• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2000

Objective : There are four possible explanations for the sexual dysfunction of schizophrenics. The first is the possibility of a real structural aspect. The second possibility is that sexual function changes secondary to the illness. The third possibility is that there are medical and sociocultural barriers to sexual expression for chronic schizophrenics. The fourth possibility is that sexual dysfunction due to antipsychotic medication. However, we didn't know the precise cause of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of illness itself and antipsychotics on sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenics. Methods : The serum prolactin(PRL), testosterone(TST), and the plasma serotonin(5-HT) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and high performance liquid chromatography method for 100 healthy male schizophrenics according to the DSM-IV. Concomitantly, the severity of psychotic symptoms using Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), and the severity of side effects for antipsychotics using Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale(EPSE), Anticholinergic Side Effects Scale(ACSE), the cognitive function using PANSS-Cognitive Function(PANSS-CF), Mini Mental State Exam-Korean(MMSE-K), and the sexual dysfunction using Sexual Functioning Questionnaire(SFQ), Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction in Men were assessed. The PRL, TST, and 5-HT levels of 50 healthy male controls who had no medical, neurological, and psychiatric illnesses were evaluated. The sexual function using SFQ(items FGa, FNa) were also assessed. Furthermore, the correlation with age, education, religion, economic status, age at onset, duration of illnesses, duration of admission, levels of PRL, TST, 5-HT, antipsychotic dosages, potency, benztropine, total duration of medication, EPSE, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and sexual dysfunctions were identified in male schizophrenics. Results : 1) The frequencies of sexual dysfunctions for schizophrenics(80%) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those for controls(42%). The sexual dysfunctions according to sexual response cycle were 'low sexual desire' 76%, 'impairment of achieving erection' 75%, 'impairment of maintaining erection' 75%, 'impairment of obtaining orgasm' 32%, 'impairment in the quality of orgasm' 61%, 'impairment in quantity of ejaculate' 44%, 'premature ejaculation' 15%, and 'delayed ejaculation' 50%. 2) The PRL, 5-HT levels of schizophrenics($28.5{\pm}20.6ng/ml$, $298.5{\pm}89.1ng/ml$) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those of controls($10{\pm}5.6ng/ml$, $169.2{\pm}37.8ng/ml$), while the TST levels of schizophrenics($4.3{\pm}1.5ng/ml$) and controls($4.5{\pm}1.2ng/ml$) were not significantly different. The sexual dysfunctions of schizophrenics who had abnormal 5-HT levels($4.7{\pm}1.3$ scores) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those of who had normal 5-HT levels($3.8{\pm}1.6$ scores) on item D7. 3) The sexual dysfunctions of unmarried schizophrenics were significantly(p<0.01 : p<0.05) higher than those of married schizophrenics($6.1{\pm}2.8$ scores, $4.7{\pm}1.3$ scores on item FGa : ${\beta}$=-0.211 on item FNa). The sexual dysfunctions were positively correlated with the rise of 5-HT levels(r=0.209, p<0.05 on item D4 and r=0.241, p<0.05 on item D7), the higher age at onset(r=0.275, p<0.01 on item FNa : r=-0.202, p<0.05 on item FDa), the longer duration of illnesses(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer duration of admission(r=0.234, p<0.05 on item D4 : r=0.328, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer total duration of medication(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6). However, age, education, religion, economic status, PRL, TST levels, antipsychotics dosage, potency, benztropine, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K scores were not correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Conclusions : Male schizophrenics have significantly more sexual dysfunction to compare with controls. The higher frequencies of sexual dysfunctions were low sexual desire and erectile disorder. The unmarried, higher age at onset, and longer duration of diseases were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Also high 5-HT levels were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. This means that studies of plasma 5-HT levels, albeit questionable indicators of central 5-HT function, offer some additional support for the association of sexual dysfunction with excess 5-HT activity as primary pathology of schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that excess 5-HT activity seems to affect the patient's sexual function.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2015

The consumption of leaf vegetables has been steadily increasing in Korea. Leaf vegetables are used for "Ssam (vegetable wrap-up), eaf vegetables has been steadily increasing in Korea. Leaf vegetables are used for asoned condiments inside several layers of young vegetable leaves. This study investigated the effect of air temperature on the growth and phytochemical contents of beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and Ssamchoo (Brassica lee L. ssp. namai) grown in a closed-type plant factory system where fluorescent lamps were used as an artificial light source. Seeds of beet and Ssamchoo were sown in a peat-lite germination mix. The roots of 20-day-old seedlings were washed, and the seedlings were planted on a styrofoam board and grown in hydroponic beds for 25 days under fluorescent light. Plants were exposed to one of three different air temperature regimes (20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$ during the day combined with $18^{\circ}C$ during the night), which were monitored with a sensor at 30 cm above the plant canopy. Increased plant height and leaf area were observed in beet at $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ compared to $20^{\circ}C$. For Ssamchoo, the greatest plant height, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight were obtained at $20^{\circ}C$. Ascorbic acid content of beet and Ssamchoo leaves were highest at $30^{\circ}C$. In beet, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher at $20^{\circ}C$ (42.4, $197.0mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$) and $25^{\circ}C$ (46.9, $217.0mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$) than $30^{\circ}C$ (22.4, $88.0mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$). In Ssamchoo, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were also higher at $20^{\circ}C$ (79.2, $268.2mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$) and $25^{\circ}C$ (66.3, $258.3mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$), respectively, than $30^{\circ}C$ (53.7, $134.7mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$). Hence, the optimum temperature appears to be $20^{\circ}C$ for growing both beet and Ssamchoo in a closed-type plant factory system with fluorescent light.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.355-366
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of water quality and the patterns of self-purification with season in Gokneung stream. The vegetation in the ecosystem around Gokneung stream was dominated by Quercus species. In the physicochemical analysis based on the contents of DO, BOD, conductivity and total phosphorus, the upstream seemed to have been polluted, but the downstream was self-purified. In biological investigation by bentic macroinvertebrates, the result was similar to that in the physicochemical analysis. The self-purification constant based on BOD of the upstream, 1.013, was the highest. In the self-purification constants with month, that of September was 0.995 and that of January was 0.272. These results indicated that the self purification capacities of spring and autumn were larger than those of winter and summer in Gokneung stream.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2008

Salicylic acid(SA) is a phytohormone that is related to plant defense mechanism. The SA accumulation is triggered by abiotic and biotic stresses. SA acts as a signal molecular compound mediating systemic acquired resistance and hypersensitive response in plant. Although the role of SA has been studied extensively, an understanding of the SA regulatory mechanism is still lacking in plants. In order to comprehend SA regulatory mechanism, we have been transformed with a SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC fusion construct into siz1-2 mutant and wild plant(Col-0). SIZ1 encodes SUMO E3 ligase and negatively regulates SA accumulation in plants. SID2(SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2) is a crucial enzyme of SA biosynthesis. The Arabidopsis SID2 gene encodes isochorismate synthase(ICS) that controls SA level by conversion of chorismate to isochorismate. We compared the regulation of SID2 in wild-type and siz1-2 transgenic plants that express SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC constructs respectively. The expressions of $\beta$-GLUCURONIDASE and LUCIFERASE were higher in siz 1-2 transgenic plant without any stress treatment. SID2 promoter:GUS::LUC/siz1-2 transgenic plant will be used as a starting material for isolation of siz1-2 suppressor mutants and genes involved in SA-mediated stress signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 1994

Vegetative node and rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. were planted in spring and autumn and harvested after one and two years to determine the appropriate harvesting time which produced a high yield. Plant height, leaf number and branch number per plant were increased in order of rhizome planted in spring and harvested after two year(RST), rhizome planted in autumn and harvested after one year(RAO), vegetative node planted in autumn and harvested after one year(VNAO), and vegetative node planted in spring and harvested after one year(VNSO). Leaf area index and dry leaf weight in VNSO were highest on August 16, but dry weights of stem and rhizome was increased until harvesting time. The appropriate harvesting time was October 17, in RST, November 9 in RAO and VNAO, and November 13 in VNSO. Yield in autumn planting was more increased than that in spring planting and also that in RST was 443kg per 10a and increased by 2.8 times compared to RAO. However the yield in the rhizome planting was more increased by 17 percent than the vegetative node planting, the latter planting was inexpensive and economic for purchasing seed materials.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2000

