• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.182-195
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• 2001

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is a devastating illness for which there is little effective treatment. The key cytokines currently implicated in the fibrotic process are the transforming growth factor-${\beta}_1$(TGF-${\beta}_1$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), endothelin-1(ET-1) and interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$). The rat model for paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis was chosen to investigate the role of ET-1 in this disease. Both ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression in lung lesions were examined using immunohistochemical staining. After $Bosentan^{(R)}$ administration, an orally active ET-$l_A$ and ET-$1_B$ receptor antagonist, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression were analyzed. Method : Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, the control group, the fibrosis group, and the fibrosis-$Bosentan^{(R)}$-treated group. The animals were sacrificed periodically at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 days after administering saline or paraquat. The effects between groups were compared with the results of light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining for ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$. The degree of fibrosis was evaluated by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining, which were graded by a computerized image analyzer. The degree of immunohistochemical staining was categorized by a semi-quantitative analysis method. Results : The lung collagen content had increased in the paraquat instillated animals by day 3, and continued to increase up to day 14. A daily treatment by gavage with $Bosentan^{(R)}$ (100mg/kg) did not prevent the increase in collagen deposition on the lung that was induced by paraquat instillation. There were increased immunohistochemical stains of ET-1 on the exudate, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and pneumocytes in the paraquat instillated group. Furthermore, TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression was higher on the exudate, macrophages, some inflammatory cells, pneumocytes( type I, and II), vascular endothelium and the respiratory epithelial cells around the fibrotic area. After Bosentan treatment, there were no definite changes in ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression. Conclusion : Fibrosis of the Paraquat instillated group was more advanced when compared with the control group. In addition, there was increased ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression around the fibrotic area. ET-1 is associated with lung fibrosis but there was little effect of the ET-1 receptor blocker($Bosentan^{(R)}$) on antifibrosis.Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is a devastating illness for which there is little effective treatment. The key cytokines currently implicated in the fibrotic process are the transforming growth factor-${\beta}_1$(TGF-${\beta}_1$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), endothelin-1(ET-1) and interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$). The rat model for paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis was chosen to investigate the role of ET-1 in this disease. Both ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression in lung lesions were examined using immunohistochemical staining. After $Bosentan^{(R)}$ administration, an orally active ET-$1_A$ and ET-$1_B$ receptor antagonist, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression were analyzed. Method : Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, the control group, the fibrosis group, and the fibrosis-$Bosentan^{(R)}$-treated group. The animals were sacrificed periodically at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 days after administering saline or paraquat. The effects between groups were compared with the results of light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining for ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$. The degree of fibrosis was evaluated by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining, which were graded by a computerized image analyzer. The degree of immunohistochemical staining was categorized by a semi-quantitative analysis method. Results : The lung collagen content had increased in the paraquat instillated animals by day 3, and continued to increase up to day 14. A daily treatment by gavage with $Bosentan^{(R)}$ (100mg/kg) did not prevent the increase in collagen deposition on the lung that was induced by paraquat instillation. There were increased immunohistochemical stains of ET-1 on the exudate, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and pneumocytes in the paraquat instillated group. Furthermore, TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression was higher on the exudate, macrophages, some inflammatory cells, pneumocytes( type I, and II), vascular endothelium and the respiratory epithelial cells around the fibrotic area. After Bosentan treatment, there were no definite changes in ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression. Conclusion : Fibrosis of the Paraquat instillated group was more advanced when compared with the control group. In addition, there was increased ET-1 and TGF-${\beta}_1$ expression around the fibrotic area. ET-1 is associated with lung fibrosis but there was little effect of the ET-1 receptor blocker($Bosentan^{(R)}$) on antifibrosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Energy production and the rebuilding and repair of muscle tissue by physical activity require folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ as a cofactor. Thus, this study investigated the effects of regular moderate exercise training and durations of acute aerobic exercise on plasma folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentrations in moderate exercise trained rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Fifty rats underwent non-exercise training (NT, n = 25) and regular exercise training (ET, n = 25) for 5 weeks. The ET group performed moderate exercise on a treadmill for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. At the end of week 5, each group was subdivided into 4 groups: non-exercise and 3 exercise groups. The non-exercise group (E0) was sacrificed without exercising and the 3 exercise groups were sacrificed immediately after exercising on a treadmill for 0.5 h (E0.5), 1 h (E1), and 2 h (E2). Blood samples were collected and plasma folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ were analyzed. RESULTS: After exercise training, plasma folate level was significantly lower and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration was significantly higher in the ET group compared with the NT group (P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between plasma folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentrations. In both the NT and ET groups, plasma folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ were not significantly changed by increasing duration of aerobic exercise. Plasma folate concentration of E0.5 was significantly lower in the ET group compared with that in the NT group. Significantly higher vitamin $B_{12}$ concentrations were observed in the E0 and E0.5 groups of the ET group compared to those of the NT group. CONCLUSION: Regular moderate exercise training decreased plasma folate and increased plasma vitamin $B_{12}$ levels. However, no significant changes in plasma folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentrations were observed by increasing duration of acute aerobic exercise.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.848-852
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• 2012

Vegetation can make not only to lower the urban ambient air temperature (UAAT) by crop evapotranspiration (ET) and increasing solar radiation albedo, but also to reduce the urban air pollution by $CO_2$ uptake and $O_2$ emission in addition to the reducing ozone concentrations by aid of lower the UAAT. To evaluate the effect of vegetation on urban heat island mitigation (UHIM), the climate change of 6 cities during 30 years are analysed, and the amount of ET, $CO_2$ uptake, $O_2$ emission and ozone concentrations are estimated in Korea. The most hot season is the last part of July and the first part of August, and the highest average UAAT of a period of ten days was $35.03^{\circ}C$ during 30 years (1979 - 2008). The mean values of maximum ET of rice and soybean in urban area during urban heat island phenomena were 6.86 and $6.00mm\;day^{-1}$, respectively. The effect of rice and soybean cultivation on lowering the UAAT was assessed to be 10.5 and $3.0^{\circ}C$ in Suwon, respectively, whereas the differences between the UAAT and canopy temperature at urban paddy and upland in Ansung were 2.6 and $2.2^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, the urban-garden in Suwon city had resulted in lowering the UAAT and the surface temperature of buildings to 2.0 and $14.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. Furthermore, the amounts of $CO_2$ uptake by rice and soybean were estimated to be 20.27 and $15.54kg\;CO_2\;10a^{-1}day^{-1}$, respectively. The amounts of $O_2$ emission by rice and soybean were also assessed to be 14.74 and $11.30kg\;O_2\;10a^{-1}day^{-1}$, respectively. As other cleaning effect of air pollution, the ozone concentrations could be also estimated to reduce 21.0, 8.8, and 4.0 ppb through rice-, soybean cultivation, and urban gardening during most highest temperature period in summer, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.284-292
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• 2020

Objective: This study investigated whether adding outer-well medium to inhibit osmotic changes in culture media in a dry-type incubator improved the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. Methods: In culture dishes, the osmotic changes in media (20 µL)-covered oil with or without outer-well medium (humid or dry culture conditions, respectively) were compared after 3 days of incubation in a dry-type incubator. One-step (Origio) and G1/G2 (Vitrolife) media were used. Results: The osmotic changes in the dry culture condition (308 mOsm) were higher than in the humid culture conditions (285-290 mOsm) after 3 days of incubation. In day 3 IVF-ET cycles, although the pregnancy rate did not significantly differ between the dry (46.2%) and humid culture (51.0%) groups, the rates of abortion and ongoing pregnancy were significantly better in the humid culture group (1.5% and 49.5%, respectively) than in the dry culture group (8.3% and 37.8%, respectively, p<0.05). In day 5 IVF-ET cycles, the abortion rate was significantly lower in the humid culture group (2.2%) than in the dry culture group (25.0%, p<0.01), but no statistically significant difference was observed in the rates of clinical and ongoing pregnancy between the dry (50.0% and 25.0%, respectively) and humid culture groups (59.5% and 57.3%, respectively) because of the small number of cycles. Conclusion: Hyperosmotic changes in media occurred in a dry-type incubator by evaporation, although the medium was covered with oil. These osmotic changes were efficiently inhibited by supplementation of outer-well medium, which resulted in improved pregnancy outcomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2007

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an important factor in regulation of cardiovascular tone in humans and mammals, but the biological function of ET-1 in the avian vascular system has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of endogenous ET-1 in the vascular system of poultry by investigating the effect of endothelin A receptor ($ET_AR$) antagonist BQ123 on the femoral artery pressure (FAP) and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in broiler chickens. First, we found that plasma and lung homogenate ET-1 levels were both increased with age over the seven weeks life cyccle of broiler chickens. Second, 60 min after intravenous injection, BQ123 ($0.4{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and $2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively) induced a significant reduction in FAP and PAP (p<0.05). Third, chronic infusion of BQ123 ($2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ each time, two times a day) into abdominal cavities led to significant decrease in systolic pressure of the femoral (p<0.05) and pulmonary arteries (p<0.01) in broiler chickens at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Taken together, the $ET_AR$ antagonist BQ123 lead to a significant reduction of FAP and PAP, which suggests that endogenous ET-1 may be involved in the maintenance and regulation of systemic and pulmonary pressure in broiler chickens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.726-731
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• 2000

This study was performed to evaluate the antitumor activities of water and ethanol (EtOH) extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza in vitro and in vivo. The proliferation of the human hepatoma (HepG2), rectum cancer (HRT-18) and colon cancer (HT-29) cells was inhibited by administration of extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, EtOH extract inhibited proliferation of the cells more effectively than water extract did. The morphology of cells induced by EtOH extract was characterized by reduction of cell size and deformatin. Oral administration of the EtOH extract (3 mg/head) to tumor-bearing mice inhibited the tumor (sarcoma-180) growth by 35% and prolonged their survival rate by 61%. The EtOH extract was shown to be nontoxic at 37.5% mg/head/day on the acute toxicity test. These studies suggest that the EtOH extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza may have antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1188-1202
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• 2018

Objective This study protocol aims to determine, using a rigorous approach in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and non-seasonal major depressive episode (MDE), the characteristics of bright light therapy (BLT) administration (duration, escalation, morning and mid-day exposures) depending on the tolerance (hypomanic symptoms). Methods Patients with BD I or II and treated by a mood stabilizer are eligible. After 1 week of placebo, patients are randomized between either morning or mid-day exposure for 10 weeks of active BLT with glasses using a dose escalation at 7.5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes/day. A further follow-up visit is planned 6 months after inclusion. Patients will be included by cohorts of 3, with at least 3 days of delay between them, and 1 week between cohorts. If none meet a dose limiting toxicity (DLT; i.e hypomanic symptoms), the initiation dose of the next cohort will be increased. If one patient meet a DLT, an additionnal cohort will start at the same dose. If 2 or 3 patients meet a DLT, from the same cohort or from two cohorts at the same dose initiation, the maximum tolerated dose is defined. This dose escalation will also take into account DLTs observed during the intra-subject escalation on previous cohorts, with a "Target Ceiling Dose" defined if 2 DLTs occured at a dose. Discussion Using an innovative and more ergonomic device in the form of glasses, this study aims to better codify the use of BLT in BD to ensure a good initiation and tolerance.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2015

Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii has been used a culinary material and traditional medicine for a long time in worldwide and recently the researches to find biological effects have been increased such as dopamine activation, preventive effect against phytopathogens, inhibitive effect against erythrocyte coagulation, anti-oxidative effect, anti-tumorigenic effect, etc. However it is hard to cultivate Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii it is impossible to be mass-produced and in order to solve the problem in this study we found the appropriate cultivation period and the harvest point for it. For life cycle (from primordium formation to harvest) the morphology, weight, and quantity of polysaccharide of Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii were measured using with 5 bodies per a day and it could be divided for 4 stages; primordium formation, growth, needle maturation, and aging. And then from the results the Zeide nonlinear growth curve could be gotten. At 13th day after cultivation there is the relation between the change of media weight and body weight and at 14th day after cultivation the rate of polysaccharide in the body was 11 %. However in the case of O2 insufficient supply the malformation of them was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-300
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• 2007

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Petasites japonicus S. et. Z. Max. (PJ) on alcohol-induced liver-damaged rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}150\;g$ were divided into 5 groups; normal diet group (NOR), alcohol (35%, 10 mL/kg/day) treated group (CON), PJ 200 mg/kg/day treated group (PJ1), PJ 200 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ2), and PJ 400 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (PJ3). The growth rate of the control group was higher than that of normal group, whereas the group administered PJ concomitantly was significantly increased. Also, feed efficiency ratio decreased by alcohol administration was gradually increased to the adjacent level of the normal group by administering PJ. The AST activity in serum elevated by alcohol was significantly decreased by administering the high dosage of PJ, but exerted no significant change on serum ALT activity. It was also observed that the hepatic activities of catalase and GSH-Px increased by alcohol were markedly decreased in PJ2 and PJ3, but not in the activities of XO and SOD as compared with the control group. The depleted content of GSH by alcohol was increased to the level of normal group by administering PJ in a dose-dependant manner. In conclusion, these results suggest that PJ may have a possible protective effect on liver function in hepatotoxicity-induced rat by alcohol administration.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.9.1-9.6
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• 2020

Background: Fucosterol is a compound commonly found in algae that has various biological activities. The purpose of this study was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) validation method for fucosterol and to compare the fucosterol contents of 11 algal species from Ulleungdo, Korea. Method: In this study, we successfully isolated and identified fucosterol from a 70% EtOH extract of Sargassum miyabei, and subsequently conducted specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, and precision analyses for development of an HPLC validation method. Fucosterol contents were compared using the established HPLC validation conditions. Results: We successfully isolated fucosterol from a 70% EtOH extract of S. miyabei and identified it based on spectroscopic analysis. On the basis of HPLC validation using the fucosterol isolated from S. miyabei, we confirmed specificity (8.5 min), linearity (R² = 0.9998), LOD (3.20 ㎍ mL^-1), LOQ (9.77 ㎍ mL^-1), accuracy (intra-day and inter-day variation, 90-110%), and precision (RSD, 1.07%). Fucosterol contents in the 11 assessed algal species ranged from 0.22 to 81.67 mg g^-1, with the highest content being recorded in a 70% EtOH extract of Desmarestia tabacoides (81.67 mg g^-1), followed by that of Agarum clathratum (78.70 mg g^-1). Conclusions: The results indicate that 70% EtOH extracts of D. tabacoides and A. clathratum containing fucosterol with various effects can be potential alternative sources of fucosterol.