• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Based on the results of previous studies, endoscopic biopsy sample's quality has a major impact on its adequacy for histopathology, and that the nature of the biopsy forceps can influence the specimen quality. The present study compared the effects of three different types of endoscopic biopsy forceps and two different operators on sample quality and adequacy for histopathology in three healthy cats. Every biopsy was performed between the major papilla and caudal duodenal flexure, and each operator performed five biopsies with each type of forceps on each cat, for a total of 90 biopsies. One pathologist evaluated the quality and adequacy of the obtained samples. Biopsies performed with large-cup forceps provided heavier and longer samples than the standard round forceps. With the same size forceps, the presence of alligator teeth had no effect on sample quality or adequacy for histopathological examination and assessment. Based on the results of the present study, although the standard round forceps could be used to obtain adequate samples for histopathology, large-cup forceps such as the standard oval and alligator jaw type have the advantage of obtaining high quality endoscopic samples.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 1996

We have isolated several proteinase inhibitor II genes pin2 from a Russet Burbank potato DNA library. One of these, pin2T was subcloned and a 1.8 kb Xbal/Nsil insert was sequenced. This fragment contained the complete Inhibitor II gene including 965 Up of flanking DNA upstream from the gene and 200 bp of flanking DNA downstream from the gene. The open reading frame encodes a protein that is similar to other reported proteinase Inhibitor II proteins. The DNA sequence of the 5' flanking region of pin2T from -714 to +1 is highly homologous (91% identity) with that of the previously isolated wound-inducible pin2K. There are, however, four small deletions in the pin2T promoter which are located at -221 to -200, -263 to -254, -523 to -426 and -759 to -708 relative to the transcription start site of the wound-inducible pin2K. Three of these deletions map to a portion of the promoter that controls the wound-inducibility of the proteinase inhibitor genes. Chimeric genes containing the promoter of the pin2T gene linked with the both CAT and GUS were constructed and transfered into tobacco plants. Analysis of these plants indicated that pin2T is not a wound-inducible gene but is expressed at low levels. Thus, wound-inducibility is lost with the concomitant natural deletion of three small regions of the promoter. Comparision of the sequences deleted in pin2T relative to the pin2K with Genebank sequences indicates that the deleted sequences contain a motif (consensus 5'-AGTAAA-3') that is found in many other wound-inducible genes but not easily found in the published promoter sequences of other plant genes. Nuclear proteins from unwounded and wounded potato leaves were bound to the proximal promoter region, downstream of the 5'-AGTAAA-3', of pin2T. The comparison of the pin2T gone with the pin2K gene indicates that the natural internal promoter deletions are likely responsible for loss of the wound-inducible phenotype in the pin2T gene.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1034-1042
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• 1996

Various $TiO_2-SiO_2$ composite powders were prepared by the modified sol-gel method using 1-dodecanol as DCCA (Dryng Control Chemical Additive ). Their characterizations were carried out and their photocatalytic catalysis was examined on the evolution reaction of hydrogen. The weight losses at $500^{\circ}C$ of only $TiO_2$ and $SiO_2$ powders were 33. 0wt% and 42.5wt%, respectively, and those of the $TiO_2/SiO_2$ powders ($TiO_2/SiO_2=25/75$, 50/50 and 75/25) were about $70.0{\pm}3.0wt%$. The released substances from the powders were almost organic matters. The as-prepared powders except only $TiO_2$ powder were amorphous. Transformation of anatase to rutil was hindered by $SiO_2$ component and the crystallinity of anatase was decreased with increasing $SiO_2$ contents. The as-prepared powders were bulky states. By heating at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr $TiO_2-SiO_2$ powders ($TiO_2=100%$, $TiO_2/SiO_2=75/25,\;50/50$) showed agglomerates consisted of particles in submicron, but those of $TiO_2/SiO_2=25/75$ and $SiO_2=100%$ were still bulky states. Specific surface area of the powders heat-treated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1hr was increased with $SiO_2$ concents and their pore sizes were also depended on $SiO_2$ contents. The photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2/SiO_2=75/25$ heat-treated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1hr was 0.240mo1/h.g-cat as $H_2$ evolution rate. This value was about 2.0 times that of P-25(Degussa P-25) as a standard photocatalyst.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1032-1038
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• 2011

