‘Tocomi-1’, a new japonica rice cultivar derived from a 200 Gy gamma ray irradiation with high tocopherol content and red pericarp. The local adaptability test of MRXII-1001-1 was carried out from 2012 to 2014 and it was named as ‘Tocomi-1’ in 2014. This variety is medium matured with heading date of August 12 in honam plain area of Korea. This variety is about 80 cm tall culm length and 106 spikelets per panicle. Its 1,000 grain-weight of rice seeds is 25.4 g. The yield potential of this variety is about 5.15 MT/ha in local adaptability test for three years. This variety exhibited greater seed longevity than the Donganbyeo, indicating a crucial role for tocopherols in maintaining viability during quiescence, and displayed faster seedling growth during the early growth stage. Tocopherol contents was 50% higher than the Donganbyeo. To study the molecular mechanism underlying vitamin E biosynthesis, we examined the expression patterns of seven rice genes encoding vitamin E biosynthetic enzymes. Accumulation levels of the OsVTE2 transcript and OsVTE2 protein in the ‘Tocomi-1’ were significantly higher than in the Donganbyeo. Sequence analysis revealed that the ‘Tocomi-1’ harbored a point mutation in the OsVTE2 promoter region, which resulted in the generation of MYB transcription factor—binding cis-element. These results help identify the promoter regions that regulate OsVTE2 transcription, and offer insights into the regulation of tocopherol content in ‘Tocomi-1’.

To define whole genome-level of structural variation by ionization energies and radiation doses in plant, the seeds of Ilpum rice cultivar were acutely irradiated with gamma rays (100Gy, 200Gy, and 400Gy) and ion-beams (20Gy, 40Gy, and 80Gy), respectively. Six M1 rice plants were re-sequenced by Hi-Seq2500 with Ilpum cultivar as control. The average sequencing coverage of the individuals was 10.6X, and the average mapping rate to the rice reference genome (IRGSP-1.0) sequence was 96.95%. The individual plants were irradiated with gamma-400Gy and ion-50Gy had highest variation of SNP with 471,837 and 469,147, respectively. The number of insertion/deletion was 77,500 and 77,106, the synonymous and frame-shift were 7,859 and 7,763 in above two individuals. Although high genome variation shown between Ilpum cultivar and irradiated individuals, there were non-correlation between number of variation and radiation doses. However, five individuals, except ion-20Gy, showed 33 common variant blocks (CVBs) spanning 6 Mb in whole rice genome (1.6%). The CVBs were distributed on 12 rice chromosomes, Chromosome 6 had biggest CVB (5 blocks, 1.3Mb), whereas chromosome 9 had smallest CVB (0.01Mb). Total five hundred fifty one genes were in CVBs which can regard radiation sensitive genes or may be regarded as radiation hot spots in rice genome. This study will contribute to the improvement of the radiation mutation breeding research in genetic and genomic aspect.

Exposure to ionizing radiation is regarded as a kind of abiotic stresses that can change the expression of genes in living organisms. This study aimed on investigating the variations in gene expressions induced by two different types of irradiations with different doses, which were low linear energy transfer (LET) gamma rays (100, 200, and 400 Gy) and high LET ion-beams (20, 40, and 80 Gy) on rice. RNA sequencing was carried out using the Illumina HiSeq-2500 platform. The average amount of reads were 4.8 Gb per individual, and 5 to 8% of the reads were removed after quality control. More than 90% of the RNA-seq reads were mapped to the rice reference genome sequence (IRGSP-1.0). A total of 247 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparison of the gene expression levels between the wildtype and the irradiated individuals. The 247 DEGs were divided into five modules and 27 intra-modular hub genes were found using the weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) method. The MEturquiose module had the most number of genes with 75 related to carbohydrate and small molecule metabolic processes. The co-expression network reconstructed using ARACNE (algorithm for reconstruction of accurate cellular networks) showed specific up- or down-regulation of the genes in each module according to the types and doses of radiation. This study will contribute to understanding the gene expression responses to ionizing irradiation.

