• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.822-832
• /
• 2018

Objective To determine the socio-demographic, psychologic, hematologic, or other relevant factors associated with hand grip strength in Korean farmers. Methods A total of 528 healthy Korean farmers were enrolled. Hand grip strength was measured in both hands using a hydraulic dynamometer. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Psycho-cognitive measurements such as sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and Go/No-Go test response time were conducted. In addition to physical measurements, serologic parameters including insulin-like growth factor 1 were measured. The factors associated with hand grip strength were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, height, and weight. Results The mean hand grip strength was associated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (${\beta}=-0.12$, p=0.01), the Go/No-Go test response time (${\beta}=-0.18$, p=0.001), vitamin D (${\beta}=0.12$, p=0.02), and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (${\beta}=0.1$, p=0.045). In female farmers, hand grip strength was only associated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (${\beta}=-0.32$, p<0.001). Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that hand grip strength was associated with sleep quality and attention in Korean farmers.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.212-217
• /
• 1997

A strain of Bacillus sp. WS-14 was isolated from soil. Medium optimization for ${\beta}-mannanase$ production by Bacillus sp. WS-14 was performed. Effect of various carbon sources on ${\beta}-mannanase$ production was investigated and locust bean gum was the most effective for ${\beta}-mannanase$ production. ${\beta}-mannanase$ activity and cell growth increased with increasing the concentration of locust bean gum, however, the amounts were not significant. Among nitrogen sources, soytone was the most effective for ${\beta}-mannanase$ production. Inorganic compounds such as $KH_2PO_4,\;NaCl\;Na_2CO_3\;and\;MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O\;on\;{\beta}-mannanase$ production were optimized for ${\beta}-mannanase$ production. Locust bean gum of 10.0 g/l, soytone of 5.0 g/l, $KH_2PO_4$ of 2.0 g/l, NaCl of 10.0 g/l, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O\;of\;0.2\;g/l,\;Na_2CO_3$, of 2.0 g/l were selected as optimum content. Production of ${\beta}-mannanase$ by using the optimum medium was carried out. The maximum ${\beta}-mannanase$ activity of 20.8 unit/ml could be obtained after 14 h fermentation which corresponed to the productivity of ${\beta}-mannanase$ of 1.48 unit/ml-h.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.156-164
• /
• 2015

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive memory loss and neuronal cell death. Although numerous previous studies have been focused on disease progression or reverse pathological symptoms, therapeutic strategies for AD are limited. Alternatively, the identification of traditional herbal medicines or their active compounds has received much attention. The aims of the present study were to characterize the ameliorating effects of spinosin, a C-glucosylflavone isolated from Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa, on memory impairment or the pathological changes induced through amyloid-${\beta}_{1-42}$ oligomer ($A{\beta}O$) in mice. Memory impairment was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of $A{\beta}O$ ($50{\mu}M$) and spinosin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was administered for 7 days. In the behavioral tasks, the subchronic administration of spinosin (20 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated $A{\beta}O$-induced cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance task or the Y-maze task. To identify the effects of spinosin on the pathological changes induced through $A{\beta}O$, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were performed. Spinosin treatment also reduced the number of activated microglia and astrocytes observed after $A{\beta}O$ injection. In addition, spinosin rescued the $A{\beta}O$-induced decrease in choline acetyltransferase expression levels. These results suggest that spinosin ameliorated memory impairment induced through $A{\beta}O$, and these effects were regulated, in part, through neuroprotective activity via the anti-inflammatory effects of spinosin. Therefore, spinosin might be a useful agent against the amyloid ${\beta}$ protein-induced cognitive dysfunction observed in AD patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 1998

