• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2010

Low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites from plants play an important role in reproductive processes and in the defense against environmental stresses or pathogens. In the present study, we isolated various volatiles and phenolic compounds from white Rosa rugosa flowers, and evaluated the pharmaceutical activities of these natural products in addition to their ability to increase survival in response to environmental stress and pathogen invasion. The DPPH and hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation assay revealed that the white rose flower extract (WRFE) strongly scavenged free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, WRFE inhibited the growth of E. coli and fatally attacked those cells at higher concentration (>0.5 mg/mL). FITC-conjugated Annexin V stain provided further evidence that WRFE had strong antimicrobial activity, which may have resulted from a cooperative synergism between volatiles (e.g. 1-butanol, dodecyl acrylate and cyclododecane) and phenolic compounds (e.g. gallic acid) retained in WRFE. In conclusion, secondary metabolites from white rose flower hold promise as a potential natural source for antimicrobial and non-chemical based antioxidant agents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.240-249
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• 2020

Despite the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in ischemic diseases, pathophysiological conditions, including hypoxia, limited nutrient availability, and oxidative stress restrict their potential. To address this issue, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the bioactivities of MSCs. Treatment of MSCs with melatonin increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). Melatonin treatment enhanced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in MSCs in a PGC-1α-dependent manner. Melatonin-mediated PGC-1α expression enhanced the proliferative potential of MSCs through regulation of cell cycle-associated protein activity. In addition, melatonin promoted the angiogenic ability of MSCs, including migration and invasion abilities and secretion of angiogenic cytokines by increasing PGC-1α expression. In a murine hindlimb ischemia model, the survival of transplanted melatonin-treated MSCs was significantly increased in the ischemic tissues, resulting in improvement of functional recovery, such as blood perfusion, limb salvage, neovascularization, and protection against necrosis and fibrosis. These findings indicate that the therapeutic effect of melatonin-treated MSCs in ischemic diseases is mediated via regulation of PGC-1α level. This study suggests that melatonin-induced PGC-1α might serve as a novel target for MSC-based therapy of ischemic diseases, and melatonin-treated MSCs could be used as an effective cell-based therapeutic option for patients with ischemic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.1178-1182
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• 2005

Survival of thermotolerant Lactobacillus reuteri KUB-AC5 in $20\%$ (w/v) skim milk was found to be $11.3\%$ after spray drying by using a pilot scale spray dryer with inlet temperature at $170^{\circ}C$ and outlet temperature at $85^{\circ}C$. The ability of dried cell to produce antimicrobial activity was not affected by the spray drying. The model system for predicting viability of spray-dried L. reuteri KUB-AC5 during long-term storage was established, based on the Arrhenius equation, and verified by experimental data, because the viability of cells during storage can be correlated with storage temperature. The viability during storage at $30^{\circ}C$ declined more rapidly than that storage at $4^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권12호
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• pp.1925-1930
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• 2019

Carotenoids are organic pigments with antioxidant properties and are widespread in nature. Here, we isolated five microbes, each forming yellow-colored colonies and harboring C₃₀ carotenoid biosynthetic genes (crtM and crtN). Thereafter, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum KCCP11226, which showed the highest carotenoid production, was finally selected and the produced pigment was identified as C₃₀ carotenoid 4,4'-diaponeurosporene. This strain exhibited the highest survival rate under oxidative stress and its carotenoid production was also enhanced after exposure to 7 mM H₂O₂. Moreover, it showed the highest ability to scavenge DPPH free radical. Our results suggested that L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCCP11226, which produces 4,4'-diaponeurosporene as a natural antioxidant, may be a functional probiotic.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.281-286
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• 2019

The study aims to analyze the adaptation strategies and resilience of tobacco farmers to face unfavorable trading system. The research method refers to a qualitative approach with phenomenological models and case studies. The findings revealed tobacco farmers in Jember developed various adaptation strategies and resilience through farmer group organizations, partnerships, self-capacity building and access to financial institutions based on economic, social, cultural, and experience values from various sources and interactions among fellow tobacco farmers. The tobacco trading system, which is left to the market mechanism, results in low bargaining power of farmers, this encourages tobacco farmers to develop various adaptation and survival strategies, namely through collective activities of farmer groups, partnerships and self-development and access to financial institutions. Dealing with the unfavorable tobacco trading system, tobacco farmers do not switch to other commodity farming but adapt and make Jember a center for tobacco production in East Java and Indonesia. From this findings, it suggests to the government as the regulator does not only provide subsidies for tobacco farmers, but also must provide various technical assistance to increase the ability of tobacco farmers. More importantly, regulations must be made benefit tobacco farmers other than corporations so that equality can be enjoyed by tobacco economy players.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2007

