• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2003

Embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into a variety of cell lineages. However, the ultimate results of differentiation in vitro greatly depend on the duration of treatment and kinds of differentiating inducers added. In order to investigate the efficiencies of various differentiation inducers and the methods of treatment, we examined differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) according to several different protocols. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using retinoic acid and ascorbic acid (RA/AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hESC was exposed to Rh (10$^{-6}$ M) and AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. Exp. III) In addition, to examine the effects of neurotrophic factors in the production of mature neurons, groups of cells were exposed to either BDNF (5 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$(10 ng/ml) during the 28 days of final differentiation. Differentiation patterns of RA/AA or bFGF treated groups were very similar; approximately 82% and 83% of the cells, respectively, were positive for anti-NF200 antibody, while it was about 10% and 11%, respectively, for anti-NF160 antibody in 28 days in N2 medium. Alsor, cells expressing TH were as low as 5%, while the cells doubled when matured at the presence of either BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. Cells immunoreactive to anti-GAD antibody were approximately 20%. These results suggest that a maturation step rather than differentiation induction step, which is formation of EB, effects more decisively to the ultimate differentiation pattern.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 1993

Purine has been identified in the preparation of follicular fluid and shown an activity in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest. Therefore this study was performed to examine the inhibitory effect of purine on germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) in the presence and absence of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) or human mature follicular fluid(HMFF), as a protein source, in vitro culture. Immature oocytes(GV stage) were collected from ovaries of 21∼28 days old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with a fine needle, at 48 hrs after PMSG injection. Some of the oocytes were denuded by drawing the cumulus-enclosed(complex) oocytes in and out of a pasteur pipet. Complex oocytes and denuded oocytes were cultured 3 hrs. in T6 media containing 0.75mM adenosine or/and 4mM hypoxanthine, with HFCS or HMFF. Their GVBD rates were observed at every 1 hr. during the culture time. Both adenosine and hypoxanthine have shown a time-dependent inhibitory effect on GVBD in complex and denuded oocytes and the inhibitory effect was maximized in culture medium containing hypoxanthine and adenosine. HFCS and HMFF increased the GVBD rates in the presence of the purines, thus HFCS and HMFF may contain a factor that could reverse the inhibitory effect of purines. Also complex oocytes were more sensitive to not only the inhibitory effect of purines but the promoting action of HMFF on GVBD than denuded oocytes. Therefore it was reconfirmed that granulosa cells play an important part in meiotic arrest and resumption.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on DNA stability in human spermatozoa. To verify human spermatozoa were incubated with xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X 100$\mu$M-XO 50 mlU ~ 400 mIU), $H_2O_2$ (125 $\mu$M ~ 1 mM), sodium nitroprusside (SNP 0.1 $\mu$M ~ 100 $\mu$M) or lymphocyte. Otherwise, spermatozoa were incubated under low $O_2$ (5%) condition. Damage of sperm DNA was analyzed by single cell electrophoresis (Comet assay) and flow cytometry after acridine orange staining. In the presence of ROS, there was increase in DNA damage. The rate of DNA single strand breakage (9.0$\pm$1.0% ~ 46.0$\pm$4.6%) and DNA fragmentation (7.51$\pm$1.0% ~ 29.5$\pm$4.6%) were similar regardless of the kinds of ROS and exposure time. DNA damage in the lower $O_2$ condition (5%) was lower than ambient $O_2$ condition (20%). Taken together, it suggested that sperm DNA might be damaged by ROS. In the presence of ROS, increase in DNA damage and chromatin instability was obvious in spite of short exposure. Although present study reconfirmed that sperm incubation in the low concentration of ROS have the benefit m the induction of capacitation and Ah, the increase in DNA damage by ROS and possible genetic problem should be considered before the human trials.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

Background and objective: People-nature experiences, which suggest that humans seek connections between nature and other forms of life, were presented by biologist E. O. Wilson in 1984. Biophilic design attributes support environments that can improve human connections to nature. A significant amount of literature on environmental psychology provides empirical evidence that nature benefits humans, and that practical landscape and built environments can be designed to link humans and nature (e.g., the 14 biophilic design patterns). To date, however, there has been no well-done research on reviewing the health benefits of biophilic design. Methods: The paper provides a narrative review on biophilic design and human health. The scope of this article is limited to biophilic-design books and peer-review articles related to "biophilic design," "evidence-based," "benefits," "health," rather than an attempt to identify universal issues with biophilia hypothesis. Results: A total of 45 papers were included in our review, which was related to the top five biophilic design patterns and design: the presence of natural images, the presence of plants, visual and non-visual connections to nature, and material connection with nature. These studies were related to physiology and psychology through direct or indirect connections with nature and experiences in space and place. Conclusion: This study presents two important comparisons of the empirical research on biophilic design and human health that can explain the relationship of people-nature experiences to biophilic design and human health and provides insights into related researches and recommendations for future application of our findings.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2023

Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is determined by biodistribution and engraftment in vivo. Compared to intravenous infusion, biodistribution of locally transplanted MSCs are partially understood. Here, we performed a pharmacokinetics (PK) study of MSCs after local transplantation. We grafted human MSCs into the brains of immune-compromised nude mice. Then we extracted genomic DNA from brains, lungs, and livers after transplantation over a month. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with human Alu-specific primers, we analyzed biodistribution of the transplanted cells. To evaluate the role of residual immune response in the brain, MSCs expressing a cytosine deaminase (MSCs/CD) were used to ablate resident immune cells at the injection site. The majority of the Alu signals mostly remained at the injection site and decreased over a week, finally becoming undetectable after one month. Negligible signals were transiently detected in the lung and liver during the first week. Suppression of Iba1-positive microglia in the vicinity of the injection site using MSCs/CD prolonged the presence of the Alu signals. After local transplantation in xenograft animal models, human MSCs remain predominantly near the injection site for limited time without disseminating to other organs. Transplantation of human MSCs can locally elicit an immune response in immune compromised animals, and suppressing resident immune cells can prolong the presence of transplanted cells. Our study provides valuable insights into the in vivo fate of locally transplanted stem cells and a local delivery is effective to achieve desired dosages for neurological diseases.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.317-328
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• 2014

In this study, differences of texture image and preference for men's suit fabrics according to mechanical properties, hand and fabric information were investigated. 55 subjects evaluated texture image and preference of 12 kinds of wool blended fabrics. For statistical analysis, t-test and pearson correlation coefficients were used. The results were as follows: Most of mechanical properties effected on texture images, and bending property and shearing property were effected on tactile preference and purchasing preference. For hand, objective hand values showed correlations with subjective texture images and preferences, but THV had almost no correlations. In sensory images according to presence of fabric information, fabrics were evaluated thinner, lighter, more pliable and smooth by cognition of wool blending ratio. For sensibility images, fabrics were evaluated more refined, intellectual, dignified and less practicable after recognize of wool blending ratio. In preferences, tactile preference was increased and purchasing preference was decreased after recognize fabric information. Therefore, significant differences of texture image and preference were observed according to presence of fabric information.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of the extract of Pongamia pinnata on the morphology, viability, and differentiation potential of human stem cells derived from the gingiva. Methods: Stem cells obtained from gingivae were cultured in an osteogenic medium in the presence of methanol extract of Pongamia pinnata (PPT) at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1%. Evaluations of cell morphology and cellular viability were done at Day 1. Alkaline phosphatase activity assays and Alizarin red S staining were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. Results: The morphology of stem cells in the presence of PPT at final concentrations of 0%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% did not produce any noticeable changes when compared with the untreated control group. Application of PPT produced a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity when compared to the control group. The results of the Alizarin Red S staining showed a significant increase of absorbance with the 0.001% group. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it was concluded that PPT could produce beneficial effects on mesenchymal stem cells with enhanced osteogenic differentiation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 1995

Some multidrug resistance inhibitors have been known to be influenced by the serum concentration. In this study, effect of serum concentration on inhibition of nucleoside transport by BIBW22, a new multidrug resistance inhibitor derived from dipyridamole (DPM), was studied. When 5% or 100% (v/v) of fetal bovine serum (FBS) was contained in the culture, DPM dose for which nucleoside transport was inhibited by 50% (lD$_{50}$) was 0.42 $\mu$M or 1.17 $\mu$M, respectively. BIBW22 also showed the same trend as DPM did in response to increase of FBS concentration. However, ID$_{50}$ value for DPM in the absence or presence of human plasma was 0.007 $\mu$M or 1.02 $\mu$M respectively showing 145 times increase of ID$_{50}$ value. ID$_{50}$ value for BIBW22 in the presence of human plasma was 0.028 $\mu$M showing only 5 times increase in ID$_{50}$ value. This result suggests that potency of BIBW22 was much less affected by the plasma concentration and BIBW22 could be a good candidate for a clinical use in multidrug resistance treatment.treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.206-212
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• 1984

The effect of saponin fractions of Panax ginseng root on the interactions of human plasma lipoproteins and lecithin dispersions with dextran sulfate were studied in order to examine the effect of Panax ginseng on the lipid accumulation in the aorta. The total saponin fraction and protopanaxadiol glycosides of Panax ginseng root seemed to slightly enhance the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate in the absence of divalent metal ions. Protopanaxatriol glycosides remarkably inhibited the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate. However, all of these three saponin fractions of Panax ginseng root showed the tendency of inhibition to the interaction of high density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate in the presence of divalent metal ions by the order of protopanxatriol glycosides, protopanaxadiol glycosides and total saponin. Three saponin fractions of Panax ginseng exerted almost same tendency to the interaction of lecithin dispersions with dextran sulfate in the presence of divalent metal ions as the interaction of low density lipoproteins with dextran sulfate absence of divalent metal ions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 1996

LB20304 is a novel fluoroquinolone that exhibits a potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity against both gram-positve and gram-negative bacteria. The MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) of LB20304 were determined against both gram-positve and gram-negative bacteria under various conditions including several media, pHs, and inoculum concentrations. The in vitro activity of LB20304 was not significantly affected by the changes in testing conditions such as components of media and inoculum concentrations, but it was slightly reduced by acid condition. The MICs and MBCs (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) of LB20304 against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were hardly affected by the presence of 50 % human serum, mouse serum, guinea pig serum or horse serum, and the MBCs were equal to or at most four-times higher than the MiCs. The activities of LB20304 were decreased by the presence of high concentraion of $Mg^{++}$ or human urine (pH, 5.5) in the test media. The frequencies of mutants resistant to LB20304 were similar to or lower than those found in ciprofloxacin and sparfloxacin.