• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-224
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• 2017

Carbon monoxide (CO), a reaction product of cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), is a gaseous messenger with anti-proliferative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory actions in many cell types. Here, we investigated the role of CO on the process of monocyte differentiation induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in human monocytic THP-1 cells. CORM-2 (tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer, $Ru2Cl_4(CO)_6$), a CO-releasing compound, decreased a marked cell adherence with a slight reduction of proliferation in monocytic THP-1 cells treated with PMA. And, CORM-2 significantly inhibited expression of differentiation markers such as CD14, CD11b plus CD18 (macrophage-1 antigen, Mac-1 or complement receptor 3, CR3) and phagocytosis of carboxylate-modified red fluorescent latex beads, in PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells. For the further experiments, differentiation of PMA-treated cells was enhanced after the initial 2 days stimulus by removing the PMA-containing media then incubating the cells in fresh media for a another 4 days. And, we observed the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and phagocytosis in differentiated macrophages. Treatment with CORM-2 significantly abolished the secretion of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and phagocytosis using fluorescence-conjugated E. coli (K-12 strain) bioparticles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated differentiated macrophages. In conclusion, these results suggest that CO inhibits the differentiation of monocytic THP-1 cells as well as the activation of differentiated macrophages.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2009

Objectives : Neuronal changes that result from treadmill exercise for patients with Parkinson's disease(PD) have not been well documented, although some clinical and laboratory reports suggest that regular exercise may produce a neuroprotective effect and restore dopaminergic and motor functions. However, it is not clear if the improvements are due to neuronal alterations within the affected nigrostriatal region or result from a more general effect of exercise on affect areas and motivation. In this study, we demonstrate that motorized treadmill exercise improves the neuronal outcomes in rodent models of PD. Methods : We used a chronic mouse model of parkinsonism, which was induced by injecting male C57BL/6 mice with 10 doses(Every 12 hour) of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (30 mg/kg) and probenecid (20 mg/kg) over 5 days. These mice were able to sustain an exercise training program on a motorized rodent treadmill at a speed of 18 m/min, $0^{\circ}$ of inclination, 40 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. At the end of exercise training, we extracted the brain and compared their neuronal and neurochemical changes with the control(saline and sedentary) mice groups. Synphilin protein is the substance that manifestly reacts with ${\alpha}$-synuclein. In this study, we used Synphilin as a manifest sign of recovery from neurodegeneration. We analyze the brain stems of the substantia nigra and striatum region using the western blotting technique. Results : There were no expression of synphilin in the saline-induced groups. The addition of MPTP(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) greatly accelerated synphilin expression which meant an aggregation of ${\alpha}$-synuclein. But, the MPTP-induced treadmill exercise group showed significantly lower expression than the MPTP-induced sedentary group. This means treadmill exercise has a definite effect on the decrease of ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation. Conclusions : In this study, our results suggest that treadmill exercise promoted the removal of the aggregation of ${\alpha}$-synuclein, resulting in protection against disease development and blocks the apoptotic process in the chronic parkinsonian mice brain with severe neurodegeneration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2001