Wood of Robinia pseudoacacia and bark of Populus alba$\times$P. glandulosa, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica were collected and extracted with acetone-water(7:3, v/v) in glass jar to examine whether its bioactive compounds exist. The concentrated extracts were fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water, and then freeze-dried for column chromatography and bioactive tests. The isolated compounds were sakuranetin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from Populus alba $\times$Pl glandulosa, 4--ethyoxy-(+)-leucorobinetinidin frm R. pseudoacacia and fraxetion from F. rhynchophylla and were characterized by $^1H$ and$^{13}C $ NMR and positive FAB-MS. Decay-resistant activity was expressed by weight loss ratio and hyphae growth inhibition in the wood dust agar medium inoculated wood rot fungi. R. pseudoacacia showed best anti-decaying property in both test and its methanol untreated samples, indicating higher activity than methanol treated samples in hyphae grwoth test. In antioxidative test, $\alpha$-tocopherol, one of natural antioxidants, and BHT, one of synthetic antioxidants, were used as references to cmpare with the antioxidant activities of the extacted fractions. Ethylacetate fraction of F. rhynchophylla bark indicated the hightest activity in this test and all fractions of R. pseudiacacia extractives also indicated higher activities compared with the other fractions. In the isolated compounds, aesculetin isolated from F. rhynchophylla bark showed best activity and followed by robonetinidin from R. pseudoacaica.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2001

Objectives: Recently, $[methyl-^{11}C]-({\beta}$-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium ($[^{11}C]$choline) Has been discovered to be a very effective tracer in imaging various human tumors using positron omission tomography. Because of the short half-life of C-11, it is very difficult to use in a routine imaging procedure and needs a frequent synthesis of $[^{11}C]$choline. This can be supplemented by the substitution of $[^{11}C]$choline with $[methyl-^{18}F]$fluorocholine. Here, we would like to report ceil uptake and biodistribution of $[^{11}C]$choline and $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine as a basic study. Methods: $[^{11}C]$Choline was prepared by the treatment of $[^{11}C]CH_3I$ with N,N-dimethylaminoethanol and $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine was synthesized from reaction of $CH_2Br[^{18}F]F$ with N,N-dimethylaminoethanol. The radiochemical purity was checked by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The blodistribution of $[^{11}C]$choline and $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine was determined in balb/c mouse at 5 min, 20 min, 40 min and 80 min. The cell uptake was measured using glioma (9L) and colon adenocarcinoma (SW620). Results: The radiochemical purity was more than 98% after purification. In the liver, uptake did not change over time; the uptake was 20%ID/g for $[^{11}C]$choline and 13%ID/g for $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine. In the kidney, radioactivity decreased over time; the uptake was 15%ID/g for $[^{11}C]$choline and 20%ID/g for $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine, 80 min post-injection. The cell uptake of $[^{11}C]$choline was 4.93% for glioma (9L) and 18.69% for colon adenocarcinoma (SW620). For $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine, 1.77% for glioma (9L) and 2.77% for colon adenocarcinoma (SW620). Conclusion: $[^{11}C]$Choline and $[^{18}F]$fluorocholine showed a different cell uptake tendency, depending on cancer cell line.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.416-422
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• 2004

