• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1998

This study has been designed in order to examine a physiological role of $Ca^{2+}$ which has been known as an essential factor for capacitation, to confirm whether the enzyme activity of $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase on capacitation is important or not, and to clarify relationship between various levels of the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase which has been known to be an important factor of the plasma membranes. In the present study applying quercetin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, the enzymatic effect of $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase on capacitation was found to be remarkable: a significant increase of the transition from the original type (type A) to the type B and the type AR of the spermatozoa. This finding suggests that $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase plays an important role in the efflux and the influx of the $Ca^{2+}$ which has been known to be an essential factor the capacitation and acrosome reaction, and that the inhibitory action of the $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase might be a prerequsite step toward the acrosome reaction. The conclusion reached can be deduced as follows: increment of the intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ concentration occurred by controlling the slope of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration through $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase activities in both the intra- and extracelluar fluid may be an important procedure for capacitation and acrosome reaction, and ultimately for fertilization of the spermatozoa and the ova.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1978

Piscicidal substance produced by Streptomyces sp. isolated from soil was toxic against various kinds of fish. After extraction with CH$Cl_3$ from the culture medium, the substance was purified by avicel column chromatography. In order to test toxicity, various kinds of fish were subjected to the acqueous solution of 100 us of the substance per liter of water. Generally, the substance was toxic to most fish, but Macropodus chinenes and Misgurnus mizolepis are resistant to the substance than Gobius similis and Pseudorasbora parva. The substance was stable at pH range, 3.0 to 7.0, but labile at alkaline pH, and to heat as well. Succinic dehydrogenase on most of tissue cell of Cyprinus carpio was inhibited by this substance strongly, but spinal cord was not inhibited. By addition of Cu and Pb salts to the culture medium, piscicidal substance producibility was activated.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 1989

In 14 kinds of ginsenosides in ginseng saponin, ginsenoside Rbr is contained the most abundantly. But ginsenoside Rd which is similar to ginsenoside R $b_1$in structure, was known to be superior to ginsenoside R $b_1$pharmaceutically. The convertible enzyme which can transform ginsenoside R $b_1$to Binsenoside Rd specifically among ginseng saponin, was purified homogeneously from Rhizopus japonicus. The optimal pH for the action of the enzyme was pH 4.8 to 5.0, and optimal temperature was 45$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was stable in the range of pH 4.0 to 9.0, and the half activity of enzyme was remained by the thermal treatment at 6$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. The enzyme activity was enhanced by addition of M $n^{++}$ or Fe, though inhibited by EDTA or o-phenanthroline. On the substrate specificity, the enzyme was. able to hydrolyze gentiobiose, cellobiose, amygdalin and prunasin, but not to hydrolyze any other kinds of Binsenosides besides Binsenoside R $b_1$. Km values of the enzyme for ginsenoside R $b_1$, gentiobiose and amygdalin were 5.0mM, 4.8mM and 3.7mM, respectively.3.7mM, respectively.y.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.580-586
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• 1989

Penicillium sp. CB-20 was selected for strong polygalacturonase activity among various strains of molds found in soil. The optimum pH for the enzyme activity was 5.0 and optimum temperature was 4$0^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was relatively stable in acidic condition and unstable by heat treatment. The activation energy, Km and V$_{max}$ for the polygalacturonase were 2.499 Kcal/mol, 2.13$\times$10$^{-2}$mol/l, and 104.17 $\mu$mol/min. The activity of polygalacturonase was inhibited by Ag$^{+}$, Cu$^{++}$, Pb$^{++}$, Fe$^{+++}$, $Ca^{++}$, Na$^+$, Mn$^{++}$. The enzyme can be inactivated by the treatment ethylenediamintetra acetic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol and $H_2O$$_2$. The results indicate the possible involvement of histidine, chelate and terminal amino group as active site. The enzyme was endo-type polygalacturonase.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-301
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• 2006

