We have constructed the Rice Genome Information Service System (RGISS), which is an information service system of the Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica (rice) genome, using the released version of rice Build 3.0 pseudomolecules based on the Ensembl architecture. The nonredundant library, composed of 3,360 clones of BACs, PACs, and fosmids, was used to construct supercontigs. RGISS contains 50,717 annotated genes from GenBank, 56,161 predicted genes from FgeneSH, and information on 9,587 markers, which includes STS, SSR, and EST-based RFLP. The 20,180 ESTs sequenced by the Korea National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (NIAB) were aligned and mapped into 168,792 exons. By gene ontology analysis, the classified protein numbers in the rice genome were 6158, 4531, and 12,364 proteins, which were mapped to molecular function, cellular component, and biological process, respectively.
Biological Processes ; Biotechnology ; Clone Cells ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Exons ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Ontology ; Genome* ; Information Services* ; Korea ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Oryza

Purpose: To report preliminary experience of single-port robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP surgical system in gynecologic tumors. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study on 100 consecutive patients who underwent da Vinci SP single-port robotic surgery between November 2018 and January 2021. All procedures were performed by an experienced gynecologic surgeon using a single 2.5-cm umbilical incision. Results: Of the 100 cases, the procedures included myomectomy (n=76), hysterectomy (n=2), endometrial cancer surgical staging (n=14), radical hysterectomy (n=3), radical trachelectomy (n=3), and ovarian cystectomy (n=2). None of the cases was converted to robotic multiport or open surgery. The median docking time was 5.0 minutes [interquartile range (IQR), 3.0–7.0], the median console time was 107.5 minutes (IQR, 78.7–155.8), and the median total operation time was 250.0 minutes (IQR, 215.0–310.0). The median estimated blood loss was 50.0 mL (IQR, 30.0–100.0), and the median change in hemoglobin level was 0.8 g/dL (IQR, 0.3–1.3). The median pain scores rated on a numerical rating scale immediately after and at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were 5, 2, 2, and 2, respectively. The mean duration of postoperative hospitalization was 2.8 days. Conclusion Da Vinci SP single-port robotic surgery was successfully performed in various gynecologic tumors without significant complications. Therefore, this surgical system could be applied in patients who want precise gynecologic surgery while minimizing surgical incision.

Cell permeable peptide (CPP) is able to transport itself or conjugated molecules such as nucleotides, peptides, and proteins into cells. Since short peptide of human immunodeficiency virus-1 Tat has been discovered as CPP, it has been continuously studied for their ability to transport heterologous cargoes into cells. In this study, we have focused on the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has six basic amino acids in multi basic furin-dependent cleavage site (MBFCS) required to be cationic CPP. To develop more efficient CPP, the sequence, which linked two MBFCS, was synthesized (called RS-CPP). To assess cell permeable efficiency of RS-CPP or MBFCS, the peptides was conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate, and cell permeable efficiency was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Cell permeability of RS-CPP or MBFCS was increased in a dose-dependent manner, but RS-CPP showed more efficient cell permeability than MBFCS in MDCK, HeLa, Vero E6, and A549 cells. To evaluate whether RS-CPP can transport its conjugated functional peptide (VIVIT) in CD8+ T cell, it was confirmed that IL-2 and β-galactosidase expression were significantly inhibited through selective block of nuclear factor activated T-cell. To investigate endocytic pathways, Cre-mediated DNA recombination (loxP-STOP-loxP-LacZ reporter system) was investigated with divergent endocytosis inhibitors in TE671 cells, and RS-CPP endocytosis is occurred via binding cell surface glycosaminoglycan and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, or macropinocytosis. These results indicated that RS-CPP could be a novel cationic CPP, and it would help understanding for delivery of biologically functional molecules based on viral basic amino acids.
Amino Acids, Basic ; DNA ; Endocytosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Nucleotides ; Peptides ; Permeability ; Recombination, Genetic ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Numerous researches have studied the association between sugar intake and obesity of children in many countries. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between beverage intake and obesity of children by reviewing a database for total sugar contents established in all foods and presented in a nutrition survey by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data of 1,520 children aged 6–11 years in the 6th KNHANES (2013–2015) were analyzed for this study. A database for total sugar intake comprises the total sugar contents of all foods included in the results of a nutrition survey using the 24-hour recall method of 6th KNHANES. Beverages were categorized into carbonated beverages, fruit & vegetable drinks, other drinks, tea, and coffee. RESULTS: The average daily beverage intake of all children was 131.75 g/day, and the average daily total sugar intake in beverages was 13.76 g/day. Carbonated beverages had the highest intake rate (58.85 g/day) and also ranked highest for sugar intake (6.36 g/day). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratio for obesity in children with beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day significantly increased by 1.83 times (95% CI, 1.11–3.00) as compared to children with beverage intake of < 200 mL/day. Also, a significant increase was observed in the odds ratio for obesity in total children (2.41 times; 95% CI, 1.35–4.33) and boys (3.15 times; 95% CI, 1.53–6.49) with carbonated beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day when compared with children who consumed < 200 mL/day. CONCLUSION: A positive association is observed between beverage intake and obesity in Korean children. In particular, an intake of carbonated beverages has a positive correlation with childhood obesity in boys. This study can therefore be used as scientific evidence for reducing sugar, and for the continuous management and research on beverages.
Beverages* ; Carbohydrates ; Carbonated Beverages ; Child* ; Coffee ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity* ; Odds Ratio ; Pediatric Obesity ; Tea ; Vegetables

