• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1289-1294
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• 2009

Inflammation is a pivotal component of a variety of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and tumour progression. Various naturally occurring phytochemicals exhibit antiinflammatory activity and are considered to be potential drug candidates against inflammation-related pathological processes. Red pepper is the most consumed species in Korea. However, the antiinflammatory effects of red pepper have not been characterized. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the aqueous extract from red pepper (RPAE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages. RPAE demonstrated strong antiinflammatory activity through its ability to reduce nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ production in the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell, RAW264.7. It also inhibited the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further study indicated that LPS-stimulated induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly inhibited by RPAE exposure (1,000 mg/mL) in RAW264.7 cells. Collectively, these data suggest that the use of RPAE may be a useful therapeutic approach to various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2016

Sasa species leaves have been used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a small bamboo grass that grows only on Mt. Halla on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. This small bamboo grass has recently been the focus of much attention due to its potential biomass as well as its beneficial health effects. In this study, to promote the efficient utilization of the S. quelpaertensis leaf, we established a simple preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) by comparing phytochemical contents and biological activities according to extraction methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the contents of two major phytochemicals such as, tricin (5.35 mg/g) and p-coumaric acid (44.10 mg/g) contained in PRE were higher than those in fresh hot water extract (SQH, p-coumaric 23.39 mg/g, tricin 0.18 mg/g) and ethanol extract (SQE, p-coumaric 10.8 mg/g, tricin 0.38 mg/g). The antioxidant activities [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity] of PRE were higher than those of SQH and SQE. PRE effectively inhibited NO production in LSP- stimulation RAW 264.7 cells, and the growth of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. These results suggest that PRE has a potential as a promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.738-744
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• 2018

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a native Korean plant that grows only on Mt. Halla of Jeju Island. Its leaf is used for a popular bamboo tea due to its various health-promoting properties, and it has been increasingly used as food and cosmetic ingredients. To utilize the S. quelpaertensis leaf efficiently, the preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf's residue was previously reported, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of PRE and its solvent fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction of PRE (EPRE) showed higher DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radical scavenging activities, and it effectively inhibited intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. EPRE also induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by increasing the level of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in a nuclear fraction. The inhibiting effect of EPRE on LPS-induced NO production was partially reversed by the HO-1 inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin, ZPP), suggesting that HO-1 is involved in suppressing NO production. Taken together, the results suggest that EPRE has potential as a promising anti- oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.640-646
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• 2009

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are typical probiotic microbes that are used in various industries including fermented foods, feed additives, and pharmaceuticals. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of isoflavone biotransformation and antioxidative activity of 17 LAB. Six strains including the Lactobacillus species exhibited a 100% hydrolysis rate for daidzein during fermentation. The content of total genistein in soymilk fermented with these strains was $872-943\;{\mu}g/g$. The DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging ability of the LAB was widely variable and ranged from 23-78%. A selected strain was isolated from kimchi and the strain was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum ssp. through the API carbohydrate fermentation pattern and 16S rDNA profile. The strain exhibited excellent acid tolerance in an artificial gastric solution. L. plantarum YS712 showed high $\beta$-glucosidase activity in fermentation. The concentration of genistein and daidzein in soymilk fermented with L. plantarum YS712 increased from 3.64 to $917.3\;{\mu}g/g$ and from 58.18 to $1062.17\;{\mu}g/g$, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of L. plantarum YS712 as a probiotic culture that can be utilized in the manufacturing of fermentation foods and dietary supplements.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.306-315
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• 2019

The estuary of the Han River constantly suffers from pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms which could cause serious damage to aquatic organisms living there. Despite of this potential risk, it is hard to find any reliable scientific reports on the status of reportable disease infection to the organisms living in this area. In this study, cyprinid fish and crustaceans in Jeonryu-ri, a region of the Han River estuary, were investigated for the infection by representative reportable communicable diseases(SVC, spring viraemia of carp; KHVD, koi herpesvirus disease; EUS, epizootic ulcerative syndrome; WSD, white spot disease) and parasites. Peripheral fish and primary freshwater fish were observed in Jeonryu-ri with cyprinid caught most frequently. Crustaceans were mostly marine species. No positive bands to any of the reportable diseases were produced in any of the fish and crustacean examined in this study by PCR. No trace of Clonorchis sinensis, a liver fluke potential threat to human health, was detected in any of fish samples. However, many fish were infected by metacecaria of other flukes, and other various parasites such as nematode, cestode, copepod, monosite and acanthocephalan. These results suggest that important aquatic organisms in the Han River estuary is not seriously polluted yet. However, it is important to keep monitoring the diseases since the water quality in this region is constantly changing, and devastating influence of infectious diseases is unpredictable. Further, it is required to expand monitoring area toward upstream and increase the number of fish for examination.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop rapid methods for distinguishing between Heterodera schachtii and H. glycines detected from chinese cabbage fields of highland in Gangwon, Korea. To do this, we performed PCR-RFLP and PCR with the primers set developed in this study for GC147, GC408 and PM001 population, H. schachtii, and YS224, DA142 and BC115 population, H. glycines. Eight restriction enzymes generated RFLP profiles of mtDNA COI region for populations of H. schachtii and H. glycines, repectively. As a result, treatment of two restriction enzymes, RsaI and HinfI, were allowed to distinguish H. schachtii from H. glycines based on the differences of DNA band patterns. The primer set, #JBS1, #JBG1 and #JB3R, amplified specific fragments with 277 and 339 bp of H. schachtii, 339 bp of H. glycines, respectively, while it did not amplify fragments from three root-knot nematodes and two root-lesion nematodes. Thus, the primer set developed in this study could be a good method, which is used to distinguish between H. schachtii and H. glycines.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.549-554
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• 2011

