• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2024

The environmental stress that plants are most susceptible to is water stress. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone synthesized by plants to counteract environmental stress. The role of stomata in plants is to allow the synthesis of sucrose by absorbing CO₂, which greatly affects photosynthetic activity. In addition, stomata are pathways for transpiration, which releases H₂O and help establish a water potential gradient that allows plant roots to continuously absorb water and inorganic substances from the soil. Plants have a mechanism to minimize water loss by closing their stomata when exposed to water-stressed environments. The most well-studied hypothesis concerning the mechanism of stomatal closure is the response to water stress. When a plant receives sufficient water, its stomata open during the day and close at night due to its circadian rhythm. In addition, stomatal closure occurs when the concentration of CO₂ in the intercellular space increases. However, the mechanism of stomatal closure due to circadian rhythm and increased CO₂ concentration in the intercellular space is not well understood. When plants undergo water stress, the increased concentration of ABA in the guard cell cytoplasm induces an increase in Ca²⁺ concentration, resulting in cytoplasmic depolarization. As a result, the outward K⁺-channel of the tonoplast and the slow-type anion channels SLAC1 and SLAH3 are activated, releasing K⁺, Cl^-, and malate^2-, causing the stomata to close. Therefore, in this paper, the mechanism of stomatal closure caused by water stress was investigated.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2003

Purpose : Long-term stress to the fetus causes alterations in adrenal steroidogenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of cord blood cortisol with stress during delivery. Methods : Cord blood samples were collected from 58 neonates at once to labor. Cortisol was measured by RIA method(DPC, USA). Cortisol level according to gestational age(<34, 34-37, >38 wks) and method of delivery(Cesarean section vs. vaginal delivery), Apgar score and uterine contraction, were compared to know stress during labor. Results : Cortisol of cord blood had considerable differences between each group, according to gestational age(P<0.001). It was statistically higher in the cases of vaginal delivery than cessarian delivery(P<0.001). The concentration of cortisol was significantly higher according to duration of labor (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between cortisol level and uterine contraction(P<0.05). The concentration of cortisol was significantly low when Apgar score at 1 min was low(P<0.05). Conclusion : Cord cortisol has close association with stress during labor. And so do with post birth prognosis of neonate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.116-129
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• 2018

Living creatures possess long-conserved mechanisms to maintain homeostasis in response to various stresses. However, chronic and continuous exposure to stress can result in the excessive production of stress hormones, including catecholamines, which have harmful effects on health. Studies on the relationship between the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and cancer have been conducted based on the traditional hypothesis that stress can promote cancer progression. Many preclinical and epidemiological studies have suggested that the regulation of ${\beta}$-adrenergic signaling, which mediates SNS activity, can suppress the progression of solid tumors. SNS activation has highly pleiotropic effects on tumor biology, as it stimulates oncogenes, survival pathways, the epithelial - mesenchymal transition, and invasion. Moreover, it inhibits DNA repair and programmed cell death and regulates the tumor microenvironment, including immune cells, endothelial cells, the extracellular matrix, mesenchymal cells, and adipocytes. Although targeted therapies on the molecular basis of tumor proliferation are currently receiving increased attention, they have clinical limitations, such as the compensatory activation of other signaling pathways, emergence of drug resistance, and various side effects, which raise the need for pleiotropic cancer regulation. This review summarizes the effects of the SNS on the development and progression of cancer and discusses the clinical perspectives of ${\beta}$-blockade as a novel therapeutic strategy for this disease.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 2000

We have investigated the effect of short-term immobilization stress on the serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS in BALB/c male mice. Serum cortisol and DHEAS concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). We found there were significantly increased in the cortisol levels in 30 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-30N) compared with control(C) group (p＜0.01), and also increased with significance in 120 min-stressed group(I-120N) compared with C group(p＜0.01). Cortisol concentrations were significantly increased in both 30 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-30T), and 120 min-stressed group(Ⅰ-120T) compared with C group(p＜0.01). The sustained increase of cortisol levels were observed in both SG treated and SG non-treated group. Serum cortisol levels were lower in SG treated group than SG non-treated group with significance(p＜0.01). By contrast, DHEAS levels were slightly decreased without significance in Ⅰ-30N, but significantly decreased in Ⅰ-120N compared with C group(p＜0.01). There were slightly decreased in the DHEAS levels in Ⅰ-30T, but significantly decreased in Ⅰ-120T compared with C group(p＜0.01). However, SG treatment did not induce any significant changes of DHEAS levels in both 30 min and 120 min-stressed group. Though short-term immobilization stress, the continuous decline of DHEAS levels were observed. Therefore, these results show that short-term immobilization stress affects the serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.129-137
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• 2009

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) plays pivotal roles as an intracellular second messenger in response to a variety of stimuli, including light, abiotic. and biotic stresses and hormones. $Ca^{2+}$ sensor is $Ca^{2+}$-binding protein known to function in transducing signals by activating specific targets and pathways. Among $Ca^{2+}$-binding proteins, calmodulin (CaM) has been well reported to regulate the activity of down-stream target proteins in plants and animals. Especially plants possess multiple CaM genes and many CaM target proteins, including unique protein kinases and transcription factors. Thus, plants are possible to perceive different signals from their surroundings and adapt to the changing environment. However, the function of most of CaM or CaM-related proteins have been remained uncharacterized and unknown. Hence, a better understanding of the function of these proteins will help in deciphering their roles in plant growth, development and response to environmental stimuli. This review focuses on $Ca^{2+}$-CaM messenger system, CaM-associated proteins and their role in responses to external stimuli of both abiotic and biotic stresses in plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1571-1579
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• 2016

