The chemical composition of 86 species of native plants in Korea, including plants to be afforestation, was analyzed. The chemical composition of the species analyzed was different. The species with the highest extractable content was Viburnum dilatatum (3.91%), and the species with the lowest extractable content was Ligustrum lucidum (0.11%). The lignin content ranged from 12 to 39%, with an average of 25%. The species with the highest lignin content was Chaenomeles lagenaria (39.37%). Hemicellulose content ranged from 18 to 52%, with the highest species being Thuja occidentalis (51.22%) and Eucommia ulmoides (48.84%). Cellulose content ranged from 25 to 58%, and the species with the highest content were Prunus serrulata (57.67%), Diospyros kaki (57.14%), Aesculus turbinata (53.29%), Albizia julibrissin (53.02%), and Zelkova serrata (52.29%). The chemical composition was different for each use taxon of 86 plant species. The lignin content was the highest in the fruit group and the lowest in the group other than recommended species for afforestation. Cellulose content was highest in non-reforestation-recommended tree species and lowest in fruit trees. In classification according to tree height, lignin content was higher in shrubs than in tall trees, and cellulose content was highest in tall trees. Between deciduous and evergreen trees, the lignin content was high in deciduous trees (26.46%), and the cellulose content was also high in deciduous trees (44.01%). As a result of analyzing the correlation between each compound, there was a difference. There tended to be a positive correlation between extractives and lignin content. There was a negative correlation between extractives and holocellulose content, hemicellulose and cellulose. The higher extract content affected the cellulose content much more than hemicellulose. Also, the higher the lignin content, the lower the cellulose content. The species with low lignin content and high cellulose content were Diospyros kaki and Prunus serrulata var. spontanea. This result is expected to be primary data for bioenergy, pulp industry and bioindustry.

Nasopharyngeal stenosis is defined as a morphological transition of narrowing at the nasopharyngeal region. A 2-yearold, castrated male, Korean short hair cat was referred to the animal medical center, Gyeongsang National University. According to clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, and physical examination, nasopharyngeal stenosis was diagnosed. The staphylectomy was performed using a CO2 laser, and there were not any post-operative complications. The patient was discharged in two days. This report describes the case of nasopharyngeal stenosis in cat and represents that laser ablation could be a good option for surgical management of the nasopharyngeal region with a low complication rate.

To improve the quality of jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller var. hoonensis), which is a fruit of health functional, the effect of polyphenol preparation treatment on the fruit characteristics of two cultivars (cv. Bokjo and cv. Sangwang) of jujube was investigated. There was no difference in the height and breast diameter of jujubes tested between the polyphenol treatments and non treatment. Jujube trees treated with polyphenol preparation produced significantly more fruit than untreated in both cultivars. In cvultivar of Bokjo, the polyphenol preparation treatment increased the fruit's fresh weight and dry weight more than two times, respectively, compared to the untreated treatment. Polyphenol preparation tr eatments also changed the leaf characteristics of jujube trees. In the polyphenol-treated trees, leaf thickness tended to be thickest at the top and thinnest at the bottom. Polyphenol preparation treated jujube trees showed no difference in chlorophyll content. Moisture content was slightly higher in the untreatment than in the treatments. Visually, the polyphenol preparation treatment had a dark green color. Jujubes treated with polyphenol preparations showed differences in polyphenol content in fruits. The polyphenol content in both peel and flesh of the treatments were much higher than that of the untreatment. Reducing sugar was contained more in the peel than in the flesh and was higher in the untreatment than in the polyphenol preparation treatments. Treatment with polyphenol preparation showed differences in fruit appearance. As described above, it was found that the treatment of polyphenol preparation changed the leaves, fruit shapes and components of jujube trees. In particular, jujubes treated with polyphenol preparations are expected to contribute significantly to eco-friendly and highly functional jujube cultivation, as they appear to produce many fruits and increase the content of polyphenols and sugars.

This study examined the subacute oral toxicity of Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév leaves hot-water extracts (DMWE) using male and female Spargue-Dawley rats. Rats were orally administered the DMWE at dose levels of 0, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg body weight (BW) for four weeks. For experimental period, clinical signs and the number of deaths were examined, and feed intake and BW of all experimental animals were measured once a week for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from all rats, and all animals were euthanized and autopsies were performed to collect major organs. No dead animals were found during the experimental period. In addition, no differences were found between control and DMWE-treated groups in feed intakes, BW changes, organ weights, clinical signs, hematological parameters, and serum biochemical parameters. The results of this study provided evidence that oral administration of DMWE at the dose of 2,000 mg/kg BW is safe in rats and may not exert severe toxic effects.

In this study, the acute toxicity of Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév leaf hot-water extracts (DMWE) was examined in male and female ICR mice. Mice were orally administered the DMWE at dose levels of 0, 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight (BW) for single-dose toxicity test. There were no significant differences in change of BW between control and all DMWE treated-groups. In hematological and blood biochemical analysis, none of the parameters were affected by the DMWE. Similarly, there were no significant effects on markers for liver and kidney functions in all DMWE treated-groups. Since there were no adverse effects of the DMWE in single oral toxicity tests, even at the highest doses, it was concluded that the lethal dose 50 (LD50) of DMWE is estimated at > 2,000 mg/kg BW.

Diabetic encephalopathy is a major complication with cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). DM-induced glucolipotoxicity is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease–like phenotype, including amyloidogenesis, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal apoptosis. Although the detailed mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy remains unclear, mitochondrial oxidative stress is emerging as a key factor for diabetic complications and neurodegeneration. A deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial oxidative stress under hyperglycemic conditions will provide insights into the development of therapeutic strategies for diabetic encephalopathy. Here, we review the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in diabetic encephalopathy and the regulatory mechanisms by which high glucose induces the generation of mitochondrial reactive species oxygen species in neuronal cells. This review also summarizes the mitochondrial-dependent and -independent pathways (O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation, calcium, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β signaling) that regulate mitochondrial oxidative stress in a DM model.

To optimize initial cooling conditions, forced-air cooling was applied to freshly harvested oak mushrooms at 2 levels (0oC for 30 minutes, at 0oC for 1 hour) followed by room cooling at 3 levels (-3oC for 1 day, 0oC for 1 day, 3oC for 1 day). After initial cooling, the oak mushrooms were packaged with PVC film, then held in a storage room at 1oC for 6 weeks. Quality characteristics and percentage marketability were then investigated. As a control, Mushrooms were placed in storage with no initial cooling. The quality factors impacting marketability of fresh oak mushrooms were color change and appearance of decay. Off-odor did not occur or developed only slightly, so it did not affect oak mushroom quality within 6 weeks of low temperature storage. In all treatment groups, the shelf life in which 100% marketability was maintained was up to 3 weeks. At week 5, percent marketability of the 3 treatment groups 1 hour room cooling treatment at 0°C, 1 hour forced air cooling, and control was 100%. 80% In the group that underwent 30 min forced air cooling retained 80% marketability, and the group exposed to 1 day in room cooling at -3oC retained 86.7% marketability. At week 6 of 1oC storage, the marketability ratio was 80% in the 1 day room cooling at 0oC group, 66.7% in the 1 day room cooling at 3oC group, 46.7% in the 1 hour forced air cooling group, and 33% or less in all other treatment groups. Therefore, the most suitable initial cooling parameter to extend shelf-life of oak mushrooms is 1 day of in room cooling at 0oC immediately after harvest.

Natural environmental resources are considered a prospective source of microorganisms capable of producing biocatalysts with great potential in industrial areas. Arable soil fertilized with peat moss is a habitat for various microorganisms. The present research focused on the isolation and identification of hydrolase-producing bacteria that thrive at a broad temperature range. In this study, a total of 33 strains were isolated from arable soil fertilized with peat moss (Silla Garden in Busan, South Korea). The isolated bacteria were mesophiles and thermophiles with a wide temperature range. Taxonomic identification showed that the isolated strains belonged to 2 phyla, 5 families, 10 genera, and 24 species. Subsequently, the isolated strains were screened for hydrolase (amylase, lipase, and protease) activity. All isolates possessed activity of at least one enzyme and six bacterial isolates produced combined extracellular enzymes. Diversity of soil bacteria species in the present study suggest the potential of soil bacteria in the various industrial applications.