• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2024

Hydroxychavicol, a primary active phenolic compound of betel leaves, previously inhibited bone loss in vivo by stimulating osteogenesis. However, the effect of hydroxychavicol on bone remodeling induced by osteoclasts is unknown. In this study, the anti-osteoclastogenic effects of hydroxychavicol and its mechanism were investigated in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclasts. Hydroxychavicol reduced the number of tartrate resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated, F-actin ring formation and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts differentiated from RAW264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, hydroxychavicol decreased the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, including cathepsin K, MMP-9, and dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP). For mechanistic studies, hydroxychavicol suppressed RANKL-induced expression of major transcription factors, including the nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), c-Fos, and c-Jun. At the early stage of osteoclast differentiation, hydroxychavicol blocked the phosphorylation of NF-κB subunits (p65 and Iκβα). This blockade led to the decrease of nuclear translocation of p65 induced by RANKL. In addition, the anti-osteoclastogenic effect of hydroxychavicol was confirmed by the inhibition of TRAP-positive multinucleated differentiation from human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In conclusion, hydroxychavicol inhibits osteoclastogenesis by abrogating RANKL-induced NFATc1 expression by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2024

Objectives : This study was conducted to reveal the scientific mechanism of the anti-skin aging activity of Kyung-Ok-Ko(KOK), which is highly useful as a Korean traditional medicine and functional food. Methods : The skin wrinkle and aging inhibitory activity of KOK was confirmed through in vitro experiments of human dermal fibroblast neonatal cell(HDFn) and in vivo of C. elegans, and hairless mouse(SKH-1). Results : The amount of the C-terminus of the collagen precursor in the HDFn cell culture medium treated with KOK using an enzymes-linked immunoassay kit. The group treated with KOK 200㎍/㎖ was a 28.3% increase of collagen precursor compared to the control group. KOK showed inhibitory activity of MMP-1 compared to the control group at a concentration of 200㎍/㎖. In addition, KOK 200㎍/㎖ showed significant inhibitory activity of thermal stress and an oxidative stress compared to the control group in C. elegans. Furthermore, KOK showed a concentration-dependent(100mg/kg and 500mg/kg) anti-wrinkle formation effect in UV-irradiated hairless mouse(SKH-1). Additionally, when KOK was administered to UV-irradiated hairless mice, an increase in procollagen -1 and -3 genes expression was observed, and mmp-1 and mmp-9 genes, which increase collagen decomposition, decreased with the administration of KOK. Conclusions : The skin aging inhibition mechanism of Kyung-Ok-Ko(KOK) is presumed to be achieved through suppressing thermal stress and oxidative stress, suppressing mmp-1 and mmp-9 genes, and increasing procollagen-1 and procollagen-3.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2024

The present study concerns the inhibition of Calcium Nitrite Inhibitor(Ca(NO₂)₂) in mortar contaminated by chloride ions. Thus, the corrosion resistance and chloride transport were measured for the mortar containing calcium nitrite inhibitor. As a result, an increase in the dosage of calcium nitrite inhibitor resulted in an increase in the chloride threshold concentration for reinforcement corrosion, while the rate of chloride transport was accelerated. However, the calcium nitrite inhibitor could not guarantee the time to corrosion, due to the increased mobility of chlorides. To ensure the passivity of steel, the dosage of calcium nitrite inhibitor must exceed a certain dosage, ranging from 2.0~3.0 % by cement weight.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.538-545
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess the in vitro safety of a probiotics mixture (Lactobacillus acidophilus PBS066, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072), along with its inhibitory effect on carbohydrate digestion. All three strains met the antibiotic resistance profile of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines. None of the strains exhibited hemolytic activity or cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells. Strains PBS067 and PBS072 inhibited α-amylase activity, whereas all three strains suppressed α-glucosidase activity, indicating that the mixture might limit carbohydrate digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. These findings support the safety of this probiotics mixture and its potential to modulate carbohydrate metabolism in the gut.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by its heterogeneity and high recurrence and lethality rates. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play a crucial role in therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Therefore, targeting GSCs is a key objective in developing effective treatments for GBM. The role of Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in GBM and its impact on GSCs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PTHrP on GSCs and its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM. Methods and Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found higher expression of PTHrP in GBM, which correlated inversely with survival. GSCs were established from three human GBM samples obtained after surgical resection. Exposure to recombinant human PTHrP protein (rPTHrP) at different concentrations significantly enhanced GSCs viability. Knockdown of PTHrP using target-specific siRNA (siPTHrP) inhibited tumorsphere formation and reduced the number of BrdU-positive cells. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, suppression of PTHrP expression led to significant inhibition of tumor growth. The addition of rPTHrP in the growth medium counteracted the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Further investigation revealed that PTHrP increased cAMP concentration and activated the PKA signaling pathway. Treatment with forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, nullified the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that PTHrP promotes the proliferation of patient-derived GSCs by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These results uncover a novel role for PTHrP and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1040-1050
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• 2024

