• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate germination rate of Vicia tetrasperma and V. hirsuta as affected by storage duration, temperature, and light. All seeds of both species were gathered from Dangjin, Chungnam in the late June of 2004 and 2005, stored for a certain period of time, and then exposed for 20 days to the alternating temperatures ($15/^{\circ}C,\;20/10^{\circ}C,\;25/15^{\circ}C$, and $30/20^{\circ}C$) for evaluating the germination rate. Both 2004 and 2005, two species stored at room temperature for 3 months had germination rates less then 30% with applying various alternating temperatures for 20 days although the highest germination rate was obtained with $25/15^{\circ}C$ treatment. V. tetrasperma at 12 month storage after seed gathering in 2005 had 82% of germination rate with $25/15^{\circ}C$ treatment and showed the increased rate as time passed. V. hirsuta at 6, 9, and 12 month storage after seed gathering in 2005 ranged, however, from 33 to 53% of the germination rate at alternating temperature treatments for 20 days and did not seem to be affected by the elapsed time of the storage. Storage at room temperature was more effective for increasing germination rate of both species compared to those of the storage at low temperature. The germination rate of both species was not significantly affected by either exposure of light or short period of high temperature.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.556-565
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated changes in physicochemical properties, total phenol and isoflavone contents, and antioxidant activity during soymilk fermentation by a potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum P1201. The P1201 strain showed survival rates of 58.14% and 62.22% after 4 h exposure to acid and artificial gastric acid conditions (pH 2.5), respectively. The optimal conditions for soy-yogurt fermentation by L. plantarum were determined to be as follows: temperature of $35^{\circ}C$, seed volume of 5.0%, and sucrose content of 10.0%. The total phenol and isoflavone contents and antioxidant activity were higher in soy-powder milk (SPM) yogurt than soymilk yogurt. In particular, the highest levels of isoflavone-aglycones, such as daidzein, glycitein, and genistein (91.50, 12.34, and $61.39{\mu}g/g$, respectively), were observed after 48 h of SPM fermentation. Thus, these results suggest that the soy-yogurt extract could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants in food.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2006

Aryl sulfotransferase (AST) IV is a liver enzyme involved in detoxication and has been shown to be susceptible to down regulation by a number of hepatotoxic xenobiotics. Studies presented here to investigate the ability of biological and non-biological divalent metal cations on AST IV activity showed that AST IV was strongly inhibited following in vitro or in vivo exposure to. Zn ( II ), Co ( II ) or Cd ( II ). It was found that $0.025\sim$2.5 uM of these metal ions were sufficient to cause $50\%$ of inhibition in vitro in purified AST IV and $0.25\sim$25 uM of these metal ions in liver cytosolic fractions. For the in vivo study, 1,000 mg Cu ( II )/kg, 2,000 mg Zn ( II )/kg or 250 mg Cd( II )/kg was added to individual diets and administered to three (3) group; of mts over a 7 week period The Co ( II )-supplemented diet produced no apparent change in rat growth rate and resulted in 30-fold increase in liver cytotolic Cu ( II ) levels, suggesting that elevated levels of Cu ( II ) ion in the liver were responsible for the loss of AST IV activity. In contrast, the Zn ( II )-supplemented diet caused a decrease in rat growth rates and resulted in zero increase in liver Zn ( II ) levels, which suggested an indirect inhibition mechanism was caused by Zn ( II ) in the liver. Rats were fed the Cd-supplemented diet also displayed a decrease in growth rate with little or no change in liver Cu ( II ) or Zn ( II ) levels. When the liver cytosols of mts from the metal ion diets were immunochemically analyzed for the AST IV and albumin contents, no significant changes were observed in albumin levels. However, AST IV contents in the cytosols of mts fed the Zn ( II )-supplemented diets showed a slight decrease in amount These results showed that AST IV activity in vitro and in vivo can be inhibited by Co ( II ), Zn ( II ), and Cd ( II ) by apparently different mechanisms. The immediate response to a Zn injection showed a decrease in AST IV activity but not in the AST IV content in liver cytosol. These mechanisms appeared to involve direct actions of the metal ion on AST IV activity and indirect actions affecting AST IV amount.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.282-290
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• 2021

Background: Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (RP-EBUS-TBLB) has improved the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic biopsy of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). The diagnostic yield and complications of RP-EBUS-TBLB for PPLs vary depending on the technique, such as using a guide sheath (GS) or fluoroscopy. In this study, we investigated the utility of RP-EBUS-TBLB using a GS without fluoroscopy for diagnosing PPLs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 607 patients who underwent RP-EBUS of PPLs from January 2019 to July 2020. TBLB was performed using RP-EBUS with a GS without fluoroscopy. The diagnostic yield and complications were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors affecting the diagnostic yields. Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy was 76.1% (462/607). In multivariable analyses, the size of the lesion (≥20 mm; odds ratio [OR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.33; p=0.003), positive bronchus sign in chest computed tomography (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.40-3.78; p=0.001), a solid lesion (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.31-4.41; p=0.005), and an EBUS image with the probe within the lesion (OR, 6.98; 95% CI, 4.38-11.12; p<0.001) were associated with diagnostic success. Pneumothorax occurred in 2.0% (12/607) of cases and chest tube insertion was required in 0.5% (3/607) of patients. Conclusion: RP-EBUS-TBLB using a GS without fluoroscopy is a highly accurate diagnostic method in diagnosing PPLs that does not involve radiation exposure and has acceptable complication rates.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Sepsis is a physiological response to a source of infection that triggers mechanisms that compromise organ function, leading to death if not treated early. Biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and accuracy that could differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could bring about a revolution in sepsis treatment. Given the limitations and time required for microbial verification of pathogens, the accurate diagnosis of infection before employing antibiotic therapy is important and clinically necessary. Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and proadrenomedullin (ProADM) are the common biomarkers used for diagnosis. The procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections effectively reduces antibiotic exposure and side effects while improving survival rates. The evidence regarding sepsis screening in hospitalized patients is limited. Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare decision-makers should consider these findings and limitations when implementing screening tools, future research, or policy on sepsis recognition in hospitalized patients. The use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis is promising, although such use should always be correlated with clinical evaluation. Biomarkers may also improve the prediction of mortality, especially in the early phase of sepsis, when the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins are elevated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.651-657
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• 2019

Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, it is still considered a potential agent of biowarfare and bioterrorism. Smallpox has the potential for high mortality rates along with a major public health impact, eventually causing public panic and social disruption. Passive administration of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an effective intervention for various adverse reactions caused by vaccination and the unpredictable nature of emerging and bioterrorist-related infections. Currently, vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) is manufactured from vaccinia vaccine-boosted plasma; however, this production method is not ideal because of its limited availability, low specific activity, and risk of contamination with blood-borne infectious agents. To overcome the limitations of VIG production from human plasma, we isolated two human single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), (SC34 and SC212), bound to vaccinia virus (VACV), from a scFv phage library constructed from the B cells of VACV vaccine-boosted volunteers. The scFvs were converted to human IgG1 (VC34 and VC212). These two anti-VACV mAbs were produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cells. The binding affinities of VC34 and VC212 were estimated by competition ELISA to $IC_{50}$ values of $2{\mu}g/ml$ (13.33 nM) and $22{\mu}g/ml$ (146.67 nM), respectively. Only the VC212 mAb was proven to neutralize the VACV, as evidenced by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) result with a $PRNT_{50}$ of ~0.16 mg/ml (${\sim}1.07{\mu}M$). This VC212 could serve as a valuable starting material for further development of VACV-neutralizing human immunoglobulin for a prophylactic measure against post-vaccination complications and for post-exposure treatment against smallpox.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.240-249
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• 2022

Purpose: Glabridin (GD) is a bio-available isoflavane isolated from the root extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.). It exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. However, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secretion and the anti-cancer mechanism of action remains largely unknown. The present study investigates the anticancer effects of GD by determining the inhibition of EVs secretion in the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Methods: Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, migration, invasion rate, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration were assessed in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with increasing concentrations of GD (0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20 µM). Subsequently, EV secretion and exosomal DEL-1 protein expression were evaluated to determine the anticancer effects of GD. Results: The results showed that GD significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- or time-dependent manner. Also, ROS production and apoptosis marker protein cleaved caspase-3 were significantly increased in GD-treated MDA-MB-231, compared to control. Furthermore, GD exposure resulted in significantly decreased not only migration and invasion rates but also the VEGF concentration, thereby contributing to a reduction in angiogenesis. Interestingly, the concentration and number of EVs as well as EV marker proteins, such as CD63 and TSG101, were decreased in GD-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Markedly, extracellular matrix protein DEL-1 as angiogenesis factor was decreased in EVs from GD-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusion: This study identifies that the anti-cancer molecular mechanism of GD is exerted via inhibition of angiogenesis and EVs secretion, indicating the potential of GD as a chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.170-180
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• 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) contents were analyzed by measuring benz(a)anthracene(BaA), chrysene(Chr), benzo(b)fluoranthene(BbF) and benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), and the related risk characterization was conducted for 113 samples out of 14 different agricultural products used for food and medicine. Detection rate of PAHs was 90.3% as a whole, and the highest one was 80.5% for BaP. The detection rate of BaP exceeding the maximum permitted concentration of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Rehmanniae Radix, 5.0 ㎍/kg was 1.8%, and the detection rates of BaA, Chr and BbF were within the range of 2.7~10.6%. The highest average concentration of BaA was 3.41 ㎍/kg detected from Lycii Fructus, while those of Chr, BbF, BaP and PAH4(sum of detected BaA, Chr, BbF and BaP) were 5.00, 1.79, 2.36, 12.36 ㎍/kg, respectively, detected from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. As for the risk characterization on PAHs, the overall MOE(Margin of Exposure) values were measured within the range of 10⁵~10⁷, which is unlikely to cause direct health concerns, but the worring values of MOE were measured 6.57×10⁴ for BaP and 6.10×10⁴ for PAH4 from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, which may require an improvement plan to reduce BaP contents.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2022

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus are known to be infected to human via fisheries products. Therefore, food safety of fisheries products is important for public health and fish industry. This paper was conducted to know how well these human isolates can survive in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The growth of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus showed about 50~60% reduced rates at 25℃ than at 37℃ and did not show any differences according to NaCl concentration of media except the increasing in the growth of V. vulnificus in medium containing 3% NaCl. Artificial infection of 1×10⁶ CFU/fish was carried out to confirm the sensitivity of olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus. After 1 week from injection, no fish was dead. To evaluate nonspecific defense of olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus, the antibacterial potency of serum and epidermal mucus were tested. The number of the vibrios exposed to serum obtained from olive flounder significantly decreased after 3 hours, and epidermal mucus showed decrease of the bacteria over than 90% until 12 hours from exposure. Phagocytosis of head kidney leucocytes of healthy olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus showed in over 70% of leucocytes at the 2 hours. Therefore, cultured olive flounder only as vehicle for human pathogen in environmental water is well developed its antibacterial potency against human pathogens, so the viability of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in cultured olive flounder was considered very low.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2024

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions: 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results: Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline: -14.33 [95% CI: -19.79, -8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion: The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.