal rate of contraction ($+dP/dt_{max}$) and relaxation ($-dP/dt_{max}$). In addition, GTS has been shown to ameliorate electrocardiographic changes such as the QRS complex, QT interval, and RR interval. Results: GTS significantly suppressed the biochemical parameters (i.e., lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB fraction, and cardiac troponin I levels) and normalized the oxidative stress markers (i.e., malondialdehyde, glutathione, and nitrite). In addition, GTS also markedly inhibits the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, and improves the expression of IL-10 in cardiac tissue. Conclusion: These data indicate that GTS mitigates myocardial damage by modulating the biochemical and oxidative stress related to cardiac I/R injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in isolated guinea pig heart. KRG has been shown to possess various ginsenosides, which are the major components of Panax ginseng. These components are known naturally occurring compounds with beneficial effects and free radical scavenging activity. The heart was induced to ischemia for 60 min, followed by 120 min reperfusion. The hearts were randomly allocated into five groups (n=8 for each group): normal control (N/C), KRG control, I/R control, 250 mg/kg KRG group and 500 mg/kg KRG group. KRG significantly increased hemodynamics parameters such as aortic flow, coronary flow and cardiac output. Moreover, KRG significantly increased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the maximal rate of contraction (+dP/$dt_{max}$) and maximal rate of relaxation (-dP/$dt_{max}$). Also, treatment of KRG ameliorated electrocardiographic index such as the QRS, QT and RR intervals. Moreover, KRG significantly suppressed the lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB fraction and cardiac troponin I and ameliorated the oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde and glutathione. KRG was standardized through ultra performance liquid chromatograph analysis for its major ginsenosides. Taken together, KRG has been shown to prevent cardiac injury by normalizing the biochemical and oxidative stress.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2020

In the present experimental study, cecal ligation and puncture significantly increased the myocardial injury assessed in terms of excess release of creative kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), interleukin (IL)-6 and decrease of IL-10 in the blood following 12 h of laparotomy procedure as compared to normal control. Also, a significant increase in protein expression levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and decreased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) was observed in the myocardial tissue as compared to normal control. A single independent administration of telmisartan (2 and 4 mg/kg) and AR-A014418 (1 and 2 mg/kg) substantially reduced sepsis-induced myocardial injury in terms of decrease levels of CK-MB, cTnI and IL-6, HMGB1, GSK-3β and increase in IL-10 and p-GSK-3β in the blood in sepsis- subjected rats. The effects of telmisartan at dose 4 mg/kg and AR-A014418 at a dose of 2 mg/kg were significantly higher than the telmisartan at a dose of 2 mg/kg and AR-A014418 1 mg/kg respectively. Further, no significant effects on different parameters were observed in the sham control group in comparison to normal. Therefore it is plausible to suggest that sepsis may increase the levels of angiotensin II to trigger GSK-3β-dependent signaling to activate the HMGB1/receptors for advanced glycation end products, which may promote inflammation and myocardial injury in sepsis-subjected rats.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.407-416
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• 2005

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery induces the production and release of numerous chemotactic substances and cytokines, ensuing systemic inflammatory response that causes postoperative major organ dysfunctions. We performed a randomized, prospective study to investigate clinical effects of preoperative treated-methylprednisolone for preventing inflammation in pediatric cardiac surgery with CPB. Thirty pediatric patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomized to either control(n=15) or steroid group (n=15, 10 mg/kg of methylprednisolone). Arterial blood samples were taken before and after the operations for measuring total leukocyte (T-WBC) and differential counts, platelet counts, interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), neuron specific enolase (NSE), troponin-I (TNI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels. Postoperative parameters such as pulmonary index (PI, $PaO_2/FiO_2$), 24 hrs and total bleeding volumes, mechanical ventilating (MVP) and intensive care unit (ICU)-staying periods, and hospitalization were assessed. T-WBC, neutrophil fraction, IL-6, MPO, NSE, TNI, AST and creatinine levels, bleeding volumes, PI, and MVP at the postoperative periods were lower or shorter in steroid group than in control group (P<0.05). These findings indicated that preoperative administration of methylprednisolone attenuated CPB-induced inflammatory reactions, contributing to postoperative recovery of patients underwent cardiac surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.236-239
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• 2011

A 10 month-old female (intact) Maltese dog was presented due to continuous heart murmur. The dog was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) based on two-dimensional echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) and angiography. Transarterial coil embolization was used for transcatheter occlusion of the PDA. A single coil was placed successfully and effectively occluded the blood flow through the ductus. Continuous heart murmur disappeared immediately the coil placement and no residual flow was detected. Complications and safety following the procedure were evaluated regularly based on clinical signs, cardiac examinations and serum troponin-I concentrations. This is the first clinical application of coil embolization for transcatheter closure of PDA in a dog in Korea.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2000

Snailfish usually lives at the bottom of the sea and showed typical retrogressive change with specialized tissue structures of skin and skeletons. In order to obtain the specific genes of snailfish, highly expressed in the body, we made subtracted cDNA library and analyzed 200 clones. Totally 200 clones were obtained and sequenced, and among them 62 clones were turned out to be homologous to the known gene, i.e., thioesterase (9), myosin (8), creatine kinase (7), skeletal alpha-actin (6), parvalbumin b (5), ribosomal protein (5), type I collagen (3), muscle troponin (3), dopamine receptor (2), histatin (2), and heat shock protein (2), cystatin (1), lectin (1), statherin (1), secretory carrier membrane protein (1), keratin type I (1), desmin (1), chloroplast (1), muscle tropomyosin (1), reticulum calcium ATPase (1), ribonucleoprotein (1). The remaining 138 clones were low homologous or non-redundant genes through Genbank search. Especially 5 clones were novel and specifically expressed in the body tissues of Snailfish by in situ hybridization. Therefore, we analysed these 5 clones to identify the C-terminal protein structures and motifs, and partly defined the roles of these proteins in comparison with the expression patterns by in situ hybridization. C9O-77, about 5000 bp, was supposed to be a matrix protein expressed strongly positive in epithelium, myxoid tissue, fibrous tissue and collagenous tissue. C9O-116, about 1500 bp, was supposed to be a transmembrane protein which was weakly expressed in the fibrous tissue, epithelium tissue, and myxoid tissue, but strong in muscle tissue. C9O-130, about 1200 bp, was supposed to be an intracytoplasmic molecule usually in the epithelial cells. C9O-161, about 2000 bp, was weakly expressed in epithelium, muscle tissue and myxoid tissue, but specially strong in epithelium. C9O-171, about 1000 bp, was supposed to be a transcription factor containing zinc finger like domain, which was intensely expressed in the epithelium, muscle tissue, fibrous tissue, and in collagenous tissue.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1296-1302
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the possible application of 2 D-SDS-PAGE (2 DE)-based proteome analysis techniques to the assessment of extreme proteolysis in postmortem skeletal muscle. Eight Hanwoo longissimus muscles were incubated immediately after slaughter for 24 h at 5$^{\circ}C$, 15$^{\circ}C$ or 36$^{\circ}C$. Warner Bratzler (WB)-shear force and ultrastructural configuration were determined at 24 h, and rate of proteolysis to 24 h was determined by 1 D-SDS-PAGE (1 DE) and 2 DE. In addition, tentative protein identification was performed from peptide mass fingerprints of MALDI-ToF analysis of major protein groups on 2 DE profiles. The result showed that although ultrastructural configuration was similar between the 5$^{\circ}C$ and 36$^{\circ}C$ treatments, meat at 5$^{\circ}C$ had higher WBshear force (approximately 5 kg greater). A higher rate of protein degradation at 36$^{\circ}C$ was observed based on Troponin-T degradation, 1 DE, and 2 DE analysis. This indicates that proteolysis during the early postmortem period was a significant determinant of shear force at 24 h. Little difference in proteolysis between 5$^{\circ}C$ and 15$^{\circ}C$ treatments was found based on classic 1 DE profile assessment. Meanwhile, considerable differences in the 2 DE profiles between the two treatments were revealed, with substantially higher rate of proteolysis at 15$^{\circ}C$ compared to 5$^{\circ}C$. Nuclease treatment improved 2 DE profile resolution. 400 ${\mu}$g and 600 ${\mu}$g of sample loading appeared to be appropriate for 24 cm pH 3-10 and pH 5-7 IPG strips, respectively. Protein detection and quantification of the 5$^{\circ}C$, 15$^{\circ}C$ and 36$^{\circ}C$ 2 DE profiles revealed 78, 163 and 232 protein spots respectively that were differentially modified in terms of their electrophoretic properties between approximately pI 5.3-7.7 with the molecular weight range of approximately 71-12 kDa. The current results demonstrated that 2 DE was a superior tool to 1 DE for characterising proteolysis in postmortem skeletal muscle.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.127-127
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• 2014

