• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.254-262
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• 2023

Novel thermo-optically focus-switchable Fresnel zone plates based on phase-change metafilms are designed and analyzed at a visible wavelength (660 nm). By virtue of the large thermo-optic response of vanadium dioxide (VO₂) thin film, a phase-change material, four different plasmonic phase-change absorbers are numerically designed as actively tunable Gires-Tournois Al-VO₂ metafilms in two and three dimensions. The designed phase-change metafilm unit cells are used as the building blocks of actively focus-switchable Fresnel zone plates with strong focus switching contrast (40%, 83%) and high numerical apertures (1.52, 1.70). The Fresnel zone plates designed in two and three dimensions work as cylindrical and spherical lenses in reflection type, respectively. The coupling between the thermo-optic effect of VO₂ and localized plasmonic resonances in the Al nanostructures offer a large degree of freedom in design and high-contrast focus-switching performance based on largely tunable absorption resonances. The proposed method may have great potential in photothermal and electrothermal active optical devices for nonlinear optics, microscopy, 3D scanning, optical trapping, and holographic displays over a wide spectral range including the visible and infrared regimes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2023

Endoribonuclease YbeY is specific to the single-stranded RNA of ribosomal RNAs and small RNAs. This enzyme is essential for the maturation and quality control of ribosomal RNA in a wide range of bacteria and for virulence in some pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of YbeY from Staphylococcus aureus at a resolution of 1.9 Å in the presence of zinc chloride. The structure showed a zinc ion at the active site and two molecules of tricarboxylic acid citrate, which were also derived from the crystallization conditions. Our structure showed the zinc ionbound local environment at the molecular level for the first time. Molecular comparisons were performed between the carboxylic moieties of citrate and the phosphate moiety of the RNA backbone, and a model of YbeY in complex with a single strand of RNA was subsequently constructed. Our findings provide molecular insights into how the YbeY enzyme recognizes singlestranded RNA in bacteria.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.581-587
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• 2022

Procedural sedation has become increasingly common in endoscopy. Sedatives and analgesics induce anxiolysis and amnesia. In addition, an appropriate level of sedation is necessary for safe procedures including therapeutic endoscopy. Midazolam and propofol are the most commonly used drugs in sedative endoscopy. In recent years, the need to ascertain the safety and effectiveness of sedation has increased in practice. Therefore, new sedatives and analgesic drugs for optimal sedative endoscopy, have recently emerged. This article reviews the characteristics of sedatives and analgesics, and describes their clinical use in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2010

Genetic instability of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae has been suggested as a major factor underlying the rapid breakdown of host resistance in the field. However, little information is available on the mechanism of genetic instability. In this study, we assessed the stability of repetitive DNA elements and several key phenotypic traits important for pathogenesis after serially transferring two isolates though rice plants and an artificial medium. Using isolate 70-15, we obtained a total of 176 single-spore isolates from 10 successive rounds of culturing on artificial medium. Another 20 isolates were obtained from germ tubes formed at the basal and apical cells of 10 three-celled conidia. Additionally, 60 isolates were obtained from isolate KJ201 after serial transfers through rice plants and an artificial medium. No apparent differences in phenotypes, including mycelial growth, conidial morphologies, conidiation, conidial germination, appressorium formation, and virulence, or in DNA fingerprints using MGR586, MAGGY, Pot2, LINE, MG-SINE and PWL2 as probes were observed among isolates from the same parent isolate. Southern hybridization and sequence analysis of two avirulence genes, AVR-Pita1 and AVR-Pikm, showed that both genes were also maintained stably during 10 successive generations on medium and plants. However, one reversible loss of restriction fragments was found in the telomere-linked helicase gene (TLH1) family, suggesting some telomere regions may be more unstable than the rest of the genome. Taken together, our results suggest that phenotype and genotype of M. oryzae isolates do not noticeably change, at least up to 10 successive generations on a cultural medium and in host plants.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 1999

Background and Purpose : Involvement of supraclavicular Iymph nodes (SCL) is considered distant metastasis for thoracic esophageal carcinoma in AJCC staging system revised in 1997. We investigated significance of SCL involvement compared to other regional Iymph node involvement. Materials and Methods : Two-hundred eighty-nine patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy from June of 1979 through December 1992. Of these patients, 25 were identified having SCL involvement. Survival rate and relapse patterns were compared with that of mediastinal and perigastric Iymph node positive patients to evaluate prognostic significance of SCL involvement. Results : Median survival for patients with SCL involvement was 7 months and 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 12.0$\%$ and 4.0$\%$ respectably. Corresponding features for regional node positive patients were 9 month, 17.0$\%$ and 3.8$\%$. There was no significant difference between two groups. There was also no difference in patterns of recurrence. Conclusions : Results of this analysis showed that SCL involvement should be staged as nodal disease in contrast to present classification of metastatic disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.6
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• pp.418-425
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• 2010

