• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2020

Rice grain shape is one of the key components of grain yield and market value. An understanding of the genetic basis of the variation in grain shape could be used to improve grain shape. In this study, we developed a total of 265 F₂ individuals derived from a cross between japonica cultivars (Josaeng-jado and Langi) and used this population for quantitative trait locus (QLT) analysis. Correlation analysis was performed to identify relationships between grain traits (GL: grain length, GW: grain width, L/W: ratio of length to width, TGW: 1,000 grain weight). The grain shape was positively correlated with GL and TGW, and negatively correlated with GW. In QTL analysis associated with grain shape, one QTL for GL, qGL5, detected on chromosome 5, explained 20.3% of the phenotypic variation (PV), while two QTLs, qGW5 (PV=36.1) and qGW7 (PV=26.1), for GW were identified on chromosomes 5 and 7, respectively. Evaluation of the effects of each of the QTLs on the grain shape in the population showed a significant difference in the grain size in positive lines compared with the lines without the QTLs. According to the QTL combination of the allelic-types, the grain shape of the tested lines varied from semi-round type to long spindle-shaped type. The results of this study extend our knowledge about the genetic pool governing the diversity of grain shape in japonica cultivars and could be used to improve the grain shape of this species through marker-assisted selective breeding in Korea.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.42-62
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• 2008

Objectives: It is well known that some parameters of the photoplethysmogram (PPG) acquired by time domain contour analysis can be used as markers of vascular aging. But the previous studies that have been performed for frequency domain analysis of the PPG to date have provided only restrictive and fragmentary information. The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the harmonics extracted from the PPG using a fast Fourier transformation could be used as an index of vascular aging. Methods: The PPG was measured in 600 recruited subjects for 30 second durations, To grasp the gross age-related change of the PPG waveform, we grouped subjects according to gender and age and averaged the PPG signal of one pulse cycle. To calculate the conventional indices of vascular aging, we selected the 5-6 cycles of pulse that the baseline was relatively stable and then acquired the coordinates of the inflection points. For the frequency domain analysis we performed a power spectral analysis on the PPG signals for 30 seconds using a fast Fourier transformation and dissociated the harmonic components from the PPG signals. Results: A final number of 390 subjects (174 males and 216 females) were included in the statistical analysis. The normalized power of the harmonics decreased with age and on a logarithmic scale reduction of the normalized power in the third (r=-0.492, P<0.0001), fourth (r=-0.621, P<0.0001) and fifth harmonic (r=-0.487, P<0.0001) was prominent. From a multiple linear regression analysis, Stiffness index, reflection index and corrected up-stroke time influenced the normalized power of the harmonics on a logarithmic scale. Conclusions: The normalized harmonic power decreased with age in healthy subjects and may be less error prone due to the essential attributes of frequency domain analysis. Therefore, we expect that the normalized harmonic power density can be useful as a vascular aging marker.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.328-337
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• 2012

In order to investigate anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities of Samchulkunbi-tang (SCT; Shen zhu jian pi-tang) water and 70% ethanol (EtOH) extracts, in vitro inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ $PGE_2$), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and regulated on activation of normal T-cell-expressed and -secreted (RANTES/CCL5) production in TNF-${\alpha}$/interferon-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT and BEAS-2B cells as well as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells were determined. A HPLC was used for quantification of the seven marker components (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, naringin, hesperidin, poncirin and glycyrrhizin) of SCT water and 70% EtOH extracts. SCT showed inhibitory effects against MDC and RANTES production in HaCaT cells, as well as RANTES production in BEAS-2B cells. In addition, SCT reduced not only NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells, but also GPDH activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, the biological activities and the contents of six compounds (except paeoniflorin) were higher in 70% EtOH extract than water extract. These results suggest that SCT has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities. These efficacies of 70% EtOH extract are relatively higher than that of water extract.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

