• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.284-291
• /
• 2013

In this study, the antibacterial and antioxidative activities of Epimedium koreanum Nakai were investigated for applications as cosmetic ingredients. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fraction-bacterium, that showed high antibacterial activity from disc diffusion assay on human skin pathogens, were tested. The ethyl acetate fraction on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Propionibacterium acnes and 50% ethanol extract on S. aureus exhibited higher antibacterial activities than methyl paraben, well known as a preservative. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activities of 3 fractions of E. koreanum Nakai were lower than (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, known as a typical antioxidant. From the results of the scavenging activities of various ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ systems ($OSC_{50}$), 50% ethanol extract ($OSC_{50}=2.46{\pm}0.06{\mu}g/ml$) and aglycone fraction ($OSC_{50}=1.45{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/ml$) showed high activities similar to L-ascorbic acid ($OSC_{50}=1.50{\pm}0.85{\mu}g/ml$), used as reference. The cellular protective effects (${\tau}_{50}$) on photohemolysis by $^1O_2$ generated by photosensitization reaction were tested. The cellular protective effect of 50% ethanol extract (${\tau}_{50}=37.0{\pm}0.3$ min) was similar to (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol (${\tau}_{50}=38.0{\pm}1.8$ min), used as reference. In particular, the ${\tau}_{50}$ of aglycone fraction results were $165.9{\pm}7.2$ min. This is a high cellular protective effect, more than 4 times that of (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. These results indicate that E. koreanum Nakai extract, and its fractions, could be utilized as a cosmetic ingredient possessing antibacterial and antioxidative activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.1 no.1 s.1
• /
• pp.139-155
• /
• 2001

We investigate the vertical velocity models beneath the newly installed broadband seismic network of KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) by using receiver function inversion technique. The seismic phases are primarily P-to-S conversions and reverberations generated at the two highest impedance interfaces like the Moho (crust-mantle boundary) and the sediment-basement contact. We obtained the teleseismic P-wave receiver functions, which were derived from teleseismic records of Seoul (SEO), Inchon (INCN), Tejeon (TEJ) , Sosan (SOS/SES), Kangnung (KAN), Ulchin (ULC/ULJ), Taegu (TAG), Pusan (PUS), and Ullung-do (ULL) stations. For Kwangju (KWA/KWJ) and Chunchon (CHU) stations, the Moho conversion Ps arrivals and waveforms of radial receiver functions are azimuthally inconsistent and unclear. From the receiver function inversion result, we found that crustal thickness is 29 km at INCN, SEO, and SOS (SES) stations, 28 km at KAN station in the Kyonggi Massif, 32 km at TEJ station in Okchon Folded Belt, 34 km at TAG, 33 km at PUS station in the Kyongsang Basin, 32 km at KWJ station (readjusted station by prior KWA station) included in the Youngdong-Kwangju Depression Zone, 28 km at ULC station in the eastern margin of the Ryongnam Massif, and 17 km at ULL station in the Ullung Island of the East Sea, respectively. The Moho configuration of INCN, SOS, KWJ, and KAN stations show a laminated smooth transition zone with a 3-5 km thick. The upper crusts(${\sim}5km$) of KAN, ULC, and PUS stations show complex structures with a high velocity. The unusually thick crusts are found at the TAG and PUS stations in the Kyongsang Basin compared to the thin (29-32 km) crust of the western part (INCN, SEO, SOS, TEJ, and KWA stations) The crustal thickness beneath Ullung Island (ULL station) shows the suboceanic crust with about 17 km thickness and complex with a high velocity layer of the upper crust, and the amplitudes of Incoming Ps waves from the western direction are relatively large compared to those from othor directions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.2 s.177
• /
• pp.111-128
• /
• 2006

Three dimensional crustal structure and source features of earthquake hypocenters on the Korean peninsula were investigated using P and S-wave travel time tomography. The main goal of this research was to find Vp/Vs anomalies at earthquake hypocenters as well as those of crustal structure of basins and deep tectonic settings. This allowed fer the extrapolation of more detailed seismotectonic force from the Korean peninsula. The earthquake hypocenters were found to have high Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) at the vertical sections. High V/p/Vs ratios were also found in the sedimentary basins and beneath the Chugaryong Rift Zone (CRZ), which was due to mantle plume that subsequently solidified with many fractures and faults which were saturated with connate water. The hypocenters of most earthquakes were found in the upper crust for Youngwol (YE), Kyongju (KE), Hongsung (HE), Kaesong (KSE), Daekwan (DKE), and Daehung (DHE) earthquakes, but near the subcrust or the Moho Discontinuity for Mt. Songni (SE), Sariwon (SRE) and Mt. Jiri (JE) earthquakes. Especially, we found hot springs of the Daekwan, Daehung and Unsan regions coincide with high VRD. Also, this cannot rule out the possibility that there are some partial meltings in the subcrust of this region. High VRD might indicate that many faults and fractures with connate water were dehydrated when earthquakes took place, reducing shear modulus in the hypocenter areas. This is can be explained by due to the fact that a point source which is represented by the moment tensor that may involve changes in volume, shear fracture, and rigidity. High Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) were also found beneath Mt. Backdu beneath 40 km, indicating that magma chamber existed beneath Mt. Backdu is reducing shear modulus of S-wave velocity.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.97-110
• /
• 2012

