• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.290-296
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• 2003

Tsaiya ducks and Leghorn hens are the two major laying birds raised in Taiwan. They are all excellent egg layers. Tsaiya ducks are small in body size (1.3 kg) with bigger egg weight (65 g) and stronger eggshell breaking strength than eggs from hens. The eggshell consists mainly of calcium carbonate, hence calcium plays an important role in the eggshell formation. Magnesium is also present in eggshell in small amounts, which may have effect on maintaining eggshell quality. In comparison studies, it was shown that the duck eggshells contained higher calcium and lower magnesium content than chicken eggshells. The eggshell magnesium content was not affected by the dietary magnesium levels (690-2380 ppm) in ducks, but in hens, it increased linearly with dietary magnesium levels. The palisade layer ($5000{\times}$) of the eggshell was found to have a compact form for ducks while there are many hallow vesicles in chicken eggshells. The eggshell magnesium deposition model is different for ducks and hens with ducks having a one-peak and hens having a two-peak model. The calcium deposition model is similar for both birds. Both the carbonic anhydrase specific activity and total activity in the shell gland mucosa of ducks are higher than those in hens. Ducks retain higher magnesium and lower calcium in the shell gland mucosa and secret less magnesium and more calcium into the shell gland lumen for eggshell deposition. The ATPase specific activity is maintained fairly constant during the eggshell forming stage, indicating continuous calcium transport into the shell gland lumen for eggshell formation. The magnesium content in duck eggshells is much lower than that in hens indicating that the magnesium content in the eggshell may have an effect on eggshell quality.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1987

NADPH oxidase dependent superoxide generation and phagocytosis in neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan or heat aggregated IgG were coincided with the process of calcium uptake. The responses in activated neutrophils were enhanced with increasing concentrations of extracellular calcium and these effects were significantly inhibited by calcium chelators, EGTA and EDTA. The superoxide generation in activated neutrophils was reduced by dantrolene and chlorpromazine. Calcium antagonists, bepredil, diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine and nimodipine effectively inhibited the calcium uptake, superoxide generation and phagocytosis in activated neutrophils, and NADPH oxidase activity was also inhibited. The results suggest that calcium antagonists may inhibit the superoxide generation and phagocytosis in activted neurtophils by the inhibition of calcium influx and by the action on intracellular redistribution of calcium and NADPH oxidase system.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 1996

The role of Ca2+ on benzyladenine (BA)-induced senescence retardation in mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) primary leaves was investigated. When an extracellular calcium chelator, ethylene glycol-bis-($\beta$-aminoethylether)-N, N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) together with BA, was applied to senescing leaves for 4 days of dark incubation, the content of chlorophyll and soluble protein decreased rapidly. And, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), known to be a degradation product of membrane lipids, increased compared with the BA alone control. The BA-EGTA combination also caused the stimulation of protease and RNase activity and a rapid loss of catalase activity owing to the decling of BA effects. In the case of treatment with only intracellular calcium antagonist 3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino) octyl ester (TMB-8) without the BA addition, the chlorophyll content at day 4 after dark incubation decreased in paralled with the increasing concentration of the antagonist. In addition, the chlorophyll content at 10-5 M calcium ionophore A23187 treatment in the absence of BA was similar to that of the BA alone treatment. These results suggest that calcium may mediate the retardation effect of BA on leaf senescence by acting as a second messenger and that the calcium input from cell organelles, as well as the calcium inflow from intercellular spaces and cell walls, may be involved in modulating cytosolic calcium levels related to BA action.

• 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.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was undertaken to study the action mechanism of Rhizoma Davalliae (RD) at parameter related to regulating bone density. Methods : We measured alkaline phosphatase activity and the contents : calcium, hydroxyproline, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone after the ovariectomized rats had been treated with RD for 30 days. Results : The following changes occurred: First, the serum calcium content and the calcitonin content, which decreased in ovariectomized rats, increased with RD treatment. Second, the serum alkaline phosphatase activity, the parathyroid hormone ativity, the osteocalcin content, the urinary calcium content, and the hydroxyprolin content-which increased in ovariectomized rats-decreased with RD treatment. Conclusions : These results show that RD treatment can recover abnormal calcium metabolic process by sex hormone inequality, promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone absorption.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

The immediate early gene c-fos has long been known as a molecular marker of neural activity. The neuron's activity is transformed into intracellular calcium influx through NMDA receptors and L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels. For the transcription of c-fos, neural activity should be strong enough to activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway which shows low calcium sensitivity. Upon translation, the auto-inhibition by Fos protein regulates basal Fos expression. The pattern of external stimuli and the valence of the stimulus to the animal change Fos signal, thus the signal reflects learning and memory aspects. Understanding the features of multiple components regulating Fos signaling is necessary for the optimal generation and interpretation of Fos signal.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.580-587
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• 2014

