Alcoholic fatty liver disorder has become a frequent health concern worldwide. To investigate the effects of Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) sprout extract (BOE), the present study was designed with alcoholic fatty liver in the rat. Initially, the effects of BOE on liver parameters were examined. Male rats were divided into five groups. The normal control group was fed the normal diet, and the BOE group was fed the high fat diet and ethanol with/without BOE for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks feeding period, rats were sacrificed and their livers and blood were used for fatty liver-related biomarkers analyses. As a result, BOE ameliorated fatty liver-related enzymes profiles in liver tissues and also reduced blood alcohol concentration in rat model. We demonstrated that BOE protected the high fat diet and alcohol-induced fatty liver in rat model. Furthermore, BOE increased detoxificative abilities against alcohol.

This study was conducted to investigate egg development and larvae morphological development of catfish and to provide basic data to clarify the genetic relationship with Siluriformes fish. The mother fish that was used in this study was caught in the stream of Nakdong River in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk. The temperature range of the breeding was 23.0- 25.0℃ (mean 24.0±1.0℃) and egg size was 1.62-1.70 mm (mean 1.66±0.05, n=30). Eggs of catfish began hatching at 54 hours and 40 minutes after fertilization. Immediately after hatching, the total length of larvae was 3.60-3.65 mm (mean 3.62±0.03, n=5) and had an egg yolk without swimming ability. On the third day after hatching, the larvae at the medium stage was 8.00-8.65 mm (mean 8.32±0.45) in total length, and two pairs of whiskers formed around the mouth were elongated. On the 12th day after hatching, the larvae at the juvenile stage was 16.5-17.0 mm (mean 16.7±0.35) in total length, and the stem of each fin was in the range, and the juvenile at this period was morphologically similar to the mother fish.

Research has found that the management of the host plant is essential to mistletoe cultivation. A Trunk injection test on the host plant that contained a mixture of indole-3-butryc acid (IBA) and liquid fertilizer was conducted with respect to the improvement of the one year survival rate of mistletoe. As a result, the trunk injection experiments showed the effect of the IBA and liquid fertilizer mixture in all treatments. This mixture was effective to increase the survival rate of mistletoe by 20% with the IBA at 100 ㎎/L and Hyponex at 100 ㎎/L. The examination proved that the host plant fertilizer effect was the most effective treatment for organic fertilizer with 60% added NPK (4-2-1). Its effects were higher compared to the control at the length and diameter of one-years-old branches in the host plant, even when the parasitic mistletoe improved its growth in length, diameter, and number of branches. Comparing the control and host plant fertilizer, the latter was the most effective way to process 20 ㎏ per a treatment effect in the experimental site and to process at any time after the inoculation. This treatment is effective to improve the growth of mistletoe by watering the host plant three times per week. Therefore, the management of the host plant is an essential element in the successful cultivation of mistletoe, not only to supply fertilizer and plant hormones to the host plant in the initial inoculation time but also to provide organic fertilizer and irrigation for the host plant.

Sexual dimorphism is the most conspicuous difference between the sexes. This study examines possible sexual dimorphism and the relative growth patterns of morphometric characteristics in the marine medaka, Oryzias dancena for their potential to help differentiate between males and females of this species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated by a non-linear regression method were L∞=30.2 mm, K=3.22/year, and τ0=-0.05. All 18 characteristics measured showed a difference between males and females from 70 days after hatching. Each of these characteristics were significantly different between sexes (ANCOVA, P<0.05), and the ratio of standard length between sexes showed that males were larger than females for all five morphometric measurements. Fin length measurements were taken for 21 distances of anal fin and 7 distances of dorsal fin between landmarks. There were all differences for all dorsal fin rays between the males and the females and there is significant difference in 70 days after their hatch when the sexual dimorphism is presented. The significant difference (P<0.05) in fin ray for male and female was more greatly seen as they grow. Male marine medaka showed more rapid growth than females, with longer length, dorsal fins and anal fins. Differences in these characteristics will be useful during experiments when it is necessary to differentiate between sexes of marine medaka.

