• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.168-179
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• 2015

We previously identified the rice gene, OsSAP, as an encoder of a highly conserved putative senescence-associated protein that was shown to have anti-apoptotic activity. To confirm the role of OsSAP in inducing abiotic stress tolerance in rice, we introduced OsSAP and AtBI-1, a plant homologue of Bax inhibitor-1, under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter into the rice genome through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The OsSAP transformants showed a similar chlorophyll index after salinity treatments with AtBI-1. Furthermore, we compared the effects of salinity stress on leaves and roots by examining the hormone levels of abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellic acid (GA3), and zeatin in transformants compared to the control. With the exception of phytohormones, stress-induced changes in hormone levels putatively related to stress tolerance have not been investigated previously. Hormonal level analysis confirmed the lower rate of stress in the transformants compared to the control. The levels of ABA and JA in OsSAP and AtBI-1 transformants were similar, where stress rates increased after one week and decreased after a two week period of drought; there was a slightly higher accumulation compared to the control. However, a similar trend was not observed for the level of zeatin, as the decrease in the level of zeatin accumulation differed in both OsSAP and AtBI-1 transformants for all genotypes during the early period of salinity stress. The GA3 level was detected under normal conditions, but not under salinity stress.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.519-526
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• 2000

Osteoporosis has recently been recognized as a major health problem in the elderly population. The disorder is manifested as a loss of bone mass accompanied by structural alteration of bone and increased incidence of fracture. Mandible also may be affected. So, I evaluated panoramic views of 66 postmenopausal women for finding the possibility of useful diagnostic mandibular parmeters of osteoporosis. To know the correlationship between skeleton and mandible, the average of the bone mineral density of lumbar from 2nd to 4th by the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA, LUNAR DPZ. USA), and age and mandibular parameters, that is, the number of residual teeth, alveolar ridge resorption ratio, panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical width (MCW), angular cortical thickness (ACT), ramus cortical thickness (RCT), morphology of mandibular inferior cortical (MIC) were compared. And I divided the all tested women to the osteoporotic group and non-osteoporotic group by the use of T-score -2.0, which was derived from skeletal bone mineral density (BMD). To find the correlationship of the each group with mandibular parameters, t-test and discriminant analysis were done. The results of the t-test were that all parameters were highly related with 2 groups (p<0.05). Especially ACT, MIC, age have had even higher correlationship than others (p<0.001). The results of the discriminant analysis by the use of these ACT, MIC and age were that the discriminant function was Z = -2.973+(-1.447)$\times$(ACT)+1.131$\times$(MIC score)+(0.052)$\times$(age), the cutting score was 0.257 and the classification accuracy was 84.8%. Therefore I suggest that the consideration of the angular cortical thickness (ACT), the age of patient and the morphology of mandibular inferior cortical(MIC) may help find the osteoporosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1005-1014
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• 2012

The understanding of the relationship between ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities in activated sludge and the operational treatment parameters supports the control of the treatment of ammonia-rich wastewater. The modifications of treatment parameters by alteration of the number and length of aerobic and anaerobic stages in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) working cycle may influence the efficiency of ammonium oxidation and induce changes in the AOB community. Therefore, in the research, the impact of an SBR cycle mode with alternating aeration/mixing conditions (7 h/1 h vs. 4 h/5.5 h) and volumetric exchange rate (n) on AOB abundance and diversity in activated sludge during the treatment of anaerobic sludge digester supernatant at limited oxygen concentration in the aeration stage (0.7 mg $O_2/l$) was assessed. AOB diversity expressed by the Shannon-Wiener index (H') was determined by the cycle mode. At aeration/mixing stage lengths of 7 h/1 h, H' averaged $2.48{\pm}0.17$, while at 4 h/5.5 h it was $2.35{\pm}0.16$. At the given mode, AOB diversity decreased with increasing n. The cycle mode did not affect AOB abundance; however, a higher AOB abundance in activated sludge was promoted by decreasing the volumetric exchange rate. The sequences clustering with Nitrosospira sp. NpAV revealed the uniqueness of the AOB community and the simultaneously lower ability of adaptation of Nitrosospira sp. to the operational parameters applied in comparison with Nitrosomonas sp.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2014

