International human rights discourse has largely ignored the decentralization of political, fiscal and administrative authority currently taking place across the developing world. By reference to Indonesia’s recent transition from a highly centralised system of government to a system of regional autonomy (called Otonomi Daerah, or “Otda”), this article demonstrates the importance of more closely examining the relationship between international human rights and decentralization. In particular, it is argued that an understanding of international human rights can shed light on the dynamics of decentralization and, vice versa, examining decentralization can inform our understandings of international human rights. The essay explains the historical, political and economic context of Otda and briefly describes its current legal framework. It then explores the varied impacts Otda has had on international human rights in Indonesia and how Otda can, in turn, highlight some of the limits and possibilities of international human rights.

Body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus), obligatory human ectopasites, differ from conspecific head lice (Pediculus humanus capitas) in the choice of habitat and the capacity of disease transmission. Only body lice are known to naturally transmit a variety of human diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever and relapsing fever. Such differences in vectoral capacity are expected to be due to their differences in immune responses during pathogen invasion. Here, we annotated 94 immune related genes from the body louse genome and determined the differences in the transcription profiling of immune related genes between the head and body lice by qrt-PCR. In general, head louse females showed more sensitive immune responses than body louse females to Staphylococcu. aureus dermal challenge as judged by selective induction of defensin 2 in head lice. In contrast, when the 3rd nymphs were orally challenged, body lice exhibited more sensitive immune responses than head louse to Escherichia coli as judged by selective induction of defensin 1 and PGRP in body lice. These stage- and pathogen-specific differences in immune responses should provide basic insight on the vector competencies in the head and body lice.

Artemisia scoparia (A. scoparia), perennial herb is indigenous to Korea and has been traditionally used in liver damage. We investigated the effect of the essential oil obtained from A. scoparia on apoptosis of KB cells. Cytotoxicity and cellular DNA content were analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis, and Hoechst 33258 staining. The caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins were estimated by Western blotting method. We found that the essential oil induced the apoptosis of the KB cells by concentrations of 0.4 to 0.2 mg/ml which was verified by DNA fragmentation, apoptotic bodies, and the sub-G0/G1 ratio. The essential oil also transient caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity and cleavage of PARP in KB cells for 24 h. The essential oil-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the essential oil of A. scoparia induces apoptosis in KB cells

The differentiation of leukemia cells into mature cells is a major target of the human leukemia therapy. As differentiated leukemia cells lose their proliferative and tumor-forming abilities, differentiation inducers may be useful for the treatment of leukemia. In this study, the experiments were designed to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS) regulates expressions of tumor suppressor protein PTEN (phosphatase and tension homologue) in HL- 60 cells. DADS causes upregulation of PTEN in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which was correlated with decrease of phospho-Akt level. These results suggest that DADS induces upregulation of PTEN in human leukemia cells. These results suggest that DADS may be a useful anticancer agent for management of human leukemia.

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an intracellular messenger at the physiological level but can be cytotoxic at high concentrations. The cells within periodontal tissues, such as gingival and periodontal fibroblasts, contain nitric oxide syntheses and produce high concentrations of NO when exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharides and cytokines. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying NO-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues are unclear at present. In our current study, we examined the NO-induced cytotoxic mechanisms in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Cell viability and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using a MTT assay and a fluorescent spectrometer, respectively. The morphological changes in the cells were examined by Diff-Quick staining. Expression of the Bcl-2 family and Fas was determined by RT-PCR or western blotting. The activity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 was assessed using a spectrophotometer. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, decreased the cell viability of the HGF cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SNP enhanced the production of ROS, which was ameliorated by NAC, a free radical scavenger. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, did not block the SNP-induced decrease in cell viability. SNP also caused apoptotic morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. The expression of Bax, a member of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family, was upregulated in the SNP-treated HGF cells, whereas the expression of Bcl-2, a member of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was downregulated. SNP augmented the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and enhanced the activity of caspase-8, -9, and -3. SNP also upregulated Fas, a component of the death receptor assembly. These results suggest that NO induces apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast via ROS and the Bcl-2 family through both mitochondrial- and death receptor-mediated pathways. Our data also indicate that the cyclic GMP pathway is not involved in NO-induced apoptosis.