The flower buds of Sophora japonica L (SF), as a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used to treat bleeding-related disorders such as hematochezia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and diarrhea. However, no specific anti-cancer effect and its molecular mechanism of SF have been described. Thus, we performed in vitro study to investigate if treatment of SF affects activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression and ATF3-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. The effects of SF on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and Western blot analysis against cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ATF3 activation induced by SF was evaluated using Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and ATF3 promoter assay. SF treatment caused decrease of cell viability and increase of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Exposure of SF activated the levels of ATF3 protein and mRNA via transcriptional regulation in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by PD98059 and p38 by SB203580 attenuated SF-induced ATF3 expression and transcriptional activation. Ectopic ATF3 overexpression accelerated SF-induced cleavage of PARP. These findings suggest that SF-mediated apoptosis may be the result of ATF3 expression through ERK1/2 and p38-mediated transcriptional activation.

Diffuse involvement of the right pulmonary artery (PA) associated with fistula between the PA and coronary artery is report-ed in a woman with Takayasu’s arteritis. Both the subclavian arteries were totally occluded and drained by the meanderinged artery arising from both common carotid arteries. Lung perfusion scan revealed perfusion defect of right lung. Two fistulas were identified. A large fistula was between the right PA and left circumflex artery. A small fistula was between the right PA and left anterior descending artery. This is a rare case of Takayasu’s arteritis presenting with a coronary – pulmonary artery fistula that is secondary to a diffuse unilateral involvement of PA.

Experimental studies were carried out on surface area of char during pyrolysis of sewage sludge. To evaluate surface area of resultant char we use iodine number. Increase of iodine number shows that the surface area of char increases. The process parameters, temperature and holding time have significant effect on surface area of char. Increasing temperature above 400℃ surface area of char decreases while slightly increasing when holding time increases. In this study, the optimum conditions for high surface area of resultant char were found 400℃ and 30minutes, respectively.

A case of three primary malignancies in one patient is rare. We report on a case of three primary malignancies including myxofibrosarcoma, renal cell cancer, and prostate cancer in one 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) evaluation of a 75-year-old man. PET/CT showed different FDG meabolism in each tumor.

Serine-arginine-rich nuclear protein LUC7L plays an important role in the regulation of myogenesis in mice. In the present study, we isolated and characterized the Korean rose bitterling Rhodeus uyekii Luc7l cDNA, designated RuLuc7l. The RuLuc7l cDNA is 1,688 bp long and encodes a 364-amino-acid polypeptide containing serine/arginine-rich region at the C-terminus. The deduced RuLuc7l protein has high amino acid identity (71-97%) with those of other species including human. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that RuLUC7L clustered with fish LUC7L proteins. The expression of RuLuc7l mRNA was high in the brain, kidney, and stomach of Korean rose bitterling. Expression of the RuLuc7l mRNA was detected from 1 day post-fertilization (dpf) and moderately increased until 21 dpf during the early development. Further investigations are required to elucidate the functional role of RuLUC7L in myogenesis in R. uyekii.

This paper aims to suggest Middle and Medio-passive categories in Korean with cross-linguistic data. K. Kim(2009) argues that there are three kinds of non-active Voice categories in Korean: I-inchoatives, Zero inchoatives and Passives. I, however, argue that I-inchoative and Zero inchoative show morphological, distributional and semantic differences, and thus they should be respectively categorized into Middle and Anticausative. The so-called –i morpheme is regarded traditionally as passive morpheme, but I show that it is not just a passive but Non-active Voice morpheme in Korean. I have also argued that Medio-passive constructions should be assumed in Korean, because cross-linguistically they show distributional and semantic differences from middles and passives. An Instrumental phrase and an Agent phrase or an Agent phrase and‘by itself’can appear together in the medio-passives, and semantically they can have middle interpretation too.

