• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 1999

Objectives:eurotoxicity is mediated by nitric oxide(NO) in the rat primary neuronal cultures and assess the effect of $Mn^{2+}$ on the N-methyl-D aspartate(NMDA) receptors. Methods: We have used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)assay to examine the effect of cytotoxicity of $MnCl_2$ in neuronal cells , NO production was determined by measuring nirites, a stable oxidation product of NO. The neurons in the rat that contains neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) were examined by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. The effects of $Mn^{2+}$ on the NMDA receptors was assesed by the whole cell voltage clamp technique. Results: We showed that the NO release and NOS expression was increased with 500uM $MnCl_2$ treatment and an NOS inhibitors, $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$, prevented neurotoxicity elicited by manganese. In the electrophysiological study, $Mn^{2+}$ does not block or activate the NMDA receptors and not pass through the NMDA receptors in a neurons of basal ganglia. Conclusions: It is concluded that manganese neurotoxicity in basal ganglia was partially mediated by nitric oxide in the cell culture model.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.360-367
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• 2006

The endoinulinase gene (inu1) from Pseudomonas mucidolens was expressed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fusing with Aga2p linked to the membrane anchored protein, Aga1p. The inu1 gene of P. mucidolens was subcloned into the surface display vector, pCTcon (GAL1 promoter). The constructed plasmid, pCTENIU (8.5kb), was then introduced to S. cerevisiae EBY100 cells and the yeast transformants selected on synthetic defined media lacking uracil and inulin-containing media. The inu1 gene under the control of the GAL1 promoter was successfully expressed in the yeast transformants, and the surface display of endoinulinase confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy, along with its enzymatic ability to form inulooligosaccharides (IOSs) from inulin. The total endoinulinase activity reached about 2.31 units/ml when the yeast transform ants were cultivated on a YPDG medium. To efficiently hydrolyze the inulin, various reaction conditions were examined, including the pH, temperature, and inulin source. The optimized conditions were then determined as follows: pH, 7.0; temperature, $50^{\circ}C$; inulin source, Jerusalem artichoke. Under the optimized condition and 46 units of endoinulinase per g of inulin, IOSs started to be produced after 10 min of enzymatic reaction. The highest yield, 71.2% of IOSs, was achieved after 30 h of reaction without any significant loss of the initial enzyme activity. As a result of the reaction with inulin, IOSs consisting of inulobiose (F2), inulotriose (F3), inulotetraose (F4), and inulopentaose (F5) were produced, and F4 was the major product.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2011

N-Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) serve as the vital quorum-sensing signals that regulate the virulence of the pathogenic bacterium Erwinia carotovora. In the present study, an approach to efficiently restrain the pathogenicity of E. carotovora-induced soft rot disease is described. Bacillus thuringiensis-derived N-acyl homoserine lactonase (AiiA) was projected onto the surface of Pseudomonas putida cells, and inoculation with both strains was challenged. The previously identified N-terminal moiety of the ice nucleation protein, InaQ-N, was applied as the anchoring motif. A surface display cassette with inaQ-N/aiiA was constructed and expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter in P. putida AB92019. Surface localization of the fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The antagonistic activity of P. putida MB116 expressing InaQ-N/AiiA toward E. carotovora ATCC25270 was evaluated by challenge inoculation in potato slices at different ratios. The results revealed a remarkable suppressing effect on E. carotovora infection. The active component was further analyzed using different cell fractions, and the cell surface-projected fusion protein was found to correspond to the suppressing effect.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

Cortical reaction and polyspermy block are well defined in most marine invertebrates. In Urechis species, the function of cortical granules (CGs) is not yet known, and there is controversy on whether the cortical reaction occurs, or the fertilization envelope (FE) is attributed to CG releases or functions to prevent polyspermy. This study was carried out to determine the cortical reactions and functions of the FE in Urechis unicinctus. Artificial insemination of the eggs revealed that CG release occurred to give rise to perivitelline space (PS) into the final FE. Both PS and final FE effectively blocked polyspermy. The final FE was accomplished within 10 min after sperm-egg initial binding. No massive release of CGs occurred within the early phase of 5 min after the initial binding, initially and the PS seemed to playa role to prevent polyspermy. The CG massively released its content into the PS in late phase of FE formation, and differentiated PS into five intermediate layers. The layers opened into each other by anastomosis, so that the final FE consisted of two layers, the inner layer ($15{\mu}m$ in thickness) and the outer layer ($1{\mu}m$ in thickness). The outer layer derived from vitelline layer and the inner layer consisted of PS and CG secretions. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy revealed that the spermatozoon took up residence in the egg cortex during FE formation and successive meioses of the fertilized egg. These results suggest that both PS and final FE of U. unicinctus were equivalent to the early and late block, respectively, of other marine animals.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Ulmus root-bark dressing in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of induced pressure ulcers in rats. Methods: 54 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and randomly divided into 2 groups. The rats were anesthetized and pressure ulcers were induced at 140 mmHg for three hours, using a personally-designed pressing apparatus. Ulmus dressing was applied in the experimental group (n=27) and saline gauze dressing in the control group (n=27). Each of the dressings was changed every other day, and after a month, the wounds were examined by microscopy biweekly for 20 weeks. Results: After 4 weeks, the epidermis of the wounds was recovered, but inflammatory infiltration of the dermis was remained. After 6 weeks, inflammatory cells were diminished and the number of capillaries was decreased. Examined by immunofluorescence staining, the FGF positive cells in the experimental group changed negatively after 18 weeks, but the control group still existed even after 20 weeks. VEGF positive cells in the experimental group also changed negatively after 20 weeks, but the control group still existed. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that Ulmus dressing is effective in minimizing scar formation and inflammatory reaction by decreasing FGF and VEGF in the terminal phase of wound healing.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.373-376
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• 2015

