• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2024

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor activated under hypoxic conditions, and it plays a crucial role in cellular stress regulation. While HIF-1α activity is essential in normal tissues, its presence in the tumor microenvironment represents a significant risk factor as it can induce angiogenesis and confer resistance to anti-cancer drugs, thereby contributing to poor prognoses. Typically, HIF-1α undergoes rapid degradation in normoxic conditions via oxygen-dependent degradation mechanisms. However, certain cancer cells can express HIF-1α even under normoxia. In this study, we observed an inclination toward increased normoxic HIF-1α expression in cancer cell lines exhibiting increased HDAC6 expression, which prompted the hypothesis that HDAC6 may modulate HIF-1α stability in normoxic conditions. To prove this hypothesis, several cancer cells with relatively higher HIF-1α levels under normoxic conditions were treated with ACY-241, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor, and small interfering RNAs for HDAC6 knockdown. Our data revealed a significant reduction in HIF-1α expression upon HDAC6 inhibition. Moreover, the downregulation of HIF-1α under normoxic conditions decreased zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 expression and increased E-cadherin levels in lung cancer H1975 cells, consequently suppressing cell invasion and migration. ACY-241 treatment also demonstrated an inhibitory effect on cell invasion and migration by reducing HIF-1α level. This study confirms that HDAC6 knockdown and ACY-241 treatment effectively decrease HIF-1α expression under normoxia, thereby suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These findings highlight the potential of selective HDAC6 inhibition as an innovative therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.94-103
• /
• 2024

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver, and there is a global increase in its incidence owing to changes in lifestyle and diet. Recent findings suggest that p53 is involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, the association between p53 expression and the disease remains unclear. Doxorubicin, an anticancer agent, increases the expression of p53. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of doxorubicin-induced p53 upregulation in free fatty acid (FFA)-induced intracellular lipid accumulation. HepG2 cells were pretreated with 0.5 ㎍/mL of doxorubicin for 12 h, followed by treatment with FFA (0.5 mM) for 24 h to induce steatosis. Doxorubicin pretreatment upregulated p53 expression and downregulated the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress- and lipid synthesis-associated genes in the FFA -treated HepG2 cells. Additionally, doxorubicin treatment upregulated the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase, a key modulator of lipid metabolism. Notably, siRNA-targeted p53 knockdown reversed the effects of doxorubicin in HepG2 cells. Moreover, doxorubicin treatment suppressed FFA -induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 spheroids. Conclusively, these results suggest that doxorubicin possesses potential application for the regulation of lipid metabolism by enhance the expression of p53 an in vitro NAFLD model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.131-143
• /
• 2024

Shield tunneling construction commonly crosses underground pipelines in urban areas, resulting in soil loss and followed deformation of grounds and pipelines nearby, which may threaten the safe operation of shield tunneling. This paper investigated the pipeline deformation caused by double curved shield tunnels in soil-rock composite stratum in Nanjing, China. The stratum settlement equation was modified to consider the double shield tunneling. Moreover, a three dimensional finite element model was established to explore the effects of hard-layer ratio, tunnel curvature radius, pipeline buried depth and other influencing factors. The results indicate the subsequent shield tunnel would cause secondary disturbance to the soil around the preceding tunnel, resulting in increased pipeline and ground surface settlement above the preceding tunnel. The settlement and stress of the pipeline increased gradually as buried depth of the pipeline increased or the hard-layer ratio (the ratio of hard-rock layer thickness to shield tunnel diameter within the range of the tunnel face) decreased. The modified settlement calculation equation was consistent with the measured data, which can be applied to the settlement calculation of ground surface and pipeline settlement. The modified coefficients a and b ranged from 0.45 to 0.95 and 0.90 to 1.25, respectively. Moreover, the hard-layer ratio had the most significant influence on the pipeline settlement, but the tunnel curvature radius and the included angle between pipeline and tunnel axis played a dominant role in the scope of the pipeline settlement deformation.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.194-200
• /
• 2024

In the past, antibiotics and antimicrobial substances have been used for the purpose of promoting the growth of livestock or treating livestock, but various problems such as the presence of livestock products or resistant bacteria have emerged. Recently, regulations on the use of antibiotics have been strengthened worldwide, and probiotics are attracting attention as an alternative. Probiotic microorganisms have already been used for human use, such as intestinal abnormal fermentation, diarrhea, and indigestion. In livestock, beneficial microorganisms are increasing in use for the purpose of improving productivity, such as promoting livestock development and preventing diarrhea. Therefore, it is advisable to understand livestock probiotics in deeper and think about effective uses. The role of probiotics in the livestock sector is made with microorganisms themselves, so it is a substance that promotes livestock growth and improves feed efficiency by settling in the intestines of livestock, suppressing the growth of other harmful microorganisms, helping digestion and absorption of ingested feed, and helping to synthesize other nutrients. There is a need for a probiotic that suppresses intestinal bacteria by supplying probiotics used as a means to minimize the effects of stress in livestock management, thereby suppressing disease outbreaks by maintaining beneficial microorganisms and suppressing pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this paper is to develop a brand of feed additive probiotics to improve health conditions due to increased feed intake, improve the efficiency of use of feed nutrients, inhibit the decomposition and production of toxic substances, increase immunity, reduce odor in livestock, and improve the environment. We investigated and analyzed feed additive probiotics already on the market, and developed the naming and logo of suitable feed additive probiotic brands in livestock. We hoped that the newly developed product will be used in the field and help solve problems in the livestock field.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.66 no.2
• /
• pp.279-294
• /
• 2024

