• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2007

To identify regulatory molecules which play key roles in the development of obesity, we investigated the transcriptional profiles in 3T3-L1 cells at early stage of differentiation and analyzed the promoter sequences of differentially regulated genes. One hundred and sixty-one (161) genes were found to have significant changes in expression at the 2nd day following treatment with differentiation cocktail. Among them, 86 transcripts were up-regulated and 75 transcripts were down-regulated. The 161 transcripts were classified into 10 categories according to their functional roles; cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, immune, defense response, metabolism, protein modification, protein metabolism, regulation of transcription, signal transduction and transporter. To identify transcription factors likely involved in regulating these differentially expressed genes, we analyzed the promoter sequences of up- or - down regulated genes for the presence of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs). Based on coincidence of regulatory sites, we have identified candidate transcription factors (TFs), which include those previously known to be involved in adipogenesis (CREB, OCT-1 and c-Myc). Among them, c-Myc was also identified by our microarray data. Our approach to take advantage of the resource of the human genome sequences and the results from our microarray experiments should be validated by further studies of promoter occupancy and TF perturbation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.870-879
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• 2006

The present study describes the formation of succinic acid by a nonvirulent, highly osmotolerant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain SAP (succinic acid producer), its profile of metabolites, and enzymes of the succinate production pathway. The strain produced succinate along with other metabolites such as lactate, acetate, and ethanol under aerobic as well as anaerobic growth conditions. The yield of succinate was higher in the presence of $MgCO_3$ under $N_2$ atmosphere as compared with that under $CO_2$ atmosphere. Analysis of intracellular metabolites showed the presence of a smaller PEP pool than that of pyruvate. Oxaloacetate, citrate, and $\alpha$-ketoglutarate pools were considerably larger than those of isocitrate and fumarate. In order to understand the synthesis of succinate, the enzymes involved in end-product formation were studied. Levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fumarate reductase, pyruvate kinase, and acetate kinase were higher under anaerobic growth conditions. Based on the profiles of the metabolites and enzymes, it was concluded that the synthesis of succinate took place via oxaloacetate, malate, and fumarate in the strain under anaerobic growth conditions. The strain SAP showed potential for the bioconversion of fumarate to succinate under $N_2$ atmosphere in the presence of $MgCO_3$. At an initial fumarate concentration of 10 g/l, 7.1 g/l fumarate was converted to 7 g/l succinate with a molar conversion efficiency of 97.3%. The conversion efficiency and succinate yield were increased in the presence of glucose. Cells grown on fumarate contained an 18-fold higher fumarate reductase activity as compared with the activity obtained when grown on glucose.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2012

Fresh oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) were gamma-irradiated at 0, 1, 2, and 3 kGy. The effects on various quality attributes were determined during storage at $5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. Color changes were more prominent in the cap region than the stem part. At the start of storage increase of Hunter's L-value (lightness) was observed in the caps of 2 and 3 kGy-irradiated samples. The L-value was higher in the all irradiated samples during storage. The trend was different in the case of stem region, where L-value decreased upon irradiation, but remained high throughout storage. The ${\alpha}$-value declined, whereas the b-value increased following irradiation. Irradiation showed a dose-dependent effect on the firmness, which was clearer during storage, but the samples irradiated at 1 kGy maintained an overall better texture than other irradiated samples. The weight loss was also higher in the all irradiated samples during storage. The samples irradiated at 1 kGy showed good physical appearance without any fungal attack at the end of storage; however color change in cap region was quite apparent. The ultra-structural drastic effect of irradiation was understandable using scanning electron microscopy. E-nose analysis demonstrated a clear change in the volatile profiles of all irradiated samples. Although the effect of irradiation on quality characteristics was quite clear but the all irradiated samples were free from fungal attack that was observed in the case of control sample.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2014

