• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.2 s.38
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• pp.127-140
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• 1992

This study was done to identify the association between serum copper and zinc levels and the cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), and to evaluate its diagnostic value on liver diseases. Sixty-three healthy persons, 60 patients with cirrhosis and 33 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were rendomly selected and investigated for their general characteristics from October 1990 to August 1991. For analysis of the biochemical markers in liver function test and the serum copper and zinc levels, their fasting venous blood were sampled at 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning and centrifuged to separate the serum within one hour. All the samples were immediately analysed for biochemical markers and stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ in polypropylene tubes further copper and zinc analysis. Mean of serum coppper levels was $91.97{\pm}4.76{\mu}g/dl$ in control, $106.21{\pm}2.73{\mu}g/dl$ in cirrhosis and $127.05{\pm}0.77{\mu}g/dl$ in HCC. The value of HCC was statistically significantly higher than that of the control and cirrhosis(p<0.05). Serum zinc levels were $110.82{\pm}7.24{\mu}g/dl$ in control, $68.10{\pm}5.43{\mu}g/dl$ in cirrhosis and $63.78{\pm}2.20{\mu}g/dl$ in HCC. The values of cirrhosis and HCC were statistically significantly lower than that of control(p<0.05). The Cu/Zn ratio was statiatically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Test total protein, albumin, ALP and total bilirubin of biochemical markers of liver function were statistically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Differences between cirrhosis and HCC for ALT and AST, and between the control and HCC for direct bilirubin were not statistically significant. Biochemical markers statistically significantly correlated with serum copper and zinc levels and Cu/Zn ratio(p<0.05), were variable in three groups. In multiple logistic regression, odds ratio of serum copper level and Cu/Zn ratio had no statistical significance on the cirrhosis and the HCC, but that of serum sinc was statistically significant as 0.951 and 0.952(p<0.05). Serum copper and zinc levels and Cu/Zn ratio were not statistically significantly different between the cirrhosis and HCC. H\Albumin, ALP, zinc, total bilirubin and age among all variables were selected as main variables for three-group discriminant analysis. Percentage of 'grouped' cases correctly classified by these five variables was 98.4 for control, 73.4 for cirrhosis, 75.7 for HCC and 84.0 for all subjects. This study suggests that zinc level is considered to play a role as diagnostic marker on the hepatic disorders and be more useful than serum copper level and Cu/Zn ratio in diagnosis of the liver diseases.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2017

The dried root of Angelica species is used in traditional Chinese medicine in East Asia, particularly in Korea, China and Japan. Since the plant origin differs in these countries, they are often misused or adulterated in the commercial markets, resulting in distrust among the consumers. Enormous efforts have therefore been focused to distinguish the origin for the Angelica genus, by using morphological or cytogenetical analyses, and chemical markers based on biochemical analyses of secondary metabolites. DNA is considerably stable against different cultivation conditions, and to treatment and processing after harvesting of plants. Hence, several researches have been filed for the development of molecular markers, based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms in specific regions of DNA. However, there are several obstacles for application in the commercial markets, concerning the reproducibility, accuracy, sensitivity, and rapidity of these tests. In this review, we summarize the research achievements that help classify the origin of Angelica species, in particular, Angelica gigas Nakai. A. sinensis(oliv.) Diels, A. acutiloba Kitag., and A. acutiloba var. sugiyamae Hikino. Further researches are required for practical applications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.419-427
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• 2016

There is a high association of heat shock on the alteration of energy and lipid metabolism. The alterations associated with thermal stress are composed of gene expression changes and adaptation through biochemical responses. Previous study showed that Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) root extract promoted adipogenic differentiation in murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes under the normal temperature condition. However, its effect in heat shocked 3T3-L1 cells has not been established. In this study, we investigated the effect of AGN root hot water extract in the adipogenic differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes following heat shock and its possible mechanism of action. Thermal stress procedure was executed within the same stage of preadipocyte confluence (G0) through incubation at $42^{\circ}C$ for one hour and then allowed to recover at normal incubation temperature of $37^{\circ}C$ for another hour before AGN treatment for both cell viability assay and Oil Red O. Cell viability assay showed that AGN was able to dose dependently (0 to $400{\mu}g/mL$) increase cell proliferation under normal incubation temperature and also was able to prevent cytotoxicity due to heat shock accompanied by cell proliferation. Confluent preadipocytes were subjected into heat shock procedure, recovery and then AGN treatment prior to stimulation with the differentiation solution. Heat shocked preadipocytes exhibited reduced differentiation as supported by decreased amount of lipid accumulation in Oil Red O staining and triglyceride measurement. However, those heat shocked preadipocytes that then were given AGN extract showed a dose dependent increase in lipid accumulation as shown by both evaluation procedures. In line with these results, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis showed that AGN increased adipogenic differentiation by upregulating heat shock protection related genes and proteins together with the adipogenic markers. These findings imply the potential of AGN in heat shock amelioration among 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through heat shock factor and proteins augmentation and enhanced adipogenic marker expression.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2013

