• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the effect of desalinated underground seawater (named as 'magma seawater', MSW) of Jeju Island in Korea on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity. MSW was collected from underground of Han-Dong in Jeju Island, and freely given to high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice for 10 weeks. Although there were no significant differences in the body weight changes and plasma lipid levels, hepatic triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the MSW group than in the normal tap water (TW)-drunken control group. Furthermore, the activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was significantly decreased and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity was increased in MSW group compared to TW group. Similarly, real-time PCR analysis revealed that mRNA expressions of lipogenic genes were lowered in MSW groups compared to the control group. In a morphometric observation on the liver tissue, accumulation of fats was remarkably reduced in MSW group. Meanwhile, in vitro assay, tree radical scavenging activity measured by using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was increased in MSW group. The 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining followed with fluorescent microscopy showed a low intensity of fluorescence in MSW-treated HepG2 cells, compared to TW-treated HepG2 cells, which indicated that the production of reactive oxygen species by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) in HepG2 cells was decreased by MSW treatment. The antioxidant effect of MSW on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells was supported by the increased activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and glutathione reductase. From these results, we speculate that MSW has an inhibitory effect on lipogenesis in liver and might play a protective role against cell damage by t-BHP-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.904-912
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• 2013

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of cordycepin-increased Cordyceps militaris strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) based on six dietary categories: normal (N), $CCl_4$ control (C), $CCl_4$ plus Paecilomyces japonica (CPJ) (3%, w/w), $CCl_4$ plus C. militaris (CCM) (3%, w/w), and $CCl_4$ plus cordycepin-increased C. militaris ($CCM{\alpha}$) (3%, w/w). The activities of the liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, and LDH and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. The TBARS content in the liver homogenate, microsome, and mitochondrial fractions of the C group was significantly elevated compared with the N group. However, in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, $CCM{\alpha}$ group was significantly lowered in the TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate and microsomal fractions. The C group showed a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, whereas they were significantly increased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. Accordingly, cordycepin-increased C. militaris may be an ideal animal model for studying hepatoprotective effects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.442-452
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• 2009

Smoking has been known to exacerbate the initiation and propagation of oxidative stresses. Efforts have been made to reduce the smoking-induced oxidative stresses using commercial dietary supplements. Propolis is the resinous substance collected by bees from the leaf buds and bark of trees, especially poplar and conifer trees. In this trial, we examined whether a daily supplementation of 800 mg propolis can protect endogenous lymphocytic DNA damage and modulate antioxidative enzyme activities and the level of antioxidant vitamin in smokers using a placebo-controlled, doubleblinded cross-over trial. After two weeks of running-in period, 29 smokers (mean age 34.38 ${\pm}$ 1.73) received 6 tablets/day of either propolis or placebo pills for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout period the subjects switched they pills for cross-over study. The degree of DNA damage (assessed by tail DNA, tail length and tail moment) was not significantly changed with propolis intake or placebo intake. Similarly, total antioxidant status (TAS) remained at the same level regardless of the treatment. Erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma vitamin C and tocopherol level did not differ before and after propolis treatment, and did not differ between treatments. Putting all these results together, we would suggest that it is still too early to claim that propolis possess antioxidative activities.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2008

