• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Interleukin-24 (IL-24) belongs to the IL-10 family of cytokines and is well known for its tumor suppressor activity. This cytokine is released by both immune and nonimmune cells and acts on non-hematopoietic tissues such as skin, lung and reproductive tissues. Apart from its ubiquitous tumor suppressor function, IL-24 is also known to be involved in the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although the cellular sources and functions of IL-24 are being increasingly investigated, the molecular mechanisms of IL-24 gene expression at the levels of signal transduction, epigenetics and transcription factor binding are still unclear. Understanding the specific molecular events that regulate the production of IL-24 will help to answer the remaining questions that are important for the design of new strategies of immune intervention involving IL-24. Herein, we briefly review the signaling pathways and transcription factors that facilitate, induce, or repress production of this cytokine along with the cellular sources and functions of IL-24.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Golden hamsters reproduce in a limited time of a year. Their sexual activities are active in summer but inactive in winter during which day length does not exceed night time and environmental conditions are severe to them. The reproductive activities are determined by the length of light in a day (photoperiod). Melatonin is synthesized and secreted only at night time from the pineal gland. Duration of elevated melatonin is longer in winter than summer, resulting in gonadal regression. The present study aimed at the influences of continuous melatonin treatments impinging on the gonadal function in male golden hamsters. Animals received empty or melatonin-filled capsules for 10 weeks. They were divided into long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). All the animals maintained in LP (either empty or melatonin-filled capsules) showed large testes, implying that melatonin had no effects on testicular functions. Animals housed in SP displayed completely regressed testes. But animals kept in SP and implanted with melatonin capsules exhibited blockage of full regression by SP. These results suggest that constant release of melatonin prohibits the regressing influence of SP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.257-261
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• 2010

While it's been shown that arsenic impairs male reproductive function, it remains unclear whether the mechanism involves an effect on testosterone (T) production. We examined plasma T and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in mice given water containing either 20 or 40 mg/L sodium arsenite (SA). The plasma T levels were lower in SA-treated mice than in controls and correlated well with testicular T levels within individuals. However, SA treatment did not significantly affect plasma LH levels. The ratio of plasma T to LH was reduced by the treatment with 40 mg/L SA. These results suggest arsenic-induced defect in testicular testosterone production in mice.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2001년도 International Symposium on Signal transduction in Toxicology
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• pp.147-147
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• 2001

To establish a test protocol for the rodent 20-day thyroid/pubertal assay, we dosed flutamide(fl), a non-steroidal androgen antagonist to intact male SD rats from postnatal day 33 for 20 days, and examined several reproductive endpoints for assessing the sensitivity of a list of parameters for detecting endocrine-related effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.(omitted)

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

The population dynamics of Pandalus gracilis was investigated in the southeastern coastal area of Korea between May 1998 and April 2000. Of the 4,127 specimens, 57% were identified as females, 39% as males, and 4% as transitional hermaphrodites. The number of females was greater than that of males and transexuals. A significant correlation was observed between the number of transitional hermaphrodites and ambient seawater temperature. Growth parameters were estimated using the modified von Bertalanffy growth function model incorporating seasonal variation in growth using the program ELEFAN. Females grew faster and reached a larger size-at-age than males (K=0.65/y and $L_{\infty}$=17.86 mm carapace length [CL] for females; K=0.51/y and $L_{\infty}$=14.70 mm CL for males). Mean size and age (95% confidence limits) at sex transition, calculated from growth parameters, were 7.07 mm carapace length and 1.05 years, respectively. The reproductive strategies of pandalid shrimps are discussed in terms of the type of sex transition.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.173-180
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• 2004

This study analyzed Korean adults' perceptions of family functions and qualities needed for strong families. The sample consisted of 806 adults living in Seoul. Among different family functions, love and emotional support were considered the most important for family strength, while religion and consumption as family functions were not perceived as important. The surveyed adults thought that the function of socialization was the most essential among the family functions according to Murdock's(1949) theory, which were, sexual, reproductive, socialization, and economic functions. They responded that the most needed qualities for strong families were commitment, followed by appreciation and affection, positive communication, ability to cope with stress and crisis, enjoyable time together, and spiritual wellbeing. Adults' perceptions of family functions needed for strong families explained 27% of the variance in perceptions of qualities needed for family strengths. Finally, this study provides recommendations for future research.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2000년도 춘계학술대회논문집B
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• pp.650-654
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• 2000

Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) is becoming one of essential methods to measure velocity fields of fluid flows. In this paper, a genetic algorithm capable of tracking same particle pairs on two separated images is introduced. The fundamental of the developed technique is based on that on-to-one correspondence is found between two tracer particles selected in two image planes by taking advantage of combinatorial optimization of the genetic algorithm. The fitness function controlling reproductive success in the genetic algorithm is expressed by physical distances between the selected tracer particles. The capability of the developed genetic algorithm is verified by a computer simulation on a farced vortex flow.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.111-115
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• 2010

Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein hormone produced from primarily cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney, is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production. We have been investigating the roles of glycosylation site added in the biosynthesis and function of recombinant protein. In this study, we analyzed by immunohistochemical methods adaptive mechanisms to excessive erythrocytosis in transgenic (tg) mice expressing dimeric human erythropoietin (dHuEPO) gene. Splenomegaly was observed over 11~21 times in the tg mice. The 2,672 candidate spleen-derived genes were identified through the microarray analysis method, and decreased genes were higher than increased genes in the spleen. The specific proteins in the increased and decreased genes were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. Our results demonstrate that problems of abnormal splenomegaly would solve in tg mice overexpressing dHuEPO gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.542-546
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• 2009

Leaves are the major biomass-producing organs in herbaceous plants and mainly develop during vegetative stage by activities of shoot apical meristem. There is a strong correlation between leaf number and bolting, a characteristic phenotype during the transition to reproductive phase in Arabidopsis thaliana. In order to study interactions between leaf number and bolting, we isolated a Landsberg erecta-derived mutant named multifolial (mfo1) that produces increased number of leaves and bolts at the same time as the wild type. Through positional cloning and allelism test, mfo1 was found to be an allele of a previously reported mutant, altered meristem program1-1 (amp1-1) that is defective in a glutamate carboxypeptidase and bolts earlier than its wild type, Columbia ecotype, with the increased number of leaves. The bolting time differences between mfo1 and amp1, despite the same phenotype of many leaves, suggest the existence of genetic factor(s) differently function in each ecotype in the presence of mfo1/amp1 mutation.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.114.2-115
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• 2003

3-Monochloro-1, 2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is a toxic compound, often present in different foods containing acid hydrolyzed(AH) protein, like seasonings and savory food products. In Korea, 3-MCPD is currently being a problem because of its toxicity in AH soybean sauce. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the effects of 3-MCPD on male fertility, sperm and testosterone secretion. In vivo male fertility test was performed for observing the adverse effects of 3-MCPD on the function of male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome. (omitted)