• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.784-788
• /
• 2001

Reliable data on the exposure of capsaicin, which evokes hot sensation in hot red pepper, are important prerequisites for studying biological functions of capsaicin in human body since its roles are controversial according to animal and epidemiological studies. To get accurate data, the use of urinary biomarkers was considered as a measure of internal exposure of capsaicin. After 2-day-capsaicin depletion five to six women in their 20's were instructed to eat 60 or 80 g/day hot red pepper soybean paste as a capsaicin source with meal which did not contain capsaicinoid, and to collect their urine separately. HPLC conditions were set to detect capsaicinoid and urinary metabolites at the same time. Most of capsaicinoid were excreted in the form of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid in three subjects at the highest dose. This result suggests the oxidation of the 4-hydroxy3-methoxybenzaldehyde, the hydrolysis product of capsaicin, is the major metabolic pathway in the human body, whereas the reduction of the aldehyde is the major route in rats. However, neither any metabolite nor the parent compound was ever shown in two of the subjects reflecting large individual differences of capsaicin absorption and/or biotransformation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2006

To investigate whether GyeongshinhaeGihwan 1(GGT1), an anti-obesity herbal medicine widely used in oriental medicine, regulates the expression of obesity-related genes, we measured the changes in mRNA levels of these genes by GGT1 in human growth hormone transgenic (hGHTg) obese male rats, and these effects by GGT1 were compared with those of reductil (RD), an anti-obesity drug approved by FDA. Rats received once daily oral administrations of autoclaved water, RD, or GGT1 for 8 weeks. At the end of study, rats were sacrificed and tissues were harvested. Total RNA from adipose tissue, liver and kidney was prepared and the mRNA levels for LPL (lipoprotein lipase), PPAR $\gamma$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma), PPAR$\delta$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-delta), leptin, TNF$\alpha$ (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and internal standard G3PDH (glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase) were analyzed by RT-PCR. PPAR$\gamma$ mRNA levels of liver and kidney were decreased in drug-treated groups compared with control group and the decrease of PPAR$\gamma$ expression was more prominent in GGT1 group than in RD group, suggesting that GGT1 is effective in the inhibition of adipogenesis and lipid storage by decreasing the PPAR$\gamma$ expression. In contrast, PPAR$\delta$ mRNA levels of adipose tissue and kidney were increased by RD and GGT1 , and the magnitudes of increase were higher in GGT1 group than in RD group, indicating that GGT1 stimulates fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism by activating PPAR$\delta$ expression, Compared with control and RD groups, GGT1 group had higher concentrations of serum leptin, a well-known inhibitor of appetite. However, The mRNA levels of leptin, LPL, and TNF$\alpha$ were not changed by GGT1 and RD, compared with DW. These results demonstrate that GGT1 not only decreases PPAR$\gamma$ expression of liver and kidney, but also increases PPAR$\delta$ expression of adipose tissue and kidney, leading to the regulation of obesity and that these effects were more pronounced in GGT1 group compared with RD group. In addition, GGT1 seems to prevent obesity by increasing the serum leptin levels.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2014

The peroxisome is an intracellular organelle that responds dynamically to environmental changes. Various model organisms have been used to study the roles of peroxisomal proteins in maintaining cellular homeostasis. By taking advantage of the zebrafish model whose early stage of embryogenesis is dependent on yolk components, we examined the developmental roles of the D-bifunctional protein (Dbp), an essential enzyme in the peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation. The knockdown of dbp in zebrafish phenocopied clinical manifestations of its deficiency in human, including defective craniofacial morphogenesis, growth retardation, and abnormal neuronal development. Overexpression of murine Dbp rescued the morphological phenotypes induced by dbp knockdown, indicative of conserved roles of Dbp during zebrafish and mammalian development. Knockdown of dbp impaired normal development of blood, blood vessels, and most strikingly, endoderm-derived organs including the liver and pancreas - a phenotype not reported elsewhere in connection with peroxisome dysfunction. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that zebrafish might be a useful model animal to study the role of peroxisomes during vertebrate development.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2003

Background : The SCL began screening of newborns and high risk group blood spots with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in April 2001. Our goal was to determine approximate prevalence of metabolic disorders, optimization of decision criteria for estimation of preventive effect with early diagnosis. This report describes the ongoing effort to identify more than 30 metabolic disorders by MS/MS in South Korea. Methods : Blood spot was collected from day 2 to 30 (mostly from day 2 to 10) after birth for newborn. Blood spot of high risk group was from the pediatric patients in NICU, developmental delay, mental retardation, strong family history of metabolic disorders. One punch (3.2 mm ID) of dried blood spots was extracted with $150{\mu}L$ of methanol containing isotopically labelled amino acids (AA) and acylcarnitines (AC) internal standards. Butanolic HCl was added and incubated at $65^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The butylated extract was introduced into the inlet of MS/MS. Neutral loss of m/z 102 and parent ion mode of m/z 85 were set for the analyses of AA and AC, respectively. Diagnosis was confirmed by repeating acylcarnitine profile, urine organic acid and plasma amino acid analysis, direct enzyme assay, or molecular testing. Results : Approximately 31,000 neonates and children were screened and the estimated prevalence (newborn/high risk group), sensitivity, specificity and recall rate amounted to 1:2384/1:2066, 96.55%, 99.98%, and 0.73%, respectively. Confirmed 28 (0.09%) multiple metabolic disorders (newborn/high risk) were as follows; 13 amino acid disorders [classical PKU (3/4), BH4 deficient-hyperphenylalaninemia (0/1), Citrullinemia (1/0), Homocystinuria (0/2), Hypermethioninemia (0/1), Tyrosinemia (1/0)], 8 organic acidurias [Propionic aciduria (2/1), Methylmalonic aciduria (0/1), Isovaleric aciduria (1/1), 3-methylcrotonylglycineuria (1/0), Glutaric aciduria type1 (1/0)], 7 fatty acid oxidation disorders [LCHAD def. (2/2), Mitochondrial TFP def. (0/1), VLCAD def. (1/0), LC3KT def. (0/1). Conclnsion : The relatively normal development of 10 patients with metabolic disorders among newborns (except for the expired) demonstrates the usefulness of newborn screening by MS/MS for early diagnosis and medical intervention. However, close coordination between the MS/MS screening laboratory and the metabolic clinic/biochmical geneticists is needed to determine proper decision of screening parameters, confirmation diagnosis, follow-up scheme and additional tests.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2019

Lithium metal anode with the highest theoretical capacity to replace graphite anodes are being reviewed. However, the dendrite growth during repeated oxidation/reduction reaction on lithium metal surface, which results in poor cycle performance and safety issue has hindered its successful implementation. In our previous work, we solved this problem by using surface modification technique whereby a surface pattern on lithium metal anode is introduced. Although the micro-patterned Lithium metal electrode is beneficial to control Li metal deposition efficiently, it is difficult to control the mossy-like Li granulation at high current density ($>2.0mA\;cm^{-2}$). In this study, we introduce vinylene carbonate (VC) electrolyte additive on micro patterned lithium metal anode to suppress the lithium dendrite growth. Owing to the synergetic effect of micro-patterned lithium metal anode and VC electrolyte additive, lithium dendrite at a high current density is dense. As a result, we confirmed that the cycle performance was further improved about 6 times as compared with the reference electrode.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.18-32
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the safety, effects on proliferation of hair papilla cells, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms of Artemisia sieversiana Ehrh. ex Willd. (AS) extract. Methods: Safety tests through purity testing, acute toxicity tests, and repeated toxicity tests were performed using AS extract (ASE) which had been dried for over two years. Cell culture and proliferation tests were conducted; VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), and EGF (epidermal growth factor) and protein expression analyses were performed for mechanistic evaluation; and inhibitory effects of ASE on the RNA expression of testosterone, 5𝛼-reductase, and aromatase was assessed. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of ASE was confirmed by measuring the levels of nitric oxide, inflammatory mediators (TNF-𝛼 and PGE2), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and IL-8), and chemokine MCP-1. Results: The safety of ASE was confirmed. The mechanism of cell proliferation in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells involved the promotion of VEGF, bFGF, and EGF expression. ASE decreased mRNA expression of testosterone, 5𝛼-reductase, and aromatase-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. PGE2 and TNF-𝛼 production by inflammatory mediators was also significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression was inhibited. Conclusions: ASE is suggested to promote papillary cell growth at the cellular level, to suppress expression of various enzymes involved in hair cycle and cell death, and to inhibit hair loss through anti-androgen, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2018

The policy-making and technological development of eco-friendly automobiles designed to increase their supply is ongoing, but the internal combustion engine still accounts for about 95% of the automobiles in use. Also, in order to meet the stricter emission regulations of internal combustion engines based on fossil fuels, the proportion of after-treatments for vehicles and (ocean going) vessels is gradually increasing. Natural gas is a clean fuel that emits few air pollutants and has been used mainly as a fuel for city buses. In the long term, we intend to develop a new NGOC/LNT+NGCO/SCR combined system that simultaneously reduces the toxic gases, $CH_4$ and NOx, emitted from CNG buses. The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of $de-CH_4/NOx$ according to the ceramic and metal substrates of the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalysts mounted downstream of the combined system. The V and Cu-SCR catalysts did not affect the $CH_4$ oxidation reaction, the two NGOC/SCR catalysts each coated with two layers began to oxidize $CH_4$ at $400^{\circ}C$, and the amount of $CH_4$ emitted was reduced to about 20% of its initial value at about $550^{\circ}C$. The two NGOC/SCR catalysts each coated with two layers showed a negative (-) NOx conversion rate above $350^{\circ}C$. The ceramic-based combined system reached LOT50 at $500^{\circ}C$, which was about 20% higher in terms of the $CH_4$ conversion rate than the metal-based combined system, showing that the combined system of NGOC/LNT+Cu-SCR is a suitable combination.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.172-183
• /
• 1999

