The improvement of ginsenoside accumulation in Panax ginseng as a result of γ-irradiation.

In this study, gamma rays were used to irradiate embryogenic calli induced from cotyledon explants of Panax ginseng Meyer. After the embryogenic calli were irradiated, they were transferred to adventitious roots using an induction medium; next, mutated adventitious root (MAR) lines with a high frequency of adventitious root formations were selected. Two MAR lines (MAR 5-2 and MAR 5-9) from the calli treated with 50 Gy of gamma rays were cultured on an NH4NO3-free Murashige and Skoog medium with indole-3-butyric acid 3 mg/L.

Transcriptome profiling in response to different types of ionizing radiation and identification of multiple radio marker genes in rice.

Ionizing radiation (IR) affects gene expression from plant genomes. To monitor the genome-wide transcriptional changes induced by three types of IR, we used the rice Affymetrix GeneChip microarray to identify genes that are up- or down-regulated by gamma rays (GAs), cosmic rays (CRs) and ion beams (IBs). The overall expression patterns in rice seedlings generated from seeds exposed to GAs and IBs were similar but differed for CRs exposure.

Distinct frequencies and mutation spectrums of genetic thrombophilia in Korea in comparison with other Asian countries both in patients with thromboembolism and in the general population.

Hereditary natural anticoagulant deficiencies are the major cause of genetic thrombophilia in Asia. Given the growing acknowledgment of the risk of venous thromboembolism in Asian populations, we investigated the frequency and mutation spectrums of natural anticoagulant deficiency in Korea. The group of patients consisted of consecutive patients with venous thromboembolism screened for thrombophilia.

Clinical significance of SF3B1 mutations in Korean patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and myelodysplasia/myeloproliferative neoplasms with ring sideroblasts.

Somatic mutations in the SF3B1 gene, a gene encoding the splicing factor 3B subunit 1, were recently reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in the presence of ring sideroblasts (RS). The authors investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of SF3B1 mutations in Korean patients with myeloid neoplasms with RS. The study subjects were 43 Korean patients with myeloid neoplasms.

Role of depressive symptoms and self-efficacy of medication adherence in Korean patients after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

This cross-sectional study sought to identify the prevalence of medication adherence and to explore the role of depression and self-efficacy on medication adherence among patients with coronary artery diseases. Participants were recruited among outpatients who successfully underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent at academic medical centres in Cheonan, South Korea. Medication adherence was evaluated by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale using a validated Korean version.

Amurensin G enhances the susceptibility to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated cytotoxicity of cancer stem-like cells of HCT-15 cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and play a significant role in cancer recurrence. Design of better treatment strategies that can eliminate or otherwise control CSC populations in tumors is necessary. In this study, the sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cytotoxicity and the effect of amurensin G, a novel sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor, were examined using the CSC-enriched fraction of HCT-15 human colon cancer cells.

Sequence variation data of F8 and F9 genes in functionally validated control individuals: implications on the molecular diagnosis of hemophilia.

Background: The F8 and F9 genes encode for coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and FIX, respectively, and mutations in these genes are the genetic basis of hemophilia A/B. To determine whether a sequence variation in F8/F9 is a disease-causing mutation, frequency data from a control population is needed. This study aimed to obtain data on sequence variation in F8/F9 in a set of functionally validated control chromosomes of Korean descent.

Low intraindividual variability of activated partial thromboplastin time revealed in a population of 10,487 control individuals.

The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is a routine coagulation test that reflects the activities of multiple coagulation proteins. Given the known genetic elements underlying the different coagulation factor activities, a low intraindividual variability is expected in aPTT values, but has not been demonstrated in a large population. In this regard, we evaluated the intraindividual variability of aPTT by analyzing serial aPTTs from a large population.

HIG2 promotes colorectal cancer progression via hypoxia-dependent and independent pathways.

HIG2 (hypoxia-inducible gene 2) is a biomarker of hypoxia and elevated in several cancers. Here, we show that HIG2 also upregulated HIF-1α expression under hypoxic conditions and enhanced AP-1 expression under normoxic conditions, which affects colorectal cancer cell survival. Importantly, over-expression of HIG2 promoted tumor growth by suppressing apoptosis in a mouse orthotopic model.

Accuracy of diagnostic methods and surveillance sensitivity for human enterovirus, South Korea, 1999-2011.

The epidemiology of enteroviral infection in South Korea during 1999-2011 chronicles nationwide outbreaks and changing detection and subtyping methods used over the 13-year period. Of 14,657 patients whose samples were tested, 4,762 (32.5%) samples were positive for human enterovirus (human EV); as diagnostic methods improved, the rate of positive results increased.

Decursin and Doxorubicin Are in Synergy for the Induction of Apoptosis via STAT3 and/or mTOR Pathways in Human Multiple Myeloma Cells.

Background. Combination cancer therapy is one of the attractive approaches to overcome drug resistance of cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the synergistic effect of decursin from Angelica gigas and doxorubicin on the induction of apoptosis in three human multiple myeloma cells.

