• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2007

Dlx3 is a homeodomain protein and is known to play a role in development and differentiation of many tissues. Deletion of four base pairs in DLX3 (NT3198) is causally related to tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome (OMIM #190320), a genetic disorder manifested by taurodontism, hair abnormalities, and increased bone density in the cranium. The molecular mechanisms that explain the phenotypic characteristics of TDO syndrome have not been clearly determined. In this study, we examined phenotypic characteristics of wild type DLX3(wtDlx3) and 4-BP DEL DLX3 (TDO mtDlx3) in C2C12 cells. To investigate how wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 differentially regulate osteoblastic differentiation, reporter assays were performed by using luciferase reporters containing the promoters of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein or osteocalcin. Both wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 enhanced significantly all the reporter activities but the effect of mtDlx3 was much weaker than that of wtDlx3. In spite of these differences in reporter activity, electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that both wtDlx3 and TDO mtDlx3 formed similar amounts of DNA binding complexes with Dlx3 binding consensus sequence or with ALP promoter oligonucleotide bearing the Dlx3 binding core sequence. TDO mtDlx3 exhibits a longer half-life than wtDlx3 and it corresponds to PESTfind analysis result showing that potential PEST sequence was missed in carboxy terminal of TDO mtDlx3. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that TDO mtDlx3 binds to Msx2 more strongly than wtDlx3. Taken together, though TDO mtDlx3 acted as a weaker transcriptional activator than wtDlx3 in osteoblastic cells, there is possibility that during in vivo osteoblast differentiation TDO mtDlx3 may antagonize transcriptional repressor activity of Msx2 more effectively and for longer period than wtDlx3, resulting in enhancement of osteoblast differentiation.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.132-144
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• 2017

Purpose: To identify baseline prognostic factors for survival in patients with disease progression, during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Materials and Methods: We pooled data from patients randomized between 2009 and 2012 in 2 phase III, global double-blind studies of ramucirumab for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and/or fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy (REGARD and RAINBOW). Forty-one key baseline clinical and laboratory factors common in both studies were examined. Model building started with covariate screening using univariate Cox models (significance level=0.05). A stepwise multivariable Cox model identified the final prognostic factors (entry+exit significance level=0.01). Cox models were stratified by treatment and geographic region. The process was repeated to identify baseline prognostic quality of life (QoL) parameters. Results: Of 1,020 randomized patients, 953 (93%) patients without any missing covariates were included in the analysis. We identified 12 independent prognostic factors of poor survival: 1) peritoneal metastases; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 1; 3) the presence of a primary tumor; 4) time to progression since prior therapy <6 months; 5) poor/unknown tumor differentiation; abnormally low blood levels of 6) albumin, 7) sodium, and/or 8) lymphocytes; and abnormally high blood levels of 9) neutrophils, 10) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and/or 12) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Factors were used to devise a 4-tier prognostic index (median overall survival [OS] by risk [months]: high=3.4, moderate=6.4, medium=9.9, and low=14.5; Harrell's C-index=0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.68). Addition of QoL to the model identified patient-reported appetite loss as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The identified prognostic factors and the reported prognostic index may help clinical decision-making, patient stratification, and planning of future clinical studies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.791-798
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• 2005

