• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.488-498
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• 2003

Background : Activation of the transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ has been shown to protect cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha, chemotherapy, and radiation-induced apoptosis. NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cIAP expression is a major antiapoptotic mechanism for that. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and cIAP expression in A549 lung cancer cells which is relatively resistant to radiation-induced cell death were investigated for the mechanism of radioresistance. Materials and methods : We used A549 lung cancer cells and Clinac 1800C linear accelerator for radiation. Cell viability test was done by MTT assay. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was tested by luciferase reporter gene assay, Western blot for $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, and electromobility shift assay. For blocking ${\kappa}B$, MG132 and transfection of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-superrepressor plasmid construct were used. cIAP expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and cIAP2 promoter activity was performed using luciferase assay system. Results : MTT assay showed that cytotoxicity even 48 hr after radiation in A549 cells were less than 20%. Luciferas assay demonstrated weak NF-${\kappa}B$ activation of $1.6{\pm}0.2$ fold compared to PMA-induced $3.4{\pm}0.9$ fold. Radiation-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation was observed in Western blot and NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding was confirmed by EMSA. However, blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ using MG132 and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-superrepressor transfection did not show any sensitizing effect for radiation-induced cell death. The result of RT-PCR for cIAP1 & 2 expression was negative induction while TNF-${\alpha}$ showed strong expression for cIAP1 & 2. The cIAP2 promoter activity also did not show any change compared to positive control with TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion : We conclude that activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ does not determine the intrinsic radiosensitivity of cancer cells, at least for the cell lines tested in this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4705-4710
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• 2015

Background: Though a large proportion of cancer survivors are assumed to be commonly affected by sleep disturbance, few studies have focused on short sleep problems and its correlates among Korean cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of short sleep in adult cancer survivors from a nationwide population-based sample and to identify risk factors for short sleep duration. Materials and Methods: Based on the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007-2012), 1,045 cancer survivors and 33,929 non-cancer controls were analyzed. The prevalence of short sleep was compared between these two groups. Associations between short sleep and its correlates were evaluated using multiple logistic regression among cancer survivors: odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, psychological conditions, and cancer-related factors. Results: About 8.1% of cancer survivors slept for less than 5 hours per day (6.2% men and 9.3% women), whereas this was the case for only 3.7% of non-cancer controls. Cancer survivors who had the lowest household income level showed a significantly higher likelihood for short sleep (adjusted OR 2.82, 95%CI 1.06-7.54). Self-reported poor health and depressive symptoms were found to be associated with significantly increased likelihood for short sleep in cancer survivors (adjusted OR 3.60, 95%CI 1.40-9.26 and adjusted OR 2.00, 95%CI 1.17-3.42). Gastric cancer survivors had a 3.97-fold increased risk for short sleep (95%CI 1.60-9.90). Conclusions: The prevalence of short sleep occurs at a high rate among the Korean cancer survivors, which may indicate a poorer quality of life and a higher risk of future complications in survivorship. Targeted interventions that can assist cancer survivors to cope with sleep disturbances as well as ensuring psychological stability are warranted to reduce the latent disease burden.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-80
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• 2014

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro antibacterial effects of Gagam-seopyoungjeon aqueous extracts (GGSYJ) against Gardnerella vaginalis and the possible synergic combination effects with clindamycin. Methods: Antibacterial activities against Gardnerella vaginalis of GGSYJ were detected using minimal inhibition concentration (MIC), and the effects on the bacterial growth curve were also monitored at MIC and MIC${\times}$2 levels. The combination effects of GGSYJ with clindamycin were observed by checkboard microtiter assay, and the effects of bacterial growth curve treated with GGSYJ MIC+clindamycin MIC, 1/2 MIC and 1/4 MIC, respectively. The effects on the bacterial invasion and intracellular killing of GGSYJ were also observed using human vaginal epithelial (VK2) and murine macrophage (Raw264.7) cells with combination effects with clindamycin after treatment of GGSYJ MIC+clindamycin 1/2 MIC, 1/4 MIC and 1/6 MIC, respectively. Results: The MIC of clindamycin and GGSYJ against Gardnerella vaginalis were detected as $0.012{\pm}0.006$ (0.004~0.016)${\mu}g/ml$ and $1.016{\pm}0.524$ (0.391~1.563) mg/ml, respectively. Clindamycin and GGSYJ were also showed marked dosage-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, and significant decreases of viable cells were detected in clindamycin MIC+GGSYJ MIC and clindamycin 1/2 MIC+GGSYJ MIC treatment as compared with each of single clindamycin MIC and GGSYJ MIC treatments. And significant decreases of intraepithelial and intra-macrophage viable bacteria numbers were detected in clindamycin 1/2 MIC+GGSYJ 1/2 MIC and clindamycin 1/4 MIC+GGSYJ 1/2 MIC treatment as compared with each of single clindamycin GGSYJ 1/2 MIC treatments, respectively. Conclusions: GGSYJ showed slight antibacterial effects against Gardnerella vaginalis, but they showed dosage-dependent inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth and VK2 epithelial invasions of bacteria with favorable accelerating effects of intracellular killing activities of macrophages. In addition, combination of GGSYJ also increased the inhibitory effects of clindamycin on the epithelial invasions of Gardnerella vaginalis and intracellular killing activities of macrophages against Gardnerella vaginalis as 2-fold higher as compared with clindamycin single treatment, respectively. Therefore, we expected that the clinical dosages of clindamycin can be reduced as 1/2 levels as combination with GGSYJ.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1054-1065
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• 2010

SH21B is a natural composition composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner (Ratio 3:3:3:3:3:2:2). In our previous study, we reported that SH21B inhibited adipogenesis and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells through modulation of various regulators in the adipogenesis pathway. The aim of this study was to analyze the transcriptome profiles for the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B in 3T3-L1 cells. Total RNAs from SH21B-treated 3T3-L1 cells were reverse-transcribed into cDNAs and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST array. From microarray analyses, we identified 2,568 genes of which expressions were changed more than two-fold by SH21B, and the clustering analyses of these genes resulted in 9 clusters. Three clusters among the 9 showed down-regulation by SH21B (cluster 4, cluster 6 and cluster 9), and two clusters showed up-regulation by SH21B (cluster 7 and cluster 8) during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. It was found that many genes related to cell proliferation and adipogenesis were included in these clusters. Clusters 4, 6 and 9 included genes which were related with adipogenesis induction and cell cycle arrest. Clusters 7 and 8 included genes related to cell proliferation as well as adipogenesis inhibition. These results suggest that the mechanisms of the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B may be the modulation of genes involved in cell proliferation and adipogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.543-550
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• 2023

Mulberry fruit is a superior source of polyphenols, especially anthocyanin, and has a long history of use as an edible fruit and traditional medicine. The anthocyanin composition of mulberry fruit from 15 Korean cultivars was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector with quadrupole time of flight/mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS) based on a cyanin internal standard. The four glycosides were identified by comparison with authentic standards and published reports. The major anthocyanin was cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (71.7%), followed by cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (26.6%). The minor components (total of 1.7%) were pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside. The total anthocyanin content (mg/100 g, dry weight) of mulberry fruit varied by cultivar and ranged from 471.5±4.0 (Su Hong) to 4,700.2±54.0 (Gwa Sang2). Among the 15 cultivars examined, Gwa Sang2 showed the highest level of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (3,133.4±32.6), which was 9-fold higher than that of Su Hong (351.5±3.4). In conclusion, anthocyanin profiles, including pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside, were reported for the first time from 15 Korean mulberry fruit cultivars. The results will contribute valuable information on pharmaceutical properties, breeding superior mulberry cultivars, and food industries.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-135
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• 1968

