• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.147-160
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• 2011

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a natural phenolic constituent extensively used in dentistry as a component of zinc oxide eugenol cement and is applied to the mouth environment. Chios gum mastic (CGM) is a resinous exudate obtained from the stem and the main leaves of Pistacia lenticulus tree native to Mediterranean areas. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with a natural product, CGM and natural phenolic compound, eugenol on SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. To investigate whether the co-treatment with eugenol and CGM compared to each single treatment efficiently reduces the viability of SCC25 cells, MTT assay was conducted. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, TUNEL staining and DNA hypoploidy. Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining were performed to study the alterations of the expression level and the translocation of apoptosis-related proteins in co-treatment. In this study, co-treatment of with eugenol and CGM on SCC25 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, DNA fragmentation, the increase and decrease of Bax and Bcl-2, decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-6 caspase-7, caspase-9, PARP, Lamin A/C and DFF45 (ICAD) whereas each single treated SCC25 cells did not show or very slightly these patterns. Although the single treatment of 40 ${\mu}g$/ml CGM and 0.5 mM eugenol for 24 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment of these reagents prominently induced apoptosis. Therefore our data provide the possibility that combination therapy with CGM and eugenol could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 1980

The radioimmunoassay of TSH (human thyrotropin) was performed by utilizing anti-h-TSH antibody and purified human thyrotropin supplied from Daiichi Radioisotope company in Japan. From Jan. 1978 through Aug. 1980 the serum concentration of TSH was measured on 41 cases with various thyroid diseases, and 22 normal persons. Among 41 cases, 9(22%) were primary hypothyroidism, 17(41%) Graves' disease, 8(20%), subacute or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and 7(17%) nodular goiter. The results were as follows: 1) The normal values of serum TSH in 22 cases of control group were $4.2{\pm}1.7{\mu}U/ml(1.9-7.4{\mu}U/ml)$, which were within normal range in kit used in this study. 2) The serum TSH concentration in 9 cases with primary hypothroidism were $97.1{\pm}116.4{\mu}U/ml(14.0-300{\mu}U/ml)$, which were significantly elevated as compared with normal control values. 3) The serum TSH concentration in 17 cases with Graves' disease were $1.5{\pm}0.6{\mu}U/ml(1.0-2.5{\mu}U/ml)$, which were below than normal control. 4) The serum TSH concentration in 8 cases with subacute or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. revealed wide ranges ($1.6-220{\mu}U/ml$) according to the state of thyroid function. 5) The serum TSH values in 7 cases with nodular goiters were $2.3{\pm}2.0{\mu}U/ml$, which were strictly within normal levels. 6) The serum TSH levels were elevated during prolonged treatment with Tapazole (Methimazole) without serial check of the serum TSH concentration in Graves' disease, so the serial measurement of serum TSH concentration was considered of available index of thyroid states.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the inhibitory effects of Hwangheuk-san (HHS), a Korean multi-herb formula comprising four medicinal herbs, on cell migration and invasion, two critical cellular processes that are often deregulated during metastasis, using the human bladder cancer 5637 cell line.Methods: Cell viability, motility, and invasion were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazolyl)-2,5-diphnyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound healing migration, and Transwell assays, respectively. Gene expression was detected by Western blot analysis. In addition, the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the values for transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) were analyzed using a Gelatinase Activity Assay Kit and an Epithelial Tissue Voltohmmeter, respectively.Results: Our data indicated that within the concentration range that was not cytotoxic, HHS effectively inhibited the cell motility and invasiveness of 5637 cells. HHS markedly decreased the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which was associated with unregulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2. Further investigation revealed that phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT was decreased in HHS-treated 5637 cells, and a PI3K/AKT inhibitor synergistically reduced the inhibition of migration and invasion and also inactivated MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, HHS increased the tightening of tight junctions (TJs), which was demonstrated by an increase in the TER, and reduced the expression the levels of claudin family members (claudin-3 and -4), which are major components involved in the tightening of TJs.Conclusions: The present findings demonstrated that HHS attenuated the migration and invasion of bladder cancer 5637 cells by modulating the activity of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and also through TJ tightening.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2011