Coercively adjusted auto regression model for forecasting in epilepsy EEG.

Recently, data with complex characteristics such as epilepsy electroencephalography (EEG) time series has emerged. Epilepsy EEG data has special characteristics including nonlinearity, nonnormality, and nonperiodicity. Therefore, it is important to find a suitable forecasting method that covers these special characteristics.

High-molecular-weight poly-gamma-glutamate protects against hypertriglyceridemic effects of a high-fructose diet in rat.

We studied the effects of 2 different dosages of highmolecular- weight poly-γ-glutamic acid (hm γ-PGA) derived from Bacillus subtilis chungkookjang on lipid metabolism in a high-fructose diet-induced hypertriglyceridemic animal model. For 4 weeks, rats were fed either AIN-93 diet (normal control, NC; n = 10) or modified AIN-93 diet in which cornstarch was substituted with 63% fructose (n = 30) to induce hypertriglyceridemia. After 4 weeks, the hypertriglyceridemic rats were treated with daily oral doses of 0 mg (hypertriglyceridemic control, HC), 2.

The identification of candidate radio marker genes using a coexpression network analysis in gamma-irradiated rice.

Plant physiological and biochemical processes are significantly affected by gamma irradiation stress. In addition, gamma-ray (GA) differentially affects gene expression across the whole genome. In this study, we identified radio marker genes (RMGs) responding only to GA stress compared with six abiotic stresses (chilling, cold, anoxia, heat, drought and salt) in rice.

All the commercially available adhesion barriers have the same effect on adhesion prophylaxis?; A comparison of barrier agents using a newly developed, severe intra-abdominal adhesion model.

Background: Various types of adhesion barriers are widely used to prevent intra-abdominal adhesion. However, few studies have compared the efficacy of adhesion barriers using the same animal model. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-adhesive effects of various barrier agents using a newly developed, severe adhesion model.

Air pollution and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in South Korea: an ecological correlation study.

Background: The effects of air pollution on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and the resulting impacts on public health, have been widely studied. However, little is known about the effect of air pollution on the occurrence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a rodent-borne infectious disease. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between air pollution and HFRS incidence from 2001 to 2010, and estimated the significance of the correlation under the effect of climate variables.

[Transcultural self-efficacy and educational needs for cultural competence in nursing of Korean nurses].

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the level of transcultural self-efficacy (TSE) and related factors and educational needs for cultural competence in nursing (CCN) of Korean hospital nurses.

Methods: A self-assessment instrument was used to measure TSE and educational needs for CCN. Questionnaires were completed by 285 nurses working in four Korean hospitals.

Ginkgetin induces apoptosis via activation of caspase and inhibition of survival genes in PC-3 prostate cancer cells.

Ginkgetin is a natural biflavonoid isolated from leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Though it was known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza virus, anti-fungal activity, osteoblast differentiation stimulating activity and neuro-protective effects, the underlying antitumor mechanism of ginkgetin still remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, anti-cancer mechanism of ginkgetin was elucidated in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Mild haemophilia B from a novel missense mutation Ser350Ala of the F9 gene.

Haemophilia B is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by mutations in the F9 gene on Xq27.1, which lead to deficient coagulation factor IX (FIX). The mild form of haemophilia B has been known to be underdiagnosed due to mild clinical symptoms and minimally prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time.

Clinical value of the first dedicated, commercially available automatic injector for ictal brain SPECT in presurgical evaluation of pediatric epilepsy: comparison with manual injection.

Unlabelled: The most challenging technical problem in ictal brain SPECT for localization of an epileptogenic focus is obtaining a timely injection of a radiopharmaceutical. In our institution, the first dedicated commercially available, remotely controlled automatic injector has been used in the pediatric epilepsy unit in conjunction with 24-h video and electroencephalogram monitoring. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the improved success rate of ictal injection by use of the automatic injector in the pediatric population.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in 39 Korean patients: a single institution experience.

Background: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) occur as late complications of cytotoxic therapy. This study reviewed clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of patients with t-MN at a single institution in Korea.

Methods: The study subjects included 39 consecutive patients diagnosed with t-MN.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Korean patients: frequent atypical immunophenotype and relatively aggressive clinical behavior.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a mature B-cell neoplasm characterized by the expansion of CD5-positive lymphocytes in peripheral blood. While CLL is the most common type of leukemia in Western populations, the disease is rare in Asians. Hence, clinical and laboratory data and studies of CLL in Asian populations have been limited.

Gene mutation profiles and prognostic implications in Korean patients with T-lymphoblastic leukemia.

Genetic alterations implicated in the leukemogenesis of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) have been identified in recent years. In this study, we investigated gene mutation profiles and prognostic implications in a series of Korean T-ALL patients. The study patients were 29 Korean patients with T-ALL; 13 adults (45 %) and 16 children (55 %; male-to-female ratio, 25:4).