• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.195-207
• /
• 2000

Organic and inorganic characteristics including bacterial cell number, enzyme activity, nutrients, and heavy metals have been monitored in twelve acrylic experimental tanks for two weeks to estimate and compare self-purification capacities in two Korean wet-land environments, tidal flat and rice field, which are possibly different with the environments in other countries because of their own climatic conditions. FW tanks, filled with rice field soils and fresh water, consist of FW1&2 (with paddy), FW3&4 (without paddy), and FW5&6 (newly reclaimed, without paddy). SW tanks, filled with tidal flat sediments and salt water, are SW1&2 (with anoxic silty mud), SW3&4 (anoxic mud), and SW5&6 (suboxic mud). Contaminated solution, which is formulated with the salts of Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and glucose+glutamic acid, was spiked into the supernatent waters in the tanks. Nitrate concentrations in supernatent waters as well as bacterial cell numbers and enzyme activities of soils in the FW tanks (except FW5&6) are clearly higher than those in the SW tanks. Phosphate concentrations in the SW1 tank increase highly with time compared to those in the other SW tanks. Removal rates of Cu, Cd, and As in supematent waters of the FW5&6 tanks are most slow in the FW tanks, while the rates in SW1&2 are most fast in the SW tanks. The rate for Pb in the SW1&2 tanks is most fast in the SW tanks, and the rate for Hg in the FW5&6 tanks is most slow in the FW tanks. Cr concentrations decrease generally with time in the FW tanks. In the SW tanks, however, the Cr concentrations decrease rapidly at first, then increase, and then remain nearly constant. These results imply that labile organic materials are depleted in the FW5&6 tanks compared to the FW1&2 and FW3&4 tanks. Removal of Cu, Cd, As from the supernatent waters as well as slow removal rates of the elements (including Hg) are likely due to the combining of the elements with organic ligands on the suspended particles and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Fast removal rates of the metal ions (Cu, Cd, As) and rapid increase of phosphate concentrations in the SW1&2 tanks are possibly due to the relatively porous anoxic sediments in the SW1&2 tanks compared to those in the SW3&4 tanks, efficient supply of phosphate and hydrogen sulfide ions in pore wates to the upper water body, complexing of the metal ions with the sulfide ions, and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Organic materials on the particles and sulfide ions from the pore waters are the major factors constraining the behaviors of organic/inorganic elements in the supernatent waters of the experimental tanks. This study needs more consideration on more diverse organic and inorganic elements and experimental conditions such as tidal action, temperature variation, activities of benthic animals, etc.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.27
• /
• pp.29-46
• /
• 1984

To utilize several species of hard wood as raw materials of feed products, fermentation characteristics of cellulosic substrates to single cell protein was investigated, and results were summarized as follows. Among the microorganisms investigated, Tricoderma viride was selected as one of the most cellulolytic. Mixed culture of fungi did not show a synergistic effect on cellulose degradation. When the fungi were cultured at $28^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in a medium containing wheat bran 25 g, cellulose 0.25 g, proteose peptone 0.025 g and tween 800.025 g, cellulotic activities on carboxy methyl cellulose and filter paper reached maximum at 12 hr. The alkali treatment resulted in increased degradation of substrate from 13 to 18% when treated with enzymes for 12h, and reducing sugar formation increased with decreased size of substrates. Glucose was a very good feedback inhibitor of the enzyme from T.viride than that of xylose. When the substrate was rehydrolyzed, hydrolysis rate was 31% to reducing sugars within 12 hr. Quantative anlysis with HPLC showed the ratio of glucose to xylose in sugar syrups as 1.77 to 1. For the purpose of producing cellulosic-single cell protein from the sawdust of mulberry tree, 15 strains of xylose-assimilating yeast were isolated from 42 samples of rotten woods and compost soils and examined for their ability to utilize xylose. Then three strains were selected by their strong xylose-assimilating activities. The cultivative condition, the growth characteristics, and protein and nucleic acid productivities of three strains were investigated. The results obtained were, 1. Wood hydrolysate of mulberry tree was assimilated by 5 strains of CHS-2, CHS-3, ST-40, CHS-12 and CHS-13. 2. The optimum initial pH and temperature for the growth of strain CHS-13 were 4.4 and $30^{\circ}C$. 3. The specific growth rate of strain CHS-13 was $0.23h^{-1}$ and generation time was 3.01 hrs at the optimum condition. 4. CHS-13 strain assimilated 81 % of sugar in wood hydrolysate. 5. CHS-13 strain was identified as Candida guilliermondii var. guilliermondii 6. When the CHS-13 strain was cultured in the wood hydrolysate containing yeast extract, L-protein content was increased with yeast extract concentration. 7. The L-protein and nucleic acid yields from wood hydrolysate were 0.73 mg/ml and $4.92{\times}10^{-2}\;mg/ml$ respectively. 8. An optimal nucleic acid content of CHS-13 strain was observed in the medium containing 0.2% of yeast extract.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of activated charcoal (AC) mixed with wood vinegar on performance and egg quality in laying hens. A total of one hundred ninety two, 56-wk-old Lohmann brown laying hens were divided into four groups, consisting four replicates of 12 birds each and fed one of the four experimental diets containing AC 0%, AC 0.5%, AC 1%, AC 2% for 5 wks. The blood profiles and contents of total lipid and cholesterol, fatty acid profiles in egg yolk were determined. There were no significant differences in laying performance, feed intake and vitelline membrane strength among the treatments. The eggshell breaking strength and Haugh unit were significantly increased in 2% AC group compared to the other groups (P<0.05). Egg yolk index in 2% AC group was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the control and 0.5% AC group and yolk color was significantly improved by the dietary AC (P<0.05). The levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and enzyme activities were not influenced by feeding AC. Total lipid of egg yolk in 1 % and 2% AC groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared to that of the control, although there was no significant difference in yolk cholesterol. In conclusion, the addition of activated charcoal with wood vinegar in layer diet resulted in improving egg quality by means of enhancing eggshell breaking strength, Haugh unit, yolk index and yolk color.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2009

This study was performed using animals to confirm the effect of tourmaline-ionized water (TIW) the properties of which were changed by tourmaline energy and electric discharge. In the ICR mice fed high-fat diet, body weight increasing rate of the TIW-treated group (Exp) was generally decreased and moreover exhibited significance at 11th week (P<0.05) compared with the control (Con) group fed distilled water, although water intake of the Exp group was lower than that of the Con group. In the ICR mice with $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity, AST and ALT activities of the Exp group were not significant but showed some decreasing trend, and histological damage of liver was less compared with thatof the Con group. On the study of ethanol-induced hangovers in Sprague-Dawley rat, blood alcohol concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01), activity of GST, antioxidant enzyme related to the alcohol metabolism, was increased in liver tissue (P<0.05), and AST and ALT show a tendency to be decreasedin the Exp group. These results suggest that drinking TIWhas not only some obesity preventing effect but also an alcohol detoxification effect and liver protecting effect in vivo. It is supposed due to a structural change of water cluster and a property which maintains the changed structure through tourmaline energy and electric discharge. Therefore, TIW has a potentiality to be developed as functional water with several beneficial effects as well as for daily drinking, but further study on the mechanism related with efficacy will be necessary.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.336-344
• /
• 2004

Background : Immunotherapy for cancer has not been successful because of several obstacles in tumor and its environment. Inappropriate secretions of cytokines and growth factors by tumors cause substantial changes in the immune responses against tumors, affording the tumors some degree of protection from immune attack. Uteroglobin (UG, Clara cell secretory protein) has been known to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities. However, in lung cancer cells, UG expression is decreased. This study investigated the role of UG in the immunomodulation of lung cancer. Methods : The UG protein was overexpressed by Adenovirus(Ad)-UG transduction in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. The concentration of Prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was measured by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from whole blood were prepared with Ficoll. PBMC were cultured in RPMI 1640, supernatant of A549, or A549 with UG or NS-398. Concentration of Th 1 type and Th 2 type cytokines from PBMC were measured by ELISA. Results : UG suppressed $PGE_2$, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) product. Both Th1 type such as Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) and Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and Th2 type cytokines such as IL-10 and Tumor growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) were increased when PBMC were cultured with supernatant of non small lung cancer cells. UG and COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398 induced normal immune response of PBMC. Although Th 1 type cytokines were increased, Th 2 type cytokines were reduced by UG. Conclusion : UG suppressed PGE2, COX-2 product. Supernatant of NSCLC induced imbalance of immune response of PBMC. However, UG reversed this imbalance. These results suggest that UG may be used in the development of immunotherapy for lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.49-73
• /
• 1991

