• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 1990

Paragonimus westermani is a tissue migrating parasite in the early stage until arriving at lung, and most of the parasites spend their life spans there. Considerable immune responses including activation of macrophages are taken place during the residence of parasites in the host. However, concerning the immunologic defense mechanisms of the host against this parasite, only a few document is available so far. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of peritoneal macrophages under the presence of antibody and/or complement against metacercariae of F. westermani was investigated in vitro. Metacercarlae were collected from the crayfish, Cambaroides similis and hatched out in Tyrode solution (pH 7.4). Plastic adherent cells from normal or infected rat (Wistar) peritoneal exudates were used as experimental macrophages. Polyclonal antibodies were obtained from infected rats and a cat. Cat IgG was fractioned with ion exchange chromatography. Fresh rabbit complement was used according to experimental scheme. Various combinations of peritoneal macrophages, normal or infected rat serum, complement and cat IgG were incubated at $36^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 6, 14, 24 and 48 hours. The results obtained were as follows: 1. P. westermani infection activated peritoneal macrophages non-specifically and this activation induced increases of cell adherence and cytotoxicity on metacercariae. 2. In the presence of infected rat serum the antibody.dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages on metacercariae was significantly increased and showed a peak at 6-hour incubation. But the cytotoxic effect was markedly reduced after inactivation of complement and heat.labile IgE antibody by the heating of infected serum at 56$^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. 3. The highest cytotoxic effect (100%) of concomitant incubation with IgG and complement showed 24 hours after incubation, although cell adherence was relatively low at 6-hour incubation and 0% at 24-hour incubation. 4. Coordinative functions of complement with serum and IgG were effective in cell adherence and in cytotoxicity, but it is not clear the independent role of complement on the macrophage- mediated cytotoxicity in this study- With these results it is assumed that P. westermani infection can induce the non-specific activation of peritoneal macrophages, and strum antibodies including IgE antibody might enhance the cytotoxicity by macrophages,

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 1997

This study was carried out to establish a mass production of normal somatic embryos of Oenanthe iavanica (BL.) DC. including examination of nitrogen and sucrose sources, and ABA concentration. Embryogenic cell clumps and embryos were formed on the MS medium devoid of growth regulators. Proliferation of embryogenic cells and clumps was enhanced by 2, 4-D. Meanwhile embryo growth and development occurred on the media containing NAA and IBA. Growth of embryos was generally good in the media containing both 20 mM $KNO_3$ and 20 mM $NH_4NO_3$. The rate of shoot forming embryos was higher on the media containing on1y 20mM $NH_4NO_3$ than on the former. Addition of sucrose at 3-6% enhanced the embryo development, and normal embryos with short hypocotyl was observed on the medium containing $10\mu\textrm{M}$ ABA. Embryogenic cell clumps or globular embryos, when transferred to MS solid media devoid of growth regulators, developed into mature embryos and then into plantlets which had entire primary leaves like zygotic seedlings.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

Objectives: Recently, thread-embedding therapy (TET) has been widely applied in Korean medicine for cosmetic purposes such as reducing skin wrinkles. An inserted thread was reported to have induced continuous stimulation, followed by support for connective tissue regeneration. However, the potential role of TET in hair-growth has not yet been reported. Methods: We designed this study to evaluate whether TET has a hair-growth-promoting effect. C57 black 6 (C57BL/6) mice were divided into three groups: normal saline-treated, minoxidil-treated, and thread-embedded groups. Normal saline or 5% minoxidil was topically sprayed on the dorsal skin of the mice once a day for 16 days. Medical threads were embedded into the dorsal skin of the mice in a single application. Hair growth activity was evaluated by using dermoscopic and microscopic observations. Sections of the dorsal skin were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Expressions of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), and fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was adopted to measure the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of FGF-7 and FGF-5. Results: TET enhanced anagen development in the hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. The expressions of BrdU and PCNA, both of which imply active cellular proliferation, were increased by using TET. Moreover, TET increased the expression of FGF-7, an anagen-inducing growth factor, while decreasing the expression of FGF-5, an anagen-cessation growth factor, both at the protein and the mRNA levels. Conclusion: TET enhanced hair re-growth in C57BL/6 mice. TET regulated the expressions of anagen-associated growth factors and activated the proliferation of hair follicular cells in depilated skin lesions. Considering its long-lasting effect, TET may be a good alternative therapeutic for the treatment of alopecia.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1198-1207
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• 2019

This study investigated action mechanism and biological effect of Jijang-kimch, including its anti-obesity effect and blood lipid-decreasing effect in a high-fat diet-induced obese model animals. There were four treatment groups: CD (chow diet as normal control), HFD (high fat diet as obesity control), HFDCK (HFD plus commercial kimchi extracts), and HFDJK (HFD plus Jijang-kimchi extract). Kimchi extracts were orally administered for 28 days. Body weight, liver, and adipose tissue weight declined in HFDJK compared to those in HFDCK(p<0.05). Blood triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose level decreased in CD, HFDJK, and HFDCK compared to those in HFD(p<0.05). Those in HFDJK were lower than those in HFDCK(p<0.05). Sizes of liver and adipose cells increased in HFD, HFDCK, and HFDJ that those in CD(p<0.05). Those in HFDJK were greatly decreased than those in HFDCK(p<0.05). These results indicate that ingestion of Jijang-kimchi in obese model animals has anti-obesity effect by lowering blood lipid and glucose levels and decreasing adipocyte size compared to that of commercial-kimchi.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.536-547
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• 2008

Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS, leucoanthocyanidin oxygenase), a 2-oxoglutarate iron-dependent oxygenase, catalyzed the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of the anthocyanin class of flavonoids, from the colorless leucoanthocyanidins to the colored anthocyanidins. The full-length cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of ANS gene (designated as GbANS) were isolated from Ginkgo biloba for the first time. The full-length cDNA of GbANS contained a 1062-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 354-amino-acid protein. The genomic DNA analysis showed that GbANS gene had three exons and two introns. The deduced GbANS protein showed high identities to other plant ANSs. The conserved amino acids (H-X-D) ligating ferrous iron and residues (R-X-S) participating in 2-oxoglutarate binding were found in GbANS at the similar positions like other ANSs. Southern blot analysis indicated that GbANS belonged to a multi-gene family. The expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that GbANS expressed in a tissue-specific manner in G. biloba. GbANS was also found to be up-regulated by all of the six tested abiotic stresses, UV-B, abscisic acid, sucrose, salicylic acid, cold and ethylene, consistent with the promoter region analysis of GbANS. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli strain with pET-28a vector. The in vitro enzyme activity assay by HPLC indicated that recombinant GbANS protein could catalyze the formation the cyanidin from leucocyanidin and conversion of dihydroquercetin to quercetin, suggesting GbANS is a bifunctional enzyme within the anthocyanidin and flavonol biosynthetic pathway.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.275-278
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• 2016

The membrane epithelial mucin MUC1 is expressed at the luminal surface of most simple epithelial cells, but expression is greatly increased in most breast cancers. The aims of present study were to investigate expression of the MUC1 gene and interactive affects in metastases. Whole cell RNA isolation from 50 sentinel lymph nodes (SNLs) of breast cancer patients was performed using reverse transcription and real-time PCR. All patients were diagnosed with breast cancer and without metastasis, confirmed by IHC staining. The evaluation of tumor and normal samples for expression of MUC1 gene, the results were 49.1% non-expressive and 45.3% expression (Student t, p = 0.03). Also in comparison of normal breast tissue and breast cancer SLN for MUC1 gene, MUC1 negative SLNs were 75.0% (18 samples) and MUC1 positive samples were 25.0% (6 samples). Over-expression of MUC1 gene may offer a target for therapy related to progression and metastasis in women with breast cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 1987

The synergistic effect of combining radiation therapy and hyperthermia kills significantly more cells than using either modality alone. The reason for enhanced cell killing from the combined treatment is that the two modalities are complementary. For histopathological exmination, 102 rats were divided into 4 groups as hyperthermia, radiation, hyperthermia combined with radiation and normal control groups. The effect of prior irradiation (6-15 Gy of X-ray) on the response of small and large bowel of rats to $40^{\circ}C-44^{\circ}C$ (for 30 minutes) microwave (2450 MHz) hyperthermia was investigated. The musculature of the small and large intestine remained intact and the circumference of the histological sections were not significantly altered by the heated at $43^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. Thermal enhancement ratios of normal tissue is 1.0 Thermal enhancement ratio was not increased in combination therapy by evaluation of histopathologic changes in small and large intestine.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.395-400
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• 2020

Pigs have been used widely in biomedical research owing to their physiologic and anatomic similarities to humans. Analysis of the hematologic and biochemical values in pigs is an important basis for biomedical research and veterinary clinical diagnosis, but research on transgenic pigs has been sparse. This study was conducted to obtain basic data on transgenic pigs and to describe and compare the reference values for hematologic and biochemical parameters in human tissue plasminogen activator (htPA) transgenic pigs vs normal pigs. Blood samples were obtained from 7 normal LY (Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred) pigs and 8 transgenic pigs and 16 hematologic and 15 serum biochemical parameters were tested. Among the hematologic parameters tested, significant differences were observed in the red blood cells (RBC), mean red blood cell hemoglobin (MCH), and lymphocytes (LYM), between the non-transgenic and transgenic pigs. Among the biochemical parameters tested, the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), cholesterol (CHOL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CREA), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), globin (GOB), and amylase (AMYL) showed significant differences between the two groups. Thus, the values determined in this study can be used as basic reference values for transgenic pigs and will contribute to their use in biomedical research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.633-639
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• 2016

Biomaterials including polymer, metal, ceramic, and composite have been widely applied for medical uses as medical fibers, artificial blood vessels, artificial joints, implants, soft tissue, and plastic surgery materials owing to their physicochemical properties. However, the biocompatibility and toxicity for film- and plate-form biomaterials is difficult to measure in mammalian cells because there is no appropriate incubation system. To solve these problems, we developed a novel mammalian cell culture system consisting of a silicone ring, top panel, and bottom panel and we applied two polymer films (PF) and one metal plate (MP). This system was based on the principal of sandwiching a test sample between the top panel and the bottom panel. Following the assembly of the culture system, SK-MEL-2 cells were seeded onto Styela Clava Tunic (SCT)-PF, NaHCO₃-added SCT (SCTN)-PF, and magnesium MP (MMP) and incubated at 37℃ for 24 hr and 48 hr. An MTT assay revealed that cell viability was maintained at a normal level in the SCT-PF culture group at 24 or 48 hr, although it rapidly decreased in the SCTN-PF culture group at 48 hr. Furthermore, the cell viability in the MMP culture group was very similar to that of the control group after incubation for 24 hr and 48 hr. Together, these results suggest the sandwich-type mammalian culture system developed here has the potential for the evaluation of the biocompatibility and toxicity of cells against PF- and MP-form biomaterials.