• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2004

Chronic exposure to solar radiation, particularly ultraviolet (UV) light, causes a variety of adverse reactions on human skin, such as sunburn, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by UV exposure or other environmental facts play critical roles in cellular damage. And, repeated-UV irradiation activated the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and induced skin irritation. Therefore, the development of effective and safe photoprotectants that can reduce and improve the skin damage has been required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the photo-protective effect of several chinese medical plants (Juniperus chinensis) on the UV -induced skin cell damages. We tested free radical and superoxide scavenging effect in vitro. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of MMP-1 (collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. UVA induced MMP-1 synthesis and activity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in skin fibroblasts. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects by the determination test of proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 in HaCaT keratinocytes. Expression of prostaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) after UVB irradiation was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay(EIA) using PGE$_2$ monoclonal antibody. In the human skin we tested anti-irritation effect on the SLS-induced damage skin after appling the extract containing emulsion. We found that Juniperus chinensis extract had potent radical scavenging effect by 98% at 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. The extract of Juniperus chinensis showed strong inhibitory effect on MMP-1 activities by 97% at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL and suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by 79% at 25$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. This extract also showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. In the test of proinflammatory cytokines of human keratinocytes Juniperus chinensis extract decreased expression of interleukin 6 about 30%. The amount of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes was significantly increased at the doses of above 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of UVB (p < 0.05). At the concentrations of 3.2-25$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of this extract, the production of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes (24 h after 10mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UVB irradiation) was significantly inhibited in culture supernatants (p < 0.05). In SLS-induced skin irritation model in vivo, we found to reduce skin erythema and improve barrier recovery after appling Juniperus chinensis extract containing emulsion when compared to irritated non-treated and placebo-treated skin. Our results suggest that Juniperus chinensis extract can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced adverse skin reactions and applied as anti-aging and anti-irritation cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2007

With a broad objective for the development of microbial based fertilizers, a total of 373 strains were isolated from rhizoplane and rhizosphere of pepper, tomato, lettuce, pasture, and grass. The efficacy of the isolates to augument overall plant growth was evaluated. After screening for their plant growth promotion and antagonistic properties in vitro efficient strains were further selected. The most efficient strains was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequences and biochemical techniques and was designated as Bacillus subtilis S37-2. The strains facilitated plant growth and inhibited the plant phathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum (KACC 40037, Rhizoctonia solani (KACC 40140), and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (KACC 40457). Pot based bioassay using lettuce as test plant was conducted by inoculating suspension ($10^5$ to $10^8cells\;mL^{-1}$) of B. subtilis S37-2 to the rhizosphere of lettuce cultivated in soil pots. Compared with non-inoculated pots, marked increase in leaf (42.3%) and root mass (48.7%) was observed in the inoculation group where the 50ml of cell mixture ($8.7{\times}10^8cells\;ml^{-1}$) was applied to the rhizosphere of letuce either once or twice. Antagonistic effects of B. subtilis S37-2 strain on S. sclerotiorum (KACC 40457) were tested. All the tested lettuce plants perished after 9 days in treatment containing only S. sclerotiorum, but only 17% of lettuce was perished in the inoculation plot. B. subtilis grew well in the TSB culture medium. The isolates grew better in yeast extracts than peptone and tryptone as nitrogen source. The growth rate was 2~4 times greater at $37^{\circ}C$ as compared with $30^{\circ}C$ incubation temperature. B. subitlis S37-2 produced $0.1{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of IAA (indole 3-acetic acid) in the TSB medium containing L-tryptophan($20mg\;L^{-1}$) in 24 hours.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 1998

