• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2010

Placenta has been shown to be a site of expression of several of the monoamine membrane uptake transporters. However, the correlation between the expressions of norepinephrine transporter (NET) and placental development including gynecological diseases is still unknown. To investigate the expression and functions of NET in placenta, we conducted to compare NET expression in normal and preeclamptic placenta and analyzed the function of NET in HTR8-SV/neo trophoblast cells after NET gene transfection. The expression of NET was analyzed in placental tissues from the following groups of patients (none underwent labor): 1) term normal placenta (n=15); 2) term with preeclamptic placeneta (n=15); and 3) pre-term with preeclamptic placenta (n=11) using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. In order to evaluate the function of NET, NET gene plasmid and NET gene-specific siRNA were trnasfected into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells for 24 hours. NET had low expression in the pre-eclamptic placenta compare with normal placenta but no difference in western blot data. NET was expressed in the trophoblasts, and the up-regulation of NET gene stimulated the invasion of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells by 2.5 fold (p<0.05), whereas the NET-siRNA treatment reduced invasion rates. Also, we observed that the expression of NET induces to expression and activity of MMP-9 in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells in zymography. The results suggest that the expression of NET were reduced in pre-eclampsia and should be inhibited invasion activity of trophoblasts. Therefore, these findings provide useful guidelines for the mechanisms of trophoblast invasion as well as for the basic understanding of gynecological diseases including pre-eclampsia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2008

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the artificial shrinkage and assisted hatching (PZD; patial zona dissetion) before vitrification on the development of vitrified mouse expanding blastocyst. Methods: Mouse 2-cell embryos were collected and cultured in G1.1 and G2.2 to expanding blastocyst. For artificial shrinkage (AS) the micro injection pipette was inserted into blastocoele cavity and blastocoele fluid was aspirated. For assisted hatching (AH) PZD method was used. Control group was -AS/-AH and treatment groups were -AS/+AH, +AS/-AH and +AS/+AH. After AS and AH mouse blastocysts were equillibrated in G10 and G10E20 for 3 mins, respectively, and vitrified in G25E25 after loading on capped pulled-straw. Vitrified mouse blastocysts were thawed and cultured for 24 hrs. The survival and hatching rate was compared among one control and three treatment groups. Results: The survival rates were 99%, 92% in +AS/+AH and +AS/-AH groups and 54%, 58% in -AS/-AH and -AS/+AH group, respectively. The survival rate was significantly higher in +AS group than in -AS group (p<0.01). Hatching rates were 34%, 96% in -AS/-AH and -AS/+AH groups and 41%, 100% in +AS/-AH and +AS/+AH, respectively. The hatching rates was higher in +AH group than in -AH group (p<0.01). After thawing recovery rates were 100%. Loading on capped pulled-straw, that is effective and useful method on vitrification. Conclusion: This study showed that artificial shrinkage of blastocoele cavity and assisted hatching (PZD) significantly improved the development of the vitrified mouse expanding blastocysts.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2016

To evaluate the applicability of cellular energy allocation (CEA) in the bivalves as a biomarker for the assessment of environmental contamination, the energy contents and energy consumption in several tissues of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum were analyzed. The contents of lipid, glucose, protein and electron transport system (ETS) activity in the foot, siphons, gills, and body of R. philippinarum exposed to crude oil-spiked sediments were measured at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 days after exposure. The reserved energy (energy available, EA) in the lipid, glucose and protein decreased as contamination level and exposure time increased. In contrast, the ETS activity (energy consumed, EC) showed the reverse tendency. The order of available energy contents were foot > siphons > gill > body. Significant differences in both EA and EC were found only at the highest contamination level (58.3 mg TPAHs/kg DW). EA decreased significantly in the foot and gill at 1 day, in the body at 2 and 7 days after exposure. EC increased significantly in the body at 4 days after exposure. CEA showed higher sensitivity to the contamination than EA or EC. Especially, CEA in the foot and body decreased significantly at lower ranges of contamination level (as low as 6.5 mg TPAHs/kg DW) during 1 to 7 days after exposure. The CEA is more useful than EA or EC alone for the assessment of sediment contamination at lower level that acute toxicity could not be detected. CEA analyses in the body of R. philippinarum after 4 days' exposure to contaminated sediments seem to be the most sensitive and reliable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of skin test by an inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine in evaluating the immune status to varicella. Methods : Total 41 subjects (22 males, 19 females, aged 1-32 years) were enrolled from July to August, 2005. Past medical history including varicella infection, varicella vaccination were investigated through questionnaires. The skin test solution was prepared from solution of attenuated varicella vaccine(Oka strain) which was inactivated by exposure to room temperature for 10 days and diluted at 1/50 with normal saline. Skin test was done by injecting 0.1 mL of the solution intradermally into the volar surface of the right forearm and sterile normal saline was used as a control on the left forearm. Positive reaction was defined when the transverse diameter of the induration was 5 mm or more. Serum varicella zoster virus specific IgG antibody test by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was done. Results : In adults, the sensitivity of the varicella zoster virus skin test compared to ELISA was 94.7% and the positive predictive value was 100%. In children, both the positive predictive value and specificity were 100% but the sensitivity and the negative predictive value were 50% and 30.7% respectively. Children showed smaller skin test reactivity compared to adults. Conclusion : The varicella zoster virus skin test using inactivated, 1/50 diluted solution of attenuated varicella vaccine was proved as one of the useful tools for evaluating the immunity and susceptibility of the varicella zoster virus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1314-1320
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• 2009

Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) is a new promising candidate as an antineoplastic agent for the treatment of solid and hematologic malignancies. In order to evaluate cell death and to elucidate the related mechanism(s) in NSCLC cells after HDACI, sodium butyrate (SB), a representative HDACI, was used to treat H460 cells for 48 hrs. SB exposure resulted in a significant reduction of cell viability at concentrations below 7.5 mM, and about 50% of cell death occurred at 20 mM. The types of cell death induced by SB were both apoptosis and necrosis, evaluated by Annexin-V staining combined with propidium iodide. SB treatment significantly evoked G2/M cell cycle arrest and subsequently induced cell death with caspase-dependent manner. While ERK protein content was not altered after SB, phosphorylated forms of ERK were markedly reduced. Taken together, SB is significantly able to induce cell death in NSCLC cell line H460, and it is suggested that the reduction of ERK phosphorylation might be closely involved in the cancer cell death mechanism initiated by HDACI.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2015

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is characterized by severe obesity, excessive daytime sleepiness, hypoxemia and hypercapnea. Because OHS mimics pulmonary hypertension or cor pulmonale, clinicians should recognize and treat this syndrome appropriately. A 58-year-old female visited the emergency room because of dyspnea. She was obese and had kyphoscoliosis. The patient also experienced snoring, recurrent choking during sleep and daytime hypersomnolence which worsened after gaining weight in the recent year. The arterial blood gas analysis showed she experienced hypoxemia and hypercapnea not only during nighttime but also daytime. We suspected OHS and the patient underwent polysomnography to confirm whether obstructive sleep apnea was present. During the polysomnography test, sleep obstructive apnea was observed and apnea-hypopnea index was 9.2/hr. The patient was treated with bilevel positive airway pressure therapy (BiPAP). After BiPAP for 4 days, hypoxemia and hypercapnia were resolved and she is currently well without BiPAP. We report a case successfully treated with clinical improvement by presuming OHS early in a patient who had typical OHS symptoms, even while having other conditions which could cause hypoventilation.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2013

Recently, the medium-low level radioactive waste from nuclear power plant must be transported from temporary storage to the final repository. Medium-low level radioactive waste, which is composed mainly of the liquid ion exchange resin, has been consolidated with cementitious material in the plastic or iron container. Since cementitious material is brittle, it would generate cracks by impact load during transportation, signifying leakage of radioactive ray. In order to design the safety transporting equipment, there is a need to check the compressive strength of the current waste. However, because it is impossible to measure strength by direct method due to leakage of radioactive ray, we will estimate the strength indirectly by the dynamic modulus of elasticity. Therefore, it must be identified the relationship between of strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity. According to the waste acceptance criteria, the compressive strength of cement based solid is defined as more than 3.44 MPa (500 psi). Compressive strength of the present solid is likely to be significantly higher than this baseline because of continuous hydration of cement during long period. On this background, we have tried to produce the specimens of the 28 day's compressive strength of 3 to 30 MPa having the same material composition as the solid product for the medium-low level radioactive waste, and analyze the relationship between the strength and the dynamic modulus of elasticity. By controling the addition rates of AE agent, we made the mixture containing the ion exchange resin and showing the target compressive strength (3~30 MPa). The dynamic modulus of elasticity of this mixtures is 4.1~10.2 GPa, about 20 GPa lower in the equivalent compressive strength level than that of ordinary concrete, and increasing the discrepancy according to increase strength. The compressive strength and the dynamic modulus of elasticity show the liner relationship.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2015

