• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1197-1205
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• 2023

Osteoporosis, Greek for "porous bone," is a bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone strength, microarchitectural changes in the bone tissues, and an increased risk of fracture. An imbalance of bone resorption and bone formation may lead to chronic metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis. Wolfiporia extensa, known as "Bokryung" in Korea, is a fungus belonging to the family Polyporaceae and has been used as a therapeutic food against various diseases. Medicinal mushrooms, mycelium and fungi, possess approximately 130 medicinal functions, including antitumor, immunomodulating, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects, and are therefore used to improve human health. In this study, we used osteoclast and osteoblast cell cultures treated with Wolfiporia extensa mycelium water extract (WEMWE) and investigated the effect of the fungus on bone homeostasis. Subsequently, we assessed its capacity to modulate both osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation by performing osteogenic and anti-osteoclastogenic activity assays. We observed that WEMWE increased BMP-2-stimulated osteogenesis by inducing Smad-Runx2 signal pathway axis. In addition, we found that WEMWE decreased RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by blocking c-Fos/NFATc1 via the inhibition of ERK and JNK phosphorylation. Our results show that WEMWE can prevent and treat bone metabolic diseases, including osteoporosis, by a biphasic activity that sustains bone homeostasis. Therefore, we suggest that WEMWE can be used as a preventive and therapeutic drug.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.254-262
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate and prospect for current research trend and developmental perspectives via analyzing recent biomaterial coated-implants study. Materials and methods: To investigate each subject respectively, several biomaterials that are using for implant surface coating were set as 'keywords'. By these keywords, major research groups in each subject were chosen, and research trend of them was analyzed. Trend of In vivo studies that examined selected biomaterials were analyzed to evaluate commercial potential. Results: The collagen research accounted for 40% of total implant study, which was the highest, and fibronectin, BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) and RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptides followed, which were ranked in descending order. Furthermore, figures of all four research subjects were also increased with time, especially a sharp increase in RGD research. According to the results of major research group, collagen that was combined with other organic and inorganic biomaterials was mostly examined, rather than using collagen only. Major research groups investigating BMPs mostly focused on rhBMP-2. In animal studies, collagen was used as resorbable membrane in guided bone regeneration (GBR) or drug carrier, while BMPs were used with bone graft materials or coating material for titanium implant surface. Conclusion: There is not consistency of results even in identical subjects research field. Many studies are ongoing to optimize combination between mechanical surface treatment and biomaterials such as extracellular matrix component and growth factors.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

Background: Oxidative stress occurs during the aging process and other conditions such as bone fracture, bone diseases, and osteoporosis, but the role of oxidative stress in bone remodeling is unknown. Propofol exerts antioxidant effects, but the mechanisms of propofol preconditioning on oxidative stress have not been fully explained. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of propofol against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress on a human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cell line via activation of autophagy. Methods: Cells were randomly divided into the following groups: control cells were incubated in normoxia (5% $CO_2$, 21% $O_2$, and 74% $N_2$) without propofol. Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) group cells were exposed to $H_2O_2\;(200{\mu}M)$ for 2 h, propofol preconditioning (PPC)/$H_2O_2$ group cells were pretreated with propofol then exposed to $H_2O_2$, 3-methyladenine (3-MA)/PPC/$H_2O_2$ cells were pretreated with 3-MA (1 mM) and propofol, then were exposed to $H_2O_2$. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated. Osteoblast maturation was determined by assaying bone nodular mineralization. Expression levels of bone related proteins were determined by western blot. Results: Cell viability and bone nodular mineralization were decreased significantly by $H_2O_2$, and this effect was rescued by propofol preconditioning. Propofol preconditioning effectively decreased $H_2O_2$-induced hFOB cell apoptosis. However, pretreatment with 3-MA inhibited the protective effect of propofol. In western blot analysis, propofol preconditioning increased protein levels of collagen type I, BMP-2, osterix, and TGF-${\beta}1$. Conclusions: This study suggests that propofol preconditioning has a protective effect on $H_2O_2$-induced hFOB cell death, which is mediated by autophagy activation.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2002

