Aberrant ventral striatal responses during incentive processing in unmedicated patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Jung, W. H.,Kang, D.‐,H.,Han, J. Y.,Jang, J. H.,Gu, B.‐,M.,Choi, J.‐,S.,Jung, M. H.,Choi, C.‐,H.,Kwon, J. S. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol.123 No.5

<P>Jung WH, Kang D‐H, Han JY, Jang JH, Gu B‐M, Choi J‐S, Jung MH, Choi C‐H, Kwon JS. Aberrant ventral striatal responses during incentive processing in unmedicated patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder.</P><P><B>Objective: </B> Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by the dysfunction of control and reward mechanisms. However, only few neuroimaging studies of OCD have examined the reward processing. We examined the neural responses during incentive processing in OCD.</P><P><B>Method: </B> Twenty unmedicated patients with OCD and 20 age‐, sex‐, and IQ‐matched healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a modified monetary incentive delay task.</P><P><B>Results: </B> Compared with controls, patients with OCD showed increased ventral striatal activation in the no‐loss minus loss outcome contrast and a significant positive correlation between the ventral striatal activation and compulsion symptom severity. In addition, patients with OCD showed increased activations in the frontostriatal regions in the gain minus no‐gain outcomes contrast. During loss anticipation, patients with OCD showed less activations in the lateral prefrontal and inferior parietal cortices. However, during gain anticipation, patients with OCD and healthy controls did not differ in the ventral striatal activation.</P><P><B>Conclusion: </B> These findings provide neural evidence for altered incentive processing in unmedicated patients with OCD, suggesting an elevated sensitivity to negatively affect stimuli as well as dysfunction of the ventral striatum.</P>

Peroxiredoxin II promotes hepatic tumorigenesis through cooperation with Ras/Forkhead box M1 signaling pathway

Park, Y-H,Kim, S-U,Kwon, T-H,Kim, J-M,Song, I-S,Shin, H-J,Lee, B-K,Bang, D-H,Lee, S-J,Lee, D-S,Chang, K-T,Kim, B-Y,Yu, D-Y Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016 Oncogene Vol.35 No.27

<P>The current study was carried out to define the involvement of Peroxiredoxin (Prx) II in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying molecular mechanism(s). Expression and function of Prx II in HCC was determined using H-ras(G12V)-transformed HCC cells (H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells) and the tumor livers from H-ras(G12V)-transgenic (Tg) mice and HCC patients. Prx II was upregulated in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells and H-ras(G12V)-Tg mouse tumor livers, the expression pattern of which highly similar to that of forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1). Moreover, either knockdown of FoxM1 or site-directed mutagenesis of FoxM1-binding site of Prx II promoter significantly reduced Prx II levels in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells, indicating FoxM1 as a direct transcription factor of Prx II in HCC. Interestingly, the null mutation of Prx II markedly decreased the number and size of tumors in H-ras(G12V)-Tg livers. Consistent with this, knockdown of Prx II in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells reduced the expression of cyclin D1, cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and tumor formation in athymic nude mice, whereas overexpression of Prx II increased or aggravated the tumor phenotypes. Importantly, the expression of Prx II was correlated with that of FoxM1 in HCC patients. The activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of FoxM1 and cyclin D1 were highly dependent on Prx II in H-ras(G12V)-HCC cells and H-ras(G12V)-Tg livers. Prx II is FoxM1-dependently- expressed antioxidant in HCC and function as an enhancer of Ras(G12V) oncogenic potential in hepatic tumorigenesis through activation of ERK/FoxM1/cyclin D1 cascade.</P>

H-bridge 멀티-레벨 인버터의 파워Cell AVR에 관한 알고리즘

전재현(J.H.Jeon),윤홍민(H.M.Yun),김민극(M.K.KIM),이정표(J.P.Lee),장동제(D.J.Jang),나승호(S.H.Na),권봉현(B.H.Kwon) 전력전자학회 2005 전력전자학술대회 논문집 Vol.- No.-

