• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fibrinogen genotype and other characteristics on the plasma fibrinogen levels. Many studies have conformed that high plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with the increased risk of ischaemic heart disease, stroke and arterial disease. And fibrinogen levels are related with age, obesity, cholesterol and alcohol consumption, genotypes. For this study the blood samples were collected from 93 healthy Koreans (66 males and 27 females). The blood samples were individually analyzed by smoking status, cholesterol levels, genotype, age, and gender. The plasma fibrinogen was assayed by clotting method (modified Clauss assay) and cholesterol was assayed by cholesterol oxidase method. Subjects were classified by current smokers, ex-smokers (<6 month), or nonsmokers. The $\beta$-fibrinogen genotype was detected by PCR of relevant region and digestion with HaeIII, with the H$_1$H$_1$ allele allowing cleavage by this restriction enzyme and H$_2$H$_2$ allele being refractory. In conclusion, the study shows that the factor of the increasement in the fibrinogen level was closely related with the cholesterol level, smoking status and genotype (H$_1$H$_2$); but there was no significant difference by gender, Especially, among the people over 50 years of age, fibrinogen level was higher with the increasement of cholesterol level (<200 mg/dl), current smoker, and genotype H$_1$H$_2$.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.9.1-9.7
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• 2019

The study investigated the changes in growth performance, hematological parameters, plasma components, and stress indicators of juvenile starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus, depending on varying exposure to hexavalent chromium. P. stellatus was exposed to waterborne chromium at 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppb for 4 weeks. The result showed that Cr exposure resulted in decreased daily length gain (DLG), daily weight gain (DWG), condition factor (CF), and hepatosomatic index (HIS) in P. stellatus. In terms of hematological parameters, red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (Ht), and hemoglobin (Hb) significantly decreased at 400 ppb after 2 weeks. In terms of plasma components, inorganic analysis was unchanged and cholesterol, an organic component, considerably increased at 400 ppb after 4 weeks. Plasma enzyme components including glutamic oxalate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were significantly increased. Stress indicators such as cortisol and glucose were notably increased over 100 ppb after 4 weeks with increasing chromium concentration. The results indicate that exposure to waterborne Cr induced toxic effects on growth, hematological parameters, plasma components, and stress indicators.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2001

Background : Many investigators have found transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) to be elevated in tumors. Changes in responsiveness to TGF-${\beta}1$ have been linked to malignant transformation, tumor progression and tumor regression. Many malignant cell lines of epithelial or hematopoietic origin are refractory to the antiproliferative effects of TGF-${\beta}1$. However, a little is known about the association of TGF-${\beta}1$ with progression of malignant tumor. Methods : In this study, we measured the plasma level of TGF-${\beta}1$ in various cancer patients and evaluated the utility of plasma TGF-${\beta}1$ as a possible tumor marker. Plasma TGF-${\beta}1$ levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cancer patients and normal controls. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as tumor marker were compared with TGF-${\beta}1$ in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. Results : The mean of plasma TGF-${\beta}1$ levels was $1.219{\pm}0.834ng/ml$ in normal controls, $5.491{\pm}3.598ng/ml$ in breast cancer, $12.670{\pm}10.386ng/ml$ in lung cancer, $5.747{\pm}3.228ng/ml$ in hepatocellular carcinoma and $10.854{\pm}7.996ng/ml$ in cervical cancer. In comparison with CEA and AFP, TGF-${\beta}1$ is more sensitive. Conclusion : We conclude that the high levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ are common in the plasma of cancer patients. These results suggest that the plasma TGF-${\beta}1$ level can be a potent tumor marker in various cancer patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2004

Objectives: Rubi Fructus(fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) composed of Polygonum multiflorum THUNB. and some medical herbs is known as formula of senescence delay effect. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Rubi Fructus(fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) on antioxidant enzyme activity such as Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), Superoxide dismutase(SOD), Catalase(CAT), Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px) in rat erythrocytes and blood plasma. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups, Normal group(supplied enough water and feeds only, Normal Group), D-galatose administered group(injected D-galatose 50mg/kg, 1time/day for 6 weeks, Control Group) and Rubi Fructus (fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) administered group(D-galactose 50mg/kg and Rubi Fructus(fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) extracts 85.0mg/200g 1time/day for 6 weeks, BBJ Group). Rats were sacrificed and TBARS, SOD, CAT, GSH-px, Plasma total lipid, Plasma triglyceride and cholesterol were measured in rat erythrocytes and blood plasma. Results : Plasma TBARS concentrations of all experimental group were not significantly different. Red blood cell(RBC) SOD activities of BBJ group was increased, and RBC catalase activities of all experimental group were not significantly different. RBC GSH-px activities of BBJ group was increased. Plasma total lipid concentration of BBJ group were significantly lower than those of control. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations of all experimental group were not signi ficantly different. Conclusions: According to the above results, it is considered that Rubi Fructus(fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) is effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidative enzyme activities in D-galactose induced aging rat.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.1315-1320
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• 2002

Since the enzymatic degradation of microbial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate] (P(3HB-co-3HV)) initially occurs by a surface erosion process, a degradation behavior could be controlled by the change of surface property. In order to control the rate of enzymatic degradation, plasma gas discharge and blending techniques were used to modify the surface of microbial P(3HB-co-3HV). The surface hydrophobic property of P(3HB-co-3HV) film was introduced by CF$_3$H plasma exposure. Also, the addition of small amount of polystyrene as a non-degradable polymer with lower surface energy to P(3HB-co-3HV) has been studied. The enzymatic degradation was carried out at 37 $^{\circ}C$ in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) in the presence of an extracellular PHB depolymerase purified from Alcaligenes facalis T1. Both results showed the significant retardation of enzymatic erosion due to the hydrophobicity and the enzyme inactivity of the fluorinated- and PS-enriched surface layers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2000

Fibrinolytic enzyme (FE-2) was purified from the fruiting bodies of Tricholoma saponaceum using DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and Mono-S column chromatography, The enzyme has a molecular weight of 18.23 kDa and include Zn$^{2+}$ ion as found by ICP/MS. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was A-L-Y-V-G-X-S-P-X-Q-Q-S-L-L-V It has a pH optimum at pH 7.5, suggested that FE-2 was a neutral pretense. The activity of FE-2 was highly inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, indicating that the enzyme is a metalloprotease. The activity of FE-2 was increased by $Mg^{2+}$, Zn$^{2+}$, Fe$^{2+}$, and Co$^{2+}$, but the enzyme activity was totally inhibited by Hg$^{2+}$. No inhibition was found with PMSF, E-64, pepstatin and 2-mercaptoethanol. The enzyme hydrolyzed both $A\alpha$ and B$\beta$ chains of human fibrinogen. The $\gamma$ chain was resistant to hydrolysis by FE-2.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.745-754
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• 2000

Effects of oral taurine supplementation (6g/day)for 2-4 weeks on activities of red blood cell(RBC)total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde(MDA) were evaluated in healthy female adults (23.6$\pm$0.3 years old). Compared to the value for 0 week plasma GSH-Px activity of the subjects was significantly lower after 2 weeks of taurine supplementation(p<0.05) and recovered to the value similar to 0 week after 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. RBC total SOD activity tended to be decreased after 2 weeks of taurine supplmentation compared to the values for 0 week although the difference between the means of the two group was not statistically significant. Plasma MDA level was not significantly decreased by taurine supplementation most probably due to the fact that the subjects participated in the present study were healthy and their antioxidant defense system had been in the 'normal' range. Plasma MDA concentration was negatively correlated with plasma taurine concentration(r=-0.2003m p<0.05) but tended to be positively correlated with plasma cholesterol concentration(r=0.2465, p=0.0645) as expected Plasma GSH-Px activity was positively associated with the percentage of 22:0 (r=0.2892, p<0.05) or 20:4w6(r=0.2939, p<0.05). On the other hand plasma MDA concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of 20:5w3 in plasma total lipids(r=0.2635 p<0.05) and negatively correlated with $\Delta$5 desaturation index of w6 fatty acids(20:3w6⇒20:4w6) in plamsa total lipids(r=-0.2714, p<0.05) as well as in phospholipids(r=-0.2864, p<0.05). From these results protective effect of taurine supplementation against lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in humans appears to be minimal when the subjects are in a relatively healthy state. Further studies concerning the antioxidant efficacy of taurine should be conducted in human subjects under various disease states related to oxidative stress such as diabetes and artheroxclerosis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1094-1104
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• 2023

Aggression in horses may cause serious accidents during riding and non-riding activities. Hence, predicting the temperament of horses is essential for selecting suitable horses and ensuring safety during the activity. In certain animals, such as hamsters, plasma melatonin concentrations have been correlated with aggressive behavior. However, whether this relationship applies to horses remains unclear. To address this research gap, this study aimed to evaluate differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations among horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes and examine the correlation between plasma melatonin concentrations and the temperament of the horses, including docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. Blood samples from 32 horses were collected from the Horse Industry Complex Center of Jeonju Kijeon College. The docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability of the horses were assessed by three professional trainers who were well-acquainted with the horses. Plasma melatonin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The consequent values were compared between the horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes using a three-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify the relationship between plasma melatonin concentrations and docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. The results showed that the plasma melatonin concentrations significantly differed with breeds in Thoroughbred and cold-blooded horses. However, there were no differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations between the horse ages and sexes. Furthermore, plasma melatonin concentrations did not exhibit a significant correlation with the ranking of docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

In present study, we examined whether or not the pretreatment of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) could protect hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$) and D-galatosamine (GalN). For this study, we not only tested activity of various plasma enzymes (AST, ALT, SDH, LDH), which are used as indicators of liver disease, but also checked the change of liver components such as lipid, glutathione and cytochromes content, and several liver enzyme activity. Pretreatment of KRG for two weeks significantly reduced the elevated plasma enzyme activities induced by CCl$_4$ and GalN. Pretreatment of KRG also restored the hepatic enzymes, malonedialdehyde formation, and depletion of reduced glutathione content induced by CCl$_4$ and GalN to near normal level. However, ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was lot affected by KRG. These results suggest that KRG shows the hepatoprotective effect by reducing lipid peroxidation, by reducing the activity of free radical generating enzymes, and by preserving the hepatic glutathione.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1189-1196
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• 1998

The antiatherogenic effect of kimchi ingredients was studied in terms of antioxidative effect against Newzealand white rabbits that fed 1% cholesterol. Experimental groups was fed 8% Baechu (Brassica pekiinensis), or 1% red pepper(Capsium annum), or 1% garlic(Allium sativum) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were drawn every 2 weeks to analyze vitamin E, POV, and TBARS. Hepatic antioxidative enzyme activity, vitamin E, and carotene concentration also were measured. Plasma TBARS and POV level were markedly lowered in both red pepper and garlic fed rabbits(p<0.05) compared to control. Hepatic POV and protein carbonyl values were lowered in the rabbits fed kimchi ingredients compared to control(p<0.05). Plasma vitamin E concentration was increased in the rabbits fed red pepper and garlic compared to control(p<0.05). Hepatic vitamin E concentration was increased in red pepper and garlicfed rabbits compared to control. For the hepatic antioxidative enzyme acitivity, catalase activity was significantly increased in red pepper and garlic fed rabbits compared to control. Therefore, Baechu, red pepper, and garlic exert an antioxidative effect against rabbits fed 1% cholesterol for 3 months.