• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.452-459
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside compound K(C-K), a major metabolite of ginsenoside, exhibits anticancer activity in various cancer cells and animal models. A cell signaling study has shown that C-K inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway in human astroglial cells and liver cancer cells. However, the molecular targets of C-K and the initiating events were not elucidated. Methods: Interaction between C-K and Annexin A2 was determined by molecular docking and thermal shift assay. HepG2 cells were treated with C-K, followed by a luciferase reporter assay for $NF-{\kappa}B$, immunofluorescence imaging for the subcellular localization of Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit, coimmunoprecipitation of Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit, and both cell viability assay and plate clone formation assay to determine the cell viability. Results: Both molecular docking and thermal shift assay positively confirmed the interaction between Annexin A2 and C-K. This interaction prevented the interaction between Annexin A2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit and their nuclear colocalization, which attenuated the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and the expression of its downstream genes, followed by the activation of caspase 9 and 3. In addition, the overexpression of Annexin A2-K320A, a C-K binding-deficient mutant of Annexin A2, rendered cells to resist C-K treatment, indicating that C-K exerts its cytotoxic activity mainly by targeting Annexin A2. Conclusion: This study for the first time revealed a cellular target of C-K and the molecular mechanism for its anticancer activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy. Methods: Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery. Results: VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9283-9289
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• 2014

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer diagnosed in children and represents approximately 25% of cancer diagnoses among those younger than 15 years of age. Materials and Methods: This study investigated alterations in the displacement loop (d-loop) region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as a risk factor and diagnostic biomarker for early detection and diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Using mtDNA from 23 subjects diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the first 450 bp of the d-loop region were amplified and successfully sequenced. Results: This revealed 132 mutations at 25 positions in this region, with a mean of 6 alterations per subject. The d-loop alterations in mtDNA in subjects were all identified as single nucleotide polymorphisms in a homoplasmic distribution pattern. Mutant alleles were observed in all subjects with individual frequency rates of up to 95%. Thirteen mutant alleles in the d-loop region of mtDNA occurred with a high frequency. Novel alleles and locations were also identified in the d-loop of mtDNA as follows: 89 G insertions (40%), 95 G insertions (13%), 182 C/T substitutions (5%), 308 C insertions (19%), and 311 C insertions (80%). The findings of this study need to be replicated to be confirmed. Conclusions: Further investigation of the relationship between mutations in mitochondrial d-loop genes and incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6047-6053
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• 2015

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing in many countries. Plant products can be used to protect against cancer due to natural anticancer and chemopreventive constituents. Strobilanthes crispus is one of plants with potential chemopreventive ability. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of Strobilanthes crispus juice on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: MTT assays, flow cytometry, comet assays and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine the effects of juice on DNA damage and cancer cell numbers. Results: This juice induced apoptosis after exposure of the HepG2 cell line for 72 h. High percentages of apoptotic cell death and DNA damage were seen at the juice concentrations above 0.1%. It was found that the juice was not toxic for normal cells. In addition, juice exposure increased the expression level of c-myc gene and reduced the expression level of c-fos and c-erbB2 genes in HepG2 cells. The cytotoxic effects of juice on abnormal cells were in dose dependent. Conclusions: It was concluded that the Strobilanthes crispus juice may have chemopreventive effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.165-172
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• 2017

Background: This study investigated the temporal variation in soil $CO_2$ efflux and its relationship with soil temperature and precipitation in the Quercus glauca and Abies koreana forests in Jeju Island, South Korea, from August 2010 to December 2012. Q. glauca and A. koreana forests are typical vegetation of warm-temperate evergreen forest zone and sub-alpine coniferous forest zone, respectively, in Jeju island. Results: The mean soil $CO_2$ efflux of Q. glauca forest was $0.7g\;CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ at $14.3^{\circ}C$ and that of A. koreana forest was $0.4g\;CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ at $6.8^{\circ}C$. The cumulative annual soil $CO_2$ efflux of Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was 54.2 and $34.2t\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Total accumulated soil carbon efflux in Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was 29.5 and $18.7t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ for 2 years, respectively. The relationship between soil $CO_2$ efflux and soil temperate at 10 cm depth was highly significant in the Q. glauca ($r^2=0.853$) and A. koreana forests ($r^2=0.842$). Soil temperature was the main controlling factor over $CO_2$ efflux during most of the study period. Also, precipitation may affect soil $CO_2$ efflux that appeared to be an important factor controlling the efflux rate. Conclusions: Soil $CO_2$ efflux was affected by soil temperature as the dominant control and moisture as the limiting factor. The difference of soil $CO_2$ efflux between of Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was induced by soil temperature to altitude and regional precipitation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-313
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G. pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.211-224
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• 2002

