• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2016

To maintain activity in a coenzyme/enzyme mixture system, such as ${\beta}$-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)/dehydrogenase, the water-soluble 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers as an additive were synthesized and investigated for their stabilizing function. The inhibitor for the NADH/dehydrogenase reaction was spontaneously formed when the NADH was stored in the dehydrogenase solution. Therefore, we hypothesized that if the additive polymer could interact with an inhibitor without any adverse effect on the dehydrogenase, the activity in the NADH/dehydrogenase mixture could be maintained. We selected lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) as the enzyme, and the NADH was dissolved and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in the LDH solution containing the polymers. The phospholipid polymers used in this study were poly(MPC) (PMPC), poly(MPC-co-3-trimethylammonium-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate chloride) (PMQ) and poly[MPC-co-potassium 3-methacryloyloxypropyl sulfonate ($MSO_3$)] ($PMMSO_3$). The poly($MSO_3$) was used as a reference. For the PMQ and $PMSO_3$ aqueous solutions, the activity of the NADH/LDH mixture system decreased with incubation time as the same level or lower than that in the Tris buffered solution in the absence of the polymers. However, for the poly($MPC-co-MSO_3$) ($PMMSO_3$) aqueous solution, the activity of the NADH/LDH mixed system was six times higher than that in the buffered solution even after a 3-days incubation. The LDH activity was 1.5-1.8 times higher in the presence of the $PMMSO_3$ compared with that in the $PMSO_3$ solution. The mixture of two polymers, poly(MPC) and poly($MSO_3$), did not produce any stabilization. Thus, both the MPC and $MSO_3$ units in the polymer chain had important and cooperative effects for stabilizing the NADH/LDH mixture.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.103-124
• /
• 1986

Since it has been suggested that atrial receptor may be involved in the mechanism of extracellular volume regulation, it was shown that the granularity of atrial cardiocytes can be changed by water and salt depletion, and that an extract of cardiac atrial tissue, when injected intravenously into anesthetized rats, was shown to cause a large and rapid increase in renal excretion of sodium. Various natriuretic peptides were isolated and synthetized, and the effects were investigated by many workers. Most studies, however, have been carried out under anesthesia and there have teen some controversies over direct effect of the factor on the renal function. Therefore, it was attempted in this study to access the effects of an atrial extract and a synthetic natriuretic factor in unanesthetized rabbits. Intrarenal arterial infusion of atrial extract caused a rapid increase of urinary volume and excretion of sodium. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were both increased with no change in filtration fraction. The ventricular extract produced no change in urinary excretion of electrolytes, nor in renal hemodynamics. Intrarenal infusion of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor caused increases of renal excretory rate of sodium, chloride and potassium, and $FE_{Na}$. Glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow increased. And free water clearance also increased. Accentuated excretory function correlated well with increased glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow during infusion and for 10 minutes following the cessation of the infusion. Renin secretion rate decreased during constant infusion of atrial natriuretic factor. However, no correlation was found with the changes in glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, or urinary excretion of sodium. These results suggest that atrial extract or atrial natriuretic factor induces changes in renal hemodynamics, as in excretion of electrolytes either indirectly through hemodynamic changes or directly by inhibiting tubular reabsorption. At the same time, renin secretory function is affected by the factor possibly through an unknown mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2013

We previously observed that Bacillus subtilis spores from sspE mutants presented a lower germination capacity in media containing high salt concentrations (0.9M NaCl). This deficiency was attributed to the absence of SASP-E (gamma-type small-acid-soluble protein), rich in osmocompatible amino acids released by degradation. Herein we observed that, in addition, this mutant spore presented a reduced capacity to use L-alanine as germinant (L-ala pathway), required longer times to germinate in calcium dipicolinate ($Ca^{2+}$-DPA), but germinated well in asparagine, glucose, fructose, and potassium chloride (AGFK pathway). Moreover, mild sonic treatment of mutant spores partially recovered their germination capacity in L-ala. Spore qualities were also altered, since sporulating colonies from the sspE mutant showed a pale brownish color, a higher adherence to agar plates, and lower autofluorescence, properties related to their spore coat content. Furthermore, biochemical analysis showed a reduced partition in hexadecane and a higher content of $Ca^{2+}$-DPA when compared with its isogenic wild-type control. Coat protein preparations showed a different electrophoretic pattern, in particular when detected with antibodies against CotG and CotE. The complementation with a wild-type sspE gene in a plasmid allowed for recovering the wild-type coat phenotype. This is the first report of a direct involvement of SASP-E in the spore coat assembly during the differentiation program of sporulation.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제45회 하계 정기학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.262.1-262.1
• /
• 2013