인체 내 소량의 생체성분(혈액, 소변 등)을 감지하는 바이오센서 기술은 질병 진단뿐만 아니라 예방 및 관리로 의료서비스 확대, 개인 맞춤형 진료 및 의료비 감소 효과를 가져올 수 있는 기술이다. 광바이오센서는 광학적인 측정방법을 이용하여 다양한 생화학물질들의 상호 반응을 검출해 낼 수 있는 바이오센서로 현재 활발하게 연구가 진행되고 있다. 광 바이오센서는 생체성분 내에 존재하는 전하를 가진 많은 이온들 및 Salt 농도 등에 영향을 받지 않기 때문에 나노 와이어를 이용한 FET (field-effect transistor)형 바이오센서에 비해 많은 장점을 가지고 있다. 일반적으로 광 바이오센서는 형광물질, 인광물질, 발색물질, 방사선 물질 등의 발광물질을 인식물질에 표지하여 인식물질과 분석물질과의 반응유무를 표지된 발광물질의 광학 신호를 감지하여 분석물질을 검출해내는 표지식 광 바이오센서 기술이 상용화되고 있다. 그러나 이러한 분석 방법은 민감도는 우수하지만 분석 시간이 매우 느리고, 고가의 분석 장비 및 복잡한 제조 공정 등의 단점들을 가지고 있다. 이러한 단점들을 극복하기 위하여 생화학 반응 유무를 표지물질 없이 광학적 방식으로 직접 측정할 수 있는 비표지식 광 바이오센서 기술이 최근 들어 많이 연구되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 광파장 이하의 주기를 가진 주기적 공진 격자 표면에서 일어나는 바이오 항원-항체 반응에 대한 공진 반사 파장을 측정하여 생체성분 내에 존재하는 바이오 항원을 고감도로 검출할 수 있는 비표지식 공진반사광 바이오센서 기술을 소개하고자 한다. 공진반사광 바이오센서를 이용하여 human serum내에 존재하는 심근경색 마커인 troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), myoglobin (MYO)을 0.1 ng/mL 이하의 농도까지 고감도로 측정할 수 있었다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is process by which depolarization of the muscle fiber membrane, elicited by a nerve action potential, triggers the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR). The resulting rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ activates the troponin complex, thereby initiating the contraction of the muscle. The question remains as to what factors are involved in the inhibition of SR $Ca^{2+}$ release in fatigued muscle. The purpose of this study was determine whether ATP-sensitive $K^+(K_{ATP})$ channels are activated and contribute to decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ during fatigue development in the mouse skeletal muscle. To elucidate a role of $K_{ATP})$ in relation to ECC, I measured the modulation effects of $K_{ATP})$ channel blocker(glibenclamide) and opener(pinacidil) on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after fatiguing electrical field stimulation(FEFS). Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals were recorded by conforcal laser microscopy(LSM 410) and monitored using the fluorescent $Ca^{2+}$-Sensitive indicator Fluo-3 AM. The results of this study were as followed: 1. The relative [Ca2'li after FEFS in the pre-glibenclamide-treated group was higher than the control. And relative $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after FEFS in the pre-glibenclamide-treated group was lower than the control. 2. The relative $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after FEFS for 3 min in the control, pre-glibenclamide-treated group and pre-pinacidil-treated group showed a similar pattern; the gradually significant decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. But, these decreasing pattern was most significant in the control. These findings suggest a tight relationship between $K_{ATP})$ and $Ca^{2+}$ in ECC during fatigue. Therefore, 1 thought that activation of $K_{ATP})$ channels may be one of mechanisms of the fatigue in skeletal muscle.