• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2005

Objective: Rebamipide is a propionic acid derivative that has an action of the inhibition of superoxide production and removal of hydroxyl radical with the sperm incubation and cryopreservation. In the present study, to investigate whether rebamipide is useful to treat male infertility and sterility, the author observed the antioxidative effects in patient with male infertility and also examined its absorption and distribution in rat genital organ. Methods: To measure the distribution of rebamipide in reproductive organ in the rat, carbon indicated rebamipide, $^{14}C-OPC-12759$, was orally administered to 10 Spraque-Dawley rats and its organ concentration in serum, liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, colon, urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, epididymis and testicle were measured each time after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours by using HPLC fluorescent method. The concentrations in semen were measured by HPLC fluorescent method in a sample of 50 infertile males who took 900 mg of rebamipide daily for 3 months. To measure the antioxidative effect and fertility rate for 3 months, each month before and after the treatment, sperm motility, vitality, the oxygen free radical formation, level of peroxidation, fetilizing capacity of semen sample which were obtained from infertile male patients by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid method and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Simultaneously in a sample that wanted baby, both pregnancy and delivery were researched. Results: The $^{14}C-OPC-12759$ concentration in the body of white rats was highest in gastrointestinal organ like stomach, smal intestine and duodenum and followed by genital organ like seminal vesicle, testis and epididymis. The rebamipide concentration in semen of infertile males was $220.77{\pm}327.84ng/mL$ (SD) which showed a large deviation but it was higher than serum which was $126{\pm}76ng/mL$ (SD). In the infertile males, after the treatment with rebamipide, the level of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation have significantly decreased in duration of the treatment (p<0.05) and sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity except sperm motility significantly improved on post treatment of 2~3 months (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases who hoped for pregnancy, 15 cases (36.6%) became pregnant and 12 cases had childbrith, 2 cases had miscarriage and one case is ongoing. The side effect was observed in 1 case (2%) which experienced diarrhea but it was lost spontaneously. Conclusions: We conclude from this study that rebamipide showed relatively high tendancy of absorption and excretion in the genital organ. In infertile males who had elevated ROS in semen, by specifically inhibiting the cell damage from the antioxidation, a way to preserve sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity was confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.451-457
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• 1996

The effects of pH and L-cysteine HCI on the growth and stability of Biofidobacterium breve were studied. Significantly higher population was obtained by culturing at pH $6.0{\sim}6.5$ than at any other pH. The cultures that had been grown at pH $5.5{\sim}6.0$ were more stable during storage than those grown at other pH. The number of B. breve that had been grown at pH 5.5 and 6.0 remained as $2.4{\times}10^6ml/\;and\;1.4{\times}10^6ml,$ respectively, after 25 days of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. The ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity of B. breve grown at pH 5.5 and 6.0 was reduced only to $78{\sim}85%$ of the control after the same storage condition, whereas the culture grown at pH 7.0 exhibited a signficant decline in population and ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity during $4^{\circ}C$. The growth of B. breve was promoted by 0.05% L-cysteine HCI, and cells grown in MRS with $0.05{\sim}0.10%$ L-cysteine HCI were more resistant to hydrogen peroxide. With respect to the effect to the effect of osmoprotectants on the survival of B. breve subjected to freeze-drying, addition of 2 mM betaine of 2 mM trehalose increased the growth rate of cells grown under osmotic stress and also made the organism more osmotolerant. Furthermore, the betaine or trehalose increased the survivability of the cells after freeze-drying.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2004

