• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.267-271
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• 1997

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is posulated to occur in granulosa cells in ovarian follicular atresia. bcl-2 gene serves as protector from apoptosis and, thus, is associated with increased cell survival. TRPM-2 gene expression has been implicated as a trigger of apoptosis in rat prostate, uterus and mammary gland. Our objective was to determine if bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are expressed in luteinized human GC and, therefore, have regulatory functions for apoptosis in GC. Human GC were obtained via oocyte retrival from the infertile patients stimulated with exogeneous gonadotropins while undergoing IVF. GC were isolated from follicular fluid using Percoll gradient centrifugation. The GC were further purified with anti-CD45 magnetic beads to remove contaminating WBC's. RT-PCR were performed to analyze the mRNA expression of bcl-2 and TRPM-2 in the GC. The PCR primers were designed to amplify a 195 bp fragment of bcl-2 and a 174 bp fragment of TRPM-2. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 4% agarose gel. Three separate experiments indicated that both bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed in human GC. We cultured granulosa cells with FSH (1 ng/ml) for 1 day to investigate the relative changes of TRPM-2 mRNA level with RNAse protection assay. When we cultured GC with serum free medium for 1 day TRPM-2 mRNA level increased with 1.3 fold, however it was decreased 0.64 fold with FSH. Therefore we conclude that bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed and that the interaction of their products may be involved in GC apoptosis. And TRPM-2 may be regulated with FSH.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2017

Objective: To identify the associations between polymorphisms of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which codes for an important regulatory enzyme primarily involved in folate metabolism, and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in Korean women. Methods: The study population comprised 369 RPL patients and 228 controls. MTHFR 2572C > A, 4869C > G, 5488C > T, and 6685T > C 3'-UTR polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or by TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Natural killer cell proportions were determined by flow cytometry. Results: The MTHFR 2572-5488-6685 (A-C-T) haplotype had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.420 (95% confidence interval, 0.178-0.994; p= 0.048) for RPL. Analysis of variance revealed that MTHFR 4869C > G was associated with altered $CD56^+$ natural killer cell percentages (CC, $17.91%{\pm}8.04%$; CG, $12.67%{\pm}4.64%$; p= 0.024) and folate levels (CC, $12.01{\pm}7.18mg/mL$; CG, $22.15{\pm}26.25mg/mL$; p= 0.006). Conclusion: Variants in the 3'-UTR of MTHFR are potential biomarkers for RPL. However, these results should be validated in additional studies of ethnically diverse groups of patients.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1052-1062
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• 2011

Residual of heavy metals originated from abandoned metal mines in agricultural field can cause adverse effect on ecosystem and eventually on human health. For this reason, remediation of heavy metal contaminated agriculture field is a critical issue. In this study, five different amendments, agriculture lime, dolomite, steel slag, zeolite, and compost, were evaluated for stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in agricultural field. Applied mixing ratio of amendments was varied (2% or 6%) depending on properties of amendments. Result showed that soil pH was increased compared to control (6.1-6.7) after mixing with amendments and ordered as dolomite (7.2~8.3) > steel slag (6.7~8.1) > agriculture lime (6.6~7.4) > zeolite (6.2~6.9) > compost (6.1~7.1). Among other amendments, agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite showed the highest stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in soil. For Cd, stabilization efficiency was 49~72%, 51~83%, and 0~36% for agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite respectively. In case of Pb, 43~64, 37~73%, and 51~73% of stabilization efficiency was observed for agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite respectively. However, minimal effect of heavy metal stabilization was observed for zeolite and compost. Based on result of this study, amendments that can increase the soil pH were the most efficient to stabilize heavy metal residuals and can be adapted for remediation purpose in agricultural field.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.580-588
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 has been shown to clear senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) in cultured cells. It remains unknown whether Rg1 can influence SA-${\beta}$-gal in exercising human skeletal muscle. Methods: To examine SA-${\beta}$-gal change, 12 young men (age $21{\pm}0.2years$) were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled crossover study, under two occasions: placebo (PLA) and Rg1 (5 mg) supplementations 1 h prior to a high-intensity cycling (70% $VO_{2max}$). Muscle samples were collected by multiple biopsies before and after cycling exercise (0 h and 3 h). To avoid potential effect of muscle biopsy on performance assessment, cycling time to exhaustion test (80% $VO_{2max}$) was conducted on another 12 participants (age $23{\pm}0.5years$) with the same experimental design. Results: No changes of SA-${\beta}$-gal were observed after cycling in the PLA trial. On the contrary, nine of the 12 participants showed complete elimination of SA-${\beta}$-gal in exercised muscle after cycling in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.05). Increases in apoptotic DNA fragmentation (PLA: +87% vs. Rg1: +133%, p < 0.05) and $CD68^+$ (PLA:+78% vs. Rg1:+121%, p = 0.17) occurred immediately after cycling in both trials. During the 3-h recovery, reverses in apoptotic nuclei content (PLA:+5% vs. Rg1 -32%, p < 0.01) and increases in inducible nitrate oxide synthase and interleukin 6 mRNA levels of exercised muscle were observed only in the Rg1 trial (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Rg1 supplementation effectively eliminates senescent cells in exercising human skeletal muscle and improves high-intensity endurance performance.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.318-323
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• 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that present immunosuppressive effects in experimental and clinical trials targeting various rare diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, recent studies have reported tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) possesses uncanonical roles such as angiostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the function of WRS in MSC-based therapy. In this study, we investigated if a novel factor, WRS, secreted from MSCs has a role in amelioration of IBD symptoms and determined a specific mechanism underlying MSC therapy. Experimental colitis was induced by administration of 3% DSS solution to 8-week-old mice and human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) were injected intraperitoneally. Secretion of WRS from hUCB-MSCs and direct effect of WRS on isolated $CD4^+$ T cells was determined via in vitro experiments and hUCB-MSCs showed significant therapeutic rescue against experimental colitis. Importantly, WRS level in serum of colitis induced mice decreased and recovered by administration of MSCs. Through in vitro examination, WRS expression of hUCB-MSCs increased when cells were treated with interferon-${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$). WRS was evaluated and revealed to have a role in inhibiting activated T cells by inducing apoptosis. In summary, $IFN-{\gamma}$-mediated secretion of WRS from MSCs has a role in suppressive effect on excessive inflammation and disease progression of IBD and brings new highlights in the immunomodulatory potency of hUCB-MSCs.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.455-462
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• 2020

