• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.807-815
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• 2018

This study was investigated the effect of dietary probiotic mixture on blood biomarkers, immune responses, caecal microorganism and productivity in broiler chickens under heat stress (HS). A total of 400 broiler chick males (Ross 308) were divided into four groups of 100 heads each, group C (control, room temperature $25^{\circ}C$), HS (heat stress $33^{\circ}C$) and HSP (HS plus probiotic mixture 500, 750 mg/kg of diet), respectively. Broiler body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and immune organ weight increased in the HSP group compared to the HS group. The concentrations of blood IgG and lymphocyte were increased in the HSP group compared to the HS group, and the heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, corticosterone concentration and mortality were low. Lactobacillus in the cecum increased in the HSP group compared to the HS group, but was lower in Escherichiacoli (E. coli), coliform bacteria and aerobic bacteria. These results indicate that feeding probitic mixture including three strains such as B. subtilis, S. galilaeus and Sphingobacteriaceae to broiler exposed to heat stress can improve production with lowering mortality by improving immune response and microbial balance.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.37-44
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress activities through regulation of Nrf2-mediated genes by Rhei rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza rhizoma combined extract (RGE) in reflux esophagitis.Methods : The antioxidant activity of RGE in vitro was measured in terms of radical scavenging capacity such as DPPH and ABTS. RGE was administered at 350 mg/kg body weight prior to induction of reflux esophagitis. Reflux esophagitis was induced that tied the pylorus and the transitional junction between the forestomach and the corpus in Sprague-Dawley rats.Results : RGE scavenged DPPH and ABTS effectively and IC₅₀of RGE each were 4.9 μg/ml and 45.6 μg/ml. Our results show that RGE administration markedly ameliorated mucosal damage upon histological evaluation. In serum and esophagus tissue, RGE significantly suppressed the oxidative stress biomarkers. Reflux esophagitis induced rats exhibited down-regulation of antioxidant-related proteins in the esophagus; however, the levels with treatment of RGE were significantly higher than those of vehicle reflux esophagitis rats. RGE treatment caused significant reductions in activation of NF-κB transcription factor. Thus, RGE significantly exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing the protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory proteins such as COX-2 and iNOS and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-αin the esophagus tissue.Conclusions : Reflux esophagitis caused considerable levels of oxidative stress in the esophageal mucosa and the administration of RGE reduced the esophageal mucosa damage through the regulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Our findings can considered as supplementary therapy in the prevention or treatment of reflux esophagitis.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.246-253
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• 2007

Doxorubicin and daunorubicin are excellent chemotherapeutic agents utilized for several types of cancer but the irreversible cardiac damage is the major limitation for its use. The biochemical mechanisms of doxorubicin- and daunorubicin- induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear. There are many reports on toxicity of doxorubicin and doxorubicin in cardiomyocytes, but effects in cardiovascular system by these drugs are almost not reported. In this study, we investigated gene expression profiles in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to better understand the causes of doxorubicin and doxorubicininduced cardiovascular toxicity and to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Through the clustering analysis of gene expression profiles, we identified 124 up-regulated common genes and 298 down-regulated common genes changed by more than 1.5-fold by all two cardiac toxicants. HUVECs responded to doxorubicin and doxorubicin damage by increasing levels of apoptosis, oxidative stress, EGF and lipid metabolism related genes. By clustering analysis, we identified some genes as potential markers on apoptosis effects of doxorubicin and doxorubicin. Six genes of these, BBC3, APLP1, FAS, TP53INP, BIRC5 and DAPK were the most significantly affected by doxorubicin and doxorubicin. Thus, this study suggests that these differentially expressed genes may play an important role in the cardiovascular toxic effects and have significant potential as novel biomarkers to doxorubicin and doxorubicin exposure.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2008

The bio-molecules involved in defense mechanisms can be used as efficient biomarkers for physiological changes in organisms caused by both of internal and external stress. Thus, the expression level of genes which encoding such molecules serve as critical 'early warning system' for environmental assessment as well as health diagnosis of biological organisms. In this study, Cytochrome P450, Heat shock protein 90, Ubiquitin and ${\beta}$-actin gene were isolated for the first time from a red alga Gracilaria textorii. The quantitative differential gene expression analyses of three genes, GteCYP1A, GteHsp90 and Gte-UB, were carried out in G. textorii sporophytes collected from two different localities, polluted Sujeong (Masan, Korea) and potentially unpolluted Danggeum (Daemaemuldo Is., Korea). The transcripts of all three tested genes were highly expressed in the Sujeong population. The results suggest: 1) the Sujeong site was more polluted than the Danggeum site; 2) G. textorii could be applicable to marine environment monitoring in coastal regions.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.243-258
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• 2011

Objectives : This study investigated the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Curcuma radix using a rat model induced by poloxamer 407 injection. Methods : Serum lipid parameters and oxidative stress-associated biomarkers were determined. Additionally, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride as well as lipid metabolism-associated gene expressions were observed in hepatic tissue. Results : 1. Curcuma radix ameliorated elevation of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, MDA, hepatic cholesterol level, and reduction of serum TAC, SOD, GSH, GSH-reductase level. 2. Curcuma radix augmented up-regulated ACAT gene expression. 3. Curcuma radix almost completely ameliorated down-regulated CYP-7A1 but up-regulated HMG-CoA gene expression. Conclusions : The hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of Curcuma radix were evidenced. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of Curcuma radix and development of hypolipidemics using this herb in the future.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2009

