• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1431-1437
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• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.169-175
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• 2005

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a phytoalexin found in grape skins, peanuts, and red wine, has been reported to have a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. $Amyloid-\beta$ deposition and senile plaque-associated astrocytes are common neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we have explored the effects of resveratrol on $amyloid-\beta-peptide-mediated$ cytotoxicity in vitro and modulation of cell growth-regulatory gene products in astroglioma C6 cells to elucidate its possible mechanism for anti-cytotoxicity. Exposure of C6 cells to $Amyloid-\beta$ resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes of C6 cells, which were recovered by pre-treatment with resveratrol. The anti-proliferative effect of $amyloid-\beta$ was associated with the induction of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in time-dependent manner in C6 cells. In addition, the pro-apoptotic Bax expression was also up-regulated in $amyloid-\beta-treated$ C6 cells without alteration of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ expression. However, pre-treatment of resveratrol significantly inhibited $amyloid-\beta-induced$ p53, p21 and Bax levels, suggesting that the modulation of p53, p21 and Bax levels could be one of the possible pathways by which resveratrol functions as anti-cytotoxic agent. Our results demonstrate that resveratrol may enhance the protection against $amyloid-\beta-induced$ cytotoxicity by promoting the survival of glial cells.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.387-394
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• 2015

The red snow crab lives at a depth 200-2,000 m in the east coast. It has a smooth taste with a rich texture. However mostly red snow crab are only utilized materials. For seafood development, research is needed on using red snow crab in various products. In this study, quality changes in fried rice prepared with red snow crab meat, red snow crab emulsion sauce and red snow crab effluent were investigated. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were determined during storage at -20, 4 and $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 weeks to assess changes in the quality of the fried rice. The pH and acidity values did not show any significant differences at $-20^{\circ}C$. The VBN and TBA values of fried rice stored at 4 and $25^{\circ}C$ were significantly higher than those of fried rice stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ during the same storage period. The viable cell count of the fried rice stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ changed little during the storage period. During storage at $25^{\circ}C$, the overall quality was initially 8.0, but rapidly decreased to 1.0 after 5 weeks. In conclusion, the best storage temperature for both quality and safety was $-20^{\circ}C$. The storage condition for instant rice containing red snow crab affects the quality and we confirmed the applicability of using materials from red snow crab.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of renal blood flow, glomerular hemodynamics, and tubule transport processes in the kidney. There is also evidence that NO is involved in cell cycle regulation and mitotic division. During development the nNOS expression pattern differs from that observed in adult animals. However, little is known about temporal and spatial patterns of nNOS expression in the developing kidney. The purpose of this study was to establish the time of expression and the distribution of nNOS in the developing rat kidney. Kidneys from 14-, 16-, 17-, 18-, and 20-day-old fetuses, 1-, 4-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day-old pups, and adult animals were preserved and processed for immunohistochemistry. In the adult kidney, nNOS was detected in the parietal epithelium of Bowman s capsule, macula densa, descending thin limb and inner medullary collecting duct. nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first in the distal tubule anlage at 15 days of gestation, and in all epithelial cells of developing thick ascending limbs (TAL) as well as macula densa of 17- and 18-day-old fetuses. From 20 days of gestation to 14 days after birth, nNOS was expressed in the newly formed cortical TAL, which are located in the medullary ray, whereas in mature TAL of juxtamedullary nephrons, nNOS immunolabeling gradually decreased in intensity and became restricted to the macula densa. In inner medullary collecting ducts, nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first at 7 days after birth in the papillary tip and gradually ascended to the border between outer and inner medulla. In the descending thin limb and parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule, weak nNOS immunoreactivity was observed at 14 days after birth and labeling gradually increased to adult levels at 21 days after birth. These results suggest that differential expression of nNOS in the developing kidney is an important physiological regulator of renal function during kidney maturation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate a method for producing cultured virus - free ovules for breeding high - quality Citrus cultivars. Ovules from the immature fruits of three citrus cultivars native to Jeju (Dongjeongkyool, Cheongkyool, and Jikak) and two cultivars of Citrus unshiu Marc. (Miyagawa wase and Haryejosaeng) that were thought to be infected with Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were cultured on MS2 medium (Murashige - Skoog [MS] basal medium containing $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ malt extract, $50g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ sucrose, $1.0 mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin, and $8g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ agar). After four weeks of culture, 10, 21, 13, 5, and 7 somatic embryos and 2, 4, 2, 4, and 5 white callus cells (surrounding green somatic embryos) were obtained from Dongjeongkyool, Cheongkyool, Jikak, Miyagawa wase, and Haryejosaeng, respectively. After six weeks of culture, somatic embryos were obtained from cultured cells grown on MT basal medium supplemented with malt extract ($500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), lactose ($70g{\cdot}L^{-1}$), and agar ($16g{\cdot}L^{-1}$). Over 60% of the somatic embryos from citrus cultivars native to Jeju developed into normal plants on MS basal medium supplemented with malt extract ($500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), sucrose ($50g{\cdot}L^{-1}$), and agar ($8g{\cdot}L^{-1}$) after 10 weeks of culture. Normal plants were regenerated from two Citrus unshiu Marc. cultivars on MT basal medium supplemented with sorbitol (1.0 M), galactose (1.0 M), $GA_3$ ($1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), and Gelrite ($3g{\cdot}L^{-1}$). The absence of virus in plants generated from cultured ovules was confirmed by RT - PCR and antigen - antibody reactions. Therefore, virus - free Citrus cells can be obtained for breeding high - quality citrus cultivars using the biotechnological technique evaluated in this study.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2015

