• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.671-677
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of the water-extract from non-fermented or fermented Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the NIH3T3 mouse normal fibroblast cells and various human cancer cell lines including HCT-15 human colon carcinoma, AGS human gastric carcinoma, MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma, Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma and HeLa human cervical carcinoma using MTT(3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and DNA fragmentation. In an anti-cancer test using various human cancer cells, fermented Chaga mushroom extract showed higher antiproliferating effect than that of non-fermented Chaga mushroom extract. Mouse normal NIH3T3 cells were exhibited 80% above survival under fermented or non-fermented Chngn mushroom extract of various concentrations(0, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml). Fermented Chaga mushroom extract significantly inhibited cell growth on HCT-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. HCT-15 cells treated with non-fermented or fermented Chaga mushrooms extract produced a distinct oligonucleosomal ladder with different sizes of DNA fragments, a typical characteristic of cells undergoing apoptosis. These results suggest that fermented Chaga mushroom extract suppresses growth of HCT-15 human colon carcinoma cells through apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.193-204
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• 1999

Particle crushing is an important and essential factor in interpreting the strength and deformation properties of granular materials in the case of geotechnical problems related to soil crushability. As a recent field problem, the exploitation of offshore oil reserves in tropical and sub-tropical coastal shelf areas has shown that the behaviour of soils containing carbonates is markedly different from predominantly silica sands. In this study, as a first step in making a mechanical framework of granular materials incorporating the soil crushability, single particle fragmentation tests were carried out on four different types of sands in order to clarify the characteristics of the single particle fragmentation strength as related to soil crushability. The single particle strength was considered with the influence of the particle shapes, the amount of mineral components and the particle sizes. The soil particle strength corresponding $D_{50}$ of soil distribution curve has shown the lower value, the more the carbonate component and the more angular the particle shape.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Cornus walteri Wanger has been used in folk medicine in Korea. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been known as a major cause of photo damage in skin. In the present study, research on how to cure damaged cells by UVB was conducted using an extract of Cornus walteri Wanger leaves (CWE), which was treated with an enzyme. CWE was applied to human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) affected by UVB. UVB-irradiated HS68 cells showed increased caspase-3 activity, phosphorylation of p53, ${\gamma}H2AX$, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) formation, and DNA fragmentation compared with non-irradiated cells. However, all these effects were inhibited by treatment with CWE for 12 h after UVB irradiation. Furthermore, CWE has proved not to cause primary skin irritation through the human patch test. Collectively, these results suggest that CWE could be a new potential candidate as photoprotective agent against UVB-induced cellular damage in HDFs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.185-195
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) on the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 145 couples who underwent ICSI cycles for unexplained infertility. Based on the SDF rate, patients were categorized into a low SDF group (SDF ≤30%, n=97) and a high SDF group (SDF >30%, n=48). SDF was assessed using the acridine orange test on density gradient centrifugation prepared samples. The CLBR was calculated as the first live birth event per woman per egg collection over 2 years. Results: The high SDF group (SDF >30%) showed a significantly lower CLBR (p<0.05) and a significantly higher miscarriage rate (p<0.05) than the low SDF group (SDF ≤30%). No significant difference was observed in the implantation and cumulative pregnancy rates between the two SDF groups. The total number of embryo transfers was stratified further into fresh and frozen embryo transfers. In the fresh embryo transfers, there were significant differences in the implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, and live birth rates (p<0.05) between the low SDF and high SDF groups. However, in the frozen embryo transfers, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, SDF was a predictor of CLBR (p<0.05) when adjusted for possible confounding factors. Conclusion: High SDF was associated with a lower CLBR and a higher miscarriage rate in the ICSI cycles of couples with unexplained infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2023

Objective: Although intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a way to deal with in vitro fertilization failure, 3% of couples still experience repeated fertilization failure after attempted ICSI, despite having sperm within normal parameters. These patients are a challenging group whose sperm cannot fertilize the egg during ICSI. Unfortunately, no test can predict the risk of fertilization failure. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and transition nuclear proteins (TNPs) are essential factors for chromatin packaging during sperm maturation. This study aimed to assess PLCζ1 and TNP1 expression in the sperm of patients with fertilization failure and the correlations among the DNA fragmentation index, PLCζ1 and TNP1 gene and protein expression, and the risk of fertilization failure. Methods: In this study, 12 infertile couples with low fertilization rates (<25%) and complete failure of fertilization in their prior ICSI cycles despite normal sperm parameters were chosen as the case group. Fifteen individuals who underwent ICSI for the first time served as the control group. After sperm analysis and DNA fragmentation assays, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to compare the gene and protein expression of PLCζ and TNP1 in both groups. Results: DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in the fertilization failure group. The qRT-PCR and Western blot results demonstrated significantly lower PLCζ and TNP1 gene and protein expression in these patients than in controls. Conclusion: The present study showed that fertilization failure in normozoospermic men was probably due to deficient DNA packaging and expression of TNP1.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.389-394
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• 2006