A total of 1033 Brown Swiss and 610 Canadienne cows were phenotyped for the genetic variants ${\alpha}_{s1}$-casein, ${\beta}$-casein, ${\kappa}$-casein, ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin and ${\alpha}$-lactalbumin. In Brown Swiss, frequency distributions were: 97.3% B and 2.7% C variant of ${\alpha}_{s1}$-casein; 31.6% $A^1$, 51.8% $A^2$, 0.5% $A^3$ and 16.1% B variant of ${\beta}$-casein; 70.4% A, 29.3% B, and 0.3% C variant of ${\kappa}$-casein; 41.7% A and 58.3% B variant of ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin; and 100% B variant of ${\alpha}$-lactalbumin. Corresponding frequencies in Canadienne for those five milk proteins were: 98.6 and 1.4%;58.5, 33.5, 0.08 and 7.9%; 78.8, 21.1 and 0.1%, 42.4 and 57.6%; and 100%. Analysis of variance by least squares showed possible association between milk protein phenotypes and some lactational production traits. There were no significant association of phenotypes of ${\alpha}_{s1}$-casein, ${\beta}$-casein and ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin with milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, fat percentage and protein percentage in both breeds during the three lactations. In the Brown Swiss, ${\kappa}$-casein phenotype was associated with 305-day fat yield and protein yield during the first lactation. ${\kappa}$-Casein AB was associated with higher milk, fat and protein yield during the second lactation. During the third lactation, ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin AA in Canadienne cows was associated with higher protein content in the milk (3.70%) when compared to phenotypes AB (3.54%) and BB (3.64%).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.898-908
• /
• 2000

Background : Eotaxin a CC chemokine specific for eosinophils, is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma by recruiting eosinophils into the airways. Theophylline has been used for the treatment of asthma and recently was proposed to have an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study is to examine whether theophylline may inhibit the eosinophilic airway inflammation by reducing the expression of eotaxin. Methods : The expression of eotaxin mRNA was assessed by Northern analysis in A549 cells 4 h after stimulation with TNF-$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$. And then, theophylline was added to A549 cells stimulated with 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$. Results : Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL TNF-$\alpha$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 7%, 22%. 28%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$, as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 10%, 42%, 63%, 72%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone induced by 10 ng/mL TNF-$\alpha$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 27%, 18%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rate after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 43%, 47%, 12%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 mM theophylline induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$, as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 48%, 40%, 33%, 22%, 16%, 14%, respectively. Conclusion : These results suggest that theophylline may reduce eosinophil infiltration of the airway at least in part by reducing the expression of eotaxin under the conditions of these experiments.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.339-346
• /
• 2014

A bacterial strain was isolated from homemade doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) as a producer of the extracellular ${\beta}$-galactosidase, capable of hydrolyzing lactose to liberate galactose and glucose residues. The isolate YB-1414 has been identified as Bacillus licheniformis on the basis of its 16S rDNA sequence, morphology and biochemical properties. The production of ${\beta}$-galactosidase by B. licheniformis YB-1414 reached maximum levels of 6.2 U/ml in culture medium containing wheat bran (1%) and yeast extract (2.5%) as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Particularly, the insoluble fraction was more effective for ${\beta}$-galactosidase production than the soluble extract of wheat bran. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity for hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (pNP-${\beta}Gal$) under reaction conditions of pH 6.0 and $55-60^{\circ}C$. Its hydrolyzing activity for pNP-${\beta}Gal$ was drastically decreased by the addition of low concentrations of galactose, but only slightly decreased by glucose, with 85% of maximal activity in the presence of 400 mM glucose.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2017

Background: The effects of radiation on tissues vary depending on the radiation type. In this study, a minipig model was used to compare the effects of ${\beta}$-rays from $^{166}Ho$ and ${\gamma}$-rays from $^{60}Co$ on the skin. Materials and Methods: In this study, the detrimental effects of ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-irradiation on the skin were assessed in minipigs. The histopathological changes in the skin from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to 50 Gy of either ${\beta}$- (using $^{166}Ho$ patches) or ${\gamma}$- (using $^{60}Co$) irradiation were assessed. Results and Discussion: The skin irradiated by ${\beta}$-rays was shown to exhibit more severe skin injury than that irradiated by ${\gamma}$-rays at 1-3 weeks post-exposure; however, while the skin lesions caused by ${\beta}$-rays recovered after 8 weeks, the ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin lesions were not repaired after this time. The observed histopathological changes corresponded with gross appearance scores. Seven days post-irradiation, apoptotic cells in the basal layer were detected more frequently in ${\beta}$-irradiated skin than in ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin. The basal cell density and skin thickness gradually decreased until 4 weeks after ${\gamma}$- and ${\beta}$- irradiation. In ${\beta}$-irradiated skin lesions, and the density and thickness increased sharply back to control levels by 6-9 weeks. However, this was not the case in ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin lesions. In ${\gamma}$-irradiated skin, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was shown to be expressed in the epidermis, endothelial cells of vessels, and fibroblasts, while ${\beta}$-irradiated lesions exhibited COX-2 expression that was mostly limited to the epidermis. Conclusion: In this study, ${\beta}$-rays were shown to induce more severe skin injury than ${\gamma}$-rays; however, the ${\beta}$-rays-induced injury was largely repaired over time, while the ${\gamma}$-rays-induced injury was not repaired and instead progressed to necrosis. These findings reveal the differential effects of ${\gamma}$- and ${\beta}$-irradiation on skin and demonstrate the use of minipigs as a beneficial experimental model for studying irradiation-induced skin damage.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.42.1-42.1
• /
• 2015

