• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2015

Excessive microglial activation and subsequent neuroinflammation lead to synaptic loss and dysfunction as well as neuronal cell death, which are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the regulation of microglial activation has been evaluated as effective therapeutic strategies. Although dieckol (DEK), one of the phlorotannins isolated from marine brown alga Ecklonia cava, has been previously reported to inhibit microglial activation, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated here molecular mechanism of DEK via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt and nicotinamide adenine dinuclelotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-mediated pathways. In addition, the neuroprotective mechanism of DEK was investigated in microglia-mediated neurotoxicity models such as neuron-microglia co-culture and microglial conditioned media system. Our results demonstrated that treatment of anti-oxidant DEK potently suppressed phosphorylation of ERK in lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $1{\mu}g/ml$)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. In addition, DEK markedly attenuated Akt phosphorylation and increased expression of $gp91^{phox}$, which is the catalytic component of NADPH oxidase complex responsible for microglial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Finally, DEK significantly attenuated neuronal cell death that is induced by treatment of microglial conditioned media containing neurotoxic secretary molecules. These neuroprotective effects of DEK were also confirmed in a neuron-microglia co-culture system using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transfected B35 neuroblastoma cell line. Taken together, these results suggest that DEK suppresses excessive microglial activation and microglia-mediated neuronal cell death via downregulation of ERK, Akt and NADPH oxidase-mediated pathways.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2008

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of 68 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, including 11 reference strains and 57 isolates from imported US beef, domestic meats(beef, pork, chicken meat), raw milk, and milk plants. L. monocytogenes was to evaluate the production of virulence proteins, such as hemolysin(LLO) and lecithinase(LCP), the adsorption of Congo red(CRA), and to detect virulence genes using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). In the study of virulence protein production, 68(100%), 62(91.2%), and 54(79.4%) of the 68 L. monocytogenes strains were positive for LLO production, the LCP test, and the CRA test, respectively, while strains of other species, such as L. innocua, L. gray, L. murrayi, and L. welshimeri, were not. There were no significant differences between L. monocytogenes serotypes and the ability to produce LLO or LCP. L. monocytogenesstrains had very high hemolytic titers(2 to 16 fold), while the other Listeria species, other than L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri, did not. The hemolysin activities of L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, and L. seeligeri usually exceeded 1.0 HU/mg, while those of other Listeria spp. were less than 0.04 HU/mg. In the PCR assay, all of the L. monocytogenes strains contained the hlyA, plcA, plcB, inlA, and inlB virulence genes and produced a product of the expected size. In the PCR of the actA gene, the expected 385-bp product was seen in 39(57.4%) L. monocytogenesstrains, while an unexpected 268-bp product was seen in 29(42.6%) strains. Most L. monocytogenes strains isolated from Hanwoo beef produced the 385-bp actA gene product, while strains of imported US beef usually produced the 268-bp actA gene product. By contrast, no virulence gene products were amplified in the other Listeria spp.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.311-322
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• 2012

Restoration materials used to investigate effects of fluorine such as enamel strengthening and anti-caries effects in several types of dental restoration materials were five kinds including Ionoseal(VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany), Fuji Filling LC(GC Co. Tokyo, Japan), Quadrant Universal LC(CAVEX Holland BV, Netherlands), PermaCem$^{(R)}$(DMG, Hamburg, Germany) and Dyract$^{(R)}$ AP(Dentsply GmbH, Germany), and the amount of fluorine-releasing was measured with ICS-5000 Reagent-FreeTM Ion Chromatography(RFICTM, Dionex, U.S.A.). The results of this study are as follows. 1. In all types of restoration materials, the amount of fluoride-releasing was reduced with time passage and it was declined sharply to show significance in four weeks. Fuji Filling LC(12.445PPM) or resin-reinforced glass ionomer and PermaCem$^{(R)}$(16.121PPM) or compomer were found to release fluorine for a long term(P<.001). 2. Ionoseal(0.887PPM) or glass ionomer and Quadrant Universal LC(0.957PPM) or composite resin released a few fluorine of 1PPM or less than 1PPM after one week, and Dyract$^{(R)}$ AP or compomer released fluorine of 8.631PPM in one week and its amount of releasing decreased dramatically in two and four week by recording 0.175PPM and 0.116PPM, respectively. Therefore, the effect of releasing fluorine in four weeks was observed to be poor (P<.001). 3. Fuji Filling LC or resin-reinforced glass ionomer and PermaCem$^{(R)}$ or compomer released fluorine of 33.372 and 1.902PPM, respectively in one week and their amount of releasing increased to be 36.371 and 18.223PPM, respectively in two weeks. So, their amount of fluorine-releasing recorded the highest levels in two weeks(P<.001).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1096-1103
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• 2019

