• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2006

Objective: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. Methods: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at $G^{119}-T$, $G^{432}-C$, $T^{449}-C$, and $A^{453}-G$ were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. Results: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA(reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. Conclusion: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.238-246
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• 2001

Bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs), members of the transforming growth factor $\beta$(TGF-$\beta$) superfamily were first identified as the factors that induce ectopic bone formation in vivo, when implanted into muscular tissue. Especially BMP-2 inhibits terminal differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts and converts them into osteoblast lineage cells. In the molecular mechanism of the signal transduction of TGF-$\beta$ and related factors, intracellular signaling proteins were identified as Smad. In previous study, it has been reported that Smad 1 and Smad 5, which belong to the R-Smad family mediate BMP signaling, were involved in the induction of osteoblast differentiation in C2C12 cells. To understnad the role of Smads involved in osteogenic transdifferentiation in C2C12 cell, in present study, after we stably transfected C2C12 cells with each. Smad(Smad 1,Smad 5) expression vector, cultured for 3 days and stained for alkaline phophatase activity. ALP activity positive cells appeared in the Smad 1, Smad 5 stably transfected cell even in the abscence of BMP. After transiently co-transfected C2C12 cells with each Smad expression vector and ALP promoter, it was examined that Smad 1 and Smad 5 expression vector had increased about 2 fold ALP promoter activity in the abscence of BMP. These result suggested that both Smad 1 and Smad 5 were involved in the intracellular BMP signals which induce osteoblast differentiation in C2C12 cells. The effect of BMP on C2C12 cells with Smad 1, Smad 5 transfected were studied by using northern blot analysis. the treatment of BMP upregulated ALP mRNA level in three groups, especially upregulation of ALP was larger in Smad 1, Smad 5 transfected cell than control group. Pretreatment with cycloheximide($10{\mu}g/ml$), a protein synthesis inhibitor resulted in blocking the ALP gene expression even in BMP(100ng/ml) treated cell. These results suggested that Smad increased the level of ALP mRNA via the synthesis of a certain transcriptional regulatory protein.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 1994

Background: It is well known that oxygen free radicals(OFR) play a vital role in the various type of acute lung injury. Among various antioxidant defense mechanisms, the superoxide dismutases(SOD) are thought to be the first line of antioxidant defense by catalyzing the dismutation of two superoxide radicals to yield hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. Eukaryotic cells contain two types of intracellular SOD : cytosolic, dimeric copper/zinc- containing enzyme(CuZnSOD) and mitochondrial, tetrameric manganese-containing enzyme(MnSOD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the time-dependent gene expression of MnSOD and CuZnSOD in the endotoxin-treated rats, and to compare with the manifestations of LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats. Methods: Total RNA from rat lung was isolated using single step phenol extraction 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24 hours after E. coli endotoxin injection(n=3, respectively). RNA was separated by formaldehyde-containing 1.2% agarose gels elctrophoresis, transblotted, baked, prehybridized, and hybridized with $^{32}P$-labeled cDNA probes for rat MnSOD and CuZnSOD, which were kindly donated by Dr. Ho(Duke University, Durham, NC, USA). The probes were labeled by nick translation. Blots were washed and autoradiography were quantitated using laser densitometry. Equivalent amounts of total RNA/gel were assessed by monitoring 28S and 18S rRNA. Results: Endotoxin caused a rise in steady-state MnSOD mRNA levels by 4h with peak mRNA accumulation by 6h. Continued MnSOD mRNA expression was observed at 12h. CuZnSOD mRNA expression was observed from 1h to 24h with peak levels by 18h. Conclusion: These results suggest that SOD palys an important defensive role in the endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.218-224
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• 2015

Endocannabinoids can affect multiple cellular targets, such as cannabinoid (CB) receptors, transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$($PPAR{\gamma}$). The stimuli to induce adipocyte differentiation in hBM-MSCs increase the gene transcription of the $CB_1$ receptor, TRPV1 and $PPAR{\gamma}$. In this study, the effects of three endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (AEA), N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), on adipogenesis in hBM-MSCs were evaluated. The adipocyte differentiation was promoted by AEA whereas inhibited by NADA. No change was observed by the treatment of non-cytotoxic concentrations of 2-AG. The difference between AEA and NADA in the regulation of adipogenesis is associated with their effects on $PPAR{\gamma}$ transactivation. AEA can directly activate $PPAR{\gamma}$. The effect of AEA on $PPAR{\gamma}$ in hBM-MSCs may prevail over that on the $CB_1$ receptor mediated signal transduction, giving rise to the AEA-induced promotion of adipogenesis. In contrast, NADA had no effect on the $PPAR{\gamma}$ activity in the $PPAR{\gamma}$ transactivation assay. The inhibitory effect of NADA on adipogenesis in hBM-MSCs was reversed not by capsazepine, a TRPV1 antagonist, but by rimonabant, a $CB_1$ antagonist/inverse agonist. Rimonabant by itself promoted adipogenesis in hBM-MSCs, which may be interpreted as the result of the inverse agonism of the $CB_1$ receptor. This result suggests that the constantly active $CB_1$ receptor may contribute to suppress the adipocyte differentiation of hBM-MSCs. Therefore, the selective $CB_1$ agonists that are unable to affect cellular $PPAR{\gamma}$ activity inhibit adipogenesis in hBM-MSCs.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.419-425
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to estimate the inhibition of skin melanin formation by extract of Angelica koreana and Cnidium monnieri and the possibility of functional cosmetic materials through anti-irritation and stability test. The extract used in this experiment is White-$AK^{TM}$ and the INCI name is Osthole. The main component of White-$AK^{TM}$ was identified as coumarin and EC50 value was 2.7ppm by mouse melanoma B 16 cell test. White-$AK^{TM}$ showed inhibitory effects 100 times lower concentration than arbutin. The main mechanism for skin whitening effect thought to be inhibition of tyrosinase-related gene expression. The basic essence formulation of White-$AK^{TM}$ 5% solution applied to the skin showed the effect of relieving skin irritation. White-$AK^{TM}$ in an opaque container, under UV conditions for 4 weeks, and showed close to 100% recovery and 97% recovery under $50^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks. Therefore, it is thought that White-$AK^{TM}$ which helps skin whitening, relieving skin irritation and stable in UV condition is able to be used as the functional component in the cosmetic formulation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2016

Human sparganosis is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with larval forms (procercoid/plerocercoid) of Spirometra spp. The purpose of this study was to identify Spirometra spp. of infected snakes using a multiplex PCR assay and phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the spargana of terrestrial snakes obtained from Korea and China. A total of 283 snakes were obtained that included 4 species of Colubridae comprising Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus (n=150), Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum (n=64), Elaphe davidi (n=2), and Elaphe schrenkii (n=7), and 1 species of Viperidae, Agkistrodon saxatilis (n=60). The snakes were collected from the provinces of Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Gyeongbuk in Korea (n=161), and from China (n=122). The overall infection rate with spargana was 83% (235/283). The highest was recorded for D. rufozonatum rufozonatum (100%), followed by A. saxatilis (85%) and R. tigrinus tigrinus (80%), with a negative result for E. davidi (0%) and E. schrenkii (0%). The sequence identities between the spargana from snakes (n=50) and Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (KJ599680) or S. decipiens (KJ599679) control specimens were 90.8% and 99.2%, respectively. Pairwise genetic distances between spargana (n=50) and S. decipiens ranged from 0.0080 to 0.0107, while those between spargana and S. erinaceieuropaei ranged from 0.1070 to 0.1096. In this study, all of the 904 spargana analyzed were identified as S. decipiens either by a multiplex PCR assay (n=854) or mitochondrial cox1 sequence analysis (n=50).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1131-1140
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• 2014

This research focused on the effects of different doses of Bacillus subtilis KN-42 on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, faecal bacterial flora, and the relative number of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli in faeces of weaned piglets to determine whether the strain can serve as a candidate antimicrobial growth promoter. A total of 360 piglets (initial body weight $7.14{\pm}0.63$ kg) weaned at $26{\pm}2$ days of age were randomly allotted to 5 treatment groups (4 pens per treatment with 18 pigs per pen) for a 28-day trial. Dietary treatments were basal diet without any antimicrobial (negative control; NC), basal diet supplemented with 120 mg/kg feed of neomycin sulfate (positive control; PC) and basal diet supplemented with $2{\times}10^9$ (L), $4{\times}10^9$ (M) and $20{\times}10^9$ (H) CFU/kg feed of B. subtilis KN-42. During the overall period, average daily gain and feed efficiency of piglets were higher in groups PC, M, and H than those in group NC (p<0.05), and all probiotics and antibiotics groups had a lower diarrhea index than group NC (p<0.05). The 16S rDNA gene-based methods were used to analyze faecal bacterial flora on day 28 of experiment. The result of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that supplementation of B. subtilis KN-42 to the diet changed the bacterial communities, with a higher bacterial diversity and band number in group M than in the other four groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the relative number of Lactobacillus were higher in groups PC and H than in group NC (p<0.05), and the supplemented B. subtilis KN-42 to the diet also reduced the relative number of E. coli (p<0.05). These results suggest that dietary addition of B. subtilis KN-42 can improve the growth performance and gastrointestinal health of piglets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.559-564
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• 2012

In order to investigate the effect of phytochromes on the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis, we measured the ethylene production and the activities of enzymes involved in ethylene biosynthesis using phytochrome mutants such as $phyA$, $phyB$, and $phyAB$ of Arabidopsis. The ethylene production was decreased in mutants grown in white light. In particular, double mutants showed a 37% decrease compared to the wild type in ethylene production. When Arabidopsis roots were grown in the dark, mutants did not show a decrease in ethylene production; however, production was significantly decreased in the double mutant grown in red light. Only $phyB$ did not show the decrease in the ethylene production in far-red light. Unlike the ACO activities, the ACS activities of mutants showed the same pattern as the ethylene production under several light conditions. The results of ACS activities confirmed the expression of the ACS gene by RT-PCR analysis. The decrease of ethylene production in mutants was due to the lower activity of ACC synthase, which converts the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the precursor of ethylene. These results suggested that both phytochrome A and B play an important role in the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis roots in the conversion step of AdoMet to ACC, which is regulated by ACS.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.600-606
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• 2012

A Bacillus sp. that produces fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated from Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean soybean-fermented food. According to 16S rRNA gene base sequencing, the bacillus was identified as a variety of Bacillus subtilis, and named Bacillus subtilis IDCC 9204. Fibrinolytic enzyme NK-IL9204 was stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ and within pH range of 5-10. Purified NK-IL9204 was detected through fibrin zymography. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the enzyme were estimated to be 27.7 kDa and 6.7 by SDS-PAGE and 2D electrophoresis, respectively. Its amino acid sequence was similar to that of nattokinase (identities 99.5%) and different from that of nattokinase BPN (identities 86.4%). The plasma fibrinolytic activity of NK-IL9204 was measured by euglobulin clot lysis times (ECLT). The NK-IL9204 was orally administered to SD rats for 3 weeks (1,000 FU/rat/day). The ECLT was significantly shortened by supplementation of NK-IL9204.