• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2013

Neutrophils are the predominant inflammatory cells found in vaginal discharges of patients infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. In this study, we examined superoxide anion ($O^{\cdot}_{2^-}$) production by neutrophils activated by T. vaginalis. Human neutrophils produced superoxide anions when stimulated with either a lysate of T. vaginalis, its membrane component (MC), or excretory-secretory product (ESP). To assess the role of trichomonad protease in production of superoxide anions by neutrophils, T. vaginalis lysate, ESP, and MC were each pretreated with a protease inhibitor cocktail before incubation with neutrophils. Superoxide anion production was significantly decreased by this treatment. Trichomonad growth was inhibited by preincubation with supernatants of neutrophils incubated for 3 hr with T. vaginalis lysate. Furthermore, myeloperoxidase (MPO) production by neutrophils was stimulated by live trichomonads. These results indicate that the production of superoxide anions and MPO by neutrophils stimulated with T. vaginalis may be a part of defense mechanisms of neutrophils in trichomoniasis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1348-1354
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• 2008

mi transcription factor (MITF) is important in regulating the differentiation of mast cells. In particular, MITF regulates the transcription of the mouse mast cell-specific serine protease (mMCP)-6 gene, which is generally expressed by the connective tissue-type of mast cells. In this study, we investigated alternative isoforms of MITF that regulate transcription of the mMCP-6 gene in bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells in mice. The expression of MITF isoforms was examined by RT-PCR. We observed that MITF-A, -E, -H and -Mc were expressed by mucosal-type mast cells cultured in the presence of IL-3, whereas the connective tissue-type mast cells cultured in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) expressed MITF-A. Overexpression of MITF isoforms increased luciferase activity through the mMCP-6 promoter in NIH-3T3 cells and elevated the level of mMCP-6 expression in the MC/9 mast cell line. Moreover, mMCP-6 expression in mast cells was significantly inhibited by the depletion of MITF. The transcriptional activity and DNA binding of MITF-A was comparable to that of MITF isoforms, including MITF-E, -H, and -Mc. Our results therefore suggest that MITF-A may be an important isoform of MITF in regulating the transcription of mMCP-6 in mouse connective tissue mast cells.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2013

Objective : The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, types, and locations of Modic changes (MCs) in the thoracic spine in a large number of subjects, and to investigate the relation between the distributions of MCs and disc herniations (DHs) in the thoracic spine. Methods : Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the presence of MCs and DHs by consensus in the thoracic MRIs of 144 patients with non-specific back pain. Patient ages ranged from 22 to 88 years (mean=$53.3{\pm}14.66$ years), and 72 were female (50%). The prevalence, distribution, relation of MCs and DHs was recorded. Results : MC was observed in 8 of the 144 patients (5.6%) and 10 of 1728 segments (0.58%). The most common MC was type II. Of the 8 patients exhibiting MC, 6 had type II (75.0%), and 2 had mixed MCs (type I/II or type II/III). MCs were distributed mainly at the mid-thoracic level (from T5/6 to T9/10). DH was detected in 18 patients (12.5%), 36 of 1728 segments (2.1%). Of the 10 segments exhibiting MC, 5 had DHs at the same level (50.0%). Accordingly, DH was strongly associated with MC (p=0.000). Conclusion : A low prevalence of MC was observed in the thoracic spine, and type II MC predominated. The low prevalence of MC in the thoracic spine suggests that it was caused by a relative lack of mobility as compared with the cervical and lumbar spines. And DHs were found to be strongly associated with MCs even in the thoracic spine.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.2196-2202
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• 1992

The optimum size combination of heat exchangers in a Joule-Thomson(J-T) circuit for small cryogenic systems has been sought analytically, when the circuit is combined with a two-stage Gifford-McMahon(GM) cooler. Full thermodynamic cycle analysis was carried out to predict the performance of the combined refrigeration system. Relevant convective heat transfer coefficients, the computerized properties of helium, and the refrigeration capacity curve of a typical GM cooler have been used in the analysis. The result showed that, by changing the configuration(heat exchanger area ratio) of the system, the performance of the commonly-used GM/J-T refrigerators could be optimized. For the maximum refrigeration performance, the optimum mass flow rate of the refrigerant and the relative size between the heat exchangers have been obtained, when the cooling load was 0.1W at 3.995K with the total heat exchanger area being given.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.39.1-39.1
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• 2010

We have investigated interplanetary (IP) structures of 82 intense geomagnetic storms (Dst $\leq$ -100 nT) that occurred from 1998 to 2006. According to their interplanetary origins, we classified them as four groups: 20 sMC events (IP shock and MC), 19 SH events (sheath field), 12 SH+MC events (Sheath field and MC), and 8 nonMC events (non-MC type ICME). For each group, we examined the relationships between Dst index and solar/IP parameters, namely, direction parameter (DP), CME speed ($V_{CME}$), solar wind speed ($V_{SW}$), minimum of IMF $B_z$ component($Bz_{min}$), and maximum of $E_y$ component ($Ey_{max}$).We found that the relationships strongly depend on their IP source. Our main results can be summarized as follows: 1) The correlation between Dst and DP is the best for the SH+MC events (r = -0.61). 2) The relationship between Dst and $V_{CME}$ gives the best correlation for the sMC events (r = -0.56). 3) There is the best correlation between Dst and $V_{SW}$ for the sMC events (r = -0.61), while there is a very weak correlation (r=-0.17) for the SH events. 4) The relationship between Dst and $Bz_{min}$ gives the best correlation (r = -0.87) for the SH+MC events. 5) The correlation between Dst and $Ey_{max}$ is the best for the SH+MC events (r = -0.87). Summing up, the sMC and SH+MC events give us good correlations, but the SH events, weak correlations. From this study, we suggest that this tendency should be caused by the characteristics of IMF southward components, e.g., smooth field rotations for the MC events and highly IMF fluctuations for the SH events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.314-319
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• 2017

Chlorogenic acid, a well-known polyphenol, and its derivatives, ester of caffeic acid on quinic acid moiety, are abundant in coffee, tea, fruits, and various vegetables. This study examined the effects of cryptochlorogenic acid (CCA) on osteoblast differentiation. CCA-induced mRNA expression levels of osteogenic genes in MC3T3E1 and C3H10T1/2 cells were determined by RT-PCR and qPCR. CCA regulated expression of key osteogenic genes in the early stage of differentiation, including distal-less homeobox 5 (Dlx5), DNA-binding protein inhibitor (Id1), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). These results suggest that CCA may enhance osteoblast differentiation through expression of osteogenic genes such as Id1, Dlx5, and Runx2, especially in the early stage.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2022

Halophytes are plants that live in harsh environments in coastal regions and are known for their diverse chemical compositions. Limonium tetragonum, a halophyte endemic to Korean shores, is known for its bioactive compounds and is utilized in folk medicine. In this study L. tetragonum extract (LHE) was used to determine and evaluate its anti-osteoporotic properties. Pre-adipocyte and pre-osteoblasts were induced to differentiate along with LHE treatment, and their differentiation was evaluated using differentiation markers. LHE treatment decreased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes during adipogenesis. Results indicated that the LHE treatment also decreased the levels of key adipogenic transcription factors: PPARγ, SREBP1c, and C/EBPα. Enhancing osteoblastogenesis by LHE treatment was confirmed in osteoblastogenesis-induced MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. Cells treated with LHE resulted in increased calcification and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity compared with osteoblasts without LHE treatment. Pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic effects were also confirmed in D1 murine mesenchymal stromal cells which are capable of differentiation into both adipocytes and osteoblasts. LHE hindered adipogenesis and enhanced osteoblastogenesis in D1 MSCs in a similar fashion. In conclusion, L. tetragonum is believed to possess the potential to be utilized as a nutraceutical ingredient against osteoporotic conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.355-356
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• 1989

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1988

Six species of false spider mites were collected and ciassifled in South Korea. Among them, a taxonomic description was carried out on the following four species new to Korea: 1. Aegyptobia nothus Pritchard and Baker, 2. Pentomerismus taxi (Hailer), 3. P. oregonensis McGregor, 4. Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor. And also esterase and alkaline phosphatase patterns obtained by polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis were compared on some spades. Esterase rymogram showed difference among species in band number and mobility.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1992

Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba commonly found in moist soil and fresh water, enters the body via the nasal mucosa and migrates along the olfactory nerve to t he brain, where it causes acute amoebic meningoencephalitis. In the present study 7 clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against N. fowleri were produced and the effector function of them was investigated. Their isotopes were IgGl (Nf 1, Nf 154), 19G3 (Nf 137) and 19A (Nf 1, Nf 2, Nf 256, Nf 279). Five McAbs (McAb Nf 2, Nf 279, Nf 27, Nf 154, Nf 137) were specific for N. fowleri by ELISA and recognized the antigenic determinants located on the trophoBoite surface by IFAT and immunoperoxidase stain. These aye McAbs had capacity to agglutinate N. fowleri trophozoites and inhibited the growth of the amoeba in culture medium. McAb Nf 2 inhibited proliferation of trophozoites in vitro significantly. Also the cytotoxicity of JV. fowleri against CHO cell was reduced in the presence of McAb Nf 2 and McAb Nf 154. From these results McAb Nf 2 was confirmed to weaken the virulence of the amoeba among 7 screened McAbs.