• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK-II) is responsible for the phosphorylation of proteins involved in various cellular functions. Since the level of intracellular calcium ($Ca_2+$) oscillate during the cell cycle, it is expected that the activity of CaMK-II is also dependent on the cell cycle. The kinase activity in NIH3T3 cells which were arrested at or released from certain phase of the cell cycle was measured and compared to that in the normally growing asynchronous control cells to investigate whether the activity of this kinase is cell cycle-dependent. Cells were arrested at G0, G1, G1/S, G2/M and M phase, respectively by use of various drugs which do not have any effect on the kinase activity of CaMK-II at G0, G1, G1/s and G2/M phase was similar to that of the control cells, whereas lower at M. Calcium-independent activity of CaMK_II by autophosphorylation was higher at M and, thus, higher autonomy at M, which represented the physiologically relevant activity of CaMK-II. A similar pattern of activity change of the kinase was demonstrated during the cell cycle of synchronized cells which were released from G1 arrest. These results indicate that the activity of CaMK-11 is cell cycle-dependent and is activity during the mitosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 1988

This study was to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on the reduction of blood pressure in normotensive young adults. Fortyseven healthy college students(23 male and 24 female) were divided into Ca and placebo groups, and were orally given with calcium(1g/day, 2.5g as CaCO3) and placebo, respectively, for 20 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by Korotokoff method in seated position every two weeks. Average daily dietary calcium intakes of the subjects were 626-643mg in men and 513-552mg in women. Average initial level of serum calcium of the subjects belonged to normal range. 1. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP and DBP) of Ca group showed significant continuously decreasing tendency from 6-8 weeks until final 20 weeks of the supplementation in both men and women. But placebo groups did not. Comparing with the basal value, reduction of SBP and DBP after 20 weeks were 6.53$\pm$4.30%(8.9mmHg) and 8.10$\pm$3.30%(7.4mmHg) in men, and 6.56$\pm$2.41%(8.1mmHg) and 7.33$\pm$3.75%(6.2mmHg) in women. The blood pressure lowering effect of calcium supplementation seemed to be greater in the subjects with higher basal SBP. 2. Serum calcium was significantly increased by calcium supplementation in both men and women, and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.213) and DBP(r=-.301) in women. Serum Ca/Mg ratio of Ca group was also elevated and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.174) and DBP(r=-.194) in total subjects. 3. Urinary excretion of Na did not show any significant changes by calcium supplementation in both men and women and showed no correlations with blood pressures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2020

Background: Among various diseases that accompany pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is one of the most frustrating for patients and physicians. Recently, many studies have shown functional and anatomical abnormalities in the brains of patients with CRPS. The calcium-related signaling pathway is important in various physiologic processes via calmodulin (CaM) and calcium-calmodulin kinase 2 (CaMK2). To investigate the cerebral mechanism of CRPS, we measured changes in CaM and CaMK2 expression in the cerebrum in CRPS animal models. Methods: The chronic post-ischemia pain model was employed for CRPS model generation. After generation of the animal models, the animals were categorized into three groups based on changes in the withdrawal threshold for the affected limb: CRPS-positive (P), CRPS-negative (N), and control (C) groups. Western blot analysis was performed to measure CaM and CaMK2 expression in the rat cerebrum. Results: Animals with a decreased withdrawal threshold (group P) showed a significant increment in cerebral CaM and CaMK2 expression (P = 0.013 and P = 0.021, respectively). However, groups N and C showed no difference in CaM and CaMK2 expression. Conclusions: The calcium-mediated cerebral process occurs after peripheral injury in CRPS, and there can be a relationship between the cerebrum and the pathogenesis of CRPS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.154-154
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• 1993

