• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2004

Stress-susceptible pigs have been known as the porcine stress syndrome (PSS), swine PSS, also known as malignant hyperthermia (MH), is characterized as sudden death and production of poor meat quality such as PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat after slaughtering. PSS and PSE meat cause major economic losses in the pig industry. A point mutation in the gene coding for the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) in porcine skeletal muscle, also known calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) release channel, has been associated with swine PSS and halothane sensitivity. We used the PCR-RFLP(restriction fragment length polymorphism) and PCR-SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) methods to detect the PSS gene mutation (C1843T) in the RYR1 gene and to estimate genotype frequencies of PSS gene in Korean pig breed populations. In PCR-RFLP and SSCP analyses, three genotypes of homozygous normal (N/M), heterozygous carrier (N/n) and homozygous recessive mutant (n/n) were detected using agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The proportions of normal, carrier and PSS pigs were 57.1, 35.7 and 7.1％ for Landrace, 82.5, 15.8 and 1.7％ far L. Yorkshire, 95.2, 4.8 and 0.0％ for Duroc and 72.0, 22.7 and 5.3％ for Crossbreed. Consequently, DNA-based diagnosis for the identification of stress-susceptible pigs of PSS and pigs producing PSE meat is a powerful technique. Especially, PCR-SSCP method may be useful as a rapid, sensitive and inexpensive test for the large-scale screening of PSS genotypes and pigs with PSE meat in the pork industry.y.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate expression of apoptosis-related differentially expressed gene (DEG) in ovaries of Korean cattle with follicular and luteal cysts and to identify the relationship between cyst and apoptosis using microarray, real-time PCR, TUNEL staining, and Western blot analysis. Microarray data showed that PIK3R2 and AKT1 were significantly up-regulated in follicular cyst, and TNF-RAF2, PRLR, FOXL2, STK4, and COL4A3 were up-regulated whereas INHA, CIDEB, BCL10, and FASLG were down-regulated in luteal cyst. Real-time PCR was performed to validate DEGs altered in luteal cyst. Of nine DEGs, four DEGs down-regulated in luteal cyst showed a positive corelation between microarray data and real-time PCR data. In this study, we focused on INHA, among many DEGs, which was highly down-regulated in both follicular and luteal cysts. Real-time PCR and micro array data showed that INHA was down-regulated by 12.3-fold and by 1.4-fold, respectively, in the bovine follicular cyst. TUNEL assay and Western blot analysis for ERK, JNK, p38, PI3K, and Akt, which were used to detect whether apoptosis is occurred, showed no significant changes in cystic ovaries (p>0.05). In the expression and activity of caspase-3, Bax, Bel-2, and Bel-xL, there was no significant changes between follicular cystic ovary and normal ovary. Rather, the expression levels of PI3K and p-Akt were decreased in follicular cystic ovary. These results suggest that deficiency of apoptosis in cystic ovary is associated with decreased expression of apoptotic effectors.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2006

Pleurotus eryngii is one of the most promising mushrooms produced on the domestic farms. The quality as well as quantity of Eryngii is sensitively affected by micro climate factors such as temperature, relative humidity, $CO_2$ concentration, and light intensity. To safely produce high-quality Eryngii all the yew round, it is required that the environmental factors be carefully controlled by well designed structures equipped with various facilities and control systems. At the commercial mushroom cultivation houses of permanent frame type (A, B), this study was carried out to find out reasonable range of each environmental factor and yield together with economic and safe structures influencing on the optimal productivity of Eryngii. This experiment was conducted for about two-year ken Nov. 2003 to Dec. 2005 in cultivation house. Ambient temperature during the experiment period was not predominantly different from that of a normal year. The capacity of the hot water boiler and the piping systems were not enough. Because the capacity of electric heater and air circulation were not enough, air temperatures in cultivation house before improvement of system were maintained somewhat lower than setting temperature, and maximum air temperature difference between the upper and lower growth stage during a heating time period was about 5.1. But the air temperatures after system improvement were maintained within the limits range of setting temperature without happening stagnant of air. Air temperature distribution was generally distributed uniform. Relative humidity in cultivation house before , improvement was widely ranged about $44{\sim}100%$. But as the relative humidity after improvement was ranged approximately $80{\sim}100%$, it was maintained within the range of relative humidity recommended. And $CO_2$ concentration was maintained about $400{\sim}3,300mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ range. The illuminance in cultivation house was widely distributed in accordance with position, and it was maintained lower than the recommended illuminance range $100{\sim}200lx$. The acidity of midium was some lower range than the recommend acidity range of pH $5.5{\sim}6.5$. The yield was relatively ununiform. In case of bottle capacity of 1,300cc, the mushroom of the lowest grade was less than 3%. The consumption electric energy was quite different according to the cultivation season. The electric energy consumed during heating season was much more than that of cooling season.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1625-1630
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• 2011

