• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2022

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have received considerable attention regarding their involvement in glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity. Resveratrol has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects against this kind of overactivation, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. In this study, HT-22 neuronal cells were treated with NMDA in Mg²⁺-free buffer and subsequently used as an experimental model of glutamate excitotoxicity to elucidate the mechanisms of resveratrol-induced neuroprotection. We found that NMDA treatment causes a drop in MTT reduction ability, disrupts inside-negative transmembrane potential of mitochondria, depletes cellular ATP levels, and stimulates intracellular ROS production. Double fluorescence imaging studies demonstrated an increased formation of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores accompanied by apoptotic cell death, while cobalt protoporphyrin and bilirubin showed protective effects against NMDA-induced mitochondrial injury. On the other hand, zinc protoporphyrin IX significantly attenuated the protective effects of resveratrol which was itself shown to enhance heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein expression levels. In cells transfected with HO-1 small interfering RNA, resveratrol failed to suppress the NMDA-induced effects on MTT reduction ability and MPT pore formation. The present study suggests that resveratrol may prevent mitochondrial injury in NMDA- treated HT-22 cells and that enhanced expression of HO-1 is involved in the underlying cellular mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.288-298
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• 2004

Benzimidazole pesticide carbendazim that is effective against a wide range of fungal plant pathogens is a protective, eradicant, and systemic fungicide. For genetic toxicity evaluation of carbendazim on DNA, genes and chromosome, were investigated with chromosome aberration, bacterial reverse mutation, micronucleus test in mouse born marrow and DNA damage assay by single cell microgel electrophoresis. Substitution and frameshift mutation were not induce at variable concentration of carbendazim on Ames test with or without rat liver microsomal activation. For the result of chromosome aberration test, numerical changes of chromosome were detected at the concentrations higher than $4.0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, but structural aberration was not induced. Positive control, Mitomycin-C and captafol made a structural aberration, but numerical change of chromosome did not appear. In the micronucleus test for mouse born marrow, carbendazim was negative, but was weak positive in DNA damage assay by single cell microgel electrophoresis because of increased DNA moving length of 20% to control.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2015

Nanotechnology has advanced at an extremely rapid pace over the past several years in numerous fields of research. However, the uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) into the body after administration through various routes may pose a risk to human health. In this study, we investigated the potential ocular toxicity of 20-nm, negatively- charged zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs in rats using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histopathological assessment. Animals were divided into four groups as control group, ZnO NPs treatment group (500 mg/kg/day), control recovery group, and ZnO NPs treatment and recovery group. Ocular samples were prepared from animals treated for 90 days (10 males and 10 females, respectively) and from recovery animals (5 males and 5 females, respectively) sacrificed at 14 days after final treatment and were compared to age-matched control animals. Micro-CT analyses represented the deposition and distribution of foreign materials in the eyes of rats treated with ZnO NPs, whereas control animals showed no such findings. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and energy dispersive spectrometry showed the intraocular foreign materials as zinc in treated rats, whereas control animals showed no zinc signal. Histopathological examination revealed the retinopathy in the eyes of rats treated with ZnO NPs. Neuronal nuclei expression was decreased in neurons of the ganglion cell layer of animals treated with ZnO NPs compared to the control group. Taken together, treatment with 20-nm, negatively-charged ZnO NPs increased retinopathy, associated with local distribution of them in ocular lesions.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.694-701
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• 2014

The quality characteristics of blanched Aster scaber with the blanching condition and various solutes (non-treated, NT; soluble Ca, SC; sodium bicarbonate, SB; and magnesium sulfate, MS) were evaluated with different blanching times and solutes. The blanching process decreased the total polyphenolics, ascorbic acid contents, hardness, and cutting strength of the leaves. As for the pectinesterase and polygalacturonase, the blanching process increased their inhibitory activities, and more than 90% of them were inactivated in all the samples that were blanched. For the total counts and the number of coliform groups, the number of total aerobes at 5.92-log CFU/g before the blanching process was reduced to the approximately 2-3 log scale, and the coliform group was not detected after the blanching. The blanching also significantly decreased the total chlorophyll a and b ratios. The sensory characteristics of the Aster scaber according to the test group showed that the leaves blanched for 3 min were the most highly evaluated in terms of their overall acceptability. The phenolic compound, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents tended to increase from before their blanching, and the Ca/Cb ratio was higher in the SC. These results showed that SC and MS treatment had greater effects on the quality characteristics and the pigmentation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2017

