BPA, a diphenyl compound containing groups, that make it structurally similar to synthetic estrogen and is considered as one of the major endocrine disruptors. Silymarin has extensively been used to prevent and/or alleviate some human disease, especially for the treatment of adverse liver conditions. It has an antioxidative efficacy and cancer preventive efficacy. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that silymarin can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity in boar sperm duing in vitro storage. Sperm characteristics (motility, viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrion activity) in semen exposed to BPA (10~200 uM) were sharply lowered, while it increase in a dose and time dependent manner due to silymarin addition (50~200 uM) into semen extender in the presence of BPA (100 uM). All of the evaluated characteristics were gradually improved in the groups that were treated with silymarin (50~200 uM) in the presence of BPA (100 uM) in comparison to BPA 100 uM alone group, irrespective of incubation periods (3 and 6 h). These results demonstrate that silymarin can ameliorate the toxicity of BPA on boar sperm characteristics during in vitro storage, suggesting that silymarin indirectly act as an antioxidant.

Although the vegetable Angelica keiskei (AK) has widely been utilized for the purpose of general health improvement among Korean population, its functionalities are not very well defined. In this study, we examined the effects of methanol extract of AK in rats on the biochemical changes induced by two hepatotoxins, D-galactosamine (GalN) and carbon tetrachloride ( CCl₄). AK was orally administered once daily for 7 days to male rats at 200and 500 mg/kg, before hepatotoxins. Effects of AK were assessed 24 hr later. AK pretreatments at 200 and 500 mg/kg significantly blunted GalN-induced elevation in liver lipid peroxidation, plasma aspartate-transaminase (AST) and alanine-transaminase (ALT) activities. AK also prevented, after 500 mg/kg but not after 200 mg/kg, the GalN-induced elevation in triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Differently from against GalN-induced toxicity,AK did further elevate the CCl₄-induced rise in AST, ALT and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that AK, when pre-administered prior to GalN, exerted protective effects against GalN-induced hepatotoxicity, in contrast however,AK exacerbated that induced by CCl₄. To explore possible mechanism for the toxicity-potentiating effects of AK on CCl₄, the activity of hepatic drug metabolism after AK treatment was assessed. It was observed that AK increased the activity of aniline hydroxaylase, a cytochrome P450 isoenzyme responsible for metabolic activation of CCl₄. This finding suggests that hepatoprotective effects of AK are not equally expected depending on hepatotoxins employed.

In the present study, total methanol extracts prepared from Alpinia katsumadai showed significant protective effects against the oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide, UV-C or γ-ray irradiation. These protective effects were substantially increased by treatment with 20~100 μg/ml of the extract. The A. katsumadai total methanol preparation was further fractionated into n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water fractions. Among these five fractions, the ethylacetate and butanol fractions of A. katsumadai showed the strongest protective effects against oxidative stress induced by UV-C and γ-ray irradiation. These fractions also showed high DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities. In addition, both fractions displayed cell proliferation activation effects, as evidenced by significant increases in colony formation. Our current data thus suggest that the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of A. katsumadai against oxidative damage may include radical scavenging, protection against cell membrane damage and stimulation of cell proliferation.

Plantago asiatica L. (P. asiatica) has been used as one of the popular folk medicines in Asia for human health care practices. Various activities of P. asiatica have been reported, such as anti-oxidant, anti-glycation,anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity. Therefore, the potential of P. asiatica to reduce oxidative stress has been studied in several ways for over 20 years, especially at liver and kidney. However no investigation has been reported revealing its protective effect on prostate. Method : Treatment of P. asiatica leaf ethanolic extract (PLE) (1 g/kg body weight (b.w.), 2 g/kg b.w., or 4 g/kg b.w.) were given separately to animals for pretreatment once per day for 7days, and on the seventh day ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA; 0.24 mmol Fe/kg b.w.), which is known as an oxidative stress-inducer at prostate, was administrated by i.p to negative control group. At the end of the study period, dissection was carried out for detecting the prostate protective effect of PLE. Result : Fe-NTA-treated animals produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in depletion of antioxidant biomaker, such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione s-transferase (GST) and increase of lipid peroxidation in prostate. However, PLE pretreatment resulted in an increase in the GSH, GST and GR levels concentration dependent manner and in an significant decrease in the levels of lipid peroxidation. Conclusion : Our data suggest that PLE may be effective in protecting oxidative stress-induced damage of prostate, and PLE may be an chemopreventive agent against Fe-NTA-mediated prostate oxidative damage.

Plantago asiatica L. (PA), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. A variety of activities of PA was reported, that is hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation and anti-oxidant effect. Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a potent nephrotoxic agent and has been reported to induce renal proximal tubular necrosis. In the present study, pretreatment with PA extract (PAE) in Wistar rat followed by Fe-NTA i.p. treatment (13.5 mg Fe/kg body weight) was performed to detect the renal protective effect of PAE. Only Fe-NTA treated group showed increases in the level of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr), and renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the level of biomarkers indicate the antioxidants status, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were decreased. However, PAE pre-treated group showed decreases in the levels of serum BUN, serum Cr and renal tissue MDA in concentration dependent manner and increases in the level of GSH, GST and GR. These results are significantly different (p < 0.05) to the other groups. Our data suggest that PAE may be used as an chemopreventive material against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative stress.

This study was carried out to investigate neuronal protective activity of fruiting body of Hericium erinaceum. In order to search the effective active compound against amyloid beta peptide-induced oxidative stress on neuronal cells, rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12), Extracts of Hericium erinaceum were screened and evaluated using both the 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate assay (DCF-DA), and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. According to above assays, Solvent partitions of extracts were selected for further purification and isolation of anti-Alzheimer’s disease compound as it exerted the highest protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient which functions as an essential constituent of selenoproteins. The selenoproteins play an important role in the body’s defense from free radicals associated with chronic diseases such as cancer. The effect of selenium on colon carcinogenesis was investigated using an experimental animal model. Five-week old ICR mice were acclimated for one week, and fed on the Fe-overloaded diet (450 ppm) with different Se diets (0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 ppm) for 12 weeks. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/㎏ B.W. weekly for 3 weeks), followed by 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in the drinking water for a week. There were three experimental groups including low Se group (Lse), medium (normal standard diet for mice) Se (MSe), and high Se (HSe). The numbers of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) were measured in the colonic mucosa. The iron and selenium concentrations in liver was measured using ICP-AES. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined in the liver and colon. TUNEL assay for cell apoptosis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining for cell proliferation were performed. Immunohistochemical staining of β-catenin was also performed in mucous tissue of colon. The dietary Se decreased the numbers of ACF/㎠ and AC/㎠ in a dose-dependent manner. HSe diet significantly decreased the numbers of AC/㎠, compared with LSe diet (p<0.05). The tumor incidence rate in low Se diet group was 5% higher than medium Se diet group and 20% higher than high Se diet group. The activities of GPx in the liver and colon were dependent on the content of dietary selenium. Apoptosis-positive cells were also increased by dietary Se in a dose-dependent manner. PCNA-positive staining was weak in high Se group. β-catenin stained area was increased in low Se group while it was decreased in high Se group. These findings indicate that dietary selenium exert a protecting effect on colon cancer by inhibiting the development of ACF/AC, increasing GPX and apoptosis, and decreasing cell proliferation and expression of β-catenin in mice.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disorder of the periodontium and is characterized by destruction of the tooth supporting tissues, mediated by the upregulation of synthesis and release of a variety of pro-inflammatory factors. Inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins upregulate RANKL and its subsequent binding to RANK stimulates osteoclast formation, resorption activity, and survival. In our present study, we investigated the effects of HP08-0111, composed of Coptis japonica (Thunb.) Makino, vitamin C and vitamin E, upon inflammatory responses, osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone loss. HP08-0111 decreased the expression of IL-1β and COX2 on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and inhibited osteoclast-specific genes such as c-Fos, MMP-9, and TRAP. HP08-0111 also exhibited protective effects against alveolar bone loss in rats with ligature-induced periodontitis. Our results suggest that HP08-0111 is potentially an important therapeutic tool for the treatment of disorders associated with bone loss such as periodontitis.

상습누범에 대한 형사법적 대처방식의 타당성을 검토하기에 앞서 우선 형벌 과 행형의 목적 및 보안처분과의 관계를 살펴 보고, 이들을 토대로 보호감호제도의 재도입 필요성 등에 대한 검토를 하였다. 형벌과 행형 및 보안처분의 목적에 있어서 공통점은 범죄인의 재사회화에 있고 보안처분제도는 형벌과 행형의 목적의 보완제도로써 역할을 수행한다고 하겠다. 문제점은 있으나 우리 형법상 이미 보안형벌로서 상습누범에 대한 가중처벌규정이 있음에도 불구하고 보호감호제도를 도입하는 것은 범죄인의 재사회화보다는 이중처벌이라는 점에서 문제가 제기될 수 있겠다. 상습누범에 대처하고자 하는 입법례를 보면 일반적으로는 상습누범에 대한 형의 가중이나 보호감호 중에 어느 하나를 택일하는 경향을 보이고 있다. 우리나라는 이미 보호감호제도를 폐지하는 대신에 그 보완책으로서 형법개정을 통해 상습범의 가중 형량을 크게 강화하고 있다. 보호감호처분제도가 폐지된 된 이유로, 이중처벌금지의 원칙 위반, 과잉처벌금지의 원칙 위반, 재범의 위험성 판단의 곤란성, 보호감호제도의 운영상의 문제점 등을 거론할 수 있다. 그럼에도 불구하고 최근에 보호감호제도의 부활을 통해 위험성이 큰 범죄자들의 재사회화와 사회보호를 이루고자 하고 있다. 보안처분은 형벌이 갖는 한계를 보충하기 위한 제도이다. 또한 보호감호제도는 형사정책의 최후의 긴급조치의 성격을 갖고 있으므로 형벌 및 다른 보안처분제도로는 그 목적을 달성할 수 없을 때 그 제도적 가치가 발휘된다고 하겠다. 우리나라는 이미 성폭력범죄자를 비롯한 강력범죄자에 대해 형량의 대폭적 강화, 화학적 거세, 성범죄자의 신상공개, 전자발찌 부착 등 위험한 범죄자들에 대한 사회보호를 위해 다양한 제도를 마련하고 있다. 또한 현재 교정처우면에서 매우 열악한 사정아래 운영되고 있는 보호감호제도를 다시 도입하는 데에는 무리가 있다고 하겠다.

Wrinkles are an outward sign of cutaneous aging appearing preferentially on ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed areas. The anti-wrinkle effects of herbal extracts were investigated in an animal model. Female albino hairless mice (HR/ICR) were randomly allocated to the control group (non-irradiated vehicle), positive control group (UVB irradiated-vehicle), and two herbal extract mixture groups (HE-1 and HE-2). HE-1 included Glycyrrhizae radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Cornus officinalis, and Sesami semeni, and HE-2 included Swertia pseudo-chinensis, Sophora flavescens, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Salvia miltiorrhiza. The herbal extract mixtures were pre-treated dorsally with 0.2 ml per individual five times per week for four weeks prior to the start of UVB irradiation. At the fifth week, the animals were exposed to UVB irradiation for a subsequent eight weeks, three times per week. The intensity of irradiation showed a gradual increase, from 30 mJ/cm 2 to 240 mJ/cm2 (1 MED: 60 mJ/cm2 ). Dorsal skin samples were stained with H&E in order to examine the epidermal thickness. In addition, Masson-Trichrome staining was performed for determination of the amount of collagen fiber. Treatments with HE-1&2 resulted in an increase in the amount of collagen fiber, a better appearance, and fewer wrinkles, compared with the positive control. As determined by hydroxyproline assay, treatments with HE-1&2 led to a significant increase in the amount of collagen, compared with the positive control group (p<0.05). Chronic UVB irradiation to skin of hairless mice resulted in an increase in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), however, treatments with HE-1&2 tended to decrease the expression of MMP-1. These results indicate that the herbal extracts used in this study have a preventive effect on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in a hairless mouse model, due in part to inhibition of MMP-1 expression and increment of collagen amount.

Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) prepared by emulsion polymerization has broad applications for additive such as paint binder, adhesive for wood and paper due to its low glass transition temperature which help to plasticize substrate resins. Since emulsion polymerization has a disadvantage that surfactant and ionic initiator degrade properties of the product polymer, poly (vinyl acetate-eo-ethyl acrylate) (VAc-EA) was synthesized using potassium persulfate as catalyst and polyvinylalcohol (PVA) as protective colloid to prevent the degradation. The copolymer latex product was internally plasticized and has enhanced adhesion, water resistance during VAc-EA emulsion polymerization. No coagulation and complete conversion occur with the reactant mixture of 10 mmol/L potassium persulfate, 10 mmol/L poly ( vinyl alcohol) (PVA 17). As the concentrations of PVA increase, the viscosity becomes increase.

자색고구마 추출물의 항산화 효과와 산화적 스트레스로 유도된 PC12 신경세포에 대한 보호효과에 대하여 연구하 였다. 자색고구마 추출물의 총 페놀함량은 44.25 mg/g, monomeric anthocyanin 함량은 2,394 mg/L로 나타났 다. 자색고구마 추출물의 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylben-zthiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical 소거활성, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) 및 환원력은 농도 의존 적으로 항산화 활성이 증가하였다. MTT {3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide} reduction assay를 이용하여 자색고구마 추출물의 신경세포 보호효과를 측정한 결과, 세포 생존율이 두드러지게 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 산화적 스트레스는 신경세포막 손상 정도를 증가시키기 때문에 lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay와 neutral red uptake assay를 이용하여 세포막 손상 보호효과를 조사한 결과 자색고구마 추출물 처리구는 대조구에 비하여 산화적 스트레스로 유도된 세포막 손상 보호효과가 농도 의존적으로 나타났다. 따라서 자색고구마 추출물은 천연 항산화 소재 및 알츠하이머성 치매와 같은 신경퇴행성 질환의 예방 소재로서의 활용 가능성이 기대된다.

Metal thin film patterns on a LTCC substrate, which was connected through inner via and metal paste for electrical signals, were formed by a screen printing process that used electric paste, such as silver and copper, in a conventional method. This method brought about many problems, such as non uniform thickness in printing, large line spaces, and non-clearance. As a result of these problems, it was very difficult to perform fine and high resolution for high frequency signals. In this study, the electric signal patterns were formed with the sputtered metal thin films (Ti, Cu) on an LTCC substrate that was coated with protective oxide layers, such as TiO2 and SiO2. These electric signal patterns' morphology, surface bonding strength, and effect on electro plating were also investigated. After putting a sold ball on the sputtered metal thin films, their adhesion strength on the LTCC substrate was also evaluated. The protective oxide layers were found to play important roles in creating a strong design for electric components and integrating circuit modules in high frequency ranges.

An extract of Allomyrina dichotoma larva (ADL), one of the insects used most frequently in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of liver diseases such as hepatocirrhosis and hepatofibrosis, was assessed for antioxidant bioactivity in this study.

In our present study, total methanol extracts prepared from B. platyphylla var. japonica showed a significant increase in cell proliferation upon the induction of oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide or y-ray irradiation. Total methanol extracts were fractionated into five separate preparations i.e. n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water fractions. Among these, the ethylacetate and butanol fractions of B. platyphylla var. japonica showed the highest protective effects against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. These fractions also showed strong protective effects against y-ray irradiation. When we evaluated the cytotoxicity of these fractions, the butanol fraction showed no effects in a colony formation assay. In addition, the butanol fraction showed a cell proliferation activation effect evidenced by significant increase in the colony formation of y-ray irradiated cells. Both a radical scavenging activity and clonogenic activity assay suggested that the mechanism behind this protective effect against reactive oxygen species may be due to the radical scavenging and cell proliferation activity of B. platyphylla var. japonica extracts.

Somatic cells such as oviduct epithelial cell, uterine epithelial cell, cumulus-granulosa cell and buffalo rat river cell has been used to establish an effective culture system for bovine embryos produced in in vitro. But nitric oxide (NO) metabolites secreted from somatic cells were largely arrested the development of bovine in vitro matured/ in vitro fertilized (IVM/IVF) embryos, suggesting that NO was induced the embryonic toxic substance into culture medium. The objective of this study was to investigate whether BOEC co-culture system can ameliorate the NO-mediated oxidative stress in the culture of bovine IVM/IVF embryos. Therefore, we evaluated the developmental rate of bovine IVM/IVF embryos under BOEC co-culture system in the presence or absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a NO donor, and also detected the expression of growth factor (TGF-p , EGF and IGFBP) and apoptosis (Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2) genes. The supplement of SNP over 5 uM was strongly inhibited blastocyst development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos than in control and 1 uM SNP group (Table 2). The developmental rates beyond morulae stages of bovine IVM/IVF embryos co-cultured with BOEC regardless of SNP supplement (40.4% in 5 uM SNP+ BOEC group and 65.1% in BOEC group) were significantly increased than those of control (35.0%) and SNP single treatment group (23.3%, p<0.05: Table 3). The transcripts of Bax and Caspase-3 genes were detected in all experiment groups (1:Isolated fresh cell (IFC), 2:Primary culture cell (PCC), 3:PCC after using the embryo culture, 4: PCC containing 5 uM SNP and 5: PCC containing 5 uM SNP after using the embryo culture), but Bcl-2 gene was not detected in IFC and PCC (Fig. 1). In the expression of growth factor genes, TGF-p gene was found in all experimental groups, and EGF and IGFBP genes were not found in IFC and PCC (Fig. 2). These results indicate that BOEC co-culture system can increase the development beyond morula stages of bovine IVM/IVF embryos, possibly suggesting the alleviation of embryonic toxic substance like nitric oxide.

The effects of an addition of ZrO2 on the microstructure and electrical properties of MgO films as a protective layer for AC plasma display panels were investigated. MgO + a 200 ppm ZrO2 protective layer prepared by e-beam evaporation exhibited a secondary electron emission coefficient (γ) that was improved by 21% compared to that of a pure MgO protective layer. The relative density and Vickers hardness increased with a further addition of ZrO2. These results suggest that the discharge properties and optical properties of MgO protective layers are closely related to the relative density and Vickers hardness. The good optical and electrical properties of γ, at 0.080, a grain size of 19 μm and an optical transmittance of 91.93 % were obtained for the MgO + 200 ppm ZrO2 protective layer sintered at 1700˚C for 5 hrs.