• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.893-900
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• 2011

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is one of the widely used biomarkers in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It was initially identified in 1935 and is the most abundant phosphatase in the human prostate. PAP is a prostate-specific enzyme that is synthesized in prostate epithelial cells. It belongs to the acid phosphatase group that shows enzymatic activity in acidic conditions. PAP is abundant in prostatic fluid and is thought to have a role in fertilization and oligospermia. It also has a potential role in reducing chronic pain. But one of the most apparent functions of PAP is the dephosphorylation of macromolecules such as HER-2 and PI3P that are involved in the ERK1/2 and MAPK pathways, which in turn leads to inhibition of cell growth and tumorigenesis. Currently, clinical trials using PAP DNA vaccine are underway and FDA-approved immunotherapy using PAP is commercially available. Despite these clinically important aspects, molecular mechanisms underlying PAP regulation are not fully understood. The promoter region of PAP was reported to be regulated by NF-${\kappa}B$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, androgen and androgen receptors. Here, the features of PAP gene and protein structures together with the function, regulation and roles of PAP in prostate cancer are discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1321-1328
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• 2019

Intermediate-wavelength solar radiation, also known as ultraviolet B (UVB: 290-320 nm) radiation, may cause premature aging and oxidative damage-dependent skin cancer in humans. UVB-induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-often a consequence of excessive exposure to these rays-could activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-1 and MMP-3. These enzymes break down type I collagen in human fibroblasts. In this study, we assessed the antioxidant and anti-aging effects of ethyl acetate extract of blueberry (EEB). An antioxidant test in blueberries evaluated ROS production using CCD-986sk cells and DPPH assay. In order to evaluate the anti-wrinkle efficacy of blueberries, the MMP-1 production and type 1 procollagen synthesis evaluated and the expression of MMP 1, 3 were tested through Western blot and RT- PCR. EEB exhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reduced the production of UVB-induced ROS. Also, EEB inhibited UVB-induced processes associated with photoaging and skin cancer, such as reduction in procollagen production and increase in MMP-1 production. More precisely, EEB (50 ㎍/ml) markedly suppressed mRNA and protein levels of MMP-1 and -3. The anti-aging effects are attributable to the antioxidant activity of EEB. These findings indicate that EEB has a protective effect against UVB-induced aging in human fibroblast cells by regulating the levels of type-1 procollagen, MMP-1, and MMP-3.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2010

We aimed at the monitoring medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) residue amount in meats and confirmed the safety of its residue in meats. Optimized condition for analytical and instrumental methods was obtained by method validation. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were validated at 1.5 and 5.0 ug/kg, respectively. The calibration curve showed good linearity ($r^2$ = 0.9968) within the concentration range of 5.0~50.0 ug/kg. We selected progesterone-d9 for internal standard, The recoveries in fortified meat ranged from 67.5 to 109.56% at the 3 spiking levels. As the regulation of MPA analysis method used by LC-MS/MS on other products have established. We selected 3 species of farm stock products (cattle, pig, chicken) and purchased at the markets of seven major cities. The total 196 of meat including 46 of domestic beef, 43 of import beef, 60 of domestic pork, 12 of import pork and 35 of domestic chicken. No residue of synthetic growth hormones were detected in cattle, pig and chicken samples tested.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 1997

The enzymatic properties as well as its distribution in the cerebral region and subcellular organells were investigated for the neurosteroid acyltransferase from the bovine brain, which synthesize the fatty acid esters of the neurosteroids. The cerebellum region was the highest in NSAT activity while the cerebrum was the lowest with 50% of the cerebellar activity. The NSAT was found to be mainly localized in the microsomal fraction. The optimal temperature and pH were $40^{\circ}C$ and 4.9, respectively. When $^3H-DHEA$ was utilized as substrate, the $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ was $32.6\;{\mu}M$ and 4.86 nmole/mg protein/h, respectively. Under the same condition pregnenolone$({\Delta}^5P)$ was a competitive inhibitor with $K_i=22.8\;{\mu}M$ and testosterone was a uncompetitive inhibitor with $K_i=22.8\;{\mu}M$. This may suggest that the NSAT has a different conformation in the acylation of the ${\beta}-hydroxyl$ group at C-3 and C-17.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.329-348
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• 2003

This paper has examined the origin of organic fanning, its development stages, its certification program, and its distributional characteristics in South Korea. Organic agriculture in South Korea originated in the late 1970s as several organic farmers' associations started to be formed. However, the certification of organic farm products, based upon the Codex guideline on organic produce as well as the FAO/WHO find standards, was not institutionalized with the year 2001. A majority of organic products are currently certified as farm products grown with low chemical input. Vegetables grown without any chemical input occupy the largest proportion of the certified produce, while fruits take the smallest. The average size of farms practicing organic agriculture is 0.88 hectare, smaller than the scale of conventional farms being 1.39 hectare. These organic farms are concentrated in Gyeonggi, Chungcheongbuk, and Jeju Province, where organic farmers' associations were first founded. The roles of those associations not only in developing and extending organic farming techniques but also in promoting organic agriculture to consumers were most critical in the regional development of organic farming. It would be desirable for local governments to promote organic farming in tandem with a whole environmental movement.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 1996

