A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a needle, or via fingerprick. They are used to determine physiological and biochemical states, such as disease, mineral contents, drug effectiveness, and organ function. Although the term blood test is used, most routine tests (except for most haematology) are done on plasma or serum, instead of blood cells. Main advantage of using saliva in diagnostics is easy and non invasive sample taking compared to peripheral blood. According to the study published, saliva contains more than 20 percent of the proteins found in blood. The purpose of present study is to compare biochemical enzymes in saliva and in blood serum and to evaluate the usefulness of saliva specimens instead of blood in dental clinic. The saliva from 215 healthy over 50 years of aged people lived in Dong-gu district, Gwangu city was collected and the analysis was performed by six enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). ELISA results were compared with blood chemistry results. The values or patterns on Alanine Aminotransperase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransperase (AST), Cholesterol and Triglyceride in saliva were not correlated with those in blood serum. However, Albumine and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) were followed the positive relationship with blood chemistry. These result showed that detection and identification of Albumine and γ-GTP level could be established by saliva ELISA analysis, so that ELISA assay on saliva could be useful alternative to serum testing.

PVDF was used as a polymeric matrix material in this work. Nickel powders with average particles size of 200 nm or 72 nm were used as fillers. PVDF/metal submicro- and nanocomposites were prepared by means of a mixing in twin screw extruder and planetary ball mill, respectively. All samples were prepared by hot pressing method. Their electrical, thermal and morphological properties were examined by dielectric spectroscopy, DSC, FTIR, XRD, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that all properties of composites were strongly modified depending on the content of metal powders and filler particles size. Particularly, specific volume resistivity of PVDF/Ni composite with 0.2 wt.% of Ni was increased by factor of 1.5~4.

Study of the main properties of PVDF films produced by two processing technologies such as hot pressing from a melt or solution casting was the aim of this paper. All samples were prepared of as-received PVDF powder. First group of samples was prepared by the hot pressing. Second group of samples was prepared by the solution casting method. PVDF powder was dissolved in dimethylformamide. To characterize properties of samples, different experimental methods such as FRA (dielectric spectroscopy), IR-spectroscopy and DSC/TGA analysis were used in this work. It was found that IR-spectra of both studied groups do not change compared to that for virgin PVDF powder. It confirms that molecular structure is practically independent on the processing technology of samples. The only difference has been found that new band centered at appears for samples prepared by the hot pressing method. This absorption band is related with formation of C=C bonds in samples prepared by the hot pressing method in contrast both to PVDF powder and samples prepared by the solution casting method.

The protease produced by a Bacillus pumilus CN8 strain was purified by DEAE-Cellulose-52 ion exchange. It has a molecular weight of approximately 96,920 Dalton. In the present study, this protease showed strong activity over a broad range of pH (6.5-9.5) and temperature from 40℃ to 60℃, and the protease performed the maximal activity at pH 7.3 at 42℃. The effect of metal ions on protease activity showed that K+ could slightly increase the protease activity, and other ions such as Zn²+, Fe²+, Na+, Ca²+, Mg²+ had no significant activation or inhibition to the protease (P > 0.05), and the more important is that Cu²+, Mn²+, Sn²+, Cd²+ had a strong inhibitory effect on the protease activity.

