Genetic Association Study of the Alpha 7 Nicotinic Receptor (CHRNA7) with the Development of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in Korean Population

EunJeong Joo,KyuYoung Lee,HyunSook Kim,SeHyun Kim,YongMin Ahn,YongSik Kim 대한신경정신의학회 2010 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.7 No.3

Objective-CHRNA7 has been shown to be a strong candidate gene for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is located on chromosome 15q13-q14, which is one of the replicated linkage spots for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Methods-We conducted an association study to determine whether previous positive association is replicable in the Korean population. We included 254 patients with schizophrenia, 193 patients with bipolar disorder type I, 38 patients with bipolar disorder type II, 64 schizoaffective disorder patients, and 349 controls. All subjects were ethnically Korean. A total of 898 subjects were included, and genotyping was done for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHRNA7. These three intronic SNPs were rs2337506 (A/G), rs6494223 (C/T), and rs12916879 (A/G). Results-There was only one marginally significant association; this association was between rs12916879 and bipolar disorder type I in the male subgroup. In both the allele and genotype distributions, we found a weak signal (Chi-squared=3.57, df=1, p=0.06 for allele, Chi-squared=7.50, df=2, p=0.02 for genotype) only. Unphased haplotype analysis could not provide additional support for this finding. No SNP was associated with schizophrenia or any other affected groups in this Korean sample. The associative finding is marginal and inconclusive. Conclusion-We could not replicate positive association in other ethnic groups previously studied. This suggests possible heterogeneity in the genes associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Because of structural complexity of the CHRNA7 gene and the limited statistical power of this study, further genetic studies with more SNPs and larger samples covering various populations, along with more fine molecular exploration of the CHRNA7 gene structure, are required.

A Preliminary Analysis of a Polymorphism in DTNBP1 for Schizophrenia: No Support for an Association

EunJeong Joo,KyuYoung Lee,SeongHoon Jeong,YongMin Ahn,YoungJin Koo,YongSik Kim 대한신경정신의학회 2005 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.2 No.2

We tried to replicate the previously reported positive association between Dystrobrevin bindang protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) and schizophrenia. Our sample included 241 patients with schizophrenia based on DSM-IV and 194 normal controls. The patient and control groups were matched for their gender proportion and all the subjects were ethnically Koreans. We genotyped P1635 A/G polymorphism (rs3213207) of DTNBP1. We could not find association with DTNBP1 and schizophrenia in this Korean sample. Additional analysis for the subgroup of schizophrenia having familial loading of major psychiatric disorders did not show association, either. In summary, DTNBP1 is less likely to be a major susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in this Korean population. Further studies with more Single nudeotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the whole gene sequence including the promoters will be necessary to understand the genetic contribution of DTNBP1 for the development of schizophrenia in Koreans.

Deproteinization with ZnSO4–Ba(OH)2 reduces the photodegradation of montelukast during plasma sample preparation for HPLC analysis

Shin, Eunjeong,Oh, Ju-Hee,Lee, Joo Hyun,Lee, Young-Joo Marcel Dekker 2016 JOURNAL OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY AND RELATED TECHN Vol.39 No.11

<P>Montelukast (MKT), a leukotriene receptor antagonist, degrades when it is exposed to light. The analysis of MKT content in blood plasma by high-pressure liquid chromatography requires several sample preparation steps including deproteinization. This study aimed to evaluate MKT photodegradation in blood plasma samples and optimize a deproteinization method to reduce MKT photodegradation, and thereby improve analytical quality. We evaluated the stability of MKT in water and plasma in real time using high-pressure liquid chromatography and optimized a sample deproteinization procedure by comparing the effectiveness of several deproteinization methods. When exposed to light, MKT photodegraded quickly. Although MKT photodegradation was slightly slower than that in water, a half portion (55%) of the MKT in plasma degraded within 2h when exposed to light. The rate of MKT photodegradation was dramatically reduced by sample deproteinization using ZnSO4-Ba(OH)(2), but it was accelerated by deproteinization through precipitation using methanol or acetonitrile. These results suggest that precautions should be taken when preparing plasma samples for the analysis of MKT, and that deproteinization of such samples using ZnSO4-Ba(OH)(2) can reduce the risk of analytical error arising from MKT photodegradation. [GRAPHICS] .</P>

쇼그렌 증후군에 동반된 원위신세관산증 2예

( Eunjeong Kang ),( Seokwoo Park ),( Sehoon Park ),( Hajeong Lee ),( Kwon Wook Joo ),( Jin Suk Han ) 대한내과학회 2015 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2015 No.1