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery triggers the production and release of numerous chemotactic substances and cytokines, ensuing systemic inflammatory response that leads to postoperative major organ dysfunction. Traditionally, corticosteroids (steroid) have been administered to patients undergoing cardiac surgery to ward off these detrimental physiologic alterations. However, the majority of the studies have been performed on adult patients with high-dose steroid. We carried out a randomized, prospective, double-blind study to compare the efficacy of low-dose steroid with that of high-dose steroid and to determine the adequate dose of pretreated-steroid for prophylactic effects in pediatric cardiac surgery. Thirty pediatric patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to two groups; fifteen patients received low-dose methylprednisolone (10mg/kg intravenously, n=15, low-dose group) and the others received high-dose methylprednisolone (30mg/kg intravenously, n=15, high-dose group) 1 hour prior to CPB. Arterial blood samples were taken before CPB (Pre-CPB), 10 minutes after start of CPB (CPB-10), and immediately after CPB-end (CPB-OFF) for measuring total leukocyte counts (T-WBC) and diff-counts, platelet counts, interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidant (TAO), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), troponin I (TNI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Other parameters such as volumes of urine output, pulmonary index $(PI,\;PaO_2/FiO_2)$, mechanical ventilating period, intensive care unit (ICU)-staying period, postoperative complications (fever, wound problem), postoperative 24 hrs and total volumes in blood loss, and hospitalized days were also assessed. All parameters were compared between two groups. There were no significant differences in T-WBC counts, monocyte fraction, platelet counts, TA levels, NSE levels, creatinine levels, BUN levels, the volumes of total urine output, PI, the incidences of fever and wound problem, postoperative 24hrs- and total-blood loss volumes and ICU-staying period between two groups (P>0.05). At CPB-OFF, neutrophil fraction, MPO level, TNI level, and AST level were higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). IL-6 level at CPB-10 was higher in the high dose-group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Furthermore, mechanical ventilating periods and hospitalized days of the high-dose group were significantly longer than those of low-dose group (P<0.05). The high-dose group had significantly low lymphocyte fi-action at CPB-OFF compared with the low-dose group (P<0.001). These findings suggest that pretreatment of high-dose steroid is not superior to that of low-dose steroid regrading its potential benefits in pediatric cardiac surgery. Therefore, the conventional strategy of steroid treatment, high-dose pretreatment, should be modified in the cardiac surgery with CPB. However, further studies must be performed on the larger number of patients in as much as small number of patients in this study.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate direct effects of [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, a $\delta$-opioid receptor agonist on the neuronal activity of medial vestibular nuclear (MVN) neurons by whole-cell configuration patch clamp experiments. The spike frequency of MVN neuron was increased to $9.50{\pm}0.55$ (P<0.05) and $10.56{\pm}0.66$ (P<0.05) by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin from the control level of $8.05{\pm}0.55$ spikes/sec, respectively (n=18). The resting membrane potential of the neurons was increased to $-37.86{\pm}0.92$ and $-36.97{\pm}0.97$ (P<0.05) from $-38.74{\pm}1.13\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. The amplitude of afterhyperpolarization was decreased to $23.78{\pm}0.65$ and $21.67{\pm}0.89$ (P<0.05) from $23.73{\pm}0.53\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. The spike width was changed to $2.22{\pm}0.08$ and $2.24{\pm}0.07$ from $2.20{\pm}0.08\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. After pretreatment of naltrindole, a highly selective 8-opioid receptor antagonist, [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin did not change firing rate, resting membrane potential, afterhyperpolarization amplitude, and spike width of MVN neurons. The above experimental results suggest that [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin increases the neuronal activity of MVN neurons via inhibition of calcium-dependent potassium currents underlying the afterhyperpolarization.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2005

