• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.212-215
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• 2005

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy in clinical practice, with a 0.1% life time risk in the general population. Conventional neurophysiological studies have been useful in the diagnosis of this condition, as have a number of more specialized procedures. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic sensitivities of several parameters in nerve conduction technique for CTS patients. We analyzed 100 patients (159 hands) who were diagnosed with CTS clinically and electrophysiolosically. Median motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities (MCV and SCV) with wrist, palm, and finger stimulation were performed in traditional methods. Sensitivities of each test were calculated and compared to normal control data. The sensitivities of existing nerve conduction method were noted in terminal latency on median nerve, 2nd finger-wrist segment, 3rd finger-wrist segment, palm-wrist segment and distoproximal ratio, as 72.96%, 92.45%, 94.34%, 94.97%, and 97.48%, respectively. In the early course of CTS, sensory nerve conductions in the median nerve are more valuable than motor nerve conduction. Sensory nerve conductions are usually affected before motor nerve conductions in CTS. In this study, we detected that slowing of median SCV was the most frequent in the distoproximal ratio.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.723-735
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• 2021

Spemann organizer is a center of dorsal mesoderm and itself retains the mesoderm character, but it has a stimulatory role for neighboring ectoderm cells in becoming neuroectoderm in gastrula embryos. Goosecoid (Gsc) overexpression in ventral region promotes secondary axis formation including neural tissues, but the role of gsc in neural specification could be indirect. We examined the neural inhibitory and stimulatory roles of gsc in the same cell and neighboring cells contexts. In the animal cap explant system, Gsc overexpression inhibited expression of neural specific genes including foxd4l1.1, zic3, ncam, and neurod. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and promoter analysis of early neural genes of foxd4l1.1 and zic3 were performed to show that the neural inhibitory mode of gsc was direct. Site-directed mutagenesis and serially deleted construct studies of foxd4l1.1 promoter revealed that Gsc directly binds within the foxd4l1.1 promoter to repress its expression. Conjugation assay of animal cap explants was also performed to demonstrate an indirect neural stimulatory role for gsc. The genes for secretory molecules, Chordin and Noggin, were up-regulated in gsc injected cells with the neural fate only achieved in gsc uninjected neighboring cells. These experiments suggested that gsc regulates neuroectoderm formation negatively when expressed in the same cell and positively in neighboring cells via soluble factors. One is a direct suppressive circuit of neural genes in gsc expressing mesoderm cells and the other is an indirect stimulatory circuit for neurogenesis in neighboring ectoderm cells via secreted BMP antagonizers.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2020

Endometrial cancer (EC) in young women tends to be early-stage and low-grade; therefore, such cases have good prognoses. Fertility-sparing treatment with progestin is a potential alternative to definitive treatment (i.e., total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic washing, and/or lymphadenectomy) for selected patients. However, no evidence-based consensus or guidelines yet exist, and this topic is subject to much debate. Generally, the ideal candidates for fertility-sparing treatment have been suggested to be young women with grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma confined to the endometrium. Magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to rule out myometrial invasion and extrauterine disease before initiating fertility-sparing treatment. Although various fertility-sparing treatment methods exist, including the levonorgestrel-intrauterine system, metformin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, photodynamic therapy, and hysteroscopic resection, the most common method is high-dose oral progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate at 500-600 mg daily or megestrol acetate at 160 mg daily). During treatment, re-evaluation of the endometrium with dilation and curettage at 3 months is recommended. Although no consensus exists regarding the ideal duration of maintenance treatment after achieving regression, it is reasonable to consider maintaining the progestin therapy until pregnancy with individualization. According to the literature, the ovarian stimulation drugs used for fertility treatments appear safe. Hysterectomy should be performed after childbearing, and hysterectomy without oophorectomy can also be considered for young women. The available evidence suggests that fertility-sparing treatment is effective and does not appear to worsen the prognosis. If an eligible patient strongly desires fertility despite the risk of recurrence, the clinician should consider fertility-sparing treatment with close follow-up.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.129-140
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to reconsider existing hypotheses on the orinination and changes of changbang-anchogongs and their types and suggest an alternative hypothesis. The earliest changbang-anchogongs in $17^{th}$ century is presumed to originate as imitations of chungbang ppaelmoks for ornamental and reinforcing parts for changbangs. They were framed whole sides of buildings equally, and were used in small numbers of extant royal buildings and Buddhist halls. From late $17^{th}$ century, enlarged dragon shape changbang-anchogongs applied to Buddhist halls maily to decorate and strengthen front side of buildings. As a result of exchange between changbang-anchogongs and Ikgong type brackets, combined changbang-anchogongs in Buddhist halls were invented for stronger connection with upper bracketing units and have been spread during $18^{th}$ century. Danpyeongbang anchogongs were originated by the connection between short pieces of pyeongbangs and early type of anchogongs similar to ppaelmoks. They belong to minority subtype, but were drawn in illustrations by mistake, as parts of main halls of royal palaces from $19^{th}$ century, because of painter's confusion about new techniques for changbang-anchogongs. Combined changbang-anchogongs for royal buildings were presumed to be invented in 1790s by stimulation from a Buddhist hall related to royal tomb. However, unlike Buddhist precedence, they were used to reinforce and decorate whole sides, even corners, of buildings, and their frameworks and shapes were imported from Daeryang-anchogongs at flanks of ritual halls in royal tombs and royal shrines from $17^{th}$ century.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.220-233
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• 2023

