• New Physics: Sae Mulli
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• v.69 no.10
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• pp.1107-1114
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• 2019

Producing extremely stable high temperature and pressure condition is crucial in order to synthesize novel materials with various functions and to investigate their static and dynamic properties. Already a high pressure in the Mbar range, which is necessary to make novel materials, can be acquired by using a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), In this study, a laser-heating system combined with the DAC was designed and installed using two 1064-nm, 100-W fiber lasers on different sides of the DAC to heat the sample and three spectrometers to measure the temperature, pressure, and Raman spectra. A stainless-steel gasket, which is generally used as a sample chamber in high-pressure experiments, was heated to make a thermal radiation source, and the temperature of the heated gasket was obtained by measuring the spectrum of the radiation. By applying this technique, we were able to make various materials and to investigate their physical properties under extreme conditions.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.207-220
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• 2006

The newly developed equipments for the early detection of carious lesion are LFD (laser fluorescence device), Ultrasonic diagnostic system, CLSM(confocal laser scanning microscopy), QLF(quantitative light-induced fluorescence) and DIFOTI (digital imaging fiber-optic trans-illumination) system. In this study, DIFOTI system and LFD were used for the detection of early enamel caries. Twenty five primary teeth extracted from twenty one children at around the dentitional exchanging period were selected as samples. The results obtained from DIFOTI imaging and LFD measurement were compared with those of CLSM and comprehensive evaluations were made for the diagnostic capacity of each device. In vitro test, 40 sample teeth with their buccal & lingual surface formed by a window of $2{\times}3mm$ in diameter were immersed in artificial demineralizing solution for the period of 4, 8, 12 and 16 days. The results obtained from the experimental groups (DIFOTI, LFD) were compared to control group (CLSM) and we have reached to the following conclusions. 1. The sensitivity and specificity of DIFOTI system operated in oral environment was 88.2% and 76.9% respectively. 2. The sensitivity and specificity of LFD measured in oral environment was 76.5% and 69.2% respectively. 3, Regression analysis on the light transparent rate of DIFOTI showed its decrease according to the length of primary enamel decalcification performed in vitro(r=-0.96, p<0.05). 4. No statistically significant difference between LFT measurement and the length of in vitro decalcification was found in regression analysis (p>0.05). 5. The correlation coefficient of DIFOTI image transparent rate and the lesion depth of CLMS was -0.6988 (p<0.05), whereas no statistically significant difference was found for LFD measurement.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2004

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic synovial inflammation which leads to joint destruction. Gene therapy of RA targets the players of inflammation or articular destruction. However, viral vectors have safety problems and side effects, while non-viral vectors suffer from inefficient gene transfer and fast loss of gene expression. To overcome the limits of non-vial vectors, an EBV-based plasmid which is known to exert prolonged high level gene expression can be used. Methods: pEBVGFP, pEBVIL-10, and pEBVvIL-10 were constructed by cloning GFP, IL-10, and vIL-10 genes into an EBV-based plasmid, respectively. The pGFP was used as a control plasmid. Each constructs were lipofected into HIG-82 rabbit synoviocytes. The expression of GFP was monitored by FACS and confocal microscopy. IL-10 and vIL-10 expressions were measured by ELISA. Results: GFP expression 2 days after transfection was achieved in 33.2% of cells. GFP-expressing cells transfected with pGFP decreased rapidly from 4 days after transfection and disappeared completely by 11 days. Cells transfected with pEBVGFP began to decrease slowly from 4 days. But GFP expression was detected for over 35 days. In addition, HIG-82 cells transfected with pEBVIL-10 ($44.6{\pm}1.5ng/ml$) or pEBVvIL-10 ($51.0{\pm}5.7ng/ml$) secreted these cytokines at high levels. High level cytokine production by hygromycin selection was maintained at least for up to 26 days after transfection. Conclusion: These results suggest that the EBV-based plasmid has a potential to improve non-viral gene transfer system and may be applicable to treat RA without the drawbacks of viral vectors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.371-376
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• 2017

The caudal subnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (medullary dorsal horn; MDH) receives direct inputs from small diameter primary afferent fibers that predominantly transmit nociceptive information in the orofacial region. Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in persistent pain, primarily through spinal mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system, a known generator of superoxide anion ($O_2{^-}$), on membrane excitability in the rat MDH neurons. For this, we used patch clamp recording and confocal imaging. An application of X/XO ($300{\mu}M/30mU$) induced membrane depolarization and inward currents. When slices were pretreated with ROS scavengers, such as phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase, X/XO-induced responses decreased. Fluorescence intensity in the DCF-DA and DHE-loaded MDH cells increased on the application of X/XO. An anion channel blocker, 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS), significantly decreased X/XO-induced depolarization. X/XO elicited an inward current associated with a linear current-voltage relationship that reversed near -40 mV. X/XO-induced depolarization reduced in the presence of $La^{3+}$, a nonselective cation channel (NSCC) blocker, and by lowering the external sodium concentration, indicating that membrane depolarization and inward current are induced by influx of $Na^+$ ions. In conclusion, X/XO-induced ROS modulate the membrane excitability of MDH neurons, which was related to the activation of NSCC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.420-427
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• 2015

It is necessary to understand the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of food-grade delivery systems, such as ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin (${\beta}$-lg) nanoparticles, for the application of bioactive compounds to functional foods. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships between the physicochemical properties of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles, such as particle size and zeta-potential value, and their cellular uptakes and cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells. Physicochemical properties of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles were evaluated using particle size analyzer. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to investigate cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles. The ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles with various particle sizes (98 to 192 nm) and zeta-potential values (-14.8 to -17.6 mV) were successfully formed. A decrease in heating temperature from $70^{\circ}C$ to $60^{\circ}C$ resulted in a decrease in the particle size and an increase in the zeta-potential value of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles. Non-cytotoxicity was observed in Caco-2 cells treated with ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles. There was an increase in cellular uptake of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles with a decrease in particle size and an increase in zeta-potential value. Cellular uptake ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles was negatively correlated with particle size and positively correlated with zeta-potential value. Therefore, these results suggest that the particle size and zeta-potential value of ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles play an important role in the cellular uptake. The ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles can be used as a delivery system in foods due to its high cellular uptake and non-cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1713-1719
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• 2006

A method for the simple, rapid, specific, and accurate detection of Bacillus anthracis spores was developed by employing specific capture peptides conjugated with fluorescent quantum dots (QDs). It was possible to distinguish B. anthracis spores from the spores of B. thuringiensis and B. cereus using these peptide-QD conjugates by flow cytometric and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses. For more convenient high-throughput detection of B. anthracis spores, spectrofluorometric analysis of spore-peptide-QD conjugates was performed. B. anthracis spores could be detected in less than 1 h using this method. In order to avoid any minor yet false-positive signal caused by the presence of B. thuringiensis spores, the B-Negative peptide, which can only bind to B. thuringiensis, conjugated with another type of QD that fluoresces at different wavelength was also developed. In the presence of mixed B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis spores, the BABA peptide conjugated with QD525 and the B-Negative peptide conjugated with QD585 were able to bind to the former and the latter, specifically and respectively, thus allowing the clear detection of B. anthracis spores against B. thuringiensis spores by using two QD-labeling systems. This capture peptide-conjugated QD system should be useful for the detection of B. anthracis spores.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Lung cancer is the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a lack of effective methods for early diagnosis has greatly impacted the prognosis and survival rates of the affected patients. Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are considered to be largely responsible for tumor genesis, resistance to tumor therapy, metastasis, and recurrence. In addition to representing a good potential treatment target, TICs can provide clues for the early diagnosis of cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA) alterations are known to be involved in the initiation and progression of human cancer, and the detection of related miRNAs in TICs is an important strategy for lung cancer early diagnosis. As Hsa-miR-155 (miR-155) can be used as a diagnostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a smart molecular beacon of miR-155 was designed to image the expression of miR-155 in NSCLC cases. TICs expressing CD133 and CD338 were obtained from A549 cells by applying an immune magnetic bead isolation system, and miR-155 was detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. We found that intracellular miR-155 could be successfully detected using smart miR-155 molecular beacons. Expression was higher in TICs than in A549 cells, indicating that miR-155 may play an important role in regulating bio-behavior of TICs. As a non-invasive approach, molecular beacons could be implemented with molecular imaging to diagnose lung cancer at early stages.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1213-1216
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• 2007

The vector pCW5 with plasmid pC7, originally isolated in Lactobacillus paraplantarum C7 derived from kimchi, was constructed using a p32 strong promoter, the pC7 replicon, and green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the reporter. The constructed vector was transformed into E. coli and Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and GFP expression detected using a Western blot analysis. GFP fluorescence was recognized in E. coli and Leuconostoc mesenteroides using a confocal microscope. In addition, GFP fluorescence was also clearly detected in several industrially important lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Thus, pCW5 was shown to be effective for Leuconostoc mesenteroides when using GFP as the reporter, and it can also be used as a broad-host-range vector for other lactic acid bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2017

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by the citrate reduction process and, with the assistance of n-hydroxysuccinimide and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide, were successfully loaded with the macromolecular drug vancomycin (VAM) to form AgNP-VAM bioconjugates. The synthesized AgNPs, VAM, and AgNP-VAM conjugate were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of loading VAM onto AgNPs was investigated by testing the internalization of the bioconjugate into Mycobacterium smegmatis. After treatment with the AgNP-VAM conjugate, the bacterial cells showed a significant decrease in UV absorption, indicating that loading of the VAM on AgNPs had vastly improved the drug's internalization compared with that of AgNPs. All the experimental assessments showed that, compared with free AgNPs and VAM, enhanced internalization had been successfully achieved with the AgNP-VAM conjugate, thus leading to significantly better delivery of the macromolecular drug into the M. smegmatis cell. The current research provides a new potential drug delivery system for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.113-118
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of synthetic fibronectin (FN) fragments, including fibrin binding sites from amino-terminal FN fragments containing type I repeats 1 to 5, on osteoblast-like cell activity. Methods: Oligopeptides ranging from 9 to 20 amino acids, designated FF1, FF3, and FF5, were synthesized by a solid-phase peptide synthesizing system, and we investigated the effects of these peptides on cell attachment and extent of mineralization using confocal microscopy, 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, and Alizarin red S staining. Results: FF3 and FF5 peptides increased the number of attached human osteoblastic cells, and FF3 administration led to prominent cell spreading. Mineralization was increased in FF3 and FF5 compared to FF1 and the untreated control. Conclusions: Taken together, it can be concluded that the fibrin-binding oligopeptides FF3 and FF5 enhanced cell attachment and mineralization on osteoblast-like cells. These results indicate that FF3 and FF5 have the potential to increase osteoblast-like cell activity. Performing an in vivo study may provide further possibilities for surface modification of biomimetic peptides to enhance osteogenesis, thus improving the regeneration of destroyed alveolar bone.