• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2016

The phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase gene (pmm/pgm) of Vibrio anguillarum (the causative agent of fish vibriosis) was cloned, and the open reading frame corresponded to a protein with 446 amino acids. The pmm/pgm gene showed a significant degree of sequence homology with the previously reported genes from V. mimicus, V. vulnificus, V. splendidus, and V. harveyi, with 92.3%, 91.4%, 89.9%, and 89.9% amino acid identity, respectively. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we found that the pmm/pgm gene was upregulated under cold stress condition. The PMM/PGM protein is known to catalyze the interconversion between mannose-1-phosphate and mannose-6-phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate, which are important intermediates for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. To confirm the role of PMM/PGM in the LPS biosynthetic pathway, we constructed a knock out mutant by homologous recombination. The respective LPSs were isolated from the V. anguillarum wild-type and mutant strains, and changes were compared by subjecting them to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the different patterns of the LPSs, we expect the pmm/pgm gene to have an important role in LPS biosynthesis. The pmm/pgm-deficient mutant of V. anguillarum will contribute to further studies about the role of LPS in V. anguillarum pathogenesis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2009

The crushed fruiting body of Alaskan Porodaedalea pini (Brot.) Murrill (syn. Phellinus pini) was extracted in boiling water for 4 h with the yield of 20.5% in dry mass. This hot-water extract showed significant antiviral activity by inhibiting the plaque formation in HeLa cells by coxackievirus B3 (CVB3) and also showed highest inhibitory effect against neuraminidase activity among water extracts of various mushrooms. From the water extract, the ethanol precipitate (EP) and supernatant fraction (ES) were obtained through 75% ethanol precipitation with the yield of 43.3% and 28.3% in dry mass, respectively. Whereas ES did not show any detectable level of antiviral activity, EP showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of plaque formation by CVB3 in HeLa cells with an $EC_{50}$ (50% effective concentration) of 0.45 mg/mL. The cytotoxicity on HeLa cells by EP was relatively low with the $CC_{50}$ (50% cytotoxic concentration) of 2.25 mg/mL. EP also effectively inhibited neuraminidase activity in a dose-dependent manner showing up to 75% inhibition at 1.7 mg/mL. These results suggest that the hot-water extract and its EP of P. pini fruiting body can be a candidate for the development of a potent broad-range antiviral agent against influenza virus(Flu) as well as CVB3. The major active component of EP was shown to be a heteropolysaccharide-protein complex containing glucose as the main sugar residue with mole percentage of 79.8% and other sugars like galactose (19.2%), xylose (17%), mannose (5.8%), and fucose (4.6%) and a small portion (12.7%, in mass) of protein.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 1999

Purpose : Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent with a potent microtubule stabilizing activity that arrests mitosis at G2-M phase of cell cycle which is the most radiosensitive period. Therefore paclitaxel is considered as a cell cycle-specific radiosensitizer. This study investigates the effect of paclitaxel on the radiation response of the normal large bowel mucosa of the rat. Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into the three groups i.e., single intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (10 mg/kg), a single fraction of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen, and a combination of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) given 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion. The histological changes as well as kinetics of mitotic arrest and apoptosis were evaluated on the large bowel mucosa at 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days and 5 days after treatment with paclitaxel alone, radiation alone and combination of paclitaxel and radiation. Results : The incidence of the mitotic arrest was not increased by paclitaxel infusion. The apoptosis appeared in 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion, and the histopathologic changes such as vesiculation, atypia and reduction of the goblet cell of the mucosa of the large bowel were demonstrated during the period from 6 hours to 3 days after, and returned to normal in 5 days after paclitaxel infusion. In irradiated group, the apoptosis was increased in 6 and 24 hours after irradiation, and the histopathologic changes of the mucosa were appeared in 24 hours and markedly increased in 3 days and returned to normal in 5 days. In combined group of irradiation and paclitaxel infusion, the apoptosis was appeared in 3 days and the histopathologic changes appeared during the period from 6 hours to 3 days after infusion. On the basis of the incidence of apoptosis and the degree of the histopathologic changes of the large bowel mucosa, there seemed to be additive effect by paclitaxel on radiation rather than sensitizing effect. Conclusions: The histopathological changes of large bowel mucosa in combined group compared to radiation alone group suggested an additive effect of paclitaxel on radiation response in the large bowel of rat.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2013

Objectives : Skin color deformation by cupping has been widely used as a diagnostic parameter in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). Skin color deformation such as ecchymoses and purpura is induced by local vacuum in a suction cup. Since existing studies have relied on a visual diagnostic method, there is a need to use the quantitative measurement method. Methods : We conducted an analysis of cross-polarization photographic images to assess the changes in skin color deformation. The skin color variation was analyzed using $L^*a^*b^*$ space and the skin erythema index(E.I.). The meridian theory in TKM indicates that the condition of primary internal organs is closely related to the skin color deformation at special acupoints. Before conducting these studies, it is necessary to evaluate whether or not skin color deformation is influenced by muscle condition. Hence, we applied cupping at BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20 and BL23 at Bladder Meridian(BL) and measured blood lactate at every acupoint. Results : We confirmed the high system measurement accuracy, and observed the diverse skin color deformations. Moreover, we confirmed that the $L^*$, $a^*$ and E.I. had not changed after 40 minutes(p>0.05). The distribution of blood lactate levels at each part was observed differently. Blood lactate level and skin color deformation at each part was independent of each other. Conclusions : The negative pressure produced by the suction cup induces a reduction in the volumetric fraction of melanosomes and subsequent reduction in epidermal thickness. The relationship between variations of tissue and skin properties and skin color deformation degree must be investigated prior to considering the relationship between internal organ dysfunction and skin color deformation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 1997

Tachyzoite antigens of Toxoplosnc gondii (RH) were partially purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. The cultivated ToxopLusmc in uiuo (mouse) and in nitro (Hep-2 cell) and peritoneal fluid of T. Bondii infected mice were collected for antigen analy- sis. Tachyzoite antigens collected from infected mouse showed positive bands of 76 kDa, 70 kDa,64 kDa, 53 kDa, 46 kDa, 44 kDa, 41 kDa, 35 kDa, 25 kDa, 18 kDa, and 13 kDa on immunoblot with anti-Toxoplcsmn rabbit sera, and those from infected Hep-2 cells revealed reactive bands of 70 kDa,64 kDa,53 kDa,35 kDa,28 kDa, and 13-10 kDa. After applying to an IgG-Sepharose column, two elusion peaks, E-1 and I-2 fractions, were obtained from both soluble antigen of T. gondii and the peritoneal fluid of infected mice, respectively. Immunoblots of soluble antigen with immunized rabbit sera revealed positive bands of 97 kDa, 63 kDa, 53 kDa and 35 kDa from I-1 fraction and 53 kDa and 35 kDa from I-2. In the case of the eluted peaks from mice peritoneal fluid, E-1 showed protein bands of 84 kDa,76 kDa,53 kDa and 29 kDa bands and 53 kDa and 45 kDa from I-2 on immunoblots. Serum IgG antibody titer of mice immunized with T gonnii tachyzoites was increased on 1 week after booster immunization when analysed by ELISA using crude antigen, while it was elevated on 3 weeks after booster immunization by ELISA using puri- fied antigen.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 1999

Background: The atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valvular heart disease is frequently converted to sinus rhythm after the mitral valve surgery. This sinus restoration implies an important meaning in that it not only helps postoperative convalescence in patients with unstable hemodynamics but also reduces the rate of postoperative thromboembolism. Material and Method: We retrospectively analyzed 184 patients who received mitral valve surgery from June 1986 to December 1996 to investigate the trend of rhythm change following mitral valve surgery and thus to clarify the predisposing factors of postoperative sinus rhythm conversion and its maintenance. Result: The sinus rhythm was restored after the operation in 54 out of 139 patients with atrial fibrillation preoperatively(38.8%). However, the atrial fibrillation recurred in 41 patients at the time of discharge showing a recurrence rate of 75.9 percent. The mean duration of sinus rhythm in patients with eventual atrial fibrillation recurrence was 8.2${\pm}$5.9 days. Only 15 patients were in sinus rhythm at the time of late follow-up with the mean follow-up period of 84.4${\pm}$34.7 months. While the age, duration of symptoms, duration of atrial fibrillation, left atral size, and pulmonary artery pressure were thought to be the predisposing factors for sinus conversion after the operation, only the duration of atrial fibrillation and ejection fraction were considered risk factors for the recurrence of the atrial fibrillation following sinus conversion. Conclusion: This study suggests that the early operation is mandatory for the satisfactory result regarding postoperative rhythm. Moreover, additional operative measure in adjunct to the intervention of mitral valve should be considered for the maintenance of restored sinus rhythm as reflected by high postoperative recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.97-113
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• 1998

