Background: A hip fracture may occur spontaneously prior to the hip impact, due to the muscle pulling force exceeding the strength of the femur. Objects: We conducted falling experiments with humans to measure the activity of the hip muscles, and to examine how this was affected by the fall type. Methods: Eighteen individuals fell and landed sideways on a mat, by mimicking video-captured real-life older adults’ falls. Falling trials were acquired with three fall directions: forward, backward, or sideways, and with three knee positions at the time of hip impact, where the landing side knee was free of constraint, or contacted the mat or the contralateral knee. During falls, the activities of the iliopsoas (Ilio), gluteus medius (Gmed), gluteus maximus (Gmax) and adductor longus (ADDL) muscles were recorded. Outcome variables included the time to onset, activity at the time of hip impact, and timing of the peak activity with respect to the time of hip impact. Results: For Ilio, Gmed, Gmax, and ADDL, respectively, EMG onset averaged 292, 304, 350, and 248 ms after fall initiation. Timing of the peak activity averaged 106, 96, 84, and 180 ms prior to the hip impact, and activity at the time of hip impact averaged 72.3, 45.2, 64.3, and 63.4% of the peak activity. Furthermore, the outcome variables were associated with fall direction and/or knee position in all but the iliopsoas muscle. Conclusion: Our results provide insights on the hip muscle activation during a fall, which may help to understand the potential injury mechanism of the spontaneous hip fracture.

Bee venom, which serves as a weapon to defend the colony from predator attacks, induces an immediate local inflammatory response that causes acute redness and swelling at the site of the sting. This venom-induced inflammation is a rapid anti-predatory defense strategy of the bee against vertebrate predators. Although acute inflammation by venom from venomous arthropods, including bees, is a typical response, how venom acutely elicits inflammatory responses remains unknown. Here, we identify a novel mechanism underlying acute inflammation and provide a rationale for the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in bee venom. In mouse models, paradoxically, SOD3 in bee venom (bvSOD3) acts as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based harm-inducing system to promote acute inflammation. Exogenous bvSOD3 rapidly induced overproduction of H2O2 through endogenously produced superoxide by venom components, such as melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which then upregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes and promoted the acute inflammatory response. Furthermore, a more severe noxious effect by bvSOD3 elevated a type 2 immune response, and bvSOD3 immunization protected against bvSOD3-mediated toxicity. Our findings that bvSOD3 promotes an acute inflammatory response and induces a protective immune response against inflammation may offer a new approach in venom therapy/immunotherapy.

Bee venom contains a variety of peptide constituents, including low-molecular-weight protease inhibitors. While the putativelow-molecular-weight serine protease inhibitor Api m 6 containing a trypsin inhibitor-like cysteine-rich domain was identifiedfrom honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom, no anti-fibrinolytic or anti-microbial roles for this inhibitor have been elucidated.In this study, we identified an Asiatic honeybee (A. cerana) venom serine protease inhibitor (AcVSPI) that was shownto act as a microbial serine protease inhibitor and plasmin inhibitor. AcVSPI was found to consist of a trypsin inhibitor-likedomain that displays ten cysteine residues. Interestingly, the AcVSPI peptide sequence exhibited high similarity to the putativelow-molecular-weight serine protease inhibitor Api m 6, which suggests that AcVSPI is an allergen Api m 6-like peptide.Recombinant AcVSPI was expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells, and it demonstrated inhibitory activity against trypsin,but not chymotrypsin. Additionally, AcVSPI has inhibitory effects against plasmin and microbial serine proteases; however,it does not have any detectable inhibitory effects on thrombin or elastase. Consistent with these inhibitory effects, AcVSPIinhibited the plasmin-mediated degradation of fibrin to fibrin degradation products. AcVSPI also bound to bacterial andfungal surfaces and exhibited anti-microbial activity against fungi as well as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Thesefindings demonstrate the anti-fibrinolytic and anti-microbial roles of AcVSPI as a serine protease inhibitor.

Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) are important protein components of bee royal jelly (RJ) and exhibit various biologicaland pharmacological activities. The antimicrobial activities of royalisins and the jelleines contained within MRJP 1 andMRJP 2 in RJ have been elucidated. However, the antimicrobial effects of other bee RJ MRJPs remain largely unknown.In this study, we demonstrated that the Asiatic honeybee (Apis cerana) MRJP 4 (AcMRJP4) exhibits antimicrobial activitiesagainst bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Recombinant AcMRJP4 was expressed as a 63-kDa protein in baculovirus-infected insectcells. However, some of the recombinant AcMRJP4 proteins were cleaved into two fragments (i.e., 48-kDa (AcMRJP4-48)and 15-kDa (AcMRJP4-15) proteins) by the proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminus of the recombinant AcMRJP4. Interestingly,AcMRJP4, AcMRJP4-48, and AcMRJP4-15 exhibited antimicrobial activities, with AcMRJP4-15 exhibiting the highestantimicrobial activity, followed by AcMRJP4. AcMRJP4-15, which is a hydrophilic peptide with 88 amino acid residuesthat contains a high content of Asn and positively charged amino acids, induced structural damage in the cell walls ofthe assayed bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Altogether, our data demonstrated that AcMRJP4 functions as an antimicrobial agent.

Bee venom is a complex mixture of toxic components that induces immediate local inflammatory and allergic responses. However, the presence and role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in bee venom have not been previously investigated. Here, we provide the first demonstration that bee venom contains Cu,Zn SOD (SOD3), a novel extracellular component that promotes local inflammation. Bee venom SOD3 was shown to be an oxidant, rather than an antioxidant, that induces the inflammation-signaling molecule H2O2 in vivo. H2O2 plays a pathological role by triggering an immediate local inflammatory response. Furthermore, bee venom SOD3 significantly induced the activation of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α and COX-2) and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) via the overproduction of H2O2 in mice. Our data demonstrate that bee venom SOD3 induced H2O2, which drives an immediate local inflammatory response, indicating a novel mechanism underlying bee venom-induced local inflammation.

Insect cuticular melanization is regulated by the prophenoloxidase (proPO)- activating system, which is also involved in the innate immune reaction. Here, we demonstrate how the differentiation of the proPO-activating system is regulated toward a cuticular melanization or innate immunity function in silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae. Our results indicate that the differential and spatial regulation of key components, such as the proPO-activating factor, tyrosine hydroxylase, and porPOs, primes the proPO-activating system for either cuticular melanization or innate immunity. This dual strategy for cuticular melanization in development and innate immunity upon infection demonstrates a two-pronged defense mechanism that is mediated by the priming of the proPO system.

Cleanroom could be largely classified into industrial cleanroom that can be contaminated by particles and bio-cleanroom that can be contaminated by biological particles. Electrical manufacturing companies producing precision machines and electrical parts essentially have industrial cleanroom facilities and clean technologies to produce defects free products due to particles. Industrial cleanroom should be controlled in respect of 4M1E to prevent from foreign materials of sub-micro unit and to keep out contamination sources from outside. In this paper, a concept for a quantitative methodology to measure the particles from running components was suggested by combining both newly making clean booth such as wear tester and laser particle counter.

Bee venom contains serine proteases and serine protease inhibitors. In this study, we identified a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) venom Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (Bi-KTI) that acts as a plasmin inhibitor. Bi-KTI showed no detectable inhibitory effect on factor Xa, thrombin, or tissue plasminogen activator. In contrast, Bi-KTI strongly inhibited plasmin, indicating that it acts as an antifibrinolytic agent. The fibrin(ogen)olytic activities of B. ignitus venom serine protease (Bi-VSP) and plasmin in the presence of Bi-KTI indicate that Bi-KTI targets plasmin more specifically than Bi-VSP. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which bumblebee venom affects the hemostatic system through the antifibrinolytic activity of Bi-KTI and through Bi-VSP-mediated fibrin(ogen) olytic activities, raising interest in Bi-KTI and Bi-VSP as potential clinical agents.

