• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.977-982
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• 2006

Purpose : There has been an increasing amount of literature concerning the association between Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma pathogenesis. Interleukin(IL)-6 stimulates the differentiation of monocytes, and can promote Th2 differentiation and simultaneously inhibit Th1 polarization. IL-8 is a potent chemoattractant and, it has been suggested, has a role in asthma pathogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by airway epithelium may be important in the regulation of airway inflammation and reactivity. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been reported to be a mediator of airway remodeling in asthma. We investigated the effects of M. pneumoniae on IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF production in human respiratory epithelial cells. Methods : A549 cells were cultured and inoculated with M. pneumoniae at a dose of 20 cfu/cell. After infection, the presence of M. pneumoniae in epithelial cell cultures was monitored by immunofluorescence and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) detection. IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NO was measured using the standard Griess reaction. Results : In A549 cells, M. pneumoniaeinduced IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF release in time-dependent manners. It also induced mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in similar manners. Conclusion : These observations suggest that M. pneumoniae might have a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of hardness and microstructure of Dongchimi cooked with various source of water(distilled water, purified water, Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water). This study was conducted to observe the changes of pH, total acidity, salt content, turbidity, texture and microstructure. Dongchimi cooked with source of water of water was fermented at 10$^{\circ}C$ for 46 days. The changes of pH on Dongchimi cooked with various source of water decreased in all samples during fermentation period, and then showed a slowly decrease after 12 days of fermentation. The total acidity of Dongchimi cooked with Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water was arrived slowly at best tasting condition 0.3 ∼ 0.4 point compared with other conditions. So Dongchimi cooked with Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water was continued to the best tasting condition for end of fermentation. At early stage of fermentation, the changes of turbidity of Dongchimi used Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water showed highly as compared with other test condition for 12th days of fermentation. The maximum cutting force of chinese radish of Dongchimi showed the highest value among all at the 25th day of ripening and then decreased gradually. The maximum cutting force of chinese radish of Dongchimi used Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water was the highest compared with other conditions at 25th day of fermentation. The calcium content of Dongchimi juice used Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water was observed hish at the early stage of fermentation and showed the highest value at 25th day of ripening. The calcium content of chinese radish and Dongchimi juice of Dongchimi cooked with water purifier was lower than that of Dongchimi cooked with Cho Jung Carbonated Natural water, and was higher than that of Dongchimi cooked with Distilled water at the early stage of fermentation. The magnesium content in all samples increased gradually from the early stage of fermentation. The microstructure showed disintegration appearance of middle lamella and cell wall during fermentation period.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2018

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The heavy incidence and severe or lethal damage caused by T. gondii infection clearly indicate a need for the development of an effective vaccine. T. gondii GRA8 is a member of the dense granules protein family and is used as a marker of acute infection. In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination based on a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pDsRed2-GRA8, against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the pDsRed2-GRA8 plasmid and then challenged by infection with the highly virulent GFP-RH strain of T. gondii. The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii of this vaccine were analyzed by measuring cytokine and serum antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation assays, and the survival times of mice after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pDsRed2-GRA8 demonstrated specific humoral and cellular responses, induced higher IgG antibody titers with predominant IgG2a production; increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 (p70), $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and splenocyte proliferation; and prolonged survival times compared to those of control mice. The present study showed that DNA immunization with pDsRed2-GRA8 induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and all immunized mice showed greater Th1-type immune responses and longer survival times than those of control mice. These results indicated that T. gondii GRA8 DNA immunization induces a partial protective effect against acute toxoplasmosis.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2008

