• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2016

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal lung disease characterized by the accumulation of excessive fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the extracellular matrix. The transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be a possible source of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts in IPF lungs. We have previously reported that apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) has anti-fibrotic activity in experimental lung fibrosis. In this study, we determine whether ApoA1 modulates TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in experimental lung fibrosis and clarify its mechanism of action. Methods: The A549 alveolar epithelial cell line was treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ with or without ApoA1. Morphological changes and expression of EMT-related markers, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were evaluated. Expressions of Smad and non-Smad mediators and TGF-${\beta}1$ receptor type 1 ($T{\beta}RI$) and type 2 ($T{\beta}RII$) were measured. The silica-induced lung fibrosis model was established using ApoA1 overexpressing transgenic mice. Results: TGF-${\beta}1$-treated A549 cells were changed to the mesenchymal morphology with less E-cadherin and more N-cadherin expression. The addition of ApoA1 inhibited the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced change of the EMT phenotype. ApoA1 inhibited the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced increase in the phosphorylation of Smad2 and 3 as well as that of ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase mediators. In addition, ApoA1 reduced the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced increase in $T{\beta}RI$ and $T{\beta}RII$ expression. In a mouse model of silica-induced lung fibrosis, ApoA1 overexpression reduced the silica-mediated effects, which were increased N-cadherin and decreased E-cadherin expression in the alveolar epithelium. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that ApoA1 inhibits TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in experimental lung fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.454-464
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• 2018

Black soybeans are used as food sources as well as for traditional medicines because they contain an abundance of natural phenolic compounds. In this study, total phenolic contents (TPCs) of Korean black seed coat soybean varieties Socheongja (SCJ), Socheong 2 (SC2) and Cheongja 2 (CJ2) as well as their antioxidant capacities were investigated. Among them, TPCs were abundantly present in the order of CJ2$H_2O_2$-stimulated HaCaT human keratinocytes. Our results revealed that treatment with SCJ and SC2 prior to $H_2O_2$ exposure significantly increases the viability of HaCaT cells, indicating that the exposure of HaCaT cells to SCJ and SC2 conferred a protective effect against oxidative stress. SCJ and SC2 also effectively inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced apoptotic cell death through the blocking of mitochondrial dysfunction. SCJ and SC2 also attenuated the phosphorylation of Histone H2AX. Furthermore, they effectively induced the levels of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) 1, a potent antioxidant enzyme, which is associated with the induction of nuclear transcription factor erythroid-2-like factor 2 (Nrf2); however, the protective effects of SCJ and SC2 were significantly reversed by Auranofin, a TrxR inhibitor. These results indicate that they have protective activity through the blocking of cellular damage related to oxidative stress via the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study indicated that SCJ and SC2 might potentially serve as novel agents for the treatment and prevention of skin disorders caused by oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2018

The structure of glycan residues attached to glycoproteins can influence the biological activity, stability, and safety of pharmaceutical proteins delivered from transgenic pig milk. The production of therapeutic glycoprotein in transgenic livestock animals is limited, as the glycosylation of mammary gland cells and the production of glycoproteins with the desired homogeneous glycoform remain a challenge. The ${\beta}$-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminylatransferase1 (B3GNT1) gene is an important enzyme that attaches N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to galactose (Gal) residues for protein glycosylation; however, there is limited information about pig glycosyltransferases. Therefore, we cloned the pig B3GNT1 (pB3GNT1) and investigated its functional properties that could attach N-acetylglucosamine to galactose residue. Using several different primers, a partial pB3GNT1 mRNA sequence containing the full open reading frame (ORF) was isolated from liver tissue. The ORF of pB3GNT1 contained 1,248 nucleotides and encoded 415 amino acid residues. Organ-dependent expression of the pB3GNT1 gene was confirmed in various organs from adult and juvenile pigs. The pB3GNT1 mRNA expression level was high in the muscles of the heart and small intestine but was lower in the lungs. For functional characterization of pB3GNT1, we established a stable expression of the pB3GNT1 gene in the porcine kidney cell line (PK-15). As a result, it was suggested that the glycosylation pattern of pB3GNT1 expression in PK-15 cells did not affect the total sialic acid level but increased the poly N-acetyllactosamine level. The results of this study can be used to produce glycoproteins with improved properties and therapeutic potential for the generation of desired glycosylation using transgenic pigs as bioreactors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2018