Background : Angiogenesis is an essential process for the growth and metastatic ability of solid tumors. One of the key factors known to be capable of stimulating tumor angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The serum VEGF concentration has been shown to be a useful parameter related to the clinical features and prognosis of lung cancer and has been recently applied to a the malignant pleural effusion showing a correlation with the biochemical parameters. The VEGF has been shown to play a role in the inflammatory diseases, but rarely in the tuberculosis (TB). The serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels were measured in patients with lung cancer and TB. Their relationship with the clinical and laboratory parameters and repeated measurement 3 months after various anticancer treatments were evaluated to assess the utility of the VEGF as a tumor marker. Methods : Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the VEGF conoentration was measured in both sera and pleural effusions collected from a total of 85 patients with lung cancer, 13 patients with TB and 20 healthy individuals. Results : The serum VEGF levels in patients with lung cancer ($619.9{\pm}722.8pg/ml$) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls ($215.9{\pm}191.1pg/ml$), However, there was no significant difference between the VEGF levels in the lung cancer and TB patients. The serum VEGF levels were higher in large cell and undifferentiated carcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The serum VEGF levels of lung cancer patients revealed no significant relationship with the various clinical parameters. The VEGF concentrations in the malignant effusion ($2,228.1{\pm}2,103.0pg/ml$) were significantly higher than those in the TB effusion ($897.6{\pm}978.8pg/ml$). In the malignant pleural effusion, the VEGF levels revealed significant correlation with the number of red blood cells (r=0.75), the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)(r=0.70), and glucose concentration (r=-0.55) in the pleural fluid. Conclusion : The serum VEGF levels were higher in the lung cancer patients. The VEGF levels were more elevated in the malignant pleural effusion than in the tuberculous effusion. In addition, the VEGF levels in the pleural fluid were several times higher than the matched serum values suggesting a local activation and possible etiologic role of VEGF in the formation of malignant effusions. The pleural VEGF levels showed a significant correlation with the numbers of red blood cells, LDH and glucose concentrations in the pleural fluid, which may represent the tumor burden.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.467-477
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• 2003

Background : Pleural effusions are generally divided into transudates and exudates. If it is exudative, more diagnostic tests are required in order to determine the cause of the local disease. A malignancy is a common and important cause of exudative pleural effusions. Because the pleural fluid cytology and pleural biopsy specimens do not provide a diagnosis in a high percentage of malignant effusions, several tumor markers have been examined. In order to overcome this limitation, this study hypothesized that C-reactive protein(CRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) measurements would be useful for differentiating trasudates from exudates and determining the differences between a benign and malignant effusion. Methods : Eighty consecutive patients with a pleural effusion (tuberculous 20, parapneumonic 20, malignant 20, transudative 20) were examined prospectively: 60 of them were classified according to Light's criteria as having an exudative fluid and 20 had a transudative fluid. The standard parameters of a pleural effusion were examined and the serum and pleural effusion VEGF levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). CRP in the serum and pleural fluid was determined by a turbidimetric immunoassay. Results : The pleural CRP levels in the exudates were significantly higher than those in the transudates, $4.19{\pm}4.22mg/d{\ell}$ and $1.29{\pm}1.45mg/d{\ell}$, respectively. The VEGF levels in the pleural effusions were significantly elevated in the exudates compared to the transudate, $1,011{\pm}1,055pg/m{\ell}$ and $389{\pm}325pg/m{\ell}$, respectively. The VEGF ratio in the exudative effusion is significantly higher than a transudative effusions, $3.9{\pm}4.7$ and $1.6{\pm}0.9$, respectively. The pleural CRP levels in the patients with a benign effusion($4.15{\pm}4.20mg/d{\ell}$) were significantly higher than those in the malignant effusion($1.43{\pm}1.91mg/d{\ell}$). The VEGF ratio is significantly higher in malignant effusions($4.9{\pm}5.5$) than in benign effusions($2.8{\pm}3.6$). Conclusion : In conclusion, the CRP and VEGF levels in the serum and pleural effusion can distinguish between transudates and exudates. Moreover it can differentiate between benign and malignant pleural effusions.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2005

