• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2015

The flower buds of Sophora japonica L (SF), as a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used to treat bleeding-related disorders such as hematochezia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and diarrhea. However, no specific anti-cancer effect and its molecular mechanism of SF have been described. Thus, we performed in vitro study to investigate if treatment of SF affects activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression and ATF3-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. The effects of SF on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and Western blot analysis against cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ATF3 activation induced by SF was evaluated using Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and ATF3 promoter assay. SF treatment caused decrease of cell viability and increase of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Exposure of SF activated the levels of ATF3 protein and mRNA via transcriptional regulation in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by PD98059 and p38 by SB203580 attenuated SF-induced ATF3 expression and transcriptional activation. Ectopic ATF3 overexpression accelerated SF-induced cleavage of PARP. These findings suggest that SF-mediated apoptosis may be the result of ATF3 expression through ERK1/2 and p38-mediated transcriptional activation.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.3 s.98
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• pp.199-210
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• 2003

Tooth movement is the result of bone metabolism in the periodontium, where various cytokines take important roles. Interleukin-6(II-6) and nitrous oxide (NO) were reported to be secreted from osteoblasts in the process of bone resorption. The mechanism of the process has not been clearly understood, but the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was known to be an important process in the release of the inflammatory cytotines in macrophages. In this regard, to prove the role of MAPK in the release of IL-6 and NO in MC3T3E-1 osteoblasts, Northern blot analysis, Western blot analysis and immune complex kinase assay were used. As a result, the treatment of MC3T3E-1 osteoblast cultures with combined $interferon-\gamma(IFN-\gamma)$, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha(TNF-\alpha)$ induces expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and IL-6, resulting in sustained releases of large amounts of NO and IL-6. However, $IFN-\gamma,\;LPS,\;and\;TNF-\alpha$ individually induce a non-detectable or small amount of NO and IL-6 in MC3T3E-1 osteoblasts. The role of MAPK activation in the early intracellular signal transduction involved in iNOS and IL-6 transcription in the combined agents-stimulated osteoblasts has been investigated. The p38 MAPK pathway is specifically involved in the combined agents-induced NO and IL-6 release, since NO and IL-6 release in the presence of a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-metylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-metylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole) (SB203580), were significantly diminished. In contrast, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK1, had no effect on NO and IL-6 release. Northern blot analysis showed that the p3a MAPK pathway controlled the iNOS and IL-6 transcription level. These data suggest that p38 MAPK play an important role in the secretion of NO and IL-6 in $LPS/IFN{\gamma}-or\;TNF-\gamma-treated\;MC3T3E-1$ osteoblasts.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the characteristics of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) - related peritonitis and to evaluate the effectiveness of the empirical antibiotics recommended by the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis in Korean children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 72 children on peritoneal dialysis at the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center over the period from March 2000 to February 2012. Results: Seventy-nine episodes of peritonitis occurred in 32 patients. The incidence of peritonitis was 0.43 episodes/patient year. There were no significant differences in the incidence of peritonitis in terms of dialysis modality (P=0.459). Twenty-one patients experienced 51 catheter exit-site infections (0.28 episode/patient year). There were no significant differences in the incidence of peritonitis between those with and without history of exit-site infections (P=0.721). Specific pathogens were isolated from 68.4% (54/79) of the patient with peritonitis episodes, including Gram-positive bacteria (n=34), Gram-negative bacteria (n=25) and fungus (n=1). Among Gram-positive bacteria, 85.3% of the isolates were susceptible to ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotics, among Gram-negative rods, 94.7% of the isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime. Among 25 cases with unknown etiologies, 92.0% of cases demonstrated satisfactory responses to cefazolin and ceftazidime. Conclusions: The incidence of peritonitis was 0.43 episodes/patient year. Initial empirical therapy consisting of cefazolin and ceftazidime was appropriate for 91.1% of the PD-related peritonitis treatment. Continuous monitoring for the emergence of the resistant organisms is an important part of the appropriate managements of PD-related peritonitis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1188-1198
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• 1998