Leuconostoc mesenteroides CJNU 0705 was isolated from a breast milk sample and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and confirmed by its ability to produce dextran from tryptic soy agar plates supplemented with 2% sucrose. This strain can absorb various heavy metals including lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) which are both found in fine dust and have been shown to be harmful to human skin. In addition, Leu. mesenteroides CJNU 0705 has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the primary causative agent of acne. Given these traits it was natural to evaluate the use of this strain in the fermentation of several natural extracts from green tea, carrot, annual wormwood, parsley, broccoli, and corn silk, which are known to improve skin health, to see if it could increase their dextran content when supplemented with no sucrose, 2% sucrose, or 2% sucrose and 3% yeast extract. The extracts supplemented with both yeast and sucrose were found to produce the most dextran, which was confirmed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. These results suggest that Leu. mesenteroides CJNU 0705 and its fermented natural extracts could be used as functional materials for improving human skin health.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, we evaluate psychological stress, symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood and resilience which medical residents and interns perceived during COVID-19 event, then investigate the associations between stress and the symptoms and mediating effect of resilience on the associations. Methods : In this study, we made a self-reporting form to evaluate psychological stress with perceived stress scale (PSS), symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood with Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD), and resilience with Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Medical residents and interns, who worked in a hospital during COVID-19 event, filled the self-reporting forms from july, 2020 to august, 2020. We conducted a Pearson correlation coefficient and a multiple regression to confirm association between psychological stress and symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood, then mediating effect of resilience. Results : The higher stress perceived, the more symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood were reported by medical residents and interns. The higher resilience is associated with lower stress and less symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood, which resilience is proven to mediate partially the association between stress and symptoms of depressed mood. Conclusions : This study shows that resilience has a partial mediating effects on the association between stress and psychological pathology especially depressed mood, given that medical residents and interns were under psychological distress during COVID-19 event. This suggests that resilience is the key for medical trainees to overcome the future crisis like COVID-19 event.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1099-1112
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidemia causes metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver syndrome due to abnormally high blood lipids. Purple perilla frutescens extract (PPE) possesses various bioactive compounds such as α-asarone, chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid. This study examined whether PPE and α-asarone improved dyslipidemia-associated inflammation and inhibited atheroma formation in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice, an experimental animal model of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS/METHODS: ApoE-deficient mice were fed on high cholesterol-diet (Paigen's diet) and orally administrated with 10-20 mg/kg PPE and α-asarone for 10 wk. RESULTS: The Paigen's diet reduced body weight gain in apoE-deficient mice, which was not restored by PPE or α-asarone. PPE or α-asarone improved the plasma lipid profiles in Paigen's diet-fed apoE-deficient mice, and despite a small increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and very LDL were significantly reduced. Paigen's diet-induced systemic inflammation was reduced in PPE or α-asarone-treated apoE-deficient mice. Supplying PPE or α-asarone to mice lacking apoE suppressed aorta atherogenesis induced by atherogenic diet. PPE or α-asarone diminished aorta accumulation of CD68- and/or F4/80-positive macrophages induced by atherogenic diet in apoE-deficient mice. Treatment of apoE-deficient mice with PPE and α-asarone resulted in a significant decrease in plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein level and an increase in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase reduced by supply of Paigen's diet. Supplementation of PPE and α-asarone enhanced the transcription of hepatic apoA1 and SR-B1 reduced by Paigen's diet in apoE-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS: α-Asarone in PPE inhibited inflammation-associated atheroma formation and promoted hepatic HDL-C trafficking in dyslipidemic mice.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.425-437
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• 2023