To isolate and analyze bacteria with Verticillium wilt-resistant properties from the fermentation residue of kitchen wastes, as well as explore their potential for new applications of the residue. A total of six bacterial strains exhibiting Verticillium wilt-resistant capabilities were isolated from the biogas residue of kitchen waste fermentation. Using a polyphasic approach, strain ZL6, which displayed the highest antagonistic activity against cotton Verticillium wilt, was identified as belonging to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioassay results demonstrated that this strain possessed robust antagonistic abilities, effectively inhibiting V. dahliae spore germination and mycelial growth. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa ZL6 exhibited high temperature resistance (42℃), nitrogen fixation, and phosphorus removal activities. Pot experiments revealed that P. aeruginosa ZL6 fermentation broth treatment achieved a 47.72% biological control effect compared to the control group. Through activity tracking and protein mass spectrometry identification, a neutral metalloproteinase (Nml) was hypothesized as the main virulence factor. The mutant strain ZL6ߡNml exhibited a significant reduction in its ability to inhibit cotton Verticillium wilt compared to the strain P. aeruginosa ZL6. While the inhibitory activities could be partially restored by a complementation of nml gene in the mutant strain ZL6CMߡNml. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the future development and application of biogas residue as biocontrol agents against Verticillium wilt and as biological preservatives for agricultural products. Additionally, this study presents a novel approach for mitigating the substantial amount of biogas residue generated from kitchen waste fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2016

The bifunctional PheA protein, having chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase (CMPD) activities, is one of the key regulatory enzymes in the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, and is negatively regulated by an end-product, phenyalanine. Therefore, PheA protein has been thought as useful for protein engineering to utilize mass production of essential amino acid phenylalanine. To obtain feedback resistant PheA protein against phenylalanine, we mutated by using random mutagenesis, extensively screened, and obtained $pheA^{FBR}$ gene encoding a feedback resistant PheA protein. The mutant PheA protein contains substitution of Leu to Phe at the position of 118, displaying that higher affinity (about $290{\mu}M$) for prephenate in comparison with that (about $850{\mu}M$) of wild type PheA protein. Kinetic analysis showed that the saturation curve of $PheA^{FBR}$ against phenyalanine is hyperbolic rather than that of $PheA^{WT}$, which is sigmoidal, indicating that the L118F mutant enzyme has no cooperative effects in prephenate binding in the presence of phenylalanine. In vitro enzymatic assay showed that the mutant protein exhibited increased activity by above 3.5 folds compared to the wild type enzyme. Moreover, L118F mutant protein appeared insensitive to feedback inhibition with keeping 40% of enzymatic activity even in the presence of 10 mM phenylalanine at which the activity of wild type $PheA^{WT}$ was not observed. The substitution of Leu to Phe in CMPD may induce significant conformational change for this enzyme to acquire feedback resistance to end-product of the pathway by modulating kinetic properties.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2000

Background: Thromboxane A2 and endothelin-1 are the potent vasoconstrictors affecting pulmonary pathophysiology in response to whole body inflammatin following CPB. Aprotinin, as an antiiflammatory agent, may decrease the release of such vasoactive substance from pulmonary tissues, preventing pulmonary hypertension after cardiopulmonary bypass. Material and Method: Ten mongrel dogs(Bwt. ac. 20kg) were subjected to cardioupulmonary bypass for 2 hours and postbypass pulmonary vascular resistance(0, 1, 2, 3 hours) were compared with prebypass level. The dogs were divided into 2 groups; control group(n-5) and aprotinin group(n=5). In the aprotinin group, aprotinin was administered as follows; 50,000 KIU/kg mixed in pump priming solution, 50,000 KIU/kg prebypass intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, 10,000 KIU/kg/hour postbypass continuous infusion. Prebypass and postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hour pulmonary vascular resistance were measured. At prebypass and postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes, blood samples were obtained from pulmonary arterial and left atrial catherers for the assay of plasma thromboxane B2 a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, and endothelin-1 concentrations. Result: The ratios of pustbypass over prebypass pulmonary vascular at postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hours were 1.28$\pm$0.20, 1.82$\pm$0.23, 1.90$\pm$0.19, 2.14$\pm$0.18 in control group, 1.58$\pm$0.18, 1.73$\pm$0.01, 1.66$\pm$0.10, 1.50$\pm$0.08 in aprotinin group ; the ratios gradually increased in control group while decreased or fluctuated after postbypass 1 hour in aprotinin group. There was statistically significant difference between control group and aprotinin group at postbypass 3 hours(P=0.014). Pulmonary arterial plasma concentration of thromboxane B2(pg/ml) at prebypass, postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes were 346.4$\pm$61.9, 529.3$\pm$197.6, 578.3$\pm$255.8, 493.3$\pm$171.3 in control group, 323.8$\pm$118.0, 422.6$\pm$75.6, 412.3$\pm$59.9, 394.5$\pm$154.0 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 339.3$\pm$89.2, 667.0$\pm$65.7, 731.2$\pm$192.7, 607.5$\pm$165.9 in control group, 330.0$\pm$111.2, 468.4$\pm$190.3, 425.4$\pm$193.6, 4.7.3$\pm$142.8 in aprotinin group. These results showed decrement of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation in aprotinin group. Pulmonary arterial concentrations of endothelin-1(fmol/ml) at the same time sequence were 7.84$\pm$0.31, 13.2$\pm$0.51, 15.0$\pm$1.22, 16.3$\pm$1.73 in control group, 7.76$\pm$0.12, 15.3$\pm$0.71, 22.6$\pm$6.62, 14.9$\pm$1.11 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 7.61$\pm$17.2, 57.1$\pm$28.4, 18.9$\pm$18.2, 31.5$\pm$20.5 in control group, 5.61$\pm$7.61, 37.0$\pm$26.2, 28.6$\pm$21.7, 37.8$\pm$30.6 in aprotinin group. These results showed that aprotinin had no effect on plasma endothelin-1 concentration after cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion: Administration of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass could attenuate the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance after bypass. Inhibition of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation was thought to be one of the mechanism of this effect. Aprotinin had no effect on postbypass endothelin-1 concentration.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this review Is to provide an update on novel radiation treatments for head and neck cancer Recent Findings: Despite the remarkable advances In chemotherapy and radiotherapy techniques, the management of advanced head and neck cancer remains challenging. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Is an appealing target for novel therapies In head and neck cancer because not only EGFR activation stimulates many important signaling pathways associated with cancer development and progression, and importantly, resistance to radiation. Furthermore, EGFR overexpression Is known to be portended for a worse outcome in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Two categories of compounds designed to abrogate EGFR signaling, such as monoclonal antibodies (Cetuxlmab) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ZD1839 and 051-774) have been assessed and have been most extensively studied In preclinical models and clinical trials. Additional TKIs In clinical trials include a reversible agent, Cl-1033, which blocks activation of all erbB receptors. Encouraging preclinical data for head and neck cancers resulted In rapid translation Into the clinic. Results from Initial clinical trials show rather surprisingly that only minority of patients benefited from EGFR inhibition as monotherapy or In combination with chemotherapy. In this review, we begin with a brief summary of erbB- mediated signal transduction. Subsequently, we present data on prognostic-predictive value of erbB receptor expression in HNC followed by preclinlcal and clinical data on the role of EGFR antagonists alone or in combination with radiation In the treatment of HNC. Finally, we discuss the emerging thoughts on resistance to EGFR biockade and efforts In the development of multiple-targeted therapy for combination with chemotherapy or radiation. Current challenges for investigators are to determine (1 ) who will benefit from targeted agents and which agents are most appropriate to combine with radiation and/or chemotherapy, (2) how to sequence these agents with radiation and/or cytotoxlc compounds, (3) reliable markers for patient selection and verification of effective blockade of signaling in vivo, and (4) mechanisms behind intrinsic or acquired resistance to targeted agents to facilitate rational development of multi-targeted therapy, Other molecuiar-targeted approaches In head and neck cancer were briefly described, Including angloenesis Inhibitors, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, cell cycle regulators, and gene therapy Summary: Novel targeted theraples are highly appealing in advanced head and neck cancer, and the most premising strategy to use them Is a matter of intense Investigation.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 1998

Growth response and acetolactate synthase(ALS) activity were examined to determine the resistance of corn cultivars to primisulfuron when primisulfuron and/ or insecticide Terbufos were applied. Pioneer 3571 IR showed resistance to primisulfuron regardless of Terbufos treatment, but Pioneer 3571 was greatly injured with primisulfuron plus Terbufos treatment. Suwon 118 was relatively tolerant to primisulfuron compared to Chalok 2, but crop injury was occurred at both cultivars by primisulfuron plus Terbufos treatment. ALS activity at Pioneer 3751 IR was very high in primisulfuron and/ or Terbufos treatment. Suwon 118 also showed higher ALS activity compared to Pioneer 3751 and Chalok 2, but ALS activities were greatly decreased by primisulfuron plus Terbufos treatment at Suwon 118 and Chalok 2. The $I_{50}$ concentration for 50% inhibition of the ALS enzyme was 10.0, 0.06, 7.75, and 0.04${\mu}M$ for Pioneer 3751 IR, Pioneer 3751, Suwon 118, and Chalok 2, respectively. Consequently, resistance of corn cultivars to primisulfuron was significantly related to ALS activity. Crop injury and lower ALS activity were recognized in susceptible corn cultivars by primisulfuron plus Terbufos treatment.