• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.218-228
• /
• 2010

Components of dental resin-based restorative materials are reported to leach from the filling materials even after polymerization. Hydroquinone (HQ) is one of the major monomers used in the dental resin and is known as a carcinogen. Thus, carcinogenic risk of HQ leaching from the dental resin becomes a public health concern. The present study attempted to examine the carcinogenic potentials of HQ on the human epithelial cell, which is the target cell origin of the most of oral cancers. Cytotoxicity of HQ was observed above 50${\mu}M$ as measured by LDH assay, indicating a relatively low toxicity of this substance in human epithelial cells. The parameters of neoplastic cellular transformation such as cell saturation density, soft agar colony formation and cell aggregation were analyzed to examine the carcinogenic potential of HQ. The study showed that 2-week exposure of HQ showed the tendency of increase in the saturation density and the significant enhancement of soft agar colony formation at the highest dose, 50 ${\mu}M$ only. It is suggested that HQ has a weak potential of carcinogenicity. When cells were treated with HQ and TPA, a well-known tumor promoter, the parameters of neoplastic cellular transformation was significantly increased. This result indicates that the potential risk of carcinogenicity from HQ is largely dependent upon the presence of promoter. Exposure of 50 ${\mu}M$ HQ increased the time-dependent apoptosis as measured by the ELISA kit. This concentration coincides with a dose of neoplastic transformation, indicating a possible link between apoptosis and HQ-induced cellular transformation. Hydroquinone generated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which was evidenced by the treatment of antioxidants such as trolox and N-acetyl cysteine and the GSH depleting agent, BSO. Antioxidants blocked the generation of ROS and the GSH depleting agent, BSO dramatically increased the ROS production. Since HQ is known to increase ROS production thru activation of transcriptional factor such as c-Myb and Pim-1, it is speculated that ROS generation by HQ plays a role in the activation of oncogene, which may lead to neoplastic transformation. In addition, ROS is involved in the alteration of signal transduction, which regulates the apoptosis in many cellular systems. Thus, ROS-mediated apoptosis may be involved in the HQ-induced carcinogenic processes. Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play pivotal roles in neoplastic transformation of cells and its high expression is often found in a variety of types of tumors including oral cancer. PKC translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ was observed following HQ exposure. Altered signaling system may also play a role in the transformation process. Taken together, HQ leached from the dental resin does not pose a significant threat as a cancer causing agent, but its carcinogenic potential can be significantly elevated in the presence of promoter. The mechanism of HQ-induced carcinogenesis involved ROS generation, apoptosis and altered signaling pathway. The present study will provide a valuable data to estimate the potential risk of HQ as a carcinogen and understand mechanism of HQ-induced carcinogenesis in human epithelial cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.66 no.4
• /
• pp.274-279
• /
• 2009

Background: Uteroglobin (UG) is a secretary protein that has strong immunomodulatory properties, and which is synthesized in most epithelia including lung tissue. Overexpression of UG is associated with decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and suppression of cancer cell growth. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, and both the reduction in local tryptophan and the production of tryptophan metabolites contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of IDO. Methods: In this study, we investigated the pattern of expression of COX-2 and IDO, and the effect of UG transduction in the expression of COX-2 and IDO in several non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, especially A549. Results: Both COX-2 and IDO were constitutionally expressed in A549 and H460 cells, and was reduced by UG transduction. In A549 cells, the slightly increased expression of COX-2 and IDO with the instillation of interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) was reduced by UG transduction. However, the reduced expression of COX-2 and IDO by UG transduction was not increased with IFN-$\gamma$ instillation in A549 cells. In both the A549 COX-2 sense and the A549 COX-2 anti-sense small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected cells, IDO was expressed; expression was reduced by UG transduction, irrespective of the expression of COX-2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the anti-proliferative function of UG may be associated with the immune tolerance pathway of IDO, which is independent of the COX-2 pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2006

The effect of storage temperature on the quality and antioxidative activity Whangseoke sauce was studied over a period of 240 days. Fermented Whangseoke with $25\%$ salt were stored at $25^{\circ}C$. The quality change and antioxidant activity of Whangseoke in linoleic acid emulsion was evaluated with various parameters including acids values, peroxide values, TBA values, reducing sugar, brown color intensity, electron donating ability and reducing power at various time intervals for 240 days of storage. In general, it was observed, in all sample, that peroxide values, brown color intensity, electron donating ability and reducing power gradually increased, while reducing sugar decreased during storage at $25^{\circ}C$. The antioxidative activities of fermented Whangseoke were determined on tile linoleic acid emulsion system. The results showed that Whangseoke had antioxidant activity. These results suggest that antioxidant activity of Whangseoke seemed to influence by Maillard reaction products during the storage periods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2003

