• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.339-355
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• 2024

The pulmonary system is a highly complex system that can only be understood by integrating its functional and structural aspects. Hence, in vivo animal models are generally used for pathological studies of pulmonary diseases and the evaluation of inhalation toxicity. However, to reduce the number of animals used in experimentation and with the consideration of animal welfare, alternative methods have been extensively developed. Notably, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have agreed to prohibit animal testing after 2030. Therefore, the latest advances in biotechnology are revolutionizing the approach to developing in vitro inhalation models. For example, lung organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and organoid models have been intensively studied alongside advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting and microfluidic systems. These modeling systems can more precisely imitate the complex biological environment compared to traditional in vivo animal experiments. This review paper addresses multiple aspects of the recent in vitro modeling systems of lung OoC and organoids. It includes discussions on the use of endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts composed of lung alveoli generated from pluripotent stem cells or cancer cells. Moreover, it covers lung air-liquid interface (ALI) systems, transwell membrane materials, and in silico models using artificial intelligence (AI) for the establishment and evaluation of in vitro pulmonary systems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2018

In the Sumeunmulbaengdui Wetland Protected Area of Jeju Island, there exists a unique pond, a so-called 'Ohmi', which is likely to be an oasis supporting the wildlife and escaped-livestock. We exquisitely described the diversity and distribution of plant community of the Ohmi. Despite its small area, six syntaxa were identified: Sphagnum community of peat bog type, Nymphoides coreana community of the floating-leaf limnetic vegetation, Scirpus triangulatus community and Schoenoplectus hotarui community of the littoral zone vegetation, and Deinostema violacea-Eleocharis congesta community and Eriocaulon atrum-miquelianum community of the ephemeral vegetation. A zonal distribution of plant communities along the water depth was recognized. The Sphagnum islets regarded as a typical component of peat bog, in Korea were first described at the center of the Ohmi. We conclude that the Ohmi is a primeval keystone habitat of the Sumeunmulbaengdui intermediate moor with a less oligotrophic ombrotrophic environment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1102-1111
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• 2008

Purpose : Resveratrol, extracted from red wine and grapes, has an anti-cancer effect, an antiinflammatory effect, and an antioxidative effect mainly in heart disease and also has neuroprotective effects in the adult animal model. No studies for neuroprotective effects during the neonatal periods have been reported. Therefore, we studied the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats via anti-apoptosis. Methods : Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of rat brain was performed using pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days of gestation (E18) for the in vitro approach. We injured the cells with hypoxia and administered resveratrol (1, 10, and $30{\mu}g/mL$) to the cells at 30 minutes before hypoxic insults. In addition, unilateral carotid artery ligation with hypoxia was induced in 7-day-old neonatal rats for the in vivo approach. We injected resveratrol (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally into animal models. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to identify the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol through anti-apoptosis. Results : In the in vitro approach of hypoxia, the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, indicators of the level of apoptosis, were significantly increased in the hypoxia group compared to the normoxia group. In the case of the resveratrol-treated group, expression was significantly decreased compared to the hypoxia group. And the results in the in vivo approach were the same as in the in vitro approach. Conclusion : The present study demonstrates that resveratrol plays neuroprotective role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage during neonatal periods through the mechanism of anti-apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.508-519
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• 2017

