• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate possible acute toxicity and early response of concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin as a radiosensitizer in patients with locally advanced uterine cervical carcinomas. Materials and Method : From December 1996 to January 1999, 38 previously untreated Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (from stage IIB to stage IIIB) were treated at Inha University Hospital. All patients underwent standard pretreatment staging Procedures after the initial evaluation by gynecologists and radiation oncologists. Sixteen Patients with huge cervical mass (>4 cm) were submitted to the group treated with concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin while the remainder was treated with radiation therapy alone. Radiation therapy consisted of 4500 cGy external beam irradiation to whole pelvis (midline block after 3000 cGy), 900$\~$1000 cGy boost to involved parametrium, and high dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (a total dose of 3000$\~$3500 cGy/500 cGy per fraction to point A, twice per week). In the group treated with low dose cisplatin concurrently, 10 mg of daily intravenous cisplatin was given from the 1st day of radiation therapy to the 20th day of radiation therapy. Acute toxicity was measured according to expanded common toxicity criteria of the NCI (C) Clinical Trials. Early response data were analyzed at minimum 4 weeks' follow-up after completion of the treatment protocol. Results: Hematolgic toxici쇼 was more prominent in patients treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin. Six of 16 patients (37.5$\~$) treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin and one of 22 patients (4.5$\~$) treated with radiation therapy alone experienced grade 3 leukopenia. In Fisher's exact test, there was statistically significant difference between two groups regarding leukopenia (P=0.030). There was no apparent difference in the frequency of gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity between two groups (P=0.066). Three of 16 patients (18.7$\~$) treated with radiation therapy and cisplatin and two of 22 patients (9.1$\~$) treated with radiation therapy alone experienced more than 5 kg weight loss during the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference on weight loss between two groups (P=0.63). Two patients on each group were not evaluable for the early response because of incomplete treatment. The complete response rate at four weeks' follow-up was 80$\~$(16/20) for the radiation therapy alone group and 78$\~$ (11/14) for the radiation therapy and cisplatin group. There was no statistically significant difference in early response between two treatment groups (P=0.126). Conclusion : This study led to the conclusion that the hematologic toxicity from the treatment with concurrent radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin seems to be more prominent than that from the treatment of radiation therapy alone. There was no grade 4 hematologic toxicity or mortality in both groups. The hematologic toxicity in both treatment groups seems to be well managable modically. Since the risk factors were not balanced between two treatment groups, the direct comparison of early response of both groups was not possible. However, preliminary results regarding early response for patients with bulky cervical tumor mass treated with radiation therapy and low dose daily cisplatin was encouraging. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the survival data. A phase III study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of concurrent daily low dose cisplatin with radiation therapy in bulky cervical cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 1998

The maintenance of a viable pregnancy has long been viewed as an immunological paradox. The deveolping embryo and trophoblast are immunologically foreign to the maternal immune system due to their maternally inherited genes products and tissue-specific differentiation antigens (Hill & Anderson, 1988). Therefore, speculation has arisen that spontaneous abortion may be caused by impaired maternal immune tolerance to the semiallogenic conceptus (Hill, 1990). Loss of recall antigen has been reported in immunosuppressed transplant recipients and is associated with graft survival (Muluk et al., 1991; Schulik et al., 1994). Progesterone $(10^{-5}M)$ has immunosuppressive capabilities (Szekeres-Bartho et al., 1985). Previous study showed that fertile women, but not women with unexplained recurrent abortion (URA), lose their immune response to recall antigens when pregnant (Bermas & Hill, 1997). Therefore, we hypothesized that immunosuppressive doses of progesterone may affect proliferative response of lymphocytes to trophoblast antigen and alloantigen. Proliferative responses using $^3H$-thymidine ($^3H$-TdR) incorporation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to the irradiated allogeneic periperal blood mononuclear cells as alloantigen, trophoblast extract and Flu as recall antigen, and PHA as mitogen were serially checked in 9 women who had experienced unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Progesterone vaginal suppositories (100mg b.i.d; Utrogestan, Organon) beginning 3 days after ovulation were given to 9 women with unexplained RSA who had prior evidence of Th1 immunity to trophoblast. We checked proliferation responses to conception cycle before and after progesterone supplementation once a week through the first 7 weeks of pregnancy. All patients of alloantigen and PHA had a positive proliferation response that occmed in the baseline phase. But 4 out of 9 patients (44.4%) of trophoblast antigen and Flu antigen had a positive proliferative response. The suppression of proliferation response to each antigen were started after proliferative phase and during pregnancy cycles. Our data demonstrated that since in vivo progesterone treated PBMCs suppressed more T-lymphocyte activation and $^3H$-TdR incorporation compare to PBMCs, which are not influenced by progesterone. This data suggested that it might be influenced by immunosuppressive effect of progesterone. In conclusion, progesterone may play an important immunological role in regulating local immune response in the fetal-placental unit. Furthermore, in the 9 women given progesterone during a conception cycle, Only two (22%) repeat pregnancy losses occured in these 9 women despite loss of antigen responsiveness (one chemical pregnancy loss and one loss at 8 weeks of growth which was karyotyped as a Trisomy 4). These finding suggested that pregnancy loss due to fetal aneuploidy is not associated with immunological phenomena.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2004

