• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.518-523
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• 2018

Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method. Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation ($108,200{\times}g$) and high-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI). Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI. Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.864-874
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• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cell dysfunctions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a hypoxic environment. Many solid tumors are present in a hypoxic condition, which changes the effector function of various immune cells. The transcription of hypoxic-inducible factors (HIFs) in cancer cells make it possible to adapt to their hypoxic environment and to escape the immune surveillance of NK cells. Recently, the correlation between the transcription of HIF-1α and pro-inflammatory cytokines has been reported. Interleukin (IL)-6 is higher in cancers with a highly invasive ability, and is closely related to the metastasis of cancers. This study showed that the expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells was associated with the presence of IL-6 in the environment of HCC-NK cells. Blocking of IL-6 by antibody in the HCC-NK interaction changed the production of several cytokines including TGF-β, IL-1, IL-18 and IL-21. Interestingly, in a co-culture of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells, blocking of IL-6 increased the production of IL-21 in their supernatants. In addition, the absence of IL-6 significantly enhanced the cytotoxic ability and the expression of the activating receptors (NKG2D, NKp44, and NKG2C) in NK cells to HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells. These effects might be made by the decreased expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells through the inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3. In conclusion, the absence of IL-6 in the interaction of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells could enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells to HCC cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권8호
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• pp.445-450
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• 2023

The development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is associated with the phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic state, leading to cell migration and proliferation. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) modulates this de-differentiation by initiating a number of biological processes. In this study, we show that gene expression of hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1) was upregulated during differentiation of human aortic SMCs (HASMCs) into a contractile state, but downregulated upon during PDGF-BB-induced dedifferentiation. This is the first study showing that the treatment of HASMCs with full-length recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1) significantly reversed PDGF-BB-induced decrease in the protein levels of contractile markers (SM22α, α-SMA, calponin, and SM-MHC), and inhibited the proliferation and migration of HASMCs induced by PDGF-BB. Furthermore, our results show that rhHAPLN1 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of FAK, AKT, STAT3, p38 MAPK and Raf mediated by the binding of PDGF-BB to PDGFRβ. Together, these results indicated that rhHAPLN1 can suppress the PDGF-BB-stimulated phenotypic switching and subsequent de-differentiation of HASMCs, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.151-159
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• 2000

목 적: 결절성 십이지장염은 내시경 검사상 십이지장에 두 개 이상의 홍반성 결절들이 보이며 주변에 염증 소견이 관찰되는 질환이다. 최근 위내시경 검사의 발달로 인해 결절성 십이지장염은 소아에서도 발생빈도가 증가하는데 아직 국내외적으로 전반적인 연구가 미미한 실정이다. 이에 저자들은 소아에서 결절성 십이지장염의 임상적 및 조직병리학적 소견을 조사하여 이 질환에 대한 전반적인 이해를 도모하고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 1995년 1월부터 1999년 12월까지 서울적십자병원 소아내시경실에서 시행된 상부위장관 내시경 검사상 결절성 십이지장염으로 진단된 39례를 대상으로 유병률, 성별 및 연령별 분포, 주증상, 내시경 소견과 조직병리학적 소견 및 이의 상관관계 등에 대해 후향적으로 연구를 실시하였다. 내시경 검사상 병변의 정도는 십이지장 결절의 크기와 분포에 따라 제 1, 2, 3 도로 분류하였고 십이지장의 조직병리학적 검사는 십이지장 고유층의 염증세포 침윤 정도, 상피세포 및 융모의 소실 정도에 따라 정상, 제 1, 2, 3 도로 분류하였다. 위의 조직학적 소견은 위점막의 고유판과 상피내에 염증세포의 침윤 정도 및 상피의 손상 정도에 따라 0에서 6까지 구분하였다. H. pylori의 감염 정도는 Prieto 등의 분류법에 따라 제 0, 1, 2, 3 도로 구분하였다. 십이지장에서 내시경적 소견의 정도와 조직병리학적 소견의 정도 및 H. pylori 감염 정도 간에 상관관계가 있는지 알아보기 위해 통계 프로그램으로 Graph PAD InStat의 linear regression module을 사용하여 correlation coefficient와 p-value를 구하였다. 결 과: 1) 결절성 십이지장염은 17.1%의 유병률을 나타내었고 남녀비는 1 대 2이었다. 7세부터 12세까지에서 가장 빈도(61.5%)가 높았고 주증상은 복통이 69.2%로 가장 많았다. 2) 본 질환의 내시경 등급은 제 1 도 45.7%, 제 2도 34.3%, 제 3 도 20.0%이었으며 동반된 내시경적 소견상 결절성 위염은 28.3%이었다. 3) 십이지장의 조직병리학적 검사상 제 1 도는 22.9%, 제 2 도는 54.3%, 제 3 도는 22.9%이었으며 위의 조직검사상 제 1 도는 22.9%, 제 2 도는 42.9%, 제 3 도는 25.7%, 제 4 도는 8.6%이었다. 4) 십이지장의 조직병리학적 검사상 H. pylori의 감염 정도는 제 1 도 5.7%, 제 2 도 8.6%, 제 3 도 22.9%로 37.1%의 십이지장 조직에서 H. pylori가 발견되었다. 위의 조직병리학적 검사상 H. pylori의 감염정도는 제 1 도 11.4%, 제 2 도 11.4%, 제 3 도 8.6%로 31.4%의 위 조직에서 H. pylori가 발견되었다. 5) 본 질환의 내시경적 등급과 조직병리학적 등급 간의 상관계수는 0.3983 (p=0.0178)이었고, 조직병리학적 등급과 십이지장 조직에서의 H. pylori 감염 등급간의 상관계수는 0.5154 (p=0.0018)이었다. 결 론: 결절성 십이지장염의 내시경적 등급과 조직병리학적 등급 사이에 통계적으로 의미있는 상관관계가 나타났으며(r=0.3983, p=0.0178), 또한 조직병리학적 등급과 십이지장 조직에서의 H. pylori 감염 등급간에도 통계적으로 의미있는 상관관계를보였다(r=0.5154, p=0.0018). 따라서 H. pylori 감염이 본 질환의 발생에 주요한 역할을 할 것으로 여겨지며 이외의 유발 원인에 대해서는 추후 지속적인 추적 관찰 및 보다 많은 연구가 시행되어야 하겠다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.235-249
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• 2021

Leptin is a type of adipokine mainly produced by adipocytes and reported to be overproduced in prostate cancer. However, it is not known whether it stimulates the proliferation of prostate cells. In this study, we investigated whether benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cells (BPH-1 cells) infected with Trichomonas vaginalis induced the proliferation of prostate cells via a leptin signaling pathway. To investigate the effect of crosstalk between adipocyte leptin and inflamed epithelial cell in proliferation of prostate cells, adipocytes 3T3-L1 cells were incubated in conditioned medium of BPH-1 cells infected with T. vaginalis (T. vaginalis-conditioned medium, TCM), and then the adipocyte-conditioned medium (ATCM) was identified to cause proliferation of prostate cells. BPH-1 cells incubated with live T. vaginalis released pro-inflammatory cytokines, and conditioned medium of these cells caused migration of adipocytes. When prostate stromal cells and BPH-1 cells were incubated with adipocyte conditioned medium containing leptin, their growth rates increased as did expression of the leptin receptor (known as OBR) and signaling molecules such as JAK2/STAT3, Notch and survivin. Moreover, blocking the OBR reduced this proliferation and the expression of leptin signaling molecules in response to ATCM. In conclusion, our findings show that inflamed BPH-1 cells infected with T. vaginalis induce the proliferation of prostate cells through leptin-OBR signaling. Therefore, it is likely that T. vaginalis contributes to prostate enlargement in BPH via adipocyte leptin released as a result of inflammation of the prostate.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.54-60
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• 2015

Background: The present study was designed to prepare and find the optimum active preparation or fraction from Korea Red Ginseng inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) expression, because MMP-13 is a pivotal enzyme to degrade the collagen matrix of the joint cartilage. Methods: From total red ginseng ethanol extract, n-BuOH fraction (total ginsenoside-enriched fraction), ginsenoside diol-type-enriched fraction (GDF), and ginsenoside triol-type-enriched fraction (GTF) were prepared, and ginsenoside diol type-/F4-enriched fraction (GDF/F4) was obtained from Panax ginseng leaf extract. Results: The n-BuOH fraction, GDF, and GDF/F4 clearly inhibited MMP-13 expression compared to interleukin-$1{\beta}$-treated SW1353 cells (human chondrosarcoma), whereas the total extract and ginsenoside diol-type-enriched fraction did not. In particular, GDF/F4, the most effective inhibitor, blocked the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), c-Jun-activated protein kinase (JNK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1/2 (STAT-1/2) among the signal transcription pathways involved. Further, GDF/F4 also inhibited the glycosaminoglycan release from interleukin-$1{\alpha}$-treated rabbit cartilage culture (30.6% inhibition at $30{\mu}g/mL$). Conclusion: Some preparations from Korean Red Ginseng and ginseng leaves, particularly GDF/F4, may possess the protective activity against cartilage degradation in joint disorders, and may have potential as new therapeutic agents.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2022

Tertomotide는 항암제로 개발된 펩타이드 백신이다. 그러나 동물실험과 임상시험에서 염증성 증상이 완화되는 현상이 발견된바 있다. 이에 tertomotide가 항염물질로 작용하는지 확인하기 위하여 직접적인 항염활성과 그 작용기전을 조사하였다. 이를 위해 LPS 또는 PMA에 의해 활성화된 monocyte에 tertomotide를 처리한 후 염증성 cytokine 생산과 관련된 신호전달과정을 관찰하였다. Monocyte에서 tertomotide는 TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 등 염증성 싸이토카인의 생산을 감소시켰고 NF-κB 신호를 감쇄시켰으며 또한 TNF-α에 의한 ERK1/2와 P38 MAPK의 활성화를 저해하였다. 이 결과는 tertomotide 처치에 따른 염증성 질환 완화가 NF-κB/STAT3의 신호의 감쇄와 항염활성에 의한 것이라고 설명할 수 있고 이를 활용하여 신규 항염 약물의 도출이 가능할 것으로 판단된다. 이는 면역학적 활성을 목표로 계산화학적으로 설계된 물질의 생물학적 성질을 활용하여 새로운 약물을 도출하는 융합연구의 예시가 될 것이다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권8호
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• pp.1377-1386
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• 2024

Objective: Embryonic interferon-tau (IFNT) and progesterone affect expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), progesterone receptor (PGR) and progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) in the ovine thyroid. Methods: Thyroids of ewes were sampled at day 16 of nonpregnancy, days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect expression of ISGs, PGR, and PIBF. Results: Free ISG15 protein was undetected, but ISG15 conjugated proteins upregulated at day 16 of pregnancy, and expression levels of ISG15 conjugated proteins, PGR isoform (70 kDa), PIBF, interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 and myxovirusresistance protein 1 peaked, but expression level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 was the lowest at day 16 of pregnancy. In addition, the expression levels of PGR isoform (70 kDa) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) decreased, but levels of PGR isoform (43 kDa), 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, IP-10 and MX1 increased at day 25 of pregnancy comparing with day 16 of the estrous cycle. Conclusion: Early pregnancy affects expression of ISGs, PGR, and PIBF in maternal thyroid through IFNT and progesterone, which may regulate thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid hormone secretion in ewes.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Objective : Nelumbinis Folium (NF) is used for diarrhea, headache and dizziness in traditional medicine. In this paper, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of NF in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for viability assay, cytokine measurement and Western blotting. Results : NF methanol extract suppressed the levels of nitric oxide (NO) through reduction of inducible NO synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract reduced LPS/IFN-${\gamma}$-stimulated STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase activation. The extract also inhibited p38, JNK/SAPK and ERK1/2 activation. Conclusions : Our findings suggested that NF has anti-inflammatory activity, and have a potential for therapeutic application. Further research is required to investigate its anti-inflammatory active compounds.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.612-621
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare the histomorphological change of curved root canal preparation using GT rotary File, Profile .04 taper and stainless steel K-file. 45 mesial canals(over 20 degree) of extracted human mandibular first molars were mounted in resin using a modified Bramante muffle system and divided into three groups. The roots were cross-sectioned at 2.5mm 5mm and 8mm levels from apical foramen. Tracings of the canals were made from preinstrumentation pictures of the cross section. The canals were prepared using a step-back technique with stainless steel K file(group 1), Profile .04 taper rotary file(group 2) and GT rotary file(group 3). Tracings of the prepared canals were made from postinstrumentation picture. Canal centring ratio. amount of transportation, area of dentin removed and shape of canal were measured and statistically were evaluated with Student-Newman-Keuls test using Sigma Stat(Jandel Scientific Software, USA). The results were as followings : 1 Amount of transportation of group 2 was the lowest at apical part, but there was no statistical difference. The direction of transportation was the outside of curvature at apical part. 2. Centering ratio at the apical part of group 1 was the highest, and there was statistical differences between apical and middle part, apical and coronal part(p＜0.05). Centering ratio at the middle part of group 3 was the lowest, and there was statistical difference between apical and middle part(p＜0.05). Centering ratio of group 2 was the lowest at apical part, but there was no statistical difference. 3. Amount of dentin removed of group 1 was the highest at coronal, middle and apical part among three groups, and there was statistical difference(p＜0.05). 4. The majority of the cross-sectioned canal shape after instrumentation were irregular at coronal, middle and apical part. But there are more number of round shaped canals at group 3 than other group.