A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the influence of phytate(0 or 10g/kg diet) and calcium (Ca)(3 or 10g/kg diet) intakes on Ca, P and Zn metabolism by growing female rats. Food intake and weight were similar for the all groups, however, phytate ingestion for six weeks depressed femur growth. The low Ca plus phytate group showed the lowest Ca content of total femur and this was related to a significant decrease of Ca retention. Phytate intake depressed zinc(Zn) absorption in the first metabolic collection. This inhibitory effect of phytate on Zn absorption was improved in the low Ca plus phytate group after several weeks. Impared Zn absorption however remained in the high Ca plus phytate group which was reflected in the lowest Zn content of femur, phytate intake with high Ca also depressed phosphorous(P) absorption and serum and urinary P. These adverse effects of phytate on Zn and P absorption when the dietary Ca was high could explain reduced femur weight despite the highest concentration of femur Ca(mg/g ash) in this group. Results suggest that phytate can adversely affect not only Ca metabolism but Zn and P utilization. Thus, for the normal bone growth when phytate intake is high, the ingesion of Ca, P, Zn and other minerals should be enhanced.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 1988

Production of calcium lactate very useful for medical supplies of Ca-therapy was obtained by lactic acid fermentation of lactobacillus sporogenes, a spore forming lactic acid bacterium. Corn steep liquor 1%, soybean enzyme hydrolysate 3%, yeast extract powder 2% can substitute for yeast extract and peptone as nutrient sort traces in fermentation medium using 10% glucose concentration. In the calcium lactate production medium containing yeast extract powder 2%, glucose 18%, CaCO3 12%, the lactic acid fermentation was carried out at 45$^{\circ}C$ for 4days with continuous agitation of 100 rpm. As results, fermentation yield was 97.5%. The five steps such as protein coagulation, decolorizing evaporating, crystallizing, and drying were carried out to harvest calcium lactate from 10l of supernatant of fermented medium to be removed cell and CaCO3. As results, 2065.0g of white crystal calcium lactate dihyrate was recovered and a yield of 84.9% was obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 1974

Effect of calcium sulfate and barium sulfate on the formation of portland cement clinker was studied by means of chemical analysis. DTA and X-ray diffraction analysis. In the presence of liquid phase, effect of the additives on the formation of tricalcium silicate was examined according to the reaction, 2CaO.$SiO_3$＋CaO$\longrightarrow$3CaO.$SiO_3$, which is the principal reaction in portland cement clinkerization, and optimum conditions in firing clinker concerning amount of additive, firing time and temperature were determined, and its kinetics was referred to. The experimental results are summerized as follow: (1) Appropriate burning temperature range of cement clinker is more limited as the content of calcium sulfate in clinker is increased. Amount of calcium sulfate, firing time and temperature in proper condition of clinkerization is related to each others. Being added suitable quantity of calcium sulfate, firing temperature of clinker can be lowered about $100^{\circ}C$. (2) When 3-5 mole% of calcium sulfate is added, firing time of 15-30 minutes at about $1380^{\circ}C$ is reasonable, and if the content is over7 mole %, firing for 1 hr. or more at $1350^{\circ}C$ is anticipated to be optimum condition. (3) In the reaction of tricalcium silicate formation, the role of barium sulfate as a mineralizer is similar to that of calcium sulfate, but the optimum firing temperature of cement clinker containing barium sulfate tends to be 20-$30^{\circ}C$ higher than that of clinker containing calcium sulfate. (4) When barium sulfate is used as mineralizer, 2-3 mole % of it to tricalcium silicate is recommended and if it is added more than this amount, free CaO is increased rapidly in clinker and alite formation is inhibited.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.285-296
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• 1994

