• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2004

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea is a contributory factor of hypertension, arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the pathophysiology underlying this relationship is unclear. Recent reports have shown that the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and some reports state that increased levels of these cytokines are found in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In this study, the levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF were measured in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in order to determine if obstructive sleep apnea is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Methods : Thirty-seven patients were chosen amongst a population who visited the Sleep Disorders Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital in Seoul, Korea for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and who had subsequently undergone an overnight polysomnography at the clinic. The sera from these patients were retrieved after an overnight polysomnography session and the samples were kept at $-70^{\circ}C$. The cytokine levels were determined with ELISA and the relationships between the serum levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF along with polysomnography parameters were analyzed. Results : No statistically significant correlation was observed between the sICAM-1 levels and the apnea-hypopnea index(r=0.27, P>0.05). Positive correlations were found between the apnea-hypopnea index and serum VEGF levels (r=0.50, P<0.01), the apnea index and the serum sICAM-1 levels (r=0.31, P<0.01), and the apnea index and the serum VEGF levels (r=0.45, P<0.01). Conclusions : Obstructive apnea or hypopnea leads to an increase in the sICAM-1 and VEGF levels. Such an increase in the cytokine levels most likely leads to the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-38
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• 1992

The present study was carried out to investigate morphologic changes in the corpus luteum of the pregnant rat by electron microscope after administration of prostaglandin F2$\alpha$(PGF2$\alpha$). Pregnant rates were treated with PGF2$\alpha$(1,500$\mu\textrm{g}$/rat) and their corpura lutea were observed morphologically. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows ; 1. The weight of the ovaries and corpura lutea were decreased slightly at 8~24 hours after PGF2$\alpha$ administratin but no significant differences were observed. 2. The number of corpora lutea and luteal cells decreased slightly at 12~48 hours and 18~24 hours after PGF2$\alpha$ tretment but there were no signifciant differences between control and treatment. 3. The weight of uterus and the unmber of embryo decreased slightly at 96 hours and at 18~96 hours after PGF2$\alpha$ administration but no significant differences were obtained. 4. In the electron microscopic observatons, lipid droplets which are electron dense and appear in the cytoplasm moderately increased in number after PGF2$\alpha$ treatment. The lipid droplets were surrounded by mitochodria and appeared in the autophagic vacuoles. 5. Moderated and high electron dense mitochondria which are round or elongated in shape showed pleomorphism from 3 hours after PGF2$\alpha$ treatment. Destruction of tubular of vesicular cristae was observed at 6 hours after the treatment. Dense body and myelin figures in matrix of mitochondria were also appeared. 6. Well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum(sER) showed tubular or vesicular cisternae. A number of whorl membranes containing ribosomes, mitochondria and lipid droplets were observed at 1.5 hour after treatment. sER was abundant in luteal cells at 12 hours were treatment. 7. Well-developed Golgi pparatus appeared obviously 6 hours and more prominently at 12 hours. Those Golgi vesicles were remarkably dilated. 8. Generally, a few rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were appeared after treatment and cisternae showed slight dilatation. No differences among the treatments were observed. However, slight dilation of cisternae was observed at 1.5 hours after treatment. 9. Ribosomes composed of free and polyribosomes were abundant before treatment but polyribosomes were appeared at 12 to 24 hours after treatment. 10. Intercellular space were slightly extended at 3 hours and markedly extended at 12 hours. Numerous microvillous protrusions were observed at these times. Membranous multivesicular structures and autophagic vacuoles were also appeared in the intercellular space. 11. At 3 hours after the treatment, autophagic vacuoles appeared in the cytoplasm of the cell. They increased in number with time and were observed to transfer to the intercellular space. Lysosomal dense body appeared in the cytoplasm and the inclusion body was also observed in nucleus at 12 to 24 hours after treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.283-294
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• 1988

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristic features of the cells and tissues of the chronic periapical lesions using light microscope and electron microscope. Fifteen dental periapical lesions were obtained from the patients undergoing periapical surgery. Each specimen was divided into two parts along the tooth axis. One part was routinely processed for histopathologic examinations. 12 periapical lesions were diagnosed as granuloma and 3 periapical specimens as periapical cyst. The other part was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M sodium cacodylate buffer at pH 7.4 and 1% osmic acid in same buffer. They were embedded in Epon 812. The semithin sections were used for the orientation of the lesions and the ultrathin sections were stained conventionally and examined with AEI Corynth 500 electron microscope. The results were as follows. 1. PMN and macrophages, which were dominant cell type, were scattered in small or large numbers throughout the central destructive area of granuloma. In the granulomatous area, plasma cells and lymphoytes were found in significant number and a lot of new capillary formation were revealed. Clefts caused by cholesterol were often seen in the connective tissue. Occasionally foam cells became collected in groups and epithelial proliferation were present. 2. In both granuloma and cyst, some plasma cells contained narrow cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum of which was tightly packed with electron dense materials, and other cells exhibited dilated profiles of granular endoplasmic reticulum. 3. In the area where plasma cells and lymphocytes were collected in groups, lymphocytes with well developed nucleolus and profuse cytoplasm were found and differentiating plasma cells were also present. 4. In the epithelial strands of the granulomatous area, epithelial cells contained enlarged endoplasmic reticulum, tonofilaments and ribosoms. Toward the intercellular space epithelial cells protruded a few microvilli. In the intercellular space, exudate-like electron dense materials, most of which was attached to the plasma membrane, appeared. 5. Some foam cells filled with numerous lipid droplets and others had lipid droplets and crystal-like structures. 6. Cyst epithelium consisted of bright cells and dark cells. The former had bright cytoplasm and small amounts of ribosoms, and the latter dark cytoplasm, many ribosoms, mitochondria and elongated microvilli. 7. Epithelial cells near the cyst lumen protruded a lot of long microvilli toward intercellular space and cyst lumen.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2006