Boar semen extender Kp (Hankook Life-Science, Korea) was newly formulated by authors. This study was carried out to investigate the optimal concentrations of EDTA, Tris and citrate buffers in the Kp extender (Basic Kp) on the pH change during storage. And then the motility of boar sperm with the Kp pH stabilized (Modified Kp) was compared with those of commercial products imported into Korea such as BTS (Mini-tube. Germany; BTSg), BTS (Tri-bio, USA; BTSa) and Modena (SGI, USA). The pH values of all extenders were increased gradually with the storage days. Especially, the initial pH of Basic Kp was higher than that of BTSg, BTSa and Modena, and also higher than physiological pH of boar sperm (6.8∼7.5). When Basic Kp was added with various concentrations of EDTA (0, 0.63, 1.25 ＆ 2.37g/L), Tris (0, 0.18, 0.35, 0.71 ＆ 1.42g/L) and Citrate (0, 0.75, 0.81, 1.00, 1.25 ＆ 1.50g/L) buffers for pH down-regulation and stabilization of pH, the group added with 1.25g EDTA, 1.42g Tris and 1.00g Citrate well maintained the neutral range of pH during storage (6.88 at day1 to 7.33 at day6 in Modified Kp), Especially, the concentrations of the buffers added in Modified Kp were lower, until 1/2∼1/4 ranges, than those in Modena and other extenders. The motility of frozen-thawed boar sperm diluted with Modified Kp was significantly higher than that of Basic Kp, BTSg, BTSa and Modena (87.0% vs. 55.0∼71.0% at day1; 13.3% vs. 0∼6.3% at day6), Conclusively, Modified Kp in this experiment was kept the favorable physiological conditions in spite of low concentrations of the buffers and motility of frozen-thawed boar sperm was obtained better than that of Basic Kp and other commercial products such as BTSg, BTSa and Modena.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 1999

Background: Ischemia reperfusion injury is known to contribute to the major causes of the early graft failure in lung transplantation. Triiodothyronine (T3) has been suggested to ameliorate ischemia reperfusion injury from both in vivo and in vitro experiments of various organs. Prospecting its beneficial effect for pulmonary allograft preservation, we made a new solution by adding T3 into the extracellular type dextran solution. Material and Method: Twelve adult mongrel dogs underwent left lung allotransplantation. Six donor dogs were flushed with the new solution(Group 1, n=6), and the remaining six were flushed with Euro-Collins solution to serve as controls(Group 2, n=6). Allografts were stored in each preservation solution for 20 hours at 4$^{\circ}C$. Left single lung transplantations were performed. The right pulmonary artery and the right main bronchus were clamped at 15 minutes after the reperfusion and maintained throughout the experiment to evaluate the transplanted left lung function. Result: Arterial carbon dioxide tension was better in group 1 than in group 2 throughout the experiment period and the difference was statistically significant at 2 hours after reperfusion(28.0${\pm}$3.0 mmHg and 53.1${\pm}$17.4 mmHg, p<0.05). The differences of arterial oxygen partial pressure, peak airway pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance showed no statistical significance. The malondialdehyde(MDA) level, measured from tissue obtained at 120 minutes after reperfusion showed no statistically significant difference. The tissue wet/dry ratio of group 1(649${\pm}$27 %) was significantly lower than that of group 2(686${\pm}$71 %, p<0.05). The microscopic examination revealed varying degrees of injury represented mainly by findings such as perivascular neutrophil infiltration, capillary hemorrhage and interstitial congestion. These findings were less severe in group 1 than those in group 2. Conclusion: The new solution demonstrated superior allograft preservation after 20 hour ischemia compared to Euro-Collins solution in canine single left lung transplantation model, these results suggest that T3 might be a promising agent for pulmonary allograft preservation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the in vivo and in vitro inhibitory effect of a traditional herbal complex (HC) extract prepared from a mixture of four oriental herbs (Dioscorea Rhizoma, Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc, Bombycis corpus, Fermented Glycine soja) that have been widely used for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus on hyperglycemia. The water extract of HC showed potent inhibitory effect on $\alpha$-glucosidase with $IC_{50}$ value of 1.24 mg/mL. Additionally, the ethanol extract of HC was also found to exhibit significant inhibitory effect against protein tyrosine phosphatase $1{\beta}$ ($PTP1{\beta}$), which is known as a major regulator of both insulin and leptin signaling. In the $PTP1{\beta}$ inhibitory assay, the most active n-hexane fraction obtained from the ethanol extract of HC, was identified as a mixture of fatty acid derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In high-fat diet-low dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat, the water extract of HC improved the oral glucose intolerance as compared with rosiglitazone. HC also caused a marked decrease of body weight and fasting blood glucose and a significant improvement on glucose tolerance in metabolic syndrome mice model. These findings support that this traditional HC may be useful in the control of blood glucose in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.470-486
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• 1995

