• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2014

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-${\alpha}$/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatment-naive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ${\zeta}$ expression on $CD8^+$ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-$1^+$ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ${\zeta}$ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic $CD8^+$ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ${\zeta}$ chain expression in $CD8^+$ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ${\zeta}$ chain expression.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1096-1107
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined exercise on blood inflammatory factors, DHEA-s and arterial stiffness in elderly women. The subjects were 42 elderly females volunteers, aged 70 to 85 years, composed of the combined exercise group (n=21) and control group (n=21). The 60 minute combined exercise program(aquarobics 1 time/week, strength exercise 2 times/week) was performed 3 times per week for 12 weeks, and the intensity was progressively increased every 4 weeks(1-4 weeks: RPE 12 to 13, 5-8 weeks: RPE 13 to 14, 9-12weeks: RPE 14 to 15). The test data were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA, paired t-test, independent t-test and the alpha level of .05 was set for all tests of significance. As a result, the combined exercise for 12 weeks reduced the inflammatory response of elderly women, and DHEA-s was found to have a positive effect on aging hormone. The arterial stiffness decreased the central arterial blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), prevented the increase of the pulse pressure and the wave increase index, and decreased the pulse wave velocity. These results suggest that regular and continuous combined exercise may be recommended for the healthy aging and longevity of elderly women by inducing anti-inflammation effect and improving the aging hormonal function and the vascular health.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.377-384
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• 2018

This study focused on the effects of feeding on postlarvae of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, during the identified acclimation time to low salinity. A total of 5 different salinity groups with or without feeding (32, 24, 16, 8, and 2 psu, 1 liter, triplicates) were prepared, and 30 shrimp were settled at PL21 (postlarvae) and placed in each group. After 24 hours of the experimentation process, the survival rate of the fed and starved groups was observed to be lower in the 2 psu group compared to other salinity groups, with the rate of 86.6% and 81.1%, respectively. The condition index of glucose and triglyceride, which are important factors for osmoregulation and as energy sources, was 4.2-7.6 times and 2.7-3.4 times higher in the fed groups than the starved groups at all the levels of salinities. The creatine level increased by 1.1-1.5 times in the starved groups as compared to the fed groups. Likewise, the activity of all the digestive enzymes like, lipase, ${\alpha}$-amylase, trypsin, and alkaline protease were clearly higher in the fed groups (ANOVA, p<0.05). Apparently, it was observed that feeding is effective for the postlarvae of shrimp, which shows a characteristic fast metabolism and larval development, during the acclimation period to low salinity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2018

Herbivory is a major functional component of forest ecosystems, and herbivorous insects comprise about 25% of all insect species. Increasing plant diversity is related to herbivore abundance and diversity, which affects the level of leaf damage caused by insects. This study was conducted to identify plant-related variables such as plant diversity and number of leaves and density-related variables, basal area, and diameter at breast height (DBH) in a temperate forest of southern South Korea. To assess the level of leaf damage caused by leaf chewing insects, we set up two 0.1 ha plots in a temperate deciduous forest on Mt. Jirisan National Park. Plant richness differed between two sites: 16 species in 14 families(site 1) and 19 species in 15 families (site 2). Fisher's alpha index based on plant species richness and abundance resulted in 4.41 (site 1) and 6.57 (site 2). However, the sum of basal area of each site was higher in site 1 ($6.6m^2$) than site 2 ($3.7m^2$). The total surveyed leaves at two sites were 3,832 and 4,691, respectively and the damage leaves were 1,544 and 2,136, respectively. The mean leaf damage level was 11.2% (${\pm}1.76%$) in two study sites: the leaf damage level of the site 1 (11.99%) was significantly higher than site 2 (10.59%). Stepwise regression analysis showed that species diversity and evenness were the significant variables for leaf damages by chewing herbivores. NMDS ordination also identified that high tree density and low species diversity were the significant variables. This suggested that the level of damage was significantly higher in plots with low plant diversity and high tree density. In the future, we will investigate other guilds of herbivores such as sap-suckers, miners and gallers in temperate deciduous forests.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2019

More effective treatments are needed for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that water extracts of blackberry fruits (BF) and leaves (BL) and their combinations (BFL) reduce fat deposition in HepG2 cells and modulate shor-tchain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal bacteria in vitro. HepG2 cells were treated with BF, BL, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 for 1 h, and 0.5 mM palmitate was added to the cells. Moreover, low ($30{\mu}g/mL$) and high doses ($90{\mu}g/mL$) of BL and BF were applied to fecal bacteria in vitro, and SCFA was measured by GC. BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 reduced triglyceride deposition in the cells in a dose-dependent manner, and BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 had a stronger effect than BF. The content of malondialdehyde, an index of oxidative stress, was also reduced in BL, BF, and BFL1:2 with increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c was reduced in BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 compared to the control, and BFL1:2 had the strongest effect. By contrast, the carnitine palmitolytransferase-1expression, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation, increased mostly in BFL1:2 and BFL1:3. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ expression was reduced in BL compared to that in BF and BFL1:2 in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, BL increased propionate production, and BF increased butyrate and propionate production and increased total SCFA content in fecal incubation. BF increased the contents of Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillales and decreased those of Clostridiales, whereas BL elevated the contents of Bacteroidales and decreased those of Enterobacteriales. In conclusion, BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 may be potential therapeutic candidates for NAFLD.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2019

