• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.71-84
• /
• 2014

The full-length heat shock protein 88 (HSP88) complementary DNA (cDNA) of Paecilomyces tenuipes Jocheon-1 was obtained by screening the Paecilomyces tenuipes (P. tenuipes) Jocheon-1 Uni-Zap cDNA library and performing 5' RACE polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The P. tenuipes Jocheon-1 HSP88 cDNA contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 2,139-basepair encoding 713 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the P. tenuipe s Jocheon-1 HSP88 cDNA showed 77% identity to Nectria haematococca HSP88 and 45-76% identity to other fungal homologous HSP88s. Phylogenetic analysis and BLAST program analysis confirmed that the deduced amino acid sequences of the P. tenuipes Jocheon-1 HSP88 gene belonged to the ascomycetes group within the fungal clade. The P. tenuipes Jocheon-1 HSP88 also contained the conserved ATPase domain at the N-terminal region. The cDNA encoding P. tenuipes Jocheon-1 HSP88 was expressed as an 88 kilodalton (kDa) polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells. Under higher temperature conditions for the growth of the entomopathogenic fungus, mRNA expression of P. tenuipes Jocheon-1 HSP88 was quantified by real time PCR (qPCR). The results showed that heat shock stress induced a higher level of mRNA expression compared to normal growth conditions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.282-290
• /
• 2020

Background: Ginseng is a commonly used herbal medicine in treating various medical conditions. Chronic gut inflammation is a recognized factor for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this project, Asian ginseng berry polysaccharide preparations were used to assess their effects on CRC and related immune regulation mechanisms. Methods: Ginseng berry polysaccharide extract (GBPE) and purified ginseng berry polysaccharide portion (GBPP) were used to evaluate their activities on human HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cell proliferation. Interleukin-8 secretion analysis was performed on HT-29 cells. Naive CD4 cell isolation and T-helper cell differentiation were performed and determined using flow cytometry for Th1 and Treg in addition to cell cycle and apoptotic investigation. Results: GBPE and GBPP significantly inhibited interleukin-8 secretion and cancer cell proliferation, inhibited CD4⁺IFN-γ⁺ cell (Th1) differentiation, and decreased CD4⁺FoxP3⁺ cell (Treg) differentiation. Compared to the GBPE, GBPP showed more potent antiinflammatory activities on the malignant cells. This is consistent with the observation that GBPP can also inhibit Th1-cell differentiation better, suggesting that it has an important role in antiinflammation, whereas Treg cells hinder the body's immune response against malignancies. Supported by cell cycle and apoptosis data, GBPE and GBPP, at various degrees, remarkably enhanced the anticancer activities of 5-fluorouracil. Conclusion: Data from this project suggested that Asian ginseng berry potentially has clinical utility in managing enteric inflammation and suppressing CRC through immunomodulation mechanisms.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.10
• /
• pp.886-894
• /
• 2015

Macrophages are divided into two subpopulations: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). BCG (Bacilli Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$) activates disabled $na{\ddot{i}}ve$ macrophages to M1 macrophages, which act as inflammatory, microbicidal and tumoricidal cells through cell-cell contact and/or the release of soluble factors. Various transcription factors and signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of macrophage activation and polarization. We discovered that BCG-activated macrophages (BAM) expressed a new molecule, and we named it Novel Macrophage Activated Associated Protein 1 (NMAAP1). 1 The current study found that the overexpression of NMAAP1 in macrophages results in M1 polarization with increased expression levels of M1 genes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 12 (IL-12), Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and decreased expression of some M2 genes, such as Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), but not other M2 genes, including arginase-1 (Arg-1), Interleukin (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) and found in inflammatory zone 1 (Fizz1). Moreover, NMAAP1 overexpression in the RAW264.7 cell line increased cytotoxicity against MCA207 tumor cells, which depends on increased inflammatory cytokines rather than cell-cell contact. NMAAP1 also substantially enhanced the phagocytic ability of macrophages, which implies that NMAAP1 promoted macrophage adhesive and clearance activities. Our results indicate that NMAAP1 is an essential molecule that modulates macrophages phenotype and plays an important role in macrophage tumoricidal functions.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.523-531
• /
• 2018

Tumour metastasis is one of the most serious challenges of cancer as it is the major cause of mortality in patients with solid tumours, including osteosarcoma (OS). In this regard, anti-metastatic genes have potential for metastasis inhibition strategies. Recent evidence showed the importance of breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) in control of OS invasiveness, but the regulation of BRMS1 in OS remains largely unknown. Here, we used bioinformatics analyses to predict BRMS1-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs), and the functional binding of miRNAs to BRMS1 mRNA was evaluated using a dual luciferase reporter assay. Among all BRMS1-targeting miRNAs, only miR-151b, miR-7-5p and miR-3200-5p showed significant expression in OS specimens. Specifically, we found that only miR-3200-5p significantly inhibited protein translation of BRMS1 via pairing to the 3'-UTR of the BRMS1 mRNA. Moreover, we detected significantly lower BRMS1 and significantly higher miR-3200-5p in the OS specimens compared to the paired adjacent non-tumour bone tissues. Furthermore, BRMS1 and miR-3200-5p levels were inversely correlated to each other. Low BRMS1 was correlated with metastasis and poor patient survival. In vitro, overexpression of miR-3200-5p significantly decreased BRMS1 levels and promoted OS cell invasion and migration, while depletion of miR-3200-5p significantly increased BRMS1 levels and inhibited OS cell invasion and migration. Thus, our study revealed that miR-3200-5p may be a critical regulator of OS cell invasiveness.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.82-129
• /
• 2011

"Beijijiufa" is a medical book republished by Sun Ju Qing in 1245. He compiled this book having added "Qizhumajiufa" and "Zhugejingyanbeijiyaofang" to the contents of "Beijijiufa" authored by Wen Ren Qi Nian. In "Beijijiufa" the author described treatment methods making use of moxibustion methods in connection with 22 cases of acute diseases. The author had collected the moxibustion methods used to treat acute diseases, which had been practiced by the medical practitioners of many generations, and quoted total 13 medical men's practices. In the book, the greatest parts of details were quoted especially from the writings of Sun Si Miao and Ge Hong, and this shows that the medical philosophies of both Sun Si Miao and Ge Hong were reflected onto "Beijijiufa". He had differed on his moxibustion practice: the size of moxa wool, the number of moxibustion treatment, and method of moxibustion for male and female were differed from one another according to the disease. As to the area of moxibustion, he chose the body parts around under four limbs and joints, and mostly used extraordinary acupoints rather than twelve main meridians. In his descriptions of finding meridian points, he did not describe it by its specific name of the reaction point, but explained the location of moxibustion points in detail through pictures. "Qizhumajiufa" is related to moxibustion method and prescriptions to treat surgical diseases, like skin boils or furuncle on the back, etc. He easily explained the method to find the meridian points for moxibustion treatment by using particular way through diagrams and pictures. Eight prescriptions he used were the collections among the historical practices of medical practitioners of many generations for skin boils which showed excellent therapeutic actions. In "Zhugejingyanbeijiyaofang", there are prescribed for 36 disease, also is the records of treatment methods for medical emergency which would be encountered easily in everyday life. As to therapeutic remedies, varied treatment methods, including the treatment by means of pasting and attaching medicinal substance to the spot, the treatment by means of mixing medicinal substance with alcoholic beverage, cleansing method, smoke inhalation remedy etc. were introduced. In "Beijijiufa" moxibustion was regarded as a top priority for treatment of acute disease, and the author strived to present remedies to the readers as easily as possible through 19 pictures. Regarding prescriptions, the author introduced diverse treatment methods with respect to various disease symptoms, and described the method to treat disease symptoms making use of medicinal ingredients which can easily be found in daily life. Likewise, "Beijijiufa" compiled by Sun Ju Qing was intended for clinical practice, and was indeed a medical book having been utilized for treatment of acute diseases in those days.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2012

Objectives : A protocol called "critical pathway" was developed to standardize the management of hospital patients the day after they underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. The quality of improvement in patient outcomes was evaluated. Methods : Critical pathway was developed, according to the regulations of the I hospital, by analyzing the medical records of 22 inpatients who underwent gamma knife surgery within the period from January to April 2011 on the day of the surgery. The study included a group of 22 patients admitted to the hospital the day after they underwent gamma knife radiosurgery, between July and September 2011. The control group included 22 patients who had surgery employing the same method within the period from May to June 2011. To measure the effects on quality improvement, the average length of stay, the execution rate of the hospital discharge notice system, daily hospital revenue, and the satisfaction of the patients and the medical team were assessed. The patient questionnaire employed a four-point Likert scale while the medical-staff questionnaire employed a five-point Likert scale. Result : The average length of stay was significantly shorter in the study group compared to the control group (2.3 days vs. 3.8 days, P<0.05). The execution rate of the hospital discharge notice system was higher in the study group (100% vs. 72%) than in the control group. Daily hospital revenues were higher by 264,178 Korean won in the study group when compared to the control group. The study group showed greater satisfaction of patients compared to the control group based on a four-point Likert scale (P<0.05). The study group showed greater satisfaction in medical team compared to the control group based on a five-point Likert scale (P<0.05). Conclusion : The development and implementation of a critical pathway protocol for hospital admission the day after gamma knife radiosurgery is an effective care process that improves the clinical quality.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2017

Heat treatment of wood is an attractive alternative environmentally-friendly treatment to add value of less valuable woods by improving color, dimensional stability, and natural durability. To improve the color properties of Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis) and royal paulownia (Pauwlonia tomentosa), we treated the woods at $160^{\circ}C$, $180^{\circ}C$, $200^{\circ}C$, and $220^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. Color change after heat treatment was evaluated using the CIE-Lab color system and survey was conducted to determine the consumer preferences towards color of heat-treated wood. Lightness ($L^*$) decreased with increasing temperature and the higher degree of change was obtained in royal paulownia. The red/green chromaticity ($a^*$) in both wood decreased after heat treatment at $160^{\circ}C$, and constantly increased after heat treatment at $180^{\circ}C$ to $220^{\circ}C$. Yellow/blue chromaticity ($b^*$) in Korean white pine tended to increase after heat treatment at $160^{\circ}C$, then decreased gradually afterwards. In royal paulownia, $b^*$ values linearly increased with increasing temperature. Overall color change (${\Delta}E^*$) increased with increasing temperature with higher degree obtained in royal paulownia. Samples with the clamps in both wood species showed lower degree of the change in $L^*$, $a^*$, b and ${\Delta}E^*$. The results of the consumer preferences test showed that the darker colors of heat-treated woods were more preferred by consumers compared to the lighter colors of untreated woods. Consequently, heat treatment could enhance the color properties of Korean white pine and royal paulownia woods for value added products.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.214-217
• /
• 2007

A about 2-month- old, mixed female cat was referred to Yeon Chang Veterinaly Clinic in Taiwan. Because this patient was wandering cat, precise history was not blown. At first admission, miosis, ptosis and protrusion of the nictitating membrane was observed in the right sided eye, and also slight miosis was found in the left sided eye. The patient was diagnosed into feline HS. Oculo-AP and injection-AP with dexamethasone were applied to this patient. Oculo-AP at Shang Jiao regions of both eyes was done for 10 minutes. In addition, injection-AP with dexamethasone (0.2 ml/acupoint) at BL01-Jing Ming, BL02-Zan Zhu and ST01-Cheng Qi. After AP treatment, prolapse of the nictitating membrane was amazingly disappeared and pupil was dilatated at session 1. Ocular findings at session 2 (one day after session 1) were maintained with nearly normal state. Accordingly, the present patient was a case with feline HS that showed favorable therapeutic effect by AP treatment.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.25-42
• /
• 2017

Objectives The goal of this review was to investigate clinical, experimental and literature studies of Korean medicine on atopic dermatitis (AD) of Korean children in Korean medicine literature, seeking for the better research methods for more effective treatments. Methods Electronic investigations were practiced on AKOP (The Association of Korean Oriental Pediatrics, http://www.akop.or.kr) to collect theses which were published by J Pediatr Korean Med. The key word 'Atopy' was used for searching to ensure that every related thesis was collected. The publication date was limited from 1996 to 2016. The selected literatures were assessed mainly according to distributions of study type, publication year, scale, treatment and its efficacy. Results 55 papers were selected from 59 studies. In these collected 55 related theses, there were 29 experimental studies (52.73%), 18 clinical studies (32.73%), 8 review studies (14.55%). In the 29 experimental studies, there were 20 studies (68.97%) using NC/Nga mouse as subjects. The mite antigen was used to trigger AD by 8 studies (27.59%). The studies have been utilizing DNCB and DNFB instead of mite antigen since 2011. All the experimental studies showed that the Korean medicine was effective in AD. In total 18 clinical studies, 3 studies (16.67%) were case reports, only 1 thesis (5.56%) was conducted by case control study and the rest were case series studies. 7 studies (38.89%) of 18 studies diagnosed AD according to Hanifin and Rajka's diagnostic criteria (1980), only 1 study (5.56%) according to the Korean standard and the rest 10 studies (55.56%) didn't mention diagnostic criteria. 12 clinical studies (66.67%) showed efficacy in treating AD. There were 10 studies (55.56%) only employing internal treatments and 1 thesis (5.56%) didn't mention the exact prescription. Naesowhajungtang-kamibang, Saenghyeoryunbue-um were used 3 times (16.67%) as the internal medicine respectively. 5 theses (27.78%) were combined with acupuncture therapy. Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) were used in 4 theses, and Taichong (LR3), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36) in 3 theses. The number of acupoints chosen from The Spleen meridian of Foot-Taiyin was the largest. There were 8 review theses. 2 were about the foreign oriental medicine, 3 were about the external medicine or external treatment methods, and 3 other studies were about severity scoring systems, the methodological study in the latest clinical study, overview for pattern and results of herbal medicine-derived AD clinical researches. Conclusions The experimental studies and clinical studies showed the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments. However, this study still needs improving by conducting more comparative studies and using better research methods, in order to find more effective treatments to improve clinical efficacy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 2012

In this paper, to find out how different the treatment of special individuals named 'old people' is with that of ordinary cases, Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) was chosen as the study material and some parts in it where the symptoms of old people in the same disease category were treated in different ways were excerpted to analyze the tendency of pathological symptoms and prescriptions in the physiological perspective. As the result of analysis on the parts in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) where the old people were treated in different ways, it turned out that 65 prescriptions were used in 24 pathological symptoms. The 24 symptoms are included mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. They are including the pathological symptoms which had been presented as general geriatric symptoms and also seems to have added other symptoms which should be clinically reflected in the specialty of treatment for geriatric diseases. The 65 prescriptions are also recorded mainly in chapters of 'inner view(內景)' and 'outer form(外形)'. The herbs used for them were sweet and warm herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertner) Libosch(熟地黃), Angelica gigas Nakai(當歸), Panax ginseng C. A. Mey(人蔘) and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz(白朮) that can support the essence blood of liver and kidney and the energy of spleen, lung and stomach. Those herbs could be added or subtracted according to the symptom. It seems to have resulted from the treatment method that old people was applied to old people in consideration of their physiological features. When the 24 symptoms and 65 prescriptions for geriatric diseases different from ordinary ones in Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑) were considered in the physiological view point, it could be seen that each pathological symptom was manifested as a exhaustion of kidney qi(腎氣枯渴) which was a characteristic physiologic state of old people. Through this, it could be seen that the use of prescriptions was also made to mitigate the body fluid deficiency(津液不足), the kidney yin inner heat(腎陰內熱), the heart spirit void and loss(心神虛損), the kidney yang deficiency(腎陽不足), the spleen failing in transportation(脾失健運), the spleen yang deficiency(脾陽不足), the liver fire inner movement(肝火內動) and the lung energy void and loss(肺氣虛寒).