• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-46
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• 1997

Ultrastructure of mouse thymus was evaluated, following the administration of potassium dichromate and mercuric chloride, the heavy metals of evironmental pollutants. Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg) or mercuric chloride solutions (10 mg/kg) were subcutanously injected to the mice. Six hours, three days and two weeks after the injections, animals were sacrificed. Thymic tissues were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solutions. The procedure was followed by the fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide solutions. Washed and dehydrated tissue-blocks were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultra-thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate solutions. Results observed were as follows: 1. In electron microscopy, cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus of experimental groups were reduced. especially in the outer cortex. Subcapsular cortices of potassium dichromate treated mice were filled with many epithelial reticular cells, whereas the similar area of mercuric chloride-treated mice exhibited large intercellular spaces. 2. In the thymus of mercuric chloride treated group, large intercellular spaces were formed by shrinkage of epithelial reticular cells, and the space was invaded by numerous cytoplasmic projections of macrophages. Thymocytes nuded out from the shrunken cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells, presented numerous microvilli. 3. In the thymus of potassium dicromate treated group, many activated macrophages and plasma cells migrated into thymic cortices. 4. In the perivascular spaces of thymic cortices of potassium dichromate- and mercuric chloride-treated mice, activated macrophages. plasma cells, collagen fibrils, and flocculent substance of exudated materials were exhibited. From the above findifgs, it was concluded that potassium dichromate or mercuric chloride could disturb the normal differentiation or 'education' of T cells in the thymic cortex. In turn, these heavy metals may hurt the immunological defense mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.179-200
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• 2002

The purposes of this study are as follows: (1) how are marital relationships classified by wives' perception of marital conflict and intimacy? (2) how do these types differ in terms of demographic variables (age, income, educational level, and employment status), individual psychological variables (self-esteem, differentiation) and interaction-related variables (affective self-disclosure, conflict resolution styles)?, and what are the relative discriminant powers of these variables in explaining marriage types? The data for this study were collected from 944 married women in Dajeon, who had one or more children, using the structured questionnaire. Classification using median and discriminant analysis were used with SPSS-PC for windows program. The major findings are as follows: The characteristics of each type are as follows: (1) The 'devitalized couples' consist of 18.2% of the whole sample. The levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the lowest. (2) The 'intimate couples' consist of 32.6% of the sample. They tend to be found most frequently in the population which is high in the educational level and income level and low in age. While the levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the highest, the levels of negative conflict resolution styles are the lowest. (3) The 'intimacy-persuaded couples' take 17.3% of the sample. The levels of positive self-concept and interaction are similar to the 'intimate couples'. (4) The 'conflict-habituated couples' take 31.9% of the sample. Whereas the levels of negative conflict resolution styles are the highest, the levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the lowest. The results of this study suggest several implications for the family-life education. It needs to apply different approaches to improve marital quality for each type of marriage.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.10.1-10.7
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• 2012

Objectives: In recent years, a number of structurally diverse Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been identified and these HDAC inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed at investigating the antitumor activity of newly synthesized HDAC inhibitor, 3-(4-dimethylamino phenyl)-N-hydroxy-2-propenamide (IN-2001) using human breast cancer cells. Methods: We have synthesized a new HDAC inhibitor, IN-2001, and cell proliferation inhibition assay with this chemical in estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cell cycle analysis on MCF-7 cells treated with IN-2001 was carried out by flow cytometry and gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Results: In MCF-7 cells IN-2001 showed remarkable anti-proliferative effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 showed a more potent growth inhibitory effect than that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. These growth inhibitory effects were related to the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. IN-2001 showed accumulation of cells at $G_2$/M phase and of the sub-$G_1$ population in a time-dependent manner, representing apoptotic cells. IN-2001-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with HDAC inhibitor-mediated induction of CDK inhibitor expression. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 significantly increased $p21^{WAF1}$ expression. Conclusions: In summary, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) induced growth inhibition, possibly through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as CDK inhibitors, and cyclins. Taken together, these results provide an insight into the utility of HDAC inhibitors as a novel chemotherapeutic regime for hormone-sensitive and insensitive breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.1 s.136
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• pp.6-15
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• 2004

