• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 1998

Prolactin (PRL) surge in cycling rats at proestrous afternoon has previously been reported as an inducer of apoptotic cell death of luteal cells. This death-inducing action of PRL seeins unusual, because PRL can he categorized as a cell-survival factor, if other known physiological functions of PRL are taken into account. In this study, the apoptotic action of PRL was assessed in cultured cells prepared from rat luteal tissue and underlying molecular /cellular mechanism of PRL-induced luteolysis was analyzed. The latest crop of corpora lutea (CLs) were enucleated from rat ovaries at 18:00 h on the proestrous day before the next ovulation. Donor rats were pretreated with CB154, a dopamine agonist, in order to he exempted from the endogenous PRL surge. The harvested GLs were dispersed and cultured with or without PRL (2$\mu$g /ml) for 24 or 48 h. An addition of PRL to the culture medium changed the parameters indicative of cell death via apoptosis: a decrease in cell viability (MTT) and an increase in chromatin condensation. Most of the DNA breakdown in nuclei induced by PRL occurred in steroidogenic cells which were identified by 3$\beta$-HSD activity staining, and the number of 3$\beta$-HSD-positivecells were significantly decreased. Interestingly, most of the cells with an apoptotic nucleus adhered to one or more intact and seemingly non-steroidogenic cells. Because the expression of Fas has heen shown to be abundant in murine ovary, and Fas is known to have an exact physiological role in occurrence of apoptotic cell death, the membrane form-Fas ligand (rnFasL) was quantified in the cell lysate. An addition of PRL increased expression of mFasL. Moreover, an addition of concanavalin A (ConA), a T-cell specific activator, in place of PRL, enhanced the apoptotic parameters. Cumulatively, the apoptotic PRL action was addressed to cells unknown than steroidogenic lute~ cells. The most prohable candidate for the direct target cells is Tcells in the luteal tissue that can express mFasL in response to PRL.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Perilla frutescens Britton leaves are a commonly consumed vegetable in different Asian countries including Korea. Cancer is a major cause of human death worldwide. The aim of the current study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of ethanol extract of perilla leaf (PLE) against important characteristics of cancer cells, including unrestricted growth, resisted apoptosis, and activated metastasis, using human cancer cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Two human cancer cell lines were used in this study, HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells and H1299 non-small cell lung carcinoma cells. Assays using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide were performed for measurement of cell growth. Soft agar and wound healing assays were performed to determine colony formation and cell migration, respectively. Nuclear staining and cell cycle analysis were performed for assessment of apoptosis. Fibronectin-coated plates were used to determine cell adhesion. RESULTS: Treatment of HCT116 and H1299 cells with PLE resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of growth by 52-92% (at the concentrations of 87.5, 175, and $350{\mu}g/ml$) and completely abolished the colony formation in soft agar (at the concentration of $350{\mu}g/ml$). Treatment with PLE at the $350{\mu}g/ml$ concentration resulted in change of the nucleus morphology and significantly increased sub-G1 cell population in both cells, indicating its apoptosis-inducing activity. PLE at the concentration range of 87.5 to $350{\mu}g/ml$ was also effective in inhibiting the migration of H1299 cells (by 52-58%) and adhesion of both HCT116 and H1299 cells (by 25-46%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PLE exerts anti-cancer activities against colon and lung cancers in vitro. Further studies are needed in order to determine whether similar effects are reproduced in vivo.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2009

Objectives : Yangseng is a traditional healthcare regimen on the promotion of health and prevention of illnesses by means of specific principles and methods for the purpose of living a long and healthy life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of actual health and Yangseng in urban elderly for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. Methods : The subjects of this study were 393 elderly (male 139, female 254) who lives in Kochang, Cheonbuk, Korea. The questions about their health and Yangseng was asked by survey personnels. Results : In this survey, many of the urban elderly have osteoarthritis 54.45%, Herniated nucleus pulposus 45.04%, osteoporosis 32.06%, hypertention 37.40%, diabetes 17.05%. Most of them had pain in the body 82.7%, and reported fatigues 78.63%, stress 18.32%, and depression and anxiety 49.11%. The score of Yangeng was significantly higher in the group who don't have osteoarthirtis, fatigue, depression and anxiety than in the group who have those. The average of the total score of Yangsen was $100.61{\pm}16.08$. There was significant difference in Yangseng score according to osteoarthritis, fatigues, and depression and anxiety, while the score of Yangsen in the diabetes group was higher than that in the non-diabetes group. Conclusions : Above results could be used for planning the public healthcare programs and Yangseng promoting program based on Korean traditional medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