Neuroinflammation is mediated by the activation of microglia and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Therefore, the inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis is an insect belonging to the order Coleoptera and inhabits Korea, China, Japan and Siberia. P. brevitarsis seulensis is an edible insect that can be consumed as a protein source for humans. It has been reported that P. brevitarsis seulensis contains useful bioactive substances for hepatoprotection and improving blood circulation, such as indole alkaloids. Microglia cells are the main source of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system, which Perform neuroimmune, inflammatory, and other neurobilogical functions. In this study, we investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of P. brevitarsis seulensis ethanol extract (PBE) in activated microglia cells treated with lipopolysaccgarude (LPS, 100 ng/ml). As a result, PBE significantly inhibited NO production without cytotoxicity and decreased the expression levels of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, the production of inflammatory cytokine secreted by LPS was also reduced by PBE. These results suggest that PBE could be a good source of functional substances to prevent neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.561-569
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• 2014

This study was carried out to get the characteristics of anaerobic digestion for chemical/biological sludge produced from municipal sewage treatment plant for phosphorus. Anaerobic mesophilic batch tests showed that the ultimate biodegradability of waste activated sludge showed 31%, PACl sludge 24%, Alum sludge 26%, respectively. At the S/I 1.0, 75% of total biodegradable volatile solids (TBVS) of waste activated sludge was degraded with an initial rapid decay coefficient, k1 of $0.1129day^{-1}$ and 74% of TBVS of PACl sludge with k1 of $0.0998day^{-1}$, and 76% of TBVS of Alum sludge with k1 of $0.1091day^{-1}$ for 20 days. During the operation of SCFMRs, the 3 reactor (Control, PACl, Alum) pH maintained 6.7~7.0 and the reactor alkalinity maintained 1,800~ 2,200 mg/L as $CaCO_3$. The average biogas production rates of SCFMRs fed with PACl sludge and Alum sludge were 0.089 v/v-d and 0.091 v/v-d, respectively, which was 27~28% lower than that of the control (0.124 v/v-d) at an HRT (hydraulic retention times) of 20 days. And the methane content during the operation ranged 70~76% in 3 reactor. The average TVS removal efficiency of SCFMRs fed with PACl sludge and Alum sludge were 19.6% and 19.9%, respectively, at an HRT of 20 days, which showed 4% lower than that of the control (23.8%). The average BVS removal efficiency of SCFMRs fed with PACl sludge and Alum sludge were 25.8% and 26.9%, respectively, at an HRT of 20 days, which was 8~9% lower than that of the control (34.5%).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to evaluate plan quality and dose accuracy for Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) on the TG-119 and is to investigate the effects on variation of the selectable optimization parameters of VMAT. VMAT treatment planning was implemented on a Varian iX linear accelerator with ARIA record and verify system (Varian Mecical System Palo Alto, CA) and Oncentra MasterPlan treatment planning system (Nucletron BV, Veenendaal, Netherlands). Plan quality and dosimetric accuracy were evaluated by effect of varying a number of arc, gantry spacing and delivery time for the test geometries provided in TG-119. Plan quality for the target and OAR was evaluated by the mean value and the standard deviation of the Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs). The ionization chamber and $Delta^{4PT}$ bi-planar diode array were used for the dose evaluation. For treatment planning evaluation, all structure sets closed to the goals in the case of single arc, except for the C-shape (hard), and all structure sets achieved the goals in the case of dual arc, except for C-shape (hard). For the variation of a number of arc, the simple structure such as a prostate did not have the difference between single arc and dual arc, whereas the complex structure such as a head and neck showed a superior result in the case of dual arc. The dose distribution with gantry spacing of $4^{\circ}$ was shown better plan quality than the gantry spacing of $6^{\circ}$, but was similar results compared with gantry spacing of $2^{\circ}$. For the verification of dose accuracy with single arc and dual arc, the mean value of a relative error between measured and calculated value were within 3% and 4% for point dose and confidence limit values, respectively. For the verification on dose accuracy with the gantry intervals of $2^{\circ}$, $4^{\circ}$ and $6^{\circ}$, the mean values of relative error were within 3% and 5% for point dose and confidence limit values, respectively. In the verification of dose distribution with $Delta^{4PT}$ bi-planar diode array, gamma passing rate was $98.72{\pm}1.52%$ and $98.3{\pm}1.5%$ for single arc and dual arc, respectively. The confidence limit values were within 4%. The smaller the gantry spacing, the more accuracy results were shown. In this study, we performed the VMAT QA based on TG-119 procedure, and demonstrated that all structure sets were satisfied with acceptance criteria. And also, the results for the selective optimization variables informed the importance of selection for the suitable variables according to the clinical cases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a Korean form of Childhood Attention Problem(CAP) scale. CAP were administered to 98 normal elementary school students as control group and 98 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients. Male students showed high scores than female students in both subscale and total scores, but not statistically significant. There were no significant difference in CAP scale between male students and female students in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients. In the reliability test, the test-retest reliability coefficient was highly satisfactory and that of inattention subscale was 0.83, impulsivity subscale was 0.70 and total score was 0.82. In the reliability test by internal consistency, the Cronbach $\alpha$ coefficient was highly satisfactory and that of inattention subscale was 0.91, overactivity subscale was 0.89(p<0.05). The concurrent validity between CAP scale and ADDES-BV scale was 0.85 in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient group and 0.73 in normal control group(p<0.05). In discriminant validity test between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient group and normal control group, the patient group showed higher score(p<0.05). The total discriminant capacity of the patient group in CAP was 93.4%. In this point of view, CAP scale showed high reliability and validity in applying to Korean subjects and was proved to be the good and simple screening test tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder research and can help many young patient to treat early.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2005

Bioslurping combines the three remedial approaches of bioventing, vacuum-enhanced free-product recovery, and soil vapor extraction. Bioslurping is less effective in tight (low-permeability) soils. The greatest limitation to air permeability is excessive soil moisture. Optimum soil moisture is very soil-specific. Too much moisture can reduce air permeability of the soil and decrease its oxygen transfer capability. Too little moisture will inhibit microbial activity. So Modified Fenton reaction as chemical treatment which can overcome the weakness of Bioslurping was experimented for simultaneous treatment. Although the diesel removal efficiency of SVE process increased in proportion to applied vacuum pressure, SVE process was difficulty to remediation quickly semi- or non-volatile compounds absorbed soil strongly. And SVE process had variation of efficiency with distance from the extraction well and depth a air flow form of hemisphere centering around the well. Below 0.1 % hydrogen peroxide shows the potential of using hydrogen peroxide as oxygen source but the co-oxidation of chemical and biological treatment was impossible because of the low efficiency of Modified Fenton reaction at 0.1 % (wt) hydrogen peroxide. NTA was more efficiency than EDTA as chelating agent and diesel removal efficiency of Modified Fenton reaction increased in proportion to hydrogen peroxide concentration. Hexadecane as typical aliphatic compound was removed less than Toluene as aromatic compound because of its structural stability in Modified Fenton reaction. What minimum 10% hydrogen peroxide concentration has good remediation efficiency of diesel contaminated groundwater may show the potential use of Modified Fenton reaction after bioslurping treatment.