To elucidate enzymatic properties of $\alpha$-galactosidases (EC3, 2, 1, 22) from germinated soybean and Aspergillus niger changes in the enzyme activities and oligosaccharide contents during germination of soybean were determined and $\alpha$-galactosidases from germinated soybean and wheat bran culture of Aspergillus niger were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Their chemical and enzymatic properties were investigated and the results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. $\alpha$-Galactosidase activity of soybean was maximized when it was germinated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 120 hours. And raffinose and stachyose in soybean were decomposed completely after 96 hours and 120 hours of germination, respectively. 2. The highest level of $\alpha$-Galactosidase activity was obtained when Aspergillus niger was grown on wheat bran medium at $30^{\circ}C$ for 96 hours. 3. Soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase was purified by 6.6 fold by ammonium slufate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex A-50., and gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. Its specific activity was 825 units/mg protein and the yield was 2.5% of the total activity of crude extracts. 4. Aspergillus niger $\alpha$-galactosidase was purified by 23.7 fold. Its specific activity was 1,229 units/mg protein and the yield was 14% of the total activity of wheat bran culture. 5. The purified $\alpha$-galactosidases of soybean and Aspergillus niger were found to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by HPLC. 6. Chemical properties of the purified $\alpha$-galactosidases were : 1) The soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase was monomeric and its molecular weight was estimated to be 30,000 by SDS-PAGE whereas the Aspergillus niger $\alpha$-galactosidase was a tetrameric glycoprotein which consisted of identical subunits with molecular weight of 28,000 each.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 1997

This experiment was conducted to investigate the protoporphyrin Ⅸ (PPIX)accumulation, activity of antioxidative enzymes and contents of antioxidant in tolerant-wheat and susceptible-barley to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox) inhibiting-herbicides [oxyfluorfen(2-chloro-l-(3-ethoxy-nitrophenoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzene, acifluorfen (5-[2-chloro-4-(trifl-uoromethyl) phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid), bifenox(methyl-5-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) 2-nitroben-zoate), and oxadiazon (5-tert-butyl-3-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one)]. The tolerant-wheat and susceptible-barley were soaked in these compounds at 10$^{-6}$ M for 2hrs and exposed to light for 2,4,6 or 8hrs to investigate change of the activity of antioxidative enzymes. The activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase(MDAR), catalase(CAL) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were lower in the barley than in the wheat after the treatement of these compounds. The activity of peroxidase(POX) was lower in the barley than in the wheat at 8hrs after the treatment of oxyfluorfen but other compounds showed no difference in activity in wheat and barley. The activity of glutathione reductase(GR) was increased in wheat and barley according as hours of treatment of these compounds became increased but its activity was no difference between wheat and barley. In the case of the content of vitamin C due to the treatment of these compounds, the wheat decreased less than the barley. After the treatment of oxyfluorfen the content of vitamin E in the wheat was higher than in the barley but other compounds didn't have any difference between wheat and barley. And after the treatment of acifluorfen the content of carotenoid was greater in the wheat than in the barley but other compounds didn't have any difference between wheat and barley. The content of glutathione (GSH, GSSG) was greater in the barley than in the wheat. The content of protoporphyrin Ⅸ (PPIX) accumulation by the treatments of these compounds was more in the barley than in the wheat. Especially, the treatment of oxyfluorfen and acifluorfen were more accumulated 2.3 and 1.3 fold in the barley than in the wheat, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.193-207
• /
• 1990

Transforming growth factor ${\beta}(TGF-{\beta})$ is a multifunctional polypeptide with diverse effects on the proliferation, differentiation and other functions in many cell types. $TGF-{\beta}$ is highly abundant in bone matrix and induces divergent responses in many aspects of bone cell metabolism . Several lines of investigation indicate that matrix-associated $TGF-{\beta}$ is the products of bone cells themselves. However, exact bone cell type reponsible for the production of $TGF-{\beta}$ is still in controversy, The present study was undertaken to determine the cellular origin of matrix-associated $TGF-{\beta}$ and to assess how different bone cells respond to $TGF-{\beta}$. As a prerequisite for this, 5 bone cell populations of distinct phenotype were isolated from fetal calvaria with sequential enzyme digestion protocol and biochemical characterization. Calvarial cell populations released in early stage showed fibroblastic features whereas populations relesed later was enriched with osteoblast-like cell as judged by their acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, cAMP responsiveness to parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and prostaglandin $E_2$ and collagen synthesis rate. By polyacylamide gel and immunoblot analysis of bone and calvarial cell extracts, presence of $TGF-{\beta}$ in bone tissues and production of $TGF-{\beta}$ by bone cells were confirmed again. Subsequent analysis of calvarial cell extracts prepared as individual population revealed that all calvarial cell populations synthesize $TGF-{\beta}$. Exogenously added $TGF-{\beta}$ induced biphasic response upon bone cell proliferation under serum-free condition. In osteoblastic cell populations, it was stimulatory whereas inhibitory in fibroblastic cell populations. In contrast, collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis of all calvarial cell populations were stimulated by $TGF-{\beta}$. Enhancement of protein synthesis was found to be more general rather than specific for collagen synthesis. In addition, effects of $TGF-{\beta}$ on protein synthesis were independent to its effects on cell proliferation. In summary, production of $TGF-{\beta}$ by bone cells and differential actions on various cell populations observed in this study suggest that $TGF-{\beta}$ may play an important role in the regulation of bone metabolism by modulating the specific cellular functions in autocrine and paracrine fashion.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2004

There are significant differences in the extent of drug interactions between subjects. The influence of the genetic make up of drug metabolizing enzyme activities (CYP3A5, CYP2C19 and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase) on the pharmacokinetic drug interaction potential were studied in vivo. Nineteen healthy volunteers were grouped with regard to the $CYP3A5^{*}3$ allele, into homozygous wild-type (CYP3A5^{*}1/1^{*}1$, n=6), heterozygous $(CYP3A5^{*}1/^{*}3$, n=6), and homozygous variant-type $(CYP3A5^{*}3/^{*}3$, n=7) subject groups. The pharmacokinetic profile of intravenous midazolam was characterized before and after itraconazole administration (200 mg once daily for 4 days), and also following rifampin pretreatment (600 mg once daily for 10 days), with a washout period of 2 weeks in between. For omeprazole and moclobemide pharmacokinetic interaction study 16 healthy volunteers were recruited. The volunteer group comprised 8 extensive metabolizers and 8 poor metabolizers of CYP2C19, which was confirmed by genotyping. Subjects were randomly allocated into two sequence groups, and a single-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover study was performed. In study I, a placebo was orally administered for 7 days. On the eighth morning, 300 mg of moclobemide and 40 mg of placebo were coadministered with 200 mL of water, and a pharmacokinetic study was performed. During study n, 40 mg of omeprazole was given each morning instead of placebo, and pharmacokinetic studies were performed on the first and eighth day with 300 mg of moclobemide coadministration. In the UGT study pharmacokinetics and dynamics of 2 mg intravenous lorazepam were evaluated before and after rifampin pretreatment (600 mg once daily for 10 days), with a washout period of 2 weeks in between. The subjective and objective pharmacodynamic tests were done before and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hrs after lorazepam administration. The pharmacokinetic profiles of midazolam and of its hydroxy metabolites did not show differences between the genotype groups under basal and induced metabolic conditions. However, during the inhibited metabolic state, the $CYP3A5^{*}3/^{*}3$ group showed a greater decrease in systemic clearance than the $CYP3A5^{*}1/^{*}1$ group $(8.5\pm3.8$ L/h/70 kg vs. $13.5\pm2.7$ L/h/70 kg, P=0.027). The 1'-hydroxymidazolam to midazolam AUC ratio was also significantly lower in the $CYP3A5^{*}3/^{*}3$,/TEX> group $(0.58\pm0.35,$ vs. $1.09\pm0.37$ for the homozygous wild-type group, P=0.026). The inhibition of moclo-bemide metabolism was significant in extensive metabolizers even after a single dose of omeprazole. After daily administration of omeprazole for 1 week, the pharmacokinetic parameters of moclobemide and its metabolites in extensive metabolizers changed to values similar to those in poor metabolizers. In poor meta-bolizers, no remarkable changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters were observed. The area under the time-effect curves of visual analog scale(VAS), choice reaction time, and continuous line tracking test results of lorazepam was reduced by 20%, 7%, 23% respectively in induced state, and in spite of large interindividual variablity, significant statistical difference was shown in VAS(repeated measures ANOVA, p=0.0027).

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.15 no.5 s.72
• /
• pp.790-795
• /
• 2005

The effects of liquid culture of Coriolus (C) versicolor on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipid concentrations were investigated in male rats fed the high cholesterol diets. Eight weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were given three different types of diet for six weeks, respectively: a control diet ($ 20\% fat +0.5 \% $ cholesterol), two kinds of C versicolor diet (control diet + $ 30\% or 40\%$C. versicozor in water) according to the levels of C. versicolor supplementation. The body weight gains of the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets were lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The food intake, food efficiency ratios, and liver, kidney, epididymal fat pad weights of the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\%$ C. versicoEer diets were similar to those of the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets were significantly lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly lower in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\%$ C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratios was significantly higher in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The fecal excretion of total lipid and triglyceride in the rats fed $ 40\% $ C. versicolor diet was significantly higher than that of the rats fed the control diet. There were no significant difference found in the serum trigly-ceride, phospholipid and HDL-cholesterol concentrations among the experimental groups. These results showed that the C. versicolor feeding decreased the hepatic cholesterol, triglyceride, and the serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, and increased the serum HDL-cholesterol/ total-cholesterol ratio of the rats.