• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.230-237
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• 2014

This study was designed to find the most suitable method and wall material for microencapsulation of the Lactobacillus plantarum to maintain cell viability in different environmental conditions. To improve the stability of L. plantarum, we developed an encapsulation system of L. plantarum, using water-in-oil emulsion system. For the encapsulation of L. plantarum, corn starch and glyceryl monostearate were selected to form gel beads. Then 10% (w/v) of starch was gelatinized by autoclaving to transit gel state, and cooled down at $60^{\circ}C$ and mixed with L. plantarum to encapsulate it. The encapsulated L. plantarum was tested for the tolerance of acidic conditions at different temperatures to investigate the encapsulation ability. The study indicated that the survival rate of the microencapsulated cells in starch matrix was significantly higher than that of free cells in low pH conditions with relatively higher temperature. The results showed that corn starch as a wall material and glycerol monostearate as a gelling agent in encapsulation could play a role in the viability of lactic acid bacteria in extreme conditions. Using the current study, it would be possible to formulate a new water-in-oil system as applied in the protection of L. plantarum from the gastric conditions for the encapsulation system used in chicken feed industry.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2018

The use of eco-friendly energy in the offshore plant system is expanding because conventional generators are operated by fossil fuel or natural gas. Eco-friendly energy, which replaces existing power generation methods, should be capable of generating the power for lighting protection equipment, airborne fault indication, parameter measurement, and others. Most of the eco-friendly energy used in offshore plant facilities is solar and wind power. In the case of using photovoltaic power, because the structure must be constructed based as flat solar panels, it can be damaged easily by the wind. Therefore, there is a need for a new generation system composed of a spherical structure that does not require a separate structure and is less influenced by the wind. Considering these characteristics, in this study we designed, fabricated, and tested a unit that could provide the most efficient spherical photovoltaic power generation considering wind direction and wind pressure. Our test results indicated that the proposed system reduced costs because it did not require any separate structure, used eco-friendly energy, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and expanded the proportion of eco-friendly energy use by offshore plant facilities.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.603-607
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• 2003

Abstract Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are a class of proteins whose functions are still unknown. Some are proposed to have antimicrobial activities. To understand whether LTP110, a rice LTP that we previously identified from rice leaves, plays a role in the protection function against some serious rice pathogens, we investigated the antifungal and antibacterial properties of LTP110. A cDNA sequence, encoding the mature peptide of LTP110, was cloned into the Impact-CN prokaryotic expression system. The purified protein was used for an in vitro inhibition test against rice pathogens, Pyricularia oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae. The results showed that LTP110 inhibited the germination of Pyricularia oryzae spores, and its inhibitory activity decreased in the presence of a divalent cation. This suggests that the antifungal activity is affected by ions in the media; LTP110 only slightly inhibited the growth of Xanthomonas oryzae. However, the addition of LTP110 to cultured Chinese hamster ovarian cells did not retard growth, suggesting that the toxicity of LTP110 is only restricted to some cell types. Its antimicrobial activity is potentially due to interactions between LTP and microbe-specific structures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2235-2245
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• 2016

Ulcerative colitis (UC) results from colonic epithelial barrier defects and impaired mucosal immune responses. In this study, we aimed to investigate the modifying effects of a Spirogyra neglecta extract (SNE), a polysaccharide extract (PE) and a chloroform fraction (CF) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and to determine the mechanisms. To induce colitis, ICR mice received 3% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days. Seven days preceding the DSS treatment, oral administration of SNE, PE and CF at doses of 50, 25 and 0.25 mg/kg body weight (low dose), 200, 100 and 1 mg/kg body weight (high dose) and vehicle was started and continued for 14 days. Histologic findings showed that DSS-induced damage of colonic epithelial structure and inflammation was attenuated in mice pre-treated with SNE, PE and CF. Furthermore, SNE and PE significantly protected colonic epithelial cells from DSS-induced cell cycle arrest, while SNE, PE and CF significantly diminished apoptosis. Proteome analysis demonstrated that SNE and PE might ameliorate DSS-induced colitis by inducing antioxidant enzymes, restoring impaired mitochondria function, and regulating inflammatory cytokines, proliferation and apoptosis. These results suggest that SNE and PE could prevent DSS-induced colitis in ICR mice by protection against and/or aiding recovery from damage to the colonic epithelium, reducing ROS and maintaining normal mitochondrial function and apoptosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2015

Objectives : Brain inflammation early activates the microglia and activated microglia secrete a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Kaempferol, which is a flavonoid in Cuscutae Semen, shows a wide range of physiological activities, including neurons protection and anti-inflammatory actions through inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators. The present study examined the modulatory effect of kaempferol on cytokines [tumor necrosis factor- alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-1beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and microglia activation in the brain tissue of the mouse. Methods : Kaempferol was administered orally three doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg respectively, once 1 hour before the lippolysaccharide(LPS) (3 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. Brain tissue was removed at 4 hours after LPS injection. Cytokines and COX-2 mRNA expression in the brain tissue was measured by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Iba1 expression was calculated by western blotting method. Microglia was observed with immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry stained microglia was analyzed by using ImageJ software. Results : Kaempferol 20 and 30 mg/kg was significantly attenuated the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 mRNA. Kaempfrol 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg significantly attenuated COX-2 mRNA expression in the brain tissue. Kaempferol 30 mg/kg significantly suppressed the increase of Iba1 protein expression by LPS. Kaempferol 30 mg/kg significantly decreased the number of microglia in the cerebral cortex and the number and cell size of microglia in the hypothalamic region and the area percentage of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1)-expressed microglia in the hippocampus. Conclusions : This results indicate that kaempferol plays an anti-inflammatory role in the brain.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.743-748
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• 2006

The complement (C) regulatory proteins decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and CD59 could protect host cells using different mechanisms from C-mediated damage at two distinct levels within the C pathway. Co-expression of DAF and CD59 would be an effective strategy to help overcome host C-induced xenograft hyperacute rejection. In this study, we made a construct of recombinant expression vector containing DAF and CD59 cDNA and the stable cell lines were obtained by G418 selection. Extraneous genes integration and co-expression were identified by PCR, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Human c-mediated cytolysis assays showed that NIH/3T3 cells transfected stably with pcDNA3-CD59, pcDNA3-DAF, and pcDNA3-CD59DAF-DP were protected from C-mediated damage and that synchronously expressed human CD59 and DAF provided the most excellent protection for host cells as compared with either human CD59 or DAF expressed alone. Therefore, the construct represents an effective and efficacy strategy to overcome C-mediated damage in cells and, ultimately, in animals.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.463-468
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• 2009

Selenium-containing peptide (Selenium peptide) was produced by autolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which was cultured in inorganic selenium-supplemented medium. Selenium peptide showed antioxidant activity and protective effects on UVB irradiated human fibroblast. Minimal toxicity of selenium peptide was observed whereas selenium nitrate exhibited cell toxicity as low as $10^{-9}\;M$. Selenium peptide also increased human fibroblast growth, procollagen type I and also decreased MMP-1 (matrix metalloprotease-1). This result showed the potential of selenium peptide as a nontoxic antioxidant.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

To develop a whitening agent, cytotoxicity of the soluble collagen isolated from Todarodes pacificus (CIT) was evaluated. CIT tested for cytotoxicity on human dermal fibroblast (CCD-986sk) was exhibited very low cytotoxicity. Because tyrosinase is the key enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, the use of various tyrosinase inhibitors is a common practice for whitening purpose in cosmetics. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity and melanin production assay were measured to confirm the whitening effect. The inhibitory effect of MMP-1 in UV-irradiated human dermal fibroblast was also performed. CIT showed strong inhibition potency on tyrosinase by 51.5% at 0.2 mg/mL which increased the inhibition by increasing the concentration of CIT, and showed 69.1% inhibition at 1.0 mg/mL. CIT showed strong inhibition effect on melanin production with 82% at 1.0 mg/mL. The CIT also reduced about 76% expression of MMP-1 in UV-irradiated CCD-986sk cell at 1.0 mg/mL. From the preliminary observations, we suggest that the collagen isolated from CIT could be a potential source of natural skin-whitening and anti-aging agents for the photo-damaged skin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.2060-2069
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• 2017

Newcastle disease is a serious infectious disease in the poultry industry. The commercial vaccines can only offer limited protection and some of them are expensive and need adjuvants. At present, DNA vaccines are widely used. However, the immune responses induced by DNA vaccines are too slow and low. Here, we constructed the transfer vectors with a different number of C3d as molecular adjuvants (n = 1, 2, 4, or 6), and the vectors were cloned into the optimal eukaryotic expression plasmid (pVAXI-optiF) that expressed the F gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and named pVAXI-F(o)-C3d1, pVAXI -F(o)-C3d2, pVAXI-F(o)-C3d4, and pVAXI-F(o)-C3d6, respectively. Cell transfection test indicated that pVAXI-F(o)-C3d6 showed the highest expression. In vivo immunization showed that the chickens immunized with pVAXI-F(o)-C3d6 intramuscularly induced better immune responses than the chickens immunized with the other plasmids. The protective efficacy of pVAXI-F(o)-C3d6 was 80% after challenge with the highly virulent NDV strain F48E9. The results in this study showed that C3d6 could be used as a molecular adjuvant to quickly induce an effective immune response to control NDV.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2009

Purpose: $17\beta$-estradiol is the most active endogenous estrogen, which is related to favorable changes in the plasma lipid profile, to relaxation of the coronary vessels, and to a decrease in platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. However, although the beneficial effect of estrogens on plasma lipoproteins (ie, lowering low-density lipoprotein and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) contributes to cardiovascular protection, it does not fully account for the protective effect, particularly in the application of physical therapy, including low frequency electrical stimulation. Methods: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the inhibition of stressors, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), prostaglandin $F2\alpha$ ($PGF2\alpha$), and a protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB), induced isometric tension by $17\beta$-estradiol in vascular smooth muscle strips, respectively. In addition, the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation at the meridian points (CV-3, -4, Ki-12, SP-6, LR-3, BL-25, -28, -32, -52) on the indirect antihypertensive effect were examined by monitoring the changes in the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in healthy volunteers. Results: Isometric tension analysis showed that the responses of inhibited tension by $17\beta$-estradiol were similar to the same stressors in rat aortic smooth muscle strips. Furthermore, although the continued amplitude modulation (AM) type of electrical stimulation was not increased significantly by electrical stimulation, the current of the frequency modulation (FM) type of low frequency electrical stimulation increased the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in normal volunteers. Conclusion: These results, in part, suggest that $17\beta$-estradiol has the capacity to supress stressor-induced muscle tension, and electrical stimulation, particularly current of the FM type, has a modulatory effect on the sex steroid hormones, particularly $17\beta$-estradiol, in healthy volunteers.