• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.187-194
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• 1995

The present study aims to observe changing patterns of serum antibody to hleumuvstis calinii in normal rats of different ages and in immunosuppressed rats. The serum IgG antibody was observed by immunoblotting with crude antigen of f carinii which were purified from the lungs of infected rats. The crude antigens separated in SDS-PAGE resolved more than 20 protein bands from 20 to 200 kDa. Of them,40-45, 50-55, 116 and 200 kDa bands were major antigens of R cori.nii. Most of the normal rats of up to 4 weeks had the antibodies reacting the 4 bands, but none of 8-week-old rats revealed the specific antibody. After the rats grew for 40 weeks, all were found to have the antibody in their serum. Same pattern of serum antibody level by age was found in ELISA. When immunosuppressed rats became heavily infected, the antibody in their serum decreased distinctively. The present results suggest that antibodies in normal newborn rats are transferred from their mother and lowered up to 8 weeks. Thereafter, the levels of the antibodies begin to increase by natural exposure to R cnrinii. It was also confirmed that the intensity of P cnrinii infection is inversely related with levels of serum antibodies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 1994

Nine rabbits were fed with Clonorchis sinenis metacercariae (MC) and the blood samples chronologically obtained were analyzed biochemically. Rabbits Infected by less than 100 flukes were grouped into Group I, and by 100-250 flukes into Group II. The serum level of alanine amlnotransferase (ALT) was increased from 3 weeks after the Infection of the metacercariae (AIM) and showed a peak at 8 weeks, and decreased from 12 weeks ASM. The serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was raised to $92.3{\;}{\pm}{\;}65.4{\;}U/L$ at 3 weeks AIM and stayed high until 8 weeks, then lowered thereafter. The serum level of ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase (${\gamma}-GT$) was increased rapidly to the highest value ($18.9{\;}{\pm}{\;}14.6{\;}U/L$) at 16 weeks ASM, and decreased to the control level after 20 weeks. The serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was headed down from the early infection to 52 weeks AIM. The serum cholesterol level was increased from 8 weeks and reached at a peak 16 weeks AIM, and decreased thereafter to the control level. It is suggested that serum ALT, AST, ALP and ${\gamma}-GT$ tests be useful to diagnose the early infEction of C. sinensis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 1995

The presence of biological response modifiers (BRMI-like effect was confirmed in peritoneal exudate (PE) of ToxopLnsmo gondii-infected ICR mice which inhibited Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced peritoneal Iymphocyte (PL) proliferation. During 5 days of PL incubation with $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ Con A with or without PE, 3H-thymidine uptake was measured for the last 24 hrs. Compared to uninduced control, PL proliferated by 7.3-fold with Con A induction_ When PE of infected mice was added, PL proliferation was inhibited by $74.0{\;}{\pm}{\;}11.9%$ whereas inhibition by PE of normal mice was $16.4{\;}{\pm}8.3%$. Inhibitory effect of PE increased exponentially from 3 days up to 4-5 days of survival after the infection. Inhibitory activity of PE was decreased concentration-dependently. Also the inhibition was diminished when the PE was treated with heat of $95^{\circ}C$ for 10 min orprecipitated with 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). In SDS-PAGE of PE, many minor bands appeared newly. Heat-labile protein molecule in PE exerted inhibitory activity to Con A- induced Iymphocyte proliferation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2020

The chigger mite Leptotrombidium sialkotense is one of the 6 main vectors of scrub typhus in China. Before present study, L. sialkotense was found in some parts of Hunan province, China with a narrow geographical distribution. During field investigation 2016-2017, we found L. sialkotense in Jingha, southern Yunnan, China. Of 15 small mammal host species, L. sialkotense were collected from 6 species of the hosts. Rattus brunneusculus was a dominant host of L. sialkotense, from which 98.3% of the mites were collected. The chigger mite showed a relatively high infestation prevalence (P_M =11.7%) and mean abundance (MA=0.5) in comparison with the rest 5 host species. These results reveal a certain host specificity of L. sialkotense to a rat R. brunneusculus. The mite L. sialkotense showed an aggregated distribution on the host (P<0.05). A positive correlation observed between L. sialkotense and the body length of hosts. There was a positive interspecific association between L. sialkotense and 2 other dominant vectors, L. deliense and L. scutellare.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2020