Accumulation of nitrate in edible crops is undesirable due to potential risks to human health. Since nitrate has a role in the osmotic regulation of plants, salt accumulation in soil is expected to stimulate nitrate accumulation in plants. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in soils of different salinities, 9.69 and $4.49dS\;m^{-1}$, in a greenhouse, and the effect of soil salinity on nitrate accumulation in lettuce was investigated. Content of nitrate in the lettuce increased significantly as soil salinity increased under low light intensity and ample supply of nitrate in root media. Soluble sugar and oxalate contents in lettuce were also significantly higher in the soil of higher salinity. Phosphate, Cl, and $SO_4$ contents in lettuce were not significantly different in soils of different salinities. Among the cations, K content in lettuce was significantly higher in the soil of higher salinity, but Na, Ca, and Mg comtents were not much influenced. Comparing to the lettuce grown in low salinity soil, although the growth of lettuce was decreased by 9% in the soil of higher salinity, nitrate accumulation in the lettuce was increased by 18.6%. These results indicate that higher nitrate content in lettuce of higher salinity soil is a positive accumulation to adapt to the water stress condition. The nitrate accumulation of vegetables grown in plastic film houses is known to be due to the heavy fertilization and low light intensity, but salt accumulation in the soil, which can lower soil water potential, is expected to stimulate the nitrate accumulation further.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

Pressure assisted forward osmosis (PAFO) is recently introduced because of its improved process efficiency to overcome drawbacks of forward osmosis (FO) such as low water flux and reverse solute diffusion. However, it is known that membrane fouling becomes deteriorated by additional hydraulic pressure applied in PAFO compared to FO. This study was performed to investigate possibility of intermittent pressure-assisted forward osmosis (I-PAFO) operation for fouling mitigation using colloidal silica particles as model foulants. FO, PAFO were operated as well to compare with. Two different solution pH conditions (pH 3, 10) were applied to see the effect of electrostatic interactions between the membrane and silica particles on fouling tendency. In the results, higher water flux was observed during pressurization and pressure relaxation periods in I-PAFO than water flux of PAFO, and FO on both pH conditions. Water flux decreased less in I-PAFO than PAFO after fouling. It resulted in higher water flux recovery in I-PAFO than PAFO after physical cleaning.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2005

Bone remodeling is a process controlled by the action of two major bone cells; the bone forming osteoblast and the bone resorbing osteoclast. In the process of osteoclastogenesis, stromal cells and osteoblast produce RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF, which in turn regulate the osteoclastogenesis. During the bone resorption by activated osteoclasts, extracellular $Ca^{2+}/{PO_4}^{2-}$ concentration and degraded organic materials goes up, providing the hypertonic microenvironment. In this study, we tested the effects of hypertonicity due to the degraded organic materials on osteoclastogenesis in co-culture system. It was examined the cellular response of osteoblastic cell in terms of osteoclastogenesis by applying the sucrose, and mannitol, as a substitute of degraded organic materials to co-culture system. Apart from the sucrose, mannitol, and NaCl was tested to be compared to the effect of organic osmotic particles. The addition of sucrose and mannitol (25, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mM) to co-culture medium inhibited the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive multinucleated cells induced by 10 nM $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2vitaminD_3$ ($1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$). However, NaCl did exert harmful effect upon the cells in this co-culture system, which is attributed to DNA damage in high concentration of NaCl. To further investigate the mechanism by which hypertonicity inhibits $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$-induced osteoclastogenesis, the mRNA expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were monitored by RT-PCR. In the presence of sucrose (50 mM), RANKL mRNA expression was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, while the change in OPG and M-CSF mRNA were not occurred in significantly. The RANKL mRNA expression was inhibited for 48 hours in the presence of sucrose (50 mM), but such a decrement recovered after 72 hours. However, there were no considerable changes in the expression of OPG and M-CSF mRNA. Conclusively, these findings strongly suggest that hypertonic stress down-regulates $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$-induced osteoclastogenesis via RANKL signal pathway in osteoblastic cell, and may playa pivotal role as a regulator that modulates osteoclastogenesis.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2009