Generally, manpower education/training courses and contents required for game industry is designed to operational tasks. This reflects that the structure of manpower in game industry becomes specialized. Because of the rapid changes in the game industries and in internal and external environment, most game industries require workers that can perform a variety of job types to create a business values. In this research, we consider major reports related to the education and training needed for workers in game industry and then conduct overall survey on satisfaction with the education/training courses and contents of study. The results from analysis on the current education/training courses and contents for manpower in game industry will help development of policies for designing systematic education/training courses and contents, and are expected to be used for future education and training for manpower for game industry.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of extract mixture(IPGE) drink from Inonotus Obliquus, Phellinus Linteus and Ganoderma Lucidum on hematopoietic stem cells and lymphocyte subset[lymphocyte, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, Natural Killer(NK) cells] of blood in 37 participants who were healthy and about 40~70 years old. They were divided into two groups; extract mixture drink administration group(n=27) and placebo administration group(n=12). They were given the test drink daily for 4 weeks. Blood was obtained from the subjects every two week in the beginning of administration day to evaluate the CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells. As results, CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells were significanly increased after taking IPGE drink for 4 weeks compared to that before taking the drink (p < 0.001). There was no significant changes in number of lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and in the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cell after taking the test drink. From these results, it was suggested that IPGE have a good health effect by promoting the proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells.

목적 : 연구의 목적은 우리나라 노인들의 문화와 정서에 적합한 활동척도를 개발하여 남녀 노인의 활동 수준과 의미 있는 활동을 비교하고, 노인의 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 요인들의 관련성을 규명하였다. 연구방법 : 연구의 대상은 60세 이상 남자 노인 199명, 여자 노인 258명으로 총 457명이 참여하였으며, 노인생활만족척도를 사용하여 노인의 삶의 질을 평가하였다. 또한 노인의 활동수준은 평가를 위해 한국판 활동척도를 개발하여 연구에 이용하였다. 결과 : 노인의 수행 활동을 성별로 비교하여 볼 때 여자 노인은 수단적 일상생활을 남자 노인은 고강도 신체활동을 더 많이 하였으며, 노인의 활동과 삶의 질과의 상관관계를 통하여 남, 여, 전체 노인에서 수단적 일상생활, 저강도 신체활동, 고강도 신체활동, 사회활동에 많이 참여할수록 삶의 질은 높았다. 최종적으로 위계적 다중선형회귀분석을 통하여 노인의 삶의 질에 영향을 주는 요인으로는 전체 노인의 경우 연령, 건강상태, 생활수준, 노후설계 준비기간, 사회활동이, 남자 노인의 경우 건강상태, 배우자 유무, 생활수준, 노후설계 준비기간이 삶의 질을 예측할 수 있는 요인으로 작용하였으며, 여자 노인의 경우 연령, 건강상태, 생활수준, 노후 설계 준비기간, 사회활동이 삶의 질을 예측할 수 있는 요인으로 작용하였다. 결론 : 연구 결과를 토대로 남녀 노인에 적합한 성별에 따른 차별화된 활동을 개발하고 1차, 2차, 3차 예방 사업에 사회활동 요소를 포함하여야 할 것이다. 향후 전국 조사를 통하여 우리나라 노인들을 대상으로 활동 수준과 삶의 질과의 관련성을 규명할 수 있는 다양한 연구들이 수행되어야 할 것이며, 작업치료적 관점에서 장애 노인을 대상으로한 활동의 변화와 삶의 질에 대한 연구가 진행되어야 할 것을 제언한다.

당뇨망막병증은 서구에서 성인들의 실명을 일으키는 원인이다. 당뇨병이 있을 때 고혈당증은 여러 세포 형태에서 세포자연사를 유도하지만 그 기작은 명확하게 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구의 목적은 인간망막 내피세포에서 고혈당 포도당이 세포자연사에 미치는 영향에 대하여 알아보았다. 망막 내피세포는 5, 25, 50 mM 포도당이 포함된 IMDM배지에서 37℃, 5% CO2조정된 항온기에서 24, 36, 48시간 동안 배양하였다. 여러 농도의

본 논문은 주암호 복내천 인공습지 조성 후 4년간 식물 변화를 Numata 식의 생활형을 이용하여 분석하였다. 2002년 12월에 준공된 주암호 복내천 인공습지의 식재종은 10과 13속 12종 3변종으로 총 15종류가 식재되었다. 식재종의 3가지 성질의 생활형을 보면 휴면형(Dormancy form)은 다년생수생식물(HH)이 6종으로 가장 많고, 지하기관형은 R5, R3, R2-3이 각각 4종, 산포기관형은 풍수산포형(D1)이 10종, 생육형은 직립형(e)이 가장 많았다. 인공습지 준공후 5년이 경과된 모니터링의 최종년도에 조사된 3가지 성질의 생활형은 종수와 개체수는 증가하였으나 생활형 구성비 (%)에 대한 경향성은 큰 변화는 없었다. 휴면형은 1년생육상식물(Th)이 43종, 24.29%, 지하기관형은 R5가 산포기관형은 D4형과 D1형, D1,4형이 전체의 77.39%를 차지하고 있었다. 생육형은 직립형(e), 총생형(t), 일시적로제트형(pr), 분지형(b), 로제트-직립형(ps) 순으로 조사되었으며, 이들 종들이 전체의 64.97%를 차지하고 있다. 결과적으로 주암호 복내천 인공습지의 경우 휴면형은 천이가 진행될수록 다년생식물의 구성비율이 높아 습지 천이의 선구종들인 1년생식물이 우점하는 식생형이 점차적으로 안정된 다년생 습지식생의 유형으로 천이가 진행되고 있음을 알 수 있다. 번식형은 지하기관형인 단립식물(R5)이 우세하나 달뿌리풀 등과 같은 땅위에 연결체를 만드는 R4식물로 천이가 진행될 것으로 보이며, 산포기관형은 습지의 특성상 바람이나 물에 의하여 운반되는 풍수산포형과 수변 목본식물의 발달로 인한 중력산포형이 유리할 것으로 판단된다. 생육형은 습지의 경우 총생형이 우세할 것으로 판단되며 육상은 인위적.자연적 교란에 의하여 다양한 유형의 생육형이 공존할 것으로 판단된다.

It is not yet clear to know how normal human osteoblasts(NHost) from oral and maxillofacial area deposit, stabilize, and configure their extracellular matrix on dental biomaterial surfaces. Therefore it is necessary to design biomaterials with improved biocompatibility that will promote earlier bone differentiation and mineralization. There is now increasing evidence that TGase 2 may play a role in the initiation and regulation of the mineralization processes and serves to cross-link osteocalcin and osteopontin, which are predominant substrates for TGase 2 expressed during bone mineralization. But it is still unclear as to which TGase 2 is expressed by NHost in vitro bone formation. The purpose of this s tudy was t o determine the level of TGase 2 expression associated with collagen I , osteopontin and osteocalcin in NHost cell lines from oral and maxillofacial area in vitro. We will investigate whether TGase 2 has an active role in the biocompatibility of dental biomaterials during differentiation and mineralization of NHost. NHost cell lines were cultured under DMEM with 10% FBS at 37ﾟC and 5% CO2. Collagen quantification, mineralization and calcium assay, ALP activity assay, and RT-PCR analysis during bone differentiation and mineralization were done. ALP levels showed higher activity under AA+hGP t han under AA. I nhibition o f T Gase 2 by cystamine showed d ecreased Ca++ concentration, c ollagen I deposition and ALP level during 11 days of differentiation. TGase 2 mRNA expression of NHost was constant during mineralization stage. TGase 2 enzyme activity was increased during differentiation. Osteopontin mRNA expression during mineralization was higher than that of osteocalcin and collagen I . It suggested that TGase 2 associated with collagen I, osteocalcin and osteonectin might play a role in the differentiation of NHost from oral and maxillofacial area, but a little involved in mineralization.

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 (fimA⁻), CW120 (ppk⁻) and KS7 (relA⁻) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon--inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.

The sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) protein is functionally expressed in salivary glands. In this experiment, we examined the role of NBC in HCO₃-formation in human parotid gland acinar cells. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in 2'-7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)-loaded cells. Acetazolamide (0.1 mM) and 4,4'-diisothio cyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 0.5 mM) were used as specific inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase and NBC, respectively. The degree of inhibition was assessed by measuring the pHi recovery rate (△pHi/min) after cell acidification using an ammonium prepulse technique. In control experiments, △pHi/min was 1.40±0.06. Treatment of cells with 0.5 mM DIDS or 0.1 mM acetazolamide significantly reduced △pHi/min to 1.14±0.14 and 0.74±0.15, respectively. Simultaneous application of DIDS and acetazolamide further reduced △pHi/min to 0.47±0.10. Therefore, DIDS and acetazolamide reduced △pHi/min by 19% and 47%, respectively, while simultaneous application of both DIDS and acetazolamide caused a reduction in △pHi/min of 67%. These results suggest that in addition to carbonic anhydrase, NBC also partially contributes to HCO₃- formation in human parotid gland acinar cells.

Substance P (SP) is known to be expressed in the nerve fibers of dental pulp and periodontal tissues. It was recently reported that SP expression increased in response to orthodontic force. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SP on expression of mineralization markers and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in human immortalized periodontal ligament (IPDL) cells. Cell viability was measured using a 3,4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of mineralization markers, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteonectin (ON) and bone sialoprotein (BSP), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. SP did not significantly change human IPDL cell viability, with the exception of the 24 hour treatment group. Treatment of human IPDL cells with 10-10 to 10-⁴M SP upregulated mineralization marker and HO-1 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Our results suggest that SP may modulate osteoblastic cell differentiation of human IPDL cells through a mechanism involving HO-1 expression.