• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate heavy metal transition and bioavailability from soil to the edible pare of water dropwort near industrial complex. The soils were collected from the paddies cultivating water dropwort stream sediments, and background soils near industrial complex. The pH values, organic matter, Av. $P_2O_5$, Ex. Ca content of paddy soils were higher than those measured for nor-contaminated paddy fields in 2003. The contents of Cd and Cu was higher than those of standard level for soil contamination by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The pollution index in stream sediments were higher than those of paddies cultivating water dropwort. The geoaccumulation index of heavy metals in paddy soils and stream sediment were in the order Cu>Cd>Ni>Zn>Pb. The rates of 0.1N-HCl extractable heavy metals to total contents in soils were in the order Cd>Cu>Zn>Ni>Pb. In case of Cd and Ni in paddy soils near industrial complex, 0.1N-HCl extractable heavy metals and total content were highly correlated with each other. Heavy metal contents in mot parts were higher than those in top pare of water dropwort. The Zn and Cu transfer factor from soil to the top pare of water dropwort were higher than those of other heavy metals. The bioavailability of water dropwort varied considerably between the different parts and heavy metals. Cd, Cu and Ni contents in water dropwort were correlated with each elements in paddy soils.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.875-881
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• 2007

Purpose : Chromosome analysis is important in genetic study and genetic counseling. This study was performed to evaluate the type and incidence of chromosome abnormalities in a single hospital for 25 years. Methods : Chromosome analyses were performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes, obtained from 4,856 patients with suspected chromosomal aberrations, referred to cytogenetic laboratory in Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital from May 1981 to October 2005. Results : We analyzed 4,567 cases. Children were 3,014 cases (66.0%) and adult were 1,553 cases (34.0 %). The most common purpose of the chromosomal analysis was growth and developmental abnormality in children and infertility in adults. Total chromosomal aberration rate was 16.9% (770/4,567). Among those cases, the numerical abnormalities were 12.2% (558 cases), the structural abnormalities were 4.1% (187 cases), and others were 0.5% (25 cases). The relative frequencies of autosomal abnormalities were 6.4% (294 cases) in Down syndrome; 0.2% (7 cases) in Edwards syndrome; 0.1% (4 cases) in Patau syndrome; 0.2% (10 cases) in other abnormalities, of sex chromosome, 2.9% (131 cases) in Klinefelter syndrome; 2.2% (99 cases) in Turner syndrome; 0.2% (8 cases) in 47, XXX; 0.1% (3 cases) in 47, XYY. Among the structural abnormalities, translocation was 1.8% (84 cases), inversion was 0.8% (37 cases), deletion was 0.4% (17 cases), and insertion was 0.3% (13 cases), in order of frequency. Conclusion : In this study, the type, incidence and distribution of cytogenetic abnormalities by karyotype were reviewed. We hope that our study could be used as a basic information on the diagnosis, treatment and genetic counseling for chromosome abnormalities in Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.123-144
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• 1975

This study has been carried out to investigate the translocation-illuviation status of iron and manganese, which are striking phenomena in paddy soils, in relation to its morphological characteristics, and to find out a method to identify illuvial layer of iron quantitatively. Determination of active iron and easily reducible manganese content in surface soils of lowland paddy (266 samples) in Korea were conducted. The examination has been made on relationship between morphological, physico-chemical properties of the representative paddy soils (9 series) and iron and manganese content of their horizons. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The poorer the drainage, the higher concentration of active iron and easily reducible manganese were found, and under same drainage condition, the more the sand, the lower the content of them. 2. Irrespective of soil texture and drainage, highly signignificant positive correlation was found between the contents of active iron ($\hat{Y}$) and clay plus silt in surface soils. $$\hat{Y}=0.3929+(0.05352\;X\;clay%)+(0.0001023\;X\;silt%){\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;I$$ No correlation, however, was found between clay content and easily reducible manganese concentration. 3. Significant positive correlation was obtained between active iron ($\hat{Y}$) and total iron (x) content in each profiles of all soil series. Obtained regression equation is as follows; $$\hat{Y}=0.361x-0.480(r=0.651^{**}){\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;{\ldots}\;II$$ On the other hand, easily reducible manganese concentration had a tendency to increase, not significantly, with increasing total manganese concentration. 4. Accumulation of iron and manganese generally can be found in paddy soils, but distinct accumulation was found under moderately well drained fine loamy and clay soils, while surface accumulation occurred under poor drainage without regard to soil texture. 5. Profile description or determination of active iron in each horizon were found to be insufficient to designate illuvial layer of iron. Therefore, identification of illuvial layer of iron based on the ratio of total iron and active iron, and concentration of active iron estimated by the content of clay plus silt (Equation 1 above) was thought to be reasonable. Also, manganese accumulation layer would be estimated by total manganese and easily reducible manganese content and their ratio.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1751-1760
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• 2015

