• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.262-266
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• 2008

Purpose : Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a polymorphic supergene family of detoxification enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of numerous diseases. Several allelic variants of GSTs show impaired enzyme activity and are suspected to increase the susceptibility to diseases. Bilirubin is bound efficiently by GST members. The most commonly expressed gene in the liver is GSTM1, and GSTT1 is expressed predominantly in the liver and kidneys. To ascertain the relationship between GST and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, the distribution of the polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were investigated in this study. Methods : Genomic DNA was isolated from 88 patients and 186 healthy controls. The genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results : The overall frequency of the GSTM1 null was lower in patients compared to controls (P=0.0187, Odds ratio (OR) =0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31-0.88). Also, the GSTT1 null was lower in patients compared to controls (P=0.0014, OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.24-0.70). Moreover, the frequency of the null type of both, in the combination of GSTM1 and GSTT1, was significantly reduced in jaundiced patients (P=0.0008, OR=0.31, 95% CI=0.17-0.61). Conclusion : We hypothesized that GSTM1 and GSTT1 might be associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, the GSTT1 and GSTM1 null type was reduced in patients. Therefore the null GSTT1, null GSTM1, and null type of both in the combination of GSTM1 and GSTT1 may be not a risk factor of neonatal jaundice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.299-304
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• 2014

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a malignancy of biliary duct with a very poor prognosis, is the leading cause of cancer death in countries of the Mekong subregion. Liver fluke infection is the main etiological factor, but genetic variation has been recognized as also important in conferring susceptibility to CCA risk. Nuclear factor (erythroid derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) is a key transcription factor in detoxification and antioxidant defense. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that genetic polymorphisms in the NRF2 gene may be associated with cancer development. The objectives of this study were to investigate the association of NRF2 genetic polymorphism with CCA risk and to evaluate the influence of the NRF2 genotype on survival time of affected patients. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NRF2 gene, including rs6726395: A/G, rs2886161: C/T, rs1806649: C/T, and rs10183914: C/T, were analyzed using TaqMan$^{(R)}$ SNP genotyping assays. Among 158 healthy northeastern Thai subjects, the allele frequencies were 41, 62, 94, and 92%, respectively. The correlation of NRF2 SNPs and CCA risk was analyzed in the 158 healthy subjects and 198 CCA patients, using unconditional logistic regression. The results showed that whereas the NRF2 SNPs were not associated with CCA risk (p>0.05), Kaplan-Meier analysis of 88 intrahepatic CCA patients showed median survival time with rs6726395 genotypes of GG and AA/AG to be $344{\pm}138$ (95%CI: 73-615) days and $172{\pm}37$ (95%CI: 100-244) days, respectively, (p<0.006). On multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the GG genotype of rs6726395 was found to be associated with longer survival with a hazard ratio of 0.54 (95%CI: 0.31-0.94). In addition, non-papillary adenocarcinoma was associated with poor survival with a hazard ratio of 2.09 (95%CI: 1.16-3.75). The results suggest that the NRF2 rs6726395 polymorphism can be a potential prognostic biomarker for CCA patients.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 1999

Pentachlorophenol(PCP), which is very persistent in soil and water environment, was tried to detoxify with oxidoreductive catalysts(peroxidase, laccase, tyrosinase and birnessite). To find out detoxification of PCP, the transformation of PCP through oxidative coupling was investigated in the presence of various oxidoreductive catalysts. PCP incubated with peroxidase was significantly transformed, however, in case of tyrosinase, the transformation was negligible. Using peroxidase, the optimal reaction condition was pH 5.6 and $16^{\circ}C$. The transformation of PCP was very fast in initiation step until 30 min but, that was not observed after 180 min. The transformation of PCP was increased by increasing peroacidase amount. When the effect of humic monomer was investigated as co-substrate on the transformation of PCP, the transformation of PCP was mostly decreased in the incubation with peroxidase, laccase, and birnessite. The transformation of PCP, however, was slightly increased by the incubation with tyrosinase in the presence of humic monomers as co-substrate, except catechol. On the basis of the results obtained, it may be suggested that PCP is able to be effectively detoxified through oxidative coupling mediated with oxidoreductive catalysts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.872-877
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• 2006

