• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 2005

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-$\kappa$B) regulates the expression of multiple cytokines, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules that are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. We investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and the mechanism of action of DA-9201, an extract of the black rice, in a mouse model of asthma. Mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) were administered with DA-9201 (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (DEXA, 3 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and challenged with aerosolized OVA during the last 3 days. Anti-asthmatic effects were assessed by means of enhanced pauses, level of total lgE and Th2 cytokines in plasma or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, and histopathological examination. The expression of NF-$\kappa$B in nuclear and cytoplasmic fraction and its DNA-binding activity in lung tissues were analyzed by means of Western blotting and electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. DA-9201 significantly reduced airway hyperrespon-siveness (AHR), total lgE level in plasma and BALF, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in BALF, and the percentage of eosinophils in BALF. Tissue inflammation was significantly improved by DA­9201 treatment. In addition, DA-9201 dramatically suppressed the expression of NF-$\kappa$B and its DNA-binding activity. These results suggest that DA-9201 may be useful for the treatment of asthma and its efficacy is related to suppression of NF-$\kappa$B pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2021

Neuroinflammation―a common pathological feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease―is mediated by microglial activation. Thus, inhibiting microglial activation is vital for treating various neurological disorders. 7,3',4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF)―a secondary metabolite of the soybean compound daidzein―possesses antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, the effects of 7,3',4'-THIF on microglial activation have not been explored. In this study, antineuroinflammatory effects of 7,3',4'-THIF in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells were examined. 7,3',4'-THIF significantly suppressed the production of the proinflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, 7,3',4'-THIF markedly inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Western blotting revealed that 7,3',4'-THIF diminished LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Overall, 7,3',4'-THIF exerts antineuroinflammatory effects against LPS-induced microglial activation by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB signaling, ultimately reducing proinflammatory responses. Therefore, these antineuroinflammatory effects of 7,3',4'-THIF suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.511-517
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• 2015

This research was conducted to evaluate the influence of root restriction materials and media on the growth of runner plantlets of 'Seolhyang' strawberry in a nursery field. To achieve this, the influence of three kinds of root media on the growth of runner plantlets was monitored when polyethylene film was used as the root restriction material. In addition, the influence of various root restriction materials (RRS) such as transparent polyethylene film (PE), non-woven fabric (NF), perforated polyethylene film (PP), and root proofing sheet (RPS) on the changes in volumetric water content (VWC) and temperature of root media as well as growth of runner plantlet were investigated when expanded rice hull (ERH) was used as the root medium. In the comparison of root media, growth parameters such as leaf area and crown thickness at 20 d after fixation as well as crown thickness and fresh weights of root and above-ground tissue at 40 d after runner plantlet fixation were higher in the ERH treatment than in sandy loam and loamy sand. When the influence of RRS was compared, the VWC of ERH was 55% just after irrigation, but decreased to 26% at just before irrigation. Ranges of the VWC as influenced by irrigation cycle were 16 to 10% in the PP and less than 10% in the NF and RPS. The soil temperature in the PE treatment was around $1^{\circ}C$ lower than in NF, PP, and RPS. The differences between day and night temperatures were also smaller in the PE treatment rather than those in NF, PP, and RPS. The growths of runner plantlet 50 d after fixation showed that plant heights as well as fresh weights of root and above-ground tissue were higher in the PE treatment than in NF, PP, and RPS. NF and PP did not effectively restrict roots inside the medium and the roots of runner plantlets penetrated through the root restriction materials resulting in the formation of root system below the restriction materials. The above results indicate that ERH is more effective than sandy loam or loamy sand as root medium. PE rather than NF, PP, or RPS as root restriction material resulted in better growth of runner plantlets in propagation of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. The results of this research will be used for production of high quality runner plantlets in strawberry propagation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2018

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role for host defense against invading pathogens. The activation of TLRs signaling leads to the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and the expression of pro-inflammatory gene products such as cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). To evaluate the therapeutic potential of cardamonin, which is a naturally occurring chalcone from Alpinia species (zingiberaceous plant species), $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and iNOS expression induced by MALP-2 (TLR2 and TLR6 agonist) or LPS (TLR4 agonist) were examined. Cardamonin inhibited the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ induced by MALP-2 or LPS. Cardamonin also suppressed the iNOS expression induced by MALP-2 or LPS. These results suggest that cardamonin has the specific mechanism for anti-inflammatory responses by regulating of TLRs signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2000

Membrane processes are capable of removing much materials from water. The removal or rejection characteristics of a membrane is usually depend upon the nominal pore size or MWCO(molecular weight cut off). A membrane with a smaller nominal pore size or MWCO should be capable of removing smaller contaminants from water. A series of experiments was performed to investigate the separation characteristics of membrane processes which consisted of microfiltration(MF) and nanofiltration(NF). To evaluate removal efficiencies of some pollutants such as the consumption of $KMnO_4$, THMFP, NH3-N, Fe, Mn, and pesticides, source water sampled from the Kum river was treated by the those membrane processes. Also, the results of experiments were compared with those of conventional water treatment processes. By two types of the membrane process, total removal efficiency of $KMnO_4$ consumed, THMEP, and $NH_3-N$ were 91.0%, 84.3%, and 85.5%, respectively and those processes were efficient in pesticides removal as well. Most of the effluents satisfied the Korean standard of drinking water quality continuously in the experimental periods. However, NF was needed for producing the safe drinking water in case of treating the raw water contaminated with Mn since removal efficiency of MF was not high enough. On the basis of the experimental results, it was suggested that NF could be applied to remove not only $NH_3-N$ but THMFP even without pre-chlorination.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.155-166
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• 2010

