• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 2010

The protective effect of a mixed powder from solid-cultured and liquid-cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia (2:1, w/w) (designate LED) on the carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)- and ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat was investigated. In the $CCl_4$-induced rat hepatotoxicity experiment, rats of 4 groups (6 rats/group) were administere with Normal (0.2 ml distilled water), Control (0.2 ml distilled water), LED (LED 200 mg/kg BW + 0.2 ml distilled water), and Silymarin (200 mg/kg BW + 0.2 ml distilled water), p.o., daily for 2 weeks. Afterwards, all groups except for the Normal group were subjected to abdominal injection with $CCl_4$ ($CCl_4$ : corn oil, 1:1 v/v; 0.5 ml/kg BW). For the ethanol- induced rat hepatotoxicity experiment, rats were divided into 5 groups (5 rats/group): Normal; Pair-fed control (PFC); Control (ethanol); LED (ethanol + LED 200 mg/kg BW); and Silymarin (ethanol + silymarin 200 mg/kg BW). Rats of the Normal and PFC groups were fed a basal liquid diet, and rats of the Control, LED, and Silymarin groups were fed a liquid ethanol diet containing LED or Silymarin. Eight weeks later, blood and liver samples were collected to analyze biomarkers. In $CCl_4$-induced SD rats, LED elevated hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH peroxidase) activities and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) were reduced, resulting in the reduction of glutamate-oxalate transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in plasma. Similar results of these enzymes and biochemical markers in both liver tissues and plasma were seen in ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity of SD rats. In addition, elevated alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and reduced expression of cytochrome p450 mixed monooxygenase enzyme (CYP2E1) were seen in liver tissues from ethanol-treated rats by LED treatment. These effects of LED were similar to those of Silymarin. In in vitro experiments, LED showed antioxidant activity in a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) system and mouse liver mitochondria system induced by NADPH/$Fe^{2+}$ and cumine hydroperoxide (CuOOH). These results indicate that LED protected SD rat hepatotoxicity, induced by $CCl_4$ and ethanol, through its antioxidative activity and might be useful as a material for protection from hepatoxicity in humans.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.450-455
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• 2008

Previously, we have shown that green tea extract lowers the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, fat, and other fat-soluble compounds. We conducted this study to determine whether green tea extract affects the rate of $^{14}C$-oleic acid esterification into various lipids in the intestinal mucosa of rats. Male Sprague-Dawley ruts were had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G diet and deionized water. Initially, the rat's mucosal content of total lipids was measured following 1 mL olive oil administration with (green tea group) or without (control group) 100 mg green tea extract powder. At 1 h and 5 h, intestinal segments were extracted for total lipid analysis. Secondly, to measure mucosal esterification rates of lipids, an abdominal incision was made along the midline, and a 10-cm long jejunal segment of the small intestine was ligated in situ. Then, micellar solutions with or without green tea extract were injected into the ligated jejunal segments and incubated for 10 mill. The micellar solution contained $200.0\;{\mu}$ Ci $^{14}C$-oleic acid, $200.1\;{\mu}mol$ unlabelled oleic acid, $66.7\;{\mu}mol$ 2-monooleoylglycerol, $66.7\;{\mu}mol$ palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 2.2 mmol glucose, $50.0\;{\mu}mol$ albumin, and 16.5 mmol Na-taurocholate per L of phosphate buffered saline (pH, 6.3) with or without 8.87 g green tea extract powder. At 10 min, each rat was sacrificed by cervical dislocation under anesthesia and the segment was removed for lipid analysis. Significant differences were observed in mucosal triglyceride content at 1 h and 5 h in ruts given green tea extract. Significant differences in the rate of $^{14}C$-oleic acid esterification into triglycerides and phospholipids fractions were observed between control and green tea groups. However, There were no significant differences in other lipid fractions. These results indicate that the lowered esterification rates of $^{14}C$-oleic acid into triglycerides and phospholipids fractions is attributable to presence of green tea extract. This may be associated with an inhibitory effect of green tea catechin on the mucosal processes of lipids, leading to the inhibition of intestinal absorption of lipids.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2012