The importance of genetic resource preservation has been highlighted in the literature as a means of maintaining genetic diversity. Investigations for hematologic values and the differential count of white blood cell count (WBC) for Korean indigenous cattle (KIC) and endangered indigenous cattle (EIC) are rarely performed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the hematologic values of total 40 EIC (White, Black, Mini cattle) and 35 KIC as control by analysis of hematologic characteristics. As a result, the mean values of RBC and platelet of EIC were significantly decreased by age (p<0.05). The mean values of RBC, HCT, MCV and MCHC between EIC and KIC of the same age (2~3 years) showed the statistical significance (p<0.05). Also, in the WBC of EIC, the mean values were decreased according to the age from $13.9{\times}10^3/{\mu}L{\sim}12.7{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ under 1 year to $9.1{\times}10^3/{\mu}L{\sim}11.5{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ over 2 years respectively. In the differential count of WBC of EIC (White, Black, Mini cattle), it showed generally the rates of 40.2%, 52.2%, 49.0% lymphocyte and 27.2%, 33.9%, 32.0% segmented neutrophil from 2~3 years respectively. Result of this study will be used for establishing reference range for blood analysis in EIC such as white, black and mini cattle. This study reported hematological values which could serve as baseline information for comparison in conditions of nutrient deficiency, physiological and health status of endangered Korean native cattle. In addition, this study provides a valuable resource for further investigations of the preservation of rare genetic stocks underlying traits of interest in cattle.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2002

limiting nutrients for phytoplankton were determined by dissored inorganic nitrogen/phosphorous (DIN/DIP) in situ and algal bioassay experiment in the Seomjin River estuary during a study period from March 1999 to October 2001. DIN/DIP ranged from 14.7 to 681.1 during the study period. DIN/DIP was over 16 at the upper and middle estuarine region where salinity was lower than 25 psu and chlorophyll a concentration was high, probably indicating P-limitation in this region while the ratio was less than 16 at the high saline (> 25 psu) region, reflecting the supply of DIP from Gwangyang Bay and thereby indicating N-limitation at the lower estuarine region. These results suggested that the spatial distribution of DIN/DIP in the study region was controlled by the high supply of phosphate from Gwangyang Bay, the low input from Seomjin River and the active uptake by phytoplankton within the estuarine system. The bioassay experiments using Skeletonema costatum, Thalaasiosira rotula and in situ phytoplankton assemblage displayed relatively higher growth of phytoplankton in the P-added culture media, indicating P-limitation. This result was well consistent with the spatial distribution of inorganic nutrients. S. costatum showed a rapid adaptation to the low salinity compared to other phytoplankton species. This phenomenon seemed to account for the strong (> $90\%$ in total cell number) S. costatum bloom in autumn in this estuary. Moreover, although phytoplankton growth rate was higher in the P-added culture media at the end of culture experiment of in situ phytoplankton, the fast growth in the trace metal-added media at the beginning of the experiment suggested a possibility of limitation by other micro-nutrients such as trace metal and vitamin etc.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 2008