Oseltamivir is the drug of choice for patients with pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009). However, sporadic cases of oseltamivir resistance have been described worldwide. Up to March 2010, a total of 11 strains (2.2% of tested isolates) of oseltamivir-resistant pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) have been discovered in South Korea. We report a case of 46-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia in whom an oseltamivir-resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was isolated. Despite high dose oseltamivir therapy for 10 days he had persistent symptoms and showed positive results in repeated real-time RT-PCR for pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) virus from nasopharyngeal specimen. The patient improved eventually after oseltamivir was replaced by zanamivir inhalation.
Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Inhalation ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Middle Aged ; Oseltamivir ; Pandemics ; Republic of Korea ; Viruses ; Zanamivir

Objectives: Monkeypox outbreaks in nonendemic countries have been reported since early May 2022. The first case of monkeypox in the Republic of Korea was confirmed in a patient who traveled to Europe in June 2022, and an attempt was made to isolate and identify the monkeypox virus (MPXV) from the patient’s specimens. Methods: Clinical specimens from the patient were inoculated in Vero E6 cells. The isolated virus was identified as MPXV by the observation of cytopathic effects on Vero E6 cells, transmission electron microscopy, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing of PCR products. Results: Cytopathic effects were observed in Vero E6 cells that were inoculated with skin lesion swab eluates. After multiple passages from the primary culture, orthopoxvirus morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy. In addition, both MPXV-specific (F3L and ATI) and orthopoxvirus-specific genes (A39R, B2R, and HA) were confirmed by conventional PCR and Sanger sequencing. Conclusion These results indicate the successful isolation and identification of MPXV from the first patient in the Republic of Korea. The isolated virus was named MPXV-ROK-P1-2022.

We aimed to characterize the genomes of monkeypox virus isolates from the Far East, providing insights into viral transmission and evolution. Genomic analysis was conducted on 8 isolates obtained from patients with monkeypox virus disease in the Republic of Korea between May 2022 and early 2023. These isolates were classified into Clade IIb. Distinct lineages, including B.1.1, A.2.1, and B.1.3, were observed in 2022 and 2023 isolates, with only the B.1.3 lineage detected in six isolates of 2023. These genetic features were specific to Far East isolates (the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Taiwan), distinguishing them from the diverse lineages found in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. In early 2023, the prevalence of the B.1.3 lineage of monkeypox virus identified in six patients with no overseas travel history is considered as an indicator of the potential initiation of local transmission in the Republic of Korea.