This study was performed to evaluate the hemopoietic effects of 6 species of deer antlers from origins and parts in vitro. CD34 positive cells were isolated and confirmed the its population by FACS analysis. In a week liquid culture, there was any statistical significance between extracts of three parts of six species of deer antlers in the experiments as colony forming assay, proliferation assay, differentiation assay and observation of morphology. However, after 2 weeks- culture with extracts of three parts of six species of deer antlers, colonies were counted. six species of deer antlers, such as middle part of Korean nippon deer, upper part of Chinese nippon deer, upper part of Newzealand horse deer, middle part of Korea horse deer and middle part of Newzealand red deer, significantly increased the CFU-GM (colony forming unit garnulocyte-macrophage) of CD34 positive cells re1atεd to production of leucocytes such as eosinophil, basophil and neutrophil, while only middle part of Korea horse deer significantly increased the BFU-E (burst forming unit-erythroid) at 1 mg/ml seggesting progenting red blood cells (RBC). In the molecular study with CD34+ cells pretreated with cyclophosphamide, antagonist of hemopoietic activity, upper Part of Korean nippon deer and upper part of Chinese nippon deer effectively increased TPO involved in a late pathway of hematopoiesis just like in ELISA assay of IL-3, TPO and GM-CSF. Taken together, these results indicate exσacts of deer antler had some hemopoietic activity still proposing more clinical study and more basic mechanism research.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1757-1765
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• 2021

Objective: The swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) gene group, which is closely linked and highly polymorphic, has important biomedical significance in the protection and utilization of germplasm resources. However, genetic polymorphism analyses of SLA microsatellite markers in Chinese miniature pigs are limited. Methods: Eighteen pairs of microsatellite primers were used to amplify the SLA regions of seven miniature pig breeds and three wild boar breeds (n = 346) from different regions of China. The indexes of genetic polymorphism, including expected heterozygosity (He), polymorphic information content (PIC), and haplotype, were analyzed. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) and neighbor-joining methods were used for cluster analysis of the breeds. Results: In miniature pigs, the SLA I region had the highest numbers of polymorphisms, followed by the SLA II and SLA III regions; the region near the centromere had the lowest number of polymorphisms. Among the seven miniature pig breeds, Diannan small-ear pigs had the highest genetic diversity (PIC value = 0.6396), whereas the genetic diversity of the Hebao pig was the lowest (PIC value = 0.4330). The Fst values in the Mingguang small-ear, Diannan small-ear, and Yunnan wild boars were less than 0.05. According to phylogenetic cluster analysis, the South-China-type miniature pigs clustered into one group, among which Mingguang small-ear pigs clustered with Diannan small-ear pigs. Haplotype analysis revealed that the SLA I, II, and III regions could be constructed into 13, 7, and 11 common haplotypes, respectively. Conclusion: This study validates the high genetic diversity of the Chinese miniature pig. Mingguang small-ear pigs have close kinship with Diannan small-ear pigs, implying that they may have similar genetic backgrounds and originate from the same population. This study also provides a foundation for genetic breeding, genetic resource protection, and classification of Chinese miniature pigs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2021