Purpose : The objective of this study was to determine whether the expressions of the two components of DNA-dependent protein kinase, Ku70 and DNA-PKcs, influence the response to radiotherapy (RT) and outcome of treatment of non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in patients who received definitive RT. Materials and Methods : Sixty-six patients with NPC who were treated with radiotherapy alone or with concurrent chemotherapy between June 1995 and December 2001 were divided into groups based on the levels of immunoreactivity for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs in pretreatment biopsy specimens. The over-expression of Ku70 or DNA-PKcs groups Included patients whose biopsy specimens showed at least 50% immunopositive tumor cells; patients in which less than 50% of the tumor cells in the biopsy tissues were immunopositive were placed in the low Ku70 and DNA-PKcs groups. The immunoreactivities for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs were retrospectively compared with the sensitivity of the tumor to radiation and the patterns of therapy failure. Univariate analyses were peformed to determine the prognostic factors that influenced locoregional control of NPC. Results : The five-year locoregional control rate was significantly higher in the low Ku70 group (Ku(-)) (85%) than in the high Ku70 group (Ku(+)) (42%) (p=0.0042). However, there were no differences in the metastases-free survival rates between the two groups (Ku70 (+), 82%; Ku70 (-), 78%; p=0.8672). Univariate analysis indicated that the over-expression of Ku70 surpassed other well-known predictive clinocopathologic parameters as an Independent prognostic factor for locoregionai control. Eighteen of 22 patients who had locoregional recurrences of the tumor displayed an over-expression of Ku70. No significant association was found between the level of DNA-PKcs expression and the clinical outcome. Conclusion : Our data suggest that the level of Ku70 expression can be used as a molecular marker to predict the response to RT and the locoregional control after RT and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with non-disseminated NPC.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2009

Halitosis is a generally accepted marker of diseases in the oral cavity and of systemic and gastrointestinal disorders. Based on these authors' previous findings (that (1) there is a close association between H. pylori infection and halitosis; (2) Korea red ginseng may suppress the colonization of H. pylori, fight H. pylori-induced cytotoxicity, and impose significant anti-inflammatory actions in patients with chronic gastritis; and (3) H. pylori infection is linked with the generation of significant levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and the levels of VSCs correlate significantly with H. pylori-associated mucosal damages), in the current study, the authors documented the molecular mechanisms of Korea red ginseng's efficacy in ameliorating halitosis. When the RAW 264.7 cells were treated with the $H_2S$ releasing compound NaHS, the mRNA expression of cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CSE), IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were more significantly induced compared with the vehicle-treated group. The cytoskeletal components of ezrin's and moesin's mRNA expressions were elevated by NaHS treatment accompanied by the activation of MAPK, p38, and ERK. Korea red ginseng pretreatment reduced both the NaHS-induced CSE expression and the proinflammatory genes (e.g., IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner. The ERM expression and the phosphorylation of p38 were also significantly reduced by Korea-red-ginseng pretreatment. Overall, Korea red ginseng pretreatment imposed significant anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of the NaHS-triggered proinflammatory gene expression, CSE, and ERM mRNA expression. Korea red ginseng could thus be said to be a key remedy of halitosis and to be effective in relieving gastric inflammation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.983-989
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• 2020

The balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts is key to bone health. An imbalance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to various bone-related disorders, such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and osteopetrosis. However, the bone-resorption inhibitor drugs that are currently used may cause side effects. Natural substances have recently received much attention as therapeutic drugs for the treatment of bone health. This study was designed to determine the effect of Tenebrio molitor larvae ethanol extract (TME) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. To measure the effect of TME on osteoclast differentiation, RAW264.7 cells were treated with RANKL with or without TME for 5 days. The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity was significantly inhibited by treatment of TME without cytotoxicity up to 2 mg/ml. In addition, TME effectively suppressed expression of osteoclast differentiation-related marker genes and proteins such as TRAP, NFATc1, and c-Src. TME also significantly inhibited the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway without affecting ERK and JNK signaling in RANKL-induced RAW264.7 cells. Consequently, we conclude that TME suppresses osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting RANKL-induced osteoclastogenic genes expression through the p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These results suggest that TME and its bioactive components are potential therapeutics for bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2006

