• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.195-199
• /
• 2009

To select antifungal surfactants, control efficacy of various nonionic and anionic surfactants on cucumber powdery mildew was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Among 14 surfactants, pentaetylene glycol monododecyl ether ($C_{12}E_5$), mixture of heptaethylene glycol monodecyl ether and heptaethylene monododecyl ether, and heptaethylene glycol mono-9-octadecenyl ether effectively reduced the development of powdery mildew on cucumber plants. Among the surfactants, $C_{12}E_5$ gave the best control efficacy on the disease and did not show phytotoxic response in cucumber plants. Whereas, fenarimol at a recommended rate (31.3 mg/L) showed less control activity than the surfactant (1,000 mg/L). In addition, mixtures of the surfactant and DBEDC, a protective fungicide, showed high control efficacies against powdery mildews of cucumber and strawberry by additive effect in greenhouse tests.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.553-558
• /
• 2009

In the periphery, a galectin-1 receptor, CD7, plays crucial roles in galectin-1-mediated apoptosis of activated T-cells as well as progression of T-lymphoma. Previously, we demonstrated that $NF-{\kappa}B$ downregulated CD7 gene expression through the p38 MAPK pathway in developing immature thymocytes. However, its regulatory pathway is not well understood in functional mature T-cells. Here, we show that CD7 expression was downregulated by Twist2 in Jurkat cells, a human acute T-cell lymphoma cell line, and in EL4 cells, a mature murine T-cell lymphoma cell line. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Twist2 in Jurkat cells reduced galectin-1-induced apoptosis. While full-length Twist2 decreased CD7 promoter activity, a C-terminal deletion form of Twist2 reversed its inhibition, suggesting an important role of the C-terminus in CD7 regulation. In addition, CD7 expression was enhanced by histone deacetylase inhibitors such as trichostatin A and sodium butyrate, which indicates that Twist2 might be one of candidate factors involved in histone deacetylation. Based on these results, we conclude that upregulation of Twist2 increases the resistance to galectin-1-mediated-apoptosis, which may have significant implications for the progression of some T-cells into tumors such as Sezary cells.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2019

Since non-cardiac chest discomfort (NCCD) can result in substantial healthcare burden and lower quality of life, interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been investigated for the relief of NCCD. In this review, we aimed to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of the CBT for the treatment of NCCD while introducing a newly-developed computerized CBT program for NCCD. Studies applying CBT to individuals with NCCD were searched for from both English and Korean electronic databases. Among 37 studies, 11 randomized controlled trials, 4 case-control studies, 1 case series, and 2 review articles were eligible for this review. Efficacy of conventional CBT for NCCD was shown in a series of studies as most of them reported improved symptom severity of NCCD or NCCD-related anxiety. However, a substantial variability existed among these studies in participants, treatment procedures and durations. High attrition rates were also reported in these studies on conventional CBT. Computerized CBT could be an alternative to the conventional CBT as it can be standardized and more easily accessible, but it was only reported in one previous study. In addition to the literature review, we presented a newly-developed computerized CBT program for NCCD which may overcome some of the limitations of conventional CBT. A computerized CBT could be an alternative treatment of NCCD, however, need further studies on its usefulness.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.215-227
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a mobile app-based musculoskeletal exercise program (AMSEP) for operating room (OR) nurses and evaluate its effects on self-efficacy, the flexibility of the shoulders, lower back, and legs, and musculoskeletal symptoms and fatigue. Methods: The AMSEP was developed based on the information-motivation-behavioral skill model. In total, 48 OR nurses were recruited at a university hospital in Korea and divided into an experimental group (n=24) and a control group (n=24), matched for career experience in the OR. The experimental group participated in the AMSEP, while the control group received a booklet regarding musculoskeletal exercise. Results: The experimental group showed significant increases in self-efficacy (t = -2.77, p = .008) and flexibility of the right shoulder (t = -4.08, p < .001), left shoulder (t = -3.28, p = .002), lower back (t = -3.75, p < .001), and legs (t = -3.96, p < .001) compared to the control group. Musculoskeletal symptoms (t = 2.75, p = .008), and fatigue (Z = -1.98, p = .048) significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the AMSEP for OR nurses provided information on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and methods of exercise, as well as an opportunity for continued exercise performance through self-management. The AMSEP was easily accessible and effective in increasing self-efficacy and flexibility and reducing musculoskeletal symptoms and fatigue.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.115-130
• /
• 2022

