• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.482-486
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• 2016

Inonotus obliquus is a medicinal mushroom with a variety of biological activities. It has reported to have strong anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. EBV+ gastric carcinoma is one of the most common EBV-associated cancers that were caused by latent EBV infection. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of ethanol extract of I. obliquus using in vivo xenograft animal models implanted with EBV+ human gastric carcinoma (SNU719). We also explored the molecular mechanisms responsible for its anti-cancer activity. The result indicated that the extract of I. obliquus had an anti-cancer effect in in vivo xenograft mice with EBV+ gastric carcinoma (SNU719). Extract of I. obliquus also showed a great effect on inducing the expression of p53, p21 and Bax in tumor tissue derived from EBV+ human gastric carcinoma, and these were correlated with increased expressions of the cleaved forms of caspase-9 and Parp. Also, I. obliquus attenuated the expression of viral proteins, BZLF-1 and LMP-2 in tumor tissue from EBV+ human gastric carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2009

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to identify risk factors and clinical signs associated with parasitic helminth infections of cattle in Mymensignh district of Bangladesh. A nonrandom convenience sampling method was used to select 138 animals from 40 farmers/herds. The eggs per gram of faeces (epg) for nematodes and trematodes were determined by McMaster and Stoll's methods respectively. Animal-level and herd-level data were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Multi-collinearity amongst explanatory variables were assessed using $2{\times}2{\times}\;X^2$ test and one variable in a pair was dropped if $P{\leq}0.05$ formultiple logistic regression models. Association study between outcome and explanatory variables was conducted using classification tree, random forests and multiple logistic regression. A positive epg was considered as infected. Analyses were performed using $STATA^{(R)}$, version 8.0/Intercooled and $R^{(R)}$, Version 2.3.0. Seventy eight percent of the cattle were found to be infected with at least one type of helminth. Twenty four pairs of combinations of explanatory variables showed significant associations. Male animals (OR=3.3, P=.006, 95% CI=1.4, 7.7) were associated with significantly increased prevalence of nematode infection. Female cattle of the study area are mostly cross-breed, kept indoor, fed relatively good diet and not used for draught purpose. Males are used for draught purpose thereby more exposed to nematode infective stage and provided with relatively poor diet. So stressed male cattle may become more susceptible to nematode infection. All of the three statistical techniques selected gender and lumen motility as most important variables in association with nematode infection in cattle. The result of this survey can only be extrapolated to the periurban cattle population of traditional management system.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2016

The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori has been one of the most important domestic animals which have provided with silk fibers for weaving fabrics and a food for a protein and lipid source. In addition, various health improvement effects of diverse silkworm larval powders were reported. Recently we found that steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP) generated using white-jade (also known as Backokjam) silkworm variety extended healthspan and increased resistance to Parkinson's disease in animal models. Because the colors of cocoons in silkworm varieties were caused by altered signal transduction pathways transporting phytochemicals from intestinal lumens to silk glands, we performed the proximate, amino acid, mineral, carbohydrates, fatty acid, and cholesterol composition analyses of SMSPs of 3 silkworm varieties which were weaving light yellow, golden, and red cocoons. Although most of nutrient compositions among 3 SMSPs were similar, there were significant differences in certain amino acids, minerals, and fatty acid compositions. Red silk silkworm (RS)-SMSP had higher contents of crude proteins and total amino acids than other SMSPs. In addition, the ratio of n-3/n-6 unsaturated fatty acids were higher than the other SMSPs. In contrast Golden silk silkworm (GS)-SMSP had higher ratio of potassium/sodium than the other SMSPs. These nutrient analysis results suggested that 3 SMSPs might have common and unique health improvement effects. Thus, further studies in the functionalities of the 3 SMSPs will reveal unknown their health improvements effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of mycelium and culture supernatant of Cordyceps ochraceostromat(Co) on air way hyper-responsiveness, pulmonary immune cell infiltration, and Th2 cytokine expression in animal models of atopy and asthma. After ConA(+/-) activation of mouse primary spleen cells, decreased IL-4 and IL-13 cytokine production were seen in the presence of Co mycelium extracts and culture supernatant. The asthma model involved mice sensitized to ovalbumin by i.p. injection treatment; Co mycelium extract was also injected. The atopy model was the dinitrofenylbenzene-treated mouse ear. Ear thicken ing induced by DNFB was decreased by Co mycelium extract, and the extract also inhibited lung cell infiltration in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice. The results thus indicated that the Co mycelial extract reduced the undesirable immune responses seen in asthma and atopy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2011

Objective : Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline-class antibiotic, has been well established to exert a neuroprotective effect in animal models and neurodegenerative disease through the inhibition of microglia. Here, we investigated the effects of minocycline on motor recovery and neuropathic pain in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Methods : To simulate spinal cord injury, the rats' spinal cords were hemisected at the 10th thoracic level (T10). Minocycline was injected intraperitoneally, and was administered 30 minutes prior surgery and every second postoperative day until sacrifice 28 days after surgery. Motor recovery was assessed via the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan test Mechanical hyperalgesia was measured throughout the 28-day post -operative course via the von Frey test Microglial and astrocyte activation was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (lba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at two sites: at the level of hemisection and at the 5th lumbar level (L5). Results : In rats, spinal cord hemisection reduced locomotor function and induced a mechanical hyperalgesia of the ipsilateral hind limb. The expression of lba1 and GFAP was also increased in the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord at the site of hemisection and at the L5 level. Intraperitoneal injection of minocycline facilitated overall motor recovery and attenuated mechanical hyperalgesia. The expression of lba1 and GFAP in the spinal cord was also reduced in rats treated with minocycline. Conclusion : By inhibiting microglia and astrocyte activation, minocycline may facilitate motor recovery and attenuate mechanical hyperalgesia in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2016

Objectives： Presently Mume Fructus (MF) undergoes fumigation, which produces benzo[a]pyrene. As a primary analysis with the aims to minimize the production of benzo[a]pyrene and to suggest standards for processing the MF, the steaming method was chosen among the various processing methods, and reviewed through a series of experiments.Methods： Methods：Pitted and un-pitted MF were steamed and processed into samples. After testing level of benzo[a]pyrene, the samples were analyzed for amount of polyphenol and flavonoids. Scavenging activities of the samples for the DPPH and ABTS radicals were tested. In order to measure anti-inflammatory effects of the samples, cell survival rate was investigated using CCK-8 Assay. Also, water extracts of dried and steamed MF were administered to the RAW 264.7 cells to compare expressions of NO, PGE₂, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In addition, anti-diarrhea effects of the herbal medicine were tested on animal models with diarrhea induced by MgSO₄ and Castor oil.Results： Regardless of pitting, processed MF contained no benzo[a]pyrene. Anti-oxidation effect increased in relation to the frequency of steaming process. However, extracts of dried and steamed MF suppressed different kinds of inflammation factors, and extract of dried MF showed superior anti-diarrhea effect than extract of steamed MF.Conclusions： It is suggested that steaming method of MF is recommended for processing the herbal medicine without the production of benzo[a]pyrene. But regarding that dried and steamed MF showed differences in their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrhea effects, it is recommended to perform further researches on different efficacies of MF according to their processing methods.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2003

Oral administration of antigen has long been used in the induction of immune tolerance in various animal models of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Alleveation of arthritogenic symptoms has been reported from RA patients who received oral administration of type II collagen (CII) without side effects, however its rather inconsistent therapeutic efficacy and variation among patients calls for more detailed investigation on the mechanism of oral tolerance to be settled as regular treatment for RA. In an attempt to understand the immunogenic processes underpinning tolerance induction by orally administered CII, we analyzed changes in the expression of costimulatory molecules and STAT/SOCS signaling messengers in the mouse model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). We found thatin the spleen of CIA mice, that has been undergone repeated oral feeding of CII prior to the induction of arthritis, showed increased promortion of CTLA4 expressing lymphocytes than in the spleen of PBS fed control. On the other hand, cells expressing CD28 or ICOS were decreased in the spleen of tolerized mice. Tolerance induction by oral CII administration also enhanced the expression of STAT6 in both RNA and protein level, while not affecting the expression of STAT3. The expression of SOCS3, which hasbeen known to transmit STAT-mediated signals from Th2 type cytokines, remained unchanged in the spleen of tolerized mice. Interestingly transcript of SOCS1, which has been associated with Th1 related pathways, was only visible in the spleen of tolerized but not of control mice, suggesting that as in the case of IL-6 signaling, it may exert a feed back inhibition toward the Th1 type stimulation.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.400-407
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• 2008

The aim of the present study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of Scutia myrtina (Family: Rhamnaceae). In anti-inflammatory activity carrageenan and histamine induced paw oedema and cotton pellet induced granuloma for acute and chronic inflammatory models were studied in Wister albino rats. Based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that petroleum ether and ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina at 400 mg/kg has potential anti-inflammatory effect and they act in a dose dependent manner. Both extracts of Scutia myrtina showed antimicrobial activity against all bacterial and fungal strains tested at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g$/ml. From the result, it can be concluded that the Scutia myrtina contain antibacterial and antifungal principle. Further more, besides the confirmation of the popular use; the obtained results demonstrate this herbal drug to represent a new source of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2015

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and small airway remodeling. The alveolar destruction associated with emphysema cannot be repaired by current clinical practices. Stem cell therapy has been successfully used in animal models of cigarette smoke- and elastase-induced emphysema. However, the optimal dose of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the most effective therapy has not yet been determined. It is vital to determine the optimal dose of MSCs for clinical application in emphysema cases. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of various doses of MSCs on elastase-induced emphysema in mice. When 3 different doses of MSCs were intravenously injected into mice treated with elastase, only $5{\times}10^4$ MSCs showed a significant effect on the emphysematous mouse lung. We also identified action mechanisms of MSCs based on apoptosis, lung regeneration, and protease/antiprotease imbalance. Results: The MSCs were not related with caspase-3/7 dependent apoptosis. But activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 increased by emphysematous lung was decreased by intravenously injected MSCs. Vascular endothelial growth factor were also increased in lung from MSC injected mice, as compared to un-injected mice. Conclusion: This is the first study on the optimal dose of MSCs as a therapeutic candidate. This data may provide important basic data for determining dosage in clinical application of MSCs in emphysema patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Background: The first line of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs are the most effective standard of drugs for TB. However, the use of these drugs is associated with hepatotoxicity. Silymarin has protective effects against hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs in animal models. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of silymarin on hepatotoxicity caused by anti-TB drugs. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Patients were eligible if they were 20 years of age or order and started the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Eligible patients were randomized for receiving silymarin or a placebo for the first 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who showed elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times the upper normal limit (UNL) or total bilirubin (TBil) > $2{\times}UNL$ within the first 8 weeks of anti-TB treatment. Results: We enrolled a total of 121 patients who silymarin or a placebo to start their anti-TB treatment, for the first 8 weeks. The proportions of elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times of UNL at week 2, week 4, and week 8 did not show any significant difference between the silymarin and placebo groups, at 0% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); 4.4% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); and 8.7% versus 10.8% (p=0.630), respectively. However, patients with TBil >$2{\times}UNL$ at week 8 were significantly low in the silymarin group (0% versus 8.7%, p=0.043). Conclusion: Our findings did not show silymarin had any significant preventive effect on the hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs.