• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1068-1075
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• 1993

Catalase activities were assayed on the leaves and roots of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) as a function of age for 1 year after germination. The enzyme activities of root tissue demonstrated to be insignificant through all stages of development. On the other hand, the catalase activities of leaf peroxisomal fractions showed remarkable changes with peak value of 76 ${\mu}mol$/ml/min at germination stage within 2 weeks growth, 7.2 ${\mu}mol$/ml/min at adult stage around 4∼5 months growth and very small activities at aged period around 11∼12 months growth. It is suggested that there may be two factors concerning such catalase activities in relation with age, firstly the glyoxisomal reactions including glyoxylate cycle and $\beta$-oxidation at germination stage and secondly photosynthesis hereafter seemed to affect age dependent changes of catalase activity by producing coincident amount of $H_2O_2$. In addition, NADPH coenzyme was found to have ability to restore catalytic acitivity of inactivated catalase (compound II) at all stages of development except old age, indicating NADPH would play a role as catalase protector against deleterious substrate,$H_2O_2$.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.200-214
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• 1994

In order to clarify the benthic environmental properties as a part of a study on the macrobenthic community in the Chinhae Bay System, water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen (DO) in surface and bottom water layers, mean grain size (${\phi}$) and sediment organic carborn (SOC) in surface sediment were analyzed at twelve stations during the period from June 1987 to May 1990. A high sediment organic carbon and hypoxic condition in bottom water due to the development of summer stratification and fine sediment texture toward the inner bay were important environmental characteristics of Chinhae Bay. Hypoxic conditions began to develop in the inner bay from May, and gradually spread toward the outer bay in summer with a peak in September when half the bay was affected by this oxygen deficiency. Recovery from this hypoxic condition in the bottom layer was observed from the beginning of autumn together with a disappearance of the summer stratification. Principal component analyses were carried out from the following five environmental variables:mean water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen in the bottom layer and mean grain size, sediment organic carbon in surface sediment. The twelve stations were classified into four areal groups based on the analyses. The division of the areal groups had high correlations to the sediment organic carbon content.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2005

Ethanol has long been implicated in triggering apoptotic neurodegeneration. We examined the effects of ethanol on the rat brain during synaptogenesis when a spurt in brain growth occurs. This period corresponds to the first 2 postnatal weeks in rats and is very sensitive to ethanol exposure. Ethanol was administered subcutaneously to 7-day- postnatal rat pups by a dosing regimen of 3 g/kg at 0 h and again at 2 h. Blood ethanol levels peaked ($677{\pm}16.4mg/dl$) at 4 h after the first ethanol administration. The cerebral cortexes of the ethanol-treated group showed several typical symptoms of apoptosis such as chromosome condensation and disintegration of cell bodies. Activated caspase-3 positive cells were found in the cortex within 2 h of the first injection, and reached a peak at 12 h. In addition, TUNEL staining revealed DNA fragmentation in the same regions. These results demonstrate that acute ethanol administration causes neuronal cell death via a caspase-3-dependent pathway within 24 h, suggesting that activation of caspase-3 is a marker of the developmental neurotoxicity of ethanol.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.36-44
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• 2016

Objectives: Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized bone marrow (BM)-derived hematopoietic stem cells could contribute to improvement of liver function. In addition, liver fibrosis can reportedly be prevented by the Rg 1 component of red ginseng. This study investigated the combined effect of G-CSF and red ginseng on decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods: Four patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were injected with G-CSF to proliferate BM stem cells for 4 days ($5{\mu}g/kg$ bid subcutaneously) and followed-up for 3 months. The patients also received red ginseng for 4 days (2 tablets tid per os). We analyzed Child-Pugh scores, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores and cirrhotic complications. Results: All patients showed marked increases in White blood cell (WBC) and CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood, with a peak time of 4 days after G-CSF injection. Spleen size also increased after G-CSF injection, but not severely. At end of the study, 2 patients showed improvement in Child-Pugh scores, hepatic encephalopathy, and refractory ascites. During the clinical trial period, none of the 4 patients showed any other adverse events or deterioration of liver function. Conclusions: We conclude that G-CSF/red ginseng combination therapy is relatively effective in improving liver function and major complications of decompensated liver cirrhosis without adverse effects. Further clinical trials are warranted to assess the clinical effects of G-CSF for decompensated liver cirrhosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2014

