Impact of Cultivation on the Control Efficacy and Distribution of Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Cucumber Greenhouses.

This study aimed to evaluate the enhancement of control by when was planted as a companion crop in cucumber greenhouses. The density and spatial distribution of and parasitized mummies were investigated across three treatment plots: (1) the simultaneous application of and cultivation of (parasitoid-zinnia plot); (2) the application of alone (parasitoid plot); and (3) a control plot (no application of both). maintained low densities in the parasitoid-zinnia plots, while its densities in the parasitoid plots initially decreased but rapidly increased thereafter.

Serine/threonine kinase 31 promotes PDCD5-mediated apoptosis in p53-dependent human colon cancer cells.

Although programed cell death 5 (PDCD5) is an important protein in p53-mediated proapoptotic signaling, very little is known about PDCD5-related cell death. In this study, we report that serine/threonine kinase 31 (STK31) interacts with PDCD5, which maintains the stability of PDCD5. STK31 overexpression significantly activated PDCD5 stabilization and p53-mediated apoptosis in response to etoposide (ET).

In vivo assay of the potential gadolinium-induced toxicity for sensory hair cells using a zebrafish animal model.

Recently, intratympanic injection of gadolinium-based contrast agent (GdC) is growing in use to visualize the endolymphatic hydrops. Although GdC has been quite safely used over 20 years through intravenous injection, the biological influence of GdC on sensory hair cells needs to be thoroughly assessed for wider clinical application of it through intratympanic injection. In this in vivo experimental study, the summated number of sensory hair cells (SO1, SO2, O1 and OC1 neuromasts) showed a steep decrease in the group exposed to 10% and 20% GdC (35.

Enhancement of Seed Dehiscence by Seed Treatment with GG01 and GG04 in Ginseng ().

Seed dehiscence of ginseng ( C. A. Mayer) is affected by moisture, temperature, storage conditions and microbes.

Effect of Aerated Compost Tea on the Growth Promotion of Lettuce, Soybean, and Sweet Corn in Organic Cultivation.

This study investigated the chemical characteristics and microbial population during incubation of four kinds of aerated compost teas based on oriental medicinal herbs compost, vermicompost, rice straw compost, and mixtures of three composts (MOVR). It aimed to determine the effects of the aerated compost tea (ACT) based on MOVR on the growth promotion of red leaf lettuce, soybean and sweet corn. Findings showed that the pH level and EC of the compost tea slightly increased based on the incubation time except for rice straw compost tea.

Evaluation of Watermelon Germplasm for Resistance to Phytophthora Blight Caused by Phytophthora capsici.

This study was conducted to determine the Phytophthora rot resistance of 514 accessions of watermelon germplasm, Citrullus lanatus var lanatus. About 46% of the 514 accessions tested were collections from Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, U.S.

Chloroplast-targeted expression of synthetic cry1Ac in transgenic rice as an alternative strategy for increased pest protection.

To increase insect resistance in transgenic rice plants, a synthetic truncated cry1Ac gene was linked to the rice rbcS promoter and its transit peptide sequence (tp) for chloroplast-targeted expression. Several transgenic lines were generated by the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method and the expression levels of the transgene were compared with untargeted expression. Use of the rbcS-tp sequence increased the cry1Ac transcript and protein levels by 25- and 100-fold, respectively, with the accumulated protein in chloroplasts comprising up to 2% of the total soluble proteins.

Anti-diabetic effects of compound K versus metformin versus compound K-metformin combination therapy in diabetic db/db mice.

Compound K (CK) is a major intestinal metabolite of ginsenosides derived from ginseng radix. In our preliminary studies, CK has shown to exhibit anti-hyperglycemic effect through its insulin-secreting action, similar to that of insulin secretagogue sulfonylureas. Metformin, a biguanide, improves insulin resistance by reducing gluconeogenesis and enhancing peripheral glucose uptake, promoting reduction of the plasma glucose level.

In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of alpha-linolenic acid isolated from Actinidia polygama fruits.

The fruit of Actinidia polygama (AP) has long been used as a folk medicine in Korea for the treatment of pain, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. In the present study, bioassay-guided fractionation of AP led to the separation and identification of a polyunsaturated fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which was found to show anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory effects of ALA, using acetic acid or carrageenan-induced inflammation models, were investi gated in mice or rats, respectively.

