• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.443-450
• /
• 2012

Recently, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was proposed to accelerate adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell. We have previously shown that Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) gene expression. In this study, we focused on the molecular mechanism(s) of NOX4, G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes in anti-oxidative activities of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts markedly inhibits ROS production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Cheonnyuncho extracts suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme such as NOX4 and the NADPH-producing G6PDH enzyme. In addition, treatment with Cheonnyuncho extract was found to upregulate mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD (manganese-superoxide dismutase), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathion reductase (GR), and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract may be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation through mechanism(s) that involves direct down regulation of NOX4 and G6PDH gene expression or via upregulation of endogenous antioxidant responses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.838-845
• /
• 1995

The determination of ADA(adenosine deaminase) activity in pleural fluid is useful in differental diagnosis of pleural effusion. The conventional method of determining ADA activity used by Giusti was influenced by contamination of ammonia. Additionally, because Giusti's method was mannual method a determining the ADA activities in sample, was not easily automated. In 1993, Oosthuizen HM with collegues developed simple kinetic method for determining ADA activity. It was reliable and suiable method for automation. In this study, we have measured ADA activity in 162 patients with various pleural effusion by Hitachi 747 autoanalyser using the Oosthuizen kinetic method for the purpuse of determination of new diagnostic cut-off value for the tuberculous effusion and evaluation of the correlation between the conventional method and new automated method. This new method of an enzymatic reaction involves 2, 6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye(DICP), adenosine, xanthine oxidase(XO), and nucleoside phosphorylase(NP). The results were as follows: 1) The mean pleural ADA activity of the tuberculous effusion was $52.53{\pm}16.43\;U/L$ and significantly higher than that of other groups(p<0.001). If the diagnostic cut-off value of pleural ADA activity for tuberculous effusion is above 30 U/L, the sensitivity is 96% and the specificity is 90%. 2) The mean pleural to serum ADA activity ratio of the tuberculous effusion was $2.29{\pm}0.96$ and it was also significantly higher than that of other pleural groups(p<0.001). If the diagnostic cut-off value of pleural to serum ADA activity ratio is 1.5, the sensitivity is 80% and the specificity is 88% in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. 3) The new kinetic method is correlates well to Giuisti's conventional method(r=0.971). In conclusion, the new kinetic method described is easily automated and seems to be suitable for the routine determination of ADA activity.

• Solar Energy
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 1991

In this research, Octacosane($C_{28}H_{58}$) and Sodium Acetate Trihydrate($CH_3COONa{\cdot}3H_2O$) were selected as latent heat storage materials to store off-peak electricity or waste heat of an industrial plant. Experimental analyses were performed in terms of the variation of phase change temperature and latent heat, phase change stability for the long term utilization. The results were as follows. 1. The phase change temperatures of industrial grade Octacosane and Sodium Acetate Trihydrate were $60.7^{\circ}C$ and $57.4^{\circ}C$, the latent heat were 60.6kcal/kg and 51.1kcal/kg respectively. 2. The latent heat quantity of Octacosane was decreased with the increasing number of phase change cycles. It decreased from 60.6kcal/kg to 47.2kcal/kg upto 200 cycles and then no variation was observed after 200 cycles. 3. To prevent the supercooling of Sodium Acetate Trihydrate, the nucleating agent, Sodium Pyrophosphate Decahydrate of 3 wt% was added, and then the supercooling temperature (Tm-Tsc) was decreased from $25.7^{\circ}C$ to $1^{\circ}C$. The phase separation was disappeared by the addition of CMC-Na of 3 wt% as a thickener. It was found that the optimal quantity of nucleating agent and thickener was 4wt% considering the stability of SAT as a latent heat storage material. 4. The phase change temperature of Sodium Acetate Trihydrate($CH_3COONa{\cdot}3H_2O$) was adjusted from 57.4 to $46.2^{\circ}C$ by the addition of UREA. And then the latent heat quantity was decreased from 51.1 to 38.3kcal/kg. 5. When the heat storage capacities between the sensible and latent heat storage materials were analyzed and compared in heating process from 30 to $90^{\circ}C$, the heat storage capacity of Octacosane was 2.45 times larger than water and 12.5 times than granite at $60.7^{\circ}C$, and the heat storage capacity of Sodium Acetate Trihydrate was 2.53 times larger than water and 12.91 times than granite at $57.4^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.85-116
• /
• 2005