Potassium Sorbate (PS) is a potassium salt version of sorbic acid, which has antimicrobial and fungistatic features in foods. Therefore, PS is used as a food preservative against fungi and mold. PS has been found to be non-toxic even when taken in large quantities given its trait to be broken down in the body into water and carbon dioxide. Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC) is essential in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis during development and differentiation. This study was made of the effects of PS on GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial (WB) cells. We found dramatic decrease of cell viability in time- and dose-dependent manners when WB cells were treated with PS. The effect of PS on GJIC is strong inhibition, and it took place in parallel with a hyperphosphorylation of connexin 43 expression. The finding that PS interferes with gap junction functionality should be considered with respect to the mechanism of PS-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.270-286
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• 2019

Purpose: Despite the well-known anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D in periodontal health, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, the effect of vitamin D on strengthening E-cadherin junctions (ECJs) was explored in human gingival keratinocytes (HGKs). ECJs are the major type of intercellular junction within the junctional epithelium, where loose intercellular junctions develop and microbial invasion primarily occurs. Methods: HOK-16B cells, an immortalized normal human gingival cell line, were used for the study. To mimic the inflammatory environment, cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the culture medium were assessed by an MMP antibody microarray and gelatin zymography. The expression of various molecules was investigated using western blotting. The extent of ECJ development was evaluated by comparing the average relative extent of the ECJs around the periphery of each cell after immunocytochemical E-cadherin staining. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression was examined via immunohistochemical analysis. Results: $TNF-{\alpha}$ downregulated the development of the ECJs of the HGKs. Dissociation of the ECJs by $TNF-{\alpha}$ was accompanied by the upregulation of MMP-9 production and suppressed by a specific MMP-9 inhibitor, Bay 11-7082. Exogenous MMP-9 decreased the development of ECJs. Vitamin D reduced the production of MMP-9 and attenuated the breakdown of ECJs in the HGKs treated with $TNF-{\alpha}$. In addition, vitamin D downregulated $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling in the HGKs. VDR was expressed in the gingival epithelium, including the junctional epithelium. Conclusions: These results suggest that vitamin D may avert $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced downregulation of the development of ECJs in HGKs by decreasing the production of MMP-9, which was upregulated by $TNF-{\alpha}$. Vitamin D may reinforce ECJs by downregulating $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling, which is upregulated by $TNF-{\alpha}$. Strengthening the epithelial barrier may be a way for vitamin D to protect the periodontium from bacterial invasion.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2021

The stratum corneum is formed from keratinocytes and intercellular lipids, with ceramide as the main component of intercellular lipids. Ceramides are one of the important components of the intercellular lipids to form a lamellar structure, but they are insoluble and therefore are not suitable for direct application to the skin. Thus, it was intended to apply ceramide to the formulation of pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO gel), which received constant attention among drug delivery systems. A suitable oil for formulation was selected and a PLO gel containing ceramide was manufactured. Liquid crystal formation and variation were observed using polarized microscopes, and viscoelastic analysis was performed to find out the viscoelastic behavior of the PLO gel. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analysis were performed to confirm the structures in the formulation. Results showed that the size and stability of the liquid crystal differed depending on the content ratio of ceramide and lecithin in the PLO gel containing ceramide. Furthermore, viscoelastic analysis showed the stability of the formulation, and SAXS/WAXS analysis confirmed that the PLO gel without ceramide had hexagonal structure of the quadrilateral system array, and the PLO gel with ceramide had the lamellar structure of the quadrilateral system array.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2001

Whole-cell attachment by covalent linkage, thereby simulating natural and specific attachments, improves the osmotolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The enhanced osmoresistance is correlated with a decrease in the intercellular concentration of trehalose and accompanied by membrane compositional changed. The results obtained indicate that yeast cell-support (physical) contact is sensed and responded to.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.224-231
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• 1993

This paper propose a procedure to form the cell and part family using both of similarity coefficient method and mathematical programming in order to slove the exceptional part and bottleneck machine problems. In the procedure proposed by this paper, the machine duplication and subcontracting are considered to slove the bottleneck machine and intercellular moving part problems An example is given to show how this procedure works.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.1-9
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• 2001

Some would argue that the search for the origin and treatment of this disease will continue over the next quarter century in much the same manner as it has in the recent past, by adding further layers of complexity to a scientific literature that is already complex almost beyond measure. But we anticipate otherwise: those researching the cancer problem will be practicing a dramatically different type of science than we have experienced over the past 25 years. Surely much of this change will be apparent at the technical level. But ultimately, the more fundamental change will be conceptual.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.78-79
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• 2003

T cell activation is initited by the interaction of T cells with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the context of peptide antigen. Initial conjugates are formed by binding between lymphocyte-associated antigen-l (LFA-l, also known as CD11a-CD18) and intercellular adhesion molecule-l (ICAM-1), or CD2 and LFA-3, or other pairs of interactive proteins. (omitted)