• Journal of Species Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from soil samples collected in Seoul and Daejeon, Republic of Korea. To identify wild yeast strains, pairwise sequence comparisons of D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene sequence were done using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies were observed by phase contrast microscope and carbon source assimilation test were done using API 20C AUX kit. Among the 13 isolated strains, 11 strains were previously reported, but two strains have never been reported from Republic of Korea. The 13 strains were assigned to the phylum Basidiomycota. The two unrecorded yeast strains B2UV-201 and DJ1-5-B-10C belong to the genera Rhodotorula and Rhodosporidiobolus, respectively. The two unrecorded yeast strains are oval shaped and polar budding cells. This research focuses on the morphological and biochemical properties of the two unreported yeast species that have not officially been reported in Korea.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1116-1124
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• 2009

To determine whether topical application of trimix extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall., Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma Ternata lead to affects on the hair growth activity in C57BL/6N mice. To examine the hair growth activity of the extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall., Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma Ternata gross, microscopic, and immunohistochemical method were performed. In order to examine the mRNA expression of hair growth related substance, RT-PCR method was performed. Experimental group I on day 14, The most extensive hair growth activity was observed in whole skin area of all the mice whose hair had been clipped. Brdu immunoreactive cells of all the experimental groups were more heavily stained in epidermis, bulge, outer root sheath, inner root sheath, subcutaneous tissue, hair bulb and cutaneous trunci muscles than that of control group on day 12 of hair growing cycle in C57BL/6N mice. VEGF immunoreactive density of all the experimental groups was more heavily stained in epidermis, bulge and cutaneous trunci muscles than that of control group on day 12. FGF and c-kit immunoreactive cells of all the experimental groups were heavily stained in epidermis, outer root sheath, inner root sheath and cutaneous trunci muscles on day 12. PKC-$\alpha$ immunoreactive density of all the experimental groups was mildly stained in epidermis and cutaneous trunci muscles than that of control group on day 12. On day 12, the expression of bFGF (138%, 119%, 120%), VEGF (146%, 144%, 133%), IGF-1 (165%, 141%, 119%) and PLI (121%, 116%, 123&) in each experimental groups was more increased than that of control group. On day 16, The expression of IGF-1 (126%, 149%, 151%) in all the experimental group was more increased than that of control group (100%). The expression of bFGF (92%, 94%) and VEGF (101%, 97%), PL1 (102%, 109%) in all the experimental group was more decreased than that of experimental group I, II on day 12. But the expression of bFGF (109%) and VEGF (127%), and PL1 (105%) in each experimental group III was more increased than that of control group (100%). These experiments suggest that trimix extracts of Mylabris phalerata pall., Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma Ternata may stimulate the topical hair growth activity and its experimental group I can be useful for treatment of alopecia areata.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2013

Purpose: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegerative disease due to persistent measles virus infection. We investigated the role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule which is related with chronic viral infection in developing SSPE in mouse. Methods: We adopt the $PD-1^{-/-}$, $PD-1^{-/+}$, and wild type BALB/c 3 week old mice to make an animal model of SSPE by injecting measles virus (SSPE strain) intraventricularly. Three months after infusion of virus, the mice were sacrificed and examined if the typical pathologic lesions had been progressed. The sera were collected from each group of mice and the serum level of IL-21 was measured with ELISA kit. Results: The necrotic lesions on white matter and gliosis were found in focal areas in wild type BALB/c. The extent of lesion was smaller in heterotype BALB/c. Scanty lesions were found in $PD-1^{-/-}$ mice. The sera level of IL-21 was not elevated in all three groups. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the PD-1 molecule may play a role in persistent viral infection.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2022

Purpose: Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid abundant in many fruits and vegetables. It has potential health-beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the lipid metabolism improvement effect of quercetin affected the regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and microRNA (miR)-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal diet, quercetin-free diet and diets containing 0.05% or 0.1% quercetin for six weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Serum and liver triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were analyzed using a commercial enzymatic colorimetric kit. AMPK activity was quantified using an AMPK kinase assay kit. The levels of miR-21 and genes involved in lipid metabolism were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Supplementation of quercetin reduced serum and hepatic TG and TC levels without changing body weight and food intake. Dietary quercetin significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of hepatic sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and fatty acid synthesis, which are involved in hepatic lipogenesis. Dietary quercetin enhanced AMPK activity and suppressed miR-21 expression, promoting hepatic lipid accumulation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the lipid-lowering effect of quercetin on the serum and liver of mice may be partially mediated by the regulation of lipogenic gene expression, AMPK activity and miR-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.670-673
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• 2008

Optimized algorithms and numerical expressions which had been verified through C program simulation, should be analyzed again with HDL (hardware description language) such as Verilog, so that the verified ones could be modified to be applied directly to hardware implementation. The reason is that the characteristics of C programming language design is intrinsically different from the hardware design structure. The hardware IP verified doubly in view of hardware structure together with algorithmic verification, was implemented on the Altera Excalibur FPGA device equipped with ARM9 microprocessor core, to a real chip prototype, using Altera embedded system development tool kit. The implemented finite field calculation IPs can be used as library modules as Elliptic Curve Cryptography finite field operations which has more than 193 bit key length.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.586-591
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation is closely related to miconazole-induced heart dysfunction. Although rhamnetin has antioxidant effects, it remained unknown whether it can protect against miconazole-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Thus, we investigated the effects of rhamnetin on miconazole-stimulated H9c2 cell apoptosis. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell morphology was observed by inverted microscope and cell viability was determined using a WelCount$^{TM}$ cell proliferation assay kit. Miconazole-induced ROS production was evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with 6-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorofluoroscein diacetate ($H_2DCF$-DA) stain. Immunoblot analysis was used to determine apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE/Ref-1) and cleaved cysteine-aspartic protease (caspase) 3 expression. NADPH oxidase levels were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Miconazole (3 and $10{\mu}M$) induced abnormal morphological changes and cell death in H9c2 cells. Rhamnetin enhanced the viability of miconazole ($3{\mu}M$)-treated cells in a dose-dependent manner. Rhamnetin (1 and $3{\mu}M$) treatment downregulated cleaved caspase 3 and upregulated APE/Ref-1 expression in miconazole-stimulated cells. Additionally, rhamnetin significantly reduced ROS generation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that rhamnetin may have cytoprotective effects in miconazole-stimulated H9c2 cardiomyocytes via ROS inhibition. This effect most likely occurs through the upregulation of APE/Ref-1 and attenuation of hydrogen peroxide levels.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.527-532
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• 2004

A subtracted cDNA library specific to osmotic stress of Haloxylon ammodendron (Mey.) Bge seedlings was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and T/A cloning. SSH was performed between two groups of H. ammodendron seedlings, one was cultivated in Hoagland (H) solution as a driver and the other group was treated with osmotic stress of the Hoagland solution by the addition of 400 mM mannitol (M), as a tester. The library consisted of about 400 recombinant clones, with the average size being of 500 bp, ranging from 300 bp to 1500 bp. Using a PCR-select differential screening kit, 100 recombinant clones were randomly chosen from the subtracted cDNA library and hybridized with forward,reverse subtracted and unsubtracted probes for two rounds. As a result, 21 positive clones specific to osmotic stress were obtained and some of them were verified by Northern blot analysis. The sequencing analysis of 6 positive clones and the following homology comparison to GenBank [blastx] non-redundant databases characterized that two sequences obtained in this experiment may contribute to novel drought-related genes.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.36-42
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• 2013

Objectives: Shengmaisan (SMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription widely used for the treatment of diverse organs in Korea. The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that play an important role in the generation of coordinated gastrointestinal (GI) motility. We have aimed to investigate the effects of SMS in the ICCs in the mouse small intestine. Methods: To dissociate the ICCs, we used enzymatic digestions from the small intestine in a mouse. After that, the ICCs were identified immunologically by using the anti-c-kit antibody. In the ICCs, the electrophysiological whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in the cultured ICCs. Results: The ICCs generated pacemaker potentials in the mouse small intestine. SMS produced membrane depolarization with concentration-dependent manners in the current clamp mode. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$ free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, stopped the generation of the pacemaker potentials. In the case of $Ca^{2+}$-free solutions, SMS induced membrane depolarizations. However, when thapsigargin in a bath solution was applied, the membrane depolarization was not produced by SMS. The membrane depolarizations produced by SMS were inhibited by U-73122, an active phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors. Furthermore, chelerythrine and calphostin C, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors had no effects on SMS-induced membrane depolarizations. Conclusions: These results suggest that SMS might affect GI motility by modulating the pacemaker activity through an internal $Ca^{2+}$- and PLC-dependent and PKC-independent pathway in the ICCs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 1989

With the Zircaloy-4 tube oxidized in high temperature (1323 K) steam for 5, 10, 30 and 60 minutes, the expanding copper mandrel test was carried out over a temperature range of 673-l173k at $\varepsilon\;=\;3.0\times10^5S\;^1$. The oxidation parameters $(K_i)$ in the present study were linearly proportional to square root of time $(Ki= \delta_{kit})$ and their rate constants ($\delta_{ki}$) are 0.281, 2.82, and 2.313 for weight gain and thickness of Zr02 and $\alpha$(0) layer, respectively. Activation energy for high temperature (873-1073k) plastic deformation of Zircaloy-4 increases from 251 KJ/mol to 323 KJ/mol with increase in oxidation time from 5 minutes to 60 minutes due to the high strengthened Zr02. With the oxide layer thickness [K ; expressed in "Equivalent Cladding Reacted" (ECR,%)] and the yield stress obtained from the mandrel test, an empirical relation was derived as ($\sigma/C)^n=K^mexp$ (Q/RT) with n=6.9, m=5.7, C=0.155, 0.138, 0.051, and 0.046 MPa for Q=251, 258, 316, 323 KJ/mol, respectively.