코르티코트로핀분비인자(Corticotropin-releasing factor)는 스트레스 반응에 관여하는 호르몬으로, 최근 스트레스가 탈모와 같은 피부질환에 영향을 미친다는 보고들이 많아지고 있다. 보고에 따르면, 사람 모낭 배양에서 코르티코트로핀분비인자는 길이생장을 억제하며, 모낭의 조기퇴행을 유도하고 모기질각질형성세포(hair matrix keratinocyte)의 세포사멸을 촉진시킨다. 본 연구에서는 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 모발성장과 모주기조절에 핵심적으로 역할하는 모유두세포에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보고자 했다. 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신축의 주요 스트레스호르몬들인 코르티코트로핀분비인자, 부신피질자극호르몬, 그리고 코르티솔을 사람 모유두세포에 처리하였다. 흥미롭게도, 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 모발성장과 관련된 사이토카인(KGF, Wnt5a, TGFβ-2, Nexin)의 발현을 변화시키는 것을 관찰하였으며, 세포 내 cAMP의 수준을 증가시켰고, 수용체의 발현을 억제시켰다. 이러한 변화는 수용체의 길항제인 antalarmin과 astressin2B, 또는 PKA 억제제의 전처리로 인해 막을 수 있었다. 코르티코트로핀분비인자는 cAMP/PKA경로를 통해 POMC의 발현을 유도하는데, 사람 모유두세포에서도 이 호르몬의 처리가 POMC mRNA의 발현을 증가시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었으나 부신피질자극호르몬의 변화는 western blot으로는 확인할 수 없었다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로, 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 그 수용체를 통해 사람 모유두세포 내 모발성장 관련 사이토카인의 발현을 조절함을 확인하였으며, 이는 코르티코트로핀분비인자의 수용체 길항제가 스트레스성 탈모환자를 위한 치료제 혹은 화장품 소재로써 활용될 수 있음을 보여준다.

A 67-year-old man visited our hospital with anorexia and abdominal discomfort after taking herb for 3 months. Abdominal computed tomograpy showed splenomegaly. Blood test showed elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level, thrombocytopenia, and there was no viral or autoimmune hepatitis. Liver biopsy showed comprehensive fibrotic changes and necrosis on iver parenchyma. He recovered within 1 week after stopping the herb. There was no disease recurrence for 1 year. No case of toxic hepatitis by taking Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel has been reported. Thus, this case proved for the first time that Fritillaria thunbergii Miquel could cause drug induced liver injury.

Multivessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection is extremely rare. There are no guidelines regarding optimal treatment of spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The treatment depends on clinical symptoms, extent and location of the dissection, and the hemodynamic status of the patient. Although percutaneous coronary intervention might be required for all of the dissecting arteries, this case demonstrated the importance of an appropriate selection of treatment modalities for spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

A 63-year-old woman with a history of nephrolithiasis and long-term hemodialysis (HD) presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed urinoma induced by renal forniceal rupture, and three causative calculi. No active stone growth or new stones were observed when compared with previous CT, however, fragmentation and migration of an existing stone was observed. After ureteroscopic lithotripsy and stenting with a double-J catheter, the patient made a full recovery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of spontaneous renal forniceal rupture in an anuric HD patient caused by calculi. Renal forniceal rupture can occur, even in anuric HD patients.

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration can cause serious health problems in individuals of all age groups and requires immediate diagnosis and intervention. Patients with psychiatric disorders can aspirate foreign objects that may pose a danger to their health. Herein, we report on a case of curtain clip aspiration in a 44-year-old man with mental retardation. Chest radiography and bronchoscopy showed a sharp, pointed, S-shaped curtain clip inversely lodged in his left main bronchus. The curtain clip was removed successfully using flexible bronchoscopy, and no complications were noted.

Expression of claudin-11 (CLDN11), a tight junction (TJ) protein, was examined in the Korean soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) testes. Spermatogenesis began during the breeding season and peaked at the end of the breeding season. Spermiation started in summer and peaked in autumn. The deduced amino acid sequence of P. maackii CLDN11 was similar to those of avian and mammalian species. During the non-breeding season when spermatogenesis and testosterone production were active, testicular Cldn11 levels were high. In the seminiferous epithelium, strong wavy CLDN11 strands parallel to the basement membrane delaminate the spermatogonia, and early spermatocytes are in the open compartment. Otherwise, CLDN11 was found beneath the early spermatocytes and in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm. Punctate zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1) immunoreactivity was found within the CLDN11 strands parallel to the basement membrane or at the outermost periphery of the seminiferous epithelium close to the basal lamina. During the breeding season, when circulating testosterone levels and spermatogenic activity was low, testicular CLDN11 level was lower than those of non-breeding season. CLDN11 was found at apicolateral contact sites between adjacent Sertoli cells devoid of the postmeiotic germ cells. At this time, lanthanum tracer diffused to the adluminal compartment of seminiferous epithelium. In cultured testis tissues, testosterone propionate significantly increased the level of Cldn11 mRNA. In P. maackii testis, CLDN11 participates in the development of the BTB where the CLDN11 expression was coupled with spermatogenic activity and circulating androgen levels, indicating the conserved nature of TJ’s expressing CLDN11 at the BTB in amniotes.