• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topically applied recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) for the prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: From December 2010 to April 2012, a total of 1,172 cancer patients who received radiotherapy (RT) of more than 50 Gy were prospectively enrolled and treated with EGF-based cream. An acute skin reaction classified according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 6-point rating scale was the primary end point and we also assessed the occurrence of edema, dry skin, or pruritus. Results: The percentage of radiation dermatitis with maximum grade 0 and grade 1 was 19% and 58% at the time of 50 Gy, and it became 29% and 47% after completion of planned RT. This increment was observed only in breast cancer patients (from 18%/62% to 32%/49%). Adverse events related to the EGF-based cream developed in 49 patients (4%) with mild erythema the most common. Skin toxicity grade >2 was observed in 5% of the patients. Edema, dry skin, and pruritus grade ${\geq}3$ developed in 9%, 9%, and 1% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of an EGF-based cream is effective in preventing radiation dermatitis with tolerable toxicity. Further studies comparing EGF cream with other topical agents may be necessary.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-370
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• 2012

Radiation therapy, the most commonly used for the treatment of brain tumors, has been shown to be of major significance in tumor control and survival rate of brain tumor patients. About 200,000 patients with brain tumor are treated with either partial large field or whole brain radiation every year in the United States. The use of radiation therapy for treatment of brain tumors, however, may lead to devastating functional deficits in brain several months to years after treatment. In particular, whole brain radiation therapy results in a significant reduction in learning and memory in brain tumor patients as long-term consequences of treatment. Although a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the pathogenesis of radiation-mediated brain injury, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which radiation induces damage to normal tissue in brain remain largely unknown. Therefore, this review focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms of whole brain radiation-induced cognitive impairment and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, we review the current knowledge about the effects of whole brain radiation on pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)/tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) system and extracellular matrix (ECM), and physiological angiogenesis in brain. These studies may provide a foundation for defining a new cellular and molecular basis related to the etiology of cognitive impairment that occurs among patients in response to whole brain radiation therapy. It may also lead to new opportunities for therapeutic interventions for brain tumor patients who are undergoing whole brain radiation therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2013

A beneficial radioprotective agent has been used to treat the radiation-induced lung injury. This study was performed to investigate whether curcumin, which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, could ameliorate radiation-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in irradiated lungs. Rats were given daily doses of intragastric curcumin (200 mg/kg) prior to a single irradiation and for 8 weeks after radiation. Histopathologic findings demonstrated that macrophage accumulation, interstitial edema, alveolar septal thickness, perivascular fibrosis, and collapse in radiation-treated lungs were inhibited by curcumin administration. Radiation-induced transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression, and collagen accumulation were also inhibited by curcumin. Moreover, western blot analysis revealed that curcumin lowered radiation-induced increases of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Curcumin also inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65 in radiation-treated lungs. These results indicate that long-term curcumin administration may reduce lung inflammation and fibrosis caused by radiation treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.127-130
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• 2021

Rectovaginal fistula, which can arise after an injury to the vaginal canal or rectum, is a troublesome obstacle for patients' everyday life. In most cases, it can be covered with a local flap, but previous radiation therapy increases the recurrence rate, making it especially difficult to cure. As the application of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) obtained from enzymatically digested autologous adipose tissue has become increasingly common, several reports have advocated its effectiveness for the treatment of refractory wounds. In light of the angiogenic, regenerative characteristics of SVF, it was incorporated as a treatment option in two cases of rectovaginal fistula discussed here. As described in this report, irradiated rectovaginal fistulas in rectal cancer patients were successfully treated with SVF injection, and we suggest SVF as a feasible treatment option for cases of rectovaginal fistula that would otherwise be very difficult to cure.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2009

