• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2013

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium that are found in cereals and agricultural products. ZEN has been implicated in mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. The toxic effects of ZEN are well known, but the ability of an alkaline Comet assay to assess ZEN-induced oxidative DNA damage in Chang liver cells has not been established. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the Comet assay for the determination of cytotoxicity and extent of DNA damage induced by ZEN toxin, and the second aim was to investigate the ability of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) to protect cells from ZEN-induced toxicity. In the Comet assay, DNA damage was assessed by quantifying the tail extent moment (TEM; arbitrary unit) and tail length (TL; arbitrary unit), which are used as indicators of DNA strand breaks in SCGE. The cytotoxic effects of ZEN in Chang liver cells were mediated by inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing the concentration of ZEN increased the extent of DNA damage. The extent of DNA migration, and percentage of cells with tails were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner following treatment with ZEN toxin (p < 0.05). Treatment with a low concentration of ZEN toxin (25 ${\mu}M$) induced a relatively low level of DNA damage, compared to treatment of cells with a high concentration of ZEN toxin (250 ${\mu}M$). Oxidative DNA damage appeared to be a key determinant of ZEN-induced toxicity in Chang liver cells. Significant reductions in cytolethality and oxidative DNA damage were observed when cells were pretreated with NACA prior to exposure to any concentration of ZEN. Our data suggest that ZEN induces DNA damage in Chang liver cells, and that the antioxidant activity of NACA may contribute to the reduction of ZEN-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity via elimination of oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-68
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• 2011

Objectives: After organizing segmentations related to obesity from classics and each studies, we would like to examine the value of wild ginseng, bovis calculus, ursi fel and moschus as a obesity medicine. Methods: We found out 4 drugs which are wild ginseng, bovis calculus, ursi fel and moschus from the classics, such as "Shin-Nong-Bon-Cho-Kyung", "Myoung-Eui-Byul-Lok", "Bon-Cho-Gang-Mok", "Bon-Cho-Jong-Shin", "Bon-Cho-Bi-Yo", "Bon-Cho-Gu-Jin" and "Deuk-Bae-Bon-Cho", we searched websites such as RISS, Korean traditional knowledge portal, the society of Korean medicine for obesity research, Korean pharmacopuncture institute, the Korean academy of oriental rehabilitation medicine and Korean acupuncture & moxibustion society as well. Results: 1. We couldn't find the contents related to the efficacy of improving obesity through wild ginseng, bovis calculus, ursi fel and moschus from the classics. 2. Wild ginseng had a study dealing with the efficacy of anticancer, obesity, toxicity, immunity, sulfation, diabetes, plasma proteins, depression, hypertension, endometriosis and hair loss. Especially among 6 studies related to obesity, apart from the study that treated extract of wild ginseng directly to the cell or oral administration to the animals, also have studies that had an efficacy of improving obesity through injecting pharmacopuncture to acupuncture point and vein, etc. 3. Bovis calculus had a study about efficacy related to arthritis, liver, inflammation of cornea, obesity, anticancer, immunity, antacid, heart, lumbar pain, hypertension, toxicity, a digestive organ and sasang constitution, especially in case of obesity, had each studies about oral administration of complex prescription and about cell unit experiment of pharmacopuncture. 4. Ursi fel had a study about efficacy related to liver, arthritis, inflammation of cornea, immunity, obesity, anticancer, antacid, lumbar pain, digestive organ, toxicity, cell protection, skin ailment, etc. Especially in case of obesity, had each studies about oral administration of animal experiment and about cell unit experiment of pharmacopuncture. 5. Moschus had a study about efficacy related to liver, the central nervous system, arthritis, inflammation of cornea, immunity, obesity, anticancer, hypertension, heart, lumbar pain, etc. Especially in case of obesity, had one study about oral administration of complex prescription. Conclusion: Through the result of probability as a obesity medicine of wild ginseng, bovis calculus, ursi fel and moschus, we could identify the possibility of each drug as a obesity medicine. Also in the future, it is considered that studies about one or complex prescription and pharmacopuncture as a obesity medicine will be needed.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2008

