• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.191-202
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• 2000

Background: Bronchial asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness(BHR) and inflammation. The cyclooxygenase(COX) is believed to be one of the important enzymes in these inflammatory reactions. Recently, the COX was divided into two isoforms, COX1 and COX2. COX2 is induced by lipopolysaccharide and some cytokines at the inflammation site. Prostaglandin E2(PGE2), produced from COX2, may affect airway inflammation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of COX2 inhibitor on COX2 expression, plasma PGE2, airway resistance and histologic finding in an animal asthma model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. The normal control group did not receive any treatment, but the asthma control group was sensitized by ovalbumin but not treated with the COX2 inhibitor(nimesulide, Mesulid$^{(R)}$). The treatment group was sensitized and treated with nimesulide. Specific airway resistance(sRaw) before and after nimesulide ingestion was investigated. The PGE2 level in the plasma was examined and COX2 immunogold-silver stain on lung tissue was performed. Results: sRaw and eosionophilic infiltration on airway, which increased in the asthma control group, was compared to normal control(p=0.014). However, there was no difference in eosinophilic infiltration between asthma control and treatment groups(p=0.408) and no difference in COX2 expression on bronchiolar epithelium among the three groups. Plasma PGE2 levels were not statically different among the three groups. Conclusion: The role of COX2 in the allergen-induced BHR was not significant The effect of nimesulide was not observed on BHR, COX2 expression, and plasma PGE2 level. Therefore, COX2 may not be a major substance of allergic asthma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.492-500
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• 2016

In this study, the effects of Colpomenia sinuosa (CS) extract on serum lipid level and bone formation in an ovariectomized animal model were investigated. Twenty four nine-week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats supplemented with CS extract at 50 mg/kg bw (OVX-CS50) or 200 mg/kg bw (OVX-CS200). Three OVX groups were surgically ovariectomized while the SHAM group was sham-operated. CS extract was orally administrated at 1 mL per day. Analysis of serum lipid contents found that the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the OVX-CON group were higher than those in the SHAM group. Notably, upon administration of CS extract after ovariectomy, triglyceride levels tended to significantly decrease. In addition, platelet aggregation ability decreased in groups treated with CS extract compared to the OVX-CON group. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity as an indicator of bone formation was lower in the CS extract group compared to the OVX-CON group. Collagen contents in bone and cartilage were reduced by ovariectomy, whereas the CS extract-supplemented groups exhibited higher concentrations in bone. According to these results, CS extract improved serum lipid parameters and osteogenesis in ovariectomized rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1823-1829
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• 2016

This study investigated the optimal percentage of brownies substituted with rice bran dietary fiber (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%). The sample and control were compared for quality characteristics, specific gravity, viscosity, pH, moisture content, water activity, specific volume, color, textural characteristic, consumer acceptance, and CATA (check-all-that-apply). The specific gravity of the control sample was not significantly different among the samples. The viscosity was highest at the brownie containing 12% of rice bran dietary fiber. Moisture content and water activity were highest in the 6% sample. pH of control sample batter was highest, but reduced with increasing amounts of rice bran dietary fiber. For colors, lightness of the 6% sample batter was highest at 25.31, and redness and yellowness significantly increased with increasing amounts of rice bran dietary fiber. For textural characteristics, hardness, and chewiness significantly increased with increasing amounts of rice bran dietary fiber. Cohesiveness and resilience were not significantly different between samples. In the sensory evaluation, overall acceptability was highest in the control group and lowest for the 12% sample. In the frequency analysis of the CATA, as rice bran dietary fiber was added, the amount of bran flavor, oliy, and unpleasant increased while frequency of bitterness, sweetness, and chocolate taste decreased. In the principal component analysis, characteristics of unpleasant, oily, soybean flavor, and sweetness were strongly detected in the 12% sample. The control sample showed strong sweetness and bitterness. The results indicate that 3% to 6% rice bran dietary fiber is appropriate for production of brownies.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of attenuation correction (AC) and scatter correction (SC) on the quantification of PET count rates. Materials and Methods: To assess the effects of AC and SC $^{18}F$-FDG PET images of phantom and cat brain were acquired using microPET R4 scanner. Thirty-minute transmission images using $^{68}Ge$ source and emission images after injection of FDG were acquired. PET images were reconstructed using 2D OSEM. AC and SC were applied. Regional count rates were measured using ROIs drawn on cerebral cortex including frontal, parietal, and latral temporal lobes and deep gray matter including head of caudate nucleus, putamen and thalamus for pre- and post-AC and SC images. The count rates were then normalized with the injected dose per body weight. To assess the effects of AC, count ratio of "deep gray matter/cerebral cortex" was calculated. To assess the effects of SC, ROIs were also drawn on the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), and contrast between them ((GM-WM)/GM was measured. Results: After the AC, count ratio of "deep gray matter/cerebral cortex" was increased by $17{\pm}7%$. After the SC, contrast was also increased by $12{\pm}3%$. Conclusion: Relative count of deep gray matter and contrast between gray and white matters were increased after AC and SC, suggesting that the AC would be critical for the quantitative analysis of cat brain PET data.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Nitroxoline is an antibiotic agent. It is used for the treatment of the second bacterial infection by the colibacillosis, salmonellosis and viral disease of the poultry. When the nitroxoline is indiscreetly used, the problem about the abuse of the antibiotics can occur. Therefore, this study presented the residue analytical method of nitroxoline in food for the safety management of animal farming products. METHODS AND RESULTS: A simple, sensitive and specific method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle by high performance liquid chromatograph with PDA was developed. Sample extraction with acetonitrile, purification with SPE cartridge (MCX) were applied, then quantitation by HPLC with C18 column under the gradient condition with 0.1 % tetrabutylammonium hydroxide-phosphoric acid and methanol was performed. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.999, analysed from 0.02 to 0.5 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in chicken muscle showed 0.02 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 72.9 to 88.1 % in chicken muscle. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 12 % in 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Newly developed method for nitroxoline in chicken muscle was applicable to food inspection with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the effect of supplemental lighting on the growth and yield of hydroponically grown sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. sprit) under low levels of natural light in winter. The plants were treated with natural light only (control), 3-hour supplemental lighting before sunrise, after sunrise and after sunset with high pressure sodium (HPS, 400W). As the result of these three treatments, the supplemental lighting promoted photosynthesis in the low light intensity condition and particularly photosynthesis was more active right after sun rise in the morning, 1.5-$3.0{\mu}molCO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ comparing to those of supplemental lighting after sunset, 0.5-$1.5{\mu}molCO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance sharply increased with supplemental lighting after sunrise then they decreased again after turning the lights off. Stomatal size was observed $32.2{\mu}m^2$ after supplemental lighting, whereas the size of the natural light was almost closed at $7.7{\mu}m^2$. The average plant height of sweet papper cv. spirit was 185 cm before sunrise, 188 cm after sunrise and 208 cm after sunset with supplemental lighting for 3hours while the control was 171 cm. With supplemental lighting a better number of fruit set per plant was measured 4.3 before and after sunrise, 3.7 after sunset but 2.6 in the control. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the sugar content ($^{\circ}Brix$) degree between treatment of supplemental lighting, whereas slight differences between seasons were seen. The marketable fruit yield of sweet pepper (cv. spirit) was $116.0kg{\cdot}ha$ with supplemental lighting, whereas the control (natural light only) was $75.8kg{\cdot}ha$. Despite of spending electricity and depreciation cost, the economic analysis showed net income with supplemental lighting after sunrise was 51% higher than control treatment in cv. spirit.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.718-725
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• 2018

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been implicated in cell proliferation and apoptosis in several types of cancer. In this study, the impact of TLR4 activation on apoptotic cell death in gynecologic cancers induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. Cervical cancer cell lines were produced from isolated surgical specimens supplied by Paik Hospital. The primary cultures of normal myometrium and gynecologic cancers, including cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, were used to examine the differences in morphological characteristics between normal and cancerous cells. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to determine the relative expression levels of TLR4 gene involved in apoptosis-associated signaling in cervical cancer cells. The cancer cell colonies showed a tendency to reach high levels of confluency compared with normal cells. In addition, an enhanced growth rate and loss of contact inhibition were observed in gynecologic cancer cells compared with normal cells (doubling times of 16.6 hr vs. 26 hr, respectively). The expression level of ITGA5, an alpha-5 integrin marker, was upregulated in normal myometrial cells, but this tendency was not exhibited in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, p53 tumor suppressor gene expression was upregulated, whereas TLR4 and caspase-3 gene expressions were downregulated in cervical cancer cells. Notably, the expression levels of TLR4 and caspase-3 were increased significantly in LPS-treated cancer cells compared with those in non-LPS-treated cells. These results suggest that the TLR4-mediated caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway could be suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the optimum nutrient solution, pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density to growth of common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) in a closed-type plant production system. Three-band radiation type fluorescent lamps with a 12-h photoperiod were used. Nutrient film technique systems with three layers were used for the plant growth system. Environmental conditions, such as air temperature, relative humidity and $CO_2$ concentration were controlled by an ON/OFF operation. Treatments were comparison of the nutrient solution of Horticultural Experiment Station in Japan (NHES) and the nutrient solution of Jeju National University (NJNU), pH 6.0 and 7.0, irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min, light intensity 90 and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and within-row spacing 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm with between-row spacing 15 cm. Optimum macronutrients were composed N 7.65, P 0.65, K 4.0, Ca 1.6 and Mg $1.0mM{\cdot}L^{-1}$. There were no significant interactions between pH 6.0 and 7.0 about shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of common ice plant. Irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min was also the same result. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were highest at $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were decreased according to increasing the planting density. From the above results, we concluded that optimum nutrient solution, optimum levels of pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density were 6.0-7.0 and 10 min, $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and $15{\times}15cm$, respectively for growth of common ice plant in a closed-type plant production system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2016

In this study, a planting density-growth-harvest (PGH) chart was developed to easily read the growth and harvest factors such as crop growth rate, relative growth rate, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, harvesting time, marketable rate, and marketable yield of common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). The plants were grown in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system in a closed-type plant factory using fluorescent lamps with three-band radiation under a light intensity of $140{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and a photoperiod of 12 h. Growth and yield were analyzed under four planting densities ($15{\times}10cm$, $15{\times}15cm$, $15{\times}20cm$, and $15{\times}25cm$). Shoot fresh and dry weights per plant increased at a higher planting density until reached an upper limit and yield per area was also same tendency. Crop growth rate, relative growth rate and lost time were described using quadratic equation. A linear relationship between shoot dry weight and fresh weights was observed. PGH chart was constructed based on the growth data and making equations. For instance, with within row spacing (= 20 cm) and fresh weight per plant at harvest (= 100 g), we can estimate all the growth and harvest factors of common ice plant. The planting density, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, lost time, shoot dry weight per plant, harvesting time, and yield were $33plants/m^2$, $20g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, $0.27g{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 22 days, 2.5 g/plant, 26 days after transplanting, and $3.2kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. With this chart, we could easily obtain the growth factors such as planting density, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, lost time and the harvest factors such as shoot fresh and dry weights, harvesting time, marketable rate, and marketable yield with at least two parameters, for instance, planting distance and one of harvest factors of plant. PGH charts will be useful tools to estimate the growth and yield of crops and to practical design of a closed-type plant production system.