• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

Background: Calcineurin plays a crucial role in T cell activation, cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, and its over-expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and stroke. However, the expression and function of calcineurin in the pathologic lesion of chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid synovium, remain to be defined. This study was aimed to determine the role of calcineurin in inflammatory arthritis and investigate the expression and function of calcineurin in the rheumatoid synovium and synoviocytes, the actual site of chronic inflammation. Methods: Immuno-histochemical staining using specific antibody to calcineurin was perfomed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were isolated from RA and OA patients, and cultured with IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor. The calcineurin expression was assessed by phosphatase assay and Western blotting analysis. IL-6, -10, -17, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9 released into the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. After transfection with GFP-Cabin 1 gene into synoviocytes, the levels of IL-6 and MMPs were measured by ELISA. Results: Calcineurin was highly expressed in the lining layer of synovium and cultured synoviocytes of RA patients. The elevated calcineurin activity in the rheumatoid synoviocytes was triggered by proin flammatory cytokines such as IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In contrast, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, failed to increase the calcineurin activity. The targeted inhibition of calcineurin by the over-expression of Cabin 1, a natural calcineurin antagonist, inhibited the production of IL-6 and MMP-2 by rheumatoid synoviocytes in a similar manner to the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that abnormal activation of calcineurin in the synoviocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis, and thus provide a potential target for controlling inflammatory arthritis.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.360-367
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• 2000

'Yumyeong' peach has desirable characteristics of long shelf-life and specific non-melting nature with long harvesting period. However, some fruits harvested too late tend to show fruit pithiness symptom or internal breakdown. The study was conducted to investigate the differences between fruit flesh pithiness and internal breakdown symptoms, and to find out inducing factors of flesh pithiness in 'Yumyeong' peach. The incidence of flesh pithiness was higher in the fruits harvested late. Sugar and malic acid contents were not different between normal fruits and flesh pithiness fruits, but the acidity was significantly lower affected by low citric acid content in flesh pithiness fruit. In flesh pithiness fruits, calcium contents were low in both skin and flesh. Occurrence of flesh pithiness fruits was high in the years with low precipitation and high temperature for 2 months before harvest. In observations on morphological characteristics, the parts showing flesh pithiness consisted of smaller cells than the normal parts. Tonoplasts were disintegrated and the number of dead cells was high in internal breakdown fruits, while the tonoplasts were intact with contracted vacuoles in flesh pithiness fruits. Tylosises were observed in vascular tissues around the flesh pithiness, therefore, it was assumed that those tylosises restricts flesh tissue development resulting in flesh pithiness. Other varieties such as 'Fantasia' and 'Wolmi' also showed tylosis and smaller cells were observed in the flesh tissue of these cultivars, indicating abnormal growth of the flesh part. These results suggested the possibility of the occurrence of pithiness like symptoms in other peach varieties.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures in pregnant 10 Maltese, 10 Yorkshire Terrier, 15 Shih-tzu, and 10 Miniature Schnauzer bitches, respectively. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0ng/ml. The gestational length was $63.4{\sim}63.6$ (range: $61{\sim}65$) days and the geatational length was no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days $18.9{\sim}19.5\;(17{\sim}22)$, zonary placenta at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}28)$, yolk sac membrane at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}27)$, yolk sac tubular shape at days $26.1{\sim}26.3\;(24{\sim}28)$, and amniotic membrane at days $26.1{\sim}28.2\;(24{\sim}31)$, respectively. The time of the first detection of the extra-fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the fetal structures were; embryo initial detection at days $22.5{\sim}22.9\;(21{\sim}24)$, heartbeat at days $23.2{\sim}23.8\;(21{\sim}25)$, embryo bipolar shape $27.6{\sim}28.9\;(26{\sim}30)$, fetal movement at days $31.9{\sim}32.8\;(27{\sim}34)$, limb buds at days $29.1{\sim}30.7\;(27{\sim}33)$, stomach at days $31.1{\sim}33.1\;(29{\sim}34)$, urinary bladder at days $32.4{\sim}33.2\;(29{\sim}35)$, skeleton at days $34.7{\sim}35.9\;(34{\sim}39)$, and kidney at days $42.1{\sim}44.7\;(41{\sim}48)$, respectively. The the time of the first detection of the fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). These results indicate the evaluation of the time of first detection and ultrasonographic characteristics of the gestational structures might be useful for pregnancy diagnosis, estimating fetal age, embryonic resorption, fetal monster, abnormal fetal growth and fetal viability, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.226-233
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• 2012

