• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2006

This study was performed to characterize the seasonal variation of water quality and sediment environment from May, 2004 to February, 2006 in 21 stations of Gwangyang bay. Gawngyang bay is located in the middle of south coast of Korea and semi-dosed with Yeosu peninsula, Gwangyang-city and Namhea-do. Water quality at the west coast of Myo-do were highly deteriorated than other stations. At summer season(July 2005), the concentration of the most analytical items were highly detected than other seasons and the lowest concentration was at the winter season(January 2005, February 2006). Especially, DIP and TP were highly detected around the coast of Yeosu industrial complex. N/P ratio were higher than 16 of Redfield ratio in the spring(May 2005) and winter(February 2006) at the surface layer. While at other seasons and most stations were lower than 16 of Redfield ratio. In the survey of sediment environment, ignition loss(IL), chemical oxygen demand(COD) and acid volatile sulfide(AVS) were in the range of $2.51\sim22.10%,\;2.65\sim48.41mg/g-dry\;and\;0.01\sim8.95mg/g-dry$, respectively. COD in surface sediment was highest at summer season AVS was highest at autumn. In sediment, the corelationship coefficients between COD and IL, COD and AVS were 0.65 and 0.44, respectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2011

Biological activities of sarcocarp and calyx of persimmon (Cheongdo Bansi) were investigated. The electron donating ability of the calyx extract was 91% at a 500 ${\mu}g/mL$ level, which was higher than that of the sarcocarp extract (40%). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of calyx extracts was about 22% at a 1,000 ${\mu}g/mL$ level. During the entire experimental period, there was no cytotoxicity found from sarcocarp and calyx up to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. Our results indicated that sarcocarp and calyx significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumer necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ formation in human keratinocyte. These results suggest that sarcocarp and calyx of persimmon may have significant effect on inflammatory factors and can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.595-599
• /
• 2012

Allergic response is associated with mast cells, through the release of arachidonic acid, proinflammatory cytokines, and histamine. We investigated the effect of Platycodon grandiflorum including platycodin D (PG-Platycodin D) on allergic responses in an animal model and on mast cell degranulation. PG-Platycodin D suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, a type of marker associated with degranulation. PG-Platycodin D efficiently inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in ICR mice. In addition, molecular analysis demonstrated that PG-Platycodin D inhibited mRNA expression of both IL-3. These results suggest that PG-Platycodin D can inhibit mast cell degranulation through the inhibition of IL-3 mRNA expression, and that PG-Platycodin D may potentially serve as an anti-allergic agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2015

Background: Bladder cancer is among the five most common malignancies worldwide. Altered expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling -3 (SOCS-3) has been implicated in various types of human cancers; however, its role in bladder cancer is not well established. Aim: The present study was undertaken to investigate the mRNA expression of SOCS-3 in normal and cancerous bladder tissue and to explore its correlation with urinary levels of some proinflammatory cytokines, cytokeratin-18 (CK -18) and with tumor histopathological grading, in order to evaluate their role as potential diagnostic markers. Materials and Methods: SOCS3 mRNA expression levels were evaluated using quantitative real time PCR. Urinary levels of interleukins 6 and 8 were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytokeratin-18 expression was analyzed by immuunohistochemistry then validated by ELISA. Results: SOC3 m RNA expression levels were significantly lower in high grade urothelial carcinoma ($0.36{\pm}0.12$) compared to low grade carcinoma ($1.22{\pm}0.38$) and controls ($4.08{\pm}0.88$), (p<0.001). However, in high grade urothelial carcinoma the urinary levels of IL-6, IL-8, total CK-18($221.33{\pm}22.84pg/ml$, $325.2{\pm}53.6pg/ml$, $466.7{\pm}57.40U/L$ respectively) were significantly higher than their levels in low grade carcinoma ($58.6{\pm}18.6pg/ml$, $58.3{\pm}50.2pg/ml$, $185.5{\pm}60.3U/L$ respectively) and controls ($50.9{\pm}23.0pg/ml$, $7.12{\pm}2.74pg/ml$, $106.7{\pm}47.3U/L$ respectively), (p<0.001). Conclusions: Advanced grade of urothelial bladder carcinoma is significantly associated with lowered mRNA expression of SOC3 as well as elevated urinary levels of proinflammatory cytokines and CK-18. Furthermore, our results suggested that urinary IL-8, IL-6 and CK-18 may benefit as noninvasive biomarkers for early detection as well as histopathological subtyping of urothelial carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.590-596
• /
• 2016

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts (GBE) of grape branches (Campbell Early). The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of GBE was $201.42{\pm}4.16$ and $11.85{\pm}0.44mg\;GAE/g$, respectively. The antioxidant activity of GBE was measured using the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the $IC_{50}$ values were $45.60{\pm}0.09$ and $299.13{\pm}0.22$, respectively. GBE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GBE treatment significantly suppressed the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 human mast cells. Furthermore, the administration of GBE markedly inhibited the scratching behavior induced by the compound 48/80 in ICR mice. These results suggested that GBE has potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation and itch-related skin diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2002

