• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.550-556
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• 1995

The c-myc proto-oncogene is Involved In the control of normal cell proliferation and differentiation of many cell lineages. Although it has heen suggested that c-myc may play an important role in the mammalian early development, it Is unclear whether the embryonic c-myc mRNA is originated from zygotic gene expression or stored maternal message. Thus, we have construded expression vectors, In which the 5, flanking sequences including c-myc promoter region and a large non-coding exon I are fused 'sith E. coli lacZ gene that encedes $\beta$-galactosldase as a reporter. As c-myc exon I contains a modulatory sequence, we designed t, vo types of vectors (pcmyc.Gall and pcmyc-Ga12) to examine the role of exon I in c-myc expression. The former contains the complete exon I and the later has a deletion in 40 bp of modulator sequence located In the exon I of c-myc These vectors were microInjected into fertilized one-cell embryos and $\beta$-galactosidase activity was examined by X-gal staining during early embryogenesis. $\beta$-galactosidase activity derived from c-myc promoter was decreased at two-cell stage. The expression level directed by pcmyc- Ga12 was similar to that of pcmyc-Gal1, indicating that the medulatory sequence in exon I may not be Involved at least In the regulation of embryonic c-myc expression. In summary, the present study indicates that the c-myc promoter is functional at the early stage embryo, and the regulation of c-myc expression is under the control of "zygotic" clock of preimplantation mouse embryos.e embryos.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 1996

To investigate gestational profiles in gene expression of placental lactogen I fpL4), PL-lI and Pit-1, RNA samples were extracted from the placentas of pregnant day 12 to 20 at 2 day intervals. Northern blots showed changes in gene expression of PL4, - 11 and Pit-i. Sizes of PL-l and -II mRNA were changed and amounts of PL-I, -H and Pit-1 mRNA increased during progress of gestation. To examine the effect of estrogen on the gene expression of PL-I, -Il and Pit-1, pregnant female rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and daily injected with estradiol (OVX + E). OVX markedly lowered the amount of PL4 and 41 mRNA, and shifted niRNA size from 1 kb to i 3 kb in PL-l mRNA and 0.6 kb to i kb in PL-ll mRNA, respectively. OVX had no effect on the mRNA size of Pit-1, but markedly attenuated Pit-1 mRNA level. Estrogen injection reversed the effect of OVX on the size-shift but not on the amount of PL4 and -Il mRNA. Replacement of E partially recovered OVX-induced inhibition of Pit-i mRNA level. Present results suggest that estrogen may play a pivotal role on the gene expression of PL-l and -Il such as alternative RNA splicing and/or polyadenylation, and Pit-1 may be involved in the gene expression of PL-l and 41 by estrogen.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2007

To investigate the potential therapeutic value of a plant extract against amyloid ${\beta}-peptide-induced$ cell damage, we first screened extracts of 250 herbs, and finally selected a water extract of Spinacia oleracea for further study. This extractshowed the potential to inhibit the reactions of oxidants. We measured the angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the extract, and assessed the ability of the extract to protect neuronal cells from chemical-induced cell death. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were used in this assay. The extract exerted protective effects on $H_2O_2-induced$ cell death, when $H_2O_2$ was used at 100 M, 200 M, and 500 M (protection of 87%, 73%, and 58%, respectively). When 50 M of amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$ was added to the test cells, however, the extract had no protective effect on cell death. The extract inhibited ACE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and exhibited potent protection against the deleterious effects of $H_2O_2$. In sum, these results suggest that a water extract of Spinacia oleracea has the potential to afford protection against chemical-induced neuronal cell death, and the extract may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The precise molecular mechanism of neuroprotection is under investigation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2000

Purpose We designed this study for the purpose of determining the relationship between periodontal disease activity and PLBW, using the evaluation of probing pocket depth, loss of attachment, gingival index, gingival crevicular fluid amount and subgingival microflora. Methods A total of 100 volunteer mothers(mean age 30.44) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Seoul National University Hospital were selected for this study.Pregnancy outcomes were categorized into cases and controls in two ways. our definition was based on the following; Group 1 : Any PLBW cases Vs. All NBW controls Group 2 : PLBW cases Vs. NBW controls A periodontal exam was performed on the Ramfjord( #16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 44) teeth and Clinical evaluation consisted of probing pocket depth, loss of attachment, gingival index and gingival crevicular fluid amount. Subgingival plaque samples were collected by three sterile #35 paper points. The total number of anaerobic colonies and aerobic bacteria were enumerated after incubation. Antisera to P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, A. actinomycetemcomitans were produced in white rabbits with live whole cells suspensions. The specific fluorescent bacteria obtained by immunofluorescence and total cell counts obtained by dark-field microscopy were counted on four fields. The percent of each specific microorganism in the total cell count was determined. Results Any PLBW and PLBW cases showed significantly greater probing depth and attachment loss than all NBW and NBW controls. Cases group had significantly increased anaerobic bacterial counts compared with control group and no differences in the other microbes. This study confirmed that periodontal disease is a statistically significant risk factor for PLBW by investigating clinical parameters and subgingival plaque analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2006

