• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2008

Purpose: Micro-pinhole SPECT system with conventional multiple-head gamma cameras has the advantage of high magnification factor for imaging of rodents. However, several geometric factors should be calibrated to obtain the SPECT image with good image quality. We developed a simplified geometric calibration method for rotating triple-head pinhole SPECT system and assessed the effects of the calibration using several phantom and rodent imaging studies. Materials and Methods: Trionix Triad XLT9 triple-head SPECT scanner with 1.0 mm pinhole apertures were used for the experiments. Approximately centered point source was scanned to track the angle-dependent positioning errors. The centroid of point source was determined by the center of mass calculation. Axially departed two point sources were scanned to calibrate radius of rotation from pinhole to center of rotation. To verify the improvements by the geometric calibration, we compared the spatial resolution of the reconstructed image of Tc-99m point source with and without the calibration. SPECT image of micro performance phantom with hot rod inserts was acquired and several animal imaging studies were performed. Results: Exact sphere shape of the point source was obtained by applying the calibration and axial resolution was improved. Lesion detectibility and image quality was also much improved by the calibration in the phantom and animal studies. Conclusion: Serious degradation of micro-pinhole SPECT images due to the geometric errors could be corrected using a simplified calibration method using only one or two point sources.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2003

This study was done to compile 104 experimental theses which are related to the antitumor and immuno-activating therapies between February 1990 through February 2002. Master's and doctoral theses were dassified by schools, degrees, materials, effects, experimental methods of antitumor and immunoactivity, and results. The following results were obtained from this study : 1. Classifying the theses by the school, 34.6% were presented by Daejeon University, 29.8% by Kyung-hee University and 11.5% by Won-kwang University. Of all theses, 51.0% were aimed for the doctoral degree and 43.3% were for the master's degree. All of three universities have their own cancer centers. 2. Classifying the theses by herb materials, complex prescription accounted for 60.3%, single herb accounted for 24.8% and herbal acupuncture accounted for 14.2%. Considering the key principles of the traditional medicine, complex prescription was much more thoroughly studied than single herb prescription. The results showed that the complex prescription had both antitumor activity and immuno-activating activity, which might reflects on multi-activation mechanisms by complex components. 3. Classifying the theses by the efficacy of herbs examined, in single herb, invigorating spleen and supplementing was 35.5%, expelling toxin and cooling was 29.0%, activating blood flow and removing blood stasis was 12.9%. In herbal acupuncture, invigorating spleen and supplementing was 52.9%, expelling toxin and cooling was 29.4%. In complex prescription, pathogen-free status was 41.9%, strengthening healthy qi to eliminate pathogen was 35.5%, strengthening healthy qi was 22.6%. It is presumed that the antitumor and immunoactivating therapy based on syndrome differentiation is the best way to develop oriental oncology. 4. Classifying the theses by antitumor experiments, cytotoxic effect was 48.1 %, survival time was 48.1 % and change of tumor size was 42.3%. Survival rate was not necessarily correlated with cytotoxicity. These data reflect the characteristic, wholistic nature of the oriental medicine which is based on BRM (biological response modifier). 5. Classifying the theses by immunoactivating experiments, hemolysin titer was 51.0%, hemagglutinin titer was 46.2% and NK cell's activity was 44.2%. In the future studies, an effort to elucidate specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of cytokine production in the body would be crucial. 6. Classifying the theses according to the data in terms of antitumor activity, 50% was evaluated good, 24.0% was excellent, and 15.5% have no effect. In an evaluation of immuno-activating activity, 35.9% was excellent and 18.0% showed a little effect. The index point, as described here, may helps to use experimental data for clinical trials. Changes in index points by varying dosage implicate the importance of oriental medical theory for prescription. 7. In 167 materials, IIP (immunoactivating index point, mean : 3.12±0.07) was significantly higher than AIP(antitumor index point, mean : 2.83±0.07). These data demonstrate that the effect of herb medicine on tumor activity depends more on immunoactivating activity than antitumor activity. This further implies that the development of herbal antitumor drugs must be preceded by the mechanistic understanding of immunoactivating effect. 8. After medline-searching tumor and herb-related articles from NCBI web site, we conclude that most of the studies are primarily focused on biomolecular mechanisms and/or pathways. Henceforth, we need to define the biomolecular mechanisms and/or pathways affected by herbs or complicated prescriptions. 9. Therefore, the most important point of oriental medical oncology is to conned between experimental results and clinical trials. For the public application of herbal therapy to cancer, it is critical to present the data to mass media. 10. To develop the relationship of experimental results and clinical trials, university's cancer clinic must have a long-range plan related to the university laboratories and, at the same time, a regular consortium for this relationship is imperative. 11. After all these efforts, a new type herbal medicine for cancer therapy which is to take care of the long-term administering and safety problem must be developed. Then, it would be expected that anti-tumor herbal acupuncture can improve clinical symptoms and quality of life (QOL) for cancer patients. 12. Finally, oriental medical cancer center must be constructed in NCC (National Cancer Center) or government agency for the development of oriental medical oncology which has international competitive power.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.409-419
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• 2015

This study was conducted to establish an efficient screening method for watermelon plants resistant to Fusarium wilt (FW), which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon). An HA isolate was prepared from a wilted watermelon plant in Haman-gun and identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum based on morphological characteristics, molecular analyses of ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and TEF (translation elongation factor $1{\alpha}$) sequences, and host specificity on cucurbits including watermelon, melon, oriental melon, and cucumber. The assay for disease response of watermelon differentials indicated that the HA isolate was race 0. Among seven liquid media tested, the highest amount of Fon spores was produced from V8-juice broth, which was selected as a medium for mass production of Fon. The disease assay for 21 watermelon and 11 watermelon-rootstock cultivars demonstrated that 20 watermelon cultivars except for 'Soknoranggul' were susceptible; 'Soknoranggul' was moderately resistant. All the tested rootstock cultivars were highly resistant to the HA isolate. The evaluation of disease development depending on various conditions suggested that an efficient screening method for FW resistance in watermelon plants is to dip the roots of 10-day-old seedlings in spore suspension of $1.0{\times}10^5-1.0{\times}10^6conidia{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ for 30 min., to transplant the seedlings to plastic pots with a fertilized soil, and then to cultivate the plants at $25^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2012

Present study was performed to investigate the effect of single and co-culture of adipocyte and muscle cell lines on cell differentiation. 3T3-L1 (adipocyte) and L6 (muscle) cell lines were single-cultured on the condition of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)/Dulbeco's modified eagle's medium (DMEM) for 48 h followed by culture within 5% FBS/DMEM as a growth media. Then, the growth media was replaced by differentiation media composed of 2% FBS/DMEM without additives in single- or co-culture of the 3T3-L1 and the L6 cells to induce differentiation of both cell types. In co-culture system, the 3T3-L1 and the L6 cells were grown in separated places by being seeded on a $0.4{\mu}m$ insert membrane and on the bottom of 6 well plate, respectively. Cell differentiation was measured using morphological investigation and cytosolic analysis of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH; for 3T3-L1) and creatine kinase (CK; for L6). Based on the GPDH results, the presence of L6 cells did not stimulate 3T3-L1 differentiation showing more differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in the single-culture compared to the co-culture condition. In contrast, 3T3-L1 cells in the co-culture promoted differentiation of L6 cells. Enzymatic analysis supported this result showing that 3T3-L1 cells showed statistically (P<0.05) higher GPDH activity in the single-culture than the co-culture, whereas CK results of L6 cells were vice versa (P<0.05). Overall, present results may indicate that co-culture system is more reliable and precise technique compared to single-culture. Further studies on several co-culture trials including different media conditions, supplementation of differentiating substances, molecular biological analysis, etc. should be required to obtain practical and fundamental mass data.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2013

