• Nano
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1850146.1-1850146.9
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• 2018

The rapid development of smart textiles requires the large-scale fabrication of conductive fibers. In this study, we develop a simple, scalable and low-cost capillary-driven self-assembly method to prepare conductive fibers with uniform morphology, high conductivity and good mechanical strength. Fiber-shaped flexible and stretchable conductors are obtained by coating highly conductive and flexible silver nanowires (Ag NWs) on the surfaces of yarn and PDMS fibers through evaporation-induced flow and capillary-driven self-assembly, which is proven by the in situ optical microscopic observation. The density of Ag NWs and linear resistance of the conductive fibers could be regulated by tuning the assembly cycles. A linear resistance of $1.4{\Omega}/cm$ could be achieved for the Ag NWs-coated nylon, which increases only 8% after 200 bending cycle, demonstrating high flexibility and mechanical stability. The flexible and stretchable conductive fibers have great potential for the application in wearable devices.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.402-407
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• 2008

The synergistic antimicrobial effect of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Bifidobacterium extracellular factors against Clostridium difficile were measured using a turbidity method. Each broth supernatant of Bifidobacterium infantis ($68.8{\pm}0.02%$) and Bifidobacterium adolescentis ($33.2{\pm}0.2%$) obtained by adding ethyl acetate soluble fractionate from A. japonica Nakai ethanolic extracts (AJNEA, 100 ppm, no inhibition) showed high synergistic antimicrobial activity against C. difficile. In addition, the antimicrobial activity in a laboratory medium and yogurt products against C. difficile were evaluated. In yogurt prepared with a starter 5 (Lactobacillus acidophilus: Streptococcus thermophilus: B. adolescentis =1 : 1 : 1) and a starter 4 (L. acidophilus: S. thermophilus: B. infantis=1 : 1 : 1) and 0.5% AJNEA powder, high antimicrobial effects were recorded that measured 79.0 and 65.2%, respectively. The results indicated the potential of AJN extract for use as an antimicrobial agent. In addition, the efficiency of the antimicrobial activity of the extracts was further improved in combination with lactic acid bacteria, which suggests that they have the potential to be used as a highly effective antibiotic-tolerant microorganism prevention system. Such a strategy can be used for alternative drugs or functional food additives for treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.904-909
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• 2009

The beneficial effects derived from consuming natural antioxidants may not depend on the action of an individual antioxidant, but rather on the concerted action of several antioxidants naturally present. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations and combinations of antioxidants that can produce synergistic effects (SyEs). Quantification of the lipoperoxyl radical scavenging capacity of antioxidants was carried out in a homogeneous model system where the free radicals were produced by the oxidation of methyl linoleate, initiated by the 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile). The greatest SyE (2.21, p<0.05) was seen in mixtures of all 4 antioxidants when used with concentrations of 15 ${\mu}M$ lycopene, 2.5 ${\mu}M$ vitamin E, 0.16 ${\mu}M$ vitamin C, and 10 ${\mu}M$ ${\beta}-carotene$. Doubling the vitamin E concentration from 2.5 to 5.0 ${\mu}M$ in the mixture with all 4 antioxidant reduced the SyE to 1.69 (p<0.05). Other combinations produced synergistic effects that ranged from 1.28 to 1.41.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2019

Staphylococcus aureus is a representative pathogenic bacterium carefully controlled in the dairy industry because it causes bovine mastitis and thus, can enter the dairy chain. Furthermore, the emergence of multi-drug resistant S. aureus is a big problem. We previously isolated a Lactococcus lactis strain producing a bacteriocin that exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. In this study, we investigated the synergistic inhibition of S. aureus by the bacteriocin and a bacteriophage (SAP84) which is specific to the organism. The bacteriocin (12.5-100 AU/mL) inhibited the growth of S. aureus KCTC 3881 in a dose-dependent manner, as did the bacteriophage SAP84 (0.001-1 MOI; multiplicity of infection). Co-treatment with the bacteriocin (100 AU/mL) and the bacteriophage (0.1 MOI) significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus compared to each treatment alone (bacteriocin or bacteriophage), indicating the two components showed synergistic inhibition of S. aureus. Therefore, the bacteriocin and bacteriophage combination can be used as a good strategy for controlling pathogenic bacteria.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1999

In epistatic grouping of uvs genes in A. nidulans based on the sensitivities to 4-NQO, the same epistatic grouping was obtained as those for UV and MMS-sensitivities. Based on the MMS-sensitivities, uvsA demonstrated synergistic interactions to uvsF and uvsH, the UvsF group genes, but exhibited epistatic interactions to uvsB and uvsC. The same epistatic grouping was also seen for uvsI when UV was irradiated after 4h germination of conidia, showing synergistic interactions to uvsH, uvsC, and uvsB. However, epistatic interactions were observed with uvsF, which were different from those obtained in quiescent conidia by UV. Intergenic and intragenic recombination frequencies were normal in uvsI compared with wild type.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2022

Objectives : This study is to investigate whether Carthami flos exhibits a synergistic effect on the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin on human gastric cancer cells. Methods : We used AGS, a human gastric cancer cell line. To investigate the apoptotic efficacy of doxorubicin and Carthami flos, MTT and CCK-8 methods were used. To confirm apoptosis, cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential changes were confirmed. To investigate the mechanism of apoptosis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) experiment was performed. Results : 1. Doxorubicin or Carthami flos induced cell death in the human gastric cancer cell line AGS. 2. Carthami flos showed a synergistic effect of cell death by doxorubicin. 3. The cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential changes revealed that cell death was apoptosis. 4. Apoptosis was related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Conclusions : This result shows the anticancer synergistic effect of Carthami flos in gastric cancer cells, and is considered to be an important basis for the development of anticancer drugs for Carthami flos.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2000

