• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2014

Flos Sophorae, the dried flower bud of Sophora japonica L, possesses anti-inflammatory properties, prevents and treats blood capillary and hypertension diseases and can also be used as a hemostat. However, the effect of Flos Sophorae on breast cancer invasion is unknown. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which degrades the extracellular matrix, is a major component in cancer cell invasion. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Flos Sophorae extract (FSE) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and cell invasion, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells. FSE inhibited the TPA-induced transcriptional activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). These results indicate that FSE-mediated inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion involves the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells. Thus, FSE may have therapeutic potential for controlling breast cancer invasiveness.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2017

Neodymium is a future-oriented material due to its unique properties, and its use is increasing in various industrial fields worldwide. However, the toxicity caused by repeated exposure to this metal has not been studied in detail thus far. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential inhalation toxicity of nano-sized neodymium oxide ($Nd_2O_3$) following a 28-day repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were exposed to nano-sized $Nd_2O_3-containing$ aerosols via a nose-only inhalation system at doses of $0mg/m^3$, $0.5mg/m^3$, $2.5mg/m^3$, and $10mg/m^3$ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week over a 28-day period, followed by a 28-day recovery period. During the experimental period, clinical signs, body weight, hematologic parameters, serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathological findings were examined; neodymium distribution in the major organs and blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and oxidative stress in lung tissues were analyzed. Most of the neodymium was found to be deposited in lung tissues, showing a dose-dependent relationship. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) were the main observations of lung histopathology. Infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in the $2.5mg/m^3$ and higher dose treatment groups. PAP was observed in all treatment groups accompanied by an increase in lung weight, but was observed to a lesser extent in the $0.5mg/m^3$ treatment group. In BALF analysis, total cell counts, including macrophages and neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased significantly in all treatment groups. After a 4-week recovery period, these changes were generally reversed in the $0.5mg/m^3$ group, but were exacerbated in the $10mg/m^3$ group. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect concentration of nano-sized $Nd_2O_3$ was determined to be $0.5mg/m^3$, and the target organ was determined to be the lung, under the present experimental conditions in male rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2014

Problems appear when triptans are taken orally. For example, the bioavailability of triptan is reduced by the digestive system, and the drug level in the blood reduces rapidly over time; there is also a possibility of gastrointestinal disorder. To improve side effects, a transdermal patch has been prepared in hydrogel form. The polymer matrix that makes up the hydrogel uses PVA; PEG is used as an additive to induce inter/intra hydrogen bonding of the PVA and almotriptan drug is added. In addition, to accelerate micro-phase separation between PVA chains, liquid nitrogen is used. In FT-IR analysis, the absorption bands of PVA, PEG, and almotriptan were found. The degree of crystallinity, the water uptake ability and tensile strength were increased with increasing PEG content. In drug release tests, the amount of drug released increased depending on the PEG content. In this study, hydrogels with 10 wt% PEG showed better performance in drug release. Approximately 60% of the total drug amount was released in 2 hr, and the drug continued to release for 1 day. Thus, the prepared hydrogel patch is suitable as a transdermal formulation for the second dose administration of triptans to patients who require recurrent migraine treatment within 24 hr after the first administration.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.938-945
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the dietary effects of germinated and fermented (with Monascus pupureus) soybean screenings (GFS) on growth performance and meat quality in broiler chicken. A total of 750 1-day-old Ross ${\times}$ Ross male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five groups (five replications with 30 birds each) and fed experimental diets for 5 wks as follows: Group 1, negative-control (antibiotics-free diet); Group 2, positive-control (negative-control with 10 ppm of Avilamycin); Group 3, negative-control with 0.3% GFS; Group 4, negative-control with 0.5% GFS; Group 5, negative-control with 1% GFS. The final body weight of each group fed a diet containing 1% GFS was significantly higher than that of the negative-control group. The feed conversion ratios of all groups fed diets containing GFS and the positivecontrol group were significantly improved compared to the negative-control group during the whole period (p<0.05). The relative weights of various organs along with the activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were not influenced by the dietary treatments. The levels of total serum cholesterol in groups fed diets containing 0.5% and 1% GFS were more significantly lowered compared to those of the control groups without GFS (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the cecal microflora profiles among the groups. Further, the dietary treatments did not influence the physico-chemical properties of the edible meat, including the shear force, pH, meat color (CIE $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$), and content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Cooking loss of breast muscle in the groups fed GFS was significantly lowered compared to that of the negative control group (p<0.05). These results indicate that dietary GFS could improve growth performance in broiler chicken and may affect meat quality in some instances.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.386-392
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• 2016

Background: Sorghum is a major cereal food crop used in many parts of the world. It has been grown on a subsistence level by farmers, under various conditions of environmental stresses in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia. This plant has received significant attention because of its ability to reduce cholesterol in the blood, and its anti-dementia, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It is possible to develop a functional and commercially viable sorghum variety by using superior cultivars of sorghum. The objective of this study was to build a database of superior sorghum accession. Methods and Results: We used 250 sorghum accessions collected from different geographical bioregions in Korea. We determined various agronomic characters including germination rate and ear length of these accessions. To determine the antioxidant capacity, we measured the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-diammonium salt radical scavenging activity, total phenolic contents, and total flavonoid contents. Accession 189 showed higher germination (> 80%) than the other accessions. Higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was observed in 11-SB-078 ($RC_{50}$; $1.89{\pm}2.88{\mu}g/m{\ell}$), and higher 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-diammonium salt radical scavenging activity was recorded in 11-SB-116 ($RC_{50}$; $35.48{\pm}2.42{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) than in the other accessions. The ear length ranged from 15 cm to 48 cm, the total phenolic contents ranged from $3mg{\cdot}GAE/g$ to $77mg{\cdot}GAE/g$, and total flavonoid contents ranged from $0.09mg{\cdot}QE/g$ to $1.07mg{\cdot}QE/g$. Conclusions: Among 250 sorghum accessions, we selected 10 with both superior agronomic characters and highly functional food quality.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.359-369
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• 2001

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA as 30 different arbitrary primers and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) analysis were performed on genomic DNA extracted from the blood of the marine rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) from the Yellow Sea and the Southern Sea. The unique properties of the genomic DNA were used to investigate the features of the population dynamics and origins of the species. Out of 30 primers, seven generated 207 highly reproducible RAPD polymorphic products, producing approximately 2.7 polymorphic bands per primer. About 67.4% of total amplified products (307) were either polymorphic (207) to rockfish. The degree of similarity varied from 0.22 to 0.63 as calculated by bandsharing analysis. Also, the average level of bandsharing was 0.39$\pm$0.02 within the rockfish strains. The electrophoretic analysis of RAPD-PCR products showed the relatively high levels if variation between different individuals in rockfish from the Yellow Sea. However, the RAPD outlines obtained with DNA of different rockfish strains from the Yellow Sea and the Southern Sea in Korea were very similar. Also, a small number of polymorphic bands were identified. Even if further analyses or more rockfish populations are required, this result implies RAPD analysis reflects genetic differences between the geographical strains of the rockfish.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.216-230
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• 2005

Although the field of study in immune enhancing compounds is relatively new, natural products from plants represent a rich and promising source of novel molecules with immunomodulating properties, Microglial cells, the main immune effector cells of the brain, usually display a ramified morphology and low expression levels of immunologically relevant antigens such as MHC class I and class II. Since any compound which participates in activation of phagocytic cells contributes to the production of potentially toxic factors, the search for convenient in vitro test-systems and study of mechanisms of action of these agents are of great interest. Human blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells and primary microglial cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats were used as cellular screening tests for study of phagocytosis-stimulating action of immunomodulating agents. Numbers of phagocytic activity were evaluated by the phagocyte ingestion of yeast cells and NO-synthase activity, nitrite production, and nitroblue tetrazolium test were determined after phagocyte stimulation. It was possible to demonstrate that indexes of phagocytic activity can be used as quantitative indicators for measurement immunomodulating activity. As a positive control, Zymosan A-induced phagocytosis in both PMN cells and primary microglial cells was used. $IFN-{\gamma}$ (0.1 -1 U/ml) stimulated phagocytosis in PMN cells 1.2 times after 2 - 3 h incubation, although at higher concentrations (10 - 100 U/ml) it strongly inhibited phagocytosis. In a similar way, at higher concentrations, $IFN-{\gamma}$ (100 - 500 U/ml) suppressed phagocytosis in zymosan-A stimulated microglial cells. When Polypodium leucotomus, cambricum and vulgare extracts were tested alone, increased levels of phagocytosis were observed in PMN. In addition, microglial cells showed both increased phagocytosis and MHC class-II antigen expressions. Surprisingly, when PMN and microglia were treated with a combination of Polypodium and $IFN-{\gamma}$, phagocytosis was not inhibited. We did not find changes in NO-synthase activity and nitrite production in both microglia and PMN cells activated by different immunomodulating agents. These results indicate that primary microglial cell cultures as well as human PMN cells can provide reproducible quantitative results in screening phagocytic activity of different immunoactive compounds. Furthermore, both inhibitory or activation mechanisms might be studied using these in vitro experimental approaches.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of drinking ion water on the performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical properties of laying hens in a high-temperature environment. A total of 180 laying hens with equal egg production rates were randomly divided into three treatments with five replicates. Treatments were applied from 24 to 27 weeks of age and included the supply of ion water (IW), tap water (TW), and cold water (CW). The results showed that the egg production rate, egg weight, and feed intake of hens were significantly (P<0.01) improved in the IW group compared with those in the TW group but did not differ from those in the CW group. Egg quality parameters such as albumen height, Haugh unit, and eggshell thickness were found to be higher in the IW than in the TW group (P<0.05); however, no significant differences were observed in comparison with the CW group. Serum Ca and P concentrations tended to increase (P<0.10) in the IW group, and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin levels were greater (P<0.05) in response to IW than those to TW. This study provides evidence that the supply of IW can relieve the high-temperature stress during the summer. In particular, because the improved effects of the IW were confirmed to be similar to those of CW, it shows potential as a method to manage the drinking water of hens in the summer season along with the supply of CW.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1990

