• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2003

This study was carried out to find the preventive medical and therapeutic effects of Sarcodon asparatus on adult disease by employing several biological and biochemical assays. Nitrate scavenging ability(NSA) of Sarcodan asparatus extracts was displayed up to 99.9% at pH 1.2 in a dose-dependent manner. They also had 90.4% electron donating ability(EDA) at the concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Extracts of Sarcodon asparatus were also able to function as a powerful antioxidant at all concentrations(0.01∼l.0 mg/mL). Furthermore, we observed that 1 mg/mL concentration of the extracts was more powerful than BHT, With respect to fibrolytic activity, Sarcodon asparatus showed 1,843.8 unit/g, which was higher than streptokinase(1,189 unit/g). The inhibitory effects of the extracts on angiotensin converting enzyme, measured by the normal and pretreatment methods, were 53 and 58%, respectively. We also performed cytotoxicity effect of Sarcodon asparatus extracts on a various cancer cell lines. The growth inhibitory effects of the extracts(5.0 mg/mL) on A549, HeLa, AGS, and SK-Hep-1 cells were 78.9, 55.3, 69.0, and 42.5 %, respectively. Interestingly, Sarcodon asparatusextracts induced mutation on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 when Ames test was done.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1518-1525
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• 2011

Sorafenib is the only approved systemic, therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The use of Ginseng Extract (GE) in cancer patients is growing worldwide; however, drug interaction between sorafenib and GE has not been illuminated. Four different human cancer cell lines including HepG2 were used and immunocompetent mice were implanted subcutaneously with a mouse HCC cell line. Treatment with low dose GE stimulated cell growth, while a high dose inhibited growth. pERK (phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase) was concomitantly increased and decreased respective of different doses of GE. Antitumoral effect of sorafenib decreased in non-proliferating phase cells but was sensitized after low dose GE (LDG) treatment. PD98059 (ERK phosphorylation inhibitor) efficiently blocked ERK phosphorylation, resulting in loss of sorafenib sensitization even after LDG treatment. In the HCC mouse model, LDG alone slightly increased tumor size while sorafenib alone significantly decreased it. However, a combination of LDG and sorafenib significantly decreased tumor size compared with sorafenib alone. Increase of pERK was observed in some normal mice organs and mild inflammatory change was observed in some of these organs, suggesting pERK activation by LDG may cause unexpected toxicity in normal cells. GE, dose-dependently, induced stimulation or inhibition in some human cancer cell lines. Combinational use of GE and sorafenib possibly potentiated an antitumoral response to sorafenib. pERK level has been provided as a potential predictive marker for sorafenib. Our result may suggest GE's dual effects in relation to pERK level in HCC cancer cell lines, and that certain doses of GE can sensitize sorafenib.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1215-1224
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• 2017

Until now, various oncogenic pathways were idenfied. The accumulation of DNA mutation induces genomic instability in the cell, and it makes cancer. The development of bioinformatics and genomics, to find the precise and reliable biomarker is available. This biomarker could be applied the early-dignosis, prediction and convalescence of cancer. Recently, Transposable elements (TEs) have been attracted as the regulator of genes, because they occupy a half of human genome, and the cause of various diseases. TEs induce DNA mutation, as well as the regulation of gene expression, that makes to cancer development. So, we confirmed the relationship between TEs and colon cancer, and provided the clue for colon cancer biomarker. First, we confirmed long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1), Alu, and long terminal repeats (LTRs) and their relationship to colon cancer. Because these elements have large composition and enormous effect to the human genome. Interestingly, colon cancer specific patterns were detected, such as the hypomethylation of LINE-1, LINE-1 insertion in the APC gene, hypo- or hypermethylation of Alu, and isoform derived from LTR insertion. Moreover, hypomethylation of LINE-1 in proto-oncogene is used as the biomarker of colon cancer metastasis, and MLH1 mutation induced by Alu is detected in familial or hereditary colon cancer. The genes, effected by TEs, were analyzed their expression patterns by in silico analysis. Then, we provided tissue- and gender-specific expression patterns. This information can provide reliable cancer biomarker, and apply to prediction and diagnosis of colon cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2013

