• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.463-472
• /
• 2015

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide expressed in all body tissues, and its related receptors are increased in liver fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AM deficiency on liver fibrogenesis induced by $CCl_4$ using AM heterozygous (HT) mice. The animals received a single injection of $CCl_4$ or olive oil for the acute experiment, and received $CCl_4$ or olive oil three times a week for 6 weeks for the chronic experiment. Fibrosis was accessed using histopathological analysis and the western blot. The AM HT mice showed mild pericentrilobular degeneration when compared to the AM wild type (WT) mice. In the acute experiment, there was no significant difference between the AM WT and AM HT mice. However, in the chronic experiment, the $CCl_4$-treated AM HT mice showed more severe liver fibrosis than that of the CCl₄-treated AM WT mice. The AST and ALT levels of the AM HT $CCl_4$ group were higher than those of the AM WT CCl₄ group. Additionally, the collagen deposition, $\alpha$- SMA protein and TGF-$\beta$ protein were increased in the AM HT $CCl_4$ group when compared to the AM WT $CCl_4$ group. The AM HT mice also exhibited severe lipid peroxidation through the GSH decrement. Taken together, our data suggest that AM deficiency increases the susceptibility to liver fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$, indicating a novel therapeutic target for patients with liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.663-672
• /
• 2016

The Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is an annual plant distributed in China and Korea. The fruit of C. monnieri is used as a medicinal herb that is effective for the treatment of carbuncle and pain in female genitalia. However, the anti-cancer effects of CME have not yet been reported. In this study, we assessed the apoptotic effects and cell cycle arrest effects of ethanol extracts from C. monnieri on HCT116 colon cancer cells. The results of an MTT assay and LDH assay demonstrated a decrease in cell viability and the cytotoxic effects of CME. In addition, the number of apoptotic body and the apoptotic rate were increased in a dose-dependent manner through Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V-PI double staining. In addition, cell cycle arrest occurred at the G1 phase by CME. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays an important role in cancer cell survival, growth, and division. Akt down-regulates apoptosis-mediated proteins, such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p53, and Glycogen Synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). CME could regulate the expression levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-GSK-3β, Bcl-2 family members, caspase-3, and PARP. Furthermore, treatment with CME, LY294002 (PI3K/Akt inhibitor), BIO (GSK-3β inhibitor), and Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) showed that apoptotic effects occurred through the regulation of the AKT/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated CME could induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCT116 colon cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.187-193
• /
• 1996

To supply seeds with a good quality as plant materials for herbicide screening and to know whether the germination characteristics could be associated with a differential response to herbicides, germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides were investigated with 3 species of a genus Setaria ; Yellow foxtail(Setaria glauca P. Beauv, SETGL), Giant foxtail(Setaria faberi Hetrm, SETFA), and Green foxtail(Setaria viridis P. Beauv, SETVI). Degree of dormancy was high in the order of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA. The dormancy of SETGL seed was relatively well removed by room temperature and drying storage, but SETFA and SETVI by low temperature and wetting storage(stratification). For breaking dormancy of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA, it was necessary for being kept under the above storage conditions for at least 2, 4 and 4-5 months, respectively. When the dormancy-breaked seeds were transfered to low temperature($4^{\circ}C$) and drying condition, SETGL showed germination rate of 96% even after 2 month storage. However, SETVI and SETFA showed a decreased germination of 54% and 69%, respectively, with a decreased velocity of germination, indicating that secondary dormancy might be induced. On the other hand, a significant change in germination rate was not observed as the seeds were transfered to room temperature($25^{\circ}C$) and drying condition. The germinability of SETGL seed began to decline from 6th year after storage in room temperature and drying condition. All of 3 species showed relatively high germination rate at alternating temperature of $30^{\circ}C$/$20^{\circ}C$(14hr/10hr) and their germination were not increased by light. All of 3 species exhibited similar responses to cycloxydim, sethoxydim and primisulfuron in greenhouse experiment. In contrast, SETVI and SETFA were relatively susceptible to fenoxapropethyl, SETFA to fluazifop-butyl, SETGL and SETFA to clorimuron-ethyl, and SETGL to EK-2612. The difference in herbicidal response among 3 species was the highest in the treatment of EK-2612. These results suggest that there is no a consistent tendency in responses of 3 species to herbicides which have the same target site. And the relationship between germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides was not found.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.415-422
• /
• 2009

