• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2001

The alkaline comet assay, employing a single-cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE), is a rapid, simple and sensitive technique for visualizing and measuring DNA damage leading to strand breakage in individual mammalian cells. The protecting effect of pretreatment with vitamin C and cysteine on the DNA damage of gamma ray was investigated in mice splenic lymphocytes. Vitamin C and cysteine were administered orally for five consecutive days before irradiation. Four week old ICR male mice were irradiated wish 3.5Gy of γ-radiation and were sacrificed 3 days later. Spleens were taken for DNA damage examination by Comet assay and the tail moments of DNA single -strand breaks in tole splenic lymphocytes were evaluated. The results show that pretreatment with vitamin C and cysteine were effective in protecting against DNA damage by gamma ray. Administration of antioxidants like vitamin C and cysteine to mice before irradiation was effective in reducing the tail moment of splenic lymphocytes DNA.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2019

Background: Preterm labor and miscarriage may occur in stressful situations, such as a surgical operation or infection during pregnancy. Pharyngeal and buccal abscess and facial bone fractures are inevitable dental surgeries in pregnant patients. Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic that is commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Nonetheless, no study has investigated the effects of remifentanil on amniotic epithelial cells. This study evaluated the effects of remifentanil on the factors related to uterine contraction and its mechanism of action on amniotic epithelial cells. Methods: Amniotic epithelial cells were preconditioned at various concentrations of remifentanil for 1 h, followed by 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. MTT assays were performed to assess the cell viability in each group. The effects of remifentanil on factors related to uterine contractions in amniotic epithelial cells were assessed using a nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot examinations of the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), and RT-PCR examinations of the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Remifentanil did not affect viability and nitric oxide production of amniotic epithelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that remifentanil preconditioning resulted in decreased expressions of NF-κB and PGE2 in the cells in LPS-induced inflammation, and a tendency of decreased COX2 expression. The results were statistically significant only at high concentration. RT-PCR revealed reduced expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusions: Preconditioning with remifentanil does not affect the viability of amniotic epithelial cells but reduces the expression of factors related to uterine contractions in situations where cell inflammation is induced by LPS, which is an important inducer of preterm labor. These findings provide evidence that remifentanil may inhibit preterm labor in clinical settings.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.37-50
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-caner effect of Bee Venom and Melittin on the prostatic cancer cell(PC-3). The goal of study is to ascertain whether Bee Venom and Melittin inhibits the cell growth and cell cycle of PC-3, or the expression of relative genes and whether the regression of PC-3 cell growth is due to cell death or the expression of gene related to apoptosis. Methods : After the treatment of Pc-3 cells with Bee Venom and Melittin, we performed Fluorescence microscope, MTT assay, Western blotting, Flow cytometry, PAGE electrophoresis and Surface plasmon resonance analysis to identify the cell viability, apoptosis and gene related to apoptosis. Results : 1. Compared with Control cell, the inhibition of cell growth reduced in proportion with the dose of Bee Venom or Melittin($0{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$) in PC-3. 2. In PC-3, Cell viabilities of Bee Venom or Melittin treatment was decreased significantly. 3. The nucli of Control cells were stained round and homogenous in DAPI staining, but those of PC-3 were stained condense and splitted. 4. In PC-3, apoptosis of Bee Venom or Melittin treatment was increased significantly. 5. Bax, Caspase-3 and P ARP of Bee Venom or Melittin treatment was increased significantly and Bcl-2 of Bee Venom or Melittin treatment was decreased significantly. Caspase-9 of Bee venom treatment was increased significantly. Conclusion : These results indicate that Bee Venom and Melittin inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells, has anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis. We wish that the anti-cancer effects of Bee Venom and Melittin are used to clinical caner treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2017