There has been continuous efforts to manage water resources for the required water quality criterion at river channel in Korea. However, we could obtain the partial improvement only for the point sources such as, waste waters from urban and factory site through the water quality management. Therefore, it is strongly needed that the best management practice throughout the river basin fur water quality management including non-point sources pollutant loads. This problem should be resolved by recognizing the non-point sources pollutant loads from the upstream river basin to the outlet of the basin depends on the landuse and soil type characteristics of the river basin using the computer simulation by a distributed model based on the detailed investigation and application of Geographic Information System (GIS). The purpose of this study is consisted of the three major distributions, which are the investigation of spread non-point sources pollutants throughout the river basin, development of the base maps to represent and interpret the input and outputs of the distributed simulation model, and prediction of non-point sources pollutant loads at the outlet of a up-stream river basin using Agricultural Non-Point Sources Model (AGNPS). For the validation purpose, the Seom-Jin River basin was selected with two flood events in 1998. The results of this application showed that the use of combined a distributed model and an application of GIS was very effective fur the best water resources and quality management practice throughout the river basin

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.29-39
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• 2017

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to promote sales of the renewable energy industry and to advance into the Southeast Asian market. Research design, data, and methodology - This study is to develop a highly efficient food waste treatment system for Southeast Asian renewable energy industry. The radiation treatment method was applied for this purpose. Results - To investigate effects of ionization on removal of non-degradable organic matter, the results from gamma irradiation and co-digestion process was compared to those from a co-digestion process. Based on the BMP test results, food wastes were oxidized by hydroxyl radicals, and the specific methane yield was 366 mL CH4/g VS. Methane composition was 82%. A WAS/food wastes co-digestion was developed for the treated of non-degradable organic matter in food wastes. The average efficiency of non-degradable organic matter were 92.2% using the food waste co-digestion. Conclusions - Performance of gamma irradiation and co-digestion process was superior to that of a co-digestion process (10-20%). This implies that food wastes can be high efficient co-digested by the gamma irradiation. It is believed that it will be possible to enter the Southeast Asian energy industry as a strategic technology in the overseas energy recovery industry.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.371-377
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• 1996

Bone graft has been used to repair one defect caused by disease and trauma, congenital and acquired deformities. Graft materials are autogenous bone, allogenic bone, xenogenic bone, synthetics. Autogenous bone graft is the most superior to other materials for immunologic reaction, compatibility to host tissue, and revascularization. However, autogenous bone graft is required for additional operation and the amount of taking is limited. Autografts are obtained at own expense and also limited in size, shape. In order to compensate these problems, allogenic bone graft has been used increasingly. But allogenic bone graft encounters immunologic complications. Therefore, it has been used after freezing, lyophilization, or demineralization. Allogenic bone processed by only lyophilization includes potential antigenic properties on its surface, therefore it is demineralized to deplete immunologic reaction. Demineralized bone releases BMP and helps the mesenchymal cells transform to the chondroblast to produce cartilage and bone. This reaction is called osteoinducation. Many authors have reported that mineralized lyophilized bone had less antigenicity clinically and favorable bony consideration with host bone. In our department from 1995 to now, we have used banked allogenic bone graft that has been prepared from Wonkwang Bone Bank in 5 cases and mineralized lyophilized bone graft in 2 cases to reconstruct the maxillofacial bone defect after tumor resection and cyst enucleation and cleft alveolus. We will report with literature review that the result is favorable functionally and esthetically.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