Follicular oocytes were released from the graafian follicles of ovaries from 3-4 weeks old mice. The spontaenous maturation of these follicular oocyes was inhibited by the treatment of dbcAMP and progesterone and these oocytes were cultured for 2-8hr in the Modified Hank's balanced salt solution(MHBS). Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid(EDTA) and calmoudulin antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP) were treated to the culture medium in order to investigate whether these chemical agents inhibit calcium uptake into the oocyte and oocyte maturation. $^{45}Ca^{2+}$, 10-${\mu}$Ci/ml was added to the culture medium during the culture period. $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the oocytes was examined whether and when various kind of oocyte maturation inhibiting agents inhibit or stimulate the influx of calcium into oocytes. Dibutyryl cAMP and progesterone decrease $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the oocytes and synergistic inhibiting effect of dbcAMP and progesterone was prominent at much lower dosages. Calcium uptake into oocytes seems to be higher during first 2 hour culture period rather than next 4hr culture. After 8hr culture, calcium uptake level of the oocytes which GVBD already took place gradually approached to the level of those which were maintained at GV by the treatment of dbcAMP and progesterone. However, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the GV maintained oocytes did not change at all even after 8hr culture period. In addition, calcium chelating agent, EDTA inhibited calcium uptake into oocytes as well as nuclear maturation of oocytes. Lower dosage used in the present study did not inhibit calcium uptake as well as oocyte maturation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are minerals that have important physiological functions in the body. For formulation of diets for pigs, it is necessary to consider an appropriate Ca:P ratio for an adequate absorption and utilization of both minerals. Although both minerals are important, much more research has been conducted on P digestibility than on Ca digestibility. Therefore, this review focuses on aspects that are important for the digestibility of Ca. Only values for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca have been reported in pigs, whereas values for both ATTD and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in feed ingredients have been reported. To be able to determine STTD values for Ca it is necessary to determine basal endogenous losses of Ca. Although most Ca is absorbed in the small intestine, there are indications that Ca may also be absorbed in the colon under some circumstances, but more research to verify the extent of Ca absorption in different parts of the intestinal tract is needed. Most P in plant ingredients is usually bound to phytate. Therefore, plant ingredients have low digestibility of P due to a lack of phytase secretion by pigs. During the last 2 decades, inclusion of microbial phytase in swine diets has improved P digestibility. However, it has been reported that a high inclusion of Ca reduces the efficacy of microbial phytase. It is possible that formation of insoluble calcium-phytate complexes, or Ca-P complexes, not only may affect the efficacy of phytase, but also the digestibility of P and Ca. Therefore, Ca, P, phytate, and phytase interactions are aspects that need to be considered in Ca digestibility studies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.633-636
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• 2000

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), also known as IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factor, is a growth-related tumor protein. Although the primary sequence of rat TCTP does not reveal any recognizable $Ca^{2+}$ -binding motif, previous studies have demonstrated that rat TCTP consisting of 172 amino acids is a $Ca^{2+}$ -binding protein. However. the region of TCTP required for $Ca^{2+}$ interaction has not been mapped to the molecule. Here, we reported that the $Ca^{2+}$ binding region of TCTP which was mapped by using a combination of deletion constructs of rat TCTP and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$-overlay assay. was confined to amino acid residues 81-112. This binding domain did not show any peculiar loop of calcium- binding motif such as CaLB domain and EF hand motif and it seems to be constituted of random coil regions neighboring the a helix. Thus, our data confirm that TCTP is a novel family of $Ca^{2+}$ -binding protein.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.511-519
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• 2001

Nimopidine, one of dihydropyridine derivatives, has been widely used to pharmacologically identify L-type Ca currents. In this study, it was tested if nimodipine is a selective blocker for L-type Ca currents in sensory neurons and heterologous system. In mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRG), low concentrations of nimodipine $(<10\;{\mu}M),$ mainly targeting L-type Ca currents, blocked high-voltage-activated calcium channel currents by ${\sim}38%.$ Interestingly, high concentrations of nimodipine $(>10\;{\mu}M)$ further reduced the 'residual' currents in DRG neurons from ${\alpha}_{1E}$ knock-out mice, after blocking L-, N- and P/Q-type Ca currents with $10\;{\mu}M$ nimodipine, $1\;{\mu}M\;{\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA and 200 nM ${\omega-agatoxin$ IVA, indicating inhibitory effects of nimodipine on R-type Ca currents. Nimodipine $(>10\;{\mu}M)$ also produced the inhibition of both low-voltage-activated calcium channel currents in DRG neurons and ${\alpha}_{1B}\;and\;{\alpha}_{1E}$ subunit based Ca channel currents in heterologous system. These results suggest that higher nimodipine $(>10\;{\mu}M)$ is not necessarily selective for L-type Ca currents. While care should be taken in using nimodipine for pharmacologically defining L-type Ca currents from native macroscopic Ca currents, nimodipine $(>10\;{\mu}M)$ could be a useful pharmacological tool for characterizing R-type Ca currents when combined with toxins blocking other types of Ca channels.