Colorectal cancer causes the most cancer-associated death worldwide, having a high cancer incidence. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide present in various fruits, emerging as an anti-carcinogenic candidate. Although pectin has a suppressive capacity for colon carcinogenesis, the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and colonic aberrant foci formation in the colon carcinogenesis mouse model remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the regulatory effect of pectin supplementation on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice. In an animal experiment, thirty male institute for cancer research (ICR) mice were divided into two experimental groups; AOM/DSS (control group) and AOM/DSS + pectin (5% in drinking water). Furthermore, the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) on colonic mucosa were counted, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay was performed to estimate lipid peroxidation in feces. Pectin treatment significantly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon compared with the control. Additionally, fecal TBARS level in the pectin group was significantly lower than those in the control group. Conclusively, these findings indicate that pectin-inhibited hyperplastic alteration and oxidative stress suppress colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Colon cancer has been considered a leading cause of cancer-associated death. Folic acid is a vitamin necessary for cellular physiological functions and cell viability. However, the association between folic acid intake and colon cancer has been examined in several prospective cohort studies are controversial. This study investigated the effects of folate intake on colon carcinogenesis and oxidative stress in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) institute for cancer research (ICR) mouse model. Thirty male ICR mice (5 weeks old) were divided into the control group and the experimental group supplied 0.03% folic acid via drinking water (50 mL/week/mouse) for 6 weeks. To induce colonic pre-neoplastic lesions, the animals were subcutaneously injected three times weekly with AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS in drinking water for a week. Folic acid supplementation significantly suppressed the total number of aberrant crypt foci and aberrant crypts. Histological image data showed that folic acid supplementation attenuated neoplastic change. In addition, we measured the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration of dry feces samples to identify the effect of folic acid on reactive oxygen accumulation. The folic acid supplementation group had reduced reactive oxygen species levels in dry feces compared to the control group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that folic acid suppresses colon carcinogenesis and oxidative stress in an AOM/DSS mouse model.

Colon cancer is known as the third most widespread cancer in the world. The interaction of heme-iron and ascorbic acid (AA) in colon carcinogenesis is not evident. Hemin (ferric chloride heme) is an iron-containing porphyrin with chlorine that can be formed from a heme group. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of AA on the formation of pre-neoplastic lesions induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) plus hemin in mice. Forty-five ICR male mice were divided into three experimental groups; AOM/ DSS treatment (control group), hemin (2 g hemin/kg of b.w.), hemin + AA (1.0% in drinking water). The mice had three s.c. injections (0–2nd weeks of the experiment) of AOM (10 mg/kg b.w.) weekly and 2% DSS as drinking water for the next one week and the animals fed on AIN-76A purified rodent diet for 6 weeks. The numbers of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypts (ACs) in colonic mucosa were counted after methylene blue staining. Lipid peroxidation in feces was measured by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay. The numbers of ACF and ACs per colon significantly increased in Hemin group compared to the control group. However, the numbers of ACF and ACs per colon notably decreased in hemin + AA group compared to the control group or hemin group (p<0.05). In feces, the TBARS value of hemin group was higher than the control group (p<0.01). The TBARS value of hemin + AA group was slightly decreased compared to Hemin group. These results indicate that hemin can promote the experimental colon carcinogenesis in ICR mice. On the other hand, additional supplement of AA via drinking water has a protective effect against the colon carcinogenesis. The related mechanisms need to be illustrated by further studies in future.

Globally, colon cancer is increased gradually and known as one of the major causes of cancer death. Stevia, a substitute of sugar, is known to have many components including alpha-tocopherol and anthocyanin etc, as antioxidants. This study's purpose is to investigate whether stevia plant extract can have a protective effect against colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice. Total 30 male ICR mice were divided into 2 groups; AOM/DSS treatment (control group), AOM/DSS + stevia extract (0.5%, in drinking water). After acclimation for 1 week, five weeks old mice received three intraperitoneal AOM (10 mg/kg b.w.) injections weekly for 3 weeks (0–2nd weeks of the experiment) and 2% DSS as drinking water for the next one week. AIN-76A purified rodent diet and 0.5% stevia extract water were supplied to the animals for 6 weeks. The colons of mice were collected and the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypts (ACs) in colonic mucosa were counted after staining with methylene blue. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in feces were determined. The numbers of ACF and ACs were significantly (p<0.01) decreased in stevia-treated group compared with the control group. The MDA concentration in feces was also significantly (p<0.01) decreased in stevia-treated group compared with the control group. In histopathology of colonic epithelium, hyperplasia of colonic epithelium was less observed in steviatreated group. These results indicate that stevia has a protective effect against colon carcinogenesis induced by AOM/DSS in mice and further study needs to illustrate the protective mechanisms.

The nesting behavior, reproduction, fruit set and shape of O. cornifrons varied significantly with the released sex ratio of O. cornifrons. A female : male sex ratio of 1 : 2 was resulted in a 3.4 to 6.7 fold higher than other sex ratio in a nesting behavior. A ratio of 1 : 2 resulted in a 1.2-fold nesting rate, which was slightly higher than other nesting rates. Releasing only males resulted in a 2.4-fold greater amount of fruit set in non-pollinated sites. A sex ratio of 1 : 2 gave a slightly higher shape index and a 1.2 to 1.6-fold lower asymmetric index than other sex ratios. There was no significant difference between female release numbers in fruit set, and 100 to 200 females gave a slightly higher shape index than 400 females. Thus, we determined that 200 females should be released per 2,000㎡ and that the sex ratio of females to males should be 1 : 2.

We report for the first time the occurrence of DWV-infected bumble bees (Bombus ignitus). For the present study, the detection of DWV virus from the female and male bumble bee was investigated in the same colony. The Deformed wing virus (DWV) of honeybee (Apis mellifera) is closely associated with characteristic wing deformities, abdominal bloating, paralysis, and rapid mortality of emerging adult bees. Using specific RT-PCR protocols for the detection of DWV followed by sequencing of the PCR products we could demonstrate that the bumble bees were indeed infected with DWV. The virus was detected from Bombus ignitus, and its partial DWV gene was cloned and sequenced. The partial DWV gene encoding the polyprotein is 711-nt of 235 amino acid residues. The deduced nucleotide sequence of the polyprotein partial gene of DWV showed 96.9%, 96.2%, 96.8%, and 96.5% homology to other structure polyprotein partial gene of DWV from insects, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis further conformed that the deduced nucleotide sequence of the polyprotein partial gene of DWV divided to the outside tree. We describe the first time that presence of Deformed wing virus(DWV) from bumble bee(Bombus terrestris) in korea using RT-PCR.

The attachment and adhesion of RAW 264.7 and MC3T3-E1 cells to titanium (Ti) discs with various degrees of roughness was investigated. The attachment, adhesion, and proliferation of these cells were evaluated after 4 hr, 24 hr and 7 day incubations. Both RAW 264.7 and MC3T3-E1 cells showed a time-dependant correlation between attachment and adhesion on the surface of the titanium discs. Both types of cells tended to have higher survival rate on these discs as the surface roughness increased. The percentage of adherent inflammatory RAW 264.7 cells was greater than MC3T3-E1 cells at 24 hr, but this was reversed at 7 days in culture. The morphology of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells at 24 hr, determined using a surface emission microscope (SEM), appeared flattened and spread out while inflammatory RAW 264.7 cells were predominantly spherical in shape. The adhesion of both cell types on the titanium discs was dependant on the levels of fibronectin adsorbed on the disc surface, indicating that serum constituents modulate the efficient adhesion of these cells. Our data indicate that the cellular response to the titanium surface is dependent on the types of cells, surface roughness and serum constituents.

BACKGROUND Ca2+ oscillations during fertilization induce eggs activation and embryonic development in mammalian eggs.. The type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) is in charge of Ca2+ oscillations for the release of stored Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum. The capacity of this oscillation is obtained during egg maturation and corresponds with an increase in the sensitivity of the IP3R1 and their localization in cytoplasm. Cluster formation of IP3R1 in the egg cortex is important to initiation of Ca2+ oscillations during egg and sperm fusion. In this study, we investigated that cell cycle–coupled redistribution of IP3R1 and Ca2+- oscillatory activity in mouse zygotes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metaphase II arrested eggs were collected from ICR female mouse after super ovulation induction. At 14 hr post hCG, MII eggs were collected, and artificially activated in Ca2+ free CZB medium with 10 mM SrCl2 for 2 hrs. Pronuclear zygotes (PN) were collected from Strontium activated eggs at 8 hr post activation, and the first mitotic eggs were collected at 16~17 hr post activation. To identify cell cycle coupled IP3R1 redistribution, MII eggs, zygotes, and first mitotic eggs were collected, and fixed for immunostaining with anti-IP3R1antibody (CT-1) and observed on CLSM. Ca2+-oscillatory activity was monitored with fluorescence microscope mounted SimplePCI program (Hamamatsu) after injection of cRNA of mouse phospholipase C zeta (mPLCZ). RESULT IP3R1 were shown clusters, 1~2 um in diameter, in cortex of ovulated MII eggs with high Ca2+ oscillatory activity by mPLCZ injection. These eggs represent more than 6 spikes per 60 min. However, IP3R1 clusters were disappeared in PN eggs and these eggs showed very low Ca2+- oscillatory activity by mPLCZ. In mitosis I stage eggs, clusters of IP3R1 were appeared and Ca2+-oscillatory activity was reactivated slightly (2 spikes per 60 min). CONCLUSIOINS This study introduced the redistribution of IP3R1 clusters were occurred in egg activation according to cell cycle dependent manner. Also, functional modification of IP3R1 including protein phosphorylation was associated with cortical clustering of IP3R1 in cell cycle coupled Ca2+ oscillatory activity.

The application of software engineering is not common in the development of astronomical observation system. While there were component-wise developments in the past, large-scale comprehensive system developments are more common in these days. In this study, current methodologies of development are reviewed to select a proper one for the development of astronomical observation system and the result of the application is presented. As the subject of this study, a project of operation software development for an astronomical observation system which runs on the ground is selected. And the output management technique based on Component Based Development which is one of the relatively recent methodologies has been applied. Since the nature of the system requires lots of arithmetic algorithms and it has great impact on the overall performance of the entire system, a prototype model is developed to verify major functions and performance. Consequently, it was possible to verify the compliance with the product requirements through the requirement tracing table and also it was possible to keep to the schedule. Besides, it was suggested that a few improvements could be possible based on the experience of the application of conventional output management technique. This study is the first application of the software development methodology in the domestic astronomical observation system area. The process and results of this study would contribute to the investigation for a more appropriate methodology in the area of similar system development.