Objective: During cryopreservation process, cold shock and cryo-injury affect the fertilizing capacity of the sperm by damaging cell membranes with loss of functional integrity. A longstanding concept for preventing the cryo-damage is to stabilize the plasma membrane by incorporating cholesterol. This study was to determine the effects of cholesterol in freezing media on the motility and functional integrity of human sperm after cryopreservation. Methods: Control group (non-cholesterol treated) and different concentrations of cholesterol-treated sperm (14 healthy males) were frozen and thawed. After freezing and thawing of sperm, the quality of sperm was evaluated by sperm analysis, acrosome reaction test and sperm chromatin structure assay. Results: When human sperm were incubated in sperm freezing medium (SFM) containing $0.5{\mu}g$ cholesterol and then freezing/thawing, the motility of sperm have significantly improved compared to those untreated cholesterol ($33.46{\pm}1.48%$ vs. $30.10{\pm}1.07%$, p<0.05). The rate of calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reactions in post-thawed sperm was significantly higher than that ($53.60{\pm}1.60%$ vs. $47.40{\pm}1.86%$, p<0.05) in SFM containing cholesterol. Sperm chromatin structure assay revealed that DNA damage to the sperm in the cholesterol-treated group was lower than that of non-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased cholesterol content of sperm plasma membrane by supplementation of cholesterol in SFM improves sperm motility, capacitation status, and DNA integrity. Therefore, addition of cholesterol into SFM could be a useful for protecting human sperm from cold shock and cryo-injury during cryopreservation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.683-693
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate the effect of dandelion juice supplementation on attenuation of oxidative stress and hangover after drinking alcohol in healthy college male students. This human trial was conducted by two phase cross over design with two weeks wash out period. The subjects (age $24{\sim}28$ years) were volunteers who had more than 72 g of ethanol drinking capacity. Dandelion group was given dandelion juice 220 mL daily for 7 days. Biochemical markers were determined in blood samples taken at 0 and 150 minutes after administration 72 g of alcohol. The levels of plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin, the indicators of liver cell damage, were not significantly different between groups. No significant differences in lymphocyte DNA damage level between groups was observed. However, plasma acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly (p<0.01) increased in dandelion supplemented group compared to that of control group. Furthermore, activities and protein expressions of glutathione-reductase and catalase of erythrocytes were significantly elevated in dandelion supplemented group compared to that of control group. From the above results, it is concluded that dandelion juice supplementation can reduce oxidative stress and hangover syndrome through the elevation of ALDH and antioxidative enzyme system in healthy male adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LAF) on reduction of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol in rats. Ethanol-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following eight groups: ethanol-treated group (control), ethanol and ursodeoxycholic acid-treated group (positive control), ethanol and non-fermented water extracts from Ligularia fischeri (LA)-treated groups [100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW (body weight)], ethanol and LAF-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW). ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase activities of the ethanol+LA-treated (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) groups and ethanol+LAF-treated (400 mg/kg BW) group decreased significantly compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase activities of the ethanol+LAF-treated (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) groups and ethanol+LA-treated (200 and 400 mg/kg BW) groups decreased significantly compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities of all groups significantly decreased compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of all groups tended to decrease compared to those in the control group, but the differences were not significant. Superoxide dismutase activity of liver tissues was enhanced in the ethanol+LAF-treated (400 mg/kg BW) group (P<0.05). The contents of malondialdehyde in liver tissues decreased in the ethanol+LAF-treated groups (P<0.05). All treated groups showed well preserved lobular architectures with no evidence of steatosis or liver damage compared to the control group. As the results of this study, LAF may improve the plasma lipid profile and alleviate hepatic damage by ethanol.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2008

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is great clinical important because viability of the transplanted organ depends on the tolerance of the graft to ischemia-reperfusion injury, an inevitable processing during surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of irrigation-aspiration in ischemia-reperfusion injury model induced by cross-clamping of renal vessels. Blood samples were collected from these dogs for measurement of kidney function and antioxidant enzyme activity, and RI at the intrarenal artery was measured at different time intervals. And the kidneys were taken for histopathologic evaluation at day 14. Kidney function (Cr and BUN) showed a significant increasing in untreated group compared to treated group. Resistive index of intrarenal artery was no significant difference among the groups. Activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma was significant decrease in untreated group compare to control group while in treated group was no significant difference compared to control group. In histopathologic finding, treated group was showed less damage than that of untreated group. This result suggests that the processing of irrigation-aspiration is useful to reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.630-633
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• 2020

Renal failure syndrome in wild mammals is infrequently reported. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized rodent known to carry many diseases but rarely exhibiting renal failure. A six-month old female muskrat was submitted to our laboratory for pathological diagnosis, and necropsy revealed severe renal damage with sand-like lithiasis in the ureter, renal calculi, and hydronephrosis. All major organs, including the cerebrum, also showed systemic hemorrhage and calcification which may have been due to uremia induced by renal failure. Histopathologically, necrosis and microcalcification were detected in the renal cortex and the medulla, especially in the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. Significant hyalinization of the glomeruli was also observed, and this suggested chronic nephritis. These findings would support mycotoxic effects, particularly on the kidney. Moreover, infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was observed in the lung and of plasma cells in the spleen. The definitive cause of the toxic effects in this case of muskrat renal failure could be attributed to contaminated food.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.531-542
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• 2016

