• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

This study was conducted to examine the utilization of immunohistochemistry using the bovine anti-brucella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in the diagnosis of brucellosis and to develop a functional biomarker relation for the progress of the disease. Anti-brucella IgG antibody was purified from the affected bovine serum using an affinity chromatography. We performed our investigation on 17 cases of brucellosis and 19 control cases with negative Rose-Bengal test results. Our purified anti-brucella IgG antibody showed a positive immunoreactivity in cytoplasmic hepatocytes of the centrilobular region, and glomeruli and tubular epithelium of the kidney. The protein pattern of the affected liver versus control was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, showing a different expression pattern of proteins between the two. Five protein spots were up-regulated and another were five down-regulated in the brucellosis liver. Significant upregulaton of catalase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase might be due to a compensatory reaction in response to the endotoxic shock of brucella. In conclusion, the anti-brucella IgG antibody may be a good tool for discriminative diagnosis of the affected tissues and proteomics data suggest new target proteins underlying a possible pathogenic mechanism of brucellosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.469-489
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chungganhaeju-tang(Qingganjiejiu-tang) on alcoholic liver damaged by applying proteomics. Materials and Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment the rats were divided into the normal group, the control group(alcohol) and the sample group(CGHJT +alcohol). The ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 6 weeks in the control and sample groups. Water instead of ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 6 weeks in the normal group. CGHJT extract was orally administered once a day for 6 weeks in the sample group. The livers of each group were processed and assessed by histology, Western Blot, $Oxyblot^{TM}$, CBB and 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Results : In the histological findings of the liver, CGHJT inhibited hepatic fibrogenesis induced by alcohol. TIMP-1 decreased in the sample group assessed by western blot and statistical significance was noted by dot blotting(p<0.05). In the $Oxyblot^{TM}$, protein oxidation induced by alcohol treatment decreased with CGHJT. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, increased proteins alcohol such as HSP 60, 60kDa heat shock protein, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase were normalized by CGHJT. CGHJT was considered to normalize the anti-oxidation activity elevated by alcohol. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, increased oxidized proteins such as actin, prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide, 94kDa glucose regulated protein(GRP94), heat shock protein 90-alpha(HSC86), calreticulin precursor(CRP55), ATP synthase beta chain mitochondrial precursor, caspase-8 precursor, and dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase(E2) decreased with CGHJT. CGHJT was considered to reduce the oxidative stress of alcohol. Conclusion : Chungganhaeju-tang(Qingganjiejiu-tang) exerts an inhibitory effect against the fibrosis and protein oxidation induced by alcohol treatment of rat liver. CGHJT was considered to normalize the elevated anti-oxidation activity by alcohol and to reduce the level of oxidative stress due to alcohol.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1088-1096
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• 2016

Despite that moderate hyperthermia can exert various antitumor activities such as direct cytotoxic effects on tumor cells, effects on tumor vasculatures and immunological effects, hyperthermia has been usually combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy due to its limited efficacy in cancer treatment, showing some positive clinical benefits with generally well-tolerated side effects. Since heat shock responses itself can interfere with the anti-tumor effects of hyperthermia, not all of these studies might have demonstrated positive clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Therefore, the negative anti-tumor effect of hyperthermia should be reduced to enhance the effectiveness of hyperthermia. Although the responses to heat stress of tumor tissues containing vessels, immune cells, connective tissues as well as cancer cells, are very complicated, it is needed to study in the near future if some clinically available drugs, which can modulate heat stress responses, can improve the efficacy of hyperthermia in patients with cancer. In this review, the effect of clinical hyperthermia centered on non-invasive external hyperthermia using radiofrequency at moderate temperature will be discussed, since it is the state-of-the-art technology in the current clinical practice of hyperthermia, and a moderate operational temperature is used to increase the therapeutic effectiveness of conventional therapy without additional toxicity to normal tissues.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 2011

