• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.457-464
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• 2017

Etoricoxib features antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties concomitantly, suggesting that it may be beneficial in testicular ischemia reperfusion (I/R) damage. Our aim is to investigate the effects of etoricoxib on testicular I/R damage induced with torsion-detorsion (TD). The etoricoxib + torsion-detorsion (ETD) groups of animals were given etoricoxib in 50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight (ETD-50 and ETD-100), while the testes torsion-detorsion (TTD) and sham operation rat group (SOG) animals were given single oral doses of distilled water as a solvent. TTD, ETD-50 and ETD-100 groups were subjected to $720^{\circ}$ degrees torsion for four hours, and detorsion for four hours. The SOG group was not subjected to this procedure. Biochemical, gene expression and histopathological analyses were carried out on the testicular tissues. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were significantly higher, and the levels of total glutathione (tGSH) and glutathione reductase (GSHRd) were significantly lower in the TTD group, compared to the ETD-50, ETD-100 and SOG groups. Etoricoxib at a dose of 100 mg/kg better prevented I/R damage than the 50 mg/kg dose. Etoricoxib may be useful in clinical practice in the reduction of I/R damage on testes caused by torsion-detorsion.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.777-784
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• 2013

This study compared the effects of diets consisting of experimental extruded pellets (EP), commercial soft extruded pellets (SEP), and raw-fish-based moist pellets (MP) on the growth, flesh quality, and histology of the Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Three replicated groups of 60 fish each (initial mean weight 152 g) were fed one of two experimental EPs (EP1 and EP2), two commercial SEPs (SEP1 and SEP2), or MP for 11 weeks. The survival, weight gain, and final mean weight of the fish did not differ significantly among the groups. The highest feed efficiency was in fish fed MP (P<0.05), and the protein efficiency ratio of fish fed MP was significantly higher than that of fish fed EP1, EP2, or SEP1, but not significantly different from that of fish fed EP2. The daily feed intake of the fish fed the EPs and SEPs was significantly higher than that of the fish fed MP (P<0.05). The condition factor, Hepatosomatic Index, and Viscerasomatic Index of the fish did not differ significantly among the groups. No notable differences in the textural properties of the dorsal muscle, plasma biochemical parameters, or histological features of the fish were observed in fish fed any diet. This suggests that extruded pellets can be used to feed growing Korean rockfish without compromising growth, flesh quality, or histopathological change in comparison to raw fish-based moist pellets.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1500-1509
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• 2020

Drought is a major abiotic factor and has drastically reduced crop yield globally, thus damaging the agricultural industry. Drought stress decreases crop productivity by negatively affecting crop morphological, physiological, and biochemical factors. The use of drought tolerant bacteria improves agricultural productivity by counteracting the negative effects of drought stress on crops. In this study, we isolated bacteria from the rhizosphere of broccoli field located in Daehaw-myeon, Republic of Korea. Sixty bacterial isolates were screened for their growth-promoting capacity, in vitro abscisic acid (ABA), and sugar production activities. Among these, bacterial isolates YNA59 was selected based on their plant growth-promoting bacteria traits, ABA, and sugar production activities. Isolate YNA59 highly tolerated oxidative stress, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and produces superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in the culture broth. YNA59 treatment on broccoli significantly enhanced plant growth attributes, chlorophyll content, and moisture content under drought stress conditions. Under drought stress, the endogenous levels of ABA, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) increased; however, inoculation of YNA59 markedly reduced ABA (877 ± 22 ng/g) and JA (169.36 ± 20.74 ng/g) content, while it enhanced SA levels (176.55 ± 9.58 ng/g). Antioxidant analysis showed that the bacterial isolate YNA59 inoculated into broccoli plants contained significantly higher levels of SOD, CAT, and APX, with a decrease in GPX levels. The bacterial isolate YNA59 was therefore identified as Variovorax sp. YNA59. Our current findings suggest that newly isolated drought tolerant rhizospheric Variovorax sp. YNA59 is a useful stress-evading rhizobacterium that improved drought-stress tolerance of broccoli and could be used as a bio-fertilizer under drought conditions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.335-341
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• 2015