Siberian flying squirrel, an endangered species in South Korea, is distributed through major mountain regions of South Korea. The number of Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans) in South Korea has decreased and their habitats are fragmented and isolated because of anthropogenic activities. So far no molecular genetic data has, however, been available for their conservation and management. To obtain better information concerning genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Siberian flying squirrel in South Korea, we examined 14 individuals from South Korea, 7 individuals from Russia, and 5 individuals from northeastern China along with previously published 29 haplotypes for 1,140 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene. The 14 new individuals from South Korea had 7 haplotypes which were not observed in the regions of Russia and Hokkaido. The level of genetic diversity(0.616%) in the South Korean population was lower than that in eastern Russia(0.950%). The geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and reduced median network confirmed that there are three major lineages of Siberian flying squirrel, occupying; Far Eastern, northern Eurasia, and the island of Hokkaido. The South Korean population only slightly distinct from the Eurasia, and eastern Russian population, and is part of the lineage Far Eastern. Based on these, we suggest that the South Korean population could be considered to belong to one partial ESU(Far Eastern) of three partial ESUs but a different management unit. However, the conservation priorities should be reconfirmed by nuclear genetic marker and ecological data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1614-1625
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• 2020

A number of species of the genus Trichilia (Meliaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of Trichilia martiana C. DC. (TM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation has not, to the best of our knowledge, yet been determined. Therefore, in the present study, the antiinflammatory effect of TM on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was evaluated. The ethanol extract of TM (TMEE) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin 2 (PGE₂), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). TMEE also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation was revealed to be downregulated following TMEE pretreatment. Furthermore, TMEE was indicated to lead to the nucleus translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In H292 airway epithelial cells, the pretreatment of TMEE significantly downregulated the production of LPS-stimulated IL-1β, and TMEE was indicated to increase the expression of HO-1. In animal models exhibiting LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), treatment with TMEE reduced the levels of macrophages influx and TNF-α production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ALI mice. Additionally, TMEE significantly downregulated the activation of ERK, JNK and IκB, and upregulated the expression of HO-1 in the lungs of ALI mice. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that TMEE could exert a regulatory role in the prevention or treatment of the endotoxin-mediated inflammatory response.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2015

Recently the dairy cow industry have faced environmental issues such as eutrophication, global warming, etc. An LCA was used to quantify the environmental impact of a dairy cow system and to identify key issues contributing to the impact. The system boundary crop cultivation for feeding dairy cow, feed production, rearing and manure management (cradle-to-gate). The functional unit was 1 kg of milk (fat protein corrected milk, FPCM) produced. Rearing and cultivation of feed crops stages in system boundary to the environmental impact of the domestic dairy cow system were dominant issues. Techniques such as suppression of enteric fermentation, improvement of the energy efficiency of farm equipment and apparatuses, management of leachate generated during the crop cultivation, and development of controling the loss of fertilizer during crop production would be necessary for the improvement of the environmental key issues of the dairy cow system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1321-1327
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• 2011

The microorganism producing an invertase (E.C. 3.2.1.26) was isolated from wine and tentatively identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by cellular fatty acid analysis. The invertase was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitant, dialysis, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, and gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200 from the culture supernatant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae JS59. The specific activity and the purification fold of the purified invertase were 7620.9 unit/mg protein and 13.9, respectively. The molecular weight of the purified invertase was estimated to be 38.5 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the invertase activity were pH 5 and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. The invertase activity was relatively stable at pH 4~6 and temperature $55^{\circ}C$. The activity of invertase was inhibited by $Ag^{2+}$ and $Hg^{2+}$, but on the contrary, activated by $Co^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$. Michaelis constant ($K_m$) for invertase reaction in sucrose solution was 11.5 mM. TLC analysis of the products produced in sucrose solution during invertase reaction showed the progressive presence of glucose and fructose in accordance with sucrose hydrolysis.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.153-161
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• 2015

