• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2015

First light galaxies have predictable linear clustering, and are expected to produce fluctuations with a characteristic spatial power spectrum, which peaks at an angular scale of ~ 10 arcminutes and in the $1-2{\mu}m$ spectral regions. The Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment 2 (CIBER2) is a dedicated sounding rocket mission for measuring the fluctuations in the extragalactic infrared background light, following up the previous successful measurements of CIBER1. With a 28.5 cm telescope accompanied with three arms of camera barrels and a dual broadband filter on each H2RG (${\lambda}_c=2.5{\mu}m$) array, CIBER2 can measure 6 bands of wide field ($1.1{\times}2.2$ degrees) up to 3 AB magnitudes deeper than CIBER1. This project is leaded by California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, collaborating internationally with Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Korea Basic Science Institute, and Seoul National University. The Korean team is in charge of 1) one H2RG scientific array, 2) ground station hardware and software, 3) telescope lenses, and 4) flight and test bed electronics fabrication. In this paper, we describe the detailed activities of the Korean participation as well as the current status of the CIBER2 project.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Citrus and its peels have been used in Asian folk medicine due to abundant flavonoids and usage of citrus peels, which are byproducts from juice and/or jam processing, may be a good strategy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bioconversion of Jeju Hallabong tangor (Citrus kiyomi ${\times}$ ponkan; CKP) peels with cytolase (CKP-C) in RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Glycosides of CKP were converted into aglycosides with cytolase treatment. RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with 0, 100, or $200{\mu}g/ml$ of citrus peel extracts for 4 h, followed by stimulation with $1{\mu}g/ml$ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 8 h. Cell viability, DPPH radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide (NO), and prostagladin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production were examined. Real time-PCR and western immunoblotting assay were performed for detection of mRNA and/or protein expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, respectively. RESULTS: HPLC analysis showed that treatment of CKP with cytolase resulted in decreased flavanone rutinoside forms (narirutin and hesperidin) and increased flavanone aglycoside forms (naringenin and hesperetin). DPPH scavenging activities were observed in a dose-dependent manner for all of the citrus peel extracts and CKP-C was more potent than intact CKP. All of the citrus peel extracts decreased NO production by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and $PGE_2$ production by COX-2. Higher dose of CKP and all CKP-C groups significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of LPS-stimulated iNOS. Only $200{\mu}g/ml$ of CKP-C markedly decreased mRNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Both 100 and $200{\mu}g/ml$ of CKP-C notably inhibited mRNA levels of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) and IL-6, whereas $200{\mu}g/ml$ CKP-C significantly inhibited mRNA levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$. CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that bioconversion of citrus peels with cytolase may enrich aglycoside flavanones of citrus peels and provide more potent functional food materials for prevention of chronic diseases attributable to oxidation and inflammation by increasing radical scavenging activity and suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2014

Background: This study evaluated changes in ginsenoside compositions and antioxidant activities in hydroponic-cultured ginseng roots (HGR) and leaves (HGL) with heating temperature. Methods: Heat treatment was performed at temperatures of $90^{\circ}C$, $110^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$, and $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours Results: The ginsenoside content varied significantly with heating temperature. The levels of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in HGR decreased with increasing heating temperature. Ginsenosides F2, F4, Rk3, Rh4, Rg3 (S form), Rg3 (R form), Rk1, and Rg5, which were absent in the raw ginseng, were formed after heat treatment. The levels of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, and Rb1 in HGL decreased with increasing heating temperature. Conversely, ginsenosides Rk3, Rh4, Rg3 (R form), Rk1, and Rg5 increased with increasing heating temperature. In addition, ginsenoside contents of heated HGL were slightly higher than those of HGR. The highest extraction yield was 14.39% at $130^{\circ}C$, whereas the lowest value was 10.30% at $150^{\circ}C$ After heating, polyphenol contents of HGR and HGL increased from 0.43 mg gallic acid equivalent/g (mg GAE eq/g) and 0.74 mg GAE eq/g to 6.16 mg GAE eq/g and 2.86 mg GAE eq/g, respectively. Conclusion: Antioxidant activities of HGR and HGL, measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging ability, increased with increasing heating temperature. These results may aid in improving the biological activity and quality of ginseng subjected to heat treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.123-130
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• 2014