Background : The purpose of the present study was to determine the protective effect of antiasthmatic activity of inhaled heparin, cromolyn sodium, budesonide, furosemide in exercise-induced asthma(EIA). The other important considerable point of this study was the mechanism of bronchoconstriction on EIA. Methods : Eight subjects with a history of EIA were studied on 5 different experiment days. After obtaining baseline $FEV_1$ and FVC, subjects performed a standardized exercise challenge. EIA was assessed by measurement of $FEV_1$ before and after exercise. On experiment day 4, the exercise challenge was performed after the subjects inhaled either heparin (1,000 units/kg/day for 5 days), furosemide (1mg/kg for 5 days), cromolyn (4mg/day for 5 days), or budesonide ($400{\mu}g/day$ for 5 days). On experiment day 5, the methacholine bronchial provocation test was performed. On experiment day 3, activated partial thromboplastine time(aPTI) was checked. Results : Maximum decrements of $FEV_1$ (mean${\pm}$SE) among 0 to 120 minutes after exercise were as follows : heparin was $83.1{\pm}4.81%$ (p=0.010), furosemide was $80.5{\pm}6.87%$ (p=0.071), cromolyn was $86.8{\pm}6.53%$ (p=0.340), and budesonide was $79.4{\pm}7.31%$ (p=0.095). Above medications were compared to the control value ($72.5{\pm}18.2%$) by paired t-test. No medications had effect on $PD_{20}$ of methacholine bronchial provocation test The results were control $1.58{\pm}0.49{\mu}mol$), heparin ($4.17{\pm}1.96{\mu}mol$), furosemide ($1.85{\pm}0.86{\mu}mol$), cromolyn ($2.19{\pm}0.89{\mu}mol$), and budesonide ($3.38{\pm}1.77{\mu}mol$), respectively(p>0.05). The inhaled heparin had no effect of anticoagulation. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that inhaled heparin has a protective effect on EIA. The effect of inhaled cromolyn was statistically absent with manufacture's recommended dosage on EIA. So, the dosage of cromolyn should be carefully evaluated in future. Although inhalation of budesonide and furosemide have no statistical significance compared to control, these drugs also have some protective effects on EIA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2007

This study was carried out to increase germination by classifying seeds as seed coat colors of three species of genus Pinus. As result, the seeds classified as colors showed a difference. In seed length, Pinus densiflora (Pd) and P. thunbergii (Pt) had no difference while P. rigitaeda (Pr) had a difference between light yellow seeds and dark brown seeds (p<0.05). Only Pt was different in seed width. And in 1,000 seeds weight the three species showed a great difference while were not significantly different in seed moisture contents. In percent germination, all of the three species had a difference, especially that of Pr was very wide. Pd and Pt were not different in mean germination time but Pr showed a difference between light yellow seeds and dark brown seeds.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.529-540
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• 1994

Rapidly progressive periodontitis is known to be usually associated with systemic problems and improved with antibiotic therapy. Recent experiments in which bioresorbable polycaprolactone was polymerized with minocycline has shown that the system released effective antibiotic concentration during the 7 days' period. This clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of a minocycline film(poly-caprolactone+polyglycol+10% minocycline) insertion plus supragingival scaling(MS) or subgingival scaling & root planing(MSRP) with the scaling(S) or subgingival scaling & root planing alone(SRP), at improving the periodontal condition in RPP. Fifteen patients were examined for plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, probing depth and attachment loss at baseline, then 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after 4 treatment regimens were randomly undergone in 4 comparable sites(PD>5mm, LA>3mm) in each subject. Results revealed statistically significant treatement effect with a reduction in a probing depth in SRP(2.0mm), MS(1.8mm), and MSRP(2.1mm). There was no significant reduction in the supragingival scaling alone group(0.6mm). Similarly, attachment levels were significantly improved in the SRP(1.5mm), MS(2.0mm) and MSRP(2.0mm) groups. Net % BOP reduction at 8 week compared to baseline was 6.7% (S), 26.7% (MS), 26.7% (SRP), and 33.3% (MSRP). MSRP produced the greatest improvement in BOP at 8 week. This data suggests that a subgingival minocycline delivery system as a adjunct to scaling alone or scaling & root planing may produce significant clinical benefits over scaling alone in rapidly progressive periodontitis patients.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2017

