Research Articles : Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Muscle-Specific Lipase from the Bumblebee Bombus ignitus

( Zhi Gang Hu ),( Dong Wang ),( Wei Lu ),( Zheng Cui ),( Jing Ming Jia ),( Hyung Joo Yoon ),( Hung Dae Sohn ),( Doh Hoon Kim ),( Byung Rae Jin ) 한국잠사학회 2008 International Journal of Industrial Entomology Vol.17 No.1

A muscle-specific lipase gene of the bumblebee Bombus ignitus was cloned and characterized. This gene, which we named Bi-Lipase, consists of seven exons encoding 317 amino acid residues. Bi-Lipase possesses all the features of lipases, including GXSXG consensus motif and Ser-Asp-His catalytic triad. Expressed as a 37-kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells, recombinant Bi-Lipase showed an optimal pH of 9.0 and exhibited its highest catalytic activity at 40℃. Furthermore, through the addition of tunicamycin to the recombinant virus-infected Sf9 cells, recombinant Bi-Lipase was found to be N-glycosylated. Northern and western blot analyses indicated that Bi-Lipase was expressed in the wing, thorax, and leg muscles. These results show that Bi-Lipase is a muscle-specific lipase, suggesting a possible role of Bi-Lipase in the utilization of lipids for muscular activity in B. ignitus.

MiR-221 promotes trastuzumab-resistance and metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancers by targeting PTEN?

( Xing Ming Ye ),( Wen Dong Bai ),( Hua Yu Zhu ),( Xiao Zhang ),( Ying Chen ),( Lei Wang ),( An Gang Yang ),( Jing Zh Ao ),( Lin Tao Jia ) 생화학분자생물학회 2014 BMB Reports Vol.47 No.5

HER2-overexpressing breast cancers are characterized byfrequent distant metastasis and often develop resistance aftershort-term effective treatment with the monoclonal antibodydrug, trastuzumab. Here, we found that the oncogenic miRNA,miR-221, inhibited apoptosis, induced trastuzumab resistanceand promoted metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers. Thetumor suppressor PTEN was identified as a miR-221 target;overexpression of PTEN abrogated the aforementionedmiR-221-induced malignant phenotypes of the cells. Thesefindings indicate that miR-221 may promote trastuzumabresistance and metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers bytargeting PTEN, suggesting its role as a potential biomarker forprogression and poor prognosis, and as a novel target fortrastuzumab-combined treatment of breast cancers.[BMB Reports 2014; 47(5): 268-273]

Clinical Value of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2) in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Sun, Hong-Gang,Dong, Xue-Jun,Lu, Tao,Yang, Ming-Feng,Wang, Xing-Mu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new type of tumor biomarker, eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), in serum for the early diagnosis, confirmative diagnosis as well as assessment of treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 130 patients with NSCLC and 50 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in our hospital provided the observation and healthy control groups. An enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method was applied to determine serum eEF2 levels. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) levels in the observation group were assessed with an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: The median levels of eEF2 in the serum of NSCLC patients was found to be significantly higher than the healthy control group (p < 0.01) and it was markedly higher in stages III, IV than stages I, II (p < 0.05). eEF2 was higher with tumor size ${\geq}2$ cm than <2 cm (P< 0.01). Furthermore, two weeks after surgery patients showed a significant trend for eEF2 decrease (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) has certain clinical values for early diagnosis, verification, and prognosis as well as classification of lung cancer patients.

Two groups of S-Layer proteins, SLP1s and SLP2s, in Bacillus thuringiensis co-exist in the S-Layer and in parasporal inclusions

( Zhou Zhou ),( Dong Hai Peng ),( Jin Shui Zheng ),( Gang Guo ),( Long Jun Tian ),( Zi Niu Yu ),( Ming Sun ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2011 BMB Reports Vol.44 No.5

We screened four B. thuringiensis strains whose parasporal inclusions contained the S-layer protein (SLP), and cloned two slp genes from each strain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated these SLPs could be divided into two groups, SLP1s and SLP2s. To confirm whether SLPs were present in the S-layer or as a parasporal inclusion, strains CTC and BMB1152 were chosen for further study. Western blots with isolated S-layer proteins from strains CTC and BMB1152 in the vegetative phase showed that SLP1s and SLP2s were constituents of the S-layer. Immunofluorescence utilizing spore-inclusion mixtures of strains CTC and BMB1152 in the sporulation phase showed that SLP1s and SLP2s were also constituents of parasporal inclusions. When heterogeneously expressed in the crystal negative strain BMB171, four SLPs from strains CTC and BMB1152 could also form parasporal inclusions. This temporal and spatial expression is not an occasional phenomenon but ubiquitous in B. thuringiensis strains. [BMB reports 2011; 44(5): 323-328]