Though information exists regarding the pathogenesis of the shot-hole disease (SH) in flowering cherry (FC), there has been a lack of research focusing on SH management. Therefore, here, we investigated the inhibitory activities of antagonistic bacteria against SH pathogens both in vitro and in vivo as well as their biochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds. Two biosurfactant-producing bacterial antagonists, identified as Bacillus velezensis strains JCK-1618 and JCK-1696, exhibited the best effects against the growth of both bacterial and fungal SH pathogens in vitro through their cell-free culture filtrates (CFCFs). These two strains also strongly inhibited the growth of the pathogens via the action of their antimicrobial diffusible compounds and antimicrobial volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Crude enzymes, solvent extracts, and biosurfactants of the two strains exhibited antimicrobial activities. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of the partially purified active fractions revealed that the two antagonists produced three cyclic lipopeptides, including iturin A, fengycin A, and surfactin, and a polyketide, oxydifficidin. In a detached leaf assay, pre-treatment and co-treatment of FC leaves with the CFCFs led to a large reduction in the severity of the leaf spots caused by Epicoccum tobaicum and Bukholderia contaminans, respectively. In addition, the two antagonists produced indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore, and a series of hydrolytic enzymes, along with the formation of a substantial biofilm. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antimicrobial activities of the diffusible compounds and VOCs of B. velezensis against the SH pathogens and their efficiency in the biocontrol of SH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.367-374
• /
• 2018

RNA interference provides an effective tool for developing antitumor therapies. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are delivery vectors widely used to efficiently transport small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to intracellular targets. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the cancer-specific CPP carrier BR2 to specifically transport siRNA to cancer-target cells. Our results showed that BR2 formed a complex with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor siRNA (siVEGF) that exhibited the appropriate size and surface charge for in vivo treatment. Additionally, the BR2-VEGF siRNA complex exhibited significant serum stability and high levels of gene-silencing effects in vitro. Moreover, the transfection efficiency of the complex into a cancer cell line was higher than that observed in non-cancer cell lines, resulting in downregulated intracellular VEGF levels in HeLa cells and comprehensively improved antitumor efficacy in the absence of significant toxicity. These results indicated that BR2 has significant potential for the safe, efficient, and specific delivery of siRNA for diverse applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2002

Pseudomonas fluorescens GL20 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium that produces a large amount of hydroxamate siderophore under iron-limited conditions. The strain GL20 considerably inhibited the spore germination and hyphal growth of a plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium solani, when iron was limited, significantly suppressed the root-rot disease on beans caused by F. solani, and enhanced the plant growth. The mechanism for the beneficial effect of strain GL20 on the disease suppression was due to the siderophore production, evidenced by mutant strains derived from the strain. Analysis of the outer membrane protein profile revealed that the growth of strain GL20 induced the synthesis of specific iron-regulated outer membrane proteins with molecular masses of 85- and 90 kDa as the high-affinity receptors for the ferric siderophore. In addition, a cross-feeding assay revealed the presence of multiple inducible receptors for heterologous siderophores in the strain. In order to induce increased efficacy and potential in biological control of plant disease, a siderophore-overproducing mutant, GL20-S207, was prepared by NTG mutagenesis. The mutant GL20-S207 produced nearly 2.3 times more siderophore than the parent strain. In pot trials of beans with F. solani, the mutant increased plant growth up to 1.5 times compared with that of the parent strain. These results suggest that the plant growth-promoting P. fluorescens GL20 and the genetically bred P. fluorescens GL20-S207 can play an important role in the biological control of soil-borne plant diseases in the rhizosphere.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.273-279
• /
• 2012

This experiment was conducted to determine a potential effective biological weed control and/or rice young seedling injury by golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) at wet hill seeded rice field. The rice seeds used were treated by iron-coating. The efficacy of weed control as affected by golden apple snail has been tested with twice applications of young golden apple snails of 12 kg (24,000 young snails, $0.5g{\pm}10%$ per young snail, 30~40 days after hatching) per ha at the same day after harrowing and applied with rate of 10 kg (20,000 young snails) per ha at 15days after seeding, respectively. The comparison of this experiment was of the conventional machine transplanted rice paddy field in terms of weed control and rice plant injury as a visual grade. The weed efficacy was of 100% similar with the conventional paddy field which was applied by systematic herbicides of pre-emergence and post-emergence chemical herbicides and there was 1~3% significant rice young seedling injury but no yield losses and grain quality due to the input of golden apple snail.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.129-140
• /
• 2018

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum was found to be highly virulent to various vegetables, including Chinese cabbage. The antibacterial isolate CAB12243-2 was tested in a field bioassay for suppressing soft rot disease. The nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene identified, the CAB12243-2 strain used in this study as Bacillus toyonensis. B. toyonensis CAB12243-2 inhibited the pectate lyase process by soft rot pathogens, and used trehalose and glucose as carbon sources. In field tests, the antibacterial isolate B. toyonensis CAB12243-2 suppressed soft rot disease with 73.0% control efficacy on the spring cultivar "Norangbom" and with 68.9% efficacy on the fall cultivar "Bulam 3". These results suggest that B. toyonensis CAB12243-2 can be used as a biological control agent for the control of soft rot diseases on vegetables.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.159-174
• /
• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.