To screen for potent anti-inflammatory compound-producing yeasts, we evaluated nitric oxide production inhibitory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells using cell-free extracts from 182 non-pathogenic yeasts. Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 showed high inhibitory activities of 57.4% and 47.0%, respectively. The microbiological characteristics of these yeasts were investigated. Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1 formed ascospores and pseudomycelium. This species grew well at $25^{\circ}C$ in yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) medium, vitamin-free medium, and 5% NaCl-containing YPD medium. Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 was an asporogenous yeast and did not form pseudomycelium. This strain also grew well at $30^{\circ}C$ in YPD medium, vitamin-free medium, and 5% NaCl-containing YPD medium.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.447-452
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• 2016

It is imperative to develop an effective pathway to depolymerize lignin into liquid fuel that can be used as a bioheavy oil. Lignin can be converted into liquid products either by a solvent-free thermal cracking in the absence air, or thermo-chemical degradation in the presence of suitable solvents and chemicals. Here we show that the solvent-assisted liquefaction has produced promising results in the presence of metal-based catalysts. The supercritical ethanol is an efficient liquefaction solvent, which not only provides better solubility to lignin, but also scavenges the intermediate species. The concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis lignin (CSAHL) was completely liquefied in the presence of solid catalysts (Ni, Pd and Ru) with no char formation. The effective deoxy-liquefaction nature associated with scEtOH with aid hydrodeoxygenation catalysts, resulted in significant reduction in oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) molar ratio up to 61%. The decrease in oxygen content and increase in carbon and hydrogen contents increased the calorific value bio-oil, with higher heating value (HHV) of $34.6MJ{\cdot}Kg^{-1}$. The overall process is energetically efficient with 129.8% energy recovery (ER) and 70.8% energy efficiency (EE). The GC-TOF/MS analysis of bio-oil shows that the bio-oil mainly consists of monomeric species such as phenols, esters, furans, alcohols, and traces of aliphatic hydrocarbons. The bio-oil produced has better flow properties, low molecular weight, and high aromaticity.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.137-143
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to prove the work efficiency of PDS by measuring the work time on the process of pattern making of woman's tailored jacket. Also compared to the manual work time, PDS work efficiency is estimated according to experience difference. The YUKA CAD system was used. Through analysis of PDS Process, work time was measured by stop watch. Also the appearance of the 2 jackets was evaluated by a pool of evaluators consisted of graduate students and experienced professional modelist. The results were as follows: The work efficiency of PDS is higher than the work efficiency of manual work. There were significant differences of work time between work types in the expert and inexpert group. A study compared the work efficiency by PDS work type with those by manual work type according to experience difference and found that the work efficiency by PDS in the expert group was 25.3%, in the inexpert group was 35%. There were significant differences of work time between experience groups in PDS work, the work efficiency of expert group to inexpert group in the total pattern making time by PDS was 36.7%. There were no significant differences of appearance of tailored jacket between work types.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5587-5591
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of continuous infusional paclitaxel and 5-Fu as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Methods: A total of 22 patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer with no indications for surgery and radiation therapy, or recurrent patients were enrolled from October 2008 to November 2010. All were treated with PTX 20 $mg/m^2$ was administered through a 16 hours continuous intravenous infusion on days 1 to 3, 8 and 9. DDP 3.75 $mg/m^2$ was given on days 1 to 4 and 8 to 11, continuous infusional 5-FU over 24-hours on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 at a dose of 375 $mg/m^2$, and folacin 60 mg orally synchronized with 5-Fu. The treatment was repeated every 21 days for at least two cycles. Results: 22 cases of all enrolled patients could be evaluated for the effect of treatment: 2 cases were CR, 9 cases PR, 5 cases SD and 2 cases PD, giving an overall response rate of 68.2%(15/22). The median time to progression was 7.0 months. The adverse reactions related to chemotherapy were tolerable; the most common toxic effects were marrow depression, alopecia, and fatigue. Conclusion: Low-dose continuous infusional PTX over 16-hours and 5-fu over 24-hours is a promising regimen with good tolerability in treating patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer.