• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2012

Differential capacity of the parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (PESCs) is still under controversy and the mechanisms of its neural induction are yet poorly understood. Here we demonstrated neural lineage induction of PESCs by addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf2), which is an important factor for embryo organ development and a paternally expressed imprinting gene. Murine PESCs were aggregated to embryoid bodies (EBs) by suspension culture under the leukemia inhibitory factor-free condition for 4 days. To test the effect of exogenous Igf2, 30 ng/ml of Igf2 was supplemented to EBs induction medium. Then neural induction was carried out with serum-free medium containing insulin, transferrin, selenium, and fibronectin complex (ITSFn) for 12 days. Normal murine embryonic stem cells derived from fertilized embryos (ESCs) were used as the control group. Neural potential of differentiated PESCs and ESCs were analyzed by immunofluorescent labeling and real-time PCR assay (Nestin, neural progenitor marker; Tuj1, neuronal cell marker; GFAP, glial cell marker). The differentiated cells from both ESC and PESC showed heterogeneous population of Nestin, Tuj1, and GFAP positive cells. In terms of the level of gene expression, PESC showed 4 times higher level of GFAP expression than ESCs. After exposure to Igf2, the expression level of GFAP decreased both in derivatives of PESCs and ESCs. Interestingly, the expression level of $Tuj1$ increased only in ESCs, not in PESCs. The results show that IGF2 is a positive effector for suppressing over-expressed glial differentiation during neural induction of PESCs and for promoting neuronal differentiation of ESCs, while exogenous Igf2 could not accelerate the neuronal differentiation of PESCs. Although exogenous Igf2 promotes neuronal differentiation of normal ESCs, expression of endogenous $Igf2$ may be critical for initiating neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The findings may contribute to understanding of the relationship between imprinting mechanism and neural differentiation and its application to neural tissue repair in the future.

• 아동학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.17-44
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• 1987

The study examined the characteristics of the relationship of home environment variables and children's social development. Two studies were conducted ; Study I examined (1) the correlation of home environment variables and children's social ability and (2) the predictability of home environment variables for children's social ability by children's age. Study II investigated the causal relationship among the variables which are supposed to affect children's social ability. The subjects of this study were 240 children at age four, six and eight attending nursery schools, kindergartens and elementary schools and their mothers. Instruments included the Inventory of Home Stimulation (HOME), the Inventory of Sociodemographic Variables, social maturation scale, and the social-emotional developmental rating scale. The results obtained from this study were as follows : 1) Home environment variables had a positive correlation with children's social development at age four and six, but at age eight, only HOME variables had a significant positive correlation with children's social development. 2) The home environmental variables that significantly predicted children's social development differed according to children's age. That is, play materials, economic status of the home, and parent education were predictive of children's social development at age four, while parent's education, fostering maturity and independence, and play materials were predictive at age six. Fostering maturity and independence, aspects of physical environment, and economic status of the home were predictive at age eight. 3) The causal model of home environment effect on children's social development was formulated by exogenous variables (parent education and economic status of the home) and endogenous variables (direct stimulation, indirect stimulation and the emotional climate of the home). 4) The results of the analysis of the causal model showed that the variables that have a direct effect on children's social development differed according to children's age. That is, direct stimulation had more effect on children's social development at earlier ages, and indirect stimulation had more effect on children's social development at later ages. Among socio-demographic variables, parent's education was most closely related to children's social development. The amount of variance that explained children's social development decreased with increase in children's age.

• 한국사회복지학
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• 제38권
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• pp.33-67
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• 1999

This study is the second phase of the author's larger attempt to investigate the factors affecting housewives' caregiving behavior to their elderly parents-in-law. Specifically, it revises and expands the previous model (1998) and develops a new one by rectifying the three major problems inherent in the previous study: (1) misspecification error; (2) non-equivalent comparison of results between the father-in-law model and mother-in-law model that stems from the inclusion of heterogeneous group of caregivers; (3) measurement problems for the two endogenous variables of eldercare attitude and behavior. To do this, the current study proposes a more comprehensive model by additionally incorporating other salient exogenous variables, renders the comparison of results between the father-in-law and mother-in-law models equivalent by including only homogeneous group of caregivers (i. e., only those housewives whose parents-in-law are both alive), and introduces standardized measurement scales for the endogenous variables. Estimation of the model in terms of maximum likelihood procedures in LISREL8 attests to a better overall performance over the previous model when judged from several criteria such as coefficient of determination, model fit statistics, proportion of significant causal paths, and measurement properties of reliability and validity for the variables. Interpretation of the findings suggests several salient theoretical implications that concern such crucial issues as the inconsistency between eldercare attitude and behavior, patterns of association among the subdimensions of eldercare, and the difference in the antecedents explaining attitude as opposed to behavior of eldercare. In particular, the finding that indicates almost no differences in the determinants between the father-in-law and mother-in-law models suggests a strong case to argue that caregiving behavior to fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law, respectively, is likely to be a uniform phenomenon sharing virtual1y the same antecedents, and that a unified single model is sufficient to account for caregiving behavior to both parties.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2003