ZnO 나노구조는 전기적 성질과 화학적인 안정성 때문에 가스센서, 투명 전극 및 태양전지와 같은 전자소자와 광소자에 널리 사용되고 있다. ZnO 박막을 증착하는 방법은 Physical Vapor Deposition과 Chemical Vapor Deposition이 있으나 나노 구조를 가진 SnO2를 형성하기 어렵다. 전기 화학적 증착(Electrochemical Deposition: ECD)은 낮은 온도에서 진공 공정이 필요하지 않기 때문에 경제적이며 빠른 성장 속도를 가지고 있기 때문에 ZnO 나노 구조를 효과적으로 형성 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) 기판 위에 ZnO 나노 구조를 형성시켜 전기적 및 구조적 특성을 관찰하였다. 0.1 M zinc nitrate와 0.1 M potassium chloride를 용매에 각각 용해하여 ZnO 나노구조를 성장하였다. ZnO 나노구조를 성장하기 위하여 인가전압을 -0.75 V부터 -2.5 V까지 0.5 V 간격으로 변화하였다. X-선 회절 분석결과에서 ZnO의 피크의 크기가 큰 전기화적적 성장 전압구간과, 주사전자현미경 분석결과에서 나노 구조가 가장 잘 나타난 성장 전압구간을 다시 0.1 V 간격으로 세분화하여 최적화 조건을 분석하였다. X-선 회절 실험으로 형성한 ZnO 나노구조의 피크가 (110) (002)로 나타났다. X-선 회절 분석의 intensity의 값이 (002)방향이 가장 크게 나타났으므로 우선적으로 (002) 방향으로 ZnO 나노구조가 성장됨을 알 수 있었다. 주사전자현미경상은 grain size가 200~300 nm 사이의 ZnO 나노구조가 형성되며, grain size가 전기화학적 증착 장치의 성장전압이 커짐에 따라 커지는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제45회 하계 정기학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.261.2-261.2
• /
• 2013

에너지 갭이 큰 ZnO 반도체는 빛 투과율이 우수하여 투명성이 좋으며 화학적으로 안정된 구조를 가지고 있어 전자소자 및 광소자 응용에 대단히 유용하다. 일반적으로 화학 기상증착, 전자빔증착과 전기화학증착법을 사용하여 ZnO 나노 구조를 제작하고 있다. 여러 가지 증착 방법 중에서 전기화학증착방법은 낮은 온도와 진공 공정이 필요하지 않으며 대면적 공정이 가능하고 빠른 성장 속도로 나노구조를 효과적으로 성장할 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 전기화학증착법을 이용하여 Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) 기판위에 Al 도핑된 ZnO 나노세선 성장시키고 성장시간에 따라 형성한 ZnO 나노세선의 구조적 성질을 조사하였다. ZnO 나노세선을 성장하기 위하여 zinc nitrate와 potassium chloride를 각각 0.1 M을 용해한 용액을 사용하였다. 전기화학증착방법을 사용하여 제작한 ITO 기판 위에 성장시킨 ZnO 나노세선 위에 전극을 제작하고 전류-전압 특성을 측정하였다. Al-doped ZnO 나노세선의 성장되는 조건을 Al 농도별로 0 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt% 및 5 wt% 씩 증가시키면서 ZnO 나노세선의 구조적 특성을 분석하였다. X-선회절 (X-ray diffraction; XRD) 실험 결과를 통해 ZnO 나노세선이 성장함을 확인하였고, 성장 시간이 길어짐에 따라 (101) 성장방향의 XRD 피크의 세기가 증가하였다. 전기화학증착시 Al 도핑 농도 증가에 따라 ZnO 나노세선의 지름이 200 nm에서 300 nm로 변화하는 것을 주사전자현미경으로 관측하였다. 이 실험 결과는 전기화학증착방법을 사용하여 제작한 ZnO 나노세선의 Al 도핑 농도에 따른 구조적 특성들을 최적화하여 소자제작에 응용하는데 도움이 됨을 보여주고 있다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제28권5호
• /
• pp.389-396
• /
• 2020

