Background : Korean Indigenous Hylotelephium erythrostictum is widely distributed in South Korea and is used in Korean traditional medicine. In this study, the phylogenetic analysis of Korean native Hylotelephium erythrostictum and related plants on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences were investigated to distinguish its origin. Methods and Results : The phylogenetic analysis of 6 species of Hylotelephium were investigated by ITS. The dendrogram was constructed by UPGMA(Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering algorithm based on genetic similarity of ITS. In the ITS sequence analysis, the size of total was varied from 676 to 779 bp. The size of ITS 1 was rated at 287bp, while ITS 2 was rated at 123bp. The G+C content of ITS region was ranged from 60 to 66%. In the ITS tree, six species of Hylotelephium were monophyletic, and H. viviparum was the first branching within the clade. Conclusion : H. spectabile formed a clade with H. erythrostictum, while H. verticillatum formed with H. viviparum.

Background : Cordyceps militaris has been an wonder drug to anti-aging efficacy and called the three main drugs with ginseng and deer antler from the past. Cordycepin, cordycepic acid (d-mannitol) and adenosine are known as functional ingredients in Cordyceps militaris. Among them, cordycepin, the representative component, has been reported as antimicrobial substance containing immune enhancement, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods and Results : After Cordyceps militaris produced from different types of medium mixed with 10-fold volume of purified water, the mixture were extracted at 70±5℃ for a hour and that extracts re-extracted using ultrasonics wave for 30 minutes. Qualitative analysis of the index component was determined by using the Q-TOF (A quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer), and quantitative analysis was performed by using HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) with Xselect HSS T3 column (2.1 X 100 mm, 2.5㎛, Waters, USA) and ultrapure water and acetonitrile as mobile phase A and B. Detection column temperature, injection volume and the flow rate were 35℃, 2 μL and 0.3 mL / minute respectively. The cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris produced from medium mixed with vegetable and animal ingredients higher than single ingredient. Moreover, through a variety of analyzes by varying the type and content of the medium additives, the cordycepin in Cordyceps militaris produced from medium mixed with animal ingredients highest. Furthermore, the cordycepin content of a fruit body was higher than those of the a mycelium. Conclusion : These results provide a method for producing an high cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris as functional food ingredient.

Background: We evaluated the effect of ulinastatin on paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), IL-6, and IL-10 in SD rats after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Methods: Group C received N/S and Group E received ulinastatin IV for three days following SNL. PWT, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th day. Results: Group E showed higher PWT compared to group C. IL-6 was lower in group E than in group C. No differences in IL-10 were observed between group C and group E. Conclusion: Ulinastatin increased the PWT and its effect appears to be involved with IL-6, not IL-10.

Clubroot is a devastating disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae and results in severe losses of yield and quality in Brassica crops including Brassica oleracea. Therefore, it is important to identify resistance gene for CR disease and apply it to breeding of Brassica crops. In this study, we applied genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technique to construct high resolution genetic map and mapping of clubroot resistance (CR) genes. A total of 18,187 GBS markers were identified between two parent lines resistant and susceptible to the disease, of which 4,103 markers were genotyped in all 78 F2 plants generated from crossing of both parent lines. The markers were clustered into nine linkage groups spanning 879.9 cM, generating high resolution genetic map enough to refine reported reference genome of cabbage. In addition, through QTL analysis using 78 F2:3 progenies and mapping based on the genetic map, two and single major QTLs were identified for resistance of race 2 and race 9 of P. brassicae, respectively. These QTLs did not show collinearity with CR loci found in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) but roughly overlapped with CR loci identified in cabbage for resistance to race 4. Taken together, genetic map and QTLs obtained in this study will provide valuable information to improve reference genome and clubroot resistance in cabbage.

Cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) is a multiple systemic disease caused by the embolization of cholesterol crystals from an atherosclerotic plaque of a proximal large-caliber artery, which results in the occlusion of distal small to mediumsized arteries. CES is characterized by development of a multitude of small emboli over time, and should be distinguished from arterial thromboembolism, which occurs through the obstruction of medium-sized to large arteries by one or a few large emboli. We report on a case of CES initially presenting as acute limb ischemia following an intervention for iliac artery occlusion.