The phenomena of global warming has led to an increase in the average air temperature in temperate climates. Springtime frost damage is becoming more common, and after a period of dormancy, damage to buds, blooms, and developing fruits is greater significant than damage from low winter temperatures. Peaches are a crucial crop among moderate fruits. Spring frost damage in peaches can have a negative effect on crop growth, yield, and quality. It is noteworthy that these plants have evolved defenses against spring frost damage while being exposed to a variety of low temperatures in the early spring. In this current review, recent research advancements on spring frost damage avoidance in peaches were deliberated. Additionally, adaptive mechanisms of peach, such as deacclimation and reacclimation, were emphasized. Moreover, the emerging advancements using various omics approaches revealed the peach physiology and molecular mechanisms comprehensively. Furthermore, the use of chemical products and understanding the spring frost mechanisms through the use of environmental chamber temperature stimulation and infrared thermography studies were also discussed. This review is essential groundwork and paves the way to derive and design future research for agronomists and horticulturalists to overcome the challenges of spring frost damage avoidance and crop management in these circumstances.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2023

The CYP11A1 gene encodes for the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), which initiates steroid hormone biosynthesis. Defective P450scc activity results in severe glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies. We describe a case of P450scc deficiency due to a novel homozygous CYP11A1 variant inherited from the mother with a possibility of uniparental disomy (UPD). The patient was a female, had no family history of endocrine disease, and showed adrenal insufficiency at 13 days of age. Hormonal analysis with an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test showed both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies, presumed to be a defect of the early stage of steroidogenesis. Exome sequencing reported a novel homozygous frameshift variant of CYP11A1 (c.284_285del, p.Asn95Serfs*10), which was inherited from the mother. Additionally, homozygosity in 15q22.31q26.2, which included CYP11A1, was identified using a chromosomal microarray. It was suggested that the possibility of maternal UPD was involved as the cause of a P450scc deficiency by unmasking the maternally derived affected allele. To our understanding, P450scc deficiency associated with UPD encompassing CYP11A1 had not been reported in Korea before. Genetic analysis can help diagnose rare causes of primary adrenal insufficiency, including P450scc deficiency.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.257-267
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• 2017

Background: Heat-processed ginseng, sun ginseng (SG), has been reported to have improved therapeutic properties compared with raw forms, such as increased antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity effects of SG through the suppression of cell differentiation and proliferation of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and the lipid accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods: To investigate the effect of SG on adipocyte differentiation, levels of stained intracellular lipid droplets were quantified by measuring the oil red O signal in the lipid extracts of cells on differentiation Day 7. To study the effect of SG on fat accumulation in C. elegans, L4 stage worms were cultured on an Escherichia coli OP50 diet supplemented with $10{\mu}g/mL$ of SG, followed by Nile red staining. To determine the effect of SG on gene expression of lipid and glucose metabolism-regulation molecules, messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of genes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, the phosphorylation of Akt was examined by Western blotting. Results: SG suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells stimulated by a mixture of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin (MDI), and inhibited the proliferation of adipocytes during differentiation. Treatment of C. elegans with SG showed reductions in lipid accumulation by Nile red staining, thus directly demonstrating an antiobesity effect for SG. Furthermore, SG treatment down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor subtype ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and decreased the mRNA level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c in MDI-treated adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism-regulating factors, such as amplifying mouse fatty acid-binding protein 2, leptin, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid transporter protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, were increased, whereas that of the lipolytic enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 was decreased. Our data demonstrate that SG inversely regulated the expression of these genes in differentiated adipocytes. SG induced increases in the mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes such as glucokinase and pyruvate kinase, and a decrease in the mRNA level of the glycogenic enzyme phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase. In addition, mRNA levels of the glucose transporters GLUT1, GLUT4, and insulin receptor substrate-1 were elevated by MDI stimulation, whereas SG dose-dependently inhibited the expression of these genes in differentiated adipocytes. SG also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) at an early phase of MDI stimulation. Intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels were markedly decreased by MDI stimulation and recovered by SG treatment of adipocytes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SG effectively inhibits adipocyte proliferation and differentiation through the downregulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$, by suppressing Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation and enhancing NO production. These results provide strong evidence to support the development of SG for antiobesity treatment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.391-399
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• 2009

