• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.610-621
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• 2002

Conserved genes are importantly used to understand the major function in survival and replication of living organism. This study was focused on identification of conserved genes in microbial species and measuring the degree of conservation. For this purpose, in silico analysis was performed to search conserved genes based on the conservation level within microbial species. The ortholog list of COGs (Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins) in NCBI was used and whole genomes of 43 microbial species were included in that list. The distance value, derived from CLUSTALW multiple alignment program, was used as a descriptor of the conservation level of orthologs. It was revealed that 43 microbial genomes hold 72 conserved orthologs in common. The majority(72.2%) of the conserved genes was related to "translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis" functional category. A GTPase-translation elogation factor(COG0050) was the best conserved gene from the distance value analysis. The 72 conserved genes, found in this research, would be useful not only to study minimal function genes but also new drug target among pathogens and to make a model of the virtual cell.tual cell.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.589-597
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• 2019

In this study, 70 kinds of nutritional composition for five bokkeumbap products(spicy chicken, shrimp(saeu), haemul, nakji, and barbecue bokkeumbap) in high-frequency processed foods were analyzed. Raw data of intake amounts were collected from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Regarding proximate composition, spicy chicken bokkeumbap had lower water content and higher carbohydrate content than other bokkeumbaps, resulting in the highest total calories. The proximate composition of other bokkeumbaps were all distributed within a similar range. Vitamin content differed according to ingredients added to the bokkeumbaps. Haemul bokkeumbap had high content of vitamins B₁ and B₂, nakji bokkeumbap had high content of vitamin C and β-carotene, and barbecue bokkeumbap had high content of total niacin, folic acid, and vitamin A. For mineral content, barbecue bokkeumbap showed the highest content distribution, while nakji bokkeumbap showed the lowest content distribution. Regarding fatty acid and fat content, the highest content of fatty acids, saturated fats, and trans fats was detected in shrimp(saeu) bokkeumbap. For amino acid content, barbecue bokkeumbap showed highest content distribution. These results can be used as salient basic data for a food nutrient composition database and to significantly contribute to consumers' health.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2019

Using Fervidobacterium islandicum AW-1, keratin peptides were produced and confirmed factors related to the scalp and hair. The cytotoxicity and proliferation tests as a function of the concentration of the keratin peptide did not show toxicity and effect on the cellular proliferation in the immortalized human hair dermal papilla cell line. Hair shampoos and hair essences containing keratin peptides were produced, and conducted human patch test. Result showed no skin irritation. The shampoo and the essence were apploed to 2 groups of 30 healthy adults for 4 weeks and showed statistically significant positive results for gloss, hair loss, scalp trouble, and hair roughness by visual assessment. The scalp water content was significantly increased after 2 and 4 weeks compared to before using the shampoo or the essence. Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and the sebum secretion amount in the scalp were significantly decreased after 4 weeks compared to before. The frictional force against combing before and after using the hair shampoo and the essence for normal hair tress and damaged hair tress was significantly changed. The combing force was increased for normal hair tress and decreased for damaged hair tress. In conclusion, we suggest that keratin peptides are appropriated as cosmetic ingredients to be used in hair and scalp related products.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.708-713
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• 2013

The ethanol solvent extracts obtained from the pulp, skin, seeds, leaves, fruit stems, and pruning stems of four Korean new grape varieties ("Dunoori", "Narsha", "Cheongsoo", and "Heukbosek"), as well as "Campbell Early", and "Muscat Bailey A (MBA)" were evaluated for their total phenolic and anthocyanin contents. The concentrations of four phenols of biological interest, catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, and resveratrol in the different parts were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet analyses. The skin of "Narsha" and "Heukbosek", the leaves of "Narsha", the fruit stems of "MBA", and the pruning stems of "Campbell Early" and "Heukbosek" had the highest resveratrol content. In particular, the resveratrol in the fruit stems of "MBA" had the highest concentration as compared to the other varieties in the different parts. The seeds of "MBA", and the fruit stems of "MBA" and "Heukbosek" had the highest catechin content. Epicatechin was detected in the seeds, fruit stems, and pruning stems. Quercetin was detected only in the leaves. In summary, the catechin and epicatechin contents were significantly higher than the quercetin and resveratrol contents. The concentrations of the physiologically active components present in the grapes were high in the non-edible parts than in the edible parts; therefore, they could be useful in industrial applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.3
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• pp.476-487
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• 2015

