• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.953-960
• /
• 2011

Necrosis is characterized by the cell membrane rupture and release of the cellular contents, including high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), into the extracellular microenvironment. HMGB1 acts as a transcriptional regulator in nuclei, but exerts a pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting cytokine activity when released into the extracellular space. Its overexpression is associated with tumor progression and chemoresistance. Thus, HMGB1 acts as a clinically important molecule in tumor biology. In this study, we examined whether HMGB1 affects cell death induced by anti-cancer drugs. Here we show that HMGB1 prevented cisplatin (alkylating agent)-induced apoptosis and switched the cell fate to necrosis in MCF-7, MDA-MB231, and MDA-MB361 cells. Similar apoptosis-to-necrosis switch effects of HMGB1 were observed in cells treated with 4-HC, another alkylating agent. In contrast, HMGB1 did not exert any significant effects on docetaxel (DOC)-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. We also show that cisplatin-induced apoptosis was switched to necrosis in MCF-7 multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) that were cultured for 8 days and had necrotic cores, but DOC-induced apoptosis was prevented without the apoptosis-to-necrosis switch. Finally, the levels of RAGE, a receptor of HMGB1, were increased with extended culture of MTS. These findings demonstrate that HMGB1 switches alkylating agent-induced apoptosis to necrosis, suggesting that the strategy to prevent necrosis occurring as an undesirable action of alkylating agent-based chemotherapy should be delineated to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.754-759
• /
• 2017

The 100 l culture system was made on the basis of LED light, and Nannochloropsis oculata was cultured in f/2 medium at light intensity ($100{\mu}mol/m^2/s$), culture temperature ($20^{\circ}C{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) and LD cycle (12hr). As a result, the maximum biomass of 1.07 g/l was cultured as a result of 100 l mass culture at $100{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ and 24 mg/l nitrate concentration in LED blue (475 nm). The extraction was carried out using sonicator, homogenizer and chemical method 0.5M HCl shredding method. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid were 1.6, 0.5 and 0.3 mg/g cell. When using homogenizer, it was measured at 1.0, 0.6 and 0.2 mg/g cell. The chemical breakdown method of 0.5M HCl, chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents were measured as 0.9, 0.8, 0 mg/g cell. The highest amount of biomass during the distruption time was measured at 3.6 mg/g cell at 15 min disintegration and acetone, 3.6 mg/g cell of acetone, methanol, and ethanol were measured as effective solvents. Concentration was measured by using microfilter, disk type continuous centrifuge and tubular type continuous centrifuge were 16.0, 1.1 and 0.5 g/l, respectively. Four kinds of equipment such as hot air dryer, vacuum dryer, spray dryer and freeze dryer were tested to optimize the drying process. As a result, the recovery rates of spray dryer and freeze dryer were 80% and 60%.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.739-745
• /
• 2017

In all mammalian species, progesterone is essential in the preparation for and maintenance of pregnancy. $20{\alpha}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($20{\alpha}$-HSD) predominantly converts progesterone into its biologically inactive form $20{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($20{\alpha}$-OHP), and plays a crucial role in the termination of pregnancy and initiation of parturition. In this study, we characterized the expression and localization of $20{\alpha}$-HSDinthe testis of MediKinetics $Micropigs^{(R)}$. The testes were collected at days 6, 9, 12, 18, and 21 after birth. The $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA was found to be expressed in the testis at day 6 after birth by RT-PCR. The highest level of mRNA expression in the testis was detected on day 21 after birth. However, the mRNA was not detected in the placenta after parturition. Western blot for $20{\alpha}$-HSD reveal that the specific 37-kDa band was detected in immature pig testis. However, this band was not detected in testis tissue at day 6 after birth. In the immunohistochemical analysis of the testis, $20{\alpha}$-HSD was detected in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Taken together, our study shows for the first time that the $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA and protein are expressed in pig testis after birth. Further investigation is required to elucidate the functional mechanisms of $20{\alpha}$-HSD in pig testis after birth.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.621-626
• /
• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2017