To set up unicellular cyanobacterial strains with photo-biological $H_2$ production potential, live samples were repeatedly collected from 68 stations in the coastal zone of Korea for the four years since 2005. Among 77 cyanobacterial strains established six (KNU strains, CB-MAL002, 026, 031, 054, 055 and 058) were finally chosen as the excellent strains for $H_2$ production with $H_2$ accumulation over 0.15 mL $H_2\;mL^{-1}$ under general basic $H_2$ production conditions as well as positive $H_2$ production for more than 60 hr. To explore optimum procedures for higher $H_2$ production efficiency of the six cyanobacterial strains, the inter-strain differences in the growth rate under the gradients of water temperature and salinity were investigated. The maximum daily growth rates of the six strains ranged from 1.78 to 2.08, and all of them exhibited $N_2-fixation$ ability. Based on the similarity of the 16S rRNA sequences, all the test strains were quite close to Cyanothece sp. ATCC51142 (99%). The six strains, however, were grouped into separate clades from strain ATCC51142 in the molecular phylogeny diagram. Chlorophyll- a content was 3.4~7.8% of the total dried weight, and the phycoerythrin and phycocyanin contents were half of those in the Atlantic strain, Synechococcus sp. Miami BG03511. The growth of the six strains was significantly suppressed at temperatures above the optimal range, $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, to be nearly stopped at $40^{\circ}C$. The growth was not inhibited by high salinities of 30 psu salinity in all the strains while strain CB055 maintained its high growth rate at low salinities down to 15 psu. The euryhaline strains like CB055 might support massive biotechnological cultivation systems using natural basal seawater in temperate latitudes. base seawater. The biological and ecophysiological characteristics of the test strains may contribute to designing the optimal procedures for photo-biological $H_2$ production by unicellular cyanobacteria.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2004

In recent years, an increasing number of studies on pig in vitro maturation(IVM) and in vitro fertilization(IVF) have been separated. the wide range of new technologies, including that in applied molecular genetics, has increased this interest. the production of viable porcine embryos in vitro is a prerequisites for the successful production of transgenic pigs to date. The efficiency of IVM/IVF techniques in the porcine is lower than that obtained in other species such as cattle and mouse. The several problems are generally thought to be the cause of poor results: the low rate of MPN formation derived from inadequate IVM of oocytes, the high incidence of polyspermy after IVF and cell blocking at 4 cell during embryos culture. For there reasons overcoming, many studies have been conducted to improve in vitro embryo-genic competence of oocytes. In the last several years, many maturation culture media have been evaluated and various exogenous factors such as hormones and grows factors have been tested to improve the efficiency of porcine in vitro system. In the study several antioxidants have been examined to improve in vitro fertilization and development of porcine oocytes. In this study, several antioxidants were examined to determine the effects on the development of oocytes to the cleavage, morula and blastocyst stage when added at the maturation(IVM) or in vitro fertilization(IVF) or in vitro culture(IVC) of porcine embryos. Porcine oocytes were matured, fertilized and embryos were cultured in defind conditioned medium in vitro with or without supplementation with the antioxidents of cysteine, catalase and glutathione. 1. Significant improvement of blastocyst rate (27.2％ versus 15.4％, p<0.05) were achieved when catalase(500U/$m\ell$) were added to TCM-199 medium and morula rate(72.0％ versus 53.9％, p<0.05) were significantly higher when glutathione(1.0mM/$m\ell$) were added to TCM-199 medium than those of control. 2. In mTBM medium for oocytes fertilization, the addition of cysteine, catalase and glutathione had no positive effect on embryonic development. glutathione had no positive effect on embryonic development. In conclusion, this study shows that addition of catalase, gluththione during IVM improved the rate of porcine embryo development.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.7 s.264
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• pp.505-510
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• 2006

Background: Small animal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) model would be a valuable tool for investigating path-ophysiological and therapeutic strategies on bypass. The main advantages of a small animal model include the reduced cost and time, and the fact that it does not require a full scale operating environment. However the rat CPB models have a number of technical limitations. Effective maintenance and control of core temperature by a heat exchanger is among them. The purpose of this study is to confirm the effect of rectal temperature maintenance using a heat exchanger of cardioplegia system in cardiopulmonary bypass model for rats. Material and Method: The miniature circuit consisted of a reservoir, heat exchanger, membrane oxygenator, roller pump, and static priming volume was 40 cc, Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean weight 530 gram) were divided into two groups, and heat exchanger (HE) group was subjected to CPB with HE from a cardioplegia system, and control group was subjected to CPB with warm water circulating around the reservoir. Partial CPB was conducted at a flow rate of 40 mg/kg/min for 20 min after venous cannulation (via the internal juglar vein) and arterial cannulation (via the femoral artery). Rectal temperature were measured after anesthetic induction, a ter cannulation, 5, 10, 15, 20 min after CPB. Arterial blood gas with hematocrit was also analysed, 5 and 15 min after CPB. Result: Rectal temperature change differed between the two groups (p<0.01). The temperatures of HE group were well maintained during CPB, whereas control group was under progressive hypothermia, Rectal temperature 20 min after CPB was $36.16{\pm}0.32^{\circ}C$ in the HE group and $34.22{\pm}0.36^{\circ}C$ in the control group. Conclusion: We confirmed the effect of rectal temperature maintenance using a heat exchanger of cardioplegia system in cardiopulmonary bypass model for rats. This model would be a valuable tool for further use in hypothermic CPB experiment in rats.