Gyeryongsan(845m) is located at $36^{\circ}\;18'\;02'\;-36^{\circ}\;23'\;38'$ in latitude, at $127^{\circ}\;11'\;60'-127^{\circ}\;17'\;86'$ in longitude and on Nonsan City and Gongju City in Chungnam Province. Gyeryongsan shows the typical vegetation patterns including the middle area of temperate region represented by the secondary forests of Quercus mongotica and Q. serrata. And we tried to discuss on the distribution and availability of vascular plants including economical plants. The results of plant collection and their investigation from April in 1998 to October in 2002 are as follows : The vascular plants consist of total 684 taxa; 3 hybrids, 12 forms, 84 varieties, 1 subspecies, 584 species, 357 genera, 100 families, 34 orders, 4 classes, 3 subphyla. In this area useful resources plants were 277 taxa$(40.5\%)$ forage source, 261 taxa$(38.2\%)$ edible source, 204 taxa$(29.8\%)$ medicinal source, 80 taxa$(11.7\%)$ ornamental source, 20 taxa$(2.9\%)$ timber source, 3 taxa$(0.4\%)$ industrial raw material source respectively. Also, the Korean endemic plants are 29 taxa($4.2\%$ among total 684 taxa); 5 varieties, 24 species, 27 genera, 20 families. And rare and endangered plants are 2 taxa; Paeonia obovate, Gastrodia elata. Also, the naturalized plants are 31 taxa($4.5\%$ among total 684 taxa and $13.7\%$ among the total naturalized plants in Korea).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.304-309
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: Generally, water plants may play an important role in nutrients(N, P) removal in constructed wetlands(CWs). Previous studies considered nutrients uptake by water plants in various CWs for treating point source pollution. On the other hand, few studies considered nutrients uptake by water plants in free water surface(FWS) CWs for treating non-point source pollution. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate characteristics of nutrient uptake by water plants in FWS CWs, dry weights, nutrients content and nutrients uptake by water plants were investigated from April, 2008 to October, 2008. Dominance plants were Phragmites japonica STEUD (PHRJA), Nymphaea tetragona ANGUSTA(NTMTE), Typha orientalis PRESL(TYHOR), Phragmites communis TRINIUS(PHRCO) and Zizanis latifolia TURCZ(ZIZLA) in FWS CWs. The dry weights of water plants in August were higher in the order of TYHOR(54.27 g/plant) > PHRJA(44.30 g/plant) ${\geqq}$ PHRCO(39.60 g/plant) ${\geqq}$ ZIZLA(37.80 g/plant) ${\fallingdotseq}$ NTMTE(36.75 g/plant). The T-N and T-P contents by water plants were not significantly differences regardless of cultivation period. The maximum amount of T-N uptake by water plants in August were 773 mg/plant for PHRJA, 625 mg/plant for NTMTE, 1206 mg/plant for TYHOR, 754 mg/plant for PHRCO and 768 mg/plant for ZIZLA. The maximum amounts of T-P uptake by PHRJA, NTMTE, TYHOR, PHRCO and ZIZLA were 397, 177, 411, 261 and 229 mg/plant in August, respectively. CONCLUSION(s): The results of this study suggest that optimum water plant was Typha orientalis PRESL in free water surface constructed wetlands.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 1986