Purpose: To study the long-term outcomes and tolerance in our patients who received dose escalated radiotherapy in the early salvage post-prostatectomy setting. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 54 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy subsequently followed by salvage radiation therapy (SRT) to the prostate bed between 2003-2010 were analyzed. Patients included were required to have a pre-radiation prostate specific antigen level (PSA) of 2 ng/mL or less. The median SRT dose was 70.2 Gy. Biochemical failure after salvage radiation was defined as a PSA level >0.2 ng/mL. Biochemical control and survival endpoints were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the potential impact of confounding factors on outcomes. Results: The median pre-SRT PSA was 0.45 ng/mL and the median follow-up time was 71 months. The 4- and 7-year actuarial biochemical control rates were 75.7% and 63.2%, respectively. The actuarial 4- and 7-year distant metastasis-free survival was 93.7% and 87.0%, respectively, and the actuarial 7-year prostate cancer specific survival was 94.9%. Grade 3 late genitourinary toxicity developed in 14 patients (25.9%), while grade 4 late genitourinary toxicity developed in 2 patients (3.7%). Grade 3 late gastrointestinal toxicity developed in 1 patient (1.9%), and grade 4 late gastrointestinal toxicity developed in 1 patient (1.9%). Conclusion: In this series with long-term follow-up, early SRT provided outcomes and toxicity profiles similar to those reported from the three major randomized trials studying adjuvant radiation therapy.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1521-1531
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• 2011

This study was carried out to determine the characteristics of the marine environment, including nutritional content, in order to clearly understand the outbreaks of Gonyaulax polygramma in the southern coastal areas in August, 2009. Samples were collected at 13 sites and water temperature and salinity were measured using a CTD. Field surveys were twice: the first between August 5-7, the second between August 22-24. The cell density of G. polygramma was 6,500-10,000 cells $ml^{-1}$ during the $1^{st}$ survey, whereas during the $2^{nd}$ survey the range of the cells was recorded from 8,000 to 12,500 cells $ml^{-1}$. Cochlodinium polykrikoides ranged from 0 to 105 cells $l^{-1}$ during the field survey. In water environments, the majority stations during the $1^{st}$ survey showed a nearly homogeneous water column below $1^{\circ}C$ in temperature, as well as similar profiles of salinity. However, the stratification between the surface and bottom was observed in the $2^{nd}$ survey. Regarding nutrients, Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in the surface ranged from 0.144 to 0.236 mg $l^{-1}$ during the $1^{st}$ survey, and 0.082-0.228 mg $l^{-1}$ during the $2^{nd}$ survey. DIP (Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus) did not show any difference in concentration between the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ survey. During August of 2009, the wind speed in the southern waters remained at around ${\leq}2\;m\;s^{-1}$ for about 60% of time, and there was very little precipitation during the month. Irradiance of ${\geq}10$ hr was shown in the late of August. It is thought that a low level of DIN and salinity play an important role as an essential factor for rapid growth, wide distribution and longer duration of red tide in G. polygramma.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2016

The quality and quantity of live food sources strongly influence the success of fish production in farming operations. Thus, critical studies of live forage species are a crucial element for progress in fish aquaculture. The fat content of food is an especially important determinant of growth in marine fish. Omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) are essential components of diet that determine the nutritional value of larval fish. Euglena is a protist that has potential as a forage species. These single-celled organisms have plant and animal characteristics they are motile, elliptical in shape and 15–500 μm in diameter. Their nutritional content is excellent, but most studies have focused on cells raised in autotrophic culture. We therefore examined differences in the lipid and fatty acid contents, and the growth of Euglena cells grown under autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic conditions. Biomass production reached 15.03 g/L, 12.28 g/L, and 3.66 g/L under mixotrophy, heterotrophy, and autotrophy, respectively. The proportional n-3 HUFA content differed among culture methods: 10.04%, 5.80% and 10.01% in mixotrophic, heterotrophic and autotrophic cultures, respectively. Mixotrophy was to be the best form of cultivation for improving the growth and nutritional content of Euglena.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5489-5494
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• 2013

