• Journal of Legislation Research
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• no.54
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• pp.193-216
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• 2018

Das Leben des Embryos ist als solche ein Rechtsgut, das einen durch das Strafrecht hinreichend $gesch{\ddot{u}}tzt$ werden sollen. Daher versteht es sich von selbst, $da{\ss}$ auch bei der Schwangere die ihren eigenen $empf{\ddot{a}}ngenen$ Embryo beseitigenden Handlungen nicht $unbeschr{\ddot{a}}nkt$ gebilligt werden $k{\ddot{o}}nnten$. Es $k{\ddot{o}}nnte$ bei der Schwangere wegen ihrer $Interessenverh{\ddot{a}}ltnisse$ mit ihrem Embryo z. B. endlosen deren Verantwortlichkeiten nur die $Erlaubnism{\ddot{o}}glichkeiten$ ${\ddot{u}}bergelegt$ werden. Wie der Bundesverfassungsgericht schon ${\ddot{u}}berzeugt$ hat, $k{\ddot{o}}nnte$ das Leben des Embryos keinen vom Strafrechtschutz $ausschlie{\ss}enden$ Teil anerkannt werden, sondern nur in besonderen $F{\ddot{a}}llen$ ausnahmsweise dessen Verletzung erlaubt werden. ${\ddot{U}}ber$ die Reichweite der ausnahmsweisen anerkannten Erlaubnisse gegen einer Rechtsgutsverletzung sollte es im Allgemeinen $abh{\ddot{a}}ngig$ unter Zeitraum und Umwelt konkret ausgefargt werden. Daher kann eine konkrete Diskussion ${\ddot{u}}ber$ Rechtsfertigungsgrund des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs nur erstenmal anfangen, nachdem ein strafrechtlicher Schutz des Embryolebens $pr{\ddot{a}}zis$ ausgeforscht wird. Bis jetzt hat das Strafrecht das Rechtsgut als Leben des Embryos zu leicht bewertet und damit hat die Strafe des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs zu niedrig bestimmt. Die niedrige Strafe des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs $enth{\ddot{a}}lt$ die Gefahr, die die Erlaubnisreichweite des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs ungerecht ausdehnt. Die Handlung der Schwangere sollte minder bestraft werden, um das Sebstbestimmungsrecht der Schwangere hoch $w{\ddot{u}}rdigen$ zu $k{\ddot{o}}nnen$. Letztlich braucht der Versuch des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs zu bestrafen. Der Versuch und die Vollendung ${\ddot{u}}ber$ die Verletzung des Embryolebens sollten deren Unterschiede im ihren Unrechtsgehalt anerkannt werden, weil der Normzweck des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs im Schutz des Lebens des Embryos besteht. Und damit in den $F{\ddot{a}}lle$, die in Folge des versuchten Schwangerschaftsabbruchs die Schwangere verletzt oder gestorben wird, $k{\ddot{o}}nnten$ die Meinungsstreiten $aufgeh{\ddot{o}}rt$ werden.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2022

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have received considerable attention regarding their involvement in glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity. Resveratrol has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects against this kind of overactivation, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. In this study, HT-22 neuronal cells were treated with NMDA in Mg²⁺-free buffer and subsequently used as an experimental model of glutamate excitotoxicity to elucidate the mechanisms of resveratrol-induced neuroprotection. We found that NMDA treatment causes a drop in MTT reduction ability, disrupts inside-negative transmembrane potential of mitochondria, depletes cellular ATP levels, and stimulates intracellular ROS production. Double fluorescence imaging studies demonstrated an increased formation of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores accompanied by apoptotic cell death, while cobalt protoporphyrin and bilirubin showed protective effects against NMDA-induced mitochondrial injury. On the other hand, zinc protoporphyrin IX significantly attenuated the protective effects of resveratrol which was itself shown to enhance heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein expression levels. In cells transfected with HO-1 small interfering RNA, resveratrol failed to suppress the NMDA-induced effects on MTT reduction ability and MPT pore formation. The present study suggests that resveratrol may prevent mitochondrial injury in NMDA- treated HT-22 cells and that enhanced expression of HO-1 is involved in the underlying cellular mechanism.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

The application of fungicides is indispensable to global food security, and their use has increased in recent times. Fungicides, directly or indirectly, have impacted insects, leading to genetic and molecular-level changes. Various detoxification mechanisms allow insects to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) toxicity induced by agrochemicals including fungicides. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA expression levels of detoxifying enzymes in Tenebrio molitor larvae following exposure to non-lethal doses (0.2, 2, and 20 ㎍/µL) of a fungicide captan. Transcripts of peroxidases (POXs), catalases (CATs), superoxide dismutases (SODs), and glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs) were screened from the T. molitor transcriptome database. RT-qPCR analysis showed that TmPOX5 mRNA increased significantly 24 h post-captan exposure. A similar increase was noticed for TmSOD4 mRNA 3 h post-captan exposure. Moreover, the expression of TmCAT2 mRNA increased significantly 24 h post-treatment with 2 ㎍/µL captan. TmGST1 and TmGST3 mRNA expression also increased noticeably after captan exposure. Taken together, these results suggest that TmPOX5 and TmSOD4 mRNA can be used as biomarkers or xenobiotics sensors for captan exposure in T. molitor, while other detoxifying enzymes showed differential expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.430-437
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• 2022