Viruses continue to evolve a new strategy to take advantage of every aspect of host cells in order to maximize their survival. Due to their central roles in transducing a variety of transmembrane signals, GPCRs seem to be a prime target for viruses to pirate for their own use. Incorporation of GPCR functionality into the genome of herpesviruses has been demonstrated to be essential for pathogenesis of many herpesviruses-induced diseases. Here, we introduce US28 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as the best-studied example of virally-encoded GPCRs to manipulate host GPCR signaling. In this review, we wish to summarize a number of US28-related topics including its regulation of host signaling pathways, its constitutive internalization, its structural and functional analysis, its roles in HCMV biology and pathogenesis, its proliferative activities and role in oncogenesis, and pharmacological modulation of its biological activities. This review will aid in our understanding of how pathogenic viruses usurp the host GPCR signaling for successful viral infection. This kind of knowledge will enable us to build a better strategy to control viral infection by normalizing the virally-dysregulated host GPCR signaling.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1985

A rapid assay for interferon based on reduction of cytopathic effect was developed with HEp-2 and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. The number of manipulations and the lengths of the various incubation steps were reduced to minimum. The assay is simple to perform and can be completed with 22-24 hr. Moreover, it was precise method than CPE-reading method.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1033-1041
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• 2020

Many people of all ages wish to have lighter skin for cosmetic reasons, and natural products attract more attention than chemically synthesized compounds. Uncaria rhynchophylla is widely used in Asia as a traditional herbal medicine. In order to find novel skin whitening agents, the present study evaluated the antioxidant activity and potential tyrosinase-inhibiting properties of U. rhynchophylla. Specifically, this study analyzed the antioxidant capacity of a 70% ethanolic extract of U. rhynchophylla as well as its effects on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. Total mRNA levels were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that U. rhynchophylla extracts exhibit great antioxidant capacity and significant levels of polyphenol and flavonoid compounds. U. rhynchophylla extracts can also powerfully inhibit tyrosinase activity. This same capacity was observed in melanoma B16F10 cells; that is, U. rhynchophylla extracts suppressed intracellular tyrosinase activity and reduced the amount of melanin in treated cells. In addition, a 1 mg/ml concentration of U. rhynchophylla extract significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of tyrosinase. U. rhynchophylla extracts decrease tyrosinase and inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. This finding suggests that U. rhynchophylla has great potential as a natural whitening agent in skincare products.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.498-500
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• 2011

Purpose: Neurilemoma is benign tumor of the nerve sheath which arises from Schwann cells. It is usually formed along the path of a peripheral nerve but is rarely separate from normal nerve fascicles. We experienced a patient with an isolated neurilemoma localized in the palmaris longus tendon with no connection to the major nerve trunk, which was in an unusual location and has never been reported. We report our case with the review of the literature. Methods: A 23-year-old female visited our clinic with mild pain on the mass at the flexor area of the right wrist which had been present for about one year. The physical examination revealed a $1{\times}1cm$ sized subcutaneous mass at the flexor area of the right wrist. Sonography and computed tomography showed an ovoid, superficial solid mass on the palmaris longus tendon. Upon surgical excision, a $1{\times}0.5cm$ sized mass attached to the palmaris longus tendon was found. The tumor had no connection with the median nerve and was detached easily from the palmaris longus tendon. Results: Histological examination demonstrated the mass to be a neurilemoma, which consists of spindle shaped cells with oval elongated nuclei arranged fascicles. No sensory dysfunction or evidence of recurrence was found during the 12 months of postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: We experienced a rare case of neurilemoma attached to the palmaris longus tendon with no connection to the major nerve trunk. We wish to emphasize its unusual location through our case and hope to expand our spectrum in exploring the upper extremity mass.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.945-953
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• 2017

We report the biological functions of a zebrafish homologue of RING-finger protein 152 (rnf152) during embryogenesis. rnf152 was initially identified as a brain-enriched E3 ligase involved in early embryogenesis of zebrafish. Expression of rnf152 was ubiquitous in the brain at 24 hpf but restricted to the eyes, midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), and rhombomeres at 48 hpf. Knockdown of rnf152 in zebrafish embryos caused defects in the eyes, MHB, and rhombomeres (r1-7) at 24 hpf. These defects in rnf152-deficient embryos were analyzed by whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) using neuroD, deltaD, notch1a, and notch3 probes. NeuroD expression was abolished in the marginal zone, outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the eyes at 27 hpf. Furthermore, deltaD and notch1a expression was remarkably reduced in the ONL, INL, subpallium, tectum, cerebellum, and rhombomeres (r1-7) at 24 hpf, whereas notch3 expression was reduced in the tectum, cerebellum, and rhombomeres at 24 hpf. Finally, we confirmed that expression of Notch target genes, her4 and ascl1a, also decreased significantly in these areas at 24 hpf. Thus, we propose that Rnf152 is essential for development of the eyes, midbrain and hindbrain, and that Delta-Notch signaling is involved.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.439-449
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• 1998

Anal Therapy is another way of taking medicine. It is a traditional pathway but not available in common situation. Nevertheless, It has many benifect and usefulness, it has not treated so much. Through Anal Therapy, the valid compound of Herb med can be reach to the desination in theory of the organism and loca1 medical action. The former is called Jung-Chei Theory(整體論), which is the one of the most important basements in building traditional Korean medicine. As there are many kinds of Anal therapy, this study use reservation type. Sosihotang(SSHT) is one of the well-known korean medicines for a long time. It is used for the treatment of such dieases as infectious diseases, hepatic diseases and gastroenteritis and so on. In this study, the author investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of SSHT by Anal therapy(Reservative Enema) in anaphylactic shock. The following results were obtained 1. SSHT inhibited anaphylactic shock 100% with a dose of 1.0 g/kg 1 hr before intraperitoneal injection of compound 48/80. SSHT significantly reduced serum histamine contents induced by compound 48/80. 2. SSHT (0.1 g/kg) also inhibited to 30.9% (P<0.05)) local cutaneous anaphylactic reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE. 3. The validity rate of reservative enema is as much as oral pathway. 4. In addition, SSHT dose-dependently inhibited the histamine release from the peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. These results provide evidence that Anal Therapy(Reservative enema) of SSHT may be beneficial in the treatment of systemic and local anaphylactic reaction. Moreover, I wish another much sincere study of Anal Therapy (Reservative enema) would be obtained.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.585-591
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• 2021

Objective : Filum transection is one of the most commonly performed operative procedure in pediatric neurosurgery. However, the clinical and pathological features as well as the surgical indication are not well-established. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of patients who underwent transection of the filum during the last 10 years in a single institute. Methods : A total of 82 patients underwent transection of the filum during the period. As a general rule, we performed the transection in patients who are symptomatic or have abnormality in the urologic or neuromuscular evaluations. There were exceptions as asymptomatic patients who only fit the definition of thickened filum (width greater than 2.0 mm or conus level below L3 vertebral body) were operated by parent's wish or surgeon's preference according to radiological findings, etc. Results : Seventy-six out of 82 patients had fibrous tissue in the pathologic specimen of filum. Interestingly, patients who had glial cells were more correlated with no preoperative syrinx, and no progression of syrinx even for those who did have syrinx initially. Also, larger percentage of symptomatic patients had peripheral nerve twigs than asymptomatic patients. No difference in conus level or thickness of filum was found between patients with or without preoperative syrinx. Significantly more patients with syrinx (56%) were chosen to be operated without any symptom or abnormality in study i.e., solely based on radiological findings than those without syrinx (21%). The surgical outcome for syrinx was favorable, as all but one patient had either improved or static syrinx. The exceptional case had increase in size due to the upward displacement of the proximal end of the cut filum. Conclusion : This study evaluated the pathological, clinical, radiological features of patients who underwent transection of the filum. Interesting correlations between pathological findings and clinical features were found. Excellent outcome regarding preoperative syrinx was also shown.