• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1994

Effects of HgCl$_2$-treatment on electron transport, chlorophyll a fluorescence and its quenching were studied using isolated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Albori) chloroplasts. Depending on the concentration of HgCI$_2$, photosynthetic oxygen-evolving activities of photosystem II (PS II) were greatly inhibited, whereas those of photosystem I (PS I) were slightly decreased. The inhibitory effects of HgCl$_2$ on the oxygen-evolving activity was partially restored by the addition of hydroxyamine, suggesting the primary inhibition site by HgCl$_2$2-treatment is close to the oxidizing site of PS tl associated with water-splitting complex. Addition of 50 $\mu$M HgCI$_2$ decreased both photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Especially, energy dependent quenching (qE) was completely disappeared by HgCl$_2$-treatment as observed by NH$_4$CI treatment. In the presence of HgCI$_2$, F'o level during illumination was also increased. These results suggest that pH gradient across thylakoid membrane can not be formed in the presence of 0 $\mu$M HgCl$_2$. In addition, antenna pigment composition might be altered by HgCl$_2$-treatment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.203-214
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• 2017

Environmental toxicity due to cadmium (Cd) pollution in croplands causes critical problems worldwide. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important crop in Asia, including South Korea, and numerous studies have evaluated the relationship between Cd and antioxidants to alleviate Cd uptake from the soil into plants. However, information about the relationship between phosphorus (P) and antioxidants in rice seedlings is still limited with regard to Cd phytotoxicity. We therefore investigated the physiological responses of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv 'Dongjin') seedlings to Cd toxicity and the effect of P application on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant changes. The exposure of rice seedlings to $30{\mu}M$ Cd inhibited plant growth; increased the contents of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde; and induced Cd uptake by the roots and leaves. Application of P to Cd-exposed seedlings decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress by enhancing the capacity of ascorbate (AsA) production and ROS-scavenging, and decreased Cd transfer from the roots to the leaves. These results suggest that P application alleviated Cd-induced growth inhibition and oxidative damage by restricting Cd translocation from the roots to the leaves and maintaining sufficient levels of AsA.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.923-927
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• 2009

This study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethylacetate extract of Rehmannia glutinosa (RGEAE). The anti-inflammatory activities using nitric oxide (NO), cytokine, and chemokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were checked. Results indicated that RGEAE suppressed the NO, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of NO formation was due to a decrease in inducible NOS (iNOS) expression. It was also found that the anti-inflammatory activities of RGEAE resulted from its inhibitory role on the nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Therefore, it is suggested that RGEAE has potential as a therapeutic material to attenuate the inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.845-849
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• 2004

Many studies have focused on the anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic or chemopreventive activi-ties of capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) which is a major pungent ingredient in red pepper. We have previously shown that capsaicin selectively induces apoptosis in H-ras-transformed MCF10A human breast epithelial cells but not in their normal cell counter-parts (Int. J. Cancer, 103, 475-482,2003). In this study, we investigated the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Rac1 in capsaicin-induced apoptosis of H-ras MCF10A cells. Selective induction of ROS generation by capsaicin treatment was observed only in H-ras MCF10A cells. Pretreatment of H-ras MCF10A cells with an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine(NAC) significantly reversed capsaicin-induced growth inhibition, suggesting that ROS may mediate the apoptosis of H-ras-transformed cells induced by capsaicin. Rac1 was prominently activated by H-ras in MCF10A cells. Based on the studies using a wild type Rac1 and a domi-nant negative Rac1 constructs, we propose that Rac1 activity is critical for inhibitory effect of capsaicin on growth of H-ras-transformed MCF10A cells possibly through ROS generation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2016

Inhibition of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing kinase (ROCK) has been reported to promote differentiation of neuronal cells. Here, we examined the effect of Y-27632, a ROCK inhibitor, on the outgrowth of neurites in PC12 cells. Y-27632 caused a rapid induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in a time-dependent manner. The neurite outgrowth, triggered by Y-27632, was accompanied by Rac1 activation, and was attenuated by Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766, in a concentration-dependent manner. Y-27632 also induced an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, an ROS scavenger, inhibited the ROS generation and neurite outgrowth in response to Y-27632. These results indicate that the activation of Rac1 and the generation of ROS contribute to the neurite outgrowth triggered by Y-27632 in PC12 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2004

