• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2009

Purpose:The aim of this study is to explore the effect of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that respond to antigen to Th2 immune deviation in allergic patients. Methods:Subjects consisted of 19 allergic patients and 17 healthy volunteers. Skin prick tests and nasal provocation tests were performed for the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from subjects and analyzed for the Lineage Cocktail (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD56) (-), HLA-DR (+), and CD123 (+) using flow cytometry. In addition, we analyzed TLR9 mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The level of $interferon-{\alpha}$ ($IFN-{\alpha}$) of the PBMCs following stimulation with the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was also evaluated. Results:Analyses of CD123 (+) revealed a nearly similar distribution for the classical pDC markers in the allergic group ($0.1%{\pm}0.04%$) and in the controls ($0.25%{\pm}0.23%$). The mRNA levels of TLR9 on PBMCs were not different between the allergic group and the controls ($1.29{\pm}0.41$ vs. $1.25{\pm}0.23$, respectively). Additionally, the level of $IFN-{\alpha}$ in PBMCs exposed to stimuli of the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was not significantly different between the two groups ($911{\pm}829$ vs. $1,095{\pm}888pg/mL$, respectively). Conclusion:We found no evidence that TLR9-dependent immune responses in human pDCs are associated with allergic status.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.294-312
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of GGX on an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mice model. Methods: Balb/c mice were challenged with OVA and then treated with three concentrations of GGX (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). After sacrifice, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or lungs of the mice were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, ELISA, real-time PCR, H&E, Masson's trichrome, PAS and AB-PAS staining, and immunohistofluorescence staining. Results: GGX significantly inhibited the increase of total cells, immune cells (lymphocyte, neutrophils, macrophage, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD69+, CD62L-CD44high+, Gr-1+SiglecF-), and the expression of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ) in BALF. It also significantly inhibited the increase of total cells, immune cells (lymphocyte, neutrophils, eosinophil/macrophage, CD3+, CD19+, CD3+CD193+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD69+, CD62L-CD44high+, and Gr-1+SiglecF-), and the expression of IL-13, TARC, and MCP-1 in lung tissue. GGX decreased the severity of histological lung injury and the expressions of STAT3 and GATA3. Conclusion: This study suggests the probability of using GGX for the treatment of asthma by inhibiting inflammatory immune response.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.186-190
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• 2009

We investigated the magneto-optical properties and application of diluted magnetic semiconductors Cd$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$Te crystals with various Mn contents grown using a vertical Bridgman method. This material crystallizes in the zinc-blende structure for values of x < 0.82. The band-gap energy was depended on Mn mole fraction x linearly and increased with decreasing temperature. The Faraday rotation was increased as the photon energy increased near to that of the fundamental band gap and its increased with increasing Mn mole fraction. Optical isolator using the Cd$_{0.62}$Mn$_{0.38}$Te crystal shows that the isolation and insertion loss are 45 dB and 0.35 dB at 650 nm, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8161-8169
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• 2014

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSC) are populations of cells responsible for tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance in many cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern and clinical significance of two CSC markers, CD133 and Nestin, in a series of skin tumors. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirteen paraffin blocks from skin cancers including 16 (14%) cases of melanoma, 37 (33%) of squamous cell cancer (SCC) and 60 (53%) of basal cell cancer (BCC) were collected and assembled in a tissue microarray (TMA). The samples were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of CD133 and Nestin. Expression of these markers was also correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: A significant difference was observed in the expression of CD133 and Nestin in melanomas, SCC and BCC (p value=0.001). Furthermore, the level of expression was significantly higher in the melanomas compared to the SCC and BCC tumors. Expression of CD133 in the melanoma was significantly associated with increased tumor invasiveness (p value=0.05), a higher rate of metastasis (p value=0.04) and the presence of ulceration (p value=0.02). Increased expression of Nestin was observed in metastatic melanoma (p value=0.04), while no statistically significant correlation was found with other clinicopathological parameters including Breslow thickness, Clark level and ulceration. Conclusions: Elevated expression levels of CD133 and Nestin in the melanomas are associated with advanced disease, with more aggressive and metastatic skin tumors. Therefore, these markers could be potential therapeutic targets for malignant tumors of the skin.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2016

Purpose: To study whether breastfeeding and breastfeeding status during gluten introduction influences the age at diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). In addition to study, whether the timing of gluten introduction influences the age at diagnosis of CD. Methods: It was a hospital based observational study. Total 198 patients diagnosed with CD as per modified European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2012) criteria, aged between 6 months to 6 years were included. Detail history taken with special emphasis on breastfeeding and age of gluten introduction. Standard statistical methods used to analyze the data. Results: $Mean{\pm}standard$ deviation age of onset and diagnosis of CD in breastfed cases was $2.81{\pm}1.42$ years and $3.68{\pm}1.55$ years respectively as compared to $1.84{\pm}1.36$ years and $2.70{\pm}1.65$ years respectively in not breastfed cases (p<0.05). Those who had continued breastfeeding during gluten introduction and of longer duration had significantly delayed onset of disease. The age at onset of CD was under one year in 40.42% of the cases, who had started gluten before 6 months of age compared to only 12.58% of those who had started gluten later (p<0.001). The proposed statistical model showed that two variables, i.e., breast feeding status during gluten introduction and age at gluten introduction positively influencing the age at diagnosis of CD. Conclusion: Delayed gluten introduction to infant's diet along with continuing breastfeeding, delays symptomatic CD. However, it is not clear from our study that these infant feeding practices provide permanent protection against the disease or merely delays the symptoms.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

