Background: The Natural killer cell activity measurement test of the ELISA method developed by company A could have many economic benefits in terms of cost and time compared to the existing 'cytotoxicity test method'. A portable incubator capable of culturing the specimen while moving was developed as a way to save test time and secure the stability of the specimen when transferring the specimen to the entrusted institution. Objectives: This study investigated efficacy evaluation of NK cell activity measurement in a portable incubator. Design: Experimental research. Methods: 100 participants were selected to measure NK cell activity. The collected blood was placed in a general incubator and a portable incubator at the same time to start culturing, and the plasma was separated by centrifugation. The NK cell activity test was measured by enzyme immunometry. Results: In the verification of the culturing performance of the developed portable incuvator, no significance was found between the general incuvator and the portable incuvator, and the same performance was maintained in culture. Conclusion: Portable incubators have a great effect on shortening the test time and securing the stability of samples.

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) are 0D quasi-spherical nanoparticles that are less than 10 nm in size. CNDs that possess surface functional groups such as hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups have been demonstrated to scavenge free radicals efficiently and effectively, resulting in them being beneficial for cosmetic and cosmeceutical applications. In this study, we successfully prepared novel CNDs, namely black VC, using vitamin C (VC) as a promising precursor. Black VC was prepared by a facile one-step method based on short-time microwave irradiation. The properties of black VC were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectrophotometry. Radical scavenging, cell viability, and anti-pollution activity assays were also conducted to demonstrate the functionalities of black VC. The developed black VC exhibited lower cytotoxicity and better antioxidant, metal chelating ability, and anti-pollution activities than its precursor. These results provide a new approach for developing advanced antioxidants for innovative cosmetic formulations using a simple microwave treatment method. However, black VC retained some problems of its precursor in the form of low stability, which is likely to be a challenge for its cosmeceutical application.

목적 : 본 연구는 신체활동 참여와 도구적 일상생활활동(Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; IADL) 자립도 사이의 인지기능의 매개효과를 조사하였다. 연구방법 : 국민건강보험공단의 노인코호트 데이터베이스 자료를 활용하여 건강보험 및 의료급여 자격을 유지하고 있는 만 60세 이상의 노인 약 600만 명 중 신체활동 설문에 참여한 3,980명의 자료를 활용하 였다. 신체활동과 IADL 사이의 인지기능의 매개효과를 확인하기 위해 경로분석을 시행하였다. 연구결과 : 신체활동에 참여하는 노인의 평균 연령은 81.6세였으며, 여성이 72.74%였다. 인지기능의 부분매개 효과는 고강도 운동에서 68%로 IADL의 자립도에 가장 크게 나타났다(β = 0.07, 95% Confidence Interval; CI = 0.05, 0.09). 다음으로 중등도 운동은 66%(β = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.10), 걷기 운동은 52%(β = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.14) 순으로 나타났다. 신체활동과 IADL 자립도 사이의 직접효과는 걷기 운동에서 48%(β = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.09, 0.14)로 가장 크게 나타났으며 중등도 운동은 35%(β = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.07), 고강도 운동은 32%(β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06) 순으로 나타났다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통해 신체활동과 IADL의 관계에 인지기능의 매개효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 노인 의 건강하고 활동적인 노화를 위해 신체활동과 인지기능을 결합한 복합운동 프로그램이 고려되어야 한다.

Background: Several factors contribute to shoulder pain, including abnormal neck posture, repeated use of the upper limbs, work involving raising the upper limbs above the head, and the effects of vibration. However, previous study has reported that constant vibration exposure could impact improvement of the stability on joints related with muscle recruitment and activation. For this difference reason, we need to verify for the complex study of relationship with repetitive upper limb movements, poor head posture, and constant vibration exposure. Objects: Our study was made to investigate the influence of vibration exposure on the shoulder muscle activity during forward-head and over-head tasks with isometric shoulder flexion. Methods: In a total of 22 healthy subjects, surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from shoulder muscles (upper/lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and lumbar erector spinae) on tasks (neutral-head task [NHT], forward-head task [FHT], and over-head task [OHT]) with and without vibration exposure. Results: In all tasks, the EMG data of the upper trapezius and serratus anterior significantly increased with vibration exposure (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the EMG data of the lumbar erector spinae significantly increased with vibration exposure in the NHT and FHT (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that continuous vibration exposure during the use of hand-held tools in the tasks could be associated with harmful effects in the workplace. Lastly, we clinically need to examine the guidelines regarding the optimal posture and vibration exposure.

본 연구는 무인센서카메라를 이용하여 도서 지역에 도입된 대만꽃사슴(Cervus nippon taiouanus)의 행동 특성을 파악하기 위하여 2021년 10월부터 2022년 10월까지 인천광역시 옹진군에 위치한 굴업도에서 실시되었다. 무인센서카 메라 포착빈도의 커넬 밀도 추정치로 대만꽃사슴의 계절별 일일 행동 패턴을 나타내었으며, 계절 간 중첩계수를 분석하 여 계절에 따른 차이를 확인하였다. 굴업도에 도입된 대만꽃사슴은 겨울에만 박명(crepuscular) 형태의 행동 패턴을 보였으며, 봄부터 가을까지는 뚜렷한 형태가 나타나지 않았다. 박명 형태의 행동 패턴은 사슴류에 있어서 포식 위험을 낮추기 위한 일반적인 형태인데, 굴업도에 도입된 대만꽃사슴은 겨울에 지자체에서 실시하는 구제작업에 의해 영향을 받아 박명 형태의 활동을 하는 것으로 판단된다. 이는 봄부터 가을까지 빈번하게 발생하는 야영(back packing) 등의 인간 활동이 대만꽃사슴의 행동에 영항을 미치지 않는 것과 대조되는 결과였다. 또한, 겨울의 낮은 기온이 대만꽃사슴의 야간 행동에 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 겨울의 추운 날씨와 구제작업에 의해 대만꽃사슴의 행동 패턴은 여름과 겨울 사이에 가장 낮게 중첩되었다. 본 연구에서 확인된 대만꽃사슴의 시간적 지위와 더불어 계절별 기온과의 관계는 도서 지역뿐 아니라 내륙 지역에 도입된 대만꽃사슴의 관리 방안을 수립하는데 중요한 기초 생태 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Makgeolli’s fermentation characteristics and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were investigated to examine the effect of Prunus mume extract addition. Makgeolli, with the addition of various levels (0, 1, 3, and 5%) of Prunus mume extract (PME), was brewed with fermenting agents, Ipguk and Nuruk. The alcohol content of all samples remarkably increased during the initial 3 days and then gradually increased up to over 18% by the end of fermentation (7 days for Nuruk and 15 days for Ipguk). Although the alcohol content was slightly reduced and acidity was increased with the concentration of PME, there was no other negative effect of PME on the fermentation of Makgeolli. The contents of total phenols and flavonoids for Ipguk samples were higher than those for Nuruk samples, and these values significantly increased at over 3% PME addition. As the PME content increased, the antioxidant activity increased for both Nuruk and Ipguk samples. Only Makgeolli with Ipguk had vigorous antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus at over 3% addition of PME. These results indicate that PME can be an effective natural additive for enhancing Makgeolli’s antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

To increase antioxidant activity and physicochemical quality characteristics, four kinds of berries (blueberry (BEB), blackberry (BKB), cranberry (CNB), raspberry (RSB)) with antioxidant activities were used to replace beet (B) in existing ABC juice. In the experimental group, the pH was decreased while the content of soluble solids was increased significantly. Total polyphenol content was significantly increased in all experimental groups compared to that in the control group. The control group had the lowest polyphenol content at 14.723 μg GAE/g, whereas the blackberry replacement group had the highest polyphenol content at 67.12 μg GAE/g. The total flavonoid content was the lowest in the control group at 8.98 μg QE/g but the highest in the blackberry group at 50.47 μg QE/g. All experimental groups showed significantly higher antioxidant activities than the control group. DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activities were the lowest in the control group at 15.69% and 19.55%, respectively, but the highest in the blackberry group at 48.24% and 59.43%, respectively. SOD-like activity was also the lowest in the control group at 14.12%, but the highest in the blackberry group at 48.18%. When comparing experimental groups, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, SOD) and antioxidant components (total polyphenols and total flavonoids) were in the order of BKB > CNB > RSB > BEB > Control. In conclusion, the new ABC juice containing four types of berries is enriched in antioxidants with significantly improved antioxidant activities and physicochemical quality characteristics.

The present study was designed to investigate the antiproliferative activity and molecular mechanisms of Bibimbap in HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Bibimbap extract inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells by 50% at a concentration of 10.1±0.17 mg/mL for 48 h. The population of live cells decreased slightly, and the morphology changed with a reduction in cell volume (pyknosis) with Bibimbap. Treatment with 5 mg/mL of Bibimbap resulted in slight cell shrinkage. Furthermore, as the Bibimbap dose increased to 10 mg/mL, these characteristics were more evident, and HT-29 cells exhibited partial detachment by staining with the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342. Flow cytometric analysis by Annexin V and PI double staining showed that Bibimbap increased the levels of apoptosis. Analysis of the mechanism of these events showed that Bibimbap-treated cells exhibited a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway through the modulation of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and poly-ADP ribose polymerase, as well as Bax and Bcl-2 expression in dose- and time-dependent manners. Consequently, Bibimbap exerts a significant antiproliferative effect on HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells.

Despite concerns about the significant toxicity of copper pyrithione (CuPT) at environmental concentrations, effects of CuPT on benthic organisms have received little attention. Here, we analyzed the detrimental effects of CuPT at sublethal concentrations (1/50, 1/20, and 1/10 of the 96 h-LC50 value) for 14 days in the marine polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis. Reduced burrowing activity and significantly decreased the acetylcholinesterase activity in response to relatively high concentrations of CuPT were identified as CuPT-triggered cholinergic inhibition. The lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde levels were dosedependently increased, whereas intracellular glutathione was depleted by relatively high concentrations. In the CuPT-treated polychaete, significant fluctuations in the enzymatic activities of the antioxidant defense system (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase) were observed with significantly modulated glutathione S-transferase activity. These results indicate that even sublethal levels of CuPT would have detrimental effects on the health status of the marine polychaete.

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of cereal bars containing various concentrations (0, 10, 20, or 30%) of apple pomace (AP). Highest vitamin B1 and C contents were observed in 30% AP-containing bars, but vitamin B2 and B3 contents were highest in the control (0.347 and 3.566 mg/100 g, respectively). Cutting strength decreased significantly in an AP concentration-dependent manner. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in 10% AP bars were 2.949±0.157 mg of GAE/g and 1.001±0.009 mg of CE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities were assessed by measuring free radical scavenging activities, and 10% AP bars had the highest activities, as determined by ABTS (2,2'azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (α-α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) assays (0.412±0.008 and 0.492±0.021 mg GAE/g, respectively). These results suggested that apple pomace should be regarded a potential nutritional and antioxidant source.

The Cheonggukjang used in this study was made with four soybean cultivars grown and harvested at the National Agrobiodiversity Center of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences: C1 (KLS87248), C2 (Nongrim 51), C3 (GNU- 2007-14613), and C4 (Daewon). The soybeans were inoculated with Bacillus subtilis AFY-2 and fermented for 0, 12, 21, 36, 45, and 60 h in a culture room at 35°C. ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities were significantly increased upon fermentation for 12 hours in all samples and maintained or decreased after 21 hour The inhibition of NO production was significantly increased compared to the LPS-treated group, and the C2 sample showed inhibition of NO production at 12 hours of fermentation, and the C3 sample showed inhibition at 21 hours of fermentation. PCA analysis revealed that the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity and NO production inhibitory activity reached peak levels around 12 h fermentation time for all samples. Our results indicate that the optimal fermentation time of the Cheonggukjang sample is 12 hours, confirming the high correlation of all experiments.

N-doped Na2Ti6O13@TiO2 (denoted as N-NTO@TiO2) composites are successfully synthesized using a simple two-step process: 1) ball-milling of TiO2 with Na2CO3 followed by heat treatment at 900oC; 2) mixing of the prepared Na2Ti6O13 with titanium isopropoxide and calcining with urea at 500oC. The prepared composites are characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and BET. The N-NTO@TiO2 composites exhibit well-defined crystalline and anatase TiO2 with exposed {101} facets on the external surface. Moreover, dopant N atoms are uniformly distributed over a relatively large area in the lattice of the composites. Under visible light irradiation, ~51% of the aqueous methylene blue is photodegraded by N-NTO@TiO2 composites, which is higher than the values shown by other samples because of the coupling effects of the hybridization of NTO and TiO2, N-doping, and presence of anatase TiO2 with exposed {101} facets.

After liquid culture of Phellinus baumii (P. baumii) mycelium (LPBM) was prepared, LPBM was fractionated into A∼E fraction (A; hot-water extract of liquid culture including mycelia, B; crude polysaccharide of A, C; hot-water extract of mycelia, D; crude polysaccharide of C, and E; crude polysaccharide of culture broth) to evaluate for possibility as functional materials with immunostimulatory activity. In macrophage stimulatory activity, E fraction as postbiotics significantly increased secretion of NO and IL-12 from RAW 264.7 cells. Next, when the splenocytes of C3H/HeN mice were primary cultured, E fraction showed significantly mitogenic activity with enhancing mitogen-related cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α) production from splenocyte. E fraction also potently stimulated GM-CSF production from Peyer’s patch cells as well as Peyer’s patch-mediated bone marrow cell proliferation. In addition, the immunostimularoy E fraction contained neutral sugar (73.8%), uronic acid (10.6%), protein (7.8%), and polyphenol (7.5%), and mainly consisted of glucose (39.1%), galactose (21.7%), mannose (11.1%), galacturonic acid (9.9%), and arabinose (8.9%) as component sugars. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that postbiotics including exopolysaccharide fractionated from liquid culture of the P. baumii mycelium could enhanced immunostimulatory activity.

Liquid-state fermentation (LSF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) were carried out to produce enzymes and β-glucan. The modified synthetic medium composition in liquid-state fermentation (LSF) was determined to be 5% (w/v) whole oat flour, 2% (w/v) tryptone, and 2% (w/v) rice bran. The different humidity conditions of oat by solid-state fermentation were evaluated in terms of maximum production of fungal biomass, amylase, protease, and β-glucan, which were 0.23 mg/g, 7,157.38 U/g, 413.67 U/g, and 8.26% (w/w), respectively, at 60% of humidity condition. Moreover, α-glucosidase inhibition activities of fermented oat with 60% humidity at 48 h were shown to be high 49.08% (w/w). Therefore, liquid- and solid-state fermentation processes were found to enhance the overall fermentation yields of oat to produce enzymes and β-glucan.

국내 생산 감로꿀의 기능성 식품 소재로 활용하기 위하여 DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl)와 ABTS [2,2-azobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonate)] 라디칼 소거능, FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) 활성, 총 폴리페놀 함량 분석을 통하여 항산화 활 성을 평가하였다. 국내 생산 감로꿀은 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성을 보였으며 최고농도 10 mg/mL에서 DPPH에 비하여 ABTS 라디칼 소거능이 3배 이상 높게 측정되었다. FRAP 분석에서는 ferric ion (Fe3+)를 126 μM의 ferrous (Fe2+)로 환원시켰다. 또한, 국내 생산 감로꿀에 함유된 폴리페놀성 화합물의 총량은 73.41 mg GAE/kg로 확인되었다. 이상의 연구결과에 비추어 볼 때, 국내 생산 감로꿀의 우수한 라디칼 소 거능과 환원력을 가지며 천연 항산화제로 알려진 페놀성 화합물을 존재로 인하여 항산화 활성을 가지는 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구결과는 국내 생산 감로꿀의 기능성 식품 소재로 활용할 수 있는 기초자료로 제공하는 바이다.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of manufacturing temperature on curcuminoid contents and the antioxidant activity of turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salab.) powder-enhanced nurungji. Two different processes employed turmeric powder (2%): AR (added after rice cooked) and BR (added before rice cooked). AR and BR nurungji samples were prepared by heating cooked rice at 180oC, 200oC, and 220oC for 3 minutes. As a result of the HPLC analysis, the contents of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin decreased as the heating temperature increased. Moreover, AR samples showed higher curcuminoids than BR samples. The total polyphenol contents, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging ability proportionally increased with the increase of the manufacturing temperature. On the other hand, flavonoid contents were decreased with increasing temperature. These results suggest that the preparation of turmeric powder-enhanced nurungji by AR process at 200oC is preferable to preserving curcuminoid contents and antioxidative activity.