• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 1973

In view of the recent knowledge on the radioprotective action of reduced glutathione (GSH), the present study was designed the elucidate the effect of some concentrations of GSH on the levels of intrinsic non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) and non-protein disulfide (NP-SS) of the mouse liver incubated at 4, 25 and 37C in vitro, respectively. The liver slice of the mouse was incubated at 4, 25 and 37C in the medium composed of 100 ml of Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer (KRP) with the addition of 10, 20 and 30 mg of GSH, respectively. Measurement of NP-SH and NP-SS was made at 5, 30 and 60 min during the course of the incubation, and the results were compared with the controls which were incubated only in KRP medium, and the normal. The results thus obtained are summarized as follows: 1. When the mouse liver slice was incubated at 4C, the values of both NP-SH and NP-SS of the control and the group where 10 mg of GSH was added to the incubation medium were similar to those of the normal group, and the increase of NP-SH and NP-SS with the increased concentrations of GSH was not prominent. 2. When the liver slice was incubated in the concentrations of GSH 20 mg/100 ml KRP and GSH 30 mg/100 ml KRP at 25 C, the rate of increase of both NP-SH and NP-SS was proportional to the increase of GSH concentration. In the group where 10 mg of GSH was added to the incubation medium, the value of NP-SH and NP-SS reached the highest value at 30 min, but a tendency of decrease was observed at 60 min. 3. The rate of increase of NP-SH and NP-SS of the liver was most marked of all the group. studied when the incubation temperatuse was elevated to 37C, and the increase was proportional to the concentration of GSH and the incubation time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 1973

The distensibility of the major arteries has been investigated extensively, but the value expressed as Young Modulus varies widely by the different schools of the investigators, the major reason undoubtedly being the difficulties encountered in the measurement. In the present study, an attempt was made to elucidate the distensibility of the external carotid artery of the rabbit, which was placed in saline immediately after removing from the apparently healthy, normal rabbit without anesthesia. The circular section strip and longitudinal section strip were made from the whole artery, and Young Modulus of the whole artery, circular section and longitudinal section strips was calculated from the length-tension curve of each sample. Also, the similar samples of the artery seperately obtained were placed in ATP solution in the concentration of 0.15 mM and 0.30 mM, and Young Modulus was similary calculated. Experiments were performed at 15,45 and 75 min after the artery was removed from the rabbit, and the results thus obtained are summarized as follows. 1) Young Modulus of the whole external carotid artery of the rabbit in saline was $4.74{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2$ at 15 min, but lower values were obtained at 45 and 75 min, Young Modulus being $4.62{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2\;and\;4.13{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2$, respectively. When the arterial samples were placed in ATP solutions, Young Modulus did not change much throughout the experiment, and lower Young Moduli were obtained in 0.30 mM ATP solution than in 0. 15 mM ATP solution. 2) Young Modulus Of the Circular Section Strip in Saline was $4.11{\times}10^7dyne/Cm^2,\;3.75{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2\;and\;3.90{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2,$ respectively, at 15, 45 and 75 min, the value at 15 min being the highest. However, when the strip was placed in ATP solutions, no appreciable change was observed throughout the experiment, and Young Moduli were lower in 0.30 mM ATP solution than in 0.15 mM ATP solution. 3) Young Modulus of the longitudinal section strip in saline was $2.12{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2,\;2.48{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2\;and\;2.46{\times}10^7dyne/cm^2$, respectively, at 15, 45 and 75 min, Young Modulus being slightly elevated in the latter part of the experiment. A similar tendency was observed when the strip was placed in ATP solutions.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 1982