Role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the regulation of kainic acid-induced hippocampal cell death in mice.

Kainic acid (KA) is a well-known excitatory, neurotoxic substance. In mice, morphological damage of hippocampus induced by KA administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

Antinociceptive profiles of platycodin D in the mouse.

Platycodin D (PD), one of several triterpene saponins, was isolated from roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. We previously reported that intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Roles of adenosine receptors in the regulation of kainic acid-induced neurotoxic responses in mice.

Kainic acid (KA) is a well-known excitatory and neurotoxic substance. In ICR mice, morphological damage of hippocampus induced by KA administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

Regulation of c-fos and c-jun gene expression by lipopolysaccharide and cytokines in primary cultured astrocytes: effect of PKA and PKC pathways.

The effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and several cytokines on the c-fos and c-jun mRNA expression were examined in primary cultured astrocytes. Either LPS (500 ng/mL) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; 5 ng/mL) alone increased the level of c-fos mRNA (1 h). However, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 10 ng/mL) or interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta; 5 ng/mL) alone showed no significant induction of the level of c-fos mRNA.

Antinociceptive effects of ginsenosides injected intracerebroventricularly or intrathecally in substance P-induced pain model.

We have examined the effects of several ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1 and Rg3) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.

Antinociceptive profiles of crude extract from roots of Angelica gigas NAKAI in various pain models.

To characterize the antinociceptive profiles of Angelica gigas NAKAI (ANG; Korean angelica), methanol extract from the dried roots of ANG was made and mice were administered orally at the various doses (from 0.25 to 3 g/kg). ANG produced the increased latencies of the tail-flick and hot-plate paw-licking responses in a dose-dependent manner.

Antinociceptive effects of methysergide in various pain models.

Several studies have demonstrated that the nonselective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone produces a paradoxical antinociception in the formalin test. The opioid system is related to the serotonergic system for producing antinociception at the spinal level. Here we also asked whether systemic (i.

Role of glutamate receptors and an on-going protein synthesis in the regulation of phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the CA3 hippocampal region in mice administered with kainic acid intracerebroventricularly.

In an immunohistochemical study, kainic acid (KA, 0.1 microg) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

Possible antinociceptive mechanisms of opioid receptor antagonists in the mouse formalin test.

It has been reported that opioid receptor antagonist can induce antinociception in several nociceptive tests. In the intraplantar formalin pain model, however, opioid antagonist-induced antinociception, as well as its underlying mechanism, has not been well characterized. Therefore, in the mouse formalin test, we attempted to characterize the site of action and the possible opioid receptor subtypes.

Isolation and characterization of the TRP1 gene from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and multiple gene disruption using a TRP blaster.

The TRP1 gene encoding N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)-anthranilate isomerase was isolated from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, in which only a few genetic marker genes are available. The Y. lipolytica TRP1 gene (YlTRP1) cloned by complementation of Y.

Cycloheximide inhibits neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid in mice.

In the present study, we examined the effect of cycloheximide on various pharmacological responses induced by kainic acid (KA) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.

Effect of ginsenoside Rd on nitric oxide system induced by lipopolysaccharide plus TNF-alpha in C6 rat glioma cells.

Effects of ginsenosides on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide plus TNF-alpha (LNT) were examined in C6 rat glioma cells. Among several ginsenosides, ginsenoside Rd showed a complete inhibition against LNT-induced NO production. Ginsenoside Rd attenuated LNT-induced increased phosphorylation of ERK.

Antinociceptive mechanisms of orally administered decursinol in the mouse.

Antinociceptive profiles of decursinol were examined in ICR mice. Decursinol administered orally (from 5 to 200 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. In addition, decursinol attenuated dose-dependently the writhing numbers in the acetic acid-induced writhing test.

Effects of ginsenoside Rd and decursinol on the neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid in mice.

In the present study, we examined the effects of ginsenoside Rd (G-Rd) and decursinol (DC) on various neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid (KA) administered intracerebroventricularly ( i. c. v.

Effects of MK-801 and CNQX on various neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid in mice.

Effects of MK-801 (a NMDA receptor blocker) and CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; a non-NMDA receptor blocker) on several neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid (KA) were examined in ICR mice. In a lethality test, intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Antinociceptive mechanisms of platycodin D administered intracerebroventricularly in the mouse.

Platycodin D administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.