This paper describes the investigation into the durability alkali-activated materials(AAM) mortar and paste samples manufactured using fly-ash(FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) exposed to a sulfate environment with different GGBFS replace ratios(30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0). The tests involved immersions into 10% sodium sulfate solution($Na_2SO_4$), 10% magnesium sulfate solution($MgSO_4$), 10% magnesium nitrate solution($Mg(NO_3)_2$) and 5% magnesium nitrate($Mg(NO_3)_2$+5% sodium sulfate solution+$Na_2SO_4$). The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, in case of immersed in $Na_2SO_4$, $Mg(NO_3)_2$ and $Mg(NO_3)_2+Na_2SO_4$ shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in $MgSO_4$, the general observation was that the compressive strength decreased after immersion. The most drastic reduction of compressive strength and expansion of weight and length occurred when GGBFS or Ms ratios were higher. Also, the XRD analysis of samples immersed in magnesium sulfate indicated that expansion of AAM caused by gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$) and brucite(MgOH). The results showed that, an additional condition $Mg^{2+}$ in which ${SO_4}^{2-}$ is the presence of a certain concentration, sulfate erosion has to be accelerated.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.469-475
• /
• 2002

The rotating biological contactor (RBC) was tested for treatment of aquacultural water in a pilot-scale recirculating aquaculture system. Performance of RBC on the treatment of nitrogen source such as total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (CODcr.) was evaluated. A system was stocked with nile tilapia at an initial rearing densities of $5\%$ and $7\%$ over 30 days. As increasing rearing density from $5\%$ to $7\%$, the TAN removal rates was increased from $39.4 g/m^3{\cdot}day$ to $86.0 g/m^3{\cdot}day$. But TAN removal efficiency was decreased from $24.5\%$ to $16.0\%$. The removal rate of $COD_Cr$ was higher than TAN. The RBC as an aerator was also evaluated for increasing dissolved oxygen concentration. For $5\%$ and $7\%$ of rearing density, the average aeration rate were $280 g/m^3{\cdot}day$ and $255 g/m^3{\cdot}day$, respectively.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.12 no.9
• /
• pp.156-171
• /
• 2012

It is the time of the Korean Wave booming throughout the world, placing Korean culture in the center of the world and its added value is unaccountable. At this prosperity, the preserving of the archetype of Korean dancing and digital contents making is becoming a task not only for the government but also for the private sector because culture industry has enormous added values. To achieve such goals, contents development is an urgent matter but establishing the value of the archetype of Korean traditional dancing must have priority. The public has to take an active role in rediscovering the values of traditional culture, and as the representative of Korean identity traditional dancing must be the object of a systematic art policy. This study will review the current status of 'digital contents program of the archetype of culture' for traditional dancing and will reconsider the modern value of preserving the archetype of culture to make a suggestion to the direction of culture art policies in the near future. The study acknowledged the lack of technical personnel majoring in the archetype of traditional dancing and the need of reviewing the credibility of historical research procedures. Even with the studies by industry-university collaboration and positioning of specialists, effective policies that will form the foundation for private firms to train personnels is in urgent need. In other words, training personnels, allocation of resource, securing funds, policies promoting collaboration between private and individual businesses, and the commercial recognition at private firms are still far from establishing. This is due to the fact that archetype of culture is not a business that creates revenue immediately, therefore the recognition of traditional dancing as an investable item by business-oriented firms or movements are difficult to find. To overcome such situation, software oriented policies that establish open communication and sharing with the public should be done at first rather than the quantity oriented hardware policies of contents development. Through this process the public can change the attitude on traditional dancing and traditional dancing could be newly recognized as a creative repository of culture and as public businesses giving birth to economic value.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.161-174
• /
• 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the pain control effect by morphine injection to masticatory muscle pain patients. Patients with masticatory muscle pain visited the Department of Oral Medicine, Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital were recruited to this study and diagnosed by RDC/TMD. Experimental group were divided into four group; saline injection group (n=10), lidocaine injection group (n=10), morphine 1.5 mg injection group (n=10) and morphine 3 mg injection group (n=10). Evaluation list was the subjective pain evaluation(visual analogue scale, Mc Gill pain questionnaire, pain drawing) and the objective pain evaluation(pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance) and evaluation time was injection before, after 1 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour and then it was analyzed statistically. The results were as follows : 1. The subjective pain evaluation were significantly different statistically in morphine 3 mg group after 48 hour. (VAS: p<0.01, MGQ: p<0.001, PD: p<0.05) 2. The objective pain evaluation were significantly different statistically in morphine 1.5 mg group after 1 hour. (PPT: p<0.01, PPTol: p<0.05) 3. The morphine 3 mg group were more significantly different than lidocaine group and morphine 1.5 mg group statistically in the McGill pain questionnaire evaluation. (1h: p<0.01, 24h: p<0.01, 48h: p<0.001) Therefore, it was revealed that the morphine 3 mg injection was effective to pain control for masticatory muscle pain patients within 48 hours and more effect than lidocaine injection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.5
• /
• pp.530-535
• /
• 2005

