• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.323-330
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• 2017

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) is an important medicinal tree found in northeast Asia. In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide distribution of microsatellites in E. senticosus. By sequencing 711 clones from an SSR-enriched genomic DNA library, we obtained 12 polymorphic SSR markers, which also revealed successful amplicons in E. senticosus accessions. Using the developed SSR markers, we estimated genetic diversity and population structure among 131 E. senticosus accessions in Korea and China. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 11, with an average of 7.4 alleles. The mean values of observed heterozygosity ($H_O$) and expected heterozygosity ($H_E$) were 0.59 and 0.56, respectively. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.51 in all 131 E. senticosus accessions. E. senticosus accessions in Korea and China showed a close genetic similarity. Significantly low pairwise genetic divergence was observed between the two regions, suggesting a relatively narrow level of genetic basis among E. senticosus accessions. Our results not only provide molecular tools for genetic studies in E. senticosus but are also helpful for conservation and E. senticosus breeding programs.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.667-672
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• 2020

It is well known that intensive selection caused a decline in reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Interestingly, the reproductive performances including fertility and calving interval of Korean native beef cattle have declined in the last 20 years, suggesting that a breeding program focusing on carcass weight and intramuscular fat may affect the reproductive physiology in Korean native beef cattle, too. In this study, we analyzed the calving interval (CI) and selection index (SI) based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Hanwoo cows for seven years (2013 - 2019). Multiparous cows (4.5 ± 0.11) were analyzed, which were bred by artificial insemination (AI). We first examined the distribution of the AIs and calving dates. About 40% of the AIs were carried out in May to June and October to December; subsequently, calving was observed from March to April and August to October, respectively, indicating the cows were seasonally bred. No correlation between CI and SI was found (y = 0.0459x - 17.64; R² = 0.0356), but the ratio of cows with a positive SI was higher in the longer CI group compared to the shorter group, suggesting that the selection for meat quality and quantity may affect the reproductive performances. In addition, the average value of SI was - 3.42 in the CI < 400 while + 5.79 in the CI > 400 although the values were not statistically significant. However, our results suggest that reproductive indices such as fertility and CI should be considered for sustainability in the Hanwoo breeding selection program.

• 한국간호교육학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.272-279
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• 2006

Background: After Genome project, cancer genetic information is being rapidly changing. Everyday nurses are incorporating current cancer genetic knowledge and genetic testing into their practice. So their cancer genetic knowledge is important for ensuring quality of cancer patient care and education. Purpose: This study is performed for describing the Korean nurses' current knowledge level about the hereditary breast cancer. Method: This national wide survey used 15-item questionnaire which is modified from the Breast Cancer Genetic Counseling Knowledge Questionnaire originally developed by Erblich et al.(2005). Three hundred and nine nurses were recruited for this survey from April 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006. Result: Nurses' knowledge level about the hereditary breast cancer was not high. Clinical nurses with master degree, working large hospital located in Seoul had higher knowledge about hereditary breast cancer. Education related to cancer genetics was significantly impact on the level of nurses' knowledge. Conclusion: Cancer genetic educational program for Korean nurses is strongly needed for delivering cancer care services sensitive to ever-changing cancer genetic information.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.519-526
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• 2012

Recently, herbal flavonoids have been implicated for anti-cancer therapy. Flavonoids as a commonly known for their anti-oxidant activity, are contained in the herbal medicine as well as root of plants, vegetables, fruits, grains, tea, and wine. Kaempferol, a component of Polygonati rhizoma, a member of the herbal flavonoids, has been studied for anti-hypercholesterol, anti-hypertension and anti-diabetes. It is also known to be effective in anti-cancer therapy for breast, prostate and other type of cancers. However, the anti-cancer therapeutic mechanisms are pooly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying kaempferol-induced anti-cancer effects using the human liver cancer cell lines, Hep3B, HepG2, and Sk-Hep-1, and human Chang liver cell as a control. As shown by the FACS analysis, measurement of caspase activity, DAPI and trypan blue staining, and DNA fragmentation assay, kaempferol induced apoptosis in the liver cancer cells with the greater potential in Hep3B cells than other liver cancer cells. In addition, we performed microarray analysis to profile the genome-wide mRNA expression regulated by kaempferol. Many of the apoptosis-related genes were significantly induced in kaempferol-treated Hep3B cells, in particular, the genes associated with MAPK cascade. Additionally, kaempferol induced the mRNA expression of genes involved in MKK7-JNK cascade, MKK3-p38 cascade, and caspase signaling pathway, which are all known to trigger apoptosis. Overall, our data suggest that kaempferol has anti-liver cancer effects by inducing apoptosis through the MKK7-JNK cascade, MKK3-p38 cascade, and caspase signaling pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권12호
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• pp.1613-1620
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• 2012

