• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2006

Vitellogenin(Vg) is a sex specific serum protein present in sexually maturing female blood of oviparous vertebrates. Estrogen($E_2$) is a main inducer of hepatic Vg synthesis. We investigated the effects of androgen and growth hormone(GH) on regulation of Vg and estrogen receptor(ER) genes in Japanese eel. Immature eels($200{\sim}250\;g$) were given a single injection of $E_2(5{\sim}5,000\;{\mu}g/kg\;bw)$ alone, or in combination with eel recombinant GH(eGH, $1{\sim}10\;{\mu}g/kg$) or methyltestosterone(MT, $1{\sim}5\;mg/kg$) and sacrificed 10 days after the hormone treatments. Expression levels of ER and Vg genes from the liver were determined by means of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Administration of $E_2$ stimulated Vg gene expression in a dose dependent manner. Levels of Vg mRNA after the injection of $E_2(500\;{\mu}g/kg)$ with MT(5mg/kg) or eGH($10\;{\mu}g/kg$) were much higher than in that of $E_2$ alone($500\;{\mu}g/kg$). Whereas, injection of either vehicle, eGH ($10\;{\mu}g/kg$) or MT(5mg/kg) alone did not induce the expression of Vg gene in the liver. ER mRNA was detected from the fish treated with vehicle alone. $E_2$ injection($5{\sim}500\;{\mu}g/kg\;bw$) increased this ER expression but dose dependent response was not clear. Addition of MT(5mg/kg) or eGH($10\;{\mu}g/kg$) did not affect $E_2-stimulated$ ER mRNA expression. This study confirms the necessity of $E_2$ as the primary factor for Vg gene expression and requirement of additional hormones such as MT or GH for the full expression of Vg mRNA, and suggests that the additive effect of MT or GH on Vg gene expression would be mediated by some unknown factors other than ER.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.452-460
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the physiological activities of Houttuynia cordata extracts and fractions. H. cordata extracts were extracted with 50% ethanol and the ethyl acetate fractions were obtained from the extracts. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the ethyl acetate fraction for S. aureus and B. subtilis were $78{\mu}g/mL$ and $312{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, indicating the high activity against gram-positive bacteria. The free radical scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was higher in the ethyl acetate fraction with $12.00{\mu}g/mL$ compared to that of $27.15{\mu}g/mL$ for 50% ethanol extract. The total antioxidant activity ($OSC_{50}$) values for reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system by a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method were 2.91 and $0.983{\mu}g/ml$ for the 50% ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction, respectively. To investigate cellular protective effects on the HaCaT cell, the intracellular ROS scavenging activity was measured after UVB irradiation and the ethyl acetate fraction of H. cordata showed the activity in a concentration-dependent from $1.6{\mu}g/mL$ and a reduction rate of 54.3% at a maximum concentration of $12.5{\mu}g/mL$. Also, HaCaT cell protective effect against $H_2O_2$-mediated decreased the cell viability of the ethyl acetate fraction of H. cordata which significantly increased the cell viability from $0.8{\mu}g/mL$ and the maximum cell viability showed 86.9%. The ethyl acetate fraction of the H. cordata extracts was analyzed by TLC and HPLC. As a result, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin and afzelin were identified. From the above results, it was suggested that the extracts and fractions of H. cordata have a potential to be applied in the field of cosmetics as a natural antioxidant/preservative capable of protecting the cell membrane from the oxidative stress by eliminating ROS and exhibiting the antimicrobial effect.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the dietary effect of organic sulfur (OS) supplementation on performance, egg quality and serum constituents in laying hens. A total of 360 Lohmann brown laying hens at the age of 31 weeks were distributed into four treatments having five replicates of 18 hens each until 54 weeks. The hens were fed four levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%) of OS with basal diet. The number of eggs was investigated daily, and egg quality was confirmed every 8 weeks. Sulfur content in eggs, interleukin 2 (IL-2), T help cells (CD4+) and cytotoxicity cells (CD8+) were measured at the termination of the experiment. The result of the study showed that egg production tended to increase with 0.4% OS in diet after 39 weeks of age and, there was a significant effect (P<0.05) from 47 to 54 weeks of age. Egg quality traits of albumen height and haugh unit increased significantly (P<0.05) owing to the addition of OS to the diet. The polyunsaturated fatty acids in yolk were gradually increased while saturated fatty acids were decreased with increasing levels in OS (P<0.05). Total sulfur concentration in the eggs increased significantly (P<0.05) in treatments fed OS. Moreover, albumin, AST and HDL cholesterol levels in serum improved significantly (P<0.05) owing to the addition of OS. The IL-2 concentration and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ in blood were generally higher (P<0.05) at 0.4% OS. Therefore, it can be recommended that supplementary OS diet affected the performance, egg quality and stimulated immune response in laying hens.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 1994

