• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.437-447
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• 2001

Background: TNF-alpha is related to the generation of lung fibrosis in patients with UIP. The precise mechanism leading to lung fibrosis by TNF-alpha is unknown. However, the activation of a transcription factor like AP-1(down stream of c-jun N-terminal kinase, JNK) by TNF-alpha may be related to the induction of fibrogenic cytokines like PDGF or IGF-I. Furthermore, JNK was reported to be activated in the radiation-induced lung fibrosis model. This study examined JNK activity in patients with UIP. Methods : The expression of phosphorous JNK(p-JNK), macrophage/monocyte specific markers, CD68, and cytokeratin was evaluated by immunohistochemical(IHC) staining of lung tissues from patients with UIP and lung cancer. An in vitro kinase assay was performed with alveolar macrophages obtained by a bronchol-avleolar lavage from patients with UIP and healthy persons as the control. Results : The IHC stain showed that p-JNK is expressed in the almost all of the alveolar macrophages and smooth muscle cells in patients with UIP. In case of the normal areas of the lung from patients with lung cancer, the alveolar macrophages showed little p-JNK expression. Interestingly, increased JNK activity was not found in the in vitro kinase assay of the alveolar macrophages obtained from both patients with UIP and healthy persons as the control. Furthermore, 10 ng/mL of TNF-alpha failed to increase the JNK activity of the alveolar macrophages in both patients with UIP and healthy people. Conclusion : The JNK was activated constitutionally in patients with UIP. However, the role of JNK in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis needs to be clarified.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.120-128
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• 2008

The death ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/ Apo1L is a cytokine that activates apoptosis through cell surface death receptors. TRAIL has sparked growing interest in oncology due to its reported ability to selectively trigger cancer cell death. Euphorbiae humifusae Wind has been used in traditional Oriental medicine as a folk remedy used for the treatment of cancer. However, the mechanism responsible for the anticancer effects of E. humifusae not clearly understood. Here, we show that treatment with subtoxic doses of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) in combination with TRAIL induces apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. Combined treatment with WEEH and TRAIL induced chromatin condensation and sub-G1 phase DNA content. These indicators of apoptosis were correlated with the induction of caspase activity that resulted in the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Combined treatment also triggered the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, co-treatment with WEEH and TRAIL down-regulated the protein levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, XIAP and cIAP-1. Although more study will be needed to examine the detailed mechanisms, this combined treatment may offer an attractive strategy for safely treating gastric adenocarcinomas and the results provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anticancer activity of E. humifusae.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.361-373
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• 2016

This study tested the antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects of an extract of Orostachys japonicus, a herb used as a folk remedy for cancer for a long time. To assess the antioxidant activities of the Orostachys japonicus extract (OJE), the total polyphenol content was confirmed to have a high caffeic acid equivalent weight of 12 g by dry weight of 100g OJE and the total flavonoid content was confirmed that the quercetin equivalent of 1.7 g by dry weight of 100g OJE. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was confirmed a high scavenging activity of 79.7% at a concentration of 1%. To confirm the anti-aging effect of OJE, MMP-1 expression was decreased in $25{\mu}L/mL$ and $50{\mu}L/mL$ similar to control. In a clinical experiment, a group of subjects who used a cosmetic product containing OJE showed a significant increase in the amount of skin moisture from the forehead, left cheek, and chin. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the amount of skin sebum from the chin and maintaining pH balance of normal skin, As a result, the OJE demonstrates the efficacy of natural cosmetic material as antioxidant and anti-aging.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.820-832
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• 1996