There have been many studies on monitoring of biodiversity changes and preservation of Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve (GFBR) in South Korea in recognition of the rare ecosystem that has been preserved for a long period. However, there are few studies on diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health of GFBR. The purpose of this study was to assess the water quality of Bongseonsa Stream that penetrated through Gwangneung Forest and the nearby torrents by analyzing the benthic macroinvertebrates community during April to September 2016. The investigation collected a total of 114 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 56 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla from the Bongseonsa Stream and Kwangneung Stream. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were the largest groups in species diversity with 30 species (32.3%) and 16 species (17.2%), respectively, and Tubificidae sp., Baetis fuscatus, Antocha KUa, and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata, which usually habit in contaminated streams, appeared frequently. Among the feeding function groups, the gatherers and hunters appeared relatively frequently, and the shredders and scrapers appeared frequently in the torrents. Among the habitat oriented groups, the clingers and burrower appeared more frequently and represented the microhabitats in the shallow areas. The result of the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates community showed that the dominant index was $0.48{\pm}0.10$ in average while it was lowest with 0.33 in GS 8 of the Gwangneung Forest torrent and highest in BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream. The diversity and richness indices were inversely proportional to the dominant index and were 2.53 and 4.22, respectively, in GS 8 where the dominant index was low. The result of the analysis of community stability showed that area I, which had high resistance and restoration, was high in Bongseonsa Stream while the area III, which had low resistance and restoration, was high in Gwangneung Forest, indicating that the water system in Gwangneung Forest had a wider distribution of specifies sensitive to agitation. The biological water quality assessment showed ESB of $50.88{\pm}17.69$, KSI of $1.11{\pm}0.57$, and BMI of $78.55{\pm}11.05$. GS 8 of Gwangneung Forest torrent was judged to be the highest priority protective water area with the best water environment and I class water quality with ESB of 63, KSI of 0.55, and BMI of 89.9. On the contrary, BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream was judged to be the high priority improvement area that had the lowest water quality rating of III with ESB of 25, KSI of 2.13, and BMI of 62.7. Although the diversity of water beetle was higher in the water system of nearby Bongseonsa Stream than the water system inside the Gwangneung Forest, the annual community structure appeared to have distinct differences.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.353-368
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• 2016

This study surveyed the diversity and distributional characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish during the period from April to October, 2015 in Seonun Mountain Provincial Park. As a result, a total of 78 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 50 families, 16 orders, and four phyla were observed in Seonun stream; additionally, 25 species of freshwater fish belonging to six families were identified in all the investigated sites. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Ephemeroptera(13 spp.: 22.81%) was the largest group in terms of species richness. In the FFGs, gathering-collectors(30 spp.: 36.14%) were relatively larger as represented by Ephemeroptera that usually inhabit fast flowing streams. In the HOGs, clingers(23 spp.: 29.49%) and burrowers(17 spp.: 21.79%) were the dominant groups. For both EPT ratio and ESB index, site 8 appeared to be the highest with 44.44% and 72 marks respectively, while the sites 4 and 9 showed relatively lower rates and indices. According to the results of evaluation, site 8 needs to be designated as the highest protection area while the sites 4 and 9 may be designated as target areas for preferential improvement. According to the analysis of fish community, the dominant species was Zacco teminchkii(333 inds.: 36.80%), and the dominant index was the lowest(0.24) and diversity index was the highest(1.81) at site 8, which therefore represents a stable freshwater fish community. In this survey, six Korean endemic species were identified: Ephemera separigata, Neoperla coreensis, Rhodeus uyekii, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, and Iksookimia koreensis. Also, three species belonging to the management of exportable group(Davidius lunatus, E. separigara, N. coreenis) were observed. Two habitat specific species: Thraulus grandis and Anguilla marmorata, were found for the first time in Gochang area and marked on the Korean distribution map through discussion.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, induces toxicity in cells and in experimental animals. Ginseng extracts were evaluated to determine whether they can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity. The antioxidant activity of fresh ginseng extract (WGE), dried white ginseng extract (DGE), and dried red ginseng extract (RGE) was measured using the DPPH assay. WGE and RGE increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Cell viability was measured in HepG2 cells following treatment with BPA and ginseng extracts using the MTT assay. DGE and RGE increased HepG2 cell viability following treatment with $200{\mu}M$ BPA. RGE reduced levels of biochemical markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) that increased in mice following treatment with BPA. In addition, the regeneration and proliferation of damaged liver cells were significantly increased in RGE-treated mice. Moreover, RGE inhibited hepatic fibrosis in the surrounding area and in the central vein of the liver microstructure. RGE also significantly inhibited BPA-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, RGE protected liver damage and regenerated liver tissues in BPA-treated animals. These results show that RGE may represent a potential candidate drug for the treatment and prevention of liver damage caused by environmental toxins.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2016

This study was designed to investigate whether consumption of onion wine can reduce serum biomarkers of ethanol-induced fatty liver in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were initially trained for meal feeding to prevent reduction of food intake. After the training period, rats were weight-matched and assigned to the following three groups: 1) a control group fed a control liquid diet containing maltose-dextrin, 2) an ethanol group fed an ethanol liquid diet with 95% ethanol, and 3) an onion wine group fed the same ethanol liquid diet but containing onion wine extract at 1 mL/d/group. All three groups were fed daily for 6 weeks. At 0, 3, and 6 weeks, blood was collected via the orbital sinus following overnight food deprivation and terminally organs collected. Blood lipids and transaminase activities significantly increased in the ethanol-fed group but significantly reversed in the onion wine-fed group. The hepatic levels of fat and cholesterol at 6 weeks were significantly elevated by ethanol administration but significantly reduced by onion wine. These findings indicate that onion wine may ameliorate ethanol-induced fatty liver by lowering hepatic and blood lipid levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2012

Cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora) contains bioactive phenolics. This study was conducted to determine whether feeding cherry silverberry wine (CSW) to rats would alleviate the progress of alcoholic fatty liver. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided by weight into the following three groups. Two groups of rats were fed 6.7% ethanol or the caloric equivalent Lieber-DeCarli diet containing maltose-dextrin, and the other group an isocaloric Lieber-DeCarli diet containing CSW at the same ethanol level for 6 weeks. CSW's flavonoids, its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, serum transaminases, serum and hepatic lipids, and liver histology were examined. Our results showed that CSW exerted significant antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. The serum activities of alanine and aspartate transminases were markedly decreased by CSW at 6 weeks. Also, CSW feeding resulted in significant reductions in blood cholesterol and triglyceride. The development of alcoholic fatty liver was significantly delayed by lowering fat accumulation. Taken together, these results indicate that CSW may help protect the liver against alcoholic fatty liver by improving serum and hepatic lipid status. This may be associated with the protective effect of CSW on alcoholic fatty liver via bioactive phenolic compounds.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.173-184
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• 2020

Irrigation ponds, 'dumbeong', which are artificially constructed water resources for traditional farming, serve as a biological shelter connecting seasonally created rice paddy fields to local freshwater ecosystems. This 2018 study surveyed 143 irrigation ponds in the western Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) area from August to September, revealing species diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates. A total of 13,454 individuals of macroinvertebrates were captured and classified into 3 phyla, 5 classes, 17 orders, 59 families, 192 species. Among Insecta, the most frequently recorded order was Odonata, 55 spp.(33.7%), followed by Coleoptera, 52 spp. (31.9%), Hemiptera, 34 spp. (20.8%), Diptera, 17 spp. (9.8%), Ephemeroptera, 3 spp. (2.4%), Trichoptera, 1 spp. (0.6%) and Lepidoptera, 1 spp. (0.6%). Taxon of non-Insecta consisted of Mollusca, 14 spp. (48.2%), Annelida, 11 spp. (37.9%) and Arthropoda, 4 spp. (3.4%). The analysis of Diversity Index (H'), Species Richness Index (RI), Dominance Index (DI) and Evenness Index (J') revealed the general stability of communities in the study sites. A total of 28 rare species were found in 98 study sites, including three endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment. These results showed that the species diversity and rarity of macroinvertebrates in the study area were greater than those of previous research on lentic wetlands (lake, etc.) and national conserved wetlands(Upo-swamp, etc.) in Korea. A conservation planning of aquatic ecosystems in the western CCZ area, therefore, should focus on conservation of irrigation ponds.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1078-1087
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• 2020

The current study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral administration for 30 days of the Jijang kimchi extracts on prevention of diabetes, alcoholic liver injury and reduction of blood lipids in laboratory rats with alcoholic liver injury and diabetes induced by streptozotocin. In a diabetic model animals, the blood lipid profile, ALT, and AST levels were lower in kimchi extract groups compared to DC (diabetes control) group, and blood glucose level of DCJK (DC+oral administration with Jijang kimchi extracts) group was lower than that of DCCK (DC+oral administration with commercial kimchi extracts) group. Insulin levels were increased in order of NC (normal control), DCJK > DCCK > DC groups. In alcoholic liver injury model animals, ALT, AST and bilirubin were lowed in order of AC (alcohol group received 1 bottle of soju) > ACCK (1 bottle of soju plus oral administration with commercial kimchi extracts) ACJK (AC plus oral administration with Jijang kimchi extracts) > NC groups. In the clinical pathologic findings of liver tissue, AC group was severely injured, and tended to be improved in groups eating a 1 bottle of soju plus oral administration with kimchi extracts, especially Jijang kimchi extract group. The results suggest that eating Jijang kimchi can improve insulin secretion ability while lowering blood lipid profile, blood sugar and ALT, AST, and bilirubin levles in diabetic and alcoholic liver injury model animals.