Composite films of zinc calcium alginate were prepared by a film maker from 7 wt% sodium alginate solution and then they solidified into 3, 5 wt% content $ZnCl_2$, $CaCl_2$ solution followed by washing and drying at room temperature. The characteristics were measured with several methods (antimicrobial activity, water solubility, swelling ratio and viscosity, SEM, EDS) and the film properties were investigated. Composite films of zinc calcium alginate showed an increase in the water resistance by increasing $ZnCl_2$ and $CaCl_2$ content and the antimicrobial test showed that the calcium alginate as well as zinc alginate films result in excellent antimicrobial activity in the two strains, Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli. The results show the possible improvement of the physical properties of composite films.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2005

This study is to find out effects of hot water soluble extract from green tea, one of the Korean favorites, on the calcium metabolism and bone strength in body. To do so, calcium, phosphate, creatinine concentration and ALP activity in blood and the content of calcium and ash in the organ, the length, weight, strength in bone were measured. In addition, to find the calcium metabolism, the level of calcium intake, excretion, retention were measured. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups and isoloated soy protein was provided as the source of protein and CaCO₃ was provided as the source of calcium. 0.5% hot water soluble extract from green tea was provided to the green tea groups and for the control group deionized water was provided. The results are as follows ; 1. There is no difference between the experimental groups in diet intake, weight gain, and the feed intake. 2. Feed efficiency ratio was low in the group which hot water soluble extract from green tea was provided. 3. There is no difference between groups the level of calcium, phosphorus, creatinine and ALP activity in serum. 4. There is no difference between groups weight, contents of ash and calcium in kidney and liver. 5. There is no difference between groups in calcium intake, absorption, excretion, and retention. 6. There is no difference between groups weight, length and strength in bone. In summary, when hot water soluble extract from green tea was provided with the amount of 150-200mg, which is taken when people generally drink as favorite tea, weight gain was reduced due to the decrease of feed efficiency ratio. However, it did not affect the availability of calcium in body at all. Thus, even if a big quantity of green tea powder or solid of hot green tea extract is not provided, the quantity obtained when people drink green tea lowers the feed efficiency ratio without reducing availability of calcium in body.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.266-276
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• 1997

To investigate the effects of dietary protein and calcium levels on calcium and bone metabolism Sprague-Dawley male growing rats weighting approximately 91.4g were divided into four groups and fed one of the following four experimental diets-15% protein 0.2% calcium ; 15% protein 0.5% calcium ; 30% protein 0.2% calcium ; 30% protein 0.5% calcium-for five weeks. Calcium intake and excretion, apparent calcium absorption were measured and bone densities and mineral contents of femur and scapula were analyzed. Calcium excretion through feces and urine was significantly greater in animals receiving diets of higher calcium. Fecal calcium but not urinary calcium excretion was greater when the protein level was increased from 15% to 30%. Apparent calcium absorption rate was significantly higher with lower calcium intakes. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in 0.2% calcium group than in 0.5% calcium group, while urinary hydroxyproline excretion was essentially same among all experimental groups. Weights and mineral contents or protein. Bone weights were greater, but calcium and ash contents of femur and scapula were lower in animals on the diet containing low calcium and high protein, which suggests that bone metabolism may be affected by the interaction between calcium and protein intake. These results indicate that during growth high protein intake might be beneficial to bone health if the diet is sufficient in calcium, however, if the diet fails to provide an optimum amount of calcium, such practice might be detrimental.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2008

Cell death of trophoblast, particularly by abnormal release of physiological nitric oxide (NO) has been known to be a causative factor of pre-eclampsia. In the present study, effects of intracellular calcium increase enhancing the activity of NO synthases (neuronal NO synthase, nNOS in this trophoblast cells) on the cell death were examined in a human placental full-term cell line (HT-1). Furthermore, we analyzed the possible mechanisms underlying the augmentation of $Ca^{++}$-mediated NOS activity mediated by protein kinases like PKC, PKA, or CaM-KII. In experiments for cell toxicity, a calcium ionophore (ionomycin $10{\mu}M$) enhanced cell death confirmed by MTT assay, and increased significantly nNOS activity determined with a hemoglobin oxidation assay. This cell death was partially protected by pre-treatment of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI, $10{\mu}M$ and $100{\mu}M$), a nNOS-specific inhibitor. Additionally, $Ca^{++}$-ionophore -induced increase of nNOS activity also was partially normalized by pre-treatment of specific inhibitors of protein kinases, PKC, PKA or CaM-KII. Therefore, we suggest that an increase of calcium influx, leading to the activation of nNOS activity, which in turn may result in the death of trophoblast cells by involvement of signaling mechanisms of protein kinases.