• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2003

Background : Goblet cell hyperplasia is a critical pathological feature in hypersecretory diseases of the airways. A bacterial infection of the lung is also known to induce inflammatory responses, which can lead to the overproduction of mucus. Recently, mucin synthesis in the airways has been reported to be regulated by neutrophilic inflammation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation. In addition, it was reported that migration of the activated neutrophils is dependent on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9. In this study, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion by EGFR cascade, resulting from the MMPs-dependent neutrophilic inflammation were investigated in the rat airways. Methods : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in vivo. Various concentrations of LPS were instilled into the trachea in $300{\mu}{\ell}$ PBS (LPS group). Sterile PBS ($300{\mu}{\ell}$) was instilled into the trachea of the control animals (control group). The airways were examined on different days after instilling LPS. For an examination of the relationship between the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MMPs, the animals were pretreated 3 days prior to the LPS instillation and daily thereafter with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI; 20 mg/Kg/day of CMT-3; Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, USA). The neutrophilic infiltration was quantified as a number in five high power fields (HPF). The alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) stain were performed for the mucus glycoconjugates and the immunohistochemical stains were performed for MUC5AC, EGFR and MMP-9. Their expressions were quantified by an image analysis program and were expressed by the percentage of the total bronchial epithelial area. Results : The instillation of LPS induced AB/PAS and MUC5AC staining in the airway epithelium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the MMPI prevented the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia significantly. The instillation of LPS into the trachea induced also EGFR expression in the airway epithelium. The control airway epithelium contained few leukocytes, but the intratracheal instillation of LPS resulted in a neutrophilic recruitment. A pretreatment with MMPI prevented neutrophilic recruitment, EGFR expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the LPS-instilled airway epithelium. Conclusion : Matrix metalloproteinase is involved in LPS-induced mucus hypersecretion, resulting from a neutrophilic inflammation and EGFR cascade. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of MMPI in the treatment of mucus hypersecretion that were associated with a bacterial infection of the airways.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2006

Objective: In the previous study, we complied the differentially expressed genes during early folliculogenesis. Objective of the present study was to identify downstream target genes of transcription factors (TFs) using bioinformatics for selecting the target TFs among the gene lists for further functional analysis. Materials & Methods: By using bioinformatics tools, constituent domains were identified from database searches using Gene Ontology, MGI, and Entrez Gene. Downstream target proteins/genes of each TF were identified from database searches using TF database ($TRANSFAC^{(R)}$ 6.0) and eukaryotic promoter database (EPD). Results: DNA binding and trans-activation domains of all TFs listed previously were identified, and the list of downstream target proteins/genes was obtained from searches of TF database and promoter database. Based on the known function of identified downstream genes and the domains, 3 (HNF4, PPARg, and TBX2) out of 26 TFs were selected for further functional analysis. The genes of wee1-like protein kinase and p21WAF1 (cdk inhibitor) were identified as potential downstream target genes of HNF4 and TBX2, respectively. PPARg, through protein-protein interaction with other protein partners, acts as a transcription regulator of genes of EGFR, p21WAF1, cycD1, p53, and VEGF. Among the selected 3 TFs, further study is in progress for HNF4 and TBX2, since wee1-like protein kinase and cdk inhibitor may involved in regulating maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity during early folliculogenesis. Conclusions: Approach used in the present study, in silico analysis of downstream target genes, was useful for analyzing list of TFs obtained from high-throughput cDNA microarray study. To verify its binding and functions of the selected TFs in early folliculogenesis, EMSA and further relevant characterizations are under investigation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.890-898
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Tenebrio molitor. Macrophage cell response by outside stimulation leads expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), and trigger expression of genes which are affected by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in formation of inflammatory factors like nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. In order to investigate anti-inflammatory agents, the inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO in RAW 264.7 cells were examined. T. Molitor significantly decreased the production of NO in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced the expression of iNOS, a COX-2 protein. As a result, the levels of protein such as $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2 and MARKs were significantly reduced compared to non-treated group in T. Molitor water extract (TDW) treated group. Also, antioxidant effect of T. Molitor were investigated using DPPH, ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests in cell-free system. Antioxidant activity of T. molitor was found low in the DPPH radical scavenging test while high in the ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests. These results show that TDW could be an effective anti-pro-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.289-293
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• 2017

Ethanol extract of garlic peels (GPE) was investigated for its antiproliferative effects on human cancer cell lines. Human lung cancer cell line A549 treated with $500{\mu}g/mL$ GPE resulted in the growth inhibition of A549 by 90%. In stomach cancer cell AGS proliferation inhibition activity, GPE showed 45% and 71% inhibition of AGS growth at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ and $2,000{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. GPE inhibited the growth of the breast cancer cells MCF-7 effectively at low concentration and showed 78% and 90% inhibitions of MCF-7 growth at $200{\mu}g/mL$ and $500{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. GPE showed very significant antiproliferation effect on liver cancer cell line Hep3B and inhibited Hep3B cell growth by 57% at $100{\mu}g/mL$, and the inhibition's rate increased up to 87% at $500{\mu}g/mL$. Antiproliferation effect of GPE on colorectal cancer cell HT-29 showed 15% reduction of HT-29 cell growth at $200{\mu}g/mL$ and the growth rate was reduced in a dose dependent manner up to $1,000{\mu}g/mL$. These results indicated that GPE had high antiproliferation effects on breast and liver cancer cell lines at low concentrations ($200{\mu}g/mL$), and by higher concentrations over $500{\mu}g/mL$, GPE inhibited the growth of A549 and HT-29. The results of our study suggested the potential use of garlic peels for use as an excellent antiproliferative substance for human cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2010

The survey was done in order to find what kinds of birds visit Taeanhaean National Park during breeding season, where we fixed up 10 coastal areas and islands within the National Park. Three groups concurrently performed the field research from 5th to 9th of July in 2009. Total 58 species and 7,323 individuals were recorded in Taeanhaean National Park. 48 species including 6,187 individuals were observed in coastal areas and 33 species including 1,136 individuals in island areas. The most dominant species in the National Park are Larus crassirostris which accounts for 60% of the birds inhabiting there, and they seem to have been bred in the islands near the National Park. The birds observed only around the coastal areas include Anas poecilorhyncha, Fulica atra, Egretta intermedia and the others which consist of 25 species and amount to 318 individuals, and the birds found exclusively in island areas include Phalacrocorax filamentosus, Apus pacificus¸ Locustella pleskei and other birds, which consist of 10 species and the number of those individuals observed was 308. The inhabited islands areas such as Gauido were characterized by high ratio of waterbird population, which seems to be correlated with the factors such as the extent of island, the richness of water resources, and the diversity of habitats. Based on the data collected during the research and other data from the previous observations, the kinds of dominant species remain nearly unchanged. And in spite of the oil spill accident in 2007, the increase in the number of waterbirds compared to 2004 may be the evidence that the area is recovering from the environmental pollution. At present, the tidal power plants are being built or scheduled to be built and large-scale reclamation is also under way. What is worse, those areas are seeing the increase of pension construction, which is likely to be the potential cause of damage and disturbance against some key habitats for the waterbirds. Therefore, it is a major priority that we build the bird information system to efficiently manage the knowledge-based asset collected from bird-watching groups and to better monitor the areas that need enhanced database through which the National Park can be appropriately administered.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.101-118
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• 2008

This paper reviews the present situation of Triticale cultivation and examines the potentiality of contribution to livestock as well as poultry sector in Bangladesh Agriculture. Triticale is a human-made cross between rye and durum wheat that has the ability to produce quality green fodder, and then re-grow after first and second cutting to produce grain. In Bangladesh, it is a non-traditional cereal that grows well during the cool and dry Rabi season (November-March) when fodder and feed scarcity is a major limiting factor for ruminant livestock. In Bangladesh Triticale was started to grow in the late Ninety's. The scientists of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) were first introduced triticale in Bangladesh. Still now the situation of Triticale is grown as fooder and feed in Bangladesh within the scientists under trial. High quality grass fodder was obtained by cutting green triticale plants twice, at 35 and 50 days after seeding, while later the ratooning tillers produced grain to a yield of 1.1-2.4 t/ha of grain for poultry feed or human food. Triticale straw was twice as nutritious as rice or wheat straw and its grain contained more protein than other cereals. Researchers and farmers have also successfully made triticale hay and silage from a mixture of triticale green cuttings, rice straw and molasses. A feeding trial at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute(BLRI), Savar station showed a large(46%) increase in cow live weight gain and a 36% increase in milk yield (but no change in milk quality or dry matter intake) in cows fed triticale silage compared with those fed rice straw over a period of nine weeks. In another feeding trial, it was found that triticale grain was a good replacement for wheat in the feed blend for chickens in Bangladesh. So it will be a good chance to alive our livestock as well as poultry sector if triticale enters to our existing cropping system as fodder cum grain. The challenge in Bangladesh is to identify fodder technologies that match existing small-scale farmer cropping patterns without needing major inputs or increasing risks. Preliminary field experiments revealed that triticale is a crop with good potential to produce quality fodder and grain for small scale farmers in Bangladesh.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2011

In this studies, contents and activities of antioxidative substances in the fruits of a pear cultivar and five Korean wild pear lines were investigated. The content of total phenolic compounds was highest with Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta "Shingo" (7.68 $mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, D.W.) while total flavonoids was highest with P. ussuriensis var. acidula (5.66 $mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, D.W.). The contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids varied according to plant species, but in general pyrifolia lines had higher total polyphenols than total flavonoids whereas in ussuriensis lines total flavonoid contents were higher than total polyphenols. The scavenging effects of DDPH radicals was highest with highest with P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis ($RC_{50}$=1.45 $mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) and that of ABTS radicals was highest with P. ussuriensis var. acidula ($RC_{50}$=0.69 $mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$). A pear cultivar "Shingo" showed highest total polyphenol content, but scavenging activity of DDPH and ABTS radicals was lowest. The fruits of P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis contained low level of phenolic compounds, but their scavenging effects on two radicals was superior. Ferrous ion chelating effect was high in P. pyrifolia var. culta (98.93%), and in P. ussuriensis var. sinensis (68.71%), but two species had low scavenging activity. The content of phenolic compounds in wild pears was not always directly proportional to the radical scavenging activity. Neither radical scavenging activity was to ferrous ion chelating activity. In conclusion the fruits of P. ussuriensis var. acidula, P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis, and P. ussuriensis var. sinensis had great potential for the development of new antioxidative functional food because their antioxidative activity is higher or at least similar to P. pyrifolia var. culta. However, due to their different levels of antioxidative effects, the development of methods of using them jointly, not singly, to obtain maximum level of antioxidants is recommended.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 1992

The effects of CC the ovulatory response, oocyte normality, ovarian steroidogenesis and subsequent embryo developmental potential were examined in PMSG-treated rats. On Days of 25~27 of age, immature female Sprague Dawley rats were treated with three different doses(0.05, 0.1 or 1.0mg /day) of clomiphene citrate or vehicle. The females subsequently received 4IU PMSG on Day 28 and/or 10IU hCG on Day 30, and were killed on Day 31. Some females given 0.1mg CC or vehicle with 4IU PMSG were then mated and killed on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5 of pregnancy. Compared to vehicle(control) group, by increasing the doses of CC, there were a significant decrease in the ovulatory response as judged by both the proportion of rats ovulating and the mean number of oocytes per rat and a marked reduction of ovarian weight. The increasing doses of CC substantially promoted the degeneration(%) of oocytes ovulating in a dose-dependent manner. The CC-mediated inhibitions of the ovulatory response and ovarian weight were oompletely overcome by a subsequent treatment of hCG. Increasing doses of CC resulted in a siginificant elevation of serum estradiol with the decreased levels of progesterone and androgens. The additive treatment with hCG was effective to reduce the elevation of estradiol and to increase the reduction of progesterone produced by high dose(1.0mg) of CC. The preimplantation embryos recovered from 0.1mg CC-treated pregnant rats demonstrated a progressive early loss from Day 3 of pregnancy with a significant increase in the percentage of degeneration during all periods examined, compared to controls. The rate of progressive embryo cleavage in the CC-treated rats were slower than that in controls from Day 3 of pregnancy. Additionally, the percentage of the cleaved embryos recovered from the CC-treated rats remained significantly lower consistently from Day 2 of pregnancy, compared to control regimen. These results demonstrate a possible mechanism of CC-mediated inhibition of ovulatory response in the rats which may include the attenuation or blockade of the endogenous secretion of gonadotropins and also suggest that its detrimental effects observed on oocyte normality and embryonic development may be caused by abnormal follicular steroidogenesis( especially elevated estradiol) preceding fertilization.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.426-431
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• 2013

With the objective of developing a functional food source, we established optimal processing conditions for the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma, which have been used in traditional medicine to treat hepatic disorders in Korea. Without suitable processing, the larvae are difficult to consume as a food because of their disgusting taste and smell; moreover, in this form they might be a potential microbial hazard. In this study, we investigated the effect of feeding material, sterilization, and powdering after freeze-drying on the food quality of the larvae of A. dichotoma and on cytotoxicity against Raw 264.7 cells. Three to five days feeding with the sawdust from discarded oak-trees is sufficient for the breeding process. The sawdust was sterilized by vapor for five minutes. Sterilization of the larvae at a high temperature ($115^{\circ}C$ for 5 min, 0.9 $kgf/cm^2$) is necessary to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The results of the cytotoxicity assay showed no toxicity in the prepared extract from larvae of A. dichotoma. In addition, to prepare the larvae for human consumption, various feeds were used and the smell, color, and taste were evaluated. Our results suggested that larvae of A. dichotoma could be developed as food source when a suitable processing method is established.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2017

This study intends to analyze the contents of rutin, procyanidin B3, quercetin, kaempferol, known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects, among the polyphenol type contained in the grape pruning stem extracts (GPSE), utilizing grape stems being discarded after harvest, measure the effects on the skin moisture, inhibition of skin cell proliferation, anti-inflammatory on the damaged skin of a HR-1 mice induced with UVB, and verify the applicability as a material for functional food and functional cosmetics. The results of verifying the photoprotection effects through the skin proliferation control through of GPSE showed similar result to suncream was achieved at the GPSE concentration of 2,000 mg/kg on the epidermis (p<0.05). The results showed anti-inflammatory effects on all groups applied with GPSE as compared to the control group irradiated with UVB, but at the GPSE concentration of 1,000 mg/kg, a lower COX-2 protein expression at 8%, lower than the 22% of suncream, was observed to achieve an excellent anti-inflammatory effect (p<0.05). The results of this study confirmed the existence of active polyphenol type, such as rutin, kaempferol, querocetin and procyanidin B3, within the GPSE, and GPSE has improvement effects on moisturizing effects, skin proliferation control effect, inflammatory control effect and improvement effects on the skin barrier function through UV ray damage. GPSE is a functional ingredient with a potential for skin protection effects, and has high utilization as an ingredient for functional food and functional cosmetics.