• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.953-957
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• 2001

The specificity of conjugation site for coating ligands was investigated using toluene-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates in which BSA was conjugated at the position of o-, m-, and ${\rho}-toluic$ acid. Toluene-BSA conjugated at ${\rho}-position$ showed a binding activity of about 89-95%, whereas, those conjugated at o- and m-position of toluene exhibited a binding activity of 5 and 11%, respectively. On the basis of the above result, coating ligands with various proteins (OVA, BSA, KLH) were compared by conjugating with $\rho-toluic$ acid, and toluene-KLH was considered as the best coating ligand for this ELISA. Indirect competitive ELISA method was developed using anti-toluene antibody and $\rho-position$ conjugated toluene-KLH. The dose-response curve constructed after kinetic and optimization studies showed a 1${\times}$10-4 - 1${\times}$102 mM detectable response range with 0.1 ${\mu}M$ detectability. In specificity test of the antibody, the binding capabilities of aromatic compounds substituted with nitro-, alkyl-, chloro-, and hydroxyl group were larger rather than those of aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene and xylene) themselves. Also, tests with soil and water samples that had been spiked with toluene resulted in 102.7-113.7% recovery.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.709-717
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• 2022

Allergic rhinitis (AR), one of the most common inflammatory diseases, is caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions against inhaled allergens. AR involves mucosal inflammation driven by type 2 helper T (Th2) cells. Previously, it was shown that the Streptococcus pneumoniae pep27 mutant (Δpep27) could prevent and treat allergic asthma by reducing Th2 responses. However, the underlying mechanism of Δpep27 immunization in AR remains undetermined. Here, we investigated the role of Δpep27 immunization in the development and progression of AR and elucidated potential mechanisms. In an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mice model, Δpep27 alleviated allergic symptoms (frequency of sneezing and rubbing) and reduced TLR2 and TLR4 expression, Th2 cytokines, and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. Mechanistically, Δpep27 reduced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the nasal mucosa by down-regulating the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In conclusion, Δpep27 seems to alleviate TLR signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation to subsequently prevent AR.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare fresh and frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst transfer protocols following preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) in cases of advanced maternal age. Methods: A total of 330 patients were examined retrospectively. PGS was performed on the embryos of 146 patients for whom fresh transfers were chosen. In contrast, frozen-thawed euploid single embryo transfer (ET) was selected after PGS for 184 patients, and their embryos were vitrified. The percentage of euploid embryos and rates of implantation, pregnancy, and pregnancy continuity, as well as clinical and biochemical abortion rates, were compared. Results: The numbers of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II oocytes, and fertilized ova were greater in the frozen-thawed group. The percentages of euploid embryos were comparable between the fresh and frozen-thawed groups (32% vs. 34.8%, respectively). The rates of implantation (46.6%vs. 62.5%), pregnancy (50% vs. 66.8%), ongoing pregnancy (38.4% vs. 53.8%), and live birth percentage (37.0% vs. 53.8%) were significantly higher in the frozen-thawed group. However, no significant differences were found in the clinical and biochemical abortion rates. Conclusion: The use of frozen-thawed single euploid ET is associated with increased implantation and pregnancy rates compared to fresh single euploid ET with PGS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.57-64
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• 1992

The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of TEST-Yolk Buffer(TYB) as a factor for the improvement of human sperm fertility potential. We examined the effects of low temperature capacitation using TYB on sperm motility (%), motility pattern, normal morphology, true acrosome reaction, sperm penetration assay and human in vitro fertilization. Comparing the TYB method and swim-up method, the sperm motility(%) of selected sperm was not significantly different, but statistically significant differences were found in curvilinear velocity, linearity, lateral head displacement, normal morphology(%) and true acrosome reaction(%)(p<0.05). Results obtained from the sperm penetration assay demonstrated that the penetration index and penetration rate were increased significantly(p<0.05) when the spermatozoa were incubated in TYB, as compared with swim-up method. And fertilization of intact human oocytes was more succesful when spermatozoa were pretreated with TYB at $4^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours as compared with swim-up method. Our results show that TYB method have advantages in terms of enhancement of sperm hyperactivation, increased true acrosome reaction, increased ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova and augmented fertilization of human oocytes, suggesting that TYB is superior in its ability to preserve sperm motility and fertilizing ability.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.29-35
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• 2012

