• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 1995

A comparison was made between the effect of subjective stress and that of objective stress on immune function in male medical college students. Interaction between perceived stress, psychopathology and natural killer-cell(NK) activity was assessed during an exam period, non-exam period, and vacation. No significant difference was found in NK activity among these three periods, but scores of perceived stress related to unusual happenings during an exam period and related to interpersonal relationship during vacation were found to have significantly positive correlation with NK activity, respectively. In psychopathology, only scores of anxiety during an exam period had significantly positive correlation with NK activity. These results suggest that immune function is more likely to be affected by subjective stress than objective stress and that subjective stress such as some perceived stress and subclinical level of anxiety may positively affect immune function.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide base data for preparing plans that North Korean (NK) Refugees can adjust themselves to our society with a healthy mind after they get over their health problems using the Health Belief Model, knowing the relationship between individual characteristics and health beliefs, and health behavior. Methods: The subjects were 304 NK adult refugees in Hanawon. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, health behavior scale, self-efficacy scale, perceived benefit scale, perceived barrier scale, perceived seriousness, perceived sensibility, and individual characteristics. Results: The factors influencing the health behavior of NK refugees were perceived benefits, self-efficacy, the period in the third country and experience in being expelled to NK, and these variables were describing 31.4% of the health behaviors of refugees. Conclusion: The perceived benefits and self-efficacy of health belief and specific experiences related to refugee affected NK refugees' health behavior.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.861-867
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• 2003

Inhibitory effect of the lectins (KML-C) isolated from Korean mistletoe (KM; Viscum album coloratum) on tumor metastases produced by murine tumor cells (B16-BL6 melanoma, colon 26M3.1 carcinoma and L5178Y-ML25 lymphoma cells) was investigated in syngeneic mice. An intravenous (i.v.) administration of KML-C (20-50 ng/mouse) 2 days before tumor inoculation significantly inhibited lung metastases of both B16-BL6 and colon 26-M3.1 cells. The prophylactic effect of 50 ng/mouse of KML-C on lung metastasis was almost the same with that of 100 $\mu$ g/mouse of KM. Treatment with KML-C 1 day after tumor inoculation induced a significant inhibition of not only the experimental lung metastasis induced by B16-BL6 and colon 26M3.1 cells but also the liver and spleen metastasis of L5178Y-ML25 cells. Furthermore, multiple administration of KML-C given at 3 day-intervals after tumor inoculation led to a significant reduction of lung metastasis and suppression of the growth of B16-BL6 melanoma cells in a spontaneous metastasis model. In an assay for natural killer (NK) cell activity. i.v. administration of KML-C (50 ng/mouse) significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity against Yac-1 tumor cells 2 days after KML-C treatment. In addition, treatment with KML-C (50 ng/mouse) induced tumoricidal activity of peritoneal macrophages against B16-BL6 and 3LL cells. These results suggest that KML-C has an immunomodulating activity to enhance the host defense system against tumors, and that its prophylactic and therapeutic effect on tumor metastasis is associated with the activation of NK cells and macrophages.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2013

Normal-karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) is a highly malignant and cytogenetically heterogeneous hematologic cancer. We searched for somatic mutations from 10 pairs of tumor and normal cells by using a highly efficient and reliable analysis workflow for whole-exome sequencing data and performed association tests between the NK-AML and somatic mutations. We identified 21 nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs) located in a coding region of 18 genes. Among them, the SNVs of three leukemia-related genes (MUC4, CNTNAP2, and GNAS) reported in previous studies were replicated in this study. We conducted stepwise genetic risk score (GRS) models composed of the NK-AML susceptible variants and evaluated the prediction accuracy of each GRS model by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The GRS model that was composed of five SNVs (rs75156964, rs56213454, rs6604516, rs10888338, and rs2443878) showed 100% prediction accuracy, and the combined effect of the three reported genes was validated in the current study (AUC, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.00). Further study with large sample sizes is warranted to validate the combined effect of these somatic point mutations, and the discovery of novel markers may provide an opportunity to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for NK-AML.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 1998

Effects of swainsonine (SW: 8${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$-indolizidine-1alpha, 2${\alpha}$, 8${\beta}$-triol from Locoweed) on the cellular and nonspecific immune responses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) wer e studied in ICR mice. Mice were divided into 4 groups (10mice/group), and LPS was given to each mouse 1 hr after i.p. injection with 3.7mg/kg of SW by i.p. injection twice a week for 14 days at a dose of 2mg/kg. Immune responses of the delayed-type hypersensitivity response (DTH) to sheep red blood cells (s-RBC), phagocytic activity and natural killer (NK) cell activity were evaluated. LPS treatment didn`t affect NK cell activity, phagocytic activity, DTH to s-RBC compared with those in controls, and phagocytic activity of sareoma 180 tumor bearing mice. However, circulating leukocytes were significantly decreased. Combinaton of LPS and SW increased circulating leukocytes significantly compared vath that in LPS alone, and DTH to s-RBC, NK cell activity and phagocytic activities of normal and sarcoma tumor bearing mice were not affected. These findings indicate that SW didn`t affected the cellular immune responses suppressed by LPS but significantly increased circulating leukocytes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Objectives : Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase of allergic disease including allergic rhinitis (AR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Osterici Radix, roots of Ostericum koreanum Maximowicz in human mast cells and experimental allergic animal models. Methods : The anti-allergic effect of Osterici Radix water extract (NK-W) was investigated in human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells, and compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic response in rats and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR in mice. Animals were orally administrated with NK-W (10 and 50 mg/kg) or anti-histamine drug, dosodium cromoglycate (50 mg/kg), and then intraperitoneally injected with compound 48/80 (8 mg/kg) or sensitized with 0.1% OVA into nasal. Animals were observed plasma histamine and histological changes of nasal mucosa. Also, mast cell degranulation and histamine production were determined in compound 48/80-stimulated HMC-1 cells. Results : NK-W inhibited compound 48/80-induced degranulation of mast cells and histamine releasing in HMC-1 cells. NK-W decreased mortality and serum histamine releasing in compound 48/80-induced anaphylatic rats in a dose-dependently manner. NK-W also inhibited serum histamine levels in OVA-induced AR mice and improved abnormal histological changes such as expansion of grandular cells and hypertrophy of epithelium in the nasal mucosa. These results indicate that Osterici Radix water extract suppress allergic response through downregulation of mast cell activation. Conclusions : This study suggests that a therapeutic potential of Osterici Radix as a source of anti-allergic agents for use in a number of allergic diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.191-191
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• 1994

본 연구는 D-galactosamine을 이용한 중기발암성 모델에서 세포성면역중의 하나인 natural killer (NK) 세포활성과 c-myc 종양단백의 발현을 알아보기 위하여 실시하였다. 수컷 6주령의 SPF SD랫드 50마리를 3개군으로 각 군당 20마리씩 나누어 배치하였다. 실험 0일에 제 1,2 군에서 DEN을 복강내로 체중 kg당 200mg 1회 투여하여 발암유발을 하였으며 대조군인 제 3군에는 saline을 투여하였다. 제 2주에 제 1군에는 강력한 발암촉진물질인 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)을 사료에 0.01% 투여하였으며, 제 2군은 미약한 발암촉진물질인 phenobarbital (PB)을 0.05%로 음수에 6주간 투여하였다 제 8, 15, 36주에 경시적으로 부검하였다. 제 8주에 부검시 GST-P$^{+}$ 병변이 잘 유도되어 전암병변의 유도가 잘 되었음을 확인하였다. 제 15주에 부검시 AAF를 투여한 군에서 glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-p)에 대한 면역조직화학적 염색에서 AAF와 PB를 투여한 제 1군 및 제 2군의 간장에서는 주위조직과 한계가 명료한 GST-P$^{+}$ 증식성 결절과 병소를 관찰할 수 있었으나 기초 사료만을 투여한 제 3군은 어떠한 GST-P$^{+}$ 증식성 결절 및 병소를 관찰할 수 없었다. 랫드에서 natural killer세포는 사람이나 마우스에서 주로 자연살생능 (natural killing activity)을 보이는 LGL(lure granular lymphocyte)의 형태를 띄고 있었으며 LGL 이라고 부르는 것처럼 특징적으로 세포질 대 핵의 비율이 높고 azurophilic 과립을 세포질내에 함유하고 있으며 일반적으로 신장 형태의 핵을 가지고 있었다. 또한 세포의 크기는 small lymphocyte와 대식세포 (macrophage)의 중간 크기였다. 15주와 시험종료시 정상대조군인 제 3군의 랫드로 부터 분리한 NK 세포활성도 (% cytotoxicity)에 비하여 발암물질 투여군의 NK 활성도는 PB 투여군들의 NK활성도 보다 약간 낮았다. 랫드에서 c-myc 종양단백은 65KD 와 671KD 에서 band가 형성된 것이 관찰되었다. 시험 개시후 15주에 부검한 랫드의 간에서 c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 모든 처리군들이 대조군에 비하여 높게 발현되는. 것이 관찰되었으나 시험개시후 26주에 부검한 랫드의 간에서 c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 대조군에 비하여 차이가 거의 없었다. 따라서 랫드에서 화학적으로 유도한 간암발생 과정에서 NK 세포활성이 현저하게 억제되는 것으로 생각되며, c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 시험개시후 15주에 그 발현이 확실한 것으로 사료되어 진다.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2003

This research aims the production of anti-tumor substances through in vitro culture of hairy roots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes in Artemisia sylvatica MAX and the effect of culture conditions on optimum growth of hairy roots. We investigated the optimum medium, pH, carbon source, sucrose, light, Fe and polyamine conditions of various lines of hairy roots (NK3, NK4, YX. NK3-10) induced from Artemisia sylvatica to increase the optimum growth of hairy roots. MS medium was the best for optimum growth of hairy root clone, NK3-S10. The optimum culture period was 4 weeks for NK3-S10. The optimum sucrose concentration was 3.5%. The optimum concentration of FeSO$_4$, spermine and spermidine was 0.1 mM, 10 mM and 100 mM, respectively.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2001

The present study was undertaken to investigate and compare the effect and mode of action of tachykinins on isolated strip preparations of the intestinal smooth muscle from the nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus and the Israel carp, Cyprinus carpio. Both of neurokinin 1(NK-1) receptor agonist, substance P(SP) and neurokinin 2(NK-2) receptor agonist, neurokinin A(NKA) caused concentration-dependent contractions of intestinal smooth muscle in the nile tilapia and the israel carp. The efficiency and potency of these agonists varied between two fish species. In the nile tilapia intestine, the efficiency and potency of SP were greater than those of NKA. However, the efficiency and potency of SP were similar to those of NKA. In the nile tilapia intestine and the israel carp intestine, the contractile responses of SP and NKA were noncompetitively antagonized by NK-1 receptor antagonist, L-732, 138 but unaffected by NK-2 receptor antagonist, MDL 29913. In addition, SP-induced contractions in the both of preparation were significantly inhibited by muscarinic antagonist, atropine($5{\times}10^{-7}$M) and ganglionic inhibitor, tetrodotoxin($2{\times}10^{-7}$M) but NKA-induced contractions were unaffected by those. These results indicate that two tachykinin agonists, SP and NKA predominately modulate the mechanical activity of isolated preparation from the nile tilapia and the israle carp directly through the activation of NK-1 receptor on the intestinal smooth muscle cells, but in the case of SP action, the indirect action through activation of cholinergic nerve terminals seems to be also implicated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1216-1222
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• 2013

NK cells are lymphoid immune cells that participate in innate immunity to protect against foreign pathogens and transforming cells. It is known that the activity of NK cells is regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory signals rather than specific antigens. One important activating signal is mediated by the NKG2D receptor, which recognizes NKG2D ligands on cancer cells. Therefore, tumor cells that express sufficient amounts of NKG2D ligands could be eliminated by NKD2D+ cells, including NK cells. Oncogenes drive tumor cells to apoptosis resistant and uncontrolled proliferation by altered expression of many critical genes. Therefore, the expression of NKG2D ligands may be affected by oncogenes. This study focused on increasing the susceptibility of cancer cells to NK cells by regulating the expression of NKG2D ligands influenced by three oncogenes: k-ras, wnt, and c-myc. We demonstrated that inhibition of k-ras and c-myc increased the expression of NKG2D ligands and enhanced the susceptibility of cancer cells to NK cells. On the contrary, inhibition of the wnt pathway decreased MICA and ULBP1 transcripts. Although the decreased transcription of NKG2D ligands by inhibition of the wnt pathway, surface proteins of NKG2D ligands were not changed, and the susceptibility of HCT-116 cells was unaffected. The results demonstrate that the transcription of NKG2D ligands are regulated deferentially by the k-ras, c-myc, and wnt pathways and that the cytotoxicity of NK cells solely depends on the amount of surface NKG2D ligands.