This study was performed to develop a useful nerve conduit which provides favorable environment for Schwann cell viability and proliferation. Milipore membrane of $0.45{\mu}m$ pore size was selected because it permits nutritional inflow from the outside of the conduit and prevents from invading the fibrotic tissue into the conduit. The membrane was rolled and sealed to form a conduit of 2mm diameter and 20mm length. To improve the axonal regeneration and to render better environment for endogenous and exogenous Schwann cell behaviour, the microgeometry and surface of conduit was modified by coating with thin film of calcium phosphate. Cellular viability within the conduit and attachment to its wall were assessed with MTT assay and SEM study. Milipore filter conduit showed significantly higher rate of Schwann cell attachment and viability than the culture dish. However, the reverse was true in case of fibroblast. Coating with thin film of low crystalline calcium phosphate made more favorable environment for both cells with minimal change of pore size. These findings means the porous calcium phosphate coated milipore nerve conduit can provide much favorable environment for endogenous Schwann cell proliferation and exogenous ones, which are filled within the conduit for the more advanced strategy of peripheral nerve regeneration, with potential of reducing fibrotic tissue production.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권13호
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• pp.5449-5454
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• 2014

Although genetic characteristics are considered to be a factor influencing the geographic variation in the prevalence of gallbladder cancer (GBC), they have not been well studied in Bolivia, which has a high prevalence rate of GBC. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of TP53 and K-ras mutations in Bolivian patients with GBC and to compare them with our previous data obtained in other high-GBC-prevalence countries, namely Japan, Chile, and Hungary. DNA was extracted from cancer sites in paraffin-embedded tissue from 36 patients using a microdissection technique. TP53 mutations at exons 5 to 8 and K-ras mutations at codons 12, 13 and 61 were examined using direct sequencing techniques. The data obtained were compared with those in the other high-GBC-prevalence countries. Of the 36 patients, 18 (50.0%) had a TP53 mutation (one mutation in each of 17 patients and three mutations in one patient), and only one (2.8%) had a K-ras mutation. Of the 20 TP53 mutations, 12 were of the transition type (60.0%). This rate was significantly lower than that in Chile (12/12, P<0.05). In addition, three mutations were of the CpG transition type (15.0%), which is a feature of endogenous mutation. All three were found in the hot spot region of the TP53 gene. In contrast, G:C to T:A transversion was found in Bolivia, suggesting the presence of exogenous carcinogens. Our findings suggest that the development of GBC in Bolivia is associated with both exogenous carcinogens and endogenous mechanisms. The identification of an environmental risk factor for GBC is needed to confirm these findings.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.221-229
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• 2000

유선에서 젖의 생산은 뇌하수체 호르몬인 성장 호르몬과 프롤락틴을 포함한 여러 가지 호르몬의 조절을 받는다. 최근의 연구에 따르면 이 호르몬들 중에서 성장호르몬과 프롤락틴은 유선에서도 그 유전자 전사체가 발견된다 본 연구에서는 유선에서 발현되는 성장호르몬이 유선 특이 발현 유전자의 발현에 미치는 영향을 조사하고자 유선 특이 발현 유전자인 베타-락토글로불린($\beta$-lactoglobulin :BLG)의 프로모터를 모델 시스템으로 하여 소와 사람의 성장 호르몬이 유선의 유전자 발현에 끼치는 영향을 조사하였다. 성장 호르몬은 단독으로 처리하였을 패 베타-락토글로불린 유전자 프로모터 활성을 억제하였다. 그러나 젖 분비 호르몬들인 인슐린, 프롤락틴, 글루코코르티코이드와 함께 처리하였을 때는 농도 의존적으로 BLG 프로모터 활성을 상승시키는 효과를 보였다. 성장 호르몬을 유선 세포내에서 발현시켰을때는 적정농도에서 세포 증식과 유선 프로모터 활성을 크게 증진시켰다. 반면 소의 성장 호르몬 유전자 프로모터는 유선 세포에서 뚜렷한 활성을 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과는 유선에서 발현되는 뇌하수체 호르몬들은 조절 누수에 의한 유전자 발현이 아니라 생리적 기능을 가지고 있음을 의미한다. 또 인위적으로 성장호르몬의 발현을 조절하여 적정한 양이 발현되도록 하면 젖의 생산을 증진시킬 수 있다는 가능성도 암시한다.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

