• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2002.11b
• /
• pp.14-40
• /
• 2002

15-Deoxy- Δ$\^$12,14/-prostaglandin J$_2$ (15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$), a naturally occurring ligand activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$). Activation of PPAR-y has been found to induce cell differentiation such as adipose cell and macrophage. Here it was investigated whether 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ has neuronal cell differentiation and possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Dopaminergic differentiating PC 12 cells treated with 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ (0.2 to 1.6 ${\mu}$M) alone showed measurable neurite extension and expression of neurofilament, markers of cell differentiation. However much greater extent of neurite extension and expression of neurofilament was observed in the presence of NGF (50 ng/$m\ell$). In parallel with its increasing effect on the neurite extension and expression of neurofilament, 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ enhanced NGF-induced p38 MAP kinase expression and its phosphorylation in addition to the activation of transcription factor AP-1 in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, pretreatment of SD 203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase inhibited the promoting effect of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ (0.8 ${\mu}$M) on NGF-induced neurite extension. This inhibition correlated well with the ability of SB203580 to inhibit the enhancing effect of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ on the expression of p38 MAP kinase and activation of AP-1. The promoting ability of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ did not occur through PPAR-${\gamma}$, as synthetic PPAR-${\gamma}$ agonist and antagonist did not change the neurite promoting effect of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$. In addition, contrast to other cells (embryonic midbrain and SK-N-MC cells), PPAR-${\gamma}$ was not expressed in PC-12 cells. Other structure related prostaglandins, PGD$_2$ and PGE$_2$ acting via a cell surface G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) did not increase basal or NGF-induced neurite extension. Moreover, GPCR (EP and DP receptor) antagonists did not alter the promoting effect of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ on neurite extension and activation of p38 MAP kinase, suggesting that the promoting effect of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ may not be mediated GPCR. These data demonstrate that activation of p38 MAP kinase in conjunction with AP-1 signal pathway may be important in the promoting activity of 15-deoxy-PGJ$_2$ on the differentiation of PC12 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2009

Pisidium (Neopisidium) coreanum is a freshwater snail and lives in spring water near mountain areas. Interestingly, this snail has been traditionally regarded as medicinal food, and thus has been used as folk remedies for healing broken bones. Recently, alpha classification on Pisidium (Neopisidium) coreanum through redescription has been conducted. However, not much attention has been made in beta classification. In this study, we performed the beta classification based on metallothionein (MT) genes found from various organisms. To this end, the complete cDNA sequences were obtained from the Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) sequencing project of Pisidium (Neopisidium) coreanum. The coding region (315 bp) encoded an amino acid sequence of 105 residues. The combined results from BLAST analyses, multiple sequence alignment and molecular phylogenetic study of Pc-MT gene indicate that Pisidium (Neopisidium) coreanum has similarity to freshwater bivalve such as Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel), Unio tumidus (swollen river mussel) and Crassostrea ariakensis (suminoe oyster).

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.9
• /
• pp.1243-1253
• /
• 2012

The production and secretion of growth hormone (GH) in the anterior pituitary gland can be induced by several natural products to control cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. To investigate whether Chungkookjang (CKJ) produced by the fermentation process affects GH-related metabolism, the secretion and the response of GH were observed in pituitary cells and GH target cells. Among six CKJs manufactured by different strains of glycine max, only three CKJs, including Daewon (DW), Daepung (DP), and Taegwang (TG), induced GH secretion from GH3 cells at 5.0 mg/ml concentration. There were no significant changes detected in the viability of any of the cells treated with these CKJs. In addition, the increase in GH secretion from the GH3 cells was dependent on the concentration of the three types of CKJs. The proliferation of cell lines, including MG63 and HepG2 cells, that originated from those derived from the GH target organs was significantly activated by treatment with the GH-containing conditional medium (GCM) harvested from the three CKJ-treated GH3 cells, although their induction rate was different from each other. In these cells, p-STAT5 was maximally translocated into the nucleus of MG63 cells 30 min after DW treatment, while it was translocated in HepG2 cells at 60 min. These results suggest that these three types of CKJ could enhance the secretion of GH, as well as the GCM-derived response, in the two target organs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.845-855
• /
• 2013