We previously demonstrated that zinc plus arachidonic acid (ZA) treatment lowered blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, genetically diabetic obese (ob/ob) mice, and genetically diabetic, non-obese Goto-Kakizaki rats. However, plasma insulin levels did not increase with ZA treatment, suggesting that ZA lowers blood glucose levels not by stimulating pancreatic insulin secretion. However, it is unclear whether these agents lower blood glucose levels by decreasing hepatic glucose output (HGO) or by increasing glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, or both. In order to determine ZA target organ of insulin action, we divided 18 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing ${\sim}130g$ into 3 groups (6 rats per group) and treated them for four weeks with: (1) Control diet (regular rat chow), (2) High fructose (60.0%) diet only, and (3) the same fructose diet plus zinc (10 mg/L) and arachidonic acid (50 mg/L) containing drinking water. After 4 weeks, insulin action was assessed using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Food intake and body weights were comparable in all three groups of rats throughout the study period. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, glucose uptake, and HGO in the basal state were all the same in these three rat groups. During the clamp study, fructose-treated and fructose+ZA treated rat groups did not exhibit any detectable change on insulin-mediated glucose uptake compared to controls. High fructose feeding impaired insulin mediated suppression of HGO, compared to controls during clamp (4.39 vs. 2.35 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). However, ZA treatment in high fructose-fed rats showed a remarkable increase in hepatic insulin sensitivity compared to high fructose-fed rats, reflected by a complete recovery in suppression of HGO during the clamp (4.39 vs. 2.18 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). This data suggests that ZA increases insulin sensitivity in liver but not glucose utilization of peripheral tissues in high fructose-fed rats.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.169-175
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The main target of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is thymidylate synthase (TS). A high TS expression has been identified as promoting resistance to 5-FU. For colorectal cancers, the response to 5-FU based adjuvant chemotherapy is different according to the microsatellite instability (MSI) status. The reports on the relationship between MSI and the TS expression in colorectal cancer have been inconsistent. No data is available for gastric cancer regarding the relationship between MSI and the TS expression. Therefore, we studied the relationship between MSI and the TS expression in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine consecutive patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer from January 2004 to May 2006 at Bundang CHA hospital were studied. MSI was assessed for five markers (BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250) by PCR and with using an ABI prism 3100 Genetic analyzer. The TS expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry with using mouse anti-thymidylate synthase monoclonal antibody to the TS 106 clone. Results: Out of the ninety-nine patients, MSS/MSI-L was detected in 92 (92.1%) cases and 7 cases (7.1%) were MSI-H. A negative TS expression was found in 46 (46.5%) cases, a low TS expression was found in 33 (33.3%) and a high TS expression was found in 20 (20.2%). Out of 92 MSS/MSI-L patients, the number of patients with negative, low and high TS expressions were 46 (50%), 30 (32.6%) and 16 (17.4%), respectively. Out of the 7 MSI-H patients, the number of patients with negative, low and high TS expressions were 0 (0%), 3 (42.9%) and 4 (57.1%), respectively. The relationship between MSI-H and a high TS expression was statistically significant. Conclusion: Gastric cancer with MSI-H showed higher levels of a TS expression compared to the gastric cancer with MSS/MSI-L.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.189-197
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Peritoneal lavage cytology is regarded as a useful diagnostic test for detecting intraperitoneal micrometastsis. However, there are currently no reports about cytological examination with $ThinPrep^{(R)}$ (CY), a newly introduced fluid-based diagnostic system, in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This study was performed to analyze the clinical significance of intraoperative peritoneal lavage for CY in AGC patients. Materials and Methods: 424 AGC patients were suspected to have serosal exposure macroscopically during surgery and they underwent intraoperative peritoneal lavage for CY between 2001 and 2006 at Korea Cancer Center Hospital. The clinical data, pathological data and CY results were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: The percentage of cytology positive results was 31.1%, and this was well correlated with the T-stage, N-stage and P-stage. The 3-year survival rates of CY0 and CY1 were 68.1% and 25.9%, respectively. According to the P-stage and CY, the 3-year survival rates were 71.1% in P0CY0, 38.9% in P0CY1, 38.5% in P1/2/3CY0 and 11.0% in P1/2/3CY1. Interestingly, both the P0CY1 and P1/2/3CY0 survival curves were similar figures, but they were significantly different from those of the other groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that CY was an independent, strong prognostic factor for survival, as well as sex, the T-stage, N-stage, P-stage, other metastasis and the serum CEA. CY1 was revealed as a risk factor for peritoneal recurrence in the curative resection group. Conclusion: The results certify indirectly that cytological examination using $ThinPrep^{(R)}$ is a very reliable diagnostic method for detecting intraperitoneal micrometastasis from the fact that it is not only a strong prognostic factor, but it is also a risk factor for peritoneal recurrence in AGC patients. Therefore intraoperative peritoneal lavage should be included in the routine intraoperative staging workup for AGC, and its result will provide a good target for the treatment of peritoneal micrometastasis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.24-37
• /
• 2012

