• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2015

Because Schwann cells perform the triple tasks of myelination, axon guidance and neurotrophin synthesis, they are candidates for cell transplantation that might cure some types of nervous-system degenerative diseases or injuries. However, Schwann cells are difficult to obtain. As another option, ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) can be easily harvested from the nasal respiratory mucosa. Whether fibrin, an important transplantation vehicle, can improve the differentiation of EMSCs into Schwann-like cells (SLCs) deserves further research. EMSCs were isolated from rat nasal respiratory mucosa and were purified using anti-CD133 magnetic cell sorting. The purified cells strongly expressed HNK-1, nestin, $p75^{NTR}$, S-100, and vimentin. Using nuclear staining, the MTT assay and Western blotting analysis of the expression of cell-cycle markers, the proliferation rate of EMSCs on a fibrin matrix was found to be significantly higher than that of cells grown on a plastic surface but insignificantly lower than that of cells grown on fibronectin. Additionally, the EMSCs grown on the fibrin matrix expressed myelination-related molecules, including myelin basic protein (MBP), 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and galactocerebrosides (GalCer), more strongly than did those grown on fibronectin or a plastic surface. Furthermore, the EMSCs grown on the fibrin matrix synthesized more neurotrophins compared with those grown on fibronectin or a plastic surface. The expression level of integrin in EMSCs grown on fibrin was similar to that of cells grown on fibronectin but was higher than that of cells grown on a plastic surface. These results demonstrated that fibrin not only promoted EMSC proliferation but also the differentiation of EMSCs into the SLCs. Our findings suggested that fibrin has great promise as a cell transplantation vehicle for the treatment of some types of nervous system diseases or injuries.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.426-436
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• 2006

Background : Particulate matters (PM) when inhaled is known to induce pulmonary diseases including asthma and chronic bronchitis when inhaled. Despite the epidemiological proofevidence, the pathogenesis of PM-related pulmonary diseases is unclearremain poorly understood. Methods : Primary alveolar macrophages were harvested from the SPF and inflammatory rats by bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL). The cultured primary alveolar macrophages were treated with the medium only, PM only ($5{\sim}40{\mu}g/cm^2$), LPS (5ng/ml) only, and PM with LPS for 24 and 48 hours. The level of secreted nitric oxide (NO) was assayed from the cultured medium by using the Griess reaction. The cultured cells were utilized for the western blotting against the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins. Immunocyto- chemical staining against the iNOS and NT-proteins were performed in cells that cultured in the $Lab-Tek^{(R)}$ chamber slide after treatments. Results : The PM that utilizein this experiments induced NO formation with iNOS expression in the cultured SPF and inflammatory rats alveolar macrophages, by itself. When the cells were co-treated with PM and LPS, there was a statistically significant synergistic effect on NO formation and iNOS expression over the LPS effect. The cells from the sham control showed minimal immunoreactivity for the NT-proteins. Significantly higher quantities of NT-proteins were detected in the PM and PM with LPS co-treated cells than from the sham control. Conclusion : Increased iNOS expression and NO formation with increased NT-proteins formation might be involved in the pathogenesis of PM-induced lung injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.666-673
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• 2003

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of the lung cancer. However, mechanism of action underlying the carcinogenesis in the lung still remains to be elucidated. The present study attempted to look into the carcinogenic potential of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) and the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in an immortalized human epithelial cell model. Material and Method: Immortalized human epithelial cells were exposed with NNK and examined for its carcinogenic potential as measured by saturation density, soft-agar colony formation, and cell aggregation assay. The specific isoform of PKCs involved in the cellular transformation was analysed through western blot with monoclonal antibody and measured separately in cytosolic fraction and membrane fraction. Result: Human epithelial cells exposed with NNK showed prominent carcinogenic potential in saturation density, soft agar colony formation, and cell aggregation assay. PKC isoform analysis results are as follows: PKC- $\alpha$ showed significant translocation of protein levels from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction, as analyzed by immunoblot. PKC- $\varepsilon$ showed a dose-dependent increase of translocation. PKC- λ was not affected by NNK treatment. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there was a certain specificity in the patterns of isoform induction following chemical carcinogen exposure. Thus, it is suggested that identification of specific isoform be a clue to find target molecules in the carcinogenesis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2021

Objectives : This study is to effect of improving muscle atrophy through water extract on the solid-phase fermentation extraction with Phellinus linteus of discarded Schisandra chinensis in an atorvastatin-induced atrophy C2C12 cell. Methods : C2C12 myoblast were differentiated into myotube by 2% horse serum medium for 6 days, and then treated solid-phase fermentation(S-P) extract at different concentrations for 24h. To investigate the effect of S-P extract on the induction of muscle atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes and apoptosis in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using a GSH, ROS, real-time PCR, western blots analysis. Results : As a result of treatment with atorvastatin at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 uM on the 6th day of differentiation in C2C12 myotube cells, it was confirmed that the cell morphology was damaged in a concentration-dependent manner, and the length and thickness of the myotube also decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with S-P extract (50, 100 and 200 ㎍/㎖) increased of GSH and inhibited ROS in the atorvastatin-induced muscle atrophy cell model at a concentration that did not induce toxicity. In addition, it was confirmed that it has an effect on muscle reduction by inhibiting apoptosis of muscle cells as well as being involved in protein production and degradation of muscle cells. Conclusions : Atorvastatin-induced atrophy C2C12 cell, S-P extract activates related to differentiation/generation and proteolysis, and inhibits cell death of atrophy in C2C12 cell. Based on this, it is necessary to prove its effectiveness through animal models and human application test, but it is considered to be discarded Schisandra chinensis can present the potential for development as a recycling industrial material.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.252-260
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• 2002

Introduction Urticaria is widely spread disease. About 15-20 $\%$ of population has experienced at least once in a life time. The etiology of urticaria is uncertain till now, and the affcting factors are various chemical material, physical factors, alcohol, fever, exercise, and hormone, etc. The symptoms of urticaria are small or large wheal-erythema reaction and itching or tingling sense. Cause there is no probe to detect the urticaria clearly, the treatment of urticaria is symptomatic. And mostly urticaria can be chronic and very hard to treat it fundamentally. Nowadays, many trials to treat the urticaria in oriental medical way show good curability. In this paper I'd like to report the treatment rate and degree of urticaria patients mostly using anti-histamine medication. Subjects From the outpatients who visited Korean Hospital of Kyunghee Kangnam during 2000-4 and 2002-1, the 36 chronic urticaria patients, at least more than 4 weeks from onset and 2weeks of treatment period, were chosen. Methods I evaluated the results of treatment with the following scale. Very Good: The all symptoms are clearly disappeared or one third of symptoms remain and sometimes eruption is appeared. Good: Half of the symptoms are improved but most of symptoms remain. No Change: No change appears before and after treatment. Worse: The degree and duration of eruption get worse than pre-treatment state. Results For Acupuncture treatment, I chose the several Acu points like Hapgok(합곡), Taichung(대충), Gokji(곡지), Yanggok(양곡), Yanggea(양계), and lmeup(족임읍), and usually lasted it 15 minutes. With the acupuncture treatment and herb medicine, 2-3 times a week, the patients whose treatment period was 2 to 4 weeks were 17(47.2$\%$), 4 to 8 weeks were 11(30.5$\%$), 8 to 12 weeks were 3(8.3$\%$), 12 to 16 weeks were 3(8.3$\%$), longer than 16 weeks were 2(5.5$\%$) Collecting the statistics of the frequency of prescripted herb medicine, Hyangsosan(향소산) was prescripted 21 times(58.3$\%$), Hyangsapyungwisan(향사평위산) was 15 times(41.6$\%$), Hwapisan(화피산) was 9 times(25$\%$), Yangwitang(양위탕) was 6 times(16.6$\%$), Bojungikkitang(보중익기탕가미) was 4 times(11.1$\%$), Yongdamsagantang (용담사간탕가미) was 4 times(11.1$\%$). The result of the treatments, evaluating with mentioned rate scale, was 11 cases(30.5$\%$) were Very Good degree, 19 cases(52.7$\%$) were Good , 6 cases(16.6$\%$) were No Change. No cases were Worse degree. Conclusion According to this research, we could say that chronic urticaria can be treated with Oriental medical methods. But more precise probes in both Oriental and Western medicine to diagnose the chronic urticaria should be established and we need to make standards for testing and diagnosing the chronic urticaria.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.126-139
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• 2014

