• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2014

Bone homeostasis is maintained by balance between bone resorbing-osteoclasts and bone forming-osteoblasts. Excessive osteoclastic bone resorption plays a critical role in bone destruction in pathological bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease. Many compounds derived from natural products have pharmacological applications and have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone resorption. To discover new compounds that can act as anti-resorptive agents, we screened for natural compounds that regulate osteclast differentiation, and found that water extract of Ziziphus Jujuba Mill (WEZJ) has inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation. In this study, WEZJ clearly inhibits the osteoclast differentiation in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB (RANKL), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) without cytoxicity by blocking activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1, and c-Fos. In signaling pathway, the phosphorylation of Akt, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and the expression of osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphates (TRAP), Integrin av, Integrin b3, Cathepsin K are suppressed, too. These result suggest that WEZJ may have therapeutic value for treating or preventing several bone diseases characterized by excessive bone destruction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.669-673
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• 2011

To prevent and treat the osteoporotic fracture, more attention should be paid in old age patients. Osteoclast which has ability to bone resorption is originated from hematopoietic cell line and plays a key role osteoporotic bone loss. Rubi Fructus has been widely used in Oriental medicine. Extracts of the leaves and fruit of Rubus species have been used in various countries as natural remedies to treat diabetes, infections, colic, and burns. However, the effect of extract of Rubi Fructus (fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq.) in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Rubi Fructus on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Here we found that Rubi Fructus significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Rubi Fructus suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and NFkB in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Rubi Fructus significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Rubi Fructus greatly inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. especially in the case of NFATc1 expression, a master transcription factor of the differentiation of osteoclasts is very important step for osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Rubi Fructus may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 1992

Experiments were conducted to determined the development of the vascular bundles in the peduncle of different tillers on its development in order to improve the vascular system and possibly increase grain yield. The development of the vascular bundle in the leaf, stem and panicle is an important aspect of assimilate translocation and differentiation of panicle characters. Two cultivars were used in this study: IR58, an indica type, and Unbong 7, a japonica type. The main culm(M) had more and bigger vascular bundles in the peduncle and those vascular bundle decreased with tiller order and tiller development. In the primary tillers, P1 had more large and small vascular bundles than P5 in both cultivars. IR58 developed more large vascular bundles compared to Unbong 7, but the small vascular bundle in unbong 7 was more than in IR58. The cross sectional area of phloem and xylem in large vascular bundle decreased with tiller order in both cultivar. Larger area of phloem and xylem in the early formed tillers more efficient transport of assimilates. The number of spikelets, the weight of panicle and grain yield per panicle were highest in the main culm followed by the order of their initiation or emergence. The number of primary and secondary branches to be positive associated with the number and area of vascular bundles. Furthermore, the number of vascular bundles in the peduncle was highly correlated with the peduncle thickness which in turn was correlated with the number of primary and secondary branches on the panicle. These results showed tillers that are initiated early and have relatively ation usually have more vascular bundles, larger peduncle, more spikelets spike let filling and ultimately higher yield.

• The Proceeding of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.37-55
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• 1997

최근 선진국가들에서는 전자파 장애 증후군에 관심이 집중되고 있는데, 전자파에 장기 노출 되는 인구에서 뇌암이나 유방암, 백혈병 등의 발생률이 높다는 보고(Kolmodin-Hedman 등, 1988 ; Demers등, 1991)가 있어서 전자제품의 생산업체는 물론이고 사용자에 대해서도 불안한 관심사가 되 어 있다. 전자파가 생체에 미치는 영향은 열적 효과와 비열적 효과에 의한 것으로 구분된다. Microwave는 약 300MHz에서 300GHz 사이(파장 1m에서 1mm사이)의 주파수를 가지는 전자파로서 이온의 운동이나 쌍극자분자(dipole molecule)들을 진동시키므로서 조직에 열이 발생한다. 열이 과도하게 발생하면 세포 단백질이 응고하게 되는 등 일반적으로 생각할 수 있는 고열로 인한 여러 가지 유해환경이 조직 에 조성될 수 있다. 실제로 고전압의 전자파에 노출된 안구의 수정체에 백내장 등의 병변이 발생한 것 으로 보고된 바 있다(Adey,1981). 일반적으로 전자파의 생체에 대한 작용으로는 이렇듯 조직에 흡수 되는 전자파의 에너지에 의한 열작용이 지배적인 것으로 생각되어 왔다. 그러나 초저주파역대(Extre- mely low frequency, EMF)의 변조 및 펄스파 등의 영향에 관해서도 조직의 온도상승으로는 설명할 수 없는 현상이 보고된 바 있다. 이러한 비열적 효과가 신경계에 끼치는 영향에 대해서는 혈액뇌관문 의 투과성 변화(Oscar와 Hawkins, 1977), 뇌종양 발생, 칼슘대사 이상 및 신경전달물질에 대한 영향 등이 주장(Anderson, 1993)되고 있으나 아직 그 분명한 기전이 밝혀져 있지 않은 상태이다. 또한 그 영향의 평가에 서도 일정한 기준이나 지표가 정해지지 않은 실정이다. 그러므로 신경계에 대한 대체적인 소개와 더불어 전자기파의 영향에 대한 이제까지의 보고를 종합 하고 향후 연구의 방향을 소개하고자 한다.> 이온이 공동 첨가제로 더 적합하다.u(30 .angs. )/CoFe(35 .angs. )/NiO(800 .angs. ) 구조를 갖는 spin-valve 박막은 극대 MR비 6.3%, 유효자기장감응도 약 0.5(%/Oe)를 보여 spin-valve head 재료로 적합함을 알 수 있었다.다.다.다.는 각각 148 meV .angs. $^{2}$, 103.8 meV .angs. $^{2}$와 1.77 * $10^{-6}$ erg/cm, 0.67 * $10^{-6}$ erg/cm 였다.다.자 노인들을 영주권자와 귀화 시민권자의 구분없이 하나의 집단으로 간주하고 분석해 왔던 것을 볼 때, 앞으로의 연구는 이론적으로나 방법론적으로 시민권의 유무가 주거형태에 끼치는 영향도 함께 고려해야 할 것이다.에 나타난 인도의 영향은 여성복식과 남성복식에 있어서 서로 유사점과 차이점이 보이는데, 인도의 영향이 여성복식에 있어서 그 빈도가 더 높고, 종류가 더 다양함을 볼 수 있다. 여성복식에 있어서는 12가지의 다양한 인도복식스타일이 나타났으며, 그중 가장 많이 보이는 스타일은 Indian Shirt/Blouse/Smock/ Dress이며, 그 뒤를 이어 Madras, Indian lowery등을 볼 수 있다. 남성복식애 나타난 7가지의 스타일 중에는 Madras가 가장 빈도가 높으며 그외의 스타일들은 그 빈도가 매우 낮음을 볼 수 있다. 인도의 영향의 정도 (Attribution Categories) 있어서는 여성과 남성복식 모두에 있어서 인도에서 직접 수입된(originated) item이 각각 전체의 90%와 81%를 차지하여, 인도복식의 영향은 받았으나 미국내에서 제작된(attributed and connotated) item 보다 휠씬 더 많은 수를 보였다. 인도복식스타일이 가장

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2018

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has not changed overall survival in recent years despite therapeutic efforts. Surgery with curative intent has shown the best long-term oncological results. However, 80%-85% of patients with these tumors are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. In those patients, first therapeutic attempts are minimally invasive or surgical procedures to alleviate symptoms. The addition of radiotherapy (RT) to standard chemotherapy, ergo chemoradiation, in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is still controversial. The study aims to compare outcomes in patients with a double bypass surgery due to LAPC treated or not with RT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with double bypass for LAPC were registered and divided into two groups: treated or not with postoperative RT. Baseline characteristics, postoperative complications, those related to RT and their relation to the main event (mortality) were compared. Results: Seventy-four patients were included. Surgical complications between the groups did not offer significant differences. Complications related to RT were mostly mild, and 86% of patients completed the treatment. Overall survival at 1 and 2 years for patients in the exposed group was 64% and 35% vs. 50% and 28% in the non-exposed group, respectively (p = 0.11; power 72%; hazard ratio = 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-1.18). Conclusion: We observed a tendency for survival improvement in patients with postoperative RT. However, we've not had enough power to demonstrate this difference, possibly due to the small sample size. It is indispensable to develop randomized and prospective trials to guide more specific treatment lines in this patients.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2019

Thymus vulgaris L. is widely used as an ingredient in cooking and in herbal medicine. However, there is little information about its toxicity. The present study was performed to evaluate the acute and repeated 28-day oral dose toxicity of thyme essential oil in rats. For the acute toxicity test, two groups of three rats were used. The rats received a single dose of essential oil: 300 or 2,000 mg/kg of body weight (bw). The rats were observed individually during the first four hours, and then daily until day 14. For the toxicity test with repeated doses, four groups of 10 rats were used. Doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day were tested for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected and the animals were sacrificed. Histopathological examination showed that in the lungs of rats given the 2,000 mg/kg bw dose, polymorph nuclear infiltrates, hemosiderin macrophages, and interstitial space thickening were present. In the repeated dose study, all rats survived the 28-day treatment period and apparently showed no signs of toxicity. The hematological and biochemical parameters were not altered. The histopathological study of the organs showed severe changes in the lung, with the dose of 500 mg/kg/day; in the other organs, no alterations were observed or the changes were slight. The body weight was only altered in male rats given the 500 mg/kg dose. The relative weight of the organs did not show any significant changes. Our studies revealed that the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris has moderate oral toxicity according to the results of the acute test, whereas the results of the 28-day oral toxicity test suggest that the no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL) is greater than 250 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1017-1025
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• 2022

Bone homeostasis is regulated by constant remodeling through osteogenesis by osteoblasts and osteolysis by osteoclasts and osteoporosis can be provoked when this balance is broken. Present pharmaceutical treatments for osteoporosis have harmful side effects and thus, our goal was to develop therapeutics from intrisincally safe natural products. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide extracted from many species of brown seaweed, with valuable pharmaceutical activities. To intensify the effect of fucoidan on bone homeostasis, we hydrolyzed fucoidan using AMG, Pectinex and Viscozyme. Of these, fucoidan biotransformed by Pectinex (Fu/Pec) powerfully inhibited the induction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in osteoclasts differentiated from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) by the receptor for activation of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). To investigate potential of lower molecular weight fucoidan it was separated into >300 kDa, 50-300 kDa, and <50 kDa Fu/Pec fractions by ultrafiltration system. The effects of these fractions on TRAP and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were then examined in differentiated osteoclasts and MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, respectively. Interestingly, 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclasts differentiation from BMMs but did not synergistically enhance osteoblasts differentiation induced by osteogenic agents. In addition, this fraction inhibited the expressions of NFATc1, TRAP, OSCAR, and RANK, which are all key transcriptional factors involved in osteoclast differentiation, and those of Src, c-Fos and Mitf, as determined by RT-PCR. In conclusion, enzymatically low-molecularized 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed TRAP by downregulating RANKL-related signaling, contributing to the inhibition of osteoclasts differentiation, and represented a potential means of inducing bone remodeling in the background of osteoporosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.346-351
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• 2022

Background Postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMR) increases patient satisfaction, quality of life, and psychosocial well-being. There is scarce data regarding the safety of PMR in chronic anticoagulated patients. Perioperative complications can reduce patient satisfaction; therefore, it is important to elucidate the safety of PMR in these patients. Methods A retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent PMR with implants and were on chronic anticoagulation was performed at our institution. Inclusion criteria were women ≥ 18 years old. Exclusion criteria included autologous reconstructions, lumpectomy, and oncoplastic procedures. Two controls for every one patient on anticoagulation were matched by age, body mass index, radiotherapy, smoking history, type of reconstruction, time of reconstruction, and laterality. Results From 2009 to 2020, 37 breasts (20 patients) underwent PMR with implant-based reconstruction and were on chronic anticoagulation. A total of 74 breasts (40 patients) who had similar demographic characteristics to the cases were defined as the control group. Mean age for the case group was 53.6 years (standard deviation [SD] = 16.1), mean body mass index was 28.6 kg/m² (SD = 5.1), and 2.7% of breasts had radiotherapy before reconstruction and 5.4% after reconstruction. Nine patients were on long-term warfarin, six on apixaban, three on rivaroxaban, one on low-molecular-weight heparin, and one on dabigatran. The indications for anticoagulation were prior thromboembolic events in 50%. Anticoagulated patients had a higher risk of capsular contracture (10.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.005). There were no differences regarding incidence of hematoma (2.7% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.63), thromboembolism (5% vs. 0%, p = 0.16), reconstructive-related complications, or length of hospitalization (1.6 days [SD = 24.2] vs. 1.4 days [SD = 24.2], p = 0.85). Conclusion Postmastectomy implant-based breast reconstruction can be safely performed in patients on chronic anticoagulation with appropriate perioperative management of anticoagulation. This information can be useful for preoperative counseling on these patients.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2022

Background: The current study reports measurements of activity concentrations of radon (²²⁰Rn) and thoron (²²⁰Rn) in dwellings, followed by inhalation dose assessment of the public, and then by the development of regulation and the national radon action plan (NRAP) in Cameroon. Materials and Methods: Radon, thoron, and thoron progeny measurements were carried out from 2014 to 2017 using radon-thoron discriminative detectors (commercially RADUET) in 450 dwellings and thoron progeny monitors in 350 dwellings. From 2019 to 2020, radon track detectors (commercially RADTRAK) were deployed in 1,400 dwellings. It was found that activity concentrations of radon range in 1,850 houses from 10 to 2,620 Bq/㎥ with a geometric mean of 76 Bq/㎥. Results and Discussion: Activity concentrations of thoron range from 20 to 700 Bq/㎥ with a geometric mean of 107 Bq/㎥. Thoron equilibrium factor ranges from 0.01 to 0.6, with an arithmetic mean of 0.09 that is higher than the default value of 0.02 given by UNSCEAR. On average, 49%, 9%, and 2% of all surveyed houses have radon concentrations above 100, 200, and 300 Bq/㎥, respectively. The average contribution of thoron to the inhalation dose due to radon and thoron exposure is about 40%. Thus, thoron cannot be neglected in dose assessment to avoid biased results in radio-epidemiological studies. Only radon was considered in the drafted regulation and in the NRAP adopted in October 2020. Reference levels of 300 Bq/㎥ and 1,000 Bq/㎥ were recommended for dwellings and workplaces. Conclusion: Priority actions for the coming years include the following: radon risk mapping, promotion of a protection policy against radon in buildings, integration of the radon prevention and mitigation into the training of construction specialists, mitigation of dwellings and workplaces with high radon levels, increased public awareness of the health risks associated with radon, and development of programs on the scientific and technical aspects.