• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.345-352
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• 2007

As mercury absorbed into body can cross the blood-brain barrier and react with DNA and RNA. Central nervous system has been known to be affected especially in children. But it was very difficult to know the influences of chronic low-does Hg exposure on the health. Although many studies investigated the affect, most of results were still disparate. In order to investigate the health effects of mercury exposure, several test were conducted for some Korean school children. The general health effects were investigated using blood test, Posturography and computer-based neurobehavioral test was done to examine the affect of Hg into neural responses. About 400 children were chosen for blood test whose blood Hg level were upper and lower 10% of population participated in the nationwide Hg exposure survey. The concentration of calcium and creatine, the number of white and red blood cell showed statistical significance with Hg exposure in blood test. Another 36 children were selected from the same participants for the posturography and neurobehavioral test. The intensity and center frequency of hand tremor which were related to unconsciousness also showed distinct significances. Any general relations with Hg exposure were not found in all test including computer-based neurobehavioral test.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

Human erythropoietin(EPO) is a glycoprotein that enhances red blood cell production by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD) suffer from anemia caused by reduced production of EPO in the kidney. Recombinant human EPO protein has been used successfully for the treatment of anemia associated with CKD. Recently, attention has been paid to the development of side effect of EPO, pure red cell aplasia(PRCA), in some patients with CKD. PRCA is a rare disorder of erythropoiesis that leads to a severe anemia due to an almost complete cessation of red blood cell production. EPO-related PRCA is caused by the production of EPO-neutralizing antibodies(Abs) that eliminate the biological activity of EPO as well as endogenous EPO in patients undergoing therapy. Since 1988, almost 200 cases worldwide have been reported with Ab-positive PRCA after receiving EPO therapeutics. The underlying mechanisms of the breaking of immune tolerance to self-EPO have been investigated. Modification of formulation, organic compounds of container closures, and route of administration has been suggested for the possible mechanism of increased immunogenicity of EPO. A number of assays have been used to detect Abs specific to EPO. These assays are generally grouped into two major categories: binding Ab assays and neutralizing Ab assays(bioassays). There are several types of binding Ab assays, including radioimmunoprecipitation assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the BIAcore biosensor assay. In vitro cell-based bioassays have been utilized for the detection of neutralizing Abs. Finally, the recent experience with anti-EPO Abs may have considerable implications for the future development and approval of EPO preparations. Also, considering that millions of patients are being treated with EPO, clinicians need to be aware of signs and consequences of this rare but severe clinical case.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.519-524
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to establish the most effective method of cell therapy by comparing and analyzing the level of wound healing after various cell delivery methods. Methods: Human mesenchymal stem cells were administered using 5 different methods on full thickness skin defects which were deliberately created on the back of 4 - week old mice using a 8 mm punch. Different modes of administration, cell suspension, local injection, collagen GAG matrix seeding, fibrin, and hydrogel mix methods were used. In each experiment group, $4{\times}105$ mesenchymal stem cells were administered according to 5 deferent methods, and were not for the corresponding control group. Results: The wound healing rate was fastest in the local injection group. The wound healing rate was relatively slow in the collagen matrix group, however, the number of blood vessels or VEGF increased most in this group. Conclusion: For rapid wound healing through wound contraction, it is advantageous to administer MSC by the local injection method. For the healing process of a wide area, such as a burn, the seeding of cells to collagen matrix is thought to be effective.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.124-128
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• 2008

Cell proliferation inhibitory effects of homoharringtonine (HHT), an active drug substance in Cephalotaxus koreana, against blood cancer cell line K562 were evaluated. In addition, in vivo chronic toxicity test with mouse was carried out. When K562 cell line was treated everyday for 9, 6, 3 days, $IC_{50}$ values of HHT were determined as 0.27, 0.37, and 1.10 mM respectively. The anticancer activity of HHT was comparable to adriamycin, a known anticancer drug compound for blood cancer treatment. in vivo chronic toxicity test of the HHT, the number of red blood cell (RBC) showed no significant difference. From the analysis of the liver-functional enzymes in blood, all of liver damage related enzymes such as glutamate-oxalate-transferase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate-transferase (GPT), cholesterol (Chol) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed no significant change. However, from the histologic test, a neutrophil of the band type in liver tissue was observed.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2004

Leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1), a human CC chemokine, has been demonstrated to induce chemotaxis of neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and Iym phocytes and has been shown to suppress colony formation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) in vitro and in vivo. The temporal suppression of HSPC by chemokines could potentially be applicable for various indications, such as the protection of HSPC from the several anti-proliferating chemotherapeutics in cancer treatments. In order to evaluate the protective effects on myeloid progenitor cells, the recombinant Lkn-1 was produced by Pichia pastoris and tested with cyclophosphamide, cytotoxic chemotherapeutics. The pretreatment of Lkn-1 increased the number of HSPC in bone marrow as well as the potency of resulting progenitor cells after the treatment of cyclophosphamide. Af-ter the first cycle of cyclophosphamide treatment these protections of HSPC correlated with the increased number of white blood cells and neutrophils in the peripheral blood. In lethal conditions created by the repeated administration of cyclophosphamide, the treatment of Lkn-1 enhanced the survival of mice, suggesting the potential use of Lkn-1 as the protective agent for HSPC from various cytotoxic insults.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.585-592
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• 1994

