• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1431-1437
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• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2020

Macrophages are initiators for regulating a host's defenses to eliminate pathogens and trigger tissue repair. Macrophages are classified into two types: classically (M1) activated macrophages and alternatively (M2) activated macrophages. M1-phenotype macrophages directly or indirectly kill infectious organisms and tumor cells via pro-inflammatory responses, whereas M2-phenotype macrophages remodel wounded tissue through anti-inflammatory responses. In this paper, we investigated how Phellinus linteus hot water extract passed from Diaion HP-20 resin (PLEP) regulates polarization of M1-like or M2-like macrophages in human THP-1 cells. PLEP did not have cytotoxicity at a high concentration of 300 ㎍/ml. We observed morphological alteration of the THP-1 cells, which are stimulated by PLEP, LPS/INF-γ (M1 stimulators) or IL-4/IL13 (M2 stimulators). PLEP exposure induced morphology contiguous with LPS/INF-γ. qPCR was also performed to determine whether PLEP influences M1 or M2 polarization-related genes. M1-phenotype macrophage-specific genes, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10 and CCR7, were enhanced by PLEP in a dose-dependent manner similar to LPS/INF-γ. Conversely, M2-phenotype-specific genes, such as MRC-1, DC-SIGN, CCL17 and CCL22, were suppressed by PLEP. PLEP also significantly up-regulated secretory inflammation cytokines related to M1 polarization of macrophages, including TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6, which was similar to the gene expression. Further, MAPK and NF-κB signaling were increased by treatment with PLEP, resulting in enhancement of cytokine secretion. PLEP might therefore be used as a promising booster of pro-inflammatory responses through M1 polarization of human THP-1 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2020

In this study, the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects and the flavonoid contents of leaf extracts from Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Lycopus lucidus Turcz. were compared. The flavonoid contents of the acetone + methylene chloride (A+M) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of L. lucidus Turcz. leaves were 55.7 and 233.2 mg/g, respectively. In a DPPH assay, A+M and MeOH extracts from L. lucidus Turcz leaves had a greater scavenging effect than those of S. sieboldii Miq. leaves (p<0.05). In an ABTS assay, MeOH extracts from S. sieboldii Miq. and L. lucidus Turcz (0.5 mg/ml concentration) leaves had scavenging effects of 85% and 91%, respectively (p<0.05), suggesting that both of the MeOH extracts had greater scavenging effects than both A+M extracts. In a 120 min ROS production assay, all tested extracts decreased the cellular ROS production induced by H₂O₂ compared to that produced by exposure to the extract-free control. The MeOH extract from L. lucidus Turcz leaves had a greater inhibitory effect on cellular ROS production (p<0.05). Treatment with A+M and MeOH extracts from both S. sieboldii Miq. and L. lucidus Turcz. leaves showed a dose-dependent increased cytotoxicity against the growth of AGS, HT-29 cancer cells, and HT-1080 (p<0.05). Both A+M extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on the growth of all cancer cells than both MeOH extracts. These results suggest that the MeOH extract of L. lucidus Turcz. leaves is effective in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting cellular oxidation, while the A+M extract inhibits proliferation of three types of cancer cell.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1371-1377
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• 2019

Oxidative stress induced by the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain is the most common cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of flavonoids and their glycosides, namely kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin, and quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in the C6 glial cells. The H₂O₂-treated glial cells exhibited decreased cell viability and increased ROS production when compared with normal cells. However, cells treated with each of the four flavonoids/glycosides demonstrated significantly increased viability and suppressed ROS production when compared with the H₂O₂-treated control group. These results indicate that flavonoids/glycosides attenuate oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ in C6 glial cells. To confirm the protective molecular mechanisms, we measured pro-inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1β. H₂O₂ treatment was seen to elevate these factors and decrease IκB-α in the C6 glial cells, while the flavonoids/glycosides induced a down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory factors and increased IκB-α, indicating a neuroprotective effects through attenuation of the inflammation. In particular, quercetin and its glycoside showed a higher neuroprotective effect than the kaempferol treatments. These results suggest that these flavonoids and their glycosides could be promising therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases via the attenuation of oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.147-168
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• 2015