Obesity, which continues to increase worldwide, was shown to irreversibly impair the differentiation potential and angiogenic properties of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs). Because these cells are intended for regenerative medicine, especially for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, and the effects of obesity on the immunomodulatory properties of ADSCs are not yet clear, here we investigated how ADSCs isolated from former obese subjects (Ex-Ob) would influence macrophage differentiation and polarization, since these cells are the main instructors of inflammatory responses. Analysis of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of overweight (OW) and Ex-Ob subjects showed the maintenance of approximately twice as many macrophages in Ex-Ob SAT, contained within the CD68⁺/FXIII-A^- inflammatory pool. Despite it, in vitro, coculture experiments revealed that Ex-Ob ADSCs instructed monocyte differentiation into a M2-like profile, and under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS treatment, inhibited HLA-DR upregulation by resting M0 macrophages, originated a similar percentage of TNF-α⁺ cells, and inhibited IL-10 secretion, similar to OW-ADSCs and BMSCs, which were used for comparison, as these are the main alternative cell types available for therapeutic purposes. Our results showed that Ex-Ob ADSCs mirrored OW-ADSCs in macrophage education, favoring the M2 immunophenotype and a mixed (M1/M2) secretory response. These results have translational potential, since they provide evidence that ADSCs from both Ex-Ob and OW subjects can be used in regenerative medicine in eligible therapies. Further in vivo studies will be fundamental to validate these observations.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine fertilizer nutrient and pollutant production of Holstein dairy cattle by estimating manure characteristics. The moisture content of feces was 83.9% and 95.1% for urine. The pH of feces and urine were in the ranges of 7.0～7.4 and 7.5～7.8, respectively. The average BOD5, COD, SS, T-N, T-P concentrations of the dairy feces were 18,294, 52,765, 102,889, 2,575, and 457mg/ℓ, respectively. Dairy urine showed lower levels of BOD5(5,455mg/ℓ), COD(8,089mg/ℓ), SS(593mg/ℓ), T-N(3,401mg/l), and T-P(13mg/ℓ) than feces. The total daily produced pollutant amounts of a dairy cow were 924.1g(Milking cow), 538.8g(Dry cow), 284.4g(Heifer) of BOD5, 2,336.5g (Milking cow), 1,651.8g(Dry cow), 734.1g(Heifer) of COD and 4,210.1g(Milking cow), 2,417.1g(Dry cow), 1,629.1g(Heifer) of SS and 194.8g(Milking cow), 96.4g(Dry cow), 58.3g(Heifer) of T-N and 24.0g(Milking cow), 10.2g(Dry cow), 6.1g(Heifer) of T-P. The calculated amount of pollutants produced by a 450kg dairy cow for one year were 181.3kg of BOD5, 492.5kg of COD, 899.9kg of SS, 36.0kg of T-N and 4.1kg of T-P. The total yearly estimated pollutant production from all head(497,261) of dairy cattle in Korea is 90,149 tons of BOD5, 244,890 tons of COD, 447,491 tons of SS, 17,898 tons of T-N and 2,008 tons of T-P. The fertilizer nutrient concentrations of dairy feces was 0.26% N, 0.1% P2O5 and 0.14% K2O. Urine was found to contain 0.34% N, 0.003% of P2O5 and 0.31% K2O. The total daily fertilizer nutrients produced by dairy cattle were 197.4g (Milking cow), 97.4g(Dry cow), and 57.9g(Heifer) of Nitrogen, 54.2g(Milking cow), 22.2g(Dry cow), and 14.2g(Heifer) of P2O5 and 110.8g(Milking cow), 80.4g (Dry cow), and 39.5g(Heifer) of K2O. The total yearly estimated fertilizer nutrient produced by a 450kg dairy animal is 36.2kg of N, 8.8kg of P2O5, 24.6kg of K2O. The estimated yearly fertilizer nutrient production from all dairy cattle in Korea is 18,000 tons of N, 4,397 tons of P2O5, 12,206 tons of K2O. Dairy manure contains useful trace minerals for crops, such as CaO and MgO, which are contained in similar levels to commercial compost being sold in the domestic market. Concentrations of harmful trace minerals, such as As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, met the Korea compost standard regulations, with some of these minerals being in undetected amounts.