This study was conducted to analyze the potential of Baekdu-daegan Mountain System (BDMS) in the Republic of Korea for World Heritage inscription and undertook preliminary global comparative analysis. UNEP WCMC global datasets, World Heritage global gap analyses and thematic studies conducted by IUCN were reviewed to see if the BDMS could have been identified within these as a priority area for World Heritage. With respect to potential Outstanding Universal Value this study found that the case for BDMS was weak. The BDMS lies within biogeographic regions which are already represented on the World Heritage List and at a global scale its natural values do not stand out. It was emphasized that a more fine scale analysis of the values should be undertaken. The BDMS stands out at a global scale in terms of the degree of contiguity between protected areas along its length and the legal and institutional frameworks established in the Republic of Korea. The BDMS has potential for a trans-national and serial properties along the full length of the BDMS, if two Koreas agree to work together.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1262-1270
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of soybean oil fatty acids (CaSO) and linseed oil fatty acids (CaLO) on c9,t11-CLA production in ruminal fluid and milk fat from Holstein dairy cows. Rumen fermentation, lactational performances and fatty acid profiles in ruminal fluid and milk fat were also investigated. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were allotted randomly into two groups consisting of ten cows in each group according to calving date and average milk yield. The first group of cows was fed a control (without calcium salts) diet and a treatment as 1.0% of CaSO (on DM basis) for 30 days in each period. In the second group, cows were fed the same control diet and 1.0% of CaLO as a treatment in the same manner. The forage: concentrate ratio was 52:48, and diets were formulated to contain 17% crude protein (DM basis) for both groups. Ruminal pH, protozoal numbers and the concentration of total volatile fatty acids were unchanged, however, the ruminal ammonia-N decreased by feeding CaSO or CaLO treatment compared to the control diet. The vaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1; VA) in rumen fluid increased (p<0.01) by 169% and 153%, and the c9,t11-CLA content of rumen fluid increased (p<0.01) by 214% and 210% in the CaSO and CaLO treatments, respectively, compared to the control diet. In milk fatty acids, the VA content increased by 130% and 132% in the evening and morning milking times, respectively, and the c9,t11-CLA content increased by 125% in both milking times for the CaSO supplementation than that of control diet. In the case of CaLO supplementation, the VA increased by 117% and 114%, and the c9,t11-CLA increased by 96% and 94% in the evening and morning milking times, respectively, compared to the control diet. The contents of VA and c9,t11-CLA of milk fatty acids were numerically higher in the evening milking time compared to the morning milking time for control and both treatments. Finally, these results indicated that the supplementation of CaSO or CaLO treatment increased the VA and the c9,t11-CLA in both ruminal fluid and milk fat of Holstein dairy cows.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1809-1817
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• 2012

Background: Gastric cancer is frequently lethal despite aggressive multimodal therapies, and new treatment approaches are therefore needed. Retinoids are potential candidate drugs: they prevent cell differentiation, proliferation and malignant transformation in gastric cancer cell lines. They interact with nuclear retinoid receptors (the retinoic acid receptors [RARs] and retinoid X receptors [RXRs]), which function as transcription factors, each with three subclasses, ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$ and ${\gamma}$. At present, little is known about retinoid expression and influence on prognosis in gastric cancers. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the expression of the subtypes RARa, $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$, RXRa, $RXR{\beta}$, $RXR{\gamma}$ by immunohistochemistry in 147 gastric cancers and 51 normal gastric epithelium tissues for whom clinical follow-up data were available and correlated the results with clinical characteristics. In addition, we quantified the expression of retinoid receptor mRNA using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in another 6 gastric adenocarcinoma and 3 normal gastric tissues. From 2008 to 2010, 80 patients with gastric cancers were enrolled onto therapy with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Results: RARa, $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$ and $RXR{\gamma}$ positively correlated with each other (p < 0.001) and demonstrated significantly lower levels in the carcinoma tissue sections (p < 0.01), with lower $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$ and RXRa expression significantly related to advanced stages (p < =0.01). Tumors with poor histopathologic grade had lower levels of RARa and $RAR{\beta}$ in different histological types of gastric carcinoma (p < 0.01). Patients whose tumors exhibited low levels of RARa expression had significantly lower overall survival compared with patients who had higher expression levels of this receptor (p < 0.001, HR=0.42, 95.0% CI 0.24-0.73), and patients undergoing ATRA treatment had significantly longer median survival times (p = 0.007, HR=0.41, 95.0% CI 0.21-0.80). Conclusions: Retinoic acid receptors are frequently expressed in epithelial gastric cancer with a decreased tendency of expression and RARa may be an indicator of a positive prognosis. This study provides a molecular basis for the therapeutic use of retinoids against gastric cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.907-913
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• 2012

