• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.1010-1016
• /
• 2007

Sagunjatang (Sagunja), containing Radix Astragali, Radix Ginseng, Fructus Schizandrae, Radix Ophiopogonis and Radix Glycyrrhizae, has been used as a prescription for ischemic heart and brain diseases in Korean traditional medicine. This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of Sagunja on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity of H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Treatment with $H_2O_2$ resulted in death of H9c2 cells, characterized by apparent apoptotic features, including the fragmentation of nucleus and increase in sub-GO/G1fraction of cell cycle. However, Sagunja markedly suppressed the apoptotic characteristics of H9c2 cells induced by $H_2O_2$ with decrease of intracellular peroxide level. In addition, Sagunja suppressed the features of mitochondrial dysfunction, including change of mitochondrial membrane potential, in $H_2O_2$- treated cells. Additionally, Sagunja induced the expression of HO-1 protein in both time-and dose-dependent manner. The role of HO-1 in ROS-scavenging activity of Sagunja is proposed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 1994

The analysis of membrane receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters has progressed considerably by pharmacological and biochemical means and more recently through the use of specific antibodies. Two kinds of antibodies could be produced, one is from synthetic peptides and the other from proteins such as purified receptor. Anti-peptide antibodies gave some advantages; epitope is evident and also receptor purification in quantity is not prerequisite. It can be also applied to the study of receptor structure-activity relationship. The purpose of the present study was 1) to produce and characterize a polyclonal antibody against a synthetic $\beta$2-adrenergic receptor peptide(Phe-Gly-Asn-Phe-Trp-Cys-Phe-Trp-Thr-Ser-Ile-Asp-Val-Leu) and 2) to determine the effects of this antibody on the $\beta$-adrenergic receptor ligand interaction. The peptide sequence contains an amino acid residue such as Asp-113 which was identified as one of important component for receptor-ligand interaction in site-directed mutagenesis studies. Production of antibody was performed by immunization of rabbits through popliteal lymph node with the peptide coupled with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH). The titer of antibody against this peptide was 1 : 1000. The anti-peptide antibody was able to detect a 67 kDa protein band in western blot corresponding to the molecular weight of the $\beta$-adrenergic receptor in partially purified receptor fraction derived from guinea pig lung. The antisera inhibited the specific binding of [$^3$H]dihydroalprenolol to $\beta$-adrenergic receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. The results from this study suggest that the peptide sequence selected in the present study is important for the receptor ligand interaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.535-550
• /
• 2018

Total organic carbon (TOC) will replace chemical oxygen demand ($COD_{Mn}$) as an effluent water quality standard in public sewage treatment works (PSTWs) from 2021 in Korea. To ensure effective control of TOC in the effluent, investigation was carried out into TOC levels and sewage treatment operation factors in five target PSTWs using anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic ($A_2O$) processes, media, membrane, and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technologies. TOC removal efficiencies appeared to be 93-96% on average. As a fraction of TOC, biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) was reduced from 64% in the influent to 9% in the effluent in these PSTWs. During the investigation, biological treatment processes were applied flexibly for operation factors such as HRT, SRT, MLSS, F/M ratios and BOD volume loads, based on the influent characteristics and design conditions. As a result, we suggest efficient operating conditions in PSTWs by evaluating relationships between TOC removal and operation factors.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.46-56
• /
• 2022

The incidence of fever complicating percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is rare. However, little is known regarding the cause of fever after PCI. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with or without fever, after PCI. We enrolled a total of 926 AMI patients who underwent PCI. Body temperature (BT) was measured every 4 hours or 8 hours for 5 days after PCI. Patients were divided into two groups according to BT as follows: BT<37.7℃ (no-fever group) and BT ≥37.7℃ (fever group). The 2 years clinical outcomes were compared subsequently. Fever after PCI was associated with higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.28; P=0.021), all-cause death (HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.18-4.45; P=0.014), cardiac death (CD) (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.02-6.76; P=0.049), and any revascularization (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.02-2.81; P=0.044) than without fever. In women, prior chronic kidney disease, lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, higher LV wall motion score index, white blood cell count, peak creatine kinase-myocardial band level, and longer PCI duration were associated with fever after PCI. Procedures such as an intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous renal replacement therapy, central and arterial line insertion, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were related to fever after PCI. Fever after PCI in patients with AMI was associated with a higher incidence of MACE, all-cause death, CD, and any revascularization at the 2 years mark than in those without fever.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2022