Background: Malnutrition of inpatients has been associated with higher morbidity, mortality, cost, and longer hospital stay. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy plays an important role in decreasing morbidity and mortality among critical inpatients in hospitals, and has been commonly used to improve clinical outcomes. However, only a few studies were conducted regarding patients' nutritional improvement by TPN. Method: This study therefore evaluated the changes in nutritional parameters by TPN therapy for early malnourished inpatients. Data from early malnourished inpatients who were treated with TPN therapy between January 2012 and June 2013 at the ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ university Hospital were studied retrospectively. Information regarding sex, age, underlying diseases, division, TPN (peripheral and central), and changes in nutritional parameters were collected by reviewing electronic medical records. The criteria for evaluation of the changes in nutritional parameters were included physical marker, body mass index (BMI), and biochemical markers, including albumin (Alb), total lymphocyte count (TLC), and cholesterol. Nutritional parameters were collected three times: pre-TPN, mid-TPN and end-TPN. A total of 149 patients (peripheral, 97; central, 52) was evaluated. Results: In all patients, the malnutrition number was significantly decreased following the complete TPN therapy (peripheral patients, pre-TPN: $3.33{\pm}0.12$, mid-TPN : $3.06{\pm}0.17$, and end-TPN: $2.85{\pm}0.21$ (p < 0.05); central patients, pre-TPN: $3.38{\pm}0.11$, mid-TPN: $3.06{\pm}0.13$, and end-TPN: $2.75{\pm}0.21$ (p < 0.05). The malnutrition number means number of nutrition parameters below normal range of malnutrition. In addition, all of the four nutritional parameters (BMI, Alb, TLC and cholesterol) were increased with duration of TPN periods for all patients, and the changes in the early stage were larger than in the late stage (p < 0.05). The nutritional parameters of non-cancer patients were increased to a greater extent compared to cancer patients with longer TPN therapy, but it was not significant. The nutritional parameters of younger patients (50-60 years) were also increased more than of older patients (70-80 years), but it was not significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, the TPN therapy decreases malnutritional status and improves nutritional parameters in malnourished patients, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality. The combined evaluation of all four nutritional parameters is more accurate for nutritional assessment than a single one.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2007

The isolated plantamajoside from Plantago asiatica that is often used as a marker compound in chemotaxonomic studies has various bioactivites such as the inhibitions of cyclic AMP phosphodi-esterase and 5-lipoxygenase, microbial growth and inflammation, and currently demands the generation of toxicity data. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicities of the single and 14 days repeated dose toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats orally administrated with plantamajoside at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg of dried material/kg body weight/day. The results showed that there was no difference in body weight change, food intake, water consumption, or relative organ weight among different dose groups. Also we observed no death and abnormal clinical signs were observed during the experimental period. Between the groups orally administered Plantago asiatica and the control group, there was no statistical significance in hematological test or serum biochemical values. There were no gross findings at final sacrifice. There was no evidence of histopathological alteration mediated by 14 days treatment with Plantago asiatica. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral application was considered to be more than 2000 mg/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study. Another observation was performed to investigate the safety of Plantago asiatica in respect of genotoxicity. This substance was examined that Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay (Ames test) in strain TA98, TA100, TA1535. In the reverse mutation test, Plantago asiatica did not induce mutagenicity in Samonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activation. These results indicated that Plantago asiatica had no genotoxicity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

The uptake of cadmium in animals is mainly accumulated in and affected to the liver and kidney by binding with red blood cells and serum albumin. The process accounts for more than 50% of the total accumulated cadmium in the body. The kidneys may be damaged without regarding the pathway uptake of cadmium. In a group of rats on supplements of 1% chlorella and 40 ppm cadmium, the concentration of cadmium in urine greatly decreased by 66% compared to control group, and the total synthesis of metallothionein decreased by 48.6% compared to control group. However, no previous study has assessed the protective effect on kidney damage induced by cadmium uptake through supplementation with chlorella. This study analyzed the biochemical marker for kidney damage in the rats after uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$ and supplementation of the diet of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with 1%, 5%, and 10% chlorella during 4 weeks. In a group of SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2,\;\beta_2$ microglobulin in the urine was found to be $3.1\pm0.6\;{\mu}g/L$, a decrease of 58% compared to a group of Sp rats on uptake of $CdCl_2$ only, in which the $\beta_2$ microglobulin was found to be $4.9\pm0.7\;{\mu}g/L$. According to the results of histopathological observation, the accumulation of mild and localized chronic inflammatory cells in kidney tissues was observed in 50% of the SD rats on uptake of cadmium only. In contrast, only 30% of the SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40ppm $CdCl_2$, representing a histopathological abnormality, and there were no histopathological abnormalities at all in groups of SD rats on supplementation with 5% or 10% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$. In conclusion, protein, calcium, and iron, which account for more than 50% of the total dried chlorella composition, may contribute to the reduction nephrotoxicity by stimulating both inhibited absorption of cadium and increased excretion of accumulated cadmium in kidneys.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.2 s.85
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• pp.173-181
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• 1998

