• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.498-506
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Lycopene, a carotenoid with anti-oxidant properties, occurs naturally in tomatoes and pink grapefruit. Although the beneficial effects of lycopene on various disorders have been established, little attention has been paid to the possible anti-diabetic effects of lycopene focusing on ${\beta}$-cells. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of lycopene to protect ${\beta}$-cells against apoptosis induced by a cytokine mixture. Methods: For toxicity experiments, the cells were treated with 0.1 ~ 10 nM of lycopene, and the cell viability in INS-1 cells (a rat ${\beta}$-cell line) was measured using a MTT assay. To induce cytokine toxicity, the cells were treated with a cytokine mixture (20 ng/mL of $TNF{\alpha}$ + 20 ng/mL of IL-$1{\beta}$) for 24 h, and the effects of lycopene (0.1 nM) on the cytokine toxicity were measured using the MTT assay. The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins were analyzed by Western blotting, and the level of intracellular reactive oxidative stress (ROS) was monitored using a DCFDA fluorescent probe. The intracellular ATP levels were determined using a luminescence kit, and mRNA expression of the genes coding for anti-oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: Exposure of INS-1 cells to 0.1 nM of lycopene increased the cell viability significantly, and protected the cells from cytokine-induced death. Lycopene upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein. Lycopene inhibited apoptotic signaling via a reduction of the ROS, and this effect correlated with the upregulation of anti-oxidative stress response genes, such as GCLC, NQO1, and HO-1. Lycopene increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial function-related genes and increased the cellular ATP level. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene reduces the level of oxidative stress and improves the mitochondrial function, contributing to the prevention of cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. Therefore, lycopene could potentially serve as a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2018

Objective : The present study investigated the effects of group play activities based on Ayres Sensory $Integration^{(R)}$ (ASI) on sensory processing ability, social skill ability and self-esteem of low-income children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods : A total of 20 low-income participants with children with ADHD were recruited and divided into an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). Sensory processing ability was measured via the Short Sensory Profile (SSP). Social skill ability was measured via the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). To measure self-esteem, the Rosenberg's self- esteem scale was used. The experimental group received the $ASI^{(R)}$ group play activities for 50 minutes, twice per week for six weeks, while the control group did not receive an intervention. Level of significance of all statistical analyses was .05. Results : Social skill ability (F=4.443, p=.05), cooperation (F=5.328, p=.035) and self-esteem (F=5.358, p=.033) differed significantly between groups after the intervention. Conclusion : Our findings indicate that the group play activities based on $ASI^{(R)}$ are effective in improving social skill ability and self-esteem. This study provided a theoretical basis for the claim that sensory integration therapy should be applied in general elementary schools.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.484-491
• /
• 2019

Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Among immune cells, macrophages are crucial players in a variety of inflammatory responses to environmental conditions. However, it has been widely reported that macrophages cause chronic inflammation and are involved in a variety of diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. In this study, we report the suppressive effect of proanthocyanidins via the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-related system, on the immune response of the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Increased HO-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels were found in proanthocyanidins-treated RAW264.7 cells. Further, proanthocyanidins enhanced nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without proanthocyanidins, and inflammatory mediator expression levels were assessed. Proanthocyanidins treatment resulted in the attenuation of nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, was inhibited by proanthocyanidins treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings support proanthocyanidins as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.129-140
• /
• 2017

