• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to isolate probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that produced bile salts hydrolase. One hundred twenty strains were initially isolated from human feces. Based on their resistance of acid, tolerances of bile salts, and inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, five strains were selected. A strain producing highest activity of bile salts hydrolase was identified as Lactoacillus plantarum using API carbohydrate fermentation pattern and 16S rRNA sequences, and named CK102. Lactobacillus plantarum CK102 survived at a level of 1.36${\times}$10$\^$8/ CFU/$m\ell$ in pH 2 buffer for 6 h and showed exhibited excellent bile tolerance. When L plantarum CK102 was cultured with E. coli in MRS broth, no viable cells of E. coli was detected after 18 h fermentation. These results suggest that Lactobacillus plantarum CK 102 may be commercially used for the probiotic culture.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.181-188
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• 2017

Purpose: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Erythropoietin (EPO) is emerging as a therapeutic candidate for neuroprotection. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the neuroprotective role of recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) and the possible mechanisms by which mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), JNK, and p38 MAPK is modulated in cultured cortical neuronal cells and astrocytes. Methods: Primary neuronal cells and astrocytes were prepared from cortices of ICR mouse embryos and divided into the normoxic, hypoxia (H), and hypoxia-pretreated with EPO (H+EPO) groups. The phosphorylation of MAPK pathway was quantified using western blot, and the apoptosis was assessed by caspase-3 measurement and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Results: All MAPK pathway signals were activated by hypoxia in the neuronal cells and astrocytes (P<0.05). In the neuronal cells, phosphorylation of ERK-1/-2 and apoptosis were significantly decreased in the H+EPO group at 15 hours after hypoxia (P<0.05). In the astrocytes, phosphorylation of ERK-1/-2, p38 MAPK, and apoptosis was reduced in the H+EPO group at 15 hours after hypoxia (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment with rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effects against hypoxic injury reducing apoptosis by caspase-dependent mechanisms. Pathologic, persistent ERK activation after hypoxic injury may be attenuateed by pretreatment with EPO supporting that EPO may regulate apoptosis by affecting ERK pathways.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the development rates of human embryos co-cultured with cumulus cells to each blastocyst stage. Human zygotes were co-cultured on cumulus cell monolayer in YS medium supplemented with 20% hFF. On day 2, if patient had four or more "good" embryos (regular blastomeres without fragmentation), embryos were further cultured for 72hrs. Blastocysts on day 5 were classified into early blastocyst (ErB), early expanding blastocyst (EEB), middle expanding Blastocyst (MEB), and expanded blastocyst (EdB) on the basis of their morphological aspects of trophectoderm cells and blastocoele. Subsequently, maximum 3 of best blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles. The results in this study were as follows: Patients who had four or more "good" embryos on day 2 were 498 persons, but patients whose embryos could not be transferred due to failure in development to the blastocyst stage on day 5 were 12 persons (2.4%). The development rate of embryos to the blastocyst stage was 58.2% (2,885/4,957) on day 5, and the rates that developed to the ErB, EEB, MEB, and EdB stage were 15.0% (743/4,957), 14.9% (739/4,957), 14.4% (714/ 4,957), and 13.9% (689/4,957), respectively. Total 1366 blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles (mean number=2.81). The implantation rate and the ongoing implantation rate obtained by observing the number of G-sac and FHB were 29.9% (409/1,366) and 22.5% (308/1,366), respectively. The clinical pregnancy rate was 51.2% (249/486), and the ongoing pregnancy rate' was 39.1% (190/486). Among women showing ongoing pregnancy, women with singleton were 50% (95/190), women with twin were 37.9% (72/190), and women with triplet were 12.1% (23/190). Although triplet pregnancy rate in this study was high such as 12.1%, because many blastocysts with high viability were produced in our co-culture system using cumulus cells on day 5, we really believe that a multiple pregnancy except twin should not occur by selecting good embryos for maximum two blastocyst transfer. These results demonstrate that autologous cumulus cells may be used for the production of blastocysts with high developmental competence, and the use of autologous cumulus cells to be collected easily, and to be treated conveniently at OPU must be an effective means for obtaining high implantation and pregnancy rate.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.119-126
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• 2011