Recently identified Ciona intestinalis voltage sensor-containing phosphatase (Ci-VSP) consists of an ion channel-like transmembrane domain (VSD) and a phosphatase-like domain. Ci-VSP senses the change of membrane potential by its VSD and works as a phosphoinositide phosphatase by its phosphatase domain. In this study, we present the construction of His-tagged phosphatase-like domain of Ci-VSP, its recombinant expression and purification, and its enzymatic activity behavior in order to examine the biochemical behavior of phosphatase domain of Ci-VSP without interference. We found that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His can be eluted with an elution buffer containing 25 mM NaCl and 100 mM imidazole during His-tag purification. In addition, we found the proper measurement condition for kinetics study of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His against p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). We measured the kinetic constant of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His at $37^{\circ}C$, pH 5.0 or 5.5, under 30 min of reaction time, and less than $2.0\;{\mu}g$ of protein amount. With these conditions, we acquired that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His has $K_m$ of $354{\pm}0.143\;{\mu}M$, $V_{max}$ of $0.0607{\pm}0.0137\;{\mu}mol$/min/mg and $k_{cat}$ of $0.359{\pm}0.009751\;min^{-1}$ for pNPP dephosphorylation. Therefore, we produced a pure form of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His, and this showed a higher activity against pNPP. This purified protein will provide the road to a structural investigation on an interesting protein, Ci-VSP.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.35-51
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• 2013

The aims of this study was to observed an effect of antioxidative in cardiac muscle of high fat diet induced obesity rat by treadmill exercise with intensity and time. Thirty-two Sprauge-Dawley rats which were divided into four group. Normal, Control(high fat diet induced obesity rat), Experimental I(high intensity intermittent exercise in high fat diet induced obesity rat), Experimental II(moderate intensity endurance exercise in high fat diet induced obesity rat). The results of this study were as follows: 1. In change of body weight, the outcome of each group significantly difference compared with control. Also, 1 to 3 weeks significantly different compared with pre valu experimental I and II(p<0.001). 2. In change of lipid profile, the outcome of each group significantly difference compared with control(p<0.001). Difference between experimental I and II is not significantly. 3. In change of antioxidative enzymes(SOD, CAT, GPx) in myocardium, there are significant difference between control and experimental II, and also between control and experimental I(p<0.001). 4. In change of antioxidative protein MCR-1, the outcome of each group significantly difference compared with control(p<0.01). Experimental II was most significantly difference than the other group(p<0.001). The above results suggest that treadmill exercise effectively reduced in fat. It would be considered that moderate intensity endurance exercise has an effects on improved antioxidative enzyme in cardiac muscle of high fat diet induced obesity rat.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.604-609
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• 2011

Pine (pinus densiflora) needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the hepatic antioxidant system in the damaged liver of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-treated rats. Nine-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal group (NOR), $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL), pine needle hot water extract and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-P), and Vitamin C and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-V). The enzyme activities and antioxidant effects of the pine needle hot water extracts were investigated at the levels of liver homogenates and serum of rats intoxicated with $CCl_4$. Serum GOT and GPT activities by $CCl_4$ treatment increased compared to those of the NOR group. However, they tended to decrease in the hot water extract-administered group. Liver SOD activity in the CCL group was significantly lower than the NOR group (p<0.05). However, they increased in the CCL-P group compared to the CCL group. Further, the CAT and GPx activities of serum treated with $CCl_4$ were higher compared to those of the NOR group but lower in the CCL-P group compared to CCL group. These results suggest that pine needle hot water extract increases antioxidant activities.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.264-275
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• 2014

This study evaluated the improving efficacy of Lespedeza cuneata ethanol extract on skin photoaging induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were respectively $134.98{\pm}1.70$ and $16.20{\pm}0.05$ mg/g, respectively. The superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and electron-donating ability of the extract were shown to be dependent on concentration, and the antioxidant ability was shown to be more effective in superoxide anion radical scavenging activity than in electron-donating ability under the same concentration conditions. In the in vivo test conducted using hairless mouse with skin photoaging induced by UVB irradiation, the skin erythema of the groups treated with the extract (AS) reduced to 28% of the control, and the skin moisture content increased to 131%.. The extract treatment of the UV-damaged skin improved the morphological and histopathological state of the skin. Furthermore, the SOD, GST and CAT activities in the skin tissue of the AS group increased, and the XO activity and TBARS generation decreased. With regard to the genes related to the photoaging skin, the expression of PAK, p38, c-Fos, c-Jun, TNF-${\alpha}$ and MMP-3 in the skin of the AS group were found to have decreased. It was therefore concluded that Lespedeza cuneata ethanol extract can reduce wrinkle formation in the skin due to the regulation of the gene expression caused by the exposure to UVB light.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

