• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of natural herb mixture containing Laminaria japonica Areschoung (LAM) on fine dust-induced bronchitis in mice. Laminaria japonica Areschoung is main content of LAM, which is including fucoidan. Fucoidan extracted from phaophyta is known to prevent bronchitis and to defend against bacteria and virus infection. In this study, we experienced the effect of LAM on bronchitis and investigated gene expressions (e.g ; IL-8, COX-2, MCP-1) and bio-markers (e.g ; IL-8, PGE2, MUC5AC) associated with bronchitis by using A549 cells. Also, we investigated whether LAM can suppress the bronchitis in fine dust-induced animal models. We injected fine dust (50 ㎕) twice as INT (Intra-Nasal-Trachea) method. Then LAM (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) were oral administered for 14 days. We analyzed the number of immune cells, immunoglobulin E, bio-markers level associated with bronchitis. LAM significantly decreased bio-marker (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, Histamine, PGE2), immune cells (white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte), and immunoglobulin E, that are increased by fine dust. Taken together, this study suggest that LAM can be used as effective herbal extract for bronchitis.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-44
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• 2021

Objective : This study aimed to assess the preventive effect of Bupleuri Radix aqueous extracts (BR) and red koji-fermented BR (fBR) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in a rat model. Methods : Rats were administered 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg/day of fBR for 28 days before LPS treatments. All rats were sacrificed 5 h after LPS treatment (500 ㎍/head, intratracheal instillation). Body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters (pH, partial pressure [Pa] of O2, PaCO2), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), total cell numbers, neutrophil/alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. In addition, histopathological changes including the luminal surface of alveoli (LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, and number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were checked. Results : LPS injection led to increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, BALF protein, LDH, TNF-α and IL-1β contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, alveolar septum thickness, and PMNs, and decreases in PaCO2 and pH of arterial blood and LSA. However, these LPS-induced acute lung injuries were inhibited by pretreatment of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg of fBR. The most favorable effects were seen with 30 mg/kg fBR as compared with 60 mg/kg of α-lipoic acid and BR. Conclusions : fBR showed preventive effects on LPS-induced acute lung injury, which resembles acute respiratory distress syndrome. The mechanisms of action were likely via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory means.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high concentration of uremic toxins in their blood and often experience muscle atrophy. Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin produced by tryptophan metabolism. Although an elevated IS level may induce muscle dysfunction, the effect of IS on physiological concentration has not been elucidated. Additionally, the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on muscle hypertrophy have been reported in healthy models; however, it is unclear whether UA ameliorates muscle dysfunction associated with chronic diseases, such as CKD. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether UA can improve the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were incubated with or without IS (0.1 mM) and UA (1 or 2 μM) to elucidate the physiological effect of UA on CKD-related mitochondrial dysfunction and its related mechanisms using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IS suppressed the expression of differentiation marker genes without decreasing cell viability. IS decreased the mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP levels by downregulating the genes pertaining to mitochondrial biogenesis (Ppargc1a, Nrf1, Tfam, Sirt1, and Mef2c), fusion (Mfn1 and Mfn2), oxidative phosphorylation (Cycs and Atp5b), and fatty acid oxidation (Pdk4, Acadm, Cpt1b, and Cd36). Furthermore, IS increased the intracellular mRNA and secretory protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Finally, UA ameliorated the IS-induced impairment in C2C12 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that UA improves the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis by affecting differentiation, ATP levels, and IL-6 secretion in C2C12 cells. Therefore, UA could be a novel therapeutic agent for CKD-induced muscle dysfunction.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immunosuppressive and antioxidant effects of a novel radioprotective agent using the vitamin E derivative 2-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)methyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-6-ol (TMG) and its effect on tumors, and to study its usefulness. Materials and Methods: In this study, C57BL/6NCrSlc mice were divided into four groups (control, TMG, radiation therapy [RT], and RT+TMG), using 10 mice in each group. In the TMG and 2 Gy+TMG groups, 500 mg/kg TMG was administered. Two groups (2 Gy and 2 Gy+TMG) among RT and RT+TMG groups were irradiated with 2 Gy in a single fraction, while the other two groups (6 Gy and 6 Gy+TMG) were irradiated locally with 6 Gy in three fractions. Results and Discussion: TMG positively affected CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Tumor volumes and growth inhibition rates were compared. In order to evaluate how TMG administration affected tumor growth, Ehrlich cancer cells were injected into the thigh of mice, and the tumor volume and growth suppression rate were compared. Not only RT but also TMG alone inhibited tumor growth. If RT conducted to the mice with TMG, TMG could increase the number of leukocytes, primarily that of lymphocytes. TMG also inhibited tumor growth in addition to RT. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the 6 Gy+TMG group. Conclusion: In conclusion, TMG exerted an immunopotentiating effect mainly by increasing the white blood cell numbers including that of lymphocytes. In addition to RT, TMG also inhibited tumor growth. Therefore, TMG is considered to be a useful radioprotective agent in radiotherapy without tumor growth induction.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2024

While simultaneous bilateral partial nephrectomy with a conventional multiport robot has been consistently reported since the 2010s, the introduction of the DaVinci SP system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) could provide a novel way to perform surgery on bilateral kidneys while innovatively reducing the number of incisions. In our first report worldwide, the patient with bilateral small renal mass (2.0 cm for the left and 1.5 cm for the right side) and preoperative normal renal function was placed in the lateral decubitus position on an inverted bed. After tilting the bed to be as horizontal as possible, a 4-cm incision was made in the lower part of the umbilicus for the floating trocar technique. The partial nephrectomy was performed reliably as with the conventional transperitoneal approach, and then the patient could be repositioned to the contralateral side for the same procedure, maintaining all trocars. Total operation time (skin to skin), total console time, and the left- and right-side warm ischemic times were 260, 164, 27, and 23 minutes, respectively, without applying the early declamping technique. The estimated blood loss was 200 mL. The serum creatinine right after the operation, on the first day, 3 days, and 90 days after surgery were 0.92, 0.77, 0.79, and 0.81 mg/dL, respectively. For 90 days after the procedure, no complications or radiologic recurrence were observed. Further clinical studies will reveal the advantages of using the DaVinci SP device for this procedure over traditional multiport surgery, maximizing the benefit of a single port-based approach.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.3981-3989
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• 2019

Tamoxifen (TAM) is the most widely used treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, the majority of these patients exhibit TAM resistance following treatment. We previously reported that proliferation and migration were greater in TAM-resistant MCF-7 (TAMR-MCF-7) cells than in parental MCF-7 cells. Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytosolic tyrosine kinases that transduce signals from plasma membrane cytokines and growth factor receptors. JAK2 selectively phosphorylates signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, and the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway is known as a crucial signaling pathway for the regulation of cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, basal phosphorylation of STAT3 was revealed to be greater in TAMR-MCF-7 cells than in control MCF-7 cells. Ruxolitinib, a potent JAK2 inhibitor, was demonstrated to attenuate STAT3 phosphorylation and the proliferation of TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Ruxolitinib also suppressed the enhanced cell migration of TAMR-MCF-7 cells through the inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a representative target gene of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway, functions as a key regulator of invasion and angiogenesis. Ruxolitinib significantly inhibited VEGF mRNA expression and transcriptional activity. The present study also performed a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay to assess tumor growth and angiogenesis in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Ruxolitinib reduced tumor weight and the number of blood vessels produced by TAMR-MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicated that JAK2 could be a new therapeutic target for TAM-resistant breast cancer.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.353-360
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• 2019

Background: Controlled hypotension (CH) provides a better surgical environment and reduces operative time. However, there are some risks related to organ hypoperfusion. The EV1000/FloTrac system can provide continuous cardiac output monitoring without the insertion of pulmonary arterial catheter. The present study investigated the efficacy of this device in double jaw surgery under CH. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent double jaw surgery between 2010 and 2015. Patients were administered conventional general anesthesia with desflurane; CH was performed with remifentanil infusion and monitored with an invasive radial arterial pressure monitor or the EV1000/FloTrac system. We allocated the patients into two groups, namely an A-line group and an EV1000 group, according to the monitoring methods used, and the study variables were compared. Results: Eighty-five patients were reviewed. The A-line group reported a higher number of failed CH (P = 0.005). A significant correlation was found between preoperative hemoglobin and intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusion (r = 0.525; P < 0.001). In the EV1000 group, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly lower 2 h after CH (P = 0.014), and the cardiac index significantly decreased 1 h after CH (P = 0.001) and 2 h after CH (P = 0.007). Moreover, venous oxygen saturation (ScVO₂) decreased significantly at both 1 h (P = 0.002) and 2 h after CH (P = 0.029); however, these values were within normal limits. Conclusion: The EV1000 group reported a lower failure rate of CH than the A-line group. However, EV1000/FloTrac monitoring did not present with any specific advantage over the conventional arterial line monitoring when CH was performed with the same protocol and same mean blood pressure. Preoperative anemia treatment will be helpful to decrease intraoperative transfusion. Furthermore, ScVO₂ monitoring did not present with sufficient benefits over the risk and cost.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.339-351
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• 2012

