• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2007

Purpose: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Ecliptae Herba has long been used for clinical therapy associated especially with menopausal symptoms in Korea. To provide a scientific rationale for such use, we have investigated the antioxidant and vasorelaxant effects of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Ecliptae Herba and its mixture. Methods: The antioxidant activity of the extracts from Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Ecliptae Herba and its mixture were evaluated and compared with that of BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), vitamin C and vitamin E, using the ${\alpha}$,${\alpha}-diphenyl-{\beta}-picrylhydrazyl$ (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Results: Antioxidant activity of all extracts using the DPPH radical scavenging method decreased in the order vitamin C>BHA>vitamin E>Ligustri Lucidi Fructus>Ligustri Lucidi Fructus:Ecliptae Herba(1:1)>Ecliptae Herba>BHT. The vasorelaxant effects of extracts were investigated on the vasomotor tone of the rat thoracic aorta in an organ bath. All of the extracts elicited along-term relaxing response in the endothelium-intact as well as endothelium-denuded rat aorta contracted with norepinephrine. This relaxant effect was abolished by Precontraction with 72 mM KCI. Thus, it is suggested that the mechanism of vasorelaxant effect of extracts not involve voltage-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking but receptor-mediated route. Conclusion: These antioxidant and vasorelaxant effecs of the extracts may contribute to the beneficial effects in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.193-196
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• 2013

Artecoll (Artes Medical Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) has recently been developed as a permanent synthetic cosmetic filler. We experienced an inflammatory granuloma resulting from a previous injection of Artecoll at the upper lip, which was regarded as a rare side effect of this filler. A 50-year-old female patient complained of swelling, dull pain, and heat in the right upper nasolabial fold area, which had started one week before her visit to Kyungpook National University Hospital. The patient received topical steroid therapy at a local clinic, which was not effective. At the injection site, a hard nodule was palpated and erythema was observed with mild tenderness. Antibiotic treatment and subsequent incision and drainage did not result in complete cure of the facial swelling, and the facial swelling and pain persisted. Computed tomography showed a lesion approximately 1-cm in size without clear boundaries and relatively increased nodular thickening. Finally, a subdermal lesion was removed via an intraoral vestibular approach. The lesion was diagnosed as inflammatory granuloma by a permanent biopsy. The patient had healed at two months after the filler injection. Although the soft tissue filler is widely used for cosmetic purposes, there is potential for complication, such as the inflammatory granuloma should be considered before treatment.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

Resistance to the induction of apoptosis is a possible mechanism by which tumor cells can survive anti-neoplastic treatments. Melanoma is notoriously resistant to anti-neoplastic therapy. Previous studies have demonstrated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) overexpression in melanoma cell lines. Given its probable role in mediating resistance to apoptosis, many researchers have sought to determine whether the downregulation of FAK in melanoma cells would confer a greater sensitivity to anti-neoplastic agents. Genistein is a known inhibitor of protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), which may attenuate the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting the PTK-mediated signaling pathway. This present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of genistein on the expression of FAK and cell cycle related proteins in the G361 melanoma cell line. Genistein was found to have a preferential cytotoxic effect on G361 melanoma cells over HaCaT normal keratinocytes. Genistein decreased the expression of 125 kDa phosphotyrosine kinase and the FAK protein in particular. Genistein treatment did not affect the expression of p53 in G361 cells in which p21 is upregulated. The expression of cyclin B and cdc2 was downregulated by genistein treatment. Taken together, our data indicate that genistein induces the decreased proliferation of G361 melanoma cells via the inhibition of FAK expression and regulation of cell cycle genes. This suggests that the use of genistein may be a viable approach to future melanoma treatments.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.579-591
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• 2001

The cell growth inhibitor effect of cervical cancer cells was investigated by liposome mediated transfection (pRcCMVp53/lipofectin) and by transfection using adenovirus (AdCMVp57). The papilloma virus cancer cell lines we used in this study were HPV16 positive, having inhibiter gene, wild p53 gene, CaSki, SiHa, HPV18 positive HeLa, HeLaS3 and HPV negative C33A, HT3. LacZ gene of E.coli was used as the marker gene for the transfection efficiency. The effect on the inhibition of tumor cell growth was measured by cell count and cell viability though ELISA analysis and MTT assay. The inhibition of tumor cell growth was confirmed by measuring each assay for six days, comparing with the normal control cell growth. The cell growth of cervical cancer calls by transfection was significantly reduced and showed tittle differences among the cell lines. To eliminate the potential problem of Ad(adenovirus) contamination during rAAV production, rAAV can be produced by a triple transfection of vector plasmic, packaging plasmid, and adenovirus helper plasmid. To examine the helper functions of Ad plasmids on the production of rAAV vector, we carried out cotransfection of three plasmids, AAV vector, packaging construct, and Ad helper plasmids. The optimized transfection condition for calcium phosphate method is 25ug of total DNA per 10-cm-diameter plate of 293 cell. We found that rAAV yields peaked at 48hr after Ad infection. The titer of rAAV was measured by the dot blot analysis to measure the number of particles/ml based on the quantification of viral DNA. Recent1y, Kombucha(fungi) was identified as a very potent antileukefic agent. In the present study, effect of natural toxin(plankton) and Kombucha is PSP(GTXI-3, neoSTX), on various MTT assay cervical cancer cell line. Toxin(GTX 1-3, neoSTX) also inhibited the proliferation in primary cervical cancer calls in a dose-dependent toxin concentration. These results showed that toxin was very potent in inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer calls in vitro. Toxins and Kombuoha exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation in cancer cell line.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2020