It has been concerned about the indoor air contaminants because of the hours spend in indoor space. These contaminants are emitted from various indoor facilities. Therefore, even though there concentrations are very low, adverse effects can't be ignored. However, treatment technologies are insufficient to deal with these contaminants. For this reason, the objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of artificial ultraviolet(UV) detoxification using $TiO_2$ system for degrading formaldehyde contaminated indoor air. The experiment was also performed to investigate the formaldehyde removal effect of fluorescence lamp as an alternative UV light source because it is used in indoor as a light source. The results presented demonstrated that as the $TiO_2$ dosage is more and the reaction area is wider, the photocatalytic degradation rate does more enhanced. Degradation of TCE was more rapid used in $UV_{254}$ lamp than in fluorescence lamp. However, if it is operated during enough time, it will be able to remove the considerable quantity of TCE in case of using fluorescence lamp.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.27-36
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• 1999

Effect of insecticide carbofuran and phenobarbital sodium(PB) or 3-methylcholanthrene(3-MC), they were orally administered by the chemicals, alone or in combination, on activities of several enzymes in rats were investigated. In in vivo test for the effect of this chemicals on activity of enzyme in rat, activities of acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase(BuCheE) were inhibited by $20{\sim}70%$ for 48 hrs after the oral administration of carbofuran alone of 3.8mg/kg, whereas those were lowered at the beginning, but recovered to the control level after 24 hrs, in case of the mixed administration of carbofuran+PB or carbofuran+3-MC. The activity of glutathione S-transferase(GST) was inhibited by more than 15 to 35% for an early period of 0.5 to 6 hrs, in the case of the administration of carbofuran alone, whereas that was slightly inhibited at the beginning, recovered almost to the control level after 3 hrs, and raised by mere than 20% above the control after 6 hrs, in case of the mixed administration of carbofuran+PB or carbofuran+3-MC. When carbofuran was administered alorig with PB or 3-MC, the activities of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase(UDPGT) and cytochrome P-450 were more than 2.6 to 2.8 times higher than that in the case of the administration of carbofuran alone for 6 hrs. These results suggest that a simultaneous application of carbofuran and PB or 3-MC is critical for the enhancentment of activity of GST, UDPGT and cytochrome P450 and the protection of rat from carbofuran toxicity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Cimicifuge dahurica (C. dahurica), Coptis chinensis (C. chinensis) and Phellodendri amurense (P. amurense) extracts has an detoxification effect and Magnol obovata bark (M. obovata) extracts has an antibacterial effect in oriental medicine. This study investigated the possibility of the extract mixture as a functional cosmetic ingredient by mixing C. dahurica, C. chinensis, P. amurense and M. obovata extracts. MTT assay was carried out for toxicity test and DPPH/ABTS experiments for antioxidant effects of the extract mixture. Results show that the extract mixture was safer and antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner than single extract of the mixture. The mixture effectively inhibited NO (nitric oxide) production, which indicate good efficacy for anti-inflammation. The mixture also protected UVB-induced cell damage and increased type 1 pro-collagen synthesis in fibroblast. In addition, it's treatment inhibited the melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by lowering expression of MITF, tyrosinase and TRPs in B16F10 melanoma cell. These results suggest that medicinal herbal extract mixture may be useful as a functional ingredient for anti-aging and skin whitening cosmetic formula.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.770-774
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• 2020

Background: Fermentation has been shown to improve the biological properties of plants and herbs. Specifically, fermentation causes decomposition and/or biotransformation of active metabolites into high-value products. Polyacetylenes are a class of polyketides with a pleiotropic profile of bioactivity. Methods: Column chromatography was used to isolate compounds, and extensive NMR experiments were used to determine their structures. The transformation of polyacetylene in red ginseng (RG) and the production of cazaldehyde B induced by the extract of RG were identified by TLC and HPLC analyses. Results: A new metabolite was isolated from RG fermented by Chaetomium globosum, and this new metabolite can be obtained by the biotransformation of polyacetylene in RG. Panaxytriol was found to exhibit the highest antifungal activity against C. globosum compared with other major ingredients in RG. The fungus C. globosum cultured in RG extract can metabolize panaxytriol to Metabolite A to survive, with no antifungal activity against itself. Metabolites A and B showed obvious inhibition against NO production, with ratios of 42.75 ± 1.60 and 63.95 ± 1.45% at 50 µM, respectively. A higher inhibitory rate on NO production was observed for Metabolite B than for a positive drug. Conclusion: Metabolite A is a rare example of natural polyacetylene biotransformation by microbial fermentation. This biotransformation only occurred in fermented RG. The extract of RG also stimulated the production of a new natural product, cazaldehyde B, from C. globosum. The lactone in Metabolite A can decrease the cytotoxicity, which was deemed to be the intrinsic activity of polyacetylene in ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.spc
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• pp.20-28
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• 2009

