• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2022

Melanin pigments are the main cause of skin color. They are produced in melanocytes and then transferred to keratinocytes, which eventually gives the skin surface a variety of colors. Although many skin-lightening or depigmenting agents have been developed, the demand for materials to reduce pig- mentation is still increasing. Here, we tried to find materials for skin-lightening or depigmentation using natural compounds and found that mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) extracts (ME) had an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. As a result, ME significantly reduced pigmentation in human primary melanocytes. In addition, a promoter reporter assay revealed that ME inhibited the transcription of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), melanophilin (MLPH), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase (TYR) genes in HM3KO melanoma cells. In addition, ME decreased the protein level for pigmentation-related molecules, such as TYR and TRP-1. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited the melanogenesis of zebrafish embryos, an in vivo evaluation model for pigmentation. To elucidate the action mechanism of ME, we investigated its effects on intracellular signaling. Eventually, the ME dramatically decreased the phosphorylation of the cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), AKT, and ERK. The data suggest that ME may inhibit the melanogenesis pathway by regulating the signaling pathway related to pigmentation. Taken together, these data propose that ME can be developed as a depigmenting or skin-lightening agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.703-712
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• 2023

Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is a multistep process regulated by modulators of angiogenesis. It is essential for various physiological processes, such as embryonic development, chronic inflammation, and wound repair. Dysregulation of angiogenesis causes many diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and delayed wound healing. However, the number of effective anti-angiogenic drugs is limited. Recent research has focused on identifying potential drug candidates from natural sources. For example, marine natural products have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and wound-healing effects. Thus, this study aimed to describe the angiogenesis inhibitory effect of Hizikia fusiforms (brown algae) extract. The hexane extract of H. fusiformis has shown inhibitory effects on in vitro angiogenesis assays, such as cell migration, invasion, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in a mouse Matrigel gel plug assay. In addition, the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal kinase, and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 decreased following treatment with H. fusiformis extracts. Our results demonstrated that the hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2001

Cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), a satiety factor regulated by leptin, is associated with food intake and motor behavior. In knock out studies, Leu34Phe mutation of human CART gene resulted in obese phenotype but mice carrying a targeted deletion of the CART gene exhibited no dramatic increase of body weight on normal fat diet. To establish a new transgenic mouse model for determining the function of CART on feeding behavior in vivo, we constructed the fusion gene, CART gene under the control of neurofilament light chain promoter, which regulates gene expression at the stage of neuronal differentiation. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection method and screened by PCR and Southern blot analyses. In these transgenic mice, overexpression of CART was detected by in situ hybridization in spinal cords and brains at 13.5 days post-coitum embryos. At six weeks of age, RT-PCR analysis showed that exogenous CART mRNA was expressed strongly in brains and spinal cords, but not much in other tissues. Our results suggest that these transgenic mice provide a new model to investigate the function of CART gene in neuronal network associated with feeding behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.856-867
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• 2023

Due to the increase in fine dust caused by environmental pollution, oxidative damage and aging of the skin are accelerated. In this study, the antioxidant, hyaluronic acid, filaggrin, MMP-1, and ROS level of selected herbal extracts were evaluated to confirm the protective efficacy of keratinocytes treated PM10. As a result, the antioxidant capacity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid(ABTS), and FRAP assay increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Keratinocytes the group treated with 300 ㎍/ml of PM10, hyaluronic acid and filaggrin decreased by more than 50%, and increased in the group treated with extracts of Alpinia officinarum, Ulmus macrocarpa, and Ulmus macrocarpa but decreased when the extract was treated, which is evaluated as inhibiting the degradation of collagen and elastin. In addition, in the case of ROS measurement using zebrafish embryos, it was confirmed that the extract was reduced when the extract was treated 25 ㎍/ml, the intensity of fluorescence similar to the negative control was shown, confirming that the production of ROS was significantly reduced. Through this study, the selected oriental medicinal materials, Alpinia officinarum, Ulmus macrocarpa, and Ulmus macrocarpa, protect the skin from fine dust. It is thought that it can be used as an anti-aging product for skin improvement as a material that can be improved or improved.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental ability of interspecies cloned embryos after nuclear transfer of goat fetal fibroblast cells into porcien oocytes. Recipient porcine and goat oocytes were obtained from slaughterhouse and matured in vitro according to established protocols. Enucleation was accomplished by aspirating the first polar body and cytoplasm and a single donor cell was individually microinjected into vitelline space of the enucleated oocyte. The reconstructed oocytes were electrically fused with 0.3M mannitol fusion medium. After electro-fusion, interspecies reconstituted embryos were cultured in PZM-3 for 7 days. In porcine interspecies nuclear transfer with goat fetal fibroblast cells, the cleavage rate of reconstituted embryos were 58.9% which was no significant different from that in porcine nuclear transfer embryos (67.4%). However, the developmental rate into blastocyst stage was 5.4% in interspecies nuclear transfer which was significantly lower than that in porcine intraspecies nuclear transfer (13.6%). When the developmental ability of porcine interspecies nuclear transfer with goat cells was compared with goat intraspecies nuclear transfer, the cleavage rate of embryos were 59.2% and the developmental rate into morular and blastocyst stage was 13.6% in interspecies nuclear transfer which were significantly lower than those in intraspecies nuclear transfer embryos. This result indicated that porcine interspecies nuclear transfer with goat fetal fibroblast cells showed the developmental potential in vitro with lower cleavage and developmental rate compared with intraspecies nuclear transfer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1996

