• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: O-cyclic phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (cP1P) is a synthetic chemical and has a structure like sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P is known to promote cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and anti-apoptosis through hippocampal signals. However, S1P mediated cellular-, molecular mechanism is still remained in the lung. Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by excessive immune response, increased vascular permeability, alveolar-peritoneal barrier collapse, and edema. In this study, we determined whether cP1P primed human dermal derived mesenchymal stem cells (hdMSCs) ameliorate lung injury and its therapeutic pathway in ALI mice. Methods and Results: cP1P treatment significantly stimulated MSC migration and invasion ability. In cytokine array, secretion of vascular-related factors was increased in cP1P primed hdMSCs (hdMSC^cP1P), and cP1P treatment induced inhibition of Lats while increased phosphorylation of Yap. We next determined whether hdMSC^cP1P reduce inflammatory response in LPS exposed mice. hdMSC^cP1P further decreased infiltration of macrophage and neutrophil, and release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were reduced rather than naïve hdMSC treatment. In addition, phosphorylation of STAT1 and expression of iNOS were significantly decreased in the lungs of MSC^cP1P treated mice. Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggest that cP1P treatment enhances hdMSC migration in regulation of Hippo signaling and MSC^cP1P provide a therapeutic potential for ALI/ARDS treatment.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2024

After the strongest El Niño since 2015 occurred in 2023, there has been a growing interest in understanding its impacts on rice yield in South Korea. We investigated the impact of El Niño during the rice-growing season on rice yield by analyzing the correlation between detrended rice yield data and ONI (Oceanic Niño Index) values exceeding 0.5. The results show a positive correlation between ONI intensities and detrended rice yields. Furthermore, we found that variations in sunshine duration, precipitation, and typhoon activity affect detrended yield values positively and negatively. This pattern was similar to the classification of El Niño into Cold Tongue El Niño and non-Cold Tongue El Niño, which showed positive and negative detrended rice yield values, respectively. This observation suggests that predicting yield based on ONI intensity during Cold Tongue El Niño years may be feasible to some extent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2013

In this study we investigated the possibility of preparing brewed brown rice makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine, under diverse conditions. For this purpose the physicochemical characteristics of makgeolli brewed at different temperatures, utilizing a variety of nuruks, the traditional Korean fermentation agent, were studied. The alcohol content was seen to be highest when brewing occurred at $30^{\circ}C$, with the nuruk TN producing 16.2%. At $20^{\circ}C$TN produced 14.1% alcohol content. The alcohol content was therefore higher, by about 2%, for $30^{\circ}C$ fermentations than $20^{\circ}C$ fermentations. Similarly, saccharifying activity was influenced by temperature and sugar content, with a higher activity seen at $30^{\circ}C$ than at $20^{\circ}C$. As the fermentations progressed acidification petered out, with titratable acidity being 0.50-0.67% in all end samples. On the Hunter L, a, b scale; the a value decreased slightly, while the b value increased steadily during the fermentation process. Measurements of total organic acids were highest at $30^{\circ}C$, with the nuruk AK, at about 550 mg%. The content of citric acid was the highest at $30^{\circ}C$, being 230-310 mg% in all samples. However, more lactic acid was detected at $20^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$. Total free amino acid was highest at $30^{\circ}C$, with TN at $8,605{\mu}g/ml$, AK at $6,083{\mu}g/ml$, and RJ at $2,381{\mu}g/ml$. Total free amino acid and essential amino acid was shown to be higher at $30^{\circ}C$ than at $20^{\circ}C$. The bioactive substance ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid was also higher at $30^{\circ}C$, with TN at $223{\mu}g/ml$. From all of these results, we surmise that brown rice makgeolli manufacturing conditions are optimal at $30^{\circ}C$ fermentation temperatures and using the nuruk TN for brewing vinegar. In addition, the nuruk used clearly affects the quality of brown rice makgeolli and an appropriate method to determine the best nuruk for various purposes should be pursued.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.359-363
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the differences in the physicochemical properties of organic and conventional milk from Chungnam and Jeonbuk, Korea. The milk was collected from 10 organic and 10 conventional milk farms in February, March and August, and then analyzed for milk composition, minerals and fatty acids. Organic milk showed lower fat (p<0.01) and total solid (p<0.05), but higher phosphorous (p<0.01) content than conventional milk. However, there was no difference in the content of lactose or the somatic cell count. Organic milk showed lower (p<0.01) stearic acid and total saturated fatty acid content, but higher (p<0.01) total, mono-, and poly-unsaturated fatty acid content. These results showed that organic and conventional milks differ mainly in their fat and unsaturated fatty acid content. Due to increasing consumer interest in food safety and health, organic milk, which contains more beneficial fatty acids, might be preferred over conventional milk.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.875-883
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• 2011

