• Journal of Aquaculture
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.99-108
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• 2006

Sex of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is mainly determined by an XX/XY system. However, accumulating evidences suggest the existence of additional sex modifying factors including environmental, autosomal and parental influences. In order to investigate the possibility of parental effects on sex ratios of tilapia progenies, in this study, a series of crosses was carried out using gynogenetic clonal fish, neomales, normal males and females, and YY fish. Crosses between clonal XX male and clonal female have yielded only female progenies and no parental influences were observed. However, in the crosses between clonal males and normal females, female parents were significantly associated with the progeny sex ratios ($X^2$=20.046, 7 d.f., p<0.01). Progeny sex ratios from the crosses between neomales and normal females ($X^2$=60.491, 5 d.f and $X^2$=28.072, 2 d.f.) also showed significant association with female parents (P<0.001). The stability of progeny sex ratios from repeated spawns were confirmed by using 6 different parental pairs. In 16 crosses between normal males and normal females, sex ratios of progenies showed clear maternal influences, and further analysis of the results revealed a negative correlation ($r^2$=0.7718, p<0.05) between the sex ratios of progenies from two different males, indicating a strong paternal influence. No statistically significant relationship between survival rates and sex ratios of progenies was observed in any genotypic groups. Taken together, the influence of parental pairs on progeny sex ratios in this species is evident although the cause of this influence is not clear.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.152-161
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• 2006

Carcinoma of the gallbladder is an uncommon but highly malignant tumor with a poor five year survival rate. Early detection is very important for successful treatment because this tumor is very hard to cure in cases where it has advanced beyond the reach of surgical treatment. The purpose of this review was to evaluate risk factors for carcinoma of the gallbladder and determine the best management approach.. Solitary polys, more than one cm are considered to be predisposing factors for gallbladder carcinoma when they are found to be echopenic, sessile, and with a high cell density. Anomalous union of the pacreato-biliary duct(AUPBD) without a choledochal cyst is also considered to increase risk for gallbladder carcinoma. A polyps size of more than one cm and an AUPBD are indications for prophylactic cholecystectomy. The presence of gallstones is a well-established risk factor for the development of gallbladder carcinoma; risk appears to correlate with the stone size and the duration of chronic cholecystitis. Metaplastic changes of the gallbladder epithelium present with chronic cholecystitis and may indicate a premalignant lesion. Abnormal forms of cholecystitis such as xanthogranulomatous or a porcelain gallbladder also have malignant potential; cholecystoenteric fistula as well as bacterial infection of the gallbladder(typhoid, helicobacter species) also has malignant potential. In this review, the risk factors associated with carcinoma of the gallbladder are summarized with special attention to gallstones, polyps, AUPBD, and chronic inflammation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5191-5197
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• 2015

A partial response or resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is considered as a main obstacle in treatment of patients with cancer, including breast cancer. Refining taxane-based treatment procedures using adjuvant or combination treatment is a novel strategy to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy. PPM1D is a molecule activated by reactive oxygen species. whose expression is reported to modulate the recruitment of DNA repair molecules. In this study we examined the impact of arsenic trioxide on efficacy of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in paclitaxel-resistant MCF-7 cells. We also investigated the expression of PPM1D and TP53 genes in response to this combination treatment. Resistant cells were developed from the parent MCF-7 cell line by applying increasing concentrations of paclitaxel. MTT assays were applied to determine the rate of cell survival. DAPI staining using fluorescent microscopy was employed to study apoptotic bodies. Real-time RT-PCR analysis was also applied to determine PPM1D mRNA levels. Our results revealed that combination of arsenic trioxide and paclitaxel elevates the efficacy of the latter in induction of apoptosis in MCF-7/PAC resistant cells. Applying arsenic trioxide also caused significant decreases in PPM1D mRNA levels (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that arsenic trioxide increases paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by down regulation of PPM1D expression. PPM1D dependent signaling can be considered as a novel target to improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in resistant breast cancer cells.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.22.1-22.8
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• 2020

Background: High demand and low supply of fishmeal due to overexploitation of fisheries resources have resulted in a dramatic increase in the price of this ingredient. Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) commercial feed contains approximately 60% fishmeal and limited success has been achieved in identifying sustainable alternative protein sources for this species. Methods: An on-farm feeding trial was conducted to compare a basal diet containing 65% as the control (CONT) with two experimental diets replacing 10% of fishmeal by animal protein (AP₁₀) or 20% of fishmeal by animal and plant protein (APP₂₀). Sub-adult olive flounder averaging 327 ± 9.3 g (mean±SD) were fed one of the three diets in triplicate groups for 16 weeks. Results: Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and survival were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Also, non-specific immune responses (superoxide dismutase and lysozyme activity), serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal villi length were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, based on growth performance, non-specific immune responses, serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal histology, dietary animal and plant protein mixtures could replace up to 20% of fishmeal in the diet of sub-adult olive flounder.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.1209-1216
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of 2-phenylethynyl-butyltellurium (PEBT) in Escherichia coli and the relation to its pro-oxidant effect. For this, we carried out the disk diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, and survival curve analysis. We also measured the level of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and level of non-protein thiols (NPSH). PEBT at 1.28 and 0.128 mg/disk exhibited antimicrobial capability in the disk diffusion test, with an MIC value of 1.92 mg/ml, whereas PEBT at 0.96, 1.92, and 3.84 mg/ml inhibited bacterial growth after a 9-h exposure. PEBT at 3.84, 1.92, and 0.96 mg/ml increased extracellular ROS production, decreased the intracellular NPSH level, and reduced the SOD and CAT activities. Glutathione or ascorbic acid in the medium protected the bacterial cells from the antimicrobial effect of PEBT. In conclusion, PEBT exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli, involving the generation of ROS, oxidation of NPSH, and reduction of the antioxidant defenses in the bacterial cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• 제33권1호통권128호
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• pp.64-68
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• 2002

Eighty methanol extracts prepared from Vietnamese plants were tested for their cytotoxic activity against A549 cells, a human lung carcinoma cell line. Nine extracts showed survival rates of tumor cells of less than 30% at $100\:{\mu}g/mL$ of the methanol extracts. Among them, three were less than 15%; Meliosma pinnata (VK03, 4%), Goniothalamus vietnamensis (VK05, 06, 0%), Garcinia sp. (VK50, 51, 0%) and Aglaia aphanamixis (VK63, 11%). Both leaf and root extracts of Goniothalamus vietnamensis and the leaf extract of a Garcinia species completely inhibited the growth of A549 cells at the concentration of $100\:{\mu}g/mL$ methanol extract.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.115-118
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• 2008

Glycerol is the cryoprotectant most frequently used to freeze semen in several of species. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of three different glycerol concentrations (4, 6 or 8%, v/v) on frozen-thawed dog sperm survival rate. Ejaculates from 9 dogs collected by digital manipulation were pooled and assessed by macroscopic and microscopic criteria. Semen was divided into 3 aliquots, which were centrifuged and the sperm pellets rediluted with first Tris-glucose-citric acid extender. After 1 h cooling at $4^{\circ}C$, second extender containing 4, 6 or 8% glycerol was added, respectively. The semen was loaded into 0.25 ml straws and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen and thawed. Sperm vigor, live:dead spermatozoa ratio using HOS test, and sperm morphology using $Spermac^{(R)}$ stain were evaluated. After thawing, there were no significant differences among groups in vigor, viability and morphology. In conclusion, the three glycerol concentrations (4, 6 or 8%) can be used successfully in cryopreservation of canine semen. Therefore the use of 4% glycerol in the extender has less toxic effect and reduces of freezing injuries.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.25-32
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• 1975

The majority of Nocardial infections reported in North America areIN. ;asteroides while those in Latin America are N. brasiliensis species. Infection with N. brasiliensis, to our knowledge, has not previously been reported in Korea. The auther isolated one strain of Nocardia brasiliensis from the abscess of right bottock of 23 month old female leukemic patient who was treated with methotrixate for five months at the Seoul National University Hospital. The morphological characteristics and biological properties were similar with the R.E. Gordon's description. The results are summarized as follow: 1. After 5 days incubation on Sabouroud's glucose agar, the acid fast character appeared partially. 2. Tyrosine, casein and urea were decomposed by 7 days incubation both at room temperature and at $37^{\circ}C$. 3. Sod, citrate and sod. acetate were utilized at $22^{\circ}C\;and\;37^{\circ}C$ after 28 days incubation while the sod. benzoate utilization was negative. 4. The survival range of temperature was from $10^{\circ}C\;to\;40^{\circ}C$. 5. Dulcitol, galactose, glycerol, lactose, maltose, mannitol, raffinose, rhamnose, sorbitol, trehalose and xylose fermentations were not observed up to 28 days, while the fermentation of glucose and inositol were positive.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.566-571
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• 2005

Process of screw-pumping system (SPS) was optimized for mass production of encapsulated bifidus. SPS entrapment device was composed of feeding component, with optimized nozzle size and length of 18G (0.91 cm) and 4 mm, respectively, screw pump, and 37-multi-nozzle. Screw component had five wing turns [radius (r)=26 to 15 mm] from top to bottom of axis at 78-degree angle from middle of the screw, and two wings were positioned at screw edge to push materials toward nozzle. For nozzle component, 37 nozzles were attached to 20-mm round plate. Air compressor was attached to SPS to increase productivity of encapsulated bifidus. This system could be operated with highly viscous (more than 300 cp) materials, and productivity was higher than $1128\;{\pm}\;30\;beads/min$. Viability of encapsulated bifidus was $5.45\;{\times}\;10^8\;cfu$/bead, which is superior to that of encapsulated bifidus produced by other methods ($2.51{\times}10^8\;cfu$/bead). Average diameter of produced beads was $2.048\;{\pm}\;0.003\;mm$. Survival rate of SPS-produced encapsulated bifidus was 90% for Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem test and 88% in fermented milk (for 14 days). These results show SPS is effective for use in development of economical system for mass production of viable encapsulated bifidus.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.137-145
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• 2020

Oxidative stress is one of the pathogenic mechanisms of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Neuroglia, the most abundant cells in the brain, is thought to play an important role in the antioxidant defense system and neuronal metabolic support against neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. We investigated the protective effect of paeoniflorin (PF) against oxidative stress in C6 glial cells. Exposure of C6 glial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 500 μM) significantly decreased cell viability and increased amounts of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, indicating H₂O₂-induced cellular damage. However, treatment with PF significantly attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell death as shown by increased cell survival and decreased LDH release. The H₂O₂-stimulated reactive oxygen species production was also suppressed, and it may be associated with improvement of superoxide dismutase activity by treatment with PF. In addition, an increase in ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression was observed after treatment with PF. In particular, the down-stream of the apoptotic signaling pathway was inhibited in the presence of PF, mostly by reduction of cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase, cleaved caspase-3, and -9 protein expression. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 was attenuated by treatment with PF. Taken together, neuroprotective effect of PF against oxidative stress probably result from the regulation of apoptotic pathway in C6 glial cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PF may be a potent therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders.