• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2004

Oxycarotenoids are oxygenated carotenoids that perform critical roles in plants. $\beta$-Carotene hydroxylase adds hydroxyl groups to the $\beta$-rings of carotenes and has been cloned from several bacteria and plants including Arabidopsis. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of $\beta$-carotene hydroxylase gene (Chyb) on the oxycarotenoids biosynthesis in the transgenic Arabidopsis. Construct of pGCHYB containing Chyb was established onto Gateway vector system (pENTR3C gateway vector and pH2GW7 destination vector). Arabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia) was transformed with Agrobacterium tumerfacience GV3101 harboring pGCHYB construct driven by 35S promoter and hygromycin resistant gene. Seven hundred bases paired PCR products, indicating the presence of Chyb gene, were found in the transformants by PCR analysis using Chyb primers. Hygromycin resistance assay showed that transgenes were stably inherited to next generation. The overexpression of the Chyb gene resulted in the decrease carotenoid content. Especially, astaxanthin unusual oxycarotenoid in wild type Arabidopsis was detected in the transgenic plants. This means that decreased carotenoids might be converted into astaxanthin metabolism with the aid of silent gene in the host.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2013

Bone homeostasis is maintained by co-ordination of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Imbalance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis. Taxillus chinensis is a herb that has been widely used to improve bone health. However, the effect and mechanism of Taxillus chinensis extract on osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion has been unknown. Thus, We investigated the effect of Taxillus chinensis on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Also, the action of Taxillus chinensis on mechanisms relating to osteoclast differentiation was studied. In this results, we identified that Taxillus chinensis significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resportion. Moreover, Taxillus chinensis was suppressed the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophage treated RANKL and M-CSF. Taxillus chinensis was down-regulated the mRNA expression of c-Fos, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)c1, osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The cell adhesion-related molecules such as integrin ${\alpha}v$ and integrin ${\beta}3$, and the filamentous actin (F-actin) rings of mature osteoclasts-related molecules such as dendritic cell-specific transmembrane preotein (DC-STAMP) and cathepsin K are also suppressed. Taken together, these results indicated that Taxillus chinensis will be a good candidate to treat osteoclast-mediated bone diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.381-388
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• 1996

The hemodynamic changes in septic patients produced by inhalational anesthetics are sufficient to threaten the anesthesiologists. The effect of hydroxocobalamin, a vitamin $B_{12a}$, on contractile responses to phenylephrine during administration of inhalational anesthetics were evaluated in aortic ring preparations obtained from LPS-treated rats. The sepsis was developed by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (1.5 mg/kg for l8h) and confirmed by iNOS expression using RT-PCR. Statistical significances (P<0.05) were analyzed by Student's t-test or paired t-test according to data characteristics. The blood pressure, but not heart rate, was decreased in LPS-treated rats as compared to control rats. The contractile response to phenylephrine were dose-dependently increased from the doses of $10^{-8}\;M$ to that of $10^{-5}$ and were attenuated in LPS-treated rings. Both halothane and enflurane, at the doses of 1 MAC, decreased the contractile responses to phenylephrine while isoflurane did not significantly affect the contractile responses. Hydroxocobalamin ($10^{-5}$ M) significantly potentiated the contractile responses in the LPS-treated aortic ring preparations during administration of each inhalational anesthetic or not. From these results, it is suggested that hydroxocobalamin may improve the hemodynamics of septic patients during inhalational anesthesia. Abbreviations: LPS, lipopolysaccharide; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; MAC, minimum alveolar concentration; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.479-484
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• 1986

Two different types of solar collector for farm dryer- the flatplate type and the modified tubular type-were constructed and analyzed on their performances. The transparent plastic film, black painted galvanized iron sheet and black vinyl film were used for the cover and absorber of the flat-plate types. The simplified tubular type was constructed with transparent films for the cover and black vinyl films for the absorber Two elliptical iron rings were used to form a tubular shape through which air could pass. No remarkable differences were found in thermal efficiences between the absorbers made with galvanized iron sheet and black vinyl film. The average thermal efficiencies of the solar collectors were 42.8%(max.48.2%, min.38.2%) for flat plate type and 22.971 (max. 25.4%, min. 14.8%)) for tubular one. The empirical equations were proved to be applicable to the prediction of temperature elevation. The tubular solar heat collector was successfully applied to red peppers drying as a practical farm dryer. The drying rate was almost doubled compared to a conventional sun drying.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, is known to play important roles in modulating both NO and superoxide production during vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, the role of BH4 in functions of vascular smooth muscle cells is not fully known. In this study, we tested the effects of BH4 and dihydrobiopterin (BH2), a BH4 precursor, on migration and proliferation in response to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). Cell migration and proliferation were measured using a Boyden chamber and a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay, respectively, and these results were confirmed with an ex vivo aortic sprout assay. Cell viability was examined by 2,3-bis [2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide assays. BH4 and BH2 decreased PDGF-BBinduced cell migration and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of cell migration and proliferation by BH4 and BH2 was not affected by pretreatment with $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a NOS inhibitor. Moreover, the sprout outgrowth formation of aortic rings induced by PDGF-BB was inhibited by BH4 and BH2. Cell viability was not inhibited by BH4 and BH2 treatment. The present results suggest that BH4 and BH2 may inhibit PDGF-stimulated RASMC migration and proliferation via the NOS-independent pathway. Therefore, BH4 and its derivative could be useful for the development of a candidate molecule with an NO-independent anti-atherosclerotic function.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2010

