• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.9 s.89
• /
• pp.1298-1302
• /
• 2007

A hallmark of cancers is 'leaky' tight junctions (Tjs). TJs mediated paracellular permeability is elevated and TJs maintained cell polarity is frequently lost. Concomitantly, TJs-associated proteins including members of the claudin family of proteins are dysregulated. Recent findings indicate that these TJs changes can contribute to cancer progression. In this study, we examined the effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$, a quinone compound obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae), on the Tjs-associated regulators in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. ${\beta}-lapachone$ treatment downregulated the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-lR) proteins in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells. But the levels of claudin-3 and -4 proteins were increased in ${\beta}-lapachone$-treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells. And also the zonnula occludens-l (la-I) and p-catenin protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ were increased in a time-dependent manner. However, claudin-3 and -4 mRNA levels were uninhibited by ${\beta}-lapachone$ in HepG2 and Hep3B. The present results suggest that the upregulation of claudin-3 and -4 protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ occurs by a post-transcriptional mechanism and points to a novel mechanism by ${\beta}-lapachone$.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Flavopiridol enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis of cancer cells in our previous in vitro study. The purpose of this study was to assess if flavopiridol could enhance the radioresponse of mouse mammary tumors in vivo. Materials and Methods: Balb/c mice bearing EMT-6 murine mammary carcinoma were treated with flavopiridol only, radiation only, or both for 7 days. Flavopiridol was administered 2.5 mg/kg twice a day intraperitoneally (IP). Radiation was delivered at a 4 Gy/fraction at 24-h intervals for a total dose of 28 Gy. Tumor volume was measured and compared among the different treatment groups to evaluate the in vivo radiosensitizing effect of flavopiridol. Tumors were removed from the mice 20 days after treatment, and TUNEL and Immunohistochemical stainings were performed. Results: Significant tumor growth delay was observed in the radiation only and combined treatment groups, when compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the tumor growth curves of the control and flavopiridol only group or between the radiation only and combination treatment group. Apoptotic cells of different treatment groups were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-medicated nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The expressions of Ku70 in tumor tissues from the different groups were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Similarly, no significant difference was found between the apoptotic rate or Ku70 expression among the different treatment groups. Conclusion: Flavopiridol did not show evidence of enhancing the radioresponse of mouse mammary tumors in this study.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.228-235
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the estrogen activity of silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa extracts and their fractions. Powdered samples of freeze-dried silkworm pupa were extracted at room temperature (RT), $40^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$, and $100^{\circ}C$ in water (D.W), chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol for 6h and then filtered (0.45 um). The extracts were then freeze-dried. The estrogenic activity of these extracts was then investigated by competition binding assays using estrogen receptor ${\alpha}\;(ER{\alpha})$ and $ER{\beta}$, and by evaluating their effects on the proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Among the extracts evaluated, water extracts prepared at RT showed the highest binding affinity to $ER{\alpha}$ ($IC_{50}$, 1.76 ug/ml) and $ER{\beta}$ ($IC_{50}$, 0.07 ug/ml). In addition, MCF-7 cells that were treated with 62.5 ug/ml of the RT extract showed the greatest increase in proliferation (2-fold; 1291.79%) when compared to control cells (659.82%). Next, the water extract that was prepared at RT (sample 1) was dissolved in D.W. and further fractionated using a Dowex 50W - 8X ($H^+$) column. The flow-through and wash were then pooled together and freeze-dried (sample 2). The bound materials were then eluted with 20 mM NaCl, after which they were applied to a Dowex 1X2 - 200 ($Cl^-$) column and washed with D.W. to remove the sodium ions. The eluants were then freeze-dried (sample 3). Of these fractions, sample 2 showed the highest binding affinity to ER{\alpha} ($IC_{50}$, 1.44 ug/ml) and $ER{\beta}$ ($IC_{50}$, 1.18 ug/ml). In addition, MCF-7 cells that were treated with sample 2 (15.6 ug/ml) showed the largest increase in growth (1159.39%) when compared to control cells (525.26%). Taken together, these results suggest that the fraction of the RT water extract of silkworm pupa referred to as sample 2 may be useful as a phytoestrogen.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.397-410
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect of Injinsammul-tang (IJS) on hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats. Methods : Sprague Dawley (SD) rats of control and treatment groups received intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg/day diethylnitrosamine (DENA) weekly for 8 weeks. Experimental rats were classified into 3 groups; normal group (Nor), hepatic cancer induced control group (Con), and IJS extract 250 mg/kg administered group (IST) after being injected with DENA. Thereafter the changes of body weight, liver weight and weight of liver/100g body weight, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Gross anatomy and optical microscopy were also observed. Results : The body weight decreased in Con and IST compared with the Nor. The weight of liver and the weight of liver/100g body weight increased significantly in Con and IST compared with the Nor. The activities of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH increased in the Con compared with Nor, but decreased in IST compared with Con. The activities of SOD increased in the Con and IST compared with Nor. Upon naked eye and light microscopic examination, IJS improved the morphological and histopathological changes of liver caused by DENA-induced hepatic neoplasm. The number of hepatic p53 positive cells decreased in the IST compared with Con. Conclusions : Most of the results did not show a significant effect, but some of the results showed a significant effect. It can be estimated that IJS has some effects on hepatocellular carcinogenesis induced by DENA in rats, and further studies will be needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.312-320
• /
• 1992

