• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2002

Objective : To investigate gamma-Glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}-GTP$) and its related factors in male industrial workers. Method : Five hundred and tony male workers without heart disease, diabetes mellitus, renal disease, hepatitis, and other liver diseases were surveyed in October 1998. Blood samples were collected to test for ${\gamma}-GTP$, total-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. A self-administered questionnaire survey on life style was also done. Results : The total geometric mean value of ${\gamma}-GTP$ was 30.6 U/L. According to a univariate analysis: age, BMI(body mass index, $kg/m^2$), alcohol consumption, current smoking, stress, diastolic blood pressure, and blood total cholesterol were significantly associated with ${\gamma}-GTP$(p<0.05). From a multiple regression analysis: BMI, alcohol consumption, current smoking, diastolic blood pressure and total-cholesterol were significantly related to ${\gamma}-GTP$(p<0.05). Coffee consumption was negatively related to ${\gamma}-GTP$, but not significantly. Conclusion : We recommend that a change in health behavior (i.e. reducing alcohol intake, controlling BMI and not smoking) is necessary to decrease ${\gamma}-GTP$ in male workers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2006

Gene therapy with nonviral vectors using the suicide gene/prodrug activating system of herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) is inefficient in killing malignant tumor cells due to two major factors: (a) an unsatisfactory bystander effect; (b) short-lived expression of the protein. To study the capacity of the protein transduction domain (PTD) of HIV-1 TAT protein to enhance HSV1-TK/GCV cancer gene therapy, we constructed three fusion proteins TAT-TK, TK-TAT and TK. TAT-TK retained as much enzyme activity as TK, whereas that of TK-TAT was much lower. TAT-TK can enter HepG2 cells and much of it is translocated to the nucleus. The transduced HepG2 cells are killed by exogenously added GCV and have bystander effects on untransduced HepG2 cells. Most importantly, the introduced recombinant protein is stable and remains functional for several days at least, probably because nuclear localization protects it from the cytoplasmic degradation machinery and provides access to the nuclear transcription machinery. Our results indicate that TAT fusion proteins traffic intercellularly and have enhanced stability and prodrug cell killing activity. We conclude that TAT has potential for enhancing enzyme prodrug treatment of liver cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.541-553
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• 2016

Medicinal porridge (藥粥) is made by putting rice or grains into a pot and boiling with water until a semi-liquid texture is obtained. Porridge is digested fast and absorbed by the body. Children or elderly people with weak digestive ability can eat it without difficulty. The authors of this literature focused on utilization of mung bean porridge (Nokdu-juk) based on SeungjeongwonIlgi (承政院日記), which is the daily record of the Royal Secretariat of the Joseon Dynasty from 1623 to 1910. Four cases were found. The first case used mungbean for treating fever diseases (熱症), the second as a meal alternative, the third for wound recovery, and the last case described the culture of the joseon dynasty. According to the actual cases in SeungjeongwonIlgi (承政院日記), mung bean porridge (Nokdu-juk) was actively used to lower fever and strengthen the spleen and stomach. When suffering from the after effects of a malignant tumor or serious liver disease (肝病), an infectious disease, or a serious physical wound, people ate mung bean porridge (Nokdu-juk). It is suggested that mung bean porridge (Nokdu-juk) can be used as an alternative food treatment for the current medical field due to the prevalence of pain-killers and psychotropic drug abuse.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2014

Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. is known as an insecticide and traditional remedy for liver related diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the chemopreventive effects of extracts and several solvent fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, n-butanol, water) of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. First, their cytotoxicity and NQO1 activity were measured using an MTT assay, plus a quinone reductase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone); NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2]-inducing activity assay was performed using cultured murine hepatoma cells (Hepa1c1c7) and its mutant cells(BpRc1). The reduction of electrophilic quinones by NQO1 is an important detoxification pathway and major mechanism of chemoprevention. When compared with the other solvent soluble fractions with different polarities, the dichloromethane fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. showed a higher NQO1-inducing activity that was also dose-dependent. Moreover, the dichloromethane fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. induced ARE-luciferase activities in HepG2-C8 cells that were generated by transfecting the ARE-luciferase gene construct, suggesting the Nrf2-ARE-mediated induction of anti-oxidative enzymes. In conclusion, the dichloromethane-soluble fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. showed a relatively strong induction of detoxifying enzymes, thereby meriting further study to identify the active components and evaluate their potential as cancer preventive agents.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-89
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate anti-oxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of Sungyoutanggagambang(SYTG). Methods: In the study of anti-oxidant activities. SYTG was investigated by DPPH radical scavenger activity. superoxide dismutase activity and superoxide anion radical scavenger activity. In the study of anti-inflammatory effects. SYTG was investigated using cultured cells and murine models. As for the parameters of inflammation. levels of several inflammatory cytokines and chemical mediators which are known to be related to inflammation were measured in mouse lung fibroblast cells(mLFCs) and RAW264.7 cells. Results: Prior to the experiment. we investigated the security of SYTG by measuring GOT and GPT in serum. 1. SYTG showed high antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent degree by measured scavenging activity of DPPH free radical, superoxide dismutase and superoxide anion radical. 2. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, IL-6. TNF-$\alpha$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression as compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent degree in RAW264.7 cell line. 3. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production significantly at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ and TNF-$\alpha$ production significantly at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ as compared with the control group in RA W264.7 cell line. 4. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, and IL-6 production significantly as compared with the control group in serum of acute inflammation-induced mice. and decreased IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production in spleen tissue. and also decreased IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production in liver tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that SYTG can be useful in treating diverse female diseases caused by inflammation such as endometrosis, myoma, pelvic congestion. chronic cervicitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and so on.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31.1-31.12
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• 2021

Background: Blackened intestines in slaughtered pigs have been commonly observed in China in recent years. However, no cause has been reported. Objectives: We attempted to determine whether the blackening of the pig intestine was related to an excess of copper (Cu) in their feed. Methods: In this study, we observed and collected porcine intestines in small- and large-scale pig slaughterhouses in Shandong province from May to October 2018. Twelve types of metal ions were detected in the black intestinal samples. Results: The Cu level in the intestine samples was mostly higher than the Chinese national limit for food. Further study showed that Cu supplementation in most commercial porcine feed also exceeded the national standard. An animal model (mouse) that could mimic the intestinal blackening in pigs was established. Compared to control mice, Cu accumulated in the liver and intestines of mice fed an excessive Cu level, confirming the excessive Cu in the feed may be considered the major cause of blackened porcine intestines. Microscopic examination revealed that black intestines had many particles containing Cu in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa, and the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells showed degeneration and necrosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, overuse of Cu in animal feed can lead to animal poisoning and Cu accumulation in animal products. Such overuse not only harms the health of livestock but can also affect public health.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.154-156
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• 2019

Eikenella corrodens is Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, and rod-shaped bacterium. It is a part of the normal human mucosal flora that can cause several systemic diseases such as endocarditis, liver abscess, and intracranial bacterial infection. E. corrodens KCOM 3110 (= JS217) was isolated from human subgingival dental plaque of periodontitis lesion. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of E. corrodens KCOM 3110.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.122-122
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• 2019

Protaetia brevitarsis (PB) extracts has been traditionally used as medicinal stuff to treat blood stasis, occlusion of menstruation, tetanus and liver cancer in Asian countries (Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, India and Myanmar). Especially, Donguibogam, which is traditional korean medicinal book, described the PB extracts as traditional medicine to treat hepatic diseases and vascular disorders. The PB extracts has been considered as highly nutritional food. The major constituents of PB extracts are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, calcium. Recent studies announced that PB extracts has hepatoprotective effect and anti-microbacterial effect. However, the effect of PB on ulcerative colitis has not been uncovered yet. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of PB extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. Cytotoxicity of PB was determined by MTT assay and the antiinflammatory effect of PB extract was investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production. PB extracts did not show any cytotoxicity. AIso, PB extracts supressed NO production in LPS-stimulated mice peritoneal macrophages. To determine whether PB could be an effective treatment on ulcerative colitis, DSS was administered in BALB/c mice for 10 days. PB extract significantly improved the clinical signs of DSS-induced UC, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, and disease activity index increase, with histological markers of colon injury. These findings indicated the possibility of PB as a therapeutic agent on ulcerative colitis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.166-175
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• 2019

The constitution of traditional medicine is distinguished from modern medicine. Sasang medicine describe the constitution which is classified as functional intensity of the lung, spleen, liver and kidney. The functional strength of each part of the human body is not the same in each constitution, and this imbalance is considered as a major factor of the disease. Ayurveda is identified the balance of the three dosha in our body is the basis of health maintenance. The reason for the illness is due to the imbalance among vata which express energy metabolism, pitta which plays a role in metabolism and digestion, and kapha which controls body temperature. The two theories which include knowing the characteristics and trends of diseases according to their constitution, the approach of treatment and the health care of daily life. They are also considered as convergent area about treatment methods in the modern society where individual characteristics and lifestyle are emphasized. The purpose of this study is to understand the concept of constitutional basis for increasing patient satisfaction and to help diversity of treatment in preventive medical area by comparing and analyzing the theory of Sasang and Ayurveda.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.40-50
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of Kyungheechunggan-tang (KHCGT) on LPS- induced RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells and anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT on LX-2 cells. Materials and Methods: Three types of KHCGTs (KHCGT-A, -B, and -C) by narrowing down the number of constituent herbs from 9 (KHCGT-A) to 5 (KHCGT-B) and to 3 (KHCGT-C) were developed. To understand pharmacological effects of KHCGT, three types of KHCGTs were treated on RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. Anti-inflammatory activities of KHCGT were evaluated by ELISA assay for pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-10, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and for IL-6 production in LPS-induced LX-2 cells. In addition, anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT were determined by quantitative real-time PCR assay for fibrosis-related genes, ${\alpha}-SMA$, collagen1A1, TIMP1, MMP-2, in LX-2 cells. Results: KHCGT-A and KHCGT-C showed inhibitory effects on secretion of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. KHCGT-B and KHCGT-C exhibited inhibitory effects on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The mRNA expression levels of collagen1A1 and MMP-2 were significantly reduced by KHCGT-C whereas TIMP-1 was suppressed by KHCGT-A and KHCGT-B in LX-2 cells. Among three different formulas, KHCGT-C demonstrated the most remarkable effects on inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusions: In this study, KHCGT showed both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects which make it to be a prospective agent for chronic liver diseases with inflammation and fibrosis.