To investigate the alteration of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity after myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) and further explore the effect of naloxone postconditioning on MIRI. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham operation (sham, n=8); ischemia reperfusion (IR, n=8); IR+naloxone 0.5 mg/kg (Nal L, n=8); IR+naloxone 1.0 mg/kg (Nal M, n=8); IR+naloxone 2.0 mg/kg (Nal H, n=8). Pathological changes of myocardial tissue were visualized by HE staining. The expression of p-JNK, and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were investigated with Western blotting and the TUNEL assay, respectively. Irregular arrangement and aberrant structure of myocardial fibers, cardiomyocytes with granular or vacuolar degeneration, and inflammatory cells infiltrating the myocardial interstitial regions characterized MIRI in the IR group. Signs of myocardial injury and inflammatory infiltration were less prominent in the Nal-treated groups. The expression of p-JNK in the sham group and in all Nal-treated groups was significantly lower than that in the IR group (p<0.01). The apoptosis index of cardiomyocytes in the IR group was significantly higher than in the sham group (p<0.01). The apoptosis indices of cardiomyocytes in all Nal-treated groups were significantly reduced to 55.4%, 26.2%, and 27.6%, respectively, of the IR group (p<0.01). This study revealed that Naloxone postconditioning before reperfusion inhibits p-JNK expression and decreases cell apoptosis, thus alleviating MIRI.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.41-55
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• 2016

The granulometric characteristics and chemical composition of the samples from the Bukpyeong myeon, Hainam gun, Jeollanam do were analyzed in this study. The samples were collected from the outcrop of coastal area where the height is about 30m. The burial age of the sediments also estimated by OSL(Optically Stimulated Luminescence) method. The origin and forming processes of the samples are not clear in this stage as limited number of evidences can be found. However it is suggested that the samples are not aeolian deposits originated from chinese loess by the chemical analysis. The mean diameter of samples were $5{\sim}6{\varphi}(silt)$ and are increased slightly downwards. The samples also well sorted. The samples have been heavily weathered by the chemical alteration index. The value of CIA increase downward rapidly at the upper part of outcrop, then stabilized afterwards. The vertical concentration changes ratio of cations varies; Si increases downwards while Fe, Ti, K and Mg decrease. There are fluctuation in concentration ratio of Na and Ca with increasing depth. The burial age of sample from upper part are estimated as $104.52{\pm}4.45ka\;BP$, while that of lower part are $136.10{\pm}6.52ka\;BP$, and they fall in to last part of MS6. The deposition rate for this site is found about 0.017mm/year. The uplift rate of the site is supposed to be 0.24~0.26m/ka with assumption of palaeo-sea level of +6m. However the origin of the sediment deposits should be explored and cleared.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2020

This study assessed the effects of probiotics in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). We enrolled 11 client-owned dogs with AD and randomly allocated them to two groups. The probiotics group (n = 7) was prescribed with Bifidobacterium longum while the control group (n = 4) received a placebo powder once a day for 12 weeks. In both groups, the degree of skin lesions was evaluated based on the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-4. We also measured the transepidermal water loss (TEWL). We assessed pruritus severity using the pruritus visual analog scale (PVAS). Alteration of consumed drug doses was converted into medication scores. All the evaluation indices were surveyed every 4 weeks. In the probiotics group, there was a significant decrease in the CADESI-4 score at 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to that of the baseline score (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in TEWL, PVAS, and medication score at each time point and between groups. Although these results showed that Bifidobacterium longum did not reduce pruritus, TEWL, and the dosage of drugs for canine AD, it was effective in improving skin lesions, therefore, probiotics could be considered in canine AD with severe skin symptoms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4807-4814
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• 2012

Purpose: The chemoresistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to cytotoxic drugs, especially intrinsic or acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), still remains a major challenge in the management of HCC. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in MDR of HCC were identified using a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human HCC cell line. Methods: BEL-7402/5-FU cells were established through continuous culturing parental BEL-7402 cells, imitating the pattern of chemotherapy clinically. Growth curves and chemosensitivity to cytotoxic drugs were determined by MTT assay. Doubling times, colony formation and adherence rates were calculated after cell counting. Morphological alteration, karyotype morphology, and untrastructure were assessed under optical and electron microscopes. The distribution in the cell cycle and drug efflux pump activity were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of potential genes involved in MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Compared to its parental cells, BEL-7402/5-FU cells had a prolonged doubling time, a lower mitotic index, colony efficiency and adhesive ability, and a decreased drug efflux pump activity. The resistant cells tended to grow in clusters and apparent changes of ultrastructures occurred. BEL-7402/5-FU cells presented with an increased proportion in S and G2/M phases with a concomitant decrease in G0/G1 phase. The MDR phenotype of BEL-7402/5-FU might be partly attributed to increased drug efflux pump activity via multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), overexpression of thymidylate synthase (TS), resistance to apoptosis by augmentation of the Bcl-xl/Bax ratio, and intracellular adhesion medicated by E-cadherin (E-cad). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) might play a limited role in the MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU. Conclusion: Increased activity or expression of MRP1, Bcl-xl, TS, and E-cad appear to be involved in the MDR mechanism of BEL-7402/5-FU.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2119-2123
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• 2016

Background: There is an established link between obesity related metabolic derangement and colorectal cancer development. Recently, we developed a metabolic-colorectal cancer risk score. In this follow-up study, we studied its association with colorectal neoplasm by measuring two major metabolic syndrome biomarkers, leptin and adiponectin. Objectives: To evaluate the serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer and to determine any correlation with metabolic risk score. Results: In total, 130 individuals were studied: 30 controls without colonic pathology, 18 with colonic adenoma (CAP), and 82 with colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC, 17 cases of T1-2 and 65 cases of T3-4). The metabolic risk scores in CAP and T1-2 CRC were higher than those in the controls and T3-4 CRC cases. There were no statistically significant differences in leptin levels among CAPs, CRCs, and controls. Both leptin and adiponectin levels reflected differences in body mass index and metabolic risk scores. Cases in the CAP group and early T-stage CRC groups had lower adiponectin levels (14.03 and 13.01 mg/ml, respectively) than the no polyps group (19.5mg/ml, p = 0.03). The average serum adiponectin level in the invasive cancer group (18.5 ng/ml) was comparable with that of the control group. Conclusions: The level of serum adiponectin was positively correlated with the metabolic risk score. Decreased serum adiponectin was significantly associated with the development of colorectal adenoma and early stage colorectal carcinoma.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo toxicity and effects of two phthalate esters (PEs), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), on the immune system of the bagrid catfish, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco. Groups of experimental fish were subjected to daily intraperitoneal injections of 300 or 1000 mg $kg^{-1}$ of DBP or DEHP for 3 days, and the cellularity and functional activity of phagocytes were measured in the spleen and pronephros (head kidney). The number of spleen leukocyte cells increased significantly (p<0.05) in response to low and high doses of DEHP and DBP, respectively; however, the cellularity of the pronephros was more susceptible to higher dose of DEHP than DBP. Nonspecific immunity, as determined by the phagocytic index (PI) and phagocytic capacity (PC), was significantly depressed by DEHP at 1000 $1000mg\;kg^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ in the pronephros at 3 days after injection. Furthermore, significantly (p<0.05) increased levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) indicated marked hepatic dysfunction in immunosuppressed fish. Treated fish showed a significant reduction in total serum protein but no significant alteration in lysozyme activity. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of the fish immune response for predicting PE-induced immunotoxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.918-929
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• 2015

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is being used more widely, and the biological contributions involved in MEOR need to be identified and quantified for the improvement of field applications. Owing to the excellent interfacial activity and the wide distribution of producing strains in oil reservoirs, lipopeptides have proved to be an essential part of the complex mechanisms in MEOR. In this study, crude lipopeptides were produced by a strain isolated from an indigenous community in an oil reservoir. It was found that crude lipopeptides can effectively reduce the IFT (interfacial tension) to 10^-1~10^-2 mN/m under high salinity without forming stable emulsions, and the wettability of natural sandstone can be enhanced (Amott index, from 0.36 to 0.48). The results of core flooding experiments indicate that an additional 5.2% of original oil in place can be recovered with a 9.5% reduction of injection pressure. After the shut-in period, the wettability of the core, the reduction of injection pressure, and the oil recovery can be improved to 0.63, 16.2% and 9.6%, respectively. In the microscopic flooding experiments, the crude oil in membrane, cluster, and throat states contribute nearly 90% in total of the additional oil recovery, and the recovery of membranestate oil was significantly enhanced by 93.3% after shut in. Based on the results in macro and pore scale, the IFT reduction and the wettability alteration are considered primary contributors to oil recovery, while the latter was more dominant after one shut-in period.