본 논문은 멀티-레벨 H-bridge 인버터에서 입력전압 변동에 따른 AVR(Auto Voltage Regulation) 기능을 적용 그 타당성을 제안하였다. 기존의 범용 인버터에서 (V/F)로 구동되는 전동기 시스템에 있어서 인버터에 공급되는 입력 전압은 출력 주파수에 따라 출력 전압 비율을 일정하게 하고 기동에 필요한 전압을 더하여 출력하는 방식이다. 집중 제어 방식의 멀티-레벨 H-bridge 인버터에서는 Cell의 DC-Link 전압을 Master에서 받아들여서 각각의 Cell에 기준 전압값을 지령하게 된다. 그러므로 입력 전압 변동에 따른 DC-Link 전압의 변동이 발생하게 되면 상전압 Unbalance 가 발생하게 되어 부하가 원하는 출력 전압을 낼 수가 없게 된다. 또한 각각의 Cell을 제어하는 Master 제어기가 가지고 있는 문제점을 보완하여 각각의 Cell 제어기 스스로가 AVR을 수행하는 좀더 나은 방법을 제안하였다.

Effect of Crystallization Treatment on the Magnetic Properties of Amorphous Strips Based on Co-Fe-Ni-B-Si-Cr Containing Nitrogen

Cho H.J.,Kwon H.T.,Ryu H.H.,Sohn K.Y.,You B.S.,Park W.W. The Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute 2006 한국분말재료학회지 (KPMI) Vol.13 No.4

Co-Fe-Ni-B-Si-Cr based amorphous strips containing nitrogen were manufactured via melt spinning, and then devitrified by crystallization treatment at the various annealing temperatures of $300^{\circ}C{\sim}540^{\circ}C$ for up to 30 minutes in an inert gas $(N_2)$ atmosphere. The microstructures were examined by using XRD and TEM and the magnetic properties were measured by using VSM and B-H meter. Among the alloys, the amorphous ribbons of $Co_{72.6}Fe_{9.8}Ni_{5.5}B_{2.4}Si_{7.1}Cr_{2.6}$ containing 121 ppm of nitrogen showed relatively high saturation magnetization. The alloy ribbons crystallized at $540^{\circ}C$ showed that the grain size of $Co_{72.6}Fe_{9.8}Ni_{5.5}B_{2.4}Si_{7.1}Cr_{2.6}$ alloy containing 121 ppm of nitrogen was about f nm, which exhibited paramagnetic behavior. The formation of nano-grain structure was attributed to the finely dispersed Fe4N particles and the solid-solutionized nitrogen atoms in the matrix. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the nano-grain structure of 5nm in size could reduce the core loss within the normally applied magnetic field of 300A/m at 10kHz.

B-containing nanomaterial synthesis when a combustion wave moves within a packed bed of solid particles

Nersisyan, H.,Lee, T.H.,Yoo, B.U.,Kwon, S.C.,Suh, H.,Kim, J.G.,Lee, J.H. Elsevier [etc.] 2016 Combustion and Flame Vol.172 No.-

This study deals with combustion behavior of B<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/Mg/NH<SUB>4</SUB>Cl/C complex systems for the synthesis of amorphous boron (B), boron carbide (B<SUB>4</SUB>C), and boron nitride (BN) nanostructures. The raw mixtures used in the experiments were prepared on the base of a B<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>-Mg precursor mixture, which is sufficiently exothermic to maintain a self-propagating regime of the combustion reaction. Thermodynamic analysis of the combustion temperatures and experimental validation indicate that the 1000-1500<SUP>o</SUP>C temperature range is very effective for synthesizing the nanostructures of B, B<SUB>4</SUB>C, and BN. It was found that B-containing functional nanostructures are mainly spherical nanoparticles (B) or nanosheets (B<SUB>4</SUB>C, BN). The phase composition and microstructural characteristics of the final products were evaluated based on the combustion temperature and solid/liquid phase changes.

Solanum nigrum produces nitric oxide via nuclear factor-&kgr;B activation in mouse peritoneal macrophages

An, H-J,Kwon, K-B,Cho, H-I,Seo, E-A,Ryu, D-G,Hwang, W-J,Yoo, S-J,Kim, Y-K,Hong, S-H,Kim, H-M Lippincott Williams Wilkins, Inc. 2005 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER PREVENTION Vol.14 No.4

