• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.623-631
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• 2010

Hericium erinaceus, an edible and medicinal mushroom belonging to the Basidiomycota family, has been used for curing gastric ulcers and stomach cancers in human beings and is also known to have good inhibitory effects on sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma in mice. Neutral saline soluble (0.9% NaCl), hot water soluble and methanol soluble substances (hereinafter referred to as Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH, respectively) were extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom. In in vitro cytotoxicity tests, crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against cell lines such as Sarcoma 180, HepG2, HT-29 and NIH3T3 at concentrations of $10{\sim}2,000\;{\mu}g/ml$. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides exhibited a life prolongation effect of 29.1~54.1% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Fr. Na increased the numbers of spleen cells by 2.9 fold at a concentration of $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ compared with the control. Fr. Na improved the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocytes by increasing alkaline phosphatase activity by 5.5 fold compared with the control at a concentration of $200\;{\mu}g/ml$. Fr. NaCl increased the numbers of peritoneal exudate cells and circulating leukocytes by 4 and 2.3 folds at a concentration of 50 mg/kg, respectively. Therefore, the crude polysaccharides extracted from the fruiting body of H. erinaceus could improve antitumor activities in mice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

These commensal intestinal bacteria can enhance the immune system and aid in nutrient absorption but can also act as opportunistic pathogens. Among these intestinal bacteria, the anaerobic Bacteroides fragilis are divided into enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF) which secrete the B. fragilis toxin (BFT) and non-enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (NTBF) which do not secrete BFT. ETBF can cause diarrhea and colitis in both humans and livestock but can also be found in asymptomatic individuals. ETBF is predominantly found in patients with inflammatory diarrheal diseases and traveller's diarrhea. Several clinical studies have also reported an increased prevalence of ETBF in human patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colitis and colorectal cancer. In small animal models (C57BL/6 wild-type mice, germ-free mice, multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mice, rabbits and Mongolian gerbils), ETBF have been found to initiate and/or aggravate IBD, colitis and colorectal cancer. BFT induces E-cadherin cleavage in intestinal epithelial cells resulting in loss of epithelial cell integrity. Subsequent activation of the ${\beta}$-catenin pathway leads to increased cellular proliferation. In addition, ETBF causes acute and chronic colitis in wild-type mice as well as enhances tumorigenesis in Min mice via activation of the Stat3/Th17 pathway. Currently, ETBF can be detected using a BFT toxin bioassay and by PCR. Advances in molecular biological techniques such as real-time PCR have allowed both researchers as well as clinicians to rapidly detect ETBF in clinical samples. The emergence of more sensitive techniques will likely advance molecular insight into the role of ETBF in colitis and cancer.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.5-41
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to analyse four week repeated dose toxicity of Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV) extracted from the bee venom in Beagle dogs. Methods: All experiments were conducted under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical study authorized institution. Male and female Beagle dogs of 5-6 months old were chosen for the pilot study of four week repeated dose toxicity of Sweet BV which was administered at the level of 0.56mg/kg body weight which is eighty times higher than the clinical application dosage as the high dosage, followed by 0.28 and 0.14mg/kg as midium and low dosage, respectively. Equal amount of excipient(normal saline) to the Sweet BV experiment groups was administered as the control group every day for four weeks. Results: 1. No mortality was witnessed in all of the experiment groups. 2. All experiment groups were appealed pain sense in the treating time compared to the control group, and hyperemia and movement disorder were observed around the area of administration in all experiment groups, and higher occurrence in the higher dosage treatment. 3. For weight measurement, Neither male nor female groups showed significant changes. 4. In the urine analysis, CBC and biochemistry didn't show any significant changes in the experiment groups compared with control group. 5. For weight measurement of organs, experiment groups didn't show any significant changes compared with control group. 6. To verify abnormalities of organs and tissues, thigh muscle which treated with Sweet BV, cerebrum, liver, lung, kidney, and spinal cords were removed and conducted histologocal observation with H-E staining. In the histologocal observation of thigh muscle, cell infiltration, inflammatory, degeneration, necrosis of muscle fiber, and fibrosis were found in both thigh tissue. And the changes were depend on the dose of Sweet BV. But another organs were not detected in any abnormalities. 7. The proper high dosage of Sweet BV for the thirteen week repeated test in Beagle dogs may be 0.28mg/kg in one time. Conclusion: Above findings suggest that Sweet BV is relatively safe treatment medium. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.83-91
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• 2009