Purpose : Selective inhibition of multiple molecular targets may improve the antitumor activity of radiation. Two specific inhibitors of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were combined with radiation on the HeLa cell line. To investigate cooperative mechanism with selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker, in vitro experiments were done. Materials and Methods : Antitumor effect was obtained by growth inhibition and apoptosis analysis by annexin V-Flous method. Radiation modulation effects were determined by the clonogenic cell survival assay. Surviving fractions at 2 Gy ($SF_2$) and dose enhancement ratio at a surviving fraction of 0.25 were evaluated. To investigate the mechanism of the modulation of radiosensitivity, the cell cycle analyses were done by flow cytometry. The bcl-2 and bax expressions were analyzed by western blot. Results : A cooperative effect were observed on the apoptosis of the HeLa ceil line when combination of the two drugs, AG 1478 and NS 398 with radiation at the lowest doses, apoptosis of $22.70\%$ compare with combination of the one drug with radiation, apoptosis of $8.49\%$. In cell cycle analysis, accumulation of cell on $G_0/G_l$ phase and decrement of S phase fraction was observed from 24 hours to 72 hours after treatment with radiation, AG 1478 and NS 398. The combination of NS 398 and AG 1478 enhanced radiosensitivity on a concentration-dependent manner in HeLa cells with dose enhancement ratios of 3.00 and $SF_2$ of 0.12 but the combination of one drug with radiation was not enhanced radlosensitivity with dose enhancement ratios of 1.12 and SF2 of 0.68 (p=0.005). The expression levels of bcl-2 and bax were reduced when combined with AG 1478 and NS 398. Conclusion : Our results indicate that the selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker combined with radiation have potential additive or cooperative effects on radiation treatment and may act through various mechanisms including direct inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, suppression of tumor cell cycle progression and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the physiological activities of the ethanol extract from Gymnopilus spectabilis mycelium (EGM) and of the supernatant obtained from fermentation broth (SGB). The contents of polysaccharides, phenol compounds and total ${\beta}-glucans$ of EGM were found to be 80.14%, 3.5 mg/ml and 5.91%, respectively and those for SGB were 78.68%, 3.32 mg/ml and 3.28%, respectively. Both EGM and SGB exhibited dose-dependent nitrate-scavenging abilities at pH 1.2. In addition, both EGM and SGB on the autoxidation rate of the linoleic acid demonstrated powerful antioxidant activities at 1 mg/ml level. With respect to fibrolytic activity, EGM showed 1,180 unit/g, which was the same activity as streptokinase, while SGB was 1,011 unit/g. The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition activity of EMG determined by both the normal and pretreatment methods were estimated to be 8.2% and 10.2%, respectively. However, SGB showed no corresponding activity. The growth inhibitory effects of EGM on AGS, A549, HeLa and NCTC cells were over 58.88%, respectively. And the growth inhibitory effects of the SGB on HeLa and NCTC cells were 44.92 and 76.76%, respectively. Also, EGM and SGB activated the components of the alternative complement pathway from 51 and 62% at the concentration of 100 mg/ml, The xanthine oxidase inhibition activities of EGM and SGB (1 mg/ml) were 9.53 and 16.92%, respectively.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1997

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment of surgery and chemoradiotherapy for supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (SPNET) and obtain the Prognostic factors and complications Materials and Methods .The a9e of 18 patients ranged from 1 to 27 years (median=5 years). There were 12 males and 6 females The extents of surgery were gross total (n:9), subtotal (n:8), biopsy only (n: 1). Craniospinal radiotherapy was delivered to all the patients except 2 patients who were treated only with the whole brain and primary lesion. Radiation dose were 3120-5800cGy (median=5460) to primary mass, 1500-4200cGy (median=3600cGy) to the whole brain and 1320-3600cGy (median= 2400 cGy) to the spinal axis. Chemotherapy was done in 13 patients. Median follow-up period was 45 months ranged from 1 to 89 months. Results : Patterns of failure were as follows; local recurrence (1), multiple intracranial recurrence (2), spinal seeding (3), craniospinal seeding (2) and multiple bone metastasis (1). Two of two patients who did not received craniospinal radiotherapy failed at spinal area. All the relapsed cases died at 1 to 13 months after diagnosis of progression. The 2- and 5-rear overall survival rates were $61\%\;and\;49\%$, respectively The a9e, sex, tumor location did not influence the survival but aggressive resection with combined chemotherapy showed better outcome. Among 9 survivors, complications were detected as radiation necrosis (n=1), hypopituitarism (n=2), cognitive defect(n=1), memory deficit (n=1), growth retardation (n=1). Conclusion : To improve the results of treatment of SPNET, maximal surgical resection followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy is necessary. The extended radiation field including craniospinal axis may reduce the recurrence in spinal axis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2014