KASI and Seoul National University developed the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) as one of major scientific instruments for the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope (NST) and installed it in the Coude room of the NST at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) in May, 2010. The major objective of the FISS is to study the fine-scale structures and dynamics of plasma in the photosphere and chromosphere. To achieve it, the FISS is required to take data with a spectral resolution higher than 105 at the spectrograph mode and a temporal resolution less than 10 seconds at the imaging mode. The FISS is a spectrograph using Echelle grating and has characteristics that can observe dual bands (Hα and CaII 8542) simultaneously and perform fast imaging using fast raster scan and two fast CCD cameras. In this paper, we introduce briefly the whole process of FISS development from the requirement analysis to the first observations.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is ATPase-directed molecular chaperon and affects survival of cancer cell. Inhibitory effect of Hsp90 by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the cancer cell was reported. However, its role during oocyte maturation and early embryo development is very insufficient. In this study, we traced the effects of Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), on meiotic maturation and early embryonic development in pigs. We also investigated several indicators of developmental potential, including structural integrity, gene expression (Hsp90-, cell cycle-, and apoptosis-related genes), and apoptosis, which are affected by 17-AAG. Then, we examined the roles of Hsp90 inhibitor on viability of primary cells in pigs. Porcine oocytes were cultured in the NCSU-23 medium with or without 17-AAG for 44 h. The proportion of GV arrested oocytes was significantly different between the 17-AAG treated and untreated group (78.2 vs 34.8%, p<0.05). After completion of meiotic maturation, the proportion of MII oocytes was lower in the 17-AAG treated group than in the control group (27.9 vs 71.0%, p<0.05). After IVF, the percentage of penetrated oocytes was significantly lower in the 17-AAG treated group (25.2%), resulting in lower normal pronucleus formation (2PN of 14.6%). Therefore, the inhibition of meiotic progression by Hsp90 inhibitor played a critical role in fertilization status. Porcine embryo were cultured in the PZM-3 medium with or without 17-AAG for 6 days. In result, significant differences in developmental potential were detected between the embryos that were cultured with or without 17-AAG. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) showed that the number of containing fragmented DNA at the blastocyst stage increased in the 17-AAG treated group compared with control (7.5 vs 4.4, respectively). Blastocysts that developed in the 17-AAG treated group had low structural integrity and high apoptotic nuclei than those of the untreated control, resulting in decrease the embryonic qualities of preimplantation porcine blastocysts. The mRNA expressions of cell cycle-related genes were down-regulated in the 17-AAG treated group compared with control. Also, the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax increased in 17-AAG treated group, whereas expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-XL decreased. However, the expression of ER stress-related genes did not changed by 17-AAG. Cultured pESF cells were treated with or without 17-AAG and used for MTT assay. The results showed that viability of pESF cells were decreased by treatment of 17-AAG (2 μM) for 24 hr. These results indicated that 17-AAG decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death. Expression patterns Hsp90 complex genes (Hsp70 and p23), cell cycle-related genes (cdc2 and cdc25c) and apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-XL) were significantly changed by using RT-PCR analysis. The spliced form of pXbp-1 product (pXbp-1s) was detected in the tunicamycin (TM) treated cells, but it is not detected in 17-AAG treated cells. In conclusion, Hsp90 appears to play a direct role in porcine early embryo developmental competence including structural integrity of blastocysts. Also, these results indicate that Hsp90 is closely associated with cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes expression in developing porcine embryos.

We investigated free radical reactions in lung of living mice using an in vivo electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer and nitroxyl radical as a probe. When an aqueous solution of nitroxyl probe was trans-tracheally administered into lung of living mice, a sharp triplet signal was observed at the chest of the mice. The signal showed a gradual decrease with time, obeying first-order kinetics. Signal decay rates of carbamoyl-PROXYL and carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-N-oxyl were faster than those of CAT-1 and carboxy-PROXYL. The mechanism of signal decay may be attributed to (i) reaction with reactive oxygen species such as ·OH, (ii) transfer into blood circulation, or (iii) reduction by compounds continuously supplied. However, little is known about the clearance mechanism of the nitroxyl probe in lung. To evaluate the disappearance of the ESR signal of the nitroxyl probe in lung, in vivo ESR spectra in chest of mice was recorded after trans-tracheal administration of an aqueous high concentrate solution of nitroxyl probe. A broad signal from the chest was observed immediately after administration due to Heisenberg spin exchange interaction. A sharp triplet signal was superimposed on the broad signal and the appearance of a triplet signal was followed by disappearance of the broad one. Peak-to-peak line width of the sharp signal was almost the same as that after intravenous administration. A distinct signal was detected in blood collected 10 min after trans-tracheal administration of nitroxyl probe. The observations indicate the transfer from lung to blood circulation and its contribution to clearance of probe in lung. Appearance of a sharp signal in blood after trans-tracheal administration was dependent on the kind of nitroxyl probe, showing a different transfer rate from lung to blood.

Emodin is a bioactive compound isolated from the root and rhizomes of Rheum plamatum L. (polygenaceae), which is known as a traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. In the present study, the effect of emodin on YD-15 mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells and its molecular mechanism were investigated. This study shows that emodin significantly inhibits the growth of YD-15 cells. Activation of caspase-3 and PARP is triggered by emodin and it increases sub-G1 population and the number of YD-15 cells with nuclear condensation and fragmentation. In addition, we found that emodin significantly decreases myeloid cell leukemia 1(MCL-1). These results suggest that MCl-1 is an important molecule for emodin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, emodin inhibits cell viability and induces apoptosis via down-regulation of MCL-1 and it can be a new potent anticancer drug candidate for the treatment of mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Only an optimum number of viable spermatozoa in a frozen-thawed insemination dose can ensure conception at artificial insemination (AI). We report here the percentages of normal, abnormal and viable spermatozoa present in the frozen-thawed semen of 20 Black Bengal bucks used for commercial AI. Bucks in this experiment were of 19.3~46.1 months old and 25~42 kg body weight. Four semen straws (0.25 ml) from each buck were collected for evaluation of their kinetic parameters. Scrotal circumference was measured by using a scrotal tape, sperm motility was estimated on eye estimation and sperm concentration was determined by using a haemocytometer. Sperm morphology was studied in paraformaldehyde fixed spermatozoa under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope. To determine the proportion of live (plasma membrane intact) spermatozoa, semen was stained with SYBR-14 and propidium iodide and examined under fluorescent microscope. Scrotal circumference, post-thaw sperm motility, sperm concentration per insemination dose and proportion of normal spermatozoa were , , million and , respectively. The percentages of spermatozoa with head shape and acrosome abnormalities were lower ( and , respectively), whereas higher percentages of abnormalities () were observed in mid piece and tail portion. The proportion of live spermatozoa was . It is concluded that although a good number of morphologically normal spermatozoa are present in the insemination dose, the proportion of live spermatozoa is low, which warrants further improvements of buck semen freezing procedures to ensure good quality at AI.

Mushrooms including Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii are used as foods and employed as folk remedies for diabetes and inflammatroy diseases. This study analyzed anti-diabetic effects of Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii, which grows in some areas such as Gangwon-do and Jeju-do in Korea, as insulin-derived phosphorylation. When 100 ng/ml of IL-6, inflammatory cytokine was given to SK-hep1, HepG2, Akt phosphorylation by insulin was found to be remarkably reduced. In addition, metformin, Antidiabetics serving as positive control in liver was used. Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii used for analyzing anti-diabetic effects in this test didn’t give a great impact on the decrease in Akt phosphorylation by IL-6 at high concentration. However, fruit body in Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii inhibited the decrease in Akt phosphorylation by IL-6 according to the concentration. At the highest concentration 100㎍/ml, it had an effect of increasing Akt phosphorylation to 77%, which was decreased by 50% compared to the insulin treated group by IL-6. Therefore, Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii fruit body used in this test activated Akt phosphorylation inhibited by IL-6 and showed a possibility of significant anti-diabetic effects compared to positive control(metformin).

Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom) is a very popular edible, cultivated mushroom in Japan. There are post-storage problems with shiitake mushrooms, such as gill browning and cell wall lysis of the fruiting body, which can result in loss of fresh food quality and consequent loss of value. Lentinan is a cell wall component of beta-1, 3-linked-D-glucan with beta-1, 6 branches, which was isolated as an anti-tumor active-substance from L. edodes. Lentinan content decreases following harvest as a result of increased glucanase activity. We isolated one exo-glucanase encoding genes, exg21) and two endo-glucanase encoding gene tlg12) and glu1 from L. edodes. Transcription level of the exg2, tlg1 and glu1 gene increased after harvesting. Enzymes encoded by the genes have lentinan degrading activity, therefore, these genes are involved in lentinan degradation after harvesting. We also identified several cell wall degradation- related enzyme-encoding genes3), such as mixed-linked glucanase (mlg1), chitinases (chi1, chi29), chitin deacetylase (chd1), and chitosanase (cho1). It is revealed that transcriptional levels of these genes increased after harvesting, by real-time PCR. Glucanase and chitinase activity increased following harvest as results of increased transcription of these cell wall degradation-related enzyme-encoding genes. Increase of these cell wall degradation- related enzyme activities would cause cell wall lysis and lentinan degradation during post-harvest preservation. We identified laccase and tyrosinase encoding genes (lcc4 and tyr, respectively) by PCR-subtraction. The lcc4 was a novel laccase-encoding gene in L. edodes. Transcription levels of lcc4 and tyr increased after harvesting, and these genes would be involved in browning of the fruiting body. 1) Sakamoto et al. (2005) Current Genetics, 48: 195-203 2) Sakamoto et al. (2006) Plant Physiology 141: 793-801 3) Sakamoto et al. (2009) Current Genetics 55: 409-423

Phellinus gilvus(PG) is a medicinal mushroom belonging to the Hymenochaetaceae basidiomycetes, and has advantages over many Phellinus species due to its short growth period (3 mo), making it cheaper to produce. In the current investigation, we determined the major components of the ethyl acetate extract of PG responsible for its biological activities and further compared the magnitude of the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities of components with the various fractional extracts of PG. As the results, the average total DPPH radical scavenging activities of both Fd and Fc of PG was 10 mg/mL, > 95%. Among the fractional extracts of PG, Fd had the greatest inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 36.70㎍/mL, whereas Fb showed the lowest activity. PCA had even greater activity of NO inhibition than Fd with an IC50 value of 19.46㎍/mL. The mRNA expression of iNOS or COX-2 was nearly undetectable in the absence of LPS. However, LPS- stimulation markedly increased the expression of both iNOS and COX-2 genes. Fd inhibited the effect of LPS in a concentration-dependent manner. Six major compounds were identified from the ethyl acetate extract of PG, and protocatechualdehyde (PCA) was supposed to be the major phenolic compound of PG responsible for its DPPH free radical scavenging activity and its inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments are currently underway to confirm this observation and to investigate the detailed molecular mechanisms involved in the process as well as the biological activities of other fractions of Fd.