Brown rice vinegar was made from brown rice mash with different brewing starter addition rates in static culture, and its quality characteristics were investigated. As a result, the amounts of alcohol produced in the fermentation process were shown to be 9.1, 8.8, 8.6 and 8.5% in the Nuruk 75 : crude enzyme 25 (B), Nuruk 50 : crude enzyme 50 (C), Nuruk 25 : crude enzyme 75 (D) and Nuruk 0 : crude enzyme 100 (E), respectively. The higher the percentage of crude enzyme added was, the lower the alcohol content that was produced. Nuruk 100 : crude enzyme 0 (A) was appeared to contain the lowest alcohol content (7.7%). In addition, the titratable acidity in all the groups was about 0.7%. The final titratable acidity (BV) of brown rice vinegar made with static culture was the highest (approximately 5.2%). The initial pH appeared to be between 3.6~4.0 and steadily decreased as the fermentation progressed, and the pH was almost unchanged after 15 day fermentation. The examination of the changes in the organic acids showed that the acetic acid content was similar in all the groups, and that the single starter added (AV, EV) group had much more other organic acids than the mixed starters added (BV, CV, DV) group. From these results, the mixed starters (Nuruk and crude enzyme) added group appeared to be superior to the single starter added in terms of alcohol production ability and vinegar quality. As the future aging process, however, is expected to change the flavor components and sensory characteristics, studies on various quality factors of vinegar are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.270-284
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• 1997

Effects of dietary carotenoids were investigated on the metaboβsm and body pigmentation of rainbow trout(Salmo gairdneri), masu salmon(Oncorhynchus macrostomos), eel(Anguilla japonica), rock fish(Sebastes inermis) and black rock fish(Sebastes schlegeli). Three weeks later after depletion, these fishes were fed diet supplemented with ${\beta}-carotene$, lutein, canthaxanthin', astaxanthin or ${\beta}-apo-8'-carotenal$ for 4 to 5 weeks, respectively. Carotenoids distributed to and changed in integument were analyzed. In the integument of rainbow trout. zeaxanthin, ${\beta}-carotene$ and canthaxanthin were found to be the major carotenoids, while lutein, isocryptoxanthin and salmoxanthin were the minor carotenoids. In the integument of masu salmon, zeaxanthin was found to be the major carotenoids, while triol, lutein, tunaxanthin, ${\beta}-carotene$, ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$ and canthaxanthin were the minor carotenoids. In the integument of eel, ${\beta}-carotene$ was found to be the major carotenoids, while lutein, zeaxanthin and ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$ were the minor carotenoids. In the integument of rock fish, zeaxanthin, ${\beta}-carotene$, tunaxanthin$(A{\sim}C)$ and lutein were found to be the major carotenoids, while ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$, ${\alpha}-cryptoxanthin$ and astaxanthin were the minor carotenoids. Likely in the integument of black rock fish, ${\beta}-carotene$, astaxanthin and zeaxanthin were found to be the major carotenoids, whereas ${\alpha}-cryptoxanthin$, ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$, lutein and canthaxanthin were the minor contributor. The efficacy of body pigmentation by the accumulation of carotenoids in the integument of rainbow trout and masu salmon were the most effectively shown in the canthaxanthin group and of eel, rock fish and black rock fish were the most effectively shown in the lutein group. Based on these results in the integument of each fish, dietary carotenoids were presumably biotransformed via oxidative and reductive pathways. In the rainbow trout, ${\beta}-carotene$ was oxidized to astaxanthin via successively isocryptoxanthin, echinenone and canthaxanthin. Lutein was oxidized to canthaxanthin. Canthaxanthin was reduced to ${\beta}-carotene$ via isozeaxanthin, and astaxanthin was reduced to zeaxanthin via triol. In the masu salmon, ${\beta}-carotene$ was oxidized to zeaxanthin. Lutein was reduced to zeaxanthin via tunaxanthin. Canthaxanthin was reduced to zeaxanthin via ${\beta}-carotene$. and astaxanthin was reduced to zeaxanthin via triol. In the eel, ${\beta}-carotene$ and lutein were directly deposited but canthaxanthin was reduced to ${\beta}-carotene$, and cholesterol lowering effect by Meju supplementation might be resulted from the modulation of fecal axanthin, astaxanthin and ${\beta}-apo-8'-carotenal$ were oxidized and reduced to tunaxanthin via zeaxanthin. In the black roch fish, ${\beta}-carotene$ was oxidized to ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$. Lutein was reduced to ${\beta}-carotene$ via ${\alpha}-cryptoxanthin$. Canthaxanthin was reduced to ${\alpha}-cryptoxanthin$ via successively ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$ and zeaxanthin. Astaxanthin converted to tunaxanthin via isocryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, and ${\beta}-apo-8'-carotenal$ was reduced to ${\alpha}-cryptoxanthin$ via ${\beta}-cryptoxanthin$ and zeaxanthin.

