• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2016

This study evaluated structural alternatives for managing water quality problems by reinterpreting and then applying the robustness-cost index (RCI) for urban flood problems. Cases of endogenous hormone pollution in treated sewage and proliferation of protozoa in intake-water were chosen as representative examples because they have different types of regulation standards for the treatment. Current facilities and structural alternatives with robustness indices (RIs) greater than unity were determined to be robust. The RI was combined with the cost index (CI) to obtain the RCI values. For the endogenous hormone pollution in treated sewage, a human-oriented estrogen $17{\beta}$-estradiol was selected as a target pollutant. The RI and RCI values for a structural alternative, extension of the current sewage treatment facility for advanced treatment, were greater than the values for the current practice of conventional activated sludge process. For the intake-water pollution by protozoa, UV and ozone disinfection facilities were evaluated for inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum. The RCI values for ozone disinfection were greater than those for UV disinfection. Based on the results and the logics involved in the calculation of RCI for water quality issues we studied, we proposed procedures for establishing and implementing structural alternatives for the restoration from and prevention of outbreaks of water quality problems.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.752-758
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• 2013

Estrogen like activities were evaluated using ethanol and hot water extracts of herbal medicines by using an in vitro detection system. Bokryung (Poria cocos), Sanyak (root of Dioscorea batatas) and Mokdanpi (root skin of Paeonia suffruticosa) represented statistically significant estrogen-like activities (p<0.001), while Omija (fruit of Schizandra chinensis), Taeksa (root of Alisma canaliculatum A. BR.), Jihwang (root of Rhemannia glutinosa), and Sansuyu (fruit of Cornus officinalis) did not. Estrogen-like activities of Bokryung hot water extract (500 ${\mu}g/ml$) and ethanol extract (50 ${\mu}g/ml$) were almost same as that of a C M $17{\beta}$-estradiol. Furthermore, estrogen-like activities of ethanol extracts (500 ${\mu}g/ml$) of Bokryung and Mokdanpi were stronger than that of $10^{-7}$ M $17{\beta}$-estradiol. These results suggest that Bokryung, Sanyak and Mokdanpi show estrogen-like activities. Especially, Sanyak and Mokdanpi represented promotive effect on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Bokryung, Sanyak and Mokdanpi also exhibited superior inhibitory effect on the viability of RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, these three herbal medicines might be interpreted as candidates for the further study or development of functional foods or medicine to prevent or avoid postmenopausal symptoms of women.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

4-nonylphenol (4-NP)이 해산어류인 조피볼락, Sebastes schlegeli의 혈장 vitellogenin (VTG), alkaline-labile protein phosphorus (ALPP), calcium(Ca), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) 및 hepatosomatic index (HSI)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 실험어에 3일간격으로 $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$, 5 mg/kg B.W.) 또는 4-NP(0, 10, 50, 100및 200 mg/kg B.W.)을 복강에 2번 주사한 후, 7일째에 채혈과 적출을 통해 혈장과 간장을 수집해 분석이 실시되었다. 대조 실험어에는 용매로 사용된 70% 에탄올만이 투여되었다. $E_2$ 투여 실험어의 혈장 단백질을 전기 영동상으로 분석한 결과 약 170 kDa의 위치에서 짙은 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었으나, 용매만 투여한 대조 실험어의 혈장에서는 동일 밴드가 관찰되지 않았다. 4-NP 투여한 모든 실험어의 혈장 단백질에서는 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 동일한 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었다. 혈장 ALPP와 Ca 농도도 4-NP 투여 실험어에서 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 증가하였으며, 이들 농도 변화는 VTG 합성과 더불어 증가하는 경향을 나타냈다. 혈장 전위효소인 GPT와 HSI도 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 4-NP가 투여된 모든 실험어에서 급격히 증가하였다. 이상의 결과로부터 연안생태계 내에서 서식하는 어류가 4-NP과 같은 내분비 장애물질(Endocrine Disrupting compounds, EDCs)에 의해 영향을 받는지를 규명하기 위한 생물학적 지표로서 VTG와 더불어 혈장 ALPP와 Ca이 사용가능 할 것으로 판단된다. 또한, 조피볼락과 같은 해산어가 EDCs에 노출되어 VTG가 합성될 때 간장 기능의 손상으로 혈장 전위효소인 GPT가 일시적으로 종가하고 간장도 비대해져 HSI가 높아지는 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 2001

To study effect of non-fat components present in plant seeds on lipid metabolism, defatted safflower and perilla seed powders were used in high cholesterol diets for ovariectomized (ovx) female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 227$\pm$15g. Experimental groups were six as follows; normal group without ovariectomy and cholesterol-free diet, sham and ovx-control groups with high cholesterol and cellulose for dietary fiber, ovx-est group with the same diet as ovx-control but with eight subcutaneous injections of 50$\mu\textrm{g}$ 17$\beta$-estradiol. ovx-safflower and ovx-perilla with 29% and 16% (w/w) of each defatted powder in high cholesterol diets at the expense of cellulose. Weight gains were lower in normal and sham groups and food efficiencies were lower in normal,ovx-est and ovx-safflower groups compared with ovx-control. Uterus weights were dramatically reduced by ovariectomy but restored completely by 17$\beta$-estradiol and partially (~5%) by defatted safflower. Plasma levels of total cholesterol were not different among ovx-control, sham, vx-est and ovx-safflower groups (90.8~95.1 mg/dL) but that was lower in ovx-perilla (80.4$\pm$6.2 mg/dL). Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were lower in sham (76.6$\pm$7.0 mg/dL) and ovx-perilla (79.2$\pm$5.8 mg/dL) groups. Liver cholesterol levels were lower in sham, ovx-est, ovx-safflower and ovx-perilla groups (26.6~29.8 mg/g) than ovx-control (36.5$\pm$3.2 mg/g). But liver TG levels were reduced only sham and ovx-est groups compared to control group. Fecal excretions of bile acid and cholesterol were highest in ovx-safflower group (30.8$\pm$5. and 32.1$\pm$5.7 mg/g) compared with other ovx groups (20.8~23.1 and 12.1~19.5 mg/g). These results suggest that both perilla and safflower seeds contain groups (20.8~23.1 and 12.1~19.5mg/g). These results suggest that both perilla and safflower seeds contain non-fat and non-fiber components having lipid lowering effects.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2013

Purpose: Maxilla and mandible have different patterns of cortical and trabecular bone and different bone mineral densities, even though both are components of the jaw bone. However, cellular differences between maxilla- and mandible derived osteoblasts (OBs) have rarely been studied. We hypothesize that maxilla- and mandible-derived OBs show different responses to $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2), which is one of the critical factors for bone formation. This study compares skeletal site-specific cell responses between maxilla- and mandible-derived human OBs to E2. Methods: Maxilla- and mandible-derived OBs derived from an identical donor were separately isolated from a total of five normal healthy subjects aged 18~44 years old, cultured with a treatment of 100 nM estrogen. The responses between maxilla- and mandible-derived OBs to E2 were evaluated and compared using cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and gene expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), ALP, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ ($ER{\alpha}$). Results: E2 did not have any distinct effects on the proliferation of both types of OBs. Mandible-derived OBs exhibited higher ALP activity than maxilla-derived OBs in the non-treated condition, which was common in all tested individuals. ALP activities of both types of OBs showed a minor increasing tendency with the treatment of E2, even though there was no statistical significance in some specimens. The gene expression of OB by E2 was diverse, depending on the individuals. There was increased expression of OPG, IGF-1, or $ER{\alpha}$ gene in the part of subjects, which was more repeated in maxilla-derived OBs. In particular, OPG or ALP induction by E appeared less frequently in mandible-derived OBs. Conclusion: Current results revealed that E2 affects maxilla- and mandible-derived OBs into facilitating the osteogenic process despite individual differences. Mandible-derived OBs are less sensitive to bone-forming gene expression by E2.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2000

The effects of bisphenol-A(BPA), a monomer of plastics used in many consumer products, on vitellogenin(VTG) synthesis were examined in primary hepatocyte culture of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. The hepatocytes were precultured for 2 days, and then estradiol-$17\beta(10^{-6}M)$ and BPA were simultaneously added to the incubation medium. The hepatocytes were cultured for 6 more days and then spent medium was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. BPA increased the rate of VTG to total protein concentrations in a concentration-dependent way, and a significant difference was obtained at concentrations of $10^{-6}M$ and $10^{-5}M$ (P<0.05). In particular, the rate of VTG to total protein concentrations was 26.36% at $10^{-5}M$ of BPA, and its level did not differ from the control level with $E_2$ alone. $E_2$ and/or BPA-primed VTG synthesis was markedly inhibited to about 80% of the control(with $E_2$) by the addition of tamoxifen($10^{-6}M$) to the incubation medium. Furthermore, In vivo $E_2$-primed VTG synthesis was significantly inhibited by in vitro $E_2$-free incubation of hepatocyte to about 22% of the control (with $E_2$) on Day 6. The effect of reducing was delayed in a BPA concentration-dependent way. These results suggest that BPA induce VTG synthesis by estrogenic activity through estrogen receptor mediated response and prolong VTG synthesis on vitellogenesis in olive flounder.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2002

Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal compounds fecund In a variety of plants, which exert estrogenic effects in animals. In this study, the physico-chemical properties of Iranian black pomegranate extract and its products as preliminarily research for the developing of natural estrogen supplement were evaluated. The chemical components of Iranian black pomegranate extracts and its product (Forever 120) were analyzed. Proximate compositions of pomegranate extracts were as follows; crude lipid 0.4%, crude protein 0.9%, crude ash 1.4% and carbohydrate 42.0%. Major amino acids of pomegranate extracts are glutamic acid (1310.0ppm), aspartic acid (896.2ppm), arginine (877.7ppm) and phenylalanine (57.5ppm). Fatty acid compositions of pomegranate extract 1ibid extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:1) were myristic (13.1%), stearic (69.4), oleic acid (6.8%) and palmitic acid (8.3%). Mineral elements were ferrous (6640.0ppm) and potassium (2550.8ppm). Vitamins were composed of ascorbic acid(20.0mg/100g), Vit. B$_1$(0.12mg/100g) and niacin (0.80mg/100g). 20 phytoestrogens and 20 estrogens of pomegranate extracts were detected Daidzein (0.29ppm), quercetin (9.75ppm) genistein (0.29ppm) and 17 $\beta$ -estradiol(0.15ppm). Above the chemical components of pomegranate extracts were compared with that of pomegranate its product or other isoflavon concentrates.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 1996

