• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.337-346
• /
• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside Rb2, a major active component of Panax ginseng, has various physiological activities, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the rejuvenation effect of Rb2 in human skin cells have not been elucidated. Methods: We performed a senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining assay to confirm cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The regulatory effects of Rb2 on autophagy were evaluated by analyzing the expression of autophagy marker proteins, such as microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC) 3 and p62, using immunoblotting. Autophagosome and autolysosome formation was monitored using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagic flux was analyzed using tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, and lysosomal function was assessed with Lysotracker. We performed RNA sequencing to identify potential target genes related to HDF rejuvenation mediated by Rb2. To verify the functions of the target genes, we silenced them using shRNAs. Results: Rb2 decreased β-galactosidase activity and altered the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in senescent HDFs. Rb2 markedly induced the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and LC3 puncta. Moreover, Rb2 increased lysosomal function and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, which indicate that Rb2 promoted autophagic flux. RNA sequencing data showed that the expression of DNA damage-regulated autophagy modulator 2 (DRAM2) was induced by Rb2. In autophagy signaling, Rb2 activated the AMPK-ULK1 pathway and inactivated mTOR. DRAM2 knockdown inhibited autophagy and Rb2-restored cellular senescence. Conclusion: Rb2 reverses cellular senescence by activating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR pathway and induction of DRAM2, suggesting that Rb2 might have potential value as an antiaging agent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2023

Despite several advances in identification of cardiac transcription factors, there are still needs to find new bioactive molecules that promote cardiomyogenesis from stem cells to highly efficient myocardial differentiation. We analyzed Illumina expression microarray data of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)-derived cardiomyocytes. 276 genes were upregulated (≥ 4fold) in mESCs-derived cardiomyocytes compared undifferentiated ESCs. Secreted phosphoprotein 2 (Spp2) is one of candidates and is known to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) signal transduction as a pseudoreceptor for BMP2. However, its function in cardiomyogenesis is unknown. We confirmed that Spp2 expression increased during the differentiation into functional cardiomyocytes using mESCs, TC-1/Kh2 and E14. Interestingly, Spp2 secretion transiently increased 3 days after formation of embryoid bodies (EBs), indicating that the extracellular secretion of Spp2 is involved in the differentiation of ESCs into cardiomyocytes. To characterize Spp2, we performed experiments using the C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line, which has the property of shifting the differentiation pathway from myoblastic to osteoblastic by treatment with BMP2. Similar to the differentiation of ESCs, transcription of Spp2 increased as C2C12 myoblasts differentiated into myotubes. In particular, Spp2 secretion increased dramatically in the early stage of differentiation. Furthermore, treatment with Spp2-Flag recombinant protein promoted the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes. Taken together, we suggest a novel bioactive protein Spp2 that differentiates ESCs into cardiomyocytes. This may be useful for understanding the molecular pathways of cardiomyogenesis and for experimental or clinical promotion of stem cell therapy for ischemic heart diseases.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.126-137
• /
• 2023

Paddy fields provide important habitats for biodiversity conservation within the agricultural ecosystem. Their importance is gradually increasing as their ecological value is better understood. Benthic macroinvertebrates dominate paddy fields. They play an essential role in maintaining the biodiversity of paddy ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrate communities and main environmental factors affecting the distribution of golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata). Results showed that the diversity index (H') of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was the highest at the Sangju site (St. 12) but the lowest at the Sancheong site (St. 18). Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity, and Electrical Conductivity (EC) values were the highest in Gimhae and Yeongam based on Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Numbers of P. canaliculata (m-2) were relatively low in Gunsan and Iksan where water temperatures were high. Therefore, changes in geographical characteristics and environmental factors might affect the distribution of P. canaliculata and characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Results of this study can be used as primary data for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service evaluation in agroecosystems.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.8
• /
• pp.663-679
• /
• 2023

This review analyzes research trends related to new drug development using artificial intelligence from 2010 to 2022. This analysis organized the abstracts of 2,421 studies into a corpus, and words with high frequency and high connection centrality were extracted through preprocessing. The analysis revealed a similar word frequency trend between 2010 and 2019 to that between 2020 and 2022. In terms of the research method, many studies using machine learning were conducted from 2010 to 2020, and since 2021, research using deep learning has been increasing. Through these studies, we investigated the trends in research on artificial intelligence utilization by field and the strengths, problems, and challenges of related research. We found that since 2021, the application of artificial intelligence has been expanding, such as research using artificial intelligence for drug rearrangement, using computers to develop anticancer drugs, and applying artificial intelligence to clinical trials. This article briefly presents the prospects of new drug development research using artificial intelligence. If the reliability and safety of bio and medical data are ensured, and the development of the above artificial intelligence technology continues, it is judged that the direction of new drug development using artificial intelligence will proceed to personalized medicine and precision medicine, so we encourage efforts in that field.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.51-63
• /
• 2023