Ethanol exposure during gestational period is related to growth retardation, morphological abnormality, and even in neurological abnormalities including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like behaviors on offspring. However, relatively little is known about the effects of maternal ethanol consumption prior to conception on their offspring. In this study, we investigated whether maternal ethanol administration during preconceptional phase produces ADHD-like behaviors in the rat offspring. Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were administrated ethanol via intragastric intubation with dosing regimen of 6 g/kg daily for 10 consecutive days and treated female rats then mated with non-treated male SD rats after 8 weeks. Another group subjected to the same procedure as those conducted on ethanol treated group except the saline administration instead of ethanol. Offspring was tested for their ADHD-like behaviors using open field test, Y maze test and impulsivity test that is performed in the aversive electronic foot shock paradigm. Offspring of preconceptional ethanol treated (EtOH) group showed hyperlocomotive activity, attention deficit and impulsivity. And reduction of striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) level was observed by Western blot in the EtOH group, compared to control (Con) group, while the immunohistochemical analysis exhibited increased expression of norepinephrine transporter (NET) in the frontal cortex. These results suggest that maternal ethanol consumption in the preconceptional phase induces ADHD-like behaviors in offspring that might be related to the abnormal expression of DAT and NET in rat.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.197-212
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• 2014

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common malignant primary bone tumors and NF-${\kappa}B$ appears to play a causative role, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. OS is one of the pleomorphic, highly metastasized and invasive neoplasm which is capable to generate osteoid, osteoclast and osteoblast matrix. Its high incidence has been reported in adolescent and children. Cell signal cascade is the pivotal functional mechanism acquired during the differentiation, proliferation, growth and survival of the cells in neoplasm including OS. The major limitation to the success of chemotherapy in OS is the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). Answers to all such queries might come from the knock-in experiments in which the combined approach of miRNAs with NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway is put into use. Abnormal miRNAs can modulate several epigenetical switching as a hallmark of number of diseases via different cell signaling. Studies on miRNAs have opened up the new avenues for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancers including OS. Collectively, through the present study an attempt has been made to establish a new systematic approach for the investigation of microRNAs, bio-physiological factors and their target pairs with NF-${\kappa}B$ to ameliorate oncogenesis with the "bridge between miRNAs and NF-${\kappa}B$". The application of NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors in combination with miRNAs is expected to result in a more efficient killing of the cancer stem cells and a slower or less likely recurrence of cancer.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 1998

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease with profound effects on oral health and periodontal wound healing. Uncontrolled diabetes adversely affects surgical wound healing and is often associated with abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts. Human gingival fibroblasts and PDL cells were chosen because they are intimately involved in periodontal therapy and are important for the success of surgical procedure such as guided tissue regeneration. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether cellular activity and collagen synthesis by glucose pre-treated human gingival fibroblasts and PDL cells are influenced by insulin, and whether healthy cells differ from glucose treated cells. Cells were cultured with DMEM at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$, 100% humidified incubator. To evaluate the effect of glucose on gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells, the cells were seeded at a cell density of $1{\times}10^4\;cells/well$ culture plates and treated with 20 and 50mM of glucose for 5 days. Then MTT assay was carried out. To evaluate the effect of insulin on glucose-pretreated cells, the cells were seeded at a cell density of $1{\times}10^4\;cells/well$ culture plates and treated with 20 and 50mM of glucose for 5 days. After incubation, $10^3$, $10^4$ and $10^5mU/l$ of insulin were also added to the each well and incubated for 2 days, respectively. Then, MTT assay and collagen synthesis assay were carried out. The results indicate that cellular activity of gingival fibroblasts significantly increased by glucose while periodontal ligament cells were unaffected and cellular activity of gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells were unaffected by insulin. Collagen synthesis of gingival fibroblast with 20mM glucose and insulin unaffected, but 50mM glucose and insulin increased than control. Collagen synthesis of periodontal ligament cell with 20mM glucose and $10^5mU/l$ insulin significantly increased than other groups and 50mM glucose pretreated PDL cells significantly increased at $10^3mU/l$ insulin but decreased at $10^4mU/l$ insulin. Our findings indicated that these cell types differed in their growth response to glucose, and the increase in collagen synthesis was significantly raised at insulin level of $10^3mU/l$ in gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells except 20mM glucose pretreated periodontal ligament cells.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.670-674
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• 2005

