• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.388-394
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• 2009

The cytokines which is produced by allergen-specific T helper (Th) cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Asthma is caused by exaggerated T-helper 2 (Th2)-based immune responses. It is suggested that controlling such Th2-based response is necessary for asthma therapy. The current therapies for asthma focus primarily on control of symptoms and suppression of inflammation, without affecting the underlying cause. So, we examined that anti-asthmatic drugs might have play a certain role in Th2/Th1 balance. Splenocytes isolated from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice cultured with anti-asthmatic drugs. It is well known that Th2 and Th1 immune responses can balance one another, as Th2 mediators suppress Th1 responses and Th1 mediators similarly inhibit Th2 responses. But salmeterol inhibits both of Th1 and Th2 mediators, which salmeterol is a suppressor of immune responses not only a suppressor of Th2-based immune responses. Aminophylline is a weak suppressor of immune responses. But ipratropium and cromoglycate don't have any suppressor effect to Th2-driven responses. They only have suppressor effect to Th1 immune responses. Salmeterol, ipratropium, aminophylline, and cromoglycate augmented mRNA levels of CRTH2, EP2, and IP2 receptors in OVA-sensitized splenocytes. It is well known that the up-regulation of CRTH2 - $PGD_2$ receptor - results in restraint of eosinophil recruitment and that the increment of IP and EP2 - $PGI_2$ and $PGE_2$ receptor, respectively - may induce the accumulation of cAMP that decrease the effector function of T cells. Moreover salmeterol and cromoglycate increase the mRNA expression of $PGD_2$ synthase. These findings indicate that anti-asthma agents may alleviate the immunological responses that cause the asthmatic diseases.

• 대한자원환경지질학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한자원환경지질학회 2002년도 제18차 공동학술강연회 자연저감고 지질학 (대한 자원 환경지질학회)
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• pp.81-100
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• 2002

While most of regulatory communities in abroad recognize ' 'natural attenuation " to include degradation, dispersion, dilution, sorption (including precipitation and transformation), and volatilization as governing Processes, regulators prefer "degradation" because this mechanism destroys the contaminant of concern. Unfortunately, true degradation only applies to organic contaminants and short- lived radionuclides, and leaves most metals and long-lived radionuclides. The natural attenuation Processes may reduce the potential risk Posed by site contaminants in three ways: (i)contaminants could be converted to a less toxic form througy destructive processes such as biodegradation or abiotic transformations; (ii) potential exposure levels may be reduced by lowering concentrations (dilution and dispersion); and (iii) contaminant mobility and bioavailability may be reduced by sorption to geomedia. In this review, authors will focus will focul on "sorption" among the natural attenuation processes of hazardous inorganic contaminants including radionuclides. Note though that sorption and transformation processes of inorganic contaminants in the natural setting could be influenced by biotic activities but our discussion would limit only to geochemical reactions involved in the natural attenuation. All of the geochemical reactions have been studied in-depth by numerous researchers for many years to understand "retardation" process of contaminants in the geomedia. The most common approach for estimating retardation is the determination of distrubution coefficiendts ($K_{d}$) of contaminants using parametric or mechanistic models. As typocally used in fate and contaminant transport calculations such as predictive models of the natural attenuation, the $K_{d}$ is defined as the ratio of the contaminant concentration in the surrounding aqueous solution when the system is at equilibrium. Unfortunately, generic or default $K_{d}$ values can result in significant error when used to predict contaminant migration rate and to select a site remediation alternative. Thus, to input the best $K_{d}$ value in the contaminant transport model, it is essential that important geochemical processes affecting the transport should be identified and understood. Precipitation/dissolution and adsorption/desorption are considered the most important geochemical processes affecting the interaction of inorganic and radionuclide contaminants with geomedia at the near and far field, respectively. Most of contaminants to be discussed in this presentation are relatively immobile, i.e., have very high $K_{d}$ values under natural geochemical environments. Unfortunately, the obvious containment in a source area may not be good enough to qualify as monitored natural attenuation site unless owner demonstrate the efficacy if institutional controls that were put in place to protect potential receptors. In this view, natural attenuation as a remedial alternative for some of sites contaminated by hazardous-inorganic components is regulatory and public acceptance issues rather than scientific issue.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지하수토양환경학회 2000년도 창립총회 및 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.59-63
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• 2000

최근 군사기지에서의 환경복원활동은 미국과 독일 등의 일부 선진국을 중심으로 인간의 건강과 환경을 보호하기 위한 차원에서 연구가 진행되고 있다. 본 연구는 상대적 위해성평가 기법을 이용하여 군사기지 복원을 위한 우선순위 결정을 지원함으로서, 효율적인 자원배분이 가능하고 군에 적합한 타당한 모델이 개발될 수 있도록 하는 연구에 초점을 맞추었다. 평가 대상은 군사기지 내에서 유류로 오염된 지역의 전 범위를 대상으로 하였다. 본 연구모델은 유류오염물질 요소, 수용체 요소 및 이동경로 요소의 세가지 평가요소를 평가하여 총 27개의 메트릭스 칸에 각 평가요소의 위해등급을 상호 결합하여 판단함으로서, 종합적인 복원순위를 긴급·보통·유예로 나타냈다. 이는 최대한 간편한 평가체제를 유지하기 위하여 세가지의 등급으로 그룹화하여 평가한 것이다. 본 연구모델은 복원이 요구되는 지역에 대하여 자원의 배분을 위한 접근을 위해 군의 환경관리자는 누구나 쉽게 이해하고 적용 가능하다는 중요한 장점이 있다 따라서, 향후 발전적인 연구과제에서 본 연구모델을 시발점으로 지속적으로 보완된다면, 군의 위해성평가 체계의 정착이 이루어질 것으로 기대한다.

• 대한구순구개열학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.13-26
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• 2001

Cleft lip and/or palate is the congenital orofacial malformation most commonly occurred in humans, The disease is multifactorial and is probably caused by genetic and/or environmental factors, So, there are many problems in research concerning etiology and in treatment of the disease, Even the most practiced and sophisticated methods of surgical repair are necessarily followed by scar contraction and fibrosis, which result in skeletal defects, dental abnormalities, cosmetic disfigurement, and speech impairment, As a result, Fetal surgery can be considered but practiced rarely when the deformity is not fatal to life, And treatment of cleft palate is performed in the form of medicine projection into uterus in animal experiments, Many studies show that growth factor and its receptor emerge from the developing palate; and the epidermal growth factor receptors have a important role in craniofacial development and in palatal fusion, The palatal morphogenesis of the avine is different from the mammal's; it takes the form of physiologic cleft palate, Recently, cleft palate fusion experiment was performed when the avine were in the period of palate formation through the exogenous TGF-β3 addition, and it showed that the exogenous TGF-β3 makes fusion of divided palate through certain process when cleft palate is occurred in palatal formation, In this study, I had the conformation of the fusion of cleft palate through the addition of TGF-β in case of chicken embryo, and observed the effect of TGF-β in EGF receptor distribution, And the following is the results of this study, 1. In case of the TGF-βl and β3 addition group, there was the decrease of EGFR(Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) immunoreactivity in mesenchymal cells beneath the medial edge epithelium and also in epithelial mesenchymal interface which is between medial edge epithelium and nasal septum in 72 hours, 2, The immunoreactivity of the control group resembles that of normal chicken embryo palate in development, 3. In the view through fluorescence confocal microscopy, there was confluence in TGF-β3 addition group, This shows that the confluence induced by exogenous TGF-β3 is related to EGFR expression in palate of chicken embryo, which is a physiologic cleft palate model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.6073-6080
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• 2015

Background: Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7)/interleukin-24 (IL-24), a unique tumor suppressor gene, has killing activity in a broad spectrum of cancer cells. Herein, plasmids producing mda-7 proteins fused to different RGD peptides (full RGD4C and shortened RGD, tRGD) were evaluated for apoptosis induction with a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep-G2. The study aim was to improve the apoptosis potency of mda-7 by tethering to RGD peptides. Materials and Methods: Three plasmids including mda-7, mda-7-RGD and mda-7-tRGD genes beside a control vector were transfected into Hep-G2 cells. After 72 hours incubation, cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, the rate of apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry using PI/annexin staining. To detect early events in apoptosis, 18 hours after transfection, expression of the BAX gene was quantified by real time PCR. Modeling of proteins was also performed to extrapolate possible consequences of RGD modification on their structures and subsequent attachment to receptors. Results and Conclusions: In MTT assays, while all mda-7 forms showed measurable inhibition of proliferation, unmodified mda-7 protein exhibited most significant effect compared to control plasmid (P<0.001). Again, flow cytometry analysis showed a significant apoptosis induction by simple mda-7 gene but not for those RGD-fused mda-7 proteins. These findings were also supported by expression analysis of BAX gene (P<0.001). Protein modelling analysis revealed that tethering RGD at the end of IL-24/Mda7 disrupt attachment to cognate receptor, IL-20R1/IL-20R2. In conclusion, fusion of RGD4C and shortened RGD peptides to carboxyl terminal of mda7, not only reduce apoptosis property in vitro but also disrupt receptor attachment as demonstrated by protein modelling.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.253-259
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• 2011

Transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) is involved in cellular processes including growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and homeostasis. Generally, TGF-${\beta}$ is the inhibitor of cell cycle progression and plays a role in enhancing the antagonistic effects of many growth factors. Unlike the antiproliferative effect of TGF-${\beta}$, E2, an endogeneous estrogen, is stimulating cell proliferation in the estrogen-dependent organs, which are mediated via the estrogen receptors, $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$, and may be considered as a critical risk factor in tumorigenesis of hormone-responsive cancers. Previous researches reported the cross-talk between estrogen/$ER{\alpha}$ and TGF-${\beta}$ pathway. Especially, based on the E2-mediated inhibition of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling, we examined the inhibition effect of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (NP), which are well known xenoestrogens in endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), on TGF-${\beta}$ signaling via semi-quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The treatment of E2, OP, or NP resulted in the downregulation of TGF-${\beta}$ receptor2 (TGF-${\beta}$ R2) in TGF-${\beta}$ signaling pathway. However, the expression level of TGF-${\beta}1$ and TGF-${\beta}$ receptor1 (TGF-${\beta}$ R1) genes was not altered. On the other hand, E2, OP, or NP upregulated the expression of a cell-cycle regulating gene, c-myc, which is a oncogene and a downstream target gene of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling pathway. As a result of downregulation of TGF-${\beta}$ R2 and the upregulation of c-myc, E2, OP, or NP increased cell proliferation of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, these results suggest that E2 and these two EDCs may mediate cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting TGF-${\beta}$ signaling via the downregulation of TGF-${\beta}$ R2 and the upregulation of c-myc oncogene. In addition, it can be inferred that these EDCs have the possibility of tumorigenesis in estrogen-responsive organs by certainly representing estrogenic effect in inhibiting TGF-${\beta}$ signaling.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.28-38
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• 2024

Objective: Tibetan chickens, which have unique adaptations to extreme high-altitude environments, exhibit phenotypic and physiological characteristics that are distinct from those of lowland chickens. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxic adaptation in the liver of chickens remain unknown. Methods: RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to assess the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in hypoxia adaptation in highland chickens (native Tibetan chicken [HT]) and lowland chickens (Langshan chicken [LS], Beijing You chicken [BJ], Qingyuan Partridge chicken [QY], and Chahua chicken [CH]). Results: A total of 352 co-DEGs were specifically screened between HT and four native lowland chicken breeds. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses indicated that these co-DEGs were widely involved in lipid metabolism processes, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. To further determine the relationship from the 352 co-DEGs, protein-protein interaction network was carried out and identified eight genes (ACSL1, CPT1A, ACOX1, PPARC1A, SCD, ACSBG2, ACACA, and FASN) as the potential regulating genes that are responsible for the altitude difference between the HT and other four lowland chicken breeds. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating hypoxia adaptation via lipid metabolism in Tibetan chickens and other highland animals.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제35권9호
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• pp.636-642
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• 2013

광촉매인 나노크기의 산화아연(ZnO)과 흡착기능의 지지체인 Laponite, 결합제인 poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)를 혼합하여 붕산(boric acid)과 가교반응(crosslinking)을 통해 흡착과 광분해가 동시에 발생하며 회수가 불필요한 nano-ZnO/Laponite/PVA (ZLP) 광촉매 흡착볼을 개발하였다. ZLP 광촉매 흡착볼 제작을 위한 최적의 배합비는 Nano-ZnO:Laponite:PVA:deionized water의 구성비가 3:1:1:16 (by weight)으로 도출되었으며, PVA가 붕산과의 가교결합을 통해서 다층의 망(mesh network)과 막(film)을 형성하여 Laponite의 팽윤과 ZnO의 탈리 현상을 억제하는 것으로 사료된다. 수중안정성을 개선하고 비표면적을 높이기 위한 최적의 건조방법은 microwave를 활용하는 방법이며, SEM과 TEM의 분석을 통해 다양한 크기(55~500 ${\mu}m$)의 공극(pore)이 분포하며 ZnO의 균질한 분포를 확인할 수가 있었다. 메틸렌블루 광분해 특성은 반응 초기(40분)에는 Laponite와 메틸렌블루의 이온결합에 따른 흡착제거가 주요 제거 기작이며, 메틸렌블루의 흡착이 포화상태에 도달 후 광분해를 통한 제거가 발생함을 확인하여 흡착과 광분해가 동시에 발생하여 수중에 용해된 메틸렌 블루를 효과적으로 제거할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통해 짧은 시간에 흡착과 광분해가 동시에 진행되어 난분해성 오염물질을 효과적으로 제거하는 광촉매 흡착볼의 제작이 가능하며, 나노물질의 탈리로 인해 발생하는 환경 및 수용체에 미치는 위해성도 최소화 할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 환경영향평가
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.414-431
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• 2016

현재 국내에는 많은 휴 폐광산들이 존재하며, 이로부터 다양한 중금속 오염물질(As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn)들이 광산 주변 토양, 지하수, 지표수, 농작물로 유입되어 주민들의 건강에 심각한 위해를 끼치고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 국내 폐금속 광산에 거주하는 주민들의 특성에 맞는 노출인자를 추출하고, 적합한 노출경로를 설정하여, 국내 폐금속 광산인 양곡광산과 삼산제일광산 지역 두 곳을 선정하여 중금속오염에 대한 인체위해성평가를 수행하였다. 최종적으로 얻은 발암위해도의 경우 두 광산 모두 허용 가능한 발암위해도인 $1{\times}10^{-6}$의 값을 초과하여 발암위해성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 그리고, 비발암위해도의 경우 수용체별로 차이를 보였는데, 양곡광산의 성인남자와 성인여자, 삼산제일광산의 성인남자의 위해지수가 1보다 큰 값을 나타내어 비발암위해성이 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 양곡광산의 어린이, 삼산제일광산의 성인여자와 어린이를 대상으로 한 위해지수는 1보다 작은 값을 나타내어 비발암위해성이 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 발암위해성을 유발하는 주요 노출경로는 지하수섭취와 농작물섭취이며, 주요한 중금속 오염물질은 비소인 것으로 밝혀졌다. 비발암위해성을 유발하는 주요 노출경로도 발암위해성과 동일하게 지하수섭취와 농작물섭취이며, 주요 중금속 오염물질은 비소, 구리, 납인 것으로 조사되었다. 두 광산의 발암위해도를 비교해 보면 양곡광산이 삼산제일광산보다 10배 정도 높게 나타났으며, 비발암위해도의 경우에도 양곡광산이 삼산제일광산보다 4배 정도 높게 평가되었다. 이러한 결과는 양곡광산의 상대적으로 매우 높은 비소 지하수노출농도로부터 기인하는 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구에서 수행한 국내 폐금속 광산 중금속 오염에 대한 인체 위해성평가는 여러 노출인자의 부재로 인해 노출량을 산정하지 못하는 한계가 있었다. 또한 농작물섭취경로에 의한 노출량 산정 시 농작물을 직접 분석하여 얻는 농작물노출농도 대신에 토양노출농도와 토양-농작물 생 축적계수(bioconcentration factor, BCF)를 이용하였는데 이로 인한 오차가 발생할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국토양환경학회지
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.3-21
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• 1997

기존에 개발된 토양 및 지하수 복원기술에는 막대한 비용과 시간이 필요하며, 실시후의 효과에 대한 예측이 어렵다. 자연내재복원기술(intrinsic remediation)은 해당 지역환경에서 자연발생되는 물리ㆍ화학ㆍ생물학적 과정을 통하여 오염물질을 감소시키는 원리를 이용하며, 인간이나 지역생태계에 허용할 수 있는 수준으로 환경을 복원함을 목표로 한다. 따라서 오염토양 및 지하수복원에 적용가능한 여러 기술과 비교하여 자연내재복원기술은 지역평가를 위한 초기비용은 높으나 전체적으로는 가장 경제적인 방법이다. 따라서 유해효과가 심각하여 긴급한 처리가 필요한 지역을 제외하고는 현재의 오염수준, 오염분포상태, 토지와 지하수 이용현황과 장래 계획에 따라 자연내재복원기술을 도입할 필요성이 있다. 본 연구는 자연내재복원기술의 적용가능성을 판단하기 위하여 생물학적 분해도(biodegradability)에 기초한 오염지역 사전평가과정을 제시하였다. 본 연구의 오염지역 사전평가과정은 기존 연구에 비하여 대상오염물질종류가 많고 다양한 지역범위를 포함함으로써 자연내재복원기술을 실용화시킬 수가 있다. 오염지역 사전평가과정은 1)예비지역조사 2)생물학적 분해도 관련자료 수집 및 평가 3)오염지역내 분해경로 선정 4)오염물질 운반과 거동 분석 5)모니터링계획 수립의 5단계로 진행된다. 1단계에서는 개략적 생물학적 분해도(rules of thumb concerning the biodegradability of organic com-pounds)에 기초한 상세조사의 계속진행여부와 오염지역자료를 이용하여 적절한 프로토콜을 결정한다. 2단계에서는 생물학적 분해도에 대한 광범위한 자료수집과 평가를 하며 3단계에서는 본 연구에서 제시한 경로중에서 오염지역에 맞는 경로를 선정한다. 4단계에서는 모델링을 위한 모델종류를 선정하여 예측하며 5단계는 자연내재복윈기술의 적용여부를 판단하여 모니터링계획을 수립하는 단계이다. 본 연구의 오염지역 사전평가과정은 사용자에게 자연내재복원기술을 이용하기 위한 합리적이고 체계적인 판단과정을 제공하여 줄 것이다. 또한 사전평가 결과 오염지역이 자연내재복원기술적용이 불가능하다고 평가되어도 이미 수집된 자료와 정보는 다른 복원기술을 선정하기 위한 기초자료로서 사용가능하다.