Recently it has been shown that central dopaminergic system regulates the renal function and that intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered dopamine (DA) produces antidiuresis and antinaturiuresis, resembling icv norepinephrine, and evidence has been accumulated which would suggest the involvement of adrenergic system in the DA effects. It was attempted therefore in this study to see whether the DA effect is influenced by pretreatment of yohimbine which is known as a specific ${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptor$ antagonist. Yohimbine produced, when given icv in doses of $100\;{\mu}g/kg$, marked antidiuresis and antinatriuresis along with decreases in renal perfusion and glomerular filtration. DA, in doses of $15\;{\mu}g/kg$, also produced antidiuresis and antinaturiuresis. However, after yohimbine-pretreatment DA $15\;{\mu}g/kg$ improved renal hemodynamics, and electrolyte excretion and urine flow rate transiently increased. With $150\;{\mu}g/kg$ DA, the antidiuresis was more marked in the control group. But the yohimbine-pretreated animals responded with marked diuresis and natriuresis, sodium excretion increasing more than three-fold, which lasted for 20 minutes. $K^+-excretion$, osmolar clearance as well as free-water reabsorption increased. Renal hemodynamics improved partly. Apomorphine, a DA agonist, when given icv in doses of $150\;{\mu}g/kg$, produced diuresis and naturiuresis, concomitant with increased renal hemodynamics. Yohimbine-pretreatment however did not abolish the apomorphine-induced diuresis and naturiuresis. Antidiuresis and antinatriuresis elicited by norepinephrine, $10\;{\mu}g/kg$, was not affected by yohimbine-pretreatment. These results indicate that the renal effects of icv DA is not so simple as those of norepinephrine, and the diuretic natriuretic cffect which had been masked by the hemodynamic effect becomes manifest only when the decreases in hemodynamics were removed by the pretreatment of yohimbine. It was further suggested that those DA receptors which mediate the natriuretic response to icv DA is not affected by yohimbine, whereas those receptors involved in the decrease in renal hemodvnamics are blocked by yohimbine. And the possibility of involvement of adrcnergic system in the DA action is not substantiated.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.366-373
• /
• 2011

Recent studies suggested that Cheonnyuncho is a significant source of bioactive phenolic compounds, comparable to phytochemicals, including green tea and onion. In this study, the hot-water and 80% ethanolic extracts of Cheonnyuncho were assessed as to their total phenol content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH radical-scavenging activity and reducing power), and anti-obesity activity. The results showed that the total phenol contents of the hot water extract and the 80% ethanolic extract were $16.52{\pm}3.87$ and $13.44{\pm}0.85$ mg GAE/g, respectively. The total flavonoids content was detected only in the 80% ethanolic extract, however, with a 778.08 ${\mu}g$ catechin equivalents/g content. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity and reducing power of the 80% ethanolic extract from Cheonnyuncho was significantly higher than those of the water extract (p < 0.05). During the adipocyte differentiation, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cheonnyuncho more significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and ROS production than the 3T3-L1 cells that were treated with hot water extract. Furthermore, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cheonnyuncho suppressed the mRNA abundance of the adipogenic transcription factor, $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$), and its target gene, aP2 (adipocyte protein 2). These results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts can inhibit adipogenesis through a mechanism that involves direct down regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression or via modulation of ROS production associated with radical-scavenging activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.384-395
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the environment factors including community structure and soil characteristics in the wild habitats of Cephalotaxus koreana, and offers the basic information for habitats conservation and restoration. Most of the wild habitats were located at altitudes between 148~835 m with inclinations ranged as $12{\sim}32^{\circ}$. The average soil pH was 4.7~5.9, soil organic matter was 5.72~15.99%, cation exchange capacity was $14.1{\sim}19.9cmolc/kg^{-1}$ and exchangeable $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ was 0.25~0.48 cmolc/kg, 0.79~6.68 cmolc/kg, 0.31~1.73 cmolc/kg, respectively. The dominant species of tree layer were found to be dominated by Quercus dentata in Jekbo-san (C1), Acer pictum in Bogae-san (C2), Acer pseudosieboldianum in Geumwon-san (C3), Q. serrata in Jiri-san (C4), Zelkova serrata in Baegun-san (C5), and Q. acutissima in Duryun-san (C6). The Species diversity (H') was 0.854~1.234, evenness (J') was 0.654~0.993, and dominance (D) was found to be 0.067~0.346. Correlation coefficients analysis based on environmental factors, community structure and value of species diversity shows that growth of Cephalotaxus koreana is correlated with species diversity and evenness. This result show that Cephalotaxus koreana habitats located in mature stands.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.922-928
• /
• 2011