Simple PSO Algorithm with Opposition-based Learning Average Elite Strategy

Bing AI,Ming-Gang DONG,Chuan-Xian JANG 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.9 No.6

Due to the slow convergent speed of particle and easily get trapped in the local optima, a novel simple PSO algorithm with opposition-based learning average elite strategy is proposed. In this algorithm, a particle updating formula of the simplified swarm optimization (sPSO) algorithm is adopted. Moreover, the opposition-based learning elite strategy and Gaussian disturbance are exerted on the personal best particles and then replace personal best particle of sPSO with the average of elite opposite solutions with Gaussian disturbance of personal best particles. The adjustment of inertia weight is based on setting a threshold and then the inertia weight selects each mode adaptively according to its current state. A set of experimental results on benchmark functions demonstrate that the proposed PSO algorithm is an effective and efficient approach for optimization problems. Furthermore, the T-test analysis shows that the proposed algorithm is able to achieve better results.

정신분열병 환각의 횡문화적 연구 : 상해와 서울의 비교 A Transcultural Study

金光日,長良棟,陸明康,朴康奎,朴容千,金大虎 大韓神經精神醫學會 2001 신경정신의학 Vol.40 No.5

연구목적 : 정신분열병의 환각이 문화사회의 특성에 따라 어떤 차이가 나는지를 확인하고 그 의미를 문화정신의 학적 견지에서 고찰해보고자 이 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : Shanghai와 서울의 정신분열병 환자를 대상으로 환각의 형태, 내용, 주제 등에 관한 비교문화적인 조사연구를 하였다. Shanghai Mental Health Center, 국립서울정신병원, 한양대학교병원에 입원하고 있는 환자중 DSM-Ⅳ 진단기준으로 정신분열병의 진단이 확정된 환자 가운데 입원한지 1개월에서 6개월 이내인 환자를 대상으로 사전에 성별, 연령, 교육연한, 발병기간 임상아형, 등 5개 변인을 통제하여 조사대상을 선정하였다. 조사대상이 된 환자는 396명(Shanghai 182명, 서울 214명)이었다. 이중 환각이 확인된 환자 231명(Shanghai101명, 서울 130명)을 최종 연구대상으로 하였다. 결 과 : 환각의 형태에서는 양 집단 차이가 없었으나 환각의 내용이 양 집단에서 차이를 보였다. 즉 Shanghai에서는 정치적인 내용이, 서울에서는 초자연적/종교적 내용이 많았다. 결 론 : 환각의 주제나 내용은 망상과 긴밀하게 연관이 되어 있다는 점, 그리고 사회문화적 상황의 영향을 다분히 받고 있음을 알 수 있었다. Objective : The types, contents and major themes of schizophrenic hallucinations in Shanghai and Seoul were compared for evaluating cultural differences and connotation. Methods : Among the schizophrenic inpatients of Shanghai Mental Health Center in Shanghai and National Seoul Mental Hospital and Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, 396 cases(182 cases in Shanghai, 214 cases in Seoul) were selected by two ways: a) five staged stratified random sampling of sex, age, education, clinical subtype and onset year, b) cases who have admitted for one to six months in their last admission. Among them, 231 cases(55.39% in Shanghai, 60.83% in Seoul) confirmed to have hallucinations were the final subjects of study. Results : Frequencies in types of hallucination were not different between the two groups. However, contents and major themes were different: Political themes and related contents were dominant in Shanghai cases, and supernatural and religious themes and related contents were dominant in Seoul cases. Conclusion : It was concluded that contents and themes of hallucinations were closely related to the delusional contents and themes, and such patterns were considerably influenced by so-ciocultural characteristics.

A Novel Bi-directional Promoter Cloned from Melon and Its Activity in Cucumber and Tobacco

( Cui Yan Wang ),( Dong Feng Ding ),( Rui Xiang Yan ),( Xiao Ju Yu ),( Wei Dong Li ),( Ming Gang Li ) 한국식물학회 2008 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.51 No.2

A bi-directional promoter, DP, was cloned by PCR amplification using the genomic DNA of melon as template. Analysis of its cis-acting elements in both directions revealed a series of inducible regulatory elements and some enhancer elements. To evaluate its transcriptional activity, DP in both directions was then cloned into vector pBI121 to replace the CaMV 35S promoter. DP in both directions also was inserted downstream of CaMV 35S to investigate whether the double promoter might affect expression of the uidA reporter gene at higher levels. Transient expression in cucumber leaves, stems, and fruits as well as in tobacco leaves and stems showed that DP in both directions drove transcription to much higher levels than did the single promoter CaMV 35S. However, activity of the double promoter was lower than the corresponding activity of the single promoter DP in both directions. These results demonstrate that DP is a natural bi-directional promoter, with much more activity than is found with the CaMV 35S promoter. Furthermore, in cucumber and tobacco, it is not suitable to insert DP in either direction downstream of the CaMV 35S promoter to form a double promoter.

HFC-134a 하이드레이트의 형성속도에 관한 연구 : stirring speed, driving force 조건에 따라

신형준(Shin, Hyung-Joon),문동현(Moon, Dong-Hyun),석민광(Seok, Ming-Wang),이강우(Lee, Gang-Woo) 한국신재생에너지학회 2009 한국신재생에너지학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2009 No.11

지구온난화는 범지구적 환경문제로 매우 빠른 속도로 진행되면서 그 심각성을 더해가고 있다. 특히 해수면 상승이나 대형 태풍, 홍수, 가뭄 등의 이상기후가 빈번하게 발생되며 생태계에도 심각한 타격을 주고 있다. 이러한 지구온난화를 유발하는 물질들에 대해 도쿄의정서(Annex A)에 6대 온실가스(CO₂ (이산화탄소), 메탄(CH₄), N₂O(아산화질소), PFC(불화탄소), HFC(수소화불화탄소), SF₆(육불화황))로 정의 하여 규제대상으로 분류하고 있다. CO₂를 제외한 Non-CO₂ 온실가스들은 배출량이 CO₂에 비해 매우 낮지만 GWP(지구온난화지수)가 매우 커 지구온난화에 미치는 영향이 상당하다. 최근 이산화탄소 이외에 지구온난화 문제를 일으키는 온실가스에 대한 많은 관심으로 대상가스의 처리 또는 재활용을 위한 신기술 및 신공정 개발에 박차를 가하고 있다. 온실가스 중 HFCs는 GWP가 1300으로 미량의 배출로도 심각한 기후변화를 일으킬 수 있는 물질로, 우리나라의 경우 1990년 이후 HFCs 배출량 증가율은 연 평균 4.9% ~ 13.8%이다. 국내외 온실가스 처리기술은 대부분 co₂에 대한 연구개발 및 실증화가 지배적이고, non-co₂에 대한 처리기술 개발수준은 미흡할 뿐만 아니라 본 연구 대상인 HFCs 의 경우에는 처리기술 연구개발이 전무하다. 특히 HFCs는 냉매 또는 발포제로 사용되는데 일반적으로 사용 후 특별한 처리과정 없이 대기중으로 배출된다. 본 연구에서는 non-co₂ 가스인 HFC-134a 를 대상으로 혼합가스에서 분리 회수를 위해 하이드레이트 기술을 접목시켜 경제적, 친환경적인 기술개발을 목적으로 한다. kinetic 반응장치와 고압반응기 및 magnetic drive system 을 이용하여 stirring speed와 driving force에 따른 HFC-134a 하이드레이트 형성속도의 상관관계를 제시하고자 한다.

Comparison of Gadobenate Dimeglumine and Gadopentetate Dimeglumine for Breast MRI Screening: a Meta-analysis

Yang, Xiao-Ping,Han, Yue-Dong,Ye, Jian-Jun,Chen, Gang,Luo, Ying,Ma, Hong-Xia,Yu, Xue-Wen,Niu, Juan-Qin,Ren, Fang-Yuan,Guo, You-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: As a common and essential contrast medium at present, gadobenate dimeglumine has shown better performance than some other agents when applied to Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening (Breast MRI Screening). Nevertheless, reports on the diagnostic performance of these two mediums (gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine) are not completely consistent. Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine for Breast MRI Screening in patients suffering from breast cancer and to provide more convinced evidence to guide clinical practice in terms of appropriate contrast agents. Data Sources and Review Methods: Original articles in English and Chinese published before January 2013 were selected from available databases (The Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, Chinese Journal Full-text). The criteria for inclusion and exclusion were based on the standard for diagnosis tests. Meta-Disc software (Version 1.4) was used for data analysis. Then, the area under curve (AUC) of SROC and the spearman rank correlation of sensitivity against (1-specificity) were calculated. Results: Total of 17 researches involving 1934 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine were 0.99 (0.97, 1.00) and 0.93 (0.88, 1.00) respectively. The pooled specificity for these two contrast agents were 0.924 (0.902, 0.943) and 0.838 (0.817, 0.858) respectively, and the AUC of SROC curve were 0.9781 and 0.9215 respectively. Conclusions: Gadobenate dimeglumine can be regarded as a more effective and feasible contrast medium for Breast MRI Screening. At least 5% differences in diagnostic performance are usually considered as clinically relevant.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Fascioliasis in Yaks, Bos grunniens, from Three Counties of Gansu Province, China

Xiao-Xuan Zhang,Sheng-Yong Feng,Jian-Gang Ma,Wen-Bin Zheng,Ming-Yang Yin,Si-Yuan Qin,Dong-Hui Zhou,Quan Zhao,Xing-Quan Zhu 대한기생충학열대의학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.55 No.1