$\beta$-glucan is a fiber-type complex sugar (polysaccharide) derived from the cell wall of baker's yeast, oat and barley fiber, and many medicinal mushrooms, such as maitake. The primary uses of $\beta$-glucan are to enhance the immune system, to lower blood cholesterol levels and to treat tumor. $\beta$-glucan has no systemic toxicity in mice, therefore it needed clinical trail to prove efficacy and safety for human. The subjects total 56 healty volunteers were divided into two groups including taken $\beta$-glucan tablet group and placebo group. Subjects were taken two tablets per oral for 4 weeks. They had agreed to take part in this experiment, and didn't take any other clinical trail products. After 4 weeks blood of subjects were checked. The check list are TNF-$\alpha$, INF-$\gamma$, IL-2, IL-4, total WBC, differential WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, platelet, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HCT, Na, K, Ca, Cl, AST, ALT, ALP, $\gamma$-GTP, total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, albumin, uric acid, creatinine, BUN, pH, protein, glucose, ketone body, blood, bilirubin. We evaluated efficacy by cytokines that compare before and after taking. Collected data were analyzed as two sample t-test, chi-square test and ANOVA using SAS V.9.1.This study results are that in TNF-$\alpha$ of $1^{st}$ efficacy measurement item, all of two groups figure were increased significantly compare to before figure. In IL4 of $2^{nd}$ efficacy measurement item, experimental group figure were decreased significantly but placebo group figure were increased. The conclusions show that based on the above results, $\beta$-glucan has favorable effect to enhance immune system, especially IL4 results showed that it has effect to improve the allergic immune system.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.462-472
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the quality characteristics of Brassica juncea cultivated in Jeongseon (BJJ), South Korea. We analyzed the nutritional components and antioxidant activity of BJJ. As a result of the free sugar analysis, the contents of glucose and fructose in BJJ were $0.29{\pm}0.02g/100g$ and $0.10{\pm}0.00g/100g$, respectively. The major fatty acids were palmitic acid, octadecenoic acid and stearic acid. The palmitic acid was the highest at 31.22% of all fatty acids. The major minerals were identified as Ca, P, K, Mg and Na. The contents of vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C and vitamin E in BJJ were $0.02{\pm}0.00mg/100g$, $0.087{\pm}0.01mg/100g$, $0.02{\pm}0.00mg/100g$, $0.56{\pm}0.06mg/100g$ and $0.20{\pm}0.03mg\;{\alpha}-TE/100g$, respectively. As a result of the free amino acid analysis, total amino acid contents in BJJ were $2,801.21{\pm}115.38mg/100g$. L-proline content was the highest ($744.30{\pm}119.06mg/100g$) in BJJ. BJJ extract inhibits reactive oxygen species production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Also, BJJ extract exhibits a protective effect on oxidative stress in $H_2O_2$-induced human dermal fibroblast. These results indicate that BJJ comprises various valuable nutrients which can be used as functional food ingredients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2022

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the large intestine disease that results in chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) is known for its pharmacological activities. Persicaria tinctoria (PT) is also used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the attenuating effects of Rg3-RGE with PT on oxazolone (OXA)-induced UC in mice. Methods: A total of six groups of mice including control group, OXA (as model group, 1.5%) group, sulfasalazine (75 mg/kg) group, Rg3-RGE (20 mg/kg) group, PT (300 mg/kg) group, and Rg3-RGE (10 mg/kg) with PT (150 mg/kg) group. Data on the colon length, body weight, disease activity index (DAI), histological changes, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Real-time PCR of inflammatory factors, ELISA of inflammatory factors, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis were obtained. Results: Overall, the combination treatment of Rg3-RGE and PT significantly improved the colon length and body weight and decreased the DAI in mice compared with the treatment with OXA. Additionally, the histological injury was also reduced by the combination treatment. Moreover, the NO production level and inflammatory mediators and cytokines were significantly downregulated in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the model group. Also, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) were suppressed in the combination treatment group compared with the OXA group. Furthermore, the number of immune cell subtypes of CD4⁺ T-helper cells, CD19⁺ B-cells, and CD4⁺ and CD25⁺ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was improved in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the OXA group. Conclusion: Overall, the mixture of Rg3-RGE and PT is an effective therapeutic treatment for UC.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of experimental study was to prove the effects of Boyangmakseong-bang (BYMSB) treatment on cBSA-induced in a MN mouse model. Methods: We divided mice into 4 groups. The Normal group had no treatment. We used cBSA and induced MN mouse model to the other 3 groups. The Control group was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) only. The second group, named 'BY-250', was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) and BYMSB extract (250mg/kg, p.o). The third group, named 'BY-500', was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) and BYMSB extract (500mg/kg, p.o). After cBSA and BYMSB extract treatment for 4 weeks, the increase in percentage of body weight, proteinuria, serum albumin, total cholesterol, creatinine and BUN of all groups were measured. The CD3+, CD19+, CD4+, CD8+ cell levels of spleen of all groups were analyzed. IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ levels of all groups were gauged. H&E staining, immunofluorescence staining and electron microscopy of kidney were observed. Results: BYMSB showed significant decrease in the 24hrs proteinuria, serum total cholesterol, serum IgG levels and BUN levels, and showed significant increase in the serum albumin levels compared with the control group. BYMSB showed increase in the increasing percentage of body weight and IFN-${\gamma}$ levels compared with the control. BYMSB showed decrease in the CD3+ T cells, CD4+ Th cells, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels, but did not show significant change compared with the control. BYMSB showed considerable decrease in the thickening of the GBM on H&E staining, deposition of IgG on immunofluorescence staining and deposition of electron-density on electron microscopy of kidney compared with the control. Conclusions: According to the above results, it is suggested that BYMSB decreases the symptoms of MN induced by cBSA in a mouse model. Therefore BYMSB seems to be applicable to MN in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2002

The gas diffusion electrodes as oxygen cathodes f3r the brine electrolysis process were investigated. The gas diffusion electrode consists of a reaction layer, a gas diffusion layer, and a current distributor. The reaction layer was made from hydrophilic carbon black, hydrophobic carbon black, PTFE(polyterafluoroethylene), and Ag catalyst loaded by the silver mirror reaction or impregnation method. The gas diffusion layer was made from hydrophobic carbon black and PTFE, and Ni mesh was used as the current distributor in the reaction layer. The result that the gas diffusion electrode $(10wt\%\;Ag\;catalyst\;and\;20wt\%\;binder)$ manufactured by applying impregnation method to the carbon black f3r reaction layer showed the better performance was obtained from experiments. From the half-cell test, the measured overpotential of this oxygen cathode was about 700mV, And through the electrolysis experiment under the condition of $80^{\circ}C,\;32wt\%$ NaOH, and $300mA/cm^2$, the electrolysis voltage of this electrode was about 2.2 V, The gas diffusion electrodes manufactured in the present research were capable of continuous operations for three months.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.6 s.89
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• pp.579-587
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• 2001

Cleft palate has been studied with epidemiologic and molecular methods, and many etiologic factors have been examined closely Among the research methods, biologic molecule research has been the most important method for cleft palate formation study The $TGF-\beta$ played an important role in cell migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation, extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition. But there was not much research on the correlation cleft palate induced by beta-aminonitroproprionitrile(BAPN) and $TGF-\beta$ expression. The purpose of the present study was to examine how $TGF-\beta$ is expressed in cleft palate rats. 4 Timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained on the 10th gestation day. On the 13th day of gestation, BAPN-monofumarate salts (${(C_3H_6N_2)}_2{\cdot}C_4H_4O_4$) were individually, ovally administered to 3 pregnant rats at a ratio of 1g/kg body weight. And 4 pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 20 post coitus (p.c.). The $TGF-\beta$ expression in the cleft formed rats fetuses showed the following patterns : 1. Osteoblast and mesenchymal cells of the cleft pa)ate rats were of low expression compared with those of the control rats. 2. The cleft palate rats didn't show uy difference in the $TGF-\beta$ expression of osteocyte item the control rats. 3. In western blot analysis, the thickness of band of $TGF-\beta$ in the cleft palate rats was thinner and more diluted than that of the control rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1386-1392
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• 2008

A gene (sll0158) putatively encoding a glycogen branching enzyme (GBE, E.C. 2.4.1.18) was cloned from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, and the recombinant protein expressed and characterized. The PCR-amplified putative GBE gene was ligated into a pET-21a plasmid vector harboring a T7 promoter, and the recombinant DNA transformed into a host cell, E. coli BL21(DE3). The IPTG-induced enzymes were then extracted and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The putative GBE gene was found to be composed of 2,310 nucleotides and encoded 770 amino acids, corresponding to approx. 90.7 kDa, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. The optimal conditions for GBE activity were investigated by measuring the absorbance change in iodine affinity, and shown to be pH 8.0 and $30^{\circ}C$ in a 50 mM glycine-NaOH buffer. The action pattern of the GBE on amylose, an $\alpha$-(1,4)-linked linear glucan, was analyzed using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) after isoamylolysis. As a result, the GBE displayed $\alpha$-glucosyl transferring activity by cleaving the $\alpha$-(1,4)-linkages and transferring the cleaved maltoglycosyl moiety to form new $\alpha$-(1,6)-branch linkages. A time-course study of the GBE reaction was carried out with biosynthetic amylose (BSAM; $M_p{\cong}$8,000), and the changes in the branch-chain length distribution were evaluated. When increasing the reaction time up to 48 h, the weight- and number-average DP ($DP_w$ and $DP_n$) decreased from 19.6 to 8.7 and from 17.6 to 7.8, respectively. The molecular size ($M_p$, peak $M_w{\cong}2.45-2.75{\times}10^5$) of the GBE-reacted product from BSAM reached the size of amylose (AM) in botanical starch, yet the product was highly soluble and stable in water, unlike AM molecules. Thus, GBE-generated products can provide new food and non-food applications, owing to their unique physical properties.