In order to properly manage the quality of water in Juam Lake, distributions and growth characteristics of submerged plants in Boknae flood control reservoir were investigated. In addition, the total amount of nutrient load by submerged plants were investigated. The total vegetation area was $1,146,849m^2$ of total flood control reservoirs ($1,848,568m^2$) before flooding. By August 19, all of Boknae flood control reservoir was flooded during rainy season. Dominant plants were MISSA (Miscanthus sacchariflorus), SCPMA (Scirpus fluviatilis) and CRXDM (Carex dimorpholepis) which occupied 87% of all flood control reservoirs. The total amounts of organic matter loads at different submerged plants were great in the order of CRXDM ($501,642kg\;area^{-1}$) > SCPMA ($20,987kg\;area^{-1}$) > MISSA ($3,413kg\;area^{-1}$). The total amounts of nitrogen loads by CRXDM, SCPMA and MISSA under different submerged plants were 56%, 3.9% and 0.8%, respectively. The total amounts of phosphorus loads at different submerged plants were on the order of CRXDM ($1,842kg\;area^{-1}$) > SCPMA ($78kg\;area^{-1}$) > MISSA ($14.8kg\;area^{-1}$). Therefore, the results of this study suggest that organic matter, T-N and T-P in water quality of Juam lake were strongly influenced by submerged plants in flood control reservoir.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate possible acute toxicity and early response of concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin as a radiosensitizer in patients with locally advanced uterine cervical carcinomas. Materials and Method : From December 1996 to January 1999, 38 previously untreated Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (from stage IIB to stage IIIB) were treated at Inha University Hospital. All patients underwent standard pretreatment staging Procedures after the initial evaluation by gynecologists and radiation oncologists. Sixteen Patients with huge cervical mass (>4 cm) were submitted to the group treated with concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin while the remainder was treated with radiation therapy alone. Radiation therapy consisted of 4500 cGy external beam irradiation to whole pelvis (midline block after 3000 cGy), 900$\~$1000 cGy boost to involved parametrium, and high dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (a total dose of 3000$\~$3500 cGy/500 cGy per fraction to point A, twice per week). In the group treated with low dose cisplatin concurrently, 10 mg of daily intravenous cisplatin was given from the 1st day of radiation therapy to the 20th day of radiation therapy. Acute toxicity was measured according to expanded common toxicity criteria of the NCI (C) Clinical Trials. Early response data were analyzed at minimum 4 weeks' follow-up after completion of the treatment protocol. Results: Hematolgic toxici쇼 was more prominent in patients treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin. Six of 16 patients (37.5$\~$) treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin and one of 22 patients (4.5$\~$) treated with radiation therapy alone experienced grade 3 leukopenia. In Fisher's exact test, there was statistically significant difference between two groups regarding leukopenia (P=0.030). There was no apparent difference in the frequency of gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity between two groups (P=0.066). Three of 16 patients (18.7$\~$) treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin and two of 22 patients (9.1$\~$) treated with radiation therapy alone experienced more than 5 kg weight loss during the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference on weight loss between two groups (P=0.63). Two patients on each group were not evaluable for the early response because of incomplete treatment. The complete response rate at four weeks' follow-up was 80$\~$(16/20) for the radiation therapy alone group and 78$\~$ (11/14) for the radiation therapy and cisplatin group. There was no statistically significant difference in early response between two treatment groups (P=0.126). Conclusion : This study led to the conclusion that the hematologic toxicity from the treatment with concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin seems to be more prominent than that from the treatment of radiation therapy alone. There was no grade 4 hematologic toxicity or mortality in both groups. The hematologic toxicity in both treatment groups seems to be well managable modically. Since the risk factors were not balanced between two treatment groups, the direct comparison of early response of both groups was not possible. However, preliminary results regarding early response for patients with bulky cervical tumor mass treated with radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin was encouraging. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the survival data. A phase III study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of concurrent daily low dose cisplatin with radiation therapy in bulky cervical cancer.