• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2023

Renal fibrosis is the final manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) regardless of etiology. Hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) is an important regulator of chronic hypoxia, and the late-stage renal tubular HIF-2α activation exerts protective effects against renal fibrosis. However, its specific role in progressive renal fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of the long-term tubular activation of HIF-2α on renal function and fibrosis, using in vivo and in vitro models of renal fibrosis. Progressive renal fibrosis was induced in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) of tetracycline-controlled HIF-2α transgenic (Tg) mice and wild-type (WT) controls through a 6-week adenine diet. Tg mice were maintained on doxycycline (DOX) for the diet period to induce Tg HIF-2α expression. Primary TECs isolated from Tg mice were treated with DOX (5 ㎍/ml), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (10 ng/ml), and a combination of both for 24, 48, and 72 hr. Blood was collected to analyze creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Pathological changes in the kidney tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and Sirius Red staining. Meanwhile, the expression of fibronectin, E-cadherin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was observed using western blotting. Our data showed that serum Cr and BUN levels were significantly lower in Tg mice than in WT mice following the adenine diet. Moreover, the protein levels of fibronectin and E-cadherin and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK were markedly reduced in the kidneys of adenine-fed Tg mice. These results were accompanied by attenuated fibrosis in Tg mice following adenine administration. Consistent with these findings, HIF-2α overexpression significantly decreased the expression of fibronectin in TECs, whereas an increase in α-SMA protein levels was observed after TGF-β1 stimulation for 72 hr. Taken together, these results indicate that long-term HIF-2α activation in CKD may inhibit the progression of renal fibrosis and improve renal function, suggesting that long-term renal HIF-2α activation may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CKD.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 1967

The effects of X-ray irradiation and the thyroid gland on the erythropoietic system were studied in the white male rabbits. The total body irradiation was done in doses of 250 r and 500 r to each of 5 rabbits for 10days. The factors were 220KV, 10mA, FLI/4 Cu+1 mmAI(HVL:2.0 mm Cu) 50 cm F.S.D. The thyroid dysfunction was experimentally induced, by giving 2mg of thyroid tablets per kg body weight for 15 days in 5 rabbits for hyperthyroidism and by giving 1.5 mC of $^{131}I$ per kg body weight in another 5 rabbits for hypothyroidism. Fourteen healthy rabbits were used as control. The hematologic changes and ferrokinetic data obtained from $^{59}Fe$ and apparent half survival of the red blood cells obtained from $^{51}Cr$ were compared. Following were the results: A. X-ray irradiated group; 1. There were no significant changes in hematologic findings except for leucopenia. A slight decrease of red blood cells was observed in 500 r irradiated animals. 2. The decreases in the iron turnover rates of the plasma and red blood cells as well as in the red cell renewal rate were found in both groups. A :significant decrease of the red cell iron utilization rate was observed in the 500 r irradiated animals. 3. The apparent half survival times of the red blood cells were slightly, in the 250 r ($12.1{\pm}0.80$ days), and markedly shortened in the 500 r irradiated animals ($9.8{\pm}1.38$ days), the normal being $14.0{\pm}1.6$ days. 4. It appears, therefore, that the anemia caused by X-ray irradiation is due to the inhibition of hemopoietic function and the excess destruction of the red blood cells. B. Thyroid dysfunction group; 1. The slight increases of the red blood cell count and circulating blood volume with the normal serum iron level were observed in the hyperthyroid group, while the decreases of the red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit values with a marked decrease of the serum iron level in the hypothyroid group. 2. A marked decrease of the plasma iron disappearance rate with increases of plasma iron turnover, red cell iron utilization and red cell iron turnover were observed in the hyperthyroid group, while the marked delay and decreases in the hypothyroid group. 3. The apparent half survival times of the red blood cells were almost the same with the control in the hyperthyroid group, ($14.0{\pm}1.58$ while a marked shortening in the hypothyroid group $10.6{\pm}0.30$. 4. It was reconfirmed that the thyroid hormones bear a close relationship with the erythropoietic system, namely, the latter is stimulated by the former. The lack of the thyroid hormones thus induces the bone marrow depression leading to anemia the major cause of which, therefore, is not hemolysis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.61-79
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• 2002

