• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2013

Quantum dots (QDs) have received considerable attention due to their potential role in photosensitization during photodynamic therapy. Although QDS are attractive nanomaterials due to their novel and unique physicochemical properties, concerns about their toxicity remain. We suggest a combination strategy, CdSe/ZnS QDs together with curcumin, a natural yellow pigment from turmeric, to reduce QD-induced cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to explore a potentially effective cancer treatment: co-exposure of HL-60 cells and human normal lymphocytes to CdSe/ZnS QDs and curcumin. Cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA damage induced by QDs and/or curcumin with or without ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation were evaluated in both HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes. In HL-60 cells, cell death, apoptosis, ROS generation, and single/double DNA strand breaks induced by QDs were enhanced by treatment with curcumin and UVA irradiation. The protective effects of curcumin on cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS generation were observed in normal lymphocytes, but not leukemia cells. These results demonstrated that treatment with QD combined with curcumin increased cell death in HL-60 cells, which was mediated by ROS generation. However, curcumin acted as an antioxidant in cultured human normal lymphocytes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.54-59
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• 2003

Several radionuclides are considered as an object of the assesment to develop a scaling factor and a periodical verification method which are needed for the evaluation of radionuclide inventory of various radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants in Korea. A selective separation of $^{55}Fe$, $^{90}FSr$ 및 $^{94}Nb$ which should be recovered individually for the radiochemical analysis was described in detail. Sorption and desorption behaviours of ion exchange and extraction chromatographic resins for Fe, Sr, Nb and co-existing metal ions were Investigated using an artificial waste solution simulated of chemical composition of real radioactive wastes. Separation conditions available for the sequential recovery of these metal ions from a single sample were optimized to minimize a discharge of radioactive wastes produced through the analytical process and a radiation exposure to analysts. Their recovery yields were measured with reliability.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Allergic inflammation is thought to be a Th2 cell-dominant immune response during which tissue-resident fibroblasts produce chemokines which contribute to the recruitment of migratory leukocytes to sites of tissue injury. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC; CCL17) is a potent member of the CC chemokine family and a selective chemoattractant for Th2 cells. In order to study the regulatory profiles of TARC production by $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, and Il-4 in human normal skin fibroblast, CCD-986sk cell line was used. The expression of TARC protein was measured using ELISA, and mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR. The combination of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 induced a time-and dose-dependent synergistic increase in the expression of TARC at both protein and mRNA levels in the cultured human skin fibroblasts. Exposure of the cells to single cytokine had no effect on TARC expression. The high concentration (100 ng/ml) and long incubation time (72 h) of $IFN-{\gamma}$ further enhanced the TARC production induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$/lL-4 in the skin fibroblast. This synergistic effect of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines on TARC production by skin fibroblasts may contribute to the inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue damage with allergic inflammation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.321-332
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• 2019

The brain is the most common metastatic site of lung adenocarcinoma; however, the mechanism of this selective metastasis remains unclear. We aimed to verify the hypothesis that exposure of tumor cells to the brain microenvironment leads to changes in their gene expression, which promotes their oriented transfer to the brain. A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma cells were exposed to human astrocyte-conditioned medium to simulate the brain microenvironment. Microarray analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes, which were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. Knockdown experiments using microRNAs and the overexpression of genes by cell transfection were performed in addition to migration and invasion assays. In vitro findings were confirmed in clinical specimens using immunohistochemistry. We found and confirmed a significant increase in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) levels. Our results also showed that the up-regulation of IGFBP3 promoted A549 cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion, while the knockdown of IGFBP3 resulted in decreased cell motility. We also found that Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$)/Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Smad4)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition was likely IGFBP3-dependent in A549 cells. Finally, expression of IGFBP3 was significantly elevated in pulmonary cancer tissues and intracranial metastatic tissues. Our data indicate that up-regulation of IGFBP3 might mediate brain metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, which makes it a potential therapeutic target.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.212-217
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• 2022

In this study, ozone (O₃) samples were prepared for investigating the heterogeneous reactions between O₃ and tropospheric aerosols and were characterized by spectroscopic methods. O₃ generated from an ozone generator was purified by selective adsorption on refrigerated silica gel, followed by transfer to a sample bulb. The amount of UV light (λ = 256 nm) absorbed by O₃ was measured as a function of time at two different temperatures (room temperature and 50 ℃) and under different irradiation conditions. A correlation plot of 1/[O₃] versus time showed that O₃ decomposition follows the 2^nd order reaction rate under a steady-state approximation. The initial concentration of O₃, observed rate constants (k_obs), and the half-life of O₃ in the sample stored at room temperature were determined to be 2.74 [±0.14] × 10¹⁶ molecules·cm^-3, 4.47 [±0.64] × 10^-23 molecules^-1·cm³·s^-1, and 9.5 [±1.4] days, respectively. The evaluation of O₃ stability under various conditions indicated that special care should be taken to prevent the exposure of the O₃ samples to hightemperature environment and/or UV radiation. This study established a protocol for the preparation of highly purified O₃ samples and confirmed that the O₃ samples can be stored for a day after preparation for further experiments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2022

Background: Herbal medicines are popular approaches to capably prevent and treat obesity and its related diseases. Excessive exposure to dietary lipids causes oxidative stress and inflammation, which possibly induces cellular senescence and contribute the damaging effects in brain. The potential roles of selective enhanced ginsenoside in regulating high fat diet (HFD)-induced brain damage remain unknown. Methods: The protection function of Ginsenoside F1-enhanced mixture (SGB121) was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Human primary astrocytes and SH-SY5Y cells were treated with palmitic acid conjugated Bovine Serum Albumin, and the effects of SGB121 were determined by MTT and lipid uptake assays. For in vivo tests, C57BL/6J mice were fed with high fat diet for 3 months with or without SGB121 administration. Thereafter, immunohistochemistry, western blot, PCR and ELISA assays were conducted with brain tissues. Results and conclusion: SGB121 selectively suppressed HFD-induced oxidative stress and cellular senescence in brain, and reduced subsequent inflammation responses manifested by abrogated secretion of IL-6, IL-1β and TNFα via NF-κB signaling pathway. Interestingly, SGB121 protects against HFD-induced damage by improving mitophagy and endoplasmic reticulum-stress associated autophagy flux and inhibiting apoptosis. In addition, SGB121 regulates lipid uptake and accumulation by FATP4 and PPARα. SGB121 significantly abates excessively phosphorylated tau protein in the cortex and GFAP activation in corpus callosum. Together, our results suggest that SGB121 is able to favor the resistance of brain to HFD-induced damage, therefore provide explicit evidence of the potential to be a functional food.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.433-439
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• 2022

Background: Repeated administration of opioid analgesics for pain treatment can produce paradoxical hyperalgesia via peripheral and/or central mechanisms. Thus, this study investigated whether spinally (centrally) administered orexin A attenuates opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Methods: [D-Ala², N-Me-Phe⁴, Gly⁵-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), a selective µ-opioid receptor agonist, was used to induce mechanical hypersensitivity and was administered intradermally (4 times, 1-hour intervals) on the rat hind paw dorsum. To determine whether post- or pretreatments with spinal orexin A, dynorphin A, and anti-dynorphin A were effective in OIH, the drugs were injected through an intrathecal catheter whose tip was positioned dorsally at the L3 segment of the spinal cord (5 ㎍ for all). Mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed using von Frey monofilaments. Results: Repeated intradermal injections of DAMGO resulted in mechanical hypersensitivity in rats, lasting more than 8 days. Although the first intrathecal treatment of orexin A on the 6th day after DAMGO exposure did not show any significant effect on the mechanical threshold, the second (on the 8th day) significantly attenuated the DAMGO-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, which disappeared when the type 1 orexin receptor (OX1R) was blocked. However, intrathecal administration of dynorphin or an anti-dynorphin antibody (dynorphin antagonists) had no effect on DAMGO-induced hypersensitivity. Lastly, pretreatment with orexin A, dynorphin, or anti-dynorphin did not prevent DAMGO-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Conclusions: Spinal orexin A attenuates mechanical hyperalgesia induced by repetitive intradermal injections of DAMGO through OX1R. These data suggest that OIH can be potentially treated by activating the orexin A-OX1R pathway in the spinal dorsal horn.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.31-43
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• 2023

News credibility is on a decline for many democratic countries. Among the countries, South Korea is currently witnessing one of the steepest declining curves. Since people obtain news from various media, for example, television and portals, news credibility can be measured for each of the media separately. Most often, television news credibility is much higher than portal news credibility because people tend to trust traditional media more than online ones. To understand the discrepancy between news credibility of the two media in specific relation to South Koreans' everyday news use and overall news credibility evaluation, this exploratory study examined how the factors that influence television news credibility and portal news credibility differ from each other by examining the relations of news credibility of the two media to credibility of news I use and of news in general. Drawing from previous research on partisan news use, it assumed that normative beliefs for television as a traditional medium work for television news credibility in the similar way as the mechanisms of selective exposure and bias perception do. It also assumed that the experiences dimension of news trust works for credibility of portal news and of news in general similarly. To verify these assumptions, a regression analysis was conducted from a sample of 58,936 South Koreans collected in 2022. As assumed, results revealed a greater relation between credibility of television news and of news I use, and between credibility of portal news and of news in general respectively. The findings suggest that measurement of credibility should be revised in the way that reflects media characteristics and the differing expectations held by news users.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.49-63
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• 2024

Information behavior played a significant role in minimizing the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. When faced with such a situation, an individual needs information for decision-making and in order to determine the best course of action relating to their health. This study aims to explore information behavior during each phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, which is known for its close-knit collective culture. A sensemaking approach is used, which emphasizes the process individuals go through to understand their situation and give meaning to the information they are getting from their environment. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 10 participants to obtain a description of their information behaviors during the pandemic. Data analysis was carried out using open, axial, and selective coding. We propose a sensemaking-based information behavior strategy framework for mitigating risk and reducing ongoing health crises. Changes in information behavior strategies, including search, prevention, and restriction of information exposure, were random at the beginning of the pandemic, but became more regular in later phases. This was influenced by the "knowledge gap fulfillment" and "use of local knowledge" among the participants throughout the pandemic. In conclusion, the participants developed a sensemaking process including an understanding of the pandemic situation and the risks that they faced. They used a number of information behavior strategies to prevent transmission, and their perception of the risks changed across the course of the pandemic, up til the situation began to be considered back to normal again in Indonesia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.124-134
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• 2005

To investigate the exposure effect of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured airborne total PAHs as an external dose, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as an internal dose of PAHs exposure, and analyzed the relationship between urinary 1-OHP concentration and PAHs exposure. The study population contained 44 workers in steel-pipe coating and paint manufacture industries. The airborne PAHs was obtained during survey day, and urine were sampled at the end of shift. Personal information on age, body weight, height, eniployment duration, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption was obtained by a structured questionnaire. Airborne PAHs were analyzed by the gas chromatograph with mass selective detector. Urinary 1-OHP levels were analyzed by the high performance liquid chromatograph with ultraviolet wavelength detector. For statistical estimation, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, arid regression analysis were executed by SPSS/PC (Windows version 10). The mean of environmental total PAHs was $87.8{\pm}7.81{\mu}g/m^3$. The mean concentration ($526.5{\pm}2.85{\mu}g/m^3$) of workers in steel-pipe coating industries using coal tar enamel was the higher than that ($17.5{\pm}3.36{\mu}g/m^3$) of workers in paint manufacture industries using coal tar paint. The mean of urinary 1-OHP concentration ($51.63{\pm}3.144{\mu}\;mol/mol$ creatinine) of workers in steel-pipe coating industries was the higher than that ($2.33{\pm}4.709{\mu}\;mol/mol$ creatinine) of workers in paint manufacture industries. The mean of urinary 1-OHP concentration of smokers was the higher than that of non-smokers. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP and the environmental concentration of PAHs (r=O.S48, p<0.001), pyrene(r=0.859, p<0.001), and urinary cotinine (r=0.324, p<0.05). The regression equation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP in ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine($C_{1-OHP}$) and airborne concentration of PAHs (or pyrene) in ${\mu}g/m^3$ ($C_{PAHs}$ or Cpyrene) is: Log ($C_{1-OHP}$)=-0.650+0.889×Log($C_{PAHs}$), where $R^2=0.694$ and n=38 for p<0.001.Log ($C_{1-OHP}$)=1.087+0.707${\times}$Log(Cpyrene), where $R^2=0.713$ and n=38 for p<0.001. From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about 1-OHP, significant independents were total PAHs and urinary cotinine (adjusted $R^2=0.743$, p<0.001). In this study, there were significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 1-OHP and the airborne concentration of PAHs. The urinary 1-OHP was effective index as a biomarker of airborne PAHs in workplace. But it was influenced by non-occupational PAHs source, smoking.