Background: Little is known about the long-term effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) treatment on post-tuberculosis emphysema. This study evaluated the effects of ACE inhibition on cardiac function and gas exchange in patients with post-tuberculosis emphysema. Methods: At baseline and at 6 months after initiation of ACE inhibition therapy, patients underwent pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and echocardiography, both at rest and post exercise. Cardiac output (CO) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were measured at those time points as well. Results: After ACE inhibition; resting and post-exercise RVEF ($Mean{\pm}SEM,\;61.5{\pm}1.0,\;67.6{\pm}1.2%$, respectively) were higher than at baseline ($56.9{\pm}1.2,\;53.5{\pm}1.7%$). Resting and post-exercise CO ($6.37{\pm}0.24,\;8.27{\pm}0.34L/min$) were higher than at baseline ($5.42{\pm}0.22,\;6.72{\pm}0.24L/min$). Resting and post-exercise $PaO_2$ ($83.8{\pm}1.6,\;74.0{\pm}1.2mmHg$, respectively) were also higher than at baseline ($74.2{\pm}1.9,\;66.6{\pm}1.6mmHg$). Post-exercise $PaCO_2$($46.3{\pm}1.1mmHg$) was higher than at baseline ($44.9{\pm}1.1;\; Resting\;42.8{\pm}0.8\;vs.\;42.4{\pm}0.9mmHg$). Resting and post-exercise A-a $O_2$ gradient ($12.4{\pm}1.4,\;17.8{\pm}1.5 mmHg$) were lower than at baseline ($22.5{\pm}1.5,\;26.9{\pm}1.6mmHg$). Conclusion: In post-tuberculosis emphysema, RVEF and CO were augmented with a resultant increase in peripheral oxygen delivery after ACE inhibition. These findings suggest that an ACE inhibitor may have the potential to alleviate co-morbid cardiac conditions and benefit the patients with post-tuberculosis emphysema.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.301-308
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• 2012

Objectives: To examine the association between alcohol consumption habit, types of beverages, alcohol consumption quantity, and overall and cancer-specific mortality among Korean adults. Methods: The alcohol consumption information of a total of 16 320 participants who were 20 years or older from the Korean Multicenter Cancer Cohort were analyzed to examine the association between alcohol consumption habit and mortality (median follow-up of 9.3 years). The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of alcohol consumption to mortality adjusting for age, sex, geographic areas, education, smoking status, and body mass index. Results: Alcohol drinkers showed an increased risk for total mortality compared with never drinkers (HR, 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38 to 2.14 for past drinkers; HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.39 for current drinkers), while past drinkers only were associated with higher risk for cancer deaths (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.34 to 2.53). The quantity of alcohol consumed per week showed a J-shaped association with risk of mortality. Relative to light drinkers (0.01 to 90 g/wk), never drinkers and heavy drinkers (>504 g/wk) had an increased risk for all-cause and cancer deaths: (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.45) and (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.83) for all-cause mortality; and (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.11) and (HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.39 to 3.09) for all cancer mortality, respectively. Heavy drinkers (>504 g/wk) showed an elevated risk for death from stomach and liver cancers. Conclusions: The present study supports the existence of a J-shaped association between alcohol consumption quantity and the risk of all-cause and cancer deaths. Heavy drinkers had an increased risk of death from cancer overall and liver and stomach cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2002

Purpose : For the purpose of quality assurance of self-developed stereotactic radiosurgery system, a multi-purpose phantom was fabricated, and accuracy of radiation dose distribution during radiosurgery was measured using this phantom. Materials and Methods : A farmer chamber, a 0.125 cc ion chamber and a diode detector were used for the dosimetry. Six MV x-ray from a linear accelerator (CL2100C, Varian) with stereotactic radiosurgery technique (Green Knife) was used, and multi-purpose phantom was attached to a stereotactic frame (Fisher type). Dosimetry was done by combinations of locations of the detectors in the phantom, fixed or arc beams, gantry angles $(20^{\circ}\~100^{\circ})$, and size of the circular tertiary collimators (inner diameters of $10\~40\;mm$). Results : The measurement error was less than $0.5\%$ by Farmer chamber, $0.5\%$ for 0.125 cc ion chamber, and less than $2\%$ for diode detector for the fixed beam, single arc beam, and 5-arc beam setup. Conclusion : We confirmed the accuracy of dose distribution with the radiosurgery system developed in our institute and the data from this study would be able to be effectively used for the improvement of quality assurance of stereotactic radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy system.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2004

1. 연구 목적 Fibronectin은 세포외기질의 주요성분인 거대 당단백질로서, 조골세포의 부착과 증식 및 이동능에 중요한 역할을 담당한다고 알려져 있다. 이러한 fibronectin의 조골세포에 대한 영향을 실제 임상에 적용하기 위해서, 전체 fibronectin 단백질을 사용하는 것은 면역학적으로나 경제적으로 많은 단점을 안고 있어서, 유효한 반응단위만을 추출하여 활용하는 것이 바람직한 방법으로 알려져 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 세포부착에 주로 관여하는 fibronectin type III분절 중 10번 도메인이 조골양 세포에 미치는 영향을 전체 fibronectin단백질과 fibronectin type III 7-10 도메인 분절과 비교, 관찰하는 것이다. 2. 연구 방법 사람의 fibronectin을 기초로 한 적절한 primer로서, 유전자 재조합법을 이용하여 fibronectin type III 10 도메인과 fibronectin type III 7-10 도메인 분절을 얻었으며, 전체 fibronectin분자는 상용으로 준비하여 24-well 세포배양 용기에 도포하였다. 배양된 조골양세포(HOS cell)를 $1x10^5$ cells/well의 농도로 각 well에 분주하여 $37^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 배양을 하였다. Cell adhesion assay를 실시하기 위해 10% formaldehyde로 고정시키고 1% Crystal Violet으로 염색하여 광학현미경을 관찰 후 2% SDS를 처리하여 microplate reader기를 이용하여 570nm에서 혼탁정도를 측정하였다. 음성대조군으로는 RPMI 용액을 사용하였다. 동일한 방법을 이용하여 준비된 $35mm^2배양접시에 HOS cell을 $37^{\circ}C$에서 4일간 배양 후, MTS assay를 이용하여 세포 증식도에 미치는 영향을 관찰하였다. 6일째 405nm에서 활성화된 세포에서 분비된 p-nitrophenol을 이용한 alkaline phosphatase activity를 측정하였다. 3. 결과 및 고찰 Fibronectin type III 10 도메인은 HOS cell에 대한 생물학적인 효과면에서, 전체 fibronectin 분자 및 fibronectin type III 7-10 분절과 통계적으로 유사한 세포부착도를 보여주었으며, 세포증식도와 alkaline phosphatse 활성도면에서도 큰 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 이상의 연구결과로 볼 때, fibronectin type III 10 도메인이 조골세포의 증식을 목적으로 사용하는 생체재료의 표면개질 부착물질로 응용할 수 있는 가능성이 있다고 하겠다.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2022

Purpose: Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) has been successfully used to prevent couples with monogenic disorders from passing them on to their child. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive extremity muscle degeneration and loss of sensory function. For the first time in Korea, we report our experience of applying single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and karyomapping for PGT-M of CMT disease. Materials and Methods: Prior to clinical PGT-M, preclinical tests were performed using genotypes of affected families to identify informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with mutant alleles. We performed five cycles of in vitro fertilization PGT-M in four couples with CMT1A, CMT2A, and CMT2S in CHA Fertility Center, Seoul Station. Results: From July 2020 through August 2021, five cycles of PGT-M with karyomapping in four cases with CMT1 and CMT2 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 17 blastocysts were biopsied and 15 embryos were successfully diagnosed (88.2%). Ten out of 15 embryos were diagnosed as unaffected (66.7%). Five cycles of PGT-M resulted in four transfer cycles, in which four embryos were transferred. Three clinical pregnancies were achieved (75%) and the prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis for all three women confirmed PGT-M of karyomapping. One woman delivered a healthy baby uneventfully and two pregnancies are currently ongoing. Conclusion: This is the first report in Korea on the application of karyomapping in PGT-M for CMT patients. This study shows that karyomapping is an efficient, reliable and accurate diagnostic method for PGT-M in various types of CMT diseases.