The ultrastructures of germ cells and the accessory cells during spermatogenesis and mature sperm ultrastructure in male Gomphina veneriformis, which was collected on the coastal waters of Yangyang, East Sea of Korea, were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphology of the spermatozoon has a primitive type and is similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with four mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. Accessory cells are observed to be connected to adjacent germ cells, they contain a large quantity of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. Therefore, it is assumed that they are involved in the supplying of the nutrients for germ cell development, while any phenomena associated with phagocytosis of undischarged, residual sperms by lysosomes in the cytoplasm of the accessory cells after spawning was not observed in this study. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a cylindrical and modified long cone shape, respectively. In particular, the axial filaments in the lumen of the acrosome, and subacrosomal granular materials are observed in the subacrosomal space between the anterior nuclear fossa and the beginning part of axial filaments in the acrosome. The spermatozoon is approximately $50-55{\mu}m$ in length including a long sperm nucleus (about $7.80{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $1.13{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum ($40-45{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure. Some charateristics of sperm morphology of this species in the family Veneridae are (1) acrosomal morphology, (2) the number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm,. The axial filament appears in the acrosome as one of characteristics seen in several species of the family Veneridae in the subclass heterodonta, unlikely the subclass pteriomorphia containing axial rod instead of the axial filament. As some characteristics of the acrosome structures, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass heterodonta, unlikely a characteristic of the subclass pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosome structures. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are four, as one of common characteristics appeared in most species in the family Veneridae.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

Background: Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in persistent pain, including neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Since the data suggest that ROS are involved in central sensitization, the present study examines the levels of activated N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the dorsal horn after an exogenous supply of three antioxidants in rats with chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP). This serves as an animal model of complex regional pain syndrome type-I induced by hindpaw ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: The application of tight-fitting O-rings for a period of three hours produced CPIP in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Allopurinol 4 mg/kg, allopurinol 40 mg/kg, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 4,000 U/kg, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 10 mg/kg and SOD 4,000 U/kg plus L-NAME 10 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally just after O-ring application and on the first and second days after reperfusion. Mechanical allodynia was measured, and activation of the NMDA receptor subunit 1 (pNR1) of the lumbar spinal cord (L4-L6) was analyzed by the Western blot three days after reperfusion. Results: Allopurinol reduced mechanical allodynia and attenuated the enhancement of spinal pNR1 expression in CPIP rats. SOD and L-NAME also blocked spinal pNR1 in accordance with the reduced mechanical allodynia in rats with CPIP. Conclusions: The present data suggest the contribution of superoxide, produced via xanthine oxidase, and the participation of superoxide and nitric oxide as a precursor of peroxynitrite in NMDA mediated central sensitization. Finally, the findings support a therapeutic potential for the manipulation of superoxide and nitric oxide in ischemia/reperfusion related pain conditions.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent antihypertensive and vasodilator which plays an important role in regulating vascular tones. In this study, we investigated the effects of adventitious root extracts of wild ginseng on NO production and NO linked physiological activities. When human endothelial cell line (ECV304) was incubated with either water extracts of wild ginseng adventitious root (WE) or aqueous fraction of butanol extracts of wild ginseng adventitious root (ABE), considerable amounts of NO were released by the cells. The level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was unchanged and about 6% of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was inhibited with treatment of ABE. The vasodilating activities of pulmonary artery rings in response to different doses of extracts were shown as 44.8% and 91.3% in 2.5 mg/ml WE and 0.1 mg/ml ABE, respectively. The blood pressure lowering effect was observed from the oral administered spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) with the lowest blood pressure (154.5${\pm}$8.6 mmHg) after 8 h. The blood pressure was recovered to the initial level after 24 h.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2008

Five intensive measurements of particulate PAHs were made at a roadside in Seoul from May 2005 to June 2006. The average concentration of particulate PAHs was $15.1{\pm}10.6ng\;m^{-3}$. The high concentrations of particulate fluoranthene and pyrene were observed in November 2005 due to the influence of the lower ambient temperature. Compared to the previous results at tunnel and ambient sites in Seoul, larger fraction of the high molecular PAH compounds which consist with five or six benzene rings, was observed at a roadside. This might indicate high influence of vehicle emission at a roadside. The distribution of diagnostic ratios for specific PAH compounds indicated that the influence of vehicular emission, especially diesel vehicular emission seems to be high at a roadside.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2005

The optotypes widely used as a necessity in the course of optometry are the world authorized versions which contain items such as the Landolt's rings, Snellen's chart and also Arabian numbers, Korean letters, Pictures and so on. In Korea, the Hahn-chun-suk test chart has been In use generally alolng with Chung-san test chart and Jin-yong-han test chart also in use on the wall. But these sort of test charts hung on the wall have some problems such as the difference in test results owing to the rate of illumination and so a more accurate method is required. To solve the problem of inaccuracy in optometry, the projected type of charts with digital instrument such as the beam projector has been developed lately. This chart projector with consistent high resolution and the ability to provide various charts can help eye examiner perform effective examination and thus is looked positively upon as the automated total optometry system. So in this study our purpose is to examine the accuracy of the projected chart. It was done by comparing it with the frequently used test chart. The results of experiment are as follow. When the projected chart was used, cases that subject read charts one step higher were 10%, two step higher 2% than perfectly corrected vision. When Han-chun-suk test chart was used, cases that subject read charts one step higher were 12%, and two step higher were 4%.