The A-type lamin deficient mouse line ($Lmna^{-/-}$) has become one of the most frequently used models for providing insights into many different aspects of A-type lamin function. To elucidate the function of Lmna in the growth and metabolism of mice, tissue growth and blood biochemistry were monitored in Lmna-deficient mice, heterozygous ($Lmna^{+/-}$) and wide-type ($Lmna^{+/+}$) backcrossed to C57BL/6 background. At 4 weeks after birth, the weight of various organs of the $Lmna^{-/-}$, $Lmna^{+/-}$ and $Lmna^{+/+}$ mice was measured. A panel of biochemical analyses consisting of 15 serological tests was examined. The results showed that Lmna deficient mice had significantly decreased body weight and increased the ratio of organ to body weight in most of tissues. Compared with $Lmna^{+/+}$ and $Lmna^{+/-}$ mice, $Lmna^{-/-}$ mice exhibited lower levels of ALP (alkaline phosphatase), Chol (cholesterol), CR (creatinine), GLU (glucose), HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and higher levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) (p<0.05). $Lmna^{-/-}$ mice displayed higher AST (aspartate aminotransferase) values and lower LDL (lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol), CK-MB (creatine kinase-MB) levels than $Lmna^{+/+}$ mice (p<0.05). There were no significant differences among the three groups of mice with respect to BUN (blood urea nitrogen), CK (creatine kinase), Cyc C (cystatin C), TP (total protein), TG (triacylglycerols) and UA (uric acid) levels (p>0.05). These changes of serological parameters may provide an experimental basis for the elucidation of Lmna gene functions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several previous studies have investigated whether regular walnut consumption positively changes heart-health-related parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily walnut intake on metabolic syndrome (MetS) status and other metabolic parameters among subjects with MetS. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was a two-arm, randomized, controlled crossover study with 16 weeks of each intervention (45 g of walnuts or iso-caloric white bread) with a 6 week washout period between interventions. Korean adults with MetS (n = 119) were randomly assigned to one of two sequences; 84 subjects completed the trial. At each clinic visit (at 0, 16, 22, and 38 weeks), MetS components, metabolic parameters including lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), adiponectin, leptin, and apolipoprotein B, as well as anthropometric and bioimpedance data were obtained. RESULTS: Daily walnut consumption for 16 weeks improved MetS status, resulting in 28.6%-52.8% reversion rates for individual MetS components and 51.2% of participants with MetS at baseline reverted to a normal status after the walnut intervention. Significant improvements after walnut intake, compared to control intervention, in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.028), fasting glucose (P = 0.013), HbA1c (P = 0.021), and adiponectin (P = 0.019) were observed after adjustment for gender, age, body mass index, and sequence using a linear mixed model. CONCLUSION: A dietary supplement of 45 g of walnuts for 16 weeks favorably changed MetS status by increasing the concentration of HDL-C and decreasing fasting glucose level. Furthermore, consuming walnuts on a daily basis changed HbA1c and circulating adiponectin levels among the subjects with MetS. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03267901.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.507-515
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate whether Gynura procumbens extract (GPE) can improve insulin sensitivity and suppress hepatic glucose production in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into 3 groups, a regular diet (control), GPE, and rosiglitazone groups (0.005 g/100 g diet) and fed for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Mice supplemented with GPE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than diabetic control mice. Glucose and insulin tolerance test also showed the positive effect of GPE on increasing insulin sensitivity. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with GPE than in the diabetic control mice. In the skeletal muscle, the expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, pAkt substrate of 160 kDa, and PM-glucose transporter type 4 increased in mice supplemented with GPE when compared to that of the diabetic control mice. GPE also decreased the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that GPE might improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.261-266
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women and the second in humans worldwide. Many published studies have suggested an association between MDR1 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. Our aim was to study the association between genetic polymorphism of MDR1 at three sites (C3435T, G2677A/T, and C1236T) and their haplotype and the risk of breast cancer in Jordanian females. Materials and Methods: A case-control study involving 150 breast cancer cases and 150 controls was conducted. Controls were age-matched to cases. The polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and sequencing were performed to analyse genotypes. Results: The distribution of MDR1 C3435T genotypes differed between cases and controls [cases, CC 45.3%, CT 41.3%, and TT 13.3%; controls, CC 13.4%, CT 43.3%, and TT 30.2%, p < 0.001]. Similarly, the distribution of G2677A/T significantly differed [cases, GG 43.1 %, GT+GA 50.9% and AA+TT 6%; controls, GG 29.6 %, GT+GA 50.9%, and AA+TT 19.4%, p = 0.004]. On the other hand, genotype and allelotype distribution of C1236T was not statistically different between cases and controls (p=0.56 and 0.26, respectively). The CGC haplotype increased the risk to breast cancer by 2.5-fold compared to others, while TGC and TTC haplotypes carried 2.5- and 5-fold lower risk of breast cancer, respectively. Conclusions: Genetic polymorphisms of MDR1 C3435T and G2677A/T, but not C1236T, are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. In addition, CGC, TGC and TTC haplotypes have different impacts on the risk of breast cancer. Future, larger studies are needed to validate these findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3805-3808
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• 2013

