• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.229-234
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• 2002

Chlorella is rich in chlorella growth factor (CGF). A review of the literature has described that CGF improves the capability of a Th1-based immunity, anticancer, antioxidant antibacterial activity, growth promotion, wound healing and so on, but has not studied the effect for the metabolism and the proliferation of human skin keratinocyte. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of metabolism and the proliferation of human skin keratinocyte in vitro. CGF was extracted with an autoclaving method which is a modified hot-water extraction method from dried chlorella and conformed by means of absorbance 0.22 at 260 nm. We have measured the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) of the CGF by Cytosensor$^{\circledR}$ Microphysiometer and evaluated responsiveness depending upon the dosage on the HaCaT cell. The ECAR for the concentrations of 0.15, 1.5, 15, 150 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of CGF increased as a 103.6, 128.2, 149.0 and 423.9%, respectively compared to control (0.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 100% ECAR). The ECAR for ErbBl tyrosine kinase inhibited by 4-anilinoquinazolines, $C_{16}$H$_{14}$BrN$_3$O$_2$.HCl on tile HaCaT cells with the amounts of 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of the CCF compared with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of rhEGF. The conclusion of the study is that CGF might increase human epidermal keratinocyte proliferation through the interaction between the epidermal growth factor receptor and itself.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.758-763
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• 2011

Immunostimulatory CpG-DNA targeting TLR9 is one of the most extensively evaluated vaccine adjuvants. Previously, we found that a particular form of natural phosphodiester bond CpG-DNA (PO-ODN) encapsulated in a phosphatidyl-${\beta}$-oleoyl-${\gamma}$-palmitoyl ethanolamine (DOPE) : cholesterol hemisuccinate (CHEMS) (1 : 1 ratio) complex (Lipoplex(O)) is a potent adjuvant. Complexes containing peptide and Lipoplex(O) are extremely useful for B cell epitope screening and antibody production without carriers. Here, we showed that IL-12 production was increased in bone marrow derived dendritic cells in a CpG sequence-dependent manner when PO-ODN was encapsulated in Lipoplex(O), DOTAP or lipofectamine. However, the effects of Lipoplex(O) surpassed those of PO-ODN encapsulated in DOTAP or lipofectamine and also other various forms of liposome-encapsulated CpG-DNA in terms of potency for protein antigen-specific IgG production and Th1- associated IgG2a production. Therefore, Lipoplex(O) may have a unique potent immunoadjuvant activity which can be useful for various applications involving protein antigens as well as peptides.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2002

Learning and memory are essential requirements for every living organism in order to cope with environmental demands, and cholinergic systems are known to be involved in learning and memory. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and Gastrodia elata (GE) as a traditional Oriental medicine have been clinically used to treat or prevent memory deficits, including Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SB and GE on learning and memory in the Morris water maze task and the central cholinergic system of the rats with excitotoxic medial septum lesions. In the water maze test, the animals were trained to find a platform at a fixed position over 6 days and then received a 60-s probe trial in which the platform was removed from the pool on the 7th day. Ibotenic lesion of the medial septum (MS) impaired their performance in the maze test (latency of acquisition test on the 3rd day, $27.6{\pm}$4.4 sec vs. $61.7{\pm}17.7$ sec; retention test, $7.9{\pm}1.3%$ vs. $5.7{\pm}1.0%$: sharn vs. ibotenic lesioned groups, respectively) and reduced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) - immunoreactivity in the MS and the hippocarnpus, which is a marker for degeneration of the central cholinergic system (number of cells, $21.1{\pm}1.1$ vs. $13.2{\pm}1.3$: sham vs. ibotenic lesioned group). Daily administrations of SB (100mg/kg, p.o.) and GE (100mg/kg, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days produced significant reversals of ibotenic acid-induced deficit in learning and memory. These treatments also reduced the loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity in the MS and the hippocarnpus induced by ibotenic acid. These results demonstrated that SB and GE ameliorated learning and memory deficits through effects on the central nervous system, partly through effect on the acetylcholine system. Our studies suggest an evidence of SB and GE as treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2013

Different functions have been attributed to $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^+$ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) during malaria infection. Herein, we describe the disparity in Treg response and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA between young (3-week-old) and middle-aged (8-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Young mice were susceptible to cerebral malaria (CM), while the middle-aged mice were resistant to CM and succumbed to hyperparasitemia and severe anemia. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, in young CM-susceptible mice were markedly higher than in middle-aged CM-resistant mice. An increased absolute number of Tregs 3-5 days post-inoculation, co-occurring with elevated IL-10 levels, was observed in middle-aged CM-resistant mice but not in young CM-susceptible mice. Our findings suggest that Treg proliferation might be associated with the suppression of excessive pro-inflammatory Th1 response during early malaria infection, leading to resistance to CM in the middle-aged mice, possibly in an IL-10-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.266-270
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• 2013