The purposes of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of loaded and unloaded swimming stimulation after central nerve system injury in the rats. SCI model rats were damaged in L1-L2 injected with 6-OHDA. The twenty one Sprague-Dawley adult male rats weights($200\pm10g$) were randomly divided into control group and 2 swimming groups and then swimming groups divided into 15 minute unloaded swimming group and 15 minute loaded swimming group by swimming intensity. Behavioral Change was evaluated by the BBB(Basso, Brestti, Brenahan) scales test and the maximal angles of the inclined board on which the rat could maintain its intial position for the progressive locomotor recovery. Using enzyme-linked immunosolbent assays(ELISA), we measured concentrations of brain-delived growth factor(BDNF) in serum after swimming. There was significant change of BBB scores in control group as compared to unloaded swimming group and loaded swimming group(p<.05), and unloaded swimming group were significantly higher than loaded swimming group(p<.05). The maximal angles of the inclined plane test were higher in the unloaded swimming group and loaded swimming group than the control group(p<.05), and loaded swimming group were significantly lower than unloaded swimming group(p<.05). There were singnificant difference of concentration of BDNF in serum change in each group(p<.05). The results suggest that swimming applied from the early phase after spinal cord injury may be beneficial in the early recovery of motor function.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 1999

Tomato (Lycopericum esculentum $M_{ILL}$ cv. Seokwang and cv. Housemomotaro) seeds were irradiated with the doses of $1{\sim}20$ Gy from $^{60}Co$ $\gamma$-ray source to investigate the effect of the low dose $\gamma$-ray radiation on the early growth and resistance to subsequent high dose of radiation. Germination rate of seeds irradiated with low dose $\gamma$-ray was enhanced in Seokwang cultivar but not in Housemomotaro cultivar. Seedling height increased in 4 Gy and 8 Gy irradiation group of both cultivars. Plant height of Seokwang cultivar was depressed in low dose irradiation group but fresh weight was increased in 2 Gy and 4 Gy irradiation group. In Housemomotaro cultivar, plant height increased in 12 Gy and 20 Gy irradiation group and fresh weight increased in 4 Gy and 20 Gy irradiation group. Growth inhibition of tomato plants by high dose radiation was noticeably reduced by pre-irradiation of low dose radiation. Resistance to subsequent high dose of radiation was enhanced in 2 Gy and 8 Gy Irradiation group of Seokwang cultivar and in 2 Gy and 12 Gy irradiation group of Housemomotaro cultivar.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2008

To evaluate the aquaculture potential of a subtrophic noble scallop, Chlamys nobilis in Korean waters, nursery growth of the species was studied on two remote Jeju coasts, Jigwido and Ongpori. The early growth performance of the first 60 days after settlement was expressed as: $SL=0.1664e^{0.0579x}$ ($r^2=0.924$), where x stands for days after settlement and SL for shell length. The early spats sized 1 mm in average shell length became $4.1{\pm}0.8\;mm$ after a month of nursery culture, thereafter grew to $13.0{\pm}1.9$, $23.1{\pm}3.1$, $30.3{\pm}4.3$, and $33.6{\pm}5.2\;mm$ for consecutive 4 months in Jigwido coastal area. Mean growth gains (mean daily gains in parenthesis) were $76.7{\pm}7.7$ ($165.6{\mu}m$), $73.3{\pm}7.3$ ($154.0{\mu}m$), $69.4{\pm}8.4$ ($140.0{\mu}m$), and $68.7{\pm}8.5\;mm$ ($137.4{\mu}m$), in depths of 5, 10, 15, and 20 m, respectively. The growth rate was significantly decreased as cultured in deeper place (p < 0.05). As culturing density was higher, growth performance of the scallop was decreased in both locations. Overall, in our preliminary study, the growth performance of scallop in Korean waters was not better than that in Japan, but it seems to be worth doing further study for successful introduction to Korean waters.