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-responsive protein that is known to regulate cellular functions such as cell proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the role of NADPH oxidase on the expression of HO-1 in human liver hepatoma cell line HepG2. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, markedly inhibited HO-1 expression and the nuclear translocation of transcription factor Nrf2 in cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) or hemin-treated HepG2 cells. Similarly, the knockdown of $p47^{phox}$, a cytosolic factor for NADPH oxidase activity, by siRNA inhibited the CoPP-induced expression of HO-1. In addition, GSHmee, an intracellular antioxidant, blocked the expression of HO-1 in CoPP-treated cells. Based on these results, we conclude that the blockage of NADPH oxidase with DPI or $p47^{phox}$ siRNA inhibits CoPP-induced HO-1 expression in HepG2 cells, and also suggest that the expression of HO-1 in CoPP-induced HepG2 cells is associated with increase of intracellular ROS by NADPH oxidase activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.124-132
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• 2010

Among students of 'K' boarding high school, located in 'B' city, 32 students whose % body fat was 30% or above were divided into three groups - two exercise groups and one control group. They performed Combined Training - a mix of weight training (WT) and step box training (SBT) - for 65 min a day, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks in total. Group A performed WT 70-80%$RM{\times}3$ sets+SBT (RPE 11-13)${\times}1$ set, and group B performed WT 70-80%$RM{\times}1$ set+SBT (RPE 11-13)${\times}3$ sets to yield data on changes of body composition (Soft Lean Mass, SLM), %fat, WHR), HbA1c, and HOMA-IR. Paired t-test was used to process data within each group. Pre- and post experiment differences rates (%diff) were used to perform one-way ANOVA (Duncan test) for group comparisons. The conclusions derived are as follows. Regarding body composition, exercise groups showed an increase in SLM, but there was no such change in the control group. WHR decreased in group A, but increased in the control group. The % body fat decreased in both exercise groups, but increased in the control group. As for the group comparisons, SLM in group A showed a greater increase than in group B and the control group. WHR in groups A and B showed a greater decrease than the control group. The % body fat in groups A and B showed a greater decrease than the control group. The exercise groups showed a significant decrease in HOMA-IR, but the control group showed a significant increase in HOMA-IR. As for the group comparisons, groups A and B showed a greater decrease in HOMA-IR than the control group. The exercise groups showed a significant decrease in HbA1c, however, the control group showed no change in HbA1c. As for the group comparisons, group A showed a greater decrease in HbA1c than the control group. These results confirm that combined training is more effective in improving body composition and metabolic factors when it includes a high proportion of resistance training, rather than aerobic exercise. The results of the study suggest that it is advisable to set a high proportion of WT when deciding the intensity of combined training.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Vitis amurensis Rupreche, a sort of grape, grows naturally in Asian countries. It is known for important biological effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis inhibition. Although its root is used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea, the root's biological activities are poorly studied. In the present study, the effects of V. amurensis root methanol extract (VARM) and its solvent fractions on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. The VARM significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the triglyceride (TG) content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. To identify active molecules, the VARM was fractionated with a series of organic solvents including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). All the fractions also showed inhibition of lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction showed the most powerful anti-obesity effect through the modulation of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosinethymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expression. Oleanolic acid was one of the main active compounds involved in the anti-obesity activity of the V. amurensis root. These results provide important new insight into the potential potent anti-adipogenic effect of the V. amurensis root and illustrate that one of the main compounds involved in this effect is oleanolic acid.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1199-1206
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• 2017

