Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

Descending thin limb of the intermediate loop expresses both aquaporin 1 and urea transporter A2 in the mouse kidney

Kim, W. Y.,Lee, H. W.,Han, K. H.,Nam, S. A.,Choi, A.,Kim, Y. K.,Kim, J. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Histochemistry and cell biology Vol.146 No.1

<P>A new intermediate type of Henle's loop has been reported that it extends into the inner medulla and turns within the first millimeter beyond the outer medulla. This study aimed to identify the descending thin limb (DTL) of the intermediate loop in the adult C57Bl/6 mouse kidney using aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and urea transporter A2 (UT-A2) antibodies. In the upper part of the inner stripe of the outer medulla (ISOM), AQP1 was expressed strongly in the DTL with type II epithelium of the long loop, but not in type I epithelium of the short loop. The DTL of the intermediate loop exhibited weak AQP1 immunoreactivity. UT-A2 immunoreactivity was not observed in the upper part of any DTL type. AQP1 expression was similar in the upper and middle parts of the ISOM. UT-A2 expression was variable, being expressed strongly in the DTL with type I epithelium of the short loop, but not in type II epithelium of the long loop. In the innermost part of the ISOM, AQP1 was expressed only in type III epithelium of the long loop. UT-A2-positive and UT-A2-negative cells were intermingled in type I epithelium of the intermediate loop, but were not observed in type III epithelium of the long loop. UT-A2-positive DTLs of the intermediate loop extended into the UT-A2/AQP1-negative type I epithelium in the initial part of the inner medulla. These results demonstrate that the DTL of the intermediate loop is composed of type I epithelium and expresses both AQP1 and UT-A2. The functional role of the DTL of the intermediate loop may be distinct from the short or long loops.</P>

Studies on Simultaneous Determination of Chlorophyll a and b, Pheophorbide a, and $\beta-Carotene$ in Chlorella and Spirulina Products

이영자,김소희,김진숙,한정아,서해점,임효정,최수영,Lee Young Ja,Kim So Hee,Kim Jin-Sook,Han Jeong A,Seo Hae Jeom,Lim Hyo Jeong,Choi Soo Young The Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety 2005 한국식품위생안전성학회지 Vol.20 No.3

역상 컬럼을 이용하여 건강기능식품 중 클로렐라 및 스피루리나제품에 함유되어 있는 엽록소 a, b,페오포르바이드 a 및 $\beta$-카로틴의 HPLC동시분석법을 확립하였으며, 첨가농도 $50\;\mug/ml$에서 엽록소 a, b, 페오포르바이드 a 및 $\beta$-카로틴에 대한 회수율시험결과, 각각 2.8, 6.0, 10.6 및 $10.4\%$의 상대표준편차와 70.3, 71.6, 60.1 및 $90.5\%$의 회수율을 각각 나타냈다. 이때 검출한계는 $0.1\sim1.0\;\mug/ml$, 정량한계는 $0.2\sim2.0\;\mug/ml$이었으며 검량선 상관계수도 0.995 이상의 직선성을 보여주었다. 국내유통 클로렐라 및 스피루리나제품에 대한 엽록소 a, b,페오포르바이드 a및 $\beta$-카로틴의 함유량을 분석한 결과 엽록소 a $121.g\sim543$, 엽록소 b $0.6\sim160.0$, 페오포르바이드 a 및 P-카로틴 $383.6\sim1713.7mg/ml$ 수준으로 나타났다. 엽록소 b의 함유량은 클로렐라제품에서 평균 374.0 mg/100 g 으로 스피루리나제품의 평균 10.5 mg/100 g 보다 30배 이상 함유하고 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 그러나 $\beta$-카로틴의 함유량은 스피루리나제품이 평균 1335.4 mg/100 g 로 클로렐라제품의 평균 495.0 mg/100 g 보다 평균 함유량에서 2.7배 높은 것으로 나타났다. 국내 건강기능식품공전 중 클로렐라 및 스피루리나제품의 엽록소 a b, 및 페오포르바이드 항목의 규격검사를 본 연구의 동시분석법으로 개정함으로써 각 성분 함량의 정량, 분석시간의 단축 및 비용절감 둥 시험방법을 크게 개선할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. A simple and sensitive analysis method based on reverse phase (RP) HPLC with UV detector was developed for simultaneous determination of chlorophyll a and b, pheophorbide a and $\beta-Carotene$ in Chlorella and Spirulina products. For added concentration $(50\;\mug/ml)$ of chlorophyll a and b, pheophorbide a and $\beta-Carotene$, recoveries of those were 70.3, 71.6, 60.1 and $90.5\%$, respectively, with relative standard deviations of 2.8,6.0, 10.6 and $10.4\%$. Limit of detection and quantification had ranges of $0.1\sim1.0\;\mug/ml$ and $0.2\sim2.0\;\mug/ml$, respectively. Calibration curve was linear with correlation coefficient of 0.995 for chlorophyll a and b, pheophorbide a and $\beta-Carotene$. Results of simultaneous determination in Chlorella and Spirulina products were showed ranges of $121.g\sim543.0\;\mug/ml$ for chlorophyll a,$0.6\sim160.0\;\mug/ml$ for chlorophyll b, $19.2\sim60.3\;\mug/ml$ for pheophorbide a and $383.6\sim1713.7\;\mug/ml$ for $\beta-Carotene$, respectively. Chlorophyll b contents in Chlorella products were detected above 30 times level to those in Spirulina products. $\beta-Carotene$ contents in Spirulina products were detected 2.7 times level to those in Chlorella products.