The objective of this research was to experimentally test the effect of tillage methods on the reduction of runoff, non-point source (NPS) pollution load, sediment and discharge under a rainfall simulation. We used the runoff plots of $5m{\times}30m$ ($L{\times}W$) in size. Experimental treatments were conventional tillage (CT), CT-rice straw bundle (CT-RSB) and two no-till (NT) plots; slope of 3 % or 8 % ; and rainfall intensity of 30 mm/hr. The rainfall simulation was conducted to three times. The time to initial runoff from NT plots was less than that from CT plots regardless of the slope and it was delayed about 65~90 % compared to that of CT plot. And sediment discharge of 8 % slope reduced to 55 % compared to CT plot. But the sediment discharge was not occurred at 3 % slope. The NT and CT-RSB methods have a great possibility of reducing runoff and NPS pollution loads. Runoff rate of NT plots was significantly lower than those of CT plot. The average NPS pollution loads of the NT plots and CT-RSB plot reduced about 55~80 % and 2.1~40 % compared to those of the CT plots, respectively. It was also shown that runoff and NPS pollution loads reduction by NT method could be very significant and contribute to improve the water quality of streams in agricultural regions. It was concluded that the use of NT method on agricultural fields could reduce soil erosion and muddy runoff significantly and help improve the water quality and aquatic ecosystem.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.613-618
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Iron deficiency in early life is associated with developmental problems, which may persist until later in life. The question of whether iron repletion after developmental iron deficiency could restore iron homeostasis is not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the changes of iron transporters after iron depletion during the gestational-neonatal period and iron repletion during the post-weaning period. MATERIALS/METHODS: Pregnant rats were provided iron-deficient (< 6 ppm Fe) or control (36 ppm Fe) diets from gestational day 2. At weaning, pups from iron-deficient dams were fed either iron-deficient (ID group) or control (IDR group) diets for 4 week. Pups from control dams were continued to be fed with the control diet throughout the study period (CON). RESULTS: Compared to the CON, ID rats had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrits in the blood and significantly lower tissue iron in the liver and spleen. Hepatic hepcidin and BMP6 mRNA levels were also strongly down-regulated in the ID group. Developmental iron deficiency significantly increased iron transporters divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin (FPN) in the duodenum, but decreased DMT1 in the liver. Dietary iron repletion restored the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit to a normal range, but the tissue iron levels and hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels were significantly lower than those in the CON group. Both FPN and DMT1 protein levels in the liver and in the duodenum were not different between the IDR and the CON. By contrast, DMT1 in the spleen was significantly lower in the IDR, compared to the CON. The splenic FPN was also decreased in the IDR more than in the CON, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that iron transporter proteins in the duodenum, liver and spleen are differentially regulated during developmental iron deficiency. Also, post-weaning iron repletion efficiently restores iron transporters in the duodenum and the liver but not in the spleen, which suggests that early-life iron deficiency may cause long term abnormalities in iron recycling from the spleen.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1830-1840
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• 2019

Loliolide is one of the most ubiquitous monoterpenoid compounds found in algae, and its potential therapeutic effect on various dermatological conditions via agent-induced biological functions, including anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, was demonstrated. Here, we investigated the effects of loliolide on hair growth in dermal papilla (DP) cells, the main components regulating hair growth and loss conditions. For this purpose, we used a three-dimensional (3D) DP spheroid model that mimics the in vivo hair follicle system. Biochemical assays showed that low doses of loliolide increased the viability and size of 3D DP spheroids in a dose-dependent manner. This result correlated with increases in expression levels of hair growth-related autocrine factors including VEGF, IGF-1, and KGF. Immunoblotting and luciferase-reporter assays further revealed that loliolide induced AKT phosphorylation, and this effect led to stabilization of β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Further experiments showed that loliolide increased the expression levels of the DP signature genes, ALP, BMP2, VCAN, and HEY1. Furthermore, conditioned media from loliolide-treated DP spheroids significantly enhanced proliferation and the expression of hair growth regulatory genes in keratinocytes. These results suggested that loliolide could function in the hair growth inductivity of DP cells via the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2015

Nacre seashell is a natural osteoinductive biomaterial with strong effects on osteoprogenitors, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts during bone tissue formation and morphogenesis. Although nacre has shown, in one study, to induce bridging of new bone across large non-union bone defects in 8 individual human patients, there have been no succeeding human surgical studies to confirm this outstanding potency. But the molecular mechanisms associated with nacre osteoinduction and the influence on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC's), skeletal stem cells or bone marrow stromal cells remain elusive. In this study we highlight the phenotypic and biochemical effects of Pinctada maxima nacre chips and the global nacre soluble protein matrix (SPM) on primary human bone marrow-derived stromal cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. In static co-culture with nacre chips, the hBMSCs secreted Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at levels that exceeded bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) treatment. Concentrated preparation of SPM applied to Stro-1 selected hBMSC's led to rapid ALP secretions, at concentrations exceeding the untreated controls even in osteogenic conditions. Within 21 days the same population of Stro-1 selected hBMSCs proliferated and secreted collagens I-IV, indicating the premature onset of an osteoblast phenotype. The same SPM was found to promote unselected hBMSC differentiation with osteocalcin detected at 7 days, and proliferation increased at 7 days in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, nacre particles and nacre SPM induced the early stages of human bone cell differentiation, indicating that they may be promising soluble factors with osteoinductive capacity in primary human bone cell progenitors such as, hBMSC's.