• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.232-240
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), one of potent cytokines, and its receptors were related with various biological functions and pathological conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of serum level of free VEGF, soluble VEGFR-1, and soluble VEGFR-2 after treatment with atypical antipsychotic drug in schizophrenia. Method : The schizophrenic patients were diagnosed with DSM-IV and were prospectively followed up for 4 and 8 weeks. Thirteen schizophrenic patients were evaluated their clinical assessment with serum levels of free VEGF, sVEGFR-1, sVEGFR-2, and positive and negative symptom scale(PANSS) at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after treatment with atypical antipsychotic drug. Thirteen normal control subjects were recruited and matched with the patient group by age and sex. Result : The serum level of free VEGF($295.2{\pm}43.7$pg/ml)and sVEGFR-2($8259{\pm}336.7$) at baseline(before treatment) in schizophrenic patients were not significantly different, compared with the control group($199.0{\pm}28.8$ and $8481{\pm}371.9$) respectively. However, the serum level of sVEGFR-1($86.2{\pm}10.3$, p<0.05) was significantly increased in the schizophrenic patients compared with the control group($59.0{\pm}6.4$). After treatment with antipsychotic drug, the serum levels of free VEGF at 4 weeks($338.9{\pm}56.5$) and 8 weeks($309.5{\pm}58.7$) were not significantly, different compared with baseline. But the serum levels of sVEGFR-1 was significantly decreased at 8 weeks ($57.3{\pm}6.3$, p<0.05) after antipsychotic drug treatment. The serum levels of sVEGFR-2 were decreased at 4 weeks ($7761{\pm}403.0$, p<0.05) and 8 weeks($7435{\pm}333.5$, p<0.05) compared with baseline. Conclusion : The decreased serum level of sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 might be affected by dopaminergic system which was influenced by antipsychotic drug.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.492-497
• /
• 2015

In the present study, vasorelaxant effect of the extract of seeds of Oenothera odorata (SOO) and its possible mechanism responsible for this effect were examined in vascular tissues isolated from rats. Changes in vascular tension, 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels were measured in thoracic aorta rings from rats. Methanol extract of seeds of Oenothera odorata relaxed endothelium-intact thoracic aorta in a dose-dependent manner. A dose-dependent vascular relaxation was also revealed by treatment of ethylacetate, n-butanol, and H₂O (aqua extract of seeds of Oenothera odorata , ASOO) extracts partitioned from methanol, but not by hexane extract. However, the vascular relaxation induced by ASOO were abolished by removal of endothelium of aortic tissues. Pretreatment of the endothelium-intact vascular tissues with N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or ¹H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3-α]-quinoxalin-1- one (ODQ) significantly inhibited vascular relaxation induced by ASOO. Moreover, incubation of endothelium-intact aortic rings with ASOO increased the production of cGMP. However, ASOO-induced increases in cGMP production were blocked by pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ. The vasorelaxant effect of ASOO was attenuated by tetraethylammonium (TEA), 4-aminopyridine, and glibenclamide attenuated. On the other hand, the ASOO-induced vasorelaxation was not blocked by verapamil, and diltiazem. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that ASOO dilate vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent NO-cGMP signaling pathway, which may be closely related with the function of K⁺ channels.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2001

Biochemical responses of rice to the flooding stress with different water turbidities and flooding time were evaluated. About 20% decrease of soluble protein was occurred with flooding stress. The decreasing rate was higher as flooding time and higher turbidity increased. Especially, dramatic decrease of soluble protein content was observed after 36 hrs of flooding. No protein subunit change was found before and after flooding. However, subunit product of 53 Kd increased from the beginning of flooding and subunit of 28 Kd was increased 48 hrs and 54 hrs after flooding. Lipid peroxidation increased about 150% by flooding. There was no significant difference in lipid peroxidation between clear and sub-muddy water, However, the lipid peroxidation was increased up to 180% at 60hrs of flooding. The malondialdehyde content (MDA) was higher in muddy water at the beginning of flooding and increased about 190-200% 36 hrs after flooding. Catalase activity increased with increasing turbidity and flooding time. Forty eight hours of flooding time provided a criteria for dramatic increase of catalase activity. In general, increase of saturated fatty acids and decrease of unsaturated fatty acids occurred with flooding treatment. Among unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated increased and polyunsaturated decreased. Double bond index(DBI) decreased as flooding time was extended and turbidity increased.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2017

In the course of screening tyrosinase inhibitory activity, EtOAc-soluble fraction of Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf. (Gramineae) roots showed significant inhibition. Further fractionation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction resulted in six compounds, which were identified as (+)-icariol $A_2$ (1), zhepiresionol (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), trans-${\rho}$-coumaric acid (4), N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (5), and coixol (6). The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods (MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparison with literature values. Compound 1 was first reported from this plant. Also, this is the first time that the isolation of compound 5 has been reported from nature source. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 4 and 6 showed enzyme inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 6.5 and $62.4{\mu}M$, respectively, in comparison with these of positive control, arbutin.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.232-237
• /
• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effect of high performance greenhouse films on growth and fruit quality of tomato. For this purpose, polyolefin (PO), fluoric, antidrop, antifog and thermal films were compared to normal film, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In spectral irradiance of the films, UV ($300{\sim}400nm$) transmittance was highest in fluoric film and lowest in PO film. PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, $400{\sim}700nm$) transmittance was higher in fluoric, thermal and PO film, and near infrared ray (NIR, $700{\sim}1,100nm$) transmittance was higher in high performance films, compared to the EVA film. Total light transmittance was higher in order of fluoric, antifog, anti drop, PO, thermal, and EVA film. Day air temperature in greenhouse was highest under fluoric film and lowest under EVA film due to the light transmittance, while night air temperature was highest under PO and anti drop film due to the thickness of film. Tomato fruits grown under the high performance films had 0.2 to $0.5^{\circ}Bx$ higher soluble solids and 15 to 30% higher lycopene content, compared to those grown under the EVA film. The results showed that tomato fruit quality such as soluble solids and lycopene content can be heightened in terms of much irradiation and better light quality of high performance films, compared to the nomal film, EVA film.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.318-323
• /
• 1995

