• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2022

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the large intestine disease that results in chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) is known for its pharmacological activities. Persicaria tinctoria (PT) is also used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the attenuating effects of Rg3-RGE with PT on oxazolone (OXA)-induced UC in mice. Methods: A total of six groups of mice including control group, OXA (as model group, 1.5%) group, sulfasalazine (75 mg/kg) group, Rg3-RGE (20 mg/kg) group, PT (300 mg/kg) group, and Rg3-RGE (10 mg/kg) with PT (150 mg/kg) group. Data on the colon length, body weight, disease activity index (DAI), histological changes, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Real-time PCR of inflammatory factors, ELISA of inflammatory factors, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis were obtained. Results: Overall, the combination treatment of Rg3-RGE and PT significantly improved the colon length and body weight and decreased the DAI in mice compared with the treatment with OXA. Additionally, the histological injury was also reduced by the combination treatment. Moreover, the NO production level and inflammatory mediators and cytokines were significantly downregulated in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the model group. Also, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) were suppressed in the combination treatment group compared with the OXA group. Furthermore, the number of immune cell subtypes of CD4⁺ T-helper cells, CD19⁺ B-cells, and CD4⁺ and CD25⁺ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was improved in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the OXA group. Conclusion: Overall, the mixture of Rg3-RGE and PT is an effective therapeutic treatment for UC.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1698-1710
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• 2022

Objective: Raw potato starch (RPS) is resistant to digestion, escapes absorption, and is metabolized by intestinal microflora in the large intestine and acts as their energy source. In this study, we compared the effect of different concentrations of RPS on the intestinal bacterial community of weaned piglets. Methods: Male weaned piglets (25-days-old, 7.03±0.49 kg) were either fed a corn/soybean-based control diet (CON, n = 6) or two treatment diets supplemented with 5% RPS (RPS5, n = 4) or 10% RPS (RPS10, n = 4) for 20 days and their fecal samples were collected. The day 0 and 20 samples were analyzed using a 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology, followed by total genomic DNA extraction, library construction, and high-throughput sequencing. After statistical analysis, five phyla and 45 genera accounting for over 0.5% of the reads in any of the three groups were further analyzed. Furthermore, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the day 20 fecal samples were analyzed using gas chromatography. Results: Significant changes were not observed in the bacterial composition at the phylum level even after 20 d post feeding (dpf); however, the abundance of Intestinimonas and Barnesiella decreased in both RPS treatment groups compared to the CON group. Consumption of 5% RPS increased the abundance of Roseburia (p<0.05) and decreased the abundance of Clostridium (p<0.01) and Mediterraneibacter (p< 0.05). In contrast, consumption of 10% RPS increased the abundance of Olsenella (p<0.05) and decreased the abundance of Campylobacter (p<0.05), Kineothrix (p<0.05), Paraprevotella (p<0.05), and Vallitalea (p<0.05). Additionally, acetate (p<0.01), butyrate (p<0.05), valerate (p = 0.01), and total SCFAs (p = 0.01) were upregulated in the RPS5 treatment group Conclusion: Feeding 5% RPS altered bacterial community composition and promoted gut health in weaned piglets. Thus, resistant starch as a feed additive may prevent diarrhea in piglets during weaning.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1787-1799
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• 2022

Objective: Choline deficiency, one main trigger for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is closely related to lipid metabolism disorder. Previous study in a choline-deficient model has largely focused on gene expression rather than gene structure, especially sparse are studies regarding to alternative splicing (AS). In modern life science research, primary hepatocytes culture technology facilitates such studies, which can accurately imitate liver activity in vitro and show unique superiority. Whereas limitations to traditional hepatocytes culture technology exist in terms of efficiency and operability. This study pursued an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes to explore AS in choline-deficient model. Methods: We performed an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes with multi-step digestion procedure from Pekin duck embryos. Subsequently a NAFLD model was constructed with choline-free medium. RNA-seq and further analysis by rMATS were performed to identify AS events alterations in choline-deficency duck primary hepatocytes. Results: The results showed E13 (embryonic day 13) to E15 is suitable to obtain hepatocytes, and the viability reached over 95% by trypan blue exclusion assay. Primary hepatocyte retained their biological function as well identified by Periodic Acid-Schiff staining method and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity assay, respectively. Meanwhile, genes of alb and afp and specific protein of albumin were detected to verify cultured hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate purity of hepatocytes, presenting up to 90%. On this base, choline-deficient model was constructed and displayed significantly increase of intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol as reported previously. Intriguingly, our data suggested that AS events in choline-deficient model were implicated in pivotal biological processes as an aberrant transcriptional regulator, of which 16 genes were involved in lipid metabolism and highly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Conclusion: An effective and rapid protocol for obtaining duck primary hepatocytes was established, by which our findings manifested choline deficiency could induce the accumulation of lipid and result in aberrant AS events in hepatocytes, providing a novel insight into various AS in the metabolism role of choline.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.297-305
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• 2022

Antioxidants are food additives that extend the shelf life of food products by preventing lipid rancidity caused by active oxygen. They can either be naturally-derived or manufactured synthetically via chemical synthesis. In this study, method validation of five synthetic antioxidants, namely butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, tertiary butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, was performed using a high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet visible detector, and the method applicability was evaluated by analyzing foods containing antioxidants. The coefficient of determination (R²) average was 0.9997, while the limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.02-0.53 and 0.07-1.61 mg/kg, respectively. The intra and inter-day accuracies and precisions were 83.2±0.7%-98.7±2.1% and 0.1%-5.7% RSD, respectively. Inter-laboratory validation for accuracy and precision was conducted using the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme quality control material. The results satisfied the guidelines presented by the AOAC International. In addition, the expanded uncertainty was less than 16%, as recommended by CODEX. Consequently, to enhance public health safety, the results of this study can be used as basis data for evaluating the intake of synthetic antioxidants and assessing their risks in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.671-676
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• 2021

A cDNA encoding the protein lethal (2) essential for life [l(2)efl] was cloned from Gryllus bimaculatus and named GBl(2)efl. This protein is composed of 189 amino acids, including an N-glycosylation site and 15 phosphorylation sites. Its predicted molecular mass is 21.19 kDa, with a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.2. The secondary structure of GBl(2)efl was predicted from the identification of random coils (56.08%), alpha helices (22.22%), extended strands (17.99%), and beta turns (3.7%) through sequence analyses. A homology analysis revealed that GBl(2)efl exhibited a high similarity with other species at the amino acid level, ranging from 52% to 69%. While GBl(2)efl mRNA expression was higher in the dorsal longitudinal flight muscle following a three-day starvation and in the Malpighian tubules following a one-day starvation, no changes in expression were detected in other tissues. Furthermore, tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress resulted in an approximately 1.8-fold higher expression in the fat body compared with the wild type.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.259-267
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• 2020

This study is to identify the effects of pilates mat exercise on the body composition, lumbar muscle strength, low back pain and pregnancy stress in pregnant women. In order to carry out this study, nineteen pregnant women were divided into two groups: pilates mat exercise group (n=11) and control group (n=8). EXE group performed pilates mat exercise for 60 min per day, 2days/week for 12 weeks. Our results showed that there was no significant changes in total body water, body fat mass, BMI, body fat percent, and BMR, but the EXE group showed significant increase in skeletal muscle mass. Furthermore, EXE group was significantly increased in hip extension and lumbar extension ROM. Analysis of low back pain and pregnancy stress level showed no significant difference between group. In conclusion, our study suggest that pilates mat exercise can be safely applied to pregnant women by increasing the muscle mass of pregnant women and by showing a positive effect on the lumbar muscle strength.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.21-34
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• 2022

This study attempted to identify the life and death reproduced in literary works and present well-aging and well-dying using literary studies that considered Korean literature. Literary works such as poems, novels, and plays recorded between the 13th and 20th centuries covered in 10 literary studies in this study were investigated and analyzed. The survey methods include general and outline sections, literary genre sections, period sections, and keyword review. As a result of the analysis, most of the literature studies corresponded to details including author theory. They were concentrated on the novel and poem, and mainly dealt with 20th century literary works. In addition, the relationship between death, life patterns, well-dying, and well-aging inherent in literary works was identified. It was the concept of a whole set and a subset. In conclusion, this study has a limitation in studying literary works at a specific period. Nevertheless, we examined the nature of well-aging in life as a hope to secure a prospect from Korean literature. And this study recognized the nature of well-dying in death and meaningful death as a rite of passage derived from Korean literature. In the future, it is expected to contribute to the realization of well-dying, well-aging, and application of convergence research in Korean society in the 21st century.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Generally, the plate load test and the field density test are conducted for compaction quality control in earthwork, and then additional analysis. Recently developed that the DCPT (Dynamic Cone Penetration Test) equipment for smart compaction quality control its the system are able to get location and real-time information about worker history management. The IoT-based the DCPT system improved the time-cost in the field compared traditional test, and the functions recording and storage of the DPI (Dynamic Cone Penetration Index) were automated. This paper describes using these DCPT equipment on in-situ and compared to the standards of the DCPT, and the compaction trend had be confirmed with DPI as the field test data. As a result, the DPI of the final compaction decreased by 1.4 times compared to the initial compaction, confirming the increase in the compaction strength of the subgrade compaction layer 10 to 14 cm deep from the surface. A trend of increasing compaction strength was observed. This showed a tendency to increase the compaction strength of the target DPI proposed by MnDOT and the results of the existing plate load test, but there was a difference in the increase rate. Therefore, additional studies are needed on domestic compaction materials and laboratory conditions for target DPI and correlation studies with the plate load tests. If this is reflected, it is suggested that DCPT will be widely used as smart construction equipment in earthworks.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2022

The ecotoxicity test method using Undaria pinnatifida spore is challenging to use throughout the year. Since U. pinnatifida female gametophytes can be cultured in the laboratory, they can be used for ecotoxicity testing at any time. Changes in female gametophyte survival rate and relative growth rate in U. pinnatifida exposed to various environmental conditions were analyzed. The female gametophyte of U. pinnatifida was exposed to salinity (5~40 psu), temperature (5~30℃), pH (4~10), and light intensity (0~120 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1). Based on the highest average value, the survival rate of female gametophyte was highest at a temperature of 20℃, salinity 27.5 psu, pH 8, and light intensity 30 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1. And the relative growth rate was highest at a temperature of 15℃, salinity 35 psu, pH 9, and light intensity of 60 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1. As a result of this study, the method using the optimal conditions for the survival rate and relative growth rate is expected to be a practical test method that can complement the current method.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2021

Purpose: Glyphosate herbicide (GH) is a widely used herbicide and has been associated with significant mortality as poisoned cases increases. One of the reasons for high toxicity is thought to be toxic effect of its ingredient with glyphosate. This study was designed to determine differences in the clinical course with the salt-type contained in GH. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at a single hospital between January 2013 and December 2017. We enrolled GH-poisoned patients visited the emergency department. According to salt-type, patients were divided into 4 groups: isopropylamine (IPA), ammonium (Am), potassium (Po), and mixed salts (Mi) groups. The demographics, laboratory variables, complications, and their mortality were analyzed to determine clinical differences associated with each salt-type. Addtionally, we subdivided patients into survivor and non-survivor groups for investigating predictive factors for the mortality. Results: Total of 348 GH-poisoned patients were divided as follows: IPA 248, Am 41, Po 10, and Mi 49 patients. There was no difference in demographic or underlying disease history, but systolic blood pressure (SBP) was low in Po group. The ratio of intentional ingestion was higher in Po and Mi groups. Metabolic acidosis and relatively high lactate level were presented in Po group. As the primary outcome, the mortality rates were as follows: IPA, 26 (10.5%); Am, 2 (4.9%); Po, 1 (10%); and Mi, 1 (2%). There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality and the incidence of complications. Additionally, age, low SBP, low pH, corrected QT (QTc) prolongation, and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were analyzed as independent predictors for mortality in a regression analysis. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in their complications and the mortality across the GH-salt groups in this study.