Controlled Ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) is generally used to obtain synchronous high quality oocytes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Many investigators have studied the relationship between serum hormone levels and outcomes of IVF-ET because there is no accurate estimation method of oocyte quality. Early premature luteinization of follicles before oocyte retrieval is the most troublesome problem in COH for IVF-ET. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists(GnRH-a) are used as adjuncts with gonadotropins for COH in patients undergoing in IVF. The possible benefits of GnRH-a pretreatment include improving oocyte quality, allowing a more synchronous cohort of follicles to be recruited, and preventing premature lueinization hormone surges. In COH of IVF cycles, we investigated whether an elevated progesterone(P4) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration indicates premature luteinization and is associated with a lower fertilization rate. Many investigators have studied that the lower fertilization rates seen in patients with elevated P4 levels might result from an adverse effect of P4 on the oocytes. We hypothesizes that serum P4 levels around the day of hCG may be helpful prediction of out come in IVF-ET cycles. Success rates after COH of IVF-ET cycles are dependent upon many variable factors. Follicular factors including the number of follicles, follicular diameters and especially serum estradiol(E2) levels as an indirect measurement of follicular function and guality have been thought to influence the outcomes of IVF-ET. To assess whether serum P4 and E2 levels affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate, we reviewed the stimulation cycles of 113 patients (119 cycles) undergoing IVF-ET with short protocol with GnRH-a, from March 1993 to August 1994 retrospectively. The serum P4 and E2 levels were compared on the day of hCG in the pregnant group, 45 patients(47 cycles) and in the non-pregnant group, 68 patients (72 cycles) respectively. The serum E2 level in non-pregnant group was $1367{\pm}875.8$ pg/ml which was significantly lower than that of pregnant group, $1643{\pm}987.9$ pg/ml( p< 0.01 ). And the serum P4 level in non-pregnant group was $2.1{\pm}1.4$ ng/ml which was significantly higher than that of pregnant group, $1.0{\pm}0.7$ ng/ml( p< 0.001 ). The fertilization rate was $61.3{\pm}21.3%$ in pregnant group which was higher than that of non-pregnant group, $41.1{\pm}20.2%$ (p< 0.01). We suggest that the serum levels of P4 and E2 on the day of hCG administration are additional parameters that predict the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-84
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the teratological potential of azinphos-methyl in the rat fetuses and to establish the nature of the effects on organogenesis and intrauterine development. The Sprague-Dawley female rats (180-210g) without previous litter were used in this study. Azinphos-methyl dosages of 0.094mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 1.5mg/kg were selected based on the acute intragastric $LD_{50}$ of 15mg/kg in the rat. Azinphos-methyl in water (Treatment Group), non-treatment control (Negative Control), water control (Sham Control), were administered by oral route and aqueous solution of acetyl salicylic acid (Positive Control) was administered by gavage at rate of 10 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 15. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Decreased body weight of dams was observed in animals treated with aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg from day 7 through 14. (P<0.01) 2. There was an apparent decrement in the absolute liver weight in the azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg treated group (P<0.05). However, the absolute and relative kidney weight in aspirin group (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the absolute and relative ovary weight in aspirin, azinphos-methyl treatment groups (P<0.01, P<0.05) were increased. 3. Decreased protein contents of dam's liver was observed in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl treated group of animals (P<0.01). 4. The number of male-female ratio per dam increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg group but there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses in aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Total immature and resorbed fetuses were increased in aspirin group and the number of dead fetuses were also increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group of animals. (P<0.01, P<0.05). 5. In soft tissue defects, diaphragmatic hernia in diaphragm, anophthalmia, enlarged olfactory bulb, hydrocephalus, absence of third and lateral ventricle in skull, hydronephrosis in kidney, atrophy of left ventricle wall, enlarged apex in heart were observed. Especially, defects of diaphragm, heart and eye ball showed peak incidences in the high dose azinphosmethyl and aspirin group. (P<0.01). 6. Variations in the ossification patterns of skull, sternebrae, tail, forelimbs and hindlimbs showed peak incidences in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group. (P<0.01). 7. In the developmental indices of offspring, the mortality of aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group was higher than that of negative control. And, there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses (P<0.01) and considerable differences were obtained in pivoting, development of fur, auditory function, vision, quadrupled muscle development and testes descent in aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg group. (P<0.01).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