With Korea's rapid entry to aged society, elderly population has become a major age group both in the whole society and medical field and its importance will be constantly stressed out. Elderly population is also important in the field of oral medicine which deals with chronic and recurrent diseases in the orofacial region of non-dental origin but there exist few studies indicating epidemiology of elderly patients in this regards. This study aimed to investigate change of age distribution of new patients in a university-based dental hospital and oral medicine clinic for last decade and to investigate clinical epidemiology of elderly patients (${\geq}$ 65 years) of oral medicine clinic. This study was performed retrospectively using medical records of the new patients in Dankook University Dental Hospital in 2001 and 2011. According to the study, percentage of elderly new patients increased in both dental hospital and oral medicine clinic and degree of the increase was greater in oral medicine clinic than in the whole hospital (p=0.000). 13.5% of adult patients ${\geq}$ 18 years of oral medicine clinic were elderly patients ${\geq}$ 65 years. 83% of elderly patients were suffering from one or more systemic diseases. Although TMD was the most common reason for elderly patients who visited oral medicine clinic, oral soft tissue diseases, dry mouth, burning mouth syndrome and oromandibular dystonia was more frequently diagnosed in elderly patients compared to adult patients aged 18 to 64 years. Pain severity and interference of Brief Pain Inventory and depression and anxiety scores of Hospital Anxiety Depression Scales were higher in elderly patients than in the adult patients (p<0.05). Increase of elderly patients with chronic oral diseases and pain needs more attention of dentists and specialists of oral medicine to improvement of assessment and development of tailored management because large portion of the elderly patients have systemic diseases, polypharmacy and impaired communication, possibly restricting treatment options.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2013

This study was aimed to evaluate the masticatory efficiency after botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection during 12 weeks using objective and subjective test. Also, we compared the difference of masticatory efficiency between group that injected into the masseter muscle only (M-group) and group that injected into the masseter and temporalis muscle (M-T group). The mixing ability index (MAI) was used as the objective indicator, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and food intake ability (FIA) index were used as the subjective indicators. It was concluded that masticatory efficiency was significantly lowered after a BTX-A injection into the masticatory muscle, but it gradually recovered in a predictable pattern by the 12 weeks. The disturbance of subjective masticatory efficiency was lasted longer than objective masticatory efficiency. The masticatory efficiency was lower in M-T group than M group. It was statistically significant in the VAS and FIA at 4 weeks, but the MAI showed no significancy. After 4weeks, there was rapid recovery of muscle function in M-T group, and the difference between two groups was not significant. It could be concluded that there will be no serious disturbance of mastication compared to injection is done only into the masseter muscle, even if injection is done into the masseter and temporalis muscle in dose of this study. According to the food properties, it was confirmed that people feel more discomfort on taking hard and tough foods after BTX-A injection and not only hard foods, but also intake of soft and runny foods were influenced by botulinum toxin injection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2002

Background : Tumor associated antigens, which are produced specifically by tumor cells, are promising targets for the early diagnosis and immunotherapy. Among the tumor associated antigens, MAGE (a melanoma antigen), BAGE, GAGE, PRAME and NY-ESO were named as cancer/testis specific antigens they are detected exclusively in the testis or cancer cells If MAGE is easily detectable in the sputum, it would become a convenient method for diagnosing lung cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate MAGE expression in the induced sputum obtained from lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods : In 14 control patients and 30 lung cancer patients, the induced sputum was collected after inhaling 3% saline(5 cc) delivered by nebulizer for approximately 5 minutes after a mouth rinse and bronchodilator inhalation. The induced sputum was placed in a conservative-mixed solution (guanidinium isothiocyanate, Triton X-100). The total cellular mRNA was extracted from the cells and RT PCR and nested PCR were run in 30 and 35 cycles respectively, with two different types of primers specially designed to detect six subtypes of MAGE DNA simultaneously. Results : MAGE expression was not detected in the 14 controls, but in the 30 cancer patients, MAGE was found in 24 patients (80%, p=0.001). In the cancer patients, there were no differences in the expression level according to the tissue types (squamous cell cancer 13/17, adenocarcinoma 7/9, and small cell cancer 4/4, p-0.56). Among the 24 MAGE-positive patients, the tumor was not visible on a bronchoscopy in 11 patients (45.8%). Conclusion : A study of MAGE in induced sputum appears to be a useful and complementary method in the diagnosis of lung cancer. A further prospective study with more patients is recommended.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2005