We conducted a study on the whitening activity of Abies nephrolepis MAX. extracts. The electron-donating ability of 70% ethanol extracts from A. nephrolepis MAX. Stem (AN-S) and A. nephrolepis MAX. Leaf (AN-L) were found to be 89.4% and 90.9% at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration, respectively. Their ABTS⁺ radical scavenging abilities were found to be 88.8% and 96% 500 ㎍/ml concentration, respectively. Their tyrosinase inhibitory effects were found to be 48.5% and 31.1% at 500 ㎍/ml concentration, respectively. Cell survival rates measured in B16F10 were examined with the AN-S and AN-L extracts. Results showed cell viabilities of 98.3% and 94.4% at 500 ㎍/ml concentration, respectively. The protein and mRNA expression inhibitory effects of AN-S and AN-L extracts were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively, at 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. The results of western blotting showed that the AN-S extract at 100 ㎍/ml concentration decreased the TRP-1 protein expression rate by 46%. The results of Western blotting also showed that the AN-L extract at 100 ㎍/ml concentration decreased the MITF protein expression rate was by 54.6%. Consequently, in the case of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase, the amount of mRNA expressed decreased as the concentration of the extracts increased. Our results suggested that A. nephrolepis MAX. extracts can be used as a functional cosmetic material by confirming that they can be used as a whitening material.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 1999

The therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) inhibitors in inflammatory diseases including some autoimmune diseases has been explored recently with some hopeful results. These PDE4 inhibitors are thought to show their anti-inflammatory effect by down-regulating tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-$\alpha$) production in lymphocytes and macrophages. A high concentration of TNF-$\alpha$has been found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium and reducing TNF-$\alpha$using biological agents was proven to be an effective RA treatment. To test the possibility of using PDE4 inhibitors for RA treatment, the effects of a newly synthesized PDE4 inhibitor, DWP205505, on TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-10 production was tested in cells isolated from normal peripheral blood and rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid. Cytokine production was assayed at the protein level by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and at the mRNA expression level by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Another PDE4 inhibitor, RP73401, was used for comparison. DWP205505 and RP73401 had no harmful effect on cell viability up to 10 $\mu$M concentration during the 24 h culture period. DWP205505 as well as RP73401 significantly reduced TNF-$\alpha$ secretion from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pBMC) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC). The effect of DWP205505 or RP73401 treatment on the mRNA expression of TNF-$\alpha$ was also studied in LPS-stimulated PBMC and SFMC. TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression was increased by LPS stimulation and both of the PDE4 inhibitors suppressed TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression. For interleukin-l0 (IL-l0), a little different results were obtained from PBMC and SFMC; IL-l0 secretion was unaffected by LPS stimulation and only minimally affected by both of the PDE4 inhibitors in PBMC. In unstimulated SFMC, DWP205505 and RP73401 slightly enhanced IL-10 secretion, while they reduced IL-l0 secretion from LPS-stimulated SFMC where IL-l0 secretion was a lot higher than unstimulated SFMC. These results suggest that the newly synthesized PDE4 inhibitor DWP205505 may have anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2008

The plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP) is one of the most well known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because of its strong anti-androgenic effects on the reproductive and developmental process in male rodents and human. The present study was performed to examine whether prepubertal exposure to DEHP can make any alteration during the maturation of accessory sex organs in male rats. As a result, there was no significant change in body weights, serum T levels and tissue weights except of seminal vesicle and ventral prostate in DEHP-treated animals compared to vehicle-treated ones. The seminal vesicle weights in high-dose group (200 mg/kg) were significantly lower than those from the control group (p<0.05), and ventral prostate weights were significantly lower than those from the control group (p<0.05) in both low-dose (20 mg/kg) and high-dose group. Histological studies revealed that the seminal vesicles from DEHP-treated groups showed reduced areas of mucosal folds. Pseudostratified columnar epithelia were observed in the ventral prostates of DEHP-treated samples while cuboidal epithelia were found in the control group. The transcriptional activities of ER-$\alpha$ in seminal vesicle from high-dose group (p<0.05) were significantly higher than those from the control group, and ER-$\beta$ expression was significantly decreased in low-dose group (p<0.05) compared to the control. In ventral prostate, ER-$\beta$ mRNA levels from low-dose group (p<0.05) were significantly lower than those from the control group, and significantly increased in high-dose group (p<0.01). AR expressions, however, were not significantly different in all experimental groups of both seminal vesicle and ventral prostate. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that (i) adverse effect (s) of DEHP on sexual maturation during prepubertal period could be limited, (ii) seminal vesicle and prostate gland were sensitive targets to DEHP in prepubertal rats and (iii) the deleterious effects of DEHP might be mediated through ER-associated mechanism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 2022

