• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2006

Mast cells (MCs) are granulated cells that play a pivotal role in allergic reaction and inflammation. The granules of mast cells are known to be rich in zinc (Zn). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. We injected $200{\mu}L$ of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) subcutaneously in the dorsal aspect of one hindpaw Finally, zinc selenium autometallography(AMG) was done by Danscher's method. The present study showed the ultrastructures of zinc-containing mast cells found in inflammatory area following an complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) inoculation into the rat hindpaw. At light microscopic level, mast cells were round or oval, at average $12{\mu}m$ in diameter, with many filopodia extending from the cell surface. Because the rather small and spherical nucleus was centrally placed; it was frequently obscured by the cytoplasmic granules, it sometimes could not be seen. Mast cells were distributed chiefly in the vicinity of small blood vessels. In most preparation many mast cells were ruptured and their granules escaped into the surrounding tissue. In electron micrographs, The secretory granules were at average $0.5{\mu}m$ in diameter and were limited by a membrane. The cell surface contained numerous microvilli and folds. Their interior was heterogenous in appearance. The nucleus was surrounded by large numbers of prominent vesicels and a well developed Golgi apparatus, but scant endoplasmic reticulum.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 1986

Previous studies have demonstrated that phagocytosis of encapsulated bacteria needs the opsonization of bacteria with immunoglobulin and complement. Several investigators have studied the role of specific antibody to the bacteria. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of specific anti-Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4($A{\alpha}Y4$) antibody, which was obtained from the immunized rabbit serum for phagocytosis of $A{\alpha}Y4$ by PMNL. For this study, specific and nonspecific IgG were separated from the sera of the rabbits and PMNL were isolated from 15 healthy adults. By an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the results showed that the binding capacity of anti-$A{\alpha}Y4$ IgG to $A{\alpha}Y4$ was much higher than that of nonspecific IgG; 0.75 and 0.14(O.D. at 400nm), respectively. The oxygen consumption of PMNL, phagocytizing $A{\alpha}Y4$ which was opsonized with specific $A{\alpha}Y4$ IgG(37.13 nmol/min/$1{\times}10^7$ PMNL), was significantly higher than that with nonspecific IgG(27.95 nmol/min/$1{\times}10^7$ PMNL, p<0.01). In immunofluorescence microscopic examination, the difference between the numbers of the ingested $A{\alpha}Y4$ opsonized with specific anti-$A{\alpha}Y4$ IgG and nonspecific IgG reached to statistically significant level; $184{\pm}11.4$ and $133.2{\pm}8.3$ per 100 PMNL, p<0.05. These results suggest that specific anti-$A{\alpha}Y4$ IgG has a significant role in PMNL phagocytosis of encapsulated $A{\alpha}Y4$ and also it can be available to adopt this system to develop anti-capsular antibody to $A{\alpha}Y4$ for enhancing and emphasizing the phagocytic activity against this bacterium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 1998

Since the male sterilization (vasectomy) has been performed on a large scale as an accepted family planning in Korea on 1980s and this, in turn, has been followed by an increase in the number of patients requesting vasovasostomy. We studies 1000 consecutive cases of vasovasostomy performed from January 1975 to July 1995 in Pusan National University Hospital. In this report, we are going to present serial studies of vasovasostomy through which we attempted to find out what factors are of impotence in influencing the successful outcome of vasovasostomy operation. We inquired the operative results data through the questionnaire and telephone interview with survey of medical records. A total of 259 cases was excluded due to the loss of follow-up. The overall patency and pregnancy rates of 741 cases were 86.9% and 51.1%, respectively. The age of man at the time of anastomosis ranged from 23 to 57 years old with an average of 34.9. The most frequent reason for requesting vasovasostomy was the desire to have more children (43.4%). The average obstructive interval was 60.6 months with range from 1 to 264 months. If the obstructive interval had been less than 5 years patency rate was 92.4% and pregnancy rate 64.8%, but 6 years or more 84.1% and 48.5% (p<0.01, p<0.01). Patency and pegnancy rates according to intraoperative vas fluid were 93.1% and 62.8% for presence and 83.7% and 53.1% for absence (p<0.01, p<0.05). Patency and pregnancy rates according to histologically proven sperm granuloma at vasectomy site were 87.7% and 49.2% for presence and 86.9% and 50.6% for absence (p>0.05, p<0.05). Patency and pregnancy rates were not significantly different between microscopic standard vasovasostomy (88.4%, 64.3%) and modified vasovasostomy (89.5%, 56.3%)(p>0.05, p>0.05). Both patency and pregnancy rates according to level of anastomosis were 89.8% and 59.8% in cases of straight vas and 91.5%, 60.1% in cases of convoluted vas (p>0.05, p>0.05). Patency and pregnancy rates according to the kind of suture materials were 91.5% and 56.2% for absorbable, 91.0% and 64.2% for non-absorbable and 93.3% and 53.3% for absorbable plus non-absorbable, respectively (p>0.05, p<0.05). Thus it is suggested that the important factor influencing the success rate of vasovasostomy is the interval of obstruction and vasal ooze with surgical skills.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.63-74
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• 1984

