• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.61-74
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Asthma-depression and Immunoregulation with PR-HAS(Herbal-acupuncture with Platycodi Radix infusion solution) injection at Joksamni(St36) on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks(once a week). The experimental group(OVA-PR-HA) wase treated with concentrations(1%) of PR-HAS at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). The second experimental group(OVA-Needle prick) was treated with Needle-Prick at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The weight and total cells in the mice lung treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased remarkably compared with those of control group. 3. The sticking of collagen on histological analysis of lung sections, the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 5. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 6. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 7. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5,IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. Conclusion : The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. These result suggests that Platycodi Radix Herbal-acupuncture at Joksamni(St36) in C57BL/6mice may be an effictive part to OVA-induced asthma in C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

It has been reported that various anti-oxidant substances stimulate non-specific immune responses in fishes. In this study it was examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) precursor, can modulate non-specific immune parameters in 8 different fishes. NAC was intraperitoneally administered at 10 mg/kg to catfish (Silurus asotus), loach (Misgurnus mizolepis), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), crucian carp (Carassius carassius), eel (Anguilla japonica), snakehead (Channa argus), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and mullet (Mugil cephalus). Forty-eight hours later, chemiluminescence (CL) response of head-kidney leukocytes and serum lysozyme activity were assessed. In all fishes except crusian carp and loach, CL responses were amplified by NAC. Lysozyme activity was increased by NAC in all fish species but not in tilapia. This result suggests that NAC stimulates non-specific immune responses in various species, and that such effects may have beneficial significance in aquaculture for practical utilization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

Objectives: Endotoxins in dust generated in occupational settings is known to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory illness among workers. The relationship between the level of endotoxins in total dust or respirable particulates collected from swine farms and immunological markers related with respiratory allergy was evaluated among swine husbandry workers. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from ten workers at ten swine farms at Gyeonggi province, Korea. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for 48 hours. The levels of various cytokines produced at culture supernatants were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. The concentration of particulate matter($PM_{10}$) in the indoor air of the swine farms was evaluated using a PVC membrane filter and mini volume air sampler, and endotoxin levels in the dust were measured by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic QCL method. Results: Levels of endotoxins in the total dust were categorized into high(geometric mean: $109.35EU/m^3$) and low concentrations (geometric mean: $0.95EU/m^3$) for five swine farms. Interleukin-4 levels were higher in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group, while interferon-${\gamma}$ levels were lower in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. The ratio (interferon-${\gamma}$ to interleukin-4), indicating immunologic skewedness against allergic reactivities, was lower in the high endotoxin group($1.15{\pm}0.60$) than the low endotoxin group($3.09{\pm}2.38$). In addition, the level of interleukin-13, another cytokine contributing to the occurrence of allergic responses, was significantly higher in the at the high endotoxin group($1.12{\pm}0.37ng/m{\ell}$) than in the low endotoxin group($0.37{\pm}0.04ng/m{\ell}$). Hematologic assessment showed significantly lower cellularity in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. Conclusions: Even though a sufficient number of swine workers and farms were not investigated, this study generlly suggests that the immunological function of swine farm workers exposed to high levels of endotoxin could be modulated toward allergic reactivities.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2006

Background : Recently, so many people are suffered from the allergic or auto-immune disease, and the representative disease is just Allergic Asthma. It is because human immune function has been decreased. Many treatments were done to treat this disease, and many methods were studied to increase immune function and to suppress the asthma. But, the effect of asthma-suppression and improvement of immune response of EH-HA(Ephedrae Herba Herbal Acupuncture) has not been studied in detail. To study the effects of EH-HA, we injected EH-HA at Joksamni(ST36) of C57BL/6 mice. Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of asthma-suppression and improvement of immune response of EH-HA(Ephedrae Herba Herbal Acupuncture). EH-HA was done at Joksamni(ST36) of the mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks. Two experimental groups were treated with different concentrations(1%, 0.1%) of EH-HA at Joksamni(ST36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The lung weight of the group treated with EH-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. The total cells in lung, total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the group treated with EH-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 3. Eosinophils in BALF of the group treated with EH-HA in photomicrographs decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentrations of IL-13, IgE, IL-4 in serum and IL-4 in BALF of the group treated with EH-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 5. The numbers of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;cells,\;CD3e^-/CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells,\;CD8^+\;cells,\;CD3e^+/CD69^+\;cells\;and\;IgE^+/B220^+\;cells$ in lung of the group treated with EH-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 6. In RT-PCR, the mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in the group treated with EH-HA decreased compared with those of control group. Conclusion : These results suggested that EH-HA at Joksamni(ST36) in C57BL/6mice may be effective to OVA-induced asthma of C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.635-647
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• 1995

