• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2019

Background/Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and an important causative factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Recently, paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2) was shown to exhibit protective effects in kidney injury. Here, we investigated the effects of paricalcitol treatment on IS-induced renal tubular injury. Methods: The fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) following IS administration in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of IS on cell viability were determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2-associated protein X [Bax] and B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2]), nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured by luciferase assays and apoptosis was determined by f low cytometry of cells stained with f luorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V protein. Results: IS treatment increased ROS production, decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. IS treatment increased the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression, and activated phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt. In contrast, paricalcitol treatment decreased Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt in HK-2 cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ promoter activity was increased following IS, administration and was counteracted by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that IS-induced apoptosis was attenuated by paricalcitol treatment, which resulted in decreased numbers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V positive cells. Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol inhibited IS-induced apoptosis by regulating MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Akt signaling pathway in HK-2 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.309-318
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• 2020

Besides respiratory infection, COVID-19 has many neurological symptoms not only loss of smell and taste but also fatigue and brain fog. But it is a challenge to treat the neurological symptoms especially of anosmia and ageusia. In order to search for the therapeutic methods, the geographical diversity and pathological mechanisms of the COVID-19 and two symptoms were investigated from the latest clinical studies. Because the environmental conditions of the monsoon climate zone of East Asia and the Mediterranean and Oceanic climate zone of Italy, Britain, United States and tropical Brazil are different, each of diverse etiology and internal milieu should be considered differently in the treatment. SARS-CoV-2 exhibits the dampness-like characteristics and the olfactory and gustatory disorders are particularly more common than other flu or cold. and it tends to show features of damaging the lung qi of olfaction and heart-spleen qi of gustation. The mechanisms of olfactory and gustatory loss are various according to precursory, inflammatory, non-inflammatory and sequelar forms, so the therapeutic method should be designed for each period and pathology. If the process of inflammation arises from nasal and respiratory, olfactory epithelium to the central nervous structure by way of blood brain barrier, the treatment should be corresponded with the stage and depth of pathogen place. And if the olfactory loss is asymptomatic or in the initial stage, it can be applied intranasal topical scent therapy to relieve temporary locking of qi movement, but maybe also used in parallel together with herbs of relieving dampness toxin latent in the lung parenchyma.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2020

