Halitosis is caused by consumption of certain foods or drinks and production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) by periodontopathogens. VSCs-related halitosis is not easily removed using mechanical or chemical therapies such as dental floss, plaque control and mouth rinse. Lactobacillus are known to be probiotics and stimulate immune systems of human. Furthermore, L. casei ATCC 334 and L. rhamnosus GG have an effect on protection of dental caries in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of Lactobacillus on halitosis by Fusobacterium nucleatum- and Porphyromonas gingivalis- producing VSCs and to analyze inhibitory mechanism. The periodontopathogens were cultivated in the presence or the absence Lactobacillus, and the level of VSCs was measured by gas chromatograph. For analysis of inhibitory mechanisms, the susceptibility assay of the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis was investigated. Also, the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus and periodontopathogens were mixed, and the emission of VSCs from the spent culture medium was measured by gas chromatograph. L. casei and L. rhamnosus significantly reduced production of VSCs. L. casei and L. rhamnosus exhibited strong antibacterial activity against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. The spent culture medium of L. casei inhibited to emit gaseous hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide from the spent culture medium of periodontopathogens. However, the spent medium of L. rhamnosus repressed only dimethyl sulfide. L. casei ATCC 334 may improve halitosis by growth inhibition of periodontopathogens and reduction of VSCs emission.

Functional regulation of a specific tissue or organ is controlled by a number of ways, including local cell‐gcell interaction. Of several forms of cell‐gcell junctional complexes, gap junctions are caught a great attention due to a formation of direct linkage between neighboring cells. Gap junctions are consisted of connexin (Cx) isoforms. In the present study, we evaluated expressional profiling of Cx isoforms in the rat initial segment (IS) of the male reproductive tract at different postnatal ages. The presence and expression of 13 Cx isoform mRNAs were determined by semi‐gquantitative real‐gtime PCR analyses. A total of 8 Cx isoform mRNAs were detected in the IS of the male rats during postnatal development. The highest level of Cx30.3 mRNA was found at 5 months of age, while abundance of Cx31 mRNA was the highest at 1 year of age. Expression of Cx31.1 gene was relatively consistent during the postnatal development. Fluctuation of Cx32 and 37 gene expression was observed during the postnatal period. Significant elevation of Cx40 mRNA abundance was detected at 25 days of age and older ages. Expression patterns of Cx43 and 45 genes were similar with the highest level at 2 weeks of age, followed by gradual decreases at older ages. These results indicate differential regulation on expression of Cx isoforms in the rat IS during postnatal development. A complicated regulation of gene expression of Cx isoforms in the IS at different postnatal ages is suggested.

A cell frequently utilizes glucose as a fuel of energy and a major substrate of lipid and protein syntheses. A regulation of glucose movement into and out of the cells is precisely controlled by cooperative works of passive and sodium‐dependent active processes. At least 13 glucose cotransporter (Slc2a, GLUT) isoforms involve in passive movement of glucose in cells. The efferent ductules (EDs) play in a number of important functions for maintenance of male fertility. In the present study, using real‐time PCR analysis, we determined gene expression of five Slc2a isoforms in the EDs. In addition, we compared expression levels of these Slc2a isoforms according to postnatal development ages, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. Results from the current study showed that expression of Slc2a1, Slc2a3, and Slc2a5 mRNAs reached the highest levels at 1 month of age, followed by a transient decrease at 3 months of age. In addition, the level of Slc2a4 mRNA reminded at steady until 1 month of age and was significantly reduced at 3 months of age, whereas the highest level of Slc2a 8 mRNA was detected at 2 weeks of age. Data from the present study indicate a differential expression of various Slc2a isoforms in the ED according to postnatal ages. Thus, it is believed that glucose movement through the epithelial cells in the ED would be regulated by the coordinated manner among Slc2a isoforms expressed at a given age.

The epididymis in the male reproductive tract is the site where spermatozoa produced from the testis become mature. The epididymis is divided into 4 different segments, initial segment and caput, corpus, and caudal epididymis, depending upon functional and morphological features. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel molecules, which are present in the epididymis and play a major role in removal of epididymal water, resulting in creation of microenvironment for sperm maturation and concentration of sperms. Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, which is used to treat clinical diseases and improve physical ability and appearance. Even though it is well determined that the ND causes the male infertility by affecting the testis, little is known the effect of the ND on the epididymis. The present study was focused to examine the effect of ND at different treatment doses and periods on expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes in the epididymis of pubertal rats. Results showed that mRNA expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes among the parts of the epididymis was differentially regulated by ND treatment doses. In addition, treatment periods of ND caused differential expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 mRNAs among segments of the epididymis. Therefore, it is believed that male infertility induced by ND could be resulted not only from malfunction of the testis but also from aberrant gene expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 in the epididymis.

Measurements on mass size distribution of roadside aerosols were obtained in downtown Jeju City from July 2018 to May 2020 using an 8-stage cascade impactor sampler and the compositions of aerosols were analyzed. The mass size distribution of total aerosols was bimodal with aerosols existing in both the fine and coarse modes. The mass size distributions of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl-, NH4 + and SO4 2- were unimodal, whereas that of K+ was bimodal. For NO3 -, the size distribution in winter and spring was bimodal with the peaks in both fine and coarse modes, whereas for summer and autumn the distribution was unimodal with a peak in the coarse mode. NH4 + was found to co-exist with SO4 2- in the fine mode with an average molar ratio of [NH4 +]/[SO4 2-] equal to 2.05. Good correlation was observed between NO3 - and NH4 + in the fine mode particles in spring and winter. Based on the value of the marine enrichment factor for Cl-, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+ and SO4 2-, it may be inferred that a major part of the roadside aerosols in downtown Jeju City was largely contributed by terrigenous sources, although the influence of sea salt was normally present.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has implemented a self-governing environmental impact assessment system (Jeju-EIAS) in recognition of its autonomy. In this study, the institutional features of Jeju-EIAS were examined by analyzing the development projects whose consultation under Jeju-EIAS were completed from 1994 to 2019. The consultation procedure of Jeju-EIAS, such as the actual operation of Review Committee for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the consent of the provincial council, and the regular follow-up activities for the implementation of EIA consultations, has been implemented differently from those of other metropolitan cities and provinces. Under Jeju-EIAS, types of development projects subject to consultation on EIA also take into account local conditions, and include the construction of aquarium basin and building. In addition, provisions concerning the scale of development projects is strengthened above the Korean Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIA Act).

This study investigated the nitrate formation process, and mass closure of Particulate Matter (PM) were calculated over the urbanized area of Jeju Island. The data for eight water-soluble inorganic ions and nineteen elements in PM2.5 and PM10 were used. The results show that the nitrate concentration increased as excess ammonium increased in ammonium-rich samples. Furthermore, nitrate formation was not as important in ammonium-poor samples as it was in previous studies. According to the sum of the measured species, approximately 45~53% of gravimetric mass of PM remained unidentified. To calculate the mass closure for both PM2.5 and PM10, PM chemical components were categorized into secondary inorganic aerosol, crustal matter, sea salt, trace matter and unidentified matter. The results by the mass reconstruction of PM components show that the portion of unidentified matter was decreased from 52.7% to 44.0% in PM2.5 and from 45.1% to 29.1% in PM10, despite the exclusion of organic matter and elemental carbon.

To determine the size distributions of water-soluble inorganic ionic species (WSIS) in roadside aerosols, sampling experiments were carried out in the urban roadside area of Jeju City on August 2018 and January 2019 by using the eight-stage cascade impactor sampler. The mass of roadside aerosols were partitioned at 57% in fine fraction, 36-37% in coarse fraction, and 6-7% in giant fraction, regardless of summer and winter. The mass concentrations of WSIS except for Na+ and SO42- in roadside aerosols were higher in winter than in summer. The size distributions of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cl- were characterized by bimodal types with coarse particle mode peaking around 3.3-4.7㎛ and 5.8-9.0㎛ . The size distributions of NO3 - and K+ shifted from a single fine mode peaking around 0.7-1.1㎛ in winter to bimodal and/or trimodal types with peaks around coarse mode in summer. SO4 2- and NH4 + showed a single fine mode peaking around 0.7-1.1㎛ . The MMAD of roadside aerosols was lower than that of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cl-. Based on the marine enrichment factors and the ratio values of WSIS and the corresponding value for sea water, the composition of roadside aerosols in Jeju City may be practically affected by terrestrial sources rather than marine source.

This study observed particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in the downtown area of Jeju City, South Korea, to understand the chemical composition of particulates based on an analysis of the water-soluble ionic species contained in the particles. The mass fraction of the ionic species in the sampled PM10 and PM2.5 was 44.3% and 42.2%, respectively. In contrast, in Daegu City and Suwon City, the mass fraction of the ionic species in PM2.5 was higher than that in PM10. The chloride depletion percentage of PM10 and PM2.5 in Jeju City was higher than 61% and 66%, respectively. The contribution of sea-salt to the mass of PM10 (5.9%) and PM2.5 (2.6%) in Jeju City was similar to that in several coastal regions of South Korea. The mass ratio of Cl- to Na+ in the downtown area of Jeju City was comparable to that in some coastal regions, such as the Gosan Area of Jeju Island, Deokjeok Island, and Taean City. The mass fraction of sea-salt in PM10 and PM2.5 was very low, and the concentration of sodium and chloride ions in PM10 was not correlated with those in PM2.5 (R2 < 0.2), suggesting that the effects of sea-salt on the formation of particulate matter in Jeju City might be insignificant. The relationship between NH4 + and several anions such as SO4 2-, NO3 -, and Cl-, as well as the relationship between the measurement and calculation of ammonium ion concentration, suggested that sea-salts may not react with H2SO4, and (NH4)2SO4 may be a major secondary inorganic aerosol component of PM2.5 and PM10 in Jeju City.

From November 2013 to December 2016, ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was sampled in the downtown area of Jeju City, South Korea, which has seen rapid urbanization. The atmospheric concentrations of elements were measured in the PM2.5 samples. This study focused on Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, As, Sb, Sn, V, and Zn. The concentrations of Al, Na, K, Fe, Ca, Mg, Sr, and La were also obtained for reference. The objectives of this study were to examine the contributions of these elements to PM2.5 concentrations in downtown Jeju City, and to investigate the inter-element relationships and the elemental sources by using enrichment factors and principal components analysis (PCA). A composition analysis showed that the 19 elements constituted 6.65 % of the PM2.5 mass, and Na, K, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, and Zn constituted 98 % of the total ion mass. Seasonal trend analysis for the sampling period indicated that the concentrations of the elements increased from November to April. However, no substantial seasonal variations were found in the concentrations of the elements. The composition ratios of some elements (Cu/Zn, Cu/Cd, Cu/Pb, V/Ni, and V/La) were found to be out of range when compared to the literature from other urban areas. The ratios between the elements and the PCA results showed that local contaminant sources in Jeju City rarely influence the composition of PM2.5. This suggests that the major sources of PM2.5 in Jeju City may include long-range transport of fine particulate matter produced in other areas.

In the multicellular tissue, cell-cell interaction is important for a precise control of its function. The exchange of signaling molecules between adjacent cells via connexon allows the functional harmony of cells in the tissue. The present research was to determine the presence and expressional patterns of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the rat epididymal fat during postnatal development using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Of 13 Cx isoforms examined, expression of 11 Cx isoforms in the epididymal fat during postnatal development was detected. These Cx isoforms include Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx33, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx50. Expressional levels of all Cx isoforms at 1 and 2 years of age were significantly higher than those at the early postnatal ages, such as 7 days, 14 days, and 24 days of ages. Except Cx33 and Cx43, the transcript levels of rest Cx isoforms at 1 year of age were significantly lower than that at 2 years of age. In addition, expressional patterns of Cx isoforms between 7 days and 5 months of ages generally varied according to the isoform. The existence of various Cx isoforms in the rat epididymal fat has been identified and expression of each Cx isoform in the epididymal fat during postnatal development has shown a particular pattern, distinguishable from the others. To our knowledges, this is the first report showing expressional patterns of Cx isoforms at transcript level in the epididymal fat at various postnatal ages.

Connexin (Cx) involves in the regulation of various physiological functions of tissue by forming a channel, a gap junction which allows direct cell-cell communication, between adjacent cells. The effect of a single subcutaneous treatment of estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the weaning age on the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis was evaluated in this research. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, a low-dose of EB [0.015 μg/kg body weight (BW)] caused significant decreases of Cx30.3, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 mRNA levels and no change of Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx37 transcript levels. The treatment of a high-dose EB (1.5 μg/kg BW) resulted in reduced expression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx43, and Cx45 but increased expression of Cx37 and Cx40. Expression of all Cx isoforms examined, except Cx31, was significantly increased by the treatment of a low-dose Flu (500 μg/kg BW). However, the treatment of a high-dose Flu (5 mg/kg BW) led significant expressional suppression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 but an increase of Cx37 transcript level. With the comparison of previous findings, the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult epididymis after the exposure to EB or Flu is likely differentially regulated in regional-specific and/or exposed postnatal age-specific manner.

Direct communication between neighboring cells through connexin (Cx)-based gap junction is a crucial biolo– gical manner to regulate functions of a tissue consisting of multi-cell types. The present research evaluated expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis of adult rat exposed to estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the early postnatal age. A single subcutaneous administration of EB at a low-dose [0.015 g /kg body weight (BW)] or a high-dose (1.5 g/kg BW) or Flu at a low-dose (500 g/kg BW) or a high-dose (5 mg/kg BW) was performed to an animal at 1 week of age. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was employed to determine expressional changes of Cx isoforms. The transcript levels of Cxs30.3 and 37 were decreased by a low-dose EB treatment, while decreases of Cxs31, 31.1, 32, 40, and 45 transcript levels were observed with a low-dose EB treatment. The treatment of a high-dose EB resulted in expressional reduction of Cxs30.3, 31, 31.1, 37, 40, 43, and 45. The Flu treatment at a low dose caused increases of Cxs26, 37, and 40 transcript levels but decreases of Cxs31.1, 43, and 45 transcript levels. Increases of Cxs30.3, 31, 37, and 40 mRNA amounts were induced by a high-dose Flu treatment. However, exposure to a high-dose Flu produced expressional decreases of Cxs31.1, 32, and 43 in the adult caput epididymis. These observations suggest that exposure to EB or Flu at the neonatal period could lead to aberrant expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis.

This study was carried out to elucidate the chemical compositions of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM10 and PM2.5 aerosols collected during summer and winter in downtown Jejusi city. The ratios of NO3 - to the total mass of ionic species in PM10 and PM2.5 aerosols largely increase in winter compared to summer, while SO4 2- ratios in both aerosols appear to follow the opposite trend. Moreover, concentrations of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cl- in PM10 and PM2.5-10 aerosols are higher in winter than in summer. The nitrate concentrations in PM10 and PM2.5 aerosols increase with an identical increase in excess ammonium during winter, however, nitrate formation during summer is not important owing to ammonium-poor conditions.

Chemical properties of aerosols were investigated by analyzing the inorganic water-soluble content in PM2.5 collected in the downtown area of Jeju City in Jeju Island. Due to an increase in both the number of visiting tourists and the size of local population, the number of cars in this area is increasing, causing an increase in PM2.5. Eight PM2.5-bound major inorganic ions were analyzed during the summer and winter periods. The water-soluble inorganic component represents a significant fraction of PM2.5. In particular, secondary inorganic aerosols contribute 36.2% and 47.5% of PM2.5 mass in summer and winter, respectively. Nitrate concentrations increase for [NH4 +]/[SO4 2-]>1.5, and excess ammonium, which is necessary for ammonium nitrate formation, is linearly correlated with nitrate. These results are clearly observed during the winter because conditions are more conducive to the formation of ammonium nitrate. A significant negative correlation between Nitrogen Oxidation Ratio (NOR) and temperature was observed. The obtained results can be useful for a better understanding of the aerosol dynamics in the downtown area in Jeju City.

The present research was chiefly designed to determine the effect of the treatment of estrogenic agonist, estradiol benzoate (EB), or antiandrogenic compound, flutamide (Flu), at the weaning age on the expression of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the caudal epididymis of adult male rat. Animals were subcutaneously administrated with a single shot of either EB at a low-dose (0.015 mg of EB/kg body weight (BW)) or a high-dose (1.5 mg of EB/kg BW) or Flu at a low-dose (500 mg of EB/kg BW) or a high-dose (5 mg of EB/kg BW). Expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the adult caudal epididymis were examined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The treatment of a low-dose EB caused significant increases of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx32, and Cx43 transcript levels but reduction of Cx31.1, Cx37, and Cx45 expression. Exposure to a high-dose EB resulted in very close responses observed in a low-dose EB treatment, except no significant expressional change of Cx37 and a significant induction of Cx40. Expression of all Cx isoforms, except Cx45, was significantly increased by a low-dose Flu treatment. Expressional increases of all Cx isoforms were detected by a high-dose Flu treatment. The current study demonstrates that a single exposure to estrogenic or antiandrogenic compound during the early postnatal developmental period is sufficient to disrupt normal expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caudal epididymis.

Direct communication between neighboring cells via gap junction in tissue is important for maintenance and regulation of its physiological functions. Each epididymal region has different composition of cell types. It is well recognized that the epididymis is a steroid hormone-responsive tissue. The present study was designed to determine the effect of estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide exposured at the early postnatal age on the expression of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the caudal epididymis. The EB or flutamide was subcutaneously administrated to male Spragure Dawley rat at 7 days of age, and expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the adult corpus epididymis were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The treatment of low-dose EB resulted in decreases of Cx30.3, Cx31.1, Cx37, and Cx45 expression but caused an increase of Cx32 expression. Exposure to high-dose EB led into expressional increases of Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, and Cx43, even though a decrease of Cx37 expression was found with a high-dose EB treatment. A low-dose flutamide induced increases of Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, and Cx43 expression but a decrease of Cx37 expression. Expression of most Cx genes were significantly increased by a high-dose flutamide, while no expressional change of Cx26 and Cx40 was detected by a high-dose flutamide. These results indicate that expression of Cx isoforms in the caudal epididymis is altered by exposure to steroidal compounds at the prepubertal age. It is suggested that a contact with environmental exogenous materials during the early postnatal period would lead to alteration of epididymal functions at the adult.