• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.198-210
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• 2007

Objectives : Nitric oxide(NO) is a reactive free radical and a messenger molecule in many physiological functions. However, excessive release NO of induces neurotoxicity. We investigated whether a mixture of red ginseng and paeonia radix prossesses a protective effect against sodium nitroprusside(SNP)-induced apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC. Methods : We performed 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPD) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assay, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and caspase-3 enzyme activity assay in SK-N-HFC cells. Result : MTT assay showed that SNP treatment significantly reduced the viabilities of cells and that pre-treatment with the red ginseng and paeonia radix mixture alleviated SNP-induced cytotoxicity. The cells treated with SNP exhibited several apoptotic features, while those pre-treated fir 1 h with the mixture of red ginseng and paeonia radix 1 h prior to SNP expose showed reduced apoptotic features. In addition, the cells pre-treated with the red ginseng and paeonia radix mixture for 1 h prior to SNP expose increased bel-2 expressions, decreased Bax expressions, and decreased caspase-3 enzyme activity. Conclusions : These results show that the red ginseng and paeonia radix mixture exerts a protective effect against SNP-induced apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2014

The structural proteins of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) consist of nucleocapsid protein C and envelope glycoprotein $E^{rns}$ (E0), E1 and E2. Among them, E2, the most immunogenic of the CSFV glycoproteins, induces a protective immune response in swine. In this study, to determine the optimal expression conditions of glycoprotein E2 using baculovirus system, we investigated the influence of insect cells and media to the expression of recombinant E2. Recombinant virus containing glycoprotein E2 coding gene was constructed with bApGOZA DNA. Expression of the glycoprotein E2 was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis using anti-CSFV E2 monoclonal antibodies. Expression of glycoprotein E2 in Sf21 cells was first observed after 3 days and reached a maximum on the 5th day after infection. Furthermore, the highest levels of glycoprotein E2 expression were observed at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5. When three different insect cell lines (Sf21, High-Five and Se301) were tested, High-Five cells showed the highest production. In addition, four different serum-free and serum-supplemented media, respectively, were tested for the expression of glycoprotein E2 and the budded virus (BV) titers. As a result, serum-supplemented medium provided the best conditions for protein production and the BV yield.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2016

The role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in honey as antifungal activity has received little attention and their mechanism of inhibitory of fungi is not fully understood. In this study, LAB were isolated from honey samples from Malaysia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Twenty-five isolates were confirmed LAB by catalase test and Gram staining, and were screened for antifungal activity. Four LAB showed inhibitory activity against Candida spp. using the dual agar overlay method. And they were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum HS isolated from Al-Seder honey, Lactobacillus curvatus HH isolated from Al-Hanon honey, Pediococcus acidilactici HC isolated from Tualang honey and Pediococcus pentosaceus HM isolated from Al-Maray honey by the 16S rDNA sequence. The growth of Candida glabrata ATCC 2001 was strongly inhibited (>15.0 mm) and (10~15 mm) by the isolates of L. curvatus HH and P. pentosaceus HM, respectively. The antifungal activity of the crude supernatant (cell free supernatant, CFS) was evaluated using well diffusion method. The CFS showed high antifungal activity against Candida spp. especially The CFS of L. curvatus HH was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited growth of C. glabrata ATCC 2001, C. parapsilosis ATCC 2201, and C. tropicalis ATCC 750 with inhibitory zone 22.0, 15.6, and 14.7 mm, respectively. While CFS of P. pentosaceus HM was significantly (p < 0.05) effective against C. krusei, C. glabrata, and C. albicans with inhibition zone 17.2, 16.0, and 13.3 mm, respectively. The results indicated that LAB isolated from honey produced compounds which can be used to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic Candida species.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-287
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• 2018

Placenta specific 8 (PLAC8, also known as ONZIN) is a multi-functional protein that is highly expressed in the intestine, lung, spleen, and innate immune cells, and is involved in various diseases, including cancers, obesity, and innate immune deficiency. Here, we generated a Plac8 knockout mouse using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The Cas9 mRNA and two single guide RNAs targeting a region near the translation start codon at Plac8 exon 2 were microinjected into mouse zygotes. This successfully eliminated the conventional translation start site, as confirmed by Sanger sequencing and PCR genotyping analysis. Unlike the previous Plac8 deficient models displaying increased adipose tissue and body weights, our male Plac8 knockout mice showed rather lower body weight than sex-matched littermate controls, though the only difference between these two mouse models is genetic context. Differently from the previously constructed embryonic stem cell-derived Plac8 knockout mouse that contains a neomycin resistance cassette, this knockout mouse model is free from a negative selection marker or other external insertions, which will be useful in future studies aimed at elucidating the multi-functional and physiological roles of PLAC8 in various diseases, without interference from exogenous foreign DNA.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.235-249
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• 2022