The radioprotect effects of fractinated fucoidan, derived from Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls, were examined in lung injured rats treated with partial body irradiation. The right lung of Sprague-Dawley rats, eight separately grouped by including radiation only control group (ROG) and fucoidan+radiation treated group (FRG), were treated with various fraction of Undaria-derived fucoidan every other day by intraperitoneal injection 6 days prior to irradiation and during monitoring at 24 hours, 48 hours, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12-weeks post-irradiation of 6 Mev/2 Gy. The rats were euthanized at completion of the treatment. Tissue samples from the injured lung, fixed in formaldehyde using lung perfusion prior to extraction, were H/E stained for histological analysis using optical microscopy. Interstitial congestion (IC), hemorrhage in alveolar sac (HM), number of macrophage (MP) and alveolar wall thickness (AWT) as a measure of early indication of fibrosis were measured. AWTs in 24 hrs post-irradiation rats increased in comparison with $2.49{\pm}0.06{\mu}m$ of control group by $3.67{\pm}0.09{\mu}m$, $3.21{\pm}0.08{\mu}m$ (p=0.013), $2.98{\pm}0.08{\mu}m$ (p=0.00) in ROG, F1-fucoidan+radiation, and F3-fucoidan+radiation group, respectively. AWT of the ROG was further increased by $4.30{\pm}0.13{\mu}m$ in the 12 weeks post-irradiation group, but AWT on average was $2.56{\pm}0.05{\mu}m$ in the FRG. MP in the 24 hrs post-irradiation group markedly increased in comparison with $2.6{\pm}0.34/0.14\;mm^2$ of the control group by $8.0{\pm}1.48/0.14\;mm^2$ in the ROG, but it was only $3.6{\pm}0.48/0.14\;mm^2$ in F3-FRG. MP in the 12 weeks post-irradiation group was $7.2{\pm}1.28/0.14\;mm^2$ in ROG, but it was $2.8{\pm}0.37/0.14\;mm^2$ or $2.4{\pm}0.4/0.14\;mm^2$ (p<0.05) in the FRG. In addition, increased IC and HM in ROG were relatively smaller in FRG of the 24 hr and 12 weeks post-irradiation rats. In conclusion, Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls-derived fucoidan fractions exhibited radioprotectant activity on injured rat lung subjected to X-ray irradiation. However, success was variable according to the fractions and also time of injection post injury.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented blackberry drinks (BD) on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 6 rats per group: control, $CCl_4$, $CCl_4$ plus BD $3ml\;kg^{-1}$, and $CCl_4$ plus BD $6ml\;kg^{-1}$. We found that the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly increased and the activity of antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver was decreased in rats treated with $CCl_4$ alone when compared with the control group. However, the administration of BD attenuated the levels of serum AST and ALT in $CCl_4$-treated rats. Moreover, the administration of BD significantly increased the activity of GPx in $CCl_4$-treated rat livers. Taken together, these results suggest that BD could protect the liver from $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.375-379
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• 2016

A rat is the most common experimental animal used for the realization of the radiation injury model. The certain thickness of rat skin was prepared by peeling off a rat skin. Radiation level was measured by using this rat skin. Also, The schematic of the formula was made that can predict the radiation absorbed dose (RAD) as a function of the thickness of the rat skin. Consequently, we will provide the RAD information in the realization of in-vitro experimental model regarding the rat's skin thickness by applying the formulas. Moreover, the results from this study can be effectively used for the in-vitro experiment of the rat subcutaneous tissue which was exposed to radiation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.650-659
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• 1999

Background/Aims: It is well recognized that all aerobic cells have the protective mechanisms in order to minimize the tissue damage induced by various reactive oxygen species(ROS). Thioredoxin peroxidase(TPX) which has been recently identified and characterized functions to convert peroxide to water. The protein is also found in various subtypes(TPX-A & B, MER5, HS22 and HORF-06) and is known to be ubiquitous in most human cells. Especially, ischemic brain injuries, partial hepatectomy and radiation induced DNA damages. In treating lung cancer, radiation therapy has a major place in the local control and the relief of symptoms, but radiation induced free radical injury and resulting pulmonary fibrosis has been the major drawback of the therapy. However, little is known about the protective mechanisms and biologic modulations against radiation-induced tissue damages. Methods: Eighteen mice were divided into six groups, 3 in each group, and fifteen had received 900cGy of radiation. The mice were sacrificed according to the pre determined time schedule; immediate, 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks after irradiation. Extracts were made from the lungs of each mice, Western blot analysis of various subtypes of TPX were done after SDS-P AGE. Examination of H & E stained slides from the same irradiated specimens and the control specimens were also performed. Results: No difference in the intensity of the immunoreactive bands in the irradiated lung samples of the mice compared to the unirradiated control was observed regardless of the time intervals, although H & E examination of the sample specimens demonstrated progressive fibrotic changes of the irradiated lung samples. Conclusion: In conclusion, according to our data, it is suggested that various thioredoxin peroxidase subtypes and catalase which are known to be increased in many repair processes may not be involved in the repair of the radiation injury to the lung and subsequent fibrosis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2015

The basic concepts of radiation-induced skin damage have been established, the biological mechanism has not been studied. In this study, we have examined the effects of gamma rays on skin injury and cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 expression. Gamma irradiation induced clinicopathological changes in a dose- and time-dependent manner in mini-pig skin. The histological changes were consistent with the changes in gross appearance at 12 weeks after irradiation. After three days' irradiation, apoptotic cells in the basal layer were found more frequently in irradiated skin than in normal skin, with the magnitude of the effect being dose-dependent. The thickness of the epidermis transiently increased 3 days after irradiation, and then gradually decreased, although changes in the epithelial thickness of the irradiated field were not observed with irradiation doses over 50 Gy. In the epithelium, there was an initial degenerative phase, during which the rate of basal cell depletion was dependent on the radiation dose (20-70 Gy). One week after irradiation, COX-2 expression was mostly limited to the basal cell layer and was scattered across these cells. High COX-2 expression was detected throughout the full depth of the skin after irradiation. The COX-2 protein is upregulated after irradiation in mini-pig skin. These histological changes associated with radiation exposure dose cause the increased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent fashion.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1968

Buckwheat seeds produced in previous year (1965) in an experimental pot culture in which nine levels of P-32 ranging from $1.4{\times}10-4 to 3.3{\times}104$\mu$c/pot(as of 27 July 1965)$, with the same specific activity, had been applied to the corresponding pots respectively, were used this year(1996) in water and soil culture as well as in germination test to investigate the feature and extent of possible residual effects of P-32 incorporated upon germination and plant growth, and the following results were obtained: 1. Under the given experimental conditions both stimulative and inhibitory effects of radiation were observed. 2. The germination rate of the seeds was lower at the higher level of P-32 aplication ranging from $3.0{\times}103 to 3.3{\times}104$\mu$c/pot$ and higher at 0.2 $\mu$c P/pot than the control. 3. Among the seeds produced at the higher level of application about 80% was failed to germinate, owing to the radiation injury. The remaining 80% was failed to germinate, owing to the radiation injury. The remaining 80% survived the damaging effect and showed vigorous growth and increased yield. The latter group of seeds thus proved themselves to be more radioresistant than the former. 4. The survived seeds produced later more straw and root on dry weight basis. The higher the level of P-32 applied, the stronger the stimulative effect showed in vegetative growth. 5. No radiation effect on linear growth of the plants was observed in the soil culture. 6. The dry weight of straw produced showed little difference at the moderate range compared with that of control in the soil culture. At high level of application, i.e. over $\mu$c P32/pot, however, the production was increased by 12-37% of control. 7. As for the dry weight of root harvested, the P-32 treatment over 24$\mu$c P32/pot produced 82-155% more than the control, whereas little difference was observed under 2.2$\mu$c P32/pot. 8. The seed production increased in general by the P-32 treatments. Particularly at the moderate level of application the rate of increase amounted to 70% of the control. 9. Those individual plants which survived damaging effects of radiation at the germinating stage shwoed remarkable stimulative effects both in vegetative and in reproductive stage of growth.