• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.796-803
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• 2008

Mutations in the APP gene lead to enhanced cleavage by ${\beta}-$ and ${\gamma}-secretase$, and increased $A{\beta}$ formation, which are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neuropathological changes. Recent studies have shown that exercise training can ameliorate pathogenic phenotypes ($A{\beta}-42$, BDNF, GLUT-1 and HSP70) in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we have used NSE/APPsw transgenic mice to investigate directly whether exercise training ameliorates pathogenic phenotypes within Alzheimer's brains. Sixteen weeks of exercise training resulted in a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides and also facilitated improvement of cognitive function. Furthermore, GLUT -1 and BDNF proteins produced by exercise training may protect brain neurons by inducing the concomitant expression of genes that encode proteins (HSP-70) which suppress stress induced neuron cell damages from APPsw transgenic mice. Thus, the improved cognitive function by exercise training may be mechanistically linked to a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides, possibly via activation of BDNF, GLUT-1, and HSP-70 proteins. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, exercise training may represent a practical therapeutic management strategy for human subjects suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2020

Since industrialization, the production and utilization of various chemicals has contributed to improving the quality of our lives, but the subsequent discharge of massive waste is inevitable, and environmental pollution is becoming more serious every day. Exposure to chemicals as a result of environmental pollution is having a negative effect on human health and the ecosystem, and cleaning up the polluted environment that can affect our lives is a very important issue. Toxic aromatic compounds have been detected frequently in soil, groundwater, and wastewater because of the extensive use of oil products, and phenol, which is used to produce synthetic resins, textiles, and dyes, is one of the major pollutants, along with insecticides and preservatives. Phenol can cause dyspnea, headache, vomiting, mutation, and carcinogenesis. Phenol-degrading bacterium DWB-1-8 was isolated from the activated sludge of textile wastewater; this strain was identified as Comamonas testosteroni by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The optimal culture conditions for the cell growth and degradation of phenol were 0.7% K₂HPO₄, 0.6% NaH₂PO₄, 0.1% NH₄NO₃, 0.015% MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.001% FeSO₄·7H₂O, an initial pH of 7, and a temperature of 30℃. The strain was also able to grow by using other toxic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, or xylene (BTX), as the sole source of carbon.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1305-1313
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• 2019

Licochalcone (LC), isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata has multiple pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. To date, Licochalcone C (LCC) has induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation in oral and bladder cancer cells, but lung cancer has not yet been studied. In addition, no study reported LCC-induced autophagy in cancer until now. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of LCC on gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant lung cancer cells and elucidate the mechanism of its action. The 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay data showed that LCC significantly inhibited cell viability in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) HCC827 (gefitinib-sensitive) and HCC827GR (gefitinib-resistant) cell lines. Interestingly, Annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D double staining and cell cycle analysis showed an apoptosis rate within about 20% at the highest concentration of LCC. LCC induced G2/M arrest by reducing the expression of the cell cycle G2/M related proteins cyclin B1 and cdc2 in NSCLC cell lines. Treatment of LCC also induced autophagy by increasing the expression of the autophagy marker protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and the protein autophagy-related gene 5 involved in the autophagy process. In addition, LCC increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the cell viability was partially restored by treatment with the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine. In western blotting analysis, the expression of cdc2 was increased and LC3 was decreased by the simultaneous treatment of NAC and LCC. These results indicate that LCC may contribute to anti-tumor effects by inducing ROS-dependent G2/M arrest and autophagy in NSCLC. In conclusion, LCC treatment may be useful as a potential therapeutic agent against NSCLC.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.3-19
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to observe the efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources in Korea. For the empirical analysis, we constructed the dataset on age standardized mortality rate, the number of physician, specialist, surgery, medical institution, ratio of general hospitals of 16 provinces in Korea from 2006 to 2013. The panel probability frontier model is employed as an analysis method and considered heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation of the error in panel data. In addition, the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the 16 provinces, unemployment rate, elderly population ratio, GRDP per capita, and ratio of hospitals in comparison to the general hospitals are used to find the effect on the technical efficiency of clinical performance on supply and demand of medical resources. The results are as follows. First, for the clinical performance, the supply side of human resources such as doctors and specialists and the demand side factors such as chronic illness clinic per unit population have a significant influence, respectively. Second, the technical efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources of each input component was 59-70% in terms of clinical efficiency in each region. Third. estimates of technical efficiency of inputs that affect clinical performance showed a slight increase in all regions during the analysis period, but the increase trend decreased slightly. Fourth, the ratio of the elderly population and GRDP per capita have a positive influence on the technical efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources. The difference of each efficiency by region is due to the regional differences of the input medical resources and the combination of them and the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the region. It is understood that the differences in technological efficiency due to the complexity of supply and demand of medical resources, demographic structure and economic difference affecting clinical performance by region are different.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.361-368
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• 1994

Teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of mercury have been reported, however, there is little information about possible antidotes against mercury exposure during gestation. In order to evaluate therapeutic effects of selenium as an antidote against mercury poisoning, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury chloride(20ppm) through the drinking water with treatment of sodium selenite (1.0mg, 2.0mg or 3.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) or BAL(5.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) under the single or combination base as the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters such as body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as was placental weight compared to those in the control. Treatment of selenium(alone, combination with BAL) reduced the harmful effects induced by mercury on the fetal growth parameters even though no specific relationship between dose and therapeutic effect. The incidence of dead fetuses/resorptions and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased in the mercury only treated group. Selenium treatment demonostrated reduced the incidence of abnormal fetuses under the exposure of mercury. Relative maternal organ weights(liver, kidney, spleen) were increased significantly but relative brain weight was decreased as evidenced by decreased in the mercury treated mice compared to that in the control. A subtle indication of maternal mercury toxicity evidenced by changes of relative maternal organ weights, decreased water and feed consumption were also prevented efficiently by selenium treatment. The present study suggests that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when exposured during organogenesis and that selenium administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment of mercury poisoning although more applicable study in human should be performed with caution in the future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 2004

A new polystyrene-divinylbenzene chelating resin containing 4,5-dihydroxy-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (chromotropic acid : CTA) as functional group has been synthesized and characterized. The sorption and desorption properties of this chelating resin for Cr(III) ion and Cr(VI) ion including nine metal bloodstain. As a results, FOB test kit could be effectively applied to identification of human blood at chelating resin was stable in acidic and alkaline solution. The Cr(VI) ion is selectively separated from Cr (III) ion at pH 2 and the maximum sorption capacity of Cr(VI) ion is 1.2 mmol/g. In the presence of anions such as $F^-$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $CN^-$, $CH_3COO^-$, $NO{_3}^-$, the sorption of Cr(VI) ion was reduced but anions such as $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $Cl^-$ revealed no interference effect. The elution order of metal ions obtained from breakthrough capacity and overall capacity at pH 2 was Cr(VI)>Sn(II)>Fe(III)>Cu(II)>Cd(II)${\simeq}Pb(II){\simeq}Cr(III){\simeq}Mn(II){\simeq}Ni(II){\simeq}Al(III)$. Desorption characteristics for Cr(VI) ion was investigated with desorption agents such as $HNO_3$, HCl, and $H_2SO_4$. It was found that the ion showed high desorption efficiency with 3 M HCl. As the result, the chelating resin, XAD-16-CTA was successfully applied to separation and preconcentration of Cr (VI) ion from several metal ions in metal finishing works.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2018

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ($CO_2$) is a major component of climate change, and this increase can be expected to continue into the crop and food security in the future. In this study, Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research (SPAR) chambers were used to examine the effect of elevated $CO_2$, temperature, and drought on the canopy architecture and concentration of macronutrients in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). Drought stress treatments were imposed on potato plants 40 days after emergence. Under AT+2.8C700 (30-year average temperature + $2.8^{\circ}C$ at $700{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$ of $CO_2$), at maximum leaf area, elevated $CO_2$, and no drought stress, a significant increase was observed in both the aboveground biomass and tuber, and for the developmental stage. Even though $CO_2$ and temperature had increased, AT+2.8C700DS (30-year average temperature + $2.8^{\circ}C$ at $700{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$ of $CO_2$ under drought stress) under drought stress showed that the leaf area index (LAI) and dry weight were reduced by drought stress. At maturity, potatoes grown under $CO_2$ enrichment and no drought stress exhibited significantly lower concentrations of N and P in their leaves, and of N, P, and K in tubers under AT+2.8C700. In contrast, elevated $CO_2$ and drought stress tended to increase the tuber Mg concentration under AT+2.8C700DS. Plants grown in AT+2.8C700 had lower protein contents than plants grown under ATC450 (30-year average temperature at $400{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$ of $CO_2$). However, plants grown under AT+2.8C700 showed higher tuber bulking than those grown under AT+2.8C700DS. These findings suggest that the increase in $CO_2$ concentrations and drought events in the future are likely to decrease the macronutrients and protein concentrations in potatoes, which are important for the human diet.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Experimental induction of polycystic ovary (PCO) resembling some aspects of human PCO syndrome was produced using the long-acting compound estradiol valerate (EV). Our previous study on the role of Korean red ginseng total saponins (GTS) in a steroid-induced PCO rat model demonstrated that electro-acupuncture modulates nerve growth factor (NGF) concentration in the ovaries. In fact, the involvement of a neurogenic component in the pathology of PCO-related ovarian dysfunction is preceded by an increase in sympathetic outflow to the ovaries. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that therapeutic GTS administration modulates sympathetic nerve activity in rats with PCO. This was done by analyzing NGF protein and NGF mRNA expression involved in the pathophysiological process underlying steroid-induced PCO. EV injection resulted in significantly higher ovarian NGF mRNA expression in PCO rats compared to control rats, and PCO ovaries were counteracted by GTS administration with significantly lower expression of NGF mRNA compared to EV treated ovaries. However, NGF protein was unaffected in both EV and GTS treated ovaries compared to control rats. These results indicate that EV modulates the neurotrophic state of the ovaries, which may be a component of the pathological process by which EV induces cyst formation and anovulation in rodents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.522-527
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• 2008

Low molecular peptides were isolated from Asterias amurensis via SDS-PAGE. The peptides were separated via consecutive gel filtration as five fractions (F1-F5) according to molecular weights, based on the results of MALDI-TOF MS analysis. The molecular weight of the most active peptide was estimated as 15,000 daltons. The peptide showed cytotoxicity on normal human fibroblast cells at levels as low as 20% when 1.0 mg/mL of the samples was added. The peptide also exhibited higher levels of nitric oxide production from macrophages than the lipopolysaccaharides. It was determined that prostaglendin $E_2$ production was significantly inhibited, up to 127.8% as compared to the control. The low molecular peptide inhibited hyaluronidase activity as 535.7 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $IC_{50}$. It can be concluded that the relatively low molecular weight peptide, fucoidan, from A. amurensis has excellent cosmetic and immunomodulatory activities, which can be considered as a possible resource of new cosmetic agents for skin immunomodulation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2002

One of the latest concepts in bonding are "total etch", in which both enamel and dentin are etched with an acid to remove the smear layers, and "wet dentin" in which the dentin is not dry but left moist before application of the bonding primer Ideally the application of a bonding agent to tooth structure should be insensitive to minor contamination from oral fluids. Clinically, contaminations such as saliva, gingival fluid, blood and handpiece lubricant are often encountered by dentists during cavity preparation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of contamination by hemostatic agents on shear bond strength of compomer restorations. One hundred and ten extracted human maxillary and mandibular molar teeth were collected. The teeth were removed soft tissue remnant and debris and stored in physiologic solution until they were used. Small flat area on dentin of the buccal surface were wet ground serially with 400, 800 and 1200 abrasive papers on automatic polishing machine. The teeth were randomly divided into 11 groups. Each group was conditioned as follows : Group 1: Dentin surface was not etched and not contaminated by hemostatic agents. Group 2: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Astringedent$^{\circledR}$(Ultradent product Inc., Utah, U.S.A.) Group 3: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Bosmin$^{\circledR}$(Jeil Pharm, Korea.). Group 4: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Epri-dent$^{\circledR}$(Epr Industries, NJ, U.S.A.). Group 5: Dentin surface was etched and not contaminated by hemostatic agents. Group 6: Dentin sorface was etched and contaminated by Astringedent$^{\circledR}$. Group 7 : Dentin surface was etched and contaminated by Bosmin$^{\circledR}$. Group 8: Dentin surface was etched and contaminated by Epri-dent$^{\circledR}$. Group 9: Dentin surface was contaminated by Astringedent$^{\circledR}$. The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. Group 10: Dentin surface was contaminated by Bosmin$^{\circledR}$. The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. Group 11 : Dentin surface was contaminated by Epri-dent$^{\circledR}$. The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. After surface conditioning, F2000$^{\circledR}$ was applicated on the conditoned dentin surface The teeth were thermocycled in distilled water at 5$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$ for 1,000 cycles. The samples were placed on the binder with the bonded compomer-dentin interface parallel to the knife-edge shearing rod of the Universal Testing Machine(Zwick Z020, Zwick Co., Germany) running at a cross head speed or 1.0 mm/min. Group 2 showed significant decrease in shear bond strength compared with group 1 and group 6 showed significant decrease in shear bond strength compared with group 5. There were no significant differences in shear bond strength between group 5 and group 9, 10 and 11.