• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Eugenol is an essential oil found in cloves and cinnamon that is used widely in perfumes. However, the significant anesthetic and sedative effects of this compound have led to its use also in dental procedures. Recently, it was reported that eugenol induces apoptosis in several cancer cell types but the mechanism underlying this effect has remained unknown. In our current study, we examined whether the cytotoxic effects of eugenol upon human melanoma G361 cells are associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis using a range of methods including an XTT assay, Hoechst staining, immunocyto-chemistry, western blotting and flow cytometry. Eugenol treatment was found to decrease the viability of the G361 cells in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis in eugenol-treated G361 cells was confirmed by the appearance of nuclear condensation, the release of both cytochrome c and AIF into the cytosol, the cleavage of PARP and DFF45, and the downregulation of procaspase-3 and -9. With regard to cell cycle arrest, a time-dependent decrease in cyclin A, cyclin D3, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4, and cdc2 expression was observed in the cells after eugenol treatment. Flow cytometry using a FACScan further demonstrated that eugenol induces a cell cycle arrest at S phase. Our results thus suggest that the inhibition of G361 cell proliferation by eugenol is the result of an apoptotic response and an S phase arrest that is linked to the decreased expression of key cell cycle-related molecules.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.19-35
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• 2020

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the fracture healing effect of Jinmu-tang (JM) on femur fractured rats. Methods Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (normal, control, positive control, JM extract with low concentration and JM extract with high concentration). All group except normal group went through both femur fracture. Normal and control group received no treatment at all. Positive control group were medicated with tramadol (20 mg/kg) once a day for 14 days. Experimental group was orally medicated with JM extract (10 mg/kg for low concentration, 50 mg/kg for high concentration) once a day for 14 days. In order to investigate fracture healing process, plasma and serum were obtained. Also, micro-computed tomography was conducted to see the frature site visually. Immunohistochemistry for transforming growth factor-β1, Ki67, alkaline phosphatase, runt-related transcription factor 2, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase was conducted to observe bone healing progress after 14 days since fracture occured. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were measured in plasma, for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of JM extract. Osteocalcin was measured to observe activity of osteoblast. Results Through Micro-CT, more fracture healing was observed on both experimental group than control and positive control group. Through Hematoxylin & Eosin and safranin O staining showed bone cell proliferation and bone formation in the experimental group. RANK was significantly increased in the experimental groups. JM with high concentration showed statistically significant of TGF-β and Osteocalcin. NO, TRAP and ALP were not significantly changed. Liver toxicity was not significantly observed. Creatinine significantly increased in both experimental groups after 28 days. Conclusions As described above, JM extract showed anti-inflammatory effect, promoted fracture healing by stimulating the bone regeneration factor, and showed little hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, JM extract can promote fracture healing and it can be used clinically to patients with fracture.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 2008

The recent WHO classification has recognized mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) as a distinct entity of renal cell carcinoma, exhibiting a mixed pattern of tubules and a surrounding spindle cell proliferation within a myxoid stroma, with low-grade nuclear features. A 51-year-old woman had an incidentally discovered renal mass. Radiologic examination revealed a large, well defined mass in the lower pole of the right kidney; a right radical nephrectomy was performed. Imprint cytologic smears from fresh surgical specimens showed cellular, cohesive clusters with thick, broad trabecular arrangements and branching structures. On high power fields, the tumor was composed of round-to-oval low-grade nuclei with vesicular chromatin and small nucleoli. The tumor cells had indistinct borders and pale, eosinophilic cytoplasm, In some areas, round-to-elongated tubular structures and spindle cell patterns were noted. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltration was noted, along with a mucinous back-ground and occasional psammoma bodies. Neither significant cytologic atypia nor mitosis was seen.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2010

CANDU spent fuel is to be disposed of at repository finally rather than recycled because of its low fissile nuclide concentration. But the difficult situation of finding a repository site can not help introducing a interim storage in the short term. It is required to find an optimum timing of geological disposal of CANDU spent fuels related to the interim storage operation period. The major factors for determining the disposal starting time are considered as safety, economics, and public acceptance. Safety factor is compared in terms of the decay heat and non-proliferation. Economics factor is compared from the point of the operation cost, and public acceptance factor is reviewed from the point of retrievability and inter-generation ethics. This paper recommended the best solution for the disposal starting time by analyzing the above factors. It is concluded that the optimum timing for the CANDU spent fuel disposal is around 2041 and that the sooner disposal time, the better from the point of technical and safety aspects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2016

Extract of Broussometia kazinoki Rhizodermatis has been traditionally used for geopoong, diuresis, hwalhyeol. In the present study, the apoptotic effect of methanol extract of Broussometia kazinoki (MBK) were investigated. Cell viability of A549 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis-related protein and MAPK protein levels were measured by Western blot. Chromatin condensation of A549 cells was stained with DAPI. MBK inhibited cell proliferation of A549 cell. Based on DAPI staining, MBK-treated cells manifested nuclear shrinkage, condensation and fragmentation. Treatment of A549 cells with MBK resulted in activation of the caspase-3, -8, -9 and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). In the upstream, MBK increased the expressions Bax and Bak, decreased the expression of Bcl-2, and augmented the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. MBK-induced apoptosis was accompanied by sustained phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK)-1. These results suggest that MBK induced apoptosis in A549 cells through Bcl-2 family protein-mediated mitochondria/caspase-3 dependent pathway. In addition, MBK increased the activation of ASK-1, which are critical upsteam signals for JNK/p38 MAPK activation in A549 cancer cells.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1214-1220
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• 2008

Secondary metabolites from the fruit body of Phellinus linteus were evaluated for their proliferative effect on human osteoblast-like cells. 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazole-2-y1]-2,5-diphenyl-tetraxolium bromide (MTT) assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay were used to assess the effect those isolates on the human osteoblast-like cell line (Saos-2). Activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of ALP-activating phenolic compounds through the extraction of P. linteus, solvent partitioning, and repeated silica gel and octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column chromatographic separations. From the result of spectroscopic data including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and infrared spectroscopy (IR), the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one(1), 2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-aldehyde (2), 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one (3), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4), and protocatechuic acid methyl ester (5), respectively. This study reports the first isolation of compounds 1-3 and 5 from P. linteus. In addition, all phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the osteoblast-like cells and increased their ALP activity in a dose-dependent manner ($10^{-8}$ to $10^{-1}\;mg/mL$). The present data demonstrate that phenolic compounds in P. linteus stimulated mineralization in bone formation caused by osteoporosis. The bone-formation effect of P. linteus seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2002

Sasang Constitutional Medicine is based on the diversity of human being and medically developed the variation of response to diseases and medicines. The diversity is categorized as four groups Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin, Soeumin according to morphology, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. The phenotypes of Sasang constitutions represent that constitutions may be possessed of the different genetic backgrounds. To clarify the genetic difference among the Sasang constitutions, we performed a genetic analysis with the 3'-UTR polymorphism of ADPRT (rs=8679) as a pooled DNA sequencing method. ADPRT modulates various nuclear proteins by poly(ADP-ribosy)lation and is involved in the regulation of various cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, and tumor transformation. This gene is also involved in the recovery of cell from DNA damage and the brain infarction. The allele frequencies of [T/C] polymorphism of ADPRT of Soeumin and Soyangin groups were (T: 0.94/C: 0.06) and that of Taeumin and Taeyangin groups were (T: l.00/C: 0.00). The allele frequency was not showed the difference between constitution groups. This result represented that the [T/C] polymorphism of ADPRT 3' UTR region was not suitable to classify the constitutions. However, this study is the first trial of Sasang classification according to genetic polymorphism and further analysis will be necessarily to classify the genetic difference of Sasang constitution.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2012

