Publications by authors named "Youn-Jung Choi"

Background/objectives: Chrysanthemum (), a key ornamental and medicinal plant, presents challenges in cultivar identification due to high phenotypic similarity and environmental influences. This study assessed the genetic diversity and discrimination of 126 spray-type chrysanthemum cultivars.

Methods: About twenty-three simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were screened for the discrimination of 126 cultivars, among which six SSR markers showed polymorphic fragments.

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Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) employs diverse mechanisms to subvert host immune responses, contributing to its infection and pathogenicity. As an immune evasion strategy, KSHV encodes the Membrane-Associated RING-CH (MARCH)-family E3 ligases, K3, and K5, which target and remove several immune regulators from the cell surface. In this study, we investigate the impact of K3 and K5 on lymphotoxin receptor (LTβR) ligands, LTβ and LIGHT, which are type II transmembrane proteins and function as pivotal immune mediators during virus infection.

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Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and long-term complications in bone health. Emerging clinical evidence demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces bone turnover and promotes bone loss, but the mechanism underlying worsened bone health remains elusive. This study sought to identify specific immune mediators that exacerbated preexisting IMIDs after SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

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Cryopreservation is a promising method for the long-term preservation of plant germplasm, especially for vegetatively propagated species like freesias. In this study, we investigate streamlining the cryopreservation process for 'Sunny Gold' Freesia, starting from effective in vitro initiation and proliferation using various plant growth regulator combinations. We also assess the impact of subculture on regrowth rates after cryopreservation.

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In the context of aging, the susceptibility to infectious diseases increases, leading to heightened morbidity and mortality. This phenomenon, termed immunosenescence, is characterized by dysregulation in the aging immune system, including abnormal alterations in lymphocyte composition, elevated basal inflammation, and the accumulation of senescent T cells. Such changes contribute to increased autoimmune diseases, enhanced infection severity, and reduced responsiveness to vaccines.

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Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) has emerged as a key player in cancer and diabetes since it targets thioredoxin (TRX)-mediated redox regulation and glucose transporter (GLUT)-mediated metabolism. TXNIP consists of two arrestin (ARR, N-ARR and C-ARR) domains at its amino-terminus and two PPxY (PY) motifs and a di-leucine (LL) motif for endocytosis at its carboxyl-terminus. Here, we report that TXNIP shuffles between TRX and GLUTs to regulate homeostasis of intracellular oxidative stress and glucose metabolism.

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Background: Many studies have reported the use of simethicone before colonoscopy removes bubbles. However, guidelines weakly recommend simethicone administration before colonoscopy. The present study aimed to confirm the advantages of taking simethicone and determine the appropriate time for taking simethicone.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lung mast cells play a key role in protecting the body but their overactivation can lead to chronic issues like asthma.
  • The study reveals that a lung-specific protein called MCEMP1 acts as an adaptor for the KIT protein, enhancing mast cell growth through its interaction with stem cell factor (SCF).
  • Mice lacking MCEMP1 show decreased mast cell growth and reduced inflammation in asthma models, highlighting its importance in lung mast cell proliferation and potential asthma treatment.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic pretreatment on the alteration and recovery of gut microbiota after bowel preparation and its correlation with minor complications. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial that included participants 40-65 years of age. Participants were randomly provided probiotics (active group) or placebo (placebo group) for 1 month before the colonoscopy and their feces collected.

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RIPK3-ZBP1-MLKL-mediated necroptosis is a proinflammatory cell death process that is crucial for antiviral host defence. RIPK3 self-oligomerization and autophosphorylation are prerequisites for executing necroptosis, yet the underlying mechanism of virus-induced RIPK3 activation remains elusive. Interferon-inducible 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase-like (OASL) protein is devoid of enzymatic function but displays potent antiviral activity.

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Spermidine is essential for cellular growth and acts as a prerequisite of hypusination, a post-translational modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), allowing the translation of polyproline-containing proteins. Here, we show that oncogenic Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) increases spermidine synthesis and eIF5A hypusination to enhance expression of polyproline-containing latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) for viral episomal maintenance. KSHV upregulates intracellular spermidine levels by dysregulating polyamine metabolic pathways in three-dimensional (3D) culture and 2D de novo infection conditions.

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Due to organ shortages, the reuse of transplanted organs may be a good option for potential organ recipients. However, reports on the reuse of transplanted organs are rare. We retrospectively investigated cases of kidney donation since 2000 using the Korean Network for Organ Sharing database.