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen which persists and multiplies within macrophage. Competent cell mediated immunity by cooperation of both T lymphocyte and macrophage of the host is required to kill the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. But a precise understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis infection in pulmonary alveolar macrophage has not been achived. Research on the macrophage's basic microbicidal mechanism has elucidated the importance of oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent components. Oxygen dependent processing begins with the reduction of oxygen by NADPH oxidase and generation of superoxide. In this study, the oxidative metabolic status of blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis was accessed and compared with that of healthy control subjects to know whether there was a basic difference in superoxide generation by mononuclear cells between two groups. Methods: Pulmonary alveolar macrophage was purified after performing BAL(bronchoalveolar lavage) through the bronchi of infected lesion by plastic adhesion method. Blood monocyte was purified by Ficoll-Hypaque method. Superoxide generation by blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage was measured by ferricytochrome-C reduction method after either stimulated with PMA(phorbol myristate acerate) or non-stimulated states. We also measured the effect of pulmonary tuberculosis patient's serum on superoxide generation by monocyte. Results: 1) Generation of superoxide by alveolar macrophage obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was little higher than those of controls, and PMA enhanced the generation of 2) Generation of superoxide by blood monocyte obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was little higher than those of control(p>0.05), and PMA more enhanced the generation of superoxide in patientswith pulmonary tuberculosis than those in controls(p<0.02). 3) Patient's serum enhanced the generation of superoxide by blood monocyte obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and controls, but not in the case of PMA stimulated blood monocyte. Conclusion: The present study suggest that the phenomenon of M.tuberculosis escape the microbicidal action of macrophage was not result of suppressed superoxide generation by blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage, rather there might be a factor to stimulate the generation of superoxide by blood monocyte in pulmonary tuberculosis patient serum, but the comparision with effect of control's serum on superoxide generation needs further elucidation.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.86-96
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze causality among sleep apnea, depression and cognitive function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 105 patients with sleep apnea and snoring who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG). We analyzed various biological data, sleep variables (sleep duration and percentage) and respiratory variables [arousal index (AI), periodic leg movement index (PLM index), snoring Index (SI), mean SpO2, minimum SpO2, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and respiratory disturbance index (RDI)]. We also analyzed various data by sleep, cognition, and mood related scales: Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), snoring index by scale (SIS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean (Moca-K), Mini-mental State Examination-Korean (MMSE-K), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We analyzed causation among sleep, and respiratory, mood, and cognition related scales in obstructive sleep apnea patients. We analyzed the mediating effects of depression on sleep apnea patient cognition. Results: As Duration N1 increased and Total sleep time (TST) decreased, MOCA-K showed negative causality (p < 0.01). As BDI and supine RDI increased, causality was negatively related to MOCA-K (p < 0.01). As PSQI (p < 0.001) and SIS (p < 0.01) increased and as MMSE-K (p < 0.01) decreased, causality was positively related to BDI. BDI was found to mediate the effect of age on MOCA-K in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Conclusion: Duration N1, total sleep time, BDI, and supine RDI were associated with cognitive function in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Depression measured by BDI partially mediated cognitive decline in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

• Journal of Distribution Research
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-27
• /
• 2011

