• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.248-258
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• 2022

Objective: This research investigated the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on the implantation rate and embryo attachment in mice. Methods: In this experimental study, a DNA fragment of the HCG gene was cloned into an expression vector, which was transfected into PBMCs. The concentration of the produced HCG was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Embryo attachment was investigated on the co-cultured endometrial cells and PBMCs in vitro. As an in vivo experiment, intrauterine administration of PBMCs was done in plaque-positive female mice. Studied mice were distributed into five groups: control, embryo implantation dysfunction (EID), EID with produced HCG, EID with PBMCs, and EID with HCG-producing PBMCs. Uterine horns were excised to characterize the number of implantation sites and pregnancy rate on day 7.5 post-coitum. During an implantation window, the mRNA expression of genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: DNA fragments were cloned between the BamHI and EcoRI sites in the vector. About 465 pg/mL of HCG was produced in the transfected PBMCs. The attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites were substantially higher in the HCG-producing PBMCs group than in the other groups. Significantly elevated expression of the target genes was observed in the EID with HCG-producing PBMCs group. Conclusion: Alterations in gene expression following the intrauterine injection of HCG-producing PBMCs, could be considered a possible cause of increased embryo attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.381-394
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• 2023

This study was conducted to monitor the antibiotics resistance of human-harmful bacteria isolated in the agricultural environment for hot peppers (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). As a result, we isolated 120 bacterial species (34 on fruits, 48 in soil, 21 in water, and 17 in manure), identified them with the 16S rRNA sequence, analyzed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 26 antibiotics using Sensititre ARIS Hi-Q system and then evaluated whether each bacterial genus acquired resistance for the tested antibiotics or not, according to the CLSI criteria. From difference in MIC between eco-friendly (EFM) and practical (PFM) cultivation farms, Klebsiella spp. isolated from EFM was resistant to ampicillin (AMP) and nalidixic acid (NAL), and that isolated from PFM was resistant to streptomycin (STR) and tetracycline (TET). Enterobacter spp. isolated from EFM was resistant to AMP and azithromycin (AZI), and that isolated from PFM was resistant to AMP, AZI, and STR. Meanwhile, Pseudomonas spp. isolated from EFM and PFM were all resistant to AMP, AZI, cefotaxime (FOT), cefoxitin (FOX), ceftriaxone (AXO), CHL, NAL, and STR. Staphylococcus spp. isolated from EFM and PFM were resistant to gentamycin (GEN), STR, and kanamycin (KAN), and in particular, that from EFM showed resistance for erythromycin (ERY). In conclusion, our study suggested that EFM lead STR antibiotics resistance for human-harmful bacteria to decrease, because only the bacteria isolated from hot pepper and tomato crop with PFM have showed resistance against STR antibiotics, regardless of bacterial genus.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.9
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to correlate caries-causing microorganism load, lactic acid estimation, and blood groups to high caries risk in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals and low caries risk in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: This study includes 30 participants divided into 3 groups: Group A, High-risk caries diabetic individuals; Group B, High-risk caries non-diabetic individuals; and Group C, Low-risk caries individuals. The medical condition, oral hygiene, and caries risk assessment (American Dental Association classification and International Caries Detection and Assessment System scoring) were documented. Each individual's 3 mL of saliva was analyzed for microbial load and lactic acid as follows: Part I: 2 mL for microbial quantity estimation using nutrient agar and blood agar medium, biochemical investigation, and carbohydrate fermentation tests; Part II: 0.5 mL for lactic acid estimation using spectrophotometric analysis. Among the selected individuals, blood group correlation was assessed. The χ² test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc analysis were done using Dunn's test (p < 0.05). Results: Group A had the highest microbial load and lactic acid concentration, followed by Groups B and C. The predominant bacteria were Lactobacilli (63.00 ± 15.49) and Streptococcus mutans (76.00 ± 13.90) in saliva. Blood Group B is prevalent in diabetic and non-diabetic high-risk caries patients but statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Diabetic individuals are more susceptible to dental caries due to high microbial loads and increased lactic acid production. These factors also lower the executing tendency of neutrophils, which accelerates microbial accumulation and increases the risk of caries in diabetic individuals.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.873-878
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• 2002