The elongation of mesocotyl and coleoptile plays important roles in the seedling emergence and stand establishment of dry direct-seeded rice. Experiments were carried out to elucidate the effects of seed-presoaking treatments of GA$_3$ and some inorganic salts on the mesocotyl, and coleoptile elongation of rice. Seed-soaked GA$_3$ promoted the elongation of mesocotyl, but little effect on the coleoptile elongation. The stimulation effects of GA$_3$ were found to be enhanced by addition of CaCl$_2$ However, the sole treatment of CaCl$_2$ showed no stimulating effect on the mesocotyl and coleoptile elongation. Mesocotyl elongation was most prominent in the combined treatments of 50ppm GA$_3$ with 100 mM CaCl$_2$. The synergistic effects of GA$_3$ and CaCl$_2$ on mesocotyl elongation varied with varietal groups. The stimulating effects of GA$_3$ were enhanced significantly by the addition of CaCl$_2$ in japonica varieties, Dongjinbyeo, Ilpumbyeo and Milyang 95, and tall indica variety, Labelle, but not in semidwarf Tongil type varieties, Tongilbyeo, Milyang 23, and Nampungbyeo, and semi-dwarf indica, Short Labelle. The promoting effects of GA$_3$ on the mesocotyl elongation were decreased in proportion to the lowered osmotic potential by PEG 6000 on the contrary to CaCl$_2$ This implies that the synergistic effects of CaCl$_2$ with GA$_3$ on mesocotyl elongation was not caused by osmotic potential lowered by CaCl$_2$ addition but by the salt itself. Salts such as Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$, MgCl$_2$ BaCl$_2$, NaCl, KCl and KNO$_3$ showed the synergistic effects with GA$_3$ on mesocotyl elongation as well. The degree of synergistic effects showed no differences among salts tested, implying that there is no specificity of ions constituting the salts.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.259-265
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• 2015

In recent, there are increasing reports about pharmacological activities of Crataegi Fructus which has been used for many centuries as medicinal and food sources in East Asia. However, its antifungal efficacy needs to be investigated. Thus, in the current study, we determined synergistic antifungal activity of the Crataegi Fructus extract (CFE) when combined with fluconazole (FLC) against disseminated candidiasis due to Candida albicans. This fungus is one of the most problematic fungal pathogens. Data resulting from a microdilution susceptibility test showed that CFE had a dose-dependent antifungal activity. When the extract was combined with FLC, the activity was synergistic. For example, the antifungal activity by the combination of CFE at $20{\mu}g/ml$ plus FLC at $0.1{\mu}g/ml$ was 4 times more effective than antifungal activity by FLC alone at the same concentration (P<0.05). In the murine model of disseminated candidiasis, the combination therapy potentiated resistance of mice, resulting in 80% of C. albicans-infected animals surviving the entire period of 40 days observation, whereas mice given CFE alone or FLC alone all died with 17 and 23 days, respectively, although they survived longer than the untreated control animals (P<0.05). The CFE's antifungal activity seemed to be related to the blockage of hyphal production of C. albicans yeast cells. In summary, CFE has a synergistic antifungal activity, which can be produced by combining CFE with FLC. Thus, our data strongly indicate that CFE may be a potential candidate as an antifungal agent for combination therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1605-1612
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• 2006

Interleukin (IL)-18, a member of the family of IL-l cytokine, is one of the principal inducers of $interferon-{\gamma}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of IL-18 on the expression of chemokine IP-10 (CXCL-10) mRNA in mouse peritoneal macrophages. IL-18 had very weak direct effect or synergistic effect with IL-12 on the expression of IP-10 mRNA in C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages. However, IL-18 pretreatment was found to playa cooperative role in the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IP-10 mRNA. For the expression of LPS-induced IP-10 mRNA, the synergistic effect was detected after 16 h of IL-18 pretreatment prior to LPS stimulation. The expression level of CD14 in cells stimulated with LPS was not changed by IL-18 pretreatment, and the level of $IFN-{\gamma}$ production during IL-18 pretreatment plus LPS stimulation was barely discernible ($0.36{\pm}0.31pg/ml$). Namely, the synergistic effect of IL-18 pretreatment was not related to a change of LPS receptor, CD14 expression, and the production of $IFN-{\gamma}$ by the interaction between IL-18 and LPS. The synergistic effect of IL-18 pretreatment on the expression of LPS-induced IP-10 was related to not NF-kB but AP-1 activation, and associated with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, one of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. These results provide useful information that may elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effect of IL-18 on the expression of IP-10 mRNA.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.488-495
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• 2019

Background: Timosaponin AIII (TA3) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. TA3 attenuates migration and invasion of MG63 cells via regulations of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are involved with cancer metastasis in various cancer cells. TA3 reduced enzymatic activities and transcriptional expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MG63 cells. TA3 also inhibited Src, focal adhesion kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, ${\beta}-catenin$, and cAMP response element binding signaling, which regulate migration and invasion of cells. TA3 induced apoptosis of MG63 cells via regulations of caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Then, we tested several ginsenosides to be used in combination with TA3 for the synergistic anticancer effects. We found that ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc have synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Methods: We investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 and synergistic effects of various ginseng saponins on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. To test antimetastatic effects, we performed wound healing migration assay, Boyden chamber invasion assays, gelatin zymography assay, and Western blot analysis. Annexin V/PI staining apoptosis assay was performed to determine the apoptotic effect of TA3 and ginsenosides. Results: TA3 attenuated migration and invasion of MG63 cells and induced apoptosis of MG63 cells. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc showed the synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Conclusions: The results strongly suggest that the combination of TA3 and the two ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc may be a strong candidate for the effective antiosteosarcoma agent.