A variety of shellfish species sold for human consumption are available for purchase in the domestic fish market. The microalgae families inhabit the ocean, where planktons supply the main nutritional resource for the growth of shellfish. Some phytoplanktons produce toxic compounds that are accumulated in shellfish and ultimately cause toxicity in humans. This article reports the cytotoxicity of commercially available shellfish species. Accordingly, hot water extract (HWE) and an aqueous fraction of 50% methanol extract (MEE-AF) showed no significant cytotoxicity on the two cell lines (i.e., HL-60 and Vero cell lines), but 50% methanol extract (MEE) in 3, 6 samples showed 50% cytotoxic effects on HL-60 cells, and 1, 4 samples showed 40%, 20% cytotoxic effects on Vero cells, respectively. In addition, their consequential dichloromethane fractions (MEE-DF) exhibited significant toxicities at the highest concentration (1,000 ㎍/ml) on HL-60 and Vero cells. Since the shellfish samples showed cytotoxicity in the dichloromethane fraction, it is possible that the dichloromethane fraction contains marine toxins. Further research will be needed to identify the toxic components from each sample.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine treatment for acute pharyngitis. Methods : 2 databases(Wangfang Med Online, CNKI) were used to search Randomized Controlled Trials(RCTs) that used herbal medicine treatment for acute pharyngitis, which were published from January 2007 until April 2024. Results : 9 RCTs were selected in this study, and all studies compared herbal medicine alone treatment with western medicine alone treatment. The most frequently used medicine was Toxin-removing medicinal(淸熱解毒藥). Platycodonis Radix(桔梗) was the most frequently used herb. Meta-analysis of nine studies showed that the Total Effective Rate(TER) of treatment group was statistically higher than that of control group(RR:1.12, 95% CI:1.06 to 1.19, p<0.00001, I²=22%). Meta-analysis of 3 studies showed that the total symptom score of treatment group statistically improved than that of control group(MD: -1.00, 95% CI: -1.30 to -0.71, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Mild adverse events such as anorexia were identified in 4 RCTs, but no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion : Using herbal medicine alone can be more effective and safe in improving acute pharyngitis than using western medicine. But further well-designed studies are needed because heterogeneity between studies existed and the quality of the reports needs to be improved.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.659-667
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) could contribute to asthma severity. However, its relevance with eosinophilic phenotype has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to investigate associations between serum specific IgE levels to SAg and eosinophilic airway inflammation in adult asthmatics. Methods: The serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs, including staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and B (SEB), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) were measured by ImmunoCAP in 230 adult asthmatic patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters, including serum total/free IgE, and 2 eosinophil-activation markers, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), were analyzed according to blood eosinophil counts (BEC; 150 cells/µL) and serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs (0.35 kU/L). Results: Asthmatic patients showed higher serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs than HCs (p < 0.05 for all). The serum total/free IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatics with positive IgE responses to 3 SAgs than those without (p < 0.05 for all). There were no significant differences in clinical parameters including age, asthma severity, comorbidities, or smoking according to IgE responses to 3 SAgs. Patients with positive IgE responses to SEB (not to SEA/TSST-1) had higher serum specific IgE levels to house dust mites and ECP/EDN as well as higher BEC with positive correlations between serum SEB-specific IgE levels and BEC/ECP/EDN (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: These findings suggest that serum SEB-specific IgE levels could contribute to eosinophil activation as well as IgE production in adult asthma.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.542-549
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• 2017

To evaluate bacteriological and toxicological safety, the hygienic indicator bacterium and paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxins in the shellfish produced in the Kamakman Area from 2012 to 2016 were investigated. Fecal coliforms and E. coli of all 194 oyster samples tested did not exceed 230 MPN/100 g. The geometric mean of the fecal coliform analyzed with the oyster samples of harvesting period was 19.6 MPN/100 g, which was more stable than the non-harvesting period (26.5 MPN/100 g). For the toxicological evaluation of the Kamakman Area, 77 oyster samples and 350 mussel samples as an indicator were analyzed. Paralytic shellfish toxins were detected very low in the range of $40{\sim}46{\mu}g$/100 g in 13 mussel samples during late April and early June, but not in oyster samples. Diarrhetic shellfish toxin was detected in 2 of 180 samples, but it was found to be below the regulation value (0.16 mg OA equ./kg). Based on the bacteriological studies, it was confirmed that the shellfish produced in Kamakman area meets the standard of shellfish hygiene of the Food Sanitation Act and meets the Grade A of the shellfish production area of EU. As the results of the paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxin evaluation, it was confirmed that the Kamakman Area is also toxicologically safe for shellfish production.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2021

This study aimed to assess the disease incidence and distribution of toxigenic in Korean triticale. The pathogen of triticale that cause Fusarium head blight were isolated from five different triticale cultivars that cultivated in Suwon Korea at 2021 year. The 72 candidate were classified as a Fusarium asiaticum by morphology analysis and by ITS1, TEF-1α gene sequence analysis. And the results of pathogenicity with 72 isolates on seedling triticale, 71 isolates were showed disease symptom. Also, seven out of 71 Fusarium isolates were inoculated on the wheat, to test the pathogenicity on the different host. The results showed more low pathogenicity on the wheat than triticale. The results of analysis of toxin type with 72 isolates, 64.6% isolates were produced nivalenol type toxin and other 4.6% and 30.8% isolates were produce 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, respectively. To select fungicide for control, the 72 Fusarium isolates were cultivated on the media that containing four kinds fungicide. The captan, hexaconazole, and difenoconazole·propiconazole treated Fusarium isolates were not showed resistance response against each fungicide. However, six isolates out of 72 isolates, showed resistance response to fludioxonil. This study is first report that F. asiaticum causes Fusarium head blight disease of triticale in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.305-311
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• 1997