In case of the axial line bikeway, the residents in the riverside use it frequently but those in the city center hardly do as the axis is formed along the riverside of the Han river. This situation happens due to the inefficient connectivity between the bikeway that leads to the riverside and that in the city center, which means the administrative policies have been focused on the facilities rather than on raising connectivity of the bikeway networks in the south of the Han River. Also, this is the point of time when a reasonable improvement plan is needed to raise the accessibilities of the bikeways in Seoul, not just a utilization of those in the south of the Han River. This study intends to analyse the connectivity between Gangseo (west of the Han River) and Gangdong (East of the Han River) districts by comparing the current spatial structure in the southern areas of the Han River and that after the installation of the axial line, and that after installation of the ordinary bikeway respectively with use of the Space Syntax Model, and to predict resultant changes there of. The Space Syntax Model was used as the major method of analysis in this study to find out characteristics of the bikeways in the south of the Han River. Consequently, as the analysis shows that when the bikeways in the Gangseo and Gangdong-gu districts are connected, the accessibility of the bikeways in the south of the Han River will improve while the spatial structure intelligibility will be lowered, it can be said the prediction rate in the all areas is low compared with the current status. It is analyzed that the intelligibility of the current bikeways in the south of the Han River appeared highest when compared with those of plans for installation of the axial line and ordinary bikeway because they don't interconnect with other areas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.175-178
• /
• 1988

In an attempt to analyze the clonorchicidal activity of linoleic acid and ethyl linoleate in vitro, the wormicidal effects on Clonorchis sinensis were chronologically monitored in dose titration experiments. Encysted metacercariae were killed within a period of 31, $0{\pm}4.0$ min, 149.3k4. 1 min and $207.0{\pm}13.5$ min with 100.0 mg, 0.1 mg and 0.001 mg linoleic acid, respectively. The time required for the linoleic acid to kill adult worms was 167, $0{\pm}0.8$ min with 100.0mg, $253.0{\pm}0.8$ min with 0.1mg, and $277.0{\pm}0.8$ min at 0.001mg titration. Clonorchicidal activity of ethyl linoleate was relatively delayed as death was observed within $263.3{\pm}2.9$ min, $286.0{\pm}0.5$ min, and $318.0{\pm}0.8$ min for 100.0 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml and 0.001 mg/ml concentrations, respectively. The wormicidal effects observed with these pure anti-clonorchal substances were found to be similar to the biological activity of native products derived from the mucus of the fresh water fish.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 1993

The potential of fumagillin dicyclohexylamine salt to treat and prevent intestinal giant-cystic disease in Israel carp, Cyprinus carpio nudus, was monitored in field experimental studies. In experiment 1 (therapeutic), most fish were already naturally infected with more advanced stage of Relohqnellu: kitnuet. Fumagillin was administered to ash (mean body weiht of 830 g for a Penod of one month at a dose of 10.62 mg in the first group and 5.3 mg in the second group per fi sh per day. In experiment 2 (fprophylactlcl), most flesh also were already naturally infected with an early developmental stage of the protozoa and fish (average body weight of 484 g) were administered fumagillln for 45 days at a dose of 3.95 mg per fish per day. In both experiments, the cumulative mortalities of fish and the extrusion rates of the polar filaments of the spores were significantly decreased in a dose-independent fashion. In experiment 2 no dead fish were observed. No adverse side effects of the drug were observed among fish from any dosage group. In experiment 2, an oval or dot-like concave lesion of most cysts developed at the 7th day and the vegetative form was never observed at the 17th day postmedication and the cysts were grossly reduced in size as compared with the control group, beginning at the 24th day until the end of the study. In contrast, it was scarcely effective to the cysts in experiment 1. Taking the seasonal development of the protozoa into consideration, the above results revealed that oral administration of fumagillin at 3.95 mg/500 g body weight/day for a month Is the optimal dose for the treatment and prevention of thelohanellosls caused by T kitnuei among C. carpio nudus.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.280-289
• /
• 1992

The 20-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ uptake became readily available for routine use and it replaced $^{131}I$ for thyroid imaging. However measuring thyroid uptake during a 5-minute minimizes pertechnetate uptake by the salivary glands and presence of contaminated saliva from those glands in to the pharynx and esophagus. A study was carried out to determine the suitability of the utility of a S-minute and 20-minute interval from administration of $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ to imaging and uptake measurement as a replacement for the 24 hour standard originally established with $^{131}I$, and to evaluate the relationship between 5-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ uptake and other thyroid functions. A 5-minute and 20-minute uptake of $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ were measured in 70 patients with thyroid disease at Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1, 1991 to Feb. 29, 1992. The results were as follows. 1) The 5-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ uptake in Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, simple goiter, non toxic nodular goiter, subacute thyroiditis and euthyroid were 18.2%, 14.6%, 2.8%, 3.2%, 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean of the euthyroid group and the mean of the Graves' disease. So differenciation between them can be easily made. 2) The 5 minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ thyroid uptake was well correlated with 24 hour $^{131}I$ thyroid uptake (r=0.75, p<0.001). These data provided an equation for estimating the 24 hour uptake of iodide given the 5 minute pertechnetate uptake: Estimated 24-hour $^{131}I$ thyroid Uptake= 7.188*ln (5 minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ uptake)+16.94 3) The 20-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ thyroid uptake was well correlated with 24-hour $^{131}I$ uptake (r=0.72, p<0.001) and 5-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ thyroid uptake (r=0.96, p<0.001). 4) In the Graves' disease, The 5-minute $^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ thyroid uptake was well correlated with serum $T_3-resin$ uptake (r=0.46, p<0.01), serum total $T_3$ (r=0.55, p<0.05), serum total $T_4$ (r=0.46, p<0.05). These results suggest that 5-minute ${99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ thyroid uptake has been found at least as useful as 24-hour $^{131}I$ uptake for diagnostic confirmation at our hospital, the logistical advantages of completing the diagnosis. The exam in 5-minutes led us to abandon the 24-hour study in the majority of patients, but the 24-hour $^{131}I$ uptake is still obtained in patients with planned or potential radioiodine therapy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.354-361
• /
• 2008

Purpose: N-13 ammonia uptake and retention in the myocardium is related to perfusion and metabolism. There are several potential advantages of N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) to detect myocardial ischemia, such as higher spatial resolution, greater counting efficiencies, and robust attenuation correction. But there are few reports comparing Tc-99m myocardial perfusion single photon emission tomography (MPS) and N-13 ammonia PET. We thus compared adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi MPS in patients with suspected coronary artery stenosis. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients (male 13 : $63{\pm}11$ years old) underwent adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT (Discovery ST, GE), Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (dual head gamma camera, Hawkeye, GE) and coronary angiography within 1 week. N-13 ammonia PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi MPS images were assessed with a 20-segment model by visual interpretation and quantitative analysis using automatic quantitative software (Myovation, GE). Results: Both sensitivities and specificities of detecting an individual coronary artery stenosis were higher for N-13 ammonia PET/CT than Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (PET/CT: 91%/89% vs MPS: 65%/82%). N-13 ammonia PET/CT showed reversibility in 52% of segments that were considered non-reversibile by Tc-99m sestamibi MPS. In the 110 myocardial segments supplied by the stenotic coronary artery, N-13 ammonia PET/CT showed higher count densities than Tc-99m MPS on rest study (p < 0.01), and the difference of count density between the stress and the rest studies was also larger on N-13 ammonia PET/CT. Conclusion: Adenosine stress N-13 ammonia PET/CT had higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, more reversibility of perfusion defects and greater stress/rest uptake differences than Tc-99m sestamibi MPS. Accordingly, N-13 ammonia PET/CT might offer better assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.401-412
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary Mogchotan(the mixture of charcoal and pyroligneous acid, 80:20, w/w) supplementation on fattening performance, fatty acid composition and the physico-chemical characteristics of meat in pigs. The present study was also stressed to investigate the possibility of industrial utilization of charcoal and pyroligneous acid as a livestock feed additive. Weight gain and feed conversion in pigs fed the Mogchotan supplemented diet were higher than those of the control group. In fatty acids composition, palmitic acid(C16:0) contents of Mogchotan treatment groups were lower than that of control group. However, Mogchotan supplementation increased C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 contents when compared with control group pigs. Also, Mogchotan supplementation groups decreased saturated fatty acids level than control group. On the other hand, Mogchotan supplementation showed higher unsaturated fatty acids value, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids value compared to control group. The carcass pH of pigs fed the Mogchotan tended to be higher than control, but was not significantly different. The water holding capacity was significantly higher in pigs fed the 3.0% Mogchotan-supplemented diet than those of other treatment groups(p<0.05). Altogether, it has been suggested that dietary $1{\sim}3%$ of Mogchotan supplementation improved the fattening performance and meat quality in pigs.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.331-342
• /
• 2020

The suppression of neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells can be considered a key target for improving the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Asparagus cochinchinensis has traditionally been used as a medicine to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory diseases, and brain diseases. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of an aqueous extract from A. cochinchinensis root (AEAC), particularly its anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cells. BV-2 cells were treated with four different concentrations of AEAC. No significant toxicity was detected in BV-2 cells treated with AEAC. Nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels were 21% lower in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. Lower proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-10) levels were also detected in the AEAC+LPS group than in the Vehicle+LPS group, albeit at varying rates. Moreover, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group compared to the Vehicle+LPS group, enhancement of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members after LPS treatment was significantly recovered in the AEAC-pretreated group, while cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase caused by LPS treatment was less severe in the AEAC+LPS group. The increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by LPS treatment was also lower in the AEAC-pretreated group than in the Vehicle+LPS group. This is the first study to show that AEAC exerts anti-neuroinflammatory activity against LPS stimulation by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, the cell cycle, and ROS production.