• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.598-606
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• 2009

Oxidative stress by free radicals is a major cause of neuronal cell death. Excitotoxicity in hypoxia/ischemia causes an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in dysfunction of the mitochondria and cell death. Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) is a traditional medicine for incipient stroke. We investigated the effects of PR Water-Extract on the modulation of ROS and MMP in a hypoxic model using cultured rat cortical cells. PR Water-Extract was added to the culture medium at various concentrations (0.25${\sim}$5, 5.0 ${\mu}g/ml$) on day in vitro 12(DIV12), given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hr), and cell viability was assessed on DIV15 by Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay (LDH assays). PR Water-Extract showed a statistically significant effect on neuroprotection (10${\sim}$15% increase in viability; p<0.01) at 1.0 and 2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$ in normoxia and hypoxia. Measurement of ROS production by $H_2DCF-DA$ stainings showed that PR Water-Extract efficiently reduced the number and intensity of ROS-producing neurons, especially at 1 hr post shock and DIV15. When MMP was measured by JC-1 stainings, PR Water-Extract efficiently maintained high-energy charged mitochondria. These results indicate that PR Water-Extract protects neurons in hypoxia by preventing ROS production and preserving the cellular energy level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1407-1414
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• 2011

This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${\alpha}$) strain on orotic acid (OA)-induced fatty liver in rats. OA treatment induced the retardation of body weight gain and enlargement of the liver. The activities of liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Alk. phosphatase and Cholinesterase were increased when treated with OA, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the CM${\alpha}$ group. The current study observed significant elevations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels. However, among the OA groups, the CM${\alpha}$ group showed significantly low TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate. The OA group resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, but these reductions were significantly increased in the CM${\alpha}$ group. These effects were more pronounced in the CM${\alpha}$ group than in the PJ or CM groups in Orotic acid treated rats. Accordingly, Cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${\alpha}$) may be an ideal candidate for hepatoprotective effects in animal models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.1256-1263
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• 2015

Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka has been traditionally called Yuza in Korea and is used as a cuisine material or tea as well as medicinal herb. In this study, we evaluated the immune-enhancing effect of Citrus junos ethanol extract (CJE) on RAW264.7 mouse macrophage and primary immunocytes. CJE treatment showed increased macrophage activity in a dose-dependant manner. CJE also enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity. We measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level as a measurement of NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cells. CJE treatment showed an increased LDH level in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we evaluated the effect of CJE on mouse primary splenocyte proliferation. CJE treatment slightly increased splenocyte proliferation compared to the control. The results of this study suggest that CJE can help immune function via macrophage cytokine production, increased NK cell activity, and splenocyte proliferation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.111-133
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• 1999

These studies were carried out to investigate the effect of Herbal-acupuncture with Inzinsammultang extract on the recovery from liver injury of rats. The liver injury of rats induced with 0.3ml/ea carbon tetrachloride. The Herbal-acupunture with Inzinsam multang extract solution inserted into corresponding focus of Kansu(BL18) in rats. In this study, SD-Rats(Sprague-Dawley) were divided into 4 groups ; Normal group (None treated group), Control-group(The group not treated after $CCI_4$-intoxication), Treated group; Example I-group(Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication) and Example II-group(Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication). Through histological observation, Example II-group sho-ws that liver injury is weaker than Control group.(p<0.05) Biochemical assays for each serum enzyme activities of AST, ALT and LDH, levels of albumin, ${\gamma}$-GT, TG, total cholesterol were performed. The results were summarized as follows 1. AST(Aspartate aminotransferase) activity in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication showed significantly higher AST activities, compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 2. ALT(Alanine aminotransferase) activity in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. The Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication showed significantly higher AST activities, compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication(p<0.05) 3. Level of Albumin in serum significantly increased in the Inzinsarnmultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication. 4. LDH(Lactate dehydrogenase) activities in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 5. ${\gamma}$-GT(Glutamyl transferase) in serum significantly decreased in the Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication(p<0.05) 6. As for the TG(Triglyceride) levels in serum, Inzinsammultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication is no significant differences compared with the Saline-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) 7. Total cholesterol in serum significantly increased in the Inzinsarnmultang-injected groups after $CCl_4$-intoxication.(p<0.05) Those results indicate that the Inzinsammultang Herbal-acupuncture have significant effects on the liver injury induced by $CCl_4$. So it is expected that the Inzinsammultang Herbal-acupuncture can be used to cure inflammations and recover the functions of damaged liver cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.514-522
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• 2004

Background : Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are useful in chemoprevention of colorectal cancers. Continuous NSAID administation causes 40% to 50% reduction in relative risk for colorectal cancer. Sulindac possesses an antiproliferative effect and induces apoptosis and tumor regression on colon cancer and other types of cancers. We intended to analyze the effects of sulindac in three non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods : The human lung cancer cell lines, A549, NCI-H157 and NCI-H460 were used for this study. Viability was tested by MTT assay, and cell death rate was measured by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Apoptosis was estimated by flow cytometric analysis and nuclear staining. Results: Sulindac was able to decrease the viability of non-small cell lung cancer cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. In a parallel effect of sulindac on cell death rate, LDH release was increased in sulindac-treated lung cancer cells. Sulindac significantly increased apoptosis characterized by an increase of $sub-G_0/G_1$ fraction and morphological change of nuclei. The rate of apoptotic cells after sulindac treatment in lung cancer cells increased in a time- and dose- dependent manner in flow cytometric analysis. Apoptotic cells were defined as nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation of cells. Conclusion : Sulindac decreases viability and induces the apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the potential mechanism of sulindac-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.4105-4105
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• 2001

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was employed to qualify and quantify on survival, the injury rate and apoptosis of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells. MCF-7 cells were cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% FCS in a 95% air and 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37$^{\circ}C$. For the viable cells preparation, cells were de-touched by 0.1% of trypsin treatment and washed with RPMI supplemented with 10% FCS medium by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 3min. For the dead cells preparation, cells were de-touched by a cell scraper. The cells were counted by a hemacytometer, and the viability was estimated by the exclusion method with frypan blue dye. Each viable and dead cells were suspended in PBS (phosphate bufferred saline) or milk at the cell density desired. For the quantitative determination of cell death by measuring the LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activity liberated from cells with cell membrane injuries, LDH-Cytotoxic Test Wako (Wako, Pure Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan) was used. We found that NIRS measurement of MCF-7 cells at the density range could evaluate and monitor the different characteristics of living cells and dead cells. The spectral analysis was performed in two wavelength ranges and with 1,4, 10 mm pathlength. Different spectral data pretreatment and chemometrics methods were used. We applied SIMCA classificator on spectral data of living and dead cells and obtained good accuracy when identifying each class. Bigger variation in the spectra of living cells with different concentrations was observed when compared to the same concentrations of dead cells. PLS was used to measure the number of cells in PBS. The best model for measurement of dead cells, as well as living cells, was developed when raw spectra in the 600-1098 nm region and 4 mm pathlength were used. Smoothing and second derivative spectral data pretreatment gave worst results. The analysis of PLS loading explained this result with the scatter effect found in the raw spectra and increased with the number of cells. Calibration for cell count in the 1100-2500 nm region showed to be very inaccurate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.807-815
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• 1996

The protective effect of'ischemic preconditioning'on ischemid-reperfusion injury of heart has been reported in various animal species. but without known mechAnism in detail, In An attempt to investigate the cardioprotective mechanism of ischemic preconditioning, we examined the effects of nitric oxide(UO) synthesis in preconditioned heart of rat The isolated hearts perfused by Langendorfr's method were ex- posed to 30min global ischemia followed by 30min reperfusion with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit(K-H) sol- ution. Ischemic preconditioning was performed with three episodes of Sm n ischemia and Smin repeyfusion before the induction of prolong ischemia(30min)-reperfusion(30min). Ischemic preconditioning prevented the depression of cardiac function(left ventricular pressure .K heart rate) observed in the ischemia- reperfusion hearts and reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase during the reperfusion period. On electromicroscopic pictures, myocardial ultrastructures wore relatively well preserved in isthemic preconditioned hearts. N6_nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) an inhibitor of L-arginine citric oxide pathway, was infused at a rate O.Smllmin In a dose of 10mg kg-1 before the initial ischemic preconditioning. neither the protection of cardiac function nor the reduction of LDH releAse in ischemic preconditioning hearts was altered in the presence of added L-NAME On ultrastructural finding, the preservation of morphology in ischemic preconditioning heart was not change by the pretreatment of L-UAME. The failure of the WO synthesis inhibitor to reduce t e effect of ischemic preconditioning may be related to be species specific in that NO may allot be the trigger for ischemic preconditioning in rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.8
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• pp.258-263
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• 2018

Purpose: Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is characterized by prolonged fever and radiological progression despite macrolide treatment. Few studies have examined serum procalcitonin (PCT) level in children with MPP. We aimed to investigate the association of acute inflammation markers including PCT with clinical parameters in children with MPP. Methods: A total of 147 children were recruited. The diagnosis of MPP relied on serial measurement of IgM antibody against mycoplasma and/or polymerase chain reaction. We evaluated the relationships between C-reactive protein (CRP), PCT, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and clinical severity of the disease. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio for prolonged fever (>3 days after admission) and hospital stay (> 6 days), comparing quintiles 2-5 of the PCT levels with the lowest quintile. Results: The serum PCT and CRP levels were higher in children with fever and hospital stay than in those with fever lasting ${\leq}3days$ after admission and hospital stay ${\leq}6days$. CRP level was higher in segmental/lobar pneumonia than in bronchopneumonia. The LDH level and WBC counts were higher in children with fever lasting for >3 days before compared to those with fever lasting for ${\leq}3days$. The highest quintile of PCT levels was associated with a significantly higher risk of prolonged fever and/or hospital stay than the lowest quintile. Conclusion: Serum PCT and CRP levels on admission day were associated with persistent fever and longer hospitalization in children with MPP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.397-410
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect of Injinsammul-tang (IJS) on hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats. Methods : Sprague Dawley (SD) rats of control and treatment groups received intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg/day diethylnitrosamine (DENA) weekly for 8 weeks. Experimental rats were classified into 3 groups; normal group (Nor), hepatic cancer induced control group (Con), and IJS extract 250 mg/kg administered group (IST) after being injected with DENA. Thereafter the changes of body weight, liver weight and weight of liver/100g body weight, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Gross anatomy and optical microscopy were also observed. Results : The body weight decreased in Con and IST compared with the Nor. The weight of liver and the weight of liver/100g body weight increased significantly in Con and IST compared with the Nor. The activities of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH increased in the Con compared with Nor, but decreased in IST compared with Con. The activities of SOD increased in the Con and IST compared with Nor. Upon naked eye and light microscopic examination, IJS improved the morphological and histopathological changes of liver caused by DENA-induced hepatic neoplasm. The number of hepatic p53 positive cells decreased in the IST compared with Con. Conclusions : Most of the results did not show a significant effect, but some of the results showed a significant effect. It can be estimated that IJS has some effects on hepatocellular carcinogenesis induced by DENA in rats, and further studies will be needed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.