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a syndrome characterized by hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and an inability to excrete a highly acid urine, in which impairment of acid excretion is out of proportion to reduction of glomerular filtration rate. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is frequently associated with immune-mediated disease including Sjigren’s syndrome. Sjigren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands such as lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in xerophtalmia and xerostomia. Extrglandular manifestations are frequent and may include renal involvement. Recently, we experienced two cases of renal tubular acidosis in Sjigren’s syndrome. The 1st case was a patient who had lower extremities weakness and hypokalemia, and the 2nd case was a patient who had nephrocalcinosis. We discussed the frequencies and the pathogenesis of dRTA in Sjigren’s syndrome. Keywords: Sjigren’s syndrome; Distal renal tubular acidosis; Hypokalemia; Nephrocalcinosis

Sex-specific Relationship of Serum Uric Acid with All-cause Mortality in Adults with Normal Kidney Function: An Observational Study

Kang, Eunjeong,Hwang, Seung-sik,Kim, Dong Ki,Oh, Kook-Hwan,Joo, Kwon Wook,Kim, Yon Su,Lee, Hajeong The Journal of Rheumatology 2017 The Journal of rheumatology Vol.44 No.3

<B>Objective.</B><P>To explain the clinical effect of serum uric acid (SUA) levels as a risk factor for mortality, considering exclusion of kidney function.</P><B>Methods.</B><P>Participants aged over 40 years who underwent health checkups were recruited. Individuals with estimated glomerular filtrations rates < 60 ml/min/1.73 m<SUP>2</SUP> and who received laboratory study and colonoscopy on the same day were excluded.</P><B>Results.</B><P>SUA levels were higher in men than in women (5.7 ± 1.2 mg/dl for men and 4.2 ± 0.9 mg/dl for women, p < 0.001). During 12.3 ± 3.6 years of followup, 1402 deaths occurred among 27,490 participants. About 6.9% of men and 3.1% of women died. The overall mortality rate had a U-shaped association with SUA levels, a U-shaped association in men, and no association in women. There was a significant interaction of sex for the SUA-mortality association (p for interaction = 0.049); therefore, survival analysis was conducted by sex. In men, the lower SUA group had a higher mortality rate after adjustment (SUA ≤ 4.0 mg/dl, adjusted HR 1.413, 95% CI 1.158-1.724, p = 0.001) compared with the reference group (SUA 4.1-6.0 mg/dl). A higher SUA contributed to an insignificant increased mortality in men (> 8.0 mg/dl, adjusted HR 1.140, 95% CI 0.794-1.636, p = 0.479). Women failed to show any significant association between SUA and mortality.</P><B>Conclusion.</B><P>This study provided novel evidence that SUA-mortality association differed by sex. We demonstrated that a lower SUA was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in men with normal kidney function.</P>

쇼그렌증후군에 동반된 원위신세관산증 2예

강은정 ( Eunjeong Kang ),박석우 ( Seokwoo Park ),박세훈 ( Sehoon Park ),이하정 ( Hajeong Lee ),이은영 ( Eun Young Lee ),한진석 ( Jin Suk Han ),주권욱 ( Kwon Wook Joo ) 대한내과학회 2016 대한내과학회지 Vol.90 No.3

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a syndrome characterized by hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and an inability to excrete highly acid urine, in which the impaired acid excretion is disproportional to the reduction in the glomerular filtration rate. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is frequently associated with immune-mediated disease, including Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects exocrine glands, such as the lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in xerophthalmia and xerostomia. Extraglandular manifestations are frequent and may include renal involvement. Recently, we experienced two cases of renal tubular acidosis in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome. The first patient had lower extremity weakness and hypokalemia and the second had nephrocalcinosis. We discuss the frequency and pathogenesis of dRTA in Sjogren’s syndrome. (Korean J Med 2016;90:248-252)

Contrast Induced Nephropathy after Outpatient Computed Tomography Examinations

( Sehoon Park ),( Eunjeong Kang ),( Hajeong Lee ),( Kwon Wook Joo ),( Yon Su Kim ),( Dong Ki Kim ) 대한내과학회 2015 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2015 No.1

