• 농업과학연구
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.607-615
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• 2021

Cytokines are protein mediators that possess the ability to assist cell-to-cell communication in immune system-related activities. In general, pathogen endotoxins activate the release of inflammatory mediators, and with time, there is an increase in the cytokine levels in the body. Interleukin (IL)-6 mediates the acute-phase inflammatory response, and elevated IL-6 levels have been reported in peritoneal fluids of women with pelvic inflammation and endometriosis, thereby associating it with oocyte quality and infertility. To overcome subfertility or infertility in humans and animals, the present study was done to examine the effect of recombinant IL-6 on porcine oocytes matured in vitro and subsequently to determine the fertilization rate and embryo development. Porcine oocytes were incubated with varying concentrations of IL-6 (0 - 2 ㎍·mL^-1) for 44 h followed by in vitro fertilization and culturing of the oocytes. The oocytes or embryos were fixed with 3.7% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and stained with fluorescence dyes, and the meiotic spindle, chromosome organization, fertilization status and embryo development were subsequently assessed under a fluorescence microscope. We observed induction of an abnormal meiotic spindle alignment in the oocytes incubated with IL-6 compared to the control oocytes incubated without IL-6. Moreover, significantly decreased fertilization rates and embryo development were observed for oocytes incubated with IL-6 (p < 0.05). Thus, an increased IL-6 level during oocyte maturation could be associated with fertilization failure due to an aberrant chromosomal alignment and a disruption of the cortical granules. Taken together, our results indicate that successful assisted reproduction can be achieved by controlling the levels of inflammatory cytokines.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2021

Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-known traditional medicine, with numerous biological functions in the body. Portulaca oleracea (P. ole) belongs to the Portulacaceae family and has bioactive potential as a traditional medicine. This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) and P. ole extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The combination of RGE (50 ㎍/mL) and P. ole (6.25 ㎍/mL) extracts significantly suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide synthesis. The expression of proinflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were markedly decreased by the combined treatment with RGE (50 ㎍/mL) and P. ole (6.25 ㎍/mL). Moreover, iNOS and COX-2 protein expression levels were also significantly reduced in the combined treatment compared to the LPS-stimulated group. In addition, the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B was suppressed by the treatment with RGE and P. ole. Moreover, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was also partially inhibited by the combination treatment with RGE and P. ole. Our results demonstrate that the treatment mixture with RGE and P. ole could be used as functional food and therapeutic herbal medicine in various inflammatory diseases.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.46-51
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the skin irritation toxicity of processed sulfur. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Medvill (Korea), an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. In order to investigate skin irritation toxicity of processed sulfur, we divided the back of six rabbits into two control sites and two test sites. One of each of the two control and test sites was then designated abraded sites and intact sites. In test sites, 0.5 g of processed sulfur was applied to the back of the rabbit for 24 hours, and in control sites, 0.5 g of sterile distilled water was applied in the same way. We observed and evaluated mortality, weight, general symptoms, and skin irritation toxicity. This study was conducted with the approval of the Animal Ethics Committee (Approval number: IAC2020-1549). Results: In all experiments, no dead animals were observed. In all cases, skin coloration was observed at 24 hours after processed sulfur administration. This coloration lasted up to 48 hours and is believed to be the effect of the administration of test substances. Weight measurement indicated that weight was lost 72 hours after administration in three cases, but this is considered an accidental weight change. Normal weight gain was observed in the remaining subjects. In all animals, no skin irritation toxicity was observed, and the primary irritation index (P.I.I) was calculated as 0.0 according to Draize's evaluation method. Conclusion: The above findings suggest that it is relatively safe to apply a processed sulfur to the skin. Further research on this topic is needed to provide more specific evidence.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.217-225
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• 2021