Agriculture has played a significant role in the national economy, contributing to food security, driving economic growth, and safeguarding the dietary habits of the population. Korean agriculture has been compelled to focus on intensive farming due to its limited cultivation area, excessive input costs, and the limitations of agricultural mechanization. In the Republic of Korea (R.O.K), the concept of environmentally friendly animal agriculture began to be introduced in the early 2000s. This concept ultimately aims to cultivate sustainable animal agriculture (SAA) through environmentally friendly production practices, ensuring the healthy rearing of animals to supply safe animal products. Despite the government's efforts, there are still significant challenges in implementing environmentally friendly agriculture and SAA in the R.O.K. Therefore, the objective of this review is to establish the direction that the animal agriculture sector should take in the era of climate crisis, and to develop effective strategies for SAA tailored to the current situation in the R.O.K by examining the trends in SAA in the U.S. The animal agriculture sector in the U.S. has been working towards creating a SAA system where humans, animals, and the environment can coexist through government initiatives, industry research, technological support, and individual efforts. Efforts have been made to reduce emissions like carbon, and improve factors affecting the environment such as the carbon footprint, odor, and greenhouse gases associated with animal agriculture processes for animals such as cattle and pigs. The transition of the U.S. towards SAA appears to be driven by both external goals related to addressing climate change and the primary objectives of responding to the demand for safe animal products, expanding consumption, and securing competitiveness in overseas export markets. The demand for animal welfare, organic animal products, and processed goods has been increasing in the U.S. consumer market. A major factor in the transformation of the U.S. animal agriculture sector in terms of livestock specifications is attributed to environmentally friendly practices such as high-quality feed, heat stress reduction, improvements in reproductive ability and growth period reduction, and efforts in animal genetic enhancement.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2005

The levels of polyamines were measured to investigate the alternative nitrogen metabolism during maturation and sprouting in rice. The rice plants (cv. Ansanbyeo) were cultivated in 20-year-old non-fertilized field. The flag leaves and spikes were collected weekly after the earing stage and the seeds were harvested daily after lodging. Free, bound, and conjugated polyamines were analyzed using reverse phase HPLC. Putrescine, spermidine, spermine, agmatine and tyramine were the major amines found in rice. The level of stress-induced amine, putrescine increased during the preharvest sprouting confirming that the process was a stress to the plants. With all other polyamines, tyramine in free form decreased in flag leaves and panicles during seed maturation. However, agmatine in bound form showed a noticeable increase about 8-fold during 6 weeks period of maturation after which it declined to the bottom level. Among the individual amines, tyramine and spermine in conjugated form showed a marked change during matutation and sprouting. Interestingly, the level of tyramine with all conjugated polyamine decreased in spikes during seed maturation and increased during preharvest sprouting implying that tyrosine decarboxyation and conjugation to phenolic acids may play a key role in preharvest sprouting. Spermine in conjugated form was synthesized only at the early earing stage in the level of $3.4mole\;g^{-1}$ fresh weight, and then decreased to the level of nmole during maturation. Thereafter, it dramatically increased to 2.8 mole during preharvest sprouting. In this study we found the tyramine is a major amine in rice, and it would play a critical role in N-assimilation during seed maturation and sprouting.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.16-23
• /
• 2005

Objectives : We have studied female patients with either alopecia areata or androgenetic alopecia to evaluate psychological aspects, such as anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and characteristic personalities. In addition, we tried to examine the differences in psychological characteristics between these two types of alopecia, where the alopecia areata has been cotroversial on the role of stress in its etiology and the androgenetic alopecia seems to be more influeced by genetic and biological factors. Methods : All participated patients were females with alopecia for more than 1 you. Among them, 52 were with alopecia areata and 33 were with androgenetic alopecia. They were compared with 54 normal healthy controls by using MMPI, BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, and TAS-20K. Results The average scores of F, Hs, D, Pd, Pa, Sc, Si in MMPI of alopecia groups were significantly higher than that of normal controls, and the androgenetic alopecia group had highest Hy and Pt scores. The average scores of BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T in alopecia groups were higher than the normal controls. 94.2% of alopecia areata patients and 97.0% of androgenetic alopecia patients had severe depression, who scored higher than 23 in BDI. In TAS-20K, the average total scores of alopecia groups were higher than the normal control group, and the average Factor 3 score in androgentic alopecia was higher than the other groups. The alopecia groups scored higher than normal control group in STAI-S and STAI-T. Conclusion : Females with chronic alopecia were more depressed, had higher levels of anxiety, and more alexithymic than normal healthy females. In spite of arguments about etiological role of stress to alopecia, psychiatric interventions are needed for depression, and considerations for personality and psychological defense mechanism were needed in both types of alopecia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.43-53
• /
• 2005

Emphysema is characterized by air space enlargement and alveolar destruction. The mechanism responsible for the development of emphysema was thought to be protease/antiprotease imbalance and oxidative stress. A very recent study shows that alveolar cell apoptosis causes lung destruction and emphysematous changes. Thus, this study was performed to support the evidence for the role of apoptosis in the development of emphysema by characterizing cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced apoptosis in A549 (type II pneumocyte) lung epithelial cells. CSE induced apoptosis at low concentration (10% or less) and both apoptosis and necrosis at high concentration (20%). Apoptosis was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation using FACScan for subG1 fraction. Discrimination between apoptosis and necrosis was done by morphologic analysis using fluorescent microscopy with Hoecst 33342/propium iodide double staing and electron microscopy. Cytochrome c release was confirmed by using immunofluorescence with monoclonal anti-cytochrome c antibody. However, CSE-induced cell death did not show the activation of caspase 3 and was not blocked by caspase inhibitors. This suggests that CSE-induced apoptosis might be caspase-independent apoptosis. CSE-induced cell death was near completely blocked by N-acetylcystein and bcl-2 overexpression protected CSE-induced cell death. This results suggests that CSE might induce apoptosis through intracellular oxidative stress. CSE also activated p53 and functional knock-out of p53 using stable overexpression of HPV-E6 protein inhibited CSE-induced cell death. The characterization of CSE-induced cell death in lung epithelial cells could support the role of lung cell apoptosis in the pathogenesis of emphysema.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2005

This research was to study the behavior of listening music, music preference, meaning and role of music. The interviewees were 158 male/female students of high school in second level. This research had a interview which is composed with 7 multiple choice-questions and 1 short answer-question. In result, in the question of 'The average time of listening music', the most students(64, 41.8%) answered '1~2hours', the secondary, '2~3hours' which was 32.(20.9%) In the next question, 'The preference of music genre', 87students(56.8%) answered 'Korean pop and rock', 'American pop' was 11.1% each. Regarding 'The favorite mood of music', 50.3% of students answered 'Mellow songs, 24.8% of students answered 'Jaunty songs'. Regarding 'The social factor of listening music', more than half students(56.7%) agreed that friends or something like that may affect their music preference. Likewise, 51.6% agreed that their temper or character may affect their music preference. They answered that they enjoy the music usually when they take a rest(30.1%), when in moving(24.3%). Lastly, it said 'The meaning of music' is mostly 'Getting rid of stress and Refresh'(25.1%). And 'Calmness', 'Comfort' was 21.8%. The music especially to students means 'Emotional exit'. The music which can enable them to express their feelings is related with feeling and emotion deeply. And emotional factors like stress, depression, anxiety becomes the main reason of accepting the music meaningfully. In conclusion, This research says that they experience positive feelings and express emotions through music which enables them to understand fully their feelings and emotions.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 2020

The use of underfill materials in semiconductor packages is not only important for stress relieving of the package, but also for improving the reliability of the package during shock and vibration. However, in recent years, as the size of the package becomes larger and very thin, the use of the underfill shows adverse effects and rather deteriorates the reliability of the package. To resolve these issues, we developed the package using a solid epoxy material to improve the reliability of the package as a substitute for underfill material. The developed solid epoxy was applied to the package of the application processor in smart phone, and the reliability of the package was evaluated using thermal cycling reliability tests and numerical analysis. In order to find the optimal solid epoxy material and process conditions for improving the reliability, the effects of various factors on the reliability, such as the application number of solid epoxy, type of PCB pad, and different solid epoxy materials, were investigated. The reliability test results indicated that the package with solid epoxy exhibited higher reliability than that without solid epoxy. The application of solid epoxy at six locations showed higher reliability than that of solid epoxy at four locations indicating that the solid epoxy plays a role in relieving stress of the package, thereby improving the reliability of the package. For the different types of PCB pad, NSMD (non-solder mask defined) pad showed higher reliability than the SMD (solder mask defined) pad. This is because the application of the NSMD pad is more advantageous in terms of thermomechanical stress reliability because the solderpad bond area is larger. In addition, for the different solid epoxy materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, the reliability was more improved when solid epoxy having lower thermal expansion coefficient was used.