• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.555-563
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• 2018

Barley has nutritional benefits due to its high dietary fiber content; therefore, the intake of whole barley grains is recommended. However, barley is often consumed in the fermented form because of the improved texture and digestibility. The present study was designed to elucidate the intracellular signaling pathway for macrophage activation by the polysaccharide BF-CP from fermented barley. BF-CP is a neutral polysaccharide, composed of neutral sugars, including glucose (70.7%), xylose (11.4%), and arabinose (9.0%). BF-CP exhibited macrophage-stimulatory activity by inducing the production of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further, BF-CP treatment strongly increased the IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Signal transduction experiments using immunoblotting showed that BF-CP phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38, and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$, in RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that BF-CP activates the macrophages via MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathways, and also induces an increase in the production of cytokines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1169-1179
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• 2020

In this study, two soybean genotypes, i.e., aluminum-tolerant Baxi 10 (BX10) and aluminumsensitive Bendi 2 (BD2), were used as plant materials and acidic red soil was used as growth medium. The soil layers from the inside to the outside of the root are: rhizospheric soil after washing (WRH), rhizospheric soil after brushing (BRH) and rhizospheric soil at two sides (SRH), respectively. The rhizosphere bacterial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA gene amplicons via Illumina MiSeq. The results of alpha diversity analysis showed that the BRH and SRH of BX10 were significantly lower in community richness than that of BD2, while the WRH exhibited no significant difference between BX10 and BD2. Among the three sampling compartments of the same soybean genotype, WRH had the lowest community richness and diversity while showing the highest coverage. Beta diversity analysis results displayed no significant difference for any compartment between the two genotypes, or among the three different sampling compartments for any same soybean genotype. However, the relative abundance of major bacterial taxa, specifically nitrogen-fixing and/or aluminum-tolerant bacteria, was significantly different in the compartments of the BRH and/or SRH at phylum and genus levels, indicating genotype-dependent variations in rhizosphere bacterial communities. Strikingly, as compared with BRH and SRH, the WRH within the same genotype (BX10 or BD2) always had an enrichment effect on rhizosphere bacteria associated with nitrogen fixation.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to the effect on subsequent development of EGF present in defined medium during bovine 1)oocyte maturation or 2)embryo culture. The presence of EGF during IVM, irrespective of concentration(1, 10, 100ng/$m\ell$), stimulated cumulus expansion and significantly increased the proportion of oocytes attaining metaphaseII, the rate of cleavage, and develop to blastocyst. 1. In the group of EGF-added medium(1, 10, 100ng/$m\ell$), nuclear maturation rate for in vitro maturation was 91% to 92% but was not significantly higher than control group(87%). 2. For in vitro maturation, in the group of EGF-added medium(1, 10, 100ng/$m\ell$)the rate of cumulus cell expansion degree 2 ranged from 81% to 87%, which was significantly higher than the control group(medium with EGF not added). The rate of in vitro fertilization, developing to 2-to 4- cell stage, was 76% to 80%, which was also significantly higher(p<0.05)than control group(62%). 3. For in vitro maturation, in the group of EGF added in medium(1, 10, 100ng/$m\ell$)the development rate to blastocyst was 24.3% to 27%, which was significantly higher than control group(13.7%). The total cleavage rate in the group of EGF-added medium was 77% to 82%, which was higher than control group. 4. The development rate to blastocyst for 6 days of cultivation and the hatching blastocyst were 30.6% and 59.1%, respectively, in the group of 100ng/$m\ell$ of EGF, which were significantly higher(p<0.05)than control group(14.0% and 24%, respectively), The numbers of cells in blastocyst were 140.2 and 148, respectively, in 10ng/$m\ell$ and 100ng/$m\ell$ of EGF-added medium, which were higher than 108.5 in control group. 5. The development rate of in vitro fertilized embryos to blastocyst in 10ng/$m\ell$ of EGF-added medium co-cultured with somatic cell was 28%, which was significantly higher(p<0.05)than control group(11.8%). The numbers of cells in blastocyst were 141.6 for EGF-added medium and 145 for EGF+co-culture group, which were higher than control(101.6)and medium co-cultured with somatic cells(110.6). These results showed that in vitro maturation and fertilization, EGF was found a significant effect of increase of development rate to blastocyst and cell number.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2002

To identify the differentially expressed genes at growth stage of Hanwoo, we constructed the subtractive cDNA library from loin mRNA of 12- and 24-month old Hanwoo by PCR-based subtraction. The fourteen genes were confirmed by sequencing and reverse northern blot analysis, and they were selected as candidate of putative genes differentially expressed at the growth stage of Hanwoo. Three subtracted cDNA fragments that expressed specific signal to cDNA probe for 6-month-old loin of Hanwoo were highly homologous to those of the genes encoding EPV 20, Ca2＋ATPase, and TCTP, respectively. The nine cDNA clones showed intense signal to cDNA probe from 12-month-old loin of Hanwoo, and highly homologus to those of genes encoding VCP, HSP 70, aldolase A, MSSK1, GM-2 activator protein, ryanodine receptor, acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein p1, ADP/ATP translocase, and UCP 2, respectively. Two subtracted cDNA clones that expressed specific signal to cDNA probes for 12- and 24-month-old loin of Hanwoo were detected. One of them was highly homologus to the gene encoding ferrochelatase and the other was highly homologus to the gene encoding ADRP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.393-403
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• 2013

Baicalein (BA), a plant-derived active flavonoid present in the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has been widely used for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated restraint stress disrupts the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in depression. The behavioral and neurochemical basis of the BA effect on depression remain unclear. The present study used the forced swimming test (FST) and changes in brain neurotransmitter levels to confirm the impact of BA on repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes in rats. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg BA (i.p.) 30 min prior to daily exposure to repeated restraint stress (2 h/day) for 14 days. Activation of the HPA axis in response to repeated restraint stress was confirmed by measuring serum corticosterone levels and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor in the hypothalamus. Daily BA administration significantly decreased the duration of immobility in the FST, increased sucrose consumption, and restored the stress-related decreases in dopamine concentrations in the hippocampus to near normal levels. BA significantly inhibited the stress-induced decrease in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the ventral tegmental area and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the hippocampus. Taken together, these findings indicate that administration of BA prior to the repeated restraint stress significantly improves helpless behaviors and depressive symptoms, possibly by preventing the decrease in dopamine and BDNF expression. Thus, BA may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1834-1845
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• 2018

The lactobacilli associated with a fermented goat milk product from Tajikistan were isolated to characterize their technological properties and antibiotic resistances in order to assess their suitability for development as starter cultures. In this study, twenty three strains were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as typical dairy-associated lactic acid bacterial strains, i.e. L. plantarum, L. pentosus, L. delbrueckii, L. helveticus and L. paracasei. These strains were generally susceptible to most antibiotics tested in this study and this allowed a selection of strains as safe starters. The draft genomes of four representative strains were sequenced and the number of contigs of the four assembled genomes ranged from 51 to 245 and the genome sizes ranged from 1.75 to 3.24 Mbp. These representative strains showed differences in their growth behavior and pH-reducing abilities in in vitro studies. The co-inoculation of these Lactobacillus spp. strains together with a yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus MBT-5698, or together with the yeast and an additional Streptococcus thermophilus MBT-2, led to a pH reduction to 3.4 after 48 h. Only in the case of fermentation inoculated with the co-culture, the viscosity of the milk increased noticeably. In contrast, fermentations with single strains did not lead to gelation of the milk or to a decrease in the pH after 24h. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the predominant lactobacilli related to Tajikistani fermented milk products.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of environmental factors on 380 children's unaided visual acuity and to determine the visual acuity and objective refraction error of these children. The unaided visual acuity and objective refraction error were measured by the TOPCON chart projector and refractometer on 147 kindergarteners and 233 primary school children ranging from age 5 to 12. The measurement on the unaided visual acuity of children were 3% for below the 0.1 visual acuity 9% for 0.1~0.4. 18% for 0.5~0.7. 16% for 0.8~0.9. and 54% for over 1.0 visual acuity respectively. The refractive errors were 9.35% for mixed astigmatism. 14.5% for hyperopia 75.88% for myopia. and 0.27% for emmetropia. respectively. When analyzing the environmental factors. the relationship between the children's visual acuity and the number of hours the children watched TV. the more hours they watched TV. the more the children lost their visual acuity. The visual acuity of children decreased abruptly in the groups that watched TV more than 4 hour a day. When comparing the relationship between the children's visual acuity and proximity to the TV, the further away from the TV they were the higher visual acuity. There is rna relation between the children's visual acuity and the studying hour or reading hour of children. The relationship between the children's visual acuity and their dwelling environment, the visual acuity of children who lived in an independent house were better than the visual acuity of children who dwelled in an apartment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1458-1466
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• 2020

