• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study is to develop novel nanoparticles based on polyion complex formation between low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (LMWSC) and all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). LMWSC nanoparticles encapsulating atRA based on polyion complex were prepared by mixing of atRA into LMWSC aqueous solution using ultrasonication. In FTIR spectra, the carbonyl group of atRA at 1690 $cm^{-1}$ disappeared or decreased when ion complexes were formed between LMWSC and atRA. In ${1}^H$ NMR spectra, specific peaks of atRA disappeared when atRA-encapsulated LMWSC (RAC) nanoparticles were reconstituted into $D_{2}O$ while specific peaks both of atRA and LMWSC appeared in $D_{2}O$/DMSO (1/3, v/v) mixture. XRD patterns also showed that the crystal peaks of atRA were disappeared by encapsulation into LMWSC nanoparticles. LMWSC nanoparticles encapsulating atRA have spherical shapes with particle size below 200 nm. The mechanism of encapsulation of atRA into LMWSC nanoparticles was thought to be an ion complex formation between LMWSC and atRA. LMWSC nanoparticles showed high atRA loading efficiency over 90$\%$ (w/w). AtRA was continuously released from nanoparticles over 10 days. In in vitro cell cytotoxicity test, free atRA showed higher cytotoxic effect against CT 26 colon carcinoma cell line on 1 day. However, RAC nanoparticles showed similar cytotoxicity against CT 26 cells on 2 day. These results suggest the potential for the introduction of LMWSC nanoparticles into various biomedical fields such as drug delivery.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.549-555
• /
• 2023

The representative technology of the WWAN wireless communication network used in the Internet of Things is LoRa communication technology, and LoRa communication uses the ISM band. The 920 MHz (920.9 MHz~923.3 MHz) band frequency, which is used as a domestic LoRa frequency, had a problem in performing LoRa network practice in the curriculum using a commercially available LoRa modules that have been used in Europe and the United States because of different frequency band, but a RYLR896 LoRa module was developed that allowed RF frequency to be programmed. With this module, this paper confirmed that the frequency can be set at a specified frequency in Korea using AT commands. In addition, using these RYLR896 LoRa modules, a LoRa network consisting of end nodes and gateways was constructed and practiced to confirm that development equipment capable of practicing the RYLR896 LoRa module and IoT was operating normally.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.59 no.6
• /
• pp.590-596
• /
• 2016

Objective : Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that can affect the cervical spine, especially the atlantoaxial region. The present study evaluated the risk factors for atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) development and progression in patients who have undergone surgical treatment. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the data of 62 patients with RA and surgically treated AAS between 2002 and 2015. Additionally, we identified 62 patients as controls using propensity score matching of sex and age among 12667 RA patients from a rheumatology registry between 2007 and 2015. We extracted patient data, including sex, age at diagnosis, age at surgery, disease duration, radiographic hand joint changes, and history of methotrexate use, and laboratory data, including presence of rheumatoid factor and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Results : The mean patient age at diagnosis was 38.0 years. The mean time interval between RA diagnosis and AAS surgery was $13.6{\pm}7.0$ years. The risk factors for surgically treated AAS development were the serum CRP level (p=0.005) and radiographic hand joint erosion (p=0.009). The risk factors for AAS progression were a short time interval between RA diagnosis and radiographic hand joint erosion (p<0.001) and young age at RA diagnosis (p=0.04). Conclusion : The CRP level at RA diagnosis and a short time interval between RA diagnosis and radiographic hand joint erosion might be risk factors for surgically treated AAS development in RA patients. Additionally, a short time interval between RA diagnosis and radiographic hand joint erosion and young age at RA diagnosis might be risk factors for AAS progression.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.386-390
• /
• 1997

The characteristics of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, EC 1.1.1.1, alcohol:NAD oxidoreductase) of thermotolerant alcohol-producing yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae RA-74-2 and Kluyveromyces marxianus RA-912, were compared with that of mesophilic S. cerevisiae D, an industrial strain. Under anaerobic culture condition, both S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 and D had similar level of ADH activity at 30$\circ$C, and the activity of S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 at 37$\circ$C was the same level at 30$\circ$C. However, the level of ADH activity of S. cerevisiae D at 37$\circ$C decreased about 70% of that at 30$\circ$C. The level of enzyme activity of K. marxianus RA-912, which showed lower alcohol productivity than S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 and D, was about 43% of those strains at 30$\circ$C, and decreased somewhat at 37$\circ$C. The results showed a good correlation between the alcohol productivities and the level of ADH activities of these strains grown at 30$\circ$C and 37$\circ$C. And the higher heat stability of ADH of S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 than that of S. cerevisiae D seemed to reflect the ability of high temperature fermentation. Despite of its fermentation ability even at 45$\circ$C, however, the ADH of K. marxianus RA-912 showed lower heat stability than that of S. cerevisiae D. Both S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 and D showed similar patterns of two bands of ADH isozyme, and the low band of S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 moved slightly faster than that of S. cerevisiae D. The staining intensity of the bands of S. cerevisiae D at 37$\circ$C was weaker than those at 30$\circ$C. However, S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 showed no differences in total intensity of the bands of 30$\circ$C and 37$\circ$C. As the patterns of cellular proteins and ADH isozyme of K. marxianus RA-912 were different from S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 and D, K. marxianus might have its own characteristic ADH system.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.481-489
• /
• 2010

Introduction: TLR-5, a member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, is a element of the type I transmembrane receptors, which are characterized by an intracellular signaling domain homolog to the interleukin-1 receptor. These receptors recognize microbial components, particularly bacterial flagellin. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA, tretinoin), a natural metabolite of vitamin A, acts as a growth and differentiation factor in many tissues, and is also needed for immune functions. In this study, THP-1 human macrophage-monocytes were used to examine the mechanisms by which atRA regulated the expression of TLR-5. Because the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation at the transcriptional level is also unclear, this study examined which putative transcription factors are responsible for TLR-5 expression by atRA in immune cells. Materials and Methods: This study examined whether atRA induces the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and which transcription factors are involved in regulating the TLR-5 promoter in RAW264.7 cells using a reporter assay system. Western blot analysis was used to determine which signal pathway is involved in the expression of TLR-5 in atRA-treated THP-1 cells. Results: atRA at a concentration of 10 nM greatly induced the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells. Human TLR-5 promoter contains three Sp-1/GC binding sites around -50 bp and two NF-kB binding sites at -380 bp and -160 bp from the transcriptional start site of the TLR-5 gene. Sp-1/GC is primarily responsible for the constitutive TLR-5 expression, and may also contribute to NF-kB at -160 bp to induce TLR-5 after atRA stimulation in THP-1 cells. The role of NF-kB in TLR-5 expression was further confirmed by inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) experiments, which greatly reduced the TLR-5 transcription by 70-80%. Conclusion: atRA induces the expression of the human TLR-5 gene and NF-kB is a critical transcription factor for the atRA-induced expression of TLR-5. Accordingly, it is conceivable that retinoids are required for adequate innate and adaptive immune responses to agents of infectious diseases. atRA and various synthetic retinoids have been used therapeutically in human diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers due to the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of retinoids. Therefore, understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of TLR-5 may assist in the design of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases, leukemia and cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
• /
• v.53 no.8
• /
• pp.121-135
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study is to suggest a theoretical basis to name Sa(紗) and Ra(羅) remains properly by comparing and analyzing the name, usage, value, length and width of Sa(紗) and Ra(羅) recorded on documents made at the end period of Joseon. The features of Sa(紗) and Ra(羅) at the end of the Joseon Period are as follows. 1. The kinds of Sa(紗) are about 80, those of Ra(羅) are about 12, and those of Sa(紗) are significantly more than those of Ra(羅). In regard to the aspect of patterns, there were about 20 types of patterns in the case of Sa(紗), but no specific pattern for Ra(羅). 2. Some newly revealed patterns in the case of Sa (紗) are as follows. Baek -bok-mun(백복문) was a pattern full of ‘bats(박쥐[복])’, and Baek-jeop-mun(백접문) was a pattern full of ‘butterflies(나비[蝶])’ Jeop-mun(접문) was classified into ‘butterfly patterns(나비문[접문])’ and ‘traditional window flame patterns(창살문[접문])‘. 3. When considering the usages of Sa(紗) and Ra(羅), Sa(紗) was used for various detailed purposes according to their kinds and patterns, but Ra(羅) was mostly used for underwear. The most commonly used Sa(紗) was the Gab-sa type(甲紗類). On the contrary, the Go-sa type(庫紗類) was significantly less used than the Gab-sa type(甲紗類). However, it must have been of relatively high quality Sa(紗), shown by the fact that it was used for outer garments. In addition, the Gung-sa type(宮紗類) was the best quality Sa(紗), shown by the fact that it was used for court dress and official uniforms in the royal court. 4. Sa(紗) and Ra(羅) whose features have been examined we Gapsa(甲紗), Sun-in (純仁), Gosa(庫紗), Gwansa(官紗), Jusa(走紗), Eunjosa(은조사), Gwangsa(廣紗), Waesa(倭紗), Dorisa(도리사), Gong-yangsa(공양사), Rasa(羅紗), Danghangra(唐亢羅), Yanghangra(洋亢羅), Yunjura(윤주라), Eunra(銀羅), Jeohangra(저항라), Chura(秋羅). 5. Regarding the values of Sa(紗) and Ra(羅), they were high quality textures and its length and width of 1 Pil(疋), a roll of cloth, were not subdivided in detail such as in the case of plain weaved silks(平絹).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.215-221
• /
• 1994