This study was conducted to compare the immunochemical properties of female-specific serum proteins (vitellogenin, VTG) and egg yolk proteins in female fusilier, Caesio diagramma. VTG of fusilier was identified and characterized by using immunochemical analysis. Two types of VTG (VTG1 and VTG2) reacted clearly with antiserum against egg proteins, were confirmed in the serum of mature female. The results of sephacryl S-300 showed that the molecular weights of VTG1 and VTG2 were 560,000 and 410,000, respectively. Yolk proteins, E2 and E3, were isolated from egg extracts, and molecular weights of them were estimated 410,000 and 170,000, respectively. The treatment of $17\beta$-estradiol ($E_2$) to males has induced the synthesis of VTG of which immunological characteristics seems to be similar to the yolk proteins. The results suggest that VTG can be synthesized in the liver by the action of $E_2$ stimulation, and incorporated into the oocytes through the blood circulation. The level of serum $E_2$ was moderately high throughout the spawning period of June. The level of serum VTG was also sustained at high in May and June. The concentration changes of serum $E_2$ and VTG were corelated to the ovarian development in female fusilier. The results indicated that $E_2$ may have some important roles for the vitellogenesis in female fusilier. Also) the VTG can be a precursor protein of yolk not only because it could be synthesized in the liver then incorporated into the oocytes but also because an egg yolk protein had the similiar molecular weights and antigenecity with VTG.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2012

Acute toxicity, water resolvability and short term reproduction test on Japanese medaka (Oriyzias latipes) for evaluating alachlor susceptibility to endocrine system were studied. Alachlor is known for suspected endocrine distruptors. As the results of tests, $LC_{50}$ (Median lethal concentration) was determined as 2.36 (1.994~2.805) mg/L, and test water replaced at 7 day intervals as its water resolvability was less than 20% in 7 days. The short term reproduction tests on Japanese medaka (Oriyzias latipes) were performed with a solvent control group, a treated group (alachlor concentrations of 0.02, 0.04, 0.11, 0.27, 0.68 ppm) and a positive control group (17 ${\beta}$ estradiol, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 ppb). The number of spawning and embryo rates were declined in a alachlor-dose dependent manner, and the number of unfertilized eggs rates were in contrast increased depending on the concentrations. Further study should be needed to confirm whether the adverse effects may be effected by the concentrations. Additionally, alachlor was evaluated as a non-vitellogenin by the result of a test of significance of the vitellogenin content test for determination of the effect of estrogen among the endocrine disruptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.493-501
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• 1998

The most significant direct role of estrogen in vivo is its ability to elicit receptor-mediated cellular proliferation in mammalian target tissues. However, the mechanism by which exogenously added estrogen causes the neoplastic transformation of renal cortical cells is yet to be uncovered. The present study was designed to evaluate interaction of $17{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)$ with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on proliferation and $P_i$ uptake in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells in phenol red-free, hormonally defined-medium. $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation increased markedly by about 133% and 141% more in the presence of $10^{-9}\;and\;10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$, respectively, than that of control. Cell count was 162% and 143% greater in the presence of $10^{-9}\;and\;10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$ , respectively, compared with control. Among all time points examined, there was an increase in $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation in the presence of $10^{-9}\;M\;E_2$ at day 9 or 13, respectively. However, $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) significantly drove up cell count to 160% of that of control at day 13, while it had a slight but statistically insignificant effect at day 9. $E_2-induced$ stimulation of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was completely reversed by $E_2$ antagonists (progesterone or tamoxifen). $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) or EGF ($10^{-8}\;M$) significantly stimulated $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation by 144% and 154% of control. $E_2$ plus EGF was synergistic on $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation (204% of control), while $E_2$ plus IGF-I showed a slight but no significant synergistic effect. Cell number also displayed similar pattern. $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) significantly stimulated $P_i$ uptake to 134% of control. $E_2$-induced stimulation of $P_i$ uptake was partially reversed by $E_2$ antagonists. EGF or IGF-I ($10^{-8}\;M$) significantly also increased $P_i$ uptake to 132% or 129% of control. $E_2$ plus EGF had synergistic effect on $P_i$ uptake, while $E_2$ plus IGF-I did not. In conclusion, $E_2$ may act not only directly interaction with its receptors but also indirectly as a modulator of EGF in proliferation and $P_i$ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells.