• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.101-109
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• 2016

Objectives : HT070 is a mixture of herbal extracts from root of Scutellaria baicalensis and stem bark of Eleutherococcus senticosus , which have long been used for stroke therapy in traditional Korean Medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of HT070 on global cerebral ischemia and its potential mechanisms.Methods : Transient global cerebral ischemia was produced by 10 min of four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) in male Wistar rats. HT070 was administered orally at a dosage of 200 mg/kg twice at 0 and 90 min after reperfusion. Hippocampal neuronal damage was measured 7 days after reperfusion. To explore the potential mechanisms, we used hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells as an in vitro model. PC12 cells were pretreated with HT070 for 1 h and then exposed to 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 h in the presence of HT070. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and the mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, iNOS and COX-2 were measured by quantitative RT-PCR.Results : Oral administration of HT070 at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly reduced neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region by 13.4% as compared to the vehicle-treated group. HT070 increased cell viability, reversed the down-regulated Bcl-2 mRNA level, and suppressed the up-regulated mRNA expressions of Bax, iNOS, and COX-2 in H₂O₂-treated PC12 cells.Conclusions : HT070 protects against delayed neuronal death after global cerebral ischemia and its neuroprotection properties might be attributed to the inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis and ROS-generating enzymes.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2020

Northern pipevine (Aristolochia contorta) commonly inhabits marginal areas between waterside and terrestrial vegetation. In particular, A. contorta is ecologically important in the marginal areas as a food plant of dragon swallowtail butterfly (Sericinus montela), which is designated as vulnerable species in the Republic of Korea. For long-term sustainability of the plant population, assessment of the genetic diversity of exist populations should be conducted. Genomic DNA of A. contorta leaf samples were extracted from four populations where the vigorous growth were observed in the South Korea. Intra-population genetic diversity and inter-population genetic distance were assessed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with five polymorphic random primers. Overall genetic diversity was lower, compared to other wetland species (h: 0.0607 ~ 0.1401; I: 0.0819 ~ 0.1759), while GP showed the highest intra-population genetic diversity. Despite of the geographical distance, GP showed the larger genetic distance from other populations. This result seemed to be caused by the fragmented habitat and lower sexual reproduction of A. controta. Mixture of the different source populations and construction of the proper environmental condition such as shade and physical support for sexual reproduction should be considered for conservation of A. contorta population.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2008

To distinct the commercial strains in Pleurotus spp., 81 strains in eight Pleurotus species were used. DNA fingerprinting using URP-PCR was conducted to determine the phylogenetic relationships among Pleurotus strains. DNA profiles of Pleurotus species obtained by twelve URP primers were analyzed for genetic similarity by NTSYS program. We could divide strains into ten clusters, in which three of them belong to P. ostreatus and the others to the different species, respectively. At the 76% similarity level, 70 P. ostreatus strains were distinguished into three clusters. Cluster I contained 35 strains and some of them showed almost 100% similarity, one strain closely related to Weonhyeong and six strains closely related to Wangheukpyeong. In cluster II, twenty-one out of 23 strains showed 100% to Suhan. Cluster III contained twelve strains, including six strains closely related to Chunchu-2. The results suggested that there are many same strains with different names in mushroom spawn market.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2012

Culture-dependent RFLP and culture-independent DGGE were employed to investigate the bacterial community associated with the marine sponge Asteropus simplex collected from Jeju Island. A total of 120 bacterial strains associated with the sponge were cultivated using modified Zobell and MA media. PCR amplicons of the 16S rDNA from the bacterial strains were digested with the restriction enzymes HaeIII and MspI, and then assigned into different groups according to their restriction patterns. The 16S rDNA sequences derived from RFLP patterns showed more than 94% similarities compared with known bacterial species, and the isolates belonged to five phyla, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, of which Gammaproteobacteria was dominant. DGGE fingerprinting of 16S rDNAs amplified from the sponge-derived total gDNA showed 12 DGGE bands, and their sequences showed more than 90% similarities compared with available sequences. The sequences derived from DGGE bands revealed high similarity with the uncultured bacterial clones. DGGE revealed that bacterial community consisted of seven phyla, including Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Actinobacteira, Chloroflexi, and Nitrospira. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were commonly found in bacteria associated with A. simplex by both RFLP and DGGE methods, however, overall bacterial community in the sponge differed depending on the analysis methods. Sponge showed more various bacterial community structures in culture-independent method than in culture-dependent method.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2009

A cultivation-based approach was employed to compare the culturable bacterial diversity associated with two phylogenetically closely related marine sponges, Spirastrella abata and Spirastrella panis, which have geologically overlapping distribution patterns. The bacteria associated with sponge were cultivated using MA medium supplemented with 3% sponge extracts. Community structures of the culturable bacteria of the two sponge species were analyzed with PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) based on 16S rDNA sequences. The RFLP fingerprinting of 16S rDNA digested with HaeIII and MspI, revealed 24 independent RFLP types, in which 1-5 representative strains from each type were partially sequenced. The sequence analysis showed >98.4% similarity to known bacterial species in public databases. Overall, the microbial populations of two sponges investigated were found to be the members of the classes; Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The Alphaproteobacteria were predominant in the bacterial communities of the two sponges. Gammaproteobacteria represented 38.5% of bacterial community in S. abata. Whereas only 1.6% of this class was present in S. panis. Bacillus species were dominat in S. panis. Bacillus species were found to be 44.3% of bacterial species in S. panis, while they were only 9.7% in S. abata. It is interesting to note that Planococcus maritimus (8.1%, phylum Firmicutes) and Psychrobacter nivimaris (28.9%, phylum Gammaproteobacteria) were found only in S. abata. This result revealed that profiles of bacterial communities from the sponges with a close phylogenetic relationship were highly species-specific.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.366-374
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• 2010

Culture-dependent RFLP and culture-independent DGGE were employed to investigate the bacterial community associated with the marine sponge Spirastrella abata. A total of 164 bacterial strains associated with the sponge were cultivated using Zobell and Natural sea salt media. PCR amplicons of the 16S rDNA from the bacterial strains were digested with the restriction enzymes HaeIII and MspI, and then assigned into different groups according to their restriction patterns. The 16S rDNA sequences derived from RFLP patterns showed more than 95% similarities compared with known bacterial species, and the isolates belonged to four phyla, Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteriodetes, of which Alphaproteobacteria was dominant. DGGE fingerprinting of 16S rDNAs amplified from the sponge- derived total gDNA showed five major DGGE bands, and their sequences showed more than 96% similarities compared with available sequences. The sequences derived from DGGE bands revealed high similarity with the uncultured bacterial clones. DGGE revealed that bacterial community consisted of four phyla, including Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, and Chloroflexi. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were commonly found in bacteria associated with S. abata by both RFLP and DGGE methods; however, overall bacterial community in the sponge differed depending on the analysis methods.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2008

Background : The central physiological derangement of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantaan virus (HTNV) is a vascular dysfunction, manifested by hemorrhage, impaired vascular tone and increased vascular permeability. Platelet activating factor (PAF), whose actions are mediated through a specific receptor, is a potent bioactive lipid. PAF has diverse biological functions in the vascular system, such as increasing vascular permeability, adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium and reduction of cardiac output, which result in hypotension and shock. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether PAF is involved in the pathogenesis of HFRS. For this purpose, we evaluated the effect of HTNV on the expression of PAF receptor (PAF-R) and on the activity of PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) instead of PAF because PAF is rapidly degraded by PAF-AH in vivo. Materials and methods : To evaluate the expression of PAF-R, we performed reverse-transcription PCR, western blot and FACS analyses using HTNV-infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and non-infected (control) HUVECs. In addition, we measured the activity of plasma PAF-AH in HFRS patients and normal healthy persons. Results : The mRNA and protein expression of PAF-R was increased in HTNV-infected HUVECs compared with control HUVECs at 2 and 3 days post-infection (d.p.i.). FACS analysis showed that HTNV induced the surface expression of PAF-R in HUVECs from 2 d.p.i. The activity of plasma PAF-AH was 2.5-fold lower in HFRS patients than in normal healthy persons. Conclusion : Increased PAF-R expression by HTNV might increase the responsiveness to PAF in endothelial cells. Reduced PAF-AH activity in the blood of HFRS patients might delay PAF degradation. These results suggest that changes in PAF-R and PAF-AH by HTNV might influence to PAF activity and might be involved in the vascular dysfunction of HFRS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.302-311
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• 2004

Comamonas testosteroni (formerly Pseudomonas sp.) NCIMB 10643 can grow on biphenyl and alkylbenzenes $(C_2-C_7)$ via 3-substituted catechols. Thus, to identify the genes encoding the degradation, transposon-mutagenesis was carried out using pAG408, a promoter-probe mini-transposon with a green fluorescent protein (GFP), as a reporter. A mutant, NT-1, which was unable to grow on alkylbenzenes and biphenyl, accumulated catechols and exhibited an enhanced expression of GFP upon exposure to these substrates, indicating that the gfp had been inserted in a gene encoding a broad substrate range catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. The genes (2,826 bp) flanking the gfp cloned from an SphI-digested fragment contained three complete open reading frames that were designated bphCDorfl. The deduced amino acid sequences of bphCDorfl were identical to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (BphC), 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate hydrolase (BphD), and OrfI, respectively, that are all involved in the degradation of biphenyl/4-chlorobiphenyl (bph) by Ralstonia oxalatica A5. The deduced amino acid sequence of the orfl revealed a similarity to those of outer membrane proteins belonging to the OmpW family. The introduction of the bphCDorfl genes enabled the NT-l mutant to grow on aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, PCR analysis indicated that the DNA sequence and gene organization of the bph operon were closely related to those in the bph operon from Tn4371 identified in strain A5. Furthermore, strain A5 was also able to grow on a similar set of alkylbenzenes as strain NCIMB 10643, demonstrating that, among the identified aromatic hydrocarbon degradation pathways, the bph degradation pathway related to Tn4371 was the most versatile in catabolizing a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons of mono- and bicyclic benzenes.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.865-873
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• 2002

The primary cause of tooth loss after 30 years of age is periodontal disease. Destruction of alveolar bone by periodontal disease is done by bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Understanding differentiation and activation mechanism of osteoclasts is essential for controling periodontal disease. The purpose of this study is to identify the possible effects of Vitamin D and cytokines affecting osteoclasts and its precursor cells. Four to six week-old mice were killed and humerus, radius, tibia and femur were removed aseptically and washed two times with Hank's solution containing penicillin-streptomycin and then soft tissue were removed. Bone marrow cells were collected by 22 gauge needle. Cells were cultured in Hank's solution containing 1 mg/ml type II collagenase, 0.05% trypsin, 41mM EDTA. Supernatant solution was removed 5 times after 15 minutes of digestion with above mentioned enzyme solution, and remained bone particles were maintained in alpha-MEM for 15 minutes and $4^{\circ}C$ temperature. Bone particles were agitated for 1 minute and supernatant solution containing osteoclast precursor cells were filtrated with cell stainer. These separated osteoclast precursor cells were dispensed with 100-mm culture dish by $1{\times}10^7$ cells unit and cultured in ${\alpha}$- MEM containing 20 ng/ml recombinant human M-CSF, 30 ng/ml recombinant human soluble osteoclast differentiation factor and 10% fetal calf serum for 2 and 7 days. Total RNA of osteoclast precursor cells were extracted using RNeasy kit. One ${\mu}g$ of total RNA was reverse transcribed in $42^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes using SuperScriptII reverse transcriptase. Expression of transcribed receptors of each hormone and cytokine were traced with 1 ${\mu}l$ of cDNA solution by PCR amplification. Vitamin D receptor WAS found in cells cultured for 7 days. TNF-${\alpha}$ receptor was found in cells cultured for 2 days and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days. IL-1 type I receptor was not found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days. But, IL-1 receptor type II was found in cells cultured for 2 days. TGF-${\alpha},{\beta}$type I receptor was found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days, and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days of culture. These results implies Vitamin D and cytokines can affect osteoclasts directly, and affecting period in differentiation cycle of osteoclasts is different by Vitamin D and cytokines.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2010

The crude ethanol extracts and their solvent-partitioned fractions derived from the leaf and twig of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. were investigated for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging efficacy. The results showed that the butanol-soluble fraction ($SC_{50}\;=\;110.30\;{\mu}g/mL$) exhibited higher anti-oxidant activity than the crude ethanol extract ($SC_{50}\;=\;117.03\;{\mu}g/mL$) in the DPPH assay model. Then, the effects of the same extract samples on the production of nitric oxide were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Although the hexane and methylene chloride-soluble fraction showed a weak anti-oxidant activity, they exhibited potent inhibitory activity of NO production above 50 % at a concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/mL$. The hexane-soluble fraction also showed the inhibitory effect on mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such an TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7. These results suggest that the solvent extracts of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. could be used as an anti-irritation ingredient.