• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.529-538
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• 1995

It has been believed that the increased release of free oxygen radicals ($O_2^-,H_2O_2$, and $OH^-$) might be a factor in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) and catalase can protect the tissue damage from the $H_2O_2$. In order to investigate the GSH-PX and catalase activity in the blood plasma and red blood cells(RBCs) of the patients with periodontitis, 19 patients who had good general health, attachment loss more than 6 mm and bone loss were selected as periodontitis group, 7 patients who had severely inflamed gingiva were selected as gingivitis group, and 15 volunteers with good general and periodontal health were selected as normal group. 17 of 26 patients were performed scaling and root planing to reduce the gingival inflammation for gingivitis and periodontitis groups, and were selected as posttreatment group. After blood plasma and RBCs were collected and separated 1 ml of peripheral blood from each subject, GSH-PX activity in blood plasma and RBCs was measured by the same method that Stefan et al. did, and catalase activity in RBCs was measured by the same method that Beers et al. did. The difference of GSH-PX and catalase activity between normal, gingivitis, and periodontitis groups was statistically analyzed by ANOVA with SPSS/PC+ program, and the difference between pretreatment and posttreatment groups was analyzed by Student t-test. The results were as follows : 1. GSH-PX activity in blood plasma was significantly lower in the gingivitis group($0.8683{\pm}0.0658$), periodontitis group($0.7130{\pm}0.1333$) than in the normal group($1.0241{\pm}0.0801$)(p<0.05), and GSH-PX activity in RBCs was significantly lower in the gingivitis groupt. $0.8156{\pm}0.1167$), periodontitis group($0.7533{\pm}0.1185$) than in the normal group($l.1963{\pm}0.2044$)(P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance in the difference of GSH-PX activity in RBCs between the gingivitis group and periodontitis group(p>0.05). 2. Catalase activity in RBCs was siginficantly lower in the periodontitis group($117.34{\pm}35.01$) than in the normal group($l52.38{\pm}32.09$)(p<0.05). 3. GSH-PX activity in blood plasma was significantly increased in the posttreatment groupe $1.0376{\pm}0.2820$) compared to the pretreatment group(0.7608 0.1600) (p<0.05), and GSH-PX activity in RBC was significantly increased in the posttreatment group($1.0421{\pm}0.2330$) compared to the pretreatment group($0.7728{\pm}0.1210$)(p<0.05). 4. There was no statistical significance in the difference of catalase activity in RBCs between the pretreatment group($112.04{\pm}43.65$) and posttreatment group($l33.41{\pm}39.16$)(p>0.05).The results, within the limits of the present experiment, suggest that the lowered activity of GSH-PX and catalase in blood plasma and RBCs may be related with periodontopathogenesis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.492-504
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seaweed peeling (SP), glycolic acid peeling (GP) and general scrub (GS), which are widely known as cures for acne in both medicine and esthetics on the keratosis pilaris skin and provide basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program. For the experiment, subjects were categorized into control (GS) and experimental (GP and SP) groups, and tests were performed on arms and legs with relatively high keratosis pilaris symptoms (5 parts for each group) for 6 weeks. The keratin quantity, sebum content, moisture level and pigmentation were measured before and after (2, 4 and 6 weeks) the experiment and comparatively analyzed. The GP group showed an increase in moisture level (t=-4.064, p<0.01) but a decrease in pigmentation (t=3.536, p<0.01), while a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.370, p<0.05) and pigmentation (t=4.017, p<0.01) was observed in the SP group and a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.834, p<0.05) and an increase in moisture level (t=-7.589, p<0.001) was observed in the control group (GS). Additionally, the skin irritation reaction was lowest in the GS group. The SP group had the highest satisfaction with the improvement in response to keratosis pilaris care. When asked if they were willing to get the treatment with the same product, both SP and GP groups were high. In other words, keratosis pilaris care was needed in both experimental and control groups. Overall, the results of this study indicate that SP, GP and GS, which are commonly used in remedying acne, normalize turnover cycle by removing the dead cells from around the pores and improve keratosis pilaris symptoms by increasing moisture in the skin. Therefore, to improve keratosis pilaris skin, it is important to keep removing keratin and using a moisturizer that provides a skin barrier on a regular basis. The results presented herein will be useful as basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Purpose : Anorexia-cachexia syndrome is one of the most common symptoms and main cause of death in terminal cancer patients. This symptom is due to the enlarged cancer mass as well as tumor released cytokines. Some doctors have suggested that vitamin C was preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and improved clinical symptoms in terminal cancer patients. Therefore, we measured cytokines in serum of terminal cancer patients to determine whether vitamin C treatment improved the anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Methods : We investigated that 49 terminal cancer patients admitted to the department of family medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan hospital from March 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002. The study was done on 22 patients who were given 10 g/day of vitamin C infusions during 1 week and 27 patients who were not infused. We measured the cytokines levels ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) before and after 1 week between terminal cancer patients treated vitamin C and without vitamin C. Results : Out of 49 patients, patents treated with vitamin C infusions were 22 (12 male, 10 female), and these without vitamin C were 27 (18 male, 9 female). In patients treated with vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;6.19{\pm}5.17$ before day and $8.76{\pm}5.72$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $3.07{\pm}8.09$ before day and $1.31{\pm}2.36$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;2.74{\pm}14.24$ before day and $0.50{\pm}2.00$ after 1 week. In patients treated without vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;2.50{\pm}3.58$ before day and $6.49{\pm}12.01$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $1.00{\pm}2.19$ before day and $17.16{\pm}81.55$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;1.19{\pm}2.98$ before day and $1.27{\pm}1.52$ after 1 week. The level of cytokines in patients treated with vitamin C decreased more than those without vitamin C. However, this represented no statistical value (P=0.0598 in $IL-1{\beta}$, P=0.1664 in IL-6, and P=0.5395 in $TNF-{\alpha}$). Conclusion : In terminal cancer, even if there was no statistical difference in the cytokines levels between patients treated with vitamin C and those not treated, those who were treated had a decrease all cytokines levels. Vitamin C is very safe with almost no side effects. Therefore, vitamin C treatment in terminal cancer patients can be seen as beneficial and helpful for clinical symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.56-77
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate effects of Boyanghwano-Tang on the development of experimentally-induced endometriosis in rats. Methods: Endometriosis was induced in rats by autotransplanting uterine tissue to the peritoneum and divided them into three groups: (1) sham-operated group(n=8), (2) surgically induced endometriosis and untreated control group (n=8), (3) surgically induced endometriosis and Boyanghwano-Tang treated group. Boyanghwano-Tang was orally administrated for 15 days after operation. Then we measured the body weight, the volume of endometriotic implants, the weight of uterus and ovary, and investigated the concentration of cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) in peritoneal fluids. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and VEGF, and histochemistry for mast cell in transplanted uterine tissue were performed. Results: - The volume($mm^3$) of endometriotic implants in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group ($122.3{\pm}45.0$) was significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with control group($222.1{\pm}109.1$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of MCP-1 in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($1026.3{\pm}196.5$) was significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with control group($1412.5{\pm}345.7$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of TNF-$\alpha$ in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($936.5{\pm}94.3$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($1126.2{\pm}139.9$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of IL-$1{\beta}$ in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($78.5{\pm}13.3$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($105.3{\pm}17.6$). - The concentration(pg/$m{\ell}$) of IL-6 in peritoneal fluids in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($107.4{\pm}15.8$) was decreased compared with control group($122.8{\pm}19.3$). - Histopathologically, proliferation of endometriotic epithelia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and angiogenesis in transplanted uterine tissue of Boyanghwano-Tang treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The percentage of positive epithelial layers for COX-2 in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($51.5{\pm}14.1$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($75.1{\pm}16.3$). - The VEGF expression of endometriotic epithelia, neovascular endothelia and stromal cells in transplanted uterine tissue of Boyanghwano-Tang treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The number of mast cells in adjacent tissue of transplanted uterine tissue in Boyanghwano-Tang treated group($75.9{\pm}13.1$) was decreased compared with control group($91.0{\pm}28.3$). Conclusion: On the basis of these results, we concluded that Boyanghwano-Tang have inhibiting effects on the development of transplanted uterine tissue. And these effects may be related with decreased production of MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and decreased expression of COX-2 and VEGF by administration of Boyanghwano-Tang.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.607-614
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the anticarcinogenic and antioxidative activities of Hemicentrotus pulacherrimus (HP). HP was extracted with methanol (HPM), which was then further fractionated into four sub-fractions by using the solvent partition method, affording methanol (HPMM), hexane (HPMH), butanol (HPMB) and aqueous (HPMA) soluble fractions. We determined the anticarcinogenic activities of these four fractions in four kinds of cancer cell lines, such as HepG2, HT29, MCF-7 and B16-F10, by MTT assay. Among various fractions from HPM, the HPMH showed the strongest growth inhibition effect. We also determined the inductive effect on quinone reductase (QR) of HP fractions. HPMB fraction exhibited strong inductive effects in HepG2 cells at a level of 90 ${\mu}g/ml$, showing inductive indexes of 2.26 compared to the control value of 1.0. The antioxidant activities of fractions from HP were also investigated by measuring the scavenging activities of HP against reactive oxygen speicies (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and NO. Among the various solvent fractions, HPMH fractions displayed marked antioxidative activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.598-606
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• 2009

Oxidative stress by free radicals is a major cause of neuronal cell death. Excitotoxicity in hypoxia/ischemia causes an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in dysfunction of the mitochondria and cell death. Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) is a traditional medicine for incipient stroke. We investigated the effects of PR Water-Extract on the modulation of ROS and MMP in a hypoxic model using cultured rat cortical cells. PR Water-Extract was added to the culture medium at various concentrations (0.25${\sim}$5, 5.0 ${\mu}g/ml$) on day in vitro 12(DIV12), given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hr), and cell viability was assessed on DIV15 by Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay (LDH assays). PR Water-Extract showed a statistically significant effect on neuroprotection (10${\sim}$15% increase in viability; p<0.01) at 1.0 and 2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ in normoxia and hypoxia. Measurement of ROS production by $H_2DCF-DA$ stainings showed that PR Water-Extract efficiently reduced the number and intensity of ROS-producing neurons, especially at 1 hr post shock and DIV15. When MMP was measured by JC-1 stainings, PR Water-Extract efficiently maintained high-energy charged mitochondria. These results indicate that PR Water-Extract protects neurons in hypoxia by preventing ROS production and preserving the cellular energy level.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.951-960
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• 2010

Sediment works as a resource for electric cells. This paper was designed in order to verify how sediment cells work with anodic material such as metal and carbon fiber. As known quite well, sediment under sea, rivers or streams provides a furbished environment for generating electrons via some electron transfer mechanism within specific microbial population or corrosive oxidation on the metal surfaces in the presence of oxygen or water molecules. We experimented with one type of sediment cell using different anodic material so as to attain prolonged, maximum electric power. Iron, Zinc, aluminum, copper, zinc/copper, and graphite felt were tested for anodes. Also, combined type of anodes-metal embedded in the graphite fiber matrix-was experimented for better performances. The results show that the combined type of anodes exhibited sustainable electricity production for ca. 600 h with max. $0.57\;W/m^2$ Al/Graphite. Meanwhile, graphite-only electrodes produced max. $0.11\;W/m^2$ along with quite stationary electric output, and for a zinc electrode, in which the electricity generated was not stable with time, therefore resulting in relatively sharp drop in that after 100 h or so, the maximum power density was $0.64\;W/m^2$. It was observed that the corrosive reaction rates in the metal electrodes might be varied, so that strength and stability in the electric performances(voltage and current density) could be affected by them. In addition to that, COD(chemical oxygen demand) of the sediment of the cell system was reduced by 17.5~36.7% in 600 h, which implied that the organic matter in the sediment would be partially converted into non-COD substances, that is, would suggest a way for decontamination of the aged, anaerobic sediment as well. The pH reduction for all electrodes could be a sign of organic acid production due to complicated chemical changes in the sediment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.489-493
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• 1994

Background: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrolase(NADase) is located on the surface of the cells. It is bound by glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linkage, which can be cleaved by bacterial PI-specific phospholipase C(PI-PLC). Recently, it was studied that NADase was increased in infected tuberculosis animal, but absolute NADase is uncertainly increased because of high NADase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, we studied pure NADase activity in red blood cells of normal person and patients of tuberculosis. Method: We evaluated the 19 healthy adults and 16 tuberculosis infected patients, and then, the latter cases were evaluated after 3 months antituberculosis therapy. NADase activity was calculated by scintillated counting of cleaved radioactive [carbonyl-$^3H$] nicotinamide Result: NADase activity was $2021.1{\pm}824.0\;pmol/min/10^6$ erythrocytes in healthy adults vs. $3339.0{\pm}1568.0$ in tuberculosis infected patients, and was $3339.0{\pm}1568.0$ in pretreated patients vs. $2238.6{\pm}1013.1$ in same 3 months treated patients. Conclusion: NADase activity of erythrocytes is elevated in tuberculosis infection, and normalized afer antituberculosis therapy. Therefore, we suggested NADase activity as the new diagnostic and therapeutic indicator.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.987-992
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles of weaned pigs. A total of 88 weaned pigs ($6.94{\pm}0.76kg$ body weight [BW]; 28 d old) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (4 pigs/pen; 11 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (sex as a block). The dietary treatments were a typical nursery diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Pigs were fed for 6 wk using a 3-phase feeding program with declining diet complexity and with phases of 1, 2, and 3 wk, respectively. Blood was collected from randomly selected 2 pigs in each pen before weaning and on d 7 after weaning. Pigs were fed respective dietary treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 29 to 35 after weaning. Fecal samples were collected from randomly selected 2 pigs in each pen daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were growth performances, digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and energy, white and red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, and incidence of diarrhea. The PKE increased average daily gain (ADG) (246 vs 215 g/d; p = 0.06) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (470 vs 343 g/d; p<0.05) and decreased gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) (0.522 vs 0.628 g/g; p<0.05) during phase 2 compared with CON, but did not affect growth performance during phase 1 and 3. During overall experimental period, PKE increased ADG (383 vs 362 g/d; p = 0.05) and ADFI (549 vs 496 g/d; p<0.05) compared with CON, but did not affect G:F. However, no differences were found on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy between CON and PKE. The PKE reduced frequency of diarrhea (15% vs 25%; p = 0.08) for the first 2 wk after weaning compared with CON. Similarly, PKE decreased white blood cells (8.19 vs $9.56{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$; p = 0.07), red blood cells (2.92 vs $3.25{\times}10^6/{\mu}L$; p = 0.09), and packed cell volume (11.1% vs 12.6%; p = 0.06) on d 7 after weaning compared with CON. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to nursery diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles of weaned pigs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2004

The expression of a chimeric transgene (nos-npt II) has been examined in 9 years old transgenic poplars (Populus koreana x P. nigra) growing in a nursery. The expression of the gene in twenty six independentely transformed plants were examined by 1) enzyme (NPT II) assay, 2) RT-PCR, and 3) resistance to kanamycin. High NPT II activities in young leaves of all the transformed plants were found even without a selection pressure for antibiotics for 9 years. However, the activity varied with the positions of leaves in the stem in that young leaves showed higher activity than did mature tissues. When leaf segments were cultured in the presence of 150 mg/l kanamycin, only those from young leaves produced vigorously growing callus. However, as in the case of NPTII assay, the leaf segments from mature leaves did not form callus well on the media. RT-PCR with nptII specific primers also showed that amplification products were observed only when RNAs from young tissues were used. The total RNA gel showed that while RNA in young leaves are relatively stable and in a large quantity, those in old leaves were mostly degraded. All the above results suggest that the gene is transcriptionally active only in young tissue even though it is attached to a constituitive promoter. Therefore, the expression of foreign gene in poplar plants seemed to be affected by the metabolic state of the cells and thus vary greatly with the developmental stages and the age of tissue.