• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 1985

Bifidobacteria are normal inhabitants of the intestinal tract of humans. Using Bif. longum isolated from feces of Korean adult and Bifidus preparation, we observed the growth inhibitory actions of these organisms toward E. coli $A_2$ causing bacterial diarrhea. Bif. longum SKD-2001 SKD-2004 inhibited the growth of E. coli $A_2$ drastically. It is supposed that the mechanism of the growth inhibitory actions is due to acid conditions created by Bif. longum.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.612-616
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• 2006

The protective effect of water extract of ash tree leaves (ALE) against oxidative damages was investigated in paracetamol-induced BALB/c mice. Biochemical analysis of anti-oxidative enzymes, immunoblot analyses of hepatic cytochrome P450 2El (CYP2E1), and the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) were examined to determine the extract's protective effect and its possible mechanisms. BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: normal, paracetamol-administered, and ALE-pretreated groups. A single dose of paracetamol led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA). This was associated with a significant reduction in the hepatic antioxidant system, e.g., glutathione (GSH). Paracetamol administration also significantly elevated the expression of CYP2E1, according to immunoblot analysis, and of TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA in liver. However, ALE pretreatment prior to the administration of paracetamol significantly decreased hepatic MDA levels. ALE restored hepatic glutathione and catalase levels and suppressed the expression of CYP2E1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ observed in inflammatory tissues. Moreover, ALE restored mitochondrial ATP content depleted by the drug administration. These results show that the extract of ash tree leaves protects against paracetamol-induced oxidative damages by blocking oxidative stress and CYP2E1-mediated paracetamol bioactivation.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2016

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract for assessing whether Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ can be used for the development of natural mouthwash and denture cleaning solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The extract was obtained from branches of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$. The solvent fractions were acquired by fractionating Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and butanol solvent. Paper disc test was used to evaluate the antimicrobial and antifungal activity of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract and solvent fractions against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. The analysis of antioxidant activity was carried out through DPPH radical scavenging assay. The cytotoxicity of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract was analyzed through MTT assay using normal human oral keratinocytes. RESULTS. Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and especially Candida albicans. The solvent fractions of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ showed strong antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in n-hexane and butanol solvent fraction, respectively. Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract also showed outstanding antioxidant activity. Butanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform solvent fraction of Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ tended to have increased antioxidant activity as the concentration increased. Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract showed high cell survival rate in cytotoxicity test. CONCLUSION. Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ extract turned out to have antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and cytophilicity. Based on these results, it is expected that Dendropanax morbifera $L{\acute{e}}veille$ is applicable as an ingredient for natural mouthwash and denture cleanser.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1385-1393
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• 1998

The hypoglycemic effects of butanol(BuOH) fraction of Polygonatum odoratum with vitamin E in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-230g were devided into five groups, and four groups induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection(45mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein : Normal, diabetic-control, and three diabetic experimental groups(p. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group and Vit. E group). All groups were fed on a AIN-76 diet, and the experimental groups were orally administered with the BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum(500mg/kg b.w.) and vitamin E(10mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days. The body weight, diet intake and organ weights were monitored. The plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities were analyzed. The levels of glycogen in liver and muscle, cholesterol in liver were determined. The malondialdehyde(MDA) levels in liver, kidney and lung were assayed. The body weight loss was seen in P. odoratum group, P. od-vit. E group, Vit. E group and diabetic control group, while the loss in P. odoratum group was much less than that in the diabetic control group. The plasma glucose levels were significantly lowered in P. odoratum group compared to diabetic control group. The plasma insulin levels were noticeably higher in P. odoratum and Vit. E groups. The rats in P. odoratum and P. od-vit. E group showed higher liver glycogen levels than in the diabetic control group. The MDA levels in liver, kidney and lung were also significantly reduced in P. od-vit. E and Vit. E groups compared to the diabetic control group. The results suggest that the administration of BuOH fraction of Polygonatum odoratum along with vitamin E reduced blood glucose levels and peroxidative tissue damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats, showing the possibility of preventive and therapeutic use of the wild edible plant to the diabetes mellitus. (Korean J Nutrition 31(9) : 1385-1393, 1998)

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.551-558
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• 2016

