• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2004

Mast cells (MCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. However, the role of MC in the development of liver fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. Stem cell factor (SCF) is known to recruit MCs to the liver following injury as it induces mast cell proliferation, survival and differentiation from resident tissue precursors. This study examines the interaction between activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and MCs in rat fibrotic liver, and SCF production by HSCs during culture in vitro. Rats were studied 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after bile duct ligation (BDL). Fibrogenesis was assessed by a measurement of collagen stained with sirius red F3B. Activated HSCs and MCs were identified by ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}-SMA$) immunohistochemical and alcian blue staining and measured by a computerized image analysis system. SCF production was determined in rat HSC cultures using Western blotting. Mild fibrotic changes were noted in BDL rat livers as early as 4 days after induction of cholestasis. Significant expansion and organization of fibrous tissue has occurred in day 14 BDL rats which progressed to bridging fibrosis by day 21. In BDL rats, both a large number of activated HSCs and MCs were detected in portal tracts and fibrous septa. Both area of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were significantly higher in all BDL group compared with Shams. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were no significant difference between day 4 and 7 and were significantly higher in day 14. However, the areas of activated HSCs infiltration were significantly lesser in day 21 and the densities of MCs were significantly higher in day 21 compared with day14 BDL. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were highly correlated with areas of fibrosis. Western blotting showed that SCF protein was consistently produced in activated HSCs by culture on plastic and freshly isolated HSCs expressed relatively little 30kD SCF compared to late primary culture activated HSCs (day 14) and passaged HSCs. These results suggest that HSCs activated in vitro produce SCF, and may play an important role in recruiting mast cells to the liver during injury and fibrosis.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

In order to review the utility of Lade's single hardening constitutive model, a series of isotropic compression-expansion tests and consolidated drained triaxial tests including as CTC, TC, RTC, and OSP were performed by Baekma river sand with various of stress path. Parameters required in model were determined using these tests. The accuracy of analysis was reviewed by back analysis of test results used to determine the 11 parameters of soil property through the test of each stress path. Also. for verifying the accuracy of prediction for the stress-strain behavior using failure criterion related 9 parameters with correlational equation and constant and yield criterion related parameters h, ${\alpha}$ and ${\eta}_1$, when stress path is different with each other, it has been obtained in the review result of stress path dependent characteristics of the constitutional model through the analyzing results of CTC, TC, RTC, OSP, and fine silica sand tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1327-1335
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• 2017

This study was carried out to determine the effect of cacao bean addition on the physicochemical properties of extruded rice flour. Rice-based cacao beans (0, 20, 40, 60%) were extruded at a die temperature of $130^{\circ}C$, screw speed of 200 rpm, and moisture content of 25%. As the content of cacao beans increased from 20% to 60%, expansion index decreased, while piece density and specific length increased. The water soluble index and water absorption index of the extrudate increased through extrusion cooking. Lightness decreased as cacao bean content increased while redness increased. As the content of cacao beans increased, paste viscosity decreased. Cold peak viscosity was observed in all extrudates of raw roasted cacao beans. ${\alpha},{\alpha}$-Diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity increased upon extrusion and cacao bean addition. As content of cacao beans increased, non-roasted cacao beans had higher total phenolic contents than roasted cacao beans. This study showed that addition of cacao beans to extruded rice snack improved antioxidant activity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2017

In the present study, we investigated the role of binding immunoglobulin protein/glucose-regulated protein, 78-kDa (BIP/GRP78)-regulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress on meiotic maturation and cumulus cells expansion in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Previously, it has been demonstrated that unfolded protein response (UPR)-related genes, such as molecules involved in ER-stress defense mechanisms, were expressed in matured oocytes and cumulus cells during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. However, BIP/GRP78-mediated regulation of ER stress in porcine oocytes has not been reported. Firstly, we observed the effects of knockdown of BIP/GRP78 (an UPR initiation marker) using porcine-specific siRNAs (#909, #693, and #1570) on oocyte maturation. Among all siRNAs, siRNA #693 significantly reduced the protein levels of UPR marker proteins (BIP/GRP78, ATF4, and P90ATF6) in porcine COCs observed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. We also observed that the reduction of BIP/GRP78 levels by siRNA#693 significantly inhibited the meiotic maturation of oocytes (siRNA #693: $32.5{\pm}10.1%$ vs control: $77.8{\pm}5.3%$). In addition, we also checked the effect of ER-stress inhibitors, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, $200{\mu}M$) and melatonin ($0.1{\mu}M$), in BIP/GRP78-knockdown oocytes. TUDCA and melatonin treatment could restore the expression levels of ER-stress marker proteins (BIP/GRP78, $p-eIF2{\alpha}$, $eIF2{\alpha}$, ATF4, and P90ATF6) in siRNA #693-transfected matured COCs. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that BIP/GRP78-mediated regulation of UPR signaling and ER stress plays an important role in in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of processed sulfur with red ginseng on streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats for expansion of processed sulfur internal application. Methods : We prepared red ginseng with non processed sulfur extracts(GS), red ginseng with processed sulfur I extracts(GPS I) and red ginseng with processed sulfur II extracts(GPS II). In the present study, we examined about contents of crdue saponin, antioxidant activity, $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and effects of STZ induced diabetic rats. Results : Contents of crude saponin increased by processed sulfur, and GPS II was shown highest contents in crude saponin and sulfur compared with another groups. Electron donating ability of GPS II was shown highest activity compared with GS and GPS I, SOD-like activity showed same tendency as electron donating ability at 1 $mg/m\ell$ concentration. Inhibitory activity of $\alpha$-glucosidase was approximately same level in acarbose and GPS II. Blood glucose level of GPS II group was decreased 18.34% compared with DC(diabetes control) group and maintained stability range in glucose level. but GS and GPS I showed high level compared to GPS II. Serum triglycerides concentration also showed lowest level in GPS II. The activity of ALT, AST and ALP was shown high level in diabetic induced groups, and lowest level in GPS II. Creatinine was shown non-significantly difference in each groups and GPS II was shown lowest level in BUN. Conclusions : These results suggested that processed sulfur with red ginseng have improvement effects on diabetes and internal application of processed sulfur with red ginseng have no specific toxicity in liver and kidney.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2011

