• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1351-1360
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• 2023

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that disturb hormonal homeostasis by binding to receptors. EDCs are metabolized through hepatic enzymes, causing altered transcriptional activities of hormone receptors, and thus necessitating the exploration of the potential endocrine-disrupting activities of EDC-derived metabolites. Accordingly, we have developed an integrative workflow for evaluating the post-metabolic activity of potential hazardous compounds. The system facilitates the identification of metabolites that exert hormonal disruption through the integrative application of an MS/MS similarity network and predictive biotransformation based on known hepatic enzymatic reactions. As proof-of-concept, the transcriptional activities of 13 chemicals were evaluated by applying the in vitro metabolic module (S9 fraction). Identified among the tested chemicals were three thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonistic compounds that showed increased transcriptional activities after phase I+II reactions (T3, 309.1 ± 17.3%; DITPA, 30.7 ± 1.8%; GC-1, 160.6 ± 8.6% to the corresponding parents). The metabolic profiles of these three compounds showed common biotransformation patterns, particularly in the phase II reactions (glucuronide conjugation, sulfation, GSH conjugation, and amino acid conjugation). Data-dependent exploration based on molecular network analysis of T3 profiles revealed that lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most enriched biotransformants. The subsequent subnetwork analysis proposed 14 additional features, including T4 in addition to 9 metabolized compounds that were annotated by prediction system based on possible hepatic enzymatic reaction. The other 10 THR agonistic negative compounds showed unique biotransformation patterns according to structural commonality, which corresponded to previous in vivo studies. Our evaluation system demonstrated highly predictive and accurate performance in determining the potential thyroid-disrupting activity of EDC-derived metabolites and for proposing novel biotransformants.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.178-185
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• 2023

QuEChERS is used worldwide as a universal sample preparation method with many benefits, such as being quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe. This study examined whether QuEChERS can be employed in isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS) for accurate analysis of pesticides in food. The ratios of fortified values and measured values of malathion and fenitrothion using the QuEChERS method were compared with those using the solid phase extract (SPE) method which was previously used in this laboratory. The separations of the two pesticides on DB-5MS and VF-1701MS columns were compared. Malathion and fenitrothion were fortified into kimchi cabbage and pretreated with the QuEChERS method and the SPE method. The results obtained using the DB-5MS column varied according to the sample preparation method, column and pesticide level. Using the VF-1701 column, ratios were 98-102% by both QuEChERS and Carb/NH₂ SPE method for all fortification level. Malathion and fenitrothion were fortified into strawberry samples for comparison with kimchi cabbage. The results for the strawberry samples indicated that the ratios were not influenced by the sample preparation methods or GC column. The QuEChERS method could be acceptable in the ID-MS method for pesticide residue analysis in food, however other conditions should be carefully considered for accurate determination, such as the column, amount of analyte and food matrix.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.766-772
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• 2023

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an effective anti-stress treatment. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential effects of KRG on relieving stress in a general population using transcriptome analysis. Methods: We conducted an 8-week clinical pilot study on 90 healthy men who reported stress. The study was completed by 43 participants in the KRG group and 44 participants in the placebo group. Participants were randomized 1:1 to the KRG and placebo groups. We evaluated the stress by stress response inventory (SRI) at baseline and 8 weeks. The main outcomes were changes in the levels of neurotransmitters (NTs) and NT-related gene expression. NTs were analyzed using automated (GC) content, and levels of gene expression were measured by reads per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (RPKM). Results: The KRG group showed significantly preserved epinephrine decrease compared with placebo group at 8 weeks (changes in epinephrine, KRG vs. placebo; -1623.2 ± 46101.5 vs. -35116.3 ± 86288.2, p = 0012). Among subjects who higher SRI score, meaning stress increased compared to baseline, the KRG group showed a smaller decrease in serotonin than the placebo group (changes in serotonin, KRG vs. placebo; -2627.5 ± 5859.1 vs, -8087.4 ± 7162.4, p = 0.005) and a smaller increase in cortisol than the placebo group (changes in cortisol, KRG vs. placebo; 1912.7 ± 10097.75 vs. 8046.2 ± 8050.6 , p = 0.019) in subgroup analysis. Transcriptome findings indicated that KRG intake affects gene expression related with metabolism of choline, adrenalin, and monoamine. Conclusion: These findings suggest that KRG has beneficial effects on the amelioration of stress response in NTs, and this effect is more prominent in stressful situations. Further clinical studies are required to confirm the anti-stress effect of KRG.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