Malignant glioma cells invading surrounding normal brain are inoperable and resistant to radio- and chemotherapy, and eventually lead to tumor regrowth. Identification of genes related to motility is important for understanding the molecular biological behavior of invasive gliomas. According to our previous studies, Metallothionein 1E (MT1E) was identified to enhance migration of human malignant glioma cells. The purpose of this study was to confirm that MT1E could modulate glioma invasion in vivo. Firstly we established 2 cell lines; MTS23, overexpressed by MT1E complementary DNA construct and pV12 as control. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, -9 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 were increased in MTS23 compared with pV12. Furthermore it was confirmed that MT1E could modulate MMPs secretion and translocation of NFkB p50 and B-cell lymphoma-3 through small interfering ribonucleic acid knocked U87MG cells. Then MTS23 and pV12 were injected into intracranial region of 5 week old male nude mouse. After 4 weeks, for brain tissues of these two groups, histological analysis, and immunohistochemical stain of MMP-2, 9 and Nestin were performed. As results, the group injected with MTS23 showed irregular margin and tumor cells infiltrating the surrounding normal brain, while that of pV12 (control) had round and clear margin. And regrowth of tumor cells in MTS23 group was observed in another site apart from tumor cell inoculation. MT1E could enhance tumor proliferation and invasion of malignant glioma through regulation of activation and expression of MMPs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6397-6403
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• 2014

Background: Aberrant promoter hypermethylation has been recognized in human breast carcinogenesis as a frequent molecular alteration associated with the loss of expression of a number of key regulatory genes and may serve as a biomarker. The E-cadherin gene (CDH1), mapping at chromosome 16q22, is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections. The aim of our study was to assess the methylation pattern of CDH1 and to correlate it with the expression of E-cadherin, clinicopathological parameters and hormone receptor status in breast cancer patients of Kashmir. Materials and Methods: Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to determine the methylation status of CDH1 in 128 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) paired with the corresponding normal tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of E-cadherin, ER and PR. Results: CDH1 hypermethylation was detected in 57.8% of cases and 14.8% of normal adjacent controls. Reduced levels of E-cadherin protein were observed in 71.9% of our samples. Loss of E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with the CDH1 promoter region methylation (p<0.05, OR=3.48, CI: 1.55-7.79). Hypermethylation of CDH1 was significantly associated with age at diagnosis (p=0.030), tumor size (p=0.008), tumor grade (p=0.024) and rate of node positivity or metastasis (p=0.043). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest that abnormal CDH1 methylation occurs in high frequencies in infiltrating breast cancers associated with a decrease in E-cadherin expression. We found significant differences in tumor-related CDH1 gene methylation patterns relevant to tumor grade, tumor size, nodal involvement and age at diagnosis of breast tumors, which could be extended in future to provide diagnostic and prognostic information.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to secure the reliability of using the CalTOX model when evaluating LADD (or ADD) and Risk (or HQ) among local residents for the emission of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) and by closely examining the difference in the confidence interval of the assessment outcomes according to the difference in the probability density function of input variables. Methods: The assessment was made by dividing it according to the method ($I^{\dagger}$) of inputting the probability density function in meteorological variables of the model with log-normal distribution and the method of inputting ($II^{\ddagger}$) after grasping the optimal probability density function using @Risk. A T-test was carried out in order to analyze the difference in confidence interval of the two assessment results. Results: It was evaluated to be 1.46E-03 mg/kg-d in LADD of Benzene, 1.96E-04 mg/kg-d in ADD of Toluene, 8.15E-05 mg/kg-d in ADD of Ethylbenzene, and 2.30E-04 mg/kg-d in ADD of Xylene. As for the predicted confidence interval in LADD and ADD, there was a significant difference between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods in $LADD_{Inhalation}$ for Benzene, and in $ADD_{Inhalation}$ and ADD for Toluene and Xylene. It appeared to be 3.58E-05 for risk in Benzene, 3.78E-03 for HQ in Toluene, 1.48E-03 for HQ in Ethylbenzene, and 3.77E-03 for HQ in Xylene. As a result of the HQ in Toluene and Xylene, the difference in confidence interval between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods was shown to be significant. Conclusions: The human risk assessment for BTEX was made by dividing it into the method ($I^{\dagger}$) of inputting the probability density function of meteorological variables for the CalTOX model with log-normal distribution, and the method of inputting ($II^{\ddagger}$) after grasping the optimal probability density function using @Risk. As a result, it was identified that Risk (or HQ) is the same, but that there is a significant difference in the confidence interval of Risk (or HQ) between the $I^{\dagger}$ and $II^{\ddagger}$ methods.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.822-835
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• 1997

Background : There have been many in vitro evidences that interleukin-4(IL-4) might be the most important cytokine inducing IgE synthesis from B-cells, and interferon-gamma(IFN-$\gamma$) might be a main cytokine antagonizing IL-4-mediated IgE synthesis. Recently some reports demonstrated that IFN-$\gamma$ might be used as a new therapeutic modality in some allergic diseases with high serum IgE level, such as atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma. To evaluate the in vivo effect of IFN-$\gamma$ in bronchial asthma we tried a clinical study. Methods : Fifty bronchial asthmatics(serum IgE level over 200 IU/ml) who did not respond to inhaled or systemic corticosteroid treatment, and 17 healthy nonsmoking volunteers were included in this study. The CD 23 expressions of peripheral B-cells, the IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells, the serum soluble CD23(sCD23) levels, and the superoxide anion(${O_2}^-$) generations by peripheral PMN were compared between bronchial asthmatics and normal subjects. The IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells were analyzed by T-cell supernatant (T-sup)-induced CD23 expression from tonsil B-cells. In bronchial asthmatics the serum IgE levels and histamine $PC_{20}$ in addition to the above parameters were also compared before and after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment. IFN-$\gamma$ was administered subcutaneously with a weekly dose of 30,000 IU per kilogram of body weight for 4 weeks. Results : The ${O_2}^-$ generations by peripheral PMNs in bronchial asthmatics were higher than normal subjects($8.23{\pm}0.94$ vs $5.00{\pm}0.68\;nmol/1{\times}10^6$ cells, P<0.05), and significantly decreased after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment compared to initial values($3.69{\pm}0.88$ vs $8.61{\pm}1.53\;nmol/1{\times}10^6$ cells, P<0.05). CD23 expression of peripheral B-cells in bronchial asthmatics was higher than normal subjects($47.47{\pm}2.96%$, vs $31.62{\pm}1.92%$, P<0.05), but showed no significant change after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment. The serum sCD23 levels in bronchial asthmatics were slightly higher than normal subjects($191.04{\pm}23.3\;U/ml$ vs $162.85{\pm}4.85\;U/ml$), and 11(64.7%) of 17 patients showed a decreasing pattern in their serum sCD23 levels after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment. However the means of serum sCD23 levels were not different before and after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment. The IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells in bronchial asthmatics were slightly higher than normal subjects($22.48{\pm}6.81%$ vs $18.90{\pm}2.43%$), and slightly increased after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment($27.90{\pm}2.56%$). Nine(60%) of 15 patients showed a decreasing pattern in their serum IgE levels after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment. And the levels of serum IgE were significantly decreased after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment compared to initial values ($658.67{\pm}120.84\;IU/ml$ vs $1394.32{\pm}314.42\;IU/ml$, P<0.05). Ten(83.3%) of 12 patients showed an improving pattern in bronchial hyperresponsiveness after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment, and the means of histamine $PC_{20}$ were significantly increased after IFN-$\gamma$ treatment compared to initial values ($1.22{\pm}0.29mg/ml$ vs $0.69{\pm}0.17mg/ml$, P<0.05). Conclusion : Our results suggest that IFN-$\gamma$ may be useful as well as safety in the treatment of bronchial asthmatics with high serum IgE level and that in vivo effects of IFN-$\gamma$ may be different from its in vitro effects on the regulations of IgE synthesis or the respiratory burst of PMN.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.111-123
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• 2008

Objectives : We aimed to investigate therapeutic effect of Bojungikgitang-gamibang(BI) and Mahwangshingungsan(MS) by observing changes in blood cells and the nasal mucosa of Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats with allergic rhinitis. Methods : Twenty-four SD rats were divided into three groups: normal, control, and sample group. Allergic rhinitis was induced in the control and sample group by intraperitoneal and intranasal sensitization with 0.1% and 0.4% Ovalbumin solution. Then BI was orally administered only to the sample group along with MS for 28days, while the rats in the control group was given normal saline. Results : BI and MS showed significantly decreased IgE level on the serum of the rat model, Bl and MS showed significantly decreased eosinophil level on the blood of the rat model. BI and MS inhibited the inflammatory reaction on the nasal mucosal tissue, according to nasal mucosal biopsy. Bl and MS had anti-allergic according to level, eosinophil level, nasal mucosal biopsy. BI and MS had no hepatoxicity, according to AST and ALT on the serum. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is considered that Bl and MS is helpful in treatment of allergic rhinitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.309-314
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the psychological characteristics of hepatic malignancy patients before interventional procedures and assess associations with related factors. Methods: Two hundred and thirteen patients requiring interventional procedure for hepatic malignancy were asked to complete a survey of health knowledge and psychological symptom on health knowledge questionnaire and SCL-90 before interventional procedure. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the association of various demographic, clinical and health knowledge factors with the presence of psychological symptoms in patients. Results: Eight psychological symptom scores, i.e. somatization, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia, paranoid ideations and psychotic states, were significantly higher than the normal range (P< 0.001). Of 213 cases in the study, 49 families (23.00%) concealed the diagnoses of hepatic carcinoma from patients; 135 patients (63.38%) described the prognosis of the disease correctly. It was demonstrated that the correlations between psychological symptoms and related factors, i.e. age, gender, education, interventional procedure times and health knowledge, were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Psychological distress is severe in hepatic malignancy patients before interventional procedures. Age, gender, education, interventional procedure times and health knowledge are associated with psychological symptoms which are significant different from the normal range in Chinese.