Background: EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A) is a novel gene that regulates programmed cell death through autophagy and apoptosis. Our objective was to investigate the expression profiles and potential role of EVA1A in normal and neoplastic human pancreatic tissues. Materials and Methods: The expression pattern of EVA1A in normal pancreatic tissue was examined by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Protein levels in paraffin-embedded specimens from normal and diseased pancreatic and matched non-tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: EVA1A colocalized with glucagon but not with insulin, demonstrating production in islet alpha cells. Itwas strongly expressed in chronic pancreatitis, moderately or weakly expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and absent in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Although the tissue architecture was deformed, EVA1A was absent in the alpha cells of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystadenomas, solid papillary tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Conclusions: EVA1A protein is specifically expressed in islet alpha cells, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating alpha-cell function. The ectopic expression of EVA1A in pancreatic neoplasms may contribute to their pathogenesis and warrants further investigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6391-6395
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• 2014

Overexpression of aquaporins (AQPs) has been reported in several human cancers. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (Erk1/2) are associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression and may upregulate AQP expression. In this study, we demonstrated that EGF (epidermal growth factor) induces SiHa cells migration and AQP8 expression. Wound healing results showed that cell migration was increased by 2.79-1.50-fold at 24h and 48h after EGF treatment. AQP8 expression was significantly increased (3.33-fold) at 48h after EGF treatment in SiHa cells. An EGFR kinase inhibitor, PD153035, blocked EGF-induced AQP8 expression and cell migration and AQP8 expression was decreased from 1.59-fold (EGF-treated) to 0.43-fold (PD153035-treated) in SiHa. Furthermore, the MEK (MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/Erk (extracellular signal regulated kinase)/Erk inhibitor U0126 also inhibited EGF-induced AQP8 expression and cell migration. AQP8 expression was decreased from 1.21-fold (EGF-treated) to 0.43-fold (U0126-treated). Immunofluorescence microscopy further confirmed the results. Collectively, our findings show that EGF induces AQP8 expression and cell migration in human cervical cancer SiHa cells via the EGFR/Erk1/2 signal transduction pathway.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 2015

This report describes the molecular characterization of the Tc8.2 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi. Both the Tc8.2 gene and its encoded protein were analyzed by bioinformatics, while Northern blot and RT-PCR were used for the transcripts. Besides, immunolocalization of recombinant protein was done by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Analysis indicated the presence of a single copy of Tc8.2 in the T. cruzi genome and 2-different sized transcripts in epimastigotes/amastigotes and trypomastigotes. Immunoblotting showed 70 and 80 kDa polypeptides in epimastigotes and trypomastigotes, respectively, and a differential pattern of immunolocalization. Overall, the results suggest that Tc8.2 is differentially expressed during the T. cruzi life cycle.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate the immunopathological effects of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA) on spleen in mice. DMBA was administered subcutaneously to BALB/C mice by interscapular single injection of 50 or 100${\mu}g/g$ of body weight. Each DMBA treatment group and additional corn oil control group of mice were studied on day 1,3,7,14 and 21 following the injection of DMBA. DMBA treatment resulted in marked decrease in weights and cellularity of spleen. Spleen weights showed the greatest decrease at 14days after 50${\mu}g/g$ DMBA treatment, and at 21days after 100${\mu}g/g$ DMBA treatment. Spleen cellularity was similarly deceased in comparison with spleen weights. Spleen showed morphologically no typical changes throughout the experiment after 50${\mu}g/g$ DMBA treatment. Following the treatment of 100${\mu}g/g$ DMBA the spleen showed severe fibrosis, hemosiderin precipitation, and megakaryocytes decrease in red pulp at 14 days, while hemopoietic function was partly restored in addition to the appearance of a few megakaryocytes at 21 days. In spleen sections treated with antibodies to IgM or Thy1.2, lymphocytes strongly stained with IgM antibody were infiltrated around the central artery within the white pulp, and T-lymphocytes of periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) were diminished and destructed in sections treated with Thy1.2 antibody, at 14 days after the treatment of 100${\mu}g/g$ DMBA. By the electron microscopy phagocytic epithelial cells or macrophages were remarkably increased in spleen at 14and 21days following the treatment of 100${\mu}g/g$ DMBA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.321-326
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• 1994

Korean isolate, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (KPEDV-9) was adapted through serial passages in vero cell. The viral yield reached up to $10^{5-6}$ $TCID_{50}/ml$ at the passage level of 90th. The cell adapted virus was characterized through genetic and morphological examinations. The RNA extracted from virus infected cell revealed the presence of RNA band with molecular size of >20Kb. The electron microscopic examination on purified virus showed the pleomorphic appearance of enveloped particles with 5-10nm surface projections, which fit with the shape of coronavirus. The etiological survey on swine diarrhea by immunofluorescence test(FA) indicated 17.5% positive rate on the PEDV infection. In addition, the incidence were detected both in piglets within two weeks old as well as fattening pigs. Serological survey by ELISA revealed the overall 45% positive result, thus, indicating the PEDV infection are widespread throughout this country.