• CELLMED
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.4
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• 2018

Pharmacopuncture, or herbal acupuncture, is a new form of therapy derived from combinations of two traditional therapeutic methods, herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy. To compare the efficacy between loratadine-pharmacopuncture (LP) and loratadine-oral administration (LO), the effect of loratadine was investigated in murine models. Anti-anaphylactic effects of loratadine treatments were investigated in compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic reaction and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). LP treatment significantly inhibited the compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic reaction and PCA. The effect between LP and LO were on a similar level. These results indicate that LP can be used as an alternative method for LO in case of emergency.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.165-184
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the difference and related factors with general characteristic and health behaviors, a experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases between rural and urban among elderly in Korea. Methods: We used the data of Community Health Survey 2017 which were collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study population comprised 67,835 elderly peopled aged 65 years or older who participated in the survey. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. Results: We identified many significant difference of health behaviors, an experience of diagnosis and treatment with chronic diseases between rural and urban. Compared to urban elderly, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval) of rural elderly were 1.136 (1.092-1.183) for diagnosis of diabetes, 1.278 (1.278-1.386) for diagnosis of dyslipidemia, 0.940 (0.904-0.977) for diagnosis of arthritis, 0.785(0.736-0.837) for treatment of arthritis, 1.159 (1.116-1.203) for diagnosis of cataracts, and 1.285(1.200-1.375) for treatment of cataracts. In the experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, various variables were derived as contributing factors for each disease. Especially, there were statistically significant difference in the experience of diabetes diagnosis, arthritis diagnosis, cataract diagnosis and dyslipidemia except for hypertension diagnosis (p <0.01) between urban and rural elderly. There were statistically significant differences in the experience of treatment for arthritis and cataract (p <0.01), but there was no significant difference in the experience of treatment for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia between urban and rural elderly. Conclusion: Therefore, it would be necessary to implement a strategic health management project for diseases that showed significant experience of chronic diseases with diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the related factors of the elderly chronic diseases among the urban and rural areas.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2012

We investigated the concentration levels and evaluated the distributions of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans(PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DLPCBs) and 24 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment and organism from various culturing grounds in Korean coast. The levels of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs, and PBDEs in sediment samples ranged from 0.03 to 2.9(Mean${\pm}$SD, $1.2{\pm}0.89$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dry weight(dw), ND(not detected) to 1.1($0.09{\pm}0.19$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dw, and ND to 16.6($2.96{\pm}3.53$) ng $g^{-1}$ dw, respectively. Also, the levels of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs, and PBDEs in culturing organisms ranged from ND to 0.24($0.07{\pm}0.06$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ wet weight(ww), ND to 0.11($0.04{\pm}0.04$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ ww, and 0.05 to 0.29($0.13{\pm}0.06$) ng $g^{-1}$ ww, respectively. The levels of total dioxins(PCDD/Fs+DLPCBs) and PBDEs in sediments from East and South sea were four to seven times higher than those from West sea. PCDD/Fs had dominant contribution(mean, 94%) for TEQ concentration in sediment, whereas relatively higher contribution of DLPCBs(33%) were shown in culturing organism than sediment. BDE209 was a dominant congener in both matrix. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs and PBDEs were in decreasing trends in Korea coasts compared to previous results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.648-654
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• 2010

Background: This study assessed the early results of endovascular repair of acute type B aortic dissection and the aortic wall changes following endovascular repair. Material and Method: From July 2008 to May 2009, the preoperative and follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans of 5 patients with acute type B aortic dissection were evaluated, and these patients had underwent stent graft implantation within 13 days of the onset of dissection (mean: 7 days; range: 3~13). The whole lumen (WL), true lumen (TL) and false lumen (FL) diameters were measured at the proximal (p), middle (m) and distal (d) third of the descending thoracic aorta. Result: The study included four men and one woman with an average age of $59.4{\pm}20.1$ years (age range: 37~79 years). The follow-up CT was performed and evaluated at 7 days and 6 months. The primary tear was completely sealed in all the patients. No paraplegia, paresis or peripheral ischemia occurred and none of the patients died. No endoleaks developed in any of the patients during follow-up. The TL diameters increased from 20.4 to 33.5 mm in the proximal third (p/3), from 19.5 to 29.8 mm in the middle third (m/3) and from 15.2 to 23.5 mm in the distal third (d/3). The FL diameters decreased from 18.7 to 0 mm in the p/3, from 15.4 to 0 mm in the m/3 and from 21.4 to 8.7 mm in the d/3. The changes in the TL diameter were statistically significant in the middle and distal aorta, and those changes in the FL diameter were not statistically significant. There was a decrease in the WL after repair, but this was not statistically Significant. In three patients, the false lumen disappeared completely on follow-up CT at 6 months. Two patients had patent false lumens and no thrombosis. Conclusion: The early results showed that endovascular repair was effective in treating acute type B aortic dissection, and endovascular repair promoted positive aortic wall changes.