• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.13
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• 2021

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is caused by the mutation of NPC genes, which leads to the abnormal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycolipids in lysosomes. This autosomal recessive disease is characterized by liver dysfunction, hepatosplenomegaly, and progressive neurodegeneration. Recently, the application of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs), converted from fibroblasts using specific transcription factors, to repair degenerated lesions has been considered a novel therapy. Objectives: The therapeutic effects on NPC by human iNSCs generated by our research group have not yet been studied in vivo; in this study, we investigate those effects. Methods: We used an NPC mouse model to efficiently evaluate the therapeutic effect of iNSCs, because neurodegeneration progress is rapid in NPC. In addition, application of human iNSCs from NPC patient-derived fibroblasts in an NPC model in vivo can give insight into the clinical usefulness of iNSC treatment. The iNSCs, generated from NPC patientderived fibroblasts using the SOX2 and HMGA2 reprogramming factors, were transplanted by intracerebral injection into NPC mice. Results: Transplantation of iNSCs showed positive results in survival and body weight change in vivo. Additionally, iNSC-treated mice showed improved learning and memory in behavior test results. Furthermore, through magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological assessments, we observed delayed neurodegeneration in NPC mouse brains. Conclusions: iNSCs converted from patient-derived fibroblasts can become another choice of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as NPC.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2017

Average concentration of PM in Seoul metropolitan area satisfied the Korean air quality standard in 2010. Furthermore, concentration of PM in all boroughs across Seoul met the air environment standard in 2012. $PM_{10}$ concentration was relatively higher in center of Seoul in comparison to the rest, while $PM_{2.5}$ concentration showed exactly the contrary result. We analyzed the effect that PM emissions from vehicles would have on PM concentrations across Seoul. The results showed that average annual PM concentration recently decreased in Seoul although the number of vehicles registered annually continued its upward trend. By contrast, average fine dust concentrations in Seoul showed a decline which suggested that correlation between annual average PM concentrations and number of registered vehicles remained low. However, year-on-year vehicle registration rate recently showed a declining tendency in the same way as the trend of changes in average PM concentrations. Particularly, the upward trend in annual average PM concentrations in 2002 and 2007 was consistent with the increase in vehicle registration rate, suggesting that vehicle registration rate was closely associated with changes in PM concentrations.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.542-550
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• 2003

Background : Synthetic glucocorticoids are widely used in many chronic inflammatory diseases because of their excellent anti-inflammatory activity. Enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B$ and preventing activated NF-${\kappa}B$ from binding to ${\kappa}B$ sites are thought to be the underlying mechanisms. But these data are largely derived from in vitro studies using cell lines. In this study, after administrating a steroid to volunteers, we evaluated the effect on the NF-${\kappa}B$ system. Methods : Prednisolone(0.5mg/kg/d) was orally administered to 5 healthy volunteers for 7 days. Before and after the administration, we sampled their peripheral blood monocytes, and performed western blot analysis both with stimulation, using IL-$1{\beta}$, LPS, TNF, and without stimulation(baseline). We also performed EMSA after stimulation with LPS. Results : After ingestion of the steroid, baseline expressions of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were increased in two of the subjects, while suppressed degradations of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ to stimulations were observed in all five. In addition, the binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$ after the administration was decreased. Conclusion : Steroid plays such roles as enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, suppressing the DNA binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and suppressing the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.343-350
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• 2019

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the effectiveness of local compression in patients presenting to the emergency room with intraoral bleeding and to identify when complex haemostatic measures may be required. Materials and Methods: Five hundred forty patients who had experienced intraoral haemorrhage were retrospectively reviewed. The outcome variable was the haemostasis method used, i.e., simple (local compression with gauze) or complex (an alternative method after local compression has failed). Predictor variables were sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, hepatic cirrhosis, bleeding disorder, use of antithrombotic agents, and site/cause of haemorrhage. Results: The mean patient age was 48.9±23.9 years, 53.5% were male, 42.8% were ASA class II or higher, and 23.7% were taking antithrombotic agents. Local compression was used most often (68.1%), followed by local haemostatic agents, sutures, systemic tranexamic acid or blood products, and electrocautery. The most common site of bleeding was the gingiva (91.7%), and the most common cause was tooth extraction (45.7%). Risk factors for needing a complex haemostasis method were use of antithrombotic agents (odds ratio 2.047, P=0.009) and minor oral surgery (excluding extraction and implant procedures; odds ratio 6.081, P=0.001). Conclusion: A haemostasis method other than local compression may be needed in patients taking antithrombotic agents or having undergone minor oral surgery.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.42-45
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• 2013