The average smoking rate for Adults' in our country is 40.6% : It is 74.2% for men and 5.0% for women. Particularly, the smoking rate for men is reported higher than that of men in U.S.A. or Japan. Since the first report on the association between smoking and cancer appeared, 370 thousand smokers have succeeded in smoking cessation and over 90% of them have responded that they depended on a self-help smoking cessation approach. Despite this positive evidence about self- help approaches for smoking cessation, most studies on smoking cessation have focused on evaluation of formal treatment programs that are provided by clinics. Reports on the smoking cessation process used by smokers in our country could not be found. However, it is believed that the situation in our country would be quite similar to that in U.S.A. as far as approaches to successful smoking cessation are concerned. This study was conducted to classify the smoking stage to which they smoker belong and which changing mechanisms could be included at each changing stage (precontemplation stage, comtemplation stage, action stage) with a sample of 155 college students between 20 and 29 years old. And it also identified which variables related both to smoking pattern and to health, which ones were significantly discriminating in the changing stages. From the results of the data analysis it was found that Self-Determination is the most influential variable as one of the changning mechanisms which can discriminate three changing stages. And as the next significant mechanisms were Reinforcement, Dramatic Relief, Cognitive Restructuring, Helping Relationship, and Information Management in that order. Among variables related to the smoking pattern, years of regular smoking, whether smoking is continued or not even when they are sick, the number of attempts to stop smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and whether they have smoked over 100 cigarettes up to now, but not the time of the first cigarette after waking-up, were the significant factors to descriminate changing stages. It was confirmed that among variables related to health that, perceived control for health, confidence of health maintence ability, and self confidence in smoking cessation, were significant variables in determinating changing stages. The most influential variables among them was self-confidence in smoking cessation. Conclusively, it was shown that smoking cessation is the process of attempting to change smoking habits through the various changing processes. Also it can be shown that a few factors smoking habit, self-confidence of smoking cessation, and belief in self control of his /her health, were influential in discriminating the changing stages of the smoking habit.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1416-1422
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• 2008

In order to examine anti-inflammatory effect of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) alcohol extract on rheumatoid arthritis, the present study investigated the viability and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in Raw264.7 cells treated with AR and collagen induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice which were orally administered with AR prior to immunization. The results are as follows: AR extract at 20 and 50${\mu}g$/ml inhibited the viability of Raw264.7 by 35% and 79%, respectively. AR showed a significant decrease in TNF-${\alpha}$ levels from Raw264.7 cells treated with LPS. AR administration significantly decreased arthritic index in DBA/1J mice immunized with bovine collagen type II. AR administration significantly decreased spleen weights obtained from mice in 6 weeks after immunization. AR administration significantly decreased serum anti-type II collagen antibody levels compared with control group. AR administration decreased serum IL-6 levels compared with control group but it did not reach statistical significance.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1992

Between December 1983 and December 1989, twenty-five breast carcinoma patients were treated with surgical resection and postoperative radiotherapy at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. Twenty-three of 25 were evaluable and there were 7 patients with stage II ,14 patients with stage III, and 2 patients with stage IV. Twenty-one patients were treated with modified radical mastectomy and the remained 2 patients with simple mastectomy. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 8 years. The local control rate was $83\%$ for the entire group. The local control rates for each stage were $100\%$(6/6) for stage II, $73\%$(11/15) for stage III, and $100\%$(2/2) for stage IV. The number of metastatic axillary nodes was a good predictor of locoregional cotrol. It was $100\%$ for the patients with 0-3 metastatic nodes and $72\%$ for more than 4 nodes, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate for the entire group was $59\%$, and the disease-free survival rate was $32\%$, The 5-year survival rates for each stage II, III and IV was $83\%$, $59\%$ and $50\%$, respectively. The distant metastasis occured in 10 out of 23 patients and the most common site was bone. The results indicate that postoperative radiotherapy continues to play an important role in the primary.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2004

Essential oils from Needl Juniperrus seed and trunk (Juniperrus rigida Sieb.) and Olibanum resin (Boswellia carteii Birew) were extracted by a supercritical fluid extraction system (SFE) and immune activity of each essential oils were observed. The immune activities of each essential oil were compared. Essential oil from Olibanum resin enhanced the growth of human immune T cell up to 1.33 times, compared to control group. Each essential oils showed the potent inhibitory effect on the human cancer cell lines, and increased the secretion of cytokines, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from human B cell as well as the growth of human immune cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.910-917
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• 2015