Ethylene glycol (EG) is produced commercially in large amounts and is widely used as antifreeze or deicing solution for cars, boats, and aircraft. EG poisoning occurs in suicide attempts and infrequently, either intentionally through misuse or accidental as EG has a sweet taste. EG has in itself a low toxicity, but is in vivo broken down to higher toxic organic acids which are responsible for extensive cellular damage in various tissues caused principally by the metabolites glycolic acid and oxalic acid. The most conclusive analytical method of diagnosing EG poisoning is determination of EG concentration. However, victims are sometimes admitted at a late stage to hospitals or died during emergency treatment like a gastric lavage or found rotten dead, when blood EG concentrations are low or not detected. Therefore, in this study, the identification of EG was not only performed by gas chromatograpyc-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) following derivatization but also further toxicological analyses of metabolites, glycolic acid (GA) and oxalic acid (OA), were performed by ion chromatography in various biological specimens. A ranges of blood concentrations (3 cases) was $10\sim2,400\;{\mu}g/mL$ for EG, $224\sim1,164\;{\mu}g/mL$ for GA and ND $\sim40\;{\mu}g/mL$ for OA, respectively, In other biological specimens (liver, kidney, bile and pleural fluid), a range of concentrations (3 cases) was ND $\sim55,000\;{\mu}g/mL$ for EG, ND $\sim1,124\;{\mu}g/mL$ for GA and ND $\sim60\;{\mu}g/mL$ for OA, respectively. Liver and kidney tissues were recommended specimens including blood because OA, a final metabolite of EG, was identified large amounts in these despite no detectable EG caused by some therapy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

Purpose: Citron seed oil (CSO) has been reported to have high antioxidant activity. However, the composition and other biologically activities of CSO have not been reported. In this study, we confirmed the fatty acid composition of CSO, which may be beneficial to vascular disease and obesity. Methods: We investigated the oil composition of CSO using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and cytotoxicity was confirmed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured using Griess reagent, and lipid accumulation and leptin secretion in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by Oil-Red O staining and commercial ELISA kit, respectively. Results: GC-MS analysis indicated that CSO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, and arachidic acid. In physiological activity analysis, CSO did not induce cytotoxic effects in HUVECs and 3T3-L1 cells. Further, CSO significantly induced nitric oxide and leptin secretion as well as inhibited lipid accumulation. Conclusion: CSO increased NO release, inhibited lipid accumulation, and induced leptin secretion, suggesting it may be useful for the management of vessels and weight gain. Although further studies are required to investigate the safety and mechanism of action of CSO, our results show that the composition and physiological activity of CSO are sufficient for its use as functional edible oil.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.138-156
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• 2023

Some of the metal cultural heritage that make up a considerable proportion of Korea's cultural heritage have been installed and displayed outdoors due to their own functions, roles, and scale. Therefore, more diverse and complex damages can occur outdoors than they are in a stable environment. Therefore, it is necessary to combine accurate diagnosis and systematic survey methods in order to utilize basic data obtained from research results as data for the long-term and continuous conservation management as well as to do the research to diagnose the conservation status of outdoor cultural heritage. The clepsydra(hereinafter referred to as Jagyeongnu) of Changgyeonggung Palace, the National Treasure has been installed and displayed outdoors since it was manufactured. Though regular conservation and maintenance of the Jagyeongnu have been carried out, damage still occurred. Therefore, the scientific research on Jagyeongnu to diagnose the state of conservation was conducted prior to the full-scale conservation treatment. First, the state of conservation was investigated with an examination of basic data, macroscopic inspections and past records of repair history according to the purpose of the research. More detailed examinations were also conducted through the 3D scan, surface pattern investigation, and color difference analysis, and the analysis on materials and contaminants were conducted through P-XRF, FT-IR, and Py-GC/MS. The scientific research reveals that squalane and silicone oil have been applied in the past for conservation treatment and directly exposed to outdoor environmental factors, which caused damage to Jagyeongnu and contaminants such as dust adhered thickly to its surface, accelerating severe damage. A greater incidence of damage was found around the part with relatively high exposure effect, which corresponded with the tendency identified by grouping color difference data. As a result of integrating various research methodologies to diagnose the state of conservation and secure basic data, the causes and types of damage were identified. Furthermore, the process of obtaining digital data to be utilized in various ways, and the color difference analysis presenting visible damage as scientific data and identifying the tendency of damage patterns were confirmed to have been effective.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to establish an analytical method for the determination of E,E-farnesol and squalene in makgeolli, which is a traditional type of Korean fermented rice wine. E,E-farnesol and squalene in makgeolli were extracted using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. SBSE was found to be an effective method for analyzing the E,E-farnesol and squalene levels in makgeolli. The linear dynamic range of the SBSE method for detecting E,E-farnesol and squalene ranged from 0.5 to 200 ng/mL with $R^2=0.9974$ for E,E-farnesol and 100 to 50000 ng/mL with $R^2=0.9982$ for squalene. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification using the SBSE method were 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL for E,E-farnesol and 15.0 and 40.0 ng/mL for squalene, respectively. The average recoveries obtained were, quantitatively, 101-107% for E,E-farnesol and 98-103% for squalene, respectively, supporting the accuracy of the SBSE-GCMS method.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3645-3651
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• 2015