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the most frequently used serum for the cultivation of mammalian cells. However, since animal-derived materials might not be appropriate due to safety issues, allogeneic human serum (HS) has been used to replace FBS, particularly for the culture of human cells. While there has been a debate about the advantages of HS, its precise effect on human adult stem cells have not been clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HS on the human eyelid adipose stem cells (HEACs) in vitro. When HEACs were cultivated in a medium containing 10% HS, many cells moved into several spots and aggregated there. The phenomenon was observed as early as 9 days following 10% HS treatment, and 12 days following 5% HS plus 5% FBS treatment. However, the aggregation was never observed when the same cells were cultivated with 10% FBS or bovine serum albumin. To examine whether cell density might affect the aggregation, cells were seeded with different densities on 12-well dish. Until the beginning of aggregation, cells seeded at low densities exhibited the longest culture period of 16 days whereas cells seeded at high densities showed the shortest period of 9 days to form aggregation. The number of cells was $15.1{\pm}0.2{\times}10^4$ as the least for the low density group, and $29.3{\pm}2.8{\times}10^4$ as the greatest for the high density group. When human cord blood serum or normal bovine serum was examined for the same effect on HEACs, interestingly, cord blood serum induced the aggregation of cells whereas bovine serum treatment has never induced. When cells were cultivated with 10% HS for 9 days, they were obtained and analyzed by RT-PCR. Compared to FBS-cultivated HEACs, HS-cultivated HEACs did not express VIM, and less expressed GATA4, PALLD. On the other hand, HS-cultivated HEACs expressed MAP2 more than FBS-cultivated HEACs. In conclusion, human adult stem cells could move and form aggregates by the treatment with human body fluids.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1390-1394
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• 2008

Previously, we found that the transgenic rice plants over-expressing the Arabidopsis $H^+/Ca^{2+}$ antiporter CAX 1 (accession no. U57411) gene accumulated 2.7 to 7.5-fold more calcium in the T3 rice grains as compared to those of control. To examine physiological safety of the $T_3$ rice grains, the effect of the $T_3$ brown rice on change in levels of body weight and white blood cells was compared with that of the control Ilpum brown rice by feeding trial in mice. During the feeding trial for one month, there was no significant difference between two mice groups, which were fed by the $T_3$ brown rice or Ilpum brown rice. There were no detectable differences in their effects on immune functions including plaque-forming unit, peritoneal macrophage number, and NK-cell activity. In addition, biochemical analysis of the blood failed to exhibit any difference between two mice groups. Together, these results suggested that the $T_3$ brown rice, which was produced from a genetically modified organism (GMO), might be safe and possess a potential to be applicable as calcium-fortified feed or food. Long-term safety of the $T_3$ brown rice, however, remains to be elucidated.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.639-655
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• 1996

Cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease are the first and the fourth common causes of death among adults in Korea. Reported risk factors of these diseases are mostly alike. But some risk factors of one of these diseases may prevent other diseases. Therefore, we tried to compare and discriminate the risk factors of these diseases. We recruited four case groups and four control groups among the inpatients who were admitted to Wonju Christian Hospital from March, 1994 to November, 1995. Four control groups were matched with each of four case groups by age and sex. The number of patients in each of four case and control groups were 106 and 168 for acute myocardial infarction(AMI), 84 and 133 for subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), 102 and 148 for intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH), and 91 and 182 for ischemic stroke(IS) respectively. Factors whose levels were significantly higher in AMI and IS than in responding control group (RCG) were education, economic status, and triglyceride. Factors whose levels were significantly lower in hemorrhagic stroke than in RCG were age of monarch, and prothrombin time. The factor whose level was higher in AMI than ill RCG was uric acid. The factor whose level was higher in AMI, ICH, and SAM than in RCG was blood sugar. Factors whose levels were significantly higher in all the case groups than in RCG were earlobe crease, Quetelet index, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total cholesterol. The list of risk factors were somewhat different among the four diseases, though none of the risk factors to the one disease except prothrombin time acted as a preventive factor to the other diseases. The percent of grouped cases correctly classified was higher in the discrimination of ischemic diseases(AMI and IS) from hemorrhagic diseases(SAM and ICH) than in the discrimination of cerebrovascular disease from AMI. The factors concerned in the discrimination of ischemic diseases from hemorrhagic diseases were prothrombin time, earlobe crease, gender, age, uric acid, education, albumin, hemoglobin, the history of taking steroid, total cholesterol, and hematocrit according to the selection order through forward selection.