Women who undergo natural menopause transition have increased numbers of risk factors relating to metabolic syndrome due to estrogen deficiency. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Superhongmi bran extract on metabolic syndrome improvement in menopausal women. Thirty women, who participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, were assigned to placebo-control (n=15) or Superhongmi bran extract (n=15) groups and were asked to consume two tablets (350 mg per extract per tablet) per day. After 12 weeks, weight, body mass index (BMI), plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, and total cholesterol (TC) levels were significantly decreased, whereas HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), adiponectin, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and GSH (glutathione) concentrations were significantly increased in the Superhongmi bran extract group. Moreover, $17{\beta}-estradiol$, and progesterone levels in the Superhongmi group were significantly higher than those in the placebo-control group. These results suggest that Superhongmi bran extract alleviates metabolic symptom in menopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.736-744
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• 2021

Artemisia princeps Pampanini is an herbal medicine widely used to immune function-related diseases, such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of AP extract and underlying mechanisms were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. The effects of AP extract were also studied in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model. In RAW 264.7 cells, AP extracts significantly inhibited the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. The LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB was also significantly blocked by AP extract in RAW 264.7 cells. Oral administration of AP extract suppressed the increase in mouse paw edema and spleen index compared to CFA-treated mice group. Histologically, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was increased in cartilage and synovium in the CFA-treated mouse group, whereas it was suppressed in the AP extract-administered group. Furthermore, AP extract treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α, levels in CFA and LPS-treated mouse. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effect of AP extract was confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo models, suggesting that Artemisia princeps Pampanini may be a candidate material for arthritis treatment.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2021

In this study, nine major sites of Yulcheon stream, a principal tributary of the Seomjingang River, were surveyed from April 2020 to October 2020, and their fish fauna and community structure were analyzed. A total of five families and 19 species of fish were identified. Among the 19 species, seven species were found to be endemic to Korea: Rhodeus uyekii, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Odontobutis interrupta, Cobitis tetralineata, Zacco koreanus, and Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae. Among five families, the family Cyprinidae had the largest number of species (15), whereas the rest of the four families: Gobiidae, Odontobutidae, Cobitidae, and Osphronemidae, had one species each. The two dominant species in the family Cyprinidae were identified as Z. platypus and Z. temminckii. The community index of nine major sites of Yulcheon stream was 0.499 dominance, 2.279 diversity, 0.774 evenness, and 2.594 species richness. The number 3 site had 14 species, the largest number of species among all sites, and the dominance rate (0.480) was low, whereas diversity (2.173), and species richness (2.701) were the highest. As a result of cluster analysis, clusters matched according to the structure of the river types, but St. 9, which confirmed a relatively small number of populations, showed a structure similar to that of the upstream section. In the case of St. 5, a separate cluster was formed by a large number of species and populations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2022

Vitamin A (Vit A) is a lipid-soluble vitamin required for diverse normal body functions, including good vision, reproduction, growth, development, and cellular differentiation. The therapeutic effects of Vit A have been demonstrated for the treatments of inflammation, low immunity, and cancer. The present review discusses the scientific evidence for establishing the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI) for Vit A, issues caused by unit change of Vit A, and suggestions for the 2025 KDRI revision. Due to the changes in the standard bodyweight observed in several age groups, the 2020 KDRI had minor revisions as compared to the 2015 KDRI. In the 2015 KDRI, the Vit A unit has changed from retinol equivalent (RE) to retinol activity equivalent (RAE) and the activity of carotenoids became half with RAE compared to RE due to this unit change. Since the Vit A intake of Koreans relies heavily on plant-based carotenoids, the dietary intake of Vit A in Koreans as determined by considering the RAE was much lower than values obtained with RE. The analysis for Vit A intake by the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey only reflects intakes of retinol and beta-carotene. Thus, it would be necessary to include the consumption of other provitamin A, such as alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. Moreover, assessing the amounts of Vit A in foods should be customized to Korean diets since there are seasonal variations in the carotenoid concentration of plants. Moreover, other factors such as age- and sex-specific intake data and considerations of baseline micronutrient status, body mass index, and dietary patterns should be considered for developing more precise KDRI. In particular, the Vit A requirement needs to be met by consuming diverse foods, including animal foods.