Requirements of dietary chloride (dCl) and chloride salts were determined by using $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement under four phase feeding program. Four levels (0.31, 0.45, 0.59 and 0.73%) and two sources ($NH_4Cl$ and $CaCl_2$) of the dCl were allocated to 1,472 chicks in eight dietary treatments in which each treatment was replicated four times with 46 birds per replicate. The four phase feeding program was comprised of four dietary phases: Prestarter (d 1 to 10), Starter (d 11 to 20), Grower (d 21 to 33) and Finisher (d 34 to 42); and diets were separately prepared for each phase. The cations, anions, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity were analyzed in drinking water and were not affected by dietary treatments. BW gain (BWG; $p{\leq}0.009$) and feed:gain (FG; $p{\leq}0.03$) were improved in $CaCl_2$ supplemented diets during d 1 to 10. The maximum response of BWG and FG was observed at 0.38% and 0.42% dCl, respectively, for d 34 to 42. However, the level of dCl for BWG during d 21 to 33 ($p{\leq}0.04$) and d 34 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.009$) was optimized at 0.60% and 0.42%, respectively. The level of dCl for optimized feed intake (FI; $p{\leq}0.006$), FG ($p{\leq}0.007$) and litter moisture (LM; $p{\leq}0.001$) was observed at 0.60%, 0.38% and 0.73%, respectively, for d 1 to 42. Water intake (DWI) was not affected by increasing dCl supplementation (p>0.05); however, the ratio between DWI and FI (DWI:FI) was found highest at 0.73% dCl during d 1 to 10 ($p{\leq}0.05$) and d 21 to 33 ($p{\leq}0.009$). Except for d 34 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.006$), the increasing level of dCl did not result in a significant difference in mortality during any phase. Blood pH and glucose, and breast and thigh weights (percentage of dressed weight) were improved while dressing percentage (DP) and gastrointestinal health were exacerbated with $NH_4Cl$ as compared to $CaCl_2$ supplemented diets ($p{\leq}0.001$). Higher plasma $Na^+$ and $HCO_3{^-}$ and lower $Cl^-$ and $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ were observed in $NH_4Cl$ supplemented diets ($p{\leq}0.001$). Increasing supplementation of dCl increased plasma $Cl^-$ ($p{\leq}0.04$; quadratically) and linearly reduced plasma $K^+$ ($p{\leq}0.001$), $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ ($p{\leq}0.003$), $HCO_3{^-}$ ($p{\leq}0.001$), and $Na^+$ ($p{\leq}0.001$; quadratically). Consequently, higher requirements of dietary chloride are suggested for feed intake; nevertheless, lower levels of dietary chloride are sufficient to support optimal BWG and FG with increasing age. The $NH_4Cl$ supplemented diets ameliorate breast and thigh meat yield along with overall energy balance (glucose).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.1119-1124
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out for improvement and correction of the traditional pressure variation method (PVM) in the respiration rate measurements of fresh fruits and vegetables using a microcomputer system and a differential pressure sensor. Water vapor pressure in the container was calculated by equations for psychrometric calculations. At the beginning of experimental period water vapor pressure in the container was increased and maintained constantly in the most experimental period, but was decreased dramatically after $CO_2$ scrubbing. The percentages of water vapor pressure on total differential pressure were $33{\sim}46%$ at $1^{\circ}C$, $23{\sim}45%$ at $11^{circ}C$ and $35{\sim}53%$ at $21^{\circ}C$. The differences between the respiration rates determined by gas chromatography and corrected pressure variation method (CPVM) were $0.2{\sim}0.3\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $1^{\circ}C$, $0.2{\sim}2.9\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $11^{\circ}C$ and 1.0{\sim}9.0\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $21^{circ}C$, while those between gas chromatography and normal pressure variation method (PVM) were $0.8{\sim}1.2\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $1^{\circ}C$, $3.9{\sim}11.0\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $11^{\circ}C$ and $8.0{\sim}32.0\;mgCO_2kg^{-1}h^{-1}$ at $21^{circ}C$, respectively. The differences of the respiration rates with CPVM were smaller than those with PVM. CPVM, therefore, were more exact and convenient method than PVM in the measurement of respiration rate of fresh produce.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.467-473
• /
• 2003