EGCG, catechins in green tea, is a kind of phytochemical. Through the regulation of signal pathways, EGCG has been known to show anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects in cells. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of EGCG through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal pathways, including hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). The experiments were performed in B16F10 melanoma cells in a hypoxic state. AMPK is activated by ATP consumption such as nutrient deficiency, exercise, heat shock, etc. The activated AMPK that plays an important role as an energy sensor inhibits proliferation of cancer cells, as well as inducing apoptosis. HIF-$1{\alpha}$, the primary transcriptional regulator of the response to oxygen deprivation, plays a critical role in modulating tumor growth and angiogenesis in a hypoxic state. The apoptotic effects of EGCG were studied in B16F10 cells in a hypoxic state. The results show that EGCG inhibits the transcriptional activity of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and induces apoptosis. These observations suggest that EGCG may exert inhibitory effects of angiogenesis and control tumor cell growth in hypoxic melanoma cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2003

Sodium salicylate, a plant stress hormone that plays an important role(s) in defenses against pathogenic microbial and herbivore attack, has been shown to induce a variety of cell responses such as anti-inflammation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in animal cells. p38MAPK plays a critical role(s) in the cell regulation by sodium salicylate. However, the signal pathway for sodium salicylate-induced p38MAPK activation is yet unclear. In this study, we show that although sodium salicylate enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a general ROS scavenger, did not prevent sodium salicylate-induced p38MAPK, indicating ROS-independent activation of p38MAPK by sodium salicylate. Sodium salicylate-activated p38MAPK appeared to be very rapidly down-regulated 2 min after removal of sodium salicylate. Interestingly, sodium salicylate-pretreated cells remained fully responsive to re-induction of p38MAPK activity by a second sodium salicylate stimulation or by other stresses, $H_2O$$_2$ and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), thereby indicating that sodium salicylate does not exhibit both homologous and heterologous desensitization. In contrast, pre-exposure to MeJA, $H_2O$$_2$, heat shock, or hyperosmotic stress reduced the responsiveness to subsequent homologous stimulation. Sodium salicylate was able to activate p38MAPK in cells desensitized by other heterologous p38MAPK activators. These results indicate that there is a sensing mechanism highly specific to sodium salicylate for activation of p38MAPK, distinct trom pathways used by other stressors such as MeJA, $H_2O$$_2$ heat shock, and hyperosmotic stress.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2016

Just like UV radiation, heat increases collagen degradation and accumulation of abnormal elastin fiber and this is termed thermal skin aging. Dunaliella salina (DS), a green alga, is known for its beta-carotene accumulation, having various applications in the health and nutritional products. However, the effects of DS on heat-induced skin aging remain unexplored. In this study, we performed anti-thermal aging tests of the ethanol extract of DS (DSE). We measured the cellular levels of type I procollagen and MMP-1 using ELISA in human dermal fibroblast cells after heat shock. DSE reduced the expression of MMP-1 protein and increased the expression of type I procollagen. In addition, DSE upregulated the mRNA expression of HSP47 reduced by heat shock, which is involved in collagen synthesis. Also, DSE reduced the expression of inflammation mediator (TGF-${\beta}$, IL-12, etc). We demonstrate that DSE regulates the heat-induced solar elastosis through the regulation of tropoelastin and fibrillin-1, two major proteins of elastic fibers, and MMP-12 expression. These results suggest that DSE may be effective for preventing thermally induced skin aging.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate whether Ostericum koreanum (OK) could regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. Methods : To evaluate of anti-inflammatory effect of OK, we examined Nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we checked molecular mechanism especially in the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the degradation of inhibitory kappa B a ($Ik-B{\alpha}$) using western blot and also investigated survival of mice in LPS-mediated endotoxin shock. Results : 1. Extract from OK itself have weak cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. Extract from OK inhibited LPS-induced NO, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-10 production in RAW264.7 cells. 2. OK inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as p38, extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and also the degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells 3. OK did not inhibit LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Conclusions : OK down-regulated LPS-induced NO and cytokines production through suppressing activation of MAPKs and degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$. Our results suggested that OK may be a beneficial drug against inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.494-502
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• 2008