In order to estimate the influence of sources on $PM_{2.5}$ in the industrial area of Japan, we carried out a source analysis using chemical component data of $PM_{2.5}$. $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected intermittently at an industrial area in Japan from July 2010 to November 2012. Water soluble ions ($Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $Na^+$,$NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$), elements (Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Pb), and carbonaceous species (OC, EC) of the $PM_{2.5}$ (a total of 198 samples) were analyzed. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was applied to the data of those chemical components to identify the source of $PM_{2.5}$. At this observation site, nine factors were extracted. The major contributors of $PM_{2.5}$ were secondary sulfate 1, in which loading factors of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ were large (percentage source contribution: 20.9%), traffic, in which loading factors of OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) were large (20.8%), secondary sulfate 2, in which loading factors of K and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ were large (8.0%), steel mills (7.8%), secondary chloride and nitrate (7.0%), soil (5.0%), heavy oil combustion (3.8%), sea salt (3.8%), and coal combustion (2.3%). The conditional probability function (CPF) and the potential source contribution function (PSCF) were carried out to examine the influence of a regional source and a broad-based source, respectively. CPF results supported local source influences such as steel mills, sea salt, traffic, coal combustion, and heavy oil combustion. PSCF results suggested that ships in the East China Sea, an industrial area of the east coastal region of China, and an active volcano in the Kyushu region of Japan were potential regional sources of secondary sulfate 1. Secondary sulfate 2 was affected by the burning of biomass fields and by coal combustion in Chinese urban areas such as Beijing, Hebei, and western Inner Mongolia. Source characterization using continuous data from one site showed a potential source representing fossil fuel combustion is affected both by regional and broad-based sources.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a potent carcinogen and is classified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. In mammalian testes, Sertoli cells support spermatogenesis. Therefore, if these cells are negatively affected by exposure to xenotoxic chemicals, spermatogenesis can be seriously disrupted. In this context, we evaluated whether mouse testicular TM4 Sertoli cells are susceptible to the induction of cytotoxicity-mediated cell death after exposure to B[a] P in vitro. In the present study, while B[a]P and B[a]P-7,8-diol were not able to induce cell death, exposure to BPDE resulted in cell death. BPDE-induced cell death is accompanied by the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7. Depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and cytochrome c release from mitochondria were observed in benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-treated cells. These results indicate that TM4 cells are susceptible to apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses showed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression was almost undetectable in TM4 cells and that its expression was not altered after B[a]P treatment. This indicates that TM4 cells are nearly AhR-deficient. In TM4 cells, the CYP1A1 protein and its activity were not present. From these results, it is clear that AhR may be a prerequisite for CYP1A1 expression in TM4 cells. Therefore, TM4 cells can be referred to as CYP1A1-deficient cells. Thus, TM4 Sertoli cells are believed to have a rigid and protective cellular machinery against genotoxic agents. In conclusion, it is suggested that tolerance to B[a]P cytotoxicity is associated with insufficient AhR and CYP1A1 expression in testicular Sertoli cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.451-456
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• 2015

Purpose: Neuronal apoptotic events induced by aging and hypoxic/ischemic conditions is an important risk factor in neurodegenerative diseases such as ischemia stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The peel of Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka has long been used as a traditional medicine, based on multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-obesity. In the current study, we examined the actions of fermented C. sunki peel extract against cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$)-mediated hypoxic death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion. Expression of apoptosis related proteins and release of cytochrome c were detected by western blot. Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic morphology were examined using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Results: Exposure to $CoCl_2$, a well-known mimetic agent of hypoxic/ischemic condition, resulted in neuronal cell death via caspase-3 dependent pathway. Extract of fermented C. sunki peel significantly rescued the $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal toxicity with the cell viability and appearance of apoptotic morphology. Cytoprotection with fermented C. sunki peel extract was associated with a decrease in activities of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, increase in the intracellular ROS and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol were inhibited by treatment with extract of fermented C. sunki peel. Conclusion: Based on these data, fermented C. sunki peel extract might have a protective effect against $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal injury partly through generation of ROS and effectors involved in mitochondrial mediated apoptosis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.spc1
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• pp.220-223
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• 2006

Mugwort, Artemisia princeps Pampanini, has been used as natural medicine traditionally in the far east countries including Korea. This study was performed with the object of provoding basic data an leaf quality improvement in mugwort. The 210 mugwort were collected in 48 locations from 2004 to 2006, leaves of 210 genotypes collected were analyzed for eupatilin, jaceosidin and sesamin content. The eupatilin content was averaged to 43.8mg (100 g leaves) and ranged from 0 to 228.0 mg. The average jaceosidin and sesamin contents were 12.8 mg and 3.58 mg and the ranges of those were 0 to 73.8 mg and 0 to 6.56 mg, respectively. The eupatilin content of mugwort harvested in the western region was higher compared with those harvested in the resemble altitude of the southern and eastern of Korea.