To verify the fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles (ENP), it is essential to understand its interactions with organic matter. Previous research has shown that dissolved organic matter (DOM) can increase particle stability through steric repulsion. However, the majority of the research has been focused on model organic matter such as humic or fulvic acids, lacking the understanding of organic matter found in field conditions. In the current study, organic matter was sampled from wastewater treatment plants to verify the stability of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) under field conditions. To understand how different types of organic matter may affect the fate of ENP, wastewater was sampled and separated based on their size; as small organic particular matter (SOPM) and large organic particular matter (LOPM), and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Each size fraction of organic matter was tested to verify their effects on nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) and nano-titanium oxide (nTiO₂) stability. For DOM, critical coagulation concentration (CCC) experiments were conducted, while sorption experiments were conducted for organic particulates. Results showed that under field conditions, the surface charge of the particles did not influence the stability. On the contrary, surface charge of the particles influenced the amount of sorption onto particulate forms of organic matter. Results of the current research show how the size of organic matter influences the fate and transport of different ENPs under field conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.73
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 1995

The characteristics of protein-bound polysaccharides (PBP) which were isolated and purified from the sawdust mycelia of Agrocybe cylindracea were investigated. The yield of crude protein-bound polysaccharides (Fr.CB) extracted with boiling water and precipitated with 95% ethanol, was 0.74% based on the original sawdust mycelia. The Fr.CB was purified by the membrane filtration, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The Fr.B fraction of which the molecular weight is over 300 KDa, was isolated from the Fr.CB using membrane filtration, and the yield was 38.6% based on the Fr.CB. This result indicates that high molecular protein-bound polysaccharides are the dominent components of the Fr.CB. Two fractions (Fr.B-1, Fr.B-2) were also isolated from the Fr.B using ion exchange chromatography, and the yields were 17.3% (Fr.B-1) and 10.3% (Fr. B-2), respectively. The Fr.B-1 was concentrated and gel-filtrated, and the single peak, thought to be nearly pure protein-bound polysaccharides, was obtained. The yield of final fraction $(Fr.B-1-{\beta})$ was 42.5% based on the Fr.B-1. The molecular weight of $Fr.B-1-{\beta}$ was nearly 710 KDa. The monosaccharides' composition of $Fr.B-1-{\beta}$ was analized by HPLC, and glucose was the dominent component, and fucose and galactose were also detected. The result of amino acid analysis was that glutamic acid and analysis were detected to a significant level, and cysteine was not detected.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2010

In this study, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neuronal cell protective effects of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts from garlic were investigated. We found that dichloromethane extract of garlic resulted in a dose-dependent manner on AChE inhibition ($IC_{50}$: $36.1{\mu}g/mL$). In cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), cell viabilities of water, 100% methanol and dichlromethane extracts were lower (almost under 40%) than amyloid ${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$)-induced neurotoxicity. Because $A{\beta}$ is also known to increase neuronal cell membrane breakdown, neuronal apoptosis was further confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. Water extract presented relative protection against $A{\beta}$-induced membrane damage in LDH assay. However all garlic extracts showed significant problem with decrease of cell viability in NRU assay, especially at dichloromethan extract. To determine active compounds in column fractions (98:2 fraction) from dichloromethane extract which showed significant AChE inhibitory effect, we performed HPLC and LC-MS analysis. It was supposed that garlic may contain allyl methyl disulfide, diallyl monosulfide, and diallyl disulfide as active compounds.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1652-1660
• /
• 2004