Bacillus thuringiensis, a gram-positive soil bacterium, is characterized by its ability to produce crystalline inclusions during sporulation. The crystal proteins exhibit a highly specific insecticidal activity. An insecticidal crystal protein (ICP), Cry II A, is specifically toxic to both lepidopteran and dipteran insects. In this study, tobacco plants transformed by the cry II A gene have been generated. The Cry II A crystal protein was purified from E. coli JM103 harboring cry II A gene by differential solubility. The activated Cry II A was prepared by tryptic digestion. The purified protoxin (70 kDa) and the activated toxin (50 kDa) were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. To generate the transgenic tobacco having cry II A gene, the cry II A gene was subcloned to a plant expression vector, pSRL2, having two CaMV 35S promoters. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into tobacco (N. tabacum var. Petit Havana SR1) by Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc transformation. Through the regeneration, six putative transgenic tobacco plants were obtained and three transformants were confirmed by Southern blot analysis. It has been found that one plant had single copy of cry II A gene, another had two copies of the gene, and the third had a truncated gene. After the immunochemical confirmation of cry II A expression in plants, the transgenic tobacco plants will be used to study the genetics of future generation with the insecticidal crystal protein gene cry II A.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2022

CopA3 (LLCIALRKK), an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the Korean dung beetle, has been shown to suppress apoptosis in various cell types. CopA3 inhibits not only bacterial toxin-induced colonocyte apoptosis but also 6-hydroxy dopamine-induced neural cell apoptosis. Our recent study revealed that CopA3 directly binds to caspases (key regulators of apoptosis) and inhibits the proteolytic cleavage required for their activation. But molecular mechanisms underlying CopA3-mediated inhibition of apoptosis in multiple cell types remain unknown. Here we assessed possible effects of CopA3 on expression of survivin, which is known to inhibit apoptosis. In HT29 human colonocytes, CopA3 exposure markedly upregulated survivin expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. RT-PCR revealed that CopA3-mediated upregulation of survivin was attributable to increased gene transcription, and further showed that CopA3 also increased expression of Sp1, one of many transcription factors known to be involved in transcription of the survivin gene. Notably, blocking Sp1 by treatment with the Sp1 inhibitor, tolfenamic acid, significantly reduced CopA3-mediated upregulation of survivin. These results collectively suggest that CopA3 induces Sp1 expression, which in turn is involved in upregulation of survivin in human colonocytes. These novel findings establish another pathway for explaining the anti-apoptotic effects of CopA3 against various cellular apoptosis systems.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.257-265
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• 2002

The current study was performed to elucidate the relationship between the anatoxin -a produced by cyanobacteria and aquatic environmental factors, Algal and water samples were collected from the Daechung Reservoir from June to November 2001. The physical factors of the water quality were measured in sifu, while the biological and chemical factors were examined in the laboratory. The concentrations of anatoxin-a in the algal and water samples were analyzed by HPLC using a fluorescence detector, and ranged from $0.61-8.68\;{\mu}g/g$ dw in the algal samples and $0.01-0.08\;{\mu}g/L$ in the water samples. The suggested maximum concentration of anatoxin-a for safe drinking water is $1\;{\mu}g/L$. The concentrations of anatoxin-a in the algal and water samples were highest in July. The relationships between tile aquatic environmental factors and the anatoxin-a concentration were also analyzed to identify the crucial elements for toxin production. The anatoxin-a concentrations in the algal samples exhibited a high correlation with nitrate, the TN/TP ratio, TDN (P<0.05), and TPN/TPP ratio (P<0.01), whereas the anatoxin-a concentrations in the water samples were highly related to the water temperature, conductivity (P<0.01) , pH, phycocyanin, and phycocyanin/chlorophyll a ratio (P<0.05).