Mammary epithelial cells contain a subpopulation of cells with a large proliferativ potential which are responsible for the maintenance of glandular cellularity and are the progenitor cells of mammary cancer. These clonogens give rise to multicellular clonal alveolar or ductal units(AU or DU) on transplantation and hormonal stimulation. To isolate putative mammary clonogens, enzymatically monodispersed rat mammary epithelial cells from organoid cultures and from intact glands are sorted by flow cytometry according to their affinity for FITC labeled peanut lectin(PNA) and PE labeled anti-Thy-1.1 antibody(Thy-1.1) into four subpopulations : cells negative to both PNA and Thy-1.1(B-), PNA+cells, Thy-1.1+cells, and cells positive to both reagents(B+). The in vivo transplantation assays indicate that the clonogenic fractions of PNA+cells from out-growths of organoids in primary cultures for three days in complete hormone medium(CHM) are significantly higher than those of cells from other subpopulations derived from cultrues or from intact glands. Extracellular matrix(ECM) is a complex of several proteins that regulated cell function ; its role in cell growth and differentiation and tissue-specific gene expression. It can act as a positive as well as a negative regulator of cellular differentiation depending on the cell type and the genes studied. Regulation by ECM is closely interrelated with the action of other regulators of cellular function, such as growth factors and hormones. Matrigel supports the growth and development of several different multicellular colonies from mammary organoids and from monodispersed epithelial cells in culture. Several types of colonies are observed including stellate colonies, duct-like structures, two- and three-dimensional web structures, squamous organoids, and lobulo-duct colonies. Organoids have the greatest proliferative potential and formation of multi-cellular structures. Phase contrast micrographs demonstrate extensive intracellular lipid accumulation within the web structures and some of duct-like colonies. At the immunocytochemical and electron micrograph level, casein proteins are predominantly localized near the apical surface of the cells or in the lumen of duct-like or lobulo-duct colonies. Squamous colonies are comprised of several layers of squamous epithelium surrounding keratin pearls as is typical fo squamous metaplasia(SM). All-trans retinoic acid(RA) inhibits the growth of SM. The frequency of lobulo-ductal colony formation increased with the augmentation of RA concentration in these culture conditions. The current study models could provide powerful tools not only for understanding cell growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, but also for the isolation and characterization of mammary clonogenic stem cells.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2002

This study was designed to examine the ability of the bovine (MII) oocytes cytoplasm to support several mitotic cell cycles under the direction of differentiated somatic cell nuclei of bovine, porcine, mouse and human. Bovine GV oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS. At 20h after IVM, recipient oocytes were stained with 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ Hoechst and their 1st polar body (PB) and MII plate were removed by enucleation micropipette under UV filter. Ear skin samples were obtained by biopsy from an adult bovine, porcine, mouse and human and cultured in 10% FBS added DMEM. Individual fibroblast was anlaysed chromosome number to confirm the specificity of species. Nuclear transferred (NT) units were produced by electrofusion of enucleated bovine oocytes with individual fibroblast. The reconstructed embryos were activated in 5 $\mu$M ionomycin for 5 min followed by 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP) in CR1aa for 3 h. And cleaved NT embryos were cultured in CR1aa medium containing 10% FBS on monolayer of bovine cumulus cell for 8 days. Also NT embryo of 4~8 cell stage was analysed chromosome number to confirm the origin of nuclear transferred somatic cell. The rates of fusion between bovine recipient oocytes and bovine, porcine, mouse and human somatic cells were 70.2%, 70.2%, 72.4% and 63.0%, respectively. Also, their cleavage rates were 60.6%, 63.7%, 54.1% and 62.7%, respectively, there were no differences among them. in vitro development rates into morula and blastocyst were 17.5% and 4.3% in NT embryos from bovine and human fibroblasts, respectively. But NT embryos from porcine and mouse fibroblasts were blocked at 16~32-cell stage. The chromosome number in NT embryos from individual fibroblast was the same as chromosome number of individual species. These results show that bovine MII oocytes cytoplasm has the ability to support several mitotic cell cycles directed by newly introduced nuclear DNA.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

