• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.718-725
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• 2018

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been implicated in cell proliferation and apoptosis in several types of cancer. In this study, the impact of TLR4 activation on apoptotic cell death in gynecologic cancers induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. Cervical cancer cell lines were produced from isolated surgical specimens supplied by Paik Hospital. The primary cultures of normal myometrium and gynecologic cancers, including cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, were used to examine the differences in morphological characteristics between normal and cancerous cells. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to determine the relative expression levels of TLR4 gene involved in apoptosis-associated signaling in cervical cancer cells. The cancer cell colonies showed a tendency to reach high levels of confluency compared with normal cells. In addition, an enhanced growth rate and loss of contact inhibition were observed in gynecologic cancer cells compared with normal cells (doubling times of 16.6 hr vs. 26 hr, respectively). The expression level of ITGA5, an alpha-5 integrin marker, was upregulated in normal myometrial cells, but this tendency was not exhibited in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, p53 tumor suppressor gene expression was upregulated, whereas TLR4 and caspase-3 gene expressions were downregulated in cervical cancer cells. Notably, the expression levels of TLR4 and caspase-3 were increased significantly in LPS-treated cancer cells compared with those in non-LPS-treated cells. These results suggest that the TLR4-mediated caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway could be suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a known ethylene action inhibitor, on fruit quality and incidence of physiological disorders during simulated marketing period in Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) of early-season cultivar 'Hanareum' and mid-season cultivar 'Manpungbae'. Flesh firmness was decreased abruptly at 15 days after shelf-life in untreated fruit of early-season cultivar 'Hanareum' which showed less than 19N, although those of 1-MCP-treated fruits were kept high value (>28N) during 15 days of shelf-life. However, there were no distinct firmness changes during 30 days of shelf-life in mid-season cultivar 'Manpungbae' pear. Two pear cultivars did not show any considerable differences in quality indices such as soluble solids content, titratable acidity and skin color during the shelf-life regardless of 1-MCP treatment. The reduction of ethylene production level by 1-MCP treatment did not appeared in 'Hanareum' pear. Meanwhile, 1-MCP treated 'Hanareum' pears showed significantly low respiration rate during shelf-life. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of 1-MCP was not remarkable in mid-season 'Manpungbae' pears. 1-MCP treatment completely blocked the incidence of physiological disorders including core browning and mealiness symptom during shelf-life only in early-season 'Hanareum' pears, and reduced considerably the pithiness disorder regardless of 1-MCP concentration. Consequently, we concluded that the treatment efficacy of 1-MCP is largely cultivar-dependent and the use of $1{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ 1-MCP was recommended for the keeping quality and the prevention of physiological disorders only in early-season Asian pear 'Hanareum'.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2014

Pathogenicity of Steinernema carpocapsae GSN1 strain was evaluated against Morophagoides moriutii larvae. In Petridish tests, insect mortality by the nematode was dose dependent, which increased with dose from 5 to 160 infective juveniles(IJs)/larva. Pathogenicity against fourth-instar larvae was higher than the rate of corresponding second- and third-instar larvae, showing 100% insect mortality with the dose of 40 IJs/$4^{th}$ instar larva and 80 IJs/$2^{nd}$ or $3^{rd}$ instar larvae. Lethal concentration values at 50% ($LC_{50}$) of S. carpocapsae GSN1 strain were 4.2 IJs/$2^{nd}$ instar larva; 8.5 IJs/$3^{rd}$ instar larva; and 2.3 IJs/$4^{th}$ instar larva, respectively. The number of nematodes established in M. moriutii larvae after infection increased in the increment of dose and insect developmental stage. The highest number of nematodes was harvested from fourth instar larvae of M. moriutii at a dose of 160 IJs per larva, showing 22.5 nematodes per insect larva. Nematode reproductive capacity was related to insect developmental stage, showing 6,335 IJs/$2^{nd}$ instar larva, 21,660 IJs/$3^{rd}$ instar larvae, and 88,700 IJs/$4^{th}$ instar larvae.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2005

