• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2012

Cosmetic products which might augment the breast have attracted an attention and objective methods for the evaluation of such products are in high demand. This study was conducted to establish a method for assessing the breast-firmming effects of cosmetics. This study included a total of 30 healthy Korean females aged 20-50 years. A cosmetic product was applied by massaging it onto the breast twice a day for 8 weeks. Measurement of breast girth with a tape ruler, 2D and 3D digital image analyses, and Moir$\acute{e}$ topographic analysis were performed before and following the treatment. The application of a cosmetic onto the breast significantly increased breast girth at 2, 4 and 8 weeks without a significant change in underbreast girth, implicating the breast might be augmented. The 2D image analysis indicated that the arc length of the breast which represents the surface distance from the nipple to the periphery of the under-breast was significantly increased at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The height of the breast which represents the perpendicular distance from the nipple to the periphery of the under-breast was also increased significantly at 4 and 8 weeks. The 3D image analysis of body surface also demonstrated a significant increase of breast volume at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Moir$\acute{e}$ topographic analysis indicated that breast sagging was significantly reduced at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The results of this study suggest that Moir$\acute{e}$ topography in combination with 2D and 3D digital image analyses may be useful for evaluating the breast-augmenting effects of cosmetics.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 1995

In order to study the embryonic development and hatching of wild long shanny, Stichaeus grigorjewi, were caught with the gill nets in the East Sea of Korea, and stocked at indoor tanks to induce natural spawning in February 25, 1994 and February 16 to 24, 1995. They were already matured when stocked, and average body length (50.66 cm) and body weight (1,192.74 g) of 57 females and average body length (48.62 cm) and body weight (612.58g) of 43 males were recorded. Before stocking, they were inserted with identification tags(ID tags) in the dorsal muscle, and spawning was traced by the portable reader (Destron/lDl Ltd.) Forty females among 57 spawned successfully in the average of 4 days after stocking. Females spawned almost all eggs contained in the ovaries at one time in the form of an egg mass and averaging 227,200 eggs Per egg mass. The egg mass was oval in shape, translucent milky in color, 20.32cm long axis and 14.57cm short axis in size, and 803.7g in weight. Male parents guarded their egg masses and circulated water with the tail part of the body. Fertilized egg was spherical in shape, and their average diameter was 1.54 mm. Each egg had a containing single oil globule, and it's average diameter was 0.37 mm. The average water temperature was $13.2^{\circ}C$ and incubation times after fertilization were 5 hours 25 minutes up to 2-cell stage, 13 hours up to morula stage, and 66 hours 35 minutes up to embryo formation stage. Hatching rate was approximately 10 percent in 368 hours 50 minutes after fertilization, and approxionateoly 90 percent of eggs were hatched in 425 hours 30 minutes after fertilization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4517-4525
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• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.553-561
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• 2020

In this study aims to investigate the radiation protection effect of avocado peel extracts on the Sprague-Dawely rats. 52 male rats were randomly classified into 4 groups. NC Group was a normal control group, PA Group was a group injected avocado peel extracts, IR Group was irradiated group, and lastly PA+IR Group was set as an irradiated group after injected of avocado peel extracts. Avocado peel extract was administered orally at 200 mg/kg once a day for 14 days before irradiation, and the radiation dose was systemically irradiated with 6 MV X-ray of 7 Gy. On the 4 and 21 days after irradiation, the experimental animals were sacrificed to evaluate the change in blood cell composition, spleen index, and histopathological evaluation of the liver and small intestine. As a result, the PA+IR Group showed a significantly greater recovery of lymphocytes(p<0.01), red blood cells(p<0.01), and platelets(p<0.05) than the IR Group. It was also confirmed that the activation of Superoxide Dismutase(SOD) was further increased. Histopathologically, observed that nuclei aggregation and cytoplasmic expansion were slightly reduced in the PA+IR Group in the liver. and the damage was significantly reduce(p<0.01) in the change of villi length due to damage to the small intestine cells. Based on the above results, avocado peel extract can be expected to act as a radiation protection agent that can reduce damage to blood cells and major organs caused by irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 1995

