• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.244-253
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• 2010

The quality of marine sediments from the industrialized coastal areas of Korea (Ulsan Bay, Masan Bay, and artificial Lake Shihwa) was investigated using a bacterial bioluminescence toxicity test. Sediment toxicity results were compared with the levels of chemical contamination (trace metals, organic wastewater markers, acid volatile sulfides, total organic carbon). Effective concentration 50% (EC50) of sediments ranged from 0.014 to 1.126 mg/mL, which is comparable to or lower than values in contaminated lakes, rivers, and marine sediments of other countries. Sediment reference index (SRI) ranged from 13 to 1044, based on the EC50 of the negative control sample. Mean average SRI values in Masan Bay and Lake Shihwa were approximately 8 and 9 times as high as that in Ulsan Bay, indicating higher sediment toxicity and greater contamination in the two former regions. Sediment toxicity were strongly associated with the concentrations of some chemicals, suggesting that this test may be useful for determining potential chemical contamination in sediments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.939-944
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• 2016

Background: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic non diseased cells, DNA released from necrotic cancer cells varies in size. Objectives: To measure the DNA integrity index in serum and the absolute DNA concentration to assess their clinical utility as potential serum biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to CEA and CA19-9. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with CRC, 10 with benign colonic polyps and 20 healthy sex and age matched volunteers, were investigated by real time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU q-PCR) using two sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA fragments. The DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of q-PCR results of ALU 247/ALU 115bp. Results: Serum DNA integrity was statistically significantly higher in CRC patients compared to the benign and control groups (p<0.001). ROC curves for differentiating CRC patients from normal controls and benign groups had areas under curves of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. Conclusions: The DNA integrity index is superior to the absolute DNA concentration as a potential serum biomarker for screening and diagnosis of CRC. It may also serve as an indicator for monitoring the progression of CRC patients. Combining CEA and CA19-9 with either of the genetic markers studied is better than either of them alone.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.357-366
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• 2022

Background: Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), generally known as Indian ginseng, is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to identify the bioactive metabolites from Indian ginseng and elucidate their structures. Methods: Withanolides were purified by chromatographic techniques, including HPLC coupled with LC/MS. Chemical structures of isolated withanolides were clarified by analyzing the spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS experiment. Absolute configurations of the withanolides were established by the application of NMR chemical shifts and ECD calculations. Anti-adipogenic activities of isolates were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: Phytochemical examination of the roots of Indian ginseng afforded to the isolation of six withanolides (1-6), including three novel withanolides, withasilolides GeI (1-3). All the six compounds inhibited adipogenesis and suppressed the enlargement of lipid droplets, compared to those of the control. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Fabp4 and Adipsin, the adipocyte markers decreased noticeably following treatment with 25 µM of 1-6. The active compounds (1-6) also promoted lipid metabolism by upregulating the expression of the lipolytic genes HSL and ATGL and downregulating the expression of the lipogenic gene SREBP1. Conclusion: The results of our experimental studies suggest that the withasilolides identified herein have anti-adipogenic potential and can be considered for the development of therapeutic strategies against adipogenesis in obesity. Our study also provides a mechanistic rationale for using Indian ginseng as a potential therapeutic agent against obesity and related metabolic diseases.

• 한국육종학회지
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.397-406
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• 2010

멜론과 참외의 국내 소비 시장이 확대됨에 따라 다양한 $F_1$ 품종이 개발되고 있다. 멜론과 참외의 $F_1$ 품종의 순도를 검정하기 위해 포장재배 등의 순도검정법이 이용되고 있으나 시간과 노력이 매우 많이 소요되기 때문에 분자마커를 이용한 순도검정법의 개발이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 멜론의 EST 염기정보로부터 30개의 SNP 프라이머 조합을 고안하여 멜론과 참외의 순도 검정을 위한 HRM분석방법을 개발하였다. 멜론 두 품종과 참외 한 품종의 양친 사이에 HRM 해리곡선의 다형성을 보이는 10개의 마커를 선발하였으며 순도검정 마커를 선발하기 위해 blind test를 실시하였다. Blind test와 HRM 유전형 분석 결과가 일치하였으며 MEL SNP 2번과 12 마커를 이용하여 '레드 퀸'과 '얼쓰 VIP'의 $F_1$ 501개 개체에 대해 순도검정을 실시하였다. HRM분석한 결과 모두 이형집합체로 나타나 100%의 순도를 보였다. 또한 HRM 방법을 이용하여 개발한 SNP 마커를 CAPS 마커로 전환하였다. CAPS 마커는 HRM 분석 마커와 비교하여 볼 때 멜론과 참외의 순도검정용 마커로 더 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.841-845
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• 2003

In order for engineered tissues to find clinical utility, the engineered tissues must function appropriately. However, smooth muscle (SM) tissues engineered in vitro with a conventional tissue engineering technique may not exhibit contractile functions, because smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured in vitro typically revert from a contractile, differentiated phenotype to a synthetic, nondifferentiated phenotype and lose their ability to contract. SMCs in vivo typically reside in mechanically dynamic environments. We hypothesized that cyclic mechanical stretch induces the features of SMCs in in vitro engineered tissues to be similar to those of SMCs in native tissues. To test the hypothesis, aortic SMCs were seeded onto elastic, three-dimensional scaffolds and cultured in vitro under a cyclic mechanical stretching condition for 4 weeks. A significant cell alignment in a direction parallel to the cyclic stretching direction was found in the SM tissues exposed to cyclic stretching. The cellular alignment and alignment direction were consistent with those of native vascular SM tissues, in which SMCs in vivo align in the radial direction (parallel to stretching direction). In control tissues (SM tissues engineered without stretching), cells randomly aligned. The expression of SM ${\alpha}-actin$ and SM myosin heavy chain, phenotypic markers of SMCs in a contractile state, was upregulated in the stretched tissues by 2.5- and 2.0-fold, respectively, compared to SMCs in the control tissues. The cellular features of alignment and contractile phenotype of SMCs in the SM tissues engineered under a mechanically dynamic environment could allow the engineered SM tissues to exhibit contractile functions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.331-339
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• 2008

The genetic structure and diversity of 15 Chinese indigenous chicken breeds was investigated using 29 microsatellite markers. The total number of birds examined was 542, on average 36 birds per breed. A total of 277 alleles (mean number 9.55 alleles per locus, ranging from 2 to 25) was observed. All populations showed high levels of heterozygosity with the lowest estimate of 0.440 for the Gushi chickens, and the highest one of 0.644 observed for Wannan Three-yellow chickens. The global heterozygote deficit across all populations (FIT) amounted to 0.180 (p<0.001). About 16% of the total genetic variability originated from differences between breeds, with all loci contributing significantly to this differentiation. An unrooted consensus tree was constructed using the Neighbour-Joining method and pair-wise distances based on marker estimated kinships. Two main groups were found. The heavy-body type populations grouped together in one cluster while the light-body type populations formed the second cluster. The STRUCTURE software was used to assess genetic clustering of these chicken breeds. Similar to the phylogenetic analysis, the heavy-body type and light-body type populations separated first. Clustering analysis provided an accurate representation of the current genetic relations among the breeds. Remarkably similar breed rankings were obtained with all methods.

• 마이크로전자및패키징학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.61-64
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• 2003

단일이온교환된 유리의 응력 특성을 관찰하기 위하여 파괴분석을 하였다. 프로세스변화로 인하여 이온교환된 유리의 응력층이 유리표면에서 안쪽으로 이동하였다. 깃털모양자국(hackle marker)과 거울면(mirror region)의 크기가 이온교환프로세스의 온도, 시간에 따라 변화하였으며, 파괴강도에 비례하였다. 또한 Indenter를 사용하여 응력층을 파괴하는 경우 일반유리와 같은 파괴특성을 나타냈다.

• 환경생물
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.357-361
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• 2005

The exposed strain of C. riparius treated with di (ethyl- hexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) did not result in a consistent relationship between mortality or sex ratio and chemical concentrations. And after treating with DEHP, the emergent female from the exposed strain appeared to be fatty with a large body volume comparing with the non - exposed strain. The emergent period (EP) was especially different between the exposed fourth strain and the non-exposed strain; generally the exposed strain was $7\~10$ days, and non - exposed strain was $17\~24$ days. Regarding sustainable exposed effects, the EP, the first emergent day (FED), and the body volume (BV) could be suggested as suitable bio - markers for detecting of exposure to various EDCs.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

We demonstrate that glycoprotein isolated from Dioscorea batatas (GDB) activates macrophage function. Analysis of the infiltration of macrophages into peritoneal cavity showed GDB treatment significantly increased the recruitment of macrophages into the peritoneal cavity. In order to further confirm and investigate the mechanism of GDB on macrophage activation, we analyzed the effects of GDB on the cytokine expression including IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6 in mouse peritoneal macrophages. GDB increased the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6. Cytokine induction by GDB was further confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA in mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with GDB produced strong induction of NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding and MAPK phosphorylation, markers for macrophage activation and important factors for cytokine gene expression. Collectively, this series of experiments indicates that GDB stimulates macrophage activation.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.137-151
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• 1979

Germinating conidia of Aspergillus nidulans diploid heterozygous for color and other genetic markers were used to direct and distinguish genetic events such as mutation, mitotic crossingover and nondisjunction in a single test after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NG), mitomycin C(MC), and chloral hydrate(CH). The following results were obtained : 1. NG reduced the survival of conidia and increased the frequencies of miototic segregants about sevenfoli over the control ; among the mitotic segregants the predominant genetic event was mitotic crossingover. NG also produced many abnormal colonies, which appeared to be of the types caused by induced semidominant lethals or chromosomal aberrations, and the aneuploid types found spontaneously. 2. After treatment with MC the survival of conidia was reduced but few abnormal colonies were produced. The frequencies of miotic segregants were increased about threefold over the control ; in the mitotic segeregants the induced genetic event was mitotic crossingover. 3. CH gave no apparent effect on the survival of conidia and the frequencies of mitotic segregants. However, CH generated abnormal colonies, very greatly, which turned out to be of the aneuploid types. This result suggests that CH interferes with the normal distribution of chromosomes in mitosis.