Purpose : To determine the histological findings and treatment outcome in cases of child hood nephrotic syndrome which required renal biopsy. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, laboratory, pathologic findings and therapeutic outcomes of 159 nephrotic children who received a renal biopsy at the Department of Pediatrics, Kyunghee Medical University Hospital, Seoul from 1984 to 2004 over a period of 21 years. The renal biopsy was performed in nephrotic children who showed atypical features at presentation, or needed cytotoxic therapy because of frequent-relapsing, steroid-dependent, or steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome(SRNS). Results : Minimal change disease(MCD) was found in 52.1$\%$ of the patients, followed by diffuse mesangial proliferation(33.1$\%$), focal segmental gomerulosclerosis(5.3$\%$), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(2.4$\%$), membranous nephropathy(2.4$\%$), and IgA nephropathy(1.8$\%$). In MCD children, 14.8$\%$ had hematuria, 22.7$\%$ had hypertension, 5.7$\%$ showed decreased renal function, and no patient was found to have an abnormal complement level. Among patients diagnosed with diseases other than MCD, 43.2$\%$ had hematuria, 21.0$\%$ was found to be hypertensive, 7.4$\%$ of children showed decreased renal function and only 3(3.7$\%$) had decreased complement level; the rates of hematuria and SRNS were found to be significantly higher than MCD patients. Among 37 SRNS patients, 30(81.0$\%$) showed a final remission state with long-term steroid therapy, including methylprednisolone pulse therapy, over 4 months, with or without cytotoxic therapy. Conclusion : Almost half of the cases of childhood nephrotic syndrome requiring renal biopsy were not diagnosed with MCD. Among atypical features, hematuria and steroid-resistance would be the most probable indicators for a diagnosis other than MCD. Even in patients with SRNS, long-term methylprednisolone pulse therapy may result in a good remission rate. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:149-158)

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.465-484
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• 2016

This study evaluated the antifungal activity of varying concentrations of water-soluble extracts from native plants (Vitex rotundifolia, Tetragonia tetragonoides, Artemisia capillaris, Hibiscus hamabo and Ficus carica) against Stemphylium vesicarium, Penicillium italicum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pythium ultimum, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Mycelium growth of pathogenic bacteria generally decreased in a concentration-dependent manner following treatment with the water extracts from donor plants. Closer analyses indicate varying inhibitory capacities depending on the type of donor plant and pathogenic bacteria. Specifically, mycelium growth of S. vesicarium varied depending on the concentration of the water extracts from T. tetragonoides (r = -0.857, p<0.01) and A. capillarys (r = -0.868, p<0.01). Also, P. italicum and V. rotundifolia (r = -0.833, p<0.01), S. sclerotiorum and V. rotundifolia (r = -0.862, p<0.01), A. capillaris (r = -0.902, p<0.01), B. cinerea and T. tetragonoides (r = -0.896, p<0.01) showed an inverse relationship. The rate of mycelial growth inhibition of pathogenic bacteria analysed are as follows: P. ultimum 94%, B. cinerea 50%, C. gloeosporioides 80% in 100% treatment of T. teragonoides. A. capillaris inhibited S. vesicarium by 43%, P. ultimum by 90%; H. hamabo inhibited P. italicum by 50%, S. sclerotiorum by 26%, and F. carica inhibited R. solani by 74%. Total phenol content with antifungal activities are as follows: A. capillaris 16.15 mg/g, F. carica 7.81 mg/g, V. rotundifolia 6.18 mg/g, H. hamabo 5.25 mg/g, T. tetragonoides 4.41 mg/g, and total flavonoid content is as follows: A. capillaris 27.57 mg/g, V. rotundifolia 12.49 mg/g, F. carica 11.45 mg/g, H. hamabo 5.77 mg/g, T. tetragonoides 5.08 mg/g.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.372-379
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• 2019

We evaluated the toxic effects of phenanthrene (PHE) and zinc undecylenate (ZU) on the population growth rate (r) of the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum. The r of S. costatum was determined after 96 hrs of exposure to PHE (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg L^-1) and ZU (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg L^-1). The results showed that r in the control (the absence of PHE and ZU) was greater than 0.04, while r in the treatment groups decreased with increasing PHE and ZU concentrations. PHE and ZU were shown to reduce r in a dose-dependent manner, with significant decreases occurring at concentrations above 50 and 10 mg L^-1, respectively. The EC₅₀ values of r in PHE and ZU exposure were 136.13 and 16.95 mg L^-1, respectively. The no observed effect concentrations (NOEC) were 25 and 5 mg L^-1, and the lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC) were 50 and 10 mg L^-1. These results indicated that concentrations of greater than 50 mg L^-1 of PHE and 10 mg L^-1 of ZU in marine ecosystems induced a toxic effect on the r of S. costatum. These results can serve as useful baseline data for the establishment of safety concentrations of PHE and ZU in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.568-576
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• 2017

As interest in functionality and environmentally friendly cosmetics is growing in recent years, materials that use safe and effective plant extracts have been developed. Therefore, this study also attempted to check the possibility of the graviola extract, which is known to have various efficacy mainly as a health functional material as a functional cosmetic material. In order to find out the antioxidant activity of graviola, we measured total polyphenol, total flavonoid content and DPPH radical scavenging activity and measured the ROS activity inhibition effect and cytoprotective effect on oxidative stress by treating HDF with hydrogen peroxide cells at an appropriate concentration after checking cytotoxicity in HDF cells. Based on the results of this experiment, the graviola extract was found to contain as high as 26.6 mg(CA)/100g, 14.3 mg(Q)/100g of total polyphenol and flavonoid, which are the antioxidant indexes and to have the high radical scavenging activity. The cell survival rate of the HDF cells was measured, and as a result, no significant cytotoxicity was observed at all concentrations and the experiment was carried out at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ afterwards. Inhibition of ROS activity in HDF cells induced by hydrogen peroxide was measured and the concentration-dependent inhibition of ROS activity was found and the cell protection effect of graviola was measured after hydrogen peroxide was treated for 4, 24 and 48 hours. As a result, the cell protection effect as high as 89.92% was confirmed at a $25{\mu}g/mL$ concentration up to 24 hours. As these results show that the graviola extract has excellent antioxidant activity, almost no toxicity to HDF cells, an effective activity inhibitory effect on active oxygen generated by hydrogen peroxide and excellent cytoprotective effect, the possibility as various functional materials with antioxidant and cytoprotective effects was confirmed.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1388-1393
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• 1968

Higher yield in rice paddies is greatly dependent on adequately balanced and timely supply of water. A majority of rice paddy in Korea is generally irrigated by rainfall, but in many cases it has to be supplemented by artificial irrigation for optimum rice culture. Although the water requirement of rice plant is far higher than that of other crops, submerged condition of rice paddy is not necessarily required. The moisture requirement of rice plant varies with its growing stages, and it is possible to increase the irrigation efficiency through reduction of water loss due to percolation in rice paddies. An experiment was conducted on the effectiveness of economical use of water by different irrigation period and different method of cultivation. The experimental plots were set up by means of randomized block design with three duplications; (a) Alltime submerged (b) Economically controlled, and (c) Extremely controlled. Three different irrigation periods were (a) Initial stage (b) Inter-stage, and (c) last stage. The topsoil of the three plots were excavated to the depth of 30cm and then compacted with clay of 6 cm thickness. Thereafter, they were piled up with the excavated top soils, leveled and cored with clay of 6cm thickeness arround footpath in order to prevent leakage. The results obtained frome the experiments are as follows; (1) There is no difference among the three experiment plots in terms of physical and chemical contditions, soil properties, and other characteristics. (2) Colulm length and ear length are not affected by different irrigation methdos. (3) There is no difference in the mature rate and grain weight of rice for the three plots. (4) The control plot which was irrigated every three days shows an increased yield over the all the time submerged plot by 17 persent. (5) The clay lined plot whose water holding capacity was held days long, needs only to be irrigated every 7 days. (6) The clay lined plot showes an increased yield over the untreated plot; over all the time submerged plot by 18 percent, extremely controlled plot by 18 percent, and economically controled plot by 33 percent.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial injury in children treated with adriamycin by echocardiography, which is non-invasive and safe measurement for children. Methods : Left ventricular dimensions, wall stress, and contractile function were determined by echocardiographic methods in 17 patient recepients with adriamycin chemotherapy at rest(group 1) and during stress(group 2). Twenty age-matched normal subjects were established as control group. Results : End-diastolic dimension was decreased in both groups(group 1; $92{\pm}7%$ of normal, group 2; $87{\pm}8%$ of normal, P<0.05). Left ventricular end diastolic volume and wall mass were also decreased in both groups(group 1; $96{\pm}12mL/m^2$ and $145{\pm}18g/m^2$, group 2; $87{\pm}8mL/m^2$ and $137{\pm}16g/m^2$, respectively, P<0.05 and P<0.05) and group 2 showed lower values than group 1. Meridional end systolic stress(ESSm) was increased in both groups but there was no significant difference between the two groups(group 1; $52.6{\pm}6.2g/cm^2$, group 2; $63.5{\pm}8.5g/cm^2$, P<0.05, normal value $45.7{\pm}3.5g/cm^2$). The load-independent relation of rate-corrected circumferential fiber shortening velocity(Vcfc) to ESSm has a significant abnormal change in 7 out of 17(41%) in group 1 and 12 out of 17(71%) in group 2. Conclusion : The load-dependent systolic index, such as fractional shortening, may fail to show abnormality because of the compensatory changes in preload and afterload which can mask the impaired contractility. Therefore, systolic performance also should be monitored by a load-indepedent contractility index such as slope value of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relation and the position of the left ventricular stress-fiber shortening velocity after exercise.