In Korea, groundwater is main water source in livestock farms. Most dairy and cattle farms have constructed their own wells for human drinking and livestock farming. However, these private residential wells have not been controlled by government and also there was scant study about livestock drinking water quality. Therefore this study was to monitor of the livestock farms' groundwater quality in Korea. Water samples were collected at 123 dairy and cattle farms and were analysed forty six substances with quality standard for drinking water approved by the Minister of Environment. Seventy eight (63.4%) of 123 samples failed to drinking water stand a test. The most frequent contaminants were nitrate-nitrogen and microbial. 22.8% (n=28) of samples showed nitrate-N concentration of higher than 10 mg/L meant that can't be used drinking water for human and the Nitrate-N concentration analysed in the range of 0.2 to 61.2 mg/L. All of 78 failed to drinking samples had microbial problems, especially 5.7% (n=7) of samples indicated water could be contaminated by feces. Other contaminants detected were zinc and evaporation residue. Especially detected zinc concentration (32 mg/L) was about ten times higher than standard of zinc (3 mg/L). Regression analysis indicated that groundwater pH did not influence to nitrate-N concentration but the hardness and chloride could affect to nitrate-N concentration in the groundwater. Most livestock farms were adjacent to crop farmland in Korea. This could cause contamination of groundwater with nitrate-N and pesticide that could accumulate livestock product. Moreover Heavy metal such as zinc and copper could be released from a corrosive plated water pipe in livestock farm. Put together, Korea livestock system is indoor, not pasture-based, hence livestock could be exposed to potential contaminated water consistently. Therefore on the basis of these data, appropriate livestock drinking water quality standards should be prepared to keep livestock healthy and their product safe. Further, livestock drinking water quality should be monitored continuously in suitable livestock drinking water standards.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.83-91
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• 2009

$\beta$-glucan is a fiber-type complex sugar (polysaccharide) derived from the cell wall of baker's yeast, oat and barley fiber, and many medicinal mushrooms, such as maitake. The primary uses of $\beta$-glucan are to enhance the immune system, to lower blood cholesterol levels and to treat tumor. $\beta$-glucan has no systemic toxicity in mice, therefore it needed clinical trail to prove efficacy and safety for human. The subjects total 56 healty volunteers were divided into two groups including taken $\beta$-glucan tablet group and placebo group. Subjects were taken two tablets per oral for 4 weeks. They had agreed to take part in this experiment, and didn't take any other clinical trail products. After 4 weeks blood of subjects were checked. The check list are TNF-$\alpha$, INF-$\gamma$, IL-2, IL-4, total WBC, differential WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, platelet, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HCT, Na, K, Ca, Cl, AST, ALT, ALP, $\gamma$-GTP, total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, albumin, uric acid, creatinine, BUN, pH, protein, glucose, ketone body, blood, bilirubin. We evaluated efficacy by cytokines that compare before and after taking. Collected data were analyzed as two sample t-test, chi-square test and ANOVA using SAS V.9.1.This study results are that in TNF-$\alpha$ of $1^{st}$ efficacy measurement item, all of two groups figure were increased significantly compare to before figure. In IL4 of $2^{nd}$ efficacy measurement item, experimental group figure were decreased significantly but placebo group figure were increased. The conclusions show that based on the above results, $\beta$-glucan has favorable effect to enhance immune system, especially IL4 results showed that it has effect to improve the allergic immune system.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

Since heavy metal pollution is a significant global environmental problem and very dangerous to human health, the improved methods for detecting heavy metals are required recently. Colorimetric chemosensors are now considered as one of the most effective analytical method used in the environment monitoring. New direct dyes having the function of colorimetric chemosensors were synthesized. When metal ions such as $Al^{3+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cd^{2+}$, $Cr^{3+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Fe^{3+}$, $Hg^{2+}$, $Li^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Ni^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ were added each solution of new direct dyes, the color of solution was changed and can be easily detected with naked eyes without expensive experimental equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma?mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The new benzidine analogues were diazotized and reacted with couplers such as H-acid, J-acid, Chromotropic acid, Nevill-winther acid and gamma acid to synthesize new direct dyes. The structures of the new direct dyes were confirmed by high resolution mass spectrometer (FAB ionization) and evaluated with UV-Vis spectroscopy. The UV-VIS spectroscopy was measured for the dye solutions by adding various concentrations of metal ions. It was observed that the absorbance in UV-Vis spectra was changed as the heavy metal ions were added.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.481-492
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• 2020

The present study aimed to examine the effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to investigate whether upregulation of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) associated with the activation of the PARK7 (DJ-1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) axis. Lung function indexes and histopathological changes in mice were assessed by lung function detection and H&E staining. The expression levels of Nrf2, MRP1, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and DJ-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Next, the expression of DJ-1 in human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells was silenced by siRNA, and the effect of DJ-1 expression level on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-stimulated protein degradation and AITC-induced protein expression was examined. The expression of DJ-1, Nrf2, HO-1, and MRP1 was significantly decreased in the wild type model group, while the expression of each protein was significantly increased after administration of AITC. Silencing the expression of DJ-1 in 16HBE cells accelerated CSE-induced protein degradation, and significantly attenuated the AITC-induced mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and MRP1. The present study describes a novel mechanism by which AITC induces MRP1 expression by protecting against CS/CSE-mediated DJ-1 protein degradation via activation of the DJ-1/Nrf2 axis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1746-1750
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• 2007