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion is a well-known marker for oxidative stress and aging, and contributes to harmful effects in cultured cells and animal tissues. mtDNA biogenesis genes (NRF-1, TFAM) are essential for the maintenance of mtDNA, as well as the transcription and replication of mitochondrial genomes. Considering that oxidative stress is known to affect mitochondrial biogenesis, we hypothesized that ionizing radiation (IR)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes mtDNA deletion by modulating the mitochondrial biogenesis, thereby leading to cellular senescence. Therefore, we examined the effects of IR on ROS levels, cellular senescence, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mtDNA deletion in IMR-90 human lung fibroblast cells. Young IMR-90 cells at population doubling (PD) 39 were irradiated at 4 or 8 Gy. Old cells at PD55, and H2O2-treated young cells at PD 39, were compared as a positive control. The IR increased the intracellular ROS level, senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity, and mtDNA common deletion (4977 bp), and it decreased the mRNA expression of NRF-1 and TFAM in IMR-90 cells. Similar results were also observed in old cells (PD 55) and $H_2O_2$-treated young cells. To confirm that a increase in ROS level is essential for mtDNA deletion and changes of mitochondrial biogenesis in irradiated cells, the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) were examined. In irradiated and $H_2O_2$-treated cells, 5 mM NAC significantly attenuated the increases of ROS, mtDNA deletion, and SA-${\beta}$-gal activity, and recovered from decreased expressions of NRF-1 and TFAM mRNA. These results suggest that ROS is a key cause of IR-induced mtDNA deletion, and the suppression of the mitochondrial biogenesis gene may mediate this process.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2020

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that is present in colostrum, milk, and other body secretions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of lactoferrin hydrolysates (LHs) on the production of immunomodulatory factors, including inflammatory related cytokines. The nuclear factor (NF)-κB reporter assay using human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-293) revealed that NF-κB activity was significantly decreased by 1, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL of LH and the fractions above and below the 10 kDa LH. The mRNA expression of interferon (IFN)-γ in rat basophilic leukemia mast cells (RBL-2H3) treated with the fraction above the 10 kDa LH decreased in a dose-dependent manner, but the cells treated with LH and the fraction below the 10 kDa LH showed an increased expression of IFN-γ in a dose-dependent manner. The level of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression decreased dose-dependently in RBL-2H3 cells treated with LH and the fraction above the 10 kDa LH, but the cells treated with the fraction below the 10 kDa LH showed an increased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-4) was dose-dependently decreased by the fraction below the 10 kDa LH in human mast cells (HMC-1). The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 were significantly dose-dependently decreased by the fractions above and below the 10 kDa LH, but was dose-dependently increased by LH. The production of IL-4 was a little increased by the fraction above the 10 kDa LH compared to the positive control, but was decreased with LH and the fraction below the 10 kDa LH in HMC-1 cells. It was concluded that LF hydrolysates had an immunomodulating effect on anti-, pro-inflammatory and anti-allergic reactions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.756-764
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• 2014

Apoptin, a chicken anemia virus-encoded protein, induces apoptosis in chicken or human tumor cells, localizing in their nuclei as opposed to the cytoplasm of non-transformed cells. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether ABPs1 could potentiate apoptin-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. ABPs1 and the apoptin genes were successfully cloned into pIRES2-EGFP expression vector and expressed in HeLa cells. We report that ABPs1 augments apoptin cell growth inhibition in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The DAPI staining and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed apoptotic bodies and plasma membrane pores, which were attributed to apoptin and ABPs1, respectively. Further, ABPs1 in combination with apoptin was found to increase the expression of Bax and to decrease the expression of survivin compared with either agent alone or the control. The apoptotic rate of HeLa cells treated with ABPs1 and apoptin in combination for 48 h was 53.95%. The two-gene combination increased the caspase-3 activity of HeLa cells. Taken together, our study suggests that ABPs1 combined with apoptin significantly inhibits HeLa cell proliferation, and induces cell apoptosis through membrane defects, up-regulation of Bax expression, down-regulation of survivin expression, and activation of the caspase-3 pathway. Thus, the combination of ABPs1 and apoptin could serve as a means to develop novel gene therapeutic agents against human cervical cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.8-16
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• 1970