In this research, we have analyzed the impact factors on the bone mineral density thru the examination of bone density difference in the entire femur, femoral neck and lumbar of adult women before the menopause in accordance with the general features, lifestyle, eating habits, health and body composition. The survey was conducted among adult women before the menopause and older than 30 years based on the data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey carried out in the 4th term (2008-2009) and 5th term (2010-2011) and we would like to provide the research results for the establishment of recommendations or guidelines for the treatment of adult women before the menopause with regard to the impact factors on the bone mineral density and for the development of health education materials for the accurate measurement of bone mineral density of young women in order to prevent the postmenopausal osteoporosis. With respect to the general features of adult women before the menopause, the bone mineral density was higher in the entire femur at age 40-44, femoral neck at 35-39, in high-school education level, in the earlier menarche group, without smoking experiences, with regular walking time and exercise frequency and with the habits of eating no hamburger or pizza. With regard to the body composition, the bone mineral density was higher in obesity and lower in underweight cases, higher among people with abdominal obesity and weight control experiences. In terms of total body fat ratio, total amount of fat and muscle, the bone mineral density got gradually increased from the 1st quarter (Q1) to the 4th quarter(Q4). The obesity, disease, total amount of fat and muscle were shown to be significantly related with the bone mineral density in this research and it is required for young women to keep the adequate weight and the normal BMI in order to increase the bone mineral density. For the prevention of osteoporosis, it is advised to keep the right habits including regular exercise and no smoking discipline from the growing period and achieve the maximum bone mass thru the control of proper weight from a young age.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 1998

This experiment was carried out to produce herbicide resistant potatoes hawing only chimeric phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) genes without using antibiotic selectable marker. The pDY502 vector having only PAT gene was reconstructed for transformation of potato. The reconstructed vector was introduced to Agrobacterium tumefaciens MP90 disarmed, and they were used for potato transformation. Hormonal requirement for plant regeneration from leaves and stem explants of potato was investigated. From this experiment, MS medium treated with IBA 0.1 mg/L + BA 0.5 mg/L was the best for potato regeneration, and the ratio of shoot regeneration was 54% for leaf and 46% for stem in that condition. For transformation, explants of potato leaves and stems were cocultured with A. tumefaciens MP90 containing reconstructed vector harvoring only PAT gene. When the potato explants were placed on various concentrations of bialaphos and all the potato explants were dead on medium with over 5.0mg/L bialaphos. By this selection methods, the explants cocultured with Agrobacterium produced the putative transgenic shoots on medium with 5mg/L bialaphos treatment after 3-4 weeks. Second selection was performed by transferring the shoot tips of putative transgenic to medium containing 20mg/L of bialaphos. The shoot tips grew well on the second selection medium, indicating the production of successful transgenic plants. But normal shoots were dead in same cytotoxic medium. Incorporation of the PAT gene into transgenic potatos were confirmed by PCR analysis of DNA and Southern hybridization. These results show that the PAT gene can serve as a selectable marker and herbicide resistant genes for transformation of potato.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2008

Background: To evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as potential therapeutic agents of acute lung injury, we analyzed the morphology in vivo of the pulmonary microstructure using intravital videomicroscopy in a rat model of acute lung injury. Material and Method: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a control group that underwent normal saline aspiration, an acute lung injury (ALI) group that underwent hydrochloric acid aspiration, and three treatment groups that underwent hydrochloric acid aspiration and were administered therapeutic agents- the S1P group, the NO group, and the S1P+NO group (n=7 per group). To quantify alveolar compliance and interstitial edema, the diameters of all measurable alveoli and interalveolar septa were averaged at one and two hours after aspiration. Alveolar compliance was determined according to diameter changes during the respiratory cycle and the change in tidal volume. Result: At two hours after aspiration, the mean alveolar compliance (% change) in the All group decreased significantly versus the control group of rats (respiratory cycle: 1.9% for the ALI group vs 6.5% for the control group, p=0.03; tidal volume: 3.2% for the ALI group vs 9.1% for the control group, p=0.003) and versus the NO group (tidal volume: 3.2% for the ALI group vs 16.9% for the NO group, p=0.001). At two hours after aspiration, the mean interalveolar septal thickness in the NO group tended to be smaller as compared to that in the All group ($15.2{\mu}m$ for the ALI group vs $12.3{\mu}m$ for the NO group, p=0.06). S1P did not exert a significant effect on the pulmonary microstructure of the injured rat lung. Conclusion: Improved alveolar compliance and reduced interstitial edema, observed by intravital videomicroscopy, suggest that inhaled NO ameliorates lung injury.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2016