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) is essential in atherogenesis, being a factor that modulates its early progression rather than a terminal event in the course of the disease. Various stimuli, including oxide lipoproteins, altered hemodynamic stress and free radical, can induced VSMCs apoptosis in vitro. The protective effects of Sophorae Radix (SR) on apoptotic cell death induced by H₂O₂ were investigated in VSMCs. The viability of VSMCs was markedly decreased by H₂O₂. Sophorae Radix protected the H202-induced apoptotic death of VSMCs, which was characterized as nuclear fragmentation and increase of sub-G0/G1 fraction .. Sophorae Radix decreased the activation of caspase-3 like protease induced by H₂O₂ and recovered control level from H202-induced PARP, Bak, Bcl-XL and mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that Sophorae Radix protected VSMCs apoptotic death induced by H₂O₂ via inactivation of caspase-3 and modulation of mitochondrial function. Also, the expression profile of proteins by using two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis was screened. Future investigations will need to explore the use of an anti atherosclerotic therapy of Sophorae Radix, which relies on inhibition of the proapoptotic activation of the vascular smooth muscle cells.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.33 no.spc3
• /
• pp.349-358
• /
• 2011

In order to ascertain latitudinal variation of lipid contents and compositions in copepods, we collected warm water copepod species (Euchaeta sp. and Pleuromamma spp.) from four different regions from low (sub-tropical) to mid (temperate) latitudes in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Total lipid contents of Pleuromamma spp. were about 11 $ug{\cdot}ind^{-1}$ with little latitudinal variation, whereas Euchaeta sp. showed slightly higher lipid content (20 $ug{\cdot}ind^{-1}$) than Pleuromamma spp. with latitudinal gradient (low at subtropic and high at temperate). Wax esters, known as the major storage lipid classes, were found to be the dominant lipid classes (accounting for more than 35% of total lipids) in Euchaeta sp., whereas in Pleuromamma spp., phospholipids, known as cellular membrane components, were the dominant lipid classes. However, the exception was specimens from warm pool region exhibiting dominance in storage of lipids as a form of triacylglycerols. Among fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA : 22:6(n-3)) (about 35% of total fatty acids), were most abundant in Euchaeta sp., while saturated fatty acids (SAFA), specially hexadecanoic acid (16:0) (about 30% of total fatty acids), were most abundant in Pleuromamma spp.. Among the neutral fraction of lipids, phytol, originated from the side chain of chlorophyll, was found in all samples which generally indicate active copepods feeding on algae. While only trace amounts of short-chain fatty alcohols were found in Pleuromamma spp., significant amounts of fatty alcohols were found in Euchaeta sp.. Particularly, significant amounts of long chain monounsaturated fatty alcohols (20:1 and 22:1), generally found in cold water species, were found in Euchaeta sp. from low latitudes. The latitudinal variation of trophic lipid markers in these copepods could be significantly related with in-situ food availability and species-specific diet preference. The result of this study suggests that the lipid contents and compositions in copepods may not only indicate their nutritional condition and feeding ecology but also provide insight into species-specific living strategies under different environmental conditions (i.e. water temperature, food availability).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2009

Diabetic nephropathy is associated with the dysfunction of proximal tubule cells. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-I) has also been considered to play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Ginsenosides have been used as a remedy for diabetes in Asian countries. Therefore, we examined the preventive effect of ginsenosides against high glucose-induced alteration of IGF-I secretion in the primary cultured proximal tubule cells. In present study, Ginseng saponin (GS) completely blocked high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I secretion in proximal tubule cells, whereas panaxatriol (PI) and panaxadiol (PD) partially suppressed. In addition, high glucose stimulated cAMP formation and protein kinase C(PKC) activity from cytosolic to membrane fraction. GS completely prevented high glucose-induced stimulation of cAMP and PKC activity while PT and PD partially did. Furthermore, high glucose-induced stimulation of IGF-I was blocked by the treatment of PKI (protein kinase A inhibitor) and bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C inhibitor). In conclusion, GS prevented high glucose-induced dysfunction of proximal tubule cells.