This study was carried out to develop of environmental risk assessments and the biosafety guide for Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean at LMO (Living Modified Organism) isolation field. In LMO quarantine area of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, insect species diversities and population densities on vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and non-GM soybeans (Willams 82 and Seoritae) were investigated. A total of 17,717 individuals of 77 species from 8 orders were collected in LMO isolation field. In three type soybeans field, total of 5,250 individuals in Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean, 5,510 individuals in Willams 82, and 6,957 individuals in Seoritae were collected, respectively. There was no difference between the population densities of insect pests, natural enemies and other insects on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and Willams 82, while natural enemies density on Seoritae was higher than on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean, but insect pests density on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean was higher. These results provided the insects diversity for risk assessment survey of Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and suggested that the guideline could be useful to detect LMO crops.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.296-304
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of climate change on rice yield and quality. Experiments were conducted using SPAR(Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research) chambers, which was designed to create virtual future climate conditions, in the National Institute of Crop Science, Jeonju, Korea, in 2016. In the future climate conditions($+2.8^{\circ}C$ temp, 580 ppm $CO_2$) of year 2051~2060 according to RCP 8.5 scenario, elevated temperature and $CO_2$ accelerated the heading date by about five days than the present climate conditions, resulted in a high temperature environment during grain filling stage. Rice yield decreased sharply in the future climate conditions due to the high temperature induced poor ripening. And the spikelet numbers, ripening ratio, and 1000-grain weight of brown rice were significantly decreased compared to control. The rice grain quality was also decreased sharply, especially due to the increased immature grains. In the future climate conditions, expression of starch biosynthesis-related genes such as granule-bound starch synthase(GBSSI, GBSSII, SSIIa, SSIIb, SSIIIa), starch branching enzyme(BEIIb) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase(AGPS1, AGPS2, AGPL2) were repressed in developing seeds, whereas starch degradation related genes such as ${\alpha}-amylase$(Amy1C, Amy3D, Amy3E) were induced. These results suggest that the reduction in yield and quality of rice in the future climate conditions is likely caused mainly by the poor grain filling by high temperature. Therefore, it is suggested to develop tolerant cultivars to high temperature during grain filling period and a new cropping system in order to ensure a high quality of rice in the future climate conditions.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.51-66
• /
• 2018

As AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies have been swiftly evolved, a lot of products and services are under development in various fields for better users' experience. On this technology advance, negative effects of AI technologies also have been discussed actively while there exists positive expectation on them at the same time. For instance, many social issues such as trolley dilemma and system security issues are being debated, whereas autonomous vehicles based on artificial intelligence have had attention in terms of stability increase. Therefore, it needs to check and analyse major social issues on artificial intelligence for their development and societal acceptance. In this paper, multi-categorical sentiment analysis is conducted over online public opinion on artificial intelligence after identifying the trending topics related to artificial intelligence for two years from January 2016 to December 2017, which include the event, match between Lee Sedol and AlphaGo. Using the largest web portal in South Korea, online news, news headlines and news comments were crawled. Considering the importance of trending topics, online public opinion was analysed into seven multiple sentimental categories comprised of anger, dislike, fear, happiness, neutrality, sadness, and surprise by topics, not only two simple positive or negative sentiment. As a result, it was found that the top sentiment is "happiness" in most events and yet sentiments on each keyword are different. In addition, when the research period was divided into four periods, the first half of 2016, the second half of the year, the first half of 2017, and the second half of the year, it is confirmed that the sentiment of 'anger' decreases as goes by time. Based on the results of this analysis, it is possible to grasp various topics and trends currently discussed on artificial intelligence, and it can be used to prepare countermeasures. We hope that we can improve to measure public opinion more precisely in the future by integrating empathy level of news comments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.600-605
• /
• 2019

Background: The leaves and roots of Panax ginseng are rich in ginsenosides. However, the chemical compositions of the leaves and roots of P. ginseng differ, resulting in different medicinal functions. In recent years, the aerial parts of members of the Panax genus have received great attention from natural product chemists as producers of bioactive ginsenosides. The aim of this study was the isolation and structural elucidation of novel, minor ginsenosides in the leaves of P. ginseng and evaluation of their antiinflammatory activity in vitro. Methods: Various chromatographic techniques were applied to obtain pure individual compounds, and their structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical methods. The antiinflammatory effect of the new compounds was evaluated on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Results and conclusions: Two novel, minor triterpenoid saponins, ginsenoside $LS_1$ (1) and 5,6-didehydroginsenoside $Rg_3$ (2), were isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were assayed for their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and Compound 2 showed a significant inhibitory effect with $IC_{50}$ of $37.38{\mu}M$ compared with that of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine ($IC_{50}=90.76{\mu}M$). Moreover, Compound 2 significantly decreased secretion of cytokines such as prostaglandin $E_2$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. In addition, Compound 2 significantly suppressed protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These results suggested that Compound 2 could be used as a valuable candidate for medicinal use or functional food, and the mechanism is warranted for further exploration.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of various primers on the microtensile bond strength (${\mu}TBS$) of resin cements to cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) dental casting alloy. Materials and methods: Four adhesive primers (Universal primer, Metal primer II, Alloy primer, and Metal/Zirconia primer) and two resin cements (Panavia F2.0, G-CEM LinkAce) were tested. One hundred fifty Co-Cr beams were prepared from Co-Cr ingots via casting ($6mm\;ength{\times}1mm\;width{\times}1mm\;thick$). The metal beams were randomly divided into ten groups according to the adhesive primers and resin cements used; the no-primer groups served as the control (n = 15). After sandblasting with aluminum oxide ($125{\mu}m$ grain), the metal and resin cements were bonded together using a silicone mold. Prior to testing, all metal-resin beams were examined under stereomicroscope, and subjected to the ${\mu}TBS$ test. The mean value of each group was analyzed via one-way ANOVA with Tukey's test as post hoc (${\alpha}=.05$) using SPSS software. Results: The mean ${\mu}TBS$ of all groups was ranged from 20 to 28 MPa. There is no statistically significant difference between groups (P > .05). Mixed failure, which is the combination of adhesive and cohesive failures, is the most prevalent failure mode in both the Panavia F2.0 and G-Cem LinkAce groups. Conclusion: The ${\mu}TBS$ of all tested groups are relatively high; however, the primers used in this study result in no favorable effect in the ${\mu}TBS$ of Panavia F2.0 and G-Cem LinkAce resin cement to Co-Cr alloy.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the wear resistance of 3D printed, milled, and conventionally cured provisional resin materials. Materials and methods: Four types of resin materials made with different methods were examined: Stereolithography apparatus (SLA) 3D printed resin (S3P), digital light processing (DLP) 3D printed resin (D3P), milled resin (MIL), conventionally self-cured resin (CON). In the 3D printed resin specimens, the build orientation and layer thickness were set to $0^{\circ}$ and $100{\mu}m$, respectively. The specimens were tested in a 2-axis chewing simulator with the steatite as the antagonist under thermocycling condition (5 kg, 30,000 cycles, 0.8 Hz, $5^{\circ}C/55^{\circ}C$). Wear losses of the specimens were calculated using CAD software and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to investigate wear surface of the specimens. Statistical significance was determined using One-way ANOVA and Dunnett T3 analysis (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: Wear losses of the S3P, D3P, and MIL groups significantly smaller than those of the CON group (P < .05). There was no significant difference among S3P, D3P, and MIL group (P > .05). In the SEM observations, in the S3P and D3P groups, vertical cracks were observed in the sliding direction of the antagonist. In the MIL group, there was an overall uniform wear surface, whereas in the CON group, a distinct wear track and numerous bubbles were observed. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, provisional resin materials made with 3D printing show adequate wear resistance for applications in dentistry.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 2020

Objectives : Postpartum depression is known to occur in 10-15% of mothers. The concentration of cytokine varies depending on stress, depression, pregnancy and general medical conditions. We hypothesized that the concentration of cytokines may be related to reproduction and childbirth, and that women with postpartum depression would show alterations in cytokines levels. Methods : A total of 104 pregnant women were selected as subjects, and 60 non-pregnant women were selected as normal controls. Symptoms of depression were evaluated in the pregnant study subjects using the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The pregnant subjects were divided into three groups perinatal non-depression controls (n=61), postpartum depression-recovery (n=18), and postpartum depression (n=25). Results : The plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1 was higher in the pregnant group than in non-pregnant controls (TGF-β1 ; p<0.01, IGF-1 ; p=0.026). At 24 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks of delivery, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1, β-NGF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α between the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference in all three groups during the course of depression in pregnant women. Conclusions : This study found significant difference in plasma cytokines concentrations between non-pregnant controls and perinatal non-depression controls.