• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2016

Acne is known as the most common skin disease. It commonly occurs during adolescents, but it is also present in children and adults because of air pollution, drug abuse and so on. In addition to the hormonal, genetic and environmental factors, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) have also critical roles in outbreak of acne by inducing inflammatory mediators. Increase of sebum production provides an ideal environment for P. acnes that induce inflammation on the skin by activation of monocytic cells and stimulation of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, natural extracts were investigated for anti-inflammatory effects against inflammatory acne by P. acnes infection in terms of reducing cytokine production. Eucalyptus globulus extracts effectively suppressed mRNA synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-2, and NLRP3 in P. acnes-activated macrophages. Moreover, Eucalyptus globulus extracts inhibit activation of transcription factors, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and NFAT, which are known as key regulators of inflammatory cytokine production. This study suggests the potential of using Eucalyptus globulus extracts as alternative agents for the treatment of acne.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.964-969
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• 2000

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate(DEHA) has been used extensively as a plasticizer in the manufacture of plastic products such as PVC films. Though, phthalate esters plasticizers have been known to induce endocrine system-mediated responses, few studies have been conducted for the screening of estrogenic activity of DEHA, an adipate plasticizer. This study was initiated to evaluate the estrogenic activity of DEHA by in vitro E-screen assay and in vivo uterotrophic assay. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were treated with $DEHA(5{\times}10^{-9}{\sim}5{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$, for 144 hr, and cell proliferation was determined by sulforhodamine B(SRB) assay. DEHA dissolved in corn oil was administered subcutaneously to ovariectomized(OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats at dosage levels of 0, 2, 20 and 200 mg/kg/day for three consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed 24 hr after final treatment and vagina and uterus(wet and blotted) weights were obtained. E-screen assayed DEHA did not generate cell proliferation at treated concentrations$(5{\times}10^{-9}{\sim}5{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$, whereas 17 ${\beta}-estradiol$(E2), the positive control, induced cell proliferation at low concentrations$(5{\times}10^{-14}{\sim}5{\times}10^{-9}\;M)$. In the uterotrophic assay, DEHA did not change vagina and uterus(wet and blotted) weights at dosage levels up to 200 mg/kg/day treatment. These results demonstrated that DEHA did not exhibit the estrogenic activity as determined by in vitro E-screen assay and in vivo uterotrophic assay.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.580-586
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• 2010

The effects of persimmon, mulberry and bamboo leaves addition on the fermentative and sensory characteristics of kimchi were investigated. Total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and lactic acid bacteria growth inhibition of EtOH extract from persimmon leaves were significantly higher than those from mulberry and bamboo leaves. From the sensory evaluation of kimchi added with three chopped plant leaves, kimchi added with chopped persimmon leaves gave the highest point in color, flavor, texture and overall preference significantly (p<0.05). When the chopped persimmon leaves were added at a ratio of 0.3% based on cabbage weight, the changes of pH and total acidity (TA) during the storage for 14 days were significantly lowered, compared to general kimchi (p<0.05). Total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity of kimchi supplemented with chopped persimmon leaves at 0.3% also significantly increased after storage for 14 days (p<0.05), and this kimchi provided higher total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity than general kimchi. These results suggest that the addition of perisimmon leaves have significant influences on the fermentation and sensory characteristics of kimchi.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-306
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• 2009

In this study, the biological response of fetal rat calvarial cells on alkali- and heat-treated titanium was assessed. The results were as follows; Cell proliferation on alkali- and heat-treated surfaces showed significantly higher level than on the titanium-6aluminum-4vanadium (weight percentage: 6 % aluminum, 4 % vanadium, Ti-6Al-4V) surface (p<0.01). In ELISA analysis, concentration of $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were raised when the cells were grown to day 7. Pre-treatment with herbimycin, a known tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppressed the production of IL-6 (p<0.01). In comparison to commercially pure titanium (grade II, cp-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloy, alkali- and heat-treated titanium enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity (p<0.001). In RT-PCR analysis, alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, receptor activated nuclear factor ligand mRNA expression was increased alkali- and heat-treated titanium. Herbimycin and SB203580, p38 MAPK inhibitor, were repressed of $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ IL-6 mRNA expression. These results suggest that alkali- and heat-treated titanium stimulate osteoblasts differentiation and facilitate bone remodeling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1022-1028
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• 2013

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) was considered a functional food with an anti-cancer effect in colon, gastric, and lung cancer. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to elucidate the effect of chaga mushroom extract in brain cancer. Glioblastoma U-87 MG cells were used in investigation of cell survivability, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest analysis. Treatment with various concentrations of chaga mushroom extract resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest. Although caspase-3 expression was increased over $100{\mu}g/mL$ of chaga mushroom extract treatment, apoptosis factors with Bcl-2, Bax and p53 did not change. In analysis of cell cycle regulatory factors, expression of cyclin D1 and CDK2 decreased in a dose-dependent manner. We have demonstrated the anti-cancer effect of chaga mushroom extract in glioblastoma, which may be mediated by activation of the caspase pathway and induction of cell cycle arrest.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.459-464
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• 2005