Purpose: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants, and its incidence increases with a shorter gestation period. We investigated the clinical significance of eosinophilia in premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and September 2010. Eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil percentage of >3% of the total leukocytes. Perinatal parameters and clinical parameters were also analyzed. Results: Of the 261 infants born at <34 weeks gestation, 22.4% demonstrated eosinophilia at birth. The eosinophil percentage peaked in the fourth postnatal week at 7.5%. The incidence of severe eosinophilia increased after birth up to the fourth postnatal week when 8.8% of all patients had severe eosinophilia. Severity of eosinophilia was positively correlated with a lower gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score. Respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, nephrocalcinosis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and sepsis were associated with a higher eosinophil percentage. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia from the first postnatal week and the percentage was the highest in the fourth postnatal week, with the maximal difference being 4.1% (P<0.001). Conclusion: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants and reaches peak incidence and severity in the fourth postnatal week. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients from the first postnatal week. Severe eosinophilia was significantly associated with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia even after adjusting for other variables.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2012

To broaden the understanding of classical Cepheid structure, evolution and atmospheres, we have extended our continuing secret lives of Cepheids program by obtaining XMM/Chandra X-ray observations, and Hubble space telescope (HST) / cosmic origins spectrograph (COS) FUV-UV spectra of the bright, nearby Cepheids Polaris, ${\delta}$ Cep and ${\beta}$ Dor. Previous studies made with the international ultraviolet explorer (IUE) showed a limited number of UV emission lines in Cepheids. The well-known problem presented by scattered light contamination in IUE spectra for bright stars, along with the excellent sensitivity & resolution combination offered by HST/COS, motivated this study, and the spectra obtained were much more rich and complex than we had ever anticipated. Numerous emission lines, indicating $10^4$ K up to ${\sim}3{\times}10^5$ K plasmas, have been observed, showing Cepheids to have complex, dynamic outer atmospheres that also vary with the photospheric pulsation period. The FUV line emissions peak in the phase range ${\varphi}{\approx}0.8-1.0$ and vary by factors as large as $10{\times}$. A more complete picture of Cepheid outer atmospheres is accomplished when the HST/COS results are combined with X-ray observations that we have obtained of the same stars with XMM-Newton & Chandra. The Cepheids detected to date have X-ray luminosities of log $L_X{\approx}28.5-29.1$ ergs/sec, and plasma temperatures in the $2-8{\times}106$ K range. Given the phase-timing of the enhanced emissions, the most plausible explanation is the formation of a pulsation-induced shocks that excite (and heat) the atmospheric plasmas surrounding the photosphere. A pulsation-driven ${\alpha}^2$ equivalent dynamo mechanism is also a viable and interesting alternative. However, the tight phase-space of enhanced emission (peaking near 0.8-1.0 ${\varphi}$) favor the shock heating mechanism hypothesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1983

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and indomethacin upon the electrical activity of the isolated cat stomach muscle strips$(1.5{\times}7.0\;cm)$. Fifty-seven muscle strips, obtained from 57 cat stomachs(including corpus and antrum) were studied in a muscle chamber filled with Krebs solution(pH 7.4, temperature $36{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) aerated with 5% $CO_2$ in $O_2$. The electrical activity was recorded by five capillary electrodes (Ag-AgCl), of which two were placed on the corpus and three on the antrum. After recording of the electrical activity in normal Krebs solution, $PGE_2$ in concentrations of 0.25(N=7), 0.5(=7), 1(N=7) and $2{\times}10^{-7}\;M(N=6)$ were administered to 27 muscle strips, while indomethacin was applied in concentretions of 0.25(N=9), 0.5(N=10), 1(N=6) and $2{\times}10^{-3}\;M(N=5)$ to the remaining 30 strips. The mean frequency were minutely measured from each electrogastrogram. 1) By adding $PGE_2$ in all doses, gastric slow wave frequency increased significantly compared with that in resting state. 2) Following $PGE_2$ administration, peak slow wave frequency increased dose-dependently. 3) After indomethacin addition in all doses, the slow wave frequency decreased significantly compared with that in resting state. 4) Following indomethacin administration, incidence of complete abolition of slow wave increased dose-dependently, and its latent period decreased also in a dose-dependent manner. It is inferred from the above results that prostaglandin $E_2$ has a facilitatory role in the development of gastric slow wave in cat.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.38-47
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• 2001

