• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 1989

Natural killer (NK) cells are a heteroguneous subpopulation of lymphocytes that spontaneously exhibit cytotoxic activity against various virus-Infected and neoplastic target cells without prior exposure to a specific antigen. It was thought that NK calls play an important role in immunosurvrillanre against viral agents and tumors, and in prevention of metastasis. Recently, several reports have indicated evidence that ginseng extracts show a significant stimulatory effect on the humoral and cellular immune responses. This evidence gives support to the suggestion that the anticarcinogenic effect of ginseng may be due to the effect of ginseng on the immunological system. Treatment with total, diol, and triol saponin resulted in an increase in NK cytotoxic activity, but no enhancement of the lytic activity due to the natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Therefore, these results suggest that the augmentation of NK activity by ginseng saponin fractions may not be due to the activation of NKCF lytic activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulate the extracellular microenvironment. Despite the significant role that MMP activity plays in cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions, migration, and differentiation, analyses of MMPs in vitro and in vivo have relied upon their abundance using conventional immunoassays, rather than their enzymatic activities. To resolve this issue, diverse nanoprobes have emerged and proven useful as effective activity-based detection tools. Here, we review the recent advances in luminescent nanoprobes and their applications in in vitro diagnosis and in vivo imaging of MMP activity. Nanoprobes with the purpose of sensing MMP activity consist of recognition and detection units, which include MMP-specific substrates and luminescent (fluorescent or bioluminescent) nanoparticles, respectively. With further research into improvement of the optical performance, it is anticipated that luminescent nanoprobes will have great potential for the study of the functional roles of proteases in cancer biology and nanomedicine. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 313-318]

• Mycobiology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2004

An alkaline protease produced by Aspergillus niger C-15 was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified 19.41-fold with a specific activity of 74150 U/mg and a recovery of 34.4% by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 34 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the protease activity were pH 8.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity inhibited by EDTA suggests that the preparation contains a metalloprotease. The enzyme activity of the metalloprotease was completely inhibited by 5 mM $HgCl_2$ and $FeCl_3$, while partially inhibited by $CuSO_4$, and $MnCl_2$. When polyols such as glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol, were added to the reaction medium, most polyols tested enhanced protease activity. Especially, glycerol showed the highest effect. The alkaline metalloprotease was stable at high temperature and retained more than 90% of the initial activity at $60^{\circ}C$ and 86.4% under addition of glycerol.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.511-517
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• 2014

MicroRNAs are non-coding short (~23 nucleotides) RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional regulation through sequence-specific gene silencing. The role of miRNAs in neuronal development, synapse formation and synaptic plasticity has been highlighted. However, the role of neuronal activity on miRNA regulation has been less focused. Neuronal activity-dependent regulation of miRNA may finetune gene expression in response to synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Here, we provide an overview of miRNA regulation by neuronal activity including high-throughput screening studies. We also discuss the possible molecular mechanisms of activity-dependent induction and turnover of miRNAs.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2010

The basic idea of cooperative learning focuses on team reward, equal opportunities for success, cooperation within team and competition among teams, and emphasizes share of sense of achievement through joint efforts so as to realize specific learning objectives. The main strategies of engineering mathematics teaching based on cooperative learning are to establish favorable team and design reasonable team activity plan. During the period of team establishment, attention shall be given to team structure including such elements as team status, role, norm and authority. Team activity plan includes team activity series and team activity task. Team activity task shall be designed to be a chain of questions following a certain principle.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.234-239
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• 1975

Protocollagen proline hydroxylase (PPH) activity in the course of rebound of rat carrageenin granuloma was assyed to investigate its relationship with collagen blosynthesis. The specific activity of PPH which was inhibited significantly by treatments with hydrocortisone acetate 93mg/kg/day, 3days) was recovered near to the normal level by 48hr after the cessation of the corticoid treatments. The total enzyme activity of the granuloma of treated group was not yet recovered even on the 3rd day, still showing a significant difference from control. PPH activity expressed in terms of granuloma cells between control and the drug treated group, however, was changed showing no apparent difference throughout the experimental period. These results suggested that the synthesis of protocollagen(collagen precursor) rather than PPH activity was directly affected by administration and withdrawal of corticoid.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.448-451
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• 2018

Fungal perylenequinones have photodynamic activity and are promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, we investigated the bactericidal and antitumor activities of phleichrome from the fungal perylenequinone family in vitro. Photodynamic bactericidal activity of phleichrome was analyzed by agar-well diffusion method under dark and illuminated conditions. The photodynamic antitumor activity of phleichrome was analyzed in MCF-7, HeLa, SW480, and HepG2 human cancer cell lines using in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Photodynamic bactericidal activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were species-specific. Antitumor activity against all tumor cell lines increased under the illuminated condition. Depending on the results of the analyses, Phleichrome has potential for further drug development related to its antibacterial and antitumor activities.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2014

The present study investigated the effects of dietary Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) specific bacteriophage (phage) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) mixture on innate immune responses and antibacterial activity of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. In a dietary experiment, tilapia were fed the control diet (C), a phage-only supplemented diet (P), a B. subtilis only supplemented diet (B), or a B. subtilis and phage mixed diet (B+P). A respiratory burst and significant increase in lysozyme activity (P<0.05) were noted in the B+P group, as compared to other groups after 4 days of feeding. The B group showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in respiratory burst and lysozyme activity versus the C and P groups, whereas no significant increases (P<0.05) were observed in the P and C groups. $ACH_{50}$ was significantly up-regulated in the B+P group versus other groups after 8 days of feeding (P<0.05). In vivo antibacterial activity was significantly enhanced in the B+P fed group, as compared to other groups (P<0.05) after 7 days of E. tarda challenge. A significant (P<0.05) increase in antibacterial activity was seen in the B group, as compared to C or P groups after 14 days of feeding. These results suggest that a B. subtilis and phage mixture could be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in the control of fish diseases caused by E. tarda.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1996

To examine the effectiveness of $\beta$-glucan in non-specific defence mecanisms of Korean catfish(Silurus asotus), the activities of peripheral neutrophils and serum lysozyme were evaluated after once or twice $\beta$-glucan injections. The number of peripheral neutrophils increased after the injection. The increased number in neutrophils in twice $\beta$-glucan injections maintained longer than in single glucan injecton. But the neutrophils did not showed any remarkable changes in PAS-positive reaction. Peripheral neutrophils from fish injected glucan had enhanced phagocytic activities but there was no significant difference in phagocytic index for the glucan and control groups. An elevation of lysozome activity was also observed in the fish received twice glucan but neither single glucan or physiological saline injection could not evoked an increase of lysozyme activity. These results suggest that $\beta$-glucan can enhance the resistance of Korean catfish against to bacteria infection through the activation of peripheral neutrophils and lysozyme.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.23-34
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of task oriented activity and modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIMT) on Quality of Life (QOL) for patients with stroke. Methods : Thirty stroke patients were participated voluntarily and were assigned randomly into task oriented activity and mCIMT groups. The QOL of both groups were assessed using Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL). Results : The QOL showed a statistically meaningful difference for both groups (p<.05), but after the intervention, the both groups showed no statistically meaningful difference in terms of the QOL (p>.05). Conclusion : We found that task oriented activity and mCIMT improve the QOL of patients with stroke through increasing their affected upper extremity function and movement. It is expected that task oriented activity and mCIMT will have a positive effect on the QOL of stroke patients by applying them to clinic with occupational therapy.