• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.345-352
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• 2008

The cerebral microvessels possess barrier characteristics which are tightly sealed excluding many toxic substances and protecting neural tissues. The specialized blood-neural barriers as well as the cerebral microvascular barrier are recognized in the retina, inner ear, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. Microvascular endothelial cells in the brain closely interact with other components such as astrocytes, pericytes, perivascular microglia and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular unit'. Communication between endothelial cells and other surrounding cells enhances the barrier functions, consequently resulting in maintenance and elaboration of proper brain homeostasis. Furthermore, the disruption of the neurovascular unit is closely involved in cerebrovascular disorders. In this review, we focus on the location and function of these various blood-neural barriers, and the importance of the cell-to-cell communication for development and maintenance of the barrier integrity at the neurovascular unit. We also demonstrate the close relation between the alteration of the blood-neural barriers and cerebrovascular disorders.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.347-352
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• 2006

This study was carried out to establish the optimum condition for cell disruption with a sonificator in the detection of the gram positive bacteria, Bacillus globigii and Streptococcus epidermidis for the purpose of developing automatic fluorometer. The efficiency of sonificator on the Bacillus globigii and Streptococcus epidermidis disruption differed greatly according to the diameter of sonificator probe tip. The larger sonificator probe diameter showed greater disruption. Bacillus globigii was more disruptive than Streptococcus epidermidis. Sonificator probe of the 13 mm diameter was the most efficient one when sample was sonificated for 20 seconds. The detection limits of Bacillus globigii and Streptococcus epidermidis were $10^5CFU/m{\ell}\;and\;5{\times}10^5CFU/m{\ell}$ respectively when samples were sonificated for 20 seconds with a sonificator probe of 13 mm diameter.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.783-786
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• 2009

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ion chromatography(IC) were employed to analyze the thermal behavior of $Li_xCoO_2$ cathode material of lithium ion battery. The mass loss peaks appearing between 60 and 125 ${^{\circ}C}$ in TGA and the exothermic peaks with 4.9 and 7.0 J/g in DSC around 75 and 85 ${^{\circ}C}$ for the $Li_xCoO_2$ cathodes of 4.20 and 4.35 V cells are explained based on disruption of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film. Low temperature induced HF formation through weak interaction between organic electrolyte and LiF is supposed to cause carbonate film disruption reaction, $Li_2CO_3\;+\;2HF{\rightarrow}\;2LiF\;+\;CO_2\;+\;H_2O$. The different spectral DSC/TGA pattern for the cathode of 4.5 V cell has also been explained. Presence of ionic carbonate in the cathode has been identified by ion chromatography and LiF reported by early researchers has been used for explaining the film SEI disruption process. The absence of mass loss peak for the cathode washed with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) implies ionic nature of the film. The thermal behavior above 150 ${^{\circ}C}$ has also been analyzed and presented.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.517-522
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• 2011

Mitochondrial dynamics not only involves mitochondrial morphology but also mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial distribution, and cell death. To identify specific regulators to mitochondria dynamics, we screened a chemical library and identified niclosamide as a potent inducer of mitochondria fission. Niclosamide promoted mitochondrial fragmentation but this was blocked by down-regulation of Drp1. Niclosamide treatment resulted in the disruption of mitochondria membrane potential and reduction of ATP levels. Moreover, niclosamide led to apoptotic cell death by caspase-3 activation. Interestingly, niclosamide also increased autophagic activity. Inhibition of autophagy suppressed niclosamide-induced cell death. Therefore, our findings suggest that niclosamide induces mitochondria fragmentation and may contribute to apoptotic and autophagic cell death.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 1995

Rat renal proximal tubule suspension was prepared from adult male Sprague Dawley rat (250-300g) by mechanical (non-enzymatical) method and evaluated as a pontential model for mechanistic studies and early screening of nephrotoxicity, using anionic antibiotics (cephaloridine). Cephaloridine (CPL) produced an increase in LDH release into media. This release results from decrease a proximal tubule cell viability and subsequently increase the permeability of cell viability and subsequently increase the permeability of cell membrane. Since loss of intracellular potassium and ATP into media is the sign of disruption of cell membrane, especially basolateral membrane (BLM), CPL induced proximal tubule cell compromise also appear be associated with BLM, maybe $Na^+-K^+$ ATPase. Also seen was significant depression in brush border membrane (BBM) ALP activity and no significantly increase in BBM GGT activities. The inhibition of typical anion, PAH accumulation (especially, CPL 5 mM) and cation, TEA (especially, 4hours incubation) were seen dose dependently. This is because of CPL accumulation in renal proximal tubule and increase of cytotoxicity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.282-287
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• 2007