The immune activation activities of ethanol, ethanol : water(1 : 1,v/v) and water extracts from Dendropanax morbifera Lev. were compared. The crude extracts showed relatively low cytotoxicity as less than 26% by using human normal liver cell(WRL-68). For example, the ethanol extract inhibited. in MCF7 and Hep3B cells in adding 1.0 mg/mL ethanol extracts. The growth of human immune T and B cells was enhanced up to $1.22{\sim}1.27$ times by adding the crude extracts. These are a trend of increasing secretion of $cytokines(IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ from human B/T cell for 6 day cultivation. It was found that the immune activation activities of the crude extracts seemed to be higher than those obtained by using other solvents.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.40.1-40.24
• /
• 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attractive alternatives to conventional anti-asthmatic drugs for severe asthma. Mechanisms underlying the anti-asthmatic effects of MSCs have not yet been elucidated. This study evaluated the anti-asthmatic effects of intravenously administered MSCs, focusing on macrophages and monocytes. Seven-week-old transgenic (Tg) mice with lung-specific overexpression of IL-13 were used to simulate chronic asthma. MSCs were intravenously administered four days before sampling. We examined changes in immune cell subpopulations, gene expression, and histological phenotypes. IL-13 Tg mice exhibited diverse features of chronic asthma, including severe type 2 inflammation, airway fibrosis, and mucus metaplasia. Intravenous administration of MSCs attenuated these asthmatic features just four days after a single treatment. MSC treatment significantly reduced SiglecF^-CD11c^-CD11b⁺ monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMs) and inhibited the polarization of MoMs into M2 macrophages, especially M2a and M2c. Furthermore, MSCs downregulated the excessive accumulation of Ly6c^- monocytes in the lungs. While an intravenous adoptive transfer of Ly6c^- monocytes promoted the infiltration of MoM and Th2 inflammation, that of MSC-exposed Ly6c^- monocytes did not. Ex vivo Ly6c^- MoMs upregulated M2-related genes, which were reduced by MSC treatment. Molecules secreted by Ly6c^- MoMs from IL-13 Tg mice lungs upregulated the expression of fibrosis-related genes in fibroblasts, which were also suppressed by MSC treatment. In conclusion, intravenously administered MSCs attenuate asthma phenotypes of chronic asthma by modulating macrophages. Identifying M2 macrophage subtypes revealed that exposure to MSCs transforms the phenotype and function of macrophages. We suggest that Ly6c^- monocytes could be a therapeutic target for asthma management.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2006

To understand the heading habit of recently developed 20 Korean rice cultivars, rice plants in a phytotron were exposed to different temperature: $22.5^{\circ}C(day\;27^{\circ}C/night\;18^{\circ}C),\;27.5^{\circ}C(day\;32^{\circ}C/night\;23^{\circ}C)$, and day-length conditions: 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 hours. Four rice cultivars (Sobibyeo, Juanbyeo, Ilpumbyeo and Shindongjinbyeo) showed relatively short Basic Vegetative Phase (BVP) of 17 to 18 days, while Dasanbyeo showed the longest (35 days) BVP, compared to other remaining 15 tested cultivars which exhibited 24 to 31 days of BVP. In this experiment, it was tried out to separate the eliminable vegetative phase into photosensitivity and thermo-sensitivity with two different pathways. Many tested cultivars, however, exhibited quite different responses under low temperature and / or long day-length conditions. Especially, Surabyeo and Juanbyeo were the most difficult cultivars to separate into photo- or thermo-sensitivity in that the eliminable vegetative phase of these two cultivars increased greatly only under low temperature $(22.5^{\circ}C)$ and long day-length (15 hr.) conditions. Regarding the heading response to temperatures, tested cultivars could be categorized into 2 groups. In 1st group of rice cultivars, the eliminable vegetative phase decreased almost equally as the temperature changed from $20.0^{\circ}C\rightarrow22.5^{\circ}C\rightarrow25.0^{\circ}C\rightarrow27.5^{\circ}C$. In contrast, the 2nd group of rice cultivars exhibited eliminable vegetative phase slowly decreasing when the temperature changed from $22.5^{\circ}C\rightarrow25.0^{\circ}C\rightarrow27.5^{\circ}C$, but rapidly decreasing when the mean temperature changed from $20.0^{\circ}C\;to\;22.5^{\circ}C$. All the cultivars belonged to 2nd group, the heading date would be very delayed if cool summer comes.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.2952-2959
• /
• 2013

In this paper, a smart meter applying the international communication protocols has been developed. A smart meter requires communication protocols for two-way communication and control technology, registration and deregistration of electronic devices between electric power suppliers to exchange data. Standardization for communication protocols of a smart meter has been proceeding both in the US and Europe. The smart meter developed in this paper applied ANSI C12.22 as a communication protocol which is a north american standard. A smart meter should also provide the electric consuming information and electricity charge information to the customer in real time. Thus, the customer can behave the demand response based on this information. In this paper, the measured electricity from the smart meter is reported to the customer, and IHD(In Home Display) implemented with the windows software presents the reported real time data.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.657-662
• /
• 2006

The present paper dealt with an experimental study of condensation heat transfer coefficients with refrigerant R-22, R-407C and R-410A, and was focused on pressure gradient and heat transfer coefficient in horizontal tube-in-tube heat exchangers using inner diameter of 4 mm, 3 mm and 2 mm in a 16.91 mm tube and length of 3,000 mm. Experiments were performed at inlet saturation temperature of 35 to $45^{\circ}C$ and mass flux ranges from 200 to $600 kg/m^2s$. The pressure gradient with inner tube diameter of 4.0 mm is higher 2.5 times than that of 8.0 mm. In tube-in-tube HEX, the pressure gradient of R-410A were lower than those of R-22 and R-407C. The condensation heat transfer coefficients increased with mass flux increase, but they decreased with saturation temperature increased. Condensation heat transfer coefficients of R-410A were a little higher than those of R-22 and R-407C. The condensation heat transfer coefficients of tube-in-tube HEX were about 40% higher than those of double tube HEX.