Serpins are a superfamily of related protease inhibitors with common structural features and inhibitory mechanisms. However, SERPINA 14 in mammals does not have inhibitory activity against most known proteases. Rather, it may have an immunoregulatory role in mammals to prevent rejection of the fetal allograft by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell function. In the pig, SERPINA14 is involved in iron transport to the fetus by binding to and stabilizing the iron-binding protein uteroferrin (ACP5). In chickens, these very little known about serpins in chickens. Therefore, we investigated the expression patterns of serpin genes in the oviduct of adult hens and in the oviduct of 37-day-old chicks treated with an estrogen analogue, diethylstilbestrol (DES). Results indicated that SERPINB3 and SERPINB11 genes were highly expressed in oviducts of DES-treated chicks, but not in oviducts of control chicks. Both SERPINB3 and SERPINB11 transcripts were localized specifically to the gland-like areas of oviducts of DES-treated chicks. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed that SERPINB3 and SERPINB11 proteins were present in the gland-like area and luminal epithelium of the oviducts of DES-treated chicks. Collectively, the results suggest that SERPINB3 and SERPINB11 are expressed in response to estrogens and they have distinct functions related to development and differentiation of the mature oviduct in hens.

S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase-like protein 1 (AHCYL1), also known as IP3 receptor- binding protein released with IP3 (IRBIT), is a member of the AHCY-like protein family. AHCYL1 protein regulates IP3-induced Ca2+ release in the cytoplasm of cells and, therefore, is likely to be an important gene regulating various biological processes in the oviduct of chickens. Inmammals, expression is greatest during activation of dendritic cells which are antigen presenting cells associated with immunoregulatory processes in blood and skin. However, the identification of the AHCYL1 gene in chickens has not been investigated. In the present study, we first used RT-PCR to demonstrate AHCYL1 gene expression in adult chicken organs and oviducts of immature chickens treated with DES (diethylstilbesterol, a synthetic estrogen agonist). The results indicated that AHCYL1 mRNA is expressed in chicken reproductive organs (testis, ovary and oviduct). Inaddition, expression of AHCYL1 mRNA increased in response to DES-treated immature oviducts compared to the non-treated control immature oviducts of chickens. Interestingly, AHCYL1 was abundant in the cytoplasm of luminal and glandular epithelia, but not in other cell-types such as stroma and connective tissues, of the chicken oviduct. These results suggest that AHCYL1 is a novel estrogen-stimulated gene associated with development of the chicken oviduct, as well as functions of oviductal glandular and luminal epithelia that may include activation of resident immune cells, such as dendritic cells.

The notion that dental amalgam is a potential source of mercury exposure remains a controversial issue. However, there are few epidemiological analyses that have addressed whether this occurs in children. We aimed in our current study to identify the relationship between dental amalgam filling surfaces and the blood mercury levels in a cohort of 711 South Korean children aged between 8-9 years. Oral examinations were conducted to detect the number of amalgam filling surfaces on the teeth of these individuals. Blood samples were also taken from these children to assess the levels of mercury accumulation in the body. The amalgam filling surfaces were classified into four groups based on their number: 0 (n = 368), 1-5 (n = 219), 6-10 (n = 89), and 11+ (n = 35). The blood mercury levels in the children with more than 10 amalgam surfaces was 0.47 μg/L higher on average than those with no amalgam surfaces after adjusting for the frequency of fish or seafood consumption, age, and gender (P < 0.05). We found from our data that a higher number of dental amalgam fillings correlated with a higher blood mercury level in Korean children. Further studies are needed to investigate whether these elevated mercury levels exert neurotoxic or nephrotoxic effects.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of alcohol or cigarette smoking on seminal parameters in a large group of mice model. Nine groups (n=20/group) of mice were treated intensive noxious materials that abdominal injection of 21% (v/v) of ethanol, cigarette smoke (10, 20, 30 minutes/day), and combination of ethanol and 30 minutes of smoking. In addition, vitamin C and selenium were also treated to mice exposed to combination of alcohol and smoking to identify the recovering effect. Sperm viability and motility were significantly decreased in either alcohol consumption or smoking exposed group, and combination of both materials have additive detrimental effects on seminal parameters. Mice groups that exposed to alcohol and smoking showed statistically significant decrease in motility and increase of static spermatozoa. Moreover, combination of both treatments showed cumulative effect in increase of static spermatozoa. Treatments of either vitamin C or selenium dramatically recovered detrimental effects of alcohol and smoking on seminal quality, although combination of both antioxidant molecules did not show any additive effect. In conclusion, detrimental effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption on sperm quality and motility were identified in mice model, and these detrimental effects can be compensated to uptake of anti‐oxidant molecules.

Ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor showed quite different tumorigenesis and prognosis , Besides theil‘ growth potential and histological features , there must be an essential diffcJ'cncc in gene expJ'ession profile between ameloblatoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor , The gene expression profiles we1'e compared by im munohi stochemi stry and immunoblot methods using different monoclonal and monospecific antibodies against on cogenes, growth factors, signaling molecules‘ matrix proteins, enzymes, Based on the immunohi stochemical find ings previously J'epo1'ted in the literature we found some di stinguishing feature of gene expressions 1'0 1' the tu mOl'igenesis between ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors , The hi s togeneti c and mol eculal' mechani sms of both tumors wiII be discussed

원자력발전소에서 발생하는 이온교환수지와 가연성잡고체 혼합폐기물을 유리화하기 위하여 유도 가열식 저온용융로를 이용한 실증시험을 수행하였다. 금속 티타늄 고리(Ti-ring)를 이용한 유리의 초기점화에 필요한 에너지는 약 290 kWh로 평가되었다. 혼합폐기물의 투입 중 고주파발생기의 출력은 160∼190 kW로 임피던스는 0.55∼0.65 범위 내에서 안정적으로 유지되었다. 이온교환수지 단독투입 시 보다 가연성잡고체와 혼합 할 경우 CO 발생농도는 1/40 정도로 낮아졌는데, 이는 1.8배 정도 높은 연소에너지를 갖는 가연성잡고체가 혼합폐기물의 완전연소를 유도한 것으로 평가되었다. 혼합폐기물의 공급량에 적당한 최적 산소 버블링에 의해 유리 용탕 내부로의 미연폐기물의 함침은 발생하지 않았으며 유리 용탕은 지속적으로 공정 건전성을 유지하였다. 유리 용탕의 부피가 증가하는 팽창(swelling) 현상 때와 정상 일 때 발생가스를 측정, 비교한 결과 swelling 현상 때는 NO와 같이 환원성 가스의 농도 보다 산화성 기체인 의 농도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 실증시험에 사용된 이온교환 수지와 가연성잡고체의 각각 투입량은 368kg과 751kg 이었으며, 74 정도의 감용비를 달성하였다.