The effects of Eisenia bicyclis extracts on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast formation were investigated. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was tested in an MTT assay. Treatment with E. bicyclis ethanol extract increased cell proliferation by approximately 128% at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. The ALP activities in the MC3T3-E1 cells was 179% higher when the E. bicyclis ethanol extract was processed at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. The proliferation of RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells decreased significantly in response to treatment with the E. bicyclis extracts. Moreover, the proliferation of the RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells treated with E. bicyclis hot water extract decreased by nearly 80%. In addition, the E. bicyclis extract reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that E. bicyclis extracts have an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation and suggest that the extracts could be used in the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.442-450
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• 1997

The chemical properties of water masses were investigated at 33 stations of the southeastern last Sea in February, 1995 on board R/V Tam-Yang. The water masses were not clearly distinguished due to the vortical mixing in winter. However, on the basis of the T-S and $T-O_2$ diagrams, water masses in the study area were divided into five groups (Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V). (1) $>9.0^{\circ}C,\;>34.35\;psu,\;5.08\~5.60m\ell/\ell$ at Type I, (2) $6.0\~9.0^{\circ}C,\;34.15\~34.35\;psu,\;5.60\~5.90\;m\ell/\ell$ at Type II, (3) $4.0\~6.0^{\circ}C,\;34.00\~34.15\;psu,\;>5.90m\ell/\ell$ at Type III, (4) $1.5\~4.0^{\circ}C,\;34.00\~34.05\;psu,\;5.40\~5.90\;m\ell/\ell$ at Type IV, (5) $<1.5^{\circ}C,\;34.05\~34.07\;psu,\;4.80\~5.40\;m\ell/\ell$ at Type V. In the vertical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased rapidly with depth. The highest concentrations occurred in Type IV, while the concentrations in Type I were the lowest. The N/P ratios were less than Redfield ratio, indicating that nitrogenous nutrients were the limiting factor tor phytoplankton growth. The concentrations of POC and PON were in the range of $0.49\~20.03\;{\mu}g-at/\ell\;and\;0.09\~5.34\;{\mu}g-at/\ell$, respectively. The relatively high concentration occured in the surface layer of inner shore, showing that the concentration at each water mass followed the order Type I > Type II > Type III > Type IV > Type V, respectively. The C:N ratio in particulate organic matter was lower than the values reported in other region due to relatively high concentrations of PON in the study area. Relatively high ratios of POC to chlorophyll $\alpha$ during the study periods indicate that non-living detritus comparised most of the POC in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 1997

To develop a beneficial microbial feed for the cultivation of rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, an aerobic photosynthetic bacterium, Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ was isolated from marine structure at Haeundae beach in Pusan, Korea. Feeding effects of Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ on the growth of rotifer were analyzed comparing to other feeds such as PSB (purple nonsulfur bacteria), Chlorella sp. and baker's yeast. Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ contained more linoleic acid $(C_{18:3\omega3})$ and oleic acid $(C_{18:1\omega9})$ and amino acids than PSB (purple nonsulfur bacteria), Chlorella sp. and baker's yeast. The rotifer fed on Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ showed better effects than those fed on other feeds in the individual growth, size and weight. Also, the rotifer especially contained more eicosapentaenoic acid $(C_{20:5\omega3})$ and docosahexaenoic acid $(C_{22:6\omega3})$ in case of Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ feeding than the other feeds. In case of the feed of PSB and baker's yeast docosahexaenoic acid $(C_{22:6\omega3})$ did not show. In amino acid analysis, the rotifer fed on Erthrobacter sp, $S\;\pi-I$ showed more amino acid content comparing to those fed on other diets. Especially, arginine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, which are essential amino acid for fish growth, showed high contents. These results suggested that the aerobic photosynthetic bacterium, Erythrobacter sp. $S\;\pi-I$ would be a beneficial microbial teed for the cultivation of rotifer.