Exploitation of leaf protein concentrates for human consumption is very important. Leaf protein concentrates can be easily prepared by mechanically mincing leaves material and press it for getting the juice. Crude protein can be separated from the juice by aging, adjusting the pH, or heating to $75-80^{\circ}C$ etc. This report deals with the extractability of total-N from 69 species of fresh leaves by mechanical process, and then compared the recovery of leaf protein concentrates from leaf extracts by treating with TCA, pH adjustment and heating. Results are summarized as follows. 1. In general, the greater the content of total-N of leaves the greater the percentage extraction. Extraction of the juice from leaves is needed at least two times. The simple equations are constituted between the total-N (T; %) and the first and second extractability ($E_1,\;E_2;\;%$) of the total-N of leaves, as follows: $E_1=0.8168T\;E_2=0.1830T$ 2. The optimum pH value for coagulating protein from extracts is considered to be 3.5 to 4.5. However, the products of leaf protein concentrate by the pH adjustment of extracts are generally dull in color with rich elasticity. 3. Recoveries of the leaf protein concentrate from extracts by treating methods were in the following order of TCA treatment> pH 4 treatment> pH 3 treatment> heat treatment. The yield of leaf protein concentrates decreased bout 10% with pH 4 treatment, 11.4% with pH 3 treatment, and 14.8% with heat treatment compared with the TCA treatment. 4. The heat treatment is the most benifitial method for the production of leaf protein concentrates with regard to properties of texture, color and yield of products and easiness of the treatment method.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.76-87
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• 2008

Objectives: In this study, the author investigated whether Haengso-tang (HST) and Chwiyeon-tang (CHT) affect both in vitro mucin secretion and MUC5AC gene expression in airway epithelial cells and in vivo mucin secretion from animal model for airway mucus hypersecretion. Materials and Methods: Confluent HTSE cells (non-labeled) were chased for 30 min in the presence of HST and CHT to assess the effects of the agents on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with removal of oriental herbal medicine extract from each agent-treated sample by centrifuge microfilter. Also, the effects of the agents on TNF- or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. The author also induced hypersecretion of airway mucus by exposure of rats to SO2 for 3 weeks. Effects of orally-administered HST and CHT during 1 week on in vivo mucin secretion from tracheal goblet cells of rats were assessed using ELISA. Results: (1) HST significantly decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells. However, CHT did not affect in vitro mucin secretion from HTSE cells; (2) CHT significantly inhibited the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. However, HST did not affect the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells; (3) CHT significantly inhibited hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. However, HST did not affect hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. Conclusion: These results suggest that CHT can not only affect the secretion of mucin but also the expression of the mucin gene and could be helpful for treating pulmonary disease caused by secretion of mucin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.658-665
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• 1995

Low yield of a thermostable pectinesterase(TSPE) from citrus fruits has made its detailed study extremely tedious and difficult; therefore, maximizing TSPE extraction is desirable. It is assumed that TSPE is bound to the cell components via ionic linkage and covalent bonds. Therefore, in this study, variations in extraction time, pH, NaCl concentration and commercial enzyme preparations were used to increase the yield of TSPE from Valencia orange. The largest recovery of TSPE, obtained by heating extracted pectinesterase(PE) at $70^{\circ}C\;for\;5{\sim}10$ minute, was achieved using actate buffer(pH 4.14) with 1 M NaCl and 0.2% $Cytolase^{TM}$ 104(a mixture of cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase; Genecor, Inc). The two aquous phase partitioning with 5.0% Triton X-114 could be used as a tool for separation of thermolabile pectinesterase(TLPE) and TSPE from crude PE. Also, water extraction and $0{\sim}0.3$ ammonium sulfate fractionation could be used for removing non-pectinesterase protein.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1025-1035
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• 2017

In this study, the hot water extract from Mulberry (Morus alba) Leaves fermented with Hericium erinaceum mycelium (MA-HE) was assessed for antioxidant activity. Radical scavenging activity of MA-HE evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) radical. MA-HE showed 63% DPPH radical scavenging activity at $500{\mu}g/mL$ and 98.27% ABTS radical scavenging activity at $250{\mu}g/mL$. MA-HE was shown to significantly inhibited DNA strand breakage induced by free radical. MA-HE also inhibited free radical-mediated human serum albumin modification. MA-HE effectively inhibited $H_2O_2$ induced cell death and significantly increased of the 8% cell survival at $100{\mu}g/mL$. MA-HE decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in $H_2O_2$-treated cells. The results suggested that MA-HE can contribute to antioxidant and protected cells from oxidative stress-induced cell injury.