• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.3 s.178
• /
• pp.235-253
• /
• 2006

We interpreted marine seismic profiles in conjunction with swath bathymetric and magnetic data to investigate rifting to breakup processes at the Korean margin leading to the separation of the Japan Arc. The Korean margin is rimmed by fundamental elements of rift architecture comprizing a seaward succession of a rift basin and an uplifted rift flank passing into the slope, typical of a passive continental margin. In the northern part, rifting occurred in the Korea Plateau, a continental fragment extended and partially segmented from the Korean Peninsula, that provided a relatively broader zone of extension resulting in a number of rifts. Two distinguished rift basins (Onnuri and Bandal Basins) in the Korea Plateau we bounded by major synthetic and smaller antithetic faults, creating wide and symmetric profiles. The large-offset border fault zones of these basins have convex dip slopes and demonstrate a zig-zag arrangement along strike. In contrast, the southern margin is engraved along its length with a single narrow rift basin (Hupo Basin) that is an elongated asymmetric half-graben. Rifting at the Korean margin was primarily controlled by normal faulting resulting from extension in the west and southeast directions orthogonal to the inferred line of breakup along the base of the slope rather than strike-slip deformation. Although rifting involved no significant volcanism, the inception of sea floor spreading documents a pronounced volcanic phase which seems to reflect slab-induced asthenospheric upwelling as well as rift-induced convection particularly in the narrow southern margin. We suggest that structural and igneous evolution of the Korean margin can be explained by the processes occurring at the passive continental margin with magmatism intensified by asthenospheric upwelling in a back-arc setting.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.160-166
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors are pharmacologically classified into ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_2$- and ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor. The gene of each subtype has polymorphisms related to their function (${\beta}_1$-adrenoceptor: Ser49Gly, ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor: Gln27Glu, ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor: Trp64Arg). The objectives of this study were to analyse the allelic and genotypic distribution of the representative polymorphism of ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors in preeclampsia and to investigate whether combined genotype of ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors may be associated with preeclampsia. Methods : Blood samples were collected from a Korean population (159 preeclamptic pregnancies and 168 normotensive pregnancies). The ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_2$- and ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor genotypes was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results : There were no differences in allelic and genotypic distribution of ${\beta}_1$- and ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor polymorphisms between the two groups. However, the Arg allele of ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor polymorphism were more frequent in preecalmpsia than in controls (P<0.05, OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.01-2.46). Moreover, prevalence of genotype carrying heterozygote of ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor polymorphism was increased in preeclampsia compared with controls (P<0.05, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.92). When combination of the three polymorphisms were evaluated, pregnancies with the particular combined genotype that is consisted of heterozygote of ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_3$-adrenoceptor and wild homozygote of ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg), showed a significant increase in the risk of preeclampsia (P<0.05, OR=3.01, 95% CI 1.12-8.08). Conclusion : A particular combined genotype (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg) of - adrenoceptors was associated with the risk of preeclampsia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.11-25
• /
• 1998

The HLA genes located in the short arm of chromosome 6 specify heterodimeric glycoproteins involved in the regulation of the immune response. Recently, in the elucidation of HLA polymorphism, serological and cellular typing methods have been replaced by DNA typing using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The purpose of this study was to establish the HLA DNA typing methods and determine gene frequencies of HLA molecules in Koreans. PCR-SSP (sequence specific primers) and PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) techniques were used for the analysis of HLA-A, -B, -C, DRBl genes and HLA-DQAl, DQBl, DPBl genes, respectively. The results of B-lymphoblastoid cells used for control experiment were consistent with the previous data identified in the 11th International Histocompatibility Workshop. Seventeen, 23, 16, 8, 16, 13 and 37 types of HLA-A, B, C, DQAl, DQBl, DPBl and DRBl alleles were found, respectively, in a total of unrelated 120 Korean individuals. The most frequent HLA alleles were $A^*$02 (27.0%), B$^*$40 (17.6%), Cw$^*$01 (19.2%), DQAl$^*$0301 (32.1%), DQBl$^*$0303 (12.9%), DPBl$^*$0501 (31.3%) and DRBl$^*$1501 (9.2%) among Koreans. This study shows that DNA typing method using PCR technique is a relatively simple, fast and practical tool for the determination of the HLA-class I and II genes. Moreover, the data of HLA gene frequencies could be useful for the Korean database before clinical applications, including organ and unrelated bone marrow transplantation, anthropological study, disease association and individual identification.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.203-211
• /
• 2001

