• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.246-251
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of (-)-sesamin on memory deficits in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). MPTP lesion (30 mg/kg/day, 5 days) in mice showed memory deficits including habit learning memory and spatial memory. However, treatment with (-)-sesamin (25 and 50 mg/kg) for 21 days ameliorated memory deficits in MPTP-lesioned mouse model of PD: (-)-sesamin at both doses improved decreases in the retention latency time of the passive avoidance test and the levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid, improved the decreased transfer latency time of the elevated plus-maze test, reduced the increased expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and increased the reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB). These results suggest that (-)-sesamin has protective effects on both habit learning memory and spatial memory deficits via the dopaminergic neurons and NMDA receptor-ERK1/2-CREB system in MPTP-lesioned mouse model of PD, respectively. Therefore, (-)-sesamin may serve as an adjuvant phytonutrient for memory deficits in PD patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-210
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• 2010

Several studies have shown that plant-derived polyphenols reduce cardiovascular accidents in high-risk patients and the inhibition of platelet function may be responsible for part of this benefit. Lindera obtusiloba is widely used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of Lindera obtusiloba Extracts (LOE) on in vitro platelet aggregation, radical scavenging activity and in vivo murine pulmonary thrombosis were examined. LOE was able to directly scavenge the stable DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner and its $IC_{50}$ value was 3.9 ${\pm}$ 0.1 ${\mu}g$/ml. LOE significantly inhibited collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner and its $IC_{50}$ value is 0.9 ${\pm}$ 0.1 mg/ml and 0.4 ${\pm}$ 0.1 mg/ml respectively. The inhibitory effect of LOE was comparable to aspirin ($IC_{50}$ values were 1.0 ${\pm}$ 0.5 and 1.0 ${\pm}$ 0.7 mg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, oral administration of LOE suppressed the death of mice with pulmonary thrombosis induced by intravenous injection of collagen plus epinephrine. Taken together, our results suggest LOE may be a promising candidate for antithrombotic agent, and the antithrombotic effect of LOE may be due to, at least in part, antiplatelet activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2008

The use of antihemophilic factor IX complex has been associated with a variety of thrombotic complications, the major cause of which was the contamination of thrombogenic proteins such as vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII, and X. In order to produce a commercial factor IX (GreenNine VF) free from thrombogenic potential, industrial-scale production process for high-purity factor IX from human plasma has been developed. The purification process contains cryo-precipitation, DEAE-sephadex A-50 anion-exchange chromatography, DEAE-toyopearl 650M anion-exchange column chromatography, heparin-sepharose 6FF affinity column chromatography, and CM-sepharose FF cation-exchange column chromatography. Also the process includes two viral inactivation and removal procedures, solvent/detergent treatment and nanofiltration using Viresolve NFP filter. The purification yield was 35.4%. The specific activity in the purified concentrate was 190.8 IU/mg which exceeded that in the factor IX complex (FacNine) by a factor of 48. The activities of factor II, VII, and X were not detected in GreenNine VF. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that GreenNine VF had the highest purity in comparison with commercially available high purity factor IX concentrates, Mononine, Octanyne, Berinin HS, and Immunine STIM plus 600. One batch size of the production was 2,400 vials of 250 IU product or 1,200 vials of 500 IU product from 1,600 L cryo-poor plasma.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.370-377
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• 1997