L-theanine is a unique amino acid, found almost solely in tea plants. It is the main component responsible for the exotic taste of green tea. In our studies of L-theanine, we have found a variety of biological activities including relaxation and the alleviation of PMS. In general, animals generate very weak electric pulses on the surface of the brain, called brain waves. Brain waves are classified into four types, namely $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\delta$ and $\theta$-waves, based on their frequency. Brain waves correlate with individual mental conditions. For example, generation of $\alpha$-waves is considered an index of relaxation. In human volunteers, $\alpha$-waves were generated on the occipital and parietal regions of the brain surface within 40 minutes after the oral administration of 50 or 200 mg Suntheanine$^{TM}$ without causing drowsiness. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a symptom unique to women which appears in the luteal phase from the ovulation period through the first day of menstruation. It possesses characteristics of having a peak just prior to menstruation and disappearing 1 - 2 days following the start of menstruation. Symptoms of PMS are generally categorized as mental, physical and social symptoms. When comparing the reported Symptoms of PMS by the methods of MDQ score, the Suntheanine$^{TM}$ group was found to have a lower incidence of PMS symptoms, including physical, mental and social symptoms. Overall, a significant alleviation of PMS symptoms by the administration of 200 mg Suntheanine$^{TM}$ was observed. With the successful industrial production of L-theanine, we are now able to supply Suntheanine$^{TM}$, offering a tremendous opportunity for designing functional foods targeting relaxation and the alleviation of PMS.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.89-114
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• 2008

Interrelationship between heavy rainfalls and related with low-level jets(LLJ) is analyzed by using fifty cases of heavy rainfall events occurred over the Korean peninsula from 1992 to 2001. Those cases are classified with four synoptical features. There are 32% chances that the low pressure exist in heavy rainfall over than 150 mm per day case by case. Secondly Changma front and front zone account for 28% of all cases. The ratio of marine tropical boundary type and trough type record 22% and 18% respectively. The moist and warm south-westerly winds associated with low-level jets have been induced convective instability and baroclinic instability. Therefore, heavy rainfall due to the approach of a low pressure occurred at September and before Changma. During the period of Changma, this type has been happened heavy rainfall when low pressure and stationary front has vibrated south and north. Changma type has longer the duration time of precipitation than other types. Third type, located with marine Tropical boundary, have mainly rained in August and September. The last trough case locally downpoured in short time with developing cell. The occurrence low-level jets related to heavy rainfall has increased over 12.5 m/s wind speed. The result is that 43 heavy rainfalls out of 50 cases reach peak at the time of maximum precipitation intensity. Also, the variation of wet number and K-index corresponded with the variation of wind speed. It is found that the number of frequency of low-level jets with southwestward direction has been increased and these jets are mainly passed from the southwest toward to the northeast of the Korean peninsula in that time.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2015

The seasonal and interannual variation in the species composition and abundance of the fish assemblage were studied. Fish samples were collected seasonally over 4 year (2005 to 2008) using pots in the southern coast of East Sea. During the study period, a total of 32 fish species belonging to 24 families were collected. The dominant species were Conger myriaster, Paracentropogon rubripinnis, Liparis tanakae, Parapercis sexfasciata, Eptatretus burgeri and Clupea pallasii pallasii, which accounted for 91.9% of the total number of individuals collected. The number of species, number of individuals, biomass, and diversity fluctuated with season. The peak number of species and number of individuals occurred were in August 2008, whereas the biomass was the highest in August 2005 and diversity was in May 2008. The abundance of dominant species also showed some seasonal and interannual changes. A one-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that the fish assemblage in 2008 was significantly different from those of 2005, 2006 and 2007, whereas there was no significant difference among seasons over 4 years.