Imidacloprid and a series of the related compounds were synthesized, and influence of 3-N substituents(R) on the insecticidal activities against Brown plant hopper(Nilaparvata lugens) and Green peach aphid(Myzus persicae) were examined quantitatively from the structure-activities relationships(Shh) techniques. The results indicated that the molecular hydrophobicity$({\pi})$ and inductive substituent constant$({\sigma}^{\ast})$ of substituents(R) at 3-nitrogen position on the imidazolidine ring were important factors. Variations in the potency were parabolically related to the both constants. In case of Brown plant hopper, optimum value of ${\pi}$ constant was 0.52, whereas the value of ${\sigma}^{\ast}$ constant against Green peach aphid was 1.17, respectively. Among them, the strong electron withdrawing groups$({\sigma}^{\ast}>0)$ such as methyl and benzenesulfonyl group(7 & 8) showed lower insecticidal activity and non-substituted, 1(imidacloprid) showed the best insecticidal activity. It seems that the intramolecular associated(H-bond) form between 2-N-nitro group and 3-imid group may contribute to the higher insecticidal activity to the both sucking insects. And in aqueous solution, 1 showed higher residual activity below pH 6.0, and the half-life$(T_{1/2})$ was about 6 month at pH 7.0 $(ca.\;k_{obs.}:5{\times}10^{-8}sec.^{-1})$ and $45^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.504-511
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• 2008

Two kinds of nitroazobenzene derivatives: 4-{4'-(nitrophenylazo)phenoxy}alkanoic acids (NAAn, n = 2~8, 10, number of methylene units in the alkyl chain) and 4-{4'-(nitrophenylazo)phenoxy}alkanoyl chlorides (NACn, n = 2~8, 10) were synthesized, and their thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviors were investigated. NAA6 formed an enantiotropic nematic phase, while the remainders, except NAA2, showed monotropic nematic phases. Isotropic-nematic transition temperature ($T_{iN}$) and change of entropy (${\Delta}S$) at $T_{iN}$ for both of NAAn and NACn varied by the change of n, and pronounced odd-even effects of n were also observed. However, the $T_{iN}$ and ${\Delta}S$ values of NAAn were much higher than those of NACn. This fact may be attributed to the hydrogen bonding between carboxyl groups. Thermal properties and degree of order in the mesophase and the magnitude of the odd-even effects of both NAAn and NACn were significantly different from those reported for 4-(alkoxy)-4'-nitroazobenzenes. It was discussed in terms of the differences in the molecular anisotropy and the temperature-dependent flexibility of the substituted groups.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 2012

In this study, physical properties of synthesized DE7-OSA82-AO and DEP52-OSA82-AOQ82 zwitterionic surfactants were measured such as critical micelle concentration, surface tension, interfacial tension, contact angle and viscosity. Phase behavior study was also performed. The dual function characteristics of a zwitterionic surfactant were investigated by determining an isoelectric point, which was attained using zeta potential measurements and QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) experiments. The isoelectric point of DE7-OSA82-AO surfactant determined by the zeta potential measurement and QCM experiment was about 7.2 and 7.4, respectively. On the other hand, the isoelectric point of DEP52-OSA82-AOQ82 surfactant determined by the zeta potential measurement and QCM experiment was about 10.9 and 11.0, respectively. The frictional property measured using an automated mildness tester showed that DE7-OSA82-AO surfactant can provide a good softening effect at an acidic or neutral condition. On the other hand, DEP52-OSA82-AOQ82 was found to provide a good softening effect to a fabric surface at a pH below its isoelectric point of 11.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.537-543
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• 2010

Dopamine (DA) is an important neurotransmitter molecule of catecholamines. Its deficiency could lead to brain disorder such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a suitable analytical technique with sensitivity and simplicity. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for DA has been optimized and characterized. Assay sensitivity is controlled by two factors in competitive immunoassay. One is a nature and concentration of competitor, and the other is those of binder, antibody. Thus, optimization was performed: BSA-DA conjugate and antibody-avidin conjugate were prepared by dual heterobifunctional coupling method using SATA and SMCC. Assay condition was optimized with $6.66\;{\mu}gmL^{-1}$ of BSA-DA and $4.17{\times}10^{-10}\;M$ of antibody-avidin conjugate. A dose-response curve was constructed, and a limit of detection and a dynamic range for DA were accomplished to $2.3{\times}10^{-2}\;{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ and four orders of magnitude ($1.0{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ to $1.0{\times}10^{-3}\;M$), respectively. Calibration curve was constructed on dynamic range and least-squares regression of this data gave the following relationship: absorbance = -0.1098 log[DA]+0.0353 ($R^2$ = 0.9956).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.445-456
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• 2008

Telomeres consist of TTAGGG tandem repeated DNA sequences with specific proteins and locate at chromosome ends. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which has a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA and telomerase activity in cattle cells. Analysis of the quantity of telomere in lymphocytes was done at different ages, sex and among Korean cattle and Holstein breeds. The telomerase activity was also analyzed in liver, brain, heart, kidney, and testis tissues of fetal calf and of 18 month old cattle. The amount of telomeres in lymphocytes and other tissue cells was analyzed by Quantitative-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using a telomeric DNA probe. Telomerase activity was analyzed by Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol assay (TRAP). The amount of telomeric DNA on the lymphocytes during the whole life span was decreased along with age. Quantity of telomeres in Korean cattle was significantly higher than that in Holstein breed. The amount of telomeric DNA in males was significantly higher than that in females. Telomerase activity was up-regulated in most bovine tissues during fetal stage, but was down-regulated in most tissues at mature 18 month age except the testis cells. This study indicates that the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of cells can be used as an age marker or/and a physiological marker of cattle.