• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.415-422
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• 2009

In this study, several factors were analyzed in an effort to determine the effects of transglutaminase (TGase) treatment on sodium caseinate (NaCN), ${\alpha}--lactalbumin$ (${\alpha}-La$), and ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ (${\beta}-Lg$) polymerization reactions. The results of SDSPAGE showed that NaCN was slightly hydrolyzed to molecular weights of 50-400 kDa according to activation time. ${\alpha}-La$ formed high-molecular polymers of 30-300 kDa, whereas ${\beta}-Lg$ remained almost completely unhydrolyzed. Melting temperatures of NaCN, ${\alpha}-La$ with and without TGase were all in the range of $100{\pm}10^{\circ}C$ under the endothermic curve, and the melting temperature of ${\beta}-Lg$ with TGase was lower than that with TGase. When the proteins were incubated for 3 h with TGase, the micrographic structures showed a small quantity of sediment and broad layers. The final ${\alpha}-La$ residues remained at a level of 21.38%, and the TGase-treated ${\alpha}-La$ was confirmed to have undergone a profound loss of mass, to 18.25%. The DPPH-radical scavenging activity of NaCN and ${\beta}-Lg$ with TGase treatment was higher than that observed in the untreated sample, while those of ${\alpha}-La$ increased with concentration.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 1999

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether vitrification could be used for ovarian tissue preservation. The important issue here is that the vitrification is very simple, easy, and economical compared to the conventional cryopreserving method that using automatic freezing instrument. Human ovarian cortical tissues were cryopreserved by vitrification with 5.5 M ethylene glycol and 1.0 M sucrose as cryoprotectant. Three points of temperature ($4^{\circ}C$, room temperature, and $37^{\circ}C$) and two points of duration (5 or 10 minutes) for cryoprotectant treatment were examined to determine the best condition for vitrification of the human ovarian cortical tissues. After thawing, viability of the isolated primordial follicles was examined by dye-exclusion method. Histological appearance of tissues before and after the cryopreservation was evaluated. There was no toxic effect of the 5.5 M ethylene glycol on the primordial follicles. However, when the tissues were treated with cryoprotectant at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes and exposed to liquid nitrogen, it seems likely that there is certain deleterious effects on the viability of the primordial follicles. The highest viability of the primordial follicles was obtained with the treatment of cryoprotectant at room temperature for 10 minutes. Follicles and oocytes survived after freezing and thawing had the similar normal shapes as was seen in the specimens before cryopreservation. It would be useful to apply vitrification in establishing ovarian tissue banking for clinical purposes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.898-908
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• 2010

Purpose: The neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been recently shown in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity; however, limited data are available for such effects during the neonatal periods. Therefore, we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism. Methods: The left carotid artery was ligated in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups ($in$ $vivo$ model). The animals were divided into 6 groups: normoxia control (NC), normoxia sham-operated (NS), hypoxia only (H), hypoxia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia+rHuEPO before a hypoxic insult (HE-B), and hypoxia+rHuEPO after a hypoxic insult (HE-A). Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of SD rats at 18 days gestation ($in$ $vitro$ model) was performed. The cultured cells were divided into 5 groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated groups. Results: In the $in$ $vivo$ model, Bcl-2 expressions in the H and HV groups were lower than those in the NC and NS groups, whereas those in the HE-A and HE-B groups were greater than those of the H and HV groups. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were in contrast to those of Bcl-2. In the $in$ $vitro$ model, the patterns of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were similar to the results obtained in the in vivo model. Conclusion: rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism.

• Carbon letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2016

The attachment of 2-aminobenzamide to carboxylated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-COOH was achieved through the formation of amide bonds. Then, the functionalized MWCNTs, MWCNT-amide, were treated by phosphoryl chloride to produce MWCNT-quin. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetric, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, and solubility testing. MWCNT-quin showed photo-electronic properties, which is due to the attachment of the 4-hydroxyquinazoline groups to them as proved by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. This suggests intramolecular interactions between the tubes and the attached 4-hydroxyquinazoline. The toxicity of the samples was evaluated in human embryonic kidney HEK293 and human breast cancer SKBR3 cell lines, and the viable cell numbers were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) after the cells were cultured for 24 h. Cellular investigations showed that the modified MWCNTs, particularly MWCNT-quin, have considerably significant toxic impact on SKBR3 as compared to HEK293 at the concentration of 5 µg/mL.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2008

Malachite Green (MG), a toxic chemical used as a dye, topical antiseptic and antifungal agent for fish, is highly soluble in water, cytotoxic to various mammalian cells and also acts as a liver tumor promoter. In view of its industrial importance and possible exposure to human beings, MG possesses a potential environmental health hazard. So, we performed with HepG2, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to toxicity of MG. And we compared gene expression between control and MG treatment to identify genes that are specifically or predominantly expressed by employing annealing control primer (ACP)-based $GeneFishing^{TM}$ method. The cytotoxicity $(IC_{20})$ of MG was determined above the $0.867{\mu}M$ in HepG2 cell for 48 h treatment. And the DEGs of MG were identified that 5 out of 6 DEGs were upregulated and 1 out of 6 DEGs was down-regulated by MG. Also, MG induced late apoptosis and necrosis in a dose dependent in flow cytometric analysis. Through further investigation, we will identify more meaningful and useful DEGs on MG, and then can get the information on mechanism and pathway associated with toxicity of MG.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1998