Objetives : The purpose of this study was to examine the pathway of anti-allergic effects of Aconiti Ciliare Tuber (ACT). Methods : We examined cell viability, ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release, pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion and mRNA expressions, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) (p65) activation, inhibitor kappa B-alpha ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$) degradation, and MAPKs activation from RBL-2H3 cells pre-treatment by ACT of 1.0 mg/ml, 2.0 mg/ml separately. Results : We observed that ACT reduced the secretion of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4 and the expression of COX-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells. Futhermore, ACT inhibited the levels of activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) protein, ERK MAPK, and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusions : These results show that ACT has an anti-histamine effect and inhibitory effect of NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) through regulation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation. This improves that ACT could be used as an anti-allergic medicine.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2020

The fouling of Nanofiltration membrane (NF) was examined using wastewater containing reactive black dye RB5 of 1500 Pt/Co color concentrations with 16890 mg/l TDS collected from El-alamia Company for Dying and Weaving in Egypt. The NF-unit was operated at constant pressure of 10 bars, temperature of 25℃, and flowrate of 420 L/min. SEM, EDX, and FTIR were used for fouling characterization. Using the ROIFA-4 program, the total inorganic fouling load was 1.07 mM/kg present as 49.3% Carbonates, 10.1% Sulfates, 37.2% Silicates, 37.2% Phosphates, and 0.93% Iron oxides. The permeate flux, recovery, salt rejection and mass transfer coefficients of the dye molecules were reduced significantly after fouling. The results clearly demonstrate that the fouling had detrimental effect on membrane performance in dye removal, as indicated by a sharp decrease in permeate flux and dye recovery 68%. The dye mass transfer coefficient was dropped dramatically by 34%, and the salt permeability increased by 14%. In this study, all the properties of the membrane used and the fouling that caused its poor condition are identified. Another study was conducted to regeneration fouled membrane again by chemical methods in another article (Abdel-Fatah et al. 2017).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.244-249
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• 2014

Arazyme is a metalloprotease secreted by Aranicola proteolyticus that was previously shown to suppress cytokine expression of keratinocytes and endothelial cells and inhibit histopathological features in an atopic dermatitis-like animal model. However, the regulatory effects of arazyme in other allergic diseases have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether arazyme is effective against neutrophil apoptosis in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Arazyme inhibited neutrophil apoptosis of normal subjects in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antiapoptotic effect of arazyme was reversed by LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, AKTi, an inhibitor of Akt, PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, and BAY-11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$. Arazyme induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ via PI3K/Akt/ERK pathway. The anti-apoptotic effect of arazyme is associated with inhibition of cleavage of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Arazyme inhibited constitutive apoptosis of neutrophil in a dose-dependent manner in allergic subjects, and its mechanism was shown to be associated with PI3K/Akt/ERK/NF-${\kappa}B$. The results presented here improve our understanding of neutrophil apoptosis regulation and will facilitate development of drugs for treatment of allergic diseases.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.235-250
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• 2014

The impacts of membrane degradation due to chlorine attack on the rejection of inorganic salts and trace organic contaminants by nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were investigated in this study. The rejection of trace contaminants was examined at environmentally relevant concentrations. Changes in the membrane surface morphology were observed as a result of chlorine exposure. A small increase in rejection was consistently observed with all four membranes selected in this study after being exposed to a low concentration of hypochlorite (100 ppm). In contrast, a higher concentration of hypochlorite (i.e., 2000 ppm) could be detrimental to the membrane separation capacity. Membranes with severe chlorine impact showed a considerable decrease in rejection over filtration time, possibly due to rearrangement of the polyamide chains under the influence of chlorine degradation and filtration pressure. The reported results indicate that loose NF membranes are more sensitive to chlorine exposure than RO membranes. The impact of hypochlorite exposure (both positive and negative) on rejection is dependent on the strength of the hypochlorite solution and is more significant for the neutral carbamazepine compound than the negatively charged sulfamethoxazole.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1611-1615
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• 2012

Triptolide, a diterpenoid obtained from Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f, has attracted interest for its antitumor activities against human tumor cell lines in recent years. This report focuses on anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in human melanoma A375 cells assessed by CCK8 assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. In addition, triptolide-induced arrest in the S phase was also observed. Caspase assays showed the apoptosis induced by triptolide was caspase-dependent and probably through intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) and its downstream factors such as Bcl-2, Bcl-$X_L$ was down-regulated. Taken together, the data indicate that triptolide inhibits A375 cells proliferation and induces apoptosis by a caspase-dependent pathway and through a NF-${\kappa}B$-mediated mechanism.