Background: Most studies regarding contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) were done in angiography era. However computed tomography (CT) is more common cause of contrast exposure in general populaton. There were few prognosis data concerning CIN after outpatient CT. Methods: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 underwent outpatient CIN prophylaxis program for contrast CT from 2008 to 2014 in Seoul National University Hospital. Patients received intravenous isotonic saline and oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Baseline blood sample was done within 2 weeks before CT. Basic data was colleted retrospectively by medical chart review. Prognosis was surveyed from death registry of National Statics Korea and dialysis registry of The Korean Society of Nephrology. CIN was defined by ≥0.5 mg/dl or ≥25% increase of serum creatinine (sCr) from baseline within 48-96 hours after CT. Primary outcome was event of renal replacement therapy (RRT), duration from CT to RRT and survival period after CT. Results: 12,179 cases of CT were performed with CIN prophylaxis protocol and 2816 cases of CT had baseline eGFR <60 without RRT history and follow up sCr 48-96 hours after CT. 84 (3%) cases of CIN were found and 99 (3.5%) cases went RRT, 551 death reported after CT. Prognosis was analyzed after adjustment with age, sex, baseline eGFR, history of diabetes and hypertension. No statisticalsignificant relationship between death, RRT incidence, doubling of sCr and CIN was shown. However, we found shorter period from CT to RRT in CIN cases. This relationship disappeared when analysis was done excluding RRT start within 6 months. Conclusions: Incidence of CIN was low after outpatient CT with appropriate prophylaxis measures. CIN was not a significant risk factor of long term mortality or renal function aggravation. CIN was only a risk factor for acute period start of RRT.

감각정보의 기억형성과정에 대한 교육신경학적 해석과 적용

이은정 ( Lee¸ Eunjeong ),조주연 ( Cho¸ Joo-yun ) 한국초등교육학회 2021 초등교육연구 Vol.34 No.3

Educational activities begin by inducing learners to produce meaningful sensory information. The performance of educational activities can also vary widely depending on long-term memories formed by such sensory information in the nervous systems of learners. In this sense, the memory formation processes of sensory information are closely related to how much the learner has achieved their educational activity goals. Educational activities can be viewed as intentional activities that bring about meaningful educational change to the nervous systems of learners. Therefore, importance needs to be placed on how memory formation processes of sensory information take place in the nervous systems of learners in the planning, preparation, progress, and verification of educational activities. Thus, this study attempted to make educational neurological interpretations and present examples of application based on a neuroscientific understanding of the memory formation processes of sensory information. Sensory information is generated through integrated aspects based on interactions between the parallel processing and hierarchical processing of our body's nervous systems through the excitement and inhibition of individual neurons regarding sensory stimuli. Also, the memory formation processes of sensory information generated this way are achieved through changes that continue to occur for long periods of time as aspects of mutual interaction among neuron groups and brain domains integrate based on changes that strengthen or weaken synaptic connection strength among neurons. Based on such neuroscientific understanding, this study categorizes the memory formation process types of sensory information into explicit memory formation processes and implicit memory formation processes that take place based on the activities of respectively different neural circuits and it conducted educational neurological interpretations by understanding memory formation principles of sensory information as principles of competition for efficient choices and principles of integration based on interaction. Also, it presents educational implications of educational neurological interpretations along with examples of application and proposed the need for new research on the expansion of educational research horizons.

100bar급 담수화용 고압 해수펌프 개발

이봉주(Bong-joo Lee),임사우(Sau Lim),조현욱(Hyeonwook Jo),이은정(Eunjeong Lee),한민섭(Minsub Han) 한국유체기계학회 2020 한국유체기계학회 논문집 Vol.23 No.4

교육신경학에 기초한 창의성의 재개념화

조주연 ( Cho¸ Joo-yun ),이은정 ( Lee¸ Eunjeong ) 한국초등교육학회 2021 초등교육연구 Vol.34 No.4

Although creativity is regarded as one of the main, ultimate pursuits of school education, it is rather hard to understand or define the concept of creativity consistently due to the complexity of creativity itself. The complexity that creativity is equipped with is associated with the fact that the revelation of creativity is grounded on the complex operation of the nervous system in our body including the brain. Therefore, it is needed to explore the complexity of creativity considering not only general understanding that has been carried out so far on creativity from various perspectives but also neuroscientific understanding over creativity importantly. Particularly, the perspective of the Educational Neurology that reinterprets the results of neuroscientific research in the position of pedagogy and pursues the theories of education and practical development can provide crucial implications for school education to enhance creativity. Accordingly, this study has reexamined creativity from the perspective of the Educational Neurology and reconceptualized creativity as ‘tendencies or skills allowing learners to reorganize their neural network in different types than existing connections and provide useful ideas and results newly’. Based on that, this study has discussed educational implications that can contribute to figuring out the complexity of creativity and exploring the directions and principles of education to improve creativity. Such reconceptualization based on the Educational Neurology is intended to reexamine the possibility of discussing creativity meaningfully based on the operation of a learner’s nervous system including the brain.