Purpose: This study explored the degree to which pregnant women in Korea made informed choices regarding noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and investigated factors influencing whether they made informed choices. Methods: In total, 129 pregnant women in Korea participated in a web-based survey. Multidimensional measures of informed choice regarding NIPT and decisional conflict were used to measure participants' levels of knowledge, attitudes, deliberation, uptake, and decisional conflict related to NIPT. Additional questions were asked about participants' NIPT experiences and opinions. Results: All 129 pregnant women were recruited from an online community. Excluding those who expressed neutral attitudes toward NIPT, according to the definition of informed choice used in this study, only 91 made an informed choice (n=63, 69.2%) or an uninformed choice (n=28, 30.8%). Of the latter, 75.0% had insufficient knowledge, 39.3% made a value-inconsistent decision, and 14.3% did not deliberate sufficiently. No difference in decisional conflict was found between the two groups. A significant difference was found between the two groups in the reasons why NIPT was introduced or recommended (p=.021). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who were knowledgeable (odds ratio [OR], 4.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17-10.47) and deliberated (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.98) were significantly more likely to make an informed choice. Conclusion: The results of this study help healthcare providers, including nurses in maternity units, understand pregnant women's experiences of NIPT. Counseling strategies are needed to improve pregnant women's knowledge of NIPT and create an environment that promotes deliberation regarding this decision.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.420-429
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• 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in elderly individuals. However, the currently used intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are invasive, and repetitive injections are also accompanied by a risk of intraocular infection. The pathogenic mechanism of AMD is still not completely understood, but a multifactorial mechanism that combines genetic predisposition and environmental factors, including cellular senescence, has been suggested. Cellular senescence refers to the accumulation of cells that stop dividing due to the presence of free radicals and DNA damage. Characteristics of senescent cells include nuclear hypertrophy, increased levels of cell cycle inhibitors such as p16 and p21, and resistance to apoptosis. Senolytic drugs remove senescent cells by targeting the main characteristics of these cells. One of the senolytic drugs, ABT-263, which inhibits the antiapoptotic functions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, may be a new treatment for AMD patients because it targets senescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. We proved that it selectively kills doxorubicin (Dox)-induced senescent ARPE-19 cells by activating apoptosis. By removing senescent cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines was reduced, and the proliferation of the remaining cells was increased. When ABT-263 was orally administered to the mouse model of senescent RPE cells induced by Dox, we confirmed that senescent RPE cells were selectively removed and retinal degeneration was alleviated. Therefore, we suggest that ABT-263, which removes senescent RPE cells through its senolytic effect, has the potential to be the first orally administered senolytic drug for the treatment of AMD.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.779-789
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• 2024

The effects of irradiation on meat constituents including water, proteins, and lipids are multifaceted. Irradiation leads to the decomposition of water molecules, resulting in the formation of free radicals that can have both positive and negative effects on meat quality and storage. Although irradiation reduces the number of microorganisms and extends the shelf life of meat by damaging microbial DNA and cell membranes, it can also accelerate the oxidation of lipids and proteins, particularly sulfur-containing amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids. With regard to proteins, irradiation affects both myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins. Myofibrillar proteins, such as actin and myosin, can undergo depolymerization and fragmentation, thereby altering protein solubility and structure. Sarcoplasmic proteins, including myoglobin, undergo structural changes that can alter meat color. Collagen, which is crucial for meat toughness, can undergo an increase in solubility owing to irradiation-induced degradation. The lipid content and composition are also influenced by irradiation, with unsaturated fatty acids being particularly vulnerable to oxidation. This process can lead to changes in the lipid quality and the production of off-odors. However, the effects of irradiation on lipid oxidation may vary depending on factors such as irradiation dose and packaging method. In summary, while irradiation can have beneficial effects, such as microbial reduction and shelf-life extension, it can also lead to changes in meat properties that need to be carefully managed to maintain quality and consumer acceptability.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2015