Background: This study involved a geriatric oral care expert who developed the competencies of students in the Department of Dental Hygiene and conducted preliminary research to develop an effective curriculum. Methods: A questionnaire was conducted in the last week of class targeting students who took courses in geriatric dentistry, geriatric dental hygiene, and practice. In order to confirm the educational effect according to the differences in the geriatric dental hygiene curriculum, the differences in students' achievement of major competencies, awareness of the geriatric dental hygiene process, class satisfaction, and ageism were analyzed. Results: Regarding major competency attainment, 'communication competency' was significantly higher in PBL education that combined theory and practice than that theory-oriented PBL education (p=0.038). For ageism, the tendency to avoid older adults was low in PBL education, which combined theory and practice, and was statistically significant (p=0.040). For class satisfaction, the rate of responding 'very high' for the 'class atmosphere' was significantly high (p=0.025) for PBL education that combined theory and practice. Conclusion: The PBL teaching method can be useful as a geriatric dental hygiene curriculum. However, it would be more effective to create a curriculum so that education in geriatric dental hygiene care practice can be combined with theory rather than a theoretical education alone.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.433-441
• /
• 2022

Bacterial phytopathogen Pectobacterium causes soft rot disease in several vegetable crops globally, resulting in heavy agricultural losses at both the pre and postharvest stages. The present work was carried out to screen Kimchi cabbage genetic resources conserved at the National Agrobiodiversity Center, Rural Development Administration, Korea, for resistance against the soft rot pathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum KACC 21701 over a period of three years (from 2020 to 2022). Infection of the phytopathogen was carried out at four-leaf stage and for each accession, twenty-five plants per germplasm were infected with KACC 21701. Kimchi cabbage cultivars Wangmatbaechu, Seoulbaechu, and CR Kiyoshi were used as control. Seven-days post-infection, the Disease Index (DI) values were manually recorded from zero to four, zero matched perfectly heathy plants and four completely dead plants. The 682 accessions of Kimchi cabbage exhibited varying degrees of disease resistance to KACC 21701 and thirty accessions, exhibiting a DI≤2, were considered for replication studies. During the replication studies, four landrace germplasms (IT102883, IT120036, IT120044, and IT120048) and one cultivar(IT187919) were confirmed to be moderately susceptible to KACC 21701. Results of the preliminary screening as well as replication studies were documented for the all the 682 germplasms. Addition of such information to the passport data of stored germplasms might serve as potential bio-resource for future breeders and researchers to develop resistant varieties or study the mechanisms involved in resistance of plants to such phytopathogen.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of vibration on primary (e.g. plasma cortisol), secondary (e.g. plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^- and tertiary (e.g. mortality) stress responses in cultured eel, Anguilla japonica. For this purpose, three groups (including one control group and two stress groups) were set up. The control group was made exposed to vibration corresponding to 48 decibel (dB, V) (produced using electric vibrators) for 15 minutes per hour every day, and the two stress groups was made exposed to vibration corresponding to 58 and 68 dB (V) (produced using the same electric vibrators), equally, for 15 minutes per hour every day. Blood was sampled at day 0 (before starting vibration stress tests, BS), and days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (after starting vibration stress tests). As a result, plasma cortisol showed trend to continuously rise by consecutive stress from 4.1±0.1 ng/ml in BS. In 48 dB group (control), cortisol showed the highest level with 7.6±0.9 ng/ml after 7 days (p<0.05), but at 9 and 11 days was not significantly compared with BS level. In 58 dB group, the cortisol showed the highest level with 43.1±4.8 ng/ml after 1st day. Cortisol of 68 dB group increased significantly during the experimental period (14.4±2.3~32.0±5.7 ng/ml) (p<0.05). In 58, and 68 dB groups during the experimental period differed significantly compared to 48 group (p<0.05). Glucose in 48 dB were increased from 42.0 ±5.7 (BS) to 52.5±2.1 (1 day), the level was not significantly from 1 to 11 days. Glucose in 58 and 68 dB groups was increased significantly than BS during experimental period (p<0.05). K⁺ in 68 dB increased significantly (p<0.05) from 2.3±0.2 mE/ql (BS) to 3.3±0.5 mE/ql at 5 days. In 48 and 58 dB groups during the experimental period differed significantly (p<0.05). Na⁺ and Cl^- levels were not differed significantly during the experimental period. AST and ALT in 58 and 68 dB groups showed trend to continuously rise by consecutive stress. At 7 and 9 days in AST, between 48, 58 and 68 dB groups differed significantly (p<0.05). In 48, 58 and 68 dB groups at 1 day, blood hematocrit increased significantly higher than BS. The 11 days after vibration stress, the mortality in 48, 58 and 68 dB groups was 1.1, 5.1 and 5.8%, respectively. The present results have shown that A. japonica exhibited ''typical'' physiological responses when exposed to chronic vibration stress. These data suggested that chronic vibration stress caused substantial stress in the fish; especially the persisting elevated plasma AST and ALT levels observed would be expected to adverse effect. In conclusion, chronic vibration stress could greatly affects the hematological characteristics in A. japonica.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.1B
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2010