본 논문은 고정관념(stereotypes)과 노동시장 신호(signaling)에 관한 이론적 틀에 기반하여 개인의 정체성(identity) 선택에 관한 이론모형을 제시하고 있다. 사회집단 간의 평판의 차이 및 이로 인한 집단 간 불평등은 사회집단에 대한 시장의 고정관념 및 이에 상응하는 집단 구성원의 인적자본 투자수준에 의해 형성된다(Arrow[1973]; Coate and Loury[1993]). 한편, 이제까지의 학계의 논의는 개인들의 사회집단 선택 및 이에 따른 사회집단 구성의 내생적 변화 가능성을 배제한 채 발전하여 왔다. 사회집단 간 평판의 차이가 존재하고 동시에 개인들의 자발적 집단 선택이 가능한 상황이라면, 평판이 좋은 사회집단은 집단의 구성원들이 보다 적극적으로 인적자본에 투자하는 '투자 확대'의 효과뿐만 아니라, 평판이 상대적으로 떨어지는 사회집단에 비해 보다 우수한 인재들을 집단의 새로운 구성원으로 맞아들이는 '집단 구성'의 효과를 동시에 누리게 된다. 이러한 집단 구성의 내생성은 본질적으로 사회집단 간의 평판의 차이를 보다 확대시키는 결과를 낳게 되며, 이렇게 확대된 평판의 격차가 우수한 인재의 집중을 보다 강화시킴으로써 집단 간 경제적 불평등이 시간이 지남에 따라 악화되는 것이다. 본 논문은 노동시장 신호이론을 활용하여 사회집단 선택의 내생성하에서의 집단 간 불평등의 균형점을 찾고 이들의 안정성에 관해 논하고 있으며, 집단 구성의 내생성이 주어질 경우 그렇지 않은 경우에 비해 사회집단 간의 경제사회적 불평등이 보다 심화될 수 있음을 이론적으로 증명하고 있다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Diabetes mellitus, the most common metabolic disorder, is divided into two types: type 1 and type 2. The essential treatment of type 1 diabetes, caused by immune-mediated destruction of ${\beta}-cells$, is transplantation of the pancreas; however, this treatment is limited by issues such as the lack of donors for islet transplantation and immune rejection. As an alternative approach, stem cell therapy has been used as a new tool. The present study revealed that bone marrowderived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) could be transdifferentiated into pancreatic cells by the insertion of a key gene for embryonic development of the pancreas, the pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor 1 (PDX1). To avoid immune rejection associated with xenotransplantation and to develop a new cell-based treatment, BM-MSCs from ${\alpha}$-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT KO) pigs were used as the source of the cells. Transfection of the EGFP-hPDX1 gene into GalT KO pig-derived BM-MSCs was performed by electroporation. Cells were evaluated for hPDX1 expression by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. Transdifferentiation into pancreatic cells was confirmed by morphological transformation, immunofluorescence, and endogenous pPDX1 gene expression. At 3~4 weeks after transduction, cell morphology changed from spindle-like shape to round shape, similar to that observed in cuboidal epithelium expressing EGFP. Results of RT-PCR confirmed the expression of both exogenous hPDX1 and endogenous pPDX1. Therefore, GalT KO pig-derived BM-MSCs transdifferentiated into pancreatic cells by transfection of hPDX1. The present results are indicative of the therapeutic potential of PDX1-expressing GalT KO pig-derived BM-MSCs in ${\beta}-cell$ replacement. This potential needs to be explored further by using in vivo studies to confirm these findings.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2020

Cells are constantly exposed to endogenous and exogenous stresses that can result in DNA damage. In response, they have evolved complex pathways to maintain genomic integrity. RUNX family transcription factors (RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3 in mammals) are master regulators of development and differentiation, and are frequently dysregulated in cancer. A growing body of research also implicates RUNX proteins as regulators of the DNA damage response, often acting in conjunction with the p53 and Fanconi anemia pathways. In this review, we discuss the functional role and mechanisms involved in RUNX factor mediated response to DNA damage and other cellular stresses. We highlight the impact of these new findings on our understanding of cancer predisposition associated with RUNX factor dysregulation and their implications for designing novel approaches to prevent cancer formation in affected individuals.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.399-407
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• 2013

Morphological changes in the reared rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus, from hatching to six days after hatching were examined during the early growth stage under starvation. All the larvae died within five days when feeding was delayed for three days after hatching. These results imply that initial larval food should be supplied within two days of hatching. Changes in the pectoral angle and the ratios of eye height to head height, gut height to standard length, and gut height to myotome height in the rock bream are alternative indicators for the identification of starving fish. These indicators might prove useful in evaluating the successful transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding in this species.