This study was performed to identify the antioxidant and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of water and 70% ethanol extracts of the three following herbs: G. procumbens, M. charantia, and C. longa. In addition, the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of five types of Jerusalem artichoke composites (JA1 - 5), which were prepared by adding ethanol extracts of several herbs to Jerusalem artichoke concentrate, were studied and compared. The results showed that the total phenol and flavonoid contents of the ethanol extracts were higher than those of the water extracts. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power depended on the total phenol and flavonoid contents. The antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from G. procumbens and C. longa were comparable. Moreover, the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the ethanol extracts ($2,000{\mu}g/ml$) from each herb was found to be over 50%. In contrast, the five types of JA composites showed higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than those of JA concentrate. In addition, increased antioxidant and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities were observed, with that of JA1 being the highest. However, all concentrations ($1{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml$) of JA tested did not affect the cell viability of Chang cells. In addition, JA induced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in Chang cells and significantly increased the glucose uptake in C2C12 cells. Therefore, it could be concluded that the JA composites (JA1 - 5) mixed with G. procumbens, M. charantia, and C. longa extracts were effective in increasing the extracts' antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1982.05a
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• pp.17.1-17
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• 1982

In 1965, Rosenberg reported that platinum compounds not only inhibit growth and cell division of E. coli but also has anti-tumor activity. Since then, through animal and clinical experiments by Welsch(1971), Speer(1972), Rossof(1972), Hill(1974), and Wittes(1975), it was proved that Cis-platinum has excellent supressive effects on malignant tumor, especially on head and neck cancer. Accordingly, Cis-platinum is now widely used, sometimes without any other durg, or sometimes with Bleomycin and Methotrexate etc. Inspite of the strong anticancer effect, the use of Cis-platinum is quite often discouraged because of the reports that Cis-platinum causes auditory impairment at high frequencies above the speech range due to inner ear damage and irreversible change in the renal tubules. Since Kohonen et al(1965), Standnicki et al(1974) reported that Cisplatinum has toxic effects at the basal turn of the cochlea using guinea pig, many studies on ototoxicity after infusion of Cis-platinum have been carried out using animals. But the studies on ototoxicity in human beings can hardly be found except in reports by Piel et al(1974) and Hong et al (1979). So the authors did a study which tried to clarify the ototoxic effect by comparing the hearing level after infusion of Cis-plastinum with the hearing level before infusion of Cis-plastinum in 30 patients who was treated with Cis-platinum and admitted to the dept. of otolaryngology of Yonsei University Hospital during 2 years and a half from July. 1979 to March. 1982 and the following results were obtained. 1) The results of auditory evaluation, using the pure tone average, hearing loss of 4kHz and 8kHz, Speech Reception Threshold, PB score, SISI showed that the difference of dosage does not change the hearing level after infusion of Cis-platinum and before infusion of Cis-platinum. 2) Cis-platinum had no effect on the hearing level of patients with conductive hearing loss, or with sensorineural hearing loss, as well as with normal hearing level. 3) The infusion of Cis-platinum did not cause any change in creatinine clearance, creatinine, uric acid, but only one case showed that Cis-platinum caused severe nephrotoxicity. 4) The infusion of Cis-plastinum did not cause any change in hemoglobin, leukocyte count, platelet count and there was no correlation with the amount of infusion. 5) To see the side effect of hydration practiced with the infusion of Cis-platinum, the electrolytes, particularly the K level in the serum was measured. But the results did not show any change. 6) Judging from the results of this study mentioned above, ototoxicity caused by infusion of Cis-platinum can be prevented by sufficient hydration. Also the results might say that the appropriate method of infusion of Cis-platinum might be effective in the patients with head and neck cancer who had sensorineural hearing loss for whom the infusion of Cis-platinum has been absolutely cotraindicated.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2015

Sodium is an essential nutrient with very important functions, including regulation of the extracellular fluid volume and active transport of molecules across the cell membranes. Since high levels of dietary sodium are associated with a high prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and other adverse effects on health, many national and international health organizations (WHO, FAO, etc.) recommend that sodium intake should be significantly decreased. In developed nations, cheese products, from among many processed foods, can cause high salt intake. Hence, there is an urgent need to reduce the content of salt in cheese processing, using various substitutes of sodium chloride (NaCl). In general, salt (NaCl) has been used as a food preservative to limit and (or) kill the growth of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms by decreasing the water activity, and to improve texture and flavor. To maintain public health, the salt content in cheese should be decreased without influencing the physicochemical properties of cheese. Therefore, the objective of this review is to outline the upcoming technologies used to reduce the salt content in different types of cheese using various substitutes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.143-146
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• 2010

Purpose: Insulin is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and also it's very important because it increases storage of glycogen, synthesis of fatty acids, absorption of amino acid, synthesis of protein. Insulin is clinically useful when we evaluate fasting patients in hypoglycemia, classify and predict diabetes, assess the activity of ${\beta}$-cell, research insulin resistance. We are going to increase usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value according to statistical analysis. Material & Method: We selected 6,648 patients who visited asan health medical center from May to August in 2008. We set exclusion criteria as family of diabetes, diabetes medication, the past history of blood glucose rise, more than 100 mg/dL in normal fasting blood glucose, outside the scope of BMI 18.5~22.9 $kg/m^2$, and more than HbA1c 6.5%. We determine whether the subgroup is portioned as sex and age or not and establish normal reference value by conducting statistical analysis as Bayesian's method and Hoffman's method. Result: Portioning of subgroup as sex and age is not needed. By statistical analysis of Bayesian method, results 1.5-11.0 uIU/mL. By statistical analysis of Hoffman method, results 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL. Conclusion: We established 1.8~12.8 uIU/mL as Insulin normal reference value by Hoffman method. This is a similar value with reporting reference value 1.7~11.8 uIU/mL in kit. This will enhance the usability of insulin assay by establishing normal reference value.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.37 no.sup2
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• pp.447-463
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• 2007

Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells have been known as multipotential cells, and as playing an important rolesin periodontal regeneration. The PDL cells are composed of heterogeneous cell populations which have the capacity to differentiate into either cementoblasts or osteoblasts, depending on needs and conditions. Therefore, PDL cells have the capacity to produce mineralized nodules in vitro in mineralization medium which include ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone. In spite of these well-known osteoblast like properties of PDL cells, very little is known about the molecules involved in the formation of the mineralized nodules in the PDL cells. In the present study, we analysed gene-expression profiles during the mineralization process of cultured PDL cells by means of a cDNA microarray consisting of 3063 genes. Nodules of mineralized matrix were strongly stained with alizarin red S on the PDL cells cultured in the media with mineralization supplements. Among 3,063 genes analyzed, 35 were up-regulated more than two-fold at one or more time points in cells that developed matrix mineralization nodules, and 38 were down-regulated to less than half their normal level of expression. In accord with the morphological change we observed, several genes related to calcium-related or mineral metabolism were induced in PDL cells during osteogenesis, such as IGF-II and IGFBP-2. Proteogycan 1, fibulin-5, keratin 5, ,${\beta}$-actin, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and capping protein, and cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix proteins were up-regulated during mineralization. Several genes encoding proteins related to apoptosis weredifferentially expressed in PDL cells cultured in the medium containing mineralization supplements. Dkk-I and Nip3, which are apoptosis-inducing agents, were up-regulated, and Btf and TAXlBP1, which have an anti-apoptosis activity, were down-regulated during mineralization. Also periostin and S100 calciumbinding protein A4 were down-regulated during mineralization.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2010

Purpose : Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is produced by activated CD4+T cells and exhibits pleiotropic biological activity on various cell types. IL-17 was reported to be involved in the immunoregulatory response in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Our aim was to investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) gene and childhood IgAN. Methods : We analyzed the SNPs in the IL-17RA in 156 children with biopsy-proven IgAN and 245 healthy controls. We divided the IgAN patients into 2 groups and compared them with respect to proteinuria (${\leq}4$ and >$4mg/m^2/h$, ${\leq}40$ and >$40mg/m^2/h$, respectively) and the presence of pathological levels of biomarkers of diseases such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, or global sclerosis. Results : No difference was observed between the SNP genotypes rs2895332, rs1468488, and rs4819553 between IgAN patients and control subjects. In addition, no significant difference was observed between allele frequency of SNPs rs2895 332, rs1468488, and rs4819553 between patients in the early and advanced stage of the disease. However, significant difference was observed between the genotype of SNP rs2895332 between patients with proteinuria (>$4mg/m^2/h$) and those without proteinuria (codominant model OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-.66, P <0.001; dominant model OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-.69 P =0.002; recessive model OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.01-.06 P =0.025). Conclusion : Our results indicate that the SNP in IL-17RA (rs2895332) may be related to the development of proteinuria in IgAN patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.446-453
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• 2002

Effects of the two oriental medicinal prescriptions, Jahyulyangeuntang (JH) and Yanghyuljangeunkeonbohwan (YH), on intestinal calcium absorption were examined in the human colon carcinoma tell line, Caco-2 cells. Intestinal calcium absorption was evaluated at the level of Ca uptake into the cells across the brush border membranes, as well as at the level of net Ca transport (implying the amount of intestinal Ca transported into the blood stream). When the Caco-2 cells were incubated for 4, 8, 16 and 24 days post seeding, the cells were differentiated continuously, and showed progressively increased activities of Ca uptake (1.13 $\pm$ 0.04, 1.19 $\pm$ 0.02, 1.94 $\pm$ 0.03, and 2.40 $\pm$ 0.12 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ , respectively). Pretreatment of confluent Caco-2 cells with 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH for 24 hours resulted in a 30% increase in Ca uptake (p < 0.07), while pretreatment of the cells with the same concentration of JH for 6 hours resulted in a 24% increase (p < 0.05) in Ca uptake, compared to the value for the control cells (2.34 $\pm$ 0.10 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ ). When the cells were pretreated with varied concentrations (5-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) of the test samples for 6 hours, maximal increases in Ca uptake were observed in the cells pretreated with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH (a 23% increase), and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of JH (a 28% increase), respectively : however, no influence was seen on the net Ca transport activity. These results show that pretreatment with JH or YH, the two oriental medicinal prescriptions commonly used for improvement of bone metabolism, could possibly increase Ca accumulation inside the cells. but not the intestinal Ca net transport in vitro.