Radiotherapeutically, nasopharyngeal cancer is an important disease in korea. Because of its blind anatomic location, early detection is relatively uncommon. Clinically, most of cases are locally advanced and nodal involvement are common. Recently better understanding of nature of the disease and improvement of radio-therapy technique permit better treatment results, including locoregional control and survival rate, and minimal normal tissue damages comparing with previously published data. We analyzed 31 patients of pathologically proven and previously untreated naso-pharyngeal carcinoma with different treatment techniques, retrospectively. Minimal and maximal follow up period of the survuor is 6 months and 68 months, respectively. Thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma are included in this analysis. The median age is 49 years(range from 20 to 64 years). Twenty two patients are stage III. Eleven patients are treated with radiotherapy alone and 20 are treated with comblined modalities treatment. The degree of responses after radiotherapy are categorized by 3-classes, i.e. complete response, partial response. In spite of simioarities of complete response rate and 1-year survival rate between two different treatment techniques, those patients with undifferentiated carcinoma appear to benefit from the adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, systemic failure is more prominant in radiotherapy alone group than in combined modalities treatment group. These results suggest that adjuvant therapy in the radiotherapeutic management of nasopharyngeal cancers needs additional research according to histologic types and future extensive clinical trials.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.496-500
• /
• 2005