We cloned and characterized two peroxiredoxins (Prxs), BiPrx1 (a 1-Cys Prx) and BiTPx1 (a 2-Cys Prx) from the bumblebee Bombus ignitus. The BiPrx1 gene consists of 5 exons, encoding 220 amino acid residues with one conserved cysteine residue. The BiTPx1 gene consists of three exons, encoding 195 amino acid residues with 2 conserved cysteine residues. Recombinant BiPrx1 (27 kDa) and BiTPx1 (25 kDa), expressed in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells, reduced H2O2 in the presence of electrons donated by dithiothreitol. Unlike BiTPx1, however, BiPrx1 did not show reduction activity when thioredoxin was used as the electron donor. Both BiPrx1 and BiTPx1 protected super-coiled DNA from damage by metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) in vitro. Tissue distribution analyses showed the presence of BiPrx1 and BiTPx1 in the fat body, midgut, muscle and epidermis, but not in the hemolymph, suggesting that BiPrx1 and BiTPx1 are not secretable. When H2O2 was injected into B. ignitus bees, BiPrx1 and BiTPx1 transcripts were acutely up-regulated in the fat body tissues. We also demonstrated regulation of BiPrx1 and BiTPx1 expression via reduction of transcript levels in the fat body with RNA interference (RNAi). Under H2O2 overload, the RNAi-induced BiPrx1 knock-down B. ignitus worker bees showed up-regulated expression of BiTPx1. Reciprocally, BiTPx1 RNAi knockdowns showed up-regulated BiPrx1 expression in the fat body. These results indicate that loss of expression of BiPrx1 or BiTPx1 is compensated by up-regulation of expression of the other peroxidase in response to H2O2 overload.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate growth performance in dairy goats (Saanen) fed total mixed ration (TMR) of different nutrition levels. Twenty four growing female goats of 8 months of age were randomly assigned to one of four TMRs; low energy-low crude protein (CP) TMR (control), high energy-low CP TMR (T1), low energy-high CP TMR (T3) and high energy-high CP TMR (T4). The content of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and CP in the control diet were 64% and 12%. The TDN content of the high energy TMR was 72% and the CP content of the high CP TMR was 14%. Feed intakes were 1,194g, 1,060g and 1,124g for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, being higher than control (1,039g). Average daily gain was also numerically higher for T1 (170.2g), T2 (114.5g) and T3 (154.9g) than for control (109.0g). The difference of average daily gain between T1 and control was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Although there were no significant differences in feed intake (% of body weight) between treatments, feed conversion ratios showed different responses; T1 (7.01) and T3 (7.26) being higher than T2 (9.26) and control (9.53). The increases of heart girth were 11.8㎝, 10.0㎝ and 11.4㎝ for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, being higher than control (8.1㎝).

It has been reported that light-emitting diodes(LED) can be used in the treatment of oral diseases. Although bio-stimulatory effects of LED irradiation such as promotes stimulation of wound healing have been well known, there are few reports about molecular mechanism associated with cell cycle by LED irradiation. The purpose of present study was to examine the molecular event in cell cycle of LED irradiation on primary human gingival fibroblast(hGF) in vitro. The source of light for irradiation was a continuous-wave LED emitting at a wavelength of 635nm, and manufactured that energy density was 5mW/cm2 on sample surface. The hGF were irradiated for 1 hour at 37℃ in 5% CO2 humidified chamber. Experimental samples were acquired at 0 (right after irradiation), 8 and 24 hour after irradiation. To investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with cell cycle, growth phase was determined by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdc2, PCNA, p18, p27, p21, and p53 were determined by real time RT-PCR. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the percentage of cells in the G1 and S phase were decreased, but the G2 phase increased, which showed cells irradiated by LED were transitioned from S to G2 phase. For mRNA expression, cyclin B, cdc2, PCNA and p53 were increased at 0 hour after irradiation, and most of cell cycle molecules were increased at 8 hour after irradiation. At 24 hour after irradiation, cyclin A, cyclin E, PCNA and p18 were increased. Taken together, LED irradiation induced proliferation of hGF cells through transition from S to G2 phase.

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

배추좀나방과 담배거세미나방 유충에 대한 30종 한방 식물체 메탄올 조추출몰의 살충활성 및 섭식 저해활성을 잎침지법을 이용하여 5,000ppm으로 검정하였다. 황련의 추출물은배추좀나방에 대해 살충작용을 보였다. 길경, 사삼, 세신, 오배자 및 자초의 추출물은 배추좀나방 유충에 대해, 목통 및 속새의 추출물은 담배거세미나방 유충에 대한 강한 섭식저해활성을 보였으나, 오배자와 황련의 추출물은 이들 나비목 유충 모두에 강한 섭식저해활성을 나타내었다.

The design and fabrication of suitable waste forms with high thermal and structural stability are essential for the safe management and disposal of radioactive wastes. In particular, the thermal properties and temperature distribution of waste form containing high heat-generating nuclides such as Cs and Sr can be used to evaluate its thermal stability, but also provide useful information for the design of canisters, storage systems, and repositories. In this study, a new program code-based thermal analysis framework has been developed to facilitate the characterization, design, and optimization of the waste form. Matlab was used as a software development platform because it provides powerful mathematical computation and visualization components such as the partial differential equation (PDE) toolbox for solving heat transfer problems using finite element method, the App Designer for graphical user interface (GUI), and the MATLAB Compiler for sharing MATLAB programs as standalone applications and web applications. The thermal analysis results such as temperature distribution, heat flux, maximum/ minimum temperature, and centerline/surface temperature profile are visualized with graphs and tables. To evaluate the effectiveness of the developed program, several design and optimization studies were carried out for the SrTiO3 waste form, selected as a stable form of strontium nuclide.