• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.458-463
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• 2021

Cytokines activate inflammatory signals and are major mediators in progressive β-cell damage, which leads to type 1 diabetes mellitus. We recently showed that the cell-permeable Tat-CIAPIN1 fusion protein inhibits neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress. However, how the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein affects cytokine-induced β-cell damage has not been investigated yet. Thus, we assessed whether the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein can protect RINm5F β-cells against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. In cytokine-exposed RINm5F β-cells, the transduced Tat-CIAPIN1 protein elevated cell survivals and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation levels. The Tat-CIAPIN1 protein reduced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation levels and elevated Bcl-2 protein, whereas Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 proteins were decreased by this fusion protein. Thus, the protection of RINm5F β-cells by the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity can suggest that the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein might be used as a therapeutic inhibitor against RINm5F β-cell damage.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.203-210
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• 2020

This study was conducted in order to be applied to basic data for enhancing dental hygiene students' psychological well-being. Data analysis was carried out T-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis by using SPSS version 19.0. The order of factors that affect the psychological well-being from the most to the least was sufferance(β=.327) and strength(β=.294) of resilience, support from friends of social support(β=.238), optimistic of resilience(β=.109), major satisfaction(β=.090), academic year(β=.084), and deep sleep(β=.078). Based on the result, this study suggests a need for developing programme to increase students' psychological well-being and a follow-up study.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.317-323
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• 2016

An isoflavone glucosidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of isoflavone glucosides into glucose and corresponding aglycones was purified from Candida fermentati SI. The N-terminal sequence was determined to be GLNCDYCN. We designed degenerate primers on the basis of these amino acid sequences and successfully cloned the full structural gene sequence of the isoflavone glucosidase using inverse PCR. The exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase gene consists of 1227 base-pair nucleotides, encoding a 408-amino-acid sequence that shares 41–96% amino acid homology with other yeast exo-β-(1,3)-glucanases belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 5. The recombinant exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase was expressed in Pichia pastoris X-33, using a pPICZA vector system, and further characterized. The molecular mass of the purified exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 47 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature were pH 4.5 and 40℃, respectively. The K_m values of the purified exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase for daidzin and genistin were 0.12 mM and 0.14 mM, respectively. The V_max values of the purified isoflavone glucosidase were 945.03 U/mg for daidzin and 835.92 U/mg and for genistin.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 2023

Background: This study investigated the structural relationships among justice, test anxiety, and school reliability s non-face-to-face tests of dental hygiene students. Methods: A survey was conducted with 267 dental hygiene students. The survey items included general characteristics, opinions on evaluation, the fairness of non-face-to-face tests (distributive, procedural, and interactional justice), school satisfaction, and school reliability. For statistical analysis, independent-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and structural modeling analyses were performed. Results: Among factors that directly affected distributive justice and reliability towards non-face-to-face tests, the higher the interactional justice (β=0.401, p<0.001) and distributive justice (β=0.232, p=0.002) levels, the higher the school satisfaction. The higher the school satisfaction (β=0.606, p<0.001) and procedural justice (β=0.299, p<0.001) levels, the higher the perceived reliability of the school. Factors that indirectly affected school reliability included interactional justice (β=0.243, p=0.010) and distributive justice (β=0.141, p=0.010). Interactional justice (β=0.592, p=0.010) and distributive justice (β=0.208, p=0.010) were the factors affecting school satisfaction. Moreover, factors that influenced school reliability were distributive justice (β=0.56, p=0.010), interactional justice (β=0.332, p=0.010), procedural justice (β=0.229, p=0.010), and distributive justice (β=0.116, p=0.010). Conclusions: Students will trust and be satisfied with schools when schools and professors sufficiently provide information on face-to-face tests and ensure proper procedures to achieve reasonable grades as rewards for exerted time and effort. Furthermore, this study provides a reference base for developing a variety of content for fair, non-face-to-face tests, thereby allowing students to trust their schools.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.591-600
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• 2022

This study examined the participation of the people with stroke living in the community in terms of productivity, leisure, and social domain, and identified the effect on disability acceptance and anxiety. For data collection, from October 2018 to January 2019, data on disability acceptance, anxiety, and participation were collected from 192 people with stroke who used welfare centers and community services. For general characteristics, t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare participation according to descriptive statistics and general characteristics. Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation between variables, and multiple regression analysis was used to identify causality. As the result, factors affecting the productivity of participation were labor(β=.28, p<.001), de-emphasis on disability salience(β=.14, p<.05), compensatory(β=.22, p<.01), and subjective anxiety(β=-.35, p<.05), and the explanatory power was 33%(F=9.44, p<.001). Leisure was expressed as self-satisfaction with disability(β=.18, p<.05) and the compensatory(β=.18, p<.05), and had an explanatory power of 23%(F=6.32, p<.001). Social activity was labor(β=.19, p<.01), and subjective anxiety(β=-.51, p<.05), which showed 23%(F=6.05, p<.001) of explanatory power. This suggests the importance of psychosocial factors for a changed life after the onset of a stroke, and a practical approach is needed to construct and apply programs to improve participation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.290-291
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• 1996