The hepatoprotective activity of flavonol glycosides rich fraction (F-2), prepared from 70% alcohol extract of the aerial parts of V calcarata Desf., was evaluated in a rat model with a liver injury induced by daily oral administration of $CCl_4$ (100 mg/kg, b.w) for four weeks. Treatment of the animals with F-2 using a dose of (25 mg/kg, b.w) during the induction of hepatic damage by $CCl_4$ significantly reduced the indices of liver injuries. The hepatoprotective effects of F-2 significantly reduced the elevated levels of the following serum enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The antioxidant activity of F-2 markedly ameliorated the antioxidant parameters including glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma catalase (CAT) and packed erythrocytes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) to be comparable with normal control levels. In addition, it normalized liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and creatinine concentration. Chromatographic purification of F-2 resulted in the isolation of two flavonol glycosides that rarely occur in the plant kingdom, identified as quercetin-3,5-di-O-$\beta$-D-diglucoside (5) and kaempferol-3,5-di-O-$\beta$-D-diglucoside (4) in addition to the three known compounds identified as quercetin-3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnosyl- (${\rightarrow}6$)-$\beta$-D-glucoside [rutin, 3], quercetin-3-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside [isoquercitrin, 2] and kaempferol-3-O-$\beta$-D-glucoside [astragalin, 1]. These compounds were identified based on interpretation of their physical, chemical, and spectral data. Moreover, the spectrophotometric estimation of the flavonoids content revealed that the aerial parts of the plant contain an appreciable amount of flavonoids (0.89%) calculated as rutin. The data obtained from this study revealed that the flavonol glycosides of F-2 protect the rat liver from hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$ through inhibition of lipid peroxidation caused by $CCl_4$ reactive free radicals.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.46-53
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• 2003

The current study investigated the effect of Korean safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed powder and its water and ethanol extracts on bone metabolism during recovery from rib-fracture induced by surgical operation in rats. 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 320 g were divided into 9 groups after arrival: 10d control (AIN 76 semi-purified diet), 10d safflower seed powder (10d SS-powder), 10d safflower seed ethanol extract (10d SS-EtOH), 10d safflower seed water extract (10d SS-$H_2O$), 20d control (AIN-76 semi-purified diet), 20d safflower heed powder (20d SS-powder), 20d safflower seed ethanol extract (20d SS-EtOH), 20d safflower seed water extract (20d SS-$H_2O$), and 20d sham-operation (20d sham), The dietary level for all the supplements was 5% based on the raw material weight. The rats were fed the experimental diets for 10 days before the rib fracture operation and for a further 10 or 20 days after the operation. A number 9 rib was fractured surgically and a sham-operation also performed. The rats were then sacrificed on the l0th or 20th day after the operation. The body weight initially decreased after the operation in all the rib-fractured groups, then gradually recovered. The concentrations of plasma osteocalcin were higher in the control group than in all the safflower-supplemented groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The bone-specific ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH group than in the other groups 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The level of urinary DPD (deoxypridinoline) was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH and SS-$H_2O$ groups than in the other groups 10 days after the rib-fracture. When comparing the PTH (parathyroid hormone) and calcitonin levels, the SS-$H_2O$ group exhibited the highest PTH level among the groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture. Thus, it was concluded that the bone turnover during the fracture-healing period was more rapid in the rats supplemented with safflower seed powder or its fractions than in the control rats. Furthermore, the SS-$H_2O$ fraction was identified as the most effective in stimulating bone remodeling, as bone resorption and bone formation were both significantly increased during fracture healing when compared to the control group.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.887-892
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• 2003