The sustainability of conventional agriculture which is characterized by input dependent and ecologically simplified food production system is vague. Chemicals and present practices used in agriculture are not only costly but also have widespread implications on human and animal health, food quality and safety and environmental quality. Thus there is a need for alternative farming practices to sustain food production for the escalating population and conserve environment for future generations. The present research scenario in the area of plant microbe interactions for maintaining sustainable agriculture suggests that the level of internal regulation in agro-ecosystems is largely dependent on the level of plant and microbial diversity present in the soil. In agro-ecosystems, biodiversity performs a variety of ecological services beyond the production of food, including recycling of nutrients, regulation of microclimate and local hydrological processes, suppression of undesirable organisms and detoxification of noxious chemicals. Controlling the soil microflora to enhance the predominance of beneficial and effective microorganisms can help improve and maintain soil chemical and physical properties. The role of beneficial soil microorganisms in sustainable productivity has been well construed. Some plant bacteria referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can contribute to improve plant growth, nutrient uptake and microbial diversity when inoculated to plants. Term PGPR was initially used to describe strains of naturally occurring non-symbiotic soil bacteria have the ability to colonize plant roots and stimulate plant growth PGPR activity has been reported in strains belonging to several other genera, such as Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Arthrobacter Bacillus, Burkhokderia, Methylobacterium, and Pseudomonas etc. PGPR stimulate plant growth directly either by synthesizing hormones such as indole acetic acid or by promoting nutrition, for example, by phosphate solubilization or more generally by accelerating mineralization processes. They can also stimulate growth indirectly, acting as biocontrol agents by protecting the plant against soil borne fungal pathogens or deleterious bacteria. Present review focuses on some recent developments to evolve strategies for better biotechnological exploitation of PGPR's.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2016

Objectives : Liver is one of the largest organs in the human, and has a function of detoxification and energy sensing to prevent severe disease. Paeoniae radix has been used to treat a variety of liver diseases such as hepatitis and chronic hepatic failure. Although P. radix has been used as an medicinal herb for a long time, the effects of P. radix on severe oxidative stress and its action mechanism on the liver was not clearly verified.Methods : This study investigated the protective effects of P. radix extract (PRE), and the underlying mechanism of its action in the liver. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and carbon tetrachlroride (CCl₄) were used to induce oxidative stress in the HepG2 hepatocyte cell line and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively.Results : t-BHP significantly induced cell death and ROS production in HepG2 cell, as indicated by MTT and FACS analysis. However, pretreatment of PRE inhibited a decrease in cell viability and H₂O₂ production in the HepG2 cells. PRE also blocked the ability of t-BHP to damage in mitochondrial membrane transition. More importantly, PRE induced Nrf2 activation and antioxidant Phase II enzyme, which may have a role in the effects of PRE. In mice, PRE inhibited the liver damage induced by CCl₄.Conclusions : PRE inhibited oxidative stress and hepatic damages as mediated with Nrf2 activation. This study unveil, in part, the effect and mechanism of old medicinal herb, P. radix.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2011

Genetic determinant for metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich protein playing essential roles in metal detoxification and homeostasis, was characterized in the Korean bitterling (Acheilognathus signifer, Cyprinidae), an endemic fish species. The full-length A. signifer MT (AsMT) cDNA (551 bp) is composed of a single open-reading frame (ORF) to encode a polypeptide of 60 amino acids containing 20 cysteine residues whose positions are conserved in most cypriniform MTs. At the genomic level, the AsMT (2,593 bp spanning the 5'-flanking region to the 3'-untranslated region) represented a conserved tripartite (three exons interrupted by two introns) structure with AT-rich introns. The upstream regulatory region (-1,914 bp from the ATG initiation codon) of AsMT displayed various sites and motifs for transcription factors involved in the metal-mediated regulation and stress/immune responses. The AsMT transcript was ubiquitously detected in various organs with variable expression levels, where the ovary and intestine showed the highest expression, while the heart and skeletal muscle represented the lowest level. During an exposure to copper (immersion in $0.5\;{\mu}M$ Cu for 48 h), the levels of AsMT transcripts were significantly elevated in the liver (more than 3.5-fold), moderately in the gill, kidney, and spleen (ranging from 1.5- to 2.5-fold), and barely in the brain and intestine. Results of this study could form a useful basis to explore the metal-related stress physiology of this endangered fish species.