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate acute and subacute toxicity and sarcoma-180 anti-cancer effects of Herbal acupuncture with Anneniacae amarum semen (Haeng-in) in mice and rats. Method: Balble mice were injected intraperitoneany with Haeng-In extract for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with Haeng-In extract for subacute toxicity test. TheAnneniacae amarum semen Herbal-Acupuncture was injected on Chung-wan (CV12) of mice with Sarcoma-180 cancer cell line. Results: 1. $LD_{50}$ was uncountable as none of the subjects expired from the treatment groups during the test. 2. The clinical signs and the body weight of mice treated with 0.1cc and 0.2cc Haeng-In extract were not affected during the acute toxicity test. 3. In acute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of mice, total protein and albumin were decreased in treatment group Ⅰ. Glucose was increased, and total cholesterol was decreased in treatment groups. GPT was increased in treatment group Ⅰ. 4. In subacute toxicity test, toxic symptoms were not detected in the treatment groups. 5. In subacute toxicity test, the body weight was increased in treatment groups on 14th and 21st day. 6. In subacute toxicity test. liver weight was increased in treatment group Ⅱ, and spleen weight was increased in treatment group Ⅱ. Lung weight was increased in an the treatment groups.(p<0.05) 7. In subacute toxicity test, severe tissue injury was found in lung and liver, especially treatment group Ⅰshowed more significant lung damage compared to treatment group l. 8. In subacute toxicity test, WBC. MCH and MCHC were increased in an the treatment groups, RBC, HGB and HCT were decreased in treatment group H(p<0.05). 9. In subacute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of rats, triglyceride was decreased in all the treatment groups. ALP was decreased in treatment group Ⅰ. and creatinine was decreased in treatment group Ⅱ. BUN/CR was increased in treatment group Ⅱ(p<0.05). 10. Median survival time of Sarcoma-180 cancer cell treated with Haeng-In was increased in all the treatment groups by twenty percent, compared to the control group(p<0.05). 11. Natural killer cell activity about the Sarcoma-180 cell was decreased at the ratio of 100:1 but was increased at the ratio of 10:1. In treatment group Ⅱ, increase was found at the ratio of 100:1 and 50:1 (p<0.05). 12. Interleukin-2 productivity of the Sarcoma-180 cell was decreased in treatment group I, but was increased in treatment group Ⅱ(p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, we can conclude Herbal-acupuncture with Anneniacae amarum semen caused toxicity, and had effects in Sarcoma-180 cancer cell.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-238
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• 2002

Moxibustion is one of major healing technique in oriental medicine. It has been widely used in many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto disease, breech presentation, etc. However, till now, effects of moxibustion on NK cell activity and relations between sympathetic nerve system(SNS) and the immune alteration induced by moxibustion were not well studied. This study was designed to evaluate effects of moxibustion on NK cell activity and the intervention of SNS in the alteration of NK cell activity induced by moxibustion. Splenic NK cytotoxity was measured in a standard 4-h 51Cr release assay. We measured the NK cytotoxity at after moxibustion stimulation for 1,3,5, and 7 days, and also measured the NK cell cytotoxity after 3 and 7 days burn stimulation with similar temperature. IL-2, IL-4, INF-γ in serum were measured by rat IL-2, IL-4, INF-γ ELISA TEST KIT. To evaluate the effects of sympathectomy on alteration of NK cell cytotoxity, 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA : 5Omg/kg) was used. We showed that NK cell activity of moxibustion stimulation group increased at the 3rd day, and declined at 7th day in comparison with that of contol group. In moxibustion stimulation group, NK cell activity of 3 day stimulation group was significantly higher than sham group. On the contrary, in burn stimulation group, NK cell activity was significantly higher than that of sham groups at 3rd, 7th days. Patterns between moxibustion and burns were different. INF- γ level of 3 days moxibustion stimulation group significantly higher than sham group. IL 2 level among groups were not different. IL-4 was not detected in serum with this method. Sympathectomy abolished the NK cell activity alteration induced by moxibustion. The results suggest that moxibustion induces the alteration of NK cell activity, along with INF-γ and SNS is related to these effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.41-59
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• 1967

