• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 1986

It is now common practice to attempt ovarian hyperstimulation in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) to promote the development of multiple preovulatory follicles and to maximize the number of mature egg available. There are several drugs for hyperstimulation such as clomiphene citrate only, clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and HMG only. Accumlated experience has shown that the hyperstimulation of the ovary in IVF-ET results in high pregnancy rate. But the hyperstimulation of the ovary in IVF-ET may cause the hyperandrogenism, so we must consider the adverse effect on pregnancy rate of the hyperandrogenism. Little is known about the functional significance of androgen for the follicular growth, however, the hyperandrogenism might interfere with oocyte maturation. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the serum profiles of estradiol, androstenedione and testosterone during the hyperstimulated menstrual cycles in IVF. The results were summarized as follows: 1. There was a gradual increase in the mean levels of serum estradiol, androstenedione, and testosterone approaching follicular maturation. 2. The mean serum estradiol levels in the hyperstimulated groups were significantly higher than that in the control group in late follicular phase and ovum retrieval (ovulation) day (p<0.01). 3. The mean serum androstenedione levels in the clomiphene citrate groups were significantly higher than that in the control group in late follicular phase (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant different in the mean serum androstenedione levels between the control group and the HMG group (p>0.05). 4. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean levels of testosterone among each group (p>0.05). 5. There was no statistically significant different in the mean levels of estradiol, androstenedione and testosterone between the fertilized patients and non-fertilized patients in clomiphene citrate and HMG group (p>0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2004

Objective: The effects on spermatogenesis by expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated. Materials and Methods: Testicular specimens were obtained from 40 infertile males due to primary testicular failure and from 10 fertile males with other urologic problems. The specimens of infertile males were devided into 4 groups according to histologic findings; Sertoli cell only syndrome (A), maturation arrest (B), hypospermatogenesis (C) and sloughing and disorganization (D). VEGF and ET-1 expression were detected with immunohistochemical stain. Results: VEGF expression on Leydig cell was detected in all cases. But, VEGF expression rates on germ cell were significantly higher in infertile group B, C, D compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). ET-1 expression rates on Leydig cell was significantly lower in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But, ET-1 expression rates on Sertoli cell was significantly higher in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p>0.05). In germ cell of infertile group, LH, FSH and prolactin were significantly decreased, and estradiol is increased in positive stain group on ET-1 immunohistochemical stain (p<0.05). VEGF and ET-1 expression were not correlated mean seminiferous tubule diameter (p>0.05). Conclusions: Abnormal spermatogenesis would be reflected in VEGF expression in germ cell.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.189-203
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• 2004

The purposes of this study were to identify 1) the effect of physical growth on body criticism from others and body image,2) the effect of body criticism from others on sociocultural attitude toward appearance, body image, and self-esteem, 3)the effect of sociocultural attitude toward appearance on body image, 4)the effect of body image on self=esteem and clothing attitude, and 5) the effect of self-esteem on clothing altitude on Korean female teenagers. The data were collected from 436 high school girls living in Seoul, Korea, via self-administered questionnaires, and were analyzed by factor analysis and LISREL models. The result of this study were as follows: 1) Among three measurement variables of physical growth, the height had a negative effect on body criticism from others. Sexual maturation positively influenced the affective aspect of body image. 2) Body criticism from others had a positive effect on the sociocultural attitude toward appearance and a negative effect on the affective aspect of body image. 3) The sociocultural altitude toward appearance had a negative effect on the affective aspect of body image and a positive effect on the cognitive/behavioral aspect of body image.4) The affective aspect of body image had a positive effect on the cognitive/behavioral aspect of body image, self-esteem, and clothing attitude. However, the cognitive/behavioral aspect of body image had a positive effect on clothing attitude.5) Self-esteem had no significant effect on clothing attitude.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1221-1225
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• 2007