Purpose: To report on the clinical outcome of patients with stage I testicular seminoma by postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) or surveillance after radical inguinal orchiectomy. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 32 stage I pure seminoma patients treated between 1996 and 2005 at the Samsung Medical Center. Twenty two of the patients were treated by PORT, which was directed at the paraaortic lymphatics with a median dose of 25.2 Gy in 14 fractions for 3 weeks. The 10 remaining patients were managed by surveillance. The median follow-up period was 96 months with a range of 24 to 155 months. Results: Clinically, most patients presented with a testicular mass or discomfort. Two of the patients had a history of undescended testes. Pathologically, 23 of the patients had intratubular germ cell neoplasia with seminoma. Both recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of patients treated by PORT were 100%. In the control group, 1 of the 10 patients suffered a para-aortic lymph node relapse. The RFS and OS rates of the surveillance group were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: No difference in survival was observed between the two groups. Moreover, symptom recurrence was only observed in 1 patient in the control group. The use of PORT may reduce the risk of relapse. With the availability of effective diagnostic and salvage modalities, surveillance monitoring may be considered for patients in good compliance.

• The Journal of Information Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.81-102
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• 1998

It is common description that modern society is In the era of limitless competition. In order to challenge the change of economy and its management at home and abroad, organization should be changed anew, and in this case, there accompanies conflict or trouble whether the subject of change wants it or not. Therefore, according to change, we should concern with settlement of small troubles as well as big ones, and by managing the conflict or trouble productively and originally, it should be utilized as new fatality and chance to develop something in organization. In the system organized by people, there exist various conflicts in accordance with the target and want of the system, therefore giving no freedom to each Individual member of the system, and this is an unavoidable tate in consideration of the modem society where the survival of mankind and human systems should be guaranteed. Therefore, it determines the coordinates of success of any of organizations to manage conflict or trouble well, and so, when decreasing or increasing conflicts so that the organization exerts its full influence, it is note worthy that conflict itself should be rationally and efficiently managed. In a view point of the theory of organization and its behavior, relating job satisfaction with the performance and validity of organization, the influence of individual conflict is so great on the rate of job transfer within an organization or nonattendance, even on the productivity of the organization. So, the manager to cope with conflict within an organization should devise following three plans to manage conflict for job satisfaction and conflict settlement. In conclusion, it is suggested that in order to manage conflict within an organization well, some plans to control conflict should be well utilized while giving more efforts to improving management of individual conflict, job satisfaction, validity of organization, productivity, etc and all the members of organization should remember that the Issue of conflict within an organization be recognized ad an opportunity of new development and a way to settle a trouble within an organization, and a direction of conflict management should be suggested so that new innovation ca be created.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.243-251
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• 2010

ESRRB (Estrogen related receptor $\beta$) is an orphan receptor, and have a role on maintaining the undifferentiated state and self-renewal of pluripotent stem cell as a transcription factor which regulates the expression of OCT4 and NANOG genes. Also, Feng et al. (2009) reported that Esrrb, Oct4 and Sox2 could induce pluripotent stem cell from somatic cells. The aim of the present study was to develop the direct delivery system of human ESRRB protein into human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFSCs) and to analyze the effect of ESRRB on the regulation of pluripotency-related genes. Human ESRRB has three isoforms arisen by alternative splicing. We cloned short-form ESRRB and made a fusion protein of ESRRB and R7 for an efficient protein transfer to cell. R7 as cell-penetrating peptide(CPP) can help to transfer ESRRB into cells. R7-ESRRB-His6 protein was observed in the cytoplasm and nuclei within 5 hours after treatment. Also, we could observe R7-ESRRB-His6 protein only in the nuclei within 24 hours. Realtime PCR showed that ESRRB increased expression of OCT4 and NANOG as well as SOX2 gene. Therefore, we demonstrated that R7-ESRRB-His6 proteins were efficiently transferred into the nuclei of AFSCs and work well as a possible transcription factor.