It is essential to increase the switching speed of power devices to reduce the energy loss because high frequency is commonly used in power device operation these days. In this work electron irradiation has been conducted to reduce the lifetime of minority carriers and thereby to increase the switching speed of a$p^+- n^-$ junction diode. Effects of electron irradiation on the electrical properties of the diode are reported The switching speed is effectively increased. Also the junction leakages and the forward voltage drop which are anticipated to increase are found to be negligible in the $p^+- n^-$ junction diodes irradiated with the optimum energy and dose. The analysis results of DLTS and C-V profiling indicate that the defects induced by electron irradiation in the silicon substrate are donor-like ones which have the energy levels of 0.284 eV and 0.483 eV. Considering all the experimental results in this study, it might be concluded that electron irradiation is a very useful technique in improving the switching speed and thereby reducing the energy loss of $p^+- n^-$ junction diode power devices.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.88-99
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was performed to determine if Orostachys japonicus A. Berger aquacupuncture (OjB) provides the protective effect against the loss of celi viability and DNA damage induced by oxidant in renal proximal tubular cells. Methods : The cell viability was evaluated by a MTT reduction assay and DNA damage was estimated by measuring double stranded DNA breaks in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established proximal tubular cell line. Lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Results : $H_2O_2$ increased the loss of cell viability in a time-dependent manner, which were prevented by 0.1% OjB. The protective effect of OjB was dose-dependent over concentration range of 0.05-0.5%. $H_2O_2$ caused ATP depletion and DNA damage, which were prevented by OjB and the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase. The loss of cell viability by $H_2O_2$ was not affected by the antioxidant DPPD, but lipid peroxidation by the oxidant was completely inhibited by DPPD. Conclusions : These data suggest that $H_2O_2$-induced death results from a lipid peroxidation-independent mechanism and the protective effect of OjB is not associated with its antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2006

The effect of the level of casein phosphopeptide (CPP) on mineral (Ca and P) bioavailabilties and bone biomarker of aged ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats were studied as a model for postmenopausal bone loss. Forty five Spargue dawley rats, 220-230 g of body weight were fed a control diet (AIN 93M) or containing different level of CPP diet for 7 weeks: $0\%$ (sham control; SC, OVX control; OC), $1\%$ (OVX low CPP diet: OL), $2\%$ (OVX medium CPP diet; OM), $3\%$ (OVX high CPP diet; OH) Ca absorption was unaffected by increasing CPP content from 0 to $3\%$. Urinary Ca excretion was increased by OVX, and decreased by CPP significantly (p < 0.05) with no evident doserelationship. The urinary P excretion was increased by CPP intake in OVX rats. The fecal excretion of P given CPP decreased in OVX with dose dependent manner. Ca and P contents of femur significantly increased by adding 2 or $3\%$ of CPP when compared with OC group and OL group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum alkaline phosphatase activity and c-terminal telopeptide excretion in experimental groups. Although ovariectomy induced the increase in urinary c-terminal telopeptide excretion, 2 or $3\%$ of CPP in the diet decreased urinary c-terminal telopetide excretion significantly. These finding suggest the usefulness of CPP in the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss by decreasing urinary Ca excretion and bone resorption. Over 2 percent of CPP in the diet was effective to prevent postmenopausal bone loss.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.665-671
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• 1999

Post mortem bovine muscle. semitendinosus was used to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on physicochemical properties. The muscle was cut into pieces of 2 cm in thickness and packaged with 2 different methods; vacuum-packaged and air-packaged. The packaged samples were irradiated at designated doses of 0, 1, 3 and 5 kGy by Cobalt-60 irradiator. Muscle protein solubility, purge loss, composition and contents of free amino acids, and shear force were observed during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. We found no significant differences in the purge loss and the contents of free amino acids. Muscle protein solubility slightly increased depending upon the increase of the dose. The decrease of shear force by gamma irradiation was observed. Therefore, it is considered that meat quality can be improved by gamma irradiation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.118-124
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Grateloupia elliptica, a seaweed native to Jeju Island, Korea, on the prevention of hair loss. When immortalized rat vibrissa dermal papilla cells were treated with extract of G. elliptica, the proliferation of dermal papilla cells significantly increased. In addition, the G. elliptica extract significantly inhibited the activity of $5{\alpha}$-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a main cause of androgenetic alopecia. On the other hand, the G. elliptica extract promoted $PGE_2$ production in HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner. The G. elliptica extract exhibited particularly high inhibitory effect on LPS-stimulated IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. The G. elliptica extract also showed inhibitory activity against Pityrosporum ovale, a main cause of dandruff. These results suggest that G. elliptica extract has the potential to treat alopecia via the proliferation of dermal papilla, $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibition, increase of $PGE_2$ production, decrease of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibitory activity against Pityrosporum ovale.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 1986