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has become increasingly used as a rapid and accurate method of evaluating some chemical compositions in forages. This study was carried out to explore the accuracy of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of chemical parameters of Italian ryegrass silages. A population of 267 Italian ryegrass silages representing a wide range in chemical parameters and fermentative characteristics was used in this investigation. Samples of silage were scanned at 2 nm intervals over the wavelength range 680~2,500 nm and the optical data recorded as log 1/Reflectance (log 1/R) and scanned in intact fresh condition. The spectral data were regressed against a range of chemical parameters using partial least squares (PLS) multivariate analysis in conjunction with spectral math treatments to reduced the effect of extraneous noise. The optimum calibrations were selected on the basis of the highest coefficients of determination in cross validation ($R^2$) and the lowest standard error of cross validation (SECV). The results of this study showed that NIRS predicted the chemical parameters with very high degree of accuracy. The $R^2$ and SECV were 0.98 (SECV 1.27%) for moisture, 0.88 (SECV 1.26%) for ADF, 0.84 (SECV 2.0%), 0.93 (SECV 0.96%) for CP and 0.78 (SECV 0.56), 0.81 (SECV 0.31%), 0.88 (SECV 1.26%) and 0.82 (SECV 4.46) for pH, lactic acid, TDN and RFV on a dry matter (%), respectively. Results of this experiment showed the possibility of NIRS method to predict the chemical composition and fermentation quality of Italian ryegrass silages as routine analysis method in feeding value evaluation and for farmer advice.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.435-450
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• 2005

The purpose of the study is to analyze the hydrogeochemical characteristics by multivariate statistical method, to interpret the hydrogeochemical processes for the new variables calculated from principal components analysis (PCA), and to infer the groundwater flow and circulation mechanism by applying the geostatistical methods for each element and principal component. Chloride and nitrate are the most influencing components for groundwater quality, and the contents of $NO_3$ increased by the input of agricultural activities show the largest variation. The results of PCA, a multivariate statistical method, show that the first three principal components explain $73.9\%$ of the total variance. PC1 indicates the increase of dissolved ions, PC2 is related with the dissolution of carbonate minerals and nitrate contamination, and PC3 shows the effect of cation exchange process and silicate mineral dissolution. From the results of experimental semivariogram, the components of groundwater are divided into two groups: one group includes electrical conductivity (EC), Cl, Na, and $NO_3$, and the other includes $HCO_3,\;SiO_2,$ Ca, and Sr. The results for spatial distribution of groundwater components showed that EC, Cl, and Na increased with approaching the coastal line and nitrate has close relationship with the presence of agricultural land. These components are also correlated with the topographic features reflecting the groundwater recharge effect. The kriging analysis by using principal components shows that PC 1 has the different spatial distribution of Cl, Na, and EC, possibly due to the influence of pH, Ca, Sr, and $HCO_3$ for PC1. It was considered that the linear anomaly zone of PC2 in western area was caused by the dissolution of carbonate mineral. Consequently, the application of multivariate and geostatistical methods for groundwater in the study area is very useful for determining the quantitative analysis of water quality data and the characteristics of spatial distribution.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.1 s.25
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• pp.29-44
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• 1989

A household survey was conducted to determine the utilization rate of medical facilities and to identify the factors related with the utilization in the South District of Taegu from July 3 to July 15, 1988. Study population included 1,723 family members of 431 households which were selected by one-stage simple cluster random sampling. Well trained medical college students interviewed mainly housewives with a structurized questionnaire. Morbidity rate of acute illness during the 2-week period was 101 per 1,000 persons and it was highest in the age group of 9 years below. The rate for chronic illness was 77 per 1,000 persons, increasing with age, low income and medicaid benefit. During the 2-week period, 689 of 1,000 persons utilized the medical facilities. Of the facilities, most number, 294, used hospital and clinic, and the order ran as pharmacy, health center, and herb medical clinic. The utilization rate was higher in the female, 70-year and older group, medicaid group, the lowest income class and self-employed group than other groups. The average number of visits among users of medical facilities during the 2-week period was 3.25. those who visited medical facilities most frequently were females, the 70-year and older group, the lowest income class and blue collar worker group. During one-year period, admission rate of 1,000 persons was 27.6 and that of female was 38.9, higher than that of male. the eldest group had the highest admission rate. Admission rate of medical insurance beneficiaries was twice or higher than non-beneficiaries. The higher the family monthly income, the more frequently they admitted. During one-year period, average admission days of the persons hospitalized were 22.5 days and males were hospitalized longer than females. The groups which were hospitalized longest were those between the ages of 40 and 49, medical insurance beneficiaries, the lowest income group and unemployed group. During one-year period, average admission days of 1,000 persons were 560 days and those of female were 661 days, more than those of male. The guoups which had the longest admission days were those above 70 years of age, the lowest income and unemployed groups. The medical insurance beneficiaries were three times or longer than non-beneficiaries. In logistic regression analysis of utilization of physician significant independent variables were the 9-year and younger group(+), the 70-year and older group(+), acute illness episode(+), chronic illness episode(+), medical insurance beneficiary(+) and white collar workers(-). Acute and chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance for government employees and private school teacher(-) were significant variables in analysis of utilization of pharmacy. In multiple regression analysis of the number of physician visits, siginificant variables were acute illnes episode(+), chronic illness episode(+), industrial, occupational and regional medical insurance beneficiary(+), white collar workers(-). Acute and chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance beneficiary(-) were significant variables in analysis of the number of pharmacy visits. In logistic regression analysis of admission event, significant independent variables were the 9-year and younger group(+), the 70-year and older group(+) , chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance beneficiary(+).

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2014

Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) is an anamorphic fungus having a potential to be used as a biological control agent because it parasitizes a wide range of arthropod hosts including termites, aphids, beetles and many other insects. A number of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) have been isolated from B. bassiana and functionally verified. Among them, beauvericin and bassianolide are cyclic depsipeptides with antibiotic and insecticidal effects belonging to the enniatin family. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) play a crucial role in the synthesis of these secondary metabolites. NRPSs are modularly organized multienzyme complexes in which each module is responsible for the elongation of proteinogenic and non-protein amino acids, as well as carboxyl and hydroxyacids. A minimum of three domains are necessary for one NRPS elongation module: an adenylation (A) domain for substrate recognition and activation; a tholation (T) domain that tethers the growing peptide chain and the incoming aminoacyl unit; and a condensation (C) domain to catalyze peptide bond formation. Some of the optional domains include epimerization (E), heterocyclization (Cy) and oxidation (Ox) domains, which may modify the enzyme-bound precursors or intermediates. In the present study, we analyzed genomes of B. bassiana and its allied species in Hypocreales to verify the distribution of NRPS-encoding genes involving biosynthesis of beauvericin and bassianolide, and to unveil the evolutionary processes of the gene clusters. Initially, we retrieved completely or partially assembled genomic sequences of fungal species belonging to Hypocreales from public databases. SM biosynthesizing genes were predicted from the selected genomes using antiSMASH program. Adenylation (A) domains were extracted from the predicted NRPS, NRPS-like and NRPS-PKS hybrid genes, and used them to construct a phylogenetic tree. Based on the preliminary results of SM biosynthetic gene prediction in B. bassiana, we analyzed the conserved gene orders of beauvericin and bassianolide biosynthetic gene clusters among the hypocrealean fungi. Reciprocal best blast hit (RBH) approach was performed to identify the regions orthologous to the biosynthetic gene cluster in the selected fungal genomes. A clear recombination pattern was recognized in the inferred A-domain tree in which A-domains in the 1st and 2nd modules of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases were grouped in CYCLO and EAS clades, respectively, suggesting that two modules of each synthetase have evolved independently. In addition, inferred topologies were congruent with the species phylogeny of Cordycipitaceae, indicating that the gene fusion event have occurred before the species divergence. Beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases turned out to possess identical domain organization as C-A-T-C-A-NM-T-T-C. We also predicted precursors of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases based on the extracted signature residues in A-domain core motifs. The result showed that the A-domains in the 1st module of both synthetases select D-2-hydroxyisovalerate (D-Hiv), while A-domains in the 2nd modules specifically activate L-phenylalanine (Phe) in beauvericin synthetase and leucine (Leu) in bassianolide synthetase. antiSMASH ver. 2.0 predicted 15 genes in the beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster of the B. bassiana genome dispersed across a total length of approximately 50kb. The beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster contains beauvericin synthetase as well as kivr gene encoding NADPH-dependent ketoisovalerate reductase which is necessary to convert 2-ketoisovalarate to D-Hiv and a gene encoding a putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator. Our syntenic comparison showed that species in Cordycipitaceae have almost conserved beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster although the gene order and direction were sometimes variable. It is intriguing that there is no region orthologous to beauvericin synthetase gene in Cordyceps militaris genome. It is likely that beauvericin synthetase was present in common ancestor of Cordycipitaceae but selective gene loss has occurred in several species including C. militaris. Putative bassianolide biosynthetic gene cluster consisted of 16 genes including bassianolide synthetase, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, and putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator genes. Our synteny analysis found that only B. bassiana possessed a bassianolide synthetase gene among the studied fungi. This result is consistent with the groupings in A-domain tree in which bassianolide synthetase gene found in B. bassiana was not grouped with NRPS genes predicted in other species. We hypothesized that bassianolide biosynthesizing cluster genes in B. bassiana are possibly acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from distantly related fungi. The present study showed that B. bassiana is the only species capable of producing both beauvericin and bassianolide. This property led to B. bassiana infect multiple hosts and to be a potential biological control agent against agricultural pests.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2008

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the experimental brush wear pattern of a light cured surface sealant, Biscover (Bisco, Schaumburg, IL), and to evaluate its cariostatic effect. Methods: Caries-free human premolars were used for the Biscover coating group (n = 90) and the control group (n = 10). The Biscover coating group was randomly assigned to nine subgroups of 10 each and the control group was assigned to two subgroups of 5 each according to the number of brushing strokes. An experimental 3-body wear test was conducted under different strokes of wear test. Tooth-brushing was accomplished with movement of each brush head set at a frequency of 100 rpm under a force of 1.5N, Surface roughness was tested before, and after Biscover coating, and after brushing. Then, each of the 10 teeth of both groups were placed in artificial caries inducing solution for 7 days. All tooth surfaces were assessed using scanning electron microscopy. Results: Biscover coated surfaces showed a smoother texture than enamel surfaces. The roughness was increased after experimental brushing and after 10,800 brushing strokes, the whole layer of Biscover wore out. However, teeth in the Biscover coating group had a cariostatic effect in cariogenic conditions. Conclusions: We suggest that white lesions in orthodontic patients can be suppressed by topical applications of Biscover.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.366-373
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• 2006

Background: Paraquat is extremely toxic chemical material, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing multiple organ failure. In particular, paraquat leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Exaggerated cell deaths exceeding the normal repair of type II pneumocytes leads to mesenchymal cells proliferation and fibrosis. This study examined the followings; i) whether or not paraquat induces cell death in lung epithelial cells; ii) whether or not paraquat-induced cell deaths are apoptosis or necrosis; and iii) the effects of N-acetylcysteine, dexamethasone, and bcl-2 on paraquat-induced cell deaths. Methods: A549 and BEAS-2B lung epithelial cell lines were used. The cell viability and apoptosis were evalluated using a MTT assay, Annexin V staining was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, The level of bcl-2 inhibition was examined by establishing stable A549 pcDNA3-bcl-2 cell lines throung the transfection of pcDNA3-bcl-2 with the mock. Results: Paraquat decreased the cell viability in A549 and BEAS-2B cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The Annexin V assay showed that apoptosis was the type of paraquat-induced cell death. Paraquat-induced cell deaths was significantly inhibited by N-acetylcysteine, dexamethasone, and bcl-2 overexpression. The cell viability of A549 cells treated with N-acetylcysteine, and dexamethasone on the paraquat-induced cell deaths were increased significantly by 10 ~ 20%, particularly at high doses. In addition, the cell viability of A549 pcDNA3-bcl-2 cells overexpressing bcl-2 was significantly higher than the untransfected A549 cells. Conclusion: Paraquat induces apoptotic cell deaths in lung epithelial cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The paraquat-induced apoptosis of lung epithelial cells might occur through the mitochondrial pathway.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2004

Effects of mushroom powder on physicochemical characteristics of dough and bread-making properties were studied. In mixogram test, addition of 2-10% mushroom powder increased water absorption from 67,0 to 79%. Peak time, peak height, band width, and seven minute height of mushroom-wheat flour composite were similar to those of control. Sedimentation and P.K. values decreased with increasing amount of mushroom powder In amylogram test, no significant difference was observed in gelatinization temperature between control and mushroom powder-added dough. Peak viscosity increased with increasing amount of mushroom powder, Highest loaf volume was attained when 2 and 4% mushroom powders were added, whereas decreased above 6%. Bread weight and L value of crust increased with increasing amount of mushroom powder whereas 'a' value decreased. As the amount of mushroom powder increased, L value of crumb color decreased. No significant difference in springiness and adhesiveness was observed between control and mushroom-wheat composite flour bread whereas chewiness and gumminess, increased with increasing amount of mushroom powder, Hardness generally increased as the amount of mushroom powder increased. Mushroom powder caused bread staling at both storage temperatures ($4^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C$). Although sensory value decreased with increasing mushroom powder, use of mushroom powder to replace up to 4% wheat flour is recommended in making bread.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 1999

Purpose : Today, people usually die in hospitals and institution-sterile and strange, and equipped with a complex range of technology capable of supporting and prolonging life, frequently only biological one, when a return to health and vitality is no longer possible. Consequently, 'dying with dignity' has become a slogan of opposition to useless and degrading prolongation of life when a patient's organ, though still minimally functional, can no longer support or permit the exercise of self-fulfilling personal control over life's events. Dying with dignity, however, means entirely different things to different people. This study is to investigate the college students' attitude on terminal care and passive euthanasia. Methods : During June 1997, 337 college students participated in this study by responding to the pre-made questionnaire. It deft with the attitude to passive euthanasia, hospice, the most suffering fear facing the death, the preferred place and person to be with if dying. Results : 63.2% of subjects agreed to passive euthanasia. Only 14.2.% of college students can explain the concept of hospice, exactly They got the information about hospice by TV(43%), book(33.5%), religious group(12%) in order. The preferred death place was home(76.6%) and hospital(11.9%) in order. The Most suffering fear facing the death were about unknown(41.5%), loosing colleague(13.6%), pain(11%), isolation(6.5%) in order. Conclusion : About two-thirds of college students agreed to passive euthanasia. But euthanasia is dangerous and unnecessary. We should vigorously promote programmes of education in hospice and palliative medicine and care.