In the peripheral nerves, injury-induced cytokines and growth factors perform critical functions in the activation of both the MEK/ERK and JAK/STAT3 pathways. In this study, we determined that nerve injury-induced ERK activation was temporally correlated with STAT3 phosphorylation at the serine 727 residue. In cultured Schwann cells, we noted that ERK activation is required for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 by neuropoietic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Serine phosphorylated STAT3 by IL-6 was transported into Schwann cell nuclei, thereby indicating that ERK may regulate the transcriptional activity of STAT3 via the induction of serine phosphorylation of STAT3. Neuregulin-1 (NRG) also induced the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ERK-dependent fashion. In contrast with the IL-6 response, serine phosphorylated STAT3 induced by NRG was not detected in the nucleus, thus indicating the non-nuclear function of serine phosphorylated STAT3 in response to NRG. Finally, we determined that the inhibition of ERK prevented injury-induced serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ex-vivo explants culture of the sciatic nerves. Collectively, the results of this study show that ERK may be an upstream kinase for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 induced by multiple stimuli in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1799-1805
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• 2019

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective anticancer agents used for the treatment of multiple cancers; however, its use is limited by its short half-life and adverse drug reactions, especially cardiotoxicity. In this study, we found that the conjugate of DOX with APTA12 (Gemcitabine incorporated G-quadruplex aptamer) was significantly more cancer selective and cytotoxic than DOX. The conjugate had an affinity for nucleolin, with higher uptake and retention into the cancer cells than those of DOX. Further, it was localized to the nucleus, which is the target site of DOX. Owing to its mechanism of action, DOX has the ability to intercalate into the nucleotides thus making it a suitable drug to form a conjugate with cancer selective aptamers such as APTA12. The conjugation can lead to selectively accumulate in the cancer cells thus decreasing its potential nonspecific as well as cardiotoxic side effects. The aim of this study was to prepare a conjugate of DOX with APTA12 and assess the chemotherapeutic properties of the conjugate specific to cancer cells. The DOX-APTA12 conjugate was prepared by incubation and its cytotoxicity in MCF-10A (non-cancerous mammary cells) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cells) was assessed. The results indicate that DOX-APTA12 conjugate is a potential option for chemotherapy especially for nucleolin expressing breast cancer with reduced doxorubicin associated side effects.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.305-310
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• 2008

A 10-year-old female Yorkshire terrier with the clinical signs of nasal swelling, epistaxis and nasal discharge was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Cheju National University. Abnormal nasal mass was detected in physical examination and radiographic findings. After surgical excision, the sample of nasal mass was referred to Pathology Department of Veterinary Medicine. Grossly, the mass was soft, friable, and $2.5{\times}4cm$ cm in size. Histopathologically, the mass was composed of mediumsized non-keratinizing columnar to polyhedral cells arranged in anastomosing ribbon and large nest. It has complex in-folding of thick epithelial layers separated by fibrovascular septa. Tumor cells showed characteristic palisading arrangement of columnar cells, and perpendicularly distributed to the basement membrane. The cells had pale basophilic cytoplasm, oval nucleus and one or more nucleoli, and indistinct cellular border. Many tumor cell emboli were presented in lymphatics. Immunohistochemistry revealed that tumor cells were cytokeratin (CK) 19 and CK clone MNF116 positive and but CK7 and CK high molecular weight negative. Based on the gross, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings, the mass was diagnosed as transitional carcinoma in nasal cavity. In our best knowledge, this is the first report of transitional carcinoma originated from transitional zone of canine nasal cavity in Korea.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2005

We report on the diagnosis, pathology, and taxonomy of Perkinsus sp. infection in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) from Korean waters. Amplimers were designed from internal portions of the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) of P. atlanticus for molecular diagnosis of Perkinsus infection. PCR-based identification methods and an in situ hybridization assay were developed for detection of Perkinsus sp. in live tissues as well as in histological preparations. Hybridization signals were observed around the nucleus of trophozoites. Positive results from PCR and in situ hybridization indicated that Korean Perkinsus sp. is genetically identical with P. atlanticus reported in Europe, which is currently synonymous with P. olseni reported from Australia. Microscopic morphological features of different lift stages of Perkinsus sp. appeared very similar to those of P. atlanticus. Severely infected clams often exhibited white nodules on their mantles and gills as a consequence of inflammation. In lightly to moderately infected clams, Perkinsus sp. was mainly found in gill tissues, whereas the protozoan parasites were found in digestive tracts, gonadal tissues, and foot tissues of heavily infected clams. It is likely that the gills are the portal of the infection and that P. olseni spreads to other tissues as the infection advances. In conclusion, by considering the taxonomic priority of P. olseni, Korean Perkinsus sp. is accepted as P. olseni. P. olseni appears to be common on tidal flats on the western and southern Korean coasts and is considered to be a pathogen capable of causing mass mortality of clams.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.50.2-50.2
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• 2016

Polarization is a rich source of information on the physical properties of astronomical objects. In particular, scattered sunlight by optically thin media (e.g., cometary comae) shows linear polarization of light, which highly depends on the phase angle (an angle between the Sun-Comet-Earth), wavelengths, and physical properties of cometary dust particles such as size, composition, and structures. Here, we present a study of polarimetric properties of non-periodic comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) in optical and near-infrared wavelength regions obtained from imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetric observations taken on UT 2015 December 17 - 19 welcoming its (probably) first close approach to the Earth. In this presentation, we want to introduce our progress since the last Korean Astronomical Society meeting (at BEXCO, Busan, 2016 April 14 - 15) especially in terms of spatial variations of degree of linear polarization (DOLP) and its possible scenarios to explain the correlations with other observational results. In particular, we found that there is strong anti-correlation between the gas/dust flux ratio and DOLP at the cometocentric distance of $(2-5){\times}104 km$. Besides, within 10 arcseconds in radii (corresponding to inner coma region of 104 km from the center), the inverse relationship of these two parameters does not hold anymore. We conjecture that the rapid outward increase of DOLP can be supported by either the sublimation/evaporation of icy volatiles, disaggregation of cometary dust particles ejected from the nucleus, and/or difference of dominant dust particle sizes. From our results, we can conclude that comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) corroborates rather indefinite traditional classification of poalrimetric classes of comets, and provides good opportunity to study less processed material which probably cherishes its memory at the formation epoch of the Solar System.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1369-1377
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• 2020

Objective: The main objectives of the present study were to assess the genetic diversity, population structure and to appraise the efficiency of ongoing selective breeding program in the closed nucleus herd of Nellore sheep through pedigree analysis. Methods: Information utilized in the study was collected from the pedigree records of Livestock Research Station, Palamaner during the period from 1989 to 2016. Genealogical parameters like generation interval, pedigree completeness, inbreeding level, average relatedness among the animals and genetic conservation index were estimated based on gene origin probabilities. Lambs born during 2012 and 2016 were considered as reference population. Two animal models either with the use of F_i or ΔF_i as linear co-variables were evaluated to know the effects of inbreeding on the growth traits of Nellore sheep. Results: Average generation interval and realized effective population size for the reference cohort were estimated as 3.38±0.10 and 91.56±1.58, respectively and the average inbreeding coefficient for reference population was 3.32%. Similarly, the effective number of founders, ancestors and founder genome equivalent of the reference population were observed as 47, 37, and 22.48, respectively. Fifty per cent of the genetic variability was explained by 14 influential ancestors in the reference cohort. The ratio f_e/f_a obtained in the study was 1.21, which is an indicator of bottlenecks in the population. The number of equivalent generations obtained in the study was 4.23 and this estimate suggested the fair depth of the pedigree. Conclusion: Study suggested that the population had decent levels of genetic diversity and a non-significant influence of inbreeding coefficient on growth traits of Nellore lambs. However, small portion of genetic diversity was lost due to a disproportionate contribution of founders and bottlenecks. Hence, breeding strategies which improve the genetic gain, widens the selection process and with optimum levels of inbreeding are recommended for the herd.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several pharmacological properties of red rice extract have been reported including anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and reduced cancer cell invasion. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of red rice extract on the production of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: Pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6 were determined by ELISA and cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression was evaluated using western blot analysis. In addition, the signaling pathway controlling the inflammatory cascade such as nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), activator proteins-1 (AP-1), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was determined. RESULTS: Our results showed that red rice polar extract fraction (RR-P), but not non-polar extract fraction, inhibited interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and nitric oxide production in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. RR-P also reduced the expression of inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, activation of AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor in the nucleus was abrogated by RR-P. RR-P inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signaling-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK signaling responsible for the expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Based on chemical analysis, high amounts of proanthocyanidin and catechins were detected in the RR-P fraction. However, only proanthocyanidin reduced $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 activation in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of RR-P may stem from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators via suppression of the AP-1, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and MAPKs pathways.