OA-8159, a new Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitor, has exhibited potent erectogenic potential in a penile erection test in rats and anesthetized dogs. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of its erectogenic activity by measuring the activity of OA-8159 against a various PDE isozymes and assessing cGMP and cAMP formation in a rabbit corpus cavernosum in vitro. DA-8159 inhibited the PDE 5 activity in rabbit and human platelets, which the $IC_{50}$ was 5.84$\pm$1.70 nM and 8.25$\pm$2.90 nM, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ of DA-8159 on PDE 1, PDE2, PDE 3 and PDE 6 were 870$\pm$57.4 nM, $101\pm$5 $\mu$M, 52.0$\pm$3.53 $\mu$M and 53.3$\pm$2.47 nM, respectively. This suggests that DA-8159 is a potent, highly selective, competitive inhibitor of PDE 5-catalyzed cGMP hydrolysis. The rates of cGMP hydrolysis catalyzed by human platelets-derived PDE 5 as a function of the cGMP concentration (5~100 nM) and two-fixed DA-8159 concentration (11.3 and 18.8 nM) were investigated in order to characterize the mode of PDE 5 inhibition by DA-8159. DA-8159 increased the apparent 4K_{m}$ value for cGMP hydrolysis but had no effect on the apparent $V_{max}$, indicating a competitive mode of inhibition. DA-8159 increased the cGMP concentrations in the rabbit corpus cavernosum dose dependently. In the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), DA-8159 significantly sti\mulated the accu\mulation of cGMP when compared to the control level. This indicated that the enhancement of a penile erection by DA-8159 involved the relaxation of the cavernosal smooth \muscle by NO-sti\mulated cGMP accu\mulation. In conclusion, DA-8159 is a selective inhibitor of PDE 5-catalyzed cGMP hydrolysis and the enhancement of a penile erection by DA-8159 is mediated by the relaxation of the cavernosal smooth \muscle by the NO-sti\mulated cGMP accu\mulation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 1983

Direct production of biomass from starch using amylolytic yeast, Sporobolomyces holsaticus FRI Y-5 was studied with varying the ratios between carbon and other nutrient sources in the medium. It was investigated under condition of constant C/P and C/S ratio to influence the initial concentration of starch $(S_o)$ and C/N ratio on its growth which is described as the specific growth rate $({\mu})$, cell yield (Y), the maximum concentration of cell $(X_m)$, and productivity (P). They were very dependent on both $S_o$ and C/N ratio. The form of the relationship between and ${\mu}$ and $S_o$ was observed to be similar to saturation kinetics at C/N = 100 but presented substrate inhibition at other C/N ratios. As $S_o$ was changed from 22.5 to 90 g/l, Y was observed to vary with C/N ratios but seemed to decrease as a wholes. $X_m$ was linearly related to $S_o$ at more than C/N = 50 but at less than C/N = 10 substrate inhibition was presented. P increased suddenly to $S_o$ = 45 g/l and then changed decreasingly at less than C/N = 50, but at more than C/N = 100 it changed increasingly. The effect of C/P ratio and C/S ratio on the yeast growth was also investigated at constant $S_o$ and C/N ratio. ${\mu}$ was dependent on C/P and C/S ratios, but Y, independent on them. But $X_m$ was reliant upon C/P ratio but not upon C/S ratio.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.491-499
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• 2008

It is really urgent to develop wastewater treatment system which is economically efficient, occupies small area for buildup, can be easily operated, discharges small amount of sludge due to the more strict water quality standard, the expensive water and energy cost and so on. This study on treatment of wastewater including nonbiodegadable materials using white-rot fungus biofilm were designed to investigate the submerged type of biofilm, hydraulic retention times, recycle rates, and module turning times. Removal efficiencies of fully exposed biofilm type in atmosphere are similar to submerged biofilm of aeration type. The optimum conditions of white-rot fungus biofilm of fully exposed type in atmosphere are HRT 3$\sim$4 hr, recycle rate 6$\sim$10 Q, module turning times 0.5$\sim$2 times/min. At this time, removal efficiencies of organics were COD$_{Cr}$ 65.0$\sim$69.9%, NBDCOD 70.4$\sim$72.7%, BOD$_5$ 88.8$\sim$90.1%, SS 84.2$\sim$90.4%. Moreover average effluent concentration of BOD$_5$(8.9 mg/L) satisfied water quality standard of heavy water(BOD$_5$ less than 10 mg/L) but concentration of NBDCOD(29.6 mg/L) was higher than water quality standard of heavy water(NBDCOD less than 20 mg/L).

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2009

The changes of feeding pattern and the amount of insecticide penetrated into the leaf were monitored for 420 min after treatment of three concentrations of dinotefuran. At about 30 min after treatment of insecticide, the overall feeding pattern in EPG (Electrical Penetration Graph) monitoring was started to change, and there was significant difference in proportions of NP (non-penetration), PA (pathway activity), and phloem-feeding patterns among the different concentrations of dinotefuran treatment. Especially, as the amount of insecticide penetrated into a leaf increased, the reactive behaviors against this insecticide such as withdrawal of proboscis and movements of stylet of aphid were more quickly exhibited. And also, total time at which the proboscis of the aphids did not penetrate the plant was getting longer. The amount of dinotefuran penetrated into a leaf was monitored with HPLC. When the recommended concentration (100 mg/L) of the insecticide was treated, 5.24${\sim}$7.24 mg/L of the insecticide was detected from the leaf, and the proboscis of the aphids was apparently withdrawn from the leaf at approximately 60 minutes after treatment of this insecticide.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.10-17
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• 1989

A study for the assessment of dose given by outdoor radon to respiratory system has been carried out by making use of radon-cups containing CR-39 plastic track detectors. Detection efficiencies were determined by irradiation of the radon-cups in a standard radon chamber of known concentration. Thus determined detection factors of CR-39 plastic track detector in bare, open cup and filtered cup geometry are found to be 0.273, 0.0813 and 0.0371 $trmm^{-2}$/(37$Bqm^{-3}{\cdot}d$), respectively, which are chemically etched in 30% NaOH solution of $70^{\circ}C$ for 220 minutes. The outdoor radon concentrations measured at Taejeon(Chungnam National University) from May 1988 to March 1989 are in the range of 27.4 - 135.8 Bq/$m^3$(0.74 - 3.67pCi/l)by open cup and 16.7 - 143.9 Bq/$m^3$(0.45 - 3.89 pCi/l) by filtered cup, which yield overall annual average value of outdoor radon concentration of $70.8Bq/m^3$(1.91 pCi/l). Corresponding effective dose equivalent rate to respiratory system of ICRP standard man is assessed to be 520 nSv /h.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.155-165
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• 2007

Objective : The Angelica gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) was investigated to compare nitric oxide (NO) production and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity from RAW 264.7 cells, since NO and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ have been shown to be factors implicated in inflammatory disease. Method : AGE was prepared by extracting medicinal herb with 70% (v/v) ethanol solution. We investigated production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression by ARE in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. We also investigated inhibition of LPS-induced activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ on western blot. Result : LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells increased NO production and iNOS expression. Upon treatment with AGE, nitrite production was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the untreated control. AGE inhibited this LPS-induced iNOS mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. AGE markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein at a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells with AGE blocked inhibitory $factor-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation. Conclusion :This study shows that AGE seems to attenuate inflammation through inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression by blockade of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 1968

This study was undertaken to assess the annual cycle of primary production and plant pigments in a downstream of the Han River. Measurements were carried out at three week intervals during April 1966 and March 1967, and ancillary data include water temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and phytoplankton cell number. The seasonal cycle in water temperature profile shows the hihgest in the end of August with 27$^{\circ}C$, lowest in the middle of February with 0.2$^{\circ}C$. The transparency with Secchi disk reading varied from a maximum 4.0m in fall and a minimum 0.5m or less in early spring and flood season of summer. The pH of the river water varied from 6.5 to 7.3, averaged 6.91 in the surface water and 6.98 in the bottom water, showed little seasonalvariability. The dissolved oxygen in the surface water ranged from 5.93-9.64ml/L, while in the bottom water it ranged from 5.54-9.72 ml/L, and the oxygen saturation never fall below 94%. None thermal, the distribution of pH and content of oxygen, stratifications occurred. An apparent seasonal cycle of primary productivity was observed with remarkably high levels in the spring and fall, the lowest level in the winter. The range of net carbon assimilations showed 3.1-112.6 mgC/㎥/day or 15-427 mgC/㎡/day in spring, 37.0-271.2 mgC/㎥/day or 115-329 mgC/㎡/day in summer, 27.2-168.0 mgC/㎥ /day or 139-415 mgC/㎡/day in fall and 0.5-10.9 mgC/㎥/day or 5-19 mg/㎡/day in winter, respectively. Amount of chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ ranged from a minimum concentration of 0.2-0.3 mg/㎥ in the middle of February and a maximum 4.1-6.7 mg/㎥ in the middle of June. A general increase trend in chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ concentration was noted with increase of the river water temperature.