• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to determine whether ${\beta}$1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and Candida kefyr combined with nitrate as manipulators could suppress rumen methanogenesis without nitrate poisoning in sheep. Four rumen fistulated wethers were allocated to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Nitrate (1.3 g $NaNO_3$ $Kg^{-0.75}$body weight) with and without GOS and Candida kefyr were administered into the rumen through fistula as a single dose 30 min after the morning meal. GOS and Candida kefyr were supplemented by sprinkling onto the feed and through rumen fistula, respectively. The four treatments consisted of saline, nitrate, nitrate plus GOS and nitrate plus GOS plus Candida kefyr. Physiological saline was used as the control treatment. Compared to saline treatment, the administration of nitrate alone resulted in a very marked decrease in rumen methanogenesis and an increase in rumen and plasma nitrite production and blood methaemoglobin formation consequently causing a decline in oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and metabolic rate. When compared to nitrate alone, the simultaneous administration of nitrate with GOS decreased nitrite accumulation in rumen and plasma and nitrate-induced methaemoglobin, while retaining low methane production. However, GOS could not fully restore metabolic parameters reduced by nitrate. When compared to the simultaneous administration of nitrate with GOS, the simultaneous administration of nitrate with GOS plus Candida kefyr lowered rumen methanogenesis to a negligible level, but did not decrease rumen and plasma nitrite accumulation as well as blood methaemoglobin formation. Thus, these results suggest that combination of nitrate with GOS may be a potent manipulator to suppress rumen methanogenesis with abating the hazards of nitratenitrite toxicity in ruminants.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disability caused by a decrease of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the etiology of PD is not clear, oxidative stress is believed to lead to PD. Catalase is antioxidant enzyme which plays an active role in cells as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Thus, we investigated whether PEP-1-Catalase protects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell death and in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-trtrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced PD animal model. PEP-1-Catalase transduced into SH-SY5Y cells significantly protecting them against MPP⁺-induced death by decreasing ROS and regulating cellular survival signals including Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, and p38. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transduced PEP-1-Catalase markedly protected against neuronal cell death in the SN in the PD animal model. Our results indicate that PEP-1-Catalase may have potential as a therapeutic agent for PD and other oxidative stress related diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 395-400]

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2011

The study aim is to investigate the free radicals scavenging and spermatogenic potentials, as well as to analyze any reproductive toxicity of ethanolic extract of Mucuna prureins (M. pruriens) Linn. in spermatozoa, under different dosages in normal male rat. Normal rats were randomly selected and suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dosages of 150, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the different groups of male rats (n=6) once in a day for 60 days and grouped as group II, III and IV respectively. Saline treated rats served as control -group I. On the $60^{th}$ day the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm were subjected to various analyses like level of ROS production, LPO, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant, morphology, morphometry, chromosomal integrity and DNA damage. Results showed significant reduction in ROS production and peroxidation and significant increase in both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in all concentration treated groups when compared with control. Results from all the drug treated groups showed good sperm morphology, increased sperm count and motility. There was no DNA damage and showed normal chromosomal integrity even in 250 mg/kg dose. When compared with control all the three extract treated groups showed increased ROS scavenging activity. However, group II (200 mg/kg) showed significant changes in all the parameters. From the present study it was confirmed that the M. pruriens has potential to improve the sperm qualitatively and quantitatively through scavenging the excess ROS with any adverse side effects. These observations suggest that ethanolic seed extract of M. pruriens may serve as anti-oxidant that can exploit to treat the oxidative stress mediated male factor infertility.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.8-15
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• 2017

Most fire victims succumb to smoke inhalation, and fire smoke toxicity from interior materials is increasing with increased use of plastics. Large amounts of hazardous effects of smoke are related to deposition of smoke particles in respiratory tracts, and deposition characteristics are influenced by size distribution of particles. Thus, it is essential to know the size distribution of smoke particles from plastics for hazard analysis of fire smoke. In a recent study, it has been shown that size distributions of smoke particles from PP are different from wood in many aspects. In order to know whether other plastics show the same characteristics as PP, size distributions of smoke particles from four plastic materials (LDPE, PA66, PMMA, and PVC) were measured in real time under each fire type with various temperature and oxygen supply. In this study, smoke particles from different plastics were generated uniformly by using steady-state tube furnace method provided in ISO/TS 19700. Their size distributions were measured by using an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI). Results of measurements showed that size distributions of smoke particles from these four plastic materials were similar to those from PP in many aspects. However, they were distinctively different from those of wood.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.65-72
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• 2016