The objective of present study was to simultaneously isolate of isoflavone and soyasaponin compounds from the germ of soybean seeds. Soy germ flours were defatted with hexane for 48h at room temperature, and methanolic extracts were prepared using reflux apparatus at $90^{\circ}C$ for 6h, two times. After extraction, extracts were separated with preparative RP-$C_{18}$ packing column ($125{\AA}$, $55-105{\mu}m$, $40{\times}150mm$), and collected 52 fractions were identified with TLC plate (Kieselgel 60 F-254) and HPLC, respectively. Among the identified isoflavone and soyasaponin fractions, isoflavone fractions were re-separated using a recycling HPLC with gel permeation column (Jaigel-W252, $20{\times}500mm$). Final fractions were air-dried, and the purified compounds of two isoflavones (ISF-1-1, ISF-1-2) and four soyasaponins (SAP-1, SAP-2, SAP-3, SAP-4) were obtained. Two isoflavone compounds (ISF-1-1, ISF-1-2) were acid-hydrolyzed for the identification of their aglycones, and confirmed by comparing with 12 types of isoflavone isomers. While the four kinds of soyasaponins were identified by using a micro Q-TOF mass spectrometer in the ESI positive mode with capillary voltage of 4.5kV, and dry temperature of $200^{\circ}C$. Base on the obtained results, it was conclude that ISF-1-1 is the mixture isomers of daidzin (43.4%), glycitin (47.0%), and genistin (9.6%), but ISF-1-2 is the single compound of genistin (99.8% <). On the other hand, soyasaponin SAP-1 is the mixture compounds of soyasaponin A-group (Aa, Ab, Ac, Ae, Af); SAP-2 is soyasaponin B-group (Ba, Bb, Bc) and E-group (Bd, Be); SAP-3 is soyasaponin B-group (Ba, Bb, Bc), E-group (Bd, Be), and DDMP-group (${\beta}g$); SAP-4 is soyasaponin B-group (Ba, Bb, Bc), E-group (Bd, Be), and DDMP-group (${\beta}g$, ${\beta}a$), respectively.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

Ac/Ds mutant lines of this study were transgenic rice plants, each of which harbored the maize transposable element Ds together with a GUS coding sequence under the control of a promoterless(Ds-GUS). We selected the mutants that were GUS expressed lines, because the GUS positive lines will be useful for identifying gene function in rice. One of these mutants was identified knock-out at Oszinc626(NP_001049991) gene, encoding a RING-H2 zinc-finger protein, by Ds insertion. In this mutant, while primary root development is normal, secondary root development from lateral root was very poor and seed development was incomplete compare with normal plant. RING zinc-finger proteins play important roles in the regulation of development in a variety of organisms. In the plant kingdom, a few genes encoding RING zinc-finger proteins have been documented with visible effects on plant growth and development. The consensus of the RING-H2(C3-H2-C3 type) domain for this group of protein is $Cys-X_2-Cys-X_{28}-Cys-X-His-X_2-His-X_2-Cys-X_{14}-Cys-X_2-Cys$. Oszinc626 encodes a predicted protein product of 445 amino acids residues with a molecular mass of 49 kDa, with a RING-zinc-finger motif located at the extreme end of the C-terminus. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of Oszinc626 gene was induced by IAA, cold, dehydration, high-salinity and abscisic acid, but not by 2,4-D, and the transcription of Oszinc626 gene accumulated primarily in rice immature seeds, root meristem and shoots. The gene accumulation patterns were corresponded with GUS expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-$\alpha$ of three PPAR subtypes ($-\alpha,\;-\beta/-\gamma,\;-\delta$), which are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors, plays a key role in lipoprotein and glucose homeostasis. A variation in the PPAR-a gene expression has been suggested to influence the development of metabolic syndrome through alterations in lipid concentrations. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the PPAR-a and metabolic syndrome among South Korean. A total of 542 health screen examinees were enrolled in this study who were examined in Kosin University Gospel Hospital from December, 2004 to July, 2005. The height, weight, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the subjects were examined and fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride were measured by-sampling in venous blood. The metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following : waist circumference men ${\geq}90cm$, women ${\geq}80cm$, blood pressure ${\geq}130/85mmHg$, fasting glucose ${\geq}110mg/dL$, HDL cholesterol men <40 mg/dL, women <50 mg/dL, triglyceride ${\geq}150mg/dL$. The blood pressure, fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride were evaluated by using the criteria of NECP ATP III and waist circumference was assessed by using the criteria of WHO Asia-Western Pacific. And the author compared the frequency of the PPAR-$\alpha$ mutation of L162V ($C{\rightarrow}G$ variant in exon 5) in a sample of 542 subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome by polymerase chain reaction allele-specific oligonucleotide (PCR-ASO) method. One (0.2%) hetero-isotype among high risk of metabolic syndrome was identified. The values of waist circumference, body mass index and low density lipoprotein cholesterol of the mutant were 100 cm, 28.6 $kg/m^2$ and 120 mg/dL, respectively. Although the author failed to see significant association between the presence of the PPAR-$\alpha$ L162V polymorphism and metabolic syndrome, one PPAR-$\alpha$ L162V polymorphism in metabolic syndrome patients was found.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1259-1268
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated antimicrobial peptide from the acidified muscle extract of Mytilus coruscus, which mostly inhabits China, Japan, and Korea, to develop a natural product-derived antibiotics substitution in terms of its abuse and restriction. Antimicrobial peptide was purified by $C_{18}$ reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and was detected as having a molecular mass of 6,701 Da by MALDI-TOF/MS. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified peak was obtained from edman degradation, and 20 identified residues shown 100% identity with the N-terminus region of sperm-specific protein and protamine-like PL-II/PL-IV precursor of Mytilus californianus. We also identified 60 open-reading frame (ORF) encoding amino acids with 183 bp of purified peptide based on the obtained amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of ORF showed 100% and the nucleotide sequence revealed 97.2% identity with the protamine-like PL-II/PL-IV precursor of Mytilus californianus. Synthesized antimicrobial peptide showed antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus cereus (minimal effective concentration [MEC], $20.8{\mu}g/ml$), Bacillus subtilis (MEC, $0.2{\mu}g/ml$), Streptococcus mutans (MEC, $0.2{\mu}g/ml$), gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MEC, $5.7{\mu}g/ml$), Escherichia coli (MEC, $2.6{\mu}g/ml$) and fungi, Candida albicans (MEC, $56.3{\mu}g/ml$). In addition, synthesized peptide showed stable activities under heat and salt conditions against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but was inhibited by salt against only C. albicans. With these results, isolated peptide from M. coruscus could be an alternative agent to antibiotics for defending against pathogenic microorganisms, and helpful information to understand the innate immune system of marine invertebrates.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2016

Gummy stem blight, caused by the fungus Didymella bryoniae, is major disease of watermelons worldwide. The objective of the present study was to establish an efficient screening system to identify watermelon resistant to D. bryoniae. An GSB3 isolate was prepared from a watermelon plant showing typical symptoms of gummy stem blight in Haman-gun and identified as D. bryoniae based on molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequence. A simple mass-production technique of inoculum was developed based on spore production of D. bryoniae GSB3 under several incubation conditions and their virulence on watermelon plants. Resistance degrees of 22 commercial watermelon cultivars to the GSB3 isolate were evaluated. Among them, four watermelon cultivars showing different degree of resistance response were selected for further study. Development of disease on the cultivars according to various conditions including inoculum concentrations, incubation periods in dew chamber, and incubation temperatures was investigated. From the results, we suggest an efficient screening method for resistant watermelon cultivars to gummy stem blight. Seeds of watermelon cultivar are sown and grown in a greenhouse until plant stage of 2-fully expanded leaves. Seedlings are inoculated with D. bryoniae by spraying spore suspension of the fungus at a concentration of $5.0{\times}10^5spores/ml$. The infected plants are incubated in humidity chamber at $25^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours and then transferred to a growth chamber at $25^{\circ}C$ and 80% relative humidity with 12-hour light a day. Three to four days after inoculation, disease severity of the plant are measured using percentage of infected leaf area.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.450-456
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• 2016

Rhizoctonia leaf blight (large patch) has become a serious problem in Korean lawn grass, which is extremely hard to treat and develops mostly from the roots of lawn grass to wither it away. Rhizoctonia leaf blight (large patch) is caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2 (IV). To develop zoysia japonica with strong disease tolerance against this pathogenic bacterium, ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ was cloned from zoysia japonica, which is one of the PR-Proteins known to play a critical role in plant defense reaction. ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ is known to be generated within the cells when plant tissues have a hypersensitive reaction due to virus or bacterium infection and secreted outside the cells to play mainly the function of resistance against pathogenic bacteria in the space between the cells. This study utilized the commonly preserved part in the sequence of corn, wheat, barley, and rice which had been researched for their disease tolerance among the ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ monocotyledonous plants. Based on the part, degenerate PCR was performed to find out the sequence and full-length cDNA was cloned. E.coli over-expression was conducted in this study to mass purify target protein and implement in vitro activation measurement and antibacterial test. In addition, to interpret the functions of ZjGlu1 gene, each gene-incorporating plant transformation vectors were produced to make lawn grass transformant. Based on ZjGlu1 protein, antibacterial activity test was conducted on 9 strains. As a result, R. cerealis, F. culmorum, R.solani AG-1 (1B), and T. atroviride were found to have antibacterial activity. The gene-specific expression amount in each organ showed no huge difference in the organs based upon the transformant and against 18s gene expression amount.