• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.59-62
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Zinc, a biomineral present within and outside cells, manages various cellular mechanisms. In this study, we examined whether zinc was involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification via regulation of calcification inhibitor protein, osteopontin (OPN). Methods: Rat aorta cell line (A7r5 cells) and primary vascular smooth muscle cells (pVSMCs) from rat aorta were cultured with phosphate (1-5 mM) and zinc ($0-15{\mu}M$) as appropriate, along with osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) as control. The cells were then stained for Ca and P deposition for calcification examination as well as osteopontin expression as calcification inhibitor protein was measured. Results: Both Ca and phosphate deposition increased as the addition of phosphate increased. In the same manner, the expression of osteopontin was upregulated as the addition of phosphate increased in both cell types. When zinc was added, Ca and P deposition decreased in VSMCs, while it increased in osteoblasts. Conclusion: The results imply that zinc may prevent VSMC calcification by stimulating calcification inhibitor protein OPN synthesis in VSMCs.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2020

The extract of Cudrania tricuspidata is used in ethnomedicine throughout Eastern Asia in China, Korea and Japan. In Korean traditional medicine, Cudrania tricuspidata has been used to treat eczema, mumps, tuberculosis, contusions, insomnia and acute arthritis. In addition, it has been reported that root extract of Cudrania tricuspidata has anti-platelet effects. Therefore, we investigated which compound in Cudrania tricuspidata has inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. In this study, we tried to explain the inhibitory mechanism of steppogenin from Cudrania tricuspidata on human platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced human platelet aggregation and [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization were dose-dependently inhibited by steppogenin and we determined the inhibition by steppogenin is due to the down regulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type I(IP₃RI) phosphorylation. In addition, steppogenin inhibited collagen-induced fibronectin adhesion to αIIb/β3 and thromboxane A₂ generation. Thus, in the present study, steppogenin showed an inhibitory effect on human platelet aggregation, suggesting its potential use for preventing platelet-induced cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.355-358
• /
• 1994

The effect of concentration of coagulant and addition of phytic acid on physico-chemical properties of soybean curd was investigated. The results showed that the maximum protein yield in soybean curds was obtained with 0.029N Ca and the bound calcium per protein molecule significantly increased as the level of calcium increased. The highest precipitation of phytic acid occured at 0.029N Ca. When phytic acid was added to soybean milk during soybean curd preparation, the weight of soybean curd increased. The hardness of soybean curd was remarkably reduced by the increase of phytic acid level.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.168-173
• /
• 1998

Gamma irradiated and non-irradiated Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour were extracted by 70% ethanol. The combined effects of the Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour extract and NaCl on survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in tryptic soy broth were investigated. E. coli O157:H7 decreased ca 1 log cycle by the addition of 2% sample extract, and the anthbacterial activity was increased as the concentration of sample extract was increased. The irradiation effect of the sample on antibacterial activity was not observed. On the treatment of NaCl alone, E. coli O157:H7 was inactivated (ca 3~4 log cycle reduction within 48 hr) in more than 7% NaCl. The higher inactivation(ca 5 log cycle reduction within 48 hr) occurred in the presence of 2% sample extract and 5% NaCl than in the addition of each alone. The extracted antibacterial substance was stable in the pH range of 4.0 to 7.0, heat treatment at 121$^\circ C$ for 15 min, and freezing at -18$^\circ C$ and thawing at 37$^\circ C$. There fore, the sample extract, would substantially increase the food-safety in terms of E. coli O157:H7.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.531-536
• /
• 2003

The electromagnetic properties and microstructures of the ferrites based on ($Ni_{0.2}$ $Cu_{0.2}$ $Zn_{0.6}$)$_{1.085}$($Fe_2$$O_3$)$_{0.915}$ were investigated by changing the amount of additive SnO$_2$and CaO and the sintering temperatures. Addition of $SnO_2$caused pores in the specimen. There was no variation of grain size by changing the amount of additives. Total loss was reduced when ($Ni_{0.2} $Cu_{0.2}$ $Zn_{ 0.6}$)$_{1.085}$ ($Fe_2$$O_3$)$_{0.915}$ composition was sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$ rather than $1300^{\circ}C$. Addition of CaO was useful to reduce the total loss because it increased the sintering density. The lowest total loss was obtained when 0.06 wt% $SnO_2$and 0.4 wt% CaO were added at the same time.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.393-398
• /
• 1996

Soft magnetic properties and microstructural evolution of FeTaNC films were investigated, and compared with FeTaN and FeTaC films. Effects of substrate species (glass vs. $CaTiO_3$) on the magnetic properties were also investigated. Co-addition of N and C significantly enhance the grain refinments and magnetism, compared with N or C addition only. Good soft magnetic characteristics of coercivity of 0.17 Oe, permeability of 4000 (5MHz), and saturation flux density of 17 kG can be obtained in the FeTaNC in the relatively wide process windows. While these values appears to be similar to those of FeTaN on glass substrate, most distinctive difference between FeTaNC and FeTaN(or C) is in the effects of substrate. Whereas FeTaNC films show good magnetic characteristics for both glass and $CaTiO_3$ substrates, FeTaN(or C) films show significant degradation on the $CaTiO_3$ substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2007.06a
• /
• pp.292-293
• /
• 2007