This experiment was conducted to verify whether or not chronic consumption of liquor prepared with Gastrodiae rhizoma exhibits antioxidant activity in brain tissue of rats. In the experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a liquid diet containing 6% (GA6), 18% (GA18), and 36% (GA36) of total calories as liquor for 6 weeks. The control rats (GAC6, GAC18, GAC36) received an isocaloric diet containing Soju instead of liquor. Caloric intakes and body weight gains of the 36% groups were significantly lower than those of the 6% and 18% groups (p<0.05), whereas alcohol intakes were significantly high in the 36% group (p<0.05). MDA contents of plasma and brain showed a positive correlation with alcohol intakes of the liquor and Soju consuming groups. Especially, contents of MDA were significantly higher in the 18% and 36% groups than the 6% group (p<0.05). SOD activities of serum and brain were significantly highest in the 18% group, and they tended to be higher in the liquor consuming groups compared with the control group. Catalase activity of serum showed no significant changes in the three groups consuming liquor, and catalase activity of brain tissue significantly increased in the GA18 group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the liquor consuming groups, TAC level of serum tended to be higher in the GA36 group compared with the control group (p<0.05). However, TAC level of brain tissue showed no significant changes between the liquor consuming and control groups. These results show that as alcohol intake increased by chronic administration of liquor and Soju, brain tissue of rats was damaged more due to oxidative stress. However, a liquid diet containing 18% of total calories as liquor instead of Soju is expected to have a protective effect on brain damage induced by oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.406-406
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• 2010

일반적으로, 나노스케일의 MOS 소자에서는 게이트 절연체 두께가 감소함에 따라 tunneling effect의 증가로 인해 PID (plasma induced damage)로 인한 소자 특성 저하 현상을 감소하는 추세로 알려져 있다. 하지만 요즘 많이 사용되고 있는 high-k 게이트 절연체의 경우에는 오히려 더 많은 charge들이 trapping 되면서 PID가 오히려 더 심각해지는 현상이 나타나고 있다. 이러한 high-k 게이트 식각 시 현재는 주로 Hf-based wet etch나 dry etch가 사용되고 있지만 gate edge 영역에서 high-k 게이트 절연체의 undercut 현상이나 PID에 의한 소자특성 저하가 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 이에 차세대 MOS 소자의 gate stack 구조중 issue화 되고 있는 metal gate 층과 gate dielectric 층의 식각공정에 각각 중성빔 식각과 중성빔 원자층 식각을 적용하여 전기적 손상 없이 원자레벨의 정확한 식각 조절을 해줄 수 있는 새로운 two step 식각 공정에 대한 연구를 진행하였다. 먼저 TiN metal gate 층의 식각을 위해 HBr과 $Cl_2$ 혼합가스를 사용한 중성빔 식각기술을 적용하여 100 eV 이하의 에너지 조건에서 하부층인 $HfO_2$와 거의 무한대의 식각 선택비를 얻었다. 하지만 100 eV 조건에서는 낮은 에너지에 의한 빔 스케터링으로 실제 패턴 식각시 etch foot이 발생되는 현상이 관찰되었으며, 이를 해결하기 위하여 먼저 높은 에너지로 식각을 진행하고 $HfO_2$와의 계면 근처에서 100 eV로 식각을 해주는 two step 방법을 사용하였다. 그 결과 anistropic 하고 하부층에 etch stop된 식각 형상을 관찰할 수 있었다. 다음으로 3.5nm의 매우 얇은 $HfO_2$ gate dielectric 층의 정확한 식각 깊이 조절을 위해 $BCl_3$와 Ar 가스를 이용한 중성빔 원자층 식각기술을 적용하여 $1.2\;{\AA}$/cycle의 단일막 식각 조건을 확립하고 약 30 cycle 공정시 3.5nm 두께의 $HfO_2$ 층이 완벽히 제거됨을 관찰할 수 있었다. 뿐만 아니라, vertical 한 식각 형상 및 향상된 표면 roughness를 transmission electron microscope(TEM)과 atomic force microscope (AFM)으로 관찰할 수 있었다. 이러한 중성빔 식각과 중성빔 원자층 식각기술이 결합된 새로운 gate recess 공정을 실제 MOSFET 소자에 적용하여 기존 식각 방법으로 제작된 소자 결과를 비교해 본 결과 gate leakage current가 약 one order 정도 개선되었음을 확인할 수 있었다.