To improve wastewater treatment in a confectionery factory and to optimize chemical coagulation process, this study was performed. $COD_{Mn}$ and total solid of untreated wastewater were $200{\sim}820ppm\;and\;860{\sim}1350ppm$, respectively. Composition of total solid was sugar 40%, protein 10%, hexane-soluble 20%, and ash 30%. Turbidity at 650 nm and the amount of suspended solid (SS) showed correlation, thus turbidity could be used for the on-line measurement of SS. The most effective combination of coagulants for the removal of $COD_{Mn}$ and SS was that of $Al_2(SO_4)_3\;and\;Ca(OH)_2$. The optimal concentration of $Al_2(SO_4)_3\;and\;Ca(OH)_2$ was 480 ppm and 200 ppm, respectively. Optimal retention time of wastewater for $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ addition $Ca(OH)_2$ addition : flocculation was 2 : 2 : 10 min. Multiple treatment of $Al_2(SO_4)_3:Ca(OH)_2$ overcame coagulation inhibition by gelatin and detergent, and addition of microbial sludge reduced it.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.387-393
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to find the effects of microclimates such as air and soil temperature, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) on the berry development and physiological property between cultivation conditions (open field and rain shelter house) in 'Northland' blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). The rate of berry growth and development was stimulated in plants grown in rain shelter house, thus, berry reached to the ripe stage about one week earlier than those in open field. Berry weight and size at ripe stage seemed not affected by microclimates. However, total soluble solids content was higher in berries from open field whereas the titratable acidity was significantly higher in berries grown in rain shelter house. Berry firmness at ripe stage was little affected by growing condition. Total anthocyanin content of ripe berries was higher in berries harvested from rain shelter house. Total phenolics content and anti-oxidation activity of berries were higher in open field than those of rain shelter house during berry development but no differences were found at ripe berries.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 1991

For the production of mycelia of mushroom by submerged culture, the experiment was carried out. mushroom. The optimum culture broth for Ganoderma lucidum NG-L were compo­sed of CMC 0.8%(w/v) and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ 0.2%, with 10%(v/v) of inoculum size and pH 5.5 when the milk whey was used as basal medium. In case of Grifola frondosa ATCC48688, the optimum broth were composed of soluble starch 2%(w/v) and $KNO_3$ 0.l%(w/v), with 8%(v/v) of inoculum size and pH 5.2. Among several plant growth hormones,indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellin $A_3-3-acetate$ stimulated the mycelial growth of Ganoderma lucidum NG-L and Grifola frondosa ATCC 48688 respectively. The culture broth of these mushrooms inhibited the growth of B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2009

Salt, one of the most common soluble materials in engineering soil, may have an effect on mechanical behaviors of soils under its cementation process. In order to investigate this natural phenomenon, non-soluble material by using glass beads is mixed with salt electrolyte and cemented by using oven to evaporate water. Three different sizes of glass bead particles, 0.26, 0.5, and 1.29 mm, with different salt concentration, 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0M, are explored by using P- and S-waves, excited by bender elements and piezo disk elemets, respectively. The velocities of the P-wave and S-wave of the particulate medium cemented by salt show three stages with the degree of saturation: 1) S-wave velocities increase while P-wave velocities reduce with degree of saturation changing from 100% to 90%; 2) Both velocities are stable with degree of saturation varying from 90% to 10%; 3) The velocities change enormously when the specimens are nearly dry with degree of saturation from 10% to 0%. Besides, the resonance frequencies of S-wave show similar stages to the S-wave velocities. This study demonstrates meaningful trends of elastic wave characteristics of geo-materials according to the cementation of dissolved salt.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.343-351
• /
• 2020

Sorbus commixta Hedl. has traditionally been used as a remedy for cough, asthma, and other bronchial disorders. In this study, three major triterpenoids-lupeol, β-sitosterol, and ursolic acid and a coumarin, scopoletin, were isolated from a CHCl₃-soluble fragment of the bark of S. commixta. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses, including mass spectrometry (MS), 1D-, and 2D- nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), as well as by comparing the data with data reported in the literature. Scopoletin was isolated from this plant for the first time. It is a nutraceutical compound contained in many plants that has been reported to exert diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined the inhibitory effect of scopoletin on TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial inflammation. Unlike the marginal impact of other compounds against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and vascular endothelial inflammation, scopoletin showed remarkable activity on LDL oxidation (IC₅₀ = 10.2 μM) and exerted vascular anti-inflammatory effects in EA.hy926 human endothelial cells activated by TNF-α. It suppressed the expression of adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, and blocked the adhesion between THP-1 monocytes and EA. hy926 endothelial cells. It also inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, IκBα phosphorylation, which was increased by TNF-α treatment, was reduced after treatment with scopoletin. Thus, scopoletin inhibited TNF-α-induced vascular inflammation in endothelial cells by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that owing to its anti-inflammatory activity in the vascular endothelium, scopoletin has the potential to inhibit atherosclerosis development.