This study was carried out to determine sex of porcine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. Porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in BSA-free North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (10%), cystein (0.1 mg/ml) and hormonal supplement (10 IU eCG and 10 IU hCG per ml) for 20~22 hrs. They were then cultured in the same medium but without hormonal supplement for additional 20~22 hrs. After culture, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes were co-incubated for 6 hrs with four different concentrations (5$\times$10$^4$, 2.5$\times$ 10$^{5}$ , 5.0$\times$10$^{5}$ and l0$\times$10$^{5}$ ) of porcine sperm. After fertilization, oocytes were transferred into NCSU 23 with 0.4% BSA medium. The cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were evaluated at 48 and 144 hrs, respectively. In this study, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the sex of porcine embryos in the stage of blastocyst. The PCR was performed using a set of oligonucleotide primers (5‘-TCATGGACCAGGTAGGGAAT-3', 5’-GAAAGACACGTCCTTGGA GA-3') for 491 bp fragment of porcine male-specific DNA sequence. In the flour different sperm concentration (5$\times$10$^4$, 2.5$\times$10$^{5}$ , 5.0$\times$10$^{5}$ and l0$\times$10$^{5}$ ) for fertilization condition, the cleavage rate was 55.95, 67.88, 60.18 and 47.60%, respectivety, and the development rate of blastocysts was 16.03, 20.40, 21.41 and 12.37%, respectively. At 5.0$\times$10$^4$and 2.5$\times$10$^{5}$ of sperm concentrations per ml cleavage rate and development rate of blastocyst were higher than those of 5.0$\times$10$^4$and l0$\times$10$^{5}$ of sperm concentration (P<0.01). The male of porcine embryos was detected at 491 bp by PCR, and 18 of the 31 porcine blastocysts were the male (58.1%) and the rest 13 were the female(41.9%).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.854-861
• /
• 1997

CYPRA 21-1 is known to be a cytokeratin 19 fragment, and it can be detected by using two specific monoclonal antibodies (KS 19-1 and BM 19-21) and can be clinically applied as a useful circulating tumor marker The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression was evaluated and characterized by its tyrosine protein kinase activity and by its ligand-stimulated autophosphorylation, a property shared with other peptide growth factor receptors. Autocrine or para'urine action was initiated by a growth factor, or by a transforming growth factor o, which had an extensive homology with EGP and which also stimulated tyrosine kinase activity on the EGF-R. The CYFRA 21-1 and the EGF-R levels in 30 patients with primary lung tumors were investigated. There were 24 patients with squamous cell carcinomas and 6 patients with adenocarcinomas. Specimen 5 mm3 in size were sampled at three different locations ; the main lesion, the boundary between the lesion and the unaffected tissue, and the unaffected tissue of the patients. The results were as follows 1. The CYPRA 21-1 concentration in the cancer boundary, the most malignant region,(348.6 : 89.9 ng/ml) was the lowest value. The CYFRA 21-1 concentration in unaffected tissue,(718.4$\pm$77.8 ng/ml) was higher than that in the main lesion. which had intact cellularity. 2. The EGF-R concentration in the main lesion was higher than that in the unaffected tissue, and the EGF-R concentration in a squamous cell cacinoma was higher than that in an adenocarcinoma. also, the EGF-R concentration in the cancer b undary was highest at stage 1, ll. The EGF-R concentration was higher in the main cancer lesion that in the unaffected tissue at stage 111, IV. 3. The CYFRA 21-1 was a cytoplasmic skeleton and the EGF-R was a cell-wall component; there was no correlation. In conclusion, CYFRA 21-1 was abundant in the cytoplasm but had a higher concentration in the unaffected tissue than in the main cancer lesion. The CYFRA 21-1 concentration of the tissue did not reflect the amount of cancer activity, the EGP-R was located in the cell membrane, the level of tissue that reflects cancer activity, so the main cancer lesion had a higher concentration than the unaffected tissue. CYFRA 21-1 is not a useful tumor maker at the tissue level. Because the EGF-R concentration re(looted the cancer activity, its a useful tumor marker for lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2005