Background: Osteosarcomas have many established risk factors, both genetic and environmental, but by themselves these explain only part of the total cancer incidence. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen associated with risk of several kinds of tumour. The lysyl oxidase gene (LOX) may also contribute to risk of tumours including osteosarcomas. Here, we investigated possible interactions of BPA and a LOX polymorphism on the risk of osteosarcoma. Method: The present hospital-based case-control study included 106 cancer patients and 112 controls from a Chinese population. Internal burden of BPA exposure was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method. Genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: Compared with those in low BPA exposure group, subjects with BPA more than or equal to median value had significant increased risk of osteosarcoma among subjects who carried GC or CC genotypes. A significant interaction with BPA level and the -22G/C polymorphism was observed for osteosarcoma overall, osteosarcoma affecting knee and osteosarcoma affecting hip, as $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.036 for osteosarcoma overall; $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.024 for osteosarcoma affecting knee; and $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.017 for osteosarcoma affecting hip. Conclusions: The results suggest that BPA exposure interacts with the -22G/C polymorphism of the LOX gene to increase the risk of osteosarcoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3073-3077
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• 2015

Background: TP53 mutations are the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. There are also several polymorphisms in both exons and introns of TP53 that may influence its anti-tumor functions and increase the risk of cancer development. Associations of the TP53 intron 6 G13964C polymorphism with increased risk of development of several cancers have been investigated in numerous studies, but the results were controversial and conflicting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the probable association of this polymorphism with risk of both thyroid and breast cancers among the Iranian-Azeri population. Materials and Methods: We performed two separate case control studies on associations of the intron 6 polymorphism with two different kinds of cancer. In one case-control study, a total of 75 patients with thyroid carcinoma and 180 controls were analyzed and the other study included 170 patients with breast cancer and 135 healthy women. The intron 6 genotype was determined by RFLP-PCR and the SPSS 16 program was applied for data analysis. Results: For thyroid cancer, the frequencies of GG genotype were 96.0% in patients and 93.3% in controls. The GC genotype had a frequency of 4.0 % in patients and 6.7% in controls. In the study on breast cancer, the frequency of GG and GC genotypes in patients were 95.3% and 4.7%, respectively. In breast related control group, the frequency of GG genotype was 93.3 % and the frequency of GC genotype was 6.7%. None of the cases and controls had the CC genotype. Conclusions: There was no significant association between the TP53 intron 6 G13964C polymorphism and risk of development of both thyroid and breast cancer in Iranian-Azeri patients.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 1995

The use of chlorinated water in swimming pools produces elevated chloroform levels in the water and air of the pools which can cause chloroform body burden of swimming individuals. Present study confirmed the chloroform body burdens from a 40-min swimming and evaluated the decay of chloroform breath concentration after the cessation of a 60-min swimming. Air and water concentrations were measured in the pools. The water and air chloroform concentrations ranged from 18.1 to 25.3 ${mu}g/l$ and from 30.9 to 60.7 ${\mu}g/m3$ for the confirmation study, respectively. The breath level after 40-min swimming was about 64 to 266 folds higher than the corresponding background breath. The breath concentration after the 40-min swimming ranged from 10.5 to 21.3 ${\mu}g/m3$, while that prior to the corresponding swimming ranged from 0.07 to 0.19 ${\mu}g/m3$. In addition, the post-exposure breath level varied with the subjects who swam in the pool on the same visiting day. Breath concentration increased gradually during 60-min swimming, then decreased rapidly within 5 minutes after the cessation of exposure, after that, decreased slowly, and finally approached to a background breath level at 1-2 hr after exposure.