Mucin2 (MUC2), an important regulatory factor in the immune system, plays an important role in the host defense system against bacterial translocation. Probiotics known to regulate MUC2 gene expression have been widely studied, but the interactions among probiotic, pathogens, and mucin gene are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MUC2 in blocking effects of probiotics on meningitic E. coli-induced pathogenicities. In this study, live combined probiotic tablets containing living Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus were used. MUC2 expression was knocked down in Caco-2 cells by RNA interference. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR), which enhances mucin-promoted probiotic effects through inducing production of Sadenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), was used to up-regulate MUC2 expression in Caco-2 cells. The adhesion to and invasion of meningitic E. coli were detected by competition assays. Our studies showed that probiotic agents could block E. coli-caused intestinal colonization, bacteremia, and meningitis in a neonatal sepsis and meningitis rat model. MUC2 gene expression in the neonatal rats given probiotic agents was obviously higher than that of the infected and uninfected control groups without probiotic treatment. The prohibitive effects of probiotic agents on MUC2-knockdown Caco-2 cells infected with E44 were significantly reduced compared with nontransfected Caco-2 cells. Moreover, the results also showed that 5-Aza-CdR, a drug enhancing the production of SAMe that is a protective agent of probiotics, was able to significantly suppress adhesion and invasion of E44 to Caco-2 cells by upregulation of MUC2 expression. Taken together, our data suggest that probiotic agents can efficiently block meningitic E. coli-induced pathogenicities in a manner dependent on MUC2.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2010

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anticonvulsive agent and has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 30 years. VPA emerged in 1997 as an antineoplastic agent as well, when findings indicated the substance inhibited proliferation and induced differentiation of primitive neuroectocdermal tumor cells in vivo (Cinatl et al., 1997). Antitmor activity of VPA is associated with its targeting histone deacetylases. Bile acids and their synthetic derivatives induced apoptosis in various kinds of cancer cells and anticancer effects. It has been reported that the synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) derivatives showed apoptosis-inducing activity on various cancer cells in vitro. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with the histone deacetylases inhibitor, VPA and a CDCA derivative, HS-1200 on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan-blue exclusion. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry (DNA hypoploidy and MMP change), Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining. In this study, HOS cells co-treated with VPA and HS-1200 showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, the reduction of MMP, the decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-7, caspase-3 and PARP whereas each single treated HOS cells did not. Although the single treatment of 1 mM VPA or $25\;{\mu}M$ HS-1200 for 48 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment of them induced prominently apoptosis. Therefore our data provide the possibility that combination therapy of VPA and HS-1200 could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.85-99
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• 2014

Sulfonylurea (SU)-resistant weeds of eight annual weeds, Monochoria vaginalis, Scirpus juncoides and Cyperus difformis, etc., and four perennial weeds, Scirpus planiculmis, Sagittaria pigmaea, Eleocharis acicularis and Sagittaria trifolia as of 2013 since identification Monochoria korsakowii in the reclaimed rice field in 1998. And the resistant Echinochloa oryzoides to ACCase and ALS inhibitors has been confirmed in rice fields of the southern province, Korea in 2009. In the beginning, the M. vaginalis, S. juncoides and C. difformis of these SU-resistant weeds were rapidly and individually spreaded in different fields, however, these resistant weeds have been occurring simultaneously in the same filed recently. The resistant biotype by weed species demonstrated about 10-to 1,000-fold resistance, based on $GR_{50}$ values of the SU herbicides tested. And the resistant biotype of E. oryzoides to cyhalofop-butyl, pyriminobac-methyl, and penoxsulam was about 14, 8, and 11 times more resistant than the susceptible biotype base on $GR_{50}$ values. The products and applied area of SU-included herbicides have been increased rapidly, and have accounted for about 69% and 96% in Korea, respectively. In Korea, the main cause of SU-resistant weed is extensive use of these herbicides. The top ten herbicides by applied area were composed of all SU-included herbicides by 2003. The concentrated and successive treatment of ACCase and ALS inhibitors for control of barnyardgrass in rice led up to the resistance of E. oryzoides. Also, SU-herbicides like pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and imazosulfuron which effective to barnyardgrass can be bound up with the resistance of E. oryzoides. The ALS activity isolated from the resistant biotype of M. korsakowii to SU-herbicides tested was less sensitive than that of susceptible biotype. The concentration of herbicide required for 50% inhibition of ALS activity ($I_{50}$) of the SU-resistant M. korsakowii was 14-to 76-fold higher as compared to the susceptible biotype. No differences were observed in the rates of [$^{14}C$]bensulfuron uptake and translocation. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes from M. vaginalis resistant and susceptible biotypes against SU-herbicides revealed a single amino acid substitution of proline (CCT), at 197th position based on the M. korsakowii ALS sequence numbering, to serin (TCT) in conserved domain A of the gene. Carfentrazone-ethyl and pyrazolate were used mainly to control SU-resistant M. vaginalis by 2006 in Korea. However, the alternative herbicides such as benzobicyclone, to be possible to control simultaneously the several resistant weeds, have been developing and using broadly, because the several resistant weeds have been occurring simultaneously in the same fieled. The top ten herbicides by applied area in Korea have been occupied by products of 3-way mixture type including herbicides with alternative mode of action for the herbicide resistant weeds. Mefenacet, fentrazamide and cafenstrole had excellent controlling effects on the ACCase and ALS inhibitors resistant when they were applied within 2nd leaf stage.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 2010

Components of dental resin-based restorative materials are reported to leach from the filling materials even after polymerization. Hydroquinone (HQ) is one of the major monomers used in the dental resin and is known as a carcinogen. Thus, carcinogenic risk of HQ leaching from the dental resin becomes a public health concern. The present study attempted to examine the carcinogenic potentials of HQ on the human epithelial cell, which is the target cell origin of the most of oral cancers. Cytotoxicity of HQ was observed above 50${\mu}M$ as measured by LDH assay, indicating a relatively low toxicity of this substance in human epithelial cells. The parameters of neoplastic cellular transformation such as cell saturation density, soft agar colony formation and cell aggregation were analyzed to examine the carcinogenic potential of HQ. The study showed that 2-week exposure of HQ showed the tendency of increase in the saturation density and the significant enhancement of soft agar colony formation at the highest dose, 50 ${\mu}M$ only. It is suggested that HQ has a weak potential of carcinogenicity. When cells were treated with HQ and TPA, a well-known tumor promoter, the parameters of neoplastic cellular transformation was significantly increased. This result indicates that the potential risk of carcinogenicity from HQ is largely dependent upon the presence of promoter. Exposure of 50 ${\mu}M$ HQ increased the time-dependent apoptosis as measured by the ELISA kit. This concentration coincides with a dose of neoplastic transformation, indicating a possible link between apoptosis and HQ-induced cellular transformation. Hydroquinone generated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which was evidenced by the treatment of antioxidants such as trolox and N-acetyl cysteine and the GSH depleting agent, BSO. Antioxidants blocked the generation of ROS and the GSH depleting agent, BSO dramatically increased the ROS production. Since HQ is known to increase ROS production thru activation of transcriptional factor such as c-Myb and Pim-1, it is speculated that ROS generation by HQ plays a role in the activation of oncogene, which may lead to neoplastic transformation. In addition, ROS is involved in the alteration of signal transduction, which regulates the apoptosis in many cellular systems. Thus, ROS-mediated apoptosis may be involved in the HQ-induced carcinogenic processes. Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play pivotal roles in neoplastic transformation of cells and its high expression is often found in a variety of types of tumors including oral cancer. PKC translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ was observed following HQ exposure. Altered signaling system may also play a role in the transformation process. Taken together, HQ leached from the dental resin does not pose a significant threat as a cancer causing agent, but its carcinogenic potential can be significantly elevated in the presence of promoter. The mechanism of HQ-induced carcinogenesis involved ROS generation, apoptosis and altered signaling pathway. The present study will provide a valuable data to estimate the potential risk of HQ as a carcinogen and understand mechanism of HQ-induced carcinogenesis in human epithelial cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1126-1133
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• 2002

Purpose : Prader-Willi syndrome(PWS) is a complex disorder affecting multisystems with characteristic clinical features. Its genetic basis is an expression defect in the paternally derived chromosome 15q11-q13. We analyzed the clinical features and genetic basis of PWS patients for early detection and treatment. Methods : We retrospectively studied 24 patients with PWS in Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, from September 1997 to September 2001. We performed cytogenetic and molecular genetic techniques using high resolution GTG banding techniques, fluorescent in situ hybridization and methylation-specific PCR for CpG island of SNRPN gene region. Results : The average birth weight of PWS patients was $2.67{\pm}0.47kg$ and median age at diagnosis was 1.3 years. The average height and weight of PWS patients under one year at diagnostic time were located in a 3-10 percentile relatively, and a rapid weight gain was seen between two and six years. Feeding problems in infancy and neonatal hypotonia were the two most consistently positive major criteria in over 95% of the patients. In 18 of the 24 cases(75%), deletion of chromosome 15q11-q13 was demonstrated and one case among 18 had an unbalanced 14;15 translocation. In four cases without any cytogenetic abnormality, it may be considered as maternal uniparental disomy and the rest showed another findings. Conclusion : We suggest diagnostic testing for PWS in all infants/neonates with unexplained feeding problems and hypotonia. It is necessary for clinically suspicious patients to undergo an early genetic test. As the genetic basis of PWS was heterogenous and complex, further study is required.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1221-1229
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• 2010

Nerium indicum, an India-Pakistan-originated shrub belonging to the oleander family, is reported to possess many pharmacological activities including cardiac muscle stimulation, and anti-diabetes, anti-angiogenesis, anti-cancer and neuro-protective activities. However, the anti-inflammatory properties of N. indicum were unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of the N. indicum leaf and stem (ENIL and ENIS) on the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators in U937 human pre-monocytic cell models. In U937 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), pre-treatment with ENIS significantly inhibited the expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein, which are associated with inhibition of the release of prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$, whereas the inhibitory effects appeared weakly in ENIL. Moreover, ENIS significantly attenuated PMA-induced IkappaB ($I{\kappa}B$) degradation and suppressed elevated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) nuclear translocation. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights that N. indicum exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the NF-kB signaling pathway.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.448-453
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• 2014

Influences of shading and irrigation in summer hot pepper cultivation on the plant growth and mesophyll tissue were investigated. Hot pepper plants were exposed to three shade levels (0, $30{\pm}5$ and $80{\pm}5%$) and irrigated or non-irrigated in greenhouse condition. Plant height and leaf area were highest in 30% shading and stem diameter and fresh and dry weights were highest in no shading. Plant growth was better in rain shelters with irrigation than in those without irrigation. The numbers of hot pepper fruits in the beginning of harvest were 49 in rain shelters without irrigation and shading, 22 in those with irrigation and without shading, 5 in those without irrigation with 30% shading, and 1 in those with irrigation and 30% shading. However, 80% shading showed lowest flower number and flower abscission, resulting in no fruit set, regardless of irritation. This is because carbohydrate translocation from leaves to reproductive organs may be not enough for developing fruits due to the lack of sunlight. The yield of hot pepper tended to be higher in rain shelter with irrigation than in those without irrigation. In optical microscopy observation, the thickness and development of mesophyll tissues decreased as increasing the degree of shading but no effect of irrigation on mesophyll tissues was observed. When stomata were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), the shape of stomata was normal but tissues surrounding stomata were slightly wrinkled in plants grown under 30% shading. The large number of abnormal stomata and wrinkled leaves was observed among plants grown in rain shelters with 80% shading. In plants grown in rain shelters without irrigation, tissues surrounding stomata were wrinkled and 10-20% decrease in the number of stomata was observed. Therefore, in hot pepper cultivation in summer with high temperature, shading was not effective for fruit yield and mesophyll tissue development; if shading is unavoidable, high degree of shading is not advisable. Further studies are needed for appropriate cultivar selection and environment-control techniques in hot pepper cultivation in summer with high temperature.