Formation of ${\beta}$-amyloid $(A{\beta})$ fibrils has been identified as one of the major characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibition of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation in the CNS would be attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD. Several small compounds that inhibit amyloid formation or amyloid neurotoxicity in vitro have been known. Citrate has surfactant function effect because of its molecular structure having high anionic charge density, in addition to the well-known antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that citrate might have the inhibitory effect against $A{\beta}$ fibril formation in vitro and have the protective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. We examined the effect of citrate against the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils by measuring the intensity of fluorescence in thioflavin-T (Th-T) assay of between $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ groups treated with citrate and the control with $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ alone. The neuroprotective effect of citrate against $A{\beta}$-induced toxicity in PC12 cells was investigated using the WST-1 assay. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that citrate inhibited dose-dependently the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils from ${\beta}$-amyloid peptides. The inhibition percentages of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation by citrate (1, 2.5, and 5 mM) were 31%, 60%, and 68% at 7 days, respectively in thioflavin-T (Th-T) assay. WST-1 assay revealed that the toxic effect of $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ was reduced, in a dose-dependent manner to citrate. The percentages of neuroprotection by citrate (1, 2.5, and 5 mM) against $A{\beta}-induced$ toxicity were 19%, 31 %, and 34%, respectively. We report that citrate inhibits the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils in vitro and has neuroprotective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Neuroprotective effects of citrate against $A{\beta}$ might be, to some extent, attributable to its inhibition of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation. Although the mechanism of anti-amyloidogenic activity is not clear, the possible mechanism is that citrate might have two effects, salting-in and surfactant effects. These results suggest that citrate could be of potential therapeutic value in Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.spc
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

The vertical distribution and origin of particulate organic matter (POM) were investigated in Shingu reservoir on 4th July (pre-monsoon) and 7th August (post-monsoon) 2006. High turbid water (120 NTU) were found at 4.5 m water depth in postmonsoon period. The average C/N ratio of POM was about 5.70 and 6.96 in surface water and bottom water, respectively in pre-monsoon period, exhibiting the close values to its ratio in phytoplankton cell. However, the average C/N ratio was 7.10 in surface water and 12.81 in bottom water in post-monsoon period. In addition, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in pre-monsoon period ranged from -25.1%o to -26.1%o in whole water column, but the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of POM in post-monsoon period showed relatively wide range between -23.2%o and -27.5%o. The apparently lighter values (average -27.5%o) in near bottom water (4.5 m water depth) demonstrate that POM in high turbid water in post-monsoon period may be derived from the outside terrestrial plants through heavy rainfall during the summer monsoon period. The present study suggests that carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios as well as C/N ratios should be useful indexes to clarify the origin of POM.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.20
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• 2022

The gastrointestinal tract is the first organ directly affected by fasting. However, little is known about how fasting influences the intestinal immune system. Intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) capture antigens, migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, and provoke adaptive immune responses. We evaluated the changes of intestinal DCs in mice with short-term fasting and their effects on protective immunity against Listeria monocytogenes (LM). Fasting induced an increased number of CD103⁺CD11b^- DCs in both small intestinal lamina propria (SILP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN). The SILP CD103⁺CD11b^- DCs showed proliferation and migration, coincident with increased levels of GM-CSF and C-C chemokine receptor type 7, respectively. At 24 h post-infection with LM, there was a significant reduction in the bacterial burden in the spleen, liver, and mLN of the short-term-fasted mice compared to those fed ad libitum. Also, short-term-fasted mice showed increased survival after LM infection compared with ad libitum-fed mice. It could be that significantly high TGF-β2 and Aldh1a2 expression in CD103⁺CD11b^- DCs in mice infected with LM might affect to increase of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells. Changes of major subset of DCs from CD103⁺ to CD103^- may induce the increase of IFN-γ-producing cells with forming Th1-biased environment. Therefore, the short-term fasting affects protection against LM infection by changing major subset of intestinal DCs from tolerogenic to Th1 immunogenic.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.spc8
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• pp.2899-2905
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• 2011

We have demonstrated that TPyPA can be used as an efficient multi-functional material for OLEDs; hole transporting material (HTL), blue and white-light emitter. The device based on TPyPA as the HTL exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 1.7% and a luminance efficiency of 4.2 cd/A; these values are 40% higher than the external quantum efficiency and luminance efficiency of the NPD-based reference device. The device based on TPyPA as a blue-light emitter exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 4.2% and a luminance efficiency of 5.3 $cdA^{-1}$ with CIE coordinates at (0.16, 0.14), the device based on TPyPA as a white-light emitter exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 3.2% and a luminance efficiency of 7.7 $cdA^{-1}$ with CIE coordinates at (0.33, 0.39). Also, TPyPA-based organic solar cell (OSC) exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.35%. TPyPA-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) exhibited highly efficient field-effect mobility (${\mu}_{FET}$) of $1.7{\times}10^{-4}cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$, a threshold voltage ($V_{th}$) of -15.9 V, and an on/off current ratio of $8.6{\times}10^3$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.250-256
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• 2010