신령버섯의 균사체 배양액이 성장기 흰쥐에 미치는 영향을 관찰하고자 생후 7주령의 흰쥐 수컷을 대상으로 음료수에 20% 및 30% 수준으로 신령버섯 균사체 배양액을 혼합하여 5주간 급여하고 성장률, 식이섭취량, 식이효율, 장기의 무게, 간과 혈청의 지질 농도, 혈청의 단백질 농도 및 효소 활성을 조사한 결과는 다음과 같다. 체중증가량, 식이섭취랑, 식이효율 및 장기의 무게는 대조군과 신령버섯 음료군들이 유의한 차이를 보이 지 않았다. 간과 혈청 의 중성 지질과 콜레스테롤 농도 및 혈청의 HDL-콜레스테를 농도는 대조군과 신령버섯 음료군들이 비슷한 수준으로 나타났다. 혈청의 LDL-콜레스테를 농도 및 동맥경화지수는 대조군에 비해 신령버섯 음료군들이 유의하게 감소되었다. 혈청의 총 콜레스테롤에 대한 HDL-콜레스테롤의 비율은 대조군에 비해 신령버섯 음료군들이 유의하게 증가되었다. 혈청의 총 단백질, 알부민, 혈당, 혈색소, 마그네슘 등의 농도는 각 수준별 신령버섯 음료군이 대조군과 비슷한 농도로 신령버섯 음료 섭취에 따른 영향은 나타나지 않았다. 혈청의 GPT, GOT, LDH및 ALP 등의 활성도 신령버섯 음료 섭취에 따른 영향은 나타나지 않았다. 혈청의 칼슘과 인의 농도는 대조군에 비해 신령버섯 음료군들이 유의하게 감소되었다. 이상의 결과로보아 성장기 흰쥐에 신령버섯 균사체 배양액을 20% 및 30% 수준으로 급여시 성장률, 간과 혈청의 콜레스테를 및 중성지질 농도, 단백질 농도 및 효소 활성은 정상수준을 유지하였고, 혈청의 LDL 콜레스테를 농도 및 동맥경화지수를 낮추는 효과가 있고, 혈청의 총 콜레스테롤에 대한 HDL-콜레스테롤의 비율을 높여주는 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.219-224
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• 2013

Muscular satellite cell (SC), which is stem cell of postnatal pig, is an important for study of differentiation into adipogenesis, myogenesis, and osteoblastogenesis. In this study, we isolated and examined from pig muscle tissue to determine capacity in proliferate, differentiate, and expression of various genes. Porcine satellite cells (PSC) were isolated from semimembranosus (SM) muscles of 90~100 days old pigs according to standard conditions. The cell proliferation increased in multi-potent cell by Masson's, oil red O, and Alizarin red staining respectively. We performed the expression levels of differentiation related genes using real-time PCR. We found that the differentiation into adipocyte increased expression levels of both fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) genes (p<0.01). Myocyte increased the expression levels of the myosin heavy chain (MHC), myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), myogenic regulatory factor (MyoD), and Myogenic factor 4 (myogenin) (p<0.01). Osteoblast increased the expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p<0.01). Finally, porcine satellite cells were induced to differentiate towards adipogenic, myogenic, and osteoblastogenic lineages. Our results suggest that muscle satellite cell in porcine may influence cell fate. Understanding the progression of PSC may lead to improved strategies for augmenting meat quality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.280-287
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• 2004

목적: 본 연구는 방사선에 의한 간 손상에 대한 비타민 C의 보호 효과를 알아보기 위해서 시행되었다. 대상 및 방법: Sprague Dawley 실험 쥐를 대조군, 방사선 조사군, 방사선 조사 후 비타민 C 투여군, 3그룹으로 나누어 각 그룹에 무작위로 6마리를 분배하여 실험을 진행하였다. 비타민 C의 항산화 효과를 알아보기 위해서 Superoxide dismutase (SOD), 카탈라제, Malondialdehyde (MDA), 간 효소를 측정하고 그 값을 비교하였다. 결과: 방사선에 의해서 증가된 MDA수치와 감소된 SOD활성도 및 카탈라제의 활성도는 비타민 C투여로 개선되었으나 통계적 유의성은 없었다. GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP 수치들은 방사선 조사로 증가되었으나 비타민 C 투여로 감소하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었으며, GPT의 경우에는 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였다. 전자 현미경 소견에서도 간세포 구조의 손상 정도가 비타민 C 투여군에서 뚜렷하게 감소하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결론: 비타민 C는 방사선에 의한 간세포 손상에 대해서 비록 통계적 유의성은 없었으나 항산화 효과를 보였다.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.233-239
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• 2006