Background: Nitric oxide is a short-lived effector molecule derived from L-arginine by the nitric oxide synthase(NOS). Nitric oxide plays a role in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions including host defense, edema formation, and regulation of smooth muscle tone. Some kinds of cells including macrophage are known to produce large quantities of nitric oxide in response to inflammatory stimuli such as interleukin-$1\beta$(IL-$1\beta$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Reactive oxygen species are also known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute cell and tissue injury such as acute lung injury model Methods: Using the RA W264.7 cells, we have examined the ability of oxidant hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) to stimulate nitric oxide production and inducible NOS mRNA expression. Also, we have examined the effects of NOS inhibitors and antioxidants on $H_2O_2$ induced nitric oxide production. Results: Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with combinations of 100 ng/ml IL-$1\beta$, 100 ng/ml TNF-$\alpha$, and 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ or 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ and $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS induced the synthesis of nitric oxide as measured by the oxidation products nitrite($NO_2^-$) and nitrate($NO_3^-$). Addition of $250 {\mu}M-2$ mM $H_2O_2$ to the cytokines significantly augmented the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$(p<0.05). When cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of $H_2O_2$ in the presence of IL-$1\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$ and IFN-$\gamma$ at constant level, the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ was dose-dependently increased(p<0.05). $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), dose dependently, significantly inhibited the formation of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ in cells stimulated with LPS, IFN-$\gamma$ and $H_2O_2$ at constant level(p<0.05). Catalase significantly inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced augmentation of cytokine-induced $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ formation(p<0.05). But, boiled catalase did not produce a significant inhibition in comparison with the native enzyme. Another antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol and orthophenanthroline dose-dependently suppressed $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ synthesis(p<0.05). Northern blotting demonstrated that H:02 synergistically stimulated the cytokine-induced iNOS mRNA expression in RA W264.7. Conclusion: These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ contributes to inflammatory process by augmenting the iNOS expression and nitric oxide synthesis induced by cytokines.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.4 s.109
• /
• pp.436-447
• /
• 2004

Wetland plants have evolved specialized adaptations to survive in the low-oxygen conditions associated with prolonged flooding. The development of internal gas space by means of aerenchyma is crucial for wetland plants to transport $O_2$ from the atmosphere into the roots and rhizome. The formation of tissue with high porosity depends on the species and environmental condition, which can control the depth of root penetration and the duration of root tolerance in the flooded sediments. The oxygen in the internal gas space of plants can be delivered from the atmosphere to the root and rhizome by both passive molecular diffusion and convective throughflow. The release of $O_2$ from the roots supplies oxygen demand for root respiration, microbial respiration, and chemical oxidation processes and stimulates aerobic decomposition of organic matter. Another essential mechanism of wetland plants is downward water movement across the root zone induced by water uptake. Natural and constructed wetlands sediments have low hydraulic conductivity due to the relatively fine particle sizes in the litter layer and, therefore, negligible water movement. Under such condition, the water uptake by wetland plants creates a water potential difference in the rhizosphere which acts as a driving force to draw water and dissolved solutes into the sediments. A large number of anatomical, morphological and physiological studies have been conducted to investigate the specialized adaptations of wetland plants that enable them to tolerate water saturated environment and to support their biochemical activities. Despite this, there is little knowledge regarding how the combined effects of wetland plants influence the biogeochemistry of wetland sediments. A further investigation of how the Presence of plants and their growth cycle affects the biogeochemistry of sediments will be of particular importance to understand the role of wetland in the ecological environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2009

The performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) can be affected by many factors including the rate of organic matter oxidation, the electron transfer to electrode by electrochemical bacteria, proton diffusion, the concentration of electron acceptor, the rate of electron acceptor reduction and internal resistance. the performance of MFC using oxygen as electron acceptor can be influenced by oxygen concentration as limit factors in cathode compartment. Many studies have been performed to enhance electricity production from MFC. The series or parallel stacked MFC connected several MFC units can use to increase voltages and currents produced from MFCs. In this study, a single MFC (S-MFC) and a stacked MFC (ST-MFC) using acetate as electron donor and oxygen as electron acceptor were used to investigate the influence of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in cathode compartment on MFC performance. The power density (W/$m^3$) of S-MFC was in order DO 5 > 3 > 7 > 9 mg/L, the maximum power density (W/$m^3$) of S-MFC was 42 W/$m^3$ at DO 5 mg/L. The power density (W/$m^3$) of ST-MFC was in order DO 5 > 7 > 9 > 3 mg/L and the maximum power density (W/$m^3$) of STMFC was 20 W/$m^3$ at DO 5 mg/L. These results suggest that the DO concentration of cathode chamber should be considered as important limit factor of MFC operation and design for stacked MFC as well as single MFC. The results of ST-MFC operation showed the voltage decrease of some MFC units by salt formation on the surface of anode, resulting in decrease total voltage of ST-MFC. Therefore, connecting MFC units in parallel might be more appropriate way than series connections to enhance power production of stacked MFC.