Purpose: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) frequently harbor activating gene mutations in either KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA) and are highly responsive to several selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In this study, a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay with an Oncomine Focus Assay (OFA) panel was used for the genetic characterization of molecular targets in 30 Korean patients with GIST. Materials and Methods: Using the OFA that enables rapid and simultaneous detection of hotspots, single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertion and deletions (Indels), copy number variants (CNVs), and gene fusions across 52 genes relevant to solid tumors, targeted NGS was performed using genomic DNA extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of 30 GISTs. Results: Forty-three hotspot/other likely pathogenic variants (33 SNVs, 8 Indels, and 2 amplifications) in 16 genes were identified in 26 of the 30 GISTs. KIT variants were most frequent (44%, 19/43), followed by 6 variants in PIK3CA, 3 in PDGFRA, 2 each in JAK1 and EGFR, and 1 each in AKT1, ALK, CCND1, CTNNB1, FGFR3, FGFR4, GNA11, GNAQ, JAK3, MET, and SMO. Based on the mutation types, majority of the variants carried missense mutations (60%, 26/43), followed by 8 frameshifts, 6 nonsense, 1 stop-loss, and 2 amplifications. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the advantage of using targeted NGS with a cancer gene panel to efficiently identify mutations associated with GISTs. These findings may provide a molecular genetic basis for developing new drugs targeting these gene mutations for GIST therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2005

Shigellosis is a global human health problem. Four species of Shigella i.e. S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. sonnei are able to cause the disease. These species are subdivided into serotypes on the basis of O-specific polysaccharide of the LPS. Shigella dysenteriae type 1 produces severe disease and may be associated with life-threatening complications. The symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhoea and/or dysentery with frequent mucoid bloody stools, abdominal cramps and tenesmus. Shigella spp. cause dysentery by invading the colonic mucosa. Shigella bacteria multiply within colonic epithelial cells, cause cell death and spread laterally to infect and kill adjacent epithelial cells, causing mucosal ulceration, inflammation and bleeding. Transmission usually occurs via contaminated food and water or through person-to-person contact. Laboratory diagnosis is made by culturing the stool samples using selective/differential agar media. Shigella spp. are highly fragile organism and considerable care must be exercised in collecting faecal specimens, transporting them to the laboratories and in using appropriate media for isolation. Antimicrobial agents are the mainstay of therapy of all cases of shigellosis. Due to the global emergence of drug resistance, the choice of antimicrobial agents for treating shigellosis is limited. Although single dose of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin has been shown to be effective, they are currently less effective against S. dysenteriae type 1 infection. Newer quinolones, cephalosporin derivatives, and azithromycin are the drug of choice. However, fluoroquinolone-resistant S. dysenteriae type 1 infection have been reported. Currently, no vaccines against Shigella infection exist. Both live and subunit parenteral vaccine candidates are under development. Because immunity to Shigella is serotype-specific, the priority is to develop vaccine against S. dysenteriae type 1 and S. flexneri type 2a. Shigella species are important pathogens responsible for diarrhoeal diseases and dysentery occurring all over the world. The morbidity and mortality due to shigellosis are especially high among children in developing countries. A recent review of literature (KotIoff et al.,1999) concluded that, of the estimated 165 million cases of Shigella diarrhoea that occur annually, $99\%$ occur in developing countries, and in developing countries $69\%$ of episodes occur in children under five years of age. Moreover, of the ca.1.1 million deaths attributed to Shigella infections in developing countries, $60\%$ of deaths occur in the under-five age group. Travellers from developed to developing regions and soldiers serving under field conditions are also at an increased risk to develop shigellosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.650-655
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• 2014