During the period of June, 2005 to May, 2008, 44 host plants infected with powdery mildew were collected in the Jeon-ju and Jang-su districts of Jeonbuk province and in the Jang-sung district of Jeonnam province. The hyperparasites, Ampelomyces were confirmed in 12 plant species. Most of the pycnidium shapes of Ampelomyces were circular or oval shaped, and the sizes were different even within the same host plant, and also the color of pycnidium was ranged from light brown to dark brown. Ampelomyces species were isolated from 4 hosts including Impatiens balsamina L., Cucurbita pepo, Rudbeckia laciniata var. elatier and Youngia sonchifolia, and thus the most appropriate 12 Ampelomyces strains for the current experiment were selected. When analyzing the selected 12 strains' incubational and nutritional characteristics, the malt extract agar was the most appropriate media. When investigating the effect of osmotic pressure on the spore germination, 0.15M NaCl concentration was the optimum germination concentration. When the isolated Ampelomyces sp. was tested in-vitro, it was found to be effective to control in other plant pathogens, isolated Ampelomyces showed no pathogenicity to the plant. strains isolated . studied on rDNA ITS sequence analysis. The rDNA ITS sequence data of Ampelomyces sp. isolate BSLAH16 from Impatiens balsamina L. were analyzed and identified.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

EDTA is known to have bacteriocidal effect on Vibrio vulnificus, pathogen of septicemia by osmotic shock in seafoods. Attempts were made to elucidate the bacteriocidal effect of phytic acid (PA) as a substitute for EDTA against V. vulnificus and its inhibition effect on the septicemia, which induces liver damage of the mice by the pathogen. Viable cells of V. vulnificus with the initial titre of $1.7{\times}10^6$ c.f.u. $ml^{-1}$ decreased by 90.6% after 1 min and 99.6% after 5 min in distilled water. The titre decreased by 65.9% and 94.5% in 2 mM solution of $Mg^{2+}$. In 0.1 mM solution of PA, the rate of decrease in titre was 97.4% after 1 min of incubation and 99.8% after 5 min, compared to 95.7% and 99.8% in 0.1 mM solution of EDTA. The bacteriocidal effect of PA solution at a concentration of 1 mM was marked: the rate of decrease in titre was 99.9% after 1 min. In relation to the bacteriocidal effect, PA was evaluated as a potential therapeutic agent for V. vulnificus septicemia in mouse. When the survival periods of mice were investigated by PA and EDTA treatment after the pathogen injection, the group of mice which infected by a low concentration of the strain survived longer than that inoculated at high concentration; also, the ratio of survival was 1.3 times higher in PA than in EDTA, showing that the fatal rate depended on the inoculation concentration. Although survival periods of mice induced with liver damage by carbon tetrachloride and then inoculated with the strain showed a similar trend, the fatal rate of mice was 2 times faster than those inoculated with only pathogen into normal liver, These results indicate that the infection by V. vulnificus was more fatal to those with liver disease. Also, symptoms of hemorrhage and inflammation on the mice with induced liver damage were reduced in case there was phytic acid treatment at each concentration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 1993

To study the regulation of amniotic fluid volume and electrolyte concentration by the Membranes surrounding the amniotic fluid, the rate of $Li^+$ disappearance from amniotic sac of expired fetuses were examined while increasing the amniotic volume and osmolarity in rabbits. After intraamniotic injection of 1 ml isosmotic saline (about 20% of the amniotic fluid volume) containing 15 mM LiCl and 0.5 g/L Censored, the time courses of $Li^+$ and Censored disappearance were determined. From there the $Li^+$ clearance through the extrafetal routes was estimated and compared with that obtained from living fetuses. The volume, $Na^+$ concentration and osmolarity of amniotic fluid were measured and their relationships with $Li^+$ disappearance were evaluated. The fellowing results were obtained: 1. The rate of disappearance from amniotic fluid of living fetuses during the first 30 minutes was strikingly higher for $Li^+$ than for Censored, suggesting that extrafetal routes exist. At 60 and 90 minutes, however, the disappearance rate of $Li^+$ was less than that of Censored, suggesting the possibility of $Li^+$ reentry through fetal urination. 2. The disappearance of $Li^+$ from the amniotic fluid of the expired fetus was substantial, although lower than that of living fetuses, throughout the experimental period. 3. The $Na^+$ concentration and the osmolarity of the amniotic fluid of expired fetus measured 30 minutes after an intraamniotic injection of isoosmotic saline showed wide variation, but thereafter they changed gradually towards the normal extracellular fluid level. 4. When the amniotic fluid was iso- or hyposmolar, the rate of $Li^+$ disappearance from the amniotic fluid of the expired fetuses showed little variation. However, when the amniotic fluid was hyperosmolar, the rate at 30 minutes was markedly lower than those of isosmotic or hyposmotic amniotic fluid. At 90 minutes, the rate of $Li^+$ disappearance in hyperosmolar fluid reached a similar level to the rate in isosmolar fluid. 5. The intraamniotic injection of 400 mOsm/L saline solution decreased the disappearance rate of $Li^+$ from expired fetuses, while the injection of mannitol into the maternal vein induced no significant change. From these results it is concluded that: 1) a significant amount of $Li^+$ may leave the amniotic fluid via filtration through the membranes surrounding the amniotic fluid, 2) during hyperosmolar challenge to amniotic fluid, osmotic bulk flow might counteract the filterable loss, and 3) $Li^+$ disappearance might continue even after the volume and osmolarity of the amniotic fluid have recovered to control values.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 1999