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been recognized to be involved in cell death. The present study investigated the effect of ${\beta}$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and deprenyl on the dopamine-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability and cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. Cell death due to 250 4{\mu}$M dopamine was inhibited by caspase inhibitors (z-IETD.fmk, z-LEHD.fmk and z-DQMD.fmk) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, ascorbate, superoxide dismutase, catalase and carboxy-PTIO). ${\beta}$-Carbolines prevented the dopamine-induced cell death in PCl2 cells, while deprenyl did not inhibit cell death. ${\beta}$-Carbolines decreased the condensation and fragmentation of nuclei caused by dopamine in PC12 cells. ${\beta}$-Carbolines inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH caused by dopamine in PC12 cells, whereas deprenyl did not decrease dopamine-induced mitochondrial damage. ${\beta}$-Carbolines, deprenyl and antioxidants depressed the formation of nitric oxide and melanin in dopamine-treated PC12 cells. The results suggest that cell death due to dopamine PC12 cells is mediated by caspase-8, -9 and -3. Unlike deprenyl, ${\beta}$-carbolines may attenuate the dopamineinduced cell death in PC12 cells by suppressing change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability through inhibition of the toxic action of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.637-643
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• 2014

Wound healing is a complex multi-step process that requires spatial and temporal orchestration of cellular and non-cellular components. Hypoxia is one of the prominent microenvironmental factors in tissue injury and wound healing. Hypoxic responses, mainly mediated by a master transcription factor of oxygen homeostasis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), have been shown to be critically involved in virtually all processes of wound healing and remodeling. Yet, mechanisms underlying hypoxic regulation of wound healing are still poorly understood. Better understanding of how the wound healing process is regulated by the hypoxic microenvironment and HIF-1 signaling pathway will provide insight into the development of a novel therapeutic strategy for impaired wound healing conditions such as diabetic wound and fibrosis. In this review, we will discuss recent studies illuminating the roles of HIF-1 in physiologic and pathologic wound repair and further, the therapeutic potentials of HIF-1 stabilization or inhibition.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.475-484
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• 2015

In this paper, we studied the anti-oxidative capacities and protective effects of water extract of Gagam-Danguieumja(GDE) against Ultraviolet B(UVB)-induced oxidative damage in human keratinocytes(HaCaT). To evaluate the anti-oxidative activities of GDE, we measured scavenging activities on DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation and reducing power of GDE. To detect the protective effects of GDE against UVB, we irradiated with 40 mJ/㎠`s UVB to HaCaT cells then we measured reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation, apoptotic bodies and cell viability using DCFH-DA assay, Hoechst 33342 staining and MTT assay. GDE showed the anti-oxidative activities by scavenging DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation. Also GDE showed high reducing values. GDE reduced oxidative stress conditions by inhibition of ROS expression. Also the cell apoptosis by UVB-induced oxidative conditions was decreased by GDE treatment. These results could suggest that GDE had anti-oxidative activities and exhibited protective effects against UVB on HaCaT cells. GDE would be useful for the development of cosmetics treating UVB-induced skin aging.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2003

Plasma polymerized organic thin films were deposited on Si(100), glass and metal substrates at $25∼100 ^{\circ}C$ using thiophene and toluene precursors by PECVD method. In order to compare physical and electrochemical properties of the as-grown thin films, the effects of the RF plasma power in the range of 30∼100 W and deposition temperature on both corrosion protection efficiency and physical properties were studied. We found that the corrosion protection efficiency ($P_{k}$), which is one of the important factors for corrosion protection in the interlayer dielectrics of microelectronic devices application, was increased with increasing RF power. The highest $P_{k}$ value of plasma polymerized toluene film (85.27% at 70 W) was higher than that of the plasma polymerized thiophene film (65.17% at 100 W), indicating inhibition of oxygen reduction. The densely packed and tightly interconnected toluene film could act as an efficient barrier layer to the diffusion of molecular oxygen. The result of contact angle measurement showed that the plasma polymerized toluene films have more hydrophobic surface than those of the plasma polymerized thiophene films.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.477-490
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• 2014

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma, also named cold plasma, is defined as a partly ionized gas. Therefore, it cannot be equated with plasma from blood; it is not biological in nature. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma is a new innovative approach in medicine not only for the treatment of wounds, but with a wide-range of other applications, as e.g. topical treatment of other skin diseases with microbial involvement or treatment of cancer diseases. This review emphasizes plasma effects on wound healing. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma can support wound healing by its antiseptic effects, by stimulation of proliferation and migration of wound relating skin cells, by activation or inhibition of integrin receptors on the cell surface or by its pro-angiogenic effect. We summarize the effects of plasma on eukaryotic cells, especially on keratinocytes in terms of viability, proliferation, DNA, adhesion molecules and angiogenesis together with the role of reactive oxygen species and other components of plasma. The outcome of first clinical trials regarding wound healing is pointed out.