To investigate the etiology, pathogenicity and virological properties of NYJ-1-87 strain of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) that was isolated from the diseased piglet in Korea, the virus at $10^{6.0}TCID_{50}/0.1ml$ was inoculated intranasally and subcutaneously into 30 to 35 days-old piglets. Results obtained through the experiments were summarized as follows. 1. Ten of the infected piglets were clinically observed for 15 days. On the 2nd day post-inoculation(pi), the signs of pyrexia, anorexia and convulsion were noted. On the 4th to 7th days pi, nervous signs of incoordination and intermittent spasm were shown in the most of piglets, and one out of 5 piglets infected intranasally was died with severe nervous signs at the 7th day pi. The signs became relieved on the 8th day pi and all of remainder were completely recovered on the 13th to 14th days pi. 2. In hematological study, prominent decrease in the number of total leukocyte and lymphocyte was shown in the ADV-infected piglets on the 6th day pi. On the 8th day pi, the cell numbers were slightly increased and returned to normal level on the 10th day pi. 3. Viral excretion of the ADV-inoculated piglets was examined by swabbing of nasal and oral cavities, and rectal feces. During the periods of the 3rd to 11th days pi, the virus was excreted intermittently from nasal and oral cavities, and rectal feces. The nasal excretions were shown the highest virus concentration of $10^{5.2}TCID_{50}/0.1ml$ at the 5th day pi. 4. Recovery of the inoculated virus from various organs of the piglets that were died or experimentally slaughtered was attempted, and the virus was isolated from the tissues of brain and tonsil by the cultured cell-inoculation method. The highest recovery rate was noted in the tonsil. By indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay using ADV-monoclonal antibody, the viral antigens were detected in tissues of spleen and liver as well as brain and tonsil on the 7th to 9th days pi. The virus was not isolated from blood and the tissues of lung and kidney throughout the experiments. 5. Titers of virus neutralizing antibody in the piglets experimentally infected with ADV became increased after the 6th to 9th days pi in both of intranasal and subcutaneous inoculation showing the highest titers of 64 to 128 on the 29th day pi. When the antibody levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion enzyme assay, the reactive diameter was enlarged to be positive after the 4th to 6th days pi in both of intranasal and subcutaneous inoculation showing the largest diameter of 13 to 14mm on the 29th day pi.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2008

Carvedilol, is a nonselective $\beta$-blocking agent and it also has vasodilating properties that are attributed mainly to its blocking activity at ${\alpha}_1$-receptors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two carvedilol tablets, $Dilatrend^{(R)}$ tablet 12.5 mg (Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and Cadilan tablet 12.5 mg (KyungDong Pharmaceutical. Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of carvedilol from the two carvedilol formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with pH 4.5 dissolution medium. Thirty two healthy male subjects, $25.00{\pm}3.09$ years in age and $70.71{\pm}11.35\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single tablet containing 12.5 mg as carvedilol was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of carvedilol in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in the tested dissolution medium. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Dilatrend^{(R)}$ tablet 12.5 mg, were 4.66%, 8.33% and -7.45% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 (e.g., $\log\;0.9823{\sim}\log\;1.1042$ and $\log\;1.0132{\sim}\log\;1.1875$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Cadilan tablet 12.5 mg was bioequivalent to $Dilatrend^{(R)}$ tablet 12.5 mg.