To develop functional food material using Rhodiola dumulosa(RD), the biological activities such as antioxidation, antiproliferation in the cancer cells and immuno-activity in macrophage cells were investigated with hexane, ethylacetate, n-butanol, methanol and water fractions of RD 80% methanol extract. Hydrogen-donating activities of hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, methanol and water fraction were 28.30, 53.21, 35.48, 42.64 and 21.14%, respectively, at a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/mL$, and the activity of ethyl acetate fraction was similar to as that of BHT. After treated for 48 hrs, the ethyl acetate fraction decreased the proliferation of the A549 and SW480 cells in a dose-dependent manner at concentration of 10, 50, and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$, the activities were higher than other fractions. Morphology of cells treated with the ethyl acetate fraction for 48 hr at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ was distorted with shrank cell mass, and the cell number was lower than that of control cells the macrophage cells treated. The methanol fraction was significantly induced NO production compared with untreated control cells at above 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration. These results indicate that RD would be used the functional food material.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of grasshopper (Oxya chinensis sinuosa) powder ingestion with/without aerobic exercise (treadmill running) on energy metabolism. To achieve this purpose, 28 Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups: normal diet control group (CON), a normal diet with exercise control group (COEX), a grasshopper powder-supplemented diet group (GH), and a grasshopper powder-supplemented diet with exercise group (GHEX). Duration of the powder ingestion and aerobic exercise training were 6 weeks. Body weight gain ratio was not significant. Fat mass significantly decreased in GH and GHEX. There were no changes in blood glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels between groups. Glucose transporter type 2 and glucose transporter type 4 protein levels were not significantly different between groups. Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 level was the highest in GHEX. AMP-activated protein kinase level significantly increased in GHEX compared to the levels in the other groups. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta protein level was reduced in GHEX compared to that in CON. These results suggest that grasshopper powder ingestion and endurance exercise training influence energy metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.15-28
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to identify the trends of resourcefulness researche studies for suggesting the future direction of study. Study design, types of subjects, measurement tools, study concept, and outcome were examined by reviewing 61 research studies published from 1980 to 1999. The results were as follows: 1. There were 24 works in the 1980s and 37 works in 1990, according to the published year of resourcefulness study. Nonexperimental studies like descriptive study, correlational study and comparative study were more frequent than experimental studies. 2. Research studies that consisted of 30- 100 subjects were the most numerous with 27 studies in all. The majority of study subjects was shown as healthy students and depressive patients. 3. Most studies used Rosenbaum's Self Control Schedule(SCS) for assessing resourcefulness. Reliabilities of resourcefulness researches were cronbach ${\alpha}=.70$ or more. According to statisitical tests done for internal validity, SCS was negatively correlated to maladaptation. Factor analysis revealed that the most parsimonious structure was 3 to 6 factors. The total communality variance in the SCS was about 40 %. Other tools used with the SCS were about coping, depression, satisfaction of life and symptoms, self management and health promotion. 4. In correlational studies, concepts like depression, anxiety, and psychological symptoms were related to resourcefulness negatively. Adaptive functioning, life satisfaction and self achievement had positive correlations to resourcefulness. 5. Studies on comparison between a healthy person and depressive patient or smoker and non-smoker were done. There were coping, depression, symptom, self efficacy, health problem and self-control as comparative concepts. 6. Study subjects consisted of depressive patients in 9 of 18 experimental studies. The majority of studies were done with cognitive-behavioral therapy as an experimental intervention. The most effective treatment was revealed in high resourcefulness group. Since the above findings, resourcefulness research increased since 1980 and mostly non-experimental design for quantitative study were done. In the field of nursing, research about resourcefulness was in an initial stage. It is expected that further research needed to be done. Recommendations on the basis of the present research suggest that it is necessary to replicate studies, develop nursing intervention enhancing resourcefulness and apply it to patients with chronic diseases including cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.10
• /
• pp.1509-1513
• /
• 2005

To develop a new functional food material, edible crude saponin was isolated from soybean cake using HP-20 resin and its anticancer effect and immune-activity were investigated. The saponin significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells such as A549, MCF-7 and SW480 at a concentration of 1,000 $\mu$g/mL. Morphological changes was observed in the AS49 cells surface treated with the saponin of 1,000 $\mu$g/mL concentration. The proliferation of mouse spleen cells treated with saponin was increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated control cells until the concentration of 1 $\mu$g/mL but decreased at higher concentrations than that. The NO production in marcrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7) treated with saponin was increased in a dosedependent manner compared with untreated control cells.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2009

Implantation of blastocyst into the uterine endometrium is established by the existence of histologically and functionally prepared uterine endometrium. Doc-1, an oral cancer suppressor gene, is expressed under the control of steroid hormones and has been suggested as a proliferation regulator of endometrial cells. However, the role is not much clear and in this study we examined the expression modulation of Doc-1 in decidualizing cells in vitro. In vitro decidualization was performed in endometrial stroma cells using progesterone and estrogen. Until 24 hr after decidual induction the proliferation of stroma cell was significantly increased but decreased after then. On the other hand, most of the cells differentiated into decidual cell after 48 hr of induction. The Doc-1 protein was co-localized in a specific deciudal cells and colocalization rate was increased in a parallel manner with the induction time. Based on these results, it is suggested that Doc-1 expression is under the control of both steroid hormones and decidual signals, and Doc-1 protein is involved in suppression of the proliferation of decidualizing cells.