• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.349-353
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• 2009

Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid that is a potent signaling molecule able to provoke a variety of cellular responses in many cell types such as differentiation, inflammation and apoptosis. In this study, we have investigated the effect of LPA on Nitric oxide (NO)-induced apoptosis in rabbit articular chondrocytes. LPA dramatically reduced NO induced apoptosis of chondrocytes determined by phase contrast microscope and MTT assay. When chondrocytes alone treated with LPA, LPA induced phosphorylation of p70S6kinase, a serine/threonine kinase that acts downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) and phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1) in the PI3 kinase pathway, dose-dependently detected by Western blot analysis. Phosphorylation of p70S6k with LPA was reduced expression of p53 in NO-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes. Also, inhibition of p70S6kinase with rapamycin was enhanced expression of p53 in chondrocytes. Our findings collectively suggest that LPA regulates NO induced apoptosis through p70S6kinase pathway in rabbit articular chondrocytes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.509-516
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• 2010

This study was investigated the characteristics of indoor air concentration of fiber particles in 30 public facilities and 245 schools by PCM (phase contrast microscopy). Also SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscope / energy dispersive using X-ray analysis) was used to obtain physicochemical information of asbestos fiber and to classify asbestos and non-asbestos of fiber particles. The airborne concentrations of fiber particles were $0.0009\pm0.0009$ counts/mL in public facilities and $0.0012\pm0.0006$ counts/mL in schools by PCM. All the samples were satisfied with the IAQ (indoor air quality) level of 0.01 counts/mL. In classification of 4 type shapes, over 80% of the fiber particles were identified as single fiber type. And this study analysed airborne fiber particles in 4 sites for identifying asbestos of by SEM/EDX. The asbestos fibers in most samples could not be found.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of smoking on adult periodontitis after non-surgical periodontal therapy. The study population consisted of 40 patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis. Smokers(n=20) were defined as individuals smoking at least twenty cigarettes per day at the time of the initial examination. The non-smoking group(n=20) consisted of individuals who were not smoking at the initial examination. The average age was 42.4 years for the smoking and non-smoking group. Examination regarding plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth and contrast phase microscope were performed. Evaluation were made at the first, the second and the fourth weeks after periodontal non-surgical therapy. The results were as follows: 1. Clinical indices including plaque index, gingival index, and pocket depth were decreased in both smoking and non-smoking group at the first, the second, and the fourth weeks. Especially, clinical indices of non-smokers were more significantly decreased than those of smokers. 2. Non-motile rods were increased and motile rods were reduced at the fourth week. spirochetes were reduced significantly in the non-smoking group at the fourth week. These results suggest that smoking play a minor role in adult periodontitis after non-surgical periodontal therapy.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.93-104
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• 1994

Six types of hemocytes were identified in adult grasshopper, Euprepocnemis shirakii Bolivar. The morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of these cells were characterized by phase contrast, scanning and transmission electron microscope. The prohemocytes are small and spherical cells with large nucleus. The plasmatocytes are spindle shaped or polymorphic cells which show numerous cytoplasmic processes on the cell surface and they have lysosomes and vesicles that may be involved in phagocytic function. Especially, multivesicular bodies are observed in the polymorphic cells. The granulocytes I are spherical shaped cells. They are characterized by a number of electron dense granules measuring $0.2-0.3{\mu}m$ in average diameter and marginal band of microtubules which are always in close proximity to the cell membrane. The granulocytes II are oval or spindle-shaped cells. They contain large electron dense granules measuring $0.5-0.8{\mu}m$ in average diameter. Their cytoplasm is filled with numerous granules. The spherulocytes contain large amounts of spherules that most of their cytoplasm. Spherules filled with fine granules or flocculent materials. The oenocytoids are large spherical cells with few cytoplasmic organelles. Their cytoplasm contains peculiar aspect of motochondria and numerous polyrobosome.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from soil samples. The 15 wild yeast strains were isolated from the soil samples collected in Pocheon city, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Among them, four yeast stains were unrecorded, and 11 yeast stains were previously recorded in Korea. To identify wild yeasts, microbiological characteristics were observed by API 20C AUX kit. Pairwise sequence comparisons of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool(BLAST). Cell morphology of yeast strains was examined by phase contrast microscope. All strains were oval-shaped and polar budding and positive for assimilation of glucose, 2-keto-ᴅ-gluconate, N-acetyl-ᴅ-glucosamine, ᴅ-maltose and ᴅ-saccharose (sucrose). There is no official report that describes these four yeast species: one strain of the genus Kodamaea in the family Metschnikowiaceae and three strains of the Hannaella in the family Bulleribasidiaceae. Kodamaea ohmeri YI7, Hannaella kunmingensis YP355, Hannaella luteola YP230 and Hannaella oryzae YP366 were recorded in Korea, for the first time.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.523-533
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• 1997