A diversity of synthetic cathinones has flooded the recreational drug marketplace worldwide. This variety is often a response to legal control actions for one specific compound (e.g. methcathinone) which has resulted in the emergence of closely related replacement. Based on recent trends, the nitrogen atom is one of the sites in the cathinone molecule being explored by designer type modifications. In this study, we designed and synthesized two new synthetic cathinones, (1) ${\alpha}-piperidinopropiophenone$ (PIPP) and (2) ${\alpha}-piperidinopentiothiophenone$ (PIVT), which have piperidine ring substituent on their nitrogen atom. Thereafter, we evaluated whether these two compounds have an abuse potential through the conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and self-administration (SA) in rats. We also investigated whether the substances can induce locomotor sensitization in mice following 7 days daily injection and challenge. qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to determine their effects on dopamine-related genes in the striatum. PIPP (10 and 30 mg/kg) induced CPP in mice, but not PIVT. However, both synthetic cathinones were not self-administered by the rats and did not induce locomotor sensitization in mice. qRT-PCR analyses showed that PIPP, but not PIVT, reduced dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum. These data indicate that PIPP, but not PIVT, has rewarding effects, which may be attributed to its ability to affect dopamine transporter gene expression. Altogether, this study suggests that PIPP may have abuse potential. Careful monitoring of this type of cathinone and related drugs are advocated.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.390-396
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• 2011

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a well-known herb that is widely consumed as spice for the flavoring of foods. As part of our continuing search for bioactive materials, the in vitro pancreatic lipase inhibition and antioxidant properties of an aqueous ethanolic extract of Z. officinale were investigated. The total phenolic content was determined using a spectrophotometric method. The antioxidant efficacies of the extract was studied with radical scavenging assays using DPPH and $ABTS^+$ radicals. Further more, the antiobesity effect of the extract was evaluated by porcine pancreatic lipase assay. In particularly, the pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion from Z. officinale was significantly higher than that of the other solvent-soluble portions. The results suggest that Z. officinale may have therapeutic potential that may be useful in development of an anti-obesity agent or its precursors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 1989

The present study has been designed to define the effects of photosynthetically active radiation, leaf temperature, and water stress on photosynthesis and respiration of leaves of four oak species (Quercus mongolica, Quercus aliens, Quercus variabilis, and Quercus serrate). The results obtained are as follows : 1. The estimated light compensation points at which Pn approached zero were 38, 24, 20, and $18{\mu}Em^{-2}s^{-1}$ for Q. aliens, Q. variabilis, Q, mongolica, and Q. serrate, respectively. The light saturation points occurred at $500{\mu}Em^{-2}s^{-1}$ in three oak species except Q, aliens. 2. The maximum rates of Pn were 19.7, 15.2, 11.2, and 11.0 mg $CO_2$ $dm^{-2}h^{-1}$ for Q. variabilis, Q. serrate, Q. monglica, and Q. aliens leaves, respectively. 3. The transpiration rates of Q. variabilis and Q. serrate leaves were slightly higher than those of Q. mongolica and Q. aliens leaves at various photosynthetically active radiations(PAR), but cuticular transpiration rates at dark were similar in four oak species. 4. The optimum photosynthesis occurred at $25^{\circ}C$ in Q. aliens, Q. variabilis, and Q. serrate leaves, but $20^{\circ}C$ in Q. mongolica leaves. In four oak species, the net photosynthesis approached zero at about $40^{\circ}C$. 5. The dark respiration rates of leaves exhibited the following ranking of species : Q, variabilis > Q. mongolica > Q. aliens > Q. serrate. 6. The maximum productive efficiency (Pg/Rd) of leaves occurred highest in Q, serrate at $20^{\circ}C$, then in Q. mongolica at $20^{\circ}C$, then in Q, aliens at $25^{\circ}C$, and finally in Q. variabilis at $15^{\circ}C$. 7. The decrease of net photosynthesis in Q. serrate began at about -1.2 MPa, and then approached zero at -2.9 MPa of leaf water potential. The decrease of net photosynthesis began at 3% of water loss, and then approached zero at 17.5% of water loss. 8. As indicated by tissue-water relations parameters, it may be suggested that Q. aliens and Q. variabilis are more tolerant and favored on xeric forest soils than Q. mongolica and Q. serrate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.721-729
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• 2017

