• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.434-437
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate whether Monascus-fermented soybean extracts (MFSE) containing natural estrogen-like compounds such as isoflavones and mevinolins has potential effects on human osteoblast-like SaOS2 cells using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and alkaline phophatase (ALP) assaies. MFSE exerted biphasic dose-dependent effect; stimulating osteoblastic activity at low concentrations and inhibiting SaOS2 cells viability at high concentrations. At $10^{-8}-10^{-4}\;mg/mL$, MFSE is not only non-cytotoxic but also induced comparatively high ALP activity on SaOS2 cells. ALP activity (%) significantly increased (220.1%, p<0.05) when SaOS2 cells were treated with MFSE at a concentration of $10^{-5}\;mg/mL$, whereas slowly increased (185.6%, p<0.05) in unfermented soybean extracts (UFSE) at $10^{-3}\;mg/mL$. The potentially greater ALP activity of MFSE compared to the UFSE might partially be caused by its mevinolin, which was derived from the soybean during Monascus-fermentation. Our findings indicate that supplementation of MFSE may accelerate the speed of intracellular ALP synthesis by the bone cells when provided at optimal dosages.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2009

Our previous study demonstrated that flavone inhibits vascular contractions by decreasing the phosphorylation levelof the myosin phosphatase target subunit (MYPT1). In the present study, we hypothesized that flavone attenuates vascular contractions through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Rat aortic rings were denuded of endothelium, mounted in organ baths, and contracted with either 30 nM U46619 (a thromboxane A2 analogue) or 8.0 mM NaF 30 min after pretreatment with either flavone (100 or 300 $({\mu}M$) or vehicle. We determined the phosphorylation level of the myosin light chain ($MLC_{20}$), the myosin phophatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and the protein kinase C-potentiated inhibitory protein for heterotrimeric myosin light chain phophatase of 17-kDa (CPI17) by means of Western blot analysis. Flavone inhibited, not only vascular contractions induced by these contractors, but also the levels of $MLC_{20}$ phosphorylation. Furthermore, flavone inhibited the activation of RhoA which had been induced by either U46619 or NaF. Incubation with flavone attenuated U46619 or NaF-induced phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, the downstream effectors of Rho-kinase. In regards to the $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, flavone inhibited the phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, as well as vascular contractions induced by U 46619. These results indicate that flavone attenuates vascular contractions, at least in part, through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.215-222
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of physico-chemical environmental factors on the changes of bacterial population from two sites used for drinking water and eight sites polluted with various pollutant in Seoul city. In all the stations except for two sites used for drinking water, the concentrations of nitrate- nitrogen and ammonia were in excess of the criteria of groundwater quality by the result of analysis of 40 variations including physicochemical environmental factors, heavy metals, and bacterial populations. The numbers of total bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria and functional groups of bacteria were ranged from 5.1 to 41.4${\times}$10$\^$5/cells/ml and from 0.01 to 29.6${\times}$10$^4$cfu/ml, respectively. The activities of extracellular enzymes showed the ranges of 0.005∼11.3${\mu}$M/l/hr and its order to lipase, phophatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, cellulase, chitinase, amylase. The results of correspondence and multidimensional scaling analysis between bacterial populations and its physico-chemical environmental factors were explained the effects of physico-chemical environmental factors according to site characters and separated four group, which is accord with potential pollutants at wells.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2010

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is one of important growth factors for skeletal development and bone growth. In this work, BMP-7 was efficiently expressed in recombinant Bacillus subtilis. The mature BMP-7 protein indicated molecular weight of 15.4 kDa by Western blot assay and was secreted into culture medium with 0.35 ng/mL. The extracellular and intracellular rhBMP-7 proteins were purified by using a FPLC system with an ion exchange column and a gel filtration column. The extracellular and intracellular rhBMP-7 proteins had finally a 57.1% purity and a 36.2% purity, respectively. The purified rhBMP-7 proteins showed an intact biological activity which stimulated alkaline phophatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2000

The distribution and some properties of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were investigated in the midgut of the earthworm, Eisenia andrei. The ALP activity appeared to be highly polarized toward the luminal side of epithelium, with minor ALP activity in chloragogue tissue. The epithelial and chloragogeneous tissues contained approximately 85 and 15% of total intestinal ALP activity, respectively. The optimal temperature was approximately 37$^{circ}C$ and isoelectricpoint was estimated to be 4. The treatment of neuraminidase and PtdIns-PLC failed to change the migration rate of ALPs. Also, these ALPs appeared to have a wide range of substrate specificity. The relationship between the properties and physiological significances of the midgut ALPs in Eisenia andrei was discussed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to find the predictors and generate a prediction scoring model of nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with Kawasaki disease. Methods: We examined 573 children diagnosed with KD at the Severance Children's Hospital between January 2009 and december 2012. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records. These patients were divided into 2 groups; the experimental group (N=433) and the validation group (N=140). Each group were divided into 2 groups the intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponders and the responders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified predictive factors of intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponders which make predictive scoring model. We practice internal validation and external validation. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified male, cervical lymphadenopathy, changes of the extremities, platelet, total bilirubin, alkaline phophatase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein as significant predictors for nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin. We generated prediction score assigning 1 point for (1) male, (2) cervical lymphadenopathy, (3) changes of the extremities, (4) platelet (${\leq}368,000/mm^3$), (5) total bilirubin (${\geq}0.4mg/dL$), (6) alkaline phophatase (${\geq}227IU/L$), (7) lactate dehydrogenase (${\geq}268IU/L$), (8) C-reactive protein (>77.1 mg/dL). Using a cut-off point of 4 and more with this prediction score, we could identify the intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponder group. Sensitivity and specificity were 52.5% and 82.4% in experimental group and 37.8% and 81.8% in validation group, respectively. Conclusion: Our predictive scoring models had high specificity and low sensitivity in Korean patients. Therefore it is useful in predicting nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin with Kawasaki disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1532-1536
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• 2008

Quercetin which isolated form the roots of Houttuynia cordata. was determined on the basis of IR, ID and 2D NMR specta by direct comparison with authentic compounds. Protein tyrosine phophatase 1B (PTP1B) is thought to be a negative regulator in insulin signal-transduction pathway. Insulin-resistance by the activation of PTP1B is a hallmark of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, the compound inhibiting PTP1B can improve insulin resistance and can be effective in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Quercetin which measured the inhibitory activity against PTP1B was 92.1% inhibition in the 30 ${\mu}g$/mL, 83.4% inhibition in the 6 ${\mu}g$/mL and 76.5% inhibition in the 3 ${\mu}g$/mL. These results suggest that quercetin retains a potential PTP1B activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.608-614
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the influcence of mugwort on the duodenal ulcer induced by cysteamine administration in rats. Five groups of rats were fed each experimental diet containing 0%, 5%, 15%, 30% of mugwork powder for 10 weeks. Duodenal ulcer was induced by cysteamine injection (400mg/100g body weight) after 10 weeks of feeding experimental diets (C-0, C-5, C-15, C-30). Control animal that fed 0% mugwork powder added diet were injected saline (S-0) to compare with cysteamine injected groups. When the duodenal ulcer induced by cysteamine-HCI administration, all animals in the C-0 group formed erosion and perforating ulcer was found in 44% of animals. Higher the added mugwork ratio, more inhibited of the duodenal ulcer induced by cysteamine administration (C-5, C-15). But when the ratio of added mugwort is 30%, the inhibition effect disappeared (C-30). The alkaline phospatase activities were lower at the duodenal mucosa and small intestinal mucosa in the cysteamine treated groups(p<0.05). The acid phophatase activities were higher at the stomach, small intestine and large intestine of the cysteamine treated groups. But in mugwort added diet group, the changes of enzyme activites were lessended. The maltast activities were lower at the duodental mucosa and small intestinal mucosa of cysteamine treated groups. But in mugwort added diet group, maltase activites were recovered.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.758-771
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• 1996

This study attempted to define reference data for the distribution of vitamin d status and to explore the relationship between vitamin D status and related biochemical indices in Korean women. The vitamin D status of 179 Korean women aged from 20 to 75 years was analyzed by using HPLC(High Pressure Liquid Chromatography). Related biochemical indices such as iPTH, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, albumin, Ca, Mg and P were also measured. The mean serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were s25.8ng/ml and 89.8pg/ml, respectively. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<25nmol/L) was found in 29 subjects(16.5%). There was a significantly progressive decrease in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with increasing age(p<0.05). After in their, there was a dramatical reduction in 25-hydroxyvitamin D(p<0.05). It was also significant in post-menopasusal women compared with pre-menopausal women(p<0.000). Serum alkaline phosphatase levels increased significantly with age(p<0.001). Whereas serum calcium and phosphorus levels remained constant with age. Serum 250-hydroxyvitamin D was invesely related to iPTH (p<0.05) and alkaline phophatase (p<0.001).

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.526-533
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• 1992

포유류 배아의 착상기작을 규명하고자 본 연구에서는 착상시기에 수정된 배아가 착상부위를 어떻게 인식하는 지 그리고 착상부위의 분화유발요인이 무엇인지를 조사하였다. 착상시기(임신 제6일)와 착상후 초기배아 발생기간(임신 제9일)중 혈청내 estradiol (E2)과 Progesterone(P4)의 농도를 측정하였으며, 자궁내막 조직을 착상부위 (antimesome trium)와 비 착상부위(mesometrium)로 분리하여 P4의 수용체 농도를 측정하였다. 혈청내 E2의 농도는 임신 제6일군에서 E2처리군에서 가장 높았으며, 임신 제9일에서는 intact 대조군에서 가장 높고 제9일의 모든 실험군의 농도는 임신 제6일군보다 높았다. 혈청내 P4 농도는 임신 제6일과 9일에서 다같이 대조군에서 가장 높으며 처리군 중에서는 P4처리군에서 높아지고 있다. P4 농도 역시 임신 제9일의 모든 실험군에서 제6일의 실험군보다 높았다. P4수용체 농도는 착상부위가 비 착상부위보다 높으며, 대조군(P < 0.01)과 P처리 군(P < 0.05)에서는 유의한 차이로 비 착상부위보다 높았다. 자궁내막조직 착상을 위한 분화에는 P4의 영향이 크며 P4의 혈청내 농도와 핵의 수용체 농도는 모든 실험군에서 상응하는 관계를 나타내었다. 이 결과는 앞서 일차적으로 발표한 알카리성 phosphatase (ALPase) 활성과도 상응하는 것이다.