This study focused on isolation of wild yeasts from natural flowers and elucidation of yeast diversity. Wild yeasts were isolated from various flowers collected from mountains on the islands including Jejudo, Ulleungdo, Yokjido, and Seonyudo as well as inlands including Gyejoksan, Oseosan, Beakamsan, and Deogyusan in Korea. Isolated yeasts were identified by comparison of nucleotide sequences for polymerrase chain reaction-amplified D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA or internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 including 5.8S rDNA using BLAST. 289 strains belonging to 134 yeast species were isolated. Cryptococcus genus strains were the most frequently isolated species among the identified yeasts. Metschnikowia reukaufii was also frequently isolated. Twenty three species including Cryptococcus aureus were overlapped between those of mountains on islands and inland. Physiological functionalities such as antioxidant activity, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity for the 289 identified yeast strains were investigated using their supernatant and cell-free extracts. The supernatants of Candida sp. 78-J-2 and Metschnikowia reukaufii SY44-6 showed antioxidant activity of 22.5%, and anti-gout xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of 49.6%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2019

Recently, the rapid growth of the companion animal market has led to the development of animal disease diagnosis kits. Therefore, the utility of the introduction of biomarkers for the development of animal molecular diagnostics is being reevaluated. A good biomarker should be precise and reliable, distinguish between normal and diseased states, and differentiate between different diseases. Recently reported genetic markers, tumor markers (cell free DNA, circulating tumor cells, granzyme, and skin tumors), and others (brucellosis, programmed death recovery-1, symmetric dimethylarginine, periostin, and cysteinyl leukotrien) have been developed. The biomarkers are used for risk prediction or for the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. The most important criteria for related biomarkers are disease specificity. Many potential biomarkers have emerged from laboratory and test studies, but they have not been validated in independent or large-scale clinical studies. Candidate biomarkers evaluate disease associations, verify the effectiveness of biomarkers for early detection and disease progression, and incorporate them into humans and animals. In the future, it will be necessary to reevaluate the utility of well-structured biomarker-based research and study the development of kits that can be used in on-site tests in accordance with the trends introduced in the diagnosis of animal diseases.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.4
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• pp.103-142
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• 1991

These studies were carried out to select somatic hybrid using selectable marker genes of Nicotiana glauca transformed by NPTII gene and Solanum tuberosum transformed by T- DNA, and to study characteristics of transformant. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Crown gall tumors and hairy roots were formed on potato tuber disc infected by A. tumefaciens Ach5 and A. rhizogenes ATCC15834. These tumors and roots could be grown on the phytohormone free media. 2. Callus formation from hairy root was prompted on the medium containing 2, 4 D 2mg/I with casein hydrolysate lg/l. 3. The survival ratio of crown gall tumor callus derived from potato increased on the medium containing the activated charcoal 0. 5-2. 0mg/I because of the preventions on the other hand, hairy roots were necrosis on the same medium. 4. Callus derived from hairy root were excellently grown for a short time by suspension culture on liquid medium containing 2, 4-D 2mg/I and casein hydrolysate lg/l. 5. The binary vector pGA643 was mobilized from E. coli MC1000 into wild type Agrobacteriurn tumefaciens Ach5, A. tumefaciens $A_4T$ and disarmed A. tuniefaciens LBA4404 using a triparental mating method with E. ccli HB1O1/pRK2013. Transconjugants were obtained on the minimal media containing tetracycline and kanamycin. pGA643 vectors were confirmed by electrophoresis on 0.7% agarose gel. 6. Kanamycin resistant calli were selected on the media supplemented with 2, 4-D 0.5mg/1 and kanamycin $100\mug$/ml after co- cultivating with tobacco stem explants and A. tumefaciens LBA4404/pGA643, and selected calli propagated on the same medium. 7. The multiple shoots were regenerated from kanamycin resistant calli on the MS medium containing BA 2mg/l. 8. Leaf segments of transformed shoot were able to grow vigorusly on the medium supplemented with high concentration of kanamycin $1000\mug$/ml. 9. Kanamycin resistant shoots were rooting and elongated on medium containing kanamycin $100\mug$/ml, but normal shoot were not. 10. For the production of protoplast from potato calli transformed by T-DNA and mesophyll tissue transformed by NPTII gene, the former was isolated in the enzyme mixture of 2.0% celluase Onozuka R-10, 1.0% dricelase, 1.0% macerozyme. and 0.5M mannitol, the latter was isolated in the enzyme mixture 1.0% Celluase Onozuka R-10, 0.3% macerozyme, and 0.7M mannitol. 11. The optimal concentrationn of mannitol in the enzyme mixture for high protoplast yield was 0.8M at both transformed tobacco mesophyll and potato callus. The viabilities of protoplast were shown above 90%, respectively. 12. Both tobacco mesophyll and potato callus protoplasts were fused by using PEG solution. Cell walls were regenerated on hormone free media supplemented with kanamycin after 5 days, and colonies were observed after 4 weeks culture.