• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.292-298
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• 1997

An ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma) emission spectrometer was developed with an axially viewed ICP source incorporated by a 5-turned induction coil and a torch, outer quartz tube of which was 50 mm longer than that used in conventional ICP/AES(Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry). The Optimization of the system has been performed in terms of the determination of signal-to-noise ratio and background intensity at various rf powers, sample flow rates, argon gas flow rates and cut-off gas flow rates. The spectro-analytical characteristics of the spectrum obtained between 200 and 500 nm was revealed to be similar compared with a vertically viewed ICP source. The detection limit of Pb(Ⅱ) at 220.35 nm was 11 ppb which was 5 times lower than that obtained with a vertically viewed ICP source.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.230-238
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• 1999

The present study was conducted to investigate te effect of sea tangle and hypoglycemic agent(Metformin) on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants levels in normal and diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed AIN-76 based experimental diets containing 5% (w/w) cellulose or 15%(w/w) sea tangle for 3 weeks, and then rats of diabetic groups were rendered diabetic by intramuscular injection of streptozotocin(STZ, 45mg/kg BW). After induction of diabetes Metformin(350mg/kg BW) was given once a day using a feeding tube for 5 days. Blood glucose level in diabetic rats fed sea tangle was significantly lower than that of diabetic rats fed cellulose. Metformin feeding resulted in further lowering blood glucose. Plasma and liver microsomal levels of lipid peroxides were increased significantly in diabetic rats as compared to normal rats, and the plasma level tended to be decreased by sea tangle feeding. Plasma level of retinol was reduced by STZ treatment, but it was increased by Metformin feeding in diabetic rats fed sea tangle. The liver contents of retinyl plamitate were reduced in diabetic rats but recovered by sea tangle feeding to some extent. Liver contents of total vitamin A were increased significantly by sea tangle in diabetic rats. Although difference in either plasma or liver level of $\alpha$-tocopherol by diet and STZ treatment was not significant, $\alpha$-tocopherol levels were the highest in the group with simultaneous feeding of sea tangle and metformin. Liver contents of zinc and copper were not influenced by either STZ treatment or sea tangle feeding. The present study indicates that the lowering blood glucose level could be attained by simultaneous trial of sea tangle diet and hypoglycemic agent and the increased oxidative stress caused by STZz treatment could be relieved by sea tangle feeding.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2009

We previously reported that $IFN-{\gamma}$ producing T cell responses induced by the combined therapy of DNA vaccine and lamivudine for one year are important for the induction of sustained virological response (SVR). However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production is not sufficient to predict sustained viremia control in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers treated. Methods: Twelve CHB carriers were intramuscularly immunized 12 times at a 4-week interval with 8mg of HBV DNA vaccine during the standard lamivudine treatment (100mg/daily/1 year). The level of cytokines during and after the combined therapy in plasma of all 12 CHB carriers treated was determined by each ELISA kit. Six out of 12 CHB carriers revisited the clinic, and their HBV DNA levels were examined. Results: The combined therapy increased plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio during the treatment (baseline vs. peak level: $41.8{\pm}8.3$ vs. $163.1{\pm}29.2\;pg/ml$; p<0.01 and $0.96{\pm}0.25$ vs. $3.58{\pm}0.86$; p<0.01, respectively), and the peak level of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio was evoked at 6 to 10 months during the combined therapy. In particular, CHB carriers with SVR had two and three-fold higher level of the peak plasma IL-12 and plasma IL-12/p40 ratio than non-virological responders (NVRs), respectively ($218.0{\pm}41.4$ vs. $108.1{\pm}28.6\;pg/ml$; p=0.09 and $5.35{\pm}1.38$ vs. $1.80{\pm}0.29$; p<0.05, respectively), while p40 level was consistent during the combined therapy. In addition, there was no significant temporal correlation between the peak IL-12/p40 ratio and the elevation of serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in this study, contrast to $IFN-{\alpha}$ therapy which induced peak IL-12 level following ALT flares. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the combined therapy induces the increase of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio, which are associated with long-term SVR in CHB carriers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2011

Oxidative stress leads to the induction of cellular oxidative damage, which may cause adverse modifications of DNA, proteins, and lipids. The production of reactive species during oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Antioxidant defenses can neutralize reactive oxygen species and protect against oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant status and the degree of DNA damage in Korean young adults using glutathione s-transferase (GST) polymorphisms. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were characterized in 245 healthy young adults by smoking status, and their oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes and antioxidant status were assessed by GST genotype. General characteristics were investigated by simple questionnaire. From the blood of the subjects, GST genotypes; degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes; the erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; plasma concentrations of total peroxyl radical-trapping potential (TRAP), vitamin C, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol, ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-carotene and cryptoxanthin, as well as plasma lipid profiles, conjugated diene (CD), GOT, and GPT were analyzed. Of the 245 subjects studied, 23.2% were GSTM1 wild genotypes and 33.4% were GSTT1 wild genotype. No difference in erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, and the plasma TRAP level, CD, GOT, and GPT levels were observed between smokers and non-smokers categorized by GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotype. Plasma levels of ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol increased significantly in smokers with the GSTT1 wild genotype (p < 0.05); however, plasma level of ${\alpha}$-carotene decreased significantly in non-smokers with the GSTM1 wild genotype (p < 0.05). DNA damage assessed by the Comet assay was significantly higher in non-smokers with the GSTM1 genotype; whereas DNA damage was significantly lower in non-smokers with the GSTT1 genotype. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in non-smokers with the GSTT1 genotype than those with the GSTT1 wild genotype (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the GSTM1 genotype or the GSTT1 wild genotype in non-smokers aggravated their antioxidant status through DNA damage of lymphocytes; however, the GSTT1 wild type in non-smokers had normal plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. This finding confirms that GST polymorphisms could be an important determinant of antioxidant status and plasma lipid profiles in non-smoking young adults. Further study is necessary to clarify the antioxidant status and/or lipid profiles of smokers with the GST polymorphism and to conduct a study with significantly more subjects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5823-5828
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• 2015

Micronutrients in food have been found to have chemopreventive effects, supporting the conclusions from epidemiologie studies that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables reduces cancer risk. The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of querctin (Q) and sodium gluconate (GNA) supplementation separately or in combination in ameliorating promotion of colon tumor development by dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH) in mice. Histopathological observation of colons in mice treated with DMH showed goblet cell dysplasia with inflammatory cell infiltration. This pathological finding was associated with significant alteration in oxidative stress markers in colon tissues and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in plasma. Mice co-treated with GNA and Q showed mild changes of absorptive and goblet cells and inflammatory cell infiltration in lamina properia, with improvement in oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, findings of the present study indicate significant roles for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pathogenesis of DMH-induced colon toxicity and initiation of colon cancer. Also, they suggest that Q, GNA or the combination of both have a positive beneficial effect against DMH induced colonic cancer induction in mice.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1055-1062
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary chlorella intake could have an effect on antioxidative capacity in rats oxidatively stressed with cadmium (Cd). Sprague-Dawley rats fed dietary chlorella (0, 5, and 10%) for 4 weeks after induction of oxidative stress by exposing to Cd (200 ppm) for 8 weeks. After the oxidative stress applied, plasma and liver malondialdehyde concentrations and xanthine oxidase activities were decreased in 5% chlorella fed group compared to chlorella free group. Although liver heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was not affected by chlorella, the enzyme activity was improved in 5% chlorella fed group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic metallothionein concentration were increased in 5% chlorella fed group. However, 10% chlorella intake had no effect on the improvement of oxidative stress-related enzymes and proteins. These findings suggest that, after induction of oxidative stress with Cd, 5% chlorella intake might improve antioxidative capacity against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2002

