This study aims to address the effect of interferential current therapy and thereby to provide basic resources to physical therapies for internal medicine by identifying symptoms for functional dyspepsia and serum gastrin level that shows gastric motility. Following results were obtained by performing interferential current therapy to 16 subjects composed of 8 for functional dyspepsia group and 8 for control group for 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. In control group, serum gastrin level was significantly( p<.01), lowered after the therapy whereas there was no significant difference observed in all questions from questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia between before and after the therapy. In functional dyspepsia group, serum gastrin level was significantly(p<.01), lowered after the therapy and there was also significant(p<.01) reduction in every question from questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia between before and after the therapy. There was more significant decrease in serum gastrin level and reduction in questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia in the functional dyspepsia group compared to the control group(p<.01). This study confirms the interferential current therapy as an effective therapeutic method for internal diseases including functional dyspepsia since it not only improves the symptoms of functional dyspepsia but also allows the gastric motility close to normal.

The oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, is an oligophagous insect feeding on a few species of Solanaceae plants, including Nicotina tabacum. This study investigated the relationship between H. assulta and plants, focusing on oviposition preference and larval performance of the specialist in host and non-host plants. (1) In choice experiments, N. tabacum and Phaseolus vulgaris were put in a cage with 5 females and 10 males. Most of eggs (ca. 98%) were layed in N. tabacum, whereas few eggs in P. vulgaris. (2) In non-choice experiments, N. tabacum, Datura stramonium, or P. vulgaris was individually put in a cage with 3 females and 6 males, resulting that N. tabacum was the most preferred host, followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris. Oviposition was delayed about 2 days in P. vulgaris (a non-host plant) compared to the two host plants. (3) Larval performances were also compared with the three plants. Larval growth was better in N. tabacum followed by D. stramonium and P. vulgaris, High mortality (ca. 100%) of larvae was observed in P. vulgaris, suggesting toxic component(s) derived from the non-host plant might cause the death. The ovipositional avoidance in P. vulgaris is current being investigated to search for the oviposition deterrent, which could be useful for the environment-friendly pest management of H. assulta.

The green pale plant bug, Apolygus spinolae was one of the main insect pests that damaged leaves and fruit in grapes and its damage status was firstly reported in 2000 in grape orchards. This research was conducted to evaluate the distribution and difference in damage rate depending in management type of grapevine orchards (domestic sale farm vs export farm) in the export complex area of Korea (Hwangsung in Gyeonggii, Sangju and Yeongcheon in Gyeongbuk, Namwon in Junbuk and Yeongdong in Chungbuk) from 2010 to 2012. Damage by A. spinolae occurred in all 62 survey farms and damage rate differed depending on locality and individual farms in the same area. Damage rate was lower in export farms than in domestic sale farms, and damage rate of leaves was highly correlated with damage rate of new shoots. 15 species of hemipteran insect were attracted to sticky traps and A. spinolae was the dominant species. The attracted number of A. spinolae in the sticky traps differed depending on locality, and more occurred in domestic sale farms than expert farms. A. spinolae was continually attracted to sticky traps in the harvest period in grapevine orchards.

This report is a part of research on pests occurring in grapevine orchards in export complexes (Hwangsung in Gyeonggi, Sangju and Yeongcheon in Gyeongbuk, Namwon in Junbuk and Yeongdong in Chungbuk) from 2010 to 2012. This research was conducted to evaluate the distribution and difference in damage rates depending on management types of grapevine orchards (domestic sale farm vs. export farm). Damage by Arbordia spp. occurred only in 2010 and differed depending on localities and individual farms in the same area. Numbers of orchards damaged by Arbordia spp. were one, two and four in Hwasung, Namwon and Sangju, respectively, and the damage rate was below 6.2%. There was no damage in the orchards in 2011 and 2012, however, Arbordia spp. were collected on sticky traps in the orchards. A. nigrigena and A. kakogawana were the dominant species in Yeongcheon and Yeongdong, respectively, in 2011. A. kakogawana, A. maculifrons and A. nigrigena were collected on sticky traps in 2012. Collected numbers of Arbordia spp. were different depending on localities and management types of the orchards (domestic sale vs. export). A. kakogawana was the dominant species in all the survey sites and the densities were higher in the domestic sale farms than in the export farms.

