• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.19-25
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• 2002

Researches on manipulation pluripotent stem cells derived from blastocysts or promordial germ cells (PGCs) have a great advantages for developing innovative technologies in various fields of life science including medicine, pharmaceutics, and biotechnology. Since the first isolation in the mouse embryos, stem cells or stem cell-like colonies have been continuously established in the mouse of different strains, cattle, pig, rabbit, and human. In the animal species, stem cell biology is important for developing transgenic technology including disease model animal and bioreactor production. ES cell can be isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts by either mechanical operation or immunosurgery. So, mass production of blastocyst is a prerequisite factor for successful undertaking ES cell manipulation. In the case of animal ES cell research, various protocol of gamete biotechnology can be applied for improving the efficiency of stem cell research. Somatic cell nuclear transfer technique can be applied to researches on animal ES cells, since it is powerful tool for producing clone embryos containing genes of interest. In this presentation, a brief review was made for explaining how somatic cell nuclear transfer technology could contribute to improving stem cell manipulation technology.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the uncertainty analysis of the stem density and biomass expansion factor for Pinus rigida in Korea. A total of 57 representative sample trees were harvested. The age class in Pinus rigida forests was divided into two, which were stands with less than 20 years and more than 21 years. The influence of stand ages on biomass expansion factor showed that it was statistically significant (p=0.0001), but it was not significant on stem density (p=0.8070). The results of this study based on the uncertainty evaluation method which were suggested by IPCC guide line indicated that stem density of the stand with less than 20 years were 30.92%, while were 25.12% the stands with more than 21years. The uncertainty in biomass expansion factor of less than 20 years and more than 21 years were 60.32% and 22.42%, respectively. The uncertainty of less than 20 years was higher compared to those stands with more than 21 years. In the case of old stand, it showed the lowest uncertainty results but younger stands showed the highest uncertainty results. This study could be applied to our country's emission factor by using stem density and biomass expansion factors which were less than 20 years and more than 21 years for Pinus rigida in Korea.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.58-59
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• 2017

The beneficial paracrine roles of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in tissue repair have potential in therapeutic strategies against various diseases. However, the key therapeutic factors secreted from MSCs and their exact molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this study, the cell-free secretome of umbilical cord-derived MSCs showed significant anti-fibrotic activity in the mouse models of liver fibrosis. The involved action mechanism was the regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation by direct inhibition of the $TGF{\beta}$/Smad-signaling. Antagonizing the milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFGE8) activity blocked the anti-fibrotic effects of the MSC secretome in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MFGE8 was secreted by MSCs from the umbilical cord as well as other tissues, including teeth and bone marrow. Administration of recombinant MFGE8 protein alone had a significant anti-fibrotic effect in two different models of liver fibrosis. Additionally, MFGE8 downregulated $TGF{\beta}$ type I receptor expression by binding to ${\alpha}v{\beta}3$ integrin on HSCs. These findings revealed the potential role of MFGE8 in modulating $TGF{\beta}$-signaling. Thus, MFGE8 could serve as a novel therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.294-305
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• 2002

This study was performed to evaluate regenerative effects of intrasplenic stem cell transplantation after partial hepatectomy. To evaluate the regenerative effects, Sprague Dawley rats were used. In vivo the embryonic stem cells of blastocysts were collected from superovulated rats on day 3.5 after the vaginal plug checked. The embryonic stem cells were cocultured with hepatocytes for 8 days, they were transplanted into the spleen. After the intrasplenic transplantation of cultured stem cells, they were initially distributed near the periarterial lymphatic sheath after transplantation in the hematoxylin-eosin staining. Their number were formely increased and their size enlarged at forming small lobules. The embryonic stem cells in the culture proliferated and initially proliferated around the periarterial lymphatic sheath and later they around the trabecula with blood vessels. After the transplantation of stem cells, their cell organelles were well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum at the 20th with prominent epidermal growth factor reaction, developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum at the 30th day, well differentiated bile canaliculi with increased transforming growth factor-$\beta$ and apoptosis reactions.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1999

In this research we proceeded experiments to find the basis which make it possible to explain the physical and pathological process of Sasang constitutional medicine, in the way substituting hematopoietic-immune system(essence of life, blood, Ki and mental faculties : 精血氣神) Under these suppositions, the essence of life(精) is the multipotent stem cell which has the possibility to be specialized to any cell, the Ki(氣), blood(血) and mental faculties(神) are inferred that they are formed from specialized the essence of life(精), the blood(血) is the red blood cells and etc. that appears as the result of the genesis of circulation system. The Ki(氣) is from specialized basic immunity, the mental faculties(神) means long-term memories or combined immunity. Cytokines can act as specilaizing, growing factors and particiate in extremly combined procedure being controlled by both positive and negative specializing signals. Blood gathering was carried out in the morning and on empty stomach. The plasma was seperated and Erythropoietin, Stem cell factor, Granulocyte-colony stimulaing factor, Tumor necrosis factor, interlukin-3, Interleukin-6 were measured with ELISA kit. According to the result of post analysis by Duncan, each constitution is different in SCF(stem cell factor), IL-6(interleukin-6), EPO(erythropoietin). The value of Stem cell factor is high in order of Soumin(少陰人), Soyangin(少陽人), and Taeumin(太陰人), The value of interleukin-6 is high in Taeumin, Soumin, and Soyangin. Erythropoietin is high in order of Soumin, Soyangin, and Taeumin.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.377-392
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• 2023

The purpose of this research was to investigate mathematics teachers' beliefs regarding the implementation of STEM approaches in secondary school mathematics classes and to identify the factors influencing their beliefs. A survey on teachers' beliefs about applying STEM in mathematics classes was developed and distributed online to mathematics teachers from middle and high schools in two metropolitan areas. Eighty-two surveys were returned from the teachers. Factor analysis revealed that the items were distributed among five main aspects. The findings indicated that most teachers believed in the necessity of implementing STEM education. However, some teachers expressed concerns about the effectiveness of implementation due to the lack of materials, resources, and equipment needed for STEM implementation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.437-442
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• 2015

Aim: To establish a pancreatic cancer stem cell model using human pancreatic cancer cells in nude mice to provide a platform for pancreatic cancer stem cell research. Materials and Methods: To establish pancreatic cancer xenografts using human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, nude mice were randomly divided into control and gemcitabine groups. When the tumor grew to a volume of $125mm^3$, they treated with gemcitabine at a dose of 50mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2ml in the gemcitabine group, while the mice in control group were treated with the same volume of normal saline. Gemcitabine was given 2 times a week for 3 times. When the model was established, the proliferation of pancreatic cancer stem cells was observed by clone formation assay, and the protein and/or mRNA expression of pancreatic stem cell surface markers including CD24, CD44, CD133, ALDH, transcription factors containing Oct-4, Sox-2, Nanog and Gli, the key nuclear transcription factor in Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway was detected by Western blot and/or RT-PCR to verify the reliability of this model. Results: This model is feasible and safe. During the establishment, no mice died and the weight of nude mice maintained above 16.5g. The clone forming ability in gemcitabine group was stronger than that of the control group (p<0.01). In gemcitabine group, the protein expression of pancreatic cancer stem cell surface markers including CD44, and ALDH was up-regulated, the protein and mRNA expression of nuclear transcription factor including Oct-4, Sox-2 and Nanog was also significantly increased (P<0.01). In addition, the protein expression of key nuclear transcription factor in Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway, Gli-1, was significantly enhanced (p<0.01). Conclusions: The pancreatic cancer stem cell model was successfully established using human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 in nude mice. Gemcitabine could enrich pancreatic cancer stem cells, simultaneously accompanied by the activation of Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.710-719
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• 2023

Objective: The present study investigated whether protodioscin (PD), a steroidal saponin mainly found in rhizome of Dioscorea species, alleviates oxidative stress-induced damage of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation. Methods: Oocytes were treated with different concentrations of PD (0, 1, 10, 100, and 200 µM) in the presence of 200 µM H₂O₂ during in vitro maturation. Following maturation, spindle morphology and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was assessed along with reactive oxygen species level, GSH activity, and mRNA expression of endogenous antioxidant genes at the MII stage. On the day 7 after parthenogenetic activation, blastocyst formation rate was calculated and the quality of embryo and mRNA expression of development-related genes was evaluated. Results: Developmental competence was significantly poorer in the 0 µM PD-treated (control) group than in the non-treated (normal) and 10 µM PD-treated (10PD) groups. Although the reactive oxygen species level did not significantly differ between these three groups, the glutathione level and mRNA expression of antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], SOD2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2], and hemo oxygenase-1 [HO-1]) were significantly higher in the normal and 10PD groups than in the control group. In addition, the percentage of oocytes with defective spindle and abnormal chromosomal alignment was significantly lower and the ratio of phosphorylated p44/42 to total p44/42 was significantly higher in the normal and 10PD groups than in the control group. The total cell number per blastocyst was significantly higher in the 10PD group than in the control group. The percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts was highest in the control group; however, the difference was not significant. mRNA expression of development-related genes (POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1 [POU5F1], caudal type homeobox 2 [CDX2], Nanog homeobox [NANOG]) was consistently increased by addition of PD. Conclusion: The PD effectively improves the developmental competence and quality of blastocysts by protecting porcine oocytes against oxidative stress.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.848-855
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• 2020

Cells assemble stress granules (SGs) to protect their RNAs from exposure to harmful chemical reactions induced by environmental stress. These SGs release RNAs, which resume translation once the stress is relieved. During stem cell differentiation, gene expression is altered to allow cells to adopt various functional and morphological features necessary to differentiate. This process induces stress within a cell, and cells that cannot overcome this stress die. Here, we investigated the role of SGs in the progression of stem cell differentiation. SGs aggregated during the neuronal differentiation of human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells, and not in cell lines that could not undergo differentiation. SGs were observed between one and three hours post-induction; RNA translation was restrained at the same time. Immediately after disassembly of SGs, the expression of the neuronal marker neurofilament-M (NF-M) gradually increased. Assembled SGs that persisted in cells were exposed to salubrinal, which inhibited the dephosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 1 (eIF2α), and in eIF2α/S51D mutant cells. When eIF2α/S51A mutant cells differentiated, SGs were not assembled. In all experiments, the disruption of SGs was accompanied by delayed NF-M expression and the number of neuronally differentiated cells was decreased. Decreased differentiation was accompanied by decreased cell viability, indicating the necessity of SGs for preventing cell death during neuronal differentiation. Collectively, these results demonstrate the essential role of SGs during the neuronal differentiation of stem cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.322-336
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• 2021

Objective: Endometriosis is a chronic debilitating inflammatory condition characterized by the presence of endometrial tissues outside the uterine cavity. Pelvic soreness and infertility are the usual association. Due to the poor effectiveness of the hormone therapy and the high incidence of recurrence following surgical excision, there is no single effective option for management of endometriosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells studied for their broad immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, their efficiency in endometriosis cases is still a controversial issue. Our study aim was to evaluate whether adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) could help with endometriosis through their studied anti-inflammatory role. Methods: Female Wistar rats weighting 180 to 250 g were randomly divided into two groups: group 1, endometriosis group; established by transplanting autologous uterine tissue into rats' peritoneal cavities and group 2, stem cell treated group; treated with AD-MSCs on the 5th day after induction of endometriosis. The proliferative activity of the endometriosis lesions was evaluated through Ki67 staining. Quantitative estimation of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and transforming growth factor β expression, as well as immunohistochemical detection of CD68 positive macrophages, were used to assess the inflammatory status. Results: The size and proliferative activity of endometriosis lesions were significantly reduced in the stem cell treated group. Stem cells efficiently mitigated endometriosis associated chronic inflammatory reactions estimated through reduction of CD68 positive macrophages and the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Stem cell therapy can be considered a novel remedy in endometriosis possibly through its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties.