We examined the effect of Bulnesia sarmienti (BS) water extract on hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet. ICR mice were fed a high-fat diet ad libitum for four weeks. Simultaneously, BS water extract was administered intragastrically at 0 mg/kg (control), 30 mg/kg, or 300 mg/kg once daily for four weeks. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups; normal control group (NC), high-fat diet+vehicle treatment group (HF), high-fat diet+BS of 30 mg/kg treatment group (HF+BS30), and high-fat diet+BS of 300 mg/kg treatment group (HF+BS300). The levels of serum biochemical parameters and histological appearances were evaluated. After four weeks, body weight gain and serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly higher in the HF group than in the normal control group. Together, serum High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in the HF group was lower than that in the normal control group. However, treatment with BS resulted in significantly reduced body weight gain and levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-choleterol. In addition, serum HDL-cholesterol level in the BS treatment group was significantly elevated, compared to that of the HF group. Histopathological evaluation of the liver showed fat accumulation and swelling of hepatocytes in the high-fat diet group; these abnormalities were ameliorated by treatment with BS. These results suggest that treatment with BS water extract resulted in dose-dependent prevention and mitigation of high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insects. Recently, apolipophorin-III in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of the apoLp-III in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-III in fall webworm larvae, we reduced endogenous Hc apoLp-III mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-III reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-III, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in Hyphantria cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-III RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-III is related to the action/expression of antioxidants, especially MnSOD.

A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (HcSTAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and transcribed in hemocyte, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malpighian tubule. Especially, hemocyte and Malpighian tubule showed transcriptional activation of HcSTAT upon Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge. Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of HcSTAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vivo treatment with sodium orthovanadatetranslocates HcSTAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells.

In an effort to gain a better understanding of the nature of the population genetic structure of the pest insect, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), tobacco cutworms were collected from six Korean and five Chinese localities and their mitochondrial A+T-rich region and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were cloned and sequenced. A total of 106 A+T-rich region haplotypes and 92 ITS2 sequence types were obtained from 158 individuals. Compared to the preliminary mitochondrial COI gene sequence data that provided all identical sequence types in all samples, the A+T-rich region and nuclear ITS2 are highly variable. Overall, a low level of genetic fixation in the A+T-rich region (FST = 0 ~ 0.02965) and nuclear ITS2 (FST = 0 ~ 0.34491), and no discernable isolated population was noted to exist among most S. litura populations. The presence of a majority of within-population variations, rather than variations among populations or between China and Korea, indicates that the S. litura populations are composed of heterogeneous individuals. The fixation index at hierarchical level of among regions shows no significance, suggesting that the S. litura populations in both Korea and China are profoundly interrelated with one another. This finding is in accord with the current knowledge that S. litura has sufficient flight capacity for dispersal.

Apolipophorin-Ⅲ (apoLp-Ⅲ) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insect. Recently, apolipophorin-Ⅲ in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of apoLp-Ⅲ in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-Ⅲ in fall webworm larvae, we reduction of endogenous Hc apoLp-Ⅲ mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-Ⅲ reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in H. cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-Ⅲ is related to the action/expression of antioxidants.

Innate immunity responses are triggered by the immune challenge and therefore involve signaling processes. The cellular response is initiated by hemocytes and mainly involves phagocytosis and encapsulation of intruders by these cells. To address whether Hc-STAT is activated upon bacterial challenge, we examined the subcellular location of STAT protein in hemocyte by immunostaining. A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (Hc-STAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and the protein is present in hemocytes, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malphigian tuble (Mt). Especially, hemocytes and Mt showed transcriptional activation of Hc-STAT upon Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge. Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of Hc-STAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vitro treatment with pervanadate translocates Hc-STAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells. Here we report the first evidence for the involvement hemocyte JAK/STAT pathway upon microbial infection in lepidopteran insect.

This study was carried out to investigate effect of herbal extracts mixtures on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6 mice. There were 4 experimental groups including distilled water (DW, negative control), 25% ethanol(EtOH, vehicle control) and two herbal extract mixtures (HE-1 and HE-2). HE-1 included Polygonum and Brassica campestris extracts and HE-2 included Mulberry root and Gardenia extracts. The 6 weeks-old C57BL/6 male mice were shaved with an electric clipper and the test compounds were topically treated with 0.2 ml per mouse daily for 3 weeks. The hair re-growth was photographically determined at days 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. The number of mast cells which is an important modulator of hair growth was counted in 1 cm of dorsal skin section of mice. There were no clinical signs in all experimental groups. As the results of photometric analysis, the topical application of the herbal extracts (HE-1 & 2) for 2 weeks to dorsal skin accelerated hair re-growth remarkably faster than that of DW group (p＜0.05). Activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was significantly increased in EtOH group compared to DW group (p＜0.05). Both herbal extract mixtures also increased the ALP activity, but it was not significantly different from DW. Treatment of mice with HE-2 significantly increased mast cell population compared to EtOH. Taken together, these results suggest that herbal extract mixtures used in this study may have hair-growth promoting activities and can be useful for treatment for male pattern baldness or alopecia in humans.

The techniques of IVM, IVF and IVC of canine oocytes may provide useful information for gamete salvage programs and the conservation of endangered canidae. This investigation has been made to determine the efficiency of in vitro maturation (IVM) as a basic experiment to study the development of canine oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). The rate of oocytes developing to the MII stage was higher in the hormone treated group (10 IU/ml hCG+eCG, 14.7%, p<0.05) than in the control group (0 IU/ml hCG+eCG, 10.0%). The monospermy and pronuclear rates of canine oocytes were investigated after caffeine treatment on IVF. Canine oocytes were fertilized in the Fert‐TALP medium supplemented with 0, 10, 20 or 30 mM caffeine (Fert I, Fert II, Fert III or Fert IV, respectively). The highest pronuclear formation rate was obtained in the Fert I for 24 h IVF (6.7%, 6/89). Therefore, it is believed that unlike in other mammals, caffeine in canine IVF does not increase the efficiency of fertilization rate, and is not an important factor.

Recently, increasing interests in local foods have been highlighted along with active efforts and activities from autonomy organizations to develop local cultures and promote local economies by generating value added products and profits through the development of local foods. Subsequently, useful effects might result by making local foods attractive to tourists, such as by using indigenous Gimpo products to makc menu items that incorporate the social, economic, and cultural aspects of the Gimpo area, and contributing to its food culture, the development and use of its indigenous products, and promoting local restaurant businesses, etc. The items of the Survey used to select the local food menu items to be developed were limited to ideas offered by expert groups, and were implemented by a new menu developmεnt process. In order to derive the menu items to develop, the following method was applied: a brainstorming session with experts to generate and draft ideas, a questionnaire to chefs and cooks in special grade hotels is Seoul to select thε menu items to develop from those drafted, and sensory evaluations by experts to evaluate the developed items. Frequency analysis and technical statistical analysis were performed using the SPSS 12.0 program package, where 13 kinds of local foods were ultimately developed using indigenous products of Gimpo. The developed local food menu items werε rice & grape sujaebi, grape sikhae, fried rice embryo bud, grape yanggaeng, rice pancakes, rice spaghetti, grape seed oil dressing, grape sauce， rice pizza, grape pie， rice & grape ice cream, grape chocolate, and rice roll cakes.

Cellulose nanofibers from microfibril cellulose (MFC) was prepared by hydrobromic acid (HBr) treatment at different concentrations. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films at various loading level of nanofibers were manufactured by a film casting method. The analysis of degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity (Xc) and molecular weight (Mw) of cellulose after acid treatment was conducted. The mechanical and thermal properties of the cellulose nanofibers reinforced PVA films were characterized using tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DP and Mw of MFC by HBr hydrolysis considerably decreased, but Xc showed no significant change. After acid hydrolysis, the diameter of cellulose nanofibers was in the range of 100 to 200 nm. The thermal stability of the films was steadily improved with the increase of nanofiber loading. There was a significant increase in the tensile strength of PVA composite films with the increase in MFC loading. Finally, 5 wt.% nanofiber loading exhibited the highest tensile strength and thermal stability of PVA composite films.

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the jewel beetle, Chrysochroa fulgidissima (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from two overlapping fragments and subsequent sub fragments. The 15,592-bp long C. fulgidissima mitogenome contains gene arrangement and content identical to the most common arrangement found in insects. Most individual C. fulgidissima mitochondrial (mt) genes were well within the range found in the respective genes of other insects. The 875-bp A+T-rich region is shortest among the coleopteran mitogenomes sequenced in their entirety. The region is interesting in that it contains several stem-and-loop structures and tRNA-like structure found in the A+T-rich regions of other insect mitogenomes. As seen in other insect motogenomes the start codon of C. fulgidissima COI gene also is unusual because no typical start codon is available. Three of the 13 protein-coding genes have incomplete termination codon T or TA. All tRNA formed stable stem-and-loop structure, except for tRNASer(AGN), the DHU arm of which formed a simple loop as seen in many other metazoan mt tRNASer(AGN).

The purpose 01' pl'esent study was to examine the molecular events in apoptosis by CoCl2, mimicking hypoxic cond ition and recovering effects by LED ir l'adiation on Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells The SOUl'ce 0 1' light for ir l'adiation was a continuous-wave LED emitting at a wavelenl양h of 590 nm, and manufactured that ene rgy density was 5 mW!cm2 on sample surface, After ir l'adiation, cell viabi lity was measured with BrdU , cell morphol ogy was examined with Diff- Quik staining, cell signaling was monitored with various apoptosis-related molecules using RNase Pl'otection Assay(RPA) , W11en treated with CoC12, apoptotic induction was found in the SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner , Diff-Quik s taining was revealed that DNA fragmentation re presented apoptosis was examined in CoC12-tl'eated group, Moreover, RPA assay of SH-SY5Y cclls lIs ing val'iolls apoptosis-related molecllles showed that the apoptotic cell population was mcreased J-loweve. there was sorne signifïcant change in LED irradiatied cells aftel' treatement of CoC12 The main mechanism for Lhese a poptosis appearecl to be mito c hondriεt - m ecliated pathway, such as cytochrome- c‘ caspase-9, caspase-3, pro-apototic protein ßax, anti-apototic protein Bcl-2, and death receptor• mediated pathway, such as Fas, cas pase- 8, a ncl TNFRl These results demonstrate that CoCI2 induce apoptosis in SH-SY5Y via different dual apop tosis pathway through death receptor pathway as well as mitochondria- dependent pathway and LED irradiation can recl llces the CoCl2-induced apoptosis by blocking their internal signaling pathway

μ방lt emitting diodes (LED) devices are commercially introduced as an alternative for low-Ievellaser therapy (11ι，T) ， and it has several advantages over lasers such as a safe, efficient, and less-expensive altemative to treat wounds. And LED irradiation at the same biostimulatory wavelength has similar bíochemical effεαs. In the present study, to asses whether the I핑ht-emitting diode (LED) irradíation can stimulate bone regeneration, irradiated bony defects with or without grafting materials on rat calvaria were compared to corresponding nonirradiated control. Fifty male Sprague-Dawly rats weighing about 150g, were used. Factors for present study were designed as follows, 1) presence or absence of grafting materials, 2) with or without irradiation, and 3) number of irradiation. Two weeks after operation, rats were sacrifìced. Radiologic and 비stomorphologic fmdings were evaluated. Macrospically, there were no incidents of infection, dehiscence, hematoma and necrosis during study. Radiological findings showed greater radiopacity in the graft group and radiopacity increased as the number of irradiation increase. And microscopically, new bαle formation was great in the graft group and increased as the number of irradiation increase, Present study has shown that LED irradiation improved bone regeneration through radiologic and histomorphologic fmdings in rat.

Highly ordered pure-silica MCM-41 materials possessing well-defined morphology have been successfully prepared with surfactant used as a template. The fabrication of mesoporous silica has received considerable attention due to the need to develop more efficient materials' for catalysis, separations, and chemical sensing. The surface modified MCM-41 was used as anadsorbent for biomolecules. Silica-supported organic groups and DNA adsorption on surface modified MCM-41 were investigated by FT-IR and UV-Vis spectrometer, respectively. The use of MCM-41 as the modification of electrode surfaces were investigated electrochemical properties of metal mediators with biomolecules. The modified ITO electrodes increased peak currents for a redox process of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ relative to the bare electrode. The electrochemical detection of DNA by cyclic voltammetry when the current is saturated in the presence of the mediator appeared more sensitive due to a higher catalytic current on the MCM-41 supported electrodes modified by carboxylic acid functional groups. The carboxyl or amine groups on the surface of MCM-41 interact and react with the -NH2 groups of guanine and backbone, respectively. Highly ordered mesoporous materials with organic groups could find applications as DNA sensors.

The fragile X mental retardation (FMR) syndrome is the largest source of inherited mental retardation. The syndrome is usually caused by the transcriptional silencing of fragile X mental retardation gene (FMR-1). An 18 years old male wascompla띠ing of multiple toαh missing and abnormal facial profùe, of which signs were matemally dominant in his family. In the C)π。gene디c analysis the pa디ent and his parents did not show any discontinuity in the long arm end of X chromosome, but in the PCR produαs targeω19 the CGG repeat sequence in the 5' untranslated region of FMR gene both the patient'’ s and his mother' s gDNAs produced a normal and an extra bands, sized about 400 and 800 bps, respectively, while the his father' s gDNA produced only one normal band, sized about 400 bps. 까1US ， we suppose that the pa디.ent has heterozygotic alleles of FMR gene inherited matemally, and that the patient s FMR gene was in a premutated state relevant to the dentofacial abnormalities.

Slow seedling growth rate and nodulation failure of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) has been limited its good establishment to pastures. The experiment was done to determine the effect of removal of cotyledon and unifoliolate on the shoot, root growth,

This study is conducted to investigate the effects of growth characteristics (GC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (DRSA) of the heading lettuce ‘Fidel’ depending on four concentrations of activated mineral groups (AMG: 1.6% active minerals and 0.03% CaO) added to basic nutrient solutions (diluted by 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2%) and on four different light-emitting diodes (LED; B:R:W ratio = 0:1:12, 0:1:9, 0:5:5, and 2:3:5). Both 0.1 and 0.2% AMG showed better GC of lettuce in plant width, plant length, leaf width, leaf length, and the number of leaves than those of other AMG, while leaf thickness and chlorophyll value did not show significant difference among all AMG. Moreover, 0.1 and 0.2% AMG showed heavier shoot fresh weights than those of other AMG. As for the combinations of AMG and LED, B0:R5:W5 showed the best lettuce GC regardless of AMG compared to other AMG and LED combinations. As shown in the above results of LED, although there was a difference in lettuce growth by LED, the differences of lettuce growth by AMG were statistically significant. The DRSA was the highest at 82.8% in B2:R3:W5, followed by B0:R5:W5 at 77.8%. LED showed differences but AMG did not affect DRSA. Therefore, the optimal conditions in plant factory for GC and DRSA of the lettuce were 0.1% AMG and B0:R5:W5.