I. Introduction: This study is to examine the structural relationships among exogenous variable (preliminary and post-support, franchisee's perceived business possibility, communication, moral hazard), the mediated variables(satisfaction, perceived risk, trust) and dependent variable(recontracting intention) in the food service franchise industry context. More specifically, this study has considered some realistic characteristics factors influencing satisfaction, perceived risk and trust between franchisors and franchisees and their further recontracting intention from the perspective of a practical approach. In this study, 437 data has been collected and used for the SPSS and AMOS analysis. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Since the result of the overall model analysis demonstrated a good fit, we could further analyze our data. II. Research Model: This study is to examine the structural relationships among preliminary and post-support by franchisor, franchisee's perceived business possibility, and communication, moral hazard, has on effect on franchisee's satisfaction, perceived risk, trust and recontracting intention in the food service franchise industry context. Hypotheses are as following (Stern & EL-Ansary 1988; Oliver, 1997;Kee & Knox, 1970; Moorman, Deshpande & Zaltman, 1993; Perron, 1998; Zaheer, McEvily, Perrone, 1998). III. Result and Implication: We examined franchisee who have food service stores for samples of this study. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using path analysis. The result of the overall model analysis appeared as following: ${\chi}^2$ = 61.578 (d.f.=9, p<0.01), CFI =.990, GFI =.973, AGFI =.863, RMR =.019, RMSEA= .116, NFI = .988, TLI = .959. The findings can be summarized as follows: First, preliminary and post support of franchisor, perceived business possibility and communication positively influence to franchisee's satisfaction. Second, moral hazard of franchisor has negatively influence to franchisee's satisfaction and positively influence to perceived risk. Third, franchisee's satisfaction and trust has positively influence to recontracting intention. Fourth, franchisee's perceived risk has negatively influence to trust and recontracting intention. We can concluded that franchisor's preliminary and post support of franchisor, perceived business possibility and communication may be considered as the important factors influence to franchisee's satisfaction. Moral hazard has become a focused issue in franchise industry. Finally, the managerial implication has been stated as followings: First, in the process of building a systematic industry support franchise system and developing a creative business model, franchisee's stable profitability should be considered as the first important factor. The franchisee's trust to franchise may become a dominant factor that influence the business expansion of franchisor. Second, franchisor should communication with their franchisees and deal with the realistic difficulties faced by them with an effort. Third, the franchisor should achieve a synergy effect by utilizing the win-win strategy. The moral hazard strategy that achieving the profit through franchisee's damage will not be inadvisable to franchisor. Then the long-term oriented development and profitability can be maintained. To do so, the franchise industry may break away from the traditional business structure to improve management transparency and competitiveness on investment and organizational changing management. The conflict between franchisor and franchisee also can be reduced and big success can be achieved in the franchise industry.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2015

There are various performance factors for SMEs in order to survive in the rapid changing market and it is discussing the importance of entrepreneurs' entrepreneurial orientation based on many researches. Thus, it is worth to analyze factors of seize new opportunity and firm's performance to build sustainable competitive advantages, which provide the directions to SMEs. This study investigates through exploratory research that the important factors of entrepreneurial orientation and the influence factors on firm's performance confirmed by empirical study. This study was conducted to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation of SME CEO, learning orientation and corporate performance was verified following section. First, entrepreneurial orientation (pro-activeness, competitive aggressiveness, risk taking, innovativeness) was to examine the effect of learning orientation; Second, entrepreneurial orientation was to examine the impact on firm's performance; and in the last, validated learning orientation affect factors that are mediated between entrepreneurship orientation and firm's performance through empirical research. The results of this study, each SME have shown that they have a different impact on firm's performance based on a variety of entrepreneurial orientation. This result shows that the need for a separate independent study on entrepreneurial orientation of SMEs. In conclusion, this study implicates that entrepreneurial orientation is important role for firm's performance, entrepreneurs of SMEs are innovative rather than competitive aggressive, and risk taking activities positively affect firm's activity. The conclusions of this study would be utilized to develop the entrepreneurial orientation when necessary for entrepreneurs of SMEs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.10
• /
• pp.1011-1017
• /
• 2007

