• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.826-831
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• 1999

${\beta}-Glucan$, one of the major cell wall components of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is known to enhance the immune function, especially by activating macrophages. Accordingly, in an effort to develop a safe and efficient immune stimulatory agent, we prepared crude ${\beta}-glucan$ (glucan-p1) and partially purified ${\beta}-glucan$ that was free of mannoproteins (glucan-p2), and evaluated their effect on both the macrophage function and resistance to E. coli-induced peritonitis. To investigate the function of the macrophages, phagocytosis, $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion, oxygen burst, and the expression of cytokine genes such as $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12 were analyzed. Glucan-p2 markedly stimulated the macrophages with all these parameters. Glucan-p1, however, did not stimulate phagocytosis, yet it induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion, oxygen burst, and the expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12, although less efficiently than glucan-p2. Finally, to test the in vivo protective effect of {\beta}-glucan against infection, the survival of mice from E. coli-induced peritonitis was investigated. After 24 h of the peritoneal challenge of E. coli, all of the mice treated with glucan-p2 survived whereas none survived in the control group. Glucan-p1 showed only a marginal effect in protecting the mice. These results suggest that mannoprotein-free gluean-p2, but not gluean-p1, can serve as an effective immune-stimulating agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

As well-being foods pursuing healthy life are becoming popular, interest in Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) fruit, a type of Korean blackberry, is increasing due to its medicinal actions including protecting the liver, brightening the eyes, and alleviating diabetes. This study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of RCM concentrates on liver injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. RCM, produced in June ~ July 2008 at Chunbook, Gochang (South Korea), was finely mashed. The seeds were removed and the juices were condensed. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups according to treatment: normal (eight rats), $CCl_4$, 1% RCM, and 2% RCM. Experimental diets were provided to the experimental animals for 4 weeks. We measure total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Part of the livers was isolated for histopathological evaluation, and analyzed for lipid peroxide (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and liver proteins. The activities of serum AST, ALT, and ALP were elevated following $CCl_4$ administration. Levels of hepatic TBARS were also significantly increased in the $CCl_4$ groups. However, hepatic TBARS levels and the activities of serum enzymes were markedly reduced by supplementation with the RCM concentrates (P < 0.05). Hepatic SOD activity increased in the RCM concentrates group versus $CCl_4$ groups. Histopathological examination revealed massive necrosis in the centrilobular area and degenerative changes caused by $CCl_4$ were ameliorated by dietary supplementation with RCM concentrates. These results suggest that RCM concentrates have hepatoprotective effects and may improve the symptoms of liver injuries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5007-5010
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• 2013

Heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones that may be constitutively present in cells protecting them from various stresses, such as extreme temperature, anoxia or chemical agents. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent malignancy of women. In this study, we analyzed the expression of Hsp27 by immunohistochemistry in cervical intraepithelial lesions of Brazilian women, along with samples from non neoplasic lesions (NN). Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I), II (CIN II) and III (CIN III)/in situ carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were included. Immunostaining was observed in 30 (100%) samples of NN, 46 (92%) in CIN I, 50 (100%) in CIN II, 52 (98.11%) in CIN III/CIS, and 46 (98.11%) in SCC. In group NN Hsp27 immunostaining was heterogeneous, more intense in basal and parabasal layers of the epithelium and less or absent in the intermediate and superficial layer. The majority of the samples of CIS and SCC presented strong staining in all epithelial layers. Metaplasic cells, when present, were strongly stained. In this study, Hsp27 protein was found to be commonly expressed in cervical epithelial cells.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.925-938
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• 2010