Natural photosynthesis utilizes solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to energy-rich carbohydrates. Substantial use of sunlight to meet world energy demands requires energy storage in useful fuels via chemical bonds because sunlight is intermittent. Artificial photosynthesis research focuses the fundamental natural process to design solar energy conversion systems. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ($NAD^+$) and $NADP^+$ are ubiquitous as electron transporters in biological systems. Enzymatic, chemical, and electrochemical methods have been reported for NADH regeneration. As photochemical systems, visible light-driven catalytic activity of NADH regeneration was carried out using platinum nanoparticles, molecular rhodium and cobalt complexes in the presence of triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor. Pt nanoparticles showed photochemical NADH regeneration activity without additional visible light collector molecules, demonstrating that both photoactivating and catalytic activities exist together in Pt nanoparticles. The NADH regeneration of the Pt nanoparticle system was not interfered with the reduction of $O_2$. Molecular cobalt complexes containing dimethylglyoxime ligands also transfer their hydrides to $NAD^+$ with photoactivation of eosin Y in the presence of TEOA. In this photocatalytic reaction, the $NAD^+$ reduction process competed with a proton reduction.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2013

Genetic studies on facial morphology targeting healthy populations are fundamental in understanding the specific genetic influences involved; yet, most studies to date, if not all, have been focused on congenital diseases accompanied by facial anomalies. To study the specific genetic cues determining facial morphology, we estimated familial correlations and heritabilities of 14 facial measurements and 3 latent factors inferred from a factor analysis in a subset of the Korean population. The study included a total of 229 individuals from 38 families. We evaluated a total of 14 facial measurements using 2D digital photographs. We performed factor analysis to infer common latent variables. The heritabilities of 13 facial measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and ranged from 0.25 to 0.61. Of these, the heritability of intercanthal width in the orbital region was found to be the highest ($h^2$ = 0.61, SE = 0.14). Three factors (lower face portion, orbital region, and vertical length) were obtained through factor analysis, where the heritability values ranged from 0.45 to 0.55. The heritability values for each factor were higher than the mean heritability value of individual original measurements. We have confirmed the genetic influence on facial anthropometric traits and suggest a potential way to categorize and analyze the facial portions into different groups.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.318-323
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• 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that present immunosuppressive effects in experimental and clinical trials targeting various rare diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, recent studies have reported tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) possesses uncanonical roles such as angiostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the function of WRS in MSC-based therapy. In this study, we investigated if a novel factor, WRS, secreted from MSCs has a role in amelioration of IBD symptoms and determined a specific mechanism underlying MSC therapy. Experimental colitis was induced by administration of 3% DSS solution to 8-week-old mice and human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) were injected intraperitoneally. Secretion of WRS from hUCB-MSCs and direct effect of WRS on isolated $CD4^+$ T cells was determined via in vitro experiments and hUCB-MSCs showed significant therapeutic rescue against experimental colitis. Importantly, WRS level in serum of colitis induced mice decreased and recovered by administration of MSCs. Through in vitro examination, WRS expression of hUCB-MSCs increased when cells were treated with interferon-${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$). WRS was evaluated and revealed to have a role in inhibiting activated T cells by inducing apoptosis. In summary, $IFN-{\gamma}$-mediated secretion of WRS from MSCs has a role in suppressive effect on excessive inflammation and disease progression of IBD and brings new highlights in the immunomodulatory potency of hUCB-MSCs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.83.1-83.7
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• 2022

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a zoonotic disease, and its clinical information and prevalence are important. This study was conducted on 22 feline patients from the Republic of Korea (ROK), suspected to suffer from a tick-borne disease. Four cats were positive for SFTS, and genotypes B-1, B-3, D, and F were identified. Clinical symptoms, such as anorexia, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia, were detected. This is the first report of SFTS virus genotypes B-1, D, and F from cats in the ROK. Moreover, our results suggest that jaundice may be an indicator of SFTS in cats.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.305-307
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.350.1-350.1
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• 2002

A series of diaralkylthiourea derivatives was prepared and tested for its antagonistic activity against vanilloid receptor. In this study we explored the possibility of selected compound type (Ⅰ) with tetrahydronaphthyl group as rigid pendant moiety. Our premise for antagonistic activity of molecules was modeled on the capsazepine. the first antagonist for vanilloid receptor. These compounds (Ⅰ) showed less potent antagonistic activity than that of capsazepine. but they were devoid of agonistic activity. (omitted)