• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.230-236
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• 2009

Acrolein, a known toxin in cigarette smoke, is the most abundant electrophilic $\alpha$, $\beta$-unsaturated aldehyde to which humans are exposed in a variety of environmental pollutants, and is also product of lipid peroxidation. Increased unsaturated aldehyde levels and reduced antioxidant status plays a major role in the pathogenesis of various diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and atherosclerosis. The findings reported here show that low concentrations of acrolein induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. HO-1 induction by acrolein and signal pathways was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining analyses. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity significantly attenuated the induction of HO-1 protein by acrolein, while suppression of Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 activity did not affect induction of HO-1 expression. Moreover, rottlerin, an inhibitor of protein kinase $\delta$, suppressed the upregulation of HO-1 protein production, possibly involving the interaction of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which has a key role as a HO-1 transcription factor. Acrolein elevated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in nuclear extraction. The results suggest that RAW 264.7 may protect against acrolein-mediated cellular damage via the upregulation of HO-1, which is an adaptive response to oxidative stress.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.2960-2973
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• 2022

Since Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) accident in 2011, the importance of research on various severe accident phenomena has been emphasized. Particularly, detailed analysis of combustion risk is necessary following the containment damage caused by combustion in the Fukushima accident. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the risk of local hydrogen concentration increases and flame propagation using computational code. In particular, the potential for combustion by local hydrogen concentration in specific areas within the containment has been emphasized. In this study, the process of flame propagation generated inside a reactor core to containment during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) was analyzed using MELCOR 2.1 code. Later in the LOCA scenario, it was expected that hydrogen combustion occurred inside the reactor core owing to oxygen inflow through the cold leg break area. The main driving force of the oxygen intrusion is the elevated containment pressure due to the molten corium-concrete interaction. The thermal and mechanical loads caused by the flame threaten the integrity of the containment. Additionally, the containment spray system effectiveness in this situation was evaluated because changes in pressure gradient and concentrations of flammable gases greatly affect the overall behavior of ignition and subsequent containment integrity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.489-492
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• 2007

We investigated the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts obtained from the flowers of Elsholtzia splendens on Chinese hamster ovary CHO-K1 cells. When cells were treated with E. splendens extracts (ESEs), low concentrations (<12.5 ug/mL) of stimulated cell proliferation via radical generation. Relative mRNA expression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Mn-SOD in cells exposed to ESEs (1-20 ug/mL) was significantly induced in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). In the case of catalase, ESEs had opposing effects; that is, a low-level treatment caused a decrease, and a high-level treatment induced elevated levels (p<0.05). The results demonstrated that components of ESEs exhibit potential antioxidant properties. Also, further studies are required to clarify the active components of Elsholtzia splendens extracts responsible for such biological activities.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.185-193
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• 2004

The effects of membrane lipid peroxidation and retinyl palmitate on rat liver microsomal functions were investigated in vitro. Rat liver homogenates exposed to oxygen tension for 0, 3, 6, 9 or12 hours and lipid peroxidation levels were evaluated by the measurements of fluorescence intensity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and retinyl palmitate. The fluorescence intensity of homogenates and microsomes were elevated and retinyl palmitate concentrations were decreased. But the concentration of MDA was not affected to exposure time. Therefore, fluorescence intensity and retinyl palmitate concentration were used to analyze the correlation between lipid peroxidation and microsomal functions. To investigate the liver microsomal functions, the microsome was isolated from rat liver homogenates exposed to oxygen. The concentration of cytochrome P450 and the activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in liver microsomes were gradually decreased with increasing the exposure time. The correlation between fluorescence intensity of microsomes showed a very high inverse correlation of -0.97 and -0.93, respectively. The decrease of cytochrome P450 concentration was due to the regeneration of cytochrome P450 to cytochrome P420. Also, the activities of cytochrome P450-dependent aminopyrine demethylase and benzpyrene hydroxylase of liver microsomes were gradually decreased with increasing the exposure time. The correlation with fluorescence intensity of microsome showed a high inverse correlation of -0.97 and -0.91, respectively. The retinyl palmitate concentrations of rat liver homogenates were decreased with increasing the exposure time. The decrease of retinyl palmitate concentration was followed by a low concentration of cytochrome P450 and activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. The correlation indicated high direct correlation of 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. The decrease of retinyl palmitate concentration was also accompanied by the reduction of aminopyrine demethylase and benzpyrene hydroxylase activities. The correlation was analyzed a high direct correlation of 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. In conclusion, these studies have shown that the membrane lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsome proportionally decreased microsomal enzyme activities in vitro experiments.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.473-481
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• 2016

We examined the effects of ocean acidification (OA) and eutrophication on the physiology of a red alga, Gracilariopsis chorda, using specimens collected at Wando Island, Korea, in July of 2015. The samples were transported to a laboratory and placed on growth media for treatments involving low or high levels of ammonium ($4{\mu}M$ or $60{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$) and low or high pH(7.5 or 8.2). The control treatment used filtered seawater (pH 8.2 and $4{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$). All experiments were conducted at $20^{\circ}C$ and under a lighting intensity of $80{\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$, with or without an injection of $CO_2$ (pH 7.5). In addition, we calculated rates of respiration under darkness, at a pH of 7.5 and $60{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$. Fluctuations in pH as well as the evolution of photosynthetic oxygen and $NH_4{^+}$ uptake rates were monitored for 6 h. The greatest increase in pH levels, from 7.50 to 8.65, occurred in response to $60{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$, whereas the largest decrease, from 7.50 to 7.42, was associated with elevated respiration rates. At a pH of 7.5, rates of oxygen evolution were higher (236% saturation) for samples treated with $60{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$ than for the control (121% saturation). Ammonium uptake was highest at pH 7.5 and $60{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$, with a rate of $0.526{\pm}0.002{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$, followed in order by the treatments of $pH\;8.2/60{\mu}\;NH_4{^+}$, $pH\;7.5/4{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$, and the control ($pH\;8.2/4{\mu}M\;NH_4{^+}$). We speculated that the rates of photosynthesis and $NH_4{^+}$ uptake could be enhanced at a higher ammonium concentration and lower pH because $CO_2$ concentrations were increased through greater photosynthetic activity. Therefore, these findings suggest that the physiology of G. chorda populations can be improved by the interaction of optimized $CO_2$ concentrations and an adequate supply of essential nutrients such as ammonium.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.158-166
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• 2000

The effects of smoking and physical exercise on the plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants were investigated in 62 healthy males, aged 34-65 years. Current smokers (n=21) and ex-smokers(n=16) had significantly lower plasma levels of carotenoids ($\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene), $\alpha$-tocopherol and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol than non-smokers (n=25). Plasma concentrations of retionl and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) were lower among ex-smokers and current smokers than among non-smokers, but the differences were not statistically significant. Regular physical exercise was associated with increased plasma levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants. Plasma concentrations of crytoxanthin, retinol and ubiquinone were significantly elevated in the group engaging in moderate amounts of exercise (more than 20 minutes per day) compared to the group engaging in small amounts of exercise (less than 10 minutes per day). Plasma $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, lycopene levels in the subjects were affected more by smoking than by exercise. However, plasma levels of cryptoxanthin, retinol and ubiquinone in the subjects were affected more by exercise than by smoking. These findings suggest than smoking may cause a decrease in plasma lipid-soluble antioxidants during neutralization of reactive oxygen species present in cigarette smoke and that poor exercise habits may accelerate this imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis in middle-aged Korean men.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.263-269
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• 2009

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, a phenolic compound found in a variety of natural sources, was previously shown to contain anti-inflammatory and related anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities. The present work was designed to assess some pharmacological activities of 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (DHD), an analogue of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. DHD exhibited a significant inhibition in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis, and its $IC_{50}$ value was $2.4\;{\mu}g/egg$. DHD also contained in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using acetic acid-induced permeability and carrageenan-induced air pouch models in mice. In the air pouch model, DHD showed significant suppression in exudate volume, number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and nitrite content. DHD showed an anti-nociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. It also suppressed enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) and elevated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. It was able to slightly decrease the level of reactive oxygen species in the stimulated macrophages. DHD at the used concentrations couldn't modulate the viabilities of RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, like 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, DHD contains anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.20-27
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• 2005

밀집된 축사의 영향으로 충적층 지하수가 질산성 질소로 심하게 오염되어 있는 소유역을 흐르는 화봉천 수질의 계절 변화를 연구하였다. 이 하천에서 축산폐수의 직접 유입이 확인되었으며, 오염된 지하수 유입으로 인한 수질 변화가 나타났다. 건기에는 축산폐수의 직접 유입이 하천수질에 큰 영향을 미치고 있다. 우기에는 강수에 의한 희석효과에도 불구하고 지표수의 질산성 질소 농도가 오히려 증가하였으며, 질산성 질소로 오염된 지하수 유입량 증가가 큰 영향을 미친 것으로 판단된다. 지하수의 하천 유출은 산소, 수소 동위원소 조성을 이용하여 증명하였다. 질산성 질소 농도는 화봉천이 청미천보다 상대적으로 높으므로, 화봉천 유업에 의해 청미천의 질산성 질소 농도가 증가되고 있으며, 하천수의 질산성 질소 농도가 높아지는 우기에 이러한 수질 영향이 더욱 커졌다.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.291-304
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• 2007

Mutants of an obligate aerobic bacterium, Vitreoscilla, that have deficiency in heat-labile catalase-peroxidase hydroperoxidase I (HPI) were created by EMS treatment. The catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant showed substantially lower peroxidase activity in exponential and mid-stationary phase compared with the wild type strain. In late stationary phase, the mutant exhibited no peroxidase activity. Peroxidase deficiency in the mutant was revealed by polyacrylamide gels stained for peroxidase activity. Characteristically, catalase levels in the mutant increased about 14- and 8-fold during growth in the exponential and stationary phases, respectively, compared to those in the wild type, suggesting a compensatory effect for protection from $H_2O_2$ toxicity. The mutant showed differences in physiology from the wild type: retardation in growth rate and decrease in oxygen consumption. Both the wild type and the catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant of Vitreoscilla had lower growth rates in media containing increasing $H_2O_2$ concentrations. However, the mutant exhibited an additionally decreased growth rate after 6 to 8 h of growth compared to the wild type. The wild type was resistent up to 20 mM $H_2O_2$, whereas the mutant was very sensitive to high concentrations of exogenous $H_2O_2$. Although elevated catalase levels would provide protection of the bacteria from the deleterious effect of $H_2O_2$, it did not appear to be complete. Cell-free extracts of the mutant showed decreased NADH oxidation rates and higher accumulation of $H_2O_2$ during this oxidation. These results may account for the impaired growth and earlier onset of death phase by the catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant of Vitreoscilla.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2016

Objectives: Oldenlandia diffusa is traditionally used to relieve the symptoms of and to treat various diseases, but its anti-cancer activity has not been well studied. In the present study, the authors investigated the anti-cancer effects of an ethanol extract of Oldenlandia diffusa (EOD) on HT-29 human adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: Cells were treated with different concentrations of an EOD, and cell death was assessed by using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to confirm cell death by apoptosis. Also, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined using carboxy-H2DCFDA (5-(and-6)-carboxy-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate). Results: EOD inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells for 24 hours by $78.6%{\pm}8.1%$ at $50{\mu}g/mL$, $74.4%{\pm}4.6%$ at $100{\mu}g/mL$, $65.9%{\pm}5.2%$ at $200{\mu}g/mL$, $51.4%{\pm}6.2%$ at $300{\mu}g/mL$, and by $41.7%{\pm}8.9%$ at $400{\mu}g/mL$, and treatment for 72 hours reduced the proliferation at the corresponding concentrations by $43.3%{\pm}8.8%$, $24.3{\pm}5.1mV$, $13.5{\pm}3.2mV$, $6.5{\pm}2.3mV$, and by $2.6{\pm}2.3mV$. EOD increased the number of cells in the sub-G1 peak in a dose-dependent manner. The mitochondrial membrane depolarization was elevated by EOD. Also, caspase activities were dose-dependently elevated in the presence of EOD, and these activities were repressed by a pan-caspase inhibitor (zVAD-fmk). The ROS generation was significantly increased by EOD and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC; a ROS scavenger) remarkably abolished EOD-induced cell death. In addition, a combination of sub-optimal doses of EOD and chemotherapeutic agents noticeably suppressed the growth of HT-29 cancer cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that EOD might be an effective chemotherapeutic for the treatment of human colorectal cancer.