• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.11
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• pp.619-624
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• 2014

Antisense RNA is a type of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) that binds to complementary mRNA sequences and induces gene repression by inhibiting translation or degrading mRNA. Recently, several small ncRNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in Escherichia coli that act as antisense RNA mainly via base pairing with mRNA. The base pairing predominantly leads to gene repression, and in some cases, gene activation. In the current study, we examined how the location of target sites affects sRNA-mediated gene regulation. An efficient antisense RNA expression system was developed, and the effects of antisense RNAs on various target sites in a model mRNA were examined. The target sites of antisense RNAs suppressing gene expression were identified, not only in the translation initiation region (TIR) of mRNA, but also at the junction between the coding region and 3' untranslated region. Surprisingly, an antisense RNA recognizing the upstream region of TIR enhanced gene expression through increasing mRNA stability.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

Cholestatic liver injury results from the accumulation of toxic bile salts within the liver. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the changes in expression and cellular localization of apoptosis related proteins in the liver of bile duct-ligated (BDL) rat. Extrahepatic cholestasis was induced by double ligation of the common bile duct and cut between the ligatures. Animals were sacrificed at day 3 and at week 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 after BDL. The number of TUNEL positive cells was increased significantly after 3 days of BDL, decreased over 2 weeks and remained constant thereafter. Fas expression was not changed and activation of caspase 8 did not occur. Fas immunoreactivity was exclusively observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, indicating that Fas expressed in rat hepatocytes is a soluble form. Hepatocyte apoptosis was associated with Bax expression, which showed a peak at day 3 and decreased over time gradually. Immnunostaining of Bax was observed in hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells (BEC) of control and BDL rats. Bcl-2 was increased over time in BDL rats. These results suggest that apoptosis of hepatocytes in BDL rats is independent of Fas and controlled by Bax expression.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.573-582
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• 2018

This study develops and numerically verifies an innovative seismically resilient bracing system. The proposed self-centering tension-only brace (SC-TOB) is composed of a tensioning system to provide a self-centering response, a frictional device for energy dissipation, and a high-strength steel cable as a bracing element. It is considered to be an improvement over the traditional self-centering braces in terms of lightness, high bearing capacity, load relief, and double-elongation capacity. In this paper, the mechanics of the system are first described. Governing equations deduced from the developed analytical model to predict the behavior of the system are then provided. The results from a finite element validation confirm that the SC-TOB performs as analytically predicted. Key parameters including the activation displacement and load, the self-centering parameter, and equivalent viscous damping are investigated, and their influences on the system behavior are discussed. Finally, a design procedure considering controlled softening behavior is developed and illustrated through a design example.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2008

Background: Down regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator (CIITA) has been identified as a major factor of immunosuppression in sepsis and the level of CIITA expression inversely correlates with the degree of severity. However, it has not been fully elucidated whether the lower expression of CIITA is a cause of disease process or a just associated sign. Here we determined whether the CIITA deficiency decreased survival rate using murine sepsis model. Methods: Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) deficient, CIITA deficient and wild type B6 mice were subjected to cecal ligation puncture (CLP) surgery. CIITA and recombination activation gene (RAG)-1 double deficient mice were generated to test the role of lymphocytes in CIITA-associated sepsis progression. Results: Sepsis mortality was enhanced in CIITA deficient mice, not by impaired bacterial clearance resulted from CD4 T cell depletion, but hyper-inflammatory response such as excessive release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CIITA deficiency affects the course of sepsis via the unexpected function of CIITA, regulation of cytokine release.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2016

Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae) is a flowering plants in South, Central and West Africa and commonly known as the sausage tree (Eng.); worsboom (Afr.); umVunguta, umFongothi (Zulu); Modukguhlu (North Sotho); Muvevha (Venda). The dried, powdered fruits are used as dressing for wounds and ulcers, haemorrhoids, rheumatism, purgative, skin-firming, lactation in breast-feeding mothers. The aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic potentials of 70% ethanolic extracts of Kigelia africana fruits in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Treatment of Kigelia africana fruits with various concentrations resulted in a sequence of characteristic of apoptosis, including loss of cell viability and morphological changes. Flow cytometry analysis showed Kigelia africana fruits increased the sub-G1 phase (apoptosis) population. Apoptosis confirmed by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining in HCT116 human colon cancer cell lines. Moreover, analysis of the mechanism indicated that Kigelia africana fruits showed an increased Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in activation of hallmarks of apoptotic events, caspase-3, caspase-9 and cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase. This is the first report to demonstrate the cytotoxicity of Kigelia africana fruits on HCT116 human colon cancer cells.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.153-166
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• 2012