Background and Objective : In order to investigate the effects of Gilgyunglwedok-tang (GRT) on antitumor activity and antimetastatic activity, studies were done experimentally. Materials and Methods : Experimental studies were perfonned for the cytotoxic effect on BALB/c mouse lung fibroblast cells, the proliferating effect of splenic lymphocyte, the expression of CD3e/CD4, CD3e/CD8, and B220 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the cytotoxic effect on A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, MCF-7 cells, the inhibitory effect on the activity of DNA topoisomerase I, the T/C% in ICR mice bearing S-180, the inhibitory effect of Cell adhesive of A549 Cells and SK-OY-3 Cells to complex extracellular matrix, the inhibitory effect on lung colonies, the change of lung tissue, the antiangiogenic activity, and the effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression in the RT1080 cell line. Results and Conclusion : The results were obtained as follows : 1. In the cytotoxic effect on BALB/C mouse lung fibroblast Cell, GHT didn't show the significant cytotoxic effect on BALB/C mouse lung fibroblast cell compared to the control group. 2. In thymidine uptake assay, GHT showed the significant proliferating effect of splenic lymphocyte in proportion to the concentration. 3. In the expression of CD3e/CD4, CD3e/CD8, and B220 in peripheral blood mononuclea cells (PBMCs) of mice, GRT had no significant change to the normal group in CD4. However, GRT showed an increase to the normal group in CD8 and GHT in the only $1\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ category showed an increase to the normal group in B220. 4. In the cytotoxic effect of GRT on A549, SK-OY-3, SK-MEL-2 and MCF-7 cells, there was no significant cytotoxic effect compared to the control group. 5. In the inhibitory effect on the activity of DNA topoisomerase I, GHT in the $10\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ category showed the inhibitory effect on the activity of DNA topoisomerase I in proportion to the concentration. 6. In the T/C% in ICRmice bearing S-180, GHTtreated group showed 123.7% of T/C% compared to the control group. 7. In the inhibitory effect of cell adhesive of A549 Cells and SK-OV-3 Cells to complex extracellular matrix, GRT in the only $100\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ category showed the significant inhibitory effect compared to the control group. 8. In the inhibitory effect on lung colonies, GHT showed the significant inhibitory effect on lung colonies compared to the control group. 9. In the change of lung tissue, GHT showed a significant decrease of lung cancer growth, interalveolar fibrosis and hyaline material compared to the control group. In the development of lymphocyte around lung cancer cells and lung parenchymal, GHT showed the significant inducement efficacy compared to the control group. 10. In CAM assay, the antiangiogenic activity of GHT showed 30%. 11. In the effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression in the RT1080 cell line, GHT had no significant inhibitory effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression compared to the control group. According to the above results, it could be suggested that GHT has an antitumor activity and antimetastatic activity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.607-622
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• 2022

The Spring Festival is the most important traditional celebration in China, and it has the important value of condensing the national spirit and emotion, inheriting traditional culture and customs, and showing the development and changes of contemporary China. As a kind of TV performance art and cultural media carrier, The Spring Festival Gala of China Media Group (C.M.G) has been broadcast for 40 years and has exerted a great influence on the development of China's media industry. These days, China's TV performing arts and Chinese media that represented by The Spring Festival Gala, are not only the main front of domestic propaganda, but also shoulder the historical responsibility of building the image of a great country and exporting Chinese remarkable culture to the outside world. Therefore this study had summarizes The Spring Festival Gala change trend in the past 40 years focus on the theme of The Spring Celebration, the development of multimedia, and the interaction between society and culture in different periods of Chinese social background, and also analyzes the current problems of the Spring Festival by combining relevant data and specific cases. so as to make forward-looking suggestions for the and how the Chinese media industry can further develop towards globalization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4945-4949
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in Egyptian females. Nrf2 is involved in oxidative stress while P73 functions in response to DNA damage. This study aimed to assess the role of Nrf2 promoter and P73 G4C14 to A4T14 SNPs in breast cancer in Egypt. Patients: Eighty-five female patients with breast tumours (41 malignant, 44 benign) were included. Nrf2 (rs6721961) and p73 (G4A) SNPs were determined by PCR- CTPP assay. Results: Genotype frequencies of the Nrf2 promoter SNP were 34.2% and 37.9% for AA in benign and malignant groups respectively, and 43.9% and 40.5% for CC and, 21.9 % and 21.6% for CA. Genotype frequencies for the P73 G4A SNP were 52.9% and 44.7% for GA in benign and malignant groups respectively, and 47.1% and 55.3% for GG. Discussion: Nrf2 genotypes in pre - and post-menopausal patients, showed significantly different distributions in the 2 patient groups, the AA genotype being significantly more common in pre-menopausal patients. The P73 G4A SNP showed no relation to age of disease onset. Conclusion: The Nrf2 (rs6721961) AA genotype might be related to early breast cancer onset. In contrast the P73 G4A polymorphism showed no relation to either disease risk or age at presentation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2016

Background : We studied the anti-oxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects of Spiraea fritschiana Schneid extract (SFSE). Methods and Results : The SFSE was prepared using methanol and was evaluated for its total phenol and flavonoid content, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free-radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and effect on nitric oxide (NO) production, and cell viability by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The total phenol content was $212.78{\mu}g{\cdot}galli$c acid equivalent (GAE)/mg and the total flavonoid content was $66.84{\mu}g{\cdot}quercetin$ equivalent (QE)/mg. The extract showed antioxidant activity (DPPH free-radical scavenging activity) with $RC_{50}$ value of $76.61{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The reducing power of the extract was Abs 0.58 at $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Cell viability was determined using the MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity, we examined the inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-(LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. The NO inhibition rate was 90% at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ SFSE. At the same concentration, the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 also decreased. Conclusions : Our results suggest that SFSE is a novel resource for the development of foods and drugs that possess anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.