Extracts from 63 kinds of Pholiota sp. fruiting bodies were prepared using water and methanol, and then their physiological functionalities were investigated. The methanol extracts from Pholiota adiposa PAD030 showed high fibrinolytic activity and those of P. adiposa ASI PAD-022 showed potential inhibitory activity of 76.8% against ${\beta}-hydroxy-{\beta}-methylglutaryl(HMG)-CoA$ reductase. The highest antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were found in the water extracts of Pholiota sp. PSP-015 (72.7%) and methanol extracts of P. nameko PNA-024 (69.5%), respectively. However, superoxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity and elastase inhibitory activity were low in almost of the extracts. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from the fruiting body of P. adiposa PAD-022 which showed the highest functionality was extracted maximally when powder of the fruiting body was shaked at $30^{\circ}C$ for 12 h by methanol and its HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity was 80.2%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2005

General composition, total anthocyan content, and antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of Korean purple. fleshed potatoes (varieties A-D based on coloring degree of cross sections) were investigated. Slight differences in composition content were observed among varieties. Color intensity analyzed by sensory evaluation test decreased in order of PL-14, 31, 28, 3, 17, and 6, Total anthocyanin contents differed significantly among varieties from 3 to 29 mg Per 100 g, and decreased in order of PL-28, 31, 14, 12, 5, and 3. PL-28, 31, and Jasim potatoes showed slightly higher antioxidant activities than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. PL-28, 31, 6, and Jasim showed antimicrobial activities against three species each of Gram-positive and-negative bacteria, with highest activities observed against Bacillus subtilis and relatively high activities against E. coli.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2015

This study evaluated in vitro antioxidant activity, antioxidant content, and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of ethanol extracts of samnamul (shoot of Aruncus dioicus), miyeokchwi (Solidago virgaurea), daraesoon (shoot of Actinidia arguta Planchon), and bangpungnamul (leaves of Ledebouriella seseloides), as muknamul, and fresh chamnamul (Pimpinella brachycarpa). Tocopherol content (4.8-78.3 mg/100 g) of sanchae was lower than polyphenols (4.4-12.2 g/100 g). Daraesoon with high tocopherol contents showed high antioxidant activity and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. Samnamul had the highest levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, the highest antioxidant activity, and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition. Antioxidant activity was correlated with flavonoid content ($r^2=0.8895$), but was not correlated with the levels of other antioxidants tested, suggesting that polyphenol content in samnamul, miyeokchwi, daraesoon, bangpung, and chamnamul might not be critical determinant of antioxidant activity. Our results strongly suggest that samnamul and daraesoon could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.981-987
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• 2014

Foeniculum vulgare has long been prescribed in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the fruits of F. vulgare on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells under non-cytotoxic ($100{\mu}g/ml$) conditions. The 80% methanol extract was subsequently partitioned successively with hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, and the fractions so obtained were also examined for their anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, the hexane, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate fractions inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. The methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions also suppressed the productions of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 by down-regulating their mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction strongly suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ at the protein and mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These observations suggest that the anti-inflammatory actions of F. vulgare are due to inhibitions of the productions of NO, PGE2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.343-350
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate laboratory workers' exposures to airborne nanoparticles at a university laboratory where acid treatment experiments were conducted on the surfaces of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The surface area concentrations, number concentrations, and mass concentrations of airborne nanoparticles were measured at personal breathing zones (PBZs) for various tasks using direct reading instruments. For all three metrics, airborne nanoparticle concentrations during the experiments were higher than background levels measured before and after the experiments for all three metrics. Among the various tasks that were performed as part of these experiments, one task that involved filtering a mixture of acid and CNTs showed the highest concentrations in all three metrics, with concentrations of $116.6\;{\mu}m^2$/cc, 24320 pt/cc, and $9.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Nanoparticle surface area concentrations measured at a representative area fluctuated with those at the PBZs in the laboratory. This result indicates that nanoparticles generated during the experiments were not just limited to the PBZs of the workers but were also present throughout the room, potentially exposing co-located workers. CNTs were detected by a transmission electron microscope in an air sample collected while handling the CNTs. All the tasks were performed inside fume hoods, with the sliding sashes open to their required heights. It was noted that the capture velocities of the fume hoods were much lower than the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)'s recommendation level (0.4 to 0.6 m/s). In conclusion, this study showed that, due to inadequate control, laboratory researchers performing acid treatment experiments on surfaces of CNTs were exposed to airborne nanoparticles generated during the tasks.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 2003

Titanium mesoporous materials have received increasing attention as a new photocatalyst in the field for photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds. The photocatalytic degradation of chlorothalonil by mesoporous titanium oxo-phoswhate (Ti-MCM) was investigated in aqueous suspension for comparison with $TiO_2$, (Degussa, P25) using as an effective photocatalyst of organic pollutants. Mesoporous form of titanium Phosphate has been prepared by reaction of sulfuric acid and titanium isopropoxide in the presence or n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The XRD patterns of Ti-MCM are hexagonal phases with d-spacings of 4.1 nm. Its adsorption isotherm for chlorothalonil reached at reaction equilibrium within 60 min under dark condition with 28% degradation efficiency. The degradation ratio of chlorothalonil after 9 hours under the UV radiation condition (254 nm) exhibited 100% by Ti-MCM and 88% by $TiO_2$. However, these degradation kinetics in static state showed a slow tendency compared to that of stirred state because of a low contact between titanium matrices and chlorothalonil. Also, degradation efficiency of chlorothalonil was increased with decreasing initial concentration and with increasing pH of solution. As results of this study, it was clear that mesoporous titanium oxo-phosphate with high surface area and crystallinity could be used to photo- catalytic degradation of various organic pollutants.