As physical fitness measured was muscle strength (hand grips, leg extention, back lift, and arm pull and thrust), skinfold thickness (5 different sites), circulatory function (resting heart rate and blood pressure), speed (kinesiological analysis during 100m sprint, record, maximal and final speed), motor function (50 meter dash, ball throwing, standing broad jump, and pull-ups), maximal aerobic power (maximum oxygen intake by field running method), muscle power (leg and arm by inertia ergometer), and general endurance (maximum endurance running time on the treadmill at the speed of 5 MPH and grade of 15.5%) of 1131 Korean children (boys 572, girls 559) aged of 6 to 17 years, who were randomly sampled from 24 primary, middle and high schools at the two districts of Seoul and KyungKi. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The status (height and weight) of the children was almost same as that of the previously reported Korean and Japanese children of same ages. 2) Muscle strength was a gained linearly with geting age in the boys and girls but there was a little improvement in girls aged of 13 years or more. 3) The mean skin fold thickness was increased linearly with geting ages in both sexes, but the girls from 12 to 17 years of age were increased rapidly, and maximum value was 17mm, while boys was 7.0 mm. 4) In the circulatory function, the resting heart rate was decreased, but the blood pressure was increased with ages in both sexes within the normal limits. 5) The maximum and final speed during 100 meter sprint increases with age in boys but girls who are 12 years old or older, were not improved any mere. The patterns of running were same in both sexes, and maximum speed reached at about 30 meters from starting line. 6) The motor function was increased with age in both sexes, but there was no improvement in 12 years of age or older girls. More over records of all functions except standing broad jump was less than those of Japanese in the same age, respectively. 7) The maximum oxygen intake (MOI) was increased considerably with ages and maximum values were 2.93 L/min (boys) and 2.09 L/min (girls) at the age of 17years. This result was almost same as that of the Japanese and Easter Island population, but the value was lower than that of Europe. The average of the maximum oxygen intake per kg body weight per minute from 9 to 17 years of age were around 53 ml in the boys and 42 ml in the girls. 8) Muscle power was increased linearly with ages in boys while there was relatively a little increment in girls. The maximum values of leg muscle in boys and girls at the 17 years of age were 0.168 and 0.088 horse power, respectively. 9) The maximum endurance running time was increased considerably from the age of 9 in boys, while there was no improvement in girls. The maximum values were 6.0 min and 1.8 min, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2016

The establishment of a DNA barcode database at the regional scale and assessments of the utility of DNA barcodes are crucial for conservation biology and for the sustainable utilization of biological resources. Schisandraceae is a small family consisting of ca. 45 species. It contains many economically important species, such as Schisandra chinensis, which is widely used as a source in tonic beverages and in oriental medicine. In Korea, three species, S. chinensis, S. repanda, and Kadsura japonica, are distributed. We evaluated the level of variation of the DNA sequences of rbcL, matK, and the ITS regions from 13 accessions representing the distributional range of the three species. The three DNA barcode regions were easily amplified and sequenced. The minimum values of the interspecific genetic distances among S. chinensis, S. repanda, and K. japonica either separately or in combination are 4- to 23-fold higher than the maximum value of the intraspecific distance, showing that there is a clear DNA barcoding gap in the regions for Korean Schisandraceae. Phylogenetic analyses of the three DNA barcode regions, separately and simultaneously, indicate that all of the DNA barcode regions are useful for identifying a species of Schisandraceae in Korea. The distinctiveness of the three species of Schisandraceae was also supported at the species level when Chinese and Japanese populations were added. The results of this study indicate that three concatenated regions constitute the best option for DNA barcoding in Schisandraceae in Korea.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1025-1029
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• 2013

In the previous paper (Bull. Korean Chem. Soc., 2011, 32, 2997), the hybrid molecules between ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid (ALA) and polyphenols (PPs) connected with neutral 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol linker (linker-1) showed new biological activity such as butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition. In order to increase the binding affinity of the hybrid compounds to cholinesterase (ChE), the neutral 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol (linker 1) was switched to the cationic 2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanol linker (linker 2). The $IC_{50}$ values of the linker-2 hybrid molecules for BuChE inhibition were lower than those of linker-1 hybrid molecules (except 9-2) and they also had the same great selectivity for BuChE over AChE (> 800 fold) as linker-1 hybrid molecules. ALA-acetyl caffeic acid (10-2, ALA-AcCA) was shown as an effective inhibitor of BuChE ($IC_{50}=0.44{\pm}0.24{\mu}M$). A kinetic study using 7-2 showed that it is the same mixed type inhibition as 7-1. Its inhibition constant (Ki) to BuChE is $4.3{\pm}0.09{\mu}M$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.117-125
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• 1997

In order to assess the possibility whether CYP2D is involved in caffeine metabolism, we have purified and characterized the rat liver microsomal cytochrome P4502D1 (CYP2D1), equivalent to CYP2D6 in human liver, and have utilized the reconstituted CYP2D1 in the metabolism of 4 primary caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) metabolites such as paraxanthine (1, 7-dimethylxanthine), 1, 3, 7-trimethylurate, theophylline (1, 3-dimethylxanthine) and theobromine (3, 7-dimethylxanthine). Rat liver CYP 2D1 has been purified to a specific content of 8.98 nmole/mg protein (13.4fold purification, 1.5% yield) using $\omega$-aminooctylagarose, hydroxlapatite, and DE52 columns in a sequential manner. As judged from sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the purified CYP2D1 was apparently homogeneous. Molecular weight of the purified CYP2D1 was found to be 51, 000 Da. Catalytic activity of the purified and then reconstituted CYP2D1 was confirmed by using bufuralol, a known subsFate of CYP2D1. The reconstituted CYP2D1 was found to produce to 1-hydroxylbufuralol at a rate of 1.43$\pm$0.13 nmol/min/nmol P450. The kinetic analysis of bufuralol hydroxylation indicated that Km and Vmax values were 7.32$\mu M$ and 1.64 nmol/min/nmol P450, respectively. The reconstituted CYP2D1 could catalyze the 7-demethylation of PX to 1-methylxanthine at a rate of 12.5 pmol/min/pmol, and also the 7- and 3- demethylations of 1, 3, 7-trimethylurate to 1, 3-dimethylurate and 1, 7-dimethylurate at 6.5 and 12.8 pmol/min/pmol CYP2D1, respectively. The reconstituted CYP2D1 could also 3-demethylate theophylline to 1-methylxanthine at 5 pmol/min/pmol and hydroxylate the theophylline to 1, 3-dimethylurate at 21.8 pmol/min/pmol CYP2D1. The reconstituted CYP2D1, however, did not metabolize TB at all (detection limits were 0.03 pmol/min/pmol). This study indicated that CYP2D1 is involved in 3-and 7-demethylations of paraxanthine and theophylline and suggested that CYP2D6 (equivalent to CYP2D1 in rat liver) present in human liver may be involved in the secondary metabolism of the primary metabolites of caffeine.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2005

One of the critical problems to be solved in transgenic animal production is uncontrollable constitutive expression of foreign genes, which usually results in serious physiological disturbances in the transgenic animal. To circumvent this problem, we constructed and tested two retrovirus vectors designed to express the GFP(green fluorescent protein) gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoters. To maximize the GFP gene expression at turn-on state, WPRE(woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element) sequence was introduced into the retrovirus vectors at downstream region of either the GFP gene or the sequence encoding rtTA(reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator). Transformed cells were cultured in the medium supplemented with or without doxycycline(tetracycline derivative) for 48 hours, and induction efficiency was measured by comparing the GFP gene expression level using fluorometry and western blotting. Higher GFP expression was observed from the vector carrying the WPRE sequence at 3' side of the GFP gene, while tighter expression control(up to 20 fold) was obtained from the vector in which the WPRE sequence was placed at 3' side of rtTA sequence. The resulting tetracycline inducible vector system may be used in transgenic animal production and gene therapy.