Nitric oxide (NO) is an antitumour molecule produced in activated macrophages and Solanum nigrum is a plant used in oriental medicine to treat tumours. In this study using mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have examined the mechanism by which Solanum nigrum regulates NO production. When Solanum nigrum was used in combination with 20 U/ml of recombinant interferon-&ggr; (rIFN-&ggr;), there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production. The increase in NO synthesis was reflected as an increased amount of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein. The production of NO from rIFN-&ggr; plus Solanum nigrum-stimulated peritoneal macrophages was decreased by treatment with N-monomethyl-L-arginine or N-tosyl-Phe chloromethyl ketone, an iNOS inhibitor. Additionally, the increased production of NO from rIFN-&ggr; plus Solanum nigrum-stimulated cells was almost completely inhibited by pretreatment with 100 μmol/l of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of nuclear factor &kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B). Furthermore, Solanum nigrum increased activation of NF-&kgr;B. These findings suggest that Solanum nigrum increases the production of NO by rIFN-&ggr;-primed macrophages and NF-&kgr;B plays a critical role in mediating these effects.

Genetic relationship of H3 subtype avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic ducks and wild birds in Korea and their pathogenic potential in chickens and ducks

Choi, J.G.,Kang, H.M.,Kim, M.C.,Paek, M.R.,Kim, H.R.,Kim, B.S.,Kwon, J.H.,Kim, J.H.,Lee, Y.J. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2012 Veterinary microbiology Vol.155 No.2

The H3 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the most frequently isolated subtypes in domestic ducks, live poultry markets, and wild birds in Korea. In 2002-2009, a total of 45 H3 subtype AIVs were isolated from the feces of clinically normal domestic ducks (n=28) and wild birds (n=17). The most prevalent subtypes in domestic ducks were H3N2 (35.7%), H3N6 (35.7%), H3N8 (25.0%), and H3N1 (3.6%, novel subtype in domestic duck in Korea). In contrast, H3N8 (70.6%) is the most prevalent subtype in wild birds in Korea. In the phylogenetic analysis, HA genes of the Korean H3 AIVs were divided into 3 groups (Korean duck, wild bird 1, and wild bird 2) and all viruses of duck origin except one were clustered in a single group. However, other genes showed extensive diversity and at least 17 genotypes were circulating in domestic ducks in Korea. When the analysis expanded to viruses of wild bird origin, the genetic diversity of Korean H3 AIVs became more complicated. Extensive reassortments may have occurred in H3 subtype influenza viruses in Korea. When we inoculated chickens and ducks with six selected viruses, some of the viruses replicated efficiently without pre-adaptation and shed a significant amount of viruses through oropharyngeal and cloacal routes. This raised concerns that H3 subtype AIV could be a new subtype in chickens in Korea. Continuous surveillance is needed to prepare the advent of a novel subtype AIV in Korea.

The inability of Bacillus licheniformis perR mutant to grow is mainly due to the lack of PerR-mediated fur repression

Kim, J. H.,Yang, Y. M.,Ji, C. J.,Ryu, S. H.,Won, Y. B.,Ju, S. Y.,Kwon, Y.,Lee, Y. E.,Youn, H.,Lee, J. W. MICROBIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF KOREA 2017 JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY -SEOUL- Vol. No.

<P>PerR, a member of Fur family protein, is a metal-dependent H2O2 sensing transcription factor that regulates genes involved in peroxide stress response. Industrially important bacterium Bacillus licheniformis contains three PerR-like proteins (PerR(BL), PerR2, and PerR3) compared to its close relative Bacillus subtilis. Interestingly, unlike other bacteria including B. subtilis, no authentic perR (BL) null mutant could be established for B. licheniformis. Thus, we constructed a conditional perR (BL) mutant using a xylose-inducible promoter, and investigated the genes under the control of PerR(BL). PerR(BL) regulon genes include katA, mrgA, ahpC, pfeT, hemA, fur, and perR as observed for PerR(BS). However, there is some variation in the expression levels of fur and hemA genes between B. subtilis and B. licheniformis in the derepressed state. Furthermore, katA, mrgA, and ahpC are strongly induced, whereas the others are only weakly or not induced by H2O2 treatment. In contrast to the B. subtilis perR null mutant which frequently gives rise to large colony phenotype mainly due to the loss of katA, the suppressors of B. licheniformis perR mutant, which can form colonies on LB agar, were all catalase-positive. Instead, many of the suppressors showed increased levels of siderophore production, suggesting that the suppressor mutation is linked to the fur gene. Consistent with this, perR fur double mutant could grow on LB agar without Fe supplementation, whereas perR katA double mutant could only grow on LB agar with Fe supplementation. Taken together, our data suggest that in B. licheniformis, despite the similarity in PerR(BL) and PerR(BS) regulon genes, perR is an essential gene required for growth and that the inability of perR null mutant to grow is mainly due to elevated expression of Fur.</P>