The investigation is directed to lead free (Pb-free) frits that can be used for organic light emitting diode, plasma display screen devices and other sealing materials. $P_2O_5$-SnO system glasses have been prepared for Pb-free low temperature glass frit. Structure and properties of the glasses with the composition SnO-$xB_2O_3-(60-x)P_2O_5$ (x=0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 mol%) were characterized by infrared spectra (IR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), Density, Molar volume, Thermo mechanical analysis(TMA) and weight loss after immersion test. Glass transition temperature($T_g$), dilatometric softening temperature($T_d$) and chemical durability increased, and coefficient of thermal expansion($\alpha$) decrease with the substitution of $B_2O_3$ for $P_2O_5$ in the range of 0~25 mol%.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

In this study, a series of the isotropic compression-expansion tests and the drained triaxial tests were performed on Pocheon granite soil with various the dry densities of $16.67kN/m^3$, $17.26kN/m^3$ and $17.65kN/m^3$. Using the tests results the characteristic of the parameters of Lade's single hardening constitutive model were investigated. The soil parameters such as kur and n related to elastic behavior, m and ${\eta}_1$ related to failure criterion, c and p related to hardening function and ${\psi}_2$ and ${\mu}$ related to plastic potential show in a positive linear relationship with the dry density. Since the soil parameters h and representing yield function do not change much to relative density and also are closely related to failure criterion, they can be replaced by failure criterion. We also observed that predicted values from the Lade's single hardening constitutive model were well consistent with the observed data.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2012

In fascioliasis, T-helper 2 (Th2) responses predominate, while little is known regarding early immune phenomenon. We herein analyzed early immunophenotype changes of BALB/c, C57BL/6, and C3H/He mice experimentally infected with 5 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. A remarkable expansion of $CD19^+$ B cells was observed as early as week 1 post-infection while $CD4^+/CD8^+$ T cells were down-regulated. Accumulation of $Mac1^+$ cells with time after infection correlated well with splenomegaly of all mice strains tested. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ mRNA in splenocytes significantly decreased while that of IL-4 up-regulated. IL-$1{\beta}$ expression was down-modulated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, but not in C3H/He. Serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ were considerably elevated in all mice during 3 weeks of infection period. These collective results suggest that experimental murine fascioliasis might derive immune suppression with elevated levels of TGF-${\beta}$ and IL-4 during the early stages of infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2013

Recent accumulating studies have reported that hypoxic preconditioning during ex vivo expansion enhanced the self-renewal or differentiation of various stem cells and provide an important strategy for the adequate modulation of oxygen in culture conditions, which might increase the functional bioactivity of these cells for cardiac regeneration. In this study, we proposed a novel priming protocol to increase the functional bioactivity of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) for the treatment of cardiac regeneration. Firstly, patient-derived c-$kit^+$ CPCs isolated from the atrium of human hearts by enzymatic digestion and secondly, pivotal target molecules identified their differentiation into specific cell lineages. We observed that hCPCs, in response to hypoxia, strongly activated ERK phosphorylation in ex vivo culture conditioning. Interestingly, pre-treatment with an ERK inhibitor, U0126, significantly enhanced cellular proliferation and tubular formation capacities of CPCs. Furthermore, we observed that hCPCs efficiently maintained the expression of the c-kit, a typical stem cell marker of CPCs, under both hypoxic conditioning and ERK inhibition. We also show that hCPCs, after preconditioning of both hypoxic and ERK inhibition, are capable of differentiating into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs), but not endothelial cells (ECs), as demonstrated by the strong expression of ${\alpha}$-SMA, Nkx2.5, and cTnT, respectively. From our results, we conclude that the functional bioactivity of patient-derived hCPCs and their ability to differentiate into SMCs and CMs can be efficiently increased under specifically defined culture conditions such as short-term hypoxic preconditioning and ERK inhibition.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2013

In this study, a series of the isotropic compression-expansion tests and the Undrained triaxial tests were performed on low-plastic silt of Pocheon stone sludge. Using the tests results the characteristic of the parameters of Lade's single hardening constitutive model were investigated. We also observed that predicted values from the Lade's single hardening constitutive model were well consistent with the observed data. In experimental results the deviator stress showed the work hardening behaviour after reaching its yield stress. Therefore practically useful failure criterion for low-plastic silt were required. The stress-strain behavior predicted by 11 soil parameters are compared with the results obtained 9 parameters by correlation between h and ${\eta}_1$ and constant ${\alpha}$. They are poor matched each other.