Neuronal apoptotic events, consequently resulting in neuronal cell death, are occurred in hypoxic/ischemic condition. This cell death has been shown to be accompanied with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can attack cellular components such as nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipid. However, the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induced in hypoxic/ischemic condition and its treatment methods are unsettled. Cobalt chloride $(CoCl_2)$ has been known to mimic hypoxic condition including the production of ROS. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has diverse pharmacologial activities in cell growth and death. This study was aimed to investigate the apoptotic mechanism by $CoCL_2$ and effects of EGCG on $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells. Administration of $CoCl_2$ decreased cell survival in dose- and time-dependent manners and induced genomic DNA fragmentation. Treatment with $100{\mu}M$ EGCG for 30 min before PC12 cells were exposed to $150{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$, being resulted in the cell viability and DNA fragmentation being rescued. $CoCl_2$ caused morphologic changes such as cell swelling and condensed nuclei whereas EGCG attenuated morphologic changes by $CoCl_2$. EGCG suppressed the apoptotic peak and a loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ induced by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ decreased Bcl-2 expression but Bax expression was not changed in $CoCl_2$- treated cells. EGCG attenuated the Bcl-2 underexpression by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ augumented the cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytoplasm and increased caspase-8, -9 and caspase-3 activity a marker of the apoptotic executing stage. EGCG ameliorated the incruement in caspase-8, -9 and -3 activity, and cytochrome c release by $CoCl_2$ NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), a scavenger of ROS, attenuated $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in consistent with those of EGCG. These results suggest that $CoCl_2$ induces apoptotic cell death through both mitochondria- and death receptor-dependent pathway and EGCG has neuroprotective effects against $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.114-120
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• 2023

Soybean is the one of the most important crops for providing quality vegetable protein to umans and livestock. Soybean cultivars with a brown seed coat have a wide range of antioxidant benefits because of the flavonoid components. However, they also contain lectin, 7S α′ subunit, lipoxygenase, and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) proteins that can be allergenic and digestive inhibitors and reduce processing aptitude. Genetic removal of these four proteins is necessary in soybean breeding. Therefore, this study was conducted to select a new line with brown seed coat, green cotyledon, and tetra-null genotype (lecgy1lox1lox2lox3ti) for lectin, 7S α′ subunit, lipoxygenase, and KTI proteins in the mature seed. Five germplasms were used to create breeding population. From a total of 58 F₂ plants, F₂ plants with lele genotype were selected using a DNA marker, and F₃ seeds with a brown seed coat, green cotyledon, and the absence of 7S α′ subunit protein were selected. Three lines (S1, S2, and S3) were developed. Genetic absence of lectin, 7S α′ subunit, lipoxygenase, and KTI proteins was confirmed in F₆ seeds of the three lines, which had a brown seed coat, green cotyledons, and a white hilum. The 100 seed weights of the three lines were 26.4-30.9 g, which were lower than 36 g of the check cultivar - 'Chungja#3'. The new S2 line with 30.9 g hundred seed weight can be used as a parent to improve colored soybean cultivars without antinutritional factors such as lectin, 7S α′ subunit, lipoxygenase, and KTI proteins.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.670-681
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• 2021

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the optimal threshold value in Hounsfield units (HU) on CT to detect the solid components of pulmonary subsolid nodules using pathologic invasive foci as reference. Materials and Methods Thin-section non-enhanced chest CT scans of 25 patients with pathologically confirmed minimally invasive adenocarcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. On CT images, the solid portion was defined as the area with higher attenuation than various HU thresholds ranging from -600 to -100 HU in 50-HU intervals. The solid portion was measured as the largest diameter on axial images and as the maximum diameter on multiplanar reconstruction images. A linear mixed model was used to evaluate bias in each threshold by using the pathological size of invasive foci as reference. Results At a threshold of -400 HU, the biases were lowest between the largest/maximum diameter of the solid portion of subsolid nodule and the size of invasive foci of the pathological specimen, with 0.388 and -0.0176, respectively. They showed insignificant difference (p = 0.2682, p = 0.963, respectively) at a threshold of -400 HU. Conclusion For quantitative analysis, -400 HU may be the optimal threshold to define the solid portion of subsolid nodules as a surrogate marker of invasive foci.