In this study, we examined the palatability and physicochemical properties of rice varieties in the year when there was 10% increase in yield compared to normal year due to daily temperature range and sunshine hours. The results of the analysis of rice yield over the last 20 years (1993-2012) showed 10% difference between the yield in 2000, which was normal, and that in 2001. With regard to the crop weather condition during the ripening period in 2001 compared to 2000, the daily range and sunshine hours were higher, but the mean temperature was similar. The rice yield in 2001 was 9.8% higher than that in 2000 due to the increased number of spikelets per panicles and ratio of ripened grain. In terms of chemical traits, protein, Mg, and K contents decreased in 2001 compared to 2000, but amylose content increased. Trough and final viscosity assessed with a Rapid Visco Analyser were significantly higher in 2001 than 2000. The results suggested that the palatability of cooked rice was good in that year with about 10% increase in rice yield compared to normal year due to daily temperature range and sunshine hours.

The excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in the past has brought serious soil and other environmental problems so alternatives over this agrochemical are being searched. Our study focuses on the effects of expanded rice hull inoculated with selected beneficial microorganisms on growth (through agronomic characters), yield and yield components, and grain quality indices of rice. Results showed that favorable effects of different expanded rice hull preparations were not readily apparent at vegetative stage and only treatments with supplemental chemical fertilizer application were comparable with the conventional practice. Expanded rice hull combined with 50% rate of chemical fertilizer exhibited a significantly higher yield (6,471 kg ha-1) over conventional practice (5,719 kg ha-1). Good milling quality indices were observed in treatments having 50% chemical fertilizers plus alternatives from expanded rice hull. Finally, we demonstrated that chemical fertilizer rate can potentially be reduced into 50% if combined with expanded rice hull, and show even better output than chemical fertilizer alone.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are promising cell source because of their unique self-renewal and pluripotency. Although hESC-derived cardiac cells are currently generated worldwide, cryopreservation of these cells is still limited due to low rate of post-thaw survival. Cryopreservation of hESC-derived cardiac cells is critical in that their long-term storage can accelerate their use in regenerative medicine. However, to date, there are few reports on efficient cryopreservation and post-thaw survival of hESC-derived cardiac cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ginsenoside, which is known to improve survival of rat embryonic cardiomyocytes against myocardial ischemia injury in diabetic rats (Wu et al., 2011), on the survival of hESC-derived cardiac cells after thawing. We induced differentiation into cardiac cells using our previously reported method (Kim et al., 2011). Differentiated, pre-beating stage cardiac cells were cryopreserved using either mass cryopreservation or vitrification. To evaluate the effects of ginsenoside (Re, Rb), we compared three sets: pre- and post-thaw treatment, pre- or post-thaw treatment only. The survival of post-thaw cardiac cells were evaluated using Trypan-blue and Annexin V staining. In addition, the three groups were treated with ROCK inhibitor Y-27632, and compared with non-treatment groups. The effect of ginsenoside was significant in post-thaw treatment group, i.e, thawed cells expressed cardiac specific genes and showed specific functionality such as spontaneous beating. Taken together, we demonstrated favorable effects of ginsenoside on the survival of hESC-derived cardiac cells after cryopreservation and thawing. These results suggest a possible application of well-known cardioprotectant ginsenoside in cell-based tissue engineering using hESC-derived cardiac cells.

"Juan1" is a new japonica rice variety of mid-late maturing, tolerance to lodging and adaptable to direct seeding which was developed by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, in 2005. This variety is derived from a cross between Ilpumbyeo, a variety of good-eating quality and high yield, and SR18392-HB683-104. The Juanl has heading date of August 19 at ordinary planting in the middle plain. It has semi-erect plant type with culm length of about 80cm and tolerance to lodging. This variety shows susceptible to blast, bacterial blight, virus diseases and brown planthopper. The milled rice kernels of Juanl are translucent with non-glutinous endosperm, clear in chalkiness and medium short grain. It has also low amylose content of 18.8%, low gelatinization temperature and good palatability. The average milled rice yield of this variety was 5.68 MT/ha at ordinary planting in local adaptability test for three years from 2003 to 2005. Juan! would be highly adaptable to middle plain and mid-eastern coastal region of Korea.

“Neulbora” is a new leaf vegetable perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) variety developed from a cross between Ipdeulkkae1/YCPL173 and YCPL199 at the Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute, NICS, RDA, in 2005. Wrinkled leaf shape and purple color o