The anaphylaxis shock reaction on the whole cells of H. pylori exhibited a symptom of slight illness for the first and second medication of causing antigen at an antigen concentration of WC (H) $60\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for WC (H) and no anaphylaxis shock symptom was observed at an antigen concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for WC (L). In the case of anaphylaxis shock reaction on the crude urease, no symptom was observed at an antigen concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for both urease (L) and urease (H). In the heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test using a guinea pig-rat, no positive reaction was detected in all the medication groups of WC (H), WC (L), urease (H) and urease (L). In the skin sensitization test, it was observed that the best antigen concentration not causing skin disorder at each of $80\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, $40\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, and $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ was $40\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.982-988
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• 2011

This research seeks a basis for developing new anti-inflammatory medicine by investigating Cornus Walteri extract for its anti-inflammatory effects. After the injection of LPS in to rats with Cornus Walteri extract, its anti-inflammatory effects were compared among the treatment groups. The plasma concentration of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ peaked at 5h after LPS injection, and the values of the Cornus Walteri extract groups were lower than those of the control group. In the increment of concentration of these cytokines at 2h and 5h after LPS injection, the Cornus Walteri groups were lower than that of control group. The plasma concentration of IL-10 peaked at 5h after LPS injection, and the values of the Cornus Walteri extract groups were higher than those of the control group. In the increment of cytokines concentration at 2h and 5h after LPS injection, the Cornus Walteri groups were higher than that of control group. Liver cytokines measurement was done at 5h after LPS injection. The concentration of liver IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the Cornus Walteri groups was lower than that of the control group. The concentrations of liver TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-10 showed no significant differences among all the treatment groups. In the studies of lipopolysaccharide-exposed Raw 264.7 cells, the concentration of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups was higher than that of control group (normal group). However, in lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups, they showed lower values than those of control group and these values showed a tendency to decrease in the Cornus Walteri groups. The concentration of IL-10 in the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups was higher than that of control group (normal group), and among the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups, all Cornus Walteri extract groups showed higher values than single lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups. This studies have shown that in vitro and in vivo Cornus Walteri extracts are significantly more sensitive to inflammatory cytokines and LPS induced lethality. We conclude that the Cornus Walteri extracts have an functional material for inflammatory activities.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.290-299
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• 2012

Objectives : 'Obtaining qi(deqi)' is a sensation experienced by a patient or an acupuncturist during acupuncture treatment, and it is considered to be an important factor in acupuncture treatment. However, previous studies reported conflicting results about the relationship between 'obtaining qi(deqi)' sensation and the effect of acupuncture treatment. Also, most of the previous studies investigating 'obtaining qi(deqi)' and the acupuncture effect, dealt with the analgesic effect of acupuncture. The objective of this study was to analyze the relation between the 'obtaining qi(deqi)' and the anti-itching effect of acupuncture treatment. Methods : Twenty one healthy subjects participated in this study. At the first visit, itch was induced to all subjects using intradermal injection of histamine on the lower arm. At the second visit, acupuncture treatment was applied using LI11 and 'obtaining qi(deqi)' was assessed. After acupuncture treatment, itch was induced again, and itch VAS and skin flare were assessed. Results: At the 6,8,10 minutes after histamine injection, the change of itch VAS between before and after acupuncture treatment was significant. Among 'obtaining qi(deqi)', subjects reported that 'dull ache', 'pricking', 'heavy' were most strong. Total score of 'obtaining qi(deqi)' sensation was not related to the change of itch VAS or skin flare. The 'electric shock' sensation is related to the change of itch VAS, and 'bruised' and 'heavy' sensations were related to the change of skin flare. Conclusions : Total 'obtaining qi(deqi)' is not related to the anti-itching effect of acupuncture, but several sensations showed relationship with the effect of acupuncture on itch severity and skin flare. Further researches based on various symptoms or acupuncture points, are needed.