Metal pollution of aquatic ecosystems is a problem of economic and health importance. Information regarding molecular responses to metal exposure is sorely needed in order to identify potential biomarkers. To determine the effects of heavy metals on chironomids, the full-length cDNA of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH3) from Chironomus riparius was determined through molecular cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The expression of ADH3 was analyzed under various cadmium and copper concentrations. A comparative and phylogenetic study among different orders of insects and vertebrates was carried out through analysis of sequence databases. The complete cDNA sequence of the ADH3 gene was 1134 bp in length. The sequence of C. riparius ADH3 shows a low degree of amino acid identity (around 70%) with homologous sequences in other insects. After exposure of C. riparius to various concentrations of copper, ADH3 gene expression significantly decreased within 1 hour. The ADH3 gene expression was also suppressed in C. riparius after cadmium exposure for 24 hour. However, the effect of cadmium on ADH3 gene expression was transient in C. riparius. The results show that the suppression of ADH3 gene by copper exposure could be used as a possible biomarker in aquatic environmental monitoring and imply differential toxicity to copper and cadmium in C. riparius larvae.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.29-44
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• 2001

DNA damage by physical insult including UV and g-radiation might provoke genetic alterations in cells, which is followed by either acute cell death or tumorigenesis. The responsiveness to g-radiation depends on cellular context of target cells. To understand the mechanisms of checkpoint control, repair and cell death following genotoxic stimu]i, cDNA microarray can provide the gene expression profile. To make a profile of gene expression in irradiated Jurkat T cells, we hybridized the cDNA microarray using cDNA from g-irradiated Jurkat T cells. Jurkat T cells were exposed to 4Gy to 16Gy, and total RNA were extracted at 4 to 24 hrs after irradiation. The hybridization of the microarray to fluorescence-labeled cDNA from treated and untreated cells was analyzed by bioinformatic analysis to address relative changes in expression levels of the genes present in the array. Responses varied widely in different time points, suggesting acute stress response and chronic restoration or cell death. From these results we could select 384 genes related to radiation response in Tcells, and radiation response might be different in various types of cells. Using Radchip, we could separate "the exposed" from control PBMCs. We propose that Radchip might be useful to check the radiation research as well as radiation carcinogenesis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4803-4812
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• 2015

Chronic alcohol and tobacco abuse plays a crucial role in the development of different liver associated disorders. Intake promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species within hepatic cells exposing their DNA to continuous oxidative stress which finally leads to DNA damage. However in response to such damage an entangled protective repair machinery comprising different repair proteins like ATM, ATR, H2AX, MRN complex becomes activated. Under abnormal conditions the excessive reactive oxygen species generation results in genetic predisposition of various genes (as ADH, ALDH, CYP2E1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTM1) involved in xenobiotic metabolic pathways, associated with susceptibility to different liver related diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is increasing evidence that the inflammatory process is inherently associated with many different cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinomas. The generated reactive oxygen species can also activate or repress epigenetic elements such as chromatin remodeling, non-coding RNAs (micro-RNAs), DNA (de) methylation and histone modification that affect gene expression, hence leading to various disorders. The present review provides comprehensive knowledge of different molecular mechanisms involved in gene polymorphism and their possible association with alcohol and tobacco consumption. The article also showcases the necessity of identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers for early cancer risk assessment among alcohol and tobacco users.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4867-4871
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• 2012

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the major causative agent of cervical cancer, yet the viral infection alone is not sufficient for cancer progression. The etiopathogenesis of cervical cancer is indeed complex; a precise understanding of the complex cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation, progression and/or prevention of the uterine cervix is therefore essential. Autophagy is emerging as an important biological mechanism in targeting human cancers, including cervical cancer. Furthermore, autophagy, a process of cytoplasm and cellular organelle degradation in lysosomes, has been implicated in homeostasis. Autophagic flux may vary depending on the cell/tissue type, thereby altering cell fate under stress conditions leading to cell survival and/or cell death. Autophagy may in turn govern tumor metastasis and subsequent carcinogenesis. Inflammation is a known hallmark of cancer. Vascular insufficiency in tumors, including cervical tissue, leads to depletion of glucose and/or oxygen perturbing the osmotic mileu causing extracellular acidosis in the tumor microenvironment that may eventually result in autophagy. Thus, targeted manipulation of complex autophagic signaling may prove to be an innovative strategy in identification of clinically relevant biomarkers in cervical cancer in the near future.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Considerable effort has been made to address the issue of occupational health and environmental exposure to mercury. This review reports on the current literature of mercury exposure and health impacts on dental personnel. Citations were searched using four comprehensive electronic databases for articles published between 2002 and 2015. All original articles that evaluated an association between the use of dental amalgam and occupational mercury exposure in dental personnel were included. Fifteen publications from nine different countries met the selection criteria. The design and quality of the studies showed significant variation, particularly in the choice of biomarkers as an indicator of mercury exposure. In several countries, dental personnel had higher mercury levels in biological fluids and tissues than in control groups; some work practices increased mercury exposure but the exposure levels remained below recommended guidelines. Dental personnel reported more health conditions, often involving the central nervous system, than the control groups. Clinical symptoms reported by dental professionals may be associated with low-level, long-term exposure to occupational mercury, but may also be due to the effects of aging, occupational overuse, and stress. It is important that dental personnel, researchers, and educators continue to encourage and monitor good work practices by dental professionals.