• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.3-19
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• 2001

Recent basic and clinical studies demonstrate a major role for neural plasticity in the etiology and treatment of depression and stress-related illness. The neural plasticity is reflected both in the birth of new cell in the adult brain(neurogenesis) and the death of genetically healthy cells(apoptosis) in the response to the individual's interaction with the environment. The neural plasticity includes adaptations of intracellular signal transduction pathway and gene expression, as well as alterations in neuronal morphology and cell survival. At the cellular level, repeated stress causes shortening and debranching of dendrite in the CA3 region of hippocampus and suppress neurogenesis of dentate gyrus granule neurons. At the molecular level, both form of structural remodeling appear to be mediated by glucocorticoid hormone working in concert with glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor, along with transmitters such as serotonin and GABA-benzodiazepine system. In addition, the decreased expression and reduced level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) could contribute the atrophy and decreased function of stress-vulnerable hippocampal neurons. It is also suggested that atrophy and death of neurons in the hippocampus, as well as prefrontal cortex and possibly other regions, could contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Antidepressant treatment could oppose these adverse cellular effects, which may be regarded as a loss of neural plasticity, by blocking or reversing the atrophy of hippocampal neurons and by increasing cell survival and function via up-regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding proteins(CREB) and BDNF. In this article, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie stress, depression, and action of antidepressant are precisely discussed.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.130-135
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• 2007

Ong-keun jook(Korean whole rice porridge)is a traditional Korean porridge made with whole rice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gamma-irradiation on the microbial and physicochemical characteristics of rice porridge gamma-irradiation, even at a 1-kGy dose, decreased the total bacteria in cooked rice porridge to lower than the detectable limit($10^2CFU/g$). The viscosity of gamma-irradiated rice porridge was decreased compared to that of control. Upon examination of granule morphology by SEM, cracks were observed on the starch granules in samples irradiated at above 5 kGy. The results of the DSC curve suggest that gamma-irradiation delayed retrogradation of cooked rice porridge. Based on the present results, gamma-irradiation was helpful for developing sterile and tube diets that are needed for ill, old or infant subjects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.766-769
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• 2000

This study was attempted to investigate granular properties of acorn flours which were prepared by soaked nut and sediment. X-ray diffraction pattern of acorn flour was B type and was not affected by soaking treatment. The principal indices of the pattern were at diffraction angles ($2{\theta}$) of $14.5^{\circ},\;17.2^{\circ},\;19.7^{\circ},\;22.2^{\circ}\;and\;24.5^{\circ}$. The shape of acorn flour was elliptical and some rounded triangular by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The granule size of acorn flours varies from $4\;{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ to approximately $20\;{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. although morphology of the acorn flour was not affected, the non-starchy substances of surface was slightly changed by soaking.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2003

Three beaches of the Seogwang-ri coast in the western part of Wu Island, Jeju-do, are solely composed of rhodoliths (red algal nodules). The beach sediments are coarse sand to granule in size and they show the banded distribution according to size. Commonly the larger pebble-sized rhodoliths are concentrated near the rocky coast, resulting from the transportation of the nodules from shallow marine environments by intermittent typhoons. Based on the internal texture of the rhodoliths, it appears that crustose red algae, Lithophyllum sp., is the main contributor for the formation of the rhodolith. The coarse sand to granule-sized grains show that they started to grow from the nucleus as rhodoliths, but the surface was severely eroded by waves. However, the pebble to cobble-sized grains exhibit the complete growth pattern of rhodoliths and sometimes contain other calcareous skeletons. It is common that encrusting red algae are intergrown with encrusting bryozoan. The surface morphology of rhodolith tends to change from the concentric to domal shape towards the outer part. This suggests that the rhodolith grew to a certain stage by rolling, but it grew in more quiet condition without rolling as it became larger. Aragonite and calcite cements can be found in the pores within rhodoliths (conceptacle, intraskeletal pore in bryozoan, and boring), and this means that shallow marine cementation has occurred during their growth. Growth of numerous rhodoliths in shallow marine environment near the Seogwang-ri coast indicates that this area has suitable oceanographic conditions for their growth such as warm water temperature (about 19$^{\circ}C$ in average) and clear water condition due to the lack of terrestrial input of volcanoclastic sediments. Fast tidal current and high wave energy in the shallow water setting can provide suitable conditions enough for their rolling and growth. Typhoons passing this area every summer also influence on the growth of rhodoliths.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.789-798
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• 2013