The sympathoadrenal system plays an important role in homeostasis in widely varing external environments. Conflicting findings, however, have been reported on its response to hypoxia. We investigated the effect of hypoxia on the sympathoadrenal system in dogs under halothane anesthesia by measuring levels of circulating catecholamines in response to graded hypoxia. Ten healthy mongreal dogs were mechanically ventilated with different hypoxic gas mixtures. Graded hypoxia and reoxygenation were induced by progressively decreasing the oxygen fraction in the inhalation gas mixture from 21%(control) to 15%, 10% and 5% at every 5 minutes, and then reoxygenated with 60% oxygen. Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure were measured directly using pressure transducers. Cardiac output was measured by the thermodilutional method. For analysis of blood gas, saturation and content, arterial and mixed venous blood were sampled via the femoral and pulmonary artery at the end of each hypoxic condition. The concentration of plasma catecholamines was determined by radioenzymatic assay. According to the exposure of graded hypoxia, not only did arterial and mixed venous oxygen tension decreased markedly at 10% and 5% oxygen, but also arterial and mixed venous oxygen saturation decreased significantly. An increased trend of the oxygen extraction ratio was seen during graded hypoxia. Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were unchanged or increased slightly. Pulmonary arterial pressure(PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR) were increased by 55%, 76% in 10% oxygen and by 82%, 95% in 5% oxygen, respectively(p<0.01). The concentrations of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine increased by 75%, 29%, 24% in 15% oxygen and by 382%, 350%, 49% in 5% oxygen. These data suggest that the sympathetic nervous system was activated to maintain homeostasis by modifying blood flow distribution to improve oxygen delivery to tissues by hypoxia, but hemodynamic changes might be blunted by high concentration of nitrous oxide except PAP and PVR. It would be suggested that hemodynamic changes might not be sensitive index during hypoxia induced by high concentration of nitrous oxide exposure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.1 s.258
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

Background: The radial arteries are being used more often for coronary artery bypass grafting, We tried to the endoscopic radial artery harvest to reduce the cosmetic problems and neurologic complications of the conventional open harvesting and report the techniques and early results. Material and Method: The 86 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between May 2003 and April 2005 had their nondominant radial artery endoscopically removed through a 2 cm incision at the wrist. The radial pedicle was dissected and was divided at antecubial area through a 5 mm counterincision. Result: The 23 patients complained of neuralgias on territory of superficial raidal none but no one complained of neuralgias on territory of lateral antebrachial cutaneous none. There was no functional impairment of the hand. There was no wound complication except a localized hematoma. All patients were contacted by telephone after postoperative 7.9$\pm$3.6 months. The 4 patients still complained of neuralgia. All the patients were satisfied with the aesthetics of the wounds. The multidetectional tomography was done on the 66 patients for the estimation of early patency of radial artery. There were 2 cases of stenosis and a case of occlusion. Conclusion: Endoscopic radial artery harvest had no functional impairment of the hand, lesser rate of neurologic complications and outstanding aesthetics. The results of early patency of the radial artery was similar to conventional methods. Therefore, we think that endoscopic radial artery harvest is the optimal procedure.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.322-327
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• 2006

Food constituents analysis of Acer tegmentosum. Maxim.(Acer TM) stem was carried out according to AOAC method, and the antiradical activity on DPPH and cytotoxicity on human cell lines (AGS, HepG2, A549, MCF-7 and Chang) for the 80% ethylalcohol(EtOH) extracts of Acer TM stem were studied. The antiradical activity on DPPH radical of the ethylacetate(EtOAc) fraction of the bark showed a higher activity than that of $\alpha$-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and BHT. The inhibition activity of the 80% EtOH extracts from Acer TM stem on human cancer cell lines by SRB assay indicated a dose-dependent growth inhibition on most human carcinoma cells. The growth inhibition rate of each human cancer cell line showed 91.3% to AGS, 75.0% to A549, 74.1% to HepG2, and 70.2% to MCF-7 cells, respectively, when the 80% EtOH extract(1 mg/ml) of Acer TM stem was added.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.681-687
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• 2007

This study was designed to examine the suitable characteristics of potential probiotic bacteria. Possible probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, Lb. acidophilus B-3208, Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 3357, Lb. plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides ATCC 8293, and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis ATCC 7962 were selected. We then measured their acid and bile tolerances, adhesion properties in the gastrointestinal tract, antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, and immunomodulation activity. The acid tolerances of Lb. acidophilus DDS-1, Lb. acidophilus B-3208, Lb. plantarum, and Leu. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides ATCC 8293, in PBS (pH 2.5) for 2 hr, were high enough that 50% of the inocula survived. The bile tolerances of all bacteria, except Lc. lactis ssp. lactis ATCC 7962, were also observed at a 3% oxgall concentration in MRS broth. The results of the adhesion property assay showed that the total binding affinities of Lb. acidophilus DDS-1, Lb. acidophilus B-3208, and B. bifidum were about three times higher than those of the other bacteria. In testing their antimicrobial activities against pathogens, Lb. acidophilus B-3208, B. bifidum KCTC 3357, and Lb. plantarum inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria. For their immunomodulation activity, the cell wall fractions from Lb. acidophilus DDS-1 and Lb. acidophilus B-3208 showed the highest bone marrow cell proliferation activities. However, the cell wall fractions of Lb. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. bifidum, and the cytosol fraction of Lc. lactis ssp. lactis ATCC 7962 showed higher macrophage stimulation activities than those of the other bacteria. Since Lb. acidophilus DDS-1 and Lb. acidophilus B-3208 satisfy the requirements for probiotics, they can be considered suitable probiotic bacteria.