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into neural cells to treat nervous system diseases. Magnetic resonance is an ideal means for cell tracking through labeling cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). However, no studies have described the neural differentiation ability of SPIO-labeled MSCs, which is the foundation for cell therapy and cell tracking in vivo. Our results showed that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) labeled in vitro with SPIO can be induced into neural-like cells without affecting the viability and labeling efficiency. The cellular uptake of SPIO was maintained after labeled BM-MSCs differentiated into neural-like cells, which were the basis for transplanted cells that can be dynamically and non-invasively tracked in vivo by MRI. Moreover, the SPIO-labeled induced neural-like cells showed neural cell morphology and expressed related markers such as NSE, MAP-2. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp recording demonstrated that these neural-like cells exhibited electrophysiological properties of neurons. More importantly, there was no significant difference in the cellular viability and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ between the induced labeled and unlabeled neural-like cells. In this study, we show for the first time that SPIO-labeled MSCs retained their differentiation capacity and could differentiate into neural-like cells with high cell viability and a good cellular state in vitro.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.518-522
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• 2007

The cortex and root of Acnthopanax sessiliflorus, a herbal medicine, have been used for several diseases including cancer in Oriental countries. In the previous study, we showed that the cortex of this plant have anti-cancer activity. But its therapeutic efficacy of CORTEX ACANTHOPANAX RADICIS (CAR) is not clarified. For these reasons, we investigated immuno-potentiating and anti-cancer properties of CAR compared with CA, in terms of body and tumor weights, proliferation of thymocytes and tumor cells, and nitric oxide production from macrophages through in vitro and in vivo studies. In our results, administration of CAR reduced tumor mass and increased body weights. CAR also inhibited proliferation of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro dose-dependently. Thymocyte proliferation was accelerated by treatment with CAR and NO production was also promoted by CAR in vivo and vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CAR is useful to treat for cancer as complementary or alternative medicine to Western medication, its therapeutic efficacy is involved in direct inhibition of tumor growth and immuno-potentiating activity.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.84-94
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare the balance ability at different foot positions using K A T 2000 (Berg, Inc, vista, CA.1994). Thirty (male 15, female 15) normal subjects participated in this study. All subjects were tested at a one leg position or a two leg position that were toe-in $25^{\circ}$, toe-out $25^{\circ}$, and $45^{\circ}$. The starting position was where the subject crossed their arms across the chest and flexed knees slightily. The results of each test were displayed on a screen in a score format, which indicated balance index. These collected data were analyzed by using one way ANOVA, and t-test. The results of this study were as follows: When changing the angle of the foot in the one-foot and two-foot standing positions, there was no statistically significant difference, but the balance performance with the foot rotated by $25^{\circ}$ was better than that with the foot rotated by $45^{\circ}$. When changing the direction of the foot in the one-foot and two-foot standing positions, there was no statistically significant difference, but the balance performance with the foot rotated laterally was better - except for the case when the foot was medially rotated by $25^{\circ}$ in the right-foot static standing position. When the feet were medially rotated by $25^{\circ}$ in the two-foot static standing position, and were medially rotated by $25^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$ in the one-foot static standing position, the balance performance of females was better than that of males. In this study, it was found that the balance performance of the subjects changed when the position of the foot was shifted on an unstable base of support. However, there was little correlation between balance performance and the height, weight and foot length of the subjects. It is necessary to conduct a follow-up study targeting various age groups and those with various diseases using an unstable platform or applying different physical or visual conditions, such as the length of the legs. Physical therapists need to consider the position of the foot in clinical settings for a better balance training or assessment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.717-724
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• 2020

Background: Malignant arrhythmias require drug therapy. However, most of the currently available antiarrhythmic drugs have significant side effects. Ginsenoside Rg2 exhibits excellent cardioprotective effects and appears to be a promising candidate for cardiovascular drug development. So far, the oral toxicity and antiarrhythmic effects of Rg2 have not been evaluated. Methods: Acute oral toxicity of Rg2 was assessed by the Limit Test method in mice. Subchronic oral toxicity was determined by repeated dose 28-day toxicity study in rats. Antiarrhythmic activities of Rg2 were evaluated in calcium chloride-induced arrhythmic rats. Antiarrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 was investigated in arrhythmic rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Results: The results of toxicity studies indicated that Rg2 exhibited no single-dose (10 g/kg) acute oral toxicity. And 28-day repeated dose treatment with Rg2 (1.75, 3.5 and 5 g/kg/d) demonstrated minimal, if any, subchronic toxicity. Serum biochemical examination showed that total cholesterol in the high-dose cohort was dramatically decreased, whereas prothrombin time was increased at Day 28, suggesting that Rg2 might regulate lipid metabolism and have a potential anticoagulant effect. Moreover, pretreatment with Rg2 showed antiarrhythmic effects on the rat model of calcium chloride induced arrhythmia, in terms of the reduced duration time, mortality, and incidence of malignant arrhythmias. The antiarrhythmic mechanism of Rg2 might be the inhibition of calcium influx through L-type calcium channels by suppressing the phosphorylation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Conclusion: Our findings support the development of Rg2 as a promising antiarrhythmic drug with fewer side effects for clinical use.