• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2015

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) is an annual aquatic plant. In the present study, we showed that the treatment of water chestnut extracted with boiling water resulted in a significant increase 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and decrease the intracellular $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, water chestnut extract (WCE) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production and suppressed mRNA and protein expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. The cytokine array results showed that WCE inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion. Also, WCE reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$- and interleukin-6-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activity. Furthermore, during sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation of human skin, WCE reduced SLS-induced skin erythema and improved barrier regeneration. These results indicate that WCE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory agent.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 1996

The TH cytokine responses of spleen cells stimulated with Con A from mice infected with Polasonimw westemcni were examined. The spleen cell culture supema- tants were assayed for TH1-specific $IFN-{\gamma}$ and TH2-specific IL-4. Cytokine responses for IL-4 peaked at three days ($410{\;}{\pm}{\;}60.9{\;}pg/ml$), persisted at a high level until the second week ($343{\;}{\pm}{\;}59.0{\;}pg/ml$), and then decreased slowly four and six weeks after infection. $IFN-{\gamma}$ production by splenocytes only increased during the first week ($151{\;}{\pm}{\;}32.3{\;}pg/ml$) and declined abruptly after the second week of infection. IFN- y production by splenocytes of infected mice was not observed during the sixth week of infection. In addition, serum IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured. Serum IL-4 was not detected in substantial quantity until four to six weeks after infection. The time course of serum IL-4 was not correlated with that of IL-4 production by splenocytes. Serum $IFN-{\gamma}$ was undetectable during the entire course of infection. These results suggest that TH2 cytokine responses, rather than TH1, predominate in mice infected with P. westemcni.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

Purpose: Electrical stimulation is one of several treatments recommended for RA patients. Electrical stimulation of RA patients, reduces pain, or facilitates joint motion prior to exercises. However, there is still limited evidence on the efficacy of electrical stimulation and thus any conclusions drawn about this method remain controversial. Recently, Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS) has received significant attention as a potential method of electrical stimulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of microcurrent treatment in rheumatoid arthritis rat. Methods: Subjects were allocated either to the control group or experimental group, which was subject to microcurrent stimulation. Interleukin-1 expression in the metatarsophlangeal joint and the oedema index in the ankle were used for classification and subsequent evaluation of pathology. Subjects were assessed at 1, 7 and 14 days after inducing rheumatoid arthritis through adjuvant injection. Thirty-six subjects, 18 in each group, were used in this study. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the differences between the two groups and between each interval assessment. Categorical variables were compared between the two groups with the paired-T test. The one-way ANOVA test was performed to assess changes in ordinal variables. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. The biological marker of pro-inflammatory cytokine and oedema index were decreased in response to this treatment. Conclusion: These data show that treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a microcurrent stimulation device reduced the oedema index and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.450-457
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• 2015

Medicinal mushrooms have been used worldwide to treat cancer and modulate the immune system. Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in isolating bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms and evaluating their health beneficial effects. Fomes fomentarius is used in traditional oriental medicine and is known to possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, and antitumor effects. In the present study, we isolated fomentariol from Fomes fomentarius and investigated its anti-inflammatory effect in murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) stimulated with lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol inhibited the production of nitric oxide and intracellular reactive oxygen species triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Interestingly, fomentariol differentially regulated cytokine production triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol effectively suppressed the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and interleukin-6 but not tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The inhibitory effect of fomentariol against nitric oxide, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6 production was possibly mediated by downregulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that fomentariol differentially modulated inflammatory responses triggered by lipopolysaccharides in macrophages and is one of the bioactive compounds that mediate the physiological effects of Fomes fomentarius.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.738-744
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of White Ginseng-Ejung-tang water extract (EJ) on production of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte-derived chemokine(KC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Levels of cytokines were measured by High-throughput multiplex bead array cytokine assay based on xMAP (multi-analyte profiling beads) technology. EJ significantly decreased levels of IL-2, IL-12p70, IL-5, MIP-2 for 24 h incubation at the concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). EJ significantly decreased levels of IL-6 at the concentrations of 50 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ (P < 0.05). EJ significantly decreased levels of IL-10 and VEGF at the concentrations of 25 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ (P < 0.05). EJ significantly decreased levels of KC at the concentrations of 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ (P < 0.05). EJ did not show any significant effect on TNF-${\alpha}$ and GM-CSF production. These results suggest that EJ has anti-inflammtory property related with its inhibition of IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, MIP-2, VEGF, and KC production in LPS-induced macrophages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.721-727
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• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.77-88
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• 2004