A consecutive Jiao Chio acupuncture therapy was performed for 3 days in the 45-90 days old 11 calves of which have been shown severe watery diarrhea. The discharge of the infected calves was yellowish brown in color. Two calves of these patients were infected wi pulmonary disease as well as diarrhea. Thus, Su Qi and Fei Yu acupuncture therapy was carried out additionally after dosing with antibiotics twice for The two infected calves. Blood chemical values and serum neutralizing antibody titers were checked, and total blood cell count was also carried out to know the therapeutic effect before and after(21 days) acupuncture therapeutics. The results are as follows ; 1, The diarrhea has ceased one day after begining of the acupuncture therapy in 5 calves, and the cessation of the diarrhea in remaining calves occurred in 1 calf each on 3rd and 4th day, and 2 calves on 6th day, respectively. Two calves infected with pulmonary disease as well diarrhea were cured 8 days after the begining of the therapcutics. 2. Rotaviruses wire detected in the feces of 2 calves, and bovine diarrhea viruses were detected in the 8 calves by the test for serum neutralizing antibody titers, and bovine coronaviruses were also detected in 5 calves. Four calves of the 5 bovine coronavirus infected calves were also infected with bovine diarrhea viruses. 3. Total leucocyte number, total amount of serum protein, and amount of fibringen were slightly increased, while total erythrocyte number, and erythrocyte packed cell volume were slightly decreased. These valucs were statistically not significant. Electrolytes of Na/sup +/, K/sup +/ and Cl/sup -/ were slightly decreased but these values also were not significant. These results indicate that the acupuncture therapeutics arc significantly effective to remove the viral diarrhea in the young calves.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives : The aims of this study were to exploring the therapeutic effect of Imperatae Rhizoma Extract(IRE) on Asthma. Methods : To investigate biological modulation activities of IRE, we conducted the cell-based assay whether IRE could regulate T helper 2 cells activity with EL4 T cells and mouse splenocytes, and followed animal study to conform the efficacy of their therapeutic potential on OVA-induced asthmatic mouse. Results : In cell study, IRE suppress the nuclear translocation of GATA binding protein-3 protein in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/Ionomycin-stimulated EL4 T cells and Interleukine(IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production in splenocytes at concentration dependent manner. In animal study, IRE-treated groups both 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml improve airway hypersensitibility reaction(AHR) response to methacholine about 30% and 40% with positive control group. Peritoneal blood analysis reveal that eosinophil number and ovalbumin-specific IgE is reduced by IRE treatment. Cell number of eosinophil is also reduced in bronchoalveolar lavage of IRE group like to peritoneal cell and real time-polymerase chain reaction data show that expression levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were down regulated in lung tissue. Finally, histological analysis indicate that IRE protect the bronchial tissue damages through the accumulation of inflammatory cells and collagen, and these effect may be cause by interfering Th2 cells activity. Conclusions : Our data represent that IRE potentiates therapeutic activities to the allergic diseases such as asthma by regulating Th2 cells differentiation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.11-14
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• 2010

Human tumors, including those of the hepatobiliary system, express a number of specific antigens that can be recognized by T cells, and may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare leucocytes that are uniquely potent in their ability to capture, process and present antigens to T cells. The ability to culture sufficient numbers of DCs from human bone marrow or blood progenitors has attracted a great deal of interest in their potential utilization in human tumor vaccination. $CD34^+$ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were obtained from a patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma. The PBSCs were cultured in the X-VIVO 20 medium supplemented with the Flt-3 Ligand (FL), GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-$\alpha$ for 12 days. The morphology and functions of the cells were examined. The generated cells had the typical morphology of DCs. When the DCs were reinjected into the same patient, an augmentation of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was observed. Concomitantly, an increase in the natural killer (NK) cell activity was also detected in the patient. These results suggest that DCs-based cancer immunotherapy may become an important treatment option for cancer patients in the future.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.348-357
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of mugwort extracts on the blood ethanol concentration and liver function in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were used, the rats administered with 25% ethanol (5g/kg$.$B.W.) were devided into three groups (CON-E ; 25% ethanol administered to the CON-E) according to the administered ethanol concentration and the levels of administered mugwonts. Mugwont roots extracts were administered via the caudal vein. Ethanol concentration was measured at the time of 0, 1, 2 and 3hr by gas chromatography. GOT(Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase) and GPT(Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase) were measured at the time of 0 and 5hr. Components of each extracts were analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography. Cell number, GOT and GPT were investigated by using rat hepatocyte culture. Megwort extracts were added at the levels of 1% or 2%. Hepatocyte culture were into five groups according to the addition levels. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Catechin contents of 8∼10mg/100g and the contents of (-)-epigallocatechin was high in the water extracts. 2. Ethanol degradation efficiency declines in the following order : MDW-E＞MOH-E＞CON-E. 3. The numbers of rat hepatocytes declines in the following order : 2% MDW-L＞1%MDW-L＞1%MOH-L＞CON-L＞2%MOH-L. These results suggest that crude catechin of mugwort extracts may play important roles to degrade ethanol and recover liver function in rats.