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that causes severe disease when the infection occurs during pregnancy. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside involved in numerous physiological processes; however, the role of adenosine receptors in T. gondii-induced trophoblast cell function has not been investigated until now. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathways regulated by adenosine receptors using a HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell model of T. gondii infection. HTR8/SVneo human extravillous trophoblast cells were infected with or without T. gondii and then evaluated for cell morphology, intracellular proliferation of the parasite, adenosine receptor expression, TNF-α production and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways triggered by adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃AR). HTR8/SVneo cells infected with T. gondii exhibited an altered cytoskeletal changes, an increased infection rate and reduced viability in an infection time-dependent manner. T. gondii significantly promoted increased TNF-α production, A₃AR protein levels and p38, ERK1/2 and JNK phosphorylation compared to those observed in uninfected control cells. Moreover, the inhibition of A₃AR by A₃AR siRNA transfection apparently suppressed the T. gondii infection-mediated upregulation of TNF-α, A₃AR production and MAPK activation. In addition, T. gondii-promoted TNF-α secretion was dramatically attenuated by pretreatment with PD098059 or SP600125. These results indicate that A₃AR-mediated activation of ERK1/2 and JNK positively regulates TNF-α secretion in T. gondii-infected HTR8/SVneo cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1723-1728
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• 2007

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), a type of red raspberry, grows wild in Korea and China and its unripe fruit is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of impotence and as a diuretic. RCM was extracted with methanol and then further fractionated it into for different types. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of a RCM extract (ext.) and its fraction (fr.). DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay, total polyphenols contents, total flavonoids contents assay were used to analyze antioxidant activity. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity $(RC_{50}:1.67{\mu}g/ml)$ and total polyphenols contents $(546.25{\mu}g/mg)$ were higher in butanol fraction than in other fr. And total flavonoids contents was higher in ethylacetate fr. $(141.78{\mu}g/mg)$. We applied comet assay to measure the DNA damage in the individual cells and exposed time course at $IC_{50}$. Comet assay is a rapid and sensitive fluorescent microscopic method to examine DNA damage and repair at individual cell level. The butanol fro from RCM significantly induced 54.12%, 57.95% of DNA damage after treated RCM for 8 hr. In conclus

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2015

This study was conducted to select proper light intensity, pot media, and fertilization level for potted Hepatica asiatica Nakai native to Korea. The plants were grown under various light intensities (shading rate, 52, 82, 90, 97%) imposed by shading net. Plants grown with 52% shading showed a low survival rate (65%). Survival rate increased as shading increased, with over 80% survival in shading above 90%. Growth indexes such as fresh weight and leaf number did not show any significant difference between shading treatments. Plants grown in a soil mixture of decomposed granite:fertilizer-amended media:Kanumatsuchi (60:10:30, v/v/v) or river sand:fertilizer-amended media:bark (50:20:30) showed over 85% survival. However, plants grown in a soil mixture of river sand:fertilizer-amended media:Kanumatsuchi (50:30:20) or upland:river sand (40:60) showed very low survival, below 60%. Leaf number and plant height were the highest in a soil mixture of decomposed granite:fertilizer-amended media:Kanumatsuchi (60:10:30) as well. To select a proper fertilization level for H. asiatica, hyponex solution diluted 1,000- or 2,000-fold were applied weekly or biweekly. The survival rate was lowest at weekly application with 1,000-fold diluted solution, and no significant difference was observed between other treatments. In conclusion, H. asiatica exhibits preferences for very low light intensity and soil with air permeability, and is adaptable to a broad range of fertilization levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.37-51
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• 1974

This Study was carried out to observe the effect of nutritional condition on the change of protein metabolism in the animal body by feeding on imbalanced protein diet. A total 242 growing male albino rats, weighing $115{\sim}120$ gm, were used for the experimental animals. The rats were fed on the standard diet(st), protein flee diet(pf) and imbalanced protein diet(ib) for twelve weeks respectively. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume in blood, and total nitrogen, amino acid nitrogen, urea-nitrogen, creatinine, transaminases(GPT, GOT) in liver and serum, and total nitrogen in small intestine, and total nitrogen, urea-nitrogen In small intestine, and total nitrogen, urea-nitrogen, creatinine, urea-nitrogen/creatinine ratio in urine were measured. The results obtained are as follows; 1. The gained body weight were lower in pf group and ib group than those of st group. The gained body weight fed for 12 weeks, were 80% lower in pf group than those of st group, and the body weight of pf group for $50{\sim}75$ days feeding were $40{\sim}60%$ decreased, compared with the stating weight, and then all of them died. 2. The change of the brain, liver, kidney, spleen and small intestine by feeding on imbalanced diet for 12 weeks were no remarkable difference with the starting weight, but those of protein free diet group were half or more decrease and those were significantly lower in spleen and small intestine especially than the other organ 3. The contents of hemoglobin in pf group for 8 weeks feeding, and the packed cell volume in pf group for 8 weeks feeding and in ib group for 12 weeks feeding were decreased. but those of the other feeding group were almost same value. 4. The total nitrogen in the liver, small intestine and serum of each diet group were no remarkable difference respectively. The contents of amino acid nitrogen in pf group for 2 and 6 weeks feeding were increased. 5. On transaminases: a) The cycle of increase and decrease of GPT activities were come periodically and the interval of cycle were fast in the early stage of feeding and slow there-after. b) The GPT activities were decreased gradually in pf group after feeding and those were increased in ib group for 6 weeks feeding but decreased there-after. The frequency of cycle were more GPT than GOT and specially those of GPT in early stage of feeding were two or three times while GOT was one. c) The interval of increase and decrease in GOT and amino acid nitrogen cycle were similar tendency. 6. The contents of total nitrogen, creatinine and urea-nitrogen of pf group in urine were decreased very sharply from sharting feeding to one week but increased dully from six weeks to eight weeks feeding. The contents of urea-nitrogen of ib group were increased dully by feeding on ten weeks but decreased by feeding on twelve weeks. From the above results, it is concluded that the trend of the metabolic change is maintained equally by homeostatic mechanism using the endogenous protein source during a certain period by imbalanced protein diet feeding. The homeostatic mechanism is come peridically, very fast in early stage of feeing and than slow there-after.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.401-409
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• 2013

Smilax china L., a native plant found in Asian countries, has several medicinal properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Although the root of the plant is commonly used as traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China, the medicinal properties of the leaves have not gained the same attention. In this study, we analyzed the antioxidant activity, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory effect and lipid accumulation inhibition effect of Smilax china L. leaf water extract (SCLE) and its solvent fractions. SCLE was fractionated by using a series of organic solvents, including ethylacetate (EA) and n-butanol (BuOH). The EA fraction had the highest total polyphenol content ($440.20{\pm}12.67$ mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content ($215.14{\pm}24.83$ mg QE/g). The radical scavenging activity $IC_{50}$ values of the EA fraction for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were 0.022 mg/mL and 0.13 mg/mL, respectively. Further, SOD-like activity and reducing power values of the EA fraction were higher than those of the other fractions. However, both the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and lipid accumulation inhibition assays showed that the BuOH fraction ($83.35{\pm}4.18%$ at 1 mg/mL) and water extract ($11.27{\pm}2.67%$) were more effective than the EA fraction ($64.13{\pm}6.35%$, and $45.66{\pm}7.20%$). These results provide new insights into the potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Smilax china L. leaf.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.912-918
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• 2006

This study examined the improvement of bread quality with Curcula longa and Glycyorrhiza uralensis extract (CGE). When counted, the viable cell number in bread with 5% of CGE dramatically was decreased by about 1 log cycle as compared to that of bread without CGE. With regard to oxidation, the content of malonaldehyde diminished in breads with increasing amounts of CGE. Breads with 1 and 5% of CGE were shown to have the highest antioxidative effect. The moisture contents of bread with CGE and bread without CGE were not much different during the early storage period. After six days of storage, however, the moisture contents of bread without CGE and bread with 0.5% of CGE decreased about 16%. On the other hand, the moisture contents of bread with 1% and 5% of CGE did not change dramatically. Their moisture content was decreased by only 4% during the same storage period. Although color, lightness and redness gradually diminished with increasing amounts of CGE in bread, conversely yellowness increased. In the sensory evaluation, bread with 0.5% and 1% of CGE scored the highest: 3.66 and 3.67 out of 5, respectively. Bread with 5% of CGE scored the lowest of the various bread tested. From these results, the addition of 1% CGE in bread had a good effect on improvement of preservation and development of quality.