Natural phosphodiester bond CpG-DNA that contains immunomodulatory CpG motifs (PO-DNA) upregulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and induces an Ag-driven Th1 response in a CG sequence-dependent manner in mice. In humans, only phosphorothioate backbone-modified CpG-DNA (PS-DNA) and not PO-DNA has immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we found that liposome-encapsulated PO-DNA upregulated the expression of human $\beta$-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and major histocompatibility class II molecules (HLA-DRA) in a CG sequence-dependent and liposome- dependent manner in human B cells. Of the three different liposomes, DOTAP has the unique ability to enhance the immunomodulatory activity of PO-DNA. In contrast, HLA-DRA and hBD-2 promoter activation can be induced by liposome-encapsulated PS-DNA in a CG sequence-independent manner, depending on the CpG-DNA species. Our observations demonstrate that, when encapsulated with a proper liposome in the immune system, natural PO-DNA has the potential to be a useful therapy for the regulation of the innate immune response.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.205-210
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• 1999

Objectives: Major salivary gland tumor mainly develops in the parotid gland and pleomorphic adenoma is a large percentage. The aim of this study is to get clinicopathologic characteristics of overall major salivary gland tumors and suggestions regarding surgical management through collective review of 315 cases. Materials and Methods: This is a clinicopathologic review of 315 cases of major salivary gland tumor who were treated surgically at Department of Surgery, Head and Neck Clinic, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje University during the period of 18 years from 1980 to 1997. Analysis was performed regarding the incidence, classification, surgery and its complications, and survival rate of salivary gland cancer. Results : 1) Parotid gland was the most prevalent site of salivary gland tumor(78%) and submandibular gland(21%) was next in order. Benign tumors were 257cases(81%) and malignant tumors were 58 cases(19%). 2) Male to female sex ratio was 1:1.2, the most prevalent age group was 3rd decade and the second group was 4th decade. 3) Histopathologically, the most common benign salivary gland tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Warthin's tumor was next common. Among the malignant tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was most common, and the next were adenoid cystic carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. 4) In pleomorphic adenoma, superficial parotidectomy was performed in 129 cases, and extracapsular tumorectomy was performed in 3 cases. In non-pleomorphic benign tumor, tumorectomy was performed in 21 cases. In 40 cases of deep lobe tumor, total parotidectomy was performed in only 2 cases and deep parotidectomy was performed in 38 cases. 5) Surgical complications were facial nerve injury 19 cases, Frey syndrome 13 cases, and salivary fistula 3 cases. 6) Overall 5-year survival rate of salivary gland cancer was 63%. Conclusion: Postoperative recurrence rate is low in benign tumor, but high in cancer of salivary gland tumor. Surgical procedure should not be aggressive in benign tumor, especially in parotid tumor, but should be aggressive in malignant salivary gland tumors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.919-928
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• 2017

The immuno-enhancing effects of alginate oligosaccharides from Sargassum coreanum were investigated. The alginate oligosaccharides were produced by an alginate-degrading enzyme from S. oneidensis PKA 1008. The degraded alginate oligosaccharides were visualized by thin-layer chromatography developed using a solvent system of 1-butanol/methanol/water, 4:1:2 (v/v/v). Alginate was degraded into dimmers at 60 h. As a result, the levels of Th1 cytokine [interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-2] and Th2 cytokine (IL-6 and IL-10) increased with increasing incubation time compared to the control in vitro. Enzymatic extract treatment promoted proliferation of splenocytes at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg at 24 h in vivo. Secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2 significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h as well as induced higher production of IgG2a in serum. Natural killer cell activity was measured and tended to increase. In addition, complete blood cell counts increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that alginate oligosaccharides produced by crude enzyme from S. oneidensis PKA 1008 may have significant immune activities.