Nicotine, a major teratogen of cigarettes smoke induces embryonic abnormalities during the early stages of organogenesis. In this study, the protective effect of β-carotene against nicotine–induced embryos was evaluated by morphologic scoring, nile blue staining, lipid peroxidation, SOD activity assay and real-time PCR. The embryos exposed to nicotine (1 μM) revealed remarkable morphological anomalies compared to normal control group (p<0.05), but when β-carotene (1×10‒4 μM or 5×10‒4 μM) was added concurrently to the embryos exposed to nicotine, morphological parameters were significantly improved (p<0.05). Nicotine induced oxidative stress by increased lipid peroxidation, expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), caspases-3 and decreased SOD activity. However, administration of β-carotene (1×10‒4 μM or 5×10‒4 μM) restored the SOD level and decreased oxidative damage in the embryos. These results indicate that β-carotene effectively counteracts the deleterious effects of nicotine on embryos and attenuates oxidative damage possibly through its antioxidant effects.

Nicotine, a major toxic component in tobacco smoke, leads to severe embryonic damages on organogenesis. We investigated if resveratrol can inhibit the nicotine–induced teratogenesis in the cultured mouse embryos (embryonic day 8.5) for 48 hours using a whole embryo culture system. The embryos exposed to nicotine (1 μM) revealed severe morphological anomalies, the increased levels of caspase-3 mRNA and lipid peroxidation, and further the lowered levels of mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD), cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, and sirtuin mRNAs and SOD activity significantly compared to normal control group (p<0.05). However, whenre sveratrol(1×10‒5 μMor1 ×10‒4 μM) was added concurrently to the embryos exposed to nicotine, these all parameters were significantly improved (p<0.05).These findings indicate that resveratrol has a protective effect against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos throughout antioxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) are used in a various range, including ceramic manufacture, photocatalysis, UV filters, and the food industry. However, little is known about the effects of micro- and nano-particles during mouse embryo organogenesis. To determine whether ZnO affects size-dependent anomalies during embryonic organogenesis, mouse embryos were cultured for two days with 300 ug/ml micro ZnO (mZnO;80±25 μm) and nZnO (< 100 nm) and the developmental changes were then investigated. Quantity of Zn by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, and expression patterns of various antioxidant enzymes in the embryos were investigated. Embryos exposed to mZnO or nZnO exhibited severe retardation of growth and development. In embryos exposed to mZnO and nZnO, yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, and head length were significantly diminished. The morphological parameters, including yolk sac circulation, allantois, flexion, heart, hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain, otic system, optic system, branchial bars, maxillary process, mandibular process, olfactory system, caudal neural tube, forelimb, hindlimb, and somites in mZnO and nZnO-treated groups were significantly decreased. Zn absorption of the nZnO-treated group was significantly higher than that of the mZnO-treated group. Significantly decreased levels of CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD, cGPx, and PHGPx mRNA were observed in the ZnO-treated group. In addition, antioxidant enzyme mRNA expressions of the nZnO group were significantly diminished, less than those of the mZnO treated group. These findings indicate that 300 ug/ml ZnO showed abnormality and nZnO may have a more severe effect than mZnO in developing embryos.

Neurotoxicity and oxidative injury induced by glutamate cause neuronal degeneration related to various central nervous system diseases. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, is known to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the question of whether resveratrol has a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced toxicity in cultured cortical neurons. Following exposure to glutamate for 15 min, cortical neurons originating from ICR mouse fetuses on embryonic days 15-16 were then treated with resveratrol for 24 h in the post-treatment paradigm. Glutamate induced a significant reduction in cell viability; however, resveratrol induced a significant increase in cell viability. Glutamate induced generation of ROS and apoptotic neuronal death; however, these were decreased by exposure to resveratrol. mRNA expression in antioxidant enzymes, cytoplasmic glutathione peroxidase, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD), and manganese SOD, and anti-apoptotic regulator Bcl-xL were decreased by exposure to glutamate, however, exposure to resveratrol resulted in a significant increase in their mRNA levels. In addition, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β and tumor necosis factor-α, was increased by glutamate insult, but significantly reduced by resveratrol. These findings indicate that resveratrol is neuroprotective against glutamate-induced toxicity, suggesting a useful therapeutic application in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is a unique antioxidant enzyme involved in reduction of peroxidized phospholipids within biomembranes. To investigate the expression pattern of the PHGPx gene during fetal development, in situ hybridization analyses were performed using mouse FITC-labeled PHGPx cRNA probes in fetal tissues on embryonic days (Ed) 13.5-18.5. During these periods, PHGPx mRNA appeared in the developing telencephalon, diencephalon, spinal cord, and spinal ganglion. In particular, PHGPx mRNA was strongly expressed in pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex. On Eds 17.5-18.5, PHGPx mRNA was detected in various tissues including liver, intestinal villi and crypt, pancreas, lung, and olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. In addition, PHGPx mRNA was highly expressed in the inner ear on Eds 14.5-18.5, brown fat on Ed 17.5, and adrenal gland on Ed 18.5. It is conceivable that PHGPx may act as an important antioxidant against fetal oxidative stress during mouse organogenesis.