Sunflower (Sunking4505) and Rape (Sunmang) are oil-seeds containing high oleic acid, and these are used for the production materials of bio-diesel and applying for phytoremediation. The effect of cadmium on germination rate and the growth of the plants is evaluated. Object seeds were placed in Cd (0, 1.5, 4, 12, 30, 60, 100, 150, 300, 500 mg/L) solutions for seven days, and germination rate, root length, shoot length, seedling length, and dry weight were observed. $IC_{50}$, seedling vigor index, and tolerance indices were computed, and data were statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Germination rate as well as root, shoot, and seedling length decreased as the cadmium concentration increased except dry weight. The $IC_{50}$ of sunflower and rape are 112 and 10 mg-Cd/L, respectively. Only one of the sunflower seeds is germinated at 500 mg-Cd/L whereas rape seeds are not germinated more than 150 mg-Cd/L solution. Root has higher cadmium sensitivity than shoot, and sunflower has higher germination rate, growth, and seedling vigor index than rape. In case of tolerance indices, sunflower has lower value than rape at relatively low concentration, but has higher value at high concentration.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.51-62
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of stress and cumulative stress in 49 people and the changes of job stress, socio-psychological stress and anxiety relief levels by conducting a survey of 85 people after Gyorae forest bathing. Methods: The level of stress was measured using the uBioMacpa, and questionnaire was conducted to derive the data. Results: In the stress level after the forest bath, the control group showed no significant and the experimental group showed a significant decrease in the bathing (p<.043). In the cumulative stress change, the control group showed no significant difference after the bathing, but experimental group decreased significantly (p<.02), and in the variance analysis, there was a significant difference between the groups, and also between the group and the before and after tests (p<.002). In the questionnaire about job stress, there was no significant difference in physical environment and job demand. Overall, in the case of job stress, there was a significant decrease (p<.001). Job autonomy, relationship conflict, organizational unfairness, inadequate compensation, and workplace culture also had a significant decrease in stress (p<.001). The social psychological stress was significantly decreased after bathing (p<.001). The state anxiety decreased significantly (p<.001) after forest bathing. Conclusions: After the forest bathing in the Gyorae forest, the stress and anxiety are both reduced and significant, providing basic information that is very helpful as a natural healing place for stress relief.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.83.1-83.12
• /
• 2023

Background: Ellipticine (Ellip.) was recently reported to have beneficial effects on the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into mature chondrocyte-like cells. On the other hand, no practical results have been derived from the transplantation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in a rabbit osteoarthritis (OA) model. Objectives: This study examined whether autologous BMSCs incubated with ellipticine (Ellip.+BMSCs) could regenerate articular cartilage in rabbit OA, a model similar to degenerative arthritis in human beings. Methods: A portion of rabbit articular cartilage was surgically removed, and Ellip.+BMSCs were transplanted into the lesion area. After two and four weeks of treatment, the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, i.e., tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), were analyzed, while macroscopic and micro-computed tomography (CT) evaluations were conducted to determine the intensity of cartilage degeneration. Furthermore, immuno-blotting was performed to evaluate the mitogen-activated protein kinases, PI3K/Akt, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling in rabbit OA models. Histological staining was used to confirm the change in the pattern of collagen and proteoglycan in the articular cartilage matrix. Results: The transplantation of Ellip.+BMSCs elicited a chondroprotective effect by reducing the inflammatory factors (TNF-α, PGE2) in a time-dependent manner. Macroscopic observations, micro-CT, and histological staining revealed articular cartilage regeneration with the downregulation of matrix-metallo proteinases (MMPs), preventing articular cartilage degradation. Furthermore, histological observations confirmed a significant boost in the production of chondrocytes, collagen, and proteoglycan compared to the control group. Western blotting data revealed the downregulation of the p38, PI3K-Akt, and NF-κB inflammatory pathways to attenuate inflammation. Conclusions: The transplantation of Ellip.+BMSCs normalized the OA condition by boosting the recovery of degenerated articular cartilage and inhibiting the catabolic signaling pathway.