In the present study, optimization on ${\beta}$-glucanase-assisted extraction was made in order to isolate waxy barley starch from domestic cultivar using the D-optimal design suitable for response surface methodology (RSM). The results demonstrated that the amount of enzyme was found to be a major influencing factor on the extraction yield, which was substantially increased by increasing the amount of enzyme. It was also influenced by the reaction time and amount of water addition; however, the two factors were less influential than the amount of enzyme. The optimized condition by RSM for the reaction time was found to be 2.63 hours and amount of enzyme 1.7%, and amount of water addition 4.38 times the weight of raw material. With the enzyme treatment, the starch content in residues (R), particularly in R1 and R5, was reduced considerably, resulting in an increase in the extraction yield and therefore primarily and effectively releasing B-type starch small granule confirmed by scanning electronic microscopy. In addition, the study determined the physicochemical properties of isolated waxy starch (i.e., purity, water adsorption capacity, thermal properties, rheology and starch morphology) and compared them with those from the enzyme-not treated sample. It was found that they were almost similar to each other, except for the purity of starch, which was lower in the enzyme-treated sample than in the enzyme-not treated one.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.613-625
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• 2006

Periodontal ligament(PDL) cells and human gingival fibroblasts(HGFs) play important roles in development, regeneration, normal function, and pathologic alteration. PDL cells and HGFs have the similarity related with general characteristics of fibroblast such as spindle shaped morphology, the presence of vimentin intermediate filament and the synthesis of interstitial collagens and fibronectin. There were many studies about the differences between PDL cells and HGFs, but they were not about whole gene level. In this study, we tried to explain the differences of gene expression profiles between PDL cells and HGFs, and the differences among three individuals by screening gene expression patterns of PDL cells and HGFs, using cDNA microarray. Although there were some variants among three experiments, a set of genes were consistentely and differentially expressed in one cell type. Among 3,063 genes, 49 genes were more highly expressed in PDL cells and 12 genes were more highly expressed in HGFs. The genes related with cell structure and motility were expressed more highly in PDL cells. These are cofilin 1, proteoglycan 1 secretory granule, collagen type I(${\alpha}$ 1), adducin gamma subunit, collagen type III(${\alpha}$ 1), fibronectin, lumican(keratan sulfate proteoglycan), and ${\alpha}$ -smooth muscle actin. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase known as the enzyme controlling extracellular matrix with matrix metalloproteinase is more highly expressed in PDL cells, osteoprotegerin known as osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor is more highly expressed in HGFs. We performed northern blot to verify cDNA microarray results on selected genes such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase, fibronectin, osteoprogeterin. The result of northern blot analysis showed that each cell expressed the genes in similar pattern with cDNA microarray result. This result indicates that cDNA microarray is a reliable method in screening of gene expression profiles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2003

Prostate gland contains neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are playing important roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes of the prostate gland. Here, we investigated the role of purinoceptors in PNECs freshly isolated from rat ventral prostate (RPNECs) that show immunoreactivity to chromogranin A. Fura-2 ratiometry revealed that ATP evokes both fast Ca$\^$2+/ influx and store Ca$\^$2+/ release in RPNECs. A whole-cell patch clamp study demonstrated fast inactivating cationic current activated by ATP or by ${\alpha}$,${\beta}$-MeATP, which was blocked by ATP-TNP. The activation of P2X inward current was tightly associated with a sharp increase in [Ca$\^$2+/]$\sub$c/. The presence of P2X1/3 subtypes were proved by RT-PCR analysis. For the stored Ca$\^$2+/ release, ATP and UTP showed similar effects, suggesting the dominant role or P2Y2 subtypes, also confirmed by RT-PCR. Both P2X (${\alpha}$,${\beta}$-MeATP) and P2Y (UTP) stimulation induced changes in the cell morphology (initial shrinkage and blob formation on the surface) reversibly. Exocytotic membrane trafficking events were monitored with the membrane-bound fluorescent dye, FM1-43 using confocal microscopy. In spite of the similar Ca$\^$2+/ responses, UTP was far less effective in triggering exocytosis than ${\alpha}$,${\beta}$ -MeATP. Since serotonin is reportedly stored in the secretory granule of PNECs, we directly examined whether the aforementioned agonists elicit release of serotonin using carbon fiber electrode-amperometry. In accordance with the results of FM1 -43 experiments, ${\alpha}$,${\beta}$-MeATP efficiently evoke serotonin secretion while not with UTP. In summary, the P2X-mediated Ca$\^$2+/ influx plays crucial roles in the exocytosis of RPNECs. Although a global increase in [Ca$\^$2+]$\sub$c/ might be related with the morphological changes, a sharp rise of [Ca$\^$2+/]$\sub$c/ in the putative sub-plasmalemmal ‘microdomains’ might be a decisive factor for the exocytosis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-119
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• 1989