Background and Aims : Cigarette smoking induces an inflammatory response in the airways, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokines that plays an important role in inducing bronchial inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine if the level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-6, is increased when the bronchial epithelial cells are exposed to a cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and an extract from stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, and examined the safety of these commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Method : Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes for 24 hours. ELISA was used to measure the IL-6 levels in the supernatant from each condition. The IL-6 mRNA levels were measured by Taqman Real time RT-PCR. N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC) was added to each condition to determine if NAC can inhibit the release of IL-6 from the bronchial epithelial cells when they are exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Result : When bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to a CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, each type of CSE stimulated IL-6 production from the bronchial epithelial cells. The IL-6 mRNA level in the Bronchial epithelial cells was also elevated and NAC was found to inhibit the release of IL-6 from bronchial epithelial cells when they were exposed to the CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Conclusion : Commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarette can induce bronchial inflammation and can be harmful to smokers. Therefore, the safety of these cigarettes for smoking cessation should be evaluated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2007

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have often been reported to suffer from depression and anxiety possibly due to the exacerbation, hospitalization and mortality of COPD. However,scarce data are available in Korea. This study assessed degree of depression and anxiety, and evaluated the factors associated with depressive symptoms in COPD. Methods: The cross-sectional data on the lung function measurements, smoking behavior, body mass index (BMI), age, gender, depressive symptoms using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were evaluated in 72 outpatients with COPD and 50 controls without underling lung diseases from September, 2005 to October, 2006 in the Ewha medical center. Results: 1) The age, body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin levels were similar in the patients and controls. The BDI scores (16(0-37) vs. 12(1-30), p=0.001) and the prevalence of depression (36% vs. 6%, p<0.0001) were higher in the COPD patients than in the controls. In the COPD group, the prevalence of depression increased with increasing GOLD stage (p=0.008). The prevalence was 18%(4/22), in mild cases, 30%(6/20) in moderate cases, 52%(13/25) in severe cases and 60%(3/5) in very severe cases. 2) The SAI and TAI scores were higher in the COPD patients (44(20-67) and 47(20-66)) than in the healthy controls (39(26-65) and 44(33-90)). There were a significant correlation between the depression and anxiety scores (p<0.001). 3) A lower BMI, lower postbronchodilator $FEV_1$, current smoking behavior and severity of COPD were univariately associated with the depressive group in COPD, 4) while multivariate logistic analysis revealed only the severe-to-very severe group (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 12.9) to be independently associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: COPD is strongly associated with depression and anxiety. Therfore, screening for psychological problems in COPD patients is essential, particularly in patients with severe-to-very severe COPD.