The variability of rice productivity during last 2 decades (1961-1980) of ten years before and after the introduction of"Tongil" was reviewed from the epochal, regional and varietal points of view. During that period the cultivated area of paddy rice have remained almost unchanged, while the total rice production have got elevated from 3, 463 million metric tons in 1961 to 6.006 million metric tons in 1977, recording 73.4% increase. This remarkable increase in rice production is considered to be attributable much to the development and release of new high yielding variety, "Tongil", coupled with the amelioration of cultural techniques. However, in 1978 Tongil type varieties experienced the epidemic outbreak of blast disease due to the shifted race population of blast fungus and in 1980 recorded poor rice production as low as in 1960's due to the unfavorable weather stress throughout the rice growing season, giving rise to many problems awaiting solutions for securing the stabilized high production of rice. The rice yield has continued the gradual increase during last two decades but its difference between farmer and research organization have got wider from 79kg/10a during 1960 to 1971 to 101kg/l0a during 1972 to 1980, and also the inter-regional differences have been increased from 50-60kg/10a to 80kg/10a during those periods. Therefore, this proves that we have raised the upper boundary of rice yield by increasing the yield potential of rice variety but have not changed those absolute deviations. Estimates indicate that the increased rice production during that period was indebted 40 percent to the varietal improvement and 13 percent to the ameliorated agro-technologies, and the rest, 47 percent, could be ascribed to the other factors besides varieties and cultural technologies such as the improved agricultural environments, etc. Of course, even though it cannot be expected to unify the cultural environments and the cultural technologies, provided that much efforts are to be endeavored to minimize the yield difference of 20 percent between farmer and research organizations and the inter-regional yield difference of 20 percent, much increased rice production can be expected to be achieved with the current level of cultural technology and the yielding potential of the present rice varieties. In order to expedite the above effects on rice production the followings are to be put into practices consitently and steadfastly. 1. Reinforcement of breeding for varieties with high yielding potential and less susceptible to climatic-stress and pests, and of basic physicoecological studies of rice plant for improving the cultural technologies. 2. Continuous endeavor to secure the stabilized cultural environments by improving the soil fertility and increasing the drainage and irrigation facilities. 3. Political back-up to encourage the farmers' incentives for production 4. Precise surveys for agricultural statistics to facilitate the long-term planninge long-term planning.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2009

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness among adults in the western countries. Hyperglycemia is a condition, that induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of cell types in diabetes, but the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the study is to understand the effects of high Glucose on Human Retinal Endothelial Cells. Retinal endothelial cells were cultured in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) containing 5, 25 and 50 mM Glucose, incubated for 24, 36 and 48 hours in humidified 5 % CO$_2$ incubator at 37$^{\circ}C$. Human Retinal Endothelial Cell Line (HREC) were characterized for morphology with different treatment by phase contrast microscopic analysis. Number of dead and viable cells was counted by trypan blue exclusion and supported by MTT assay. The intracellular Hydrogen peroxide (H$_2$O$_2$), a Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation in high glucose conditions was assessed by FOX II assay and apoptosis by caspase-3 assay. The high glucose treated cells undergoing DNA fragmentation was witnessed by Agarose gel electrophoresis. We found that the cells incubated with 25 and 50 mM glucose containing medium for 48 hours altered the morphology of the cell, induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation. The dead cell number were high in 25 and 50 mM when compared to the cells incubated with 5 mM glucose for 24, 36, and 48 hours. Also, the H$_2$O$_2$ levels and the activity of caspase-3 were increased in high glucose treated cells. Conclusions/interpretation: Our results demonstrated that elevated glucose induces apoptosis in cultured HREC. The hyperglycemia-induced increase in apoptosis may be dependent on caspase activation. The association between ROS generation and caspase-3 activation on high glucose treated cells is yet to be investigated.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2002

The present studies were carried out to examine the effects of exogenous oxytocin(OT) on plasma, uterine and placenta of estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone, prostaglandin F$_2$$_{\alpha}$ (PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$), Prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) and OT receptor concentrations in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats received an injection of exogenous OT on days 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 of pregnancy and day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$ after OT injection started to increase after day 18 and peaked on day 22 of pregnancy but decreased on day 1 of postpartum. Plasma progesterone concentrations declined gradually from day 18 of pregnancy and decreased more rapidly until postpartum 1 day. Concentrations of estradiol-17$\beta$in uterine tissues after OT injection were sharply increased from day 20 to 22 of pregnancy and progestrone concentrations were peaked on day 16 and decreased rapidly from day 16 to 20 and maintained the same level until day 1 of postpartum. Uterine concentrations of PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$ and PGE$_2$increased gradually until day 20 and peaked on day 22 of pregnancy but showed a marked decrease on day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$ in placental tissues increased rapidly from day 14 of pregnancy and decreased sharply on day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of PGE$_2$increased gradually after day 14 and peaked on day 20 of pregnancy. The concentration of OT receptor in uterus was significantly elevated from day 20 and rose to maximum on day 22 of pregnancy. These findings show that OT suppress the concentration of progestrone and stimulate productions of estradiol-17 $\beta$, PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$, PGE$_2$ and oxytocin receptor concentrations in pregnant rats.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.192-205
• /
• 2009

The unexpected wind over the Mt. Hwawang on 9 February 2009 was deadly when many spectators were watching a traditional event to burn dried grasses and the fire went out of control due to the wind. We analyzed the fatal wind based on wind flow simulations over a digitized complex terrain of the mountain with a localized heating area using a three dimensional computational fluid dynamics model, CFD_NIMR_SNU (Computational Fluid Dynamics_National Institute of Meteorological Research_Seoul National University). Three levels of fire intensity were simulated: no fire, $300^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$ of surface temperature at the site on fire. The surface heat accelerated vertical wind speed by as much as $0.7\;m\;s^{-1}$ (for $300^{\circ}C$) and $1.1\;m\;s^{-1}$ (for $600^{\circ}C$) at the center of the fire. Turbulent kinetic energy was increased by the heat itself and by the increased mechanical force, which in turn was generated by the thermal convection. The heating together with the complex terrain and strong boundary wind induced the unexpected high wind conditions with turbulence at the mountain. The CFD_NIMR_SNU model provided valuable analysis data to understand the consequences of the fatal mountain fire. It is suggested that the place of fire was calm at the time of the fire setting due to the elevated terrain of the windward side. The suppression of wind was easily reversed when there was fire, which caused updraft of hot air by the fire and the strong boundary wind. The strong boundary wind in conjunction with the fire event caused the strong turbulence, resulting in many fire casualties. The model can be utilized in turbulence forecasting over a small area due to surface fire in conjunction with a mesoscale weather model to help fire prevention at the field.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2020

Pinus densiflora is the most widely distributed tree species in South Korea. Its ecological and socio-cultural attributes makes it one of the most important tree species in S. Korea. In recent times however, the distribution of P. densiflora has been affected by dieback. This phenomenon has largely been attributed to climate change. This study was conducted to investigate the responses of growth and physiology of P. densiflora to drought and nitrogen fertiliz ation according to the RCP 8.5 scenario. A Temperature Gradient Chamber (TGC) and CO₂. Temperature Gradient Chamber (CTGC) were used to simulate climate change conditions. The treatments were established with temperature (control versus +3 and +5℃; aCeT) and CO₂ (control: aCaT versus x1.6 and x2.2; eCeT), watering(control versus drought), fertilization(control versus fertilized). Net photosynthesis (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), biomass and relative soil volumetric water content (VWC) were measured to examine physiological responses and growth. Relative soil VWC in aCeT significantly decreased after the onset of drought. P_n and g_s in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were high before drought but decreased rapidly after 7 days under drought because nitrogen fertilization effect did not last long. The fastest mortality was 46 days in aCeT and the longest survival was 56 days in eCeT after the onset of drought. Total and partial biomass (leaf, stem and root) in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were significantly high, but significantly low in aCeT. The results of the study are helpful in addressing P. densiflora vulnerability to climate change by highlighting physiological responses related to carbon allocation under differing simulated environmental stressors.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.595-600
• /
• 2002

Comparison of blood properties in juvenile black seabream (Acanthopans schlegeli) between transfer from seawater to freshwater (sFW) and transfer from freshwater to seawater (fSW) were investigated for 60 days. Plasma cortisol levels in sFW were significantly increased from 34.2 $\pm$ 28.6 ng/mL at the beginning to 365.6 $\pm$ 136.0 ng/mL at 3 hours, and decreased to the beginning level at 24 hours. However, in fSW, no significant differences in the cortisol levels were recognized throughout experimental period. No significant difference was found in the glucose levels between sFW and fSW. The transfer from seawater to freshwater of juvenile black seabream resulted in reduced $Na^{+}\;and\; Cl^{-}$ concentrations for 24 hours (decreasing from 165.3 $\pm$ 2.5, 146.0$\pm$ 2.2 to 118.3 $\pm$ 12.3, 78.0$\pm$ 7.0 mEq/L, respectively), but these were completely recovered the beginning levels at 30 days. Total protein and AST showed no significant differences between the two rearing conditions, while ALT was markedly elevated at 3 hour in sFW and at 24 hours in fSW. Ht in sFW was increased from 18.5 $\pm$ $0.6\%$ at the beginning to 25.3 $\pm$ $4.0\%$ at 12 hours, and was decreased to the beginning level at 24 hours. Ht, RBC and Hb in fSW were also significantly higher at 12 hours, but recovered to their initial levels at 24 hours. All fish were dead until 50 days in sFW while survival rate in fSW was $85\%$ at the end of experiment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.502-508
• /
• 1998

Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$) have been implicated in myocardial and organ dysfunction associated with postperfusion syndrome. We tested the hypothesis that cytokine productions are depressed by preoperative cortiosteroid injection for cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) and the postoperative courses will be better than without steriod pretreated cases. Cardiac surgery was performed in randomized blind fashion for 20 patients from June 1996 to September 1996. In the steroid group(n=10), corticosteroid(dexamethasone 1 mg/kg) was injected 1 hour before anesthetic induction, but in the control group(n=10), nothing was injected. Each of groups were sampled 11 times as scheduled for TNF-$\alpha$ bioassays. We have checked EKG, cardiac enzymes(CPK, LDH with isoenzyme), WBC count preoperative day, one day and three days after operation. Viatal signs were continuously monitored for three postoperaive days. In the postoperative period three patients in the control group had elevated body temperature and four patients had hypotension that required considerable intravenous fluid administration. But steroid injected patients showed normal body temperture and acceptable blood pressures without supportive treatment. CPK enzymes rose in control group higher than steroid group at postoperative 1st and 3rd day(CPK; 1122$\pm$465 vs 567$\pm$271, 864$\pm$42 vs 325$\pm$87), and CPK-MB enzymes rose in control group higher than steroid group at postoperative 1st day(106.4$\pm$115.1 vs 29.5$\pm$22.4)(P=0.02). Arterial tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ rose during cardiopulmonary bypass, peaking at 5 minutes before the end of aortic cross clamping(ACC-5min) in steroid group(11.9$\pm$4.7 pg/ml), and 5 minutes before the end of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB-5min) in control group(22.3$\pm$6.8 pg/ml). The steroid pretreated patients had a shorter period of time in respirator suport time, ICU stay day, hospital admission day. We conclude that corticosteroid suppress cytokine production during and after cardiopulmonary bypass, and may improve the postoperative course through inhibition of reperfusion injury such as myocardial stunning and hemodynamic instability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.339-345
• /
• 1998

Arrhythmias are common after cardiac surgery and are multifactorial. Intravenous magnesium administration reduces the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patient with symptomatic heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. This study was designed to evaluate the role of magnesium in preventing PVCs(premature ventricular contractions) occurred frequently after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). 50 consecutive patients were prospectively entered into a randomized trial to determine the efficacy of postoperative magnesium therapy on the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias after elective coronary artery bypass graft. The patients underwent coronary angiography, echocardiography, electrocardiography and clinical laboratory study preoperatively. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring was done and magnesium level was checked 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours postoperatively. Study group of 25 patients were given 4g of magnesium continuously over the first 24 hours and then 2g/24hours from 25 to 72 hours. The clinical characteristics of both groups were similar(p<0.05). The preoperative mean serum magnesium concentration was similar in both study group, 1.59mg/dl and control group, 1.71mg/dl. The mean postoperative serum magnesium concentration in study group elevated significantly over postoperative 12hours through 36hours(p<0.05). The postoperative mean serum magnesium concentration in control group declined and remained significantly depressed over immediate postoperation through 72hours. The mean serum magnesium concentration was significantly greater in the study group compared with the control group over postoperative 3hours through 72hours(p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in the incidence of arrhythmias such as PVCs(p<0.01) which might jeopardize hemodynamics. There were no recognized adverse effects of magnesium Administration. In conclusion, prophylactic magnesium administration seems to lessen the incidence and severity of rrhythmias after coponary artery bypass graft.