The histochemical characteristics of the cutaneous granular glands and its fine structure of the Korean fire bellied toad, Bombino orientalis Boulenger the only species inhabitated in Korea, were studied with light and electron microscopes. By the granular size and histochemical properties, the granular glands were subdivided into two types. The type I glands have small secretory granules (3.6 $\mu$ m), whereas the type II glands contain relatively larger granules (7.5 $\mu$ m). These two types of glands were simple alveolar gland, and they were commonly composed of inner glandular epithelial cells and outermost myoepithelial cells. By the histochemical reactions, these two secretory granules were not responsed to Alcian blue, but weakly positive reaction was observed in type I granular glands by the PAS reaction. And by the scanning electron microscopic observation, extemal morphology of the opening site of the gland duct was resembled to the stomata of the plant leaves. Especially the epithelial cells of the type I glands had fine reticular surface whereas, type II glands had large vesicular surface. These types of the glands conimonly had larger cavities than those of mucous glands, and forming the multinucleated unicellulr structure (syncytium) at the glandular epithelial layers. Secretory granules of these glands were originated from the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the glandular epithelial cells, and by the maturation level of the granule, morphological diversities appeared.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2000

To understand host-defence mechanism of clam(Ruditapes philippinarum) hemocyte against foreign materials, classification and their seasonal change in the number were performed. clams collected from a farm in Julpo Bay, Gochang, Chollabuk-Do were used in this experiment. Lots of hemocytes were found between the muscle fibers and connetive tissue of posterior adductor muscle. Hemocytes of R. philippinarum were classified into granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes were composed of three types, basophilic granulocyte, acidophilic granulocyte and fibrocyte in accordance with the staining affinities of their cytoplasmic granules. Fibrocyte has filopodia and vesicle in endoplasm and bigger than other granulocytes in size. Agranulocytes were less in the number and smaller in the size compared to those of granulocytes. Hyalinocytes had no granule in their cytoplasm. The nucleus located in the center of the cell was oval or spherical shaped. In electron microscopic observation, granulocytes and hyalinocytes contained electron-dense vesicles and some small lucid vesicles in their cytoplasm, respectively. Granulocytes phagocytosed more zymosan particles than hyalinocytes. Acidophilic granulocytes showed higher phagocytic ratio than basophilic granulocytes. Total hemocyte numbers showed the highest at April to August and the lowest at October to December. In the composition of each hemocyte, basophilic granulocytes were always more than acidophilic granulocytes and hyalinocytes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.199-202
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• 2000

The leaf color varies with the contents of pigments, especially chlorophylls and carotenoids. Teichung 65 (T.65), a japonica rice, with pgl(pale-green leaf) gene exhibits pale green color on the whole plant from seedling to harvest. This study conducted to evaluate the agronomic characters and examine the chloroplasts of 'pgl' plants in parents and BC$_1$F$_2$ of T.65(pgl) xSuweon ${345}^2$. The average grain yield of pale-green-leaf individuals in F$_2$ was the same as T.65(pgl) but that of green-leaf individuals was much higher than that of Suweon 345. The contents of chlorophyll a(Ca), chlorophyll b(Cb) and total chlorophyll content(Ct) of T.65(pgl) in flag leaf were lower than those of Suweon 345, but the Ca/Cb ratio of T.65(pgl) was higher than that of Suweon 345 during from 15 days after heading (DAH) to 60 DAH. The SPAD value of T.65(pgl) in flag leaf was lower than that of Suweon 345, but that in the second and the third leaves was similar to that of Suweon 345. The SPAD value of pale-green-leaf individual group was lower than that of green individual group in upper three leaves. The structural difference of chloroplasts in flag leaf between T.65(pgl) and Suweon 345 through TEM at 20 DAH was not detected, but the number of osmium granules in chloroplast of T.65(pgl) were higher than that of Suweon 345.