This study examined the generation of combustion toxic gases of pinus rigida specimens processed with bis-(dimethylaminomethyl) phosphinic acid (DMDAP), bis-(diethylaminomethyl) phosphinic acid (DEDAP), and bis-(dibutylaminomethyl) phosphinic acid (DBDAP). Each pinus rigida plate was coated three times with 15 wt.% flame retardants in an aqueous solution. The specimens were then dried at room temperature. The production of combustion toxic gases was investigated using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). The first time to peak mass loss rate ($1^{st}-TMLR_{peak}$) processed with the chemical additives decreased to 5.9 from 41.2% compared with the unprocessed specimen. The second time to the peak mass loss rate ($2^{nd}-TMLR_{peak}$) for the processed specimens was decreased 1.8% for DMDAP and 5.3% for DBDAP and increased 1.8% for DEDAP. The peak carbon monoxide ($CO_{peak}$) production was 1.5 to 2.0 times higher than that of the unprocessed plate. The peak carbon dioxide ($CO_{2peak}$) production was reduced 0.01 times for DMDAP and increased 1.15 to 1.19 times for DEDAP and DBDAP compared with the unprocessed specimens. In particular, the oxygen concentration was much higher than 15%, which can be fatal to humans and the resulting hazard can be eliminated. Overall, the combustion toxicity of flammable gas were increased partially by the chemical additives compared with those of the unprocessed plate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of $H_2O_2$, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M$ concentrations of $H_2O_2$. After 1 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. Results: Incubation of sperms with 10 and $20{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and $80{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against $H_2O_2$ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.217-222
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• 2012

The synthesis of dimethyl carbonate(DMC) is a promising reaction for the use of naturally abundant carbon dioxide. DMC has gained considerable interest owing to its versatile chemical reactivity and unique properties such as high oxygen content, low toxicity, and excellent biodegradability. In this study, the synthesis of DMC through the transesterification of ethylene carbonate(EC) with methanol was investigated by using ionic liquid and metal oxide catalysts. The screening test of different catalysts revealed that choline hydroxide ([Choline][OH]) and 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hydroxide([BMIm][OH]) had better catalytic performance than metal salts catalysts such as MgO, ZnO and CaO. The effects of reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, MeOH/EC mole ratio, and carbon dioxide pressure on the reactivity of [Choline][OH] catalyst were discussed. High temperature and high MeOH/EC mole ratio were favorable for high conversion of EC. However, the yield of DMC showed a maximum when carbon dioxide pressure was 1.34 MPa, and then it decreased for higher carbon dioxide pressure. Zinc chloride($ZnCl_2$) was used as co-catalyst with the ionic liquid catalyst. The mixed catalyst showed a synergy effect on the EC conversion and DMC yield probably due to the acid-base properties of the catalysts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.928-935
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• 2016

Hypsizygus marmoreus (white cultivar), also called white beech mushrooms, are edible mushrooms commercially cultivated in Korea and Japan. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant properties of H. marmoreus. H. marmoreus fruit bodies were divided into pileus and stipe. The pileus and stipe were extracted into water and 80% ethanol and their antioxidant activities were analyzed. The total polyphenol content was highest in the water extract (pileus 1137.39±0.38 mg of GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/100 g, stipe 700.86±0.06 mg of GAE/100 g) compared to the ethanol extract (pileus 923.47±0.18 mg of GAE/ 100 g, stipe 324.05±0.03 mg of GAE/100 g). Ethanol extracts from pileus showed better scavenging ability on DPPH (47.32±0.23% at 10 mg/ml) and ABTS (57.33±0.10% at 10 mg/ml) than the stipe and water extract groups. Water extract from pileus were more effective in reducing power and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value than stipe and ethanol extract. The toxicity of water and ethanol extracts was investigated using WST-1 (Water Soluble Tetrazolium salt) assay on the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Overall, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities of extracts from H. marmoreus increased in a dose dependent manner while pileus was showed better total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities than stipe.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.760-767
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• 2010

The oxidative damage of lipids, protein, and DNA is known to be involved in not only chronic inflammations such as arthritis, hepatitis, nephritis, gastritis, colitis, and periodontitis but also metastasis. It has given impetus to searching for natural compounds without toxicity, which prevent the development of these diseases. The direct scavenging effects of aged black garlic extract (ABGE) were evaluated in vitro on DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and genomic DNA damage related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, its antioxidant effect on lipid peroxidation was investigated in human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080), which were exposed to the hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction. It was observed that ABGE exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on hydrogen peroxide than other reactive oxygen species, and also blocked DNA oxidation and lipid peroxidation induced by the hydroxyl radical. The oxidative stress in live cells was also inhibited in the presence of ABGE. In addition, its inhibitory effects on the activity and expression of MMP-2 and -9 related to metastasis were determined using gelatin zymography and western blot. The data showed that it inhibited MMP-2 and -9 in PMA-stimulated HT1080 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that ABGE show potential as an excellent agent for prevention of metastasis related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2012

As nanotechnology is a key industry, there is growing concern relating to the potential risk of nanoparticles. They are known to be released into the environment via various exposure routes. When nanoparticles are present in water environments, they are supposed to be illuminated by ultraviolet light, and the ecotoxicity of photoactive nanoparticles may be changed. In this study, a review of the ecotoxicity of photoactive nanoparticles, including the mechanisms of phototoxicity, are presented. In order to address this issue, studies on the ecotoxicity to soil and water organisms exposed to photoactive nanoparticles were investigated. The photoactive nanoparticles chosen for this study were zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and fullerene. Microorganisms, nematode, earthworm, algae and fish, etc., were chosen to assess the toxicity of nanoparticles using diverse methods. However, studies on the phototoxicity potentially induced by nanoparticles on UV illumination have been reviewed in only 8 studies. From a few studies, photoactive nanoparticles have shown high dissolution rates under UV conditions, with the released ions observed to profoundly influence test organisms. In addition, NPs exposed to UV produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS can induce oxidative stress in exposed organisms. Evidence of phototoxicity by nanoparticles were found based on previous studies.