• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 1986

A one dimensional neutron kinetics program, BIK which is applicable to the safety analyses of PWR's is developed to analyze the reactor core in axial dimension. The BIK employs the finite difference technique in space and $\theta$-time integration method in time. Detailed models for the Doppler and moderator feedbacks and control rod motion are included. The benchmark of the nuclear model is carried out through the ANL benchmark problem and the time dependent nuclear power change in the rod ejection accident of KNU1 is calculated by BIK code. The results indicate that the BIK can predict the neutron dynamics with fair accuracy within the limits of one dimensional analysis and it is useful for the safety analyses of PWR's.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.84-87
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• 2003

Purpose: Evidence exists that dysregulation of Bcl-2 family members is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. The aim of this study was to explore whether the somatic mutation of proapoptotic Bcl-2 member genes, one of the mechanisms that prolong the survival of cancer cells, is involved in gastric carcinogenesis. Materials and Methods: In the current study, to detect somatic mutations of the DNA sequences encoding the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain of the human BAD, BIM, BIK, and Bcl-G genes in 60 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and DNA sequencing. Results: The SSCP analysis revealed no mutations in the coding regions of the BH3 domain in the cancers. Conclusion: The data presented here indicate that proapoptotic Bcl-2 member genes, BAD, BIM, BIK, and Bcl-G, may not be mutated in human gastric carcinomas and suggest that these genes might be altered by mechanisms other mechanisms somatic mutation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 2009

Piperine is an alkaloid-amine found in pepper and has been reported to have anticarcinogenic properties. To explore the possibility that piperine has cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer, we examined whether piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 human colon cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms for this effect. Cells were cultured with various concentrations ($0{\sim}40{\mu}M$) of piperine. Piperine decreased the cell viability and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that piperine decreases the protein levels of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and intact Bid but increases Bik levels. Piperine increased the percentage of cells with depolarized mitochondrial membrane, and the release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm. Piperine induced the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspases 8, 9, 7, and 3 and increased the Fas levels. In addition, piperine significantly decreased the protein levels of survivin. The present results indicate that piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 colon cancer cells by the induction of apoptosis, which may be mediated by its ability to change the Bcl-2 family proteins, increase the activation of caspases, and decrease survivin levels. Overall, our findings suggest that piperine has cancer chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2010

In order to demonstrate the potential therapeutic effect of two flavonoids, Baicalein and Wogonin, on suppression of pathological myocardial fibrosis in hypertension, we investigated their in vitro effects on collagen expression in primary cultured cardiac fibroblasts isolated from neonatal normotensive (WKY) and hypertensive (SHR) rats. Our results showed that over-expression of collagen mRNA and protein induced in cardiac fibroblasts by angiotensin (AngII) could be attenuated significantly by both flavonoids at an optimal dosage ($30\;{\mu}M$; P < 0.01). Results of immunoblots showed that expression of 12-LO level, p-ERK/ ERK ratio and MMP-9 in AngII-stimulated SHR cardiac fibroblasts were significantly down-regulated by both flavonoids. Our results show that both Baicalein and Wogonin can suppress collagen deposition in AngII-stimulated SHR and WKY cardiac fibroblasts.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2001

It has been observed that water, which is absolutely essential for enzyme activity, can induce the agglomeration of enzyme particles in organic media. Although enzyme agglomeration is significant in that it usually reduces enzyme activity and stability, little attention has been paid to the quantitative analysis of enzyme agglomeration behavior in nonaqueous biocatalytic systems. In this study, the effect of water and silica gel on enzyme agglomeration were investigated using Candida rugosa lipase and cyclohexane as a model enzyme and an organic medium. The extent of enzyme agglomeration was quantified by sieve analysis of freeze-dried agglomerates. Increasing the water content of the medium increased the size of the enzyme agglomerates, and it was found that water produced during the esterification reaction could also promote the agglomeration of enzyme particles suspended in organic media. On the other hand, the size of the enzyme agglomerates was remarkably reduced in the presence of silica gel at the same water content. We also show that this increase in the size of enzyme agglomerates results in lower reaction rates in organic solvents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although Angelica keiskei (AK) has widely been utilized for the purpose of general health improvement among Asian, its functionality and mechanism of action. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of ethanol extract of AK (AK-Ex) on acute hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen (AAP) in HepG2 human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells and HepaRG human hepatic progenitor cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: AK-Ex was prepared HepG2 and HepaRG cells were cultured with various concentrations and 30 mM AAP. The protective effects of AK-Ex against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 and HepaRG cells were evaluated using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. RESULTS: AK-Ex, when administered prior to AAP, increased cell growth and decreased leakage of LDH in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 and HepaRG cells against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity. AK-Ex increased the level of Bcl-2 and decreased the levels of Bax, Bok and Bik decreased the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane in HepG2 cells intoxicated with AAP. AK-Ex decreased the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the activation of caspase-9, -7, and -3. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that AK-Ex downregulates apoptosis via intrinsic and extrinsic pathways against AAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We suggest that AK could be a useful preventive agent against AAP-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.417-422
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• 2019

From October 2015 to August 2018, tapeworm proglottids were obtained from 10 patients who were residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces and had a history of raw beef consumption. Most of them had no overseas travel experience. The gravid proglottids obtained from the 10 cases had 15-20 lateral uterine branches. A part of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) DNA of the 10 cases, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested with AleI restriction enzyme, produced the same band pattern of Taenia saginata, which differentiated from T. asiatica and T. solium. Sequences of ITS1 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) showed higher homology to T. saginata than to T. asiatica and T. solium. Collectively, these 10 cases were identified as T. saginata human infections. As taeniasis is one of the important parasitic diseases in humans, it is necessary to maintain hygienic conditions during livestock farming to avoid public health concerns.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2023

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is caused by X-linked recessive disorderliness. It induces severe anemia when a patient with G6PD deficiency is exposed to oxidative stress that occurs with administration of an antimalarial drug, primaquine. The distribution of G6PD deficiency remains unknown while primaquine has been used for malaria treatment in Myanmar. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and its variants in Chin State, Myanmar. Among 322 participants, 18 (11 males and 7 females) demonstrated a G6PD deficiency. Orissa variant was dominant in the molecular analysis. This would be related to neighboring Indian and Bangladeshi population, in which Orissa variant was also reported as the main mutation type. The screening test for G6PD deficiency before primaquine treatment appears to be important in Myanmar.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.15-19
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• 2022

Purpose [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 is needed the high reproducibility, excellent radiochemical yield and purity. In term of radiation safety, the radiation exposure of operator for its production also should be considered. In this work, we performed a comparative study for the fully automated synthesis of [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 between non-cassette type and cassette type. Materials and Methods Two different type of modules (TRACERlab FX N pro for non-cassette type and BIKBox for cassette type) were used for the automated production of [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11. According to the previously identified elution profile, Only 2.5 ml with high radioactivity was used for the reaction. After adjusting the pH of the reaction solution with HEPES buffer solution, the precursor was added and reacted with at 95 ℃ for 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was separated and purified using a C18 light cartridge. The product was eluted with 50% EtOH/saline solution and diluted with saline. It was completed by sterilizing filter. In the non-cassette type, the aforementioned process must be prepared directly. However, in the cassette method, synthesis was possible simply by installing a kit that was already completed. Results Both total [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 production time were 25±3(non-cassette type) and 23±3 minutes(cassette type). The radiochemical yield of the non-cassette type(65.5±5.7%) was higher than that of the cassette type(61.6±4.8%) after sterilization filter. The non-cassette type took about 120 minutes of preparation time before synthesis due to washing of synthesizer and reagent preparation. However, since the cassette type does not require washing and reagent preparation, it took about 20 minutes to prepare before synthesis. Both type of synthesizer had a radiochemical high purity(>99%). Conclusion The non-cassette type production of [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 showed higher radiochemical yield and lower cost than the cassette type. However, The cassette type has an advantage in terms of preparation time, convenience, and equipment maintenance.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.159-179
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• 1974

In order to investigate morphological and cultural characteristics of strains in species, Flammulina velutipes, the author collected isolates of Flammultina velutipes at 49 locations in Korea and cultivated these isolates on the various kinds of solid media. After investigating the cultural characteristics, appeared on the various media, he obtained the following results : 1. The variation of colors in the fruit bodies is connected with the variation of climatic environments(composite effects between mean temperature in January and number of rain days of 1mm and over precipitation). The author, therfore, can find out the trend that brown type is distributed in the midland climatic region and yellow type in the southern climatic regoin. 2. Two types can be classified into several strains respectively : the strain of abundant or insufficient productivity, and strain of selectivity or non-selectivity of media. 3. According to the results of mutual comparison of soluble mycelial proteins by disc electrophoresis using polyacrylamide gels, each type has special common protein fractions(brown type : band located at 26..5mm position from surface of gel, yellow type : band located at 24.5mm position from surface of gel), and each strain has special protein fractions too. Therefore this phenomenon seems to support the results obtained by the above-stated morphological and cultural studies. 4. In the adaptability of strains to the temperature, every strain has the nature of growing in lower temperature(the optimum temperature of 20.deg.C to 25.deg.C) except that YI-1 strain has the optimum temperatue of $25^{\circ}C$-26^{\circ}C. And mycelial growth of every strain is discontinued at $35^{\circ}C.$ 5. In the adaptability of strains to the H-ion concentration, every strain has wide adaptable range of H-ion concentration, and has optimum range of pH 5.5 to 6.6 in mycelial growth excepting YA01, BI-2 and YI-1. 6. In the utility of carbon sources, the mycelial growth of every strain is very poor on the media containing xylose(average diameter of mycelial growth : 18mm), and most strains utilize favorably sucrose(39mm), maltose(37mm) and dextrose(35mm) in mycelial growth. In the utility of nitrogen sources, every strain utilizes favorably organic nitrogens(36 mm)more than inorganic nitrogens (25 mm), and utilizes fully peptone nad asparagine in organic nitrogens. Especially BA-1, BIK-2 and YA-1 strains grow vigorously on each media containing various carbon and nitrogen sources. 7. The characteristic tests of the number of days required for mycelial growth, the number of days requried for sprout of young bodies, the length of stipe and the number of fruit bodies formation seem to be useful methods in the early selection of the strain of the abundant productivity.