Preventive effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against ethanol intoxication of the liver has been investigated biochemically and morphologically. Previous work in this laboratory showed that the moderate amounts of ginseng sponins stimulated several enzymes including mitochondrial dehydrogenases and transaminases so far examined in vitro. It was also realized that the half life of the saponin in the liver was estimated approximately five hours and the saponin concentration in the liver was around $10^{-5}\%$ level at two hours after the saponin (1mg) administration orally. In this study, it was confirmed that ginseng saponins stimulated alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system in vivo as well as in vitro. It seemed likely that toxic aldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation in the body might be removed relatively quickly from the liver and the excess hydrogen was used for the biosynthetic work in the presence of the saponin, resulting in the liver protection from alcohol intoxication. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the hepatocytes of rats doses with $12\%$ ethanol instead of water for six days were found severely damaged while those of the ginseng saponin administered rats were not impaired suggesting that the sapcnin protected the liver against ethanol intoxication.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-119
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• 1989

The histochemical characteristics of the cutaneous granular glands and its fine structure of the Korean fire bellied toad, Bombino orientalis Boulenger the only species inhabitated in Korea, were studied with light and electron microscopes. By the granular size and histochemical properties, the granular glands were subdivided into two types. The type I glands have small secretory granules (3.6 $\mu$ m), whereas the type II glands contain relatively larger granules (7.5 $\mu$ m). These two types of glands were simple alveolar gland, and they were commonly composed of inner glandular epithelial cells and outermost myoepithelial cells. By the histochemical reactions, these two secretory granules were not responsed to Alcian blue, but weakly positive reaction was observed in type I granular glands by the PAS reaction. And by the scanning electron microscopic observation, extemal morphology of the opening site of the gland duct was resembled to the stomata of the plant leaves. Especially the epithelial cells of the type I glands had fine reticular surface whereas, type II glands had large vesicular surface. These types of the glands conimonly had larger cavities than those of mucous glands, and forming the multinucleated unicellulr structure (syncytium) at the glandular epithelial layers. Secretory granules of these glands were originated from the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the glandular epithelial cells, and by the maturation level of the granule, morphological diversities appeared.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 1968

The membrane structures were electron microscopically studied in the elongating lens fibers of the regenerating lens of adult Triturus pyrrhogaster. Observations were focused on the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The endoplasmic reticulum developed in the vicinity of the nucleus with active blebbing of the outer membrane. At the same time, the concentration of mitochondria around the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum near by the nucleus was always observed. Both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrion undergo disintegration in the apical portion apart from the nucleus. Some considerations were discussed with reference to published data.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2018

Soybean transgenic plants with ectopically expressed AtABF3 were produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and investigated the effects of AtABF3 expression on drought and salt tolerance. Stable Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation was carried based on the half-seed method (Paz et al. 2006). The integration of the transgene was confirmed from the genomic DNA of transformed soybean plants using PCR and the copy number of transgene was determined by Southern blotting using leaf samples from $T_2$ seedlings. In addition to genomic integration, the expression of the transgenes was analyzed by RT-PCR and most of the transgenic lines expressed the transgenes introduced. The chosen two transgenic lines (line #2 and #9) for further experiment showed the substantial drought stress tolerance by surviving even at the end of the 20-day of drought treatment. And the positive relationship between the levels of AtABF3 gene expression and drought-tolerance was confirmed by qRT-PCR and drought tolerance test. The stronger drought tolerance of transgenic lines seemed to be resulted from physiological changes. Transgenic lines #2 and #9 showed ion leakage at a significantly lower level (P < 0.01) than ${\underline{n}}on-{\underline{t}}ransgenic$ (NT) control. In addition, the chlorophyll contents of the leaves of transgenic lines were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The results indicated that their enhanced drought tolerance was due to the prevention of cell membrane damage and maintenance of chlorophyll content. Water loss by transpiration also slowly proceeded in transgenic plants. In microscopic observation, higher stomata closure was confirmed in transgenic lines. Especially, line #9 had 56% of completely closed stomata whereas only 16% were completely open. In subsequent salt tolerance test, the apparently enhanced salt tolerance of transgenic lines was measured in ion leakage rate and chlorophyll contents. Finally, the agronomic characteristics of ectopically expressed AtABF3 transgenic plants ($T_2$) compared to NT plants under regular watering (every 4 days) or low rate of watering condition (every 10 days) was investigated. When watered regularly, the plant height of drought-tolerant line (#9) was shorter than NT plants. However, under the drought condition, total seed weight of line #9 was significantly higher than in NT plants (P < 0.01). Moreover, the pods of NT plants showed severe withering, and most of the pods failed to set normal seeds. All the evidences in the study clearly suggested that overexpression of the AtABF3 gene conferred drought and salt tolerance in major crop soybean, especially under the growth condition of low watering.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2004

The aim of the present study was to examine in detail, both at light and electron microscopical levels, the morphological variations in ameloblast of the fetal rat incisor enamel organ. Rats were started on distilled water at the beginning of pregnancy. The pups were sacrificed 11 days after delivery and animals were perfused intravascularly with glutaraldehyde and the incisors were removed. To examine on the ultrastructure of the ameloblast, the study employed primary light microscopy but electron microscopy was used to clarify some of the light microscopic finding. Longitudinal sections through the incisors of the rat show a continuous layer of ameloblasts on the labial surface of the tooth. This layer contains the entire sequence of developmental stages in enamel production. The ameloblast layer was divided into three main zones: 1) Presecretory zone, region of ameloblasts facing pulp. 2) Secretory zone, region of inner and outer enamel secretion. 3) Maturation zone, region of reduced ameloblasts. In particularly, the present study has shown that two distinctively different types of ameloblasts appear in the enamel organ during enamel maturation in the rat incisor. These two types have been designated ruffle-ended ameloblasts (rAB) and smooth-ended ameloblasts (sAB). The fluoride produces marked alteration in the fine structure of ameloblast from teeth of young rats, such as large confluent distensions of the endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of isolated mitochondria. This experimental data suggested that exposure prolonged of animal to high level of fluoride appears to induce a few dramatic changes in the normal appositional growth and initial mineralization of enamel created during amelogenesis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2020

Malaria is a potent burden on public healthcare worldwide due to requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Nowadays, prompt diagnosis with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) has been widely accepted as an effective diagnostic technique in malaria-endemic countries, primarily due to their easy operation, fast output, and straightforward interpretation. The global availability and use of RDTs have gradually grown over recent decades as field-applicable diagnostic tests for the reliable confirmation of malaria infection and proper case management. This study was conducted to evaluate diagnostic performance of 3 commercially available malaria RDT kits : BIOCREDIT^TM Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH), Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH/pHRPII), and Malaria Ag Pf/Pv(pLDH/pLDH) (where pLDH and pHRPII stand for plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase and histidine-rich protein 2, respectively) for the specific detection of Plasmodium falciparum. A total of 1,129 blood samples including 95 blood samples, confirmed as vivax malaria infection by microscopic examinations and a nested-PCR method, were tested for falciparum malaria infection. The overall sensitivity and specificity of Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH/pHRPII), Malaria Ag Pf/Pv(pLDH/pLDH), and Pf(pLDH) for P. falciparum were 99.0% and 100%, 95.8% and 100%, and 100% and 100%, respectively. It is proposed that the 3 RDT kits perform reliable level of diagnostic accuracy of detection for P. falciparum parasites.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1723-1728
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• 2007

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), a type of red raspberry, grows wild in Korea and China and its unripe fruit is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of impotence and as a diuretic. RCM was extracted with methanol and then further fractionated it into for different types. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of a RCM extract (ext.) and its fraction (fr.). DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay, total polyphenols contents, total flavonoids contents assay were used to analyze antioxidant activity. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity $(RC_{50}:1.67{\mu}g/ml)$ and total polyphenols contents $(546.25{\mu}g/mg)$ were higher in butanol fraction than in other fr. And total flavonoids contents was higher in ethylacetate fr. $(141.78{\mu}g/mg)$. We applied comet assay to measure the DNA damage in the individual cells and exposed time course at $IC_{50}$. Comet assay is a rapid and sensitive fluorescent microscopic method to examine DNA damage and repair at individual cell level. The butanol fro from RCM significantly induced 54.12%, 57.95% of DNA damage after treated RCM for 8 hr. In conclus