• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.143-151
• /
• 2022

Background: After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, biological alterations in the natural biota, including morphological changes of fir trees in forests surrounding the power plant, have been reported. Focusing on the terminal buds involved in the morphological formation of fir trees, this study developed a method for estimating the absorbed radiation dose rate using radionuclide distribution measurements from tree organs. Materials and Methods: A phantom composed of three-dimensional (3D) tree organs was constructed for the three upper whorls of the fir tree. A terminal bud was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations for the absorbed dose rate of radionuclides in the tree organs of the whorls. Evaluation of the absorbed dose targeted ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs, and ¹³⁷Cs, the main radionuclides subsequent to the FDNPP accident. The dose contribution from each tree organ was calculated separately using dose coefficients (DC), which express the ratio between the average activity concentration of a radionuclide in each tree organ and the dose rate at the terminal bud. Results and Discussion: The dose estimation indicated that the radionuclides in the terminal bud and bud scale contributed to the absorbed dose rate mainly by beta rays, whereas those in 1-year-old trunk/branches and leaves were contributed by gamma rays. However, the dose contribution from radionuclides in the lower trunk/branches and leaves was negligible. Conclusion: The fir tree model provides organ-specific DC values, which are satisfactory for the practical calculation of the absorbed dose rate of radiation from inside the tree. These calculations are based on the measurement of radionuclide concentrations in tree organs on the 1-year-old leader shoots of fir trees. With the addition of direct gamma ray measurements of the absorbed dose rate from the tree environment, the total absorbed dose rate was estimated in the terminal bud of fir trees in contaminated forests.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.321-331
• /
• 2021

Vancomycin, an antibiotic used occasionally as a last line of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is reportedly associated with nephrotoxicity. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and its associated role in renoprotection by lutein was also examined. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six treatment groups: control with normal saline, lutein (200 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg), vancomycin (500 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg) with lutein, and vancomycin (500 mg/kg) with lutein groups; they were euthanized after 7 days of treatment. Thereafter, samples of blood, urine, and kidney tissue of the mice were analyzed, followed by the determination of levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, renal creatine kinase; protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and caspase-3 in the kidney; and the expression of PPARγ, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in renal tissue. Results showed that the levels of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, and the activity of NAG, creatine kinase and caspase-3, were significantly increased in the vancomycin-treatment groups. Moreover, the levels of Nrf2 significantly decreased, while NF-κB expression increased. Lutein ameliorated these effects, and significantly increased PPARγ expression. Furthermore, it attenuated vancomycin-induced histological alterations such as, tissue necrosis and hypertrophy. Therefore, we conclude that lutein protects against vancomycin-induced renal injury by potentially upregulating PPARγ/Nrf2 expression in the renal tissues, and consequently downregulating the pathways: inflammation by NF-κB and apoptosis by caspase-3.

• 농업과학연구
• /
• 제48권1호
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2021

Yeast strains are capable of hydrolyzing non-digestible saccharides, such as melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose, found in soy meal components. This study revealed the biochemical properties of fermented soybean meal during 72 hours with kefir. Starchyose and raffinose, non-digestible components, were almost digested in kefir 150 mL + soybean meal 500 g + water 70 mL and galactose was produced. Proteolysis of the soybean meal produced most of the small molecule peptides in kefir 150 mL + soybean meal 500 g + water 70 mL. The production of the vitamin B group and C were the highest in kefir 250 mL + soybean meal 500 g. The yeast number of the fermented soybean meal was 7.0 × 10⁶ CFU·mL^-1 which was the highest in kefir 250 mL + soybean meal 500 g. The lactic acid bacteria of the fermented soybean meal was the highest at 3.5 × 10⁹ CFU·mL^-1 in kefir 70 mL + soybean meal 500 g. The antioxidant effect was the highest at 57% in kefir 250 mL + soybean meal 500 g. Expression of inflammation-related cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1β, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and interleukin [IL]-6) was significantly inhibited in fermented soybean meals with different treatments. These results suggest that fermented soybean meal by kefir has an antiinflammatory and anti-oxidation activity and could be utilized in feed manufacturing, and inhydrolyzing non-digestible soy meal components.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• 제45권2호
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2022

To assess the feasibility of silk sericin for non-textile application, the storage stability and biological safety of sericin were examined. It was extracted at 37℃, 70℃, 100℃, and 121℃ for 1, 3, and 5 h to elucidate the effect of extraction condition on the stability and safety of silk sericin. The solubility was increased till approximately 26% with extraction temperature of 121℃ for 1 h. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the molecular weight distribution depended on the extraction conditions. Extracted sericin displayed typical UV absorption bands upon spectrometric analysis. To examine the reproducibility of its obtained conformation, sericin was extracted thrice and its circular dichroism (CD) spectra was measured each time. Most CD spectra showed reproducibility regardless of temperature and time except under 100℃ extraction condition. The diversity of CD spectrum showed gradual reduction and was finally coincident with extraction time from 1 to 5 h. Notably, sericin has a negative peak of approximately 200 nm attributed to random coil conformation, regardless of extraction condition. However, at the 100℃ extraction condition, sericin showed both bands to be negative bands of approximately 200 and 220 nm, respectively. Sericin was centrifuged to determine the stability of storage conditions. The sericin extracted at 100℃ and 121℃ for 1 h was found to form gel rapidly within 1 h, but at 121℃ condition, the gel fraction was approximately 20% within 1 h which retained its phase regardless of storage time. The gel fraction of sericin extracted at 100℃ for 5 h increased with time, however at the 121℃ for 5 h condition, the gel fraction was measured to be less than 10% regardless of increase in storage time. Petriflim^TM AC plates test showed that sericin was safe from aerobic bacteria activity by extraction under high temperature.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2023

There have been many studies from the genetic system to physical activity and emotional expression such that there are gender differences. The purpose of this study was to determine how the structural characteristics of cortical thickness differ between males and females. This study used data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). To analyze age-specific sexual dimorphisms of cortical thickness, selected 8-80 year old subjects were divided into five detailed age range groups according to each criterion. A total of 1,700 individual brain MRI T1 data were registered in stereotaxic space for analysis and classified into white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). For surface-based analysis, the WM/GM surface was reconstructed from a spherical polygon model with 40962 vertices per hemisphere, and each vertex was extended to the GM/CSF boundary. Cortical thickness was then measured between each vertex using the t-link method. In the statistical analysis, intracranial volume was used as a covariate to exclude the effect of the difference in brain size of each individual, and the result of using age as a covariate was added to confirm the age effect within each group. Gender differences in cortical thickness had significant results by group. This may be an index to explain diseases with sexual dimorphism in prevalence or become a basis for explaining the characteristics of each sex that appear in behavior, personality, and aging. Therefore, the results of our study could be a criterion for age classification in future studies and for understanding 'normal' sexual dimorphism.

• 센서학회지
• /
• 제31권6호
• /
• pp.418-422
• /
• 2022

α-pinene is a natural volatile organic compound secreted by coniferous trees to protect themselves from attacks by insects, microorganisms, and viruses. Recently, studies have reported that α-pinene possesses pharmacological effects on various biological reactions such as anxiolytic, sleep-enhancing, anti-nociceptive, and inflammatory activity. Thus, forest bathing has recently received great attention as a novel therapy for treating severe diseases as well as psychological issues. However, appropriate places and timings for effective therapies are still veiled, because on-site monitoring of α-pinene gas in forests is barely possible. Although portable chemosensors could allow real-time analysis of α-pinene gas in forests, the α-pinene sensing properties of chemosensors have never been reported thus far. Herein, we report for the first time, the α-pinene sensing properties of an oxide semiconductor gas sensor based on rhombohedral In₂O₃ (h-In₂O₃) nanoparticles prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction. The h-In₂O₃ nanoparticle sensor showed a high response to α-pinene gas at ppm levels, even under humid conditions (for example, relative humidity of 50 %). The purpose of this research is to identify the potential of oxide semiconductor gas sensors for implementing portable devices that can detect α-pinene gas in forests in real-time.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제32권5호
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammation of Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract against UVB-damage in fibroblast. The skin is continuously exposed to damage from environmental stresses. UV radiation causes a variety of biological effects especially on the skin, including inflammation and photoaging. Methods : In this study, we tried to search for Leonurus sibiricus which exhibit protective activities against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative cell death, NO and $PGE_2$ production. HS68 cells were exposed to UVB ($120mJ/cm^2$) and treated with various concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, $8mg/m{\ell}$) of Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract for additional 24 h. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels generated by UV radiation were detected using a spectrofluorometer after DCF-DA staining. Also, HS68 cells were irradiated with UVB and then treated with Leonurus sibiricus methanol extract for 12 h. The lipid peroxidation was assayed by measuring the levels of 8-isoprostane secreted into the culture medium. Results : UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of Leonurus sibiricus aqueous methanol extracts. Oxidative cell damage was mediated $PGE_2$ in UVB-induced HS68 fibroblast cell, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with Leonurus sibiricus extracts. Also, the protective effect of these extract seemed to be mediated by inhibited intracellular ROS generation and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that Leonurus sibiricus aqueous methanol extracts may have anti-aging effects new functional materials against oxidative UVB stress-mediated skin damages.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.133-143
• /
• 2021

In contrast to the human lutropin receptor (hLHR) and rat LHR (rLHR), very few naturally occurring mutants in other mammalian species have been identified. The present study aimed to delineate the mechanism of signal transduction by three constitutively activating mutants (designated M410T, L469R, and D590Y) and two inactivating mutants (D383N and Y546F) of the eel LHR, known to be naturally occurring in human LHR transmembrane domains. The mutants were constructed and measured cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation via homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assays in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. The activating mutant cells expressing eel LHR-M410T, L469R, and D590Y exhibited a 4.0-, 19.1-, and 7.8-fold increase in basal cAMP response without agonist treatment, respectively. However, inactivating mutant cells expressing D417N and Y558F did not completely impaired signal transduction. Specifically, signal transduction in the cells expressing activating mutant L469R was not occurred with a further ligand stimulation, showing that the maximal response exhibited approximately 53% of those of wild type receptor. Our results suggested that the constitutively activating mutants of the eel LHR consistently occurred without agonist treatment. These results provide important information of LHR function in fish and regulation with regard to mutations of highly conserved amino acids in glycoprotein hormone receptors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2022

Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) represents one of the major Ca²⁺ entry routes in non-excitable cells. It is involved in a variety of fundamental biological processes and the maintenance of Ca²⁺ homeostasis. The Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) channel consists of stromal interaction molecule and Orai; however, the role and action of Homer proteins as an adaptor protein to SOCE-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling through the activation of CRAC channels in non-excitable cells still remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in the process of Ca²⁺ signaling induced by the interaction between CRACs and Homer2 proteins in non-excitable cells. The response to Ca²⁺ entry by thapsigargin-mediated Ca²⁺ store depletion remarkably decreased in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice, as compared to wild-type cells. It also showed critical differences in regulated patterns by the specific blockers of SOCE in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice. The response to Ca²⁺ entry by the depletion in Ca²⁺ store markedly increased in the cellular overexpression of Orai1 and STIM1 as compared to the overexpression of Homer2 in cells; however, this response was remarkably inhibited by the overexpression of Orai1, STIM1, and Homer2. These results suggest that Homer2 has a critical role in the regulatory action of SOCE activity and the interactions between CRAC channels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제32권10호
• /
• pp.1262-1274
• /
• 2022

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a complex and refractor type of cancer with global prevalence. Several barriers remain in CCA diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Therefore, exploring more biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for CCA management is necessary. CCA gene expression data was downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. KEGG enrichment, GO analysis, and protein-protein interaction network were used for hub gene identification. miRNA were predicted using Targetscan and validated according to several GEO databases. The relative RNA and miRNA expression levels and prognostic information were obtained from the GEPIA. The candidate drug was screened using pharmacophore-based virtual screening and validated by molecular modeling and through several in vitro studies. 301 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out. Complement and coagulation cascades-related genes (including AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1), and cell cycle-related genes (including CDK1, CCNB1, and KIAA0101) were considered as the hub genes in CCA progression. AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1 were found to be significantly decreased and the eight predicted miRNA targeting AHSG, F2, and TTR were increased in CCA patients. CDK1, CCNB1, and KIAA0101 were found to be significantly abundant in CCA patients. In addition, Molport-003-703-800, which is a compound that is derived from pharmacophores-based virtual screening, could directly bind to CDK1 and exhibited anti-tumor activity in cholangiocarcinoma cells. AHSG, F2, TTR, and KNG1 could be novel biomarkers for CCA. Molport-003-703-800 targets CDK1 and work as potential cell cycle inhibitors, thereby having potential for consideration for new chemotherapeutics for CCA.