The lymphotoxin ${\beta}$ receptor ($LT{\beta}R$), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, plays an important role in lymphoid tissue's architecture and organogenesis. We found that $LT{\beta}R$ stimulation induced changes in stress fibers (SFs) in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). MLCK and ROCK play critical roles in the regulation of SF formation in cells. The present study was performed to investigate the antifibrotic effects on SF regulation of $LT{\beta}R$ signaling, with a focus on MLCK inhibition. The effect of $LT{\beta}R$ on the SF change was analyzed using immunoblot and fluorescence assays and agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated FRCs. In addition, we checked the level of Rho-guanosine diphosphate (GDP)/guanosine triphosphate (GTP) exchange activity with FRC lysate. Phospho-ezrin proteins acting as membrane-cytoskeleton linkers completely de-phosphorylated in agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated FRCs. The actin bundles rearranged into SFs, where phospho-myosin light chain (p-MLC) co-localized in FRCs. ML7-treated FRCs completely blocked SFs and showed retraction and shrinkage processes comparable to those observed in agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated cells. Inhibition of ROCK activity induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization; however, some SFs remained in the cells, while they were completely disrupted by MLCK inhibition with ML7. We showed that the phosphorylation of MLC was completely abolished with $LT{\beta}R$ stimulation in FRCs. When $LT{\beta}R$ was stimulated with the agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody, the Rho-GDP/GTP exchange activity was reduced, however, the activity was not completely abolished. Collectively, the results illustrated that MLCK was potently responsible for the SF regulation triggered via $LT{\beta}R$ signaling in FRCs.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.841-848
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• 2003

The sensory characteristics of red wine Gerbong (G), Campbell (C), Moru (M), Gerbong ＋ Moru (70 : 30, GM), Gerbong + Campbell (70 : 30, GC) and French wine (F, Carbernet Sauvignon, 1998) were evaluated. The preferences of color, flavor, taste and total evaluation were determined by a ranking test, and the organoleptic characteristics were evaluated by a quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) method. The mean color scores of C, GM, F, GC, M and G were 4.74, 3.94, 4.67, 3.70, 2.65 and 1.47, respectively (p<0.001). The order for the mean score for flavor was GM (4.12) = M (3.94) = C (3.76) = F (3.76) ${\geq}$ GC (3.12)>G (2.29) (p<0.01), and the order for taste was F (4.75) ${\geq}$ C (4.25) ${\geq}$ GM (3.37) = GC (3.50) ${\geq}$ G (2.75) = M (2.37) (p<0.001). The total evaluation of mean scores showed G, M, C, GM, GC and F were 237, 2.44, 4.06, 3.87, 3.64 and 4.81, respectively (p<0.001). Influences of sensory characteristics on the total evaluation, in percentages, were 69.3% for taste, 3.7% for color, and 1.5% for flavor. The influences of taste, color, and flavor in red wine were 17% for sweet, acid, bitter and salty taste, 28.9% for purple and red color, and 14.4% for grape flavor. The attributes of the purple and red colors showed a positive correlation with grape flavor, oak flavor, grape taste, and floral tastes, but a negative correlation with $SO_2$, flavor. The attribute of sweet taste showed a positive correlation with grape flavorand floral flavor, but a negative correlation with bitter and astringency tastes, according to Pearsons correlation analysis (p<0.01).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.113-126
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• 2002

Background : DNA repair plays a crucial role in protection from cancer-causing agents. Therefore, a reduced DNA repair capacity can increase the susceptibility to lung cancer. The XPC gene contains 15 exons and encodes a 940 amino acid protein that plays a central role in DNA damage recognition of the nucleotide excision repair pathway, which is a major DNA repair mechanisim removing the bulky-helix distorting DNA lesions caused by smoking. Recently several polymorphisms in the XPC gene were identified. In addition, it is possible that these polymorphisms may affect the DNA repair capacity, which modulate cancer susceptibility. The relationship between codon 499 and 939 polymorphisms, and a poly(AT) insertion/deletion polymorphism in the XPC gene, and the lung cancer risk were investigated. Materials and Methods : The genotypes were determined using either PCR or PCR-RFLP analysis in 219 male lung cancer patients and 150 healthy males controls. Results : The frequencies of the genotypes (Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln) among the cases were not significantly different from those of the controls. There was no significant associantion between these polymorphi는 and the lung cancer risk when the analyses were stratified according to age, smoking status and the pack-years of smoking. Moreover, the genotypes had no apparent relationship with any of the histological types of lung cancer. There was a linkage disequilibrium among the Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms. The PAT polymorphism had a strong linkage disequilibrium with the Lys939Gln polymorphism (kappa value=0.87). The XPC haplotypes showed no significant association with the lung cancer risk. Conclusion : These results suggest that XPC Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms are not major contributors to the individual lung cancer susceptibility in Koreans.