In the current study we aimed to show the common YMDD motif mutations in viral polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients during lamivudine and adefovir therapy. Forty-one serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients (24 male, 17 female; age range: 34-68 years) were included in the study. HBV-DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients using an extraction kit (Invisorb, Instant Spin DNA/RNA Virus Mini Kit, Germany). A line probe assay and direct sequencing analyses (INNO-LIPA HBV DR v2; INNOGENETICS N.V, Ghent, Belgium) were applied to determine target mutations of the viral polymerase gene in positive HBV-DNA samples. A total of 41 mutations located in 21 different codons were detected in the current results. In 17 (41.5%) patients various point mutations were detected leading to lamivudin, adefovir and/or combined drug resistance. Wild polymerase gene profiles were detected in 24 (58.5%) HBV positive patients of the current cohort. Eight of the 17 samples (19.5%) having rtM204V/I/A missense transition and/or transversion point mutations and resistance to lamivudin. Six of the the mutated samples (14.6%) having rtL180M missense transversion mutation and resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having rtG215H by the double base substituation and resistance to adefovir. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having codon rtL181W due to the missense transversion point mutations and showed resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Unreported novel point mutations were detected in the different codons of polymerase gene region in the current HBV positive cohort fromTurkish population. The current results provide evidence that rtL180M and rtM204V/I/A mutations of HBV-DNA may be associated with a poor antiviral response and HBV chronicity during conventional therapy in Turkish patients.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2012

The proximate compositions and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni that was caught in the southern Ross Sea (J, L) of the Antarctic Ocean were studied. The lipid contents of samples from J and L were 18.2 and 21.1%, respectively. The protein and ash contents were similar for samples J and L. The prominent fatty acids in the total lipids of the fish muscle were 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7, 16:0, 14:0, 18:1n-7, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). In addition, the total fatty acids of bycatch products in the toothfish stomachs (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Gerlachea australis, Pasiphaea sp., Trematomus eulepidotus, Chionodraco hamatus, Chionodraco myersi, and Neopagetopsis ionah) were determined. The prominent fatty acids in those species were 18:1n-9, 16:0, 14:0, DHA, EPA, and 18:1n-7.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.391-397
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• 2006

This study correlated changes in estradiol-l7$\beta$ ($E_2$), testosterone (T), 17$\alpha$,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), and vitellogenin (VTG) levels with changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ovarian histology during the annual reproductive cycle of the wild marbled sole, Limanda yokohamae. Synchronous oocyte development occurs in this fish. Ovary maturity was classified into four periods, based on histological observations: the spawning (December to February), post-spawning (February to April), recovery (May to August), and vitellogenic (September to November) periods. Seasonal changes in the GSI were inversely correlated with water temperatures and reflected the degree of ovarian maturity. Plasma VTG levels were correlated with changes in the GSI, which increased from September to a peak in January, and levels remained comparatively high until February. Estradiol-17$\beta$ was at baseline levels (<0.11 ng/mL) during the spring and summer, and peaked rapidly (1.55$\pm$0.445 ng/mL) from October to January. Plasma T and DHP levels had a similar profile; they rose markedly during the spawning period and remained low (or were not detectable) from spring through autumn. These data indicate that changes in plsama steroid hormones and VTG levels are correlated with the annual ovarian activity of the marbled sole. Based on these results and published reports, it appears that in this species DHP is the most important maturation-inducing steroid and that T is also related to final maturation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2013

The marine microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. was cultured under a metal halide lamp (MH) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of various wavelengths (blue, LB; red, LR; yellow, LY; green, LG; white, LW); changes in growth, total carotenoid, chlorophyll a, amino acid and fatty acid profiles were investigated. LB-exposed cultures exhibited the highest specific growth rate (SGR) (0.32), whereas LY-exposed cultures showed the lowest SGR (0.18). After cultivation for 9 days, the maximum dry cell weight (g/L) of LB-exposed cultures was significantly higher than that of those exposed to other light conditions (LB>MH>LW$${\geq_-}LG{\geq_-}$$LR>LY). The essential amino acid (EAA, %) contents of cultures exposed to LG, LB, LR and MH were higher than those exposed to LY and LW (P<0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid levels were significantly higher in MH-exposed cultures compared to those exposed to LY (P<0.05), with no marked difference compared to those exposed to LB, LG, LR and LW (P>0.05). The total carotenoid content was highest in LR-exposed cultures (18.0 mg/L), whereas MH showed the lowest (11.8 mg/L; P<0.05). Chlorophyll a content was highest in cultures exposed to LR compared to other light sources. These results suggest consistent differences in growth and biochemical composition after exposure to light of different wavelengths.