Efficacy of surface sterilization and physicochemical properties of electrolyzed water manufactured depending on electrolyte, materials, and type of electrolytic diaphragm used were investigated. Physical properties of electrolyzed water manufactured from diaphragm system showed the highest effectiveness under at distance between diaphragms of 1.0 mm and 20% NaCl supplying rate of 6 mL/min. ORP, HClO (should defined) content, and pH at above conditions were 1,170 mV, 100 ppm, and 2.5, respectively. Two-stage electrolyzed system was more effective than one-stage one. Electrolyzed water manufactured from non-diaphragm system at 4 mL/min supplying rate of 20% NaCl was similar to the most effective diaphragm system, whereas ORP, HClO content, and pH were 800 mV, 200 ppm, and 9, respectively. Sealed electrolyzed water could be preserved more than one month at room temperature with ORPs of 750 and 1,150 mV in non-diaphragm and diaphragm systems, respectively, and at HClO content of 100 ppm. Physicochemical properties of electrolyzed water manufactured from electrolytic diaphragm of $IrO_{2}$ and Pt+Ir were more effective than that of Pt. ORP and HClO contents of electrolyzed water manufactured from various electrolytes were high in order of NaCl>KCl>$CaCl_{2}$, whereas no differences were observed among electrolytes in sterilization efficacy. Twelve kinds of microorganisms tested (initial total count, $10^{5}-10^{6}CFU/mL$) were sterilized within 1-2 min by electrolyzed water.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2009

Appenzeller cheese samples were prepared by addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% green tea (Camellia sinensis, CS) powder and control cheese. We examined various quality characteristics of the novel cheese, such as viable-cell counts, pH, water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), non-casein nitrogen (NCN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), and catechin level during maturation for 16 weeks at $14^{\circ}C$. To develop a Korean natural cheese containing green tea powder, we also analyzed the changes in the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern, chemical composition, and sensory qualities. The viable cell counts of the samples were not significantly different. Until the $3^{rd}$ week, the pH of the CS cheese decreased with an increase in the maturation time. However, the pH gradually increased by the $12^{th}$ week, while WSN, NCN, NPN also increased. The WSN, NCN, NPN, and catechin values for the CS cheese samples were significantly higher than the values for the control cheese. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern of caseins for the CS cheese indicated that this cheese degraded more rapidly than the control cheese did. In the sensory evaluation, cheese with 1.0% CS powder showed the highest scores in taste and appearance and good scores in flavor and texture. These results indicate that 1.0% CS is the optimal value for addition to cheese, and cheese containing 1.0% CS shows good physiological properties and reasonably high overall sensory acceptability.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.382-395
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• 1992

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system and produce sedative, antianxiety and muscle reaxing effects via $GABA_A$ receptor or $GABA_B$ receptor. Recently it is known that GABA is widely distributed throughout peripheral organs and may playa physiological role in certain organ. The vas deferens is innervated by species-difference. These study, therefore, was performed to investigate the mode and the mechanism of action of GABA on the norepiniphrine-, ATP- and electric stimulation-induced contraction of vas deferens of rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The smooth muscle strips were isolated from the prostastic portion and were mounted in the isolated muscle bath. PSS in the bath was aerated with 95/5%-$O_2/CO_2$ at $33^{\circ}C$. Muscle tensions were measured by isometric tension transducer and were recorded by biological recording system. 1. GABA, muscimol, a $GAB_A$ agonist, and baclofen, a $GABA_B$ agonist inhibited the electric field stimulation(EFS, 0.2Hz, 1mSec, 80 V, monophasic square wave)-induced contraction with a rank order of potency of GABA greater than baclofen greater than muscimol. 2. The inhibitory effect of GABA was antagonized by delta aminovaleric acid(DAVA), a $GABA_B$ antagonist, but not by bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ mtagonist. 3. The inhibitory effect of baclofen was antagonized by DAVA, but the effect of muscimol was not antagonized by bicuculline. 4. Exogenous norepinephrine(NE) and ATP contracted muscle strip concentration dependently, but the effect of acetylcholine was negligible : and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractions. 5. GABA, baclofen and muscimol did not affect basal tone, and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractionsm 6. EFS-induced contraction was including 2 distinctable components. The first phasic component was inhibited by beta gamma-methylene ATP(mATP), a desensitizing agent of APT receptor and the second tonic component was reduced by pretreatment of reserpine(3 mg/Kg, IP). 7. GABA inhibited the EFS-induced contraction of reserpinized strips, but not the mATP-treated strips. These results suggest that in the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens, adrenergic and purinergic neurotransmissions are exist, and GABA inhibits the release of ATP via presynaptic $GABA_B$ receptor on the excitatory neurons.