In this study, Community Garden of various national and international practices trends to an advanced research, the concept of community garden participated with a group operation out of initiative to produce safety food while securing space for the community, ensuring the area that has gone through a new form of active secure urban green space plan, urban renewal movement was defined as the mean. Furthermore, for the purpose of improving the poor welfare environment by attempting to experimentally make a community garden of a disabled welfare house rooftop and how to target its planning and construction process, partnership involvement, business processes have been investigated, such as cost sharing. The whole process including a budget for development of this case was conducted by the Busan Green Trust. Standard Chartered (SC) First Bank's 50% fund share by community chest, participation of volunteers, support of Busan City and Saba-gu, outside of that, sharing parts or trial to participate by diverse partnership of enterprise, public corporation and laboratory, these are the key in developing community garden's model. Established community garden places resulted food production to users of welfare center for the disabled, participating urban agricultural experience program, horticultural therapy, complex community chapter and cultural center. Furthermore, we could find the meaning of rooftop community garden in the point that it is a low cost garden by applying movable and unmovable planters. This study is profitable for improving urban environment, ensuring community chapter and urban green areas, regenerating a city to develop experimental community garden model by using a welfare house rooftop.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study is to derive a desirable riverfront construction plan to me for the activities of citizens through the evaluation and analysis of the urban riverfront space from the perspective of universal design. Therefore, previous studies were examined in order to induce evaluation tools that bhve been grafted from the universal design concept; in addition, a field survey was conducted in Shincheon, Daegu, which was selected as the study target, in order to induce problems and improvement directions from the perspective of universal design. The major results can be summarized as follows. (1) In the 'fairness' aspect, all the items such as installation of integrated functional signage, showing pictures, symbols, foreign language signs, and restroom entrances signage were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for all sections; and therefore, it is necessary to improve the fairness of usage for everybody. (2) In the 'Functionality(Usability)' aspect, all items such as installation of bicycle paths beside access roads, installation of integrated functional signs, and night light signs were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for all sections; therefore, it is necessary to improve the functionalities of these facilities. (3) In the 'Convenience' aspect, all items such as the installation of bicycle parking areas, continuous rest facilities, and back and ann support(handles) at resting facilities were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for many sections; therefore, it is necessary to improve these facilities for the convenience of usage. (4) In the 'Information(Recognizability)' aspect, all items such as showing pictures, symbols, foreign languages and installation of night light signs, and restroom entrances signage were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for all sections; therefore, it is necessary to improve the recognizability to minimize misunderstandings and confusion. (5) In the 'Safety' aspect, all items such as the installation of safe pedestrian paths in parking areas, using anti-slip and shock absorption materials on restroom floors, and the continuous installation of pedestrian paths that are separate from bicycle paths were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for all sections; therefore, it is necessary to improve the safety to prevent accidents. (6) In the 'Amenity' aspect, access roads, parking areas, hygiene facilities, convenience facilities, and waterside facilities for many sections were determined to be 'All Unsuitable'; therefore, it is necessary to conduct more concentrated hygiene management. (7) In the 'Accessibility(Mobility)' aspect, all items such as the installation of safe pedestrian paths in parking areas, and continuous pedestrian paths that are separate from bicycle paths were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for all sections; therefore, it is necessary to improve the accessibility to provide safety and convenience. (8) In the 'Durability' aspect, access roads, parking areas, rest facilities, convenience facilities, fitness facilities, and waterside facilities were determined to be 'All Unsuitable' for many sections, therefore, it is necessary to improve sunken or damaged areas by inspecting facilities by section.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2010

The outdoor space of an elementary school is the most familiar and most educational area for children. A paradigm shift in education has demanded a new role and direction for these outdoor spaces. The construction of children-friendly spaces, however, lags behind. The child-participatory design process is very meaningful at a time when many outdoor spaces have difficulties in reflecting the varied and specific demands of children. This study realized the necessity for a design that includes a child-participatory design process in construction the outdoor spaces of elementary schools. Through reference study and a theoretical approach of related laws, this study established a child-participatory design process model and applied it to Seoul Don-Am Elementary School. The design process included playing games and providing interesting tools to increase the participation of children in suggesting and presenting their opinions more freely. The design process of this study is described in five steps(eliciting interest in and recognition of the target space, Understanding children's expectations and the expressing thereof, Establishing factors for planning, Visualizing and arranging spaces, and Decision-making and building a final design plan). This process was applied to the planning and design of an outdoor space for Seoul Don-Am Elementary School. In this study, it is clear that the design of the participators and experts have a different purpose. Thus, the process of the design has more meaning than the final product. In addition, it is expected that an improvement in both tangible and intangible designs will be seen. Using a participatory design process, this study successfully improved the facilities and arrangement planning of an outdoor space. At the same time, it also enhanced the interest and participation of children in the process of creating the kind of school they desire. The significance of this study is that it has suggested an effective model to reflect the demands of children, the true users of the outdoor space, and the results were actually applied to elementary school outdoor planning and designing. This study enhanced the awareness of school members in the process of building the school's outdoor space.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.77-88
• /
• 2000

In this paper, the 3-mode variable gain high power amplifier for a transmitter of INMARSAT-B operating at L-band(1626.5-1646.5 MHz) was developed. This SSPA can amplify 42 dBm in high power mode, 38 dBm in medium power mode and 36 dBm in low power mode for INMARSAT-B. The allowable errol sets +1 dBm as the upper limit and -2 dBm as the lower limit, respectively. To simplify the fabrication process, the whole system is designed by two parts composed of a driving amplifier and a high power amplifier. The HP's MGA-64135 and Motorola's MRF-6401 were used for driving amplifier, and the ERICSSON's PTE-10114 and PTF-10021 for the high power amplifier. The SSPA was fabricated by the RP circuits, the temperature compensation circuits and 3-mode variable gain control circuits and 20 dB parallel coupled-line directional coupler in aluminum housing. In addition, the gain control method was proposed by digital attenuator for 3-mode amplifier. Then il has been experimentally verified that the gain is controlled for single tone signal as well as two tone signals. In this case, the SSPA detects the output power by 20 dB parallel coupled-line directional coupler and phase non-splitter amplifier. The realized SSPA has 41.6 dB, 37.6 dB and 33.2 dB for small signal gain within 20 MHz bandwidth, and the VSWR of input and output port is less than 1.3:1. The minimum value of the 1 dB compression point gets more than 12 dBm for 3-mode variable gain high power amplifier. A typical two tone intermodulation point has 36.5 dBc maximum which is single carrier backed off 3 dB from 1 dB compression point. The maximum output power of 43 dBm was achieved at the 1636.5 MHz. These results reveal a high power of 20 Watt, which was the design target.