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating disease of many economically important crops. Since there is no promising control strategy for bacterial wilt, phage therapy could be adopted using virulent phages. We used phage PE204 as a model lytic bacteriophage to investigate its biocontrol potential for bacterial wilt on tomato plants. The phage PE204 has a short-tailed icosahedral structure and double-stranded DNA genome similar to that of the members of Podoviridae. PE204 is stable under a wide range of temperature and pH, and is also stable in the presence of the surfactant Silwet L-77. An artificial soil microcosm (ASM) to study phage stability in soil was adopted to investigate phage viability under a controlled system. Whereas phage showed less stability under elevated temperature in the ASM, the presence of host bacteria helped to maintain a stable phage population. Simultaneous treatment of phage PE204 at $10^8$ PFU/ml with R. solanacearum on tomato rhizosphere completely inhibited bacterial wilt occurrence, and amendment of Silwet L-77 at 0.1% to the phage suspension did not impair the disease control activity of PE204. The biocontrol activities of phage PE204 application onto tomato rhizosphere before or after R. solanacearum inoculation were also investigated. Whereas pretreatment with the phage was not effective in the control of bacterial wilt, post-treatment of PE204 delayed bacterial wilt development. Our results suggested that appropriate application of lytic phages to the plant root system with a surfactant such as Silwet L-77 could be used to control the bacterial wilt of crops.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.137-147
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• 2010

Pulmonary fibrosis is a common consequence of many lung diseases and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of pulmonary fibrosis remain poorly understood. One model used successfully to study pulmonary fibrosis over the past few decades is the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. We aimed to identify the genes associated with fibrogenesis using an Affymetrix GeneChip system in a bleomycin-induced rat model for pulmonary fibrosis. To confirm fibrosis development, several analyses were performed, including cellular evaluations using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity, and histopathological examinations. Common aspects of pulmonary fibrosis such as prolonged inflammation, immune cell infiltration, emergence of fibroblasts, and deposition of extracellular matrix and connective tissue elements were observed. Global gene expression analysis revealed significantly altered expression of genes ($\geq$ 1.5-fold, p < 0.05.) in a time-dependent manner during the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Our results are consistent with previous results of well-documented gene expression. Interestingly, the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1), and several proteases such as Tpsab1, Mcpt1, and Cma1 was considerably induced in the lung after bleomycin treatment, despite little evidence that they are involved in pulmonary fibrogenesis. These data will aid in our understanding of fibrogenic mechanisms and contribute to the identification of candidate biomarkers of fibrotic disease development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.24-30
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• 2014

Inductive expression of early growth response 1 (Egr-1) in neurons is associated with many forms of neuronal activity. However, only a few Egr-1 target genes are known in the brain. The results of this study demonstrate that Egr-1 knockout (KO) mice display impaired contextual extinction learning and normal fear acquisition relative to wild-type (WT) control animals. Genome-wide microarray experiments revealed 368 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of Egr-1 WT exposed to different phases of a fear conditioning paradigm compared to gene expression profiles in the hippocampus of KO mice. Some of genes, such as serotonin receptor 2C (Htr2c), neuropeptide B (Npb), neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (Npas4), NPY receptor Y1 (Npy1r), fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7), and neuropeptide Y (Npy) are known to regulate processing of fearful memories, and promoter analyses demonstrated that several of these genes contained Egr-1 binding sites. This study provides a useful list of potential Egr-1 target genes which may be regulated during fear memory processing.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.111-118
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• 2010