Nutritional compositions of three Tochukaso species (Paecilomyces tenuipes hosted by Larva and pupa, Cordyceps militaris, C. sinensis) were compared. Fruiting body and host fractions were separately analyzed. Fruiting body fraction of P. tenuipes (36.6%) hosted by larva was higher than that hosted by pupa (10.2%), an indication that the quality of the former is superior to the latter. Carbohydrate content of C. sinensis (39.6%) was $2.5{\sim}7$ times higher than those of others, probably due to the presence of polysaccharides. Protein and crude lipid contents of C. sinensis and C. militaris were 25.8 and 10.3%, and 75.1 and 3.9%, respectively. C. sinensis showed the lowest Ca content and $30{\sim}75$ times higher Fe content among the samples tested. Vitamin A content of C. militaris was 308.9 IU/100g, two fold higher than those of the other species. Saturated fatty acid content was the highest in P. tenuipes (pupa, 27.7%), whereas unsaturated fatty acid was the highest in P. tenuipes (larva, 83.3%). Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine were abundant in all species. Cordycepin content of C. militaris was $20{\sim}50$ times higher than those of the other species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2013

In this study, the sludge that occurs in the initial operation of coagulation system developed for the treatment of CSOs were returned to the flocculation reactor. The purposes of this study were to analyze the Characteristics of flocs that are generated through the recycling sludge and settling characteristics of sludge, and to evaluate the possibility that high concentrations of particulate matter in the initial inflow of CSOs could be used as an weighted coagulant additive. As a result, the concentration of treated CSOs pollutants at the beginning of the CSOs influent with a large amount of particulate matter over 20 ${\mu}m$ was low, after gradually increasing the concentrations of them. The flocs generated from the sludge return were similar in size compared to flocs generated through injection of micro sands, and settling velocity in case of return sludge injection was decreased from 55.1 cm/min to 21.5 cm/min. SVI value of the sludge accumulated at the bottom of the sedimentation tank was 72, and settled sludge volume decreased rapidly due to the consolidation of sludge to the time it takes to 10 minutes. these mean that sludge used for recycling has good settling characteristic. A condition of returned sludge which is 0.1% return of 0.3% extraction was formed in the balance of settlement and extraction. In this case, This condition was to be adequate to maintain the proper concentration such as 100~200 mg/L of TS and 50~100 mg/L of VS in the flocculation reactor. The usage of the return sludge containing particulate matters of CSOs as an weighted coagulant additive was able to secure a stable treated water quality despite the change of influent water quality dynamically. Furthermore, it can be expected to reduce the alum dosage along with the sludge production.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2022

The mobility and transport of radioactive cesium are crucial factors to consider for the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal sites in granite. The retardation of radionuclides in the fractured crystalline rock is mainly controlled by the hydrochemical condition of groundwater and surface reactions with minerals present in the fractures. This paper reports the experimental results of cesium sorption to the Wonju Granite, a typical Mesozoic granite in Korea, performed in an anaerobic chamber that mimics the anoxic environment of a deep disposal site. We measured the rates and amounts of cesium (¹³³Cs) removed by crushed granite samples in different electrolyte (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl₂) solutions and a synthetic groundwater solution, with variations in the initial cesium concentration (10^-5, 5×10^-6, 10^-6, 5×10^-7 M). The cesium sorption kinetic and isotherm data were successfully simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (r²= 0.99) and the Freundlich isotherm model (r²= 0.99), respectively. The sorption distribution coefficient of granite increased almost linearly with increasing biotite content in granite samples, indicating that biotite is an effective cesium scavenger. The cesium removal was minimal in KCl solution compared to that in NaCl or CaCl₂ solution, regardless of the ionic strength and initial cesium concentration that we examined, showing that K⁺ is the most competitive ion against cesium in sorption to granite. Because it is the main source mineral of K⁺ in fracture fluids, biotite may also hinder the sorption of cesium, which warrants further research.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.327-335
• /
• 1993

Phase relations in the system Pd-Sb-Te were investigated at $1000^{\circ}$, $800^{\circ}$, and $600^{\circ}C$, using the sealed-capsule technique; the quenched products were studied by reflected light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis. At $1000^{\circ}C$, the solid phases Pd, $Pd_{20}Sb_7$, $Pd_8Sb_3$, $Pd_{31}Sb_{12}$, and $Pd_5Sb_2$ are stable with a liquid phase that occupies most of the isothermal diagram. Additional solid phases at $800^{\circ}C$ are $Pd_5Sb_3$, PdSb, $Pd_8Te_3$, $Pd_7Te_3$, and a continuous $Pd_{20}Te_7-Pd_{20}Sb_7$ solid solution becomes stable. At $600^{\circ}$, $PdSb_2$, $Pd_{17}Te_4$, $Pd_9Te_4$, PdTe, $PdTe_2$, $Sb_2Te_3$, and Sb and continuous PdSb-PdTe and $PdTe-PdTe_2$ solid solutions are stable. All the solid phases exhibit solid solution, mainly by substitution between Sb and Te to an extent that varies with temperature of formation. The maximum substitution (at.%) of Te for Sb in the Pd-Sb phases is: 44.3 in $Pd_8Sb_3$, 52.0 in $Pd_{31}Sb_{12}$, 46.2 in $Pd_5Sb_2$ at $800^{\circ}C$; 15.3 in $Pd_5Sb_3$, 68.3 in $PdSb_2$ at $600^{\circ}C$. The maximum substitution (at.%) of Sb for Te in the Pd-Te phases is 34.5 in $Pd_5Sb_3$ at $800^{\circ}C$, and 41.6 in $Pd_7Te_3$, 5.2 in $Pd_{17}T_4$, 12.4 in $Pd_9Te_4$, and 19.1 in $PdTe_2$ at $600^{\circ}C$. Physical properties and X-ray data of the synthetic $Pd_9Te_4$, PdTe, $PdTe_2$, $Pd_8Sb_3$, PdSb, and $Sb_2Te_3$ correspond very well with those of telluropalladinite, kotulskite, merenskyite, mertieite II, sudburyite, and tellurantimony, respectively. Because X-ray powder diffraction data consistently reveal a 310 peak ($2.035{\AA}$), the $PdSb_2$ phase is most probably of cubic structure with space group $P2_13$. The X-ray powder pattern of a phase with PdSbTe composition, synthesized at $600^{\circ}C$, compares well with that of testibipalladite. Therefore, testibiopalladite may be a member of the $PdSb_2-Pd(Sb_{0.32}Te_{0.68})$ solid solution series which is cubic and $P2_13$ in symmetry. Thus the ideal fonnula for testibiopalladite, presently PdSbTe, must be revised to PdTe(Sb, Te). Borovskite($pd_3SbTe_4$) has not been found in the synthetic system in the temperature range $1000^{\circ}-600^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2005

The performance of a novel fermentation process, adopting a sludge blanket type configuration for higher hydrolysis/acidogenesis of the municipal primary sludge, was investigated under batch and semi-continuous conditions with various pH and temperature conditions. This acid elutriation slurry reactor provided higher system performance with a short HRT (5 days) and higher acidogenic effluent quality under pH 9 and thermophilic ($55^{\circ}C$) conditions. The hydrolysis of the sludge was revealed to be significantly dependent on seasonal effects for sludge characteristics but with little impact on acidogenesis. Based on the rainy season at the optimum conditions, VFA production and recovery fraction ($VFA_{COD}/COD$) were $0.18\;g\;VFA_{COD}\;g^{-1}\;VSS_{COD}$ and 63%. As byproducts, nitrogen and phosphorus releasing were $0.006\;g\;N\;g^{-1}\;VSS_{COD}$ and $0.003\;g\;P\;g^{-1}\;VSS_{COD}$, respectively. For the mass balance in a full-scale plant($Q=158,880\;m^3\;day^{-1}$) based on the rainy season, the VFA and non-VFA(as COD) production were $3,110\;kg\;VFA_{COD}\;day^{-1}$ and $1,800\;kg\;COD\;day^{-1}$, resulting in an increase of organics of $31\;mg\;COD\;L^{-1}$ and $20\;mg\;VFA_{COD}\;L^{-1}$ and nutrients of $0.7\;mg\;N\;L^{-1}$ and $0.3\;mg\;P\;L^{-1}$ in the influent sewage. The economical benefit from this process application was estimated to be about $67 per $1,000m^3$ of sewage except for energy requirements and also, better benefits can be expected during the dry season. Also, the results revealed that the process has various additional advantages such as pathogen-free stabilized solids production, excellent solids control and economical benefits.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.594-602
• /
• 2009

Purpose : Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}1$ on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether $TGF-{\beta}1$ has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% $O_2$). $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. Results : In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL $TGF-{\beta}1-treated$ group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group except NR2C. Conclusion : The administration of $TGF-{\beta}1$ could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1431-1437
• /
• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.