Animal crude drugs (natural medicines derived from animal organs) have been widely used in various Chinese medicine for the therapeutic effects and for enhancement of immunologic functions. We found the specific identification methods using DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses for mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) in order to discriminate between the animal species and organs as well as the placenta of humans. Species-specific PCR bands of D-loop mt DNA for equine, bovine, porcine, and human were 133 bp, 137 bp, 231 bp, and 240 bp, respectively. Porcine organs were identified using restriction enzyme, HphI cut into two subfragments, 36 bp and 195 bp bands in the heart, spleen, and liver, except for kidney. The heart and liver of porcine were identified using restriction enzyme, SpeI cut into two subfragments, 84 bp and 147 bp bands, except for kidney and spleen. Bovine organs were cut into 68 bp and 69 bp bands in the liver, kidney, and spleen using NalIV, except heart and placenta. Placentas of bovine and humans were easily identified using each primer. Our results suggest that sequencing of mt DNA and its PCR-RFLP methods are useful for identification and discrimination of inter- and intra-specific variations in equine, bovine, porcine, and human by routine analysis.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of group exer˗ cise program on depression in the elders with dementia. Subjects of this research were selected from the patients of Hyoja hospital(Yong˗ in, Korea). They were elders with dementia having minor to moderate degrees of cognitive function. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, each with 12 people; exercise group and the control group. The control group only performed general physio˗ therapy, while the exercise group performed exercise program and general physiotherapy for 8 weeks. Depression of the exercise group and the control group were measured at baseline before the study, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after the study. Depression was measured by Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version(GDSSF-K). Firstly, when comparing the levels of depression within the same group, depression was significantly lower in the exercise group, after the group exercise program. However, depression of the control group did not show significant changes before or after the study. Secondly, when comparing the levels of depression of the control group and the exercise group, differences between the levels meas˗ ured before the study and 8 weeks after the study, was a statistically significant decrease of depression. Thirdly, effects of group exercise program according to the applied period were analyzed showing 8 weeks of group exercise to be more beneficial than 4 weeks. People who performed continuous group exercise program showed decrease in depression compared to the absence of group exercise program. This can infer beneficial effects of group exercise program. Group exercise program had desirable influence on decreasing the level of depression.

To get good productivity and high feed value of forage, we develop to new Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) 'Kogreen'.variety. In Suwon, heading date of 'Kogreen' was on May 3 but in Yonchun was on 8 May that was 2 day later than that of 'Florida 80' and dry matter yield is 12.7ton/㏊, and had a good cold tolerance.

In the present study, we have developed a high-frequency plant regeneration system for Italian ryegrass via callus culture using mature seeds as explants. Optimal embryogenic callus induction was found to occur in MS medium containing 5 ㎎ 1?¹ 2,4-D, 0.5 ㎎ 1?¹ BA, 500 ㎎ 1?¹ L-proline, 1 g 1?¹ casein hydrolysate, 30 g 1?¹ sucrose, 7 ㎎ 1?¹ AgNO₃, 2 ㎎ 1?¹ CuSO₄ and solidified with 3 g 1?¹ Gelrite. The highest regeneration rate was obtained in MS medium containing 1 ㎎ 1?¹ 2,4-D, 5 ㎎ 1?¹ BA, 500 ㎎ 1?¹ L-proline, 1 g 1?¹ casein hydrolysate, 1 ㎎ 1?¹ thiamine-HCl, 30 g 1?¹ sucrose, 7 ㎎ 1?¹ AgNO₃, 2 ㎎ 1?¹ CuSO₄ and solidified with 3 g 1?¹ Gelrite. By using the most effective treatment determined for each parameter, the highest rates of embryogenic callus formation (48.9%) and regeneration (47.6%) were obtained with the Hwasan 101 cultivar. The overall plant regeneration rates of the examined cultivars ranged from 7.5% to 23.2%. Thus, optimization of regeneration frequency using mature seeds as explant material may offer a simple and efficient protocol for Italian ryegrass that may improve molecular breeding of this species.