The aim of the study is to characterize the phenotypes of $CD4^+$ $CD25^+$ T regulatory cells within the liver granulomas and association with both Foxp-3 gene expression and splenic cytokines. Naive C57BL/6 mice were intravenously injected with multiple doses of the soluble egg antigen (SEA) 7 days before cercarial infection. The immunized and infected control groups were sacrificed 8 and 16 weeks post-infection (PI). Histopathology, parasitological parameters, splenic phenotypes for T regulatory cells, the FOXP-3 expression in hepatic granuloma using real-time PCR, and the associated splenic cytokines were studied. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed remarkable increase in degenerated ova within hepatic granuloma which decreased in diameter at weeks 8 and 16 PI ($P$<0.01). The percentage of T regulatory cells ($CD4^+$ $CD25^+$) increased significantly ($P$<0.01) in the immunized group compared to the infected control at weeks 8 and 16 PI. The FOXP-3 expression in hepatic granulomas increased from 10 at week 8 to 30 fold at week 16 PI in the infected control group. However, its expression in the immunized group showed an increase from 30 at week 8 to 70 fold at week 16 PI. The splenic cytokine levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, and TNF-${\alpha}$, showed significant decreases ($P$<0.05) compared to the infected control group. In conclusion, the magnitude and phenotype of the egg-induced effects on T helper responses were found to be controlled by a parallel response within the T regulatory population which provides protection in worm parasite-induced immunopathology.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

Fascioliasis is one of the public health problems in the world. Cysteine proteinases (CP) released by $Fasciola$ $gigantica$ play a key role in parasite feeding, migration through host tissues, and in immune evasion. There has been some evidence from several parasite systems that proteinases might have potential as protective antigens against parasitic infections. Cysteine proteinases were purified and tested in vaccine trials of sheep infected with the liver fluke. Multiple doses (2 mg of CP in Freund's adjuvant followed by 3 booster doses 1 mg each at 4 week intervals) were injected intramuscularly into sheep 1 week prior to infect orally with 300 $F.$ $gigantica$ metacercariae. All the sheep were humanely slaughtered 12 weeks after the first immunization. Changes in the worm burden, ova count, and humoral and cellular responses were evaluated. Significant reduction was observed in the worm burden (56.9%), bile egg count (70.7%), and fecel egg count (75.2%). Immunization with CP was also found to be associated with increases of total IgG, $IgG_1$, and $IgG_2$ ($P$<0.05). Data showed that the serum cytokine levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$, revealed significant decreases ($P$<0.05). However, the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-6, showed significant increases ($P$<0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that CP released by $F.$ $gigantica$ are highly important candidates for a vaccine antigen because of their role in the fluke biology and host-parasite relationships.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives : The aims of this study were to exploring the therapeutic effect of Imperatae Rhizoma Extract(IRE) on Asthma. Methods : To investigate biological modulation activities of IRE, we conducted the cell-based assay whether IRE could regulate T helper 2 cells activity with EL4 T cells and mouse splenocytes, and followed animal study to conform the efficacy of their therapeutic potential on OVA-induced asthmatic mouse. Results : In cell study, IRE suppress the nuclear translocation of GATA binding protein-3 protein in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/Ionomycin-stimulated EL4 T cells and Interleukine(IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production in splenocytes at concentration dependent manner. In animal study, IRE-treated groups both 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml improve airway hypersensitibility reaction(AHR) response to methacholine about 30% and 40% with positive control group. Peritoneal blood analysis reveal that eosinophil number and ovalbumin-specific IgE is reduced by IRE treatment. Cell number of eosinophil is also reduced in bronchoalveolar lavage of IRE group like to peritoneal cell and real time-polymerase chain reaction data show that expression levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were down regulated in lung tissue. Finally, histological analysis indicate that IRE protect the bronchial tissue damages through the accumulation of inflammatory cells and collagen, and these effect may be cause by interfering Th2 cells activity. Conclusions : Our data represent that IRE potentiates therapeutic activities to the allergic diseases such as asthma by regulating Th2 cells differentiation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.18-25
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• 2007