Soil-applied pre-emergence herbicide, pyrazolate(4-(2, 4-dichlorobenzoyl)-1, 3-dimethyl pyrazol-5-yl-p-toluene sulphonate) induced, twist effect of shoots of barnyardgrass under dry conditions, and etiolated leaf and stem of that under water condition. Plant height and root length of rice broadcast on soil surface were similar to the untreated control, but plant height of rice drilled in soil was more inhibited than root length as compared with the untreated control, while development of barnyardgrass seedling was severely inhibited at 20 days after application. The inhibition rate was much higher under water condition than under dry condition, but difference in rice and barnyardgrass did not abserve. However, growth of transplanted rice shown to increase to the untreated control. Shoot and root fresh weight of rice broadcast on soil surface was increase as compared with the untreated control, and that of rice drilled in soil was not affected whereas that of barnyardgrass was severely inhibited by 42% and 41%, respectively. Under dry condition at 20 days after pyrazolate application while root growth of rice broadcast on soil surface under water condition was deadly inhibited and development of barnyardgrass was almost completely inhibited. On the other hand, microscopic studies showed that constriction of mesophyll cell by destruction of chloroplast of barnyardgrass were occurred only under dry condition, whereas damage of rice and barnyardgrass under water and transplanting condition were not observed. Anatomical change in the meristernatic region of rice and barnyardgrass was not occurred, and similar to intact plant regardless of cropping patterns.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2009

Retroviruses enter host cells by membrane fusion between the viral Env proteins on the virus membrane and a virus receptor on the cellular membrane. The envelope protein of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus is synthesized as a gp85 precursor and is proteolytically cleaved into an extracellular surface unit (SU) and the transmembrane protein (TM). The cytoplasmic tail (16 amino acid; R peptide) of the TM protein is further cleaved by the viral protease during virion maturation. Unlike the wild type Env protrin bearing the R peptide, R peptide-truncated Envelope induces syncytia in susceptible cells. To understand the mechanism of R peptidetruncated Env in syncytium formation, R peptide-truncated Env expressing full-length molecular clone containing EGFP in PRR (proline rich region) of Env was constructed. This molecular clone induced syncytia in transfected NIH3T3 cells, fluorescence was detected in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane, while the nuclei did not stain and appeared black by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, virions with truncated envelope produced from transfected NIH3T3 cells induced syncytia in NIH3T3 cells, but fluorescence was not detected in the same infected cells. It is believed that cell-free viruses direct the fusion of neighboring cells without infection. Our data suggests that use of EGFP-tagged envelope for monitoring syncytium is a sensitive and convenient method. We also found that virion incorporated the R peptide-truncated Env is able to induce the formation of syncytia by fusion from without.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of height suppression of cucumber and tomato plug seedlings as affected by mechanical stimulus using brushing as environment-friendly method. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. 'Joeunbaekdadagi') and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Mini Chal') seeds were sown in 40-cell plug trays ($54{\times}27.5{\times}5cm$) filled with growing medium on Oct. 9, 2017. The cultivation environment in a venlo-type glasshouse was maintained as cultivation temperature range of $15-25^{\circ}C$ and the relative humidity of $50{\pm}10%$. Nontreatment and diniconazole ($7.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) application at 15 days after sowing were used as the control. In addition, brushing treatments in cucumber and tomato were applied interval of 2, 4 or 6 hrs for 15 and 20 days, respectively. Plant height, hypocotyl length, and internode length were inhibited for cucumber and tomato in the diniconazole treatment than in the control. The leaf size was reduced, both cucumber and tomato, while the SPAD increased under the diniconazole treatment. However, stem diameter of cucumber was the thickest in the 2 hrs brushing interval treatment. Fresh weights of shoot and root were the significantly lowest in the diniconazole treatment. Application of brushing improved seedlings quality by promoting dry weights of shoot and root, and compactness of tomato seedlings. The chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato seedlings drastically decreased with 2 hrs treatment, indicating that mechanical stress by brushing treatment. The relative growth rate of tomato seedlings was significantly lower in the diniconazole treatment, but cucumber seedlings were not significantly different in all treatments. As a results, height suppression of cucumber and tomato seedlings was best achievement in the diniconazole treatment by the chemical as growth regulator. In an environment-friendly point of view, however, it is considered that 2 hrs brushing interval treatment can be the applicability for replacing the chemical methods in plug seedling growth of cucumber and tomato.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.494-503
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• 2000