We investigated the effect of temperature and stock density on the collection efficiency of oral fluid in the pig farm in Korea. Three pig farms with similar breeding environmental conditions were selected and four pens of each farm (total 12 pens) were tested for the collection efficiency of oral fluid from pigs. Collection rate was considered as significant when oral fluid was collected from 70% of pigs within a pen. In the case of growing pigs, when internal temperature of pig barn increased by one designated degree (5℃), the oral fluid collection rate significantly decreased by 24.7% (P<0.05). The collection rate of oral fluid also decreased by 7.1% (P<0.05) as the density rate increase by one designated degree (12.5%). It was estimated that the collection efficiency of oral fluid decreased when the internal temperature of pig barn was 30℃ or higher, or barn density is higher 25% or high. On the other hand, in the case of stall-housing sows, unlike growing pigs, there was no significant differences according to the temperature, so oral fluid collection was considered to be efficient even in hot season.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.48-54
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• 2022

GPR43 (also known as FFAR2), a metabolite-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor stimulated by short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) ligands is involved in innate immunity and metabolism. GPR43 couples with Gα_i/o and Gα_q/11 heterotrimeric proteins and is capable of decreasing cyclic AMP and inducing Ca²⁺ flux. The GPR43 receptor has additionally been shown to bind β-arrestin 2 and inhibit inflammatory pathways, such as NF-κB. However, GPR43 shares the same ligands as GPR41, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and determination of its precise functions in association with endogenous ligands, such as SCFAs alone, therefore remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we generated novel synthetic agonists that display allosteric modulatory effects on GPR43 and downregulate NF-κB activity. In particular, the potency of compound 187 was significantly superior to that of pre-existing compounds in vitro. However, in the colitis model in vivo, compound 110 induced more potent attenuation of inflammation. These novel allosteric agonists of GPR43 clearly display anti-inflammatory potential, supporting their clinical utility as therapeutic drugs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2022

An efficient genetic transformation protocol is a fundamental requirement for high regeneration capacity from cultivated durum wheat (Triticum durum) varieties. In this study, wereportedtheeffectsoftwoauxins,2,4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid(2,4-D)and4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicoli nicacid(picloram), at a concentration of 2 mg/Laloneandincombination on the embryogenic callus and plantlet regeneration of four durum wheat varieties (Amria, Chaoui, Marouane, and Tomouh) using mature embryos (MEs) and immature embryos (ImEs). Significanteffectsofvariety,culturemedium(theauxinused),andvariety-mediuminteraction were observed on the callus weight and plantlet regeneration of both MR and ImE explants. The medium used for callus induction significantly affected plantlet regeneration (p < 0.001). Comparedto2,4-D, picloram led to a higher plantlet regeneration rate in both ME and ImE explants (19.8% and 40.86%, respectively). Plantlet regeneration also varied significantly depending on the variety and medium used. PicloramledtohighplantletregenerationofbothME and ImE explants in all varieties except Tomouh, which showed high plantlet regeneration of ME explants in 2,4-D. A comparison of ME and ImE responses indicated that ImEs are the best explants for high plantlet regeneration in durum wheat. Ourfindingssuggestthatpicloramisthebestauxin and should be used instead of 2,4-D due to its positive effect on increasing plant regeneration of durum wheat ME and ImE explants.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.82.1-82.10
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• 2020

Background: The clinical presentation of horses with back pain (BP) vary considerably with most horse's willingness to take part in athletic or riding purpose becoming impossible. However, there are some clinical features that are directly responsible for the loss or failure of performance. Objectives: To investigate the clinical features of the thoracolumbar region associated with BP in horses and to use some of the clinical features to classify equine BP. Methods: Twenty-four horses comprised of 14 with BP and 10 apparently healthy horses were assessed for clinical abnormality that best differentiate BP from normal horses. The horses were then graded (0-5) using the degree of pain response, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and overall physical dysfunction of the horse. Results: The common clinical features that significantly differentiate horses with BP from non-BP were longissimus dorsi spasm at palpation (78.6%), paravertebral muscle stiffness (64.3%), resist lateral bending (64.3%), and poor hindlimb impulsion (85.7%). There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores for pain response to palpation, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and physical dysfunction among horses with BP in relation to non-BP. A significant relationship exists between all the graded abnormalities. Based on the cumulative score, horses with BP were categorized into mild, mild-moderate, moderate and severe cases. Conclusions: BP in horse can be differentiated by severity of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, physical dysfunctions and their cumulative grading score is useful in the assessment and categorization of BP in horses.

• 한국어류학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.205-216
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• 2021

한 유전좌위 또는 소수의 유전좌위에 기반한 계통발생학적 재구성은 분자 계통수/종 계통수의 불일치로 인해 오해를 불러일으킬 수 있다. 종의 구분과 종내 연구에서도 적은 유전좌위를 사용할 때 통계력 부족으로 해상도가 낮은 경우가 많이 발생한다. 엑손 포획법은 게놈 규모의 데이터를 수집하는 가장 효율적인 방법 중 하나로, 종내 및 상위 수준에서 생물의 패턴과 역사를 구명하는 연구에 크게 이바지할 수 있다. 이 논문에서는 단일 유전자 방법에서 게놈 접근으로의 전환의 진보와 게놈 기술에 비해 엑손 포획법의 적용 이점을 설명하였다. 또한 엑손 포획법의 원리를 설명하고 이 방법의 적용을 위한 상세한 제언을 기술하였다. 최종적으로, 두 가지 적용을 활용한 엑손 포획법을 설명하고 이 기술에 대한 미래 전망을 논의하였다.

• 한국컴퓨터정보학회논문지
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2022

이 논문에서는 블루투스 건강기기 프로파일(HDP) 기반 스마트폰 시스템을 개발하여 고양이에서 많이 발생하는 비뇨기계 질환의 조기 발견에 활용하는 것을 제안하고자 한다. 이에 우리는 블루투스 HDP를 기반으로 소변검사 결과를 해석할 수 있는 고양이 활동, 화장실 사용, 요로 질환 및 건강 상태를 모니터링할 수 있는 장치 및 모바일 애플리케이션 시스템(Mycatner®)을 개발하였고 고양이의 건강 상태 모니터링에 활용 가능함을 평가하였다. 이 시스템의 특징은 첫째, 고양이 배뇨 횟수를 측정하여 요로계 질병이 의심되는 비정상 상태를 조기에 감별할 수 있고, 둘째, 소변 검사지로 미리 검사하여 동물병원과 공유할 수 있어 시간과 비용을 절감할 수 있고, 셋째, 이 기술을 당뇨병 등 다른 다양한 고양이 질환에 응용 가능한 특성을 지니고 있다. 이로써 고양이의 비뇨기 건강 상태를 무선으로 모니터링할 수 있는 장치는 우리의 식견으로는 최초로 개발한 것으로 평가된다.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.254-258
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• 1990

발아최저온도를 근거로 조기파종 할수록 옥수수의 수량을 올릴 수 있다는 이론에 입각하여 남부지방에서 수원 19호를 조기파종할 때 몇가지 형질과 수량과의 관계를 구명하고자 1983년과 1984년의 2년에 걸쳐서 4월 13일부터 6월 2일에 걸쳐 10개의 파종기로 파종하고 그 성적을 분석하였던 바 아래와 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 파종시기가 늦어질수록 파종에서 유묘출현까지의 소요일수가 감소되는 경향이었으나 이러한 유묘출현일수와 감소효과는 지중온도의 증가와 밀접한 관련이 있었다. 2. 파종에서 유묘출현기간중의 유효적수온도(GDD)는 각 파종기에서 비슷한 값을 나타냄으로써 GDD 값은 조기파종기결정 기준으로서 이용할 수 있을 것으로 보였다. 3. 파종기가 늦어질수록 영양생장기간이 짧아졌으며 이는 건물량축적에 부의 효과를 나타내었다. 4. 수량과 강수량 온도 및 수량간에는 밀접한 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났으며 적산온도와 강우량이 많을수록 수량이 증가되었다. 5. 옥수수 파종기별 수량과 옥수수 발아최저온도를 고려할 때 남부지방에서 옥수수 파종기는 3월 26일$\pm$3.6일로 추정되었다.