This study was aimed; firstly to observe various clinical symptomatology with reiation to the number of Ancylostoma duodenale larvae orally given to the human beings, secondly to evaluate the effects of some drugs like steroid hormones, antihistaminic3 and antitussives, and, thirdly to study the influences of some iron compounds in prevention and treatment of anemia of such origin. Ten healthy volunteers free from the previous history of hookworm infection were divided into 4 groups, to whom various numbers of actively moving filariform Ancylostoma duodenale larvae were orally given; 500 to 4 cases, 250 to 3 cases and 100 to 3 cases. Following were the results: 1. Clinical symptomatology 1. The most frequently encountered symptoms and signs were general malaise, cough and hoar seness. The tracheal itching and pain low back pain, arthralgia, sputum and salivation, acid belching, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and vomiting were also noted. 2. If the larger number of the larvae was given, the clinical symtomatology was more severe. 3. Prednisolone medication caused some improvement of such symptomatology, while the antihistaminics and antitussives like codeine or ephedrine were ineffective. 4. In volunteers whose nutritional conditions were rather poor appeared to show more severe symptomatology. 2. Effects of iron compounds 1. The oral administration of ferrous fumarate induced a slight increase of serum iron levels in the initial stage of the infection, then a decrease from $15{\sim}20$ days later and a recovery after 2 months. 2. The intravenous administration of saccharated ferric oxide induced a steady upkeep of the serum iron levels. 3. The hemoglobin contents also showed the upkeeps after either the oral or intravenous administration of the iron compounds. 4. The iron compounds, therefore, are considered to have the preventive as well as the therapeutic effects on hookworm anemia, which may strongly suggest that hookworm anemia is essentially the iron deficiency type. 3. Hematological changes 1. The severity of hookworm anemia generally correlated with the number of larvae given. 2. The moderate leucocytosis was observed in all cases regardless of the number of larvae given, which reached to a peak in $25{\sim}35$ days. 3. Eosinophilia was observed in all cases, but was more severe in cases given larger number of larvae, which was slightly less evident after the medication of prednisolone. 4. Red cell survival time The red cell survival time determined by $^{51}Cr$ was generally in the normal ranges except for the severe anemia patients.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.198-205
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• 2017

Background: There are a million ragpickers in India who gather and trade recyclable municipal solid wastes materials for a living. The objective of this study was to examine whether their occupation adversely affects their immunity. Methods: Seventy-four women ragpickers (median age, 30 years) and 65 age-matched control housemaids were enrolled. Flow cytometry was used to measure leukocyte subsets, and leukocyte expressions of $Fc{\gamma}$ receptor I (CD64), $Fc{\gamma}RIII$ (CD16), complement receptor 1 (CD35) and CR3 (CD11b/CD18), and CD14. Serum total immunoglobulin-E was estimated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Compared with the controls, ragpickers had significantly (p < 0.0001) higher levels of CD8-T-cytotoxic, CD16+CD56+natural killer, and CD4+CD45RO+memory T-cells, but depleted levels of CD19+B-cells. The percentage of CD4+T-helper-cells was lower than the control group (p < 0.0001), but their absolute number was relatively unchanged (p = 0.42) due to 11% higher lymphocyte counts in ragpickers. In ragpickers, the percentages of CD14+CD16+intermediate and CD14dim CD16+nonclassical monocyte subsets were elevated with a decline in CD14+CD16-classical monocytes. The expressions of CD64, CD16, CD35, and CD11b/CD18 on both monocytes and neutrophils, and CD14 on monocytes were significantly higher in ragpickers. In addition, ragpickers had 2.7-times more serum immunoglobulin-E than the controls (p < 0.0001). After controlling potential confounders, the profession of ragpicking was positively associated with the changes. Conclusion: Ragpicking is associated with alterations in both innate (neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer cell numbers and expression of complement and $Fc{\gamma}$ receptors) and adaptive immunity (numbers of circulating B cells, helper, cytotoxic, and memory T cells).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4583-4589
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• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of multimodality treatment of advanced paediatric hepatoblastoma (HB) and the factors affecting prognosis. Methods: A total of 35 children underwent multimodality treatments consisting of chemotherapy, surgery, interventional therapy, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The patients were followed up every month. Results: Serum AFP levels in 33 out of 35 patients in this study were significantly increased (P = 0.0002). According to the statistical scatter plot, the values of serum AFP on the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentages were 1,210, 1,210 and 28,318 ng/dl, respectively. Of the 35 cases, 21 were stage IV. 18 cases were treated with systemic chemotherapy before surgery, and 3 cases with locally interventional chemotherapy before surgery. Statistical analysis showed that the preferred interventional treatment affected prognosis, and that there was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.024). Some 33 patients completed the follow-up, of which 17 were in complete remission (CR), 5 were in partial remission (PR), 1 became disease progressive (DP), and 10 died. The remission and overall survival rates were 66.7% (22/33) and 69.7% (23/33), respectively. Patients with the mixed HB phenotypes had worse prognoses than the epithelial phenotype (P < 0.001), and patients in stage IV had a lower survival rate than those in stage III (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Multimodality treatment can effectively improve remission rate and prolong the survival of children with advanced HB. In addition, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a tumor marker of liver malignant tumors, HB pathological classification, and staging are highly useful in predicting prognosis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 1998

In this study, we investigated the effects of three kinds of culture medium (Charles and Rosenkrans; CRlaa, Tyrode's; TALP, synthetic oviduct fluid: SOF), insulin transferrin + selenium complex (ITS), macromolecules(polyvinyl alcohol: PVA, fetalb-ovine serum: FBS) and NaCl on the development of early bovine embryos. In experiment 1, there were no differences in embryo development among three kinds of embryo culture medium (CR $l_{aa}$ , TALP, SOF). In experiment 2, BSA, FBS and PVA were added each in TALP as macromolecule sources. The developmental rates of embryos in BSA or FBS added TALP were significantly higher than in PVA added one (p〈0.01), but there was no difference between BSA and FBS added groups. In experiment 3, bovine embryos were cultured in TALP with the following supplements: BSA alone(1, 3 or 8 mg/ml, each) or BSA(1, 3 or 8 mg/ml, each)+ITS (10$\mu\textrm{g}$/m1 insulin, 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml selenium). In higher concentration of BSA and ITS supplemented groups, the developmental rates over compacted morula were higher than others, but there was a significant effect of ITS only in 1 mg/ml of BSA added group (p〈0.05). In experiment 4, the effect of reduced concentration of NaCl was evaluated. The developmental rate over compacted morula in the medium containing 90 mM of NaCl was higher than in 114 mM group (p〈0.05). In conclusion, BSA could be used as a macromolecule source in bovine embryo culture, and ITS, as a serum substitute, could be used for improving of embryonic development. Also, reduction of NaCl concentration from 114 mM to 90 mM may improve the development of bovine embryos.bryos.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.3 s.47
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• pp.547-556
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• 1994

In order to identify the necessary information of biochemical Indices for renal effect of lead for the early detection in medical surveillance of lead worker, the reference values of urinary N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities were studied with 205 office workers in one industrial complex area who were not exposed to lead occupationally. While study variables selected for lead exposure were blood lead (PbB), blood zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) and $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid (DALA) in urine, those for renal effect were urinary N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(Cr), serum uric acid (Ua), and urinary total protein(U-TP). The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean values of blood lead, ZPP and DALA in all subjects were $14.39{\pm}4.02{\mu}g/dl,\;21.61{\pm}8.00{\mu}g/dl,\;and\;2.73{\pm}0.90mg/l$ respectively. 2. The mean value of urinary NAG activities in all subjects was $3.51{\pm}2.01U/l$. The mean value of urinary NAG activities, which calculated from NAG activities divided by urinary creatinine concentration (CNAG), was $5.42{\pm}5.53U/g$ creatinine and log-arithmic normal distributed. 3. The reference value of urinary NAG activity was 12.06 U/g creatinine(95% CU=10.57-14.76 U/g creatinine). 4. Logarithmic CNAG(r=0.781 p<0.0l), U-TP(r=0.670 p<0.01) and ZPP(r=0.172 p<0.05) showed statistically significant correlation with CNAG.