• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2020

Previously, we reported adverse effects of low-dose nonylphenol (NP) exposure on the reproductive parameters of F1 female mice. In the present study we further investigated the pathohistological effect of NP exposure on the reproductive organs in F1 female mice. NP exposures were continuously conducted from parental pre-mating period until the postnatal day (PND) 33 of F1 offspring for vaginal examination. Mice were sacrificed on PND 30 and the reproductive tissue weights were measured. The initial (at PND 21) body weights of the NP-50 group animals were significantly lower than those of control group animals, and the weight deficit were recovered when the terminal (PND 33) body weights were measured. Early vaginal opening was found in NP group animals (p<0.05). Pathohistological studies revealed that NP-treated F1 animals showed prominent increase in the ovarian follicle numbers (p<0.01), and decrease in the diameter of uterine myometrium (p<0.01), and increase in the diameter of luminal epithelium (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that the subchronic low-dose NP exposure induced early beginning of puberty and pathohistological abnormalities in ovary and uterus of F1 mice. Further studies are needed to achieve a better understanding on the action mechanism of NP in pubertal onset and to find a way to avoid a hazardous situation provoked by NP exposure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1144-1154
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• 2019

There have been several studies regarding lichen-associated bacteria obtained from diverse environments. Our screening process identified 49 bacterial species in two lichens from the Himalayas: 17 species of Actinobacteria, 19 species of Firmicutes, and 13 species of Proteobacteria. We discovered five types of strong antimicrobial agent-producing bacteria. Although some strains exhibited weak antimicrobial activity, NP088, NP131, NP132, NP134, and NP160 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all multidrug-resistant strains. Polyketide synthase (PKS) fingerprinting revealed results for 69 of 148 strains; these had similar genes, such as fatty acid-related PKS, adenylation domain genes, PfaA, and PksD. Although the association between antimicrobial activity and the PKS fingerprinting results is poorly resolved, NP160 had six types of PKS fingerprinting genes, as well as strong antimicrobial activity. Therefore, we sequenced the draft genome of strain NP160, and predicted its secondary metabolism using antiSMASH version 4.2. NP160 had 46 clusters and was predicted to produce similar secondary metabolites with similarities of 5-100%. Although NP160 had 100% similarity with the alkylresorcinol biosynthetic gene cluster, our results showed low similarity with existing members of this biosynthetic gene cluster, and most have not yet been revealed. In conclusion, we expect that lichen-associated bacteria from the Himalayas can produce new secondary metabolites, and we found several secondary metabolite-related biosynthetic gene clusters to support this hypothesis.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.207-211
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• 2000

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of molecular weight of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and release medium on the release of nifedipine (NP) from PEO tablets containing NP and to get some mechanistic insights into the release of NP. The tablets containing NP were prepared by direct compression, using a flat-faced punch and die. The molecular weights of PEOs used were 200K, 900K, 2000K and 7,000K. The release kinetics were studied for 24 hours in aqueous ethanol solution, using a dissolution tester at $36.5^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm. Drug release rate increased, as the concentration of ethanol in the dissolution medium increased, due to the increased solubility of NP. As the molecular weight of PEO increased, release rate decreased, due to the slower swelling and dissolution of PEO. The power values obtained by fitting data to the power law expression $(M_t/M_{\infty}=kt^n)$ indicated that, at low ethanol concentration, the release of NP is governed by anomalous diffusion. However, as the ethanol concentration increases, diffusional release becomes to prevail over anomalous or zero-order release. Overall, these results provided some insights into the release of NP from PEO tablet.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1009-1013
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• 2019

Polymeric nanoparticles are widely used for drug delivery due to their biodegradability property. Among the wide array of polymers, chitosan has received growing interest among researchers. It was widely used as a vehicle in polymeric nanoparticles for drug targeting. This review explored the current research on the antimicrobial activity of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNP) and the impact on the clinical applications. The antimicrobial activities of ChNP were widely reported against bacteria, fungi, yeasts and algae, in both in vivo and in vitro studies. For pharmaceutical applications, ChNP were used as antimicrobial coating for promoting wound healing, preventing infections and combating the rise of infectious disease. Besides, ChNP also exhibited significant inhibitory activities on foodborne microorganisms, particularly on fruits and vegetables. It is noteworthy that ChNP can be also applied to deliver antimicrobial drugs, which further enhance the efficiency and stability of the antimicrobial agent. The present review addresses the potential antimicrobial applications of ChNP from these few aspects.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.24.1-24.10
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• 2022