A ${\beta}$-ionone-resistant mutant strain isolated from the red yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous KCTC 7704 was used for batch and continuous fermentation kinetic studies with glucose media in a 2.5-1 jar fermentor at $22^{\circ}C$ and pH 4.5. The kinetic pattern of growth and carotenoid concentration in the batch fermentations exhibited a so-called mixed-growth-associated product formation, possibly due to the fact that the content of intracellular carotenoids depends on the degree of physical maturation toward adulthood. To determine the maximum specific growth rate constant (${\mu}_m$) and Monod constant ($K_s$) for the mutant, glucose-limited continuous culture studies were performed at different dilution rates within a range of $0.02-0.10\;h^{-1}$. A reciprocal plot of the steady-state data (viz., reciprocal of glucose concentration versus residence time) obtained from continuous culture experiments was used to estimate a ${\mu}_m$ of $0.15\;h^{-1}$ and $k_s$ of 1.19 g/l. The carotenoid content related to the residence time appeared to assume a typical form of saturation kinetics. The maximum carotenoid content ($X_m$) for the mutant was estimated to be $1.04\;{\mu}g/mg$ dry cell weight, and the Lee constant ($k_m$), which was tentatively defined in this work, was found to be 3.0 h.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.459-467
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• 2002

The sex steroid hormone progesterone is essential for normal development and maturation of the endometrium in preparation for the embryo implantation and the maintenance of pregnancy. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system that is composed of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) is also involved in the maintenance of pregnancy. In addition, liver, kidney, and uterus is a target tissue for IGF system. However, the effect of exogenous progesterone on IGF system was not elucidated in female rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect of progesterone on insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins in serum, liver, kidney, and uterus in female ovariectomized rats. IGFs concentration was measured by radioimmuoassay (RIA) and IGFBPs levels by western ligand blotting(WLB). IGF-I concentration was increased in serum, liver, and uterus, but not in kidney of progesterone-treated ovariectomized rats, compared to control (P<0.05). IGF-II concentration was decreased in liver, but not in serum, kidney, and uterus of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control (P<0.05). IGFBP-3 was increased in serum, but not in liver of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control. IGFBP-2 was decreased in kidney, but not in others tissues of progesterone-treated rats, compared to control. These results suggest that progesterone may exert diverse physiological functions via the tissue-specific regulation of IGFs/IGFBPs system in female rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 1994

Using a flue-cured tobacco variety, BU 109, effect of growth regulators(Fatty Alcohol and C-MH) on the change of invertase activity and sugar metabolites were investigated. Invertase activity in untreated leaf tissue was decreased along with maturation of leaf, However, a momentary increase of the activity was observed in leaves by the dual treatment of fatty alcohol and C-MH regardless of leaf position while sole C-MH treatment resulted in activity increase by 14 days after the treatment. Similar tendency was observed in stalk. Sugar content in leaf was increased immediately after the treatment but no significant increase at large resulted until 14 days after treatment. After harvest, reducing sugar was increased by the growth regulators. Nevertheless, in case of dual treatment, the total sugar content was not different with that of untreated control. R/T ratio was gradually increased after topping stage and reached maximum at 14 days after treatment of growth regulators. It decreased a little after harvest but the RR ratio was relatively higher due to increase of reducing sugar resulted by the treatment of the chemicals. Upon treatment of growth regulators, reducing sugar content was increased in lugs and leaves compared to untreated control and the content of sugar metabolites was increased by the use of the chemicals either at lower or higher than recommended dose. Key words : MH, FA, invertase activity, total sugar, reducing sugar

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.160-165
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• 2020

The root meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana is protected by the root cap, the size of which is tightly regulated by the balance between the formative cell divisions and the dispersal of the outermost cells. We isolated an enhancer-tagged dominant mutant displaying the short and twisted root by the overexpression of ZINC-FINGER OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA1 (ZAT1) encoding an EAR motif-containing zinc-finger protein. The growth inhibition by ZAT1 was shared by ZAT4 and ZAT9, the ZAT1 homologues. The ZAT1 promoter was specifically active in the outermost cells of the root cap, in which ZAT1-GFP was localized when expressed by the ZAT1 promoter. The outermost cell-specific expression pattern of ZAT1 was not altered in the sombrero (smb) or smb bearskin1 (brn1) brn2 accumulating additional root-cap layers. In contrast, ZAT4-GFP and ZAT9-GFP fusion proteins were distributed to the inner root-cap cells in addition to the outermost cells where ZAT4 and ZAT9 promoters were active. Overexpression of ZAT1 induced the ectopic expression of PUTATIVE ASPARTIC PROTEASE3 involved in the programmed cell death. The EAR motif was essential for the growth inhibition by ZAT1. These results suggest that the three related ZATs might regulate the maturation of the outermost cells of the root cap.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.747-752
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• 2013

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cellular regulator acting on a wide variety of cells, which has potential roles in the regulation of gene activation, cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Previous studies have shown that OSM can induce morphological and/or functional differentiation and maturation of many tumor cells. However, the action of OSM on the induction of differentiation of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of OSM on human HCC cell line SMMC-7721 growth, proliferation, cell cycling, apoptosis and differentiation in vitro. Cell growth was determined via MTT assay, proliferation by cell cycle analysis, apoptosis by flow cytometry, morphology by transmission electronic microscopy, and cell function by detection of biochemical markers. Our results demonstrated that OSM strongly inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner, associated with decreased clonogenicity. Cell cycle analysis revealed a decreased proportion of cells in S phase, with arrest at G0/G1. The apotosis rate was increased after OSM treatment compared to the control. These changes were associated with striking changes in cellular morphology, toward a more mature hepatic phenotype, accompanied by significant reduction of the expression of AFP and specific activity of ${\gamma}$-GT, with remarkable increase in secretion of albumin and ALP activity. Taken together, our findings indicate that OSM could induce the differentiation and reduce cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells, suggesting that differentiation therapy with OSM offers the opportunity for therapeutic intervention in HCC.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.845-851
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• 2010

Purpose: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been widely used to treat short stature. However, there are some concerns that growth hormone treatment may induce skeletal maturation and early onset of puberty. In this study, we investigated whether rhGH can directly affect the neuronal activities of of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Methods: We performed brain slice gramicidin-perforated current clamp recording to examine the direct membrane effects of rhGH on GnRH neurons, and a whole-cell voltage-clamp recording to examine the effects of rhGH on spontaneous postsynaptic events and holding currents in immature (postnatal days 13-21) and adult (postnatal days 42-73) mice. Results: In immature mice, all 5 GnRH neurons recorded in gramicidin-perforated current clamp mode showed no membrane potential changes on application of rhGH (0.4, $1{\mu}g/mL$). In adult GnRH neurons, 7 (78%) of 9 neurons tested showed no response to rhGH ($0.2-1{\mu}g/mL$) and 2 neurons showed slight depolarization. In 9 (90%) of 10 immature neurons tested, rhGH did not induce any membrane holding current changes or spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs). There was no change in sPSCs and holding current in 4 of 5 adult GnRH neurons. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that rhGH does not directly affect the GnRH neuronal activities in our experimental model.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.315-322
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• 2007

Kjellmaniella crassifalia Miyabe is one of the valuable seaweed crops cultured in the Korean coastal waters of the East Sea. Unfortunately recent environmental changes have adversely influenced its growth, prompting the need to develop techniques for species restoration. To obtatin biological information, the growth of the species was monitored for one year. The maximum blade length, $110{\pm}45cm$, was attained in July, and zoospores were released in November. The optimum culture conditions allowing juvenile sporophytes to grow to young blades consisted of $20{\mu}mol/m^2s\;at\;10^{\circ}C$ under which the blade length grew to $1,732.5{\pm}143.3{\mu}m$ in 42 days. Sporangial sori started to form in September, reaching 85% maturity in November and 89% maturity in December. Examining the growth of the species according to depth, the individuals growing at 5 meters grew the most, reaching a blade length of $75.9{\pm}18.9cm$ in August.