The main objectives were to investigate the suitability of CaO crucible for melting TiAl alloys and to develop investment mold for investment casting of TiAl alloys. TiAl alloy specimen were prepared by plasma arc furnace under argon atmosphere. After melting of TiAl alloy using CaO crucible, the results showed that there is little contamination of oxygen in the TiAl bulk. Conventional vacuum induction furnaces can be readily adaptable to produce cast parts of TiAl without high skilled techniques. The determination of optical metallography and microhardness profiles in investment cast TiAl alloy rods has allowed the gradation of the relative thermal stability of the oxides examined. The molds used for the present study were $ZrO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, CaO stabilized $ZrO_2$ and $ZrSiO_4$. Even although high temperature of mold preheating, $Al_2O_3$ mold is a promising mold material for investment casting of TiAl alloys in terms of thermal stability, cost and handling strength. It is important to take thermal stability and preheating temperature of mold into consideration for investment casting of TiAl alloys.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

This study was carried out to develop the useful inducing method of estrus for Korean native cows. Under the condition of estrus induction by administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ for the cows in which corpus luteum (CL) in ovaries was detected by ultrasonography, ovarian responses and the changes of progesterone ($P_4$) concentration against $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ compared with conception rate were observed in cows and heifers. In inducing estrus administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. to the cows which has corpus luteum in ovaries, ovarian reponses, the changes of progesterone concentration, and conception rate were identified and compared. The results attained from the studies were as follows. Significant decreases of CL in size over time after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ administration were detected in both cow and heifer groups (p<0.001), but not different between groups in the CL regression rate (p>0.05). In addition, the percentage changes relative to the plasma $P_4$ concentration on day 1 after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were decreased to below 1ng/ml. The growth rate of follicle was observed as 31% on day 1 and 42% on day 2 in cows, and 34% on day 1 and 97% on day 2 in heifers, resulting that growth of heifers are faster than that of cows (p<0.05). The conception rate after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were 60.5% and 64.2% in cows and heifers, respectively. It also indicated that the conception rate after estrus observation with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection was as high as 66.6% while that with timed-artificial insemination (TAI) regardless of the estrus observation was 56%, which means the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination after estrus observation was higher than that of TAI (p<0.05). In the result of all above, there were significant decreases in CL size and the plasma $P_4$ concentration by days but rapid growth in follicles, which has no differences in cows and heifers. The conception rate was commonly high after estrus observation and more than 50% under TAI.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A) gene expression in the liver and sex steroid levels in plasma were investigated in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to tributyltin (TBT) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). We constructed a cDNA library and cloned a 230-base sequence encoding partial CYP1A DNA. The CYP1A gene expression level was estimated using northern blotting. Hepatic CYP1A mRNA levels in fish injected with BaP at 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) increased for 48 h after injection. However, fish injected with both BaP and TBT at 10 mg/kg b.w. showed no significant changes in CYP1A mRNA level after 48 h. Plasma concentrations of testosterone and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were not significantly different in males and females injected with BaP and TBT. We suggest that TBT-induced suppression of BaP bioactivity should be interpreted with caution in biomonitoring field studies.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.594-601
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• 2008

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Panax ginseng) has been used for several thousand years to prolong longevity in Asian countries. Ginsenosides are the most active components isolated from ginseng and belong to damarane saponin which are separated into protopanaxadiol and protopanaxtriol. To evaluate the complex effect of ginsenoside in apo E null mice, ginseng extract were intraperioneally (i.p.) injected and provided high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Ginseng extract came from were i.p. injected with dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks in the last experimental duration. Ginseng extract used experiment was abundant Rb1, Rc, Re, and Rg1 and PD：PT ratio was 1.2. The high-cholesterol diet induced liver damage was significantly reduced by ginseng extract. Results from plasma lipid profiles and atherogenic index were improved by ginseng extracts. The GE group significantly decreased plasma TG and TC by 73% and 61% compared to apo E (-/-) group. Also ginseng extract tend to decrease lipid profiles and lipidperoxidation contents in liver and heart. Ginseng extract with an abundant amount of Rg1 significantly suppressed the apoptosis induction of cardiac tissue. In conclusion, ginseng extract (PD：PT = 1) was improved lipid profiles and anti-oxidant effects.