Burns are one of the most devastating forms of trauma and wound healing is a complex and multicellular process, which is executed and regulated by signaling networks involving numerous growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. Recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) was specifically produced from rice cell culture through use of a recombinant technique in our laboratory. The effect of rhGM-CSF on promotion of deep second-degree burn wound healing on the back skin of a hamster model was evaluated through a randomized and double-blind trial. As macroscopic results, hamster skins of the experimental groups showed earlier recovery by new epidermis than the control groups. Immunohistochemical reactions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and transforming growth factor-b1, which are indicators of cell proliferation, were more active in the experimental group, compared with the control group. On electron microscopy, basal cells in the epidermis of the experimental group showed oval nuclei, prominent nucleoli, numerous mitochondria and abundant free ribosomes. In addition, fibroblasts contained well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisternae. Bundles of collagen fibrils filled the extracellular spaces. Particularly, ultrastructural features indicating active metabolism for regeneration of injured skin at 15 days after burn injury, including abundant euchromatin, plentiful free ribosomes, and numerous mitochondria, were observed. These findings suggest that use of rhGM-CSF could result in accelerated deep second-degree burn wound healing in animal models.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.683-692
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• 2004

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a major naturally-occurring polyphenol of Curcuma species, which is commonly used as a yellow coloring and flavoring agent in foods. Curcumin has shown anti-carcinogenic activity in animal models. Curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory activity and is a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen-generating enzymes such as lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase, xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase; and an effective inducer of heme oxygenase-1. Curcumin is also a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C(PKC), EGF(Epidermal growth factor)-receptor tyrosine kinase and LĸB kinase. Subsequently, curcumin inhibits the activation of NF(nucleor factor)KB and the expressions of oncogenes including c-jun, c-fos, c-myc, NIK, MAPKs, ERK, ELK, PI3K, Akt, CDKs and iNOS. It is proposed that curcumin may suppress tumor promotion through blocking signal transduction path-ways in the target cells. The oxidant tumor promoter TPA activates PKC by reacting with zinc thiolates present within the regulatory domain, while the oxidized form of cancer chemopreventive agent such as curcumin can inactivate PKC by oxidizing the vicinal thiols present within the catalytic domain. Recent studies indicated that proteasome-mediated degradation of cell proteins playa pivotal role in the regulation of several basic cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, cell cycling, and apoptosis. It has been demonstrated that curcumin-induced apoptosis is mediated through the impairment of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Curcumin was first biotransformed to dihydrocurcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin and that these compounds subsequently were converted to monoglucuronide conjugates. These results suggest that curcumin-glucuronide, dihydrocurcumin-glucuronide, tetrahydrocurcumin-glucuronide and tetrahydrocurcumin are the major metabolites of curcumin in mice, rats and humans.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has recently been noted as a repositioning candidate for angiogenesis inhibition and cancer therapy. However, the definite anti-angiogenic mechanism of MBZ remains unclear. In this study, we explored the inhibitory mechanism of MBZ in endothelial cells (ECs) and developed a novel strategy to improve its anti-angiogenic therapy. Treatment of ECs with MBZ led to inhibition of EC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in several culture conditions in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or FBS, without selectivity of growth factors, although MBZ is known to inhibit VEGF receptor 2 kinase. Furthermore, MBZ inhibited EC migration and tube formation induced by either VEGF or bFGF. However, unexpectedly, treatment of MBZ did not affect FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by these factors. Treatment with MBZ induced shrinking of ECs and caused G2-M arrest and apoptosis with an increased Sub-G1 fraction. In addition, increased levels of nuclear fragmentation, p53 expression, and active form of caspase 3 were observed. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was also noted. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy through knocking down of Beclin1 or ATG5/7, or treatment with autophagy inhibitors such as 3-methyladenine and chloroquine resulted in marked enhancement of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of MBZ in ECs. Consequently, we suggest that MBZ induces autophagy in ECs and that protective autophagy can be a novel target for enhancing the anti-angiogenic efficacy of MBZ in cancer treatment.