The liver is the major target of ethanol toxicity and oxidative stress plays a role in development of alcoholic liver disease. This study was performed to investigate the effects of green tea extracts (GTE) on acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, control, GTE, ethanol, and GTE+ethanol treatment, with 5 rats in each group. Ethanol (6 g/kg body weight (BW)) and GTE (200 mg/kg BW) were treated by gavage. At 1 hour, 3 hours and 20 days (6 g/kg BW every 2 days for total 10 doses) after ethanol and/or GTE treatments, animals were killed; hepatic tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) and glutathione level, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) activities and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured. At 1 hour and 3 hours, hepatic TNF-$\alpha$ levels were increased significantly in ethanol group and ethanol+GTE group but that levels was significantly lower in ethanol+GTE group compared with ethanol group. Hepatic glutathione level was decreased by ethanol treatment but GTE prevented the ethanol-induced glutathione decrement. The levels of liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT), liver antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) were not changed in rats of 1 and 3 hours after ethanol treatment. After 20 days, GTE decreased the changes of liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT) activities and TBARS level by ethanol. This study shows that GTE beneficially modulates TNF-$\alpha$ and glutathione levels in liver of ethanol administered rats. The GTE supplementation could be beneficial to liver by decreasing early changes of biomarkers of liver damage caused by ethanol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.437-442
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• 2012

Red yeast rice (RER) has been used in China for centuries for its medicinal properties and is an increasingly popular alternative lipid-lowering treatment. This study was carried out to estimate the antioxidant properties of RER extracts. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the DPPH radical scavenging activity of 85% at 0.2 mg/mL and $IC_{50}$ 0.13 mg/mL. A significant proportion of hydroxyl radicals in a cuvette were scavenged: 44.2% at 2.5 ${\mu}g$/mL, 74.1% at 5.0 ${\mu}g$/mL, and >100% at 10 ${\mu}g$/mL. The $HepG_2$ cells pre-treated with RER ethyl acetate extract reduced the hydroxyl radicals significantly compared to the control cells. Oxidative DNA damage was measured using a Comet assay. The RER ethyl acetate extract did not induce any DNA damage per se, and appeared to enhance the resistance to DNA damage caused by an oxidant challenge with $H_2O_2$, whereas lovastatin increased the level of DNA damage in the cells in both the unstressed (no oxidant) and those stressed with $H_2O_2$. The relative gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes in $HepG_2$ cells were also affected by the RER ethyl acetate extract. The $HepG_2$ cells were pre-incubated with the RER ethyl acetate extract, and then stressed with $H_2O_2$ or left unstressed (no oxidant). In the unstressed cells, superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were increased significantly 3.25-fold and 2.67-fold, respectively, whereas in the stressed cells, the catalase (CAT) level was increased by 4.64-fold and 7.0-fold at 5 ${\mu}g$/mL and 10 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively, compared to those of the control. From these results, RER appears to be effective in suppressing oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.645-653
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the cognitive levels of 11th grade students and those required in high school chemistry I textbooks standardized by the 7th national education curriculum. For this study, the cognitive development stages of 456 11th grade students were surveyed using short-version GALT (group assessment of logical thinking). Furthermore, 15 basic concepts were extracted from the contents on water and air, 2 units in chemistry I order to analyze the cognitive levels necessary for understanding high school textbooks, using CAT (curriculum analysis taxonomy). The results showed that 52.5% of the surveyed 11th grade students reached the formal operational level, 28.3% transitional levels, and 19.5% concrete operational levels. 68.9% of the academic high school students and 6.6% of the technical high school students reached the formal operational levels, and the ratio of formation was very different in each logics. As a result of the analyzing the cognitive levels needed for understanding chemistry I textbook contents, in spite of a change in national education curriculum, there were no great change in cognitive levels required by scientific concept except some inquiry activities. The cognitive levels in high school chemistry I textbooks by the 7th national education curriculum appeared higher than the cognitive levels of 11th grade student, but cognitive levels of inquiry activities were similar to the cognitive levels of the students. Chemistry teachers thought of chemistry I textbooks by the 7th national education curriculum as desirable because scientific concepts were reduced and a lot of real life materials were adapted. However, they pointed out a problem of difference in contents levels compared with chemistry I textbooks because scientific concepts were greatly reduced in chemistry I textbooks. The cognitive levels required in chemistry I textbooks still appeared higher than those of the students. Consequently, various teaching and learning methods and materials will have to be developed to be suitable for the students' cognitive levels.