To identify genetic difference of 13 strains in three Pleurotus species, analyses of rDNA, AP-PCR and RFLP were carried out. IGRI and $ITSI{\sim}II$ regions of rDNA amplified by PCR were about 0.9 and 0.7 kb, respectively. These PCR products were digested with six restriction enzymes to analyse polymorphism. Especially, treatment of HaeIII enzyme on $ITSI{\sim}II$ regions showed specific bands in three Pleurotus sajor-caju strains. Genetic differences among three species were classified by similarity analyses based on rDNA polymorphism. Various band patterns of $2,500{\sim}150\;bp$ were showed by AP-PCR. Identification of species and varieties in 13 Pleurotus strains was possible according to primers used in AP-PCR. In order to develop genetic markers, RFLPs using IGRI and $ITSI{\sim}II$ probes derived from ASI 2180 and 2070 were carried out on eight Pleurotus varieties. RFLP patterns using IGRI probe were more various than that of $ITSI{\sim}II$ probe.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Newborn screening (NBS) is important if early intervention is effective in a disorder and if there are sensitive and specific biochemical markers to detect disorder. Methionine is a useful marker to detect abnormal methionine-homocysteine metabolism, especially homocystinuria which needs urgent medical intervention. However, hypermethioninemia could occur in other metabolic disorder including liver disease, tyrosinemia type I, methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) I/III deficiency, glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) deficiency, or adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency. However, experience with NBS for homocystinurias and methylation disorders is limited. Especially, MAT I/III deficiency which is the most common cause of persistent hypermethioninemia have two inheritance, autosomal recessive (AR) and autosomal dominant (AD), and their clinical manifestation is different between AR and AD. Here, author reviewed recent articles of guideline and proposed guideline for homocystinuria and methylation disorder.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 1997

This study was planned to evaluate the urinary ascorbic acid as a new biological marker for the intoxication of cadmium, which could possibly be driven by its increased utilization and environmental pollution. In order to meet this goal, we have peformed measurement of urinary ascorbic acid concentration, histopathological examination of the kidney, and biochemical test for the liver function using cadmium-intoxicated rats by oral administration. The average concentrations of urinary ascorbic acid in the $CdCl_2$-treated rats were 214.0 mg/dl for 100 ppm group and 254.3 mg/dl for 200 ppm group during experimental period of 50 days. These levels are 24 and 28 times higher than one in the control group (9.0 mg/dl), respectively. Ultrastructural study showed the eosinophilic hyaline cast and focal effacement, fusion in the renal tubules, as well as loss of foot processes on the glomerular epithelial cells. These results suggested that cadmium may be responsible for renal glomerular injury. The blood levels of AST, ALT and LDH in the treated groups (199 IU/I, 88 IU/I, 1190 U/I for the 100 ppm group and 270 IU/I, 226 IU/I, 760 U/I for the 200 ppm group) were higher than ones in the control group(143 IU/I, 50 IU/I, 334 U/I). These results indicated the cadmium induced the damage of liver function. In conclusion, the administration of cadmium showed a remarkable increase of urinary ascorbic acid with renal and hepatic damage. Therefore, it is expected that measurement of urinary ascorbic acid would be an powerful method as a noninvasive biomarker for cadmium intoxication.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 1995

The present study was designed to demonstrate that ES cell lines efficiently could be isolated from explanted blastocysts of hybrid BCF1 mouse when grown on STO feeder layer derived from mouse fibroblasts in culture medium supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The expanded blastocysts were attached to mitomycin C-inactivated STO feeder layer and were cultured for 4 days. Four days later the ICM was disaggregated by a short term trypsin treatment (0.25% trypsin / 0.04% EDT A for 2-3 min). The resulting cell suspension was seeded on a new STO feeder layer and covered with DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS, 0.1 mM nonessential amino acid, 0.1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.1 mM mercaptoethanol and 1,000 U/ml LIF. Colonies of ES-like cells were observed after the second passage. These colonies were repeatedly passaged at approximately 5 day intervals. In this study, five ES-like celllines were isolated by directly explanting blastocysts, but three lines were lost after the 5th passage, possibly due to toxic effects of a new FCS batch. The characterization of developmental potential of isolated cell lines was performed with respect to in vitro differentiation and specific activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP). When cells were cultured in suspension, the aggregates of cell lines were capable of forming simple embryoid bodies (EB), and showed the capacity for forming cystic multilayer EBs. In addition, the cell lines were positive for AP staining, a biochemical marker characteristic of mouse ES cells.