Species composition and standing crop of phytoplankton were investigated in the ark shell Scapharca broughtonii farming areas from March, 2006 to February, 2007 in Jinhae Bay. Water temperature ranged from 7.56 to $25.90^{\circ}C$, salinity from 13.74 to 34.78 psu, dissolved oxygen from 4.13 to 13.20 mg/L, chlorophyll $\alpha$ from 2.77 to 104.98 $mg/m^2$ and pH from 7.83 to 8.65. Dominant species was Nitzschia and Rhizosolenia from March to May, Skeletonama costatum and Prorocentrum from June to August, Skeletonama costatum, Thalassiosira, Chaetoceros from September to November and Thalassiosira, Chaetoceros from December to February. Colonial diatoms were more dominant than the single cell diatoms. Standing crop was the highest in July at three stations. Standing crop of Skeletonama costatum was the highest as 1,760.0 cells/mL at St. 1, 1,075.2 cells/mL at St. 2 and 698.4 cells/mL at St. 3 in July.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.339-348
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• 2010

Objective: To investigate the beneficial effect of fragment removal on the subsequent cell division and clinical outcome of the fragmented human embryos. Methods: A prospective study was performed in Hanna Women's Clinic and Mizmedi Hospital. Sixty couples undergoing In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program were participated in the present study. The microsurgical fragment removal was performed in 106 fragmented embryos of 29 patients before the transfer. As a control group, 122 fragmented embryos of 31 patients were transferred without the fragment removal. Effects of fragment removal on morphological changes and clinical outcomes of fragmented embryos were investigated. Results: Mean morphological grade (G2.79) of fragmented embryos was significantly improved after the fragment removal(G1.63, p<0.001). Most of the fragmented embryos did not show a regeneration of fragments after the fragment removal during the subsequent development, and a beneficial effect of fragment removal on the development of the fragment removed embryos was observed. Implantation and pregnancy rates of fragment removed embryos were 12.3% and 31.3%, whereas the rates of control group embryos were 6.6% and 22.5%, respectively. There was no statistical significance in the rates between the two groups because of the low number of trials. Conclusion: Microsurgical fragment removal improved the subsequent development as well as the morphological grade of fragmented embryos. The fragment removal may be beneficial for neighboring blastomeres by repairing the intercellular communication and removing the secretion of the potential toxic materials by fragments.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2015

This study was performed to develop the maufacturing processes of Makgeolli using red ginseng starch (RGS). After the fermentation of RGS with koji, nuruk, and yeast, the different temperature effects on the number of the yeast cells, the content of organic acid, free sugars, and total acid, and pH were investigated. There were no changes in the composition of the yeast cell number and content of organic acid amd during 20 days at $4^{\circ}C$. The content of free sugars (sucrose, glucose and mannose) and the pH value of red ginseng Makgeolli decreased during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. This meant that the total acid content and pH value increased after organic acid was produced from fermentation. Therefore, red ginseng Makgeolli is highly acidic and sour. Since high acidity helps improve storage conditions, so this developed red ginseng Makgeolli is considered safe for consumption. Furthermore, the total content of ginsenoside was 2.47 mg/mL, which was differentiate Makgeolli using red ginseng starch, with others. Therefore, new red ginseng Makgeolli is rich in organic acid, free sugars, and ginsenoside. As a result, its storage, taste, and flavor improved.