Background: Previous studies evaluating the association between the xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) Asp1104His polymorphism and head and neck cancer susceptibility have proven controversial. This meta-analysis of the literature was performed to obtain a more precise estimation of the relationship. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science with a time limit of Dec 18, 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of any association. Results: We performed a meta-analysis of eight published case-control studies, including 3,621 cases and 5,475 controls. Overall, no significant association was found between the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism and head and neck cancer susceptibility under all genetic models. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism had statistically significant association with elevated head and neck cancer risk under CC vs GG (OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.00~1.54) and the recessive model (OR=1.22, 95%CI=1.01~1.46) in Asian populations. A similar result was found under CC vs GG (OR =1.22, 95%CI=1.01~1.47) in the population based subgroup by source of control. When performed by tumor site, the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism had statistically significant association with elevated laryngeal cancer under all genetic models (CC vs GG: OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.16~2.19; GC vs GG: OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.10~1.72; dominant model: OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.15~1.74; recessive model: OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.02~1.81). Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism is a risk factor for head and neck cancer susceptibility, especially for laryngeal cancer and in Asian populations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Urban Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.523-530
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• 2018

Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, set the obligation to reduce $CO_2$, $CH_4$, $N_2O$, HFCs, PFCs, and $SF_6$ in developed countries during 1st promised period. $SF_6$ has been drawing a lot of attention since the Kyoto Protocol because once it is released into the atmosphere, it not only stays in the atmosphere for more than 3,200 years but also emits 22,800 times stronger global warming potential at the same concentrations as $CO_2$ if remains in the atmosphere for 100 years. This study introduces 12 methods for $SF_6$ of measuring trace. $SF_6$ of trace level in the atmosphere correctly, the measurement method was changed and as a result, when the back flush method was applied to the pre-concentration system that used low-temperature concentration and high-temperature desorption system, which used Carboxen-1000 adsorption trap, the effect was the best.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.623-632
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• 2011

To increase the anti-carcinogens phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC), myrosinase (MYR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), genes related to PEITC pathway were isolated and the gene expressions were regulated by Agrobacterium transformation. Isolated cDNAs, MYR, and GST genes were 1,647 bp and 624 bp, respectively, and the protein expression was confirmed through pET system. Thereafter, we constructed a sense-oriented over-expressing myrosinase (pBMY) and RNAi down-regulated GST (pJJGST) binary vectors for the Chinese cabbage transformation. After the transformation, thirteen over-expressing transgenic Chinese cabbage plants (IMS) with pBMY and five down-regulated ones (IGA) with pJJGST were selected by PCR analysis. Selected $T_0$ transgenic plants were generated to $T_1$ plants by self-pollination. Based on the Southern blot analysis on these $T_1$ transgenic plants, 1-4 copies of T-DNA were transferred to Chinese cabbage genome. Thereafter, RNA expression level of myrosinase gene or GST gene was analyzed through real-time RT PCR of IMS, IGA, and non-transgenic inbred lines. In case of IMS lines, myrosinase gene was increased 1.03-4.25 fold and, in IGA lines, GST gene was decreased by 26.42-42.22 fold compared to non-transgenic ones, respectively. Analysis of PEITC concentrations using GC-MS it showed that some IMS lines and some IGA lines increased concentrations of PEITC up to 4.86 fold and up to 3.89 fold respectively compared to wild type. Finally in this study IMS 1, 3, 5, 12, and 15 and IGA 1, 2, and 4 were selected as developed transgenic lines with increasing quantities of anti-carcinogen PEITC.