• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6369-6374
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• 2012

Vitexicarpin (3', 5-dihydroxy-3, 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone), a polymethoxyflavone isolated from Viticis Fructus (Vitex rotundifolia Linne fil.), has long been used as an anti-inflammatory herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It has also been reported that vitexicarpin can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. However, there is no report elucidating its effect on human prostate carcinoma cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the apoptotic induction activity of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells and molecular mechanisms involved. MTT studies showed that vitexicarpin dose-dependently inhibited growth of PC-3 cells with an $IC_{50}{\sim}28.8{\mu}M$. Hoechst 33258 staining further revealed that vitexicarpin induced apoptotic cell death. The effect of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells apoptosis was tested using prodium iodide (PI)/Annexin V-FITC double staining and flow cytometry. The results indicated that vitexicarpin induction of apoptotic cell death in PC-3 cells was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that vitexicarpin induction of PC-3 cell apoptosis was associated with upregulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and downregulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Our findings suggested that vitexicarpin may become a potential leading drug in the therapy of prostate carcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.10-35
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• 2007

Objectives : To investigate the effects of Ohbaesangami (OBSGM) on mucosa and skin diseases, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory tests were performed using several in vitro test models. Results : In anti-microbial test, OBSGM showed the slight inhibitory effect against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In anti-oxidant test, OBSGM showed the potent radical scavenging activity. In anti-inflammatory test, OBSGM weakly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO) release from the RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. OBSGM also inhibited the LPS-induced $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$ and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions. The inhibitory effects of OBSGM on macrophage activation was via the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$, evidenced by transient transfection assay. Furthermore, OBSGM markedly inhibited the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase in RAW 264.7 cells. In skin wrinkle formation assay, OBSGM strongly inhibited collagnease and elastase, whose activities are tightly related with the wrinkle formation. In addition, OBSGM inhibited the activities of MMP-1, MMP-2 on the mRNA levels in RAW 264.7 cells. However, OBSGM did not show an inhibitory potential on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis, indicating that it could not be applicable for skin whitening. Conclusion : These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potentials on the macrophage activation. And, the anti-wrinkle effects of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potential on the collagnease and elastase activities. Therefore, OBSGM could be applicable for the treatment of mucosa and skin diseases.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.338-340
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• 2020

Sericite is used as a raw material for ceramics and paints, and recently it is widely used as adsorbents to remove heavy metals in wastewater. A new air filter containing sericite was developed using the principle of which components contained in the sericite react with moisture in the air to release oxygen. We tested whether the newly developed air filter actually improves fuel efficiency when mounted on a diesel vehicle. When the diesel vehicle used in the test was warmed up, the fuel efficiency increased by 10~17% compared to when an existing air filter was installed. However, the effect of the developed air filter on the amount of emissions (HC, CO, NOx) has not been investigated, and further research is required for the diesel vehicle emissions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.665-671
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) on papain induced arthritis in C57BL/10 mice. The C57BL/10 mice were injected with papain and oral administration of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) once a day for 42 days and compared with untreated mice. Histological examination and the measurement of inflammatory cytokine release were performed. The results showed that comparing with untreated mice, the treatment with Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) decreased the pathological changes of knee joint tissue. The level of inflammatory cytokine secreted from the tissues, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ (interleukin-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 (interleukin-6), TNF-${\alpha}$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-${\alpha}$), were decreased. These results were confirmed by the quantification of cartilage volume using micro CT scanning. Consequently, Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) has a therapeutic potential in inflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2004

This paper describes the effect of loading rate, specimen geometries and material properties for ModeⅠ and Mode Ⅱ interlaminar fracture toughness of hybrid composite by using double cantilever beam (DCB) and end notched flexure (ENF) specimen. In the range of loading rate 0.2~20mm/min, there is found to be no significant effect of loading rate with the value of critical energy release rate (Gc).The value of Gc for variation of initial crack length are nearly similar values when material properties are CF/CF and GF/GF, however, the value of Gc are highest with the increasing intial crack length at CF/GF. The SEM photographs show good fiber distribution and interfacial bonding of hybrid composites when the moulding is the CF/GF.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07c
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• pp.1450-1452
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• 1996

In order to optimize the characteristics of gate insulator for FED(field emission device), we investigated the effect of wet-etching process on the gate insulator for fabrication of FED. We used the general three types of etchants for fabrication of the metal tip FEA(field emitter array), they are MO and oxide etchants to form the gate hole, and Al etchant to remove the release layer. In the result of the breakdown field of the insulator by the measure of the current-voltage characteristics, the breakdown field of insulator for immersing in oxide etchant was rapidly lowering with increasing etching time, but that for immersing in Al etchant was slow lowering. Also, in comparing cleaning with non-cleaning samples, the breakdown field of the cleaning samples was higher than that of non-cleaning samples.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1664-1674
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• 2016

This research analyzed the effect of ${\beta}$-glucan that is expected to alleviate the production of the inflammatory mediator in macrophagocytes, which are processed by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia. The incubated layer was used for a nitric oxide (NO) analysis. The DNA-binding activation of the small unit of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based kit. In the RAW264.7 cells that were vitalized by Escherichia coli (E. coli) LPS, the ${\beta}$-glucan inhibited both the combatant and rendering phases of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-derived NO. ${\beta}$-Glucan increased the expression of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the cells that were stimulated by E. coli LPS, and the HO-1 activation was inhibited by the tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP). This shows that the NO production induced by LPS is related to the inhibition effect of ${\beta}$-glucan. The phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and the p38 induced by the LPS were not influenced by the ${\beta}$-glucan, and the inhibitory ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$) decomposition was not influenced either. Instead, ${\beta}$-glucan remarkably inhibited the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) that was induced by the E. coli LPS. Overall, the ${\beta}$-glucan inhibited the production of NO in macrophagocytes that was vitalized by the E. coli LPS through the HO-1 induction and the STAT1 pathways inhibition in this research. As the host immune response control by ${\beta}$-glucan weakens the progress of the inflammatory disease, ${\beta}$-glucan can be used as an effective immunomodulator.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2015

Magnesium sulfate is widely used as a food additive and as an orally administered medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cytotoxicity of magnesium sulfate on AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and gastric mucosa in mice. A trypan blue exclusion assay was used to determine the reduction in viability of AGS cells exposed to magnesium sulfate, and then effects on cell proliferation were quantified. The role of magnesium sulfate-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine production in AGS cells was also investigated. mRNA expression for IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-${\alpha}$ was determined by RT-PCR, and secretion of these cytokines was measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemical evaluation of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression was conducted in mouse gastric mucosa. Addition of 3 to 50 mM magnesium sulfate to AGS cells inhibited both cell proliferation and cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Magnesium sulfate had little effect on production of IL-$1{\beta}$ or IL-6 but significantly inhibited production of IL-8. The animal model demonstrated that magnesium sulfate induced production of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$. These preliminary data suggest that magnesium sulfate had a direct effect on the stomach and initiates cytotoxicity in moderate concentrations and time periods by inhibiting viability a nd proliferation of AGS cells and by regulating expression and/or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.6
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• 2012

Acupuncture works by stimulating peripheral sensory nerves and their endings causing an increase in cutaneous blood flow and microcirculation, as well as release of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones. SP6 Patch is a nanoscale nontransdermal device that mildly stimulates Stomach 36 (zusanli) and other acupuncture points. As stimulation of these points has been indicated to have an effect on hypothalamic function, it is of great research interest to investigate the effect of SP6 Patch on the physiology of organs that are affected by hypothalamic regulation. Bioelectrical tissue impedance data indicative of cellular physiologic organ function, using an Electro Interstitial Scan (EIS) system, were acquired from hypothalamus, pancreas, liver, intestines, kidneys, thyroid and adrenal glands in 10 (1 male, 9 females) volunteers while wearing the SP6 Patch daily for 1 week. EIS testing was performed at baseline with no patch, 30 min after wearing the patch, and after wearing the patch 12 h/day for 1 week. Subjects were instructed to keep well hydrated during the study period. All subjects served as their own control. The hypothesis was: The SP6 Patch worn 12 h/day on the Stomach 36 acupuncture point for 1 week, may significantly improve cellular physiologic functional status of different organs measured by EIS. All tested organs achieved significant improvement in their functional physiologic status after wearing the SP6 Pach 12 h/day for 1 week compared to baseline with an overall average statistical power > 89%. Based upon these results the hypothesis was accepted as true.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.135-145
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• 2005

Objectives : This study investigated effect of Evodiae fructus water extract (EVOR) on apoptotic cell death induced by NaCN in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell lines. NaCN stimulates glutamate release which can activate glutamate receptors to initiate excitotoxic processes. This study examines the role of EVOR in mediating NaCN-induced cytotoxicity. Methods & Results : Cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture media. NaCN(0.1mM) produced cytotoxicity following 12hrs of incubation. NaCN-induced cytotoxicity was partially blocked by EVOR. The treatment of EVOR in simultaneous exposure of cultures to NaCN provided complete protection against cytotoxicity. NaCN-induced cytotoxicity was found to inhibit DNA fragmentation, repaired by cell cycle and simultaneous exposure to NaCN, regenerated with neurite outgrowh by EVOR. These results indicate thaf damage by NaCN in neumnal cell cultures was repaired by EVOR, whereas NaCN-induced cytotoxicity is blocked Primarily by activation of anti-apoptosis. Conclusions : These results suggest that EVOR may be beneficial for the treatment of dementia and other degenerative problems of the central nervous system.