FK506 is a widespread immunosuppressive drug after liver transplantion in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Dexamethasone is frequently used as co-treatment in cytotoxic cancer therapy, e.g. to prevent nausea, to protect normal tissue or for other reasons. Our aim was to investigate antitumor effects of FK506 in Hep3B cells, one of differentiated human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and inhibitory effects of dexamethsone on FK506- induced antitumor effects. Cell injury was evaluated by biochemical assays as cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Hep3B cells. Intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) and the level of activation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the Bax protein in cultured Hep3B cells was measured. Exposure of 0.1 ${\mu}M$ FK506 to Hep3B cells led to cell death accompanied by a decrease in cell viability and an increase in LDH, ROS and [$Ca^{2+}$]i. FK506 induced an increase in activity of Bax and JNK protein but inhibited the activity of Bcl-2 protein. Treatment of dexamethsone, per se, had no effects on cell viability, LDH and ROS. However, co-treatment of FK506 and dexamethasone diminished the FK506-induced LDH release, ROS generation and JNK activation. These results demonstrate that FK506 has antitumor effect in Hep3B cells but the combination of FK506 and dexamethasone antagonizes the FK506-induced antitumor effects.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2008

CDH-13(T-cadherin), which is one of a kind among the 20 cadherins, can be found mainly in wall of aorta, neuron, spleen, blood vessel etc. It is also called H-cadherin. This structural difference can explain that CDH-13 is thought to play a key role in maintaining mutual relation between extra and intra-cellular environment rather than in cell adhesion. The main function of CDH-13 is to participate in blood vessel function. Additionally, it is known to regulate cell growth and cell contact inhibition. When cells are proliferating, cell surface perceives other cells so that substance such as CDH-13 can inhibit their growth or proliferation resulting in homeostasis without endless proliferation or invasion of connective tissue boundaries. However, tumor cell itself appears to be different from normal cells' growth, invasion or transmission. Therefore, it can be diagnosed that these characteristics are closely related to expression of CDH-13 in tumor cells. This study is to investigate expression of CDH-13 in SCC and its correlation with promoter methylation. 20 of tissue species for the study are excised and gathered from 20 patients who are diagnosed as SCC in department of OMS, dental hospital, dankook university. To find development of CDH-13 in each tissue samples, immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR gene analysis and methylation specific PCR are processed. The results are as follows. 1.Immunohistochemical staining: In normal oral squamous epithelial tissue, strong expression of CDH-13 was found in cell plasma membrane of basal cell layer. On the other hand, in case of low-differentiated oral SCC, development of CDH-13 was hardly seen. 2.The development of CDH-13 gene: In 9 of samples, expression of CDH-13 gene could be seen and 2 of them showed low expression compared to the others. And rest of the 11 samples showed no expression of CDH-13 gene. 3.Methylation of CDH-13 gene: Among 9 samples which expressed CDH-13 gene, 7 of them showed unmethylation. In addition, among 11 samples without CDH-13 gene expression, 10 showed methylation. According to the results stated above, promoter methylation were found in 13 samples(65%) among 20 of oral SCC samples. In low-differentiated SCC, suppression of gene expression could be seen accompanying promoter methylation. These phenomenon of gene expression was proved by immunohistochemical investigation. Finally, for development of oral SCC, conclusions can be made that suppression of CDH-13 played a main role and suppression of gene expression was originated from promoter methylation. Considering this, it is expected that suppression of CDH-13 from promoter methylation to be utilized as a good diagnostic marker of oral SCC.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1447-1453
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• 2014

The differentiation of sex is important for species preservation. However, Fairy Pitta is sexually monomorphic and sex of an individual is indistinguishable with its external characteristics. We determined the sex of Fairy Pitta through DNA analysis and investigated the causes and time of injury and mortality and the size based on sex. We collected 21 samples at Jeju Island, Korean Peninsula from 2004 to 2013 and extracted DNA from them and amplified chromo helicase DNA-binding gene from Z and W chromosomes through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We confirmed their sex with the banding pattern through Agarose gel electrophoresis, i.e. male (ZZ): one banded and female (ZW) two banded. We distinguished the sex of 17 of 21 samples resulting in 9 males and 8 females. Most casualties were recorded in adult of both sexes. Causes of injury and mortality proved that female casualties occurred from window strikes, dehydration, car accident, predation by natural enemies, and male occurred from window strikes, car accident and dehydration. The time of injury and mortality in adults differ by sex. There was no difference between sexes in any of the six size parameters. As the time of injury and mortality differ by sex, the survey on the role and ecological nature by sex in breeding season must be carried out in the future. External measurements may not be reliable for sexing of Fairy Pitta and other traits such as vocal or characteristics are required to identify the sex of individuals in the field.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze the recognition of the validity of the design changes that classified the type of design changes that occurred in the Apartment Complex Landscaping Planting Construction that have been ordered in 'A' work. This research was also carried out for the purpose of presentation of the basic data in order to effectively manage the change order of landscape-planting construction's future work. The following conclusions were derived. First, the 7 types of change orders in planting design were delineated as 'design changes for image improvement', 'design changes due to the mismatch of design statement', 'design changes due to lack of field study', 'design changes for consideration of the user', 'design changes due to consideration of the workability', 'the design changes for ease of maintenance', and the 'design changes due to the relationship with the Engineering species of other.' Second, it is possible to produce a negative impact of all construction costs have increased due to design changes of landscaping planting construction is grasped. Third, There were the most frequent change order in planting design for the 'image improving', 'due to the mismatch of planting design to the site situation.' Fourth, the results of confirmatory targeting professional landscaping areas, was found that the statistics of the type of change landscaping planting construction design seven derived in this study is valid.