Fabrication of pyramidal probes with various periodic patterns and a single nanopore

The nanometer-scale patterned pyramidal probe with an electron beam-induced nanopore on the pyramid apex is an excellent candidate for an optical biosensor. The nanoapertures surrounded with various periodic groove patterns on the pyramid sides were fabricated using a focused ion beam technique, where the optical characteristics of the fabricated apertures with rectangular, circular, and elliptical groove patterns were investigated. The elliptical groove patterns on the pyramid were designed to maintain an identical distance between the grooves and the apex for the surface waves and, among the three patterns, the authors observed the highest optical transmission from the elliptically patterned pyramidal probe. A 103-fold increase of the transmitted optical intensity was observed after patterning with elliptical grooves, even without an aperture on the pyramid apex. The nanopore on the apex of the pyramid was fabricated using electron beam irradiation and was optically characterized

Allelic and Haplotypic Diversity of HLA-A, -B, -C, and-DRB1 Genes in Koreans Defined by High-resolution DNA Typing

배경 : HLA 형별은 혈청학적 수준(generic level)에서도 다형성이 심하지만 대립유전자 수준에서는 더욱 심한 다형성을 보이고 인종 간에 큰 차이를 나타내는 것으로 알려졌다. 본 연구에서는 고해상도 DNA 검사법을 이용하여 한국인에서 HLA대립유전자 형별과 일배체형의 종류 및 빈도를 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 건강한 한국인 474명을 대상으로 HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 유전자에 대해 두 단계의 검사로 대립유전자(4자리수) 형별 분석을 실시하였다. 1단계로 혈청학적 수준의 형별검사를 혈청학적 검사법이나 sequence-specific oligonucleotide(PCR-SSO) 방법으로 시행하였고, 그 다음 단계로 대립유전자 형별검사를 class I은 exon 2와 exon3, DRB1은 exon 2에 대해 single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) 또는 직접염기서열분석법을 이용하여 실시하였다. HLA 대립 유전자의 유전자 빈도, 일배체형 빈도, 연쇄불평형 값은 maximum likelihood 원리에 근거한 제11차 국제조직적합성워크숍 컴퓨터 프로그램을 이용하여 산출하였다. 결과 : 한국인에서 검출된 HLA-A, -B, -C, DRB1 대립유전자 형별은 각각 21, 40, 22, 29종이었다. 이 중에 유전자 빈도 10% 이상을 보인 대립유전자 형별(빈도순 나열)은 A*02:01, A*24:02, A*33:03; B*51:01; C*01:02, C*03:03; RB1*09:01등이었다. HLA 일배체형의 분석 결과 0.5% 이상의 빈도를 나타내는 2-유전자좌 일배체형은 A-C 44종, B-C 42종, A-B 51종, B-DRB1 52종이었고, 3-유전자좌 일배체형은 A-C-B 42종, A-B-DRB1 34종이었다. 한국인에서 빈도 1% 이상의 A-B-DR 일배체형은 13종으로, 전체 일배체형의 26.0%를 차지하였고, 2% 이상으로 가장 흔한 A-B-DR 일배체형은 A*33:03-B*44:03-DRB1*13:02 (3.7%), A*33:03-B*44:03-DRB1*07:01 (3.0%), A*33:03-B*58:01-DRB1*13:02 (3.0%), A*24:02-B*07:02-DRB1*01:01 (2.8%), A*30:01-B*13:02-DRB1* 07:01 (2.3%), A*11:01-B*15:01-DRB1*04:06 (2.2%) 등 6종이었다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통해 한국인의 대립유전자 수준의 HLA 형별과 HLA 일배체형 빈도에 대한 자료를 제시하였으며, 본 연구의 결과는 한국인에서 장기이식, 질환연관성 연구, 인류유전학적 연구 등에서 중요한 기초자료로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. Background : In this study, we used high-resolution DNA typing to investigate the distribution of HLA alleles and haplotypes in Koreans. Methods : HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DRB1 alleles were genotyped at the allelic (4-digit) level in 474 healthy Koreans. HLA genotyping was performed in two steps. Initially, serologic typing or generic-level DNA typing was performed using the FOR-sequence-specific oligonucleotide method, and then allelic DNA typing (exons 2 and 3 for class I, and exon 2 for DRB1) was carried out using the FOR-single-strand conformation polymorphism method or sequence-based typing. HLA allele and haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium values were calculated by the maximum likelihood method using a computer program developed for the 11th International Histocompatibility Workshop. Results : A total of 21 HLA-A, 40 HLA-B, 22 HLA-C, and 29 HLA-DRB1 alleles were found in Koreans. The most frequent alleles in each locus with frequencies of >= 10% were, in decreasing order of frequency, as follows: A star 24:02, A star 02:01, A(star)33:03; B(star)51:01; C(star)01:02, C(star)03:03; and DRB1(star)09:01. The numbers of two- and three-locus haplotypes with frequencies of >0.5% were as follows: 44 A-C, 42 B-C, 51 A-B, 52 B-DRB1, 42 A-C-B, and 34 A-B-DRB1. Thirteen A-B-DRB1 haplotypes with frequencies of >= 1.0% comprised 26.0% of the total haplotypes. The six most common haplotypes were as follows: A(star)33:03-B(star)44:03-DRB1(star)3:02 (3.7%), A(star)33:03-B(star)44:03-DRB1(star)07:01 (3.0%), A(star)33:03-B(star)58: 01-DRB1(star)13:02 (3.0%), A(star)24:02-B(star)07:02-DRB1(star)01:01 (2.8%), A(star)30:01-B(star)13:02-DRB1(star)07:01 (2.3%), and A(star)11:01-B(star)15:01-DR81(star)04:06 (2.2%). Conclusions : The information obtained in this study can be used as basic data for Koreans in the fields of organ transplantation, disease association, and anthropologic studies. (Korean J Lab Med 2010;30:685-96)Yoon JH, 2010, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V75, P170, DOI 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2009.01418.xLee KW, 2009, HUM IMMUNOL, V70, P464, DOI 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.03.010Yang KL, 2009, HUM IMMUNOL, V70, P269, DOI 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.01.015YI DY, 2009, KOREAN J LAB MED, V29, pS425Whang DH, 2008, KOREAN J LAB MED, V28, P465, DOI 10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.6.465Trachtenberg E, 2007, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V70, P455, DOI 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2007.00932.xCano P, 2007, HUM IMMUNOL, V68, P392, DOI 10.1016/j.humimm.2007.01.014Yang G, 2006, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V67, P146, DOI 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2005.00529.xMACK SJ, 2006, IMMUNOBIOLOGY HUMAN, V1, P291Itoh Y, 2005, IMMUNOGENETICS, V57, P717, DOI 10.1007/s00251-005-0048-3Lee KW, 2005, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V65, P437, DOI 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2005.00386.xOttinger HD, 2004, TRANSPLANTATION, V78, P1077, DOI 10.1097/01.TP.0000137791.28140.93Flomenberg N, 2004, BLOOD, V104, P1923, DOI 10.1182/blood-2004-03-0803Song EY, 2004, HUM IMMUNOL, V65, P270, DOI 10.1016/j.humimm.2003.12.005HWANG SH, 2004, KOREAN J LAB MED, V24, P396ROH EY, 2003, KOREAN J LAB MED, V23, P420WHANG DH, 2003, KOREAN J LAB MED, V23, P52Lee KW, 2010, KOREAN J LAB MED, V30, P203, DOI 10.3343/kjlm.2010.30.3.203Morishima Y, 2002, BLOOD, V99, P4200Song EY, 2002, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V59, P475Song EY, 2001, HUM IMMUNOL, V62, P1142NAKAJIMA F, 2001, MHC, V8, P1Saito S, 2000, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V56, P522Park MH, 2000, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V55, P250DUNN P, 2000, IHWG TECHNICAL MANUA, P1Park MH, 1999, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V53, P386Marsh SGE, 2010, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V75, P291Petersdorf EW, 1998, BLOOD, V92, P3515Park MH, 1998, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V51, P347Wang H, 1997, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V50, P620Cereb N, 1997, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V50, P74Bannai M, 1997, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V49, P376Bannai M, 1996, HUM IMMUNOL, V46, P107CEREB N, 1995, TISSUE ANTIGENS, V45, P1BANNAI M, 1994, EUR J IMMUNOGENET, V21, P1IMANISHI T, 1992, HLA 1991, V1, P76TOKUNAGA K, 1992, EVOLUTION DISPERSAL, P599

Infectious Disease Markers among Directed and Volunteer Blood Donors in Korea

Most reports from Western countries are discouraging the establishment of direct donation programs since little evidence exists that this approach improves the safety of blood transfusion. However, the infectious disease marker frequencies vary from one region to another and not much is known about the figures in less individualized, and more culturally uniform societies. The authors compared the frequency of infectious disease markers among 14,253 directed and 1,228,132 volunteer blood donors in Korea. The frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was higher in volunteer donors while the frequency of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and VORL was higher in directed donorslp-Dfl'l). Our data suggest that even in a less individualized society where people are more open to exchange their medical and personal information, directed donation does not confer significant benefit in the prevention of transfusion-transmitted diseases