Background: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are effective in controlling asthma in the majority of patients, a subset of asthmatics fails to demonstrate a satisfactory response, even to systemic GC therapy. This population is referred to as being "steroid-resistant". The actual mechanism underlying steroid resistance in asthma remains to be elucidated. Methods: We have investigated how dexamethasone (DEX) regulates asthmatic phenotypes in a murine model of asthma, in which mice received i.p. immunization twice, followed by two bronchoprovocations with aerosolized OVA with a one-week interval, which we have recently described. Results: Pretreatment with DEX resulted in an inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in asthmatic lungs, and also inhibited bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and CC chemokines [eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1]. DEX was effective in suppressing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) at 10 h, Th2-dependent asthmatic phenotypes such as airway eosinophilia, BAL levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), and mucin production. However, DEX failed to suppress BAL levels of CXC chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)] and airway neutrophilia. Conclusion: Airway neutrophilia is among the phenomena observed in patients with severe GC-resistant asthma. This study will provide insight into the molecular basis for airway neutrophila seen in steroid-resistant asthma. Further studies are required to delineate the underlying mechanism of CXC chemokine expression in asthma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.368-379
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• 2002

This study investigated the correlations among the health consciousness, nutrition knowledge, dietary habits and nutrition attitudes of school teachers. The subjects of this study were 75 male and 152 female leachers in elementary and middle schools in Masan city. The survey was conducted by using a questionnaire. Even though the average body mass index (BMI) and the obesity index were normal in both male and female subjects, 33.3% of the male subjects were overweight/obese, while 18.5% of the female subjects were underweight, according to the obesity index. The food components of most concern during mealtime were (in order of importance) salt, MSG and cholesterol by male subjects, and salt, fat and MSG by female subjects. The subjects considered self-relaxation as the most important factor in maintaining optimal health status, followed by resting, bathing or use ova sauna, moderation in diet, exercise, decreasing alcohol intake, and no smoking. Newspapers/magazines and TV/radio were the primary sources of nutrition and health information of the subjects. As the degree of health consciousness increased, scores of the dietary habits and nutrition attitudes increased. Nutrition knowledge scores and nutrition altitudes scores increased with subjects'increased level of perception of the importance of acquiring nutrition knowledge and nutrition information. There was a highly significant correlation between the degree of health consciousness and dietary habit score (${\gamma}$ : 0.3, p<0.001). The degree of health consciousness was also significantly correlated (${\gamma}$=0.6, p<0.001) with nutrition attitudes scores. But the correlation between the degree of health consciousness and nutrition knowledge was not statistically significant. The degree of the perception of the importance of nutrition knowledge showed a positive correlation with nutrition attitude (${\gamma}$:0.4, p<0.001) and dietary habit (${\gamma}$:0.3, p<0.001). The degree of perception about the importance of nutrition knowledge and nutrition information was positively correlated with nutrition knowledge (${\gamma}$:0.2, p<0.001) and nutrition attitudes (${\gamma}$:0.3, p<0.001).

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.111-111
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• 2003

Telomeres are the end of chromosomes and consist of a tandem repeat sequence of (TTAGGG)n and associated proteins. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which act as a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. Even though telomeres and telomerase have been studied extensively, very little is known about telomere dynamics in embryonic cells. This study was carried out to analyze the telomeres distribution and telomerase activity of chicken cells during embryonic and developmental stages. The target cells for analysing were sperms, ovulated ova, early embryonic cells and the cells from brain, heart, liver, kidney and germinal tissue in fetus. Telomeres distribution on target cells was analyzed by Q-FISH (Quantitation-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization) techniques using a chicken telomere repeat probe. Telomerase activity was performed by TRAP assay (Telomeric repeat Amplification Protocol) with target DNA. In results, the telomeres of chicken were found at the ends of all chromosomes. In addition, chicken had interstitial telomeres on chromosomes 1, 2 and 3. Telomerase activity was highly detectable in early embryonic cells, germinal tissues and kidney cells. Whereas telomerase activity was gradually down-regulated when the organs, including brain, heart, and liver, were developed from embryos. In the distribution of telomeric DNA on the embryonic and developmental stages, most of the cells was gradually decreased in telomere quantity during ontogenesis.