The Action of Triterpenoidal Glycosides of Dammarane Series and Their Aglycones on $K^{+}$ and $H^{-}$ Fluxes in Erythrocytes, Induced by lonophore $A_{23187}$ and Divalent ions

Kim, Yu.A.,Park, Kyeong-Mee,Kyung, Jong-Su,Hyun, Hak-Chul,Song, Yong-Bum,Shin, Han-Jae,Park, Hwa-Jin The Korean Society of Ginseng 1996 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.20 No.2

Ginsenoside Rb,, at a concentration of 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and over, initiated the cycle of oscillation of ion flux in erythrocytes after the cells had been treated with a protonophore, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP) and then with a $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore, A23,3,. Its action was similar to the additional portion of $Ca^{2+}$-ionophore or $Ca^{2+}$ ion to the erythrocytes. Effects of $Rg_1$ and Rf were different from that of Rb,. They did not induce the oscillation. They, however, increased the extracellular $K^{+}$ concentration and pH without returning to the initial state in the erythrocytes processed with FCCP and $A_{23187}$. We established that ginsenosides from 20-(5)-panaxatriol family induced the membrane hyperpolarization in erythrocytes, which was attenuated by the pretreatment of $Rb_1$, a major component of 20-(5)-panaxadiol.

Calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂)-based inorganic salt electrode for supercapacitor with long-cycle life performance

Cho, S.,Han, J.,Kim, J.,Jo, Y.,Woo, H.,Lee, S.,Aqueel Ahmed, A.T.,Chavan, H.C.,Pawar, S.M.,Gunjakar, J.L.,Kwak, J.,Park, Y.,Inamdar, A.I.,Kim, H.,Kim, H.,Im, H. ELSEVIER 2017 CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS Vol.17 No.9

<P>A novel water-soluble inorganic Ca(NO3)(2) salt electrode is investigated for its pseudocapacitance in an aqueous KOH electrolyte. Commercially available Ca(NO3)(2) salt is directly used as the key electrode material. The supercapacitor electrode contains Ca(NO3)(2) salt, carbon black, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in a ratio of 80:10:10. The Ca(NO3)(2)-based electrode demonstrates an exceptionally long life cycling stability, and a reasonably sound specific capacitance of 234 F/g is obtained at a current density of 3 A/g. Via chemical and electrochemical reactions, the in-situ activation of the Ca(NO3)(2) forms an intermediate CaO which contributes to the pseudocapacitance of the electrode. The electrode undergoes a reversible redox reaction between Cu2+ <-> Cu+ during the charge-discharge process. Superior rate capability and excellent specific capacitance retention of similar to 120% over 2000 cycles are achieved compared with other inorganic salt electrodes. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

A Study on Enterovirus Genotypes in Busan, Korea from 2017 to 2022

Nam-Ho Kim,Young-A Jung,Hyeon-Jeong Kwon,Han-Nwi You,이승주 대한미생물학회 2023 Journal of Bacteriology and Virology Vol.53 No.2

Human enteroviruses (HEV) are pathogens that cause a wide variety of clinicalillness such as a hand-foot-mouth disease, herpangina, skin rash, encephalitis,aseptic meningitis and even death in young children. This study was aimed toinvestigate the prevalence of HEV infection in young children in Busan, Korea andanalyze the various genotypes of enterovirus. We collected the stool, throat swaband cerebrospinal fluid samples from admitted pediatrics from 2017 to 2022. HEV detection and genotype identification were performed by real-time RT-PCRand RT-PCR and phylogenetic trees were constructed by neighbor-joining methodcompared with reference strains. A total of 1,412 samples were collected and128 cases (9.1%) were detected. Based on partial VP1 sequencing, a total 93enterovirus isolates were resolved into 4 genotypes and 18 serotypes; Humanenterovirus A, B, D (HEV-A, B, D) and Rhinovirus. HEV-A is 30 isolates included 7serotypes, HEV-B is 63 isolates included 10 serotypes, HEV-D is 1 isolates included1 serotypes and Rhinovirus is 5 isolated included 3 serotypes. Prevalent serotypewas coxsakievirus A10 in 2017, coxsakievirus B5 in 2018, Echovirus 30 in 2019. Thetemporal distribution of HEV epidemics in Busan showed a remarkable seasonalpattern, from June to September. The genotypes of circulating enteroviruseswere diverse from year to year and most of the sequences circulated in Busanshowed homology with reference sequences in neighboring countries such asChina. Monitoring and genotyping of these enteroviruses will play a role inpreventing the development of serious diseases caused by enteroviruses andgenotype analysis can be used as a basic data for epidemiological studies.

Network topology and resilience analysis of South Korean power grid

Kim, Dong Hwan,Eisenberg, Daniel A.,Chun, Yeong Han,Park, Jeryang Elsevier 2017 PHYSICA A-STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND ITS APPLICATIO Vol.465 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this work, we present topological and resilience analyses of the South Korean power grid (KPG) with a broad voltage level. While topological analysis of KPG only with high-voltage infrastructure shows an exponential degree distribution, providing another empirical evidence of power grid topology, the inclusion of low voltage components generates a distribution with a larger variance and a smaller average degree. This result suggests that the topology of a power grid may converge to a highly skewed degree distribution if more low-voltage data is considered. Moreover, when compared to ER random and BA scale-free networks, the KPG has a lower efficiency and a higher clustering coefficient, implying that highly clustered structure does not necessarily guarantee a functional efficiency of a network. Error and attack tolerance analysis, evaluated with efficiency, indicate that the KPG is more vulnerable to random or degree-based attacks than betweenness-based intentional attack. Cascading failure analysis with recovery mechanism demonstrates that resilience of the network depends on both tolerance capacity and recovery initiation time. Also, when the two factors are fixed, the KPG is most vulnerable among the three networks. Based on our analysis, we propose that the topology of power grids should be designed so the loads are homogeneously distributed, or functional hubs and their neighbors have high tolerance capacity to enhance resilience.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Detailed information on power grid may produce highly-skewed degree distribution. </LI> <LI> Resilience of KPG is analyzed with multiple approaches including recovery. </LI> <LI> KPG is revealed as most vulnerable compared to ER and BA networks. </LI> </UL> </P>

Aβ-Induced Drp1 phosphorylation through Akt activation promotes excessive mitochondrial fission leading to neuronal apoptosis

Kim, D.I.,Lee, K.H.,Gabr, A.A.,Choi, G.E.,Kim, J.S.,Ko, S.H.,Han, H.J. Elsevier Biomedical Press 2016 Biochimica et biophysica acta, Molecular cell rese Vol.1863 No.11

Mitochondrial dysfunction is known as one of causative factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD), inducing neuronal cell death. Mitochondria regulate their functions through changing their morphology. The present work was undertaken to investigate whether Amyloid β (Aβ) affects mitochondrial morphology in neuronal cells to induce apoptosis. Aβ treatment induced not only the fragmentation of mitochondria but also neuronal apoptosis in association with an increase in caspase-9 and -3 activity. Calcium influx induced by Aβ up-regulated the activation of Akt through CaMKII resulting in changes to the phosphorylation level of Drp1 in a time-dependent manner. Translocation of Drp1 from the cytosol to mitochondria was blocked by CB-124005 (an Akt inhibitor). Recruitment of Drp1 to mitochondria led to ROS generation and mitochondrial fission, accompanied by dysfunction of mitochondria such as loss of membrane potential and ATP production. ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction by Aβ were attenuated when treated with Mdivi-1, a selective Drp1 inhibitor. Furthermore, the sustained Akt activation induced not only the fragmentation of mitochondria but also the activation of mTOR, eventually suppressing autophagy. Inhibition of autophagic clearance of Aβ led to increased ROS levels and aggravating mitochondrial defects, which were blocked by Rapamycin (an mTOR inhibitor). In conclusion, sustained phosphorylation of Akt by Aβ directly activates Drp1 and inhibits autophagy through the mTOR pathway. Together, these changes elicit abundant mitochondrial fragmentation resulting in ROS-mediated neuronal apoptosis.

OGLE-2017-BLG-1049: ANOTHER GIANT PLANET MICROLENSING EVENT

Kim, Yun Hak,Chung, Sun-Ju,Udalski, A.,Bond, Ian A.,Jung, Youn Kil,Gould, Andrew,Albrow, Michael D.,Han, Cheongho,Hwang, Kyu-Ha,Ryu, Yoon-Hyun,Shin, In-Gu,Shvartzvald, Yossi,Yee, Jennifer C.,Zang, Wei The Korean Astronomical Society 2020 Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society Vol.53 No.6

We report the discovery of a giant exoplanet in the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-1049, with a planet-host star mass ratio of q = 9.53 ± 0.39 × 10-3 and a caustic crossing feature in Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) observations. The caustic crossing feature yields an angular Einstein radius of θE = 0.52 ± 0.11 mas. However, the microlens parallax is not measured because the time scale of the event, tE ≃ 29 days, is too short. Thus, we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate physical quantities of the lens system. We find that the lens system has a star with mass Mh = 0.55+0.36-0.29 M⊙ hosting a giant planet with Mp = 5.53+3.62-2.87 MJup, at a distance of DL = 5.67+1.11-1.52 kpc. The projected star-planet separation is a⊥ = 3.92+1.10-1.32 au. This means that the planet is located beyond the snow line of the host. The relative lens-source proper motion is μrel ~ 7 mas yr-1, thus the lens and source will be separated from each other within 10 years. After this, it will be possible to measure the flux of the host star with 30 meter class telescopes and to determine its mass.

A new compound, 1H,8H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1,8-dione, suppresses airway epithelial cell inflammatory responses in a murine model of asthma.

Lee, H,Han, A R,Kim, Y,Choi, S H,Ko, E,Lee, N Y,Jeong, J H,Kim, S H,Bae, H Biomedical Research Press 2009 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOPATHOLOGY AND PHARM Vol.22 No.3

<P>Clinical and experimental studies have established eosinophilia as a sign of allergic disorders. Activation of eosinophils in the airways is believed to cause epithelial tissue injury, contraction of airway smooth muscle and increased bronchial responsiveness. As part of the search for new antiasthmatic agents produced by medicinal plants, the effects of 270 standardized medicinal plant extracts on cytokine-activated A549 human lung epithelial cells were evaluated. After several rounds of activity-guided screening, the new natural compound, 1H,8H-Pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1,8-dione (PPY), was isolated from Vitex rotundifolia L. To elucidate the mechanism by which the anti-asthmatic responses of PPY occurred in vitro, lung epithelial cells (A549 cell) were stimulated with TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-1beta to induce the expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. PPY treatments reduced the expression of eotaxin, IL-8, IL-16 and VCAM-1 mRNA significantly. Additionally, PPY reduced eotaxin secretion in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited eosinophil migration toward A549 medium. In addition, PPY treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of p65 and ERK1/2, suggesting that it can inhibit the MAPK/NF-KB pathway. To clarify the anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic effects of PPY in vivo, we examined the influence of PPY on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of asthma. To accomplish this, mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and then examined for the following typical asthmatic reactions: an increase in the number of eosinophils in BALF; the presence of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in the BALF; the presence of allergen-specific IgE in the serum; and a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung. Taken together, our results revealed that PPY exerts profound inhibitory effects on the accumulation of eosinophils into the airways while reducing the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the BALF. Therefore, these results suggest that PPY may be useful as a new therapeutic drug for the treatment of allergic asthma.</P>