• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.547-551
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• 2013

We recently reported a Philyra pisum lectin (PPL) that exerts mitogenic effects on human lymphocytes, and its molecular characterization. The present study provides a more detailed characterization of PPL based on the results from a monosaccharide analysis indicating that PPL is a glycoprotein, and circular dichroism spectra revealing its estimated ${\alpha}$-helix, ${\beta}$-sheet, ${\beta}$-turn, and random coil contents to be 14.0%, 39.6%, 15.8%, and 30.6%, respectively. These contents are quite similar to those of deglycosylated PPL, indicating that glycans do not affect its intact structure. The binding properties to different pathogen-associated molecular patterns were investigated with hemagglutination inhibition assays using lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria, lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria, and both mannan and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan from fungi. PPL binds to lipoteichoic acids and mannan, but not to lipopolysaccharides or ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan. PPL exerted no significant antiproliferative effects against human breast or bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that PPL is a glycoprotein with a lipoteichoic acid or mannan-binding specificity and which contains low and high proportions of ${\alpha}$-helix and ${\beta}$-structures, respectively. These properties are inherent to the innate immune system of P. pisum and indicate that PPL could be involved in signal transmission into Gram-positive bacteria or fungi.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1999

In this study we investigated the effects of process variables on the bond strength, and its dependency upon the interfacial chemistry when the joined $ZrO_2$ toughened $Na\beta$"-alumina to $\alpha$-alumina using B$_2$$O_3$-$SiO_2$-Al$_2$$O_3$-CaO glass sealant. We observed that bond strength is mainly determined by the strength of the glass, which, in turn, depends on the glass composition established after joining reaction. Joining at $950^{\circ}C$ for 15min yielded the highest average bond strength of 66MPa. Different types of interfacial reaction seem to occur at each interface. After joining at $950^{\circ}C$ for 15min we found that Ca and Si diffuse much deeper(~15$\mu\textrm{m}$) into the $\beta$"-alumina composite than into the $\alpha$-alumina(<1$\mu\textrm{m}$) as a result of ion exchange reaction and more effective grain boundary diffusion. Thermal expansion coefficient of the glass was found to have changed more closely to those of the $\beta$"-alumina composite and $\alpha$-alumina, which put the glass under a slight compressive stress.ressive stress.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2019

Purpose: This study tries to systematically understand factors that explain levels of happiness among pregnant women in the Ecological systems theory. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 169 pregnant women in Korea. Collected data from self-report questionnaires were analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis using the SPSS statistics 23 program. Results: A total of 5 models were examined according to individual, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem in the Ecological systems theory. In the first model including individual factors, extraversion, neuroticism, and physical and psychological change constitute significant factors explaining happiness. In the second model with microsystem factors and in the third one with mesosystem factors, marital intimacy appears to be a significant factor. In the fourth model including exosystem factors, community service is a significant factor. In the final model with social atmosphere, personality (${\beta}=.15$ for extraversion; ${\beta}=-.30$ for neuroticism), physical and psychological change (${\beta}=-.15$), marital intimacy (${\beta}=.35$), and community service (${\beta}=.18$) turn out to be significant. These factors explain 59% of the variance of happiness in the pregnant women in Korea. Conclusion: Considering the fact that pregnant women's happiness is explained by microsystem and exosystem factors as well as individual factors, developing intervention programs that can promote influencing factors such as marital intimacy and community service is necessary to improve levels of happiness among pregnant women in Korea.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2014

Objective : Previous research showed that childhood trauma or domestic violence resulted in difficulties in controlling emotion and problem solving and vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. To understand the long term effect of childhood trauma, this study investigated their influences on cognitive processing of anger-evoking event and anger behavior among prisoners. Methods : All data were collected from 198 prisoners off our districts in Korea. After they consented to participate, prison officer distributed a questionnaire that included scales to demographic measure, childhood abuse (emotional abuse, physical abuse, and neglect), cognitive response of anger (attentional focus, suspicion, rumination, and hostile attitude) and behavior of anger (impulsive reaction, verbal aggression, physical confrontation, and indirect expression). For statistical analyses, SPSS 18.0 were used and path coefficients were evaluated from the structural equational modeling using LISREL 8.52. Results : Almost 50% of prisoners of our sample experienced one or more trauma during childhood. Then we tested the long term effect of childhood trauma on anger response by structural equation modeling. As expected, childhood trauma was associated with cognitive processing of anger-evoking event and anger behavior. More specifically, emotional abuse (${\beta}$=0.21, p<0.01) predicted suspicion which in turn associated with impulsive reaction (${\beta}$=0.73, p<0.001) and verbal aggression (${\beta}$=0.87, p<0.001). Emotional abuse (${\beta}$=0.24, p<0.01) also predicted hostile attitude which associated with physical confrontation (${\beta}$=0.80, p<0.001) and indirect expression (${\beta}$=0.80, p<0.001). Interestingly, physical abuse associated directly with impulsive reaction (${\beta}$=0.23, p<0.01) and indirect expression (${\beta}$=0.17, p<0.05). Neglect predicted rumination (${\beta}$=0.15, p <0.05) which associated with indirect expression marginally (${\beta}$=0.11, P<0.10). Conclusion : The results of this study, suggest longitudinal and harmful effect of childhood trauma on difficulties in controlling anger. Especially, it was revealed that childhood abuse related with processing anger evoking events more suspicious and hostile and then various anger-expressing behaviors.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2007

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) would influence healing of periapical tissues by modulating the production of growth factors and cytokines from PDL fibroblasts, however, the studies are insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to monitor the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 $(TGF-\beta1)$, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from PDL fibroblasts in the presence of MTA. The human PDL fibroblasts were seeded onto the set MTA or IRM at a level of $1\times10^5$ cells per unit well, and further incubated for 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. The levels of $TGF-\beta1$, FGF-2 and IL-6 from the supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The level of $TGF-\beta1$ was down-reg ulated when the cells were grown in the presence of MTA except at 6 hours. The levels of FGF-2 release were significantly suppressed when PDL fibroblasts were grown in the presence of MTA or IRM at all time intervals (p < 0.05). The expressions of IL-6 from MTA treated co)Is were comparable to those of untreated control cells throughout the observation periods. We presume that this material inhibits the stimulatory function of growth factors on granulation tissue formation and in turn, it promotes the healing process modulated by other bone-remodeling cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2000

M2PI is an active single chain mini-proinsulin with a 9-residue linker containing the turn-forming sequence 'YPGDV' between the B- and A-chains, but which retains about 50% of native insulin receptor binding activity. The refolding efficiency of M2PI is higher than proinsulin by 20-40% at alkaline pH, and native insulin is generated by the enzymatic conversion of M2PI. The solution structure of M2PI was determined by NMR spectroscopy. The global structure of M2PI is similar to that of native insulin, but the flexible linker between the B- and A-chains perturbed the N-terminal A-chain and C-terminal B-chain. The helix in the N-terminal A-chain is partly perturbed and the ${\beta}$-turn in the B-chain is disrupted in M2PI. However, the linker between the two chains was completely disordered indicating that the designed turn was not formed under the experimental conditions (20% acetic acid). Considering the fact that an insulin analogue, directly cross-linked between the C-terminus of the B-chain and the N-terminus of the A-chain, has negligible binding activity, a flexible linker between the two chains is sufficient to keep binding activity of M2PI, but the perturbed secondary structures are detrimental to receptor binding.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2002

The cloning and expression of $\beta-glucosidase$ II, encoded by the gene ${\beta}glu2$, from thermotolerant yeast Pichia etchellsii into Escherichia coli is described. Cloning of the 7.3 kb BamHI/SalI yeast insert containing ${\beta}glu2$ in pUC18, which allowed for reverse orientation of the insert, resulted in better enzyme expression. Transformation of this plasmid into E. coli JM109 resulted in accumulation of the enzyme in periplasmic space. At $50^{\circ}C$, the highest hydrolytic activity of 1686 IU/g protein was obtained on sophorose. Batch and fed-batch techniques were employed for enzyme production in a 14 L bioreactor. Exponential feeding rates were determined from mass balance equations and these were employed to control specific growth rate and in turn maximize cell growth and enzyme production. Media optimization coupled with this strategy resulted in increased enzyme units of 1.2 kU/L at a stabilized growth rate of $0.14\;h^{-l}$. Increased enzyme production in bioreactor was accompanied by formation of inclusion bodies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3681-3685
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• 2012

Background: In breast cancer, estrogen receptors have been demonstrated to interact with transcription factors to regulate target gene expression. However, high-throughput identification of the transcription regulation relationship between transcription factors and their target genes in response to estradiol is still in its infancy. Purpose: Thus, the objective of our study was to interpret the transcription regulation network of MCF7 breast cancer cells exposed to estradiol. Methods: In this work, GSE11352 microarray data were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results: Our results showed that the MYB (v-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog [avian]), PGR (progesterone receptor), and MYC (v-myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog [avian]) were hub nodes in our transcriptome network, which may interact with ER and, in turn, regulate target gene expression. MYB can up-regulate MCM3 (minichromosome maintenance 3) and MCM7 expression; PGR can suppress BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) expression; MYC can inhibit TGFB2 (transforming growth factor, beta 2) expression. These genes are associated with breast cancer progression via cell cycling and the $TGF{\beta}$ signaling pathway. Conclusion: Analysis of transcriptional regulation may provide a better understanding of molecular mechanisms and clues to potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of breast cancer.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2015

Cell senescence can be identified by cellular changes that occur as a result of intrinsic aging and/or diseases. In case of skin cells, aging and cell senescence caused by external factors results in cessation of cell proliferation and cellular malfunction, which, in turn, accelerates skin aging. In this study, inhibition of cell senescence and enhancement of cell function were studied using cordycepin to evaluate the potential for skin anti-aging agent. By comparing with the number of senescence associated with ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) positive cells in young and replicative aged human fibroblasts, it was found that replicative aged cells showed higher expression of ${\beta}$-galactosidase. Treatment of cordycepin - known as an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory agent - reduced ${\beta}$-galactosidase expression in senescent cells and enhanced cell survival in serum-free culture condition. Cordycepin also showed superb inhibition of ROS, which is another indicator of cell senescence. The results of this study proved the anti-aging effect of cordycepin on human fibroblasts and also proposed a possibility of its use as an anti-aging cosmetic ingredient.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.180-189
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent living condition improvements, changes in dietary habits, and reductions in physical activity are contributing to an increase in metabolic syndrome symptoms including diabetes and obesity. Through such societal developments, humankind is continuously exposed to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and the number of the victims is increasing. This study investigated Cordyceps militaris water extract (CMW)-induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells and the effect of CMW treatment on glucose metabolism. MATERIALS/METHODS: Colorimetric assay kits were used to determine the glucokinase (GK) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activities, glucose uptake, and glycogen content. Either RT-PCR or western blot analysis was performed for quantitation of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha ($HNF-1{\alpha}$), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, GK, PDH, and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta ($GSK-3{\beta}$) expression levels. The ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activities of acarbose and CMW were evaluated by absorbance measurement. RESULTS: CMW induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells by increasing GLUT2 through $HNF-1{\alpha}$ expression stimulation. Glucose in the cells increased the CMW-induced phosphorylation of AMPK. In turn, glycolysis was stimulated, and glyconeogenesis was inhibited. Furthermore, by studying the mechanism of action of PI3k, Akt, and $GSK-3{\beta}$, and measuring glycogen content, the study confirmed that the glucose was stored in the liver as glycogen. Finally, CMW resulted in a higher level of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activity than that from acarbose. CONCLUSION: CMW induced the uptake of glucose into HepG2 cells, as well, it induced metabolism of the absorbed glucose. It is concluded that CMW is a candidate or potential use in diabetes prevention and treatment.