Fragmentation efficiencies of various ‘activated-ion’ electron capture dissociation (AI-ECD) methods are compared for a model system of bovine ubiquitin 7+ cations. In AI-ECD studies, sufficient internal energy was given to protein cations prior to ECD application using IR laser radiation, collisions, blackbody radiation, or in-beam collisions, in turn. The added energy was utilized in increasing the population of the precursor ions with less intra-molecular noncovalent bonds or enhancing thermal fluctuations of the protein cations. Removal of noncovalent bonds resulted in extended structures, which are ECD friendly. Under their best conditions, a variety of activation methods showed a similar effectiveness in ECD fragmentation. In terms of the number of fragmented inter-residue bonds, IR laser/blackbody infrared radiation and ‘in-beam’ activation were almost equally efficient with ~70% sequence coverage, while collisions were less productive. In particular, ‘in-beam’ activation showed an excellent effectiveness in characterizing a pre-fractionated single kind of protein species. However, its inherent procedure did not allow for isolation of the protein cations of interest.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.116-120
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• 2001

Fiber fracture is one of the dominant failure phenomena to determine total mechanical properties in composites. Fiber fracture locations were measured by optical microscopic method and acoustic emission (AE) as functions of matrix toughness and surface treatment by the electrodeposition (ED), and then two methods were compared. Two AE sensors were attached on the epoxy specimen and fiber fracture signals were detected with elapsed time. The interfacial shear stress (IFSS) was measured using tensile fragmentation test and AE system. In ED-treated case, the number of the fiber fracture measured by an optical method and AE was more than that of the untreated case. The signal number measured by AE were rather smaller than the number of fragments measured by optical method, since some fiber fracture signals were lost while AE detection. However, one-to-one correspondence between the x-position location by AE and real break positions by optical method was generally established well. The fiber break source location using AE can be a valuable method to measure IFSS for semi- or nontransparent matrix composites nondestructively (NDT).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.59-67
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• 2006

Particles of soil are crushed when soil is compacted in the in-situ or lab. Among many factors that affect the crush of particles, compaction energy is a major factor. Because the crush of particles can change physical properties, the analysis of effect of compaction energy is very important. In this study, the fragmentation fractals were used for determining the change in grain size distribution and the effect due to change in grain size distribution was estimated. Compaction energy was increased by 50, 100, 200 and 300% based on the energy of standard A compaction test. As a result, grain size distribution curves were changed and fine particles increased as compaction energy were increased. Relative compaction were ranged between $93.38{\sim}107.67$. Fractal dimension of each site increased as compaction energy increased. Relative compaction is proportional to the fractal dimension but coefficients of permeability were in inverse proportional to the involution of fractal dimension.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.25-42
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• 2007

Purpose : Uterine leiomyoma (fibroids) are benign smooth muscle tumors originating from the myometrium. These benign neoplasms of monoclonal origin are typically diagnosed during the reproductive years, occurring only after puberty and tending to regress after menopause. In the present study we used Chiljehyangbu-hwan to determine its growth inhibitory effect and apoptosis in human uterine leiomyoma cells. Methods : Primary cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells were treated with Chiljehyangbu-hwan. Cell viability analysis was analyzed by MTS assay and FACS was performed to ascertain the effects Chiljehyangbu-hwan. DNA fragmentation analysis and casapase-3 activity test were done. Expression of apoptosis related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : Cell viability was significantly influenced by Chiljehyangbu-hwan treatment in a dose-dependent manner in leiomyoma cells compare to normal myometrial cells. FACS showed that Chiljehyangbu-hwan induced Sub G1 arrest. DNA fragmentation assay was carried out and apoptosis was detected. Activation of caspase-3, down-regulation of Bcl-2, with concomitant increased expression in Bid and Bax were observed. Chiljehyangbu-hwan treatment of uterine leiomyoma cells resulted in a concentration-dependent cell death induced via the mitochondrial pathway.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.77-84
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• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (BHT), we investigated the neuronal death protection effects to oxidative damages in N2a neuroblastoma cells. Methods : To study the cytotoxic effect of BHT on N2a neuronal cells, the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To investigate the neuronal death protection of BHT, N2a neuronal cells were induced oxidative damages by H2O2, and assayed the cell viability and DNA fragmentation. We also investigated DPPH free radical scavenging effects of BHT by tube test. Results : In MTT assay, $500{\mu}g/ml$ of BHT was not showed cytotoxic effect on N2a neuronal cells. BHT protected N2a neuronal cells from H2O2-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. BHT also protected N2a neuronal cells from H2O2-induced DNA fragmentation. BHT scavenged DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These data suggest that BHT may have strong anti-oxidant effects through the free radical scavenging and neuroprotective effects in neuronal cells.