Piceatannol (trans-3,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene) is a polyphenol detected in grapes, rhubarb, and sugarcane. Although recent experimental data revealed that this compound is known to exhibit immunosuppressive and antitumorigenic activities in several cell lines, the molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer activity are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated possible further mechanisms by which piceatannol exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human gastric cancer AGS cells. Piceatannol treatment resulted in the inhibition of growth and G1 arrest of the cell cycle in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The induction of G1 arrest by piceatannol was associated with the modulation of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and cyclins, up-regulation of the expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) in both transcriptional and translational levels, and the inhibition of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma proteins and E2F1 expression. In addition, piceatannol treatment caused a progressive decrease in the expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 without significant changes in the levels of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin $E_2$ synthesis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2006

Free amino acids in epidermis function as a major component of Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which maintains the optimal level of water in skin even at the low humidity. In fact, the depletion of free amino acids is reported in the epidermis of atopic dermatitis, the skin condition involving dryness. As an effort searching the dietary source for improving the level of water and free amino acid in epidermis, the dietary effects of silk protein, sericin (S) and fibroin (F) on trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), and plasma and epidermal levels of free amino acids were compared in this study. Thirty of male NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis, were divided into three groups: group CA as an atopic control with control diet, group S: 1% sericin diet and group F: 1% fibroin diet. Ten of male BALB/c mice were served as group C (control group) with control diet. All mice were fed on diet and water ad libitum for 10weeks. Dry skin condition was established in group CA as TEWL was increased (148.7% of group C). In parallel, epidermal level of glutamate, one of major amino acids functioning as NMF, was dramatically decreased and epidermal levels of methionine and alanine were inversely elevated. Dietary supplementation of sericin (group S) reduced TEWL at the similar level with group C and increased epidermal levels of glutamate as well as serine and glycine, the other major amino acids as NMF. Despite a marked decrease of methionine and alanine, the reduction of TEWL and epidermal levels of glutamate, serine and glycine of group F were less than of group S. Furthermore, in contrast to similar levels of other free amino acids in plasma and epidermis of group S and group C, plasma and epidermal levels of other free amino acids, specifically phenylalanine, isoleucine, cysteine and tyrosine in epidermis of group F, were significantly higher than of group C. Together, our data demonstrate that dietary supplementation of sericin is more effective at improving dry skin condition that paralleled with the normalization of free amino acids in plasma and epidermis of NC/Nga mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2014

Tissue-specific gene expression is regulated by epigenetic modification involving trans-acting factors. Here, we identified that the human MAGEB16 gene and its mouse homolog, Mageb16, are only expressed in the testis. To investigate the mechanism governing their expression, the promoter methylation status of these genes was examined in different samples. Two CpG islands (CGIs) in the 5' upstream region of MAGEB16 were highly demethylated in human testes, whereas they were methylated in cells without MAGEB16 expression. Similarly, the CGI in Mageb16 was hypomethylated in mouse testes but hypermethylated in other tissues and cells without Mageb16 expression. Additionally, the expression of these genes could be activated by treatment with the demethylation agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5'-aza-CdR). Luciferase assays revealed that both gene promoter activities were inhibited by methylation of the CGI regions. Therefore, we propose that the testis-specific expression of MAGEB16 and Mageb16 is regulated by the methylation status of their promoter regions.