In the study, in order to develop low temperature sintering ceramics for multilayer piezoelectric transformer, $(Pb,Ca,Sr)Ti(Mn,Sb)O_3$ ceramics were fabricated using $Na_2CO_3$, $Li_2CO_3$, $MnO_2$ and $Bi_2O_3$ as sintering aids and their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated according to the amount of $Bi_2O_3$ addition. At the sintering temperature of $900^{\circ}C$, density, thickness vibration mode electromechanical coupling factor ($k_t$), thickness vibration mode mechanical quality factor ($Q_{mt}$) and dielecteic constant (${\varepsilon}_r$) showed the optimum value of $6.94[g/cm^3]$, 0.497, 3,162 and 209, respectively, for multilayer piezoelectric transformer application.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 2005

Many studies have shown that the development of mouse early 2-cell embryos in vitro is related with the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ changes. In ICR strain mouse, the development of embryos arrests at early 2-cell stage, but the arrested early 2-cell embryos can be rescued by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$-related materials. Acetylcholine (ACh) increases intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) via the mAChR-PLC-IP3 pathway in mouse oocytes. We examined whether ACh rescues 2-cell block in mouse. In early 2-cell embryos, ACh increased [$Ca^{2+}$]i in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001), and had an effect on rescue of 2-cell block and embryonic development. To identify the signal pathway involved in ACh-induced rescue of 2-cell block, we first applied an agonist of ACh receptor (AChR). Like ACh, carbachol increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) and atropine, an antagonist of ACh receptor, blocked the ACh-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase. In $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, ACh also increased [$Ca^{2+}$]i, indicating that $Ca^{2+}$ increased by ACh is mainly released from the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store. The ACh-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was blocked by PLC inhibitor (U73122), ryanodine receptor (RyR) antagonist (dantrolene), and CaM KII inhibitor (KN-93), but not by IP3R antagonists (xestospongin C). These results show that ACh increases intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration via mAChR/PLC/RyR, and this contributes to the rescue of 2-cell block.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.165-174
• /
• 1993

$Ca^{2+}$ is an important regulator of neurite elongation and growth cone movements but the mechanism(s) mediating these $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ effects is unclear. Since cytoskeletal proteins are rapidly degraded by $Ca^{2+}-dependent $ proteinases (calpains) in vitro and in vivo, we investigated whether $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning or regression of neuronal processes is mediated by calpains. Isolated hippocampal pyramidal-like neurons were cultured and the ability of the membrane-permeable calpain inhibitors EST (etyl (+)-(2S,3S)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-(3-methlbutylcarbamoyl)-butylcarbamoyl]2-oxiranecarboxylate) and MDL28170 (carbobenzoxyl-Val-Phe-H) to block the $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187-induced suppression in neurite outgrowth was investigated. Addition of 100 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a retraction of dendrites without altering axonal elongation. The addition of 300 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a signiciant decrease in the rate of axonal elongation as well as a retraction of dendritic processes. Administration of EST $(5\;or\;20{\mu}M)$ to the culture medium completely blocked the pruning effect of 100 nM A23187 on dendrites and of 300 nM A23187 on axons, while EST alone did not significantly affect neurite outgrowth rate. MDL 28170 $(20\;{\mu}M)$ showed the same effect as EST in preventing ionophore-induced pruning of dendrites and axons at 100 nM and 300 nM concentrations, respectively, of A23187. EST $(20\;{\mu}M)$ did not block the A23187-induced rise of $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ as measured with fura-2. These results show that $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning of neurites in isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons is mediated by calpains.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2004

Effects of various chemical additives and heat treatments were investigated on the wheat flour doughs and breads. Ammonium ferric citrate, Ca-citrate, CaCl$_2$, FeSO$_4$, MgCl$_2$and ZnO were mixed respectively to the flour up to 0.1% of flour dry weight basis. Ammonium ferric citrate and ferric sulfate showed no significant effects on the dough properties and magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride and zinc oxide increased elastic properties and optimum dough mixing time. However, calcium citrate and magnesium chloride showed no significant effects on the dough mixing properties. Most of chemicals were detrimental on the bread volume except MgSO$_4$ and CaCl$_2$. Breads with MgSO$_4$ and CaCl$_2$ retained the equal or slightly higher volume compared to control bread. Crumb and crust colors of breads with addition of chemicals were changed to lighter than that of control bread. L values both of crumb and crust increased with addition of chemicals except Ca-citrate. To inactivate the endogenous enzymes of flour, flour was roasted under electric oven, exposed to UV and microwave. Those heat treatments of flour increased dough stability and produced no dough breakdown after optimum mixing time. However, bread volume of heat-treated flour decreased.