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus L.) is widely known to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and digestion-promoting effects. Antioxidant activity and sensory characteristics of sponge cakes made with radicchio powder were investigated in this study. Sponge cakes were made with freeze-dried radicchio powder added to the flour at concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 7%. As the amount of radicchio powder increased, the specific gravity of radicchio-containing sponge cakes significantly increased. pH value did not significantly differ between groups. Moisture content decreased from 30.72% (control) to 28.68% (7% radicchio) and loss of mass during baking increased from 7.11% (control) to 9.36% (7% radicchio). L (brightness) and b (yellowness) of sponge cakes decreased while redness increased. Hardness and chewiness decreased as concentration of radicchio powder increased. Springiness and cohesiveness did not significantly differ between any of the groups. Total polyphenol contents ranged from 0.12 to 0.31 mg GAE/g. DPPH scavenging activity significantly increased as the amount of radicchio powder increased. Overall acceptability of sensory experience measured on a 7-point scale was highest in the 3% radicchio cakes (5.35). In conclusion, the addition of 3% radicchio powder improves the sensory qualities of radicchio sponge cakes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.355-364
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• 2009

Objectives : Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. Though medicines such as 5${\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor (finasteride) have recently been developed for treating BPH, their adverse effects and low efficacy should not be overlooked. Curcuma longa has a long history of use in traditional medicines of Asian countries. Many reports conclude the component curcumin in Curcuma lonfa, has the potential to treat various diseases including prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Curcuma longa with a BPH rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used with subcutaneous injection of testosterone after castration, which were histologically similar to human BPH. A total of 30 rats were equally divided into five groups: Group 1 served as control (sham-operated group): Group 2 was the model group: Group 3 and Group 4 animals were administered Curcuma longa at dose levels of 0.5g/kg and 1.0g/kg: Group 5 served as a positive control group and was treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The drugs were administered orally once a day for 30 days consecutively. After 31 days, the prostates were removed, and analyzed for their prostatic weight and histological examination. Results : The oral Curcuma longa ingestion group showed statistically significant decreases in their prostatic weights compared with the BPH-induced group and the oral finasteride ingestion group (p<0.05). Curcuma longa is also very safe in liver and kidney up to a dose of lg/kg. Injected testosterone histologically led to prostatic hyperplasia in rats, but oral Curcuma longa ingestion decreased this change. Conclusions : These results suggest that Curcuma longa has a definite inhibitory effect on BPH and might be an alternative medicine for treatment and prevention of human BPH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 1997

DW-166HC ($^{166}$ Holmium ($^{166}$ Ho)-Chitosan complex) is a new radiopharmaceutic anticancer agent with a broad anti-tumoriginec spectrum, especially against human fepatic cancer. DW-166HC was evaluated for the appearance of micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) of mouse bone marrow cells after subcutaneous and intravenous single administration. Bone marrow cells were prepared at 24 hr and 48 hr after DW-166HC-I ($^{165}$ Ho-Chitosan complex cold compound) administration and at 24 hr, 72 hr and 2 weeks after DW-166HC ($^{166}$ Ho-Chitosan complex : hot compound) administration. The results showed there was no statistically significant increase of the numbers of PCEs with micronucleus in all DW-166HC-I administered groups compared with a negative control group but there was statistically significant increase of the numbers of PCEs with micronucleus at 24 hr and 72 hr in all DW-166HC administered groups, which was recovered after 2 weeks from the drug administration. The results also showed the ratio of normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) to PCEs of all DW-166HC-I administered groups was not significantly different from that of a negative control group but there was significant difference this ratio at 24hr and 72 hr in all DW-166HC administered groups compared with that of negative group, which was also recovered after two weeks from the drug administration. These results suggested that DW-166HC-I may not cause any chromosomal damage but DW-166HC has in vivo mutagenic potential because of its radioactivity.