• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.255-265
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• 2001

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between short-term exposure to particulate air pollutants and increased mortality. However the biological mechanism underlying these associations have not been fully established and also the chemical and physical characteristics of the pollutant particles are not well understood. The metal constituents of air pollutant particles and their bioavailability are considered to Play an important role as possible mediators of Particle-induced airway injury and inflammation. Sprague-Dawley rat alveolar macrophage cells (NR8383) were exposed to airborne and acid-leached particulate matter (PM). Titanium oxide and nickel subsulfide were used as negative and positive controls. Particle-induced reactive oxygen species formation in cells was detected using the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and PM-induced DNA double-strand breaks were determined with $\lambda$DNA/Hind III marker. Metals associated with air pollutant particles mediated intracellular oxidant production in alveolar macrophages, and the cytotoxicity and proinflammatory cytokine production induced by PM were associated with oxidative stress. The oxidants produced by air pollutant particles also are likely to induce DNA double-strand breaks. Our findings in alveolar macrophage cells exposed to PM and acid-leached PM support the hypothesis that metal components in urban air pollutants and their bioavailabilities might play an Important role in the induction of the adverse health effects.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2013

${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid(GABA) is a four carbon non-protein amino acid that has several well-known physiological functions, such as a postsynaptic inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and induction of hypotensive and tranquilizer effects. A lactic acid bacterium was isolated from button mushroom bed, which is showing high GABA productivity by TLC or HPLC analysis. The strain was identified as Lactobacillus hilgardii by analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequence. When the maximum production of GABA by L. hilgardii was investigated with various concentration of monosodium glutamate, the yield of GABA reached to be 53.65 mM at 1% mono sodium glutamate (MSG) in flask cultivation. A Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) enzyme, which was known to convert MSG to GABA, was purified from a cell-free extract of L. hilgardii and the molecular weights of purified GAD was estimated to 60,000 by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature of GAD were at pH4.6 and at $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. The GAD activity was increased by the addition of sulfate ions such as ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, indicating that the increase of hydrophobic interaction causes the increase of GAD activity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.662-668
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• 1998

Viruses belonging to the Hantavirus genus cause two acute severe illness in humans, i.e., Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome(HPS). Among them, Hantaan virus is one of the most important viruses causing HFRS. Recombinant expression vectors, pKK-NP and pET-NP, with Hantaan viral nucleocapsid gene were constructed, and used to transform Eschericia coli BL21(DE3). Stability of the vectors in the host strain, and effects of some environmental conditions on the expression of nucleocapsid gene were studied. Expression vector, pKK-NP, was very unstable, and the expression level of nucleocapsid gene was very low compared to that of pET-NP. BL21(pET-NP) produced about 100 mg of N protein per liter of culture broth. Induction time did not show any significant difference on the expression level of nucleocapsid gen and cell growth. BL21(pET-NP) culture at 35$^{\circ}C$ showed a little higher expression level than at 30$^{\circ}C$ during growth phase, but reached to the same level at stationary phase. Total expression level was proportional to supplemented glucose concentration of media up to 0.5% along with cell growth, but expression level per unit cell mass was inversely proportional to glucose concentration and maximal when glucose was not supplemented at all.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2022

All living organisms are destined to die. Cells, the core of those living creatures, move toward the irresistible direction of death. The question of how to die is critical and is very interesting. There are various types of death in life, including natural death, accidental death, questionable death, suicide, and homicide. The mechanisms and molecules involved in cell death also differ depending on the type of death. The dysenteric amoeba, E. histolytica, designated by the German zoologist Fritz Schaudinn in 1903, has the meaning of tissue lysis; i.e., tissue destroying, in its name. It was initially thought that the amoebae lyse tissue very quickly leading to cell death called necrosis. However, advances in measuring cell death have allowed us to more clearly investigate the various forms of cell death induced by amoeba. Increasing evidence has shown that E. histolytica can cause host cell death through induction of various intracellular signaling pathways. Understanding of the mechanisms and signaling molecules involved in host cell death induced by amoeba can provide new insights on the tissue pathology and parasitism in human amoebiasis. In this review, we emphasized on the signaling role of NADPH oxidases in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent cell death by pathogenic E. histolytica.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2004

Cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) is known to be inducible by xenobiotic compounds such as policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) and dioxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD). And these induction of CYP1B1 is also regulated by many categories of chemicals. In order to investigate the effects of several chemicals on CYP1B1 gene expression in Hepa-I and MCF-7 cells, 5' flanking DNA of human CYP1B1 was cloned into pGL3 basic vector containing luciferase gene, and then transfected into these cells. After treatment of chemicals, the luciferase activity was measured. CYP1B1 enzyme metabolize PAHs and estradiol. CYP1B1 metabolize estradiol to 4-hydrozyestradiol that is considered as carcinogenic metabolite. Luciferase activity was induced about 20 folds over that control by 1 nM TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachloto-p-dioxin). Recent industrialized society, human has been widely been exposed to widespread environmental contaminants such as PAHs(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) that are originated from the imcomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. PAHs are known to be ligands of the AhR(aryl hydrocarbon receptor). Induction of cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) in cell culture is widely used as a biomarker for PAHs. Therefore we have studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. We have used the United State of America EPA selected 13 different PAHs, PAHs mixtures and extracts from environmental samples to evaluate the bioassay system. We examined effects of PAHs on the CYP1B1-luciferase reporter gene and CYP1B1 mRNA level. Benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene showed strong response to CYP1B1 promoter activity stimulation, and also CYP1B1 mRNAs increase in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Acenaphthene, anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, fluorene, fluoranthene, anphthanlene, pyrene, phenanthrene and carbazole were weak responders in MCF-7 cells. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1B1 mRNA.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2013

This study analyzed the consciousness and attitudes of local residents to the development plan of Sobaeksan Jarackgil by applying the social exchange theory to provide basic data for the establishment of the Mountainous Ecology Trail Development Plan, collecting opinions of local residents. For this, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey and personal interview targeting 150 residents of seven villages. Summarizing the results, first, because of analyzing the consciousness of the residents, most of the local residents turned out to be aware of the Sobaeksan Jarackgil development plan and agreed on it. Second, as a result of analyzing the consciousness of residents, for attitudes according to gender, females expected more than males of exchanging with visitors and excavation of cultural assets. Furthermore for attitudes according to age, groups aged under 60 turned out to be concerned about the increase of environmental pollutions, rise in crimes, destruction of cultures, and the induction of conflicts among residents. For attitudes according to occupations, farm workers were worried about the destruction of ecology, and for local characteristics and damages to the landscape, all of the local residents turned out to be concerned. It was shown that groups that agreed on the development plan expected positively on most of the items of economic, environmental, and sociocultural aspects, while those that disagreed on the plan were anxious for negative effects such as landscape damages and the increase of environmental pollutions from the environmental point of view, and the induction of conflicts among residents from the point of sociocultural perspective.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.198-205
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• 2004

Cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) is known to be inducible by xenobiotic compounds such as policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) and dioxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD). And these induction of CYP1B1 is also regulated by many categories of chemicals. In order to investigate the effects of several chemicals on CYP1B1 gene expression in Hepa-I and MCF-7 cells, 5' flanking DNA of human CYP1B1 was cloned into pGL3 basic vector containing luciferase gene, and then transfected into these cells. After treatment of chemicals, the luciferase activity was measured. CYP1B1 enzyme metabolize PAHs and estradiol. CYP1B1 metabolize estradiol to 4-hydrozyestradiol that is considered as carcinogenic metabolite. Recent industrialized industrialized society, human has been widely been exposed to widespread environmental contaminants such as PAHs(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) that are originated from the imcomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. PAHs are known to be ligands of the AhR(aryl hydrocarbon receptor). Induction of cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) in cell culture is widely used as a biomarker for PAHs. Therefore we have studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. We have used the United State of America EPA selected 13 different PAHs, PAHs mixtures and extracts from environmental samples to evaluate the bioassay system. We examined effects of PAHs on the CYP1B1-luciferase reporter gene and CYP1B1 mRNA level. Benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene showed strong response to CYP1B1 promoter activity stimulation, and also CYP1B1 mRNAs increase in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1B1 mRNA. Some flavonoids such as genistein, daidzein, chrysin, naringenin and morin were also investigeted. These flavonoids decreased B(k)F infuced luciferase activity at low concentration. But, these flavonoids exhibited stimulatory effect at high concentration.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.456-464
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• 2012