Melanogenesis is the production of melanin from tyrosine by a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, in which tyrosinase and DOPA oxidase play key roles. The melanin content in the skin determines skin pigmentation. Abnormalities in skin pigmentation lead to various skin pigmentation disorders. Recent research has shown that the expression of EMP2 is much lower in melanoma than in normal melanocytes, but its role in melanogenesis has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of EMP2 in the melanogenesis of MNT1 human melanoma cells. We examined TRP-1, TRP-2, and TYR expression levels during melanogenesis in MNT1 melanoma cells by gene silencing of EMP2. Western blot and RT-PCR results confirmed that the expression levels of TYR and TRP-2 were decreased when EMP2 expression was knocked down by EMP2 siRNA in MNT1 cells, and these changes were reversed when EMP2 was overexpressed. We verified the EMP2 gene was knocked out of the cell line (EMP2 CRISPR/Cas9) by using a CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the expression levels of TRP-2 and TYR were significantly lower in the EMP2 CRISPR/Cas9 cell lines. Loss of EMP2 also reduced migration and invasion of MNT1 melanoma cells. In addition, the melanosome transfer from the melanocytes to keratinocytes in the EMP2 KO cells cocultured with keratinocytes was reduced compared to the cells in the control coculture group. In conclusion, these results suggest that EMP2 is involved in melanogenesis via the regulation of TRP-2 expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.471-480
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• 2023

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Rumohra adiantiformis extracts fermented with Bovista plumbea mycelium (B-RAE) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid content of B-RAE were 379.26±7.77 mg/g and 50.85±3.08 mg/g, respectively. The results of measuring the antioxidant activity of B-RAE showed that it scavenges 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and superoxide anion radical in a dose-dependent manner. B-RAE inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability. The gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-lβ (IL-1β), and IL-6 was measured using real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that, compared to the LPS-treated group, B-RAE significantly reduced the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the phosphorylation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway proteins were assessed using Western blot analysis. We found that B-RAE significantly suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2, but their expression was increased by LPS treatment. In addition, the phosphorylation of NF-κB and IκB, which was increased by LPS treatment, was reduced with B-RAE treatment. The effect of B-RAE on the phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway proteins was measured, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the p38 MAPK proteins decreased in a dose-dependent manner, while the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) increased. These anti-inflammatory effects of B-RAE may thus have been achieved through the high antioxidant activity, the inhibition of NO production through the suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression, the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, and the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2022

Purpose: For orthodontic bracket bonding, light curing resin cement is widely used because the process is convenient, and it can be polymerized at the desired time. This study compared the difference of bonding strength of orthodontic resin cement according to storage condition. Materials and Methods: After acid etching the bovine enamel surface with 37% phosphoric acid, 15 orthodontic brackets for mandible incisors were bonded with Ortho Connect and Orthomite LC according to following three conditions; 1) Immediate after 4℃ refrigeration for 3 months (IR), 2) One day room temperature after 4℃ refrigeration for 3 months (OR), 3) Room temperature for 3 months (RT). The shear bond strength was measured with a universal material tester and failure pattern of the specimen was observed. Two-way ANOVA and One-way ANOVA were used at the 95% significance level. Results: Ortho Connect that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the maximum shear bond strength. Orthomite that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the lowest shear bond strength, and the group stored at room temperature for three months showed the highest shear bond strength, and the difference between the two groups was significant. Conclusion: Ortho Connect can be used without worrying about bond strength even if it is used immediately after refrigeration, but Orthomite should be kept at room temperature sufficiently after refrigeration.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.206-215
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• 2023

This study was performed to investigate immune changes by comparing the proportion and function of immune cells in the blood under high-temperature period and convalescence temperature period in Holstein dairy cows. The experiment was conducted using Holstein dairy cows of five animals per group (60 ± 20 months old, 175 ± 78 non-day) from the National Institute of Animal Science at high-temperature period (THI: 76 ± 1.2) and convalescence temperature period (THI: 66 ± 1.3). Complete blood count results showed no change in the number of immune cells between groups. In the analysis using Flow Cytometry of PBMCs, no significant differences were observed among B cells, Helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and γδ T cells between groups. However, there was an increase in Th17 cells producing IL-17a, while Th1 cells decreased during the convalescence temperature period. The results of gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR in PBMCs revealed an increase in IL-10 during the convalescence temperature period, while a decrease in HSP70 and HSP90 was observed. In conclusion, the increased expression of IL-10 and the decrease in HSP expression suggest the possibility of a weak recovery from heat stress. However, the lack of observed changes in B cells, T cells, and other immune cells indicates incomplete recovery from heat stress during the convalescence temperature period.