• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.866-875
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• 2015

COPI vesicles are essential to the retrograde transport of proteins in the early secretory pathway. The COPI coatomer complex consists of seven subunits, termed ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-$, ${\varepsilon}-$, and ${\zeta}$-COP, in yeast and mammals. Plant genomes have homologs of these subunits, but the essentiality of their cellular functions has hampered the functional characterization of the subunit genes in plants. Here we have employed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible RNAi of the COPI subunit genes to study the in vivo functions of the COPI coatomer complex in plants. The ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, and ${\delta}$-COP subunits localized to the Golgi as GFP-fusion proteins and interacted with each other in the Golgi. Silencing of ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, and ${\delta}$-COP by VIGS resulted in growth arrest and acute plant death in Nicotiana benthamiana, with the affected leaf cells exhibiting morphological markers of programmed cell death. Depletion of the COPI subunits resulted in disruption of the Golgi structure and accumulation of autolysosome-like structures in earlier stages of gene silencing. In tobacco BY-2 cells, DEX-inducible RNAi of ${\beta}^{\prime}$-COP caused aberrant cell plate formation during cytokinesis. Collectively, these results suggest that COPI vesicles are essential to plant growth and survival by maintaining the Golgi apparatus and modulating cell plate formation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.915-921
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• 2012

Artemisiae Asiaticae Herba (AAH) has been used to remedy of symptoms such as bleeding, dysmenorrhea, eczema and itchy skin in Oriental Medicine. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of AAH on allergic response. The effect of AAH was analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR in RBL-2H3 cells. We investigated cell viability, ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine as markers of degranulation, production of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$, and gene expression of HDC2, cytokines and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}{\beta}{\gamma}$ subunit. We found that AAH suppressed ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine release, the production of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in RBL-2H3 by the anti-DNP IgE plus DNP-HSA stimulation. AAH also significantly decreased cytokine mRNA expressions, such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, TNF-${\alpha}$, and GM-CSF, and increased cytokine mRNA expressions of IL-10 in RBL-2H3. In addition, AAH suppressed mRNA expression of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}{\beta}{\gamma}$ subunit on cell surface. Our results indicate that AAH protects against allergic response and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and production of cytokines and expression of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}{\beta}{\gamma}$ subunit.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.658-665
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• 2007

Phyllostachys pubescens (Maengiong-Juk), a kind of the bamboo, was reported to have many beneficial pharmacological actions. in this study, of using 70% ethanol extract of Phyllostachys pubescens we investigated its efficacy on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, vasorelaxant effect was examined in rat aortic rings. The inhibitory effect of ACE activity by Phyllostachys pubescens extract (PPE) was dose-dependently increased by 61.42% at 10mg/ml. PPE relaxed the pre-contracted rat aortic rings with 10$^{-6}$M phenylephrine, showing about 88% at 4.0mg/ml. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were given different concentrations of PPE mixed in the drinking water for 10 weeks. PPE did not show any difference with control group in blood pressure, body weight (BW) and food intake. However, it revealed the highest total antioxidative effect at dose of 1.0 g/100 g BW in plasma by TEAC assay. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and protein carbonyl levels which are markers of tissue peroxidation, were significantly lowed at the same dosage. Furthermore, hepatic antioxidant enzymes such as total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase activities were also significantly increased by PPE (1.0 g/100 g BW). In conclusion, we suggest that PPE might have antihypertensive effect through increasing antioxidant activities.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.220-230
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was a cross-sectional study comparing differences in self-management knowledge, self-management, physiologic indexes, and symptoms experience for two methods of dialysis. Methods: Participants were 90 patients on hemodialysis and 91 on peritoneal dialysis at A hospital. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups for knowledge of self-management. A comparison of the categories in the evaluation of self-management showed that patients in the peritoneal dialysis group took better care of their dialysis access route (F=17.61, p<.001) and dialysis schedule (F=4.30, p=.040). The physiologic indexes between the two dialysis groups showed that hemoglobin levels were higher in the hemodialysis group (F=5.28, p=.023). The product of serum calcium and phosphate was higher in the peritoneal dialysis group (F=11.42, p=.001). Serum sodium level was also higher in the peritoneal dialysis group (t=5.36, p<.001) while serum albumin level (t=-3.36, p=.001) and mean arterial blood pressure (t=-2.50, p=.013) were higher in hemodialysis patients. There were no significant differences in the proportion of uncomfortable experiences between the two groups. Conclusion: Medical personnel should consider differences in self-management knowledge/self-management, physiologic indexes, and symptoms experience for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis populations, and should provide adequate education accordingly and promote behavioral change to improve physiologic indexes and reduce symptoms.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1283-1289
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• 2021