Purpose : The Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), gamma herpesvirus, is an important pathogen that is widespread around the world. The EBV causes various diseases depending on the geographic location, and on the immunity or the premorbid condition of the person exposed to EBV. To evaluate EBV typing may be the most important step to figure out the pathogenesis of EBV associated diseases, and we need to re-evaluate the pathologic role of human leukocyte antigen(HLA) in developing Epstein- Barr virus associated acute infectious mononucleosis by using newly developed methods. Methods : This study included 24 children(age range : 6 to 13 years), serologically confirmed with acute infectious mononucleosis. The control group for the HLA type consisted of 200 age-matched healthy children. To classify HLA I, modified ARMs-PCR was used, while modified PCR-SSOP was utilized in typing of HLA II. Also, we performed EBV typing in study patients by using a one-step PCR. Results : The results of HLA types : In HLA class I, HLA-A24 was positive in 69 of 200 healthy children and positive in 14 of 24 patients in the study group(relative risk : 3.5724, chi-square; 5.26, P<0.05). In HLA class II, HLA-DRB1*07 was detected in 18 of 200 healthy children, and eight of 24 patients in the study group(relative risk; 506173, chi-square; 9.73, P<0.01). The results of EBV types : In the research group, 20(83.8%) of 24 patients were shedding type A virus, while 4(16.7%) were type B. Conclusion : We conclude that development of infectious mononucleosis may be associated with HLA types, and these results suggest that acute infectious mononucleosis could have hereditary traits. And we confirm that type A EBV is highly prevalent in patients with acute infectious mononucleosis in Korea. Also, our results suggest that further large scale studies, including adult groups, regarding the association between pathogenesis of EBV with HLA-DP or HLA-DQ will be warranted.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.293-298
• /
• 2014

This study conducted experiments on the reclaimed land of Saemangeum located in Jeongrabuk-do in order to gain basic information about growth characteristics and yield ability according to soil salinity. Having soil excluding salt as a control group, this study adjusted the specimens' soil salinity to level 4 and then planted four varieties including Ilmichal Corn to investigate the growth or grain yield according to salinity. About the corn establishment rate according to soil salinity, over 97% up to $3.2dS\;m^{-1}$ was established, and then, it was reduced gradually according to the increase of concentration. According to the salt concentration of soil more required growth duration from seeding to heading comparing to non-treatment salt was delayed, at $1.6dS\;m^{-1}$, two days were delayed, at $3.2dS\;m^{-1}$, four to six days were delayed differently by varieties, and at $4.8dS\;m^{-1}$, six to 10 days were delayed. About the plant fresh weight according to soil salinity, Chalok 4 and Eolrukchal indicated 93%~97% or so compared with the salt-free one at $1.6dS\;m^{-1}$, and Chalok No. 4 showed 79% at the salinity of $3.2dS\;m^{-1}$, too, and it was a relatively higher growth percentage than those of the other varieties. In terms of dried seed weight according to soil salinity, compared with the corns cultivated in the control group, averagely 12.1% was lowered at the time of cultivation at $1.6dS\;m^{-1}$, and $3.2dS\;m^{-1}$ 40% was lowered, and about 70% was lowered at $4.8dS\;m^{-1}$. According to the result of examining the point of time that dried seed start to reduce due to soil salinity with the regression equation, soil salinity which starts the reduction of grain weight is $1.67dS\;m^{-1}{\sim}2.18dS\;m^{-1}$, and it differs by varieties, and EC of 50% that the yield reduces in half is $2.96dS\;m^{-1}{\sim}4.45dS\;m^{-1}$. And the degree of influence on each of the growth factors according to soil salinity is founded to be in the order of establishment rate