Two strains of yeast (RA-74-2 and RA-912) showing superior fermenting ability at a high temperature were isolated from soils and wastewaters by an enrichment culture method. Based on the morphological and physiological charateristics, the two strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus, respectively. RA-74-2 was able to grow upto $43^{\circ}C$ and sustain similar fermenting ability in the temperatures range from 30 to $40^{\circ}C$. In addition, the sugar- and ethanol-tolerance of RA-74-2 were 30% (w/v) glucose and 10% (v/v) ethanol, which appeared to be higher than those of nine other industrial yeast strains currently being used in the alcohol factories. The thermotolerant ethanol fermenting yeast RA-912 showed identical growth in the temperatures range from 35 to $45^{\circ}C$ and was resistant to various heavy metals. The quality and quantity of byproducts of the isolated yeast strains in fermentation broth after fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$ were similiar with those obtained at $30^{\circ}C$. These results show that RA-74-2 can be adopted for the ethanol fermentation process where the expenses for cooling system is significant, and suggest that RA-912 may be applied in either SSF(simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) or Flash-fermentation process and RA-912 may be used as a gene donor for the development of thermotolerant ethanol-fermenting yeasts.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2006

All-trans retinoic acid (AtRA) induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in a variety of tumer cells, including MCF-7 cells. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) system has been reported to be associated with the development of cancer. Although MCF-7 cell with AtRA is to be the major stimulus for the cell growth and apoptosis, the mechanism of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) system remains to be elucidated. Thus, this study was conducted to the effect of AtRA on the gene expression and level of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. In addition, we investigated the involvement of PKC-${\delta}$ on the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 secretion in MCF-7 cell. AtRA(${\geq}10^{-7}M$) decreased the IGF-1 secretion and mRNA expressions, but increased IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cells. Especially, the treatment of AtRA at 72 hours caused a significant reduction in the IGF-I secretion and mRNA expressions but increment in IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions (p < 0.05). $10^{-7}M$ AtRA activated PKC-${\delta}$ that is one among PKC-$\iota$, ${\alpha}$, ${\lambda}$ and ${\delta}$ in MCF-7 cell. Rotllerin, a PKC-${\delta}$ inhibitor, blocked AtRA-induced inhibition of the IGF-I and mRNA expressions, and increase of lGFBP-3 and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cell. Together, AtRA inhibited the IGF-I secretion and mRNA expressions, but increased IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cell. Furthermore, AtRA-induced alteration of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 secretion, and the gene expressions were mediated via PKC-${\delta}$ activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.421-427
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate the embolized kidney and contralateral normal kidney using computed tomography (CT) and enhanced computed tomography. Experimental hydronephrosis was induced by ligation of unilateral ureter in Beagle dogs. Renal artery embolization was performed using selective catheterization in the hydronephrotic kidney of seven dogs and EKG, $SpO_2$, body temperature, pulse, and repiratory rate were within normal ranges during procedures. Iohexol-ethanol solution was used as embolic material. There were no dogs expired after TAE-Ra and no side effects associated with regurgitation of iohexol-ehtanol solution. Revascularization of renal artery was not found in angiography in dogs treated by TAE-RA at immediately after TAE-RA and 14 days after TAE-RA. CT showed dilation of urinary collection system and ventral displacement of spleen at 14 days after TAE-RA in one dog not treated by TAE-RA and experimental group treated by TAE-Ra. CT two month after TAE-RA showed the shrunken embolized kidney in experimental group. Transverse CT with contrast enhancement demonstrated the increase of signal intensity at thinned renal cortex in control group not treated by TAE-Ra at 30 days and 60 days, however, there was no increase of signal intensity at shrunken embolized kidney at 60 days after TAE-RA. CT was useful modality for evaluation of the morphology and the size of embolized kidney and contralateral normal kidney. Enhanced CT was availabel for the detection of revascularization of renal artery after TAE-RA in dogs with hydronephrosis. It is conclued that CT is useful modality for the monitoring of the revascularization of the renal artery after TAE-RA.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.322-329
• /
• 1990

The effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the regenerating limbs of Korean newt (Hynobius leechii) larvae have been studied. Intraperitoneal injection of RA at 4 days post-amputation caused the proximalization of regenerate structures in the proximodistal (PD) axis of the limbs amputated through either the distal zeugopodium or the distal stylopodium. The mean level of proximalization (MLP) increased as a dose-dependent manner, and the MLP was also dependent on the level of amputation at a given dose of RA. At the dose of 150 $\mu$ g/g body wt., MLP's in either amputation level reached close to a peak value, and an increasing number of inhibition of regeneration or duplication in the transverse plane occurred at the dose of 200 $\mu$ g/ g body wt. and above. The changes induced by RA treatment suggest that positional values in the cells of the regenerating limbs have been modified in the three cardinal axes including PD and transverse axes in a graded mode. Furthermore, from the comparison of data in two different amputation levels, it can be speculated that the sensitivity of cells to RA effect along the PD axis might not be linear.