• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1513-1520
• /
• 2008

The 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) affects vascular dysfunctions probably through the interruption of the cellular redox balance. To better understand vascular abnormalities resulting from the accumulation of HNE, we delineated mechanism by which mitochondrial apoptosis occurs in the YPEN-1 endothelial cells. HNE treatment led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\delta}{\Psi}_m$), resulting in the release of cytochrome c. Data showed decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax protein levels in HNE-treated cells. NAC, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, and penicillamine, the peroxynitrite scavenger, blocked HNE-mediated ROS generation, thereby thwarting the cytochrome c release and apoptosis. The treatment of the cells with zVAD-fmk, a broad range caspase inhibitor did not suppress HNE-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the apoptosis might be the possibility of caspase-independent process. Our findings delineate the underlying mechanism of the HNE induced endothelial apoptosis by triggering depolarization of mitochondria membrane potential that can lead to the deterioration of vasculature homeostasis and subsequent vascular dysfunction with aging.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.132-139
• /
• 2020

Background: The double-lumen cannula (DLC) has begun to be used worldwide for venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We aimed to examine whether the DLC could be an effective tool in the treatment of pediatric respiratory failure in Korea. Methods: We reviewed the records of patients weighing under 15 kg who underwent ECMO due to respiratory failure between January 2017 and December 2018. Outcomes of ECMO using a DLC and conventional ECMO using central method or 2 peripheral cannulas were compared. Results: Twelve patients were treated with ECMO for respiratory failure. Among them, a DLC was used in 5 patients, the median age of whom was 3.8 months (interquartile range, 0.1-49.7 months). In these patients, the median values of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and partial pressure of oxygen were 7.09, 74 mm Hg, and 37 mm Hg before ECMO and corrected to 7.31, 44 mm Hg, and 85 mm Hg, respectively, after ECMO cannulation. Median blood flow rate in the patients treated with ECMO using a DLC was slightly higher than that in the conventional ECMO group, but this difference was not statistically significant (86.1 mL/kg/min and 74.3 mL/kg/min, respectively; p=1.00). One patient from the DLC group and 3 patients from the conventional group were weaned off ECMO. Conclusion: VV ECMO using a DLC provided adequate oxygenation, ventilation, and blood flow rate in Korean pediatric patients with respiratory failure. Further prospective and randomized studies are warranted.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2006

An aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating ammonium wastewater was studied in respect of nitrification characteristics and distribution of nitrification bacteria over a period of 350 days. MBR was fed with ammonium concentration of 500-1000 mg $NH_4-N/L$ at a nitrogen load of $1-2kg\;N/m^3{\cdot}d$. Overall ammonium oxidation rate increased with dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, temperature, and sludge retention time (SRT). Under a higher concentration of free ammonia ($NH_3-N$) due to the decrease of ammonium oxidation rate, the nitrite ratio ($NO_2-N/NO_x-N$) in the effluent increased. The sudden collapse of nitrification efficiency accompanied by sludge foaming and the increase of sludge volume index (SVI) was observed unexpectedly during the operation. At the later stage of operation, additional carbon source was fed to the MBR and resulted in twice higher value of SVI and the decrease of ammonium oxidation rate. In fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, genus Nitrosomonas which is specifically hybridized with probe NSM156 was initially the dominant ammonia oxidizing bacteria and the amount of Nitrosospira gradually increased. Nitrospira was the dominant nitrite oxidizing bacteria during whole operational period. Significant amount of Nitrobacter was also detected which might due to the high concentration of nitrite maintained in the reactor.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.154-166
• /
• 2017

Polymeric films for gas barrier applications such as food packaging and electronic devices have attracted great interest due to their cheap, light and easy processability among gas barrier materials. Especially in electronic devices, extremely low gas permeance is necessary for maintaining the device performance. However, current polymeric barrier films still suffer from relatively high gas permeance than other materials. Therefore, there have been strong needs to enhance the gas barrier performance of polymeric barrier films while keep their own advantages. Recently, graphene is highlighted as a 2D-layered material for gas barrier applications. However, owing to the poor workability and difficulty to produce in engineering scale, graphene oxide (GO) is on the rise. GO consists of oxygen-containing functional groups on surface with intrinsic 2D-layered structure and high aspect ratio, and it can be well-dispersed in aqueous polar solvents like water, resulting in scalable mass production. Here, we prepared GO incorporated polyimide (PI) nanocomposites. PI is widely used barrier polymer with high mechanical strength and thermal and chemical stability. We demonstrated that PI/GO nanocomposites could perform as a gas barrier. Furthermore, surfactants (Triton X-100 (TX) and Sodium deoxycholate (SDC)) are introduced to enhance the gas barrier performance by improving the degree of dispersion of GO in PI matrix. As a result, TX enhanced the gas barrier performance of PI/GO nanocomposites which is similar to predicted value. This finding will provide new insight to polymer nanocomposites for gas barrier applications.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.273-281
• /
• 2009