Evaluation of the zoonotic potential of a novel reassortant H1N2 swine influenza virus with gene constellation derived from multiple viral sources

Lee, J.H.,Pascua, P.N.Q.,Decano, A.G.,Kim, S.M.,Park, S.J.,Kwon, H.I.,Kim, E.H.,Kim, Y.I.,Kim, H.,Kim, S.Y.,Song, M.S.,Jang, H.K.,Park, B.K.,Choi, Y.K. Elsevier Science 2015 INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION Vol.34 No.-

In 2011-2012, contemporary North American-like H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) possessing the 2009 pandemic H1N1 matrix gene (H3N2pM-like virus) were detected in domestic pigs of South Korea where H1N2 SIV strains are endemic. More recently, we isolated novel reassortant H1N2 SIVs bearing the Eurasian avian-like swine H1-like hemagglutinin and Korean swine H1N2-like neuraminidase in the internal gene backbone of the H3N2pM-like virus. In the present study, we clearly provide evidence on the genetic origins of the novel H1N2 SIVs virus through genetic and phylogenetic analyses. In vitro studies demonstrated that, in comparison with a pre-existing 2012 Korean H1N2 SIV [A/swine/Korea/CY03-1½012 (CY03-1½012)], the 2013 novel reassortant H1N2 isolate [A/swine/Korea/CY0423/2013 (CY0423-12/2013)] replicated more efficiently in differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells. The CY0423-12/2013 virus induced higher viral titers than the CY03-1½012 virus in the lungs and nasal turbinates of infected mice and nasal wash samples of ferrets. Moreover, the 2013 H1N2 reassortant, but not the intact 2012 H1N2 virus, was transmissible to naive contact ferrets via respiratory-droplets. Noting that the viral precursors have the ability to infect humans, our findings highlight the potential threat of a novel reassortant H1N2 SIV to public health and underscore the need to further strengthen influenza surveillance strategies worldwide, including swine populations.

Efficacy of HVT-IBD vector vaccine compared to attenuated live vaccine using in-ovo vaccination against a Korean very virulent IBDV in commercial broiler chickens

Roh, J.-H.,Kang, M.,Wei, B.,Yoon, R.-H.,Seo, H.-S.,Bahng, J.-Y.,Kwon, J.-T.,Cha, S.-Y.,Jang, H.-K. Elsevier 2016 Poultry science Vol.95 No.5

<P>The production performance, efficacy, and safety of two types of vaccines for infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were compared with in-ovo vaccination of Cobb 500 broiler chickens for gross and microscopic examination of the bursa of Fabricius, bursa/body weight (b/B) ratio, flow cytometry, and serologic response to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccination. One vaccine was a recombinant HVT-IBD vector vaccine (HVT as for herpesvirus of turkeys) and the other was an intermediate plus live IBDV vaccine. A significant difference was detected at 21 d. Eight of 10 chickens that received the IBDV live vaccine had severe bursal lesions and a relatively low b/B ratio of 0.95, and an inhibited NDV vaccine response. On the other hand, the HVT-IBD vector vaccine resulted in mild bursal lesions and a b/B ratio of 1.89. Therefore, the live vaccine had lower safety than that of the HVT-IBD vector vaccine. To determine the protective efficacy, chickens were intraocularly challenged at 24 d. Eight of 10 chickens in the IBDV live vaccination group showed gross and histological lesions characterized by hemorrhage, cyst formation, lymphocytic depletion, and a decreased b/B ratio. In contrast, the HVT-IBD vector vaccinated chickens showed mild gross and histological lesions in three of 10 chickens with a b/B ratio of 1.36, which was similar to that of the unchallenged controls. Vaccinated chickens showed a significant increase in IBDV antibody titers, regardless of the type of vaccine used. In addition, significantly better broiler flock performance was observed with the HVT-IBD vector vaccine compared to that of the live vaccine. Our results revealed that the HVT-IBD vector vaccine could be used as an alternative vaccine to increase efficacy, and to have an improved safety profile compared with the IBDV live vaccine using in-ovo vaccination against the Korean very virulent IBDV in commercial broiler chickens.</P>