Exposure of the root surface due to gingival recession after periodontal surgery, elicit pain response when exposed to mechanical, heat, chemical or osmotic irritation. Especially patients treated with periodontal surgery, show high frequency. There have been reports that the 1 out of 7 patients complains of dentinal hypersensitivity. There have been many studies on the clinical effects of various materials on the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of sodium chloride and potassium oxalate and to observe the relationship between the dentinal hypersensitivity and surface characteristics such as dentinal tubule size and number. This study included 20 teeth which were scheduled for extraction and had no pulpal disease. These teeth were divided into Root planing group, EDTA group, NaCl group and Oxalate group. Dentinal hypersensitivity is measured by tactile, pressured air and cold water using NRS (Numerical Rating Scales). Teeth were extracted under local anesthesia and each specimen was sectioned to a size about 3 X 5 mm and was examined under the scanning electron microscope (X2,000) The results were as follows, 1. The EDTA group exhibited significantly increased dentinal hypersensitivity comparing with the other groups. 2. The NaCl and Oxalate groups showed significantly reduced dentinal hypersensitivity comparing with the EDTA group. 3. As a method for dentinal hypersensitivity measurement, it was presumed thet tactile sensitivity test was not sensitive method but air blast test and cold water test were adequate method. 4. In a SEM study, the root planing group exhibited amorphous smear layer and showed no dentinal tubule orifice, but the EDTA group showed the large number of dentinal tubules. On the other hand, the NaCl and Oxalate groups did not show exposed dentinal tubules. The NaCl group showed more rough root surface than the EDTA group, and the Oxalate group showed many participates to be presumed as calcium oxalate particle. As the results from this study, root planing couldn't expose the dentinal tubule and NaCl and potassium oxalate occluded exposed dentinal tubule effectively. Dentinal hypersensitivity has close relationship with the exposure of dentinal tubules, especially with it's size and number.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.53-56
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• 2000

Two-stage fed-batch culture was peformed to improve the volumetric productivity of erythritol. In the growth phase dissolved oxygen was maintained to 20% and the feed medium was automatically supplied to the fermenter by pH-stat mode. The cell yield was 0.76 g-cell/g-glucose. In two-stage fed-batch culture, 41% of total erythritol conversion yield with 187 g/L of erythritol concentration and 2.79 g/L-h of maximum erythritol Productivity were obtained when 400 g/L of glucose was directly added in the form of non-sterile powder at production phase. The erythritol productivity increased in parallel with cell mass. The metabolic shift in the biosynthetic pathway of erythritol was caused by dissolved oxygen concentration. The production of gluconic acid was observed when the dissolved oxygen in the medium was maintained over 40% during the production phase, whereas the dissolved oxygen concentration lower than 40% caused the production of citric acid. But the butyric acid was produced independently with dissolved oxygen concentration in the medium. The production of organic acids such as gluconic acid, citric acid, and butyric acid was decreased by addition of mineral salts.