• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2021

Lobelia chinensis Lour. has commonly been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of antidote, diuretic, diarrhea, and inflammation. This study aimed to identify the active compounds in an aqueous extract of L. chinensis responsible for its anti-atopic effect in vitro using RBL-2H3 cells. A chemical investigation of secondary metabolites in an aqueous extract of L. chinensis led to the isolation of nine chemical constituents, which included the four marker compounds, and these were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on IL-4 mRNA expression and the release of β-hexosaminidase in propidium iodide-induced RBL-2H3 cells. We found diosmetin and fraxidin inhibited cellular IL-4 mRNA expression, and that diosmetin and 6,8-dimethoxycoumarin inhibited DNP-specific IgE-induced degranulation in these cells. Our study suggests that diosmetin, fraxidin, and 6,8-dimethoxycoumarin are potential candidates for the treatment of atopic diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2023

The genus Anisakis is among the most significant parasites to public health, as it causes anisakiasis, a parasitic infection in humans resulting from consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Although the infection status of Anisakis in second intermediate hosts, such as marine fishes and cephalopods, and humans have been severally reported in Korea, no information about the definitive host in Korean waters is available. In 2014, 2 adult gastric nematodes were collected from a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) found in the East Sea, Korea. These worms were identified as A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) by comparing the mitochondrial COX2 marker with previously deposited sequences. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of A. simplex (s.s.) worldwide revealed 2 distinct populations: the Pacific population and the European waters population. This is the first report on adult Anisakis and its definitive host species in Korea. Further studies on Anisakis infection in other cetacean species and marine mammals in Korean seas are warranted.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Since its first identification in 1995, klotho (KL) has become the most promising gene to consider for suppressing aging and aging-related diseases. KL knockout mice exhibited similar phenotypes found in human with premature aging such as short lifespan, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis and hearing loss. Genetically modified mice overexpressing KL prolonged lifespan more than 20%. Also, clinical reports have indicated decreased concentration of the circulating KL protein in blood, which is called soluble klotho (sKL), is closely related to development of senile diseases. The best way to discover significance of sKL on the development of the diseases might be comparison of sKL concentration between controls and patients. Here we analyzed published clinical reports identified sKL concentration in the cohorts. The sKL concentrations were displayed using heatmap for better comparison. In most of the senile diseases, disease progression was inversely related with sKL concentration. Hypertension was the only disease had no relationship, while schizophrenia was the only disease had direct proportion to the disease progression. Overall, sKL concentration in blood could be a marker to determine current severity of the senile diseases and even to estimate disease progression for the patients at the onset of their senile diseases.

• The Magazine of the Society of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.264-274
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• 1983

Two-dimensional jet flows into a couple of confined rectangular enclosures such as an Ondol flue channel and their flow distributions were analyzed by numerical graphics : rectangular space in one enclosure is vacated and the other has 8 rectangular small posts. Both enclosures have a protruded inlet nozzle and on outlet on its center line. Steady state incompressible laminar viscous flow was assumed. The primitive forms of Navier-Stokes equations and continuity equation in a cartesian coordinate system were solved numerically by the Marker and Cell method for Reynolds numbers of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40. From the numerical graphics it was found that the flow regions in both enclosures were devided into tow parts ; one part was the jet flow localized in a narrow center region of the enclosure and the other part was the very slow recirculating flow occupying the rest of the flow region in the enclosures. However there were a little differences in the shapes of jet flow in both enclosures for Reynolds numbers of 5 and 10 and also in the shapes of recirculating flows in both enclosures for all Reynolds number. Also it was found that waving flow appeared right before the outlet at Reynolds number of 20 and more.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2022

Pyogo (Shiitake, Lentinula edodes) is one of the most important edible mushrooms because of its outstanding nutritive and medicinal value. In the registration and protection procedure for newly developed mushroom cultivars, the application of molecular markers that can supplement the morphological characteristic-based distinction has been strongly requested. Sanjo 701 and Chamaram, newly developed at the Federation Forest Mushroom Research Center of Korea, have been characterized as innovative cultivars suitable for customer demands because of their high yields and cultivation rates. However, no technical tools can protect the rights to these important cultivars. In this study, using comparative genomic information from 23 commercially available pyogo cultivars, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that accurately differentiated Sanjo701 and Chamaram from the other cultivars. We also developed high-resolution melting analysis (HRM)-based SNP markers that discriminate among the tested 23 pyogo cultivars. The developed SNP markers can be utilized for rapid, accurate identification of pyogo cultivars with low genetic diversity and to prevent cultivar contamination caused by illegally distributed inocula. In addition, these markers can serve as a crucial scientific basis for securing the right to conserve new cultivars in international markets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.280-280
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• 2022

Tiller angle, defined as the angle between the main stem and its side tillers, is one of the main target traits selected inbreeding to achieve the ideal plant type and increase rice yield. Therefore, the discovery and identification of tiller angle-related genes can provide architecture and yield. In the present work, using QTL analysis hence a total of 8 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected based on the phenotype data of tiller angle and tiller crown width in two years. Among them, four QTLs (qTA9, qCW9, qTA9-1, qCW9-1) were overlapped at marker interval RM6235-RM24288 on chromosome 9 with a large effect value regarded as stable major QTL. Twenty tiller angle-related genes were selected from the target region and the relative gene expression levels were checked in five compact type lines, five spreading type lines, and their parental lines. Finally, OsSA URq9 which belongs auxin-responsive SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) protein family was selected as a target gene. Overall, this work will help broaden our understanding of the genetic control of tiller angle and tiller crown width, and this study provides both a good theoretical basis and a new genetic resource for the breeding of ideal-type rice.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2024

Ceramide is a lipid in which sphingoid bases and fatty acids are linked by amide bonds. As a marker of skin disease in the human stratum corneum, its disease-causing and therapeutic effects have been partially confirmed, and it is therefore an important element in commercially available cosmetic formulations. However, structural diversity caused by differences in the chain length, number, and location of hydroxyl groups makes quality control difficult. In this study, a method was established to separate different ceramide species using reversed-phase LC-MS/MS and thus enable qualitative evaluation. Separation of four standards was achieved within a short retention time, and the accuracy and sensitivity of the method were demonstrated by the low limit of detection (LOD) calculated based on the calibration curve showing linearity, with R² > 0.994. After verification of reproducibility and reliability through intra- and inter-day analyses, the efficiency of the method was confirmed through analysis of commercial cosmetic raw materials.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2024

We investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (BMSC-CM) on immortalized renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTEC/TERT1) in a fibrotic environment. To replicate the increased stiffness characteristic of kidneys in chronic kidney disease, we utilized polyacrylamide gel platforms. A stiff matrix was shown to increase α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels, indicating fibrogenic activation in RPTEC/TERT1 cells. Interestingly, treatment with BMSC-CM resulted in significant reductions in the levels of fibrotic markers (α-SMA and vimentin) and increases in the levels of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and aquaporin 7, particularly under stiff conditions. Furthermore, BMSC-CM modified microRNA (miRNA) expression and reduced oxidative stress levels in these cells. Our findings suggest that BMSC-CM can modulate cellular morphology, miRNA expression, and oxidative stress in RPTEC/TERT1 cells, highlighting its therapeutic potential in fibrotic kidney disease.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.40-53
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• 2023

Differential bitterness perception associated with genetic polymorphism in the bitter taste receptor gene taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38) may influence an individual's food preferences, nutrition consumption, and eventually chronic nutrition-related disorders including cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the effect of genetic variations on nutritional intake and clinical markers needs to be elaborated for health and disease prevention. In this study, we conducted sex-stratified analysis to examine the association between genetic variant TAS2R38 rs10246939 A > G with daily nutritional intake, blood pressure, and lipid parameters in Korean adults (males = 1,311 and females = 2,191). We used the data from the Multi Rural Communities Cohort, Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Findings suggested that the genetic variant TAS2R38 rs10246939 was associated with dietary intake of micronutrients including calcium (adjusted p = 0.007), phosphorous (adjusted p = 0.016), potassium (adjusted p = 0.022), vitamin C (adjusted p = 0.009), and vitamin E (adjusted p = 0.005) in females. However, this genetic variant did not influence blood glucose, lipid profile parameters, and other blood pressure markers. These may suggest that this genetic variation is associated with nutritional intake, but its clinical effect was not found. More studies are needed to explore whether TAS2R38 genotype may be a potential predictive marker for the risk of metabolic diseases via modulation of dietary intake.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.215-224
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• 2023

Disinfecting water containing pathogenic microbes is crucial to the food safety of fresh green agricultural products. The UV-activated peracetic acid (UV/PAA) treatment process is an efficient advanced oxidation process (AOP) and a versatile approach to disinfecting waterborne pathogens. However, its effects on plant growth remain largely unknown. This study found that low-dose UV/PAA treatment induced moderate oxidative stress but enhanced the innate immunity of Arabidopsis against Pseudomonas syringae pv. (Pst) DC3000. When applied as water sources, 5- and 10-ppm UV/PAA treatments slightly reduced biomass and root elongation in Arabidopsis seedlings grown under hydroponic conditions. Meanwhile, treatments of the same doses enhanced defense against Pst DC3000 infection in leaves. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and callose increased in UV/PAA-treated Arabidopsis samples, and during the post-infection period, UV/PAA-treated seedlings maintained vegetative growth, whereas untreated seedlings showed severe growth retardation. Regarding molecular aspects, priming-related defense marker genes were rapidly and markedly upregulated in UV/PAA-treated Arabidopsis samples. Conclusively, UV/PAA treatment is an efficient AOP for disinfecting water and protecting plants against secondary pathogenic attacks.