Objective: The progestogen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP) gene encodes the main whey protein in milk, β-lactoglobulin. The aim of the study was to investigate polymorphism in the PAEP gene and its association with milk yield, composition, and quality. Methods: Test-day records for 782 dairy cows were analysed. A total of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the PAEP gene were investigated. The following parameters were recorded: milk yield (MY, kg/d), percent milk fat (%), protein (PP, %), dry matter (DMP, %) and lactose (LP, %), urea content (UC, mg/L) as well as natural logarithm for somatic cell count (LnSCC, ln). Effect on genomic estimated breeding values accuracy was evaluated with pedigree and single step model. Results: Results show that only three SNPs were polymorphic, creating 5 composite genotypes: P1 to P5. Differences in MY between composite genotypes were noted in the two tested herds. Cows with P5 composite genotypes were characterised by the highest PP and LnSCC and the lowest LP and UC (p<0.05). P4 was linked to an increased DMP and UC, while P3 to an increase in LP and decrease in PP and LnSCC. Both factors are important markers in herd management and have high influences on the herds economics. For 5 out of 7 traits the accuracy of prediction was improved by including the haplotype as a fixed effect. Conclusion: Presented results may suggest a new way to optimise breeding programmes and demonstrate the impact of using genomic data during that process.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2021

Male infertility has a complex etiopathology, which mostly remains elusive. Although research has claimed that oxidative stress (OS) is the most likely underlying mechanism of idiopathic male infertility, the specific treatment of OS-mediated male infertility requires further investigation. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vitamin-like substance, has been found in measurable levels in human semen. It exhibits essential metabolic and antioxidant functions, as well as playing a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Thus, CoQ10 may be a key player in the maintenance of biological redox balance. CoQ10 concentrations in seminal plasma directly correlate with semen parameters, especially sperm count and sperm motility. Seminal CoQ10 concentrations have been shown to be altered in various male infertility states, such as varicocele, asthenozoospermia, and medical or surgical regimens used to treat male infertility. These observations imply that CoQ10 plays an important physiological role in the maintenance and amelioration of semen quality. The present article thereby aimed to review the possible mechanisms through which CoQ10 plays a role in the regulation of male reproductive function, and to concisely discuss its efficacy as an ameliorative agent in restoring semen parameters in male infertility, as well as its impact on OS markers, sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