Direct seeding of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has a problem of low yield including poor establishment. This poor establishment results from poor quality seed, poor seedbed preparation, seedling pests, poor sowing technique and high soil temperature. This study sought to establish the age at which sorghum seedlings can be transplanted with minimal effects on grain yield. Transplants were raised in 128 nursery tray pot. Five seedling ages were established by transplanting at 10 (T10), 15 (T15), 20 (T20), 25 (T25) and 30 (T30) days after planting (DAP). The treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times with an individual plot size of $6{\times}5m^2$. Each plot had five ridges with a planting space of $0.60{\times}0.20m^2$ at one plants per stand. Results showed that seedling age on transplanting significantly affected growths and yields to sorghum after transplanting. Plant heights and diameters of transplants at T15 were longer than the other transplants. Conclusively, The advantages of this practice were better control of crop density and greater yields; either to fill gaps after emerging and thinning of crops or to compensate for a growth period that was too short for a complete crop cycle.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 2020

To enhance the usability of puffed rice, we evaluated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of vinegar made with puffed rice and lemon balm. First, puffed rice containing lemon balm extracts was fermented for alcohol production. The alcoholic fermented liquid was adjusted to an alcohol content of 6% and an initial acidity of 2% for vinegar fermentation. The pH and alcohol content of the lemon balm vinegar decreased overall as fermentation progressed. The total acidity was 5.20±0.01% (2.0% lemon balm) to 5.80±0.01% (0.0% lemon balm) on the 15th day of fermentation, and the total acidity was slightly lower as the amount of added lemon balm was increased. Citric, succinic, and acetic organic acids were detected in the vinegar and the acetic acid content was highest at 4.81% to 5.37% on the 15th day of fermentation. We found that the total polyphenol and total flavonoid content of the lemon balm vinegar increased as we added lemon balm, and the content on the 15th day of fermentation was 179.4±4.5 (0.0% lemon balm) - 340.8±2.6 mg/kg (2.0% lemon balm) and 1.5±0.3 (0.0% lemon balm) - 31.7±0.3 mg/kg (2.0% lemon balm), respectively. The higher the amount of lemon balm added, the higher the DPPH radical scavenging activity, the FRAP (reducing power), and the ABTS radical scavenging activity. Moreover, those activities after 2.0% lemon balm treatment were 82.99±0.61%, 1.08±0.01 abs., and 87.67±0.68%, respectively, on the 15th day of fermentation. These results suggest that vinegar with added lemon balm may be used as an antioxidant agent.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2017

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of organic fertilizer and seed mixture on productivity, botanical composition and forage quality in middle areas(Geumsan, 250m sea level) pasture. Total six experimental pastures (orchardgrass, timothy and tall fescue based seed mixture and with or without organic fertilizer) were established in autumn, 2014 and evaluated productivity and agronomic characteristics from 2015 to 2016. Plant heigh was higher in orchardgrass based mixture and orchardgrass and tall fescue based mixture were higher in $2^{nd}$ harvest. There was not found the significant difference among treatment(P<0.05) in dry matter (DM) content. Botanical composition in $1^{st}$ harvest was higher weed portion in orchardgrass based mixture and legumes was disappeared at $3^{rd}$ harvest in all treatments. Fresh and dry matter yield was higher in $2^{nd}$ year than $1^{st}$ year. In $1^{st}$ year, orchardgrass based mixture with organic fertilizer plot was the highest(P<0.05) DM yield, but tall fescue based mixture with organic fertilizer was the highest in $2^{nd}$ year. Content of crude protein (CP) was the highest in tall fescue based mixture and Timothy based mixture showed low in ADF (acid detergent fiber) and NDF (neutral detergent fiber) content. But the content if in virto dry matter digestibility was higher than others. In $2^{nd}$ year, the nutritive value of $2^{nd}$ and $4^{th}$ harvested grasses were higher and average RFV (relative feed value) value was the highest at $4^{th}$ harvest. According to this result, orchardgrass and tall fescue based mixture would be recommendable for farm who considering productivity and timothy based mixture would be recommendable for considering forage quality in middle areas of Korea.