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by presence of α-synuclein-positive inclusions in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. These glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) are considered an integral part of the pathogenesis of MSA, leading to demyelination and neuronal demise. What is most puzzling in the research fields of GCIs is the origin of α-synuclein aggregates in GCIs, since adult oligodendrocytes do not express high levels of α-synuclein. The most recent leading hypothesis is that GCIs form via transfer and accumulation of α-synuclein from neurons to oligodendrocytes. However, studies regarding this subject are limited due to the absence of proper human cell models, to demonstrate the entry and accumulation of neuronal α-synuclein in human oligodendrocytes. Here, we generated mature human oligodendrocytes that can take up neuronderived α-synuclein and form GCI-like inclusions. Mature human oligodendrocytes are derived from neural stem cells via "oligosphere" formation and then into oligodendrocytes, treating the cells with the proper differentiation factors at each step. In the final cell preparations, oligodendrocytes consist of the majority population, while some astrocytes and unidentified stem cell-like cells were present as well. When these cells were exposed to α-synuclein proteins secreted from neuron-like human neuroblastoma cells, oligodendrocytes developed perinuclear inclusion bodies with α-synuclein immunoreactivity, resembling GCIs, while the stem cell-like cells showed α-synuclein-positive, scattered puncta in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, we have established a human oligodendrocyte model for the study of GCI formation, and the characterization and use of this model might pave the way for understanding the pathogenesis of MSA.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.142-147
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• 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been utilized as a promising source in regenerative medicine. However, the risk of teratoma formation that comes with residual undifferentiated PSCs in differentiated cell populations is most concerning in the clinical use of PSC derivatives. Here, we report that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting PSCs could distinguish undifferentiated PSCs, with potential teratoma-forming activity, from differentiated PSC progeny. A panel of hybridomas generated from mouse immunization with H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) was screened for ESC-specific binding using flow cytometry. A novel mAb, K312, was selected considering its high stem cell-binding activity, and this mAb could bind to several human induced pluripotent stem cells and PSC lines. Cell-binding activity of K312 was markedly decreased as hESCs were differentiated into embryoid bodies or by retinoic acid treatment. In addition, a cell population negatively isolated from undifferentiated or differentiated H9 hESCs via K312 targeting showed a significantly reduced expression of pluripotency markers, including Oct4 and Nanog. Furthermore, K312-based depletion of pluripotent cells from differentiated PSC progeny completely prevented teratoma formation. Therefore, our findings suggest that K312 is utilizable in improving stem cell transplantation safety by specifically distinguishing residual undifferentiated PSCs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.461-470
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity, population structure and whole-genome selection signatures of Luxi cattle to reveal its genomic characteristics in terms of meat and carcass traits, skeletal muscle development, body size, and other traits. Methods: To further analyze the genomic characteristics of Luxi cattle, this study sequenced the whole-genome of 16 individuals from the core conservation farm in Shandong region, and collected 174 published genomes of cattle for conjoint analysis. Furthermore, three different statistics (pi, F_st, and XP-EHH) were used to detect potential positive selection signatures related to selection in Luxi cattle. Moreover, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed to reveal the potential biological function of candidate genes harbored in selected regions. Results: The results showed that Luxi cattle had high genomic diversity and low inbreeding levels. Using three complementary methods (pi, F_st, and XP-EHH) to detect the signatures of selection in the Luxi cattle genome, there were 2,941, 2,221 and 1,304 potentially selected genes identified, respectively. Furthermore, there were 45 genes annotated in common overlapping genomic regions covered 0.723 Mb, including PLAG1 zinc finger (PLAG1), dedicator of cytokinesis 3 (DOCK3), ephrin A2 (EFNA2), DAZ associated protein 1 (DAZAP1), Ral GTPase activating protein catalytic subunit alpha 1 (RALGAPA1), mediator complex subunit 13 (MED13), and decaprenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 (PDSS2), most of which were enriched in pathways related to muscle growth and differentiation and immunity. Conclusion: In this study, we provided a series of genes associated with important economic traits were found in positive selection regions, and a scientific basis for the scientific conservation and genetic improvement of Luxi cattle.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

Objective : Obesity, which has recently been rapidly increasing in the obese population, is caused by an imbalance in energy intake and consumption. The reason why we need to manage obesity well is that the prevalence of complications such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease increases. In this study, the effect of FO (Fragaria orientalis) water extract on fat metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells was observed to develop a new anti-obesity material based on Mongolian medical books. Methods : The effect of FO extract on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells was observed using DPPH scavenging, pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, MTT analysis and Oil-red-O staining method. And the expression of proteins related to lipid metabolism was analyzed by Western blot. Results : The FO group significantly increased the DPPH radical scavenging activity at 5 mg/ml compared to the positive control BHA at 0.1 mg/ml. In oil red O staining at a safe concentration without cytotoxicity, lipid accumulation was significantly inhibited by less than 80% compared to the control group at all concentrations. Moreover, treatment of FO significantly increased the expression of proteins related to lipid metabolism, such as p-AMPK and p-ACC, in 3T3-L1 cells, and the expression of CPT-1 tended to increase in a dose-dependent manner. However, the expression of PPAR-γ was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that FO water extract has a potential anti-obesity effect and are expected to be utilized in the development of materials for obesity prevention and treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2015

Genetic polymorphisms of adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1) gene were screened in Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle-derived commercial (JBC-DC) populations. The ADD1 genotypes were determined using the presence/absence of 84-bp fragment at intron 7 region. The association of ADD1 genotypes for economic traits was examined in both populations. In the Hanwoo steers, ADD1 D/- carcasses showed significantly thicker backfat levels than those from WW (p<0.05). However, the thickest level of backfat appeared in WD heterozygotes, whereas thicker backfat did not appear in DD homozygotes in the JBC-DC population (p<0.05), leading to the supposition that synergic effects of alleles W and D increase backfat deposition. On the other hand, there was no association between the ADD1 genotypes and intramuscular fat deposition measured as meat quality index and marbling score. From these results, we concluded that the bovine ADD1 affected the backfat in subcutaneous tissue, rather than intramuscular fat in muscle tissue. In addition, the DD animals showed higher levels of meat color than those from W/- (p<0.05). Interestingly, a highly significant difference was found between the genotypes and carcass weights only in the JBC-DC population, and D/- animals were heavier by more than 38 kg than those from WW (p<0.001). The results of this study reveal faster growth rate and differences in steer productivity according to genotypes of the ADD1 gene. These findings demonstrate that ADD1 genotypes may effectively function as molecular genetic markers for the improvement of Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle-related crossbreeding systems.