• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.674-679
• /
• 2002

The toxicity and bioaccumulation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) continues to be a focus of research in human and various species. The main human exposure is via the dietary route. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Cornu Cervi Parvum extract on clinical parameters and hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rat (SD rat) accutely exposured to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Male SD rats received single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of TCDD (40 ㎍/kg), and administered 10 or 20 mg/kg/day of the ethanol extract oral injection for 4 weeks from 1 week before TCDD treatment. The gain in body weight was less in group treated with TCDD than in CON group, while that of C/H+ TCDD group (Cornu Cervi Parvum extract 20 mg/kg/day) increased. The decrease in spleen and testis weight caused by TCDD was prevented by Cornu Cervi Parvum extract 20 mg/kg/day. The fluctuation in BUN content, WBC and platelet count by TCDD intoxication were significantly attenuated by the ethanol extract treatment (20 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks). Treatments of rats with the extract (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) were significantly reduced AST and ALT levels compared with TCDD-treated group. Moderate swelling of hepatocytes, hyperchromatism, acidophilic cytoplasm and cytoplasmic vacuolation were observed in TCDD-treated animals (TCDD group). The administration of EtOH extract 10 or 20 mg/kg along with TCDD significantly alleviated the liver histopathological alteration induced by TCDD. These results suggest that Cornu Cervi Parvum extract can be useful as a protective agent against TCDD, an endocrine disruptor.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.349-355
• /
• 2003

We previously shown that LES contraction depends on $M_3$ receptors linked to PTX insensitive $G_q$ protein and activation of PLC. This results in production of $IP_3$, which mediates calcium release, and contraction through a CaM dependent pathway. In the esophagus ACh activates $M_2$ receptors linked to PTX sensitive $G_{i3}$ protein, resulting in activation of PLD, presumably, production of DAG. We investigated the role of PLC isozymes which can be activated by $G_q$ or $G{\beta}$ protein on ACh-induced contraction in LES and esophagus. Immunoblot analysis showed the presence of 3 types of PLC isozymes, $PLC-{\beta}1$, $PLC-{\beta}3$, and $PLC-{\gamma}1$, but not $PLC-{\beta}2$, $PLC-{\beta}4$, $PLC-{\gamma}2$, $PLC-{\delta}1$, and $PLC-{\delta}2$ from both LES and esophageal muscle. ACh produced contraction in a dose dependent manner in LES and esophageal muscle cells obtained by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. $PLC-{\beta}1$ or $PLC-{\beta}3$ antibody incubation reduced contraction in response to ACh in LES but not in esophageal permeabilized cells, but $PLC-{\gamma}1$ antibody incubation did not have an inhibitory effect. The inhibition by $PLC-{\beta}1$ or $PLC-{\beta}3$ antibody on Ach-induced contraction was antibody concentration dependent. The combination with $PLC-{\beta}_1$ and $PLC-{\beta}_3$ antibody completely abolished the contraction, suggesting that $PLC-{\beta}1$ and $PLC-{\beta}3$ have a synergism to inhibit the contraction in LES. $PLC-{\beta}1$, -${\beta}3$ or -${\gamma}1$ antibody did not reduce the contraction of LES cells in response to DAG ($10^{-6}$ M), suggesting that this isozyme of PLC may not activate PKC. When $G_{q/11}$ antibody was incubated, the inhibitory effect of the incubation of PLC ${\beta}3$, but not of PLC ${\beta}_1$ was additive (Fig. 6). In contrast, when $G_{\beta}$ antibody was incubated, the inhibitory effect of the incubation of PLC ${\beta}_1$, but not of PLC ${\beta}_3$ was additive. This data suggest that $G_{q/11}$/11 or $G{\beta}$ may activate cooperatively different PLC isozyme, $PLC{\beta}_1$ or $PLC{\beta}_3$ respectively.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.211-220
• /
• 2002

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SbG) exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in the renal proximal tubule. Methods : Organic cation transport was estimated by examining alterations in tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.2 mM tBHP for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. tBl-IP caused an inhibition in TEA uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. Result : SbG prevented tBHP-induced inhibition of TEA uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.05-0.1%. SbG also prevented H2O2-induced reduction in TEA uptake. tBHP-induced inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. Oxidants increased LDH release, which was blocked by SbG. Oxidants caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was prevented by SbG. Conclusion : These results suggest that SbG prevents oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.13-30
• /
• 1993

The purpose of this study was to present data to the landscape planning and design through analyzing correlation between visual preference of users and nonusers and the landscape of hole in golf couses. Stimulus objects were selected from the 18 holes in Tae-gu Country Club. Preference value was judged through photo simulation by 35 subjects photographed at Tee and Interpoint (IPI, IP2), and classified into three landscape types and nine landscape components from photo analysis by researcher. For test of difference between groups toward each stimulus, t-test was used, and Duncantest, Correlation analysis for finding out correlation between preference degree and the landscape of each hole. The results of this study were as follows: As a result of analysis of preference value between groups for each hole, it has been shown that there was scarcely difference with each other. Form the relation between preference degree and spacial structure of hole, the holes making up a superior preference group have been shown that the greater part of the holes had a downward slope or a gentle slope mostly and then a visible ratio of fairway was high, and had diversified scenery by a lotus pond, a solitary planting tree, the roll of a fairway, facilities for convenience, etc. The holes making up a low-ranking preference group have been shown that the greater part of the holes had upward slope or a similar slope to it and had characteries of the bad condition of lawn, the nearby factories and odors, the monotonous scenery of a fairway, an unreasonable mixing of holes, etc. From the relation between preference degree and landscape components forming hole, it has been shown that the preference degree between users and nonusers had positive correlation to the occupied ratio of space of landscape components at Tee and Approach. At Tee, it has been shown that the preference degree of two groups were related with a lawn surface of fairway negatively, a lotus pond, a sky positively, and the preference degree of nonusers was related with iron-top for electric transmission positively. At Approach, it has been shown that the preference degree of two groups were related with iron-top for electric transmission negatively, and the preference degree of nonusers was related with a building positively. From the relation between preference degree group to each hole and the occupied ratio of space of landscape types, it has been shown that the constituent ratio of a high-ranking group was 1:2.4:2.2 and a low-ranking group was 1:4.1:5.1 among vertical type, horizontal type and background at Tee, but the constituent ratio of space of a high-ranking group was similar to a low-ranking group at Approach.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.9
• /
• pp.656-663
• /
• 2014

Gintonin, a novel, ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, elicits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins. The slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ ($I_{Ks}$) channel is a cardiac $K^+$ channel composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. The C terminus of the KCNQ1 channel protein has two calmodulin-binding sites that are involved in regulating $I_{Ks}$ channels. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated activation of human $I_{Ks}$ channel activity by expressing human $I_{Ks}$ channels in Xenopus oocytes. We found that gintonin enhances $I_{Ks}$ channel currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The $EC_{50}$ for the $I_{Ks}$ channel was $0.05{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/ml$. Gintonin-mediated activation 1 of the $I_{Ks}$ channels was blocked by an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, an $IP_3$ receptor antagonist, and the calcium chelator BAPTA. Gintonin-mediated activation of both the $I_{Ks}$ channel was also blocked by the calmodulin (CaM) blocker calmidazolium. Mutations in the KCNQ1 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM-binding IQ motif sites (S373P, W392R, or R539W)blocked the action of gintonin on $I_{Ks}$ channel. However, gintonin had no effect on hERG $K^+$ channel activity. These results show that gintonin-mediated enhancement of $I_{Ks}$ channel currents is achieved through binding of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM complex to the C terminus of KCNQ1 subunit.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.997-1005
• /
• 2010

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of WLAN technology due to its easy deployment, flexibility and so on. Examples of WLAN applications range from standard internet services such as Web access to real-time services with strict latency/throughput requirements such as multimedia video and voice over IP on wireless network environments. Fair and efficient distribution of the traffic loads among APs(Access Points) has become an important issue for improved utilization of WLAN. This paper focuses on an AP selection scheme for achieving better load balance, and hence increasing network resource utilization for each user on wireless network environments. This scheme makes use of active scan patterns and the network delay as main parameters of load measurement and AP selection. This scheme attempts to estimate the AP traffic loads by observing the up/down delay and utilize the results to maximize the link resource efficiency through load balancing. We compared the proposed scheme with the original SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio)-based scheme using the NS-2(Network Simulation.2). We found that the proposed scheme improves the throughput by 12.5% and lower the network up/down link delay by 36.84% and 60.42%, respectively. All in all, the new scheme can significantly increase overall network throughput and reduce up/down delay while providing excellent quality for voice and video services.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.149-162
• /
• 2019

In the macro-tide open coast of the Korean western coast, typhoon effects were investigated in terms of variations on topography, surface sediment, and sedimentary environment, which appeared before and after the typhoon Kompasu of 2010. The Kompasu of small size and strong intensity landed on the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula and passed across the inland between September 1st and 2nd in 2010. Topography and surface sediments before and after the typhoon were measured and sampled along the survey line of 22 sites in the Gochang Donghori intertidal flat. The intertidal area was divided into high tidal zone, middle tidal zone, and lower tidal zone on the basis of mean high water level, mean sea level, and mean low water level. Topographic variation before and after the typhoon represented deposition of average 0.03 m in high tidal zone, erosion of average -0.15 m in middle tidal zone, and erosion of average -0.39 m in lower tidal zone, respectively. Surface sediments of the intertidal flat consisted mainly of fine to medium sands, and the ratio of fine sand was the largest both before and after the typhoon. Surface sediments after the typhoon became finer in mean grain size showing well sorting rather than those before the typhoon.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.41 no.12
• /
• pp.1061-1071
• /
• 2018

From Xenopus embryo studies, the BMP4/Smad1-targeted gene circuit is a key signaling pathway for specifying the cell fate between the ectoderm and neuro-ectoderm as well as the ventral and dorsal mesoderm. In this context, several BMP4/Smad1 target transcriptional factors have been identified as repressors of the neuro-ectoderm. However, none of these direct target transcription factors in this pathway, including GATA1b, Msx1 and Ventx1.1 have yet been proven as direct repressors of early neuro-ectodermal gene expression. In order to demonstrate that Ventx1.1 is a direct repressor of neuro-ectoderm genes, a genome-wide Xenopus ChIP-Seq of Ventx1.1 was performed. In this study, we demonstrated that Ventx1.1 bound to the Ventx1.1 response cis-acting element 1 and 2 (VRE1 and VRE2) on the promoter for zic3, which is a key early neuro-ectoderm gene, and this Ventx1.1 binding led to repression of zic3 transcription. Site-directed mutagenesis of VRE1 and VRE2 within zic3 promoter completely abolished the repression caused by Ventx1.1. In addition, we found both the positive and negative regulation of zic3 promoter activity by FoxD5b and Xcad2, respectively, and that these occur through the VREs and via modulation of Ventx1.1 levels. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the BMP4/Smad1 target gene, Ventx1.1, is a direct repressor of neuro-ectodermal gene zic3 during early Xenopus embryogenesis.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.4
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1963

For the studies on the Chemical compositions of Sweet potatoes grown in Korean soil, Suwon No. 118 and Suwon No. 147 were applied as the samples during growing period, and 15 varieties of swee tpotatoes as the samples or comparisons among them. As the results of the studies followings were obtained. Changes of the chemical compositions of root tuber during growing period. 1. Total weights of root tubers and mean weight per root tuber were increased gradually as grew with the values of Suwon No. 147 is higher than that of Suwon No. 18 except the weight of Suwon No. 147 on September 9. 2. The moisture content of the roots were fairy uniform. 3. While the starch contents and crude starch yield in the root tuber were gradually increased with almost parallel as grew except the values of Suwon No. 147 on September 7. were markedly higher. 4. The total weight of the Sweet potatoes per Dan-Bo (about 0.25 acre) showed increased values with Suwon No. 147 is higher than Suwon No. 118 except the unexpected lower weight of Suwon No. 147 on September 9. and the crude starch yield of Suwon No. 147 per Dan-Bo also showed higher values than that of Suwon No. 18 with almost parallel increase of them as they grew. 5. Reducing sugar contents of them showed gradual decreases at earlier stages then increases at latter stages as grew, and total sugar and sucrose of them also showed gradual increases except extremly higher contents of Suwon No. 147 and lower values of Suwon No. 118 on September 9. 6. Total protein and soluble protein contents of them showed that initial and last stages of the growth are in higher values but middle stages are fairy low values with a little changes of difference between total protein, and soluble protein. The comparisons among those varieties. 7. The moisture contents of root tuber varies from 63% to 72% among them. 8. The starch contents of Suwon No. 18 (23.9%) is highest value among them, Ko-Ke No. 14 and Won-Ki successively lower and Dae-Nong No. 45 is the lowest one. Crude starch yield (%) of Ko-Ke No. 14 and Won-Ki successively lower and Dae-Nong No.45 is the lowest one. Crude starch yield (%) of Ko-Ke No. 147 is highest value, Suwon No. 118, Won-Ki are successively lower and Do-Ip is the lowest one. 9. Won-Ki is highest value in reducing sugar content, and Do-Ip No. 2 is lowest one in it. The sucrose content of Chil-Bok is highest and Won-Ki is lowest among them. Soluble total sugar content of Yu-Sim is in highest and Chun-Mi is in lowest value. 10. Total protein content showed that Suwon No. 147 is in highest value and Yu-Sim is in lowest one. On the other hand, soluble protein contents showed that Chil-Bok is in highest value and Yu-Sim is in lowest one.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 1999

To determine the effect of chemical structure of linear amine curing agents on thermal and mechanical properties, standard epoxy resin DGEBA was cured with diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS) in a stoichiometrically equivalent ratio. From this work, the effect of aromatic amine curing agents. In contrast, the results show that the DGEBA/DDS cure system having the sulfone structure between the benzene rings had higher values in the conversion of epoxide, density, shrinkage (%), glass transition temperature, tensile modulus and strength, flexural modulus and strength than the DGEBA/DDM cure system having methylene structure between the benzene rings, whereas the DGEBA/DDM cure system presented higher values in the maximum exothermic temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, and thermal stability. These results are caused by the relative effects of sulfone group having strong electronegativity and methylene group having (+) repulsive property and stem from the effect of the conversion ratio of epoxide group. The result of fractography shows that the each grain size of the DDM/DGEBA system with feather-like structure is larger than that of the DDS/DGEBA system.