This study was conducted to establish the in vitro optimal condition for seed germination and organogenesis of wild Angelica gigas. The experiment was evaluated the effects of $GA_3$ for pre-treatment with different periods of time (0h, 24h, 48h, 72h) and followed the treatment of seeds by control, scarification and methanol-heating method. As a result, the highest rates (15%) of seed germination was shown under the treatment without soaking of $GA_3$ and methanol-heating treatment. The seed germination was highly increased 60% under the condition of treatment on ultrasonic waves (frequency 80 KHz) with methanol-heating treatment including 0.1 mg/L $GA_3$. The highest callus induction rate was obtained from in vitro germinated stem, root and hypocotyl on the MS medium with 1.0 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L BA. The highest percentages of shooting (50%) and rooting (85%) induction were observed in hypocotyl and root cultured on PGRs free medium and 0.1 mg/L NAA, respectively. In addition, somatic embryogenesis was observed from stem (1.0 mg/L 2,4-D) and hypocotyl (0.1 mg/L NAA).

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2009

Multiple shoot induction and plant regeneration using apical bud and nodal explants of 100 year old tree of Anthocephalus cadamba, an important sacred and medicinal tree in India was achieved for the first time. Aseptic explants cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with different concentrations of BAP (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg/l), when maintained for 60 days, healthy shoots were induced in presence of BAP (1 mg/l). Lower concentrations of BAP (0.1 - 0.5 mg/l) induced only one shoot per explant. Increase in number of shoots per explant was observed in presence of higher concentrations of BAP (2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg/l). However, elongation of shoots was completely inhibited. Bud break and shoot regeneration was largely associated with seasonal factors. Apical buds cultured during June to August exhibited early bud break within two weeks of initial culture. In rest of the months, bud break and shoot regeneration was very slow irrespective of the various concentrations of BAP used in the medium. Explants sourced from three different maturity levels of shoots indicated that actively growing shoots from the mother plant with 1 - 2 nodal segments was more suitable for culture initiation than the explants collected from mature shoots at dormant stage. Regenerated shoots with 2 - 3 pairs of leaves when transferred to half strength MS medium fortified with IBA (1 mg/l), 60% of the shoots induced healthy roots, indicating the possibility of large scale micropropagation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 1997

Recent evidence indicates that growth factors modulate response of mammary epithelial cells to environmental stress. The objective of this study was to examine the cellular and biochemical responses of mammary tissue to environmental stress caused by artificial mastitis. For experimental a, pp.oach, toxins of most mastitis causing organisms(Staph. aureus or Strep. agalactiae) and heat stress(42$^{\circ}C$) were artificially exposed to mammary tissue. Effects of these environmental stresses on cell growth, cell death and heat shock protein synthesis were examined. Lactating mammary tissure were cultured under basal medium(DMEM) su, pp.emented with insulin(10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and aldosterone(1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). All treatment groups in heat stress at 42$^{\circ}C$ incubation significantly decreased DNA synthesis rates in comparison with those at 39$^{\circ}C$(P<0.05), however, these decreased DNAa synthesis rates were recovered by addition of adenosine(10$\mu$M) and IGFI(10ng/ml). Similar results were obtained when tissue growth rates were measured by DNA content/tissue. Strep. agalactiae toxin did not significantly decreased DNA content/tissue in comparison with no treatment of bacterial toxin with or without heat stress, however, tended to decrease DNA contents/tissue without heat stress. In the fluorography analysis, heat stress(42$^{\circ}C$ incubation) slightly increased 35S-methoionine labelled 70kd protein synthesis. These results indicate that environmental stress caused by artificial mastitis slightly decreased mammary growth or mammary size, however, these results could be recovered by addition of adenosine and IGF-I.