We investigated the cytoprotective effect of phloroglucinol, which was isolated from Ecklonia cava (brown seaweed), against oxidative stress induced cell damage in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast(V79-4) cells. Phloroglucinol was found to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by $\gamma-ray$ radiation. In addition, Phloroglucinol inhibited cell damage induced by radiation through scavenging ROS. Phloroglucinol increased the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, Taken together, the results suggest that phloroglucinol protectes V79-4 cells against oxidative damage by enhancing the cellular antioxidant enzymes activity.

Liver cancer is a leading cause of tumor-related mortality, Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is one of the most extensively studied hepatic carcinogens to date. In this study, the mRNA expression profile in DEN-induced liver tumors in mice was analyzed using DNA microarrays. We report increased expression of genes that participate in hypoxia response, including metallothionein 1 (Mt1), metallothionein 2 (Mt2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), transferrin (Trf), adipose differentiation-related Protein (AdfP) and ceruloplasmin (CP), as well as those involved in predisposition and development of cancers, such as cytochrome P450 2A5 (Cyp2a5), alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein (Ahsg) and Jun-B oncogene (Junb). The hepatic iron regulatory peptide, hepcidin (Hampl), was downregulated in DEN-stimulated liver tumors. Expression of tumor suppressor genes, such as tripartite motif protein 13 (Trim13), was decreased under these conditions. The data collectively indicate that DEN-induced tumor development can be exploited as a possible model for liver cancer, since this process involves various genes with important functions in hepatic carcinogenesis.

The identification of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) has led to potential novel insights on disease pathogenesis (atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease) and the regulation of normal organ function. The present in vivo study with estrogen or soy-isoflavones has provided evidence for the association between COX-2 and ICAM-1 (Intercellular adhersion molecule-1). In the system of mature female rats, soy-isoflavones exerted more pronounced effect on ICAM-1 inhibitory and COX-2 stimulatory effect than estrogen. In the system of ovariectomized estrogen deficient rats, the down-regulatory properties of soy-isoflavones on ICAM-1 was less evident, whereas estrogen exerted the inhibitory activity. These results demonstrate that COX-2 limits adhersion molecule expression on rat aorta cells and suggest that COX-2 may play a protective role in cardiovascular system in mature female rats. Soy-isoflavones appear to have beneficial effect on vascular systems through modulation of ICAM-1 and COX-2, and these molecules appeared to be closely associated.

Analysis of chromosome aberration (CA) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in peripheral lymphocytes of nurses exposed to low levels of anticancer drug and Ethylene Oxide(EO) gas in a hospital were performed. The frequency of CA was increased in the exposed compared to the controls whereas no increase of the frequency of MN was found. The frequencies of chromatid type CA were 1.2, 3.91 and 9.67 per 500 cells in the controls, workers exposed to anticancer drug and workers exposed to EO, respectively. Lower frequency of CA in nurses handling anticancer drugs with safety covers compared to those without safety covers was observed, but it was not statistically significant. The frequency of CA in nurses handling anticancer drugs increased by the frequency of mixing anticancer drugs. Poisson regression analysis showed a significant association of the frequency of chromatid type CA with age, duration of wort exposure to anticancer drug and EO gas exposure, but no association of the frequency of chromosome type CA with any variables. The results suggested that there were associations between CA and the occupational exposure to low levels of anticancer drug and EO gas.

Biofilm 내부의 항생제 내성 박테리아의 성장형태는 만성감염과 질병을 발생한다. 인위적 형성한 biofilm의 체외실험 모델 시스템 통한 항생제 침투 실험을 수행하였다. 항생제 내성 균주 (E. coli, S. aureus)는 항생제 내성균주 은행으로부터 획득하였다 Ca-alginate bead를 인위적 biofilm으로 사용하였고, 세포 생존률을 향상시키기 위해 공기 압축을 이용한 세포 포획 실험도 측정되었다. biofilm의 항생제 감수성은 항생제의 농도 따라 최저 저해 농도 (MIC)를 이용하여 측정되었다. bead생성에 따른 안정성은 bead를 형성하지 않은 세포와 비교하여 감소하였다. 항생제에 민감한 E. coli의 경우 시간이 지남에 따라 균체수도 감소하였으나, 항생제 내성 E. coli는 일정한 균체수를 유지하였다. bead형성 후 항생제 투여 효과는 항생제 내성이 있고, 낮은 농도의 항생제를 처리할수록 더 높은 생존률을 보였다.