Background : Recently, two commercialized whole-blood assays, $QuantiFERON^{(R)}-TB$ Gold (QFT) and T $SPOT-TB^{(R)}$ (SPOT), which measure the $IFN-{\gamma}$ released in the whole blood after being incubation with mycobacterial antigens, were approved for the diagnosis of a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, there is data on whether or not the previously used PPD skin tests (TST) have any influence on the diagnostic ability of these ex-vivo $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays. Methods : Forty-six 15 year-old students who did not appear to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis were enrolled in this study. The peripheral blood was collected and used for two $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays and TST were performed at the baseline ($1^{st}$). The TST was repeated two months later ($2^{nd}$), and the $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays were repeated two ($2^{nd}$) and four months ($3^{rd}$) later only in those subjects who had negative results at the baseline in both the $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays and TST. An induration size > 10 mm was considered to be positive in the TST. Results : The mean TST value was $3.1{\pm}5.4mm$ (range: 0-20). Of the 46 subjects examined, 13 subjects (28.3%) showed positive results in the two-step TST. Nine (19.6%) were SPOT-positive and only one (2.2%) was QFT-positive. The $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ QFT were carried out in 23 and 25 all-negative subjects, respectively, and all showed negative results. The $2^{nd}$ SPOT was performed in 23 subjects and only one (4.3%) showed a weak-positive result. Conclusion : Even though there were some discrepancies in the results of the two ex-vivo $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays, it appears that their results were not influenced by a previous TST carried out in two or four months earlier.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1156-1162
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• 2018

To investigate the anti-thrombotic activities of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner), various hot-water extracts were prepared from the leaf, pod of seed (PS), seed, embryo of seed (ES), root, and the node of root (NR) of the lotus. The highest extraction ratio was found in the NR (20.3%), followed by the seed, root, leaf, ES, and PS. These extracts had pH and acidity levels ranging from 5.6~6.5 and 0.06~0.20%, respectively. The seed extract showed 70% brix, whereas the leaf and PS extracts showed less than 0.1% brix. The highest contents of total polyphenol (179.7 mg/g), total flavonoids (161.4 mg/g), and reducing sugar (161.4 mg/g) were observed in the leaf extract, and the highest total sugar content (873.0 mg/g) in the seed extract. Anti-coagulation assay of the extracts of NR, leaf, and PS showed strong activities. In particular, at a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the PS extract had 15-fold extended thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times. However, only the ES extract showed activities inhibitory to platelet aggregation, with treatment with 0.25 mg/ml of ES extract decreasing platelet aggregation to 25.1%, a reduction comparable to that effected by aspirin. The extracts other than the seed extract showed no hemolysis activities against human RBC at treatments of up to 1 mg/ml. These results suggest that the NR, PS, seed, and ES, all byproducts of the lotus agriculture industry, have high potential as novel sources of anti-thrombotic agent.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.622-628
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• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to ascertain the clinical manifestations and associated cardiac anomalies of dextrocardia. Methods : Twenty-four pediatric patients, who were admitted to, or visited, Dongsan Medical Center Keimyung University and were diagnosed with dextrocardia between January 1996 and July 2001, were enrolled in this study. All patients received echocardiogram and abdominal ultrasonogram to identify structural cardiac anomalies and visceral position. Results : Among 24 patients, 7 cases were situs solitus(29.2%), 10 cases(41.6%) were situs inversus and 7 cases(29.2%) were situs ambiguous. Most were diagnosed within a week of life(87.5%). They were most commonly cyanotic(45.8%), but eleven cases(45.8%) had no specific symptoms or signs. Nineteen cases(79.2%) had accompanied cardiac anomalies, and pulmonary stenosis or atresia were the most common among them. All the cases of situs solitus and ambiguous had associated cardiac anomalies, but half of the situs inversus had that. Eleven cases were dead by cardiac or extracardiac anomalies during follow up and the mortality rate was higher in situs solitus or ambiguous group than situs inversus group. Conclusion : Dextrocardia accompanies different cardiac and extracardiac anomalies. It's very important to diagnose dextrocardia and associated cardiac or extracardiac anomalies in the early stages of life to improve prognosis.