• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 1987

The amniotic fluid provides a medium in which the fetus can readily move, cushions him against possible injury and helps him maintain an even temperature. Besides above mentioned functions, investigators reported that human amniotic fluid contains host-resistance factors which prevent bacteria from producing infectious disease and this activity shows difference among human racial groups or bacterial genera, species and strains. 40 amniotic fluid specimens from Korean women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy were examined for inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli. And various factors which might affect bacterial growth inhibiting activity such as pH, initial inoculum size, concentration of amniotic fluid, and heat resistance, were also tested using a strongly inhibitory amniotic fluid specimen. Finally plate diffusion tests were carried out using other strongly inhibitory amniotic fluid. The following results were obtained: 1. Of the 40 fluid samples examined, 18 specimens(45%) had inhibitory activity and samples from women in their second trimester of pregnanancy showed non-inhibitory activity(2 specimens). 2. The pH of the fluids varied between 7.43 and 8.33. There was no correlation between pH and inhibitory activity. 3. No. 19 amniotic fluid showed bacteriostatic activity after 24 hours incubation when an inoculum of $10^2$ organisms per milliliter was used, but non-inhibitory with an inoculum of $10^3$ and $10^4$ bacteria per milliliter. 4. The content of amniotic fluid in culture media influenced E. coli growth. At 90 percent, E. coli was inhibited growth but at 10 percent and 50 percent. 5. Inhibitory activity of No. 19 amniotic fluid was retained after heating to $50^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes or 100^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. 6. Plate diffusion tests with No. 27 amniotic fluid showed that 0.7ml amniotic fluid gave clear zone of growth inhibition around the central well but 0.2ml and 0.1ml amniotic fluids were not.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.66-77
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: We compared the efficacy and safety of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC), delivered at different doses and via different injection routes in an animal model of chronic kidney disease. Methods and Results: A total of ninety 12-week-old rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy and randomized among nine groups: sham, renal artery control (RA-C), tail vein control (TV-C), renal artery low dose (RA-LD) (0.5×10⁶ cells), renal artery moderate dose (RA-MD) (1.0×10⁶ cells), renal artery high dose (RA-HD) (2.0×10⁶ cells), tail vein low dose (TV-LD) (0.5×10⁶ cells), tail vein moderate dose (TV-MD) (1.0×10⁶ cells), and tail vein high dose (TV-HD) (2.0×10⁶ cells). Renal function and mortality of rats were evaluated after hBMSC injection. Serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 2 weeks (p<0.01), 16 weeks (p<0.05), and 24 weeks (p<0.01) than in the TV-C group, as determined by one-way ANOVA. Serum creatinine was significantly lower in the TV-HD group at 24 weeks (p<0.05). At 8 weeks, creatinine clearance was significantly higher in the TV-MD and TV-HD groups (p<0.01, p<0.05) than in the TV-C group. In the safety evaluation, we observed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety of high dose (2×10⁶ cells) injection of hBMSC via the tail vein.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.233-237
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• 1998

We demonstrated that the normal pregnancy and delivery by round spermatid injection (ROSI) into oocytes was achieved from nonobstructive azoospermia patient. In this case, the normal fertilization rate was 50%. All of the two pronuclear stage embryos cleaved and were transferred to the patient's uterus. A singleton pregnancy was achieved and resulted in the birth of normal female infant. This resuJt show that intracytoplasraic injection of round spermatid seems to be new treatment of nonobstmctive azoospermia male infertility. Further research is needed to evaluate the required culture conditions to induce progression of the round spermatid into a more elongated stage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.410-418
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• 1998

From the ancient times, herbs, animals and minerals were used as natural medicine to cure human disease in diverse ways. One of the representative forms in oral intake is decoction. But medicinal decoction degenerates as time passes just as all foods do by the environmental factors, such as micro-organism, enzyme, light and the air. Nowadays, as medicinal decoctions are kept in bottles and retort pouch for longtime, some standard data for preservation is necessary. In order to measure the standard statistics for safe preservation, Youngsunjetongeum used to treat rheumatism, and gout 'were used. According to this experiment which measured pH, specific gravity, analgesic effect and anti-inflammatory effect, the results were as follows: 1. No remarkable change was found in pH and in the specific gravity of decoction. 2. As for the analgesic effect induced by acetic acid in mice, no remarkable decrease in its medicinal efficacy was found, until the 9th day, but it showed in its medicinal efficacy from the 11th day. 3. As for the resultant anti-inflammatory effect caused by vascular permeability, induced by carrageenin and acetic acid, no remarkable decrease in its medicinal efficacy was found until the 9th day, but showed decrease in its medicinal efficacy from 11th day. In conclusion, keeping the natural medicinal decoction more than 9 days should be avoided.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1191-1196
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effects, and nitrite scavenging abilities of Jubak (alcohol filter cake, AFC) hot water and ethanol extracts. Tyrosinase inhibitory effects of Jubak hot water and ethanol extracts were above 85%. Nitrite scavenging ability was higher at pH 1.2 than at pH 4.2 and 6.0. Nitrite scavenging abilities of water and ethanol extracts were above 90% at pH 1.2. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of Jubak hot water and ethanol extracts showed a lower, and the effect did not different by hot water and ethanol. ACE inhibitory effects of Jubak hot water and ethanol extracts were approximately 43~53% and 36~47%, respectively. Overall, our results indicate that Jubak hot water and ethanol extracts may have tyrosinase and ACE inhibitory effects and nitrite scavenging ability, but no xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect. Therefore, Jubak has potential as a cosmetic raw material. Additionally, Jubak could be used as a food additive.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.122-126
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• 1997

Bifidobacteria have been known as beneficial inhabitant of human intestine. Therefore, bifidobacteria began to be noticed as a starter in the manufacture of fermented dairy products. Perhaps the key for effective use of bifidobacteria in commercial dairy products is the maintenance of viability of bifidobacteria during large scale preparation of starter culture and distribution of products. So we tried to obtain the bifidobacteria having suitable characteristics for using as a starter in the manufacture of fermented dairy products. Among bifidobacteria isolated from Korean, E-4 strain showed the highest resistance to oxygen. To know whether the selected strain will be fit for manufacture of fermented dairy products, we also investigated resistance of the selected strain to HCI. The selected strain, E-4, was more resistant to environmental stresses such as oxygen, H2O2 and HCI than Bifidobacterium longum known as resistant strain to environmental stresses. According to carbohydrate fermentation patterns and morphological characteristics, E-4 strain was identified as B. bifidum. In conclusion, the selected strain, E-4, was thought to be fit for manufacture of fermented dairy products.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

This study has used differential display-PCR, to amplify genes transcribed during the ovarian maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The cDNA expressed at the times of acquisition of oocyte maturational competence in red seabream (Pagrus major) following treatment with hCG was amplified and cloned. A full-length of cDNA for p. major was isolated using differential display-PCR and 5'RACE. This cDNA clone contained 2,662 nucleotides including the open reading frame that encoded 434 amino acids. Homology analyses, using the GenBank and EMBL general database searches, indicated that the nucleotides sequence of the cDNA does not have high homology with any other genes. This cDNA was judged to be a gene, which induction of maturational competence coincides with increase of mRNA related ovarian maturation. Consensus sequences which were consistent with protein kinase C phosphorylation sites and casein kinase II phosphorylation sites were identified. in vitro, the transcription level of mRNA related ovarian maturation increased between 9hr and 24hr following treatment of ovarian follicles with hCG. It was also increased after GtH-II (300 ng/ml) stimulation. Furthermore, in vivo, mRNA related ovarian maturation was rarely expressed prior to the acquisition of oocyte maturational competence, but was strongly expressed after the acquisition of oocyte maturational competence, suggesting that the hCG induction of maturational competence is brought about by the de novo synthesis of the mRNA related ovarian maturation in p. major.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2002

In most mammals, mature oocyte-cumulus complexer(OCCs) ovulate into the oviduct where fertilization by sperm takes place. However, the complex that fail to fertilize eventually undergoes degeneration while they reside in the oviduct. Yet there is no blown mechanism how both oocyte and cumulus cells degenerate. Using human follicular fluid (hFF), bovine oviductal tissue extract (BOX) and mouse OCC, the present study aimed to find how the oviduct influence the viability of the oocyte and cumulus cells in vitro. There was no difference of oocyte maturation rate between the control and BOX-treated groups. However, there was a significant difference in the survival of cumulus cells between two groups. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of hFF alone underwent initially expansion and then they formed monolayer in the culture dish. Even after 72 hr, they proliferated well and showed fibroblast-like morphology. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of both hFF and BOX also expanded after 24 hr, however, after 72 hr culture, they eventually detached and degenerated. Cumulus cells cultured in the BOX alone gave a similar drastic result. When the cumulus cells cultured in the presence of BOX were stained with DAPI, their nuclei showed partial condensation and fragmentation. After detailed analysis of these cells by TUNEL assay, many nuclei of them exhibited well stained spots indicating the signs of apoptosis. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that BOX might possess a factor that leads mouse cumulus cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 1993

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients have a characteristic of high leuteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle -stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio. Usually, human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is used to induce ovulation in clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS patients. However, HMG contains two components, namely, LH and FSH, with 50%, respectively. Therefore, FSH is theoretically recommended to stimulate follicular maturation. From the pituitary, LH is secreted by pulsatile pattern. So, we have been using intermittent subcutaneous injection of pure FSH for ovulation induction in 10 PCOS patients from March, 1990 to August, 1992. We obtained good results by intermittent subcutaneous injection of pure FSH. Ovulation is 100% per patient, and 88.2% per cycle. Pregnancy rate is 80% per patient, and 23.5% per cycle. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is 50% per patient, 41.2% per all cycles, and 46.7% per all ovulated cycles. In comparison with HMG, pregnancy rate per cycle is relatively low. But, ovulation rate and pregnacy rate per person is higher than HMG. Because of the strict check of ovaries by the vaginal ultrasonography, OHSS rate is relatively high.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1993

The effects of freezing and 1,2-propanediol on early and late pronucleate stage mouse ova were investigated in terms of survival after thawing and development in vitro. The samples were divided into two groups according to different age in pronucleate ova: ova in(1) early pronuclear stage with two distant pronuclei at 18h after hCG injection, and (2) late pronuclear stage with adjacent pronuclei at 30h. Zygotes in the late pronuclear stage have been proven to be more resistant to 1,2-propanediol, showing a significantly higher developmental rate than zygotes in early stage (80.3 versus 66.3%, <0.05), but survival rate was similar in the two groups (91.0 versus 93.5%). After freezing and thawing, survival and developmental rates were decreased in both groups when compared to the control group (54.3 versus 92.3%, 47.7 versus 73.3%. respectively). And developmental rate in the late pronuclear stage zygotes showed significantly higher than in early (55.4 versus 40.0%) after thawing. In conclusion, early pronucleate mouse ova have a lower developmental capacity in vitro and a lower survival rate after freezing and thawing than late ova. These findings suggest that the timing of freezing could be important for survival and further development in vitro in cryopreservation of human pronucleate ova.