Objective : The main causes of spinal cord ischemia are a variety of vascular pathologies causing acute arterial occlusions. We investigated neuro-protective effects of kefir on spinal cord ischemia injury in rats. Methods : Rats were divided into three groups : 1) sham operated control rats; 2) spinal cord ischemia group fed on a standard diet without kefir pretreatment; and 3) spinal cord ischemia group fed on a standard diet plus kefir. Spinal cord ischemia was performed by the infrarenal aorta cross-clamping model. The spinal cord was removed after the procedure. The biochemical and histopathological changes were observed within the samples. Functional assessment was performed for neurological deficit scores. Results : The kefir group was compared with the ischemia group, a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels was observed (p<0.05). Catalase and superoxide dismutase levels of the kefir group were significantly higher than ischemia group (p<0.05). In histopathological samples, the kefir group is compared with ischemia group, there was a significant decrease in numbers of dead and degenerated neurons (p<0.05). In immunohistochemical staining, hipoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ and caspase 3 immunopositive neurons were significantly decreased in kefir group compared with ischemia group (p<0.05). The neurological deficit scores of kefir group were significantly higher than ischemia group at 24 h (p<0.05). Conclusion : Our study revealed that kefir pretreatment in spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion reduced oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration as a neuroprotective agent. Ultrastructural studies are required in order for kefir to be developed as a promising therapeutic agent to be utilized for human spinal cord ischemia in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 1994

Saponin of Panax ginseng (C.A. Meyer) is composed of Protopanaxatriol (PT) and Protopanaxa- diol (PD). We investigated the effects of PT and PD on the contractility and $^{45}Ca$ uptake in the pig coronary artery. Isometric tension in the helical strips and $^{45}Ca$ uptake in the ring strips were measured in the presence or absence of PT and PD. PT and PD did not affect the high K+ (40 mM)-induced contraction but relaxed the ACh-induced contraction in a dose4ependent manner (1~10 mg/dl). The vasorelaxing effect of PT on the ACh-induced contraction was more potent than that of PD. Those relaxations were partially suppressed by the rubbing of endothelium removal. ACh-induced contraction in the $Ca^{2+}$-free Tyrode's solution was suppressed by the pretreatment of PT or PD. Following the depletion of ACh-sensitive intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ pool, ACh-induced contraction was suppressed by the pratreatment of PT or PD. With the pretreatment of PT or PD, $^{45}Ca$ uptake by high K+ (43 mM) was not changed but that by ACh was suppressed in the pig coronary artery. From the above results, we suggested that the vasorelaxing effect of PT and PD of Panax ginseng was due to inhibition of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release, inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake via receptor-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channels and in part a release of vasorelaxing factor from endothelium in pig coronary artery.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.511-518
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• 2001

The effect of mycolactone, a recently reported apoptosis-inducing factor, was investigated in SCC15 oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) cell line. Mycolactone rapidly induced cell death in OSCC cells in 2days, which was similar to that found in apoptotic cell such as detaching from culture plate and rounding-up of cells. Apoptotic cells were increased 4hrs after mycolactone treatment and more than half of cells showed apoptosis after 72hrs. Caspase 3 activation a biochemical evidence of apoptosis, was determined by Western blotting. Caspase 3 activation was started at 2hrs that lasted until 8hrs after mycolactone treatment. The expression of bcl-2 family genes was determined to explain the mechanism of apoptosis found in OSCC cells. The expressions of bad, bak, and bax (pro-apoptotic genes) and bcl-w and bcl-2 genes (anti-apoptotic genes) were not changed by mycolactone treatment. The expression of bcl-xi was decreased 8 hrs after mycolactone treatment. Mcl-1 expression was initially increased at 2 hrs which was decreased 8 hrs after mycolactone treatment. The down-regulation of these two anti-apoptotic genes might explain the mycolactone-induced apoptosis in OSCC cells. In this study, mycholactone was revealed to induce cell death in OSCC cells apoptosis and the apoptosis mechanism of OSCC cells was shown to be down-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-xi and mcl-1. These results suggested the applicability of mycolactone for the development of an anti-cancer drug candidate by inducing apoptosis of OSCC cancer cell.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.168-174
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate correlation between soybean and their products consumption and risk factors for atherosclerosis in the healthyKorean adults. Health behaviors such as smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption and dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of 193 healthy adult subjects aged from 26 to 69 were assessed by using interview and semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The BMI, blood pressure and biochemical parameters of blood were examined as well as preferences for taste and family history of disease. Data were expressed as quartile according to soybean and their products consumption. The average daily soybean and their product consumption for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th percentile group were 36, 78, 112, and 182g, respectively. The more consumption of soybean and their products, the more intake of energy, protein, lipid, fiber, Ca, cholesterol as well as frequency of exercise, smoking and drinking. Serum TG, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and AI as risk factors of atherosclerosis were positively correlated with smoking and drinking (p<0.05). Especially, serum TG was positively correlated with hypertension and BMI (p<0.01). But, no correlation between exercise, salty taste, meat preference, soybean products consumption and atherosclerosis risk factors was found, which means that life styles such as smoking and drinking rather than dietary habits might influence atherosclerosis in healthy adults. In conclusion, present soy products consumption should be increased by way of developing new generation soy products in order to exert anti-atherosclerotic effect by soybean in human.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 1994

Health effects of pesticide among vinylhouse workers in Sangjoo County, Kyungpook Province were assessed by measuring cholinesterase, glutathion reductase, and methemoglobin. Activities of cholinesterases among vinylhouse workers and general farmers were 3.89U and 3.98U in serum and 5.29U and 5.50U in red blood cells, respectively. While levels of methemoglobin between vinylhouse workers(0.16%) and general farmers(0.17%) were very similar, glutathione reductase among vinylhouse workers were 8% lower than that of general farmers. Inhibition of RBC cholinesterase among vinylhouse workers was two times greater than general farmers, suggesting a greater exposure of vinylhouse workers to the organophosphate pesticides. Methemoglobin level among vinylhouse workers with more than or equal to 10 vinylhouse units was 13% higher than that of the workers with less than 10 units. Vinylhouse workers using protective gears during pesticide spray showed higher level of reduced glutathione and lower level of methemoglobin, as compared to the non-users. This indicates that protective gears play an important role against pesticide exposure. Vinylhouse workers practicing good personal hygiene showed a higher level of reduced glutathione, as compared to those with poor personal hygiene, indicating that personal hygiene is also an important factor in reducing pesticide exposure. The present study represents a first attempt to analyze cholinesterase, methemoglobin and glutathione reductase activities among the vinylhouse workers. While neither vinylhouse workers nor general farmers showed abnormal findings among biochemical parameters used in the present study, increased level of methemoglobin and decrease of glutathione reductase activity among vinylhouse workers suggest that these workers have been subject to a higher exposure of pesticide than general farmers.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.487-496
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• 1995

Previous studies have demonstrated that not all A. actinomycetemcomitans produced significant level of leukotoxic factor and its leukotoxicity have associated with serotype and genetic variation. Our aim was to investigate on the interrelationship between serotype and leukotoxicity of an A. actinomycetemcomitans consisting of 13 clinically well characterized. Korean isolates and to evaluate if particular virulent clonal types of A. actinomycetemcomitans are associated with periodontal disease. For this study, 13 strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans from 6 patients with periodontal disease were isolated and identified by using a selective medium(tryptic soy agar supplemented with 10% serum, $75{\mu}g$ of bacitracin and $5{\mu}g$ of vancomycin per ml) in 10% C02 incubator for 3days with routine Gram staining, colony morphology and biochemical test..For serotyping, antisera were prepared from reference strains of 5 serotypes. (ATCC 29523,Y4, SUNY aB 67, IDH 781, IDH 1705) and then ammonium sulfate precipitation, immunoabsorption and indirect immunofluoroscent procedures were done. For analysis of leukotoxicity, sonic extract of A. actinomycetemcomitans exposed to PMN, and trypan blue was stained for counting the cell viability. Finally Southern blot analyses of genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme Tag I was done and the Southern blots were hybridized with the 530bp fragment, termed delta 530, originating from the ltx promoter of strain 652 and deleted from strain JP2. Also ltxA-3.1 and SC2 probe from strain JP2 were hybridized with genomic DNA fragments. Results reveal that strains isolated showed approximately equal proportions of 3 serotypes(b, d, e) and serotype b was not detected. 2 patients harbored 2 different serotypes in the same disease site. The prevalence of leukotoxic strain was 23% and there was no relationship between serotype, leukotoxicity and clinical observations. Especially virulent clonal types of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitan (JP2 strain) could not found. Further studies are necessary on the genetic polymorphism of leukotoxin and its relations to clinical status.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2017

Malnutrition is common and the major risk factor of mortality of end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The aim of this study is to assess nutritional status of malnutrition patients on dialysis by various methods and compare nutritional parameters of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with hemodialysis patients. 137 patients on dialysis from April 2009 to July 2013 were enrolled. Nutritional parameters of 66 CAPD and 71 hemodialysis patients were investigated by anthropometry, biochemical study, diet analysis and questionnaires. Malnutrition patients were selected by body mass index (BMI), serum albumin and pre-albumin based on International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) diagnostic criteria for protein-energy wasting and compared with non-malnutrition patients. In comparison of CAPD and hemodialysis patients, most anthropometric values showed no significant difference except total body water (TBW). TBW was lower in CAPD patients (P=0.024). Although serum albumin was slightly higher in hemodialysis patients (P=0.047), pre-albumin were significantly higher in CAPD patients (P=0.000). Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was higher in hemodialysis patients (P=0.000). In diet analysis, Total calorie (P=0.000) and total cholesterol (P=0.012) intakes were higher in CAPD patients. Mean subjective global assessment (SGA) grade was higher in CAPD patients (P=0.003). Several nutritional parameters of CAPD patients were better than hemodialysis patients implying more intensive therapeutic approach may be needed for hemodialysis patients. We have to understand multiple factors contributing malnutrition of ESRD patients and individualized therapeutic approach is needed.