Background: Small interfering RNA technology has been considered a prospective alternative antiviral treatment using gene silencing against influenza viruses with high mutations rates. On the other hand, there are no reports on its effectiveness against the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus isolated from Indonesia. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to improve the siRNA design based on the nucleoprotein gene (siRNA-NP) for the Indonesian H5N1 virus. Methods: The effectiveness of these siRNA-NPs (NP672, NP1433, and NP1469) was analyzed in vitro in Marbin-Darby canine kidney cells. Results: The siRNA-NP672 caused the largest decrease in viral production and gene expression at 24, 48, and 72 h post-infection compared to the other siRNA-NPs. Moreover, three serial passages of the H5N1 virus in the presence of siRNA-NP672 did not induce any mutations within the nucleoprotein gene. Conclusions: These findings suggest that siRNA-NP672 can provide better protection against the Indonesian strain of the H5N1 virus.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether Hominis Placental pharmacopuncture solution (HPPS) combined with zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) activates RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: We soaked ZnO nanoparticles in the Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture solution, thereby making a combined form (ZnO NP HPPS). The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on NF-${\kappa}B$ was measured by using a luciferase assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the cytokine expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cellular uptake of ZnO NP HPPS was measured by using a flow cytometric analysis, and cellular structural alterations were analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Neither the HPPS nor the ZnO NPs induced intracellular ROS production in RAW 264.7 cells. Neither of the materials activated NF-${\kappa}B$ or it's dependent genes, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and MCP-1. However, ZnO NP HPPS, the combined form of ZnO NPs and HPPS, did induce the intracellular ROS production, as well as prominently activating NF-${\kappa}B$ and it's dependent genes. Also, compared to ZnO NPs, it effectively increa-sed the uptake by RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, cellular structural alterations were observed in groups treated with ZnO NP HPPS. Conclusions: Neither ZnO NP nor HPPS activated RAW 264.7 cells, which is likely due to a low cellular uptake. The ZnO NP HPPS, however, significantly activated NF-${\kappa}B$ and up-regulated its dependent genes such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, and MCP-1. ZnO NP HPPS was also more easily taken into the RAW 264.7 cells than either ZnO NP or HPPS.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2007

Toxicity of nonlyphenol (NP) one of EDCs was studied with focus on reproduction of the crucian carp, Carassius auratus. Fishes were cultured under control and nonylphnol exposure conditions for 32 weeks. Experimental group was composed of total of 4 groups, 1 control condition and 3 nonylphenol exposure condition ($18\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1},\;37\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}\;and\;83\;{\mu}g\;NP\;L^{-1}$). Survival rate was found to be similar in control and $18\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$. However, it is lower In the $37\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ and $83\;{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ in comparison to the control group. Deformation of gonads was the highest in the exposure condition of $18{\mu};NP\;L^{-1}$ with the female illustrating higher ratio than the male. GSI was not much different in the male but in the female, NP exposure group illustrated lower value compared to the control group. HSI and GI did not illustrate any clear differences between the control and exposure group for both male and female. Intersex was 0% in the wild group, 4.16% in the laboratory control group, and 25.67% in the NP exposure condition with female illustrating higher compared to male. Concentration of blood vitellogenin in female illustrated no clear differences between the control and NP exposure group. However, in the male, it was higher in the NP exposure group in comparison to the control group, and illustrated higher values of vitellogenin compared to the figures found in the female of same con-centration condition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.13-16
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• 2002

The Intervertebral disc is a composite structure made up of the nucleus pulposus (NP) core surrounded by the multi-layered fibers of the annulus fibrosis (AF)[1]. Water is drawn into the NP by the presence of hydrophilic proteins called proteoglycans [2]. The AF, with successive layers oriented in alternating directions, surrounds the NP. These layers are placed under tension as the NP absorbs water and swells [3]. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1277-1284
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• 2005

Alkylphenol Polyethoxylate(APEs) and their metabolites were determined in the aquatic environment in the central Nakdong river basin. The concentrations of APE's ranged between $0.62{\sim}11.70\;{\mu}g/L$ from the Nakdong and the Kumho rivers, and were $70.00{\sim}212.50\;{\mu}g/L$ in the samples from the 3rd industrial complex stream and the Dalseo stream, which are both heavily polluted by industrial wastewater and domestic wastewater. The APEs revealed a removal rate of more than 87% by biodegradation and adsorption etc. in the wastewater treatment plant. Nonylphenol polyethoxylates(NPnEO) and Nonylphenol carboxylic acid(NPnEC) consisted of APE metabolites shifted from NP($n=4{\sim}10$)EO and NP($n=4{\sim}10$)EC to NP($n=1{\sim}3$)EO and NP($n=1{\sim}3$)EC or removed by the adsorption of activated sludge during the biological wastewater treatment process. Upper streams have a higher distributed rate of NP($n=7{\sim}10$)EO than water downstream. Continuous monitoring is necessary for non-point sources as well as point sources, such as a wastewater treatment plant. Effluent concentrations of nonylphenol(NP) in industrial wastewater and domestic wastewater averaged about 4.33 and $1.70\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively. In addition, the removal rate average was 90% in the wastewater treatment plant. NP concentrations in the rivers did not exceed $1.0\;{\mu}g/L$, which are prescribed by environmental risk concentration in the USA and Europe. However, NP required continuous monitoring, which detected over $0.1\;{\mu}g/L$ in all river areas.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.153-161
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• 1996

Several main nuclides($^{241}Am$, $^{152}Eu$ and $^{237}Np$) in radioactive waste solution were selected and examined to mutual separation with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid by solvent extraction technique. $^{237}Np$ was extracted more than 99.9% adding the $H_2O_2$ that was a good reductant for the oxidation state control of $^{237}Np$. $^{241}Am$, $^{152}Eu$ and $^{237}Np$ could be fairly well separated one another during the different sequence stripping stages, but about 7~9.6% of the other nuclides were still remained for the $^{241}Am$ stripping solution. This result shows that the product of $^{152}Eu$ and $^{237}Np$ was good, but $^{241}Am$ may be needed to further purification process. It was also discussed on the cause of the third phase formation phenomenon that was found in the solvent regeneration.