The two major isoflavones in soy, genistein and daidzein, are well known to prevent hormone-dependent cancers by their anti estrogenic activity. The exact molecular mechanisms for the protective action are, however, not provided yet. It has been reported that genistein and daidzein have a potential anticancer activity through their antiproliferative effect in many hormone-dependent cancer cell lines. Transforming growth $factor-\beta1(TGF-\beta1)$ has also been found to have cell growth inhibitory effect, especially in mammary epithelial cells. This knowledge led to a hypothetical mechanism that the soy isoflavones-induced growth inhibitory effect can be derived from the regulation of $TGF-\beta1$ and $TGF-\beta$ receptors. In order to test this hypothesis, the effects of the soy isoflavones at various concentrations and periods on the expression of $TGF-\beta1$and $TGF-\beta$ receptors were investigated by using Northern blot analysis in human breast carcinoma epithelial cell lines, an estrogen receptor positive cell line (MCF-7) and an estrogen receptor negative cell line (MDA-MB-231). As a result, only genistein has shown a profound dose-dependent effect on $TGF-\beta1$ expression in the $ER^+$ cell line within the range of doses tested, and the expression levels are correspondent to their inhibitory activities of cell growth. Moreover, daidzein showed down-regulated $TGF-\beta1$ expression at a low dose, the cell growth proliferation was promoted at the same condition. Therefore, antiproliferative activity of the soy isoflavones can be mediated by $TGF-\beta1$ expression, and the effects are mainly, if not all, occurred by ER dependent pathway. The expression of $TGF-\beta$ receptors was induced at a lower dose than the one for $TGF-{\beta}1$ induction regardless of the presence of ER, and the expression patterns are similar to those of the cell growth inhibition. These results indicated that the regulation of $TGF-\beta$ receptor expression as well, prior to $TGF-\beta1$ expression, may be involved in the antiproliferative activity of soy isoflavones. Little or no expression of $TGF-\beta$ receptors was found in the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting refractory properties of the cells to growth inhibitory effect of the $TGF-\beta$. The soy isoflavones can seemingly restore the sensitivity of growth inhibitory responses to $TGF-\beta1$ by re-inducing $TGF-\beta$ receptors expression. In conclusions, our findings presented in this study show that the antitumorigenic activity of the soy isoflavones could be mediated by not only $TGF-\beta1$induction but $TGF-\beta$ receptor restoration. Thus, soy isoflavones could be good model molecules to develop new nonsteroidal antiestrogenic chemopreventive agents, associated with, regulation of $TGF-\beta$ and its receptors.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 1986

This study was to improve the quality of Kochuzang and utilize red pepper seed. Kochuzang were prepared with the addition of red pepper seed and garlic (2％), compared the changes in the various chemical components and enzyme activity during the aging period of Kochuzang, and also organoleptic values of the products. Enzyme activities of liquefying and saccharogenic amylase, protease and lipase were increased by addition of garlic pulp and the suvival activities of enzyme except liquefying amylase were lasted high the late period of aging. Also the addition of red pepper seed was effective in maintaining the enzyme activities Change of titration acidity and pH of kochuzang were little when red pepper seed was added, but in case of a garlic additive it showed no difference at the late period of aging. Total nitrogen and amino nitrogen were increased by the addition of red pepper seed or garlic until the late period of aging, and ammonia nitrogen also increased during the middle period of againg, but showed no difference at the late period. Alcohol content was decreased by the addition of garlic or red pepper seed. but crude lipid was increased by the audition of red pepper seed. but crude lipid was increased by the addition of red pepper seed. Generally, taste, flavor and color of garlic added group were superior to the non-garlic added group for the products which aged for 10 weeks. Therefore, The quality of Barley Kochuazng may be improved by adding 2％ garlic to the whole red pepper.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2003

By choosing Multicast for transmission of educational contents in the Remote Educational System, we can reduce the server load and increase network bandwidth utilization. We design and implement Multicast Middleware for the Remote Educational System in this paper. There are three characteristics in this Multicast Middleware: 1) Through Centralized Multicast Group Management for passive members, it allows a host to make multicast group, which is composed of receivers, called Group Member and who are chosen by the host, called group Maker. Because, all groups are created by the Group Maker in Centralized Group Management, Group Member's join action will be passive 2) Maintenance and recovery of multicast group information in order to restore from exception and crash; the maintenance and recovery mechanism of Group Maker is distinct from that of Group Member. 3) The mechanism which enables to transmit large size multimedia data through multicasting and remove additional copy operation through shared buffer. Fragmentation/de-fragmentation for large data delivery results in additional copy operation in user level. But by using user level shared buffer, it can be done without user Bevel copy operation. By applying to Remote Educational environment which consists of 30 PCs and Fast Ethernet, we can examine the efficiency of this middleware, which can transmit 18frames/sec movie which resolution 320 $\times$ 120 pixels, 128Kbps encoded sound data and some text data.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2010

It has been known that propolis possesses anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties. Although antifungal activity of Propolis has already been demonstrated, very few studies has been conducted for action mechanism and its spectrum on fungi. We found that ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) inhibited in vitro translation. Since we also observed the growth inhibition of pathogenic fungi and anti-oxidative properties preliminarily, we try to see where those properties come from. Therefore we extracted the EEP further with chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol. When their fractions were examined for the growth inhibition of Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida glabrata, Candida lusitaniae, Cryptococcos neoformans, chloroform fraction exhibited the highest anti-fungal as well as anti-oxidative properties. Similarly the chloroform fraction showed highest translation-inhibiting activities among the various Propolis fractions. These data indicate that those properties might come from similar compounds.