Ursolic acid(UA) was isolated from Oldenlandiae diffusae Herba, one of the commonly used medicinal herbs for the treatment of cancer. IC50 of UA against cancer cell lines as SNU-1, B16-Fo. SK-OV3, HCT15, XF498, SK-MEL and A549 was $6{\mu}g/ml$, 4$4.4{\mu}g/ml$, $4.5{\mu}g/ml$, $4.6{\mu}g/ml$ and $4.2{\mu}g/ml$ respectively suggesting cytotoxicity against cancer cells. DNA fragmentation was expressed from the concnetration of $5.5{\mu}g/ml$ of UA by agarose electrphoresis. In the observation of morphological changes by phase contrast microscope, SEM and TEM, cell injury and condensation of cytoplasm from nucleus began 4 hr after UA treatment. fragmentaion of nucleus and injury of cell membrane was shown 24 hr after UA treatmeilt with SNU-1 cells. Aurin tricarboxic acid as endonuclease inhibitor. and nicotinamide as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor protected over 50% of cytotoxicity of UA against SNU-1 was at the concentrations of $3{\mu}M$ and $300{\mu}M$ respectively suggesting UA acts on nucleus. These results suggest that UA had antimetastatic effect and induced apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.545-553
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• 2021

In 2021, seven yeast strains were isolated from earthworm (Eisenia andrei) gut samples collected from the Nanji Water Regeneration Center in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. A total of seven yeasts were isolated, of which three strains have not been previously reported in Korea. To identify the yeasts, pairwise sequence comparisons of large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences were performed using the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST). Assimilation test and cell morphology analysis were performed using the API 20C AUX kit and phase contrast microscope, respectively. Five of the seven strains were assigned to the genus Candida of the order Saccharomycetales of the class Saccharomycetes, and two to the genus Apiotrichum of the order Trichosporonales of the class Tremellomycetes. The yeast strain Candida sojae E2 belongs to the family Debaryomycetaceae, and Apiotrichum laibachii E8 and A. laibachii E9 belong to the family Trichosporonaceae. All strains were cultured in yeast mold agar for three days and showed different colony forms. C. sojae E2 was round and entire shaped, while A. laibachii E8 and A. laibachii E9 was round and convex shaped. This study focuses on the description of the three yeast strains that have not been officially reported in Korea.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.350-355
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• 2021

In 2020, 11 Basidiomycetous yeast strains were isolated from soil samples collected from the forests of Namhansanseong in Korea. Among them, seven species were reported, but four species were unreported in Korea. To identify wild yeasts, pairwise sequence comparisons of D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies and assimilation test are observed by phase contrast microscope and API 20C AUX kit, respectively. The 11 strains were assigned to the genera Rhodotorula (4 strains) of the order Sporidiobolales of the class Microbotryomycetes; and Cryptococcus(2 strains), Goffeauzyma (1 strains), Naganishia (2 strains) of the order Filobasidiales and Saitozyma (2 strains) of the order Tremellales of the class Tremellomycetes in the phylum Basidiomycota. The unreported yeast strains Cryptococcus gastricus 20n5-2, Goffeauzyma gilvescens 20n2-7, Naganishia adeliensis 20n8-1, and Naganishia friedmannii 20n24-1 belong to the family Filobasidiaceae. All strains had oval shaped cells and cream-colored colonies cultured on on YM agar for 3 days. In this study, we focus on the description of four unreported yeast species in Korea.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from the soil collected in Gwangju and Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. Among 10 strains, six strains were already reported, but four strains were unrecorded in Republic of Korea. To identify wild yeast strains, pairwise sequence comparisons of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene sequence were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies were observed by phase contrast microscope and assimilation tests were carried out using API 20C AUX kit. The 10 strains were assigned to the phyla Basidiomycota (8 strains) and Ascomycota (2strains). The unrecorded four yeast strains, NH33, NH19, NH20, and YP416, belong to the phylum Basidiomycota and the genera Buckleyzyma, Leucosporidium, Holtermanniales, and Mrakia, respectively. All strains had oval-shaped and polar budding cells. In this research, the morphological and biochemical properties of four unreported yeast species were characterized intensively, which were not officially reported in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4571-4576
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• 2015

Background: To investigate the inhibitory effect and the underlying mechanism of triptolide on cultured human endometrial carcinoma HEC-1B cells and corresponding xenograft. Materials and Methods: For in vitro studies, the inhibition effect of proliferation on HEC-1B cell by triptolide was determined by MTT assay; cell cycle and apoptosis of the triptolide-treated and untreated cells were detected by flow cytometry. For in vivo studies, a xenograft tumor model of human endometrial carcinoma was established using HEC-1B cells, then the tumor-bearing mice were treated with high, medium, and low-dose ($8{\mu}g$, $4{\mu}g$ and $2{\mu}g/day$) triptolide or cisplatin at $40{\mu}g/day$ or normal saline as control. The mice were treated for 10-15 days, during which body weight of the mice and volume of the xenograft were weighted. Then expression of Bcl-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was analyzed by SABC immunohistochemistry. Results: Cell growth was significantly inhibited by triptolide as observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope; the results of MTT assay indicated that triptolide inhibits HEC-1B cell proliferation in a dose and time-dependent manner; flow cytometry showed that low concentration (5 ng/ml) of triptolide induces cell cycle arrest of HEC-1B cells mainly at S phase, while higher concentration (40 or 80 ng/ml) induced cell cycle arrest of HEC-1B cells mainly at G2/M phase, and apoptosis of the cells was also induced. High-dose triptolide showed a similar tumor-inhibitory effect as cisplatin (-50%); high-dose triptolide significantly inhibited Bcl-2 and VEGF expression in the xenograft model compared to normal saline control (P<0.05). Conclusions: triptolide inhibits HEC-1B cell growth both in vitro and in mouse xenograft model. Cell cycle of the tumor cells was arrested at S and G2/M phase, and the mechanism may involve induction of tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.