연구 배경 : Adenosine deaminase (ADA)는 퓨린 (purine) 대사에 작용하는 효소로서 림 프구, 특히 T-림프구의 증식과 분화에 관여하며, 결핵성 흉수의 진단에 있어서 중요한 생화학적 표지자 중의 하나이다. 한편, 노인의 경우, T-림프구의 수와 기능의 감소에 의하여 면역 기능이 감소하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이에 저자 등은 노인 결핵성 흉수 환자에서 흉수내의 ADA 수치가 젊은 환자에서보다 감소하는지를 조사하였다. 방 법 : 4년 동안 세브란스 병원에서 1) 흉수 결핵균 배양 양성 또는 2) 흉막 조직 검사상 결핵에 합당한 소견을 보여 결핵성 흉수로 진단받은 환자 80명을 대상으로 후향적으로 조사하였다. 65세를 기준으로 두 군으로 분류하였으며, 연령과 흉수 ADA 수치의 연관 관계를 독립 표본 t-검정 및 선형 회귀 분석을 이용하여 연구하였다. 결 과 : 80명의 환자 중 65세 이상은 21명 (26.3%)이었다. 흉수 내의 ADA 수치는 65세 이상 및 이하 군에서 각각 $71.2{\pm}27.6IU/L$, $68.5{\pm}5.8IU/L$ 이었다 (p=0.69). 선형 회귀 분석에서도 연령과 흉수 내의 ADA 수치는 상관 관계를 보이지 않았다 ($r^2=0.05$, p=0.59). 결 론 : 본 연구의 결과에 의하면, 결핵성 흉수의 진단에서 흉수 ADA 수치를 보조 지표로 사용하는 데 있어서, 노인환자에서도 젊은 환자와 동일한 임상적 유의성을 가지고 동일한 결정 수치 (cut-off value)를 적용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2010

Ras genes are responsible for up to 30% of human tumor mutations and are composed of three isoforms: H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. The post-translational modification of the CAAX motif of the Ras protein is essential in Ras actions. In the present study, we studied the effects of novel farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs), YH3938 and YH3945, on the actions of oncogenic mutants of H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. YH3938 and YH3945 completely reverted the proliferation and morphology of oncogenic H-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells, but not of oncogenic K-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells. Oncogenic N-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells were slightly affected. Activation of SRE promoters by oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not by K-Ras, were inhibited by treatment with YH3938 and YH3945. Using bandshift analysis, YH3938 suppressed the processing of oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not that of oncogenic K-Ras protein. YH3945 only inhibited the processing of H-Ras. From these results, we conclude that YH3938 and YH3945 specifically inhibit actions of oncogenic H-Ras through inhibition of its farnesylation, that YH3938 also inhibits N-Ras activity in a dose-dependent manner, and that these drugs have no effect on oncogenic K-Ras activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1200-1208
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• 2009

Tight junctions (TJs) that act as paracellular permeability barriers play an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the tightening of TJs, permeability and the invasive activity of genistein - a bioactive isoflavone of soybeans - in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The inhibitory effects of genistein on cell proliferation, motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with the increased tightness of the TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and a decrease in paracellular permeability. Additionally, the immunoblotting results indicated that genistein repressed the levels of the proteins that comprise the major components of TJ, claudin-3 and claudin-4, which play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, genistein decreased the metastasis-related gene expressions of insulin like growth factor-1 receptor and snail, while concurrently increasing that of thrombospondin-1 and E-cadherin. In addition, we demonstrated that claudins play an important role in the anti-motility and invasiveness of genistein using claudin-3 small interfering RNA. Taken together, our results indicate a possible role for genistein as an inhibitor of cancer cell invasion through the tightening of TJs, which may counteract the up-regulation of claudins. In addition, our results indicate that this may be beneficial for the inhibition of tumor metastasis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.513-521
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• 2020

B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi1) is a polycomb group protein and a core component of polycomb repressive complex 1. Initial research into Bmi1 has focused on its role in tumorigenesis, and it is generally accepted that it is important for the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. However, more recent studies have revealed that Bmi1 is downregulated in brains with neurodegenerative disease and that it regulates the function of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species levels. In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of Bmi1 in pilocarpine-induced seizures in Bmi1-knockout mice. Bmi1 expression transiently increased in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 and the dentate gyrus following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). In terms of seizure behavior, SE induction was 43.14% and 53.57% for Bmi1^+/+ and Bmi1^+/- mice, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in mortality or hippocampal damage between the two groups. Two months after SE induction, the frequency of epileptic seizures in the Bmi1^+/- mice was 50% lower than in the control group, although the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, mossy fiber outgrowth in the Bmi1^+/- mice was significantly higher than in their wild-type littermates. Taken together, these data indicate that reduced Bmi1 activity increases pilocarpine-induced seizure probability and mossy fiber outgrowth.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.93-108
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• 2007

In order to find a solution to protect pigs from bacterial diarrhea and the nasty smell in stalls which are the most trouble, we composed a bio-formula with Stretococcus thermophilus, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens and Bacillu subtilis. The antagonistic microbe Bacillus amyloliquifaciens can control the growth of Salmonella typhimurium KCTC 1926, Escherichia coli O-157, Listeria and Staphylococcus. S. thermophilus from pig's stomach can live in gastric juice so it also control germs. They worked in its living cell state and its culture fluid. As a result of feeding with piglings, it showed effects of preventing diarrhea and increasing the weight.