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.724-732
• /
• 2000

Background : In patients with severe chronic lung diseases even a small pneumothorax can result in life-threatening respiratory distress. It is important to treat the attack by chest tube drainage until the lung expands. Pneumothorax with a persistent air leak that does not resolve under prolonged tube thoracostomy suction is usually treated by open operation to excise or oversew a bulla or cluster of blebs to stop the air leak. Pleurodesis by the instillation of chemical agents is used for the patient who has persistent air leak and is not good candidate for surgical treatment. When the primary trial of pleurodesis with common agent fails, it is uncertain which agent should be used f or stopping the air leak by pleurodesis. It is well known that inappropriate drainage of hemothorax results in severe pleural adhesion and thickening. Based on this idea, some reports described a successful treatment with autologous blood instillation for pneumothorax patients with or without residual pleural space. We tried pleurodesis with autologous bood for pneumothorax with persistent air leak and then we evaluated the efficacy and safety. Methods : Fifteen patients who had persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease were enrolled. They were not good candidates for surgical treatment and doxycycline pleurodesis failed to stop up their air leaks. We used a mixture of autologous blood and 50% dextrose for pleurodesis. Effect and complications were assessed by clinical out∞me, chest radiography and pulmonary function tests. Results : The mean duration of air leak was 18.4${\pm}$6.16 days before ABP (autologous blood and dextrose pleurodesis) and $5.2{\pm}1.68$ days after ABP. The mean severity of pain was $2.3{\pm}0.70$ for DP(doxycycline pleurodesis) and $1.7{\pm}0.59$ for ABDP (p<0.05). There was no other complication except mild fever. Pleural adhesion grade was a mean of $0.6{\pm}0.63$. The mean dyspnea scale was $1.7{\pm}0.46$ before pneumothrax and $2.0{\pm}0.59$ after ABDP (p>0.05). The mean $FEV_1$ was $1.47{\pm}1.01$ before pneumothorax and $1.44{\pm}1.00$ after ABDP (p>0.05). Except in 1 patient, 14 patients had no recurrent pneumothorax. Conclusion : Autologous blood pleurodesis (ABP) was successful for treatment of persistent air leak in the pneumothorax. It was easy and inexpensive and involved less pain than doxycycline pleurodesis. It did not cause complications and severe pleural adhesion. We report that ABP can be considered as a useful treatment for persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.1693-1699
• /
• 2008

Recent studies have suggested that inulin might be utilized as a prebiotics for the promotion of antimicrobial growth, but a major obstacle to the use of inulin has been its low bifidogenic effects, which were initially observed in the ceca of broiler chickens. Inulin has some problems with related to denaturation in air and lowering passage rate from upper digestive tract to caecum. To solve this problems, a newly developed compound derived by microencapsulation, inuloprebiotics, was hypothesized to enrich cecal bifidobacterial populations and reduce the colonization levels of Salmonella in the ceca of broiler chickens. The in vitro growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei grew effectively on the medium containing inulin, whereas the growth of Streptococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens was not differences among the treatment groups. Broiler chickens consumed chow diets containing 0.5%, 0.7% or 1.0% inuloprebiotics, or a control diet without inuloprebiotics supplementation. The chickens on the inuloprebioticssupplemented diets evidenced significantly higher cecal levels of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species as compared with the chickens on the control diet. The population of cecal E. coli and Salmonella was specifically reduced as the result of treatment with inuloprebiotics. However, we noted no significant differences in Bifidobacterium species, E. coli and Salmonella counts among the inuloprebiotics treatment groups. The inuloprebiotics-supplemented diets induced an increase in the serum IgG concentration. The thymus index was significantly increased in the broiler chickens that consumed diets containing 0.7% or 1.0% inuloprebiotics, with the exception of the chickens consuming the diet supplemented with 0.5% inuloprebiotics. These results indicate that the inuloprebiotic preparations exerted an immune system-promoting effect or selectively enriched the cecal Bifidobacterium species populations in the broiler chickens, and also suggest that inuloprebiotics may prove useful as a stable natural antimicrobial agent.