Background: Adenovirus (Ad) vectors have been widely used for many gene therapy applications because of their high transduction ability and broad tropism. However, their utility for cancer gene therapy is limited by their poor transduction into cancer cells lacking the primary receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). Methods: To achieve CAR-independent gene transfer via Ad, we pretreated Ad with 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) and analyzed their transduction efficiency into cancer cells in vitro and in vivo comparing with the virus alone. Results: Treatment of DOTAP significantly increased adenoviral gene transfer in tumor cells in vitro. Moreover, DOTAP at an optimum dose $(10{\mu}g/ml)$ enhanced IL-12 transgene expression by fivefold in tumor, and twofold in serum after intratumoral injection of adenovirus expressing IL-12N220L (Ad/IL-12N220L). In addition, cotreatment of DOTAP decreased tumor growth rate in the Ad/IL-12N220L-transduced tumor model, finally leading to enhanced survival rate. Conclusion: Our results strongly suggest that DOTAP could be of great utility for improving adenovirus-mediated cancer gene therapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.589-594
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• 2016

Insulin is a peptide hormone of the endocrine pancreas and exerts a wide variety of physiological actions in insulin sensitive tissues, such as regulation of glucose homeostasis, cell growth, differentiation, learning and memory. However, the role of insulin in osteoblast cells remains to be fully characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that the insulin (100 nM) has the ability to stimulate the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the levels of inhibin-${\beta}E$ in the osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. This insulin-stimulated activities were abolished by the PI3K and MEK1 inhibitors LY294002 and PD98059, respectively. This is the first report proving that insulin is a potential candidate that enables the actions of inhibin-${\beta}E$ subunit of the TGF-${\beta}$ family. The current investigation provides a foundation for the realization of insulin as a potential stimulator in survival signaling pathways in osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.53-63
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• 2002

FDG PET is a functional imaging modality whose ability to detect lesions is directly based on a change of the glycolytic metabolism of targeted tissues, may be advantageous over other techniques. Combined with excellent image qualify, high spatial resolution, and whole body imaging capability, it has become popular as a new approach in the evaluation of patients with various malignancies. Initial staging of nodal and extranodal lymphoma using FDG PET has been proven to be at least equal or superior to conventional imaging modalities. For the assessment of treatment responsiveness, FDG PET has a major impact on the management of patients in differentiating residual lymphoma from treatment related benign changes. Residual FDG uptake after the completion of chemotherapy is a good predictor of early relapse. However, it seems that the absence of FDG uptake in tumor mass may not exclude minimal residual disease causing later relapse. In the early evaluation of treatment response only after a few cycles of chemotherapy, FDG PET may have a promising role in identifying non-responders who could benefit from a different treatment strategy. At present, FDG PET appears to be the cost-effective, diagnostic modality of choice in the management of lymphoma patients. The role of FDG PET based-systems in terms of affecting long-term prognosis and survival benefit should be further elucidated in future prospective studios.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.392-401
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• 2017

Variations in physical toughness between muscles and animals are a function of growth rate and extend of collagen type I and III. The current study was designed to investigate the ability of growth rate, collagen concentration, collagen synthesizing and degrading genes on two different fibroblast cells derived from Hanwoo m. longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Fibroblast cell survival time was determined for understanding about the characteristics of proliferation rate between the two fibroblasts. We examined the collagen concentration and protein expression of collagen type I and III between the two fibroblasts. The mRNA expression of collagen synthesis and collagen degrading genes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms on toughness and tenderness through collagen production between the two fibroblast cells. From our results the growth rate, collagen content and protein expression of collagen type I and III were significantly higher in SM than LD muscle fibroblast. The mRNA expressions of collagen synthesized genes were increased whereas the collagen degrading genes were decreased in SM than LD muscle. Results from confocal microscopical investigation showed increased fluorescence of collagen type I and III appearing stronger in SM than LD muscle fibroblast. These results implied that the locomotion muscle had higher fibroblast growth rate, leads to produce more collagen, and cause tougher than positional muscle. This in vitro study mirrored that background toughness of various muscles in live animal is likely associated with fibroblast growth pattern, collagen synthesis and its gene expression.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.55-73
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• 2013

Since the 1990s, the Japanese government has made considerable attempts at stimulating innovation with an aim to pull the country out of a possibly permanent economic decline. Several laws and policy initiatives were introduced to encourage better interaction between universities (and research institutions) and industry. The results of these efforts have been mixed. While the number of university-industry joint and commissioned research has increased, revenues from the licensing of university-owned patents have fluctuated year by year. Although the number of startups and spin-offs from universities rose, their long-term survival and contribution to the economy remain uncertain. The Japanese experience features both strengths and weaknesses. Strengths include the long-term commitment of policy makers, the ability to set specific targets, and the active engagement of several key economic ministries. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these policy initiatives was hampered by limitations within the policies concerning the roles of universities and their mode of interaction with industry based on intellectual property rights, the inadequacy of demand-side innovation policies, the fragmentation of bureaucracy, and a lack of a credible evaluation system.