• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

Implantation of an embryo occurs during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, known as the "implantation window." During this implantation period, there are significant morphologic and functional changes in the endometrium, which is followed by decidualization. Many immune cells, such as dendritic and natural killer (NK) cells, increase in number in this period and early pregnancy. Recent works have revealed that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and NK cells are involved in vascular remodeling of spiral arteries in the decidua and lack of APCs leads to failure of pregnancy. Paternal and fetal antigens may play a role in the induction of immune tolerance during pregnancy. A balance between effectors (i.e., innate immunity and helper T [Th] 1 and Th17 immunity) and regulators (Th2 cells, regulatory T cells, etc.) is essential for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The highly complicated endocrine-immune network works in decidualization of the endometrium and at the fetomaternal interface. We will discuss the role of immune cells in the implantation period and during early pregnancy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

Evidence for immunoregulatory roles of prostaglandins (PGs) is accumulating. Since our observation of PG production by human follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), we investigated the regulatory mechanism of PG production in FDC and attempted to understand the functions of released PGs in the responses of adjacent lymphocytes. Here, using FDC-like cells, HK cells, we analyzed protein expression alterations in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the presence of IL-4 or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Both IL-4 and HDAC inhibitors suppressed COX-2 expression in dose-dependent manners. Their effect was specific to COX-2 and did not reach to COX-1 expression. Interestingly, HDAC inhibitors gave rise to an opposing effect on COX-2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes. Our results suggest that IL-4 may regulate COX-2 expression in FDCs by affecting chromatin remodeling and provide insight into the role of cellular interactions between T cells and FDC during the GC reaction. Given the growing interests in wide-spectrum HDAC inhibitors, the differential results on COX-2 expression in HK cells and monocytes raise cautions on their clinical use.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

Effects of Zn addition on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Mg-8%Al-(0-1)%Zn casting alloys were investigated. With increasing Zn content, the amount of ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ phase increased, while ${\alpha}$-(Mg) dendritic cell size became reduced. The corrosion rate decreased continuously with the increase in the Zn content. The evaluation of the microstructural evolution indicates that the improved barrier effect of ${\beta}$ particles formed more continuously along the dendritic cell boundaries and the incorporation of more ZnO into the surface corrosion product, by which the absorption of $Cl^-$ ions is impeded, are responsible for the better corrosion resistance in relation to the Zn addition.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

The reheating stage of electromagnetically stirred Al billet is a critical factor in the thixoforming process. When reheated to the solid-liquid state, the microstructure evolves to a more globular and more homogeneous structure by a coarsening mechanism, the kinetics depending on the initial microstructure. Microstructural evolution has been characterized by conventional parameters (mean size of particle and shape factor) as a function of holding time in the solid-liquid state. The aim of this study is to report experimental results concerning microstructural evolution in the solid-liquid state of electromagnetically stirred Al billet. The material was elaborated in the form of continuously cast bars solidified with electromagnetic stirring to degenerate the dendritic structure. The choice of the reheating conditions is determined by a dendritic ripening and coalescence mechanism, involving variations of both the shape and size of the particles. The reheating time has to be long enough to allow a minimum degree of spheroidizing, but has to be limited as much as possible in order to avoid excessive ripening. The optimum microstructure was obtained at the reheating temperature of near $584^{\circ}C$ and the holding time of 5 min. The only means of combining high productivity with good casting quality was to use feedstock billets whose microstructure showed rapid transformation characteristics.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2008

A series of amphiphilic dendrons n-18 (n: generation number, 18: octadecyl chain) based on an aliphatic polyether denderitic core and octadecyl peripheries were synthesized using a convergent dendron synthesis consisting of a Williamson etherification and hydroboration/oxidation reactions. This study investigated their thermal and self-assembling behavior in the solid state using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorption spectroscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). DSC indicated that the melting transition and the corresponding heat of the fusion of the octadecyl chain decreased with each generation. FT-IR showed that the hydroxyl focal groups were hydrogen-bonded with one another in the solid state. DSC and FT-IR indicated microphase-separation between the hydrophilic dendritic cores and hydrophobic octadecyl peripheries. SAXS data analysis in the solid state suggested that the lower-generation dendrons 1-18 and 2-18 self-assemble into lamellar structures based upon a bilayered packing of octadecyl peripheries. In contrast, the analyzed data of higher-generation dendron 3-18 is consistent with 2-D oblique columnar structures, which presumably consist of elliptical cross sections. The data obtained could be rationalized by microphase-separation between the hydrophilic dendritic core and hydrophobic octadecyl peripheries, and the degree of interfacial curvature associated with dendron generation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.553-562
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• 1995

To elucidate pathologic change of skin in porcine exudative epidermitis, immunohistochemical and electron microscopical observations were carried out in the skin of the suckling pigs inoculated with Staphylococcus hyicus subsp hyicus which were isolated from natural case. In immunohistochemistry, ATPase-positive dendritic cells were more populated in epidermo-dermal junctional areas and perivascular area in dermis than in epidermal area as the disease was proceeded. These dendritic cells were identified as Langerhans cell by immunoperoxidase staining and these cells were populated granulomatous bodies. Electron microscopical study showed various retrogressive degeneration and vacuolation of epidermal cell organelles with retention of amorphorous exudates in intercellular space, and cellular seperation. Langerhans cells present in intercellular space of epidermis were populated in epidermo-dermal junctional areas, in dermis, and around granulomatous bodies. Langerhans cells contained decreased Birbeck granules in number but increased lysosome and ribosome. These cells were in contact with lymphocytes. This study was discussed relation between the various immunocytes and the formation of granulomatous bodies, and this inflammation was considered as delayed type hypersensitivity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2012

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used nanoparticles and they are mainly used in antibacterial and personal care products. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AgNPs on cell death induction in the murine dendritic cell line DC2.4. DC2.4 cells exposed to AgNPs showed a marked decrease in cell viability and an induction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, AgNPs promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent apoptosis and AgNP-induced ROS triggered a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. The activation of the intracellular signal transduction pathway was also observed in cells cultured with AgNPs. Taken together, our data demonstrate that AgNPs are able to induce a cytotoxic effect in DCs through ROS generation. This study provides important information about the safety of AgNPs that may help in guiding the development of nanotechnology applications.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.391-394
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• 2006

Growth characteristics of methane-propane clathrate hydrate, growing under different undercooling conditions, was investigated. After the water within pressurized vessel was fully saturated with guest gas molecules by agitation, medium was rapidly undercooled and maintained at the constant temperature. The growth of hydrate was always Initiated with film formations at the upper bounding surface of liquid pool. The visual observation using microscope revealed detailed features of subsequent crystal nucleation, migration, growth and interference occurring within liquid pool. A number of small crystals ascended and settled at the hydrate film. When undercooling was small $({\Delta}T=3.2K)$, some of the settled crystals slowly grew into faceted columns. As the undercooling increased, the downward growth of crystals underneath the hydrate film became dendritic and occurred with greater rate and with finer arm spacing. The shapes of the floating crystals were diverse and included octahedron and triangular or hexagonal platelet When the undercooling was small, the octahedral crystals were found dominant. As the undercooling increased, the shape of the floating crystals also became dendritic. The detailed characteristics of floating crystals were reported in this study.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1285-1288
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to characterize and investigate the immune activity of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) from Bifidobacterium longum. Bacterial CpG motifs have attracted considerable interests because of their immunomodulatory activities. Genomic DNA from B. longum was prepared and amplified for 4 different 180-188-mer double-stranded ODNs (BLODN1-BLODN4). When immune cells (RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and JAWS II dendritic cells) with these ODNs were treated, BLODN4 induced the highest immune activity. To assess the effectiveness of the CpG sequences within BLODN4, single-stranded 40-mer ODNs containing CpG sequences (sBLODN4-1, sBLODN4-2) were synthesized. sBLODN4-1 induced higher level of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ by macrophage and IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ by dendritic cells than did sBLODN4-2. The results suggest that CpG ODNs-enriched components of B. longum might be useful as an immunomodulatory functional food ingredient.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

Many psychiatric disorders are associated with brain functional dysfunctions and neuronal degeneration. According to the research so far, enhanced brain plasticity reduces neurodegeneration and recovers neuronal damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain that plays major roles in neuronal survival, development, growth, and maintenance of neurons in brain circuits related to emotion and cognitive function. Also, BDNF plays an important role in brain plasticity, influencing dendritic spines in the hippocampus neurogenesis. Changes in neurogenesis and dendritic density can improve psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions. BDNF has potent effects on brain plasticity through biochemical mechanisms, cellular signal pathways, and epigenetic changes. There are pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to increase the expression of BDNF and enhance brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions such as physical exercise, nutritional change, environmental enrichment, and neuromodulation have biological mechanisms that increase the expression of BDNF and brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions are cost-effective and safe ways to improve psychiatric symptoms.