용수보급률 증가에 따른 용수 공급량의 증가로 인해 하폐수처리시설이 증가되어 슬러지의 발생량 또한 증가하고 있다. 반면, 슬러지 해양투기가 금지됨에 따라 슬러지의 육상처리 및 재활용 처리방법이 갈구되고 있다. 현재 슬러지는 주로 소각, 매립, 시멘트 원료로의 사용, 복토제로의 활용 등의 방법으로 처리되고 있고, 슬러지를 연료로써 활용하는 방법도 많은 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 슬러지를 건조시켰을 때 발열량은 3,000~4,500kcal/kg 정도로, 국내 무연탄과 비슷한 수준이기 때문에, 슬러지를 에너지화하는 것이 가능하다. 하지만 슬러지는 다량의 중금속 및 유해성분을 함유하고 있기 때문에 연소 또는 소각 시 가스상 오염물질 배출의 문제가 있다. 슬러지 연소 또는 소각 시 발생되는 오염물질은 슬러지에 포함된 중금속 성분은 배출원 종류 및 처리방법에 따라 차이가 있기 때문에, 충분한 연구를 통해 소각이나 연소 시 해당 슬러지에 대한 오염물질 배출 특성을 분석하여야 한다. 본 연구에서는 슬러지 연소 시 중금속 배출특성을 조사하기 위해 lab-scale drop tube furnace를 이용해 건조슬러지를 연소하였다. 수은은 입자상 수은과 배출가스 중 산화수은, 원소수은으로 구별해 조사하였으며, 수은을 제외한 중금속은 바닥재의 농도를 조사하였다.

We observed the osteological development of larval and juvenile red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) in order to generate data for the assessment of skeletal deformities and to inform phylogenetic systematics research. Larvae and juveniles were obtained from a aquafarm in Muan-gun, Jeolla-namdo Province, Korea. The average water temperature at the time of breeding was 23.0°C and average water salinity was 33.0 psu. Freshly hatched fish larvae had not undergone any ossification, but ossification of the parasphenoid bone, which forms the base of the cranium, occurred as the juveniles reached an average body length (BL) of 2.49 mm. At the same time, ossification of the preopercle and opercle occurred in the operculum, and ossification of the maxilla, which forms the upper jaw, and the dentary bones, which form the lower jaw, began. In addition, ossification of the vertebra occurred by formation of 7 vertebral centra and the neural spine in the abdominal vertebra. When the juveniles reached an average (BL) of 5.22 mm, ossification of the nasal, lateral ethmoid, and alisphenoid bones occurred in the cranium; ossification of the endopterygoid and metapterygoid bones began in the palatine region; and ossification of the hypohyal and interhyal bones occurred in the hyoid arch. At an average (BL) of 20.9 mm, ossification of the basisphenoid bone in the cranium and the suborbital bone in the orbital region occurred. Ossification of the vertebra then occurred by the formation of long pairs of ribs from the third to the ninth abdominal vertebrae, completing osteological development.

This study was conducted in order to examine the egg development in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara and the morphological development of its larvae and juveniles, and to obtain data for taxonomic research. This study was conducted in June 2013, and 50 male and female fish were used for the study. One hundred μg/kg of LHRHa was injected into the body of the fish for inducing spawning, and the fish were kept in a small-sized fish holder (2×2×2 m). Eggs were colorless transparent free pelagic eggs, 0.71–0.77 mm large (mean 0.74±0.02 mm, n=30), and had an oil globule. Hatching started within 27 h after fertilization. Pre-larvae that emerged just after hatching were 2.02–2.17 mm in total length (mean 2.10±0.11 mm), their mouth and anus were not opened yet, and the whole body was covered with a membrane fin. Post-larvae that emerged 15 days post hatching were 3.88–4.07 mm in total length (mean 3.98±0.13 mm), and had a ventral fin with two rays and a caudal fin with eight rays. Juveniles that were formed at 55 d post hatching, were 31.9–35.2 mm in total length (mean 33.6±2.33 mm), with red color deposited over the entire body, and black chromophores deposited in a spotted pattern. The number of fin rays, body color, and shape were the same as that in the adult fish.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have long been clinically used in Korea to promote bone formation and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, the safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seed. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus 17β-estradiol (E2 10 ㎍/㎏, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats markedly increased trabecular formation in femur compared to OVX rats. Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats also decreased TRAP activity compared to OVX rats. These results suggest that SB diets have bone sparing effects by the decrease of osteoclast activity. We also observed that OVX rats fed with SB diet (0.3% or 3%) exhibited the decrease of calcium and phosphorus in serum compared to OVX-induced rats. Therefore, SB may be beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

Current consumers have interest in nutrition and health. So, the interest in barley for other food and industrial applications is increasing. Noodles, which have been consumed largely in korea, are usually made from wheat flour, salt and appropriate amount of water. A New Six-rowed Naked Barley Cultivar “Dahan” was developed in 2012, have high winter hardness, lodging tolerance and good noodle property. It was crossed in 2001, and an elit line was selected in 2010 and designated as ‘Iksan 106’. It showed good agronomic performance in the regional yield trials (RYT) from 2010 to 2012. The average heading and maturing dates of “Dahan” were April 29 and June 3 in paddy field, which were two day earlier than those of the check cultivar ‘Saessalbori’ respectively. The new cultivar, “Dahan”, had 92cm of culm length and 3.9cm of spike length. It showed 625 spikes per m2, 54 grains per spike, 31.3 g of 1,000-grain weight, and 815 g of test weight. “Dahan” showed better resistance to BaYMV (Barley yellow mosaic virus) than those of the check cultivar. Its average yield of the pearled grain in the regional yield trial was 4.32 MT/ha in paddy field, which were 16% higher than those of the check cultivar. It showed higher breakdown and setback than those of the check cultivar. Texture properties of noodle was better in hardness, adhesiveness, chewiness. This cultivar would be suitable for the industrial application as noodle and bread.

Anthocyanins are the primary pigments in black, blue, and purple cereal grains. Recently, anthocyanins have been recognized as health-enhancing substances due to their antioxidant activity. Anthocyanin-pigmented barley grains can be a stable source of anthocyanins as well as β-glucan. Cloered barley as purple, blue and black barley consumptions are rapidlly growing presently due to their healthy functional food ingredients in Korea. Color barley cultivars accumulate purple pigments in the stem, awn, lemma, palea, and pericarp during seed maturation. The large consumption of barley in human foods is almost pearled products. Here we investigated composition of pearled barley and pearling by-products of korean colored barley varieties by degree of pearling. Barley grains from four hull-less colored barley varieties, Zasoojeongchal, Boseokchal Ganghochung and Huknarae were pearled to various degrees(5-50%). The composition (β -glucan, total phenol, proanthocyanidin and total anthocyanin) of pearled barley fractions flour and pearled barley grain was determined. β-glucan content was not changed seriously in pearled barley grain according to increasing pearling degree. Total phenol and proanthocyanidin content was decreased. β-glucan content was increased in pearling by-products according to increasing pearling degree and total phenol and proanthocyanidin content was decreased. Total anthocyanin content also was decreased in pearled barley fractions flour by the degree of pearling.

Prevalence of the coronary artery anomaly is approximately 1% of the population who undergo coronary angiography. The anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) as a branch of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a very rare variation of single coronary artery. The anatomic variation has no clinical significance. However, some patterns of congenital coronary artery anomalies can cause clinical manifestations of myocardial ischemia, reducing myocardial perfusion. We report on a case of a 78-year-old man who had anomalous RCA arising from the proximal part of the LAD, which probably caused chest pain.

Cereal seeds, sorghum, foxtail millet, hog millet, adlay, and corn are traditionally used as health assistant as well as energy supplying food in Korea. While beneficial phytochemicals to human have revealed in cereals, the information on peptides from cereals is far less accumulated than major reserve protein. Here, we analyzed peptide profiles using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) in cereal seeds for construction of peptide information and attempted to develop peptide biomarkers for cereal identification. To optimize the analysis condition of SELDI-TOF MS, the effect of dilution factor on binding affinity to protein chips was tested using CM10 and Q10 arrays. Peptide clusters were significantly different at the level of 0.01 p-value. Peak spectra were the most stable in 1:50 of dilution factor in both chip arrays. Numbers of detected peak of 5 cereal seeds were 131 in CM10 and 74 in Q10 array. Each cereal was grouped as a cluster and well discriminated into different cluster in the level of 0.01 p-value. Numbers of potentially identified peptide biomarkers are 11, 13, 9, 5 and 12 in sorghum, foxtail millet, hog millet, adlay and corn, respectively. This study demonstrates that each cereal seed have own distinguishable specific peptides although their function are not identified yet in this study. In addition, the proteomic profiling using SELDI-TOF MS techniques could be a useful and powerful tool to discover peptide biomarker for discrimination and assess crop species, especially under 20 kDa.