Numerous hormones are involved in the regulation of reproduction. Among them, estrogen and progesterone are the most important ovarian steroid hormones regulating female fertility. On the other hand, diverse stressors impede female receptivity and fertility. Since norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) are released from the adrenal during stress, it might play a role in stress-induced disruptions of fEmale reproductive parameters. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in adrenal catecholaminergic activities in cycling rats. The tissue content and secretion level of catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). Adrenomedullary content of norepinephrine(NE) was increased on proestrus stage (59.47 $\pm$ 6.86 ug/gland), peaked on diestrus I stage(65.22 $\pm$ 5.99 ug/gland), and was nadir on diestrus II stage(41.63 $\pm$ 1.33 ug/gland). The highest E content was observed on proestrus stage(361.86 $\pm$ 15.58 ug/gland) while the lowest level was on diestrus II stage(285.58 $\pm$ 12.25 ug/gland). In addition to these observations, a significant reduction of the NE : E ratio was observed (1 : 4.81 on diestrus I vs 1 : 6.13～7.02 on other stages). In vitro secretion of adrenal NE and E was increased on proestrus stage, peaked on estrus stage, and decreased on diestrus II stage. Interestingly, the NE : E ratio in conditioned media was significantly increased on estrus stage (1 : 3.32 vs 1 : 2.34～2.65 on other stages. The biosynthesis of NE and E is mediated by tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT) which acts conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and NE into E, respectively. These finding demonstrated that sex steroids, during setrous cycle, seem to be able to modify the adrenal catecholamines biosynthesis and secretion with stage-specific manner by modulation of the enzyme activities.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.356-370
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• 2008

This study was conducted for screening on antioxidant activity of 429 plants and selecting new potential antioxidant candidates. In vitro test models such as scavenging activity on DPPH radical and inhibitory activity on linoleic acid oxidation were used in the preliminary study. Flower of Sanguisorba officinalis, flower of Sedum kamtschaticum, flower of Rumex obtusifolius, and root of Sedum kamtschaticum showed very effective antioxidant activity on DPPH radical and linoleic acid oxidation. Those plants showed 8.1, 9.4, 9.9, $11{\mu}g/ml$ in DPPH radical scavenging activity as $SC_{50}$ and did 80.4, 80.1, 84.5, 88.0% in inhibition activity on linoleic acid oxidation, respectively. Root of Sedum middendorfianum M. showed positive effects in superoxide radical scavenging activity ($38.4{\mu}g/ml$) and inhibitory effect on $CuSO_4$-induced LDL oxidation (53.8% at final concentration of $1{\mu}g/ml$). Gleditsia japonica Mig. showed high antioxidant activity on LDL oxidation as 71.6% at final concentration of $1{\mu}g/ml$ and total phenol content of 958.5 mg% as tannic acid equivalent. In conclusion, we think that these plants having potent antioxidant activity might be studied further and could be used as new resources for many purposes including healthy food, functional cosmetics and drug development etc.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2016

The bifunctional PheA protein, having chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase (CMPD) activities, is one of the key regulatory enzymes in the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, and is negatively regulated by an end-product, phenyalanine. Therefore, PheA protein has been thought as useful for protein engineering to utilize mass production of essential amino acid phenylalanine. To obtain feedback resistant PheA protein against phenylalanine, we mutated by using random mutagenesis, extensively screened, and obtained $pheA^{FBR}$ gene encoding a feedback resistant PheA protein. The mutant PheA protein contains substitution of Leu to Phe at the position of 118, displaying that higher affinity (about $290{\mu}M$) for prephenate in comparison with that (about $850{\mu}M$) of wild type PheA protein. Kinetic analysis showed that the saturation curve of $PheA^{FBR}$ against phenyalanine is hyperbolic rather than that of $PheA^{WT}$, which is sigmoidal, indicating that the L118F mutant enzyme has no cooperative effects in prephenate binding in the presence of phenylalanine. In vitro enzymatic assay showed that the mutant protein exhibited increased activity by above 3.5 folds compared to the wild type enzyme. Moreover, L118F mutant protein appeared insensitive to feedback inhibition with keeping 40% of enzymatic activity even in the presence of 10 mM phenylalanine at which the activity of wild type $PheA^{WT}$ was not observed. The substitution of Leu to Phe in CMPD may induce significant conformational change for this enzyme to acquire feedback resistance to end-product of the pathway by modulating kinetic properties.