Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that regulate calcium (Ca2+) signaling by modulating the activity of multiple Ca2+ signaling proteins. In our previous report, Homer2 and Homer3 regulated NFATc1 function through its interaction with calcineurin, which then acted to regulate receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone metabolism. However, to date, the role of Homers in osteoclastogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the roles of Homer2 and Homer3 in aging-dependent bone remodeling. Deletion of Homer2 /Homer3 (Homer2/3 DKO) markedly decreased the bone density of the femur. The decrease in bone density was not seen in mice with Homer2 (Homer2−/−) and Homer3 (Homer3−/−) deletion. Moreover, RANKL treatment of bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages in Homer2/3 DKO mice significantly increased the formation of multinucleated cells and resorption areas. Finally, Homer2/3 DKO mice decreased bone density in an aging-dependent manner. These findings suggest a novel potent mode of bone homeostasis regulation through osteoclasts differentiation during aging by Homer proteins, specifically Homer2 and Homer3.

Despite growing research interest in consumer health, well-being and beauty, little is known about factors influencing consumer purchase decisions for female fitness devices. This study focuses on Kegel exercises – exercise routines developed by Dr. Kegel to strengthen pelvic floor muscles – that are recommended by health professionals for patients experiencing health ailments such as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and dissatisfaction. Despite the benefits, women are not well aware of the role of pelvic floor muscles. The diffusion and acceptance of Kegel exercise and devices among women are likely determined by how comfortable women are about obtaining such benefits. For this reason, feminism should play an important role in shaping women’s desire to engage in Kegel exercises. Thus, this research investigates how feminism is related to Millennial women’s engagement with fitness products, particularly Kegel devices. Drawing on the literatures about sexuality, health, and marketing, we propose that feminism positively influences women’s health-related attitudes (i.e., attitudes towards fitness, fitness opinion leadership, attitude toward core strength, and desire to control sex life), which in turn positively impacts women’s fitness engagement. Fitness engagement, in turn, is expected to predict attitudes towards Kegel exercise and Kegel device purchase intentions. On the other hand, women’s attitudes toward core strength and desire to control sex life are proposed to have a direct, positive impact on attitude towards Kegel exercise. Analysis of PLS-SEM shows general support for the hypotheses. We discuss how interest in Kegel devices could, in turn, lead to positive effects on overall physical and psychological health and provide implications for marketing practitioners.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most important mycotoxins owing to its widespread occurrence and toxicity including nephrotoxicity and potential carcinogenicity to humans. Since OTA is stable under most food processing conditions, OTA has been detected not only in a wide range of agricultural commodities such as cereal grains but also their processed products. Nonetheless, it is known that significant reduction of OTA may be achieved under higher temperature and alkaline conditions. In this study, the effects of retorting cooking process on the stability of OTA in spiked (20 μg/kg of dry weight basis) rice and oat porridge (10% solid content; w/v) in the presence and absence of baking soda was investigated using a laboratory horizontal steam retort system. The samples were heated in a pot at 85°C central temperature until it becomes gelatinized, packed in retort pouched, and heat-processed in pressurized retort machine (at 121°C for 25 min) followed by drying in 50°C oven overnight. Samples were analyzed for OTA by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The reduction of OTA in retorted rice and oat porridge were 54% and 17%, respectively, while greater reduction of OTA was observed at increased amount of baking soda. The reduction of OTA in retorted rice porridge with 0.5% and 1% baking soda were 55% and 66%, respectively. In the retorted oat porridge, reduction of OTA was also evident to result in 30% and 48% with 0.5% and 1.0% of added baking soda, respectively. These results suggest that OTA in rice and oat may be reduced significantly by retorting process. In addition, added baking soda may positively impact the reduction of OTA.

To elucidate the effect of cellular phone electromagnetic wave (EMW) exposure on the developing cerebellar cortex of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats, animals were exposed to cellular phone electromagnetic waves for 1 hr per day for 3 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed by cardiac perfusion, after which histological samples were prepared and observed microscopically. In the EMW exposure group, external granule cells were remained partially in the external granular layer without migrating into the internal granular layer. In addition, dark stained shrunken Purkinje cells with pyknotic nuclei increased and the outline of cells became irregular and showed degenerative signs, such as mitochondrial swelling and disrupted cristae. Moreover, the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticula and Golgi complex were severely swollen. Bergmann glial cells adjacent to the dark stained Purkinje cells were swollen and cytoplasmic organelles were scant. Dark stained shrunken granule cells were also observed and the outline of cells was irregular. The results of the present study suggest that cellular phone EMW exposure to neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats leads to a partial delay of early migration of cerebellar cortical cells and degenerative changes in Purkinje cells, Bergmann glial cells and granule cells.

Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes of animals. Moreover, some isolates producing staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are also responsible for food poisoning. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of S. aureus enterotoxin from slaughtered pigs and cattle. A total of 202 carcass swabs were collected from slaughterhouses: 102 samples were taken from slaughtered pigs and 100 were taken from cattle, respectively. Among them, 16 (7.9%) from slaughtered pigs were found to contain S. aureus, while S. aureus was not isolated from any of the slaughtered cattle samples. Additionally, six (37.5%) of the S. aureus isolates contained genes that encode staphylococcal enterotoxin type A. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the management of food-borne pathogens based on differences in the process by which pigs and cattle are slaughtered.

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae B is a powerful biological control agent against Monochamusalternatus, a crucial mediator of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. In this study, production of destruxins(dtxs), insecticidal cyclic hexadepsipeptides, was monitored in the submerged culture of M. anisopliae B. Three typesof dtxs, i.e., destruxin A, B, and E, were produced during the culture. Among the three dtxs, the production yield ofdestruxin A was best, followed by destruxin B and E. Destruxin A production was increased when pH was controlledat 6.0, whereas production of destruxin E was not affected by the pH control. The highest yield of dtxs A, B, and Ewere 16.4, 7.3, and 6.1 mg L-1, respectively. Considering that process for dtxs production has not been optimized, M.anisopliae B has more powerful implication as a biocontrol agent.

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Ochratoxin A, which is frequently detected in cereals and infant diets worldwidely, is a mycotoxin to damage mainly the kidney and liver. Because ochratoxin A is highly thermostable compound. it is necessary to study ways of reducing level of ochratoxin A by controling processing steps. However, food processes, including extrusion, expansion, roasting, and steam cooking, which are used in order to mitigate the contents of ochratoxin A, are known to produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are generated from radicals decomposed by pyrolysis. Therefore, this study analyzed the levels of 4 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benz (a) anthracene, chrysene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and benzo (a) pyrene in rice-based products made in high pressure and heating process. Rice samples were finely ground, and homogenized samples were alkaline treatement with 1 M KOH/EtOH and extracted with liquid-liquid extraction method using n-hexane. The extracted solution was pretreated with a silica cartridge. The purified solution was dried with nitrogen gas and dissolved in 1 mL of dichloromethane and injected into GC/MSD. We had overall recoveries for 4 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons spiked into rice samples ranging from 92.8 to 110.2%. The limit of quantitations of benz (a) anthracene, chrysene, benzo (b) fluoranthene and benzo (a) pyrene in rice-based product were 0.19 ng/g, 0.38 ng/g, 0.51 ng/g, and 0.31 ng/g, respectively. However, these 4 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in all processed rice samples were not detected.

This study investigated the effect of dietary lysine and gamma-linolenic acid(GLA) levels on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in finishing pigs. Pigs were provided with feed containing two different levels of lysine(0.45% and 0.75%) with three different levels of gamma-linolenic acid(0.0, 0.3, and 0.6%). Average daily gain(ADG) was significantly lower (p<0.01) in pigs provided with the lower level of lysine. In contrast, feed/gain(p<0.01), diet cost/gain(p<0.05), and intramuscular fat(p<0.01) were all significantly higher in pigs fed the lower level of lysine. Similarly, meat color scores(CIE L*, a*, and b*) and cooking loss were significantly higher(p<0.01) in pigs fed the lower level of lysine, whereas shear force(kg/2.5 inch2)was not affected by dietary lysine. The addition of GLA had no significant effect on any of the parameters measured. The results indicate that providing pigs with 0.45% lysine in their diet may help to increase intramuscular fat content, allowing the industry to produce pork products that meet consumer needs in Korea.