• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2000

Degradation behavior of the three commercial biodegradable polymers, namely poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) Sky-Green/sup R/ (SG) and Mater-Bi/sup R/ (MB) was investigated using bacteria isolated from activated sludge and farm soil. Three PHB degrading bacteria, three SG degrading bacteria and one MB degrading bacteria were isolated. The PHB degrading bacteria were identified to be Flavimonas oryzihabitans, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum and Micrococcus diversus, while Pseudomonas vesicuraris, Pasteurlla multocida and Flavobacterium odoratum were identified as SG degrading bacteria. As for MB, Pseudomonas vesicuraris was isolated. The shake flask test for 28 days indicated that the rate of biodegradation of PHB, SG and MB in terms of weight loss were about 44∼69% 25∼32% and 29% respectively. The surface morphology of PHB, SG andMB films before and after degradation by microorganisms in an activated sludge soil was observed under SEM, demonstrating that the film surface had a very porous structure, and that microorganisms colonized heavily on the film surface. TOC and pH variation as a result of abiotic hydrolysis, or microbial growth in the absence of the polymers were compared to those due to degradation by F. oryzihabitans. Abiotic hydrolysis of PHB was three times as fast as that of SG and MB. Addition of yeast extract to the basal liquid medium accelerated the biodegradation of the polymers. Biodegradation of PHB was always faster than that of SG and MB irrespectively of the presence of yeast extract in the basal liquid medium.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 1999

To improve biopolymer productivity and properties of Bacillus strains, protoplast fusion was performed between biopolymer producing Bacillus subtilis K-1 and lactose utilizing Bacillus coagulans. The results were as follows; Protoplasts mixed in fusion fluid containing 33% PEG 6000, 1% PVP and 10 mM $CaCl_2$ were reacted for 5 min at $37^{\circ}C$ and then centrifused protoplasts were directly overlaid on the selective media containing $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ antibiotics and incubated for 3 days. At this conditions, the frequency of protoplast fusion was generally in the range of $4.6{\times}10^{-5}\;to\;1.8{\times}10^{-7}$ in ratio. Segregation ratio was observed between 1 to 6% indicating genetic stability of all the fusants. Fusants growth were also observed on the media contained amino acid and antibiotics as required marked materials. DNA contents of the selected fusants were 1.6 to 2.7 times more than that of parent strains. With observation by TEM microscopy, spherical protoplasts were first released from the swollen parental cells and then contracted to fuse in the process of fusion. And fused cells were observed representative vesicle. Originally, the parental cells were observed as in the morphology of thick-walled and double membrane-surrounded rod shape with TEM microscopy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1007-1021
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• 2018

Cancer represents one of the most significant threats to human health on a global scale. Hence, the development of effective cancer prevention strategies, as well as the discovery of novel therapeutic agents against cancer, is urgently required. In light of this challenge, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of several potent bioactive peptides and proteins contained in crocodile white blood cell extract (cWBC) against LU-1, LNCaP, PC-3, MCF-7, and CaCo-2 cancer cell lines. The results demonstrate that 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/ml$ cWBC exhibits a strong cytotoxic effect against all investigated cell lines ($IC_{50}$ $70.34-101.0{\mu}g/ml$), while showing no signs of cytotoxicity towards noncancerous Vero and HaCaT cells. Specifically, cWBC treatment caused a significant reduction in the cancerous cells' colony forming ability. A remarkable suppression of cancerous cell migration was observed after treatment with cWBC, indicating potent antimetastatic properties. The mechanism involved in the cancer cell cytotoxicity of cWBC may be related to apoptosis induction, as evidenced by typical apoptotic morphology features. Moreover, certain cWBC concentrations induced significant overproduction of ROS and significantly inhibited the $S-G_2/M$ transition in the cancer cell. The molecular mechanisms of cWBC in apoptosis induction were to decrease Bcl-2 and XIAP expression levels and increase the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and p53. These led to a decrease in the expression level of the cell cycle-associated gene cyclin-B1 and the arrest of cell population growth. Consequently, these findings demonstrate the prospect of the use of cWBC for cancer therapy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.790-794
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• 2004

Bifidobacterium spp. exhibits the highest number of counts among species of microflora in breast-feeding infant intestines and has been used as probiotics. From infant groups with different diets, 42 Bifidobacterial strains were isolated by selective plate, Gram-staining, and morphology using method of Mitsuoka, among which seven isolates were identified as Bifidobacterium spp. by F6PPK test, MIDI, and PCR. B. bifidum PBH-30, selected for development of probiotics, showed high resistance against low pH and oxgall treatment, and inhibition against pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. B. bifidum PBH-30 could be applicable to dairy products as probiotic strains due to its excellent growth in raw milk.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.859-865
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• 2006

With an approach to study the anti-tumor effects and mechanism of selenium compound, we investigated the anti-tumor activity and mechanism of $Na_5SeV_5O_{18}{\cdot}3H_2O$ (NaSeVO) in K562 cells. The results showed that $0.625{\sim}20\;mg/L$ NaSeVO could significantly inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro in a time- and concentration-dependent manner as determined by microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the IC50 values were 14.41 (4.45-46.60) and 3.45 (2.29-5.22) mg/L after 48 hand 72 h treatment with NaSeVO respectively. In vivo experiments demonstrated that i.p. administration of 5, 10 mg/kg NaSeVO exhibited an significant inhibitory effect on the growth of transplantation tumor sarcoma 180 (S180) and hepatoma 22 (H22) in mice, with inhibition rate 26.8% and 58.4% on S180 and 31.3% and 47.4% on H22, respectively. Cell cycle studies indicated that the proportion of G0/G1 phase was increased at 2.5 mg/L while decreased at 10 mg/L after treatment for 24, 48 h. Whereas S phase was decreased at 2.5-5 mg/L and markedly increased at 10 mg/L after treatment for 48 h. After treatment for 24 h, 10 mg/L NaSeVO also markedly increased S and G2/M phases. Take together, the result clearly showed that NaSeVO markedly increased S and G2/M phases at 10 mg/L. The study of immunocytochemistry showed that the expression bcl-2 is significantly inhibited by 10 mg/L NaSeVO, and bax increased. Morphology observation also revealed typical apoptotic features. NaSeVO also significantly caused the accumulation of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reduction of pH value and mitochondrial membrane potential in K562 cells as compared with control by confocal laser scanning microscope. These results suggest that NaSeVO has anti-tumor effects and its mechanism is attributed partially to apoptosis induced by the elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and ROS concentration, and a reduction of pH value and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP).

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.30.1-30.1
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• 2013

The sizes of galaxies are known to be closely related with their masses, luminosities, redshifts and morphologies. However, when we fix these quantities and morphology, we still find large dispersions in the galaxy size distribution. We investigate the origin of these dispersions for red early-type galaxies, using two SDSS-based catalogs. We find that the sizes of faint galaxies (${\log}(M_{dyn}/M_{\odot})$ < 10.3 or $M_r$ >-19.5) are affected more significantly by luminosity, while the sizes of bright galaxies (${\log}(M_{dyn}/M_{\odot})$ > 11.4 or $M_r$ <-21.4) are by dynamical mass. At fixed mass and luminosity, the sizes of low-mass galaxies (${\log}(M_{dyn}/M_{\odot})$ ~ 10.45 and $M_r$~-19.8) are relatively less sensitive to their colors, color gradients and axis ratios. On the other hand, the sizes of intermediate-mass (${\log}(M_{dyn}/M_{\odot})$ ~ 10.85 and $M_r$~-20.4) and high-mass (${\log}(M_{dyn}/M_{\odot})$ ~ 11.25 and $M_r$~-21.0) galaxies significantly depend on those parameters, in the sense that larger red early-type galaxies have bluer colors, more negative color gradients (bluer outskirts) and smaller axis ratios. These results indicate that the sizes of intermediate- and high-mass red early-type galaxies are significantly affected by their recent minor mergers or rotations. Major dry mergers also may have influenced on the size growth of high-mass red early-type galaxies.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.275-294
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• 1994

The occlusal interference during adolescent period makes some effects on growth and development and morphological changes. And so, if we could predict the the timing and results of orthodontic treatment who have occlusal interference during adolescent period, it may be helpful for diagnosis and treatment planning of orthodontic treatment. For about those, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the posterolateral displacement by the metal casting crown with inclined pathway on the mandibular condyle and morphologic changes of mandible in the rat. The experimental animals were thirty six Sprague-Dawley male rats of 8 weeks old. Eight of them was used as control group, and experimental group 1 ( continuous appliance wearing group ) was composed of sixteen and experimental group 2 ( appliance removal group after worn the appliances during 3 months ) was composed of remaining twelve. The animals of experimental grouop 1 were sacrificed after 1, 2, 3, 6 months from beginning of the experiment and experimental group 2 were sacrificed 1, 2, 3 months after removal of the appliance from worn the appliance during 3 months. Both of mandible and temporomandibular joint were observed histologically and radiologically. The results were as follows : 1. In experimental group 1, the mandibular length and lower posterior height were decreased with experimental period, while the lower anterior height was increased, and the curvature of lower incisors and lingual inclination of anterior alveolar bone were profound as compared with control group. 2. In experimental group 1, both of the thickness of the condylar cartilage were thinned in the posterosuperior region, and this phenomenon was more prominent on right than left in 3-Mo experimental period and both sides were marked thinned in 6-Mo experimental period. 3. In experimental group 2, the lower anterior height was low and lower posterior height was high as compared with experimental group 1, and the curvature of lower incisors and lingual inclination of anterior alveolar bone were recovered to control group. 4. In experimental group 2, both of the thickness of the condylar cartilage were thickened in the posterosuperior region, and this phenomenon was more prominent with experimental period. 5. In experimental group 2, the mandibular length was short, lower anterior height was hight, the curvature of lower incisors were profound, and in histologically, both of the thickness of the condylar cartilage were thickened in the posterosuperior region as compared with control group. As shown above, the occlusal interfemce affected the condylar cartilage, curvature of lower incisor, inclination of anterior alveolar bone, mandibular length, and anterior and posterior height. When the interference was removed, significant recover was found in condylar cartilage, mandibular length, and posterior height. Although no significance was found, other items of measurement showed trends for recovery.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2002

Apert syndrome is a kind of congenital-acrocephalosyndactyly syndrome which was first reported by Apert in 1906 and characterized by its acrocephaly and syndactyly. Clinical characteristic features are cone-shaped skull morphology due to early fusion of coronal suture, fusion of fingers of hands and toes of feet. It is an autosomal dominant-heritable syndrome. Due to hypo-development of midface region, Apert syndrome patients have a tendency to have ocular proptosis, hypertelorism, maxillary deficiency. High palate and soft palate cleft are common findings in these patients. In general, mandibular growth pattern is normal, but relative maxillary deficiency exaggerates mandibular forward position, so relative mandibular prognathism is inevitable. Narrow maxillary and mandibular dental arch worsen teeth alignment and crowding. Skeletal malocclusion and open bite are also common. This is a case report of a Korean 3 year 1 month male Apert syndrome child referred by department of plastic surgeon for the possibility of orthodontic treatment. General features of Apert syndrome, patient's medical history, radiographic evaluation, clinical examination, orthodontic and surgical treatment planning are discussed in this report.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.958-964
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• 2008

In this work, micro-sized dextran particles, which have recently been focused as one of the candidate materials for the Drug Delivery System(DDS), were prepared by means of the Supercritical Antisolvent (SAS) process with $CO_2$. With dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) as the solvent, effects of the operating variables such as temperature (308.15~323.15 K), pressure(90~130 bar), solute concentration(10~20 mg/ml), and the molecular weight of the solute(Mw=37,500, 450,000) on the size and morphology of the resulting particles were thoroughly observed. The higher solute concentration led to the larger particles, however, the injection velocity of the solution and pressure did not show significant effects on the resulting particle size. With dextran of the lower molecular weight, the smallest particles were obtained at 313.15 K. On the other hand, the size of the particles from the high molecular weight dextran ranged between $0.1{\sim}0.5{\mu}m$ with an incremental effect of the temperature and pressure. For the solute concentration of 5 mg/ml, the lower molecular weight dextran did not form discrete particles while aggregation of the particles appeared when the solute concentration exceeded 15 mg/ml for the higher molecular weight dextran. It is believed that if the solute concentration is too low, the degree of the supersaturation in the recrystallization chamber would not be sufficient for initiation of the nucleation and growth mechanism. Instead, the spinodal decomposition mechanism leads to formation of the island-like phase separation which appears similar to aggregation of the discrete particles. This effect would be more pronounced for the smaller molecular weight polymer system due to the narrower phase-splitting region.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 1998

Normal and abnormal follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on gonadotropins as well as intraovarian peptides, which may mediate or potentiate gonadotropin action. Inhibin also affect follicular development and steroidogenesis and may play a role in dominant follicle selection and follicular atresia. Therefore, we studied the differences of serum inhibin, gonadotropin and androgen levels in the women with only the ultrasound findings and no disorder, and polycystic ovary (PCO) with ovulatory disturbance. We prospectively analysed forty-three women with PCO. The diagnosis of PCO was based on typical appearance of the ovaries on TVS. Twelve women with regular menstrual cycle and normal ovarian morphology were selected as control. Basal levels of inhibin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol $(E_2)$, testosterone (T), androstenedione (ADD), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS), prolactin and TSH in serum were determined. There were significant differences in basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratio between the control and the women with PCO. The basal levels of inhibin and $E_2$ in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO (N=34) were significantly higher than those in the control. There was higher negative correlation between the inhibin and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but, not in the regular cycling PCO. Also, there was higher positive correlation between the LH and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but not in the regular cycling PCO. These data presume that the initial event of PCO is elevated pituitary LH secretion. Elevated levels of LH may down-regulate LH receptors on granulosa cells and also cause hypertrophy of the thecal layer. High level of androgen secreted by the hypertrophied thecal layer may stimulate inhibin secretion from granulosa cells and can be converted to estrogen by extraovarian tissues and could serve to augment pituitary sensitivity to GnRH with a resultant secretion of more LH than FSH. Inhibin may inhibit FSH action on granulosa cell in the PCO follicle, impairing follicular development and dominant follicle selection resulted in ovulatory disturbance.