Human activities have enhanced the influx of heavy metals to aquatic ecosystem and hanged the abiotic environment such as the sediments supporting benthic organisms. The levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the benthic gastropod Oxyloma hirasei and the sediments around their habitat were investigated to examine heavy metal levels and the potential of the gastropod as a bioindicator. We detected different levels of heavy metals in the sediments of two wetland areas, Upo and Mokpo, in the relatively well-conserved Upo wetland, Ramsar Convention Area. Oxyloma hirasei had higher concentrations of heavy metals except Cr and Ni in their soft tissues than in their shells (Cd: $2.10{\sim}3.16$, Cu: $19.73{\sim}28.66$, Pb: $0.67{\sim}1.17$, Zn: $216.1{\sim}285.7\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the soft tissues; Cr: $1.19{\sim}2.58$, Ni: $0.47{\sim}1.16\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the shells). Differences in the Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in O. hirasei soft tissues reflected differences in heavy metal concentrations in the sediments at the sampling sites. The coefficients of variation for Cd, Cu and Pb were lower than those for other metals in the soft tissues. Levels of Cd in the tissues of O. hirasei were the highest among the metals examined in this study. Therefore, the soft tissue of O. hirasei appears to be a promising bioindicator particularly for Cd.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2015

Fermented red ginseng concentrate is known as a healthy food source, whereas it has off-flavor such as bitterness and sour flavor based on fermentation. ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-cyclodextrin (CD) were used to encapsulate the off-flavor of fermented red ginseng concentrate by using response surface methodology design on ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}-CD$ combination. The reducing effects were analyzed by sensory evaluation for bitter and sour tastes, ginsenoside Rb1, and total acidity. The optimized mixing ratio of ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}-CD$ for reducing bitterness was the least expected value of 2.07 at ${\beta}-CD$ 3.74% versus the soluble solid content of fermented red ginseng concentrate and the ${\gamma}-CD$ 20.63% mixture. The encapsulation effects of ginsenoside Rb1 were the most expected value of 96.75% at ${\beta}-CD$ 3.47% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 19.89% mixture. The encapsulation effects of sour taste were the least expected value of 5.63 at ${\beta}-CD$ 9.34% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 9.96% mixture. The encapsulation effects of lactic acid were the most expected value of 67.73% at ${\beta}-CD$ 16.0% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 13.18% mixture. Based on encapsulation and each optimized combination, the most effective entrapping ${\beta}$-and ${\gamma}-CD$ combination ratio was ${\beta}-CD$ 10% and ${\gamma}-CD$ 13%.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2001

Three weeks old Commelina was cultivated in Hoagland solution with or without $(\pm{100\mu{M}\;Cd^{2+}$ and with $100\mu{M}\;Cd^{2+}+100\mu{M\; SA)$ for 4 days. The contents of $Cd^{2+}$ and nonprotein-SH synthesis in roots and isolated epidermal strips were measured. In the treatment of $Cd^{2+}$, the concentration of $Cd^{2+}$ was $98\mu{M}\;Cd^{2+}$/g.fr.wt and it was 6 times higher than that of control. $Cd^{2+}$+SA increased 1.2 times higher concentration of $Cd^{2+}$ than that of the treatment ofTEX>$Cd^{2+}$ alone. In the treatment of TEX>$Cd^{2+}$, nonprotein-SH also increased 2 times higher than that of the control. TEX>$Cd^{2+}$ + SA increased 2 times higher concentration of nonprotein-SH than that of the treatment of TEX>$Cd^{2+}$ as well. In case of isolated epidermal strips, the response was similar with the roots. Therefore, it suggest that the effect of salicylic acid on the accumulation of TEX>$Cd^{2+}$ and nonprotein-SH synthesis in roots, and isolated epidermal strips was related with an increase of the membrane permeability by SA and that SA may be positively involved in the process of nonprotein- SH synthesis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.444-449
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• 1991

Synthesis of maltosyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin using maltose ($G_2$) and $\beta$-cyclodextrin ($\beta$-CD) as substrates through the reverse reaction of pullulanase was investigated. The optimal conditions for the condensation reaction were as below: mixing ratio of maltose to $\beta$-CD of 12.7, mixed substrate concentration of 70% (w/w, 70 g/100 ml $H_2O$), and amount of pullulanse of 350 units/100 ml. The concentration of synthesized maltosyl-P-CD concentration was reached up to 2.31 g/100 rnl at above reaction conditions, which corresponded the conversion yield of 43% (w/w, g of branched-CD/g of CD). The synthesis of maltosyl-$\alpha >\gamma >\beta$-CD was also attempted, and conversion yield was in the order of a>y>J3-CDs. Condensation reaction between various maltooligosaccharides ($G-1\sim G_6$ showed that maltose was the most effective oligorner for condensation reaction with $\beta$-CD. To increase the conversion yield various alcohols were added into the reaction mixture, amyl alcohol was found to be the most acceptable alcohol for increasement of convesion yield which increased from 43.0 to 83.0% upon addition of same volume of amyl alcohol into the reaction mixture.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2015

The structural geometry of $[N(CH_3)_4]_2CdCl_4$ in a hexagonal phase is studied by $^1H$ MAS NMR, $^{13}C$ CP/MAS NMR, and $^{14}N$ NMR. The changes in the chemical shifts for $^{13}C$ and $^{14}N$ in the hexagonal phase are explained by the structural geometry. In addition, the temperature dependencies of the spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame $T_{1{\rho}}$ for $^1H$ MAS NMR and $^{13}C$ CP/MAS NMR are measured.