The hydrogen storage properties of pure $MgH_2$ were studied and compared with those of pure Mg. At the first cycle, pure $MgH_2$ absorbed hydrogen very slowly at 573 K under 12 bar $H_2$. The activation of pure $MgH_2$ was completed after three hydriding-dehydriding cycles. At the $4^{th}$ cycle, the pure $MgH_2$ absorbed 1.55 wt% H for 5 min, 2.04 wt% H for 10 min, and 3.59 wt% H for 60 min, showing that the activated $MgH_2$ had a much higher initial hydriding rate and much larger $H_a$ (60 min), quantity of hydrogen absorbed for 60 min, than did activated pure Mg. The activated pure Mg, whose activation was completed after four hydriding-dehydriding cycles, absorbed 0.80 wt% H for 5 min, 1.25 wt% H for 10 min, and 2.34 wt% H for 60 min. The particle sizes of the $MgH_2$ were much smaller than those of the pure Mg before and after hydriding-dehydriding cycling. The pure Mg had larger hydrogen quantities absorbed at 573K under 12 bar $H_2$ for 60 min, $H_a$ (60 min), than did the pure $MgH_2$ from the number of cycles n = 1 to n = 3; however, the pure $MgH_2$ had larger $H_a$ (60 min) than did the pure Mg from n = 4 to n = 6.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2016

The goal of this study was to determine whether gypenosides (GPS) exert protective effects against dopaminergic neuronal cell death in a 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) with or without long-term 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) treatment. Rats were injected with 6-OHDA in the substantia nigra to induce PD-like symptoms; 14 days after injection, groups of 6-OHDA-lesioned animals were treated for 21 days with GPS (25 or 50 mg/kg) and/or L-DOPA (20 mg/kg). Dopaminergic neuronal cell death was assessed by counting tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive cells in the substantia nigra and measuring levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the striatum. Dopaminergic neuronal cell death induced by 6-OHDA lesions was ameliorated by GPS treatment (50 mg/kg). L-DOPA treatment exacerbated 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuronal cell death; however, these effects were partially reversed by GPS treatment (25 and 50 mg/kg). These results suggest that GPS treatment is protective against dopaminergic neuronal cell death in a 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD with long-term L-DOPA treatment. Therefore, GPS may be useful as a phytotherapeutic agent for the treatment of PD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.328-332
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• 2010

Acupuncture has been used for the treatment and prevention of stress-related disorders. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture on the behavioral and biochemical responses to restraint stress was evaluated in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent to immobilization stress for 21 days (6 hours/day). Electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 2 mA, and 10 minutes) was applied either to the acupuncture point HT7 (Shenmen) or the nonacupuncture point in the tail for the last 7 days. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: the normal group (n=10, without the restraint stress), the stress group (n=10, with restraint stress), the HT7 group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to HT7), and the NA group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to the nonacupuncture point). The anxiety-related behavior was tested using the elevated plus maze and the Vogel test on day 22. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus was measured by immunohistochemistry. R maze and the Vogecreased the response of the anxiety-related behavior. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells were also increased. The HT7 group showed a significant decrease of anxiety-related behavioral response, compared to the stress group. The tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive expression was also decreased in the HT7 group. These findings suggestthat electroacupuncture to HT7 might play a role in reducing the stress-related responses, which may be helpful for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 1997

In a 43-year-old Korean man who underwent radical gastrectomy due to a malignant stromal tumor, was found to have an enlarged Iymph node at transverse mesocolon. The Iymph node exhibited histologically necrotizing eosinophilic granuloma formed around a track containing sections of a nematode larva. The well preserved nematode sections revealed polymyarian muscle cells, Y-shaped lateral cord, a large excretory gland cell, intestine and eosinophilic cuticle. The nematode sections were identified as a larva of Anisnkis species In Korea, thIns is the first case of elrtragas trio into stinal anisakiasis.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1132-1137
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• 2009

Successive application of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DSM 70424 and Saccharomyces rouxii DSM 2535 or DSM 2531 in the production of non-alcoholic beer was investigated. The aim of the study was to consider the impact of the 2 mentioned strains of S. rouxii on the reduction of alcohol content in wort fermented at 12 or $24^{\circ}C$ for 96 hr, applying periodic aeration. The 2 S. rouxii strains were added at the $48^{th}$ hr of fermentation after thermal inactivation of S. cerevisiae cells. The greatest alcohol decrease rate was observed for the treatment containing S. rouxii DSM 2535-fermented at $24^{\circ}C$ (from 1.56 to 0.36%). The concentration of acetaldehyde, diacetyl, and 2,3-pentandione, that have a key role in appearance of 'wort' and 'buttery' off flavors, were significantly lower in S. rouxii-containing treatments fermented at $24^{\circ}C$. S. rouxii-containing treatment fermented at $24^{\circ}C$ showed slightly lower overall flavor acceptability compared to S. cerevisiae-containing treatment fermented at the same temperature. Such score was improved for the products obtained at $12^{\circ}C$.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2018

Flammulina velutipes is an edible mushroom and contains a lot of fiber, vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, niacin and folic acid. This study was conducted to explore the effects of the Flammulina velutipes mushroom on immune cells and immunity. Th1 cytokine productions as $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-2 were measured in an activated macrophage by Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and $1,000{\mu}g/mL$). Also, the splenocyte proliferation index was measured at 48 hours after treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations or mitogen, LPS and ConA. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions were increased by treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract. The $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was significantly higher in the $50{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ Flammulina velutipes water extract treated macrophages. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of macrophages treated with the Flammulina velutipes water extract increased significantly in all groups, and the highest $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The splenocyte proliferation index was enhanced when the $10{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ Flammulina velutipes water extracts were treated compared to the control. These primary results suggest that Flammulina velutipes may enhance the immune function by activation of the macrophage and spleen cell.