We investigated the effect of peanut sprout extract (PSE) on andropause symptoms. PSE was evaluated for impotency and benign prostatic hyperplasia via phosphodiesterase (PDE) or 5-alpha reductase II inhibition assay. Inhibition of PDE and 5-alpha reductase II activities in PSE was significantly higher than that of the non-treated control. To investigate the effects of testosterone levels by PSE, we performed cell media test using TM3 cells. Production of testosterone in TM3 cells was elevated by PSE. These results indicate that PSE was able to alleviate andropause symptoms.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Exposure to low frequency noise(LFN) can lead to vibroacoustic diseases(VADs), which include a systemic disease with lesions in a broad spectrum of organs and a psychiatric condition. It is known that VAD is an established risk factor for the development of many psychological conditions in humans and rodents, including major depression and anxiety disorder. The present study investigated the effects of LFN on neuronal stress responses in the rat brain. The neuronal expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the LC was observed. The immunocytochemical detection of the Fos protein and TH has been used as a marker of neuronal activation in response to stress. In addition, corticosterone concentration was evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The LFN groups were exposed to 32.5Hz and 125Hz of noise(4hr/day for 2days). The numbers of c-fos and TH-immunoreactive cells in the PVN and LC were significantly increased in the LFN groups(32.5Hz and 125Hz) compared to the normal group. Corticosterone concentration in plasma was also increased in LFN groups. The present results demonstrated that exposure with LFN produced a pronounced increase in expression of c-Fos and TH in stress-relevant brain areas. These results suggest that the neural characteristics involved in LFN are similar to those activated by typical processive stressors. These results also suggest that the central and peripheral activations by LFN may be related to LFN-related negative behavioral dysfunctions such as VADs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

The chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (abbreviated CFIDS or CFS) is a disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue(over 6 months.), along with cognitive, musculoskeletal, and sleep abnormalities. The etiology of this illness is unlikely to be a single agent. Findings to date suggest that physiological and psychological factors work together to predispose and perpetuate the illness. Diagnosis is made difficult by the nonspecific clinical findings and no available diagnostic testing. With no known cause or cure for the chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, treatment is based on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life of affected patients. There is emerging evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome may be familial. In the future, studies will examine the extent to which genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. Most patients with CFS have psychiatric problems such as a generalized anxiety disorder, or major or minor depression, therefore, these mental health disorders may be correlated with the pathophysiology of the CFS. The treatment for CFS must be individualized, due to the heterogeneity of the CFS population. Also the treatment of CFS is built on a foundation of patient-physician relationship, respect and advocacy.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.638-642
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• 2001

To investigate the production of $C_{21}$-steroids during the spawning period of spotted sea bass, Lateolabrax maculatus, we have incubated maturing and ovulating follicles with radiolabeled pregnenolone and $17\alpha$-hydroxyprogesterone for 24 hours. The resulting metabolites were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), When maturing follicles ($700\sim800{\mu}m$ in diameters) were incubated with radiolabeled precursors, $C_{21}$-metabolites were corticosteroids and $17\alpha$-hydroxy, $20\beta$-dihydroprogesterone ($17\alpha20\beta OHP$). When ovulation follicles ($1,000\sim1,150{\mu}m$ in diameters) were incubated with radiolabeled precursors, the major $C_{21}$-metabolites were $17\alpha20\beta OHP$, $17\alpha$,$20\beta$, 21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17\alpha20\beta21P$), and corticosterone. Additional chromatography by TLC and HPLC confirmed the presence of radioactive $17\alpha20\beta OHP$ in the maturing follicles, and $17\alpha20\beta OHP$,$17\alpha20\beta21P$ and corticosterone in ovulating follicles. Although $17\alpha20\beta OHP$ was found in a small peak, the synthesis of this steroid suggests that it may play a role in regulating the oocyte maturation process. Whereas ovulation is regulated by both $17\alpha20\beta OHP$ and $17\alpha20\beta21P$ in the spotted sea bass. In addition, an unusual finding was the biosynthesis of corticosterone. Whether this production is responsible for the ovulation, and is an area requiring continued research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.641-645
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• 2007

We conducted a seed germination screening under saline conditions to identify salt tolerance(sto) mutants with ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS) mutagenesis seed pool. During the screening, we identified three mutant lines that seemed to confer elevated salt tolerance in high concentrations of NaCl. At 175 mM NaCl, germination rate of sto42-14 mutant(one of the EMS salt tolerance mutants) was 7-fold higher than that of wild-type plants. Interestingly, sto42-14 mutant exhibited insensitivity to high glucose concentration and growth inhibition to gibberellin. Our results suggest that sto42-14 is involved in salt stress tolerance as well as in glucose and gibberellin response in Arabidopsis.