The antiviral mechanism of KT5720 is known to inhibit the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), on the VSV infection in BHK-21 cell cultures. The virus inducted CPE (cell rounding) was almost completely suppressed by KT5720 at 5 uM. The inhibitor, however, did not affect the replication of the virus and the synthesis of viral macromolecules. Immunological studies showed the viral matrix (M) protein displayed intimate association with the cytoskeletal components and probably the cell rounding. KT5720, did not block the cytoskeletal disruption, while the cell rounding was suppressed. These observations suggest that the interaction between the viral M protein and the cytoskeletal components may not be enough to cause the morphological change of the cell. And, the KT5720-sensitive function may be involved in developing the VSV-induced CPE, but not essential for the virus replications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.840-845
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• 2008

Nucleophosmin/B23, a major nucleolar phosphoprotein, is overexpressed in actively proliferating cells. In this study, we demonstrate that B23 exclusively localizes in the nucleolus, whereas ATP depletion results in the redistribution of B23 throughout the whole nucleus and destabilizes B23 via caspase-3 mediated cleavage. Interestingly, ATP binding precedes PI(3,4,5)P3 binding at lysine 263 and ATP binding mutants fail to restore the anti-apoptotic functions of B23 in PC12 cells. Thus, the ATP-B23 interaction is required for the stability of the B23 protein and regulates cell survival, confining B23 within the nucleolus in PC12 cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 1997

It has been demonstrated that majority of cells in the mammalian body such as myocytes and epithelial cells of skin and intestine respond to mechanical force or environmental factors and exhibit partial disruption of cell membrane, i. e., cell wounding, even in a physiological condition. Myocardial cells are rather apt to be wounded than other cells since they are definitely exposed to mechanical stress by contraction-relaxation and blood flow. However, the mechanism how myocardial cells protect themselves against cell wounding is not yet clarified. On this background, the present study was performed to elucidate whether albumin leakage is related to cell wounding and to assess whether diltiazem, a potent calcium channel blocker, is beneficial in isoproterenol-induced cell wounding in the heart. Hearts isolated from New Zealand White rabbits ($1.5\sim2.0kg$ body weight, n=20) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to bolus administration of isoproterenol and diltiazem as following order: $1.6{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at zero min (the beginning point): $16{\mu}M$ diltiazem at 20min; $1.6{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 25min; $16{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 45 min; $160{\mu}M$ diltiazem at 65 min; $16{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 70 min. During all experiments, the left ventricular function was recorded, albumin leakage in the coronary effluents was analyzed by electrophoresis and Western blot, and myocardial cell membranes were examined by conventional transmission electron microscopy. Data were analyzed by t-test and linear regression test. Isoproterenol significantly increased the inotropic and chronotropic contractions, coronary flow, and frequency of arrhythmia, however, diltiazem did not influence on hemodynamics except decrease in the frequency of arrhythmia and a slight decrease in contractility. Isoproterenol also resulted partial disruption of myocardial cell membrane and inclose in albumin leakage, while diltiazem pretreatment showed number of electron-dense plaques in the cell membrane and a tendency of decrease in albumin leakage. These results indicate that albumin leakage may be an indirect index of cell wounding in the heart and diltiazem nay be beneficial to protect myocardial cells against isoproterenol-induced cell wounding. It is likely that diltiazem promotes resealing process of the cell membrane.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 1973

This experiment was done to investigate the growth and the fine structural changes of Bacillus subtilis which were influenced by the penicillin with electromicroscope. The results were as follows; 1) The higher the concentration of penicillin the more prominent inhibition of the growth was observed. 2) The septa was not formed, derangements of synthesis of cell wall and cell membrane. 3) Cytoplasm was increased with swelling of cell body because of weakness of cell membrane induced by deranged synthesis of cell membrane. Some of the cells showed disruption of their membrane with loss of cytoplasm, remaining empty space, which suggest loss of cell function. 4) It can be suggested that penicillin had affected on the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis, and inhibited growth of the cell by deranging the formation of the cell wall.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.924-931
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• 2007

Now, there are two big issues threatening global society, which are the depletion of fossil fuels and the environmental disruption. Therefore, marine diesel engine, taking up over 95% share of the marine power market, has met the environmental and economical problems, too. These problems have caused a necessity of new, alternative power systems in ships and fuel cell systems has been playing a central role as one of the alternatives. This paper analyzes the characteristics of marine fuel cell systems, R&D trends of advanced countries, and mapping out R&D strategy of Korea.