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2020

This study was performed to find anti-inflammatory or antitumor compounds from the polar fraction obtained from the extract of Clinopodium chinense var. shibetchense (H. Lev) Koidz (Labiatae). Chromatography of the BuOH fraction yielded two flavonoid glycosides (compounds 1 and 2) and two saponins (compounds 3 and 4). On the basis of spectroscopic data, compounds 1 and 2 were identified to be ponciretin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranoside (neoponcirin) and naringenin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranoside (isonaringin). Compounds 3 and 4 were identified to be 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl}-saikogenin F (buddlejasaponin IV) and 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl}-21β-hydroxysaikogenin F (clinoposaponin XV). In addition, ursolic acid (5) was isolated and identified from the CHCl₃ fraction. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) assay and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay were performed to lead a potential anti-inflammatory or anti-tumor compounds from C. chinense var. shibetchense. Of the four compounds (1 - 4), compound 3 considerably inhibited cancer cell growth and NO production (IC₅₀s, 5.59 μM in iNOS assay and 6.62 - 14.88 μM in SRB assay).

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2021

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the most prevalent virus in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), negatively affects chili pepper production in South Korea. In this study, foliar spraying with β-glucans obtained from the mycelial walls of the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans inhibited CMV infection of chili pepper if applied before virus inoculation. At three concentrations, β-glucans from A. pullulans significantly ameliorated CMV symptoms in treated chili pepper; the effect was greater in plants treated with 0.01% β-glucans than 0.005% or 0.001% β-glucans. Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that these β-glucans treatments resulted in 1.7- to 10-fold reductions in CMV accumulation in the treated chili pepper. The glucans did not act directly on the virus and did not interfere with virus disassembly or replication. Foliar spraying with 0.01% β-glucans from A. pullulans at 24 hr intervals for 3 days significantly increased plant height, the total number of fruit, and the fresh weight of chili pepper fruit. However, the stem diameter of chili pepper treated with β-glucans did not increase significantly. These results indicate that foliar spraying with β-glucans from A. pullulans acts an antiviral agent against CMV infection and stimulates chili pepper growth.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.401-406
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• 2022

Ahnak, a large protein first identified as an inhibitor of TGF-β signaling in human neuroblastoma, was recently shown to promote TGF-β in some cancers. The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, various biological functions, and cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, we used Ahnak knockout (KO) mice that underwent a 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) to investigate the function of Ahnak in TGF-β signaling during liver regeneration. At the indicated time points after PH, we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of the TGF -β/Smad signaling pathway and cell cycle-related factors, evaluated the cell cycle through proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, analyzed the mitotic index by hematoxylin and eosin staining. We also measured the ratio of liver tissue weight to body weight. Activation of TGF-β signaling was confirmed by analyzing the levels of phospho-Smad 2 and 3 in the liver at the indicated time points after PH and was lower in Ahnak KO mice than in WT mice. The expression levels of cyclin B1, D1, and E1; proteins in the Rb/E2F transcriptional pathway, which regulates the cell cycle; and the numbers of PCNA-positive cells were increased in Ahnak KO mice and showed tendencies opposite that of TGF-β expression. During postoperative regeneration, the liver weight to body weight ratio tended to increase faster in Ahnak KO mice. However, 7 days after PH, both groups of mice showed similar rates of regeneration, following which their active regeneration stopped. Analysis of hepatocytes undergoing mitosis showed that there were more mitotic cells in Ahnak KO mice, consistent with the weight ratio. Our findings suggest that Ahnak enhances TGF-β signaling during postoperative liver regeneration, resulting in cell cycle disruption; this highlights a novel role of Ahnak in liver regeneration. These results provide new insight into liver regeneration and potential treatment targets for liver diseases that require surgical treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2021

Dynamic changes in adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) with nutritional status play a role in the regulation of metabolic and endocrine functions. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system via β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) contributes to the control of postprandial enhancement of ATBF. Herein, we sought to identify the role of each β-AR subtype in the regulation of ATBF in mice. We monitored the changes in visceral epididymal ATBF (VAT BF), induced by local infusion of dobutamine, salbutamol, and CL316,243 (a selective β1-, β2-, and β3-AR agonist, respectively) into VAT of lean CD-1 mice and global adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) knockout (KO) mice, using laser Doppler flowmetry. Administration of CL316,243, known to promote lipolysis in adipocytes, significantly increased VAT BF of CD-1 mice to a greater extent compared to that of the vehicle, whereas administration of dobutamine or salbutamol did not produce significant differences in VAT BF. The increase in VAT BF induced by β3-AR stimulation disappeared in ATGL KO mice as opposed to their wild-type (WT) littermates, implying a role of ATGL-mediated lipolysis in the regulation of VAT BF. Different vascular reactivities occurred despite no significant differences in vessel density and adiposity between the groups. Additionally, the expression levels of the angiogenesis-related genes were significantly higher in VAT of ATGL KO mice than in that of WT, implicating an association of ATBF responsiveness with angiogenic activity in VAT. Our findings suggest a potential role of β3-AR signaling in the regulation of VAT BF via ATGL-mediated lipolysis in mice.