This study aimed to improve customer perception of Prunus mume through analysis of amygdalin contents according to changes in variety, harvest time, and fermentation conditions. Five Prunus mume domestic cultivars were harvested at five harvest times. We compared cyanogenic glucosides in four types of fruits on the market. For amygdalin contents in seeds and flesh of Prunus mume by variety and harvest time, seeds contained higher amygdalin contents than flesh with time. As Prunus mume ripened, both amygdalin contents in seed and flesh increased. However, the rate of increase gradually decreased. For prunasin contents in Prunus mume, we determined that the dramatic increase in amygdalin from May 3 to 19 was due to amygdalin synthesis from prunasin. Moreover, in the case of fermented Prunus mume, we observed lower amygdalin content as the sugar ratio and fermentation time increased until around 90 days, followed by a decrease. Furthermore, we analyzed alteration of organic acids in Prunus mume and fermented solution based on analysis of amygdalin content in four other market fruits. Amygdalin was detected at $252.37{\pm}2.3$, $22.01{\pm}0.31$, and $8.75{\pm}0.14mg$ per 100 g in plums, peaches, and grape seeds, respectively. In flesh of plums and peaches, amygdalin contents were detected at $84.14{\pm}0.26$ and $7.54{\pm}0.06mg$ per 100 g, respectively. These results suggest scientific improvements for consumption and breeding lines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 2009.12a
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• pp.289-289
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• 2009