The second-order scattering (SOS) phenomenon of the interaction of Pd nanoparticles with protein was reported and a simple, sensitive, palladium nanoparticle-based assay for trace amount of protein with SOS technique was developed. The SOS intensities were significantly enhanced due to the interaction of Pd nanoparticles with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human serum albumin (HSA) at pH 3.5 or 4.0, respectively. The maximum SOS peak appeared at 260/520 nm (λex/λem). The optimal experiment conditions, affecting factors and the influence of some coexisting substances were checked. The SOS intensity increased proportionally with the increase of Pd concentration below 3.0 × 10?5 mol·L?1, while declined gradually above 4.0 × 10?5 mol·L?1. BSA within the range of 0.01-2.6 μg·mL?1 and HSA of 0.01-1.7 μg·mL?1 can be detected with this method and the detection limits were 2.3 and 11.2 ng·mL?1, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the quantitative detection of total protein content in human serum samples with the maximum relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 2.6% and the recoveries over the range of 99.5-100.5%.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2018

Background: For various reasons such as agricultural and economical purposes, land-use changes are rapidly increasing not only in Korea but also in the world, leading to shifts in the characteristics of local carbon cycle. Therefore, in order to understand the large-scale ecosystem carbon cycle, it is necessary first to understand vegetation on this local scale. As a result, it is essential to comprehend change of the carbon balance attributed by the land-use changes. In this study, we attempt to understand accumulated soil carbon (ASC) and soil respiration (Rs) related to carbon cycle in two ecosystems, artificially turned forest into pastureland from forest and a native deciduous temperate forest, resulted from different land-use in the same area. Results: Rs were shown typical seasonal changes in the alpine pastureland (AP) and temperate deciduous forest (TDF). The annual average Rs was $160.5mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ in the AP, but it was $405.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ in the TDF, indicating that the Rs in the AP was lower about 54% than that in the TDF. Also, ASC in the AP was $124.49Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$ from litter layer to 30-cm soil depth. The ASC was about $88.9Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, and it was 71.5% of that of the AP. The temperature factors in the AP was high about $4^{\circ}C$ on average compared to the TDF. In AP, it was observed high amount of sunlight entering near the soil surface which is related to high soil temperature is due to low canopy structure. This tendency is due to the smaller emission of organic carbon that is accumulated in the soil, which means a higher ASC in the AP compared to the TDF. Conclusions: The artificial transformation of natural ecosystems into different ecosystems is proceeding widely in the world as well as Korea. The change in land-use type is caused to make the different characteristics of carbon cycle and storage in same region. For evaluating and predicting the carbon cycle in the vegetation modified by the human activity, it is necessary to understand the carbon cycle and storage characteristics of natural ecosystems and converted ecosystems. In this study, we studied the characteristics of ecosystem carbon cycle using different forms in the same region. The land-use changes from a TDF to AP leads to changes in dominant vegetation. Removal of canopy increased light and temperature conditions and slightly decreased SMC during the growing season. Also, land-use change led to an increase of ASC and decrease of Rs in AP. In terms of ecosystem carbon sequestration, AP showed a greater amount of carbon stored in the soil due to sustained supply of above-ground liters and lower degradation rate (soil respiration) than TDF in the high mountains. This shows that TDF and AP do not have much difference in terms of storage and circulation of carbon because the amount of carbon in the forest biomass is stored in the soil in the AP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 2002

Fresh bamboo (Phyllostachys bambuoides sieb. et zucc.) was charred at the mechanical steel kiln and traditional earth kiln with subsequent condensation of its smoke to 10$0^{\circ}C$. It was settled down for 12 months to remove tar components and then the middle layer of the liquid was collected as a bamboo smoke distillates to analyze its chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics for use as food additives or processing aids. The gravity, transmittance, reflectivity, and viscosity were 1.008, 89.05%, 1.36%, and 12.48 cp in the bamboo smoke distillates processed by mechanical steel kiln (MBSD) and 1.012, 98.33%, 1.34% and 9.05 cp in the bamboo smoke distillates by traditional earth kiln (TBSD), respectively. The color of TSBD was brighter than that of MBSD. The pH and titratable acidity, tar and remains were 3.55 and 2.830%, 2.803% and 0.671%, respectively, in the MBSD and 2.93 and 3.470%, 0.051% and 0.004%, respectively, in the TBSD. The major phenolic compounds of bamboo smoke distillates (BSD) were phenol, Ο-cresol, p-cresol, and guaiacol and the major organic acids were acetic acid, propionic acid, iso-butyric acid, and n-butyric acid, and major alcohols were methanol, furfuryl alcohol, and maltol. The contents of phenolic compound and alcohol were more in MBSD than in TBSD whereas the content of organic acid was more in TBSD than in MBSD. Therefore, toxic compounds for the human body, such as methanol from BSD should be removed for use as a food ingredient in the future.