A novel assay method is described for rapid quantitation of reaction rate of sterol ${\Delta}^7$-reductase (${\Delta}^7$-SR) which catalyzes reduction of the ${\Delta}^7$-double bond of sterols. Of six different organ tissues-liver, small intestine, brain, lung, kidney, and testis-. ${\Delta}^7$-SR activity was detected only in liver (2.30 nmol/min/mg protein) and testis (0.11 nmol/min/mg protein). Using a newly developed method which employs diet-induced enzyme proteins and ergosterol as substrate, we assessed both kinetics ($K_m=210\;{\mu}M$, $V_{max}=1.93\;nmol/min/mg$) and inhibition of the rat hepatic ${\Delta}^7$-SR against well-studied cholesterol lowering agents such as triparanol ($IC_{50}=16\;{\mu}M$). 3-$\beta$-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]androst-5-en-17-one (U18666A) ($IC_{50}=5.2\;{\mu}M$), and trans-1.4-bis(2-chlorobenzylaminomethyl)cyclohexane dihydrochloride (AY-9944) ($IC_{50}=0.25\;{\mu}M$). Of the three well-known AY-9944-sensitive cholesterogenic enzymes (i.e., ${\Delta}^7$-SR, sterol ${\Delta}^8$-isomerase, and sterol ${\Delta}^14$-reductase). ${\Delta}^7$-SR was found to be the most sensitive enzyme with a noncompetitive inhibition of this compound ($K_i=0.109\;{\mu}M$). Substrate specificity studies of the microsomal ${\Delta}^7$-SR indicate that the relative reaction rate for 7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol are 5.6-fold and 1.6-fold higher than that for lathosterol. ${\Delta}^7$-SR activity was also modulated by feeding rats a diet supplemented with 0.5% ergosterol (>2.6-fold) in addition to 5.0% cholestyramine plus 0.1% lovastatin ($\simeq$5.0-fold). Finally, microsomal ${\Delta}^7$-SR was solubilized by 1.5% 3-[3-(cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) and enriched on PEG (0~10%) precipitation, which should be suitable for further purification of the enzyme.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2001

We have examined if lactic acid bacteria could suppress the toxic effect of bisphenol A. Lactobacillus casei YA-70 was chosen as representative. Thirty rats were divided into two groups (immature and mature) according to the weight. Each group was divided again into the control group (only alcohol treatment), bisphenol A treated group, and bisphenol A plus Lactobacillus casei YA-70 treated group. When 500 ppm of bisphenol A was fed everyday, 83% of immature group and 50% of mature group died within 3 weeks. Their internal organs, mainly livers and lungs, were changed in color and severely damaged. In the intestine of 5 ppm-fed group tumor-like nodules were observed. However, their number and size were markedly decreased when Lactobacillus casei YA-70 was supplemented in diet. This study strongly indicates that Lactobacillus casei YA-70 might play an important role to suppress the toxic effect of endocrine disruptor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1554-1560
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• 2000

Ninety-six crossbred (Large White${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc) pigs, weaned at 35 days of age, were assigned to four dietary treatments in order to investigate the effects of oral antibiotics on the performance and the intestinal microflora of weanling pigs. Pigs were fed either a basal diet, without antibiotics, or the basal diet plus either 50 ppm acetylspiramycin, 50 ppm olaquindox, or 100 ppm bacitracin zinc. The pigs were housed eight per pen with three pens per treatment in an environmentally controlled nursery. Ten days after weaning, three pigs from each treatment were slaughtered and intestinal pH, microflora, and volatile fatty acid concentration were determined. At the end of the 4 week trial, the remaining pigs were weighed and feed consumption was measured. Average daily gains for pigs fed acetylspiramycin, olaquindox, bacitracin zinc and the control diet were 0.43, 0.40, 0.37, and 0.34 kg per day (p=0.001), respectively. Antibiotic addition did not modify feed intake, but acetylspiramycin improved feed conversion (p=0.003). In comparison with the control, acetylspiramycin significantly increased Bifidobacteria numbers in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014) and decreased total bacterial counts throughout the intestine (p<0.01 except for the ileum where p=0.079). Acetate production was significantly lower in the cecum (p=0.028) and colon (p=0.079) of pigs fed acetylspiramycin. In addition to increasing numbers of Bifidobacteria in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014), olaquindox increased Lactobacillus in the jejunum (p=0.004) and decreased E. coli in the colon (p=0.022). Bacitracin zinc increased Lactobacillus numbers in the jejunum (p=0.004) and Bifidobacterium concentrations in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome and prognostic factor of postoperative radiotherapy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Materials and Methods: Forty three patients with extremity STS were treated with conservative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy from January 1981 to December 2010 at Korea University Medical Center. Median total 60 Gy (range, 50 to 74.4 Gy) of radiation was delivered and 7 patients were treated with chemotherapy. Results: The median follow-up period was 70 months (range, 5 to 302 months). Twelve patients (27.9%) sustained relapse of their disease. Local recurrence occurred in 3 patients (7.0%) and distant metastases developed in 10 patients (23.3%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 69.2% and disease free survival was 67.9%. The 5-year local relapse-free survival was 90.7% and distant relapse-free survival was 73.3%. On univariate analysis, no significant prognostic factors were associated with development of local recurrence. Histologic grade (p = 0.005) and stage (p = 0.02) influenced the development of distant metastases. Histologic grade was unique significant prognostic factor for the OS on univariate and multivariate analysis. Severe acute treatment-related complications, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3 or 4, developed in 6 patients (14.0%) and severe late complications in 2 patients (4.7%). Conclusion: Conservative surgery with postoperative radiotherapy achieved a satisfactory rate of local control with acceptable complication rate in extremity STS. Most failures were distant metastases that correlate with tumor grade and stage. The majority of local recurrences developed within the field. Selective dose escalation of radiotherapy or development of effective systemic treatment might be considered.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.522-528
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to improve the reemployment rate of unemployed job seekers aged 50 to 59 by supporting the foundation of our society and enhancing their value of life. We analyzed the impact of resilience, a psychological factor, on job seeking of unemployed people in their fifties. Subjects were visited and provided employment services in the Employment Welfare Plus Center in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. We devised a questionnaire consisting of three variables of general characteristics, resilience, and job search. Also, the resilience variables comprised sub-variables of control, positiveness, and sociality, and the job search variables involved sub-variables of job preparation, attitude, and willness. Study results the resilience of unemployed persons aged 50 to 59 is above average, and sub-variables of positiveness are highest compared to other sub-variables. Second, there is no significant gender difference in resilience for job search activities. Third, resilience and its sub-variables, such as control and affirmation, affect job-seeking activities. Therefore, this study suggests strengthening the resilience of job seekers in their fifties as well as providing psychological counseling and job training for job-seeking activities.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2002

The effects of electrodialysis (ED) alone or ED plus ultrafiltration (UF) on deacidification of mandarin orange juice were studied by using a commercial ED stack with ion exchange membranes. ED processing, reduced the total acidity of the juices by 30% (0.6~0.7% as total acidity) after 50 min and by about 60~70% (0.23~0.4% as total acidity) after 100 min, as compared to the control juice. However, the acidity reduction after 50 min of ED was determined to be suitable, when considering total acidity (0.6~0.7%, w/w) and current efficiency. There was no color change in the juices following ED, and the pH and Brix were only slightly decreased. Furthermore, ascorbic acid and citric acid concentrations showed only minor decreases, and amino-N, free sugar, and flavonoid contents remained almost unchanged. Therefore, we concluded that the nutritional integrity of the juice was maintained. ED combined with UF may be effective, not only in preventing membrane fouling, but also in preserving the nutrients, such as ascorbic acid, in citrus juice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.669-676
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• 2002

The efficiency of marker assisted selection(MAS) over conventional selection index based sorely on phenotypic records was studied by deterministic simulation model. Parameter combination of heritability and amount of genetic variation due to the markers included in the index was employed. For the index with own phenotypic information vs. the index with own phenotypic plus marker information, the relative efficiency of MAS over the selection with phenotypic records was about 38% high when heritability was low(0.05). However, when heritability was high(50%), the relative efficiency of MAS was vary low and almost negligible. For more practical situation of selection index which included information on own, sire and dam, MAS was less effective than when selection criteria was only on own performance.