• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.261-266
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• 2003

Type 1 diabetes is an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by the cytotoxic T cells-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the Langerhans pancreatic islets. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen and a promoter of proliferation of insulin producing beta cells of pancreatic islets. To study the role of HGF via viral vector in the development of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in mice, we have developed an adenoviral vector genetically engineered to carry the gene for human HGF (hHGF) and evaluate the change of blood glucose, insulin level, and insulin-secreting beta cells of pancreatic islets. We demonstrate that the treatment with hHGF gene prevented the development of STZ-induced diabetes and increased serum insulin level to above normal range. Furthermore, it preserved pancreatic beta cells from destruction. These in vivo results may support previous findings that HGF is insulinotropic agent for beta cells and HGF treatment renders the cells to be resistant to the development of diabetes from STZ administration. We suggest that an adenoviral mediated hHGF gene therapy is a good candidate for the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.334-340
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complex (OF) on blood glucose, glucose tolerance, plasma insulin level and histopathological appearance of pancreatic islets in streptozotoxin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-two male Sprague-Daweley rats were divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OF of 2% (OF-2) and diabetic OF of 5% (OF-5) and fed experimental diets for 3 weeks. Compared to the DC group fasting blood glucose levels in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were significantly (p<0.05) reduced while fasting plasma insulin level in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were significantly (p<0.05) increased. Glucose tolerance in the OF-2 and OF-5 groups were improved. Histopathological observation of pancreatic islets of the OF-2 and OF-5 groups showed hyperplasia which was very similar to NC. Numbers of ${\beta}$-cells in OF-2 ($47.81{\pm}0.92$) and OF-5 ($81.64{\pm}2.80$) were higher than numbers of ${\beta}$-cells in DC ($13.18{\pm}1.01$). These results imply that the intake of OF improves ${\beta}$-cell proliferation and prevents the death of ${\beta}$-cells in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

This study was carried out to understand the effects of Saengchinyanghyoltang-gamibang (SGT) on pancreatic islets of the mice induced with streptozotocin (STZ). In the control group, two times injected with 50 mg/kg 572 at 24-hour intervals, a few number of insulin immunoreactive-cells are observed at the pancreatic islets of the mice. In the experimental group which administered with extract of SGT during 21-day, a number of immunoreactive-cells are observed at the pancreatic islets. According to the electron microscopic observation, $\beta-cells$ of the control group were contained a few of secretory granules, but also these granules were contained electro-lucent materials. In the experimental group, a lot o( secretory granules and well developed cell organelles are observed at the $\beta-cells$. The level of glucose was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with control group, but the level of BUN was similar in these two groups. These results suggest that administration of SGT to the mice improved the damage of $\beta-cells$ from injected with STZ.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.540-541
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• 1989

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.3 s.107
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• pp.197-204
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• 2002

This study was carried out to analyze Pinus densiflora forest in islets of southwestern coast of the Korean peninsula by the phytosociological methods. As a result of the investigation of 26 quadrats, the pine forest was classified two communities and six subcommunities : Ardisia japonica-Pinus densiflora community and Isodon japonicus-Pinus densiflora community, and Farfugium japonicum subcommunity, Quercus serrata subcommunity, Typical subcommunity of Ardisia japonica-P. densiflora community, Juniperus rigida subcommunity, Pourthiaea villosa subcommunity and Typical subcommunity of Isodon japonicus-P. densiflora community. The subsidiary knowledges from this study provide practical information to clarify the syntaxonomy of natural pine forest of the Korean peninsula by the phytosociological methods.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.257-269
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• 2017

The occurrence variations of decapods by season and depth off Oryuk Islets, Busan were investigated at seven stations in April and October 2009, July 2010 and January 2011. Decapods were collected by SCUBA diving at 5 m and 10 m depths. 46 species belonging to 18 families in 3 orders were identified. Pilumnus minutus, Pugettia intermedia, Pachycheles stevensii, and Paguristes japonicus were dominant species, comprising 73.0% of total decapods. P. minutus and P. intermedia were abundant in all seasons (except summer) while P. stevensii and P. japonicus were abundant in fall and summer. Dominant species were divided into three groups (resident species, seasonal species and temporary species) on the basis of their occurrence patterns. P. minutus and P. intermedia were resident species while P. stevensii, P. japonicus were temporary species. The species number, density and biomass of decapods were fluctuated by seasons. They were highest in fall and lowest in winter. This study implied that the variations of species number and density of decapods were significantly related with seasonal change of water temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.391-395
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• 2000