Porous matrices of bioactive polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA) or polylactic acid (PLA) can be used as scaffolds in bone tissue growth during bone repair process. These polymers are highly porous and serve as a template for the growth and organization of new bone tissues. We evaluated the effect of PGA and PLA polymers on osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell extracellular mineralization. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in a time-dependent manner -1, 15, 25d as appropriate - for the period of bone formation stages in one of the five culture circumstances, such as normal osteogenic differentiation medium, PGA-plated, fetal bovine serum (FBS)-plated, PGA/FBS-coplated, and PLA-plated For the evaluation of bone formation, minerals (Ca, Mg, Mn) and alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteoblast differentiation, were measured Alizarin Red staining was used for the measurement of extracellular matrix Ca deposit During the culture period, PGA-plated one was reabsorbed into the medium more easily and faster than the PLA-plated one. At day 15, at the middle stage of bone formation, cellular Ca and Mg levels showed higher tendency in PGA- or PLA-plated treatments compared to non-plated control and at day 25, at the early late stage of bone formation, all three cellular Ca, Mg or Mn levels showed higher tendency as in order of PGA-related treatments and PLA-plated treatments, compared to control even without significance. Medium Ca, Mg or Mn levels didn't show any consistent tendency. Cellular ALP activity was higher in the PGA- or PLA-plated treatments compare to normal osteogenic medium treatment PGA-plated and PGA/FBS-plated treatments showed better Ca deposits than other treatments by measurement of Alizarin Red staining, although PLA-plated treatment also showed reasonable Ca deposit. The results of the present study suggest that biodegradable material, PGA and also with less extent for PLA, can be used as a biomaterial for better extracellular matrix mineralization in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.57-67
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• 2017

The inhibitory effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis against inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), substance P and phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment were recently reported for some cell lines and animal models. To evaluate the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of A. cochinchinensis toward the livers and kidneys of ICR mice, alterations in related markers including body weight, organ weight, urine composition, liver pathology and kidney pathology were analyzed in male and female ICR mice after oral administration of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight/day saponin-enriched extract of A. cochinchinensis (SEAC) for 14 days. The saponin, total flavonoid and total phenol levels were found to be 57.2, 88.5 and 102.1 mg/g in SEAC, respectively, and the scavenging activity of SEAC gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, body and organ weight, clinical phenotypes, urine parameters and mice mortality did not differ between the vehicle and SEAC treated group. Furthermore, no significant alterations were measured in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the serum creatinine (Cr) in the SEAC treated group relative to the vehicle treated group. Moreover, the specific pathological features induced by most toxic compounds were not observed upon liver and kidney histological analysis. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that SEAC does not induce any specific toxicity in the livers and kidneys of male and female ICR mice at doses of 600 mg/kg body weight/day.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.81-91
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• 2021

Objectives : Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that decreases bone density and increases the risk of fractures. Bisphosphonates and SERMs are mainly used to treat osteoporosis, but, long-term use increases the risk of side effects such as jaw bone necrosis and breast cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a therapeutic agent for a natural product with few side effects. Water extract of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (wLF) was mainly found to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of wLF on osteoporosis has not been elucidated. Therefore, this experiment investigated the effect of wLF on osteoclasts, osteoblasts and osteoporosis models. Methods : In order to study the effect of wLF on osteoporosis, the OVX-induced rat model was used for in vivo study. After 8 weeks, we measured body weight, uterine weight, liver weight, femur weight, bone density, trabecular area and tibia ash weight. To determine the effect of wLF on osteoclast differentiation, we measured the number of TRAP-positive cells and TRAP activity. To examine the effect of wLF on the expression of osteoblast-related genes, we measured the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP, Alpl) and osteocalcin (OCN, Bglap2). Results : In vivo experiment, wLF inhibited the reduction of femur weight, trabecular area, bone density and tibia ash weight. In vitro experiment, wLF had no significant effect on osteoclast differentiation. However, wLF increased the mRNA expression of Alpl and Bglap2 in MC3T3-E1 cell. Conclusions : This result suggested that wLF may be used for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.