The tuber of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Brei (TPT) used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of cough, sputum, vomiting, and insomnia, possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Although recent studies have reported the anticancer effects of TPT in several cancer cells, it is still unclear whether TPT regulates tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) characterized by the immunosuppressive M2 macrophage phenotype. Our results showed that the ethanol extract of TPT (ETPT) suppressed the migration of RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells and THP-1 human monocytes differentiated into macrophages towards the conditioned media (CM) collected from lung cancer cells, suggesting that ETPT would attenuate the recruitment of macrophages into tumors. In addition, ETPT suppressed the interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-6-induced M2 macrophage polarization in RAW264.7 cells. ETPT treatment not only downregulated the mRNA expression of M2 macrophage markers including arginase-1, mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC-1), and IL-10, but also inhibited the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT6, general regulators of M2 macrophage polarization. Finally, the transwell assay results showed that the CM from M2-polarized RAW264.7 cells increased the migration of mouse lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, while those from RAW264.7 cells co-treated with ETPT and IL-6 significantly reduced the migration of LLC cells. Taken together, our observations clearly demonstrate that ETPT suppressed the cancer cell migration by regulating macrophage recruitment and M2 macrophage polarization.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.512-517
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• 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is brain damage which is caused by the impact of external mechanical forces. TBI can lead to the temporary or permanent impairment of physical and cognitive abilities, resulting in abnormal behavior. We recently observed that a single session of early exercise in animals with TBI improved their behavioral performance in the absence of other cognitive abnormalities. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of continuous exercise during the early stages of TBI in rats. We found that continuous low-intensity exercise in early-stage improves the locomotion recovery in the TBI of animal models; however, it does not significantly enhance short-term memory capabilities. Moreover, continuous early exercise not only reduces the protein expression of cerebral damage-related markers, such as Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein (GFAP), Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE), S100β, Protein Gene Products 9.5 (PGP9.5), and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70), but it also decreases the expression of apoptosis-related protein BAX and cleaved caspase 3. Furthermore, exercise training in animals with TBI decreases the microglia activation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the serum, such as CCL20, IL-13, IL-1α, and IL-1β. These findings thus demonstrate that early exercise therapy for TBI may be an effective strategy in improving physiological function, and that serum protein levels are useful biomarkers for the predicition of the effectiveness of early exercise therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1599-1606
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality characteristics of Moju made with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. and its physiological effects on ICR mice. According to the sensory score, we selected Moju made with 1% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. among Moju made with 0, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Compared to Moju made without Hovenia dulcis Thunb., Moju made with 1% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. had higher proportions of moisture (86.77 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (11.86 g/100 g). The mean values of the physicochemical analyses were as follows: pH 4.91, acidity 0.28, $^{\circ}Brix$ 12.63, reducing sugar 68.97, alcohol content 0.1, alcohol density 0.998. Moju made with 1% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. did not have effects on DPPH radical scavenging activity; however, superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher than that of Moju made without Hovenia dulcis Thunb. For assessing physiological activities, 4-week-old male ICR mice were divided into six groups (n=10): normal control group (NC), ethanol-administered group (EC), EC plus low-dose Moju made with 0% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (MCL), EC plus high-dose Moju made with 0% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (MCH), EC plus low-dose Moju made with 1% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (MDL), and EC plus high-dose Moju made with 1% Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (MDH). Serum triglyceride (TG) level was reduced by 11.17% and 19.61% in the MDL and MDH groups, respectively, compared to the EC group. Serum total-cholesterol levels of MDL and MDH groups were significantly lower as compared to the EC group. Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels of the MDL and MDH groups were significantly higher than those of the EC group. Liver TG levels were significantly reduced in the MCL and MDL groups. From these results, Moju made with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. demonstrated antioxidant activity and reduction of hyperlipidemia markers. Therefore, Moju made with Hovenia dulcis Thunb. can serve as a non-alcoholic beverage and functional food source.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1273-1273
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• 2001

The efficiency of the luminal fermentation process influences overall efficiency of luminal production, animal health and reproduction. Ruminant production systems have a significant impact on the global environment, as well. Animal wastes contribute to pollution of the environment as ammonia volatilized to the air and nitrate leached to ground water. Microbial protein synthesis in the rumen satisfies a large proportion of the protein requirements of animals. Quantifying the microbial synthesis is possible by using markers for lumen bacteria and protozoa such as nucleic acids, purine bases, some specific amino acids, or by isotopic $^{15}N,^{32}P,\;and\;^{35}S$ labelled feeds. All those methods require cannulated animals, they are time-consuming and some methods are very expensive as well. Many attempts have been made to find an alternative method for indirect measurement of microbial synthesis in intact animals. The present investigations aimed to assess possibilities of NIRS for prediction of purine nitrogen excretion and ruminal microbial nitrogen synthesis by NIR spectra of urine. Urine samples were collected from 12 growing sheep,6 of them male, and 6- female. The sheep were included in feeding experiment. The ration consisted of sorghum silage and protein supplements -70:30 on dry matter basis. The protein supplements were chosen to differ in protein degradability. The urine samples were collected daily in a vessel containing $60m{\ell}$ 10% sulphuric acid to reduce pH below 3 and diluted with tap water to 4 liters. Samples were stored in plastic bottles and frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ until chemical and NIRS analysis. The urine samples were analyzed for purine derivates - allantoin, uric acid, xantine and hypoxantine content. Microbial nitrogen synthesis in the lumen was calculated according to Chen and Gomes, 1995. Transmittance urine spectra with sample thickness 1mm were obtained by NIR System 6500 spectrophotometer in the spectral range 1100-2500nm. The calibration was performed using ISI software and PLS regression, respectively. The following statistical results of NIRS calibration for prediction of purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis were obtained.(Table Omitted). The result of estimation of purine nitrogen excretion and microbial protein synthesis by NIR spectra of urine showed accuracy, adequate for rapid evaluation of microbial protein synthesis for a large number of animals and different diets. The results indicate that the advantages of the NIRS technology can be extended into animal physiological studies. The fast and low cost NIRS analyses could be used with no significant loss of accuracy when microbial protein synthesis in the lumen and the microbial protein flow in the duodenum are to be assessed by NIRS.