The vegetations of Hansan and Chubong islets in Tongyoungsi were investigated from April, 1997 to December, 1998 and a synthesis table was constructed. Based on the synthesis table, the vegetation was classfied into 6 communties: Pinus thunbergii community, Pinus densiflora community, Machilus thunbergii community, Chamaecyparis obtusa afforestation, Cryptomeria japonica afforestation, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens community, and 3 subcommunities: Pinus thunbergii typical subcommunity, Quercus variabilis subcommunity, Carpinus coreana subcommunity. The vegetation of Pinus densiflora community around Jeseungdang area is well preserved. However the islet requirs the ecological restoration, and we suggest that the rare species such a Crypsinus hastatus, old trees of Machilus thunbergii and Pinus thunbergii, and the habitat for Machilus thunbergii and Camellia japonica must be preserved.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.61-71
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• 2000

The purpose of this article is to investigate the forms and styles of pond at private housing in terms of diachronically influencing characteristics in the Choson Dynasty. From various literatures and records, we have selected 73 cases of pond. We have analyzed the types of pond based on square type, squared type with islets, and modified types and found the following results: 1) Chronically, shapes of pond had been chanced from the three prototypes into their features of deducting side or edge, adding a triangular or trapezoid shape, and installing more islets, and replaced their figures with gradually progressive from side having a straight lined shape to a curved one. 2) As for characteristics of arranging ponds, we found three patterns of arrangement - the juxtaposition with a similar shape of pond, juxtaposition with a different shape of pond, and the juxtaposition with a pond having different topological level in the light of the relation with a stream and a pond. We can conclude the two changed patterns of ponds at private residence in Choson Dynasty that the one had been transformed shapes of pond with sides of pond, and the others had been transformed juxtaposition with either a stream or a natural stream. From this research we can find an important implications in understanding patterns and types of garden in the Choson Dynasty from exploratory approach and in the future the relationship between topographical characteristics of private residence and Confucian ideas, and shapes of pond is needed to be examined in explanatory manner.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.281-285
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• 2016

CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for normal immune surveillance, and their dysfunction can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases, such as type-1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by islet b cell destruction, hypoinsulinemia, and severely altered glucose homeostasis. Tregs play a critical role in the development of T1D and participate in peripheral tolerance. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be utilized to obtain a renewable source of healthy Tregs to treat T1D as they have the ability to produce almost all cell types in the body, including Tregs. However, the right conditions for the development of antigen (Ag)-specific Tregs from PSCs (i.e., PSC-Tregs) remain undefined, especially molecular mechanisms that direct differentiation of such Tregs. Auto Ag-specific PSC-Tregs can be programmed to be tissue-associated and infiltrate to local inflamed tissue (e.g., islets) to suppress autoimmune responses after adoptive transfer, thereby avoiding potential overall immunosuppression from non-specific Tregs. Developing auto Ag-specific PSC-Tregs can reduce overall immunosuppression after adoptive transfer by accumulating inflamed islets, which drives forward the use of therapeutic PSC-Tregs for cell-based therapies in T1D.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

Estuary islets should be managed systematically because they are important places for birds to rest and breed. This paper investigates the environmental properties of islets where the sand banks are located from east to west on the southernmost of Nakdong estuary during a year (September 2003 $\sim$ August 2004). The research showed that 59 species and 19,148 individuals were found in the area A (Jangja Shinja-Do) and 61 species and 28,394 individuals in the area B (Saja-Do; Beakhapdeung Doyodeung). Totally, 74 species and 47,539 individuals were observed in both of this estuary. Shorebirds are the most observed species in both areas. In area, most of individuals were especially observed in the spring when Shorebirds migrate northward for breeding. In B area, various species were also observed in the fall when they migrate southward for wintering. Therefore, many groups of birds are observed around Shinja-Do in the spring. They passed the winter in Doyodueng, associated with feeding in the main stream of Nakdong river mainly. Although the southernmost sand bar is the breeding place to access to outside without interception, invasion by human beings and predators (mice, weasels and etc.) gives a fatal blow for birds to breed or rest. The reed which is a tall herbaceous plant is flourished according to the process of ecological succession. Therefore, the sand bar becomes a land. It results in reduction of habitats and breeding grounds for birds. In conclusion, these areas where birds can use the islets as habits and breeding places must be preserved by restraining luxuriance of reeds and systematic management of human beings and predators is necessary.