Antioxidants partially ameliorated the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on sperm characteristics during in vitro storage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the single or synergetic antioxidative effect of curcumin and Vit. E on the characteristics of fresh boar sperm during in vitro storage. The sperm viability in curcumin, Vit. E supplementation and curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups remained over 85.0% in 3 hr incubation period, but in 6 hr incubation period, curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups was sharply dropped than those of curcumin and Vit. E group. The membrane intergrity in all evaluated groups except for $H_2O_2$ group did not significantly difference in 3 hr incubation period. The viability in curcumin or Vit. E supplementation were significantly increased than in curcumin+$H_2O_2$ and Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ group in 6 hr incubation period. The percentage of mitochondrial activity and acrosome intergrity obtained similar trends within same incubation periods irrespective of treatment. The lipid peroxidation of spermatozoal plasma membrane ranged from $11.6{\sim}17.5\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ and $14.0{\sim}19.0\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ in 3 hr and 6 hr incubation periods. In conclusion, curcumin or Vit. E surpplementation alone or cooperatively improved sperm viability index (motility, membrane intergrity, viability and survival rates) and fertility index (mitochondria activity, acrosome intergrity and lipid peroxidation) of fresh boar sperm, indicating that curcumin and Vit. E have a antioxidative properties through its scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.45-57
• /
• 2006

Objective : This study was undertaker to determine if Juglandis Semen herbal acupuncture (JSA) exerts protective effect against alterations in membrane transport function in rabbits with mercury-induced acute renal failure. Methods : Nephrotoxicity was induced by subcutaneous administration of Hg(a single dose of 10mg/kg) and JSA was performed at both sides of Shenshu($(BL_{23})$, Sinsu) for 7 days. Results: The administration of Hg at a subcutaneous single dose of 10 mg/kg caused a reduction in GFR to 12% of the basal value and an increase in fractional $Na^+$ excretion to 8.9-fold, indicating generation of acute renal failure. When JSA were given for 7 days prior to Hg administration, such changes were significantly attenuated. The fractional excretion of glucose and phosphate was increased to approximately 102- and 35-fold, respectively, in rabbits treated with Hg alone. The increase in rabbits treated with Hg following ISA are significantly lower than that in animals treated with Hg alone. Uptakes of glucose and phosphate in purified isolated brush-border membrane and $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activity in microsomal fraction were inhibited in rabbits treated with Hg alone, suggesting that impairment in proximal reabsorption of glucose and phosphate is resulted from a direct damage of membrane transport carriers and disruption of the normal $Na^+$ gradient. Such changes were prevented by JSA. Conclusion These results indicate that the administration of Hg causes impairment in reabsorption of solutes in the proximal tubule via the generation of reactive oxygen species. JSA provides the protection against the Hg-induced impairment in proximal reabsorption, and its effect may be resulted from its antioxidant action.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1977

The sample persimmons were obtained from the of Yung-am Kun, Korea on October 24, and November 9, 1973. These persimmons were kept at room temperature overnight, then packed and stored on the following day at $0^{\circ}C$ and $85{\sim}100%$ humidity. Seven experimental items were studied : 1. control, 2. packing with excelsior in wooden boxes, 3. packing with rice hull in wooden boxes, 4. packing in bags of 0.03 mm polyethylene membrane, 5. packing in bags of 0.06 mm polyethylene membrane, 6. packing in bags of 0.08 mm polyethylene membrane, 7. packing in sealed desiccators. The dimension of polyethylene bags were $14{\times}28cm$ and three persimmons were packing in each bag. The results are as follows: 1. The persimmons both in polyethylene bags and in desiccators lost only 1 % or less of weight, while in control (1) packing with excelsior (2) or with rice hull (3) the loss was 6-7 % in weight after $2{\sim}3$ months. The persimmons became visibly shriveled and spongy-like in it's texture when it lost 5 % of weight. 2. Carbon dioxide content within the polyethylene bags and desiccators rapidly increased during the early storage period, and reached 5 % (in 0.03 mm polyethylene bags) to 50 % or more (in desiccator) after 1 month. In the polyethylene bags of 0.08 mm and desiccator, the carbon dioxide accumulated to a dangerous level and the persimmon showed physiological damage in a longer storage period. 3. The advance of after-ripening and deterioration of persimmon sealed in the polyethylene bags was slower than that in open bags when moved out to room temperature from the chilling and the polyethylene bags of 0.06 mm retarded the after-ripening most effectively. 4. On the basis of these results, a temperature of $0^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of almost $85{\sim}100%$ and combinations of 5 % oxygen and $5{\sim}8%$ carbon dioxide seem to be the optimum condition for the storage of persimmon (Teabong-Si). The most successful method of storing was to pack them in polyethylene bags of 0.06 mm and then to store them at $0^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 1967

Kim, Jong Hyup, (Div. of Biology, Atomic Energy Research Institute.) Studies on the Cellular Metabolism in Microorganisms as influenced by Gamma-irradiation(II). On respiration rate and dehydrogenase activity of yeast cells irradiated by gamma ray from cobalt-60. 1. Oxygen uptake rate of the gamma irraiated yeast cells had been measured with Warburg's manometer, and the $O_{2}$-uptake was compared with those of normal cells. The rate of endogetious respiration increases in its $O_2$-uptake at 150, 000 rentgen dose, and at higher rentoen doses it was decreased. Exogenous respiration begin to decrease in its O_2$-uptake at 5, 000r. doses of irradiation, further decrease with increasing of doses unproportionally. 2. It appears that plasma-membrane and nuclear membrane of yeast cells have changed and denatured by gamma-irradiation, as exogenous respiration of glucose had been decreased at a dose of 200, 000r's irradiation. 3. The activity of glucose, alcoholic, lactic, succinic and glutamic deliydrogenase (G.D.H., A.D.H., L.D.H., S.D.11., and GL.D.H.) in the gamma irradaited cells had been assayed by T.T.C.(Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) method and spectrophotometry, the obtained results were compared with those of normal cells. 4. At a dose of and 10, 000 rentgens' irradiation of gamma ray, the activty of each debydrogenase (G.D.H., A.D.H., L.D.H., ) shows a sharp and highest peak in optical absorbalicy, but each abtivity of S.D.H and Gl.D.H shows its' maximum peak at a dose of 30, 000r. 5. The curve of each dehydrogenase activity was found to be rhythmical according to dose-rate of gamma irradiation. 6. Comparing with activity of debydrogenase each other, the maximum peak in optical absorbency can be arranged according to order as follows; glucose > alcoholoic > lactic > glutamic > succinic, this order is identical to the order of breakdown utility in respiration of normal yeast cells. 7. The activity of dehydrogenase experimented exhibit a resistance against gamma irradiation at lethal dose of cells, and the activity of dehydrogenase are found to be much resistant than those of respiratory system. We may assume that the membrane substrate of mitochondria or cytoplasm had been destructed by gamma-irradiation much more than that of dehydronase system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.311-319
• /
• 2018

Mitochondrial calcium overload is a crucial event in determining the fate of neuronal cell survival and death, implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the driving forces of calcium influx into mitochondria is mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}_m$). Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ can be a promising strategy to prevent neuronal cell death against brain insults. Based on these issues, we investigated here whether nobiletin, a Citrus polymethoxylated flavone, prevents neurotoxic neuronal calcium overload and cell death via regulating basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ against neuronal insult in primary cortical neurons and pure brain mitochondria isolated from rat cortices. Results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment significantly increased cell viability against glutamate toxicity ($100{\mu}M$, 20 min) in primary cortical neurons. Real-time imaging-based fluorometry data reveal that nobiletin evokes partial mitochondrial depolarization in these neurons. Nobiletin markedly attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in glutamate ($100{\mu}M$)-stimulated cortical neurons and isolated pure mitochondria exposed to high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($5{\mu}M$). Nobiletin-induced partial mitochondrial depolarization in intact neurons was confirmed in isolated brain mitochondria using a fluorescence microplate reader. Nobiletin effects on basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ were completely abolished in $K^+-free$ medium on pure isolated mitochondria. Taken together, results demonstrate that $K^+$ influx into mitochondria is critically involved in partial mitochondrial depolarization-related neuroprotective effect of nobiletin. Nobiletin-induced mitochondrial $K^+$ influx is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of mitochondrial $K^+$ channels. However, further detailed studies should be conducted to determine exact molecular targets of nobiletin in mitochondria.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.82 no.3
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 2019

Background: Beyond its current function as a rescue therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be applied in ARDS patients with less severe hypoxemia to facilitate lung protective ventilation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of extended ECMO use in ARDS patients. Methods: This study reviewed 223 adult patients who had been admitted to the intensive care units of 11 hospitals in Korea and subsequently treated using ECMO. Among them, the 62 who required ECMO for ARDS were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to pre-ECMO arterial blood gas: an extended group (n=14) and a conventional group (n=48). Results: Baseline characteristics were not different between the groups. The median arterial carbon dioxide tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ($FiO_2$) ratio was higher (97 vs. 61, p<0.001) while the median $FiO_2$ was lower (0.8 vs. 1.0, p<0.001) in the extended compared to the conventional group. The 60-day mortality was 21% in the extended group and 54% in the conventional group (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis indicated that the extended use of ECMO was independently associated with reduced 60-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.64; p=0.02). Lower median peak inspiratory pressure and median dynamic driving pressure were observed in the extended group 24 hours after ECMO support. Conclusion: Extended indications of ECMO implementation coupled with protective ventilator settings may improve the clinical outcome of patients with ARDS.