• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2003

Human CD99 is a ubiquitous 32-kDa transmembrane protein encoded by mic2 gene. Recently it has been reported that expression of a splice variant of CD99 transmembrane protein (Type I and Type II) increases invasive ability of human breast cancer cells. To understand structural basis for cellular functions of CD99 Type II, we have initiated studies on hCD99$\^$TMcytoI/ using circular dichroism (CD) and multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. CD spectrum of hCD99$\^$TMytoI/ in the presence of 200mM DPC and CHAPS displayed an existence ${\alpha}$-helical conformation, showing that it could form an ${\alpha}$-helix under membrane environments. In addition, we have found that the cytoplasmic domain of CD99 would form symmetric dimmer in the presence of transmembrane domain. Although it has been rarely figured out the correlation between structure and functional mechanism of hCD99$\^$TMcytoI/, the dimerization or oligomerization would play an important role in its biological function.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2006

A growing body of evidence supports lipid peroxidation as having a role in the pathogenesis of liver disease. Although the probable cause of damage to human hepatocytes may be multifactorial, free radicals have been implicated in a variety of liver diseases, particularly in the presence of iron overload and toxic substances such as ethanol. Consequently, antioxidants, particularly those of plant origin such as flavonoids, may help to reduce the risk of developing these diseases. Silybum (S.) marianum, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional European medicine for the treatment of liver disorders, was evaluated for antioxidant activity. Thin layer chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography analyses of crude extract of the plant confirmed the presence of a number of flavonoids reported in the literature. The antioxidant activity of these flavonoids was measured through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging. The crude plant extract showed marked antioxidant activity in both assays. These results suggest that S. marianum contains flavonoids with antioxidant activity, capable of inhibiting or scavenging free radicals, thus supporting its traditional use as a hepatoprotective agent.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2015

We investigated the apoptotic effects of grape skin extracts (GSE) and related gene expressions in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells cultured in the presence of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/mL of GSE for 72 hours. MTT assay, trypan blue and nuclei staining showed lower cellular mitochondrial activities and increased cell deaths with a higher concentration of GSE (p<0.05). Increased cell number with fragmentated DNA of sub-G1 phase was calculated as a measure of apoptotic cell death by FACS analysis (p<0.05). In particular, apoptotic cell death caused markedly increased in the 1 and 1.5 mg/mL of GSE groups, as revealed by flow cytometry (Annexin V-FITC). RT-PCR analysis was performed on apoptotic and preapoptotic genes. Expression of the apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2 significantly decreased, proapoptotic gene bax was significantly increased and procaspase-3 showing the presence of caspase-3 significantly decreased (p<0.05). Furthermore, bcl-2/bax ratio which is considered to be an important indicator of apoptosis, significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). These results indicated that GSE induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2020

Space exploration is one of the dreams of humankind. However, the intriguing environment was a challenge for the human body, where we must counter with many extreme conditions such as thermal support, radiation, microgravity. Life, as well as the human body, developed and evolved in the continuous presence of gravity, especially when living creatures transfer from the ocean to the land. Once this gravitational force doesn't impact on the body, the drastic changes occur. Some of these changes were observed immediately, while others progress only slowly. Since the first orbital flight was performed, several hazards for the organs of the human body were identified [1]. These changes in human physiology can reverse when astronauts return to Earth. This article will review the published findings of the effects of microgravity exposure on the human body.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

A habitat model was developed to delineate potential habitat of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a mountainous region of Kangwon Province, Korea. Between 1997 and 2005, 224 leopard cat presence sites were recorded in the province in the Nationwide Survey on Natural Environments. Fifty percent of the sites were used to develop a habitat model, and the remaining sites were used to test the model. Fourteen environmental variables related to topographic features, water resources, vegetation and human disturbance were quantified for 112 of the leopard cat presence sites and an equal number of randomly selected sites. Statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that elevation, ridges, plains, % water cover, distance to water source, vegetated area, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and distance to paved road differed significantly (P < 0.01) between presence and random sites. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop a habitat model. Landform type (e.g., ridges vs. plains) is the major topographic factor affecting leopard cat presence. The species also appears to prefer deciduous forests and areas far from paved roads. The habitat map derived from the model correctly classified 93.75% of data from an independent sample of leopard cat presence sites, and the map at a regional scale showed that the cat's habitats are highly fragmented. Protection and restoration of connectivity of critical habitats should be implemented to preserve the leopard cat in mountainous regions of Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4061-4065
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• 2014

The presence of viral DNA in breast cancer cells is controversial. However, some studies have revealed a possible role for the human papillomavirus in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of HPV-DNA in breast tissue in a group of Iranian women with and without breast cancer and identification of the detected HPV types. Paraffin-embedded specimens from 65 malignant breast cancer cases and 65 cases with benign breast lesions were investigated for presence of HPV-DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction. We found HPV-DNA in 22 (33.8%) of the breast cancer specimens. All non-cancerous specimens were negative. Low and high-risk HPV types, including HPV-6 (26.2%), HPV-16 (1.5%), HPV-35 (1.5%), HPV-52 (1.5%), and HPV-11 (1.5%) were detected in our study. HPV-6 was the most prevalent type in the breast cancer specimens. Although high-risk HPV types have been shown to have a major role in cervix cancer, there have been no data that support the same relevance for other types of malignancies. Furthermore, presence of low-risk HPV types in malignancies still is a matter of debate. The data presented in this study indicates a strong need for epidemiological studies correlating different HPV types in human breast cancer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

Follicular fluid(FF) of mammalian Graafian follicles contains various kinds of proteins and proteinases that are believed to play important roles during follicular growth oocyte maturation and ovulation of mature oocytes. Previous studies of human FF(hFF) demonstrated the presence of many serine/threonine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases such as gelatinases, however, little is known about the caseinases. Present study was aimed to examine the presence and the property of caseinolytic enzyme in hFF. Using casein zymographic method, it was found that hFF, human adult serum and cord serum exhibited one intense 80 kDa and another weak 78 kDa bands having caseinolytic activity. When inhibitors were added to the zymographic substrate buffer, caseinolytic activity of both 80 kDa and 78 kDa proteins were inhibited by othylenediarnine tetraacetic acid(EDTA) or soybean trypsin inhibitor(SBTI), but not by E-64, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride(PMSF) or 1,10-phenanthroline. Thus both enzymes appear to belong to a family of trypsin-like enzyme. Addition of EDTA to the zymographic substrate buffer almost abolished the caseinolytic activity of both enzymes. However, further addition of a divalent metal ion such as CaC $l_2$, MgC $l_2$, MnC $l_2$ or ZnC $l_2$ to the same buffer fully restored the enzyme activity at 5 mM concentration despite the presence of EDTA. Based upon these observations, 80 kDa and 78 kDa caseinolytic enzymes are present in human follicular fluid and they appear to be trypsin-like enzymes of which caseinolytic activity needs the presence of $Ca^{++}$, aM $g^{++}$, M $n^{++}$ or Z $n^{++}$././././.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1989

The effect of antisperm antibodies (ASA) on the human in vitro fertilization (lVF) process was evaluated by analyzing the IVF data between October and December 1988 at Seoul National University Hospital prospectively. The immunobead test (IBT) was used to identify Ig G, Ig A, and Ig M in the serum, semen, and follicular fluid from 93 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (lVF-ET ) . The fertilization rate in couples with ASA to sperm head of at least one isotype in female serum (n= 10) was significantly less than that in couples without ASA to sperm head (n=83; 28.5% versus 45.3% , p=0.028). The presence of ASA to sperm head in follicular fluid (n=8) also reduced fertilization rate from 45.3% to 24.4% (p=O.0l3). However, ASA binding to sperm head in male serum and semen did not predict fertilization. Similarly, ASA binding to sperm tail and tail-tip did not reduced the oocyte fertilization rate significantly in any of the fluids tested. The zygote cleavage rate was not reduced in the presence of ASA. These results suggest that the presence of ASA to sperm head in female serum and follicular fluid is associated with reduced fertilization in IVF-ET. Another observation is that the oocyte that do fertilize in the presence of antisperm antibodies can subsequently proceed with normal cleavage. The results of this investigation therefore suggest that the IBT is a useful test forscreening of women participat.ing IVF-ET program.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.388-394
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of oral lesions in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients in a descriptive cross-sectional study, and to establish their presence according to levels of CD4+ cells (including the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio). Materials and Methods: A total of 75 patients infected with HIV were included. Oral lesions were observed and classified using World Health Organization classification guidelines. Potential correlations between the presence and severity of oral lesions and CD4+ cells, including the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio, were studied. Results: The most frequent oral lesion detected was oral pseudomembranous candidiasis (80.0%), followed by periodontal disease (40.0%), herpetic lesions (16.0%), hairy leukoplakia (16.0%), gingivitis (20.0%), oral ulceration (12.0%), Kaposi's sarcoma (8.0%), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (4.0%). The CD4+ count was <$200cells/mm^3$ in 45 cases (60.0%), between $200-500cells/mm^3$ in 18 cases (24.0%), and >$500cells/mm^3$ in 12 cases (16.0%). The mean CD4+ count was $182.18cells/mm^3$. The mean ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells was 0.26. All patients showed at least one oral manifestation. Conclusion: There was no correlation between the CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio and the presence of oral lesions. The severity of the lesions was more pronounced when the CD4+ cell count was less than $200cells/mm^3$.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2001

The protein of the bovine, horse and dog erythrocyte membrane were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and their relation to the sedimentation rate of animal erythrocytes were investigated by treating the erythrocytes with proteinases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin. Protein content in erythrocyte membrane was in human, in Jindo dog, in cattle and in horse, showing similar in among. The erythrocyte sedimentation rates bovine erythrocytes from Hostein and Korean native cattle were very slow compared with the human one(1/7 as slow as the human one) as reported previously. Although the general protein profiles of the bovine erythrocyte membranes were almost similar to that of human, bovine erythrocyte membranes showed one additional protein band, called band Q in this study, which migrated electrophoretically to the mid-position between band 2 and band 3 in human erythrocyte membranes. The erythrocyte sedimentation of race horse were very fast compared with the human one are reported previously. Although the general protein profiles of the race horse erythrocyte membranes were almost similar to that of human, band 3 content was showing higher in race horse(34.7%) than in human(25.3%). The general protein profile of the Jindo dog erythrocyte membrane was almost similar to the human patterns, Jindo dog erythrocyte membranes showed one absent protein band. It was band 7. The glycoprotein profiles of the bovine erythrocyte membranes revealed by periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) stain showed a marked difference from that of human. The PAS-1(glycophorin) and PAS-2(sialoglycoprotein) present in human erythrocyte membrane were almost absent from the bovine erythrocyte membranes showed a strong PAS-positive band near the origin of the electraphorograms, which is named as PAS-B in this study. The PAS-1 and PAS-2 present in human erythrocyte membrane were almost absent from race horse erythrocyte membranes, but PAS-2 was more in only race horse from that of human. The PAS-1 and PAS-2 were absolutely absent from the Jindo dog erythrocyte membrane. These results suggest the slow sedimentation rate of bovine erythrocytes is due in part to the presence of band Q protein fraction and PAS-B glycoprotein in the bovine erythrocytes, and that the fast sedimentation rate of race horse erythrocyte is due in part to the presence of more band 3 protein fraction and PAS-E glycoproteins in the race horse erythrocytes.