Hypericin, a photosensitizing plant pigment, was found to be a potent inducer of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia U-937 cells. At a concentration of $0.2{\mu}M$, hypericin exhibited 50% growth inhibition. An effect on cell differentiation by hypericin was assessed by its ability to induce phagocytosis of latex particles, and to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Approximately 51% of $0.2{\mu}M$ hypericin-treated cells were stained with NBT and 63% showed phagocytic activity. In order to establish whether hypericin induces differentiation of U-937 cells to macrophage or granulocyte, esterase activities and cell sizes were measured. When U-937 cells were treated with $0.2{\mu}M$ and $0.15{\mu}M$ of hypericin, the .alpha.-naphthyl acetate esterase activity was increased by 38.4% and 48.1%, respectively, but naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activity was not influenced. The size of hypericin-treated cells in terms of cell mass was larger than that observed in untreated cells as determined by flow cytometry. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, NA-382, decreased the NBT reducing activity of hypericin, whereas a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, did not show any influence on the differentiations. These results indicate that hypericin triggers differentiation toward monocyte/macrophage lineage by PKC stimulation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.264-273
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• 2008

The inhibitory effect of omega-3 such as linolenic acid (LNA), docosahexaenoic acid (DNA) and eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) on the growth of normal cell lines and cancer cell lines was evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyItetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 2,3-bis-2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-caboxanilide (XTT) methods. LNA was found to decrease the cell viability of human oral epithelioid carcinoma cells (KB) in the MTT assay, whereas EPA appeared to inhibit the cell adhesion activity of human skin melanoma cells (SK-MEL-3) in the XTT assay analysis. DPPH radical scavenging activity was examined on LNA, DHA and EPA at the concentration of 100 ${\mu}M$, where they showed about 53% scavenging activity. These results suggest that omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid has a potential anticancer activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.519-524
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• 2005

An ${\alpha}$-L-rhamnosidase (EC 3.2.1.40.), which transforms quercitrin to quercetin, was purified from Fusobacterium K-60, a human intestinal anaerobic bacterium. The specific activity of the purified ${\alpha}$-L-rhamnosidase was 2.89 mol/min/mg protein. ${\alpha}$-L-Rhamnosidase, whose molecular size was 170 kDa by gel filtration, was composed of four subunits ($M_r$ 41,000 Da) with pI and optimal pH values of 5.2 and 5.5-7.0, respectively. The apparent $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values for p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside and quercitrin were determined to be 0.057 mM and 3.4 mol/min/mg, and 0.077 mM and 5.0 mol/min/mg, respectively. This enzyme was strongly inhibited by $Cu^{2+},\;Mn^{2+}$, L-rhamnose, and p-chlormercuriphenylsulfonic acid. These findings suggest that the biochemical properties and substrate specificity of the purified enzyme are different from those of the previously purified ${\alpha}$-L-rhamnosidase. This is the first reported purification of quercitrin-hydrolyzing ${\alpha}$-L-rhamnosidase from intestinal bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1190-1198
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• 2011

Extraction methods of medicinal plants were evaluated for growth enhancing effects of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Hot-water extraction (reflux for 5 hr), hot-water extraction post treatment (100$^{\circ}C$ or 120$^{\circ}C$, 90 min) and ethanol extraction (reflux for 5 hr) methods were applied to Angelica gigas, Rhemania glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora and Cnidium officinale samples to extract their constituents. Cells were treated for 2 hr with various concentrations of extracts (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 ${\mu}g/{\mu}l}$ media) prior to $H_2O_2$ (250 ${\mu}M$) treatment for 2 hr to provide oxidative stress. Cell viability, caspase-3 expression and apoptosis were measured for cells treated with sample extracts. Hot-water extract exhibited a stronger growth enhancing and apoptosis protecting ability than other extracts. These activities were shown at less than 1 ${\mu}g/{\mu}l}$ concentration, and not greater than 2 ${\mu}g/{\mu}l}$ concentration. Hot-water extract contained more polyphenolic compounds than other extracts coming along with stronger antioxidant activity. The efficacy of antioxidant activity was stronger in the hot-water extract of Angelica gigas than other hot-water extracts of medicinal plants. These results suggest that hot-water extraction is an appropriate method to extract materials for growth enhancing and apoptosis protection of SK-N-SH cells, and hot-water extracts of Angelica gigas might be useful materials for protection from aging brain cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1357-1363
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• 2012

Pigs may need to be exploited as xenotransplantation donors due to the shortage of human organs, tissues and cells. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are a significant obstacle to xenotransplantation because they can infect human cells in vitro and have the potential for transmission of unexpected pathogens to humans. In this research, 101 pigs, including four commercial breeds (23 Berkshire, 13 Duroc, 22 Landrace and 14 Yorkshire pigs), one native breed (19 Korean native pigs) and one miniature breed (10 NIH miniature pigs) were used to investigate insertional variations for 11 PERV loci (three PERV-A, six PERV-B and two PERV-C). Over 60% of the pigs harbored one PERV-A (907F8) integration and five PERV-B (B3-3G, B3-7G, 742H1, 1155D9 and 465D1) integrations. However, two PERV-A loci (A1-6C and 1347C1) and one PERV-B locus (B3-7F) were absent in Duroc pigs. Moreover, two PERV-C loci (C2-6C and C4-2G) only existed in Korean native pigs and NIH miniature pigs. The results suggest that PERV insertional variations differ among pig breeds as well as among individuals within a breed. Also, the results presented here can be used for the selection of animals that do not have specific PERV integration for xenotransplantation research.