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The shortage of donor organs has compelled transplant centers to use organs from non-standard donors. The Korean Network for Organ Sharing data showed that there were 5,804 potential recipients on the waiting list, and only 1,579 patients underwent liver transplant in 2019. Reuse of a graft that has been transplanted previously to other recipients could be an option in this situation.

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Background: A history of abdominal surgery is associated with difficulty in colonoscopy insertion. Few studies have reported effective colonoscopy insertion for patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to stomach cancer.

Aim: We aimed to compare the impact of supine position (SP) and left lateral position (LLP) as the starting position of colonoscopy insertion in patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to stomach cancer.

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Article Synopsis
  • Older adults (65+) have much higher COVID-19 mortality rates than younger people, despite similar seroprevalence rates across age groups.
  • In a study, ferrets of different ages infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed that older ferrets had higher viral loads, longer shedding periods, and more severe symptoms compared to younger ferrets.
  • Analysis of the lungs from aged ferrets revealed gene expression patterns similar to those found in severe COVID-19 patients, making them a valuable model for studying how the virus affects different age groups.
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Salt stress is a major constraint of crop productivity because it reduces yield and limits the expansion of agriculture. This study investigated salt tolerance in 26 cultivars of cut lilies ( hybrids) by examining the effect of salt stress on the growth and morphological characteristics of flowers and leaves and their physiological properties (chlorophyll a fluorescence). Salt stress significantly affected the growth and development of cut lilies.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection have been documented worldwide, raising questions about the effectiveness of natural immunity from prior infections.
  • A study using ferrets with varying levels of neutralizing antibody (NAb) titres after initial infection showed that those with high NAb titres experienced less viral replication and quicker clearance when reinfected.
  • The findings suggest that low NAb titres are connected to reinfection risk, with limited lung inflammation observed in ferrets with high NAb titres compared to those with low levels.
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Scent is one of the most important economic traits in . "Shiny Gold", a popular cultivar in South Korea, is widely cultivated for its scent. The relative scent intensity of "Shiny Gold" was approximately 16% higher in full-bloomed flower when compared to the yellow bud stage, while tissue-specifically, tepals showed higher intensity in electronic-nose (e-nose) analysis.

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Background/aims: Minor complications that might occur after colonoscopy, including abdominal discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, could a barrier for patients to undergo a screening colonoscopy. In this study, we aimed to identify the effect of gut microbial diversity and composition on minor complications after colonoscopy.

Methods: A total of 24 healthy subjects provided their stools before bowel preparation and on the 7th and 28th day after colonoscopy.

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NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) is a key regulatory protein that functions during NF-κB- and interferon-mediated signaling in response to extracellular stimuli and pathogen infections. Tight regulation of NEMO is essential for host innate immune responses and for maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we report that the E3 ligase MARCH2 is a novel negative regulator of NEMO-mediated signaling upon bacterial or viral infection.

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Background/aims: In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of etomidate with those of propofol or midazolam for the maintenance of sedation during endoscopy.

Methods: The study enrolled patients who underwent sedative endoscopy in our hospital and divided them into three groups. Patients in each group were administered midazolam as induction therapy and were subsequently administered either midazolam (M + M group), propofol (M + P group), or etomidate (M + E group) as maintenance medication.

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Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is well documented to regain intrinsic metabolic properties and to better mimic the in vivo situation than two-dimensional (2D) cell culture. Particularly, proline metabolism is critical for tumorigenesis since pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase (PYCR/P5CR) is highly expressed in various tumors and its enzymatic activity is essential for in vitro 3D tumor cell growth and in vivo tumorigenesis. PYCR converts the P5C intermediate to proline as a biosynthesis pathway, whereas proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) breaks down proline to P5C as a degradation pathway.

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Background/aims: Bleeding is one of the major complications of a colorectal polypectomy. The aim of this study was to identify the risk of delayed bleeding, particularly after a colorectal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) without prophylactic clipping.

Methods: Between April 2014 and August 2014, patients who underwent colorectal EMR (≥6 mm and <2 cm) without prophylactic clipping were included.

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In the version of this article initially published, the label (CASP4-CA-HA) above the second and fifth lanes in the right blot in Fig. 1e is incorrect; the correct label is CASP4-CA-HA. Also, the two labels at right above the plot in Fig.

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Inflammatory caspases (caspase-1, caspase-4, caspase-5 and caspase-11 (caspase-1/-4/-5/-11)) mediate host defense against microbial infections, processing pro-inflammatory cytokines and triggering pyroptosis. However, precise checkpoints are required to prevent their unsolicited activation. Here we report that serpin family B member 1 (SERPINB1) limited the activity of those caspases by suppressing their caspase-recruitment domain (CARD) oligomerization and enzymatic activation.

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