Depending on network conditions, a communication network could be overloaded when media are transmitted. Research has been carried out to lessen network overloading, such as by filtering, load distribution, frame dropping, and other methods. Among these methods, one of the most effective is frame dropping, which reduces specified video frames for bandwidth diminution. In frame dropping, B-frames are dropped and then I- and P-frames are dropped, based on the dependency among the frames. This paper proposes a scheme for protecting copyrights by encryption, when frame dropping is applied to reduce the bandwidth of media based on the MPEG-4 file format. We designed two kinds of frame dropping: the first stores and then sends the dropped files and the other drops frames in real time when transmitting. We designed three kinds of encryption methods using the DES algorithm to encrypt MPEG-4 data: macro block encryption in I-VOP, macro block and motion vector encryption in P-VOP, and macro block and motion vector encryption in I-, P-VOP. Based on these three methods, we implemented a digital rights management solution for MPEG-4 data streaming. We compared the results of dropping, encryption, decryption, and the quality of the video sequences to select an optimal method, and found that there was no noticeable difference between the video sequences recovered after frame dropping and the ones recovered without frame dropping. The best performance in the encryption and decryption of frames was obtained when we applied the macro block and motion vector encryption in I-, P-VOP.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.72-83
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• 2003

Objective : The goal of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Gamiheechum-tang (Jiaweixiqian-tang; GHCT) on brain tissue damage from chemical or ischemic insults. Methods : Levels of cultured cortical neuron death caused by toxic chemicals were measured by LDH release assay. Neuroprotective effects of GHCT on brain tissues were examined in vivo by ischemic model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Results : Animal groups treated with GBCT showed significantly decreased hypertension, and reduced levels of aldosterone, dopamine, and epinephrine in the plasma. GHCT treatments ($l0-200\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) significantly decreased cultured cortical neuron death mediated by AMPA, kainate, BSO, or Fe2+ when measured by LDH release assay. Yet, cell death mediated by NMDA was effectively protected by GHCT at the highest concentration examined ($200\mu\textrm{g}/ml$). In the in vivo experiment examining brain damage by MCA occlusion, affected brain areas by ischemic damage and edema were significantly less in animal groups administered with GHCT compared to the non-treated control group. Neurological examinations of forelimbs and hindlimbs showed that GHCT treatment improved animals' recovery from ischemic injury. Moreover, the extent of injury in cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons in ischemic rats was much reduced by GHCT, whose morphological features were similarly observed in non-ischemic animals. Conclusion : The present data suggest that GBCT may play an important role in protecting brain tissues from chemical or ischemic injuries.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2009

The Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, is the smallest baleen whale in the suborder Mysticeti. Because this species inhabits coastal areas, it became a main target species of coastal small-type whaling in the North Atlantic and the Northwest Pacific Oceans, and the species' population size dramatically decreased because of over-exploitation. As a result, the International Whaling Commission declared a global moratorium on whaling and launched the development of a management procedure for protecting the whales. Morphological studies, whaling history analysis, and genetic studies conducted mainly by Japanese scientists showed the existence of one unique "E" stock that inhabits the waters around the Korean peninsula and mixes with the "O" stock in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. We used the mitochondrial DNA control region polymorphism of 348 Minke whales bycaught or stranded in Korean waters from 30 October 1998 to 25 June 2005 to assess the whale population structure by year. The frequency of the 10 major haplotypes from the 40 identified haplotypes was not significantly different among groups, suggesting that a subpopulation was not present. A comparison of the genetic distances calculated with Tamura-Nei's method showed that the distances between groups were lower than those within groups, which suggests that there was no genetic difference in the Minke whale populations. The Fst comparison between groups and the phylogenetic tree constructed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and Neighbor Joining (NJ) method also detected no obvious sub-stock structure.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 1999