In this paper, we propose a locomotor evaluation System for mouse based on continuous shooting images. In the field of veterinary medicine and animal studies are subjected to using the mouse for the quality of human life. In particular, during the experiments using the artificially created mice injury, through a variety of scoring and a lot of experiments to measure the extent of recovery from the injury. The traditional method of measuring the quantity of exercise while in this experiment was made of a method for directly observing person. The proposed system performs the continuous shooting per unit of time specified by the movement of the mouse is extracted from a continuous image shooting with the outline of a mouse point cloud. And using the extracted point cloud to extract again the inner contour of the body of the mouse. So using the new point cloud obtained its center, Then, using the center point calculated by accumulating the distance between two points on locomotor evaluation system design and implement to obtain the total distance the mouse moves over a unit of time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.513-519
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• 2011

In recent, the cultivation of maize in the world is being increased as a feed for the animal due to the increase of the large amount of meat consumption. However, reduction of supply for the feeding maize by the natural disaster such as drought, flooding, and demanding materials for bioenergy are attributed to increase the cereal price of the world that caused for the fluctuation of prices. The research has been done to provide useful information to the Korean agricultural investor regarding the current status of maize production and distribution in Cambodia. The maize cultivation of Cambodia in 2009 presented as a second major crop at the area of 6.8% in the total crop production area, and it continuously increased maize production yearly basis for the internal uses as well as for the exportation. The total amount of production showed by amount of 0.92 million tons due to the increased production of unit area. The yield production of unit area in current shows about 4 tones per hectare. About 90% of total production produced during August to September at wet season, and area of Batambang province produced about 70% of the total production. The production of feeding maize cultivated about 70% of the total cultivation area, and the exportation have done around 60% and remains were consumed as a domestic uses. The prospects of maize production in Cambodia will be increased due to the acceleration of livestock industry as 8.7% of annual growth rate.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2023

Introduction: Biological risks are a major global problem in the workplace. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the biological risks at work. This study presents data on both communicable infectious biological agents and noncommunicable factors leading to death and disability for the year 2021. Methods: We followed the methodology established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in their past global estimates on occupational accidents and work-related diseases. We used relevant ILO estimates for hazardous substances and related population attributable fractions derived from literature, which were then applied to World Health Organization mortality data. The communicable diseases included in the estimates were tuberculosis, pneumococcal diseases, malaria, diarrheal diseases, other infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, influenza associated respiratory diseases and COVID-19. Noncommunicable diseases and injuries considered were Chronic Obstructive Diseases (COPD) due to organic dusts, asthma, allergic reactions and risks related to animal contact. We estimated death attributable to biological risk at work and disability in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Results: We estimated that in 2022, 550,819 deaths were caused by biological risk factors, with 476,000 deaths attributed to communicable infectious diseases and 74,000 deaths caused by noncommunicable factors. Among these, there were 223,650 deaths attributed to COVID-19 at work. We calculated the rate of 584 DALYs per 100,000 workers, representing an 11% increase from the previous estimate of the global burden of work-related disabilities measured by DALYs. Conclusion: This is a first update since previous 2007 ILO estimates, which has now increased by 74% and covers most biological risks factors. However, it is important to note that there may be other diseases and deaths are missing from the data, which need to be included when new information becomes available. It is also worth mentioning that while deaths caused by major communicable diseases including COVID-19 are relatively rare within the working population, absences from work due to these diseases are likely to be very common within the active workforce.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.880-888
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of inuloprebiotics (INPs), an alternative antibacterial growth promotor, from Jerusalem artichoke extract (Helianthus tuberosus L.) on egg production and quality in Hyline brown laying hens. The hens were divided randomly into four treatment groups and housed in individual cages for 10 weeks: a control group (0 ppm INP) (T1), 450 ppm (T2), 600 ppm (T3), and 750 ppm (T4). Egg production, egg weight, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and breaking strength were significantly higher in all of the INP-treated groups compared with the control (p<0.05). Egg cholesterol was highest in the T1 group and decreased with INP addition from 15.04 to 17.98% (p<0.05). Compared with the T1 group, triglycerides in the blood and in total cholesterol decreased significantly in groups T2, T3, and T4 by 21.71-24.07% and 27.17-30.36%, respectively (p<0.05). The growth of cecum Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was stimulated in groups T2, T3, and T4 compared with T1, whereas the growth of Escherichia and Salmonella was clearly inhibited (p<0.05). The results suggest that the addition of 450 ppm INP to the diet of laying hens can improve egg production and egg quality.