염색체 microarray 검사는 유전체 전체를 한번에 검색하여 초현미경적인 염색체 이상을 매우 정밀하고 정확하게 검출할 수 있다. 외국에서는 현재 자주 활용되는 임상 진단 검사로 자리잡았고, 염색체 검사 또는 표적 부위를 검출하는 FISH 검사나 PCR 기반의 분자유전학적 방법을 대체하고 있다. 최근 발표된 consensus 들은 염색체 microarray 검사를 비특이적인 다발성 기형, 발달지연 또는 정신지체, 자폐증상질환의 환자에서는 염색체 검사보다 먼저 시행할 수 있는 검사로 제안하였다. 염색체 microarray 검사는 핵형 분석에서 검출된 염색체 불균형을 검증하기 위해 염색체 검사에 보조적으로 활용할 수 있고, 염색체 이상에 대한 보다 정확하고 종합적인 분석이 가능하다. 그러나 염색체 microarray 검사는 균형재배열의 염색체 이상과 low-level 모자이시즘을 검출하기 어렵고, 임상적 중요성이 불명확한 CNV에 대한 해석과 검사비용이 고가라는 한계점이 있다. 이러한 이유로 인해 현재로서는 염색체 microarray 검사가 산전 진단 목적으로는 고식적인 염색체 검사를 대신할 수는 없다는 의견이다. 임상검사실에서 염색체 microarray 검사 시행 시, 유전학적 및 세포유전학적 지식과 경험이 결과 분석과 해석 과정에서 요구되며, 적절한 검증 과정 단계와 유전상담이 동반되어야 한다.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Unprecedented amount of genetic information being generated from the result of Human Genome Project (HGP) and advances in genetic research is already forcing changes in the paradigm of health and disease. The ultimate goal of genetic medicine is to use genetic information and technology to develop new ways of treatment or even prevention of the disease on an individual level for 'personalized medicine'. Genetics is play ing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of common multifactorial diseases in addition to rare single-gene disorders. While wide range of genetic testing have provided benefits to patients and family, uncertainties surrounding test interpretation, the current lack of available medical options for the diseases, and risks for discrimination and social stigmatization may remain to be resolved. However an increasing number of genetic tests are becoming commercially available, including direct to consumer genetic testing, yet public is often unaw are of their clinical and social implications. The personal nature of information generated by a genetic test, its power to affect major life decisions and family members, and its potential misuse raise important ethical considerations. Therefore appropriate genetic counseling is needed for patient to be informed with the benefits, limitations and risks of genetic tests, prior to informed consent for the tests. Physician also should be familiar with the legal and ethical issues involved in genetic testing to tell patients how w ell a particular genetic risk factor relates with likelihood of disease, and be able to provide appropriate genetic counseling. Genetic counseling become a mandatory requirement as global standard for many genetic testing such as prenatal diagnosis, presymtomatic DNA diagnostic tests and cancer susceptibility gene test for familial cancer syndrome. In oder to meet the challenge of genetic medicine of 21 century in korean health care system, professional education program and certification board for medical genetics specialist including non-MD genetic counselors should be addressed by medical society and regulatory policy of national health insurance reimbursement for genetic counseling to be in place to promote the implementation of clinical genetic service including genetic counseling for proper genetic testing.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.217-224
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• 2017

Purpose: Although it is well known thatmortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases are higher in salt-sensitive subjects than in salt-resistant subjects, their underlying mechanisms related to obesity remain unclear. Here, we focused on salt-sensitive gene variants unrelated to monogenic obesity that interacted with sodium intake in humans. Methods: This review was written based on the modified $3^rd$ step of Khans' systematic review. Instead of the literature, subject genes were based on candidate genes screened from our preliminary Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). Finally, literature related to five genes strongly associated with salt sensitivity were analyzed to elucidate the mechanism of obesity. Results: Salt sensitivity is a measure of how blood pressure responds to salt intake, and people are either salt-sensitive or salt-resistant. Otherwise, dietary sodium restriction may not be beneficial for everyone since salt sensitivity may be associated with inherited susceptibility. According to our previous GWAS studies, 10 candidate genes and 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with salt sensitivity were suggested, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ${\alpha}$-adducin1 (ADD1), angiotensinogen (AGT), cytochrome P450 family 11-subfamily ${\beta}$-2 ($CYP11{\beta}$-2), epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), G-protein b3 subunit (GNB3), G protein-coupled receptor kinases type 4 (GRK4 A142V, GRK4 A486V), $11{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-2 (HSD $11{\beta}$-2), neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally down regulated 4 like (NEDD4L),and solute carrier family 12(sodium/chloride transporters)-member 3 (SLC 12A3). We found that polymorphisms of salt-sensitive genes such as ACE, $CYP11{\beta}$-2, GRK4, SLC12A3, and GNB3 may be positively associated with human obesity. Conclusion: Despite gender, ethnic, and age differences in genetics studies, hypertensive obese children and adults who are carriers of specific salt-sensitive genes are recommended to reduce their sodium intake. We believe that our findings can contribute to the prevention of early-onset of chronic diseases in obese children by facilitating personalized diet-management of obesity from childhood to adulthood.