The effects of carnosine and related compounds (CRCs) including anserine, homocarnosine, histidine, and ${\beta}-alanine$ on monosaccharide autoxidation and $H_2O_2$ formation were investigated. The incubation of CRCs with D-glucose, D-glucosamine, and D, L-glyceraldehyde at $37^{\circ}C$ increased the absorption maxima at 285 nm, 273 nm, and $290{\sim}330$ nm, respectively. D, L-glyceraldehyde was the most reactive sugar with CRCs. The presence of copper strongly stimulated the reaction of carnosine and anserine with D-glucose or D-glucosamine. Carnosine and anserine stimulated $H_2O_2$ formation from D-glucose autoxidation in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of 10 ${\mu}M$ Cu (II). The presence of human serum albumin (HSA) decreased their effect on $H_2O_2$ formation. Carnosine and anserine has a biphasic effect on ${\alpha}-ketoaldehyde$ formation from glucose autoxidation. CRCs inhibited glycation of HSA as determined by hydroxymethyl furfural, lysine residue with free ${\varepsilon}-amino$ group, and fructosamine assay. These results suggest that CRCs may be protective against diabetic complications by reacting with sugars and protecting glycation of protein.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.278-284
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• 2016

Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, are natural water-soluble pigments, mainly found in vegetables and fruits. Anthocyanins have attractive pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of the anthocyanin-rich fraction (ANF) from purple sweet potato on high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. C57BL/6J mice were assigned to the following groups (n=8 per group): normal fat diet (NF); high fat diet (HF); high fat diet with ANF 50mg/kg (ANF50). Normal fat or high fat diets were fed for a total of 17 weeks, and ANF was orally administrated for 8 weeks (from 10 to 17 weeks, five times/week). In our results, there were no significant differences in body weight, food intake, and tissue weight upon ANF supplementation. The levels of serum triacylglycerol, total-cholesterol, and glucose were also not affected by ANF supplementation. However, ANF supplementation significantly decreased serum insulin and HOMA-IR levels as well as prevented hepatic fat accumulation in high fat-fed mice. These results show that ANF may be beneficial for improving high fat-induced insulin resistance and protecting against development of hepatic steatosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Purpose: Drug can be hazardous for people if misused although they are useful for their indication. In urgent incidences such as overdose, proper treatment for intoxication can save patients' lives. In emergent case regarding drug overdose, pharmacists should know how to provide correct information including antidote to other healthcare providers. However, in Korea, there is neither regular class nor education material regarding detoxification. Therefore, the object of our study is to investigate the perception of pharmacists about it. Method: We surveyed hospital pharmacists by means of self-reporting questionnaire in order to investigate the pharmacists' perception of detoxification treatments from May $12^{th}$ 2012 to August $10^{th}$ 2012. The questionnaire comprised of demographic information, interest in detoxification treatment (inquiry from patients and education about antidote), knowledge of antidote, effective drug search route and perception of the need for education and stocking materials about antidotes). Results: It included total 281 hospital pharmacists from 30 hospitals in S. Korea. Of them, only 16.7% have been questioned about drug overdose from patient or representative and 35% have learned about antidotes in case of drug overdose through education program of Korean association of hospital pharmacist or university. About 98% thought that education and stocking materials about frequently overdosed drug and antidotes are helpful for patients in emergent case. Also, the percentage of correct answer of each questions about antidotes were higher in educated group ($p{\leq}0.001$). The more work years are, the percentage of correct answer of each questions are higher ($p{\leq}0.001$). Conclusion: In conclusion, it will be helpful for reducing damage by drug overdose that pharmacists take regular education about antidote for all pharmacist and pharmacy student. In addition, preparing and keeping booklet for Korean Style-antidote in pharmacy is needed currently for protecting public health.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Recently, because of the terrorisms or warfare, the damages of human life or facilities have been increased. Hence, the Korean government launched the research group for high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composite (HPFRCC) with increased demanding on protecting and anti-explosive structures. Therefore, in this research, to apply the HPFRCC on military facilities with optimum performance on workability and performance, the fundamental properties and reduction of autogenous shrinkage of HPFRCC with various combinations of steel and organic fiber and emulsified refined cooking oil (ERCO) were evaluated. As a result, based on the comprehensive analysis, for favorable workability, strength, and autogenous shrinkage, 1.5 % of combined fiber of short steel fiber and long organic fiber and 0.5 % of ERCO was suggested as an optimum conditions.