Objectives ; This study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of herbal acupuncture with distilled fresh ginseng. The herbal acupuncture was injected to Chung-wan($C.V_{12}$) and Wisu($BL_{21}$) of mice that were subjected to Sarcoma-180 adbominal cancer cell and A549 human epithelial lung cancer cells in vitro. Methods : Anti-cancer effects of distilled fresh ginseng herbal acupuncture were tested by measruing Cox, Bcl-2, and Bax by using RT-PCR in A549 human epithelial lung cancer cells in vitro. And four weeks old Balb/c line male mice weighing around $20\;{\pm}\;3g$ were used to measure survival rate and anti-cancer effect to outputs of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 using flow cytometry, possibility of mRNA menifestation using RT-PCR, and Cox mRNA. The results are as follows. Results : 1. In measuring mRNA menifestation in Cox, Bcl-2, and Bax by using RT-PCR in A549 human epithelial lung cancer cells in vitro, the result showed that fresh ginseng decreased Cox-2 which is directly involved in Inflammation process. 2. Survival rate was measured in an anti-cancer effect experiment against Sarcoma-180 abdorminal cancer. Median survival time of controlled group was 27 days, of experiment group I was 21 days, and of experiment group II was 27 days. Therefore, experiment group I showed -22.2% increase in survival rate and experiment group II showed no difference compare to controlled group. 3. There was no difference between condition group and controlled and experiment group in measuring outputs of interleukin-2 and interleukin 4 by using flow cytometry 4. In measuring outputs of interleukin-2 by using ELISA, there was no significant difference between condition group and controlled group and there was decrease in experiment group II compared to conditioned and controlled group. 5. In measuring cytokine mRNA menifestation by using RT-PCR, experiment group I showed increase of mRNA menifestation in interleukin-2,4 and $interferon-{\gamma}$ and experiment group II showed no significant difference in $interferon-{\gamma}$. Conclusion : According to the results, fresh ginseng herbal-acupuncture took a little effects in cancer. In using distilled fresh ginseng herbal acupuncture has effect on Cox-2 decrease. However, the difference in concentration of fresh ginseng showed no effect on killing cancer cell. It is assumed that inaccurate concentration of herbal acupuncture and fresh ginseng component could be the reason for this result. Therefore, future consideration will be studies on herbal acupuncture concentration.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.316-327
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• 1998

This study was designed to examine the tissue levels of interleukin-$1{\alpha}$(IL-$1{\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) in inflamed human dental pulps and periapical lesions, and to determine the relationship between each cytokine and pulpal and periapical pathosis. The pulps used in this experiment, were obtained in routine endodontic treatment and the periapical lesions in periapical surgery after clinical diagnoses were performed. These specimens were divided into four groups as normal pulp group(control group, n=9), acute pulpitis group(n=g), chronic pulpitis group(n= 10) and periapical lesion group(n= 18) and stored in liquid N2. For extract preparation, tissues were finely minced with a scalpel, and the fragments were incubated in $0.5m\ell$ homogenizing buffer (0.1 mol/L potassium chloride, 0.02 mol/L TRIS; pH=7.6) for two hours and grinded with glass homogenizer. Debris was removed by centrifugation and supernatants were immediately tested with enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, R&D Co., Minneapolis, USA). Following results were obtained; 1. The concentrations of IL-$1{\alpha}$ in all experimental groups were significantly higher than in control group(p<0.05). And the concentrations of IL-$1{\alpha}$ in periapical lesion group were somewhat higher than in two pulpitis groups, but the differences among those groups were not stastically significant (p>0.05). 2. The concentrations of IL-$1{\beta}$ in all experimental groups were significantly higher than in control group (p<0.05), and all the experimental groups expressed similar concentrations. 3. The concentrations of TNF-${\alpha}$ in all experimental groups were higher than in control group but only the differences between chronic pulpitis group and control group were statistically significant(p<0.05). And the concentrations of TNF-${\alpha}$ in acute and chronic pulpit is groups were higher than in periapical lesion group but only the differences between chronic pulpitis group and periapical lesion group were statistically significant (p<0.05). 4. There was significant correlation only between IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in periapical lesion group (p<0.05).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2004

Mercury is a widespread metal and consequently there are large populations that currently exposed to low levels of mercury. Endotoxin is a component of the gram-negative bacteria and promotes inflammatory responses. The present study was designed to determine the impact of mercury on lymphocytes phenotype populations and endotoxin-induced inflammatory cytokine expressions in immune organ, spleen and thymus. Male BALB/c mice were exposed continuously to 0, 0.3, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 ppm of mercuric chloride in drinking water for 14 days and at the end of the treatment period, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to euthanasia. The dose-range of mercury used did not cause hepatotoxicity. Mercury at 7.5 and 37.5 ppm dose-dependently decreased CD3$^{+}$ T lymphocytes in spleen; both CD4$^{+}$ and CD8$^{+}$ single positive lymphocyte populations were decreased. Exposure to 7.5 and 37.5 ppm of mercury decreased the CD8$^{+}$ T lymphocyte population in the thymus, whereas double positive CD4$^{+}$ / CD8$^{+}$ and CD4$^{+}$ thymocytes were not altered. Mercury altered LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine gene expressions such as, tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$, interferon ${\gamma}$, and interleukin-12 in spleen and thymus. Results indicated that decreases in T lymphocyte populations in immune organs and altered cytokine gene expression may contribute to the immune-modulative effects of inorganic mercury.ganic mercury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.84-95
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• 2003

Objective : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Kamisopunghwalhyeol-tang (Jiaweishujenghuoxie-tang; Kami-SPHHT) on the immunity responses of the Synoviocytes isolated from the patients on rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : Cells were stimulated by $Interleukin-1{\beta}$ and Tumor Necrosis $Factor-{\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of Kami-SPHHT, and then induced cytokine mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Results : Levels of $IL-1{\beta},{\;}IL-6,{\;}TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2, and NOS II mRNA expressions significantly decreased in Kami-SPHHT treated cells compared to non-treated control cells. Also, DNA-binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-l decreased in Kami- SPHHT treated hFLSs. Conclusion : These results suggest that Kami-SPHHT may be involved in anti-inflammatory reactions by inducing cytokine gene expression in synoviocytes, and further in vivo examination on its efficacy can provide potential application for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.