당근은 우리나라에서 재배되고 있는 채소 중에서 대표적인 비타민 A의 급원으로서 매우 중요한 근채류이다. 최근 친환경농산물에 대한 관심과 요구가 급증하면서 소비자들은 고품질 당근을 선호하고 있으나 유기농 당근생산에 대한 연구가 미비한 실정이다. 본 연구는 관행 및 유기농 재배가 당근의 생육과 품질에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 실시하였다. 본 실험에 사용된 공시품종은 '조춘5촌당근'(세미니스, A), '선홍봄5촌당근'(농우종묘, B), '홍심5촌당근'(대농종묘, C), '춘홍5촌당근'(사카타, D), '하파5촌당근'(신젠타종묘, E), '홍심5촌당근'(경신종묘, F)으로 전체 6개 품종이며, 경기도 평택시 유천동 대농종묘(주) 육종연구소 N2, N3 하우스에 9월 8일 파종하였고 재배방법은 유기농 및 관행재배표준법에 준하여 실시하였다. 관행과 유기농 재배 후 12월 3일에 수확하여 엽중, 근중, 근장, 근경, 코어, 추근성, 근피색과 가용성 당함량을 조사하였다. 근피색은 Colorimeter(Minolta, CR-400)를 이용하여 Hunter값인 L(밝기), a(녹색-적색), 그리고 b(파란색-노란색)로 표시하였다. 가용성 당함량 조사는 HPLC를 이용하여 분석하였다. 엽중은 유기농 재배 F품종에서 26.0g으로 가장 무거웠고 전체적으로 유기농 재배구에 비해 관행 재배구에서 엽중이 무거웠다. 근장은 모든 품종에서 관행구에 비해 유기농 재배구에서 현저히 길게 나타나 재배 방법 간의 유의차를 보였으며 유기농 재배의 경우 근장이 17.9cm ~ 19.0cm 범위로 품종간 유의성은 없었다. 근중은 전체적으로 관행 재배구가 우수하거나 유기농 재배구와 비슷한 경향을 보였고, 특히 관행 재배구 B품종이 58.1g, A품종이 57.1g으로 가장 무겁게 나타나 재배방법 및 품종간 비교에서 우위를 나타냈다. 당근 뿌리의 명도를 나타내는 Hunter L값은 모든 품종에서 관행 재배구가 높게 나타났으며 특히 관행재배구의 최하위 L값(45.80)이 유기농 재배구의 최상위 L값(44.81)이 보다 높게 나타나 관행 재배를했을 경우 뿌리 광택이 더욱 우수함을 알 수 있었다. Hunter b값은 노란색을 나타내는데 B품종에서 유기농 재배구 19.68, 관행 재배구 19.55로 모든 품종 중에서 가장 높은 수치를 보였다. Fructose 함량은 D품종이 관행 재배구와 유기농 재배구에서 각각 $8.5mg{\cdot}g^{-1}FW,\;8.3mg{\cdot}g^{-1}FW$을 함유하여 가장 많게 나타났고, glucose 함량은 관행 재배구에서 D품종이 $41.5mg{\cdot}g^{-1}FW$을 함유하여 가장 많았고 유기농 재배구에서도 역시 D품종이 $35.7mg{\cdot}g^{-1}FW$을 함유하여 가장 많게 나타났다. Sucrose 함량은 모든 품종의 관행 재배구에서 현저하게 높게 나타났다. 가용성 당함량은 F품종만이 유기농 재배구에서 높게 나타났지만, 다른 5개 품종의 관행 재배구와 비교했을 때는 가장 적은 수치를 나타내 적절한 비배관리를 통한 관행 재배 방법이 가용성 당함량을 증가시킨 것으로 생각된다. 결론적으로 생육 및 품질은 관행재배에서 유기농 재배에 비해 우수하였고 근장은 유기농재배에서 길게 나타났고 가용성당람량 역시 관행재배에서 대체적으로 높게 나타났지만 품종에 따라 유기농재배에서도 높게 조사된 것도 있어 앞으로 유기농 재배에 적합한 당근 품종선발이 필요하다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1296-1307
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• 1997

Background : Erdosteine is a thiol derivative developed for the treatement of chronic obstructive bronchitis, including acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Erdosteine has mucomodulating and antioxidant properties and especially exhibits excellent gastrointestinal tolerability. Methods : The study was conducted as a prospective evaluation, with 2 comparative groups orally treated with erdosteine 300mg (bid.) or ambroxol 30mg (b.i.d.) for 7 days and the design of trial was double-blind. The treatments have been assigned randomly to patients (n=80) with acute or chronic bronchitis. The primary end-point used to determine efficacy in this study was subjective symptoms including expectorating frequence, expectoration volume, expectorating difficulty, expectoration viscosity, cough intensity and dyspnea. The secondary end-points of efficacy was the result of arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. Safety was evaluated with adverse drug reactions and laboratory tests monitoring. 61 patients was included in the efficacy analysis, due to the fact that 19 patients drop-out for different reasons. The obtained values have been analyzed with paired Hest., ANOVA test., multivariate $t^2$-test, repeated measures analysis of covariance, two sample t-test, loglinear-logit model analysis, Fisher's exact test. Results : 1) There was no significant difference on demographic data and vital signs between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups. 2) The comparison between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups showed no significant difference in improvement of each symptom in spite of the more favorable efficacy obtained with erdosteine. No difference on the contrary was observed for arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. 3) As safety is concerned, no clinical significant changes in laboratory test and symptom were induced in erdosteine and ambroxol treated group and two patients in ambroxol treated group drop-out for adverse reactions in symptom. 4) In the evaluation of final clinical efficacy, erdosteine improved more effectively patient's overall symptoms {very good effect (11/31), good effect (12/31), moderate effect (6/31), no effect (2/31), aggravation (0/31)} than ambroxol {very good effect (6/30), good effect (14/30), moderate effect (5/30), no effect (4/30), aggravation (2/30)}. And the probability of symptomatic improvement by erdosteine compared to ambroxol was 2.5 times. (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that erdosteine was clinically effective and safe drug for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis.