The steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm powder (SMSP) is developed by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2012. In here, the nutritional components of SMSP produced by rearing white-silk cocoon silkworm, Baekokjam, at high temperatures were compared and analyzed with those produced under optimal temperature conditions of 25°C. The weight of silkworms reared in a high-temperature environment increased compared to that under an optimal condition. However, when the silkworms matured, the difference in weight according to temperature conditions narrowed. As for the growth rate, the 5th instar silkworms grew a day earlier in a high-temperature environment than in an optimal. SMSPs produced in a high-temperature environment showed a difference when comparing the nutritional components with the SMSPs in an optimal condition. Overall, high-temperature-reared SMSPs contained about twice as high carbohydrates and slightly lower protein and fat than the optimal-reared SMSPs. These results show that SMSPs produced in a high-temperature environment have a difference in growth rate and nutritional composition from those produced under an optimal condition.

The genus Vespa consists of 22 species worldwide, and their phylogenetic relationships are well established through adult morphology and molecular analyses. However, taxonomic studies of larvae are lacking. In this study, we provided descriptions and taxonomic keys for eight species of Korean Vespa larvae.

In addition to its effectiveness in resolving apical periodontitis, regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) has advantages of inducing root maturation and restoring innate immunity or sensory function through revascularization. However, its adoption in mature teeth in adults has been scarce due to limited stem cell sources and constricted apical size. In recent years, there have been instances of studies performing RET in mature permanent teeth. The present case report describes the treatment of apical periodontitis in a previously treated mature permanent tooth using RET with a 3-year follow up. In the present case, a 34-year-old female patient presented with previously treated maxillary lateral incisor with a large radiolucency. After removal of previous gutta percha within the root canal, bleeding was induced by passing hand file beyond root apex and calcium hydroxide was applied over the blood clot. During the 9-month follow-up, a reduction in periapical radiolucency was observed. Subsequently, after removing calcium hydroxide, apical bleeding was induced again and mineral trioxide silicate was placed up to 3mm beneath cemento-enamel junction, above the blood clot. The tooth was later restored with glass-ionomer cement and composite resin. After 3 years, the tooth was asymptomatic and radiographic evaluations showed complete resolution of periapical radiolucency with presence of normal lamina dura and periodontal ligament space. In conclusion, modified RET with long-term calcium hydroxide application is a potentially viable treatment option for previously treated mature permanent teeth with apical periodontitis. However, further clinical studies with larger number of cases are recommended to verify its effect.

홍잠은 숙잠(熟蠶)을 수증기로 익혀서 인간이 섭취할 수 있도록 제조한 다양한 건강 증진 효과가 있는 천연 건강 식품이다. 현재 표준 제조 방법은 수증기로 찐 홍잠을 보관과 판매의 편의를 위하여 급속 냉동하여 동결 건조를 진행하는 것이다. 그런데, 홍잠을 동결 건조하는 과정은 많 은 시간과 비용을 필요로 하여 홍잠 제품 가격의 인상 요인으로 작용하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 홍잠을 수증기로 찐 후 바로 균질 액으로 제조하여 분무 건조하면 분말 제조 비용을 절감할 수 있음을 발견하였다. 그리고 홍잠 균질 액에 식용 단백질 분해 효소를 첨가하여 분해시킨 후, 단 1회의 분무 건조로 제품을 제조할 수 있는 방법을 개발하였다. 특히 홍잠 균질 액이나 효소 분해 홍잠 균질 액은 바로 액상이나 젤리 형태로 일반 또는 환 자용 특수 의료 용도 식품에 활용이 가능함을 보여주었다. 본 연구에서는 생산비용이 감소된 홍잠의 가공 방법을 제안하며 이는 제품 생성의 단가 를 낮추어 제품의 대중화와 양잠 농가의 연관산업 육성을 불러올 것으로 기대된다.

In this study, 30 kinds of long-term and mature Korean soy sauce were collected and classified by the fermentation period, and the components related to taste and sensory characteristics were analyzed. A total of 4 kinds of organic acids were detected. The total organic acid content was in the range of 97.2~341.6 mg%, but did not show the tendency to increase or decrease in proportion to the aging period. The total free amino acid content was within the range of 3,001.0~3,834.7 mg% and showed a tendency to increase in proportion to the ripening period of the soy sauce. The contents of aspartic acid and glutamic acid subsequently increased in the long-term matured soy sauce. The ratio of essential amino acid to total amino acid was 31.6~35.7%, and the ratio of glutamic acid to total amino acid was 19.6~23.9%, respectively. The panel of 20~29-year-old indicated that the longer the aging period of soy sauce, the lower the preference while the panel of 30 or more years indicated that the longer the aging period of soy sauce, the higher the preference. This study was the first to investigate the quality of long-term matured soy sauce in more than one year.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a powder of steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworms (SMSP), Bombyx mori, on hair growth/loss in vivo in C3H mice. Topically applied SMSP for at least 10 days or longer showed potent hair growth promoting activity. SMSP-treated mice showed increase in hair weight significantly compared with control mice which were not treated with SMSP. Orally administered SMSP also showed hair growth promoting activity, which was lower than that when applied topically. In conclusion, SMSP was identified as a potential candidate for a novel hair-loss preventing and/or hair-growth promoting agent, which shortened the telogen phase to advance the following anagen phase in C3H mice in vivo when SMSP was applied topically for at least 10 days or longer.

Less mature nuclear reactor technologies are characterized by a greater uncertainty due to insufficient detailed design information, operational data, cost information, etc., but the expected performance characteristics of less mature options are usually more attractive in comparison with more mature ones. The greater uncertainty is, the higher economic risks associated with the project realization will be. Within a comparative evaluation of less and more mature nuclear reactor technologies, it is necessary to apply economic risk measures to balance judgments regarding the economic performance of less and more mature options. Assessments of any risk metrics involve calculating different characteristics of probability distributions of associated economic performance indicators and applying the Monte-Carlo method. This paper considers the applicability of statistical risk measures for different economic performance indicators within a trial case study on a comparative evaluation of less and more mature unspecified LWRs. The presented case study demonstrates the main trends associated with the incorporation of economic risk metrics into a comparative evaluation of less and more mature nuclear reactor technologies.

Mature silkworm of Bombyx mori is known to contain various functional materials. However, it is too hard to chew or digest for humans when it is cooked or lyophilized. In Korea, the Rural Development Administration recently developed and patented a method for making mature silkworms edible. In this study, therefore, we examined the effects of a larval powder of steamed mature silkworm (SMSP) on skin pigmentation and melanogenesis. For elucidating the depigmenting activity, lightness of a designated site on the murine dorsal skin was measured in vivo. During the experiment, hyperpigmentation was induced on the skin by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. At the end of the experiment, melanin production on the skin was visualized by Fontana-Masson staining. Orally administered SMSP of pistachio cocoon strain for at least a month or longer significantly and reduced abnormal pigmentation caused by UVB on the murine dorsal skin. SMSP also showed a potential anti-melanogenic efficacy in modulating UVB-induced hyperpigmentation. Taken together, SMSP was identified as a potential candidate for a novel anti-melanogenic agent, which showed depigmenting efficacy against UVB-induced hyperpigmentation in vivo when administered orally.

The mature silkworms of Bombyx mori L. have recently been regarded as a potential health supplement due to gaining their edibility for humans via a newly-developed steaming method by the Rural Development Administration in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a larval powder of steamed mature silkworms (SMSP) on hair growth/loss in vivo in mice. Topically applied SMSP showed potent hair growth promoting activity. SMSP-treated mice showed increase in hair weight significantly compared with control mice which were not treated with SMSP. Orally administered SMSP also showed hair growth promoting activity, which was lower than that when applied topically. By elucidating the hair loss preventing activity of SMSP, this study will be helpful to increase incomes for sericultural farm households in Korea.

Silkworms, Bombyx mori L., have been traditionally used as an oriental medicine to manage diverse pathological conditions including dermatological problems in East Asia, in addition to the use of their cocoons for making fabrics. The “mature” silkworms of B. mori have recently been regarded as a potential health supplement due to gaining their edibility for humans by a newly-developed steaming method. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a larval powder of steamed mature silkworms (SMSP) on skin pigmentation and melanogenesis. Orally administered SMSP of pistachio cocoon strain significantly and reduced abnormal pigmentation caused by ultraviolet B on the murine dorsal skin. SMSP also showed a potential anti-melanogenic efficacy in modulating UVB-induced melanogenesis.

Increased intracellular levels of Ca2+ are generally thought to negatively regulate lipolysis in mature adipocytes, whereas store-operated Ca2+ entry was recently reported to facilitate lipolysis and attenuate lipotoxicity by inducing lipophagy. Transient receptor potential mucolipin1 (TRPML1), a Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channel, is mainly expressed on the lysosomal membrane and plays key roles in lysosomal homeostasis and membrane trafficking. However, the roles of TRPML1 in lipolysis remains unclear. In this study, we examined whether the channel function of TRPML1 induces lipolysis in mature adipocytes. We found that treatment of mature adipocytes with ML-SA1, a specific agonist of TRPML1, solely upregulated extracellular glycerol release, but not to the same extent as isoproterenol. In addition, knockdown of TRPML1 in mature adipocytes significantly reduced autophagic flux, regardless of ML-SA1 treatment. Our findings demonstrate that the channel function of TRPML1 partially contributes to lipid metabolism and autophagic membrane trafficking, suggesting that TRPML1, particularly the channel function of TRPML1, is as therapeutic target molecule for treating obesity.

Steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm powders (SMSP) have various health improvement effects. However, westill do not know which substances are reponsible for varius health improvement effect yet. In this study, we comparedcontents of phytochemicals in SMSP to mulberry leaves and other silkworm powders. We found that SMSP have certainlevels of phyttochemicals and silk proteins. Our data suggested that various substances in SMSP are responsible for healthimprovements effect. (Project title: Elucidation the health improvement effects of boiled silk worm larvae, Project No:PJ010828012017)

The mature silkworms of Bombyx mori L. have recently been regarded as a potential health supplement due to gainingtheir edibility for humans by a newly-developed steaming method. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate theeffects of steamed and lyophilized mature silkworm powder (SMSP) on skin pigmentation and melanogenesis. Orally administeredSMSP significantly and dose-dependently reduced abnormal pigmentation caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) on the murinedorsal skin. SMSP also showed a potential anti-melanogenic efficacy in modulating UVB-induced melanogenesis. Takentogether, SMSP was identified as a potential candidate for a novel anti-melanogenic agent, which showed hypo-pigmentingefficacy against UVB-induced melanogenesis in vivo when administered orally.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) is one of the multi-functional secreted proteins which belong to CCN family of cysteine-rich growth factors. CTGF is known to have pivotal roles in embryonic endochondral ossification but its role in relevance to periodontitis is never been determined. To identify new molecular mediators associated with periodontitis-induced bone resorption, we have analyzed publicly available GEO database and found the markedly augmented CTGF mRNA expression in periodontitis gingival tissues. The existence of CTGF significantly enhanced mature osteoclasts survival which accompanied by reduction in TUNEL-positive nuclei and PARP cleavage. These results may provide another line of evidence the CTGF mediated prolonged osteoclast survival and subsequent increased bone resorption in the periodontitis patients.