A variety of ligands differ in their capacity to bind the receptor, elicit gene expression, and modulate physiological responses. Such receptors include Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize various patterns of pathogens and lead to primary innate immune activation against invaders, and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), whose interaction with their cognate ligands activates heterotrimeric G proteins and regulates specific downstream effectors, including immuno-stimulating molecules. Once TLRs are activated, they lead to the expression of hundreds of genes together and bridge the arm of innate and adaptive immune responses. We characterized the gene expression profile of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in RAW 264.7 cells when it bound with its ligand, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO), the active part of lipopolysaccharide. In addition, to determine the network communications among the TLR, Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), and GPCR, we tested RAW 264.7 cells with KDO, interferon-${\beta}$, or cAMP analog 8-Br. The ligands were also administered as a pair of double and triple combinations.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1021-1026
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• 1997

RuO2 thin film has reasonably good conductivity and stiffness and it is thought to substitute for the cantilever beam made up of Pt and Si3N4 double layers in microactuators. Therefore, anisotopic Si etching was performed using RuO2 thin film as a mask layer in 25 wt. % TMAH water solution. In the etching temperature ranging from 6$0^{\circ}C$ to 75$^{\circ}C$, the etch rates of all the crystallographic directions increased linearly as the etching temperature increased. The etch rate ratio(selectivity) of [111]/[100] which varied from 0.08 to 0.14, was not sensitive to temperature. The activation energies for [110] direction, [100] direction and [111] direction were 0.50, 0.66 and 1.04eV, respectively. RuO2 cantilever beam with a clean surface was formed at the etching temperatures of 6$0^{\circ}C$ and $65^{\circ}C$. But the damages due to formation of pin holes on RuO2 surface were observed beyond 7$0^{\circ}C$. The tensile stress of RuO2 thin films caused the cantilever bending upward. As a result, it was demonstrated that the formation of conducting oxide RuO2 cantilever beam which can replace the role of an electrode and supporting layer could be possible by TMAH solution.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 1994

The antimutagenic effects of 27 kinds of plant flavonoids on the mutagenicity of aflatoxin $B_1(AFB_1)$ and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MANG) in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 were investigated. In the mixed applications of $AFB_1\;(1\;\mu{g/plate)}$ with the flavonoids $(300\;\mu{g/plate)}$ in the presence of a mammalian metabolic activation system (S9 mix), chrysin, apigenin, luteolin and its glucoside, kaempferol, fisetin, morin, naringenin, hesperetin, persicogenin, (+)-catechin and (-)epicatechin showed the antimutagenic effect against $AFB_1$ with more than 70% inhibition rate. A little or no antimutagenicities except flavone against MNNG $(0.5\;\mu{g/plate)}$ were observed. For the antimutagencity of the flavonoids on $AFB_1$, the flavonoid structure that contains the free 5, 7-hydroxyl gorup seemed to be essential. However, saturation of the 2, 3-double bond of elimination of the 4-keto group did not affect the activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2016

Objective : For various reasons, Obesity & Rhinitis are constantly rising. So Interest of treatment has been expanding. We want to verify The Chungyeol (fire extinguishing) Lisup (Draining) effect of Bangpungtongsungsan on obese model of allergy rhinitis.Material and Methods : BALB/c mouse were divided four groups: control(CON), allergic induction(ARE), Bangpungtongsungsan extract administration(BTT), Bangpungtongsungsan double concentration extract administration (BT2T). Every group except control group were caused allergic rhinitis by Ovalbumin. BTT & BT2T were orally administered the Bangpungtongsungsan for 21days. Since then we observed the liver tissue cell and the nasal mucous membrane.Results : In comparison with ARE, experimental groups show relief of the nasal mucous membrane damage(secretion of mucus decrease, Itching decrease), Th2 eruption control(IL-4 decline), effect of anti-inflamatory(reducing TNF-α creation, decreasing of iNOS through NF-κB activation-inhibition). In addition, experimental groups show a loss in weight, diminished accumulation of fat. (decreasing within liver tissue, reducing TNF-α creation) BT2T is more effective to BTT.Conclusion : Bangpungtongsungsan treat obese model on allergy rhinitis thereby control fat augmentation, relieving inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.405-411
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• 2017

Homologous recombination occurs between homologous chromosomes and is significantly involved in programmed double-strand break (DSB) repair. Activation of two recombinases, Rad51 and Dmc1, is essential for an interhomolog bias during meiosis. Rad51 participates in both mitotic and meiotic recombination, and its strand exchange activity is regulated by an inhibitory factor during meiosis. Thus, activities of Rad51 and Dmc1 are coordinated to promote homolog bias. It has been reported that Hed1, a meiosis-specific protein in budding yeast, regulates Rad51-dependent recombination activity. Here, we investigated the role of Hed1 in meiotic recombination by ectopic expression of the protein after pre-meiotic replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DNA physical analysis revealed that the overexpression of Hed1 delays the DSB-to-joint molecule (JM) transition and promotes interhomolog JM formation. The study indicates a possible role of Hed1 in controlling the strand exchange activity of Rad51 and, eventually, meiotic crossover formation.