Purpose: To analyze the clinical result of the arthroscopic reduction and fixation for the displaced tibial spine fractures in children and report the utility of the arthroscopic treatment with the review of the literature. Methods: Between December 2000 and July 2004, five patients (average age 9.1 years) received an arthroscopic reduction and fixation of displaced tibial spine fracture. A male-to-female ratio was 3:2 and mean follow-up was 38.2$(13{\sim}56)$ months. All five patients were classified type III by Movers and McKeever classification. The average period from injury to operation was 4.8 days $(3{\sim}8days)$, the avulsed fragment was reduced by operative arthroscopy and fixated by pull-out suture in 3 patients and by cannulated screw in 2 patients. Postoperatively long leg cast was applied for 2 weeks, and then gradual range-of-motion exercise was permitted. Full weight-bearing ambulation was permitted after 6 weeks. The clinical evaluation was performed by range of motion, Lachman and pivot shift test, KT-1000 arthrometer, Lysholm knee score and the modified Feagin score. Results: All five patients had no symptom and recovered full range of motion of the affected knees. Lachman test was positive finding of 1+ laxity in one patient, the others were negative, and all patients were negative findings for pivot shift test. The result of KT-1000 arthrometric assessment is mean maximum side-to-side differences 1.9 mm. Average Lysholm knee score was 99.4. All patients had excellent results in modified Feagin score. Conclusion: Arthroscopic reduction and fixation of displaced tibial spine fracture in children showed excellent result without complication. Both pull-out suture fixation and cannulated fixation provide an effective treatment option for fixation of the displaced anterior tibial spine fracture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.529-535
• /
• 1998

Background: Interleukin-4 plays an important role in pathogenesis of asthma, especially in developing atopy by means of switching B lymphocytes to produce IgE. It has been shown that there is polymorphism in the Interleukin-4 promoter region, transversion of cytosine to thymine at-598 from translation initiation site of IL-4 gene. There has also been quite a few works to reveal the role of the polymorphism of IL-4 gene in patients with asthma. We performed this investigation to determine the role of the polymorphism in the severity of symptoms of patients with asthma. We also examined the frequency and the type of the polymorphism in asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics as well. Method: The subjects enrolled in this study were 49 asthmatics and 33 non-asthmatics. All the asthmatics were classified as mild and moderate to severe by the NHLBI/WHO Workshop. DNA from both asthmatics and non-asthmatics was extracted, then performed ARMS(Amplification Refractory Mutation System) as well as RFLP using BsmFl restriction enzyme in order to confirm the polymorphism of Il-4 gene. Results: There was no significant difference in the occurrence of polymorphism of the IL-4 promoter sequence between asthm and non-asthma groups(P=0.7). Among those with polymorphisms, the number of C/C type was slightly more than C/T type in both asthmatics and non-asthmatics, 26 vs 21 in asthmatics and 18 vs 15 in non-asthmatics, which was, however, insignificant statistically. No significant relationship between the severity of asthma and the polymorphism was found(P=0.7). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the severity of asthma and the IL-4 promoter polymorphism(P=0.709). Interestingly, the frequency of the polymorphism in both asthmatics as well as non-asthmatics was found to be even higher than that occurred in Caucasians. However, no significant difference in the frequency of the polymorphism was found in both groups.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.18 no.4 s.46
• /
• pp.277-288
• /
• 2005

Perlite, a hydrated volcanic glass, occurs mainly as a bed-like body, and is distributed intermittently along the unconformity surface between the Beomgockri Group and its lower formations, viz. Janggi Group. The perlite is intimately associated with surrounding pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacites in space and time. Compared to the typical perlite, the perlite is rather silica-poor and impure, and thus, includes lots of phenocrysts and rock fragments. Nearly the perlite is compositionally rather close to a pitchstone than a perlite in water contents. Petrographic comparison between perlite and associated volcanic to volcaniclastic rocks indicates that pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacite seem to be Protolith of the Perlite. A Zr/$TiO_{2}$-Nb/Y diagram and field occurrence of perlite and their protolithic rocks also conforms the above interpretation. Kn addition, remnant vesicles in perlite strongly reflect that the precursor of perlitic glass appeared to be pumice fragment as well as volcanic glass. The perlite was diagenetically formed by way of a pervasive water-rock interaction at the deposition of the Manghaesan Formation in lacustrine environment. During perlitization, $SiO_{2}$ and alkali tend to be consistently depleted. Preexisting system of the Beomgockri Group based on the perlite formation should be corrected, because the perlite was formed diagenetically without lateral persistence in its occurrence.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.429-439
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is classified as a human carcinogen, but EtO is still widely used to sterilize heat-sensitive materials in hospitals. Employees working around sterilizers are exposed to EtO after sterilization. The aim of the present study was to assess the exposure of EtO level, coupled with occupationally induced micronuclei from hospital workers. The influence of genetic polymorphisms of detoxifying genes (GSTT1 and GSTM1) and DNA repair genes (XRCC1 and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei in relation to exposure of EtO was also investigated. Methods: The study population was composed of 35 occupationally exposed workers to EtO, 18 student controls and 44 unexposed hospital controls in Korea. Exposure to EtO is measured by passive personal samplers. We analyzed the frequencies of micronuclei by performing cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN assay) and GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 were also genotyped by performing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group, student controls and hospital controls were $18.00{\pm}7.73$, $10.47{\pm}7.96$ and $13.86{\pm}6.35$ respectively and their differences were statistically significant, but no significant differences according to the level of EtO were observed. There was a dose-response relationship between the frequencies of micronuclei and cumulative dose of EtO, but no significantly differences were observed. We also investigated the influence of genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3) on the frequencies of micronuclei, but there were no differences in the frequencies of micronuclei by genetic polymorphisms. Conclusions: The frequencies of micronuclei in EtO exposure group was significantly higher than control groups. A dose-response relationship was found between the level of EtO exposure and the frequencies of micronuclei, but no statistically differences were observed. We also found that the frequencies of micronuclei were increased according to cumulative EtO level. There was no association of the genetic GSTM1, GSTT1, XRCC1, and XRCC3 state with the frequency of micronuclei induced by EtO exposure.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.595-610
• /
• 2000

This study has been designed to elucidate the petrography and geochemical characteristics of the volcanic rocks and focused on petrogenesis and tectonic environment of the Bokyeongsa volcanics in the northeast Gyeongsang Basin. The Bokyeongsa volcanics consist of the Naeyeonsan tuff which include rock fragment plagioclase, quartz and hornblende and pumice showing welded structures, and felsite. According to the petrochemical data, the Naeyeonsan tuff and felsite are in the range of 68${\sim}$71wt% and 77wt% SiO$_2$ content respectively. The Naeyeonsan tuff belongs to dacite/rhyodacite, and felsite to rhyolite. These volcanics rocks belong to the calc-alkaline rock series on the TAS diagram and the AFM diagram. The variations of major elements of the volcanic rocks show that contene of TiO$_2$, Al$_2$ O$_3$, FeO$^T$, MnO, MgO, CaO are inversely proportional to those of SiO$_2$, but contents of K$_2$O are positively. They represent differentiation trend of calc-alkaline rocks series. In spider disgram of MORB-normalized trace element partterns, contents of K, Rb, Th and Ta are relatively high, but those of Nb, Zr, Hf, Ti, Y and Yb are nearly similar to MORB. In the chondrite-normalized REE patterns, light REEs are more enriched than heavy REEs. The trace element composition and REE patterns suggest that they are typical island-arc calc-akaline volcanic rocks formed in the tectonomagmatic environment of subduction zone under continental margin.