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN) constitute a first line of defense against all forms of injury and microbial challenge, which share a common cell lineage with macrophage. Microbial component LPS activates macrophages to produce IL-1, MIP-1${\alpha}$, -1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, etc. Those cytokines have autocrine function to the macrophages, and paracrine function to other cell such as PMN and affect them to produce some biological functions. Having a responsive homogeneous cell line, HL-60, offers us the possibility of studying extensively on the function of PMN, which were not possible previously with peripheral PMN, due to the short-lived nature and difficulty of getting a purified PMN. In the present study, I performed MIP-1 receptor binding assay using HL-60 cell and human peripheral PMN. Also, in vitro antimicrobial assay was performed using differentiated or undifferentiated HL-60 cell. Differentiation was induced by treatment with 500 M of $N^6,O^2-dibutyryl$ adenosine 3'5' cyclic monophosphate(dbcAMP) (PMN-like cell), or 20ng/ml of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(TPA) (macrophage/monocyte-like cell). Receptors for MIP-1${\alpha}$ were identified on dbcAMP-treated HL-60 as well as peripheral PMN. However, bound radioactive MIP-1${\alpha}$ on differentiated HL-60 was much higher than that of peripheral PMN, which suggest receptor number of differentiated HL-60 cell is higher than that of peripheral PMN. Although both of TPA and dbcAMP treatment significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell, dbcAMP-treated cell(PMN-like HL-60) killed S.aureus more effectively in this experiment. TPA or dbcAMP treatment significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of undifferentiated HL-60 cell. MIP-1${\alpha}$ further increased enhancing effect of TPA or dbcAMP. IL-1${\alpha}$, however, increased only dbcAMP-induced enhancing effect of antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell. These results suggest that differentiated HL-60 cell could replace peripheral PMN in analysis of various biological functions of cytokines on PMN cell.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1628-1632
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• 2007

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activities and antigenotoxic effect of Rhododendron mucromulatum Turcz. flowers (RMF). The samples were prepared by extracting RMF with four different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water), and antioxidant properties were evaluated by determining total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), and reducing power (RP). Water extract showed the highest total phenol content (328.1 mg/g gallic acid equivalents). Acetone extract showed the most potent RSA and RP. The $IC_{50}$ for RSA and RP in the acetone extract were 78 mg/mL and 454 mg/mL, respectively. The 200 mM $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage, measured by Comet assay, was inhibited with water, methanol and acetone extract in dose dependent manner in human leukocytes. The inhibition rates were 42, 62, and 52% at the concentrations of 50 mg/mL of water, methanol and acetone extracts, respectively. These results suggest that R. mucromulatum Turcz. has significant antioxidative activity and protective effect against oxidative DNA damage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1458-1467
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• 2010

The present study was retrospectively designed to define whether preoperative levels of leukocytes and D-dimer are potentially useful factors in predicting perioperative outcomes of coronary heart disease (CHD). There was no relationship between preoperative leukocyte counts (Pre-OP leukocyte) and preoperative D-dimer levels (Pre-OP D-dimer). Pre-OP leukocyte counts each had positive correlation with cardiac troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB or C-reactive protein (cardiac markers) levels at preoperative and postoperative periods. Pre-OP D-dimer levels were positively associated with each cardiac marker at the same periods. Pre-OP leukocyte counts positively related with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (liver markers), whereas Pre-OP D-dimer level positively or negatively correlated with bilirubin (liver marker), creatinine (renal marker) or glucose levels at preoperative and/or postoperative periods. Pre-OP leukocyte and Pre-OP D-dimer were inversely associated with Pre-OP high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels or left ventricular ejection fraction. Pre-OP leukocyte counts each had positive correlation operation duration and postoperative mechanical ventilation-time (PMVT), whereas Pre-OP D-dimer levels had positive relationship with PMVT, intensive care unit-staying period and hospitalization. The retrospective data suggest that Pre-OP leukocyte and Pre-OP D-dimer levels may be clinically useful factors for predicting perioperative outcomes in patients with CHD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1290-1298
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• 2008

Tricholoma matsutake, one of edible and medicinal mushroom belonging to Tricholomaceae of Agaricales, has been known to contain some curing effect on gastric cancer and ulcer, and inhibitory effect on sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich sarcoma. Neutral salt soluble (0.9% NaCl), hot water soluble and methanol soluble substances (hereinafter referred to Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH, respectively) were extracted from fruiting body of the mushroom. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines such as Sarcoma 180, HepG2, HT29 and NIH3T3 at the concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides showed life prolongation effect of 23.4$\sim$37.2% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Fr. MeOH and Fr. HW exhibited the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocyte by increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity by 2.2$\sim$11.9 folds compared with control at the concentration of 0.2$\sim$0.5 mg/ml. In case of Fr. NaCl, the numbers of peritoneal exudate cells and circulating leukocytes were increased by 6.0 and 1.5 folds at the concentration of 50 mg/kg, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that crude polysaccharides extracted from fruiting body of Tricholoma matsutake showed antitumor and immuno-potentiating activity against Sarcoma 180 of mouse.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1444-1450
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• 2009

The number of patients with immune- mediated dermatitis such as contact dermatitis is increasing year by year. Allergic contact dermatitis is a complex phenomenon that involves resident epidermal cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, as well as invading leukocytes that interact with each other under the control of a network of cytokines and lipid mediators. It is a cell-mediated immune reaction, which occurs after susceptible individuals are exposed to sensitizing chemicals, and characteristic eczematous reaction is seen at the point of contact with an allergen. In this study, we investigated the allergy prevention effects of quercetin on mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation in BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice were sensitized with 40 ${\mu}l$ of 1.5% picryl choloride (PCL) to the left and right ear each. Total serum IgE levels and histamine levels were measured by the sandwich ELISA method using mouse IgE, histamine measuring kit. For histopathological examination, paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) or toluidine blue(TB). Ear swelling responses were much weaker in the high-dose group (100 mg/kg) than the control group (0 mg/kg). The number of mast cells showed a significant decrease in the high-dose group (100 mg/kg) compared to the control group (0 mg/kg). Degranulation of mast cells was also confirmed by Toluidine Blue (TB) staining method. Both total serum IgE and histamine levels were significantly decreased in the high-dose group (100 mg/kg) compared to other groups. These findings suggest a certain relationship between the elevation of IgE, histamine levels and the degranulation of mast cells. These results show that the pharmacological actions of quercetin indicate its potential activity for prevention of allergic inflammatory diseases through the down-regulation of mast cell activation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2014

Propolis is a beehive product with a very complex chemical composition, widely used in folk medicine because of its several therapeutic activities. This study was conducted to measure the efficacy of propolis on non-specific defense reactions, specific immune response, and protection levels against pathogen challenge with Streptococcus iniae. in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the phagocytic activity and NBT assay of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were evaluated in a various propolis extractsconcentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 250 and $500{\mu}g/ml$). The optimal concentration showing activation of propolis extracts was determined to $100{\mu}g/ml$. In vivo, they were divided into four groups (PBS, propoli extractss, vaccine, propolis extracts + vaccine) in vivo. Fish were received i.p. injection of either PBS or propolis extracts, and in the presence or absence of formalin inactivated S. iniae ($1{\times}10^8$ CFU/fish), respectively. The level of haematocrit is not affected among experimental groups. The phagocytic activity and the NBT reduction activities of head kidney phagocyte were markedly (p<0.05)augmented in the propolis extracts groups than in the PBS-control group, respectively. The level of serum lysozyme activity was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the propolis extracts treated groups than in the PBS-control group. The agglutinin titer was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced in the vaccine+propolis extracts group than in the vaccine group, but there was no difference between PBS-control and propolis treated group. The results of the present study suggest that propolis extracts seems to be a promising compounds of non-specific immune stimulator, also being able to use a good adjuvant.