Valproic acid is a clinically used mood stabilizer and antiepileptic drug. Valproic acid has been suggested as a teratogen associated with the manifestation of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as fetal valproate syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, when taken during specific time window of pregnancy. Previous studies proposed that prenatal exposure to valproic acid induces abnormal proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, presumably by inhibiting histone deacetylase and releasing the condensed chromatin structure. Here, we found valproic acid up-regulates the transcription of T-type calcium channels by inhibiting histone deacetylase in neural progenitor cells. The pharmacological blockade of T-type calcium channels prevented the increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells induced by valproic acid. Differentiated neural cells from neural progenitor cells treated with valproic acid displayed increased levels of calcium influx in response to potassium chloride-induced depolarization. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to valproic acid up-regulates T-type calcium channels, which may contribute to increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells by inducing an abnormal calcium response and underlie the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

• 대한화학회지
• /
• 제37권8호
• /
• pp.773-778
• /
• 1993

Tl$^+$이온 센서로서 크라운 에테르 B15C5와 DB18C6를 중성운반체로 한 PVC 액체막 이온 선택성 전극을 제작하였다. 막용매로는 DOA, NPPE 및 NPOE를 사용하였으며 친유성 염, KTClPB의 농도를 변화시킨 여러가지 조성의 막을 시험하였다. B15C5와 DB18C6 막 전극의 감응전위는 농도범위, 10$^{-1}$∼10$^{-5}$M에서 직선으로 나타났으며 최대 기울기는 전극에 따라서 40∼55 mV/decade였다. 선택계수는 분리용액법으로 결정하였으며 알카리금속 이온, 알칼리토금속 이온 및 일부 전이금속 이온에 대하여 좋은 선택성을 나타냈다. 제작된 액체막 전극은 Ph > 3 에서 안정한 감응전위를 보였다.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.518-523
• /
• 2018

Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method. Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation ($108,200{\times}g$) and high-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI). Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI. Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.217-222
• /
• 2018

Phagocytosis is a fundamental process in which phagocytes capture and ingest foreign particles including pathogenic bacteria. Several oral pathogens have anti-phagocytic strategies, which allow them to escape from and survive in phagocytes. Impaired bacteria phagocytosis increases inflammation and contributes to inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of various agents on oral pathogenic phagocytosis. To determine phagocytosis, Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were stained with 5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and was measured using flowcytometery and confocal microscopy. The influencing factors on phagocytosis were evaluated through the pretreatment of ROS inhibitor (N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)), lysozyme, potassium chloride (KCI) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in THP-1 cells. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phagocytosis of various bacteria increased in a MOI-dependent manner. Among the tested bacteria, phagocytosis of P. gingivalis showed the highest fluorescent intensity at same infection time. Among the tested inhibitors, the NAC treatment significantly inhibited phagocytosis in all tested bacteria. In addition, NAC treatment indicated a similar pattern under the confocal microscopy. Moreover, NAC treatment significantly increased the bacteria-induced secretion of $IL-1{\beta}$ among the tested inhibitors. Taken together, we conclude that the phagocytosis occurs differently depending on each bacterium. Down-regulation by ROS production inhibited phagocytosis and lead increased of oral pathogens-associated inflammation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• 제22권7호
• /
• pp.15.1-15.8
• /
• 2019

Corexit 9500 is a dispersant commercially available in Nigeria that is used to change the inherent chemical and physical properties of oil, thereby changing the oil's transport and fate with potential effects on the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the biochemical (enzymes and electrolyte) toxicity of Corexit 9500 dispersant on the gills, liver and kidney of juveniles of Clarias gariepinus after exposure for 21 days. One hundred sixty fish were used without gender consideration. Range-finding tests were conducted over a 96-h period after acclimatisation of the test organisms in the laboratory. The test organisms (10/treatment) were exposed to Corexit 9500 in the following concentrations-0.00, 0.0125, 0.025 and 0.05 ml/l in triplicate. Twenty-one days later, fish was dissected. 0.5 g from each of the following organs-gills, liver and kidney tissues-was removed, homogenised and tested for enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], urea, creatinine and electrolytes (sodium ($Na^+$), potassium ($K^+$), chloride ($Cl^-$), bicarbonate ($HCO_3{^-}$)) following standard methods. In the gills, SOD and ALT to AST ratio were significantly lower than in control while the creatinine was significantly higher in the toxicant. In the kidney, creatinine was significantly higher in fish exposed to the toxicant. In the liver, ALP increased in the toxicant while urea was decreased. The mean electrolyte concentrations ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$ and $HCO_3{^-}$) increased significantly in the concentration of the toxicant (P < 0.05). The alterations observed in the activities of these electrolytes and enzymes indicated that Corexit 9500 interfered with transamination and metabolic functions of the fish.