A 21-residue peptide corresponding to amino acids 84-104 of $p16^{INK4A}$, the tumor suppressor, has been synthesized and its structure was studied by Circular Dichroism, $^1H$ NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. A p16-derived peptide (84-104 amino acids) forming stable complex with CDK4 and CDK6 inhibits the ability of CDK4/6 to phosphorylate pRb in vitro, and blocks cell-cycle progression through G1/S phase as shown in the function of the full-length p16. Its NMR spectral data including NOEs, $^3J_{NH-H{\alpha}}$ coupling constants, $C_{\alpha}H$ chemical shift, the average amplitude of amide chemical shift oscillation and temperature coefficients indicate that the secondary structure of a p16-derived peptide is similar to that of the same region of full-length p16, which consists of helix-turn-helix structure. The 3-D distance geometry structure based on NOE-hased distance and torsion angle restraints is characterized by ${\gamma}$-turn conformation between residues $Gly^{89}-Leu^{91}$(${\varphi}_{i+1}=-79.8^{\circ}$, ${\varphi}_{i+1}=60.2^{\circ}$) as evidenced in a single crystal structure for the corresponding region of p18 or p19, but is undefined at both the N and C termini. This compact and rigid ${\gamma}$-turn region is considered to stabilize the structure of p16-derived peptide and serve as a site recognizing cyelin dependent kinase, and this well-defined ${\gamma}$-turn structure could be utilized for the design of anti-cancer drug candidates.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth characteristics of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as affected by artificial light sources and different growing media in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). The lettuce seeds were sown in the 128-cell plug tray filled with 5 different growing media such as urethane sponge (US), rock-wool (RW), Q-plug (QP), TP-S2 (TP) and PU-7B (PU). The germination rate of lettuce seeds was examined during 12 days after sowing. On the 13 days after sowing, the lettuce seedlings were transplanted in a CPPS with temperature $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and nutrient solution (EC $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, pH 6.5) using recirculating deep floating technique system. The light sources were set with FL (fluorescent lamps) and combined RB LEDs (red : blue = 7 : 3) with $150{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD and a photoperiod of 14/10 hours (light/dark). The initial germination rate of lettuce was the highest in TP. The final germination and mean daily germination were the significantly highest in RW, QP and TP. The plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of shoot were the greatest in QP irradiated with RB LED. The number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of root and SPAD were the greatest in QP and TP irradiated with RB LED. The root length was the longest in TP irradiated with RB LED. Therefore, these results indicate that RB LED was effective for the growth of lettuce and it was also found that the QP and TP were effective for the germination and growth of lettuce in a CPPS. In addition, we confirmed the applicability of the newly developed growing medium TP for the lettuce production in a CPPS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.886-893
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• 2005

Purpose : Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of systemic vasculitis in children less than 5 years of age. Recent immunohistochemistry findings suggest that many vascular growth factors play a role in the formation of the coronary artery lesions. Active remodeling of the coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease continues in the form of intimal proliferation and neoangiogenesis for several years after the onset of the disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) and corticosteroid have been used in the treatment of Kawasaki disease but the exact mechanism is not clear. We have investigated that IVIG and corticosteroid inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-induced tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro on Matrigel assay. Methods : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were cultured and seeded on Matrigel coated 24 well plates in medium with or without the following agents : VEGF, VEGF plus IVIG, VEGF plus VEGF antibody, VEGF plus methylprednisolone, VEGF, IVIG plus methylprednisolone for 18 hours. The total length of tube structures in each photograph was quantified. Results : IVIG significantly inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs. The inhibitory effect of IVIG was also reversible. In the meantime, VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs into capillary like structures on Matrigel, which was inhibited by VEGF antibody in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, IVIG and methylprednisolone inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation of HUVECs. IVIG was more effective in inhibition than methylprednisolone alone. Conclusion : We revealed that VEGF induced the differentiation of HUVECs and this effect was inhibited by IVIG and methylprednisolone.