Purpose : We tried to assess the optimal conditions to improve low transduction efficiency and their effect on target cells. Methods : Cultured NIH 3T3 cells were incubated with retroviral vectors bearing an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene. We varied the ratio of viral vectors to target cells (1:1-1:8) and the number of transfections (${\times}1$, ${\times}2$), and compared transduction efficiencies. Also, the effects of polybrene on transduction efficiency and viability of target cells were assessed. Transduction of the eGFP gene was evaluated by observing NIH 3T3 cells under a fluorescence microscope and efficiencies were measured by the percentage of eGFP positive cells using FACscan. Results : As the ratio of retroviral vectors to target cells increased, transduction efficiency was greatly improved, from 7% (1:1) to 38% (1:4). However, transduction efficiency did not increase any more when the ratio increased from 1:4 to 1:8. Cells transfected twice showed higher transduction efficiencies than cells transfected once, at a ratio of 1:8. The eGFP gene transduced to NIH 3T3 cells sustained its expression during repeated passages. However, after the third passage (day 9), the percentage of eGFP positive cells began to decline. The degree of this decline in eGFP expression was lower in cells transfected twice than in cells transfected once (P<0.05). The addition of polybrene did not have any toxic effect on NIH 3T3 cells and greatly increased transduction efficiency (P=0.007). In addition to vector component, transduction efficiency was very sensitive to culture confluence. Cells cultured and transfected in 24-well plate showed higher transduction efficiency, although cells cultured in 6- well plate proliferated more (P=0.024). Conclusion : Our data could be used as a basis for retrovirus-based gene therapy. Further study will follow using human cells as target cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.284-291
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Theophylline has recently been reported to have concurrent anti-inflammatory effects at low therapeutic plasma concentrations which are below the doses at which significants, clinically useful bronchodilatation is evident. Sustained-release formulation in capsule and dry syrup forms were developed to reduce its adverse effects and improve its clinical effects. We compared the therapeutic effects of theophylline dry syrup and capsules in children with mild asthma. Methods : Ninety children with mild asthma were randomized to receive either theophylline dry syrup (n=44) or theophylline capsules (n=46); 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Baseline and serial measurements of daytime and nighttime asthma symptom score were performed. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores were measured every 4 weeks. Each scoring was rated on a scale of 0-4. Serum theophylline concentration were measured at 4 and at 12 weeks. To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on asthma, Serum eosinophilic cationic protein as a marker of airway inflammation caused by eosinophil was measured 12 weeks pre- and post-administration. Results : The daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores of the two groups after 4 weeks significantly improved over the baseline score. Daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores in the dry syrup group were statistically lower at all time points except for the nighttime symptom scores at 4 weeks. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores in the dry syrup group were significantly higher at the end time point. Only in the dry syrup group was the serum ECP at the end time point statistically lower than baseline. Conclusion : Low-dose sustained-release theophylline may be safe and effective in bronchial asthma and this effect may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. Especially, when used in children with asthma, dry syrup formulation is recommended because of its higher compliance than capsule formulation.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 1996

According to the traditional receptor model, competitive antagonists share with agonists the ability to bind to a common site on receptors, but they are different from agonist in that they cannot trigger the biological response-i.e., they lack intrinsic efficacy. Recent findings extend the model by indicating that not all antagonists display an intrinsic efficacy of zero but that some display 'inverse agonism'. In the present study we studied the inverse agonism at $A_1$ adenosine receptors in membranes prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Eight commercially available $A_1$ adenosine receptor antagonists (CGS-15943, ADPX, CPT, DPCPX, DPX, N-0840, PACPX and 8-PT) were screened for inverse agonism by measuring the extent of $[^{35}S]guanosine-5'-({\gamma}-thio)$ triphosphate $([^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S)$ binding to G proteins. The agonist-induced stimulation of $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ bindings was completely blocked in the presence of $A_1$ adenosine receptor antagonists. Under optimal conditions, two types of antagonists could be distinguished. Seven antagonists including DPCPX decreased the basal $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ binding in the absence of agonist, displaying inverse agonist activity. One (CGS-15943) had no effect on the basal bindings. N-ethylmaleimide treatment reduced the basal bindings as well as agonist-mediated stimulation of $[^{35}S]GTP_{\gamma}S$ bindings, indicating that a substantial amount of this binding reflects an activated state of the C proteins. In good agreement with these findings, 0.1 mM GTP decreased the apparent affinity of the receptors for the agonist PIA, increased that for DPCPX, and had no effect on that for CGS-15943.