Accurately estimating black hole (BH) masses at high redshifts is imperative in the current and future era of large-area extragalactic spectroscopic surveys. We present an extension of existing comparisons between rest-frame UV and optical virial BH mass estimators to intermediate redshifts, lower luminosities, and lower BH masses, comparable to the local $H{\beta}$ reverberation-mapping sample. We use data from the AGES survey and also newly acquired near-infrared spectra from the FMOS instrument on Subaru telescope for 89 broad-lined active galaxies at redshifts between 0.5 and 1.6. We focus on the MgII, CIV, and CIII broad emission lines and compare them to both $H{\alpha}$ and $H{\beta}$, using two different prescriptions to describe their emission profile width. We confirm that MgII shows a tight correlation with $H{\alpha}$, with a scatter of ~0.25 dex. The CIV and CIII estimators can be considered viable virial mass estimators, despite large scatter values. We combine our dataset with previous high redshift and high luminosity CIV and CIII measurements from the literature and we calculate a scatter of $\sim0.4$ dex and an offset to the 1:1 relation consistent with 0 for the combined sample. This updated comparison spans a total of 4 decades in BH mass, a much wider range than any previous individual study.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.444-449
• /
• 1991

Synthesis of maltosyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin using maltose ($G_2$) and $\beta$-cyclodextrin ($\beta$-CD) as substrates through the reverse reaction of pullulanase was investigated. The optimal conditions for the condensation reaction were as below: mixing ratio of maltose to $\beta$-CD of 12.7, mixed substrate concentration of 70% (w/w, 70 g/100 ml $H_2O$), and amount of pullulanse of 350 units/100 ml. The concentration of synthesized maltosyl-P-CD concentration was reached up to 2.31 g/100 rnl at above reaction conditions, which corresponded the conversion yield of 43% (w/w, g of branched-CD/g of CD). The synthesis of maltosyl-$\alpha >\gamma >\beta$-CD was also attempted, and conversion yield was in the order of a>y>J3-CDs. Condensation reaction between various maltooligosaccharides ($G-1\sim G_6$ showed that maltose was the most effective oligorner for condensation reaction with $\beta$-CD. To increase the conversion yield various alcohols were added into the reaction mixture, amyl alcohol was found to be the most acceptable alcohol for increasement of convesion yield which increased from 43.0 to 83.0% upon addition of same volume of amyl alcohol into the reaction mixture.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2010

Isoflavone distribution and $\beta$-glucosidase activity in 16 commercially available doenjang samples were determined. Twelve of the samples were home-made doenjang (HMD) with a relatively long fermentation period and 4 of the samples were factory-produced doenjang (FPD) from four different manufactures. Total isoflavones (TI) in the HMD ranged from $370-723\;{\mu}g/g$, while those in FPD ranged from $179-537\;{\mu}g/g$. The isoflavone distribution in HMD was different from those in FPD. Generally, the TI in HMD was higher than those in FPD. The major isoflavone was aglycones, which ranged from 42.98 to 89.96% in HMD and from 35.51 to 93.48% in FPD. Isoflavones in the $\beta$-glucoside forms were not detected in tested FPD samples. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the isoflavone profiles showed that HMD were differentiated from FPD. First principal component (PC1) and second principal component (PC2) expressed 43.6 and 22.9% of the data variability, respectively. $\beta$-Glucosidase activity in doenjang was lower than that in raw soybeans. The results of this study can be used to understand the differences in the isoflavone distribution in traditionally manufactured and factory produced doenjang.