Supernumerary tooth develops as a result of abnormal proliferation of the dental lamina during the initiation stage of dental development. It could be a sporadic occurrence or a hereditary transmission. Supernumerary tooth occurs with a frequency of 1 to 3%. Generally, there is a 2:1 preference for boys. It is usually found in the anterior portion of the maxilla and may be associated with complications such as impaction, malposition of permanent teeth, formation of diastema, cysts and eruption into nasal cavity, The position of supernumerary tooth found in the anterior portion of the maxilla is determined by the axis of the tooth. One third of supernumerary tooth in the anterior portion of the maxilla has no possibility of eruption due to its invertedly impacted position. However, as long as the coronal part of the follicle remains intact, migration of supernumerary tooth is possible. The migration may occur into the palate, the premolar region, the sinus or the nasal cavity. Also, growth of vertical dimension of maxilla could make surgical approach difficult as time goes by For this reason, we have found invertedly impacted mesiodens moved to the vault of the palate in the two cases, and extracted supernumerary tooth surgically.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2003

The dielectric and sintering characteristics of composites made by substituting Ca ion to Ba-site and Zr ion to Ti site in $(Ba{1-x}Ca_x)(Ti{0.96-yZr_ySn_{0.04})O_3$ $(0.15{\leq}x{\leq}0.20,\;0.09{\leq}y{\leq}0.14)$ were investigated. As the content of Ca was more than 15 mol%, composite was formed by precipitating the second phase whose main element was $CaTiO_3$ and the fraction of the second phase was increased. The curie temperature of composites was depended on Ca concentration, $-1.7^{\circ}C$ per mol% and the maximum dielectric constant of composite was decreased by the rate of 200/mol%. The substitution of Zr ion decreased the curie temperature by the rate of $10^{\circ}C$ per mol% and the maximum dielectric constant was decreased by 217/mol% due to the increase of diffuse phase transition. The density and insulation breakdown characteristics were improved by suppressing the abnormal grain growth due to the increase of second phase. We developed the composition of Y5U (EIA standard) condenser which had high breakdown voltage and dielectric constant by controlling diffuse phase transition by the addition of Zr ion into composite.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.573-579
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• 2011

Highly textured Ag, Al and Al:Si back reflectors for flexible n-i-p silicon thin-film solar cells were prepared on 100-${\mu}m$-thick stainless steel substrates by DC magnetron sputtering and the influence of their surface textures on the light-scattering properties were investigated. The surface texture of the metal back reflectors was influenced by the increased grain size and by the bimodal distribution that arose due to the abnormal grain growth at elevated deposition temperatures. This can be explained by the structure zone model (SZM). With an increase in the deposition temperatures from room temperature to $500^{\circ}C$, the surface roughness of the Al:Si films increased from 11 nm to 95 nm, whereas that of the pure Ag films increased from 6 nm to 47 nm at the same deposition temperature. Although Al:Si back reflectors with larger surface feature dimensions than pure Ag can be fabricated at lower deposition temperatures due to the lower melting point and the Si impurity drag effect, they show poor total and diffuse reflectance, resulting from the low reflectivity and reflection loss on the textured surface. For a further improvement of the light-trapping efficiency in solar cells, a new type of back reflector consisting of Ag/Al:Si bilayer is suggested. The surface morphology and reflectance of this reflector are closely dependent on the Al:Si bottom layer and the Ag top layer. The relationship between the surface topography and the light-scattering properties of the bilayer back reflectors is also reported in this paper.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2011

In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of the hot water extract from red bean (Phaseolus angularis) against oxidative DNA and cell damage induced by hydroxyl radical. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, and $Fe^{2+}$-chelating assay. Although the extract with hot water didn't scavenge the hydroxyl radical, it removed and chelated hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron necessary for the induction of hydroxyl radical by 71% and 64% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Its protective effect on oxidative DNA damage was carried using ${\Psi}$X-174 RF I plasmid DNA comparing the conversion level of supercoiled form of the plasmid DNA into open-circular form and linear form and the expression level of phospho-H2AX in NIH 3T3 cells. In ${\Psi}$X-174 RF I plasmid DNA cleavage assay, it inhibited oxidative DNA damage by 96% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$. Also, it decreased the expression of phospho-H2AX by 50.1% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$. Its protective effect against oxidative cell damage was measured by MTT assay and the expression level of p21 protein in NIH 3T3 cells. In MTT assay for the protective effect against the oxidative cell damage, it inhibited the oxidative cell death and the abnormal cell growth induced by hydroxyl radical. Also, it inhibited p21 protein expression by 98% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$. In conclusion, the results of the present studies indicate that hot water extract from red bean exhibits antioxidant properties and inhibit oxidative DNA damage and the cell death caused by hydroxyl radical.