• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2004

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were isolated from a child suffering from acute gastroenteritis and successfully passaged in a calf and mice (designated hereafter SNU-H1) in the Republic of Korea; its molecular genotype has been analyzed. The GAG microsatellite region was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a 238 base pair product, which is commonly displayed in C. parvum. The isolate was shown to be a mixture of the genotypes 1 (anthroponotic) and 2 (zoonotic). To study its infectivity in animals, 2 calves and 3 strains of mice were infected with the SNU-H1; in these animals, the propagation of both genotypes was successful. In immunosup-pressed (ImSP) BALB/c and C57BU6 mice the number of oocysts decreased after day 10 post-infection (PI); but in ImSP ICR mice, they remained constant until day 27 PI. The results show that both the C. parvum genotypes 1 and 2 can be propagated in calves and ImSP mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.103-106
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• 2013

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) play key roles in synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions in the brain. We recently found that genetic deletion of $PI3K{\gamma}$, the only known member of class IB PI3Ks, results in impaired N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent long-term depression (NMDAR-LTD) in the hippocampus. The activity of RalA, a small GTP-binding protein, increases following NMDAR-LTD inducing stimuli, and this increase in RalA activity is essential for inducing NMDAR-LTD. We found that RalA activity increased significantly in $PI3K{\gamma}$ knockout mice. Furthermore, NMDAR-LTD-inducing stimuli did not increase RalA activity in $PI3K{\gamma}$ knockout mice. These results suggest that constitutively increased RalA activity occludes further increases in RalA activity during induction of LTD, causing impaired NMDAR-LTD. We propose that $PI3K{\gamma}$ regulates the activity of RalA, which is one of the molecular mechanisms inducing NMDAR-dependent LTD.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.494-500
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• 2020

Objective: This study presents a preliminary report on the chest radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia in Korea. Materials and Methods: As part of a multi-institutional collaboration coordinated by the Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology, we collected nine patients with COVID-19 infections who had undergone chest radiography and CT scans. We analyzed the radiographic and CT findings of COVID-19 pneumonia at baseline. Fisher's exact test was used to compare CT findings depending on the shape of pulmonary lesions. Results: Three of the nine patients (33.3%) had parenchymal abnormalities detected by chest radiography, and most of the abnormalities were peripheral consolidations. Chest CT images showed bilateral involvement in eight of the nine patients, and a unilobar reversed halo sign in the other patient. In total, 77 pulmonary lesions were found, including patchy lesions (39%), large confluent lesions (13%), and small nodular lesions (48%). The peripheral and posterior lung fields were involved in 78% and 67% of the lesions, respectively. The lesions were typically ill-defined and were composed of mixed ground-glass opacities and consolidation or pure ground-glass opacities. Patchy to confluent lesions were primarily distributed in the lower lobes (p = 0.040) and along the pleura (p < 0.001), whereas nodular lesions were primarily distributed along the bronchovascular bundles (p = 0.006). Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia in Korea primarily manifested as pure to mixed ground-glass opacities with a patchy to confluent or nodular shape in the bilateral peripheral posterior lungs. A considerable proportion of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia had normal chest radiographs.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2013

Objectives: Sleep problems has been consistently reported as a suicidal risk factor in adults and, recently, also in adolescents. In this study, dividing study subjects by the previous suicidal behaviors (suicidal vs non-suicidal), we compared the group differences of suicidal risk factors, and examined the possibility of sleep as a suicidal risk factor. Methods: Study subjects were 561 (271 boys and 290 girls) from a community sample of high school students. Suicidal Risk Behavior Checklist, Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) Anxiety and Aggression subscale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were done. Results: Forty six students (8.1%) reported previous actual self-harm behavior as a suicidal attempt, 181 students (32.4%) reported having suicidal thought only. Three hundred thirty four students (59.5%) reported no previous suicidal behavior (thought and attempt, both). Suicidal behavior group showed higher score on risk behaviors such as school violence, substance use and internet addiction. CES-D, SCL-90-R, PSQI showed significant group difference. Logistic regression analysis showed suicidal risk were significantly associated with depression, stress in suicidal risk factors and sleep latency, daytime dysfunction in PSQI. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows the most prolonged sleep latency and increased index of all PSQI components except sleep efficiency in suicidal attempt group. Conclusions: Sleep Problems had a strong association with the suicidal risk behavior in adolescents. Sleep problems, especially, prolonged sleep latency, daytime dysfunction might be important markers for suicidal behavior. Screening for sleep problems in adolescents are encouraged for the parents, school teachers, and related medical physicians.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2005

We enhanced the color of blue sapphires and rubies successfully by using a oxygen-propane torch flame annealing, which had not been employed so far. We confirmed that about 1 mm-thick de-coloring of the corundum samples were available with 60 minutes flame annealing through eye evaluation, color coordination characterization, and methylene iodide immersion observation. We also suggest that the color centers such as $[Fe_{Al}^{\cdot}]$ may transform into transparent $[Fe_{Al}^{x}],\;[Cr_{A1}^{x}]$ sites with $[V_o^']$ generation at the elevated temperature in oxygen-rich atmosphere by diffusion mechanism. Our results implied that the longer diffusion time and the higher oxygen partial pressure might lead to the better de-coloring enhancement in corundum gem stones.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2006.11b
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• pp.974-980
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• 2006

The government makes an effort to disperse the centralization of Seoul through the its surroundings development for relieving the various social problems caused by the capital region concentration. But, the planless development of rail system in the capital region have made it difficult to approach into Seoul city center from its surroundings. Through Seoul metro line 9, constructed by private company first in Korea, that has operation plan with normal and express train together, we would like to study up on promotion of passenger service quality such as "the improvement of the accessibility to Seoul city center from its surroundings" and "service of various pattern of trains"

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.581-593
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• 2023

In the catheterization laboratory, the measurement of physiological indexes can help identify functionally significant lesions and has become one of the standard methods to guide treatment decision-making. Plaque vulnerability refers to a coronary plaque susceptible to rupture, enabling risk prediction before coronary events, and it can be detected by defining a certain type of plaque morphology on coronary imaging modalities. Although coronary physiology and plaque vulnerability have been considered different attributes of coronary artery disease, the underlying pathophysiological basis and clinical data indicate a strong correlation between coronary hemodynamic properties and vulnerable plaque. In prediction of coronary events, emerging data have suggested independent and additional implications of a physiology-based approach to a plaque-based approach. This review covers the fundamental interplay between coronary physiology and plaque morphology during disease progression with clinical data supporting this relationship and examines the clinical relevance of physiological indexes in prediction of clinical outcomes and therapeutic decision-making along with plaque vulnerability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.380-389
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• 2012

Background: Bovine pericardium is one of the most widely used materials in bioprosthetic heart valves. Immunologic responses have been implicated as potential causes of limited durability of xenogenic valves. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of decellularization and ${\alpha}$-galactosidase (${\alpha}$-gal) to remove major xenoreactive antigens from xenogenic tissues. Materials and Methods: Recombinant Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. thetaiotaomicron) ${\alpha}$-gal or decellularization, or both were used to remove ${\alpha}$-gal from bovine pericardium. It was confirmed by ${\alpha}$-gal-bovine serum albumin-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high-performance anion exchange chromatography, flow cytometry, 3,3'-diaminobenzidine-staining, and lectin-based ELISA. The mechanical properties of bovine pericardium after decellularization or ${\alpha}$-gal treatment were investigated by tests of tensile-strength, permeability, and compliance. Collagen fiber rearrangement was also evaluated by a 20,000${\times}$ transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results: Recombinant B. thetaiotaomicron ${\alpha}$-gal could effectively remove ${\alpha}$-gal from bovine pericardium B. thetaiotaomicron (0.1 U/mL, pH 7.2) while recombinant human ${\alpha}$-gal removed it recombinant human ${\alpha}$-gal (10 U/mL, pH 5.0). There was no difference in the mechanical properties of fresh and recombinant ${\alpha}$-gal-treated bovine pericardium. Furthermore, the TEM findings demonstrated that recombinant ${\alpha}$-gal made no difference in the arrangement of collagen fiber bundles with decellularization. Conclusion: Recombinant B. thetaiotaomicron ${\alpha}$-gal effectively removed ${\alpha}$-gal from bovine pericardium with a small amount under physiological conditions compared to human recombinant ${\alpha}$-gal, which may alleviate the harmful xenoreactive immunologic responses of ${\alpha}$-gal. Recombinant ${\alpha}$-gal treatment had no adverse effects on the mechanical properties of bovine pericardium.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2007

Backgrounds: Obesity and depression are serious health problem and also constitute cardiovascular disease risk factors. Some studies found an association between obesity and higher rates of depression in women but not in men. The current study examined the association between depressive symptoms and obesity, especially central obesity in Korean women. Methods : The participants were 4,609 Korean women aged 20-85 years. Each individual was assessed for the presence of obesity and central obesity using the criteria suggested by WPRO(World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific). Depressive symptomatology was measured by Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Results : In obese women, rate of depressed women is significantly higher compared normal group(27.6% VS. 23.2%, p<0.01). The rates of depressed women is higher in women who had central obesity(26.9% VS. 22.7%, p<0.01). Depressed women had higher rates of central obesity(93.2% VS.86.9%, p<0.01). Conclusion Our findings show obesity especially central obesity is associated with depressed women and suggests that further investigation for interaction between depression and obesity is needed.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 1997

To isolate a gene for cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. E1, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was carried out. Direct molecular cloning of 1.2 kbp fragment and partial nucleotide sequence analysis of the PCR amplified clone, pH12, showed close homology with CGTases from Bacillus species. To investigate the genomic structure of the gene, Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA was carried out with the clone pH12 as a molecular probe. It showed that 5.3 kbp XbaI fragment was hybridized with the probe pH12. To isolate a genomic clone, genomic DNA library was constructed and a genomic clone for CGTase, pCGTE1, was isolated. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the clone pCGTE1 revealed that BCGTE1 contained 2,109 bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 703 amino acids and showed over 94.3% amino acid sequence homology with CGTase of ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ producer, Bacillus sp. KC201.(Received October 7, 1997; accepted October 20, 1997)