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), classified as condensed tannins, have significant antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. This study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of OPCs and the mechanism underlying these effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Real-time PCR and ELISA assays indicated that OPC treatment at 1, 3 and 5 ㎍/ml significantly reduced the mRNA and protein, respectively, of oxidant indicators cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (p < 0.05) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (p < 0.01) as well as inflammation cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.01), IL-1β (p < 0.01) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p < 0.05) in LPS-induced MAC-T cells. Moreover, OPCs downregulated LPS-induced phosphorylation of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (IκB) in the NF-κB signaling pathway (p < 0.01), and they inhibited p65 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus as revealed by immunofluorescence test and western blot. Additionally, OPCs decreased phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase and c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase in the MAPK signaling pathway (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of OPCs involve NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, thus inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory factors and oxidation indicators. These findings provide novel experimental evidence for the further practical application of OPCs in prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.88-97
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of microbiological contamination of kitchen utensils and environments of food service operations at university located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected swab samples from the surfaces of knives, chopping boards, floors, and drains, as well as drinking water and airborne bacteria samples from 20 food service operations. Three bacterial indicators and five food poisoning bacteria were measured quantitatively and qualitatively, respectively. We used selective culture media and the PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA gene for the microbiological analysis. Results: We detected bacterial indicators on knives or chopping boards in eight different food service operations and, three food service operations (I, M, and O) showed more than 3 log colony forming units $(CFU)/100cm^2$ on their knives, significantly higher than the others. The levels of bacterial indicators on the floors and drains in the cooking areas were much higher than those on the cooking utensils. S. aureus was detected on 10 floors and 8 drains. Culturable bacteria were identified in 5 drinking water samples, and food service operation B ($431.1CFU/m^3$) and C ($551.2CFU/m^3$) showed more than $400CFU/m^3$ of total airborne bacteria. Conclusions: These results suggest that some of food service operations in this study may require additional investigation to secure the microbial safety of cooking environments. In addition, further actions including hygiene education for employees and proper guidelines to maintain clean cooking environments should be prepared.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.227-233
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare osteoblast behavior on zirconia and titanium under conditions cultured with bone morphogenetic protein-2. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on sandblasted zirconia and sandblasted/etched titanium discs. At 24 hours after seeding MC3T3-E1, the demineralized bone matrix (DBM) gel alone and the DBM gel with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were added to the culture medium. The surface topography was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cellular proliferation was measured at 1, 4, and 7 days after gel loading. Alkaline phosphatase activity was measured at 7 days after gel loading. The mRNA expression of ALPase, bone sialoprotein, type I collagen, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2), osteocalcin, and osterix were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction at 4 days and 7 days. Results: At 1, 4, and 7 days after loading the DBM gel alone and the DBM gel with BMP-2, cellular proliferation on the zirconia and titanium discs was similar and that of the groups cultured with the DBM gel alone and the DBM gel with BMP-2 was not significantly different, except for titanium with BMP-2 gel. ALPase activity was higher in the cells cultured with BMP-2 than in the other groups, but there was no difference between the zirconia and titanium. In ALPase, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, Runx-2 and osterix gene expression, that of cells on zirconia or titanium with BMP-2 gel was much more highly increased than titanium without gel at day 7. The gene expression level of cells cultured on zirconia with BMP-2 was higher than that on titanium with BMP-2 at day 7. Conclusions: The data in this study demonstrate that the osteoblastic cell attachment and proliferation of zirconia were comparable to those of titanium. With the stimulation of BMP-2, zirconia has a more pronounced effect on the proliferation and differentiation of the osteoblastic cells compared with titanium.