Sterigmatocystin bears a close structural relationship to aflatoxin $B_1$ and is a carcinogenic compound that has been shown to affect various species of experimental animals. Reaction and toxicity of sterigmatocystin in the artificial gastric juice were investigated. Sterigmatocystin was degraded in artificial gastric juice and extracted by the method of A.O.A.C. After cleaned up by silica gel column chromatography, this substance was detected and characterized by thin layer chromatography, UV, IR and mass spectra. It showed $R{\mathcal{f}}$ 0.4 and brick-red color by TLC. Especially, in the mass spectrum of it, fragment peak at m/e 327 was due to the loss of the $-CH_3$ and $-H_2O$, fragment peak at m/e 341 was due to the loss of the $H_2O$ and $-H^+$, and fragment peak at m/e 239 was due to the loss of the 2-chloro-tetrahydrofuran and methyl group from the parent molecule. Therefore, a degraded substance of sterigmatocystin reacted in artificial gastric juice (Sub. K) was estimated with additional formation of hydrochloric acid. In four-day-old chicken embryos, the mean lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ was $140\;{\mu}g/egg$, and 90 to 100% of the embryos were killed with 1 mg/egg. This $LD_{50}$ $140\;{\mu}g/egg$ compared with an $LD_{50}$ $14.69\;{\mu}g/egg$ for sterigmatocystin (acute toxicity) showed the substance to be much less toxic than sterigmatocystin.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.399-405
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• 1997

Progesterone is necessary for successful pregnancy and had immunosuppressive properties. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from many women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion responded to trophoblast extract in vitro by prolifertion and releasing soluble, heat-labile factors that are toxic to mouse embryos (embryotoxic factors). Accumulating evidence suggests that T Helper (Th)-1 type immunity to trophoblast is correlated with embryotoxic factor production and is associated with pregnancy loss, while Th2-type immunity is associated with successful gestation. The objective of this study was to determine whether progesterone can inhibit Th1-type cytokine secretion (IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) by trophoblast-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 23 nonpregnant women (age 25-35) with unexplained recurrent abortion (median 5, range 3 to 15)who otherwise produce embryotoxic factors in response to trophoblast. We also determined whether progesterone affected Th2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) in this system in vitro and if IL-10 (1,500 pg/mL) could inhibit Th1-type immunity to trophoblast. IFN-${\gamma}$ was detected in 17 of 23 (74%) trophoblast stimulated PBMC culture supernatants ($77.94{\pm}23.79$ pg/mL) containing embryotoxic activity. TNF-${\alpha}$ was detected in 19 (83%) of these same supernatants ($703.15{\pm}131.36$ pg/mL). In contrast, none of the supernatants contained detectable levels of IL-4 or IL-10. Progesterone ($10^{-5}$, $10^{-7}$, $10^{-9}$M) inhibited Th1-type immunity in a dose dependent manner, but had no effect on Th2-type cytokine secretion. The inhibitory effects of progesterone were abrogated with RU486, but did not affect Th2-type cytokine secretion in trophoblast-activated cell cultures. IL-10, like progesterone also inhibited Th1-type cytokine secretion but had no effect on Th2-type cytokines. These data suggest that therapies designed to suppress Th1-type cytokine secretion in women with recurrent abortion who have evidence of Th1-type immunity to trophoblast may be efficacious in preventing pregnancy loss and should be tested in appropriately designed clinical trials.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

Dendropanax morbifera Leveille (Araliaceae) is an endemic species growing in the south-western part of South Korea and has been used in folk medicine. However, the effects of Dendropanax morbifera Lev. on skin biology remain to be elucidated. In this study, we isolated 1-tetradecanol and ${\beta}$-sitosterol from the n-hexane fraction of Dendropanax mobifera Lev. and To investigate the whitening effect of the fraction, we tested the inhibition of tyrosinase activity of 1-tetradecanol. The results show that the inhibitory effect of the 1-tetradecanol was higher than water extract and n-hexane fraction. And 1-tetradecanol significantly reduced melanin contents of B16F10 cells compared to more than water extract and n-haxane fraction dose-dependantly without cell cytotoxicitiy (below $100{\mu}g/mL$). We also investigated the skin moisturizing effect using HR-1 hairless mice. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the 1-tetradecanol treated group was significantly smaller than that in the other groups. To investigate the effect of the preventing hair loss by ${\beta}$-sitosterol, we observed HR-1 hairless mice through periodic growth feature. The results suggest that hair loss of mice by ${\beta}$-sitosterol was delayed and it's hair density showed the highest. These data provide evidence that Dendropanax morbifera Lev. may be a potent candidate for the improvement of both skin whitening, moisturizing and alopecia from the point of cosmetic industry view.