Pattern of Hepatitis A Incidence According to Area Characteristics Using National Health Insurance Data

Objectives: Over the past several years, the incidence of hepatitis A infection has been increasing rapidly in the young-adult population in Korea. We examined the effects of area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene on the incidence of hepatitis A. Methods: This study is based on the registered national population of Korea and the national health insurance data from 2004 to 2008. A total of 73 459 individuals were confirmed to have had hepatitis A. The standardized incidences of hepatitis A in 232 districts adjusted for sex and age of people were calculated for each year, and the rate ratios of the incidence rates were estimated according to area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene using multiple Poisson regression models. Results: The incidence rates of hepatitis A infection were 15.6 (per 100 000) in 2004, 19.0 (per 100 000) in 2005, 27.2 (per 100 000) in 2006, 25.1 (per 100 000) in 2007, and 61.7 (per 100 000) in 2008. The analysis of the area-level effects showed that residential areas of the less deprived than other regions, areas with higher levels of education, and heavily populated areas were significantly associated with increased risk. Conclusions: There is a very strong possibility that both area-level socioeconomic status and environmental hygiene play a role in increasing the risk of hepatitis A infection in Korea. Therefore, to reduce hepatitis A infection, we need a nationwide strategy that considers these area-level characteristics

A Case of Hypersensitivity to Mosquito Bite Associated with Epstein-Barr Viral Infection and Natural Killer Cell Lymphocytosis

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites (HMB) is a disorder characterized by a necrotic skin reaction and generalized symptoms subsequent to mosquito bites. It has been suggested that HMB is associated with chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and natural killer cell leukemia/lymphoma. We describe here a Korean child who had HMB associated with chronic EBV infection and natural killer cell lymphocytosis. A 5-yr-old boy was suffered from necrotic skin lesions on the right ear lobe. Type A EB virus was detected from hlood cells and bone marrow biospy recognized hemophagocyrosis

The Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) Extract Has an Antiobesity Effect and Protects against Hepatic Steatosis in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) on adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells and obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with KME (3 g/kg/day) for 15 weeks for the antiobesity and NAFLD experiments. Body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. The epididymal pad was measured and liver histology was observed. The effects of KME on thermogenesis and endurance capacity were measured. The effects of KME on adipogenic factors were examined in 3T3-L1 cells. Body and epididymal fat pad weights were reduced in KME-treated mice, and histological examination showed an amelioration of fatty liver in KME-treated mice, without an effect on food consumption. KME potently induces mitochondrial activity by activating thermogenesis and improving endurance capacity. KME also inhibited adipogenic factors in vitro. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effects of KME on obesity and NAFLD in mice fed a high-fat diet. The effects appear to be mediated through an enhanced mitochondrial activity. Therefore, KME may be an effective therapeutic candidate for treating obesity and fatty liver caused by a high-fat diet

Evaluation of 28 Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Use as Unrelated Donors in Stem Cell Therapy: Implications of HLA and ABO Genotypes

For human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to be used clinically, it is imperative that immune responses evoked by hESCs and their derivates after transplantation should be prevented. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and ABO blood group antigens are important histocompatibility factors in graft rejection. HLA matching between recipient and unrelated donors, in particular, is important in improving outcomes in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We have established and successfully maintained 29 hESC lines and analyzed the HLA and ABO genotypes of these lines. HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR (DRB1) genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequence-based typing and ABO genotyping was carried out by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. To determine what proportion of the Korean population would be covered by these cell lines in organ transplantation, 27 cell lines with HLA-A, -B, and -DR data were evaluated for HCT (cord blood) donors and 28 cell lines with HLA-DR and ABO data were evaluated for solid organ (kidney) transplantation donors, and then compared the data with those from 6,740 donated cord bloods. When <= 2 HLA mismatches are allowed for HCT, as currently accepted for cord blood transplantation, it was estimated that about 16% and 25% of the possible recipients can find one or more donor cell lines with mismatches at A, B, DRB1 allele level and at A, B antigen/DRB1 allele level, respectively. When HLA-DR antigen level matching and ABO compatibility was considered for solid organ (kidney) transplantation, it was estimated that about 29% and 96% of the possible recipients can find one or more ABO-compatible donor cell lines with 0 and 1 DR mismatches, respectively. 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