• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.904-915
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• 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most metastatic tumor. Although hormone therapy or surgical castration is mostly conducted to treat PCa, it has a lot of side effects. Recently, many researchers have been exploring the tumor microenvironment to remedy these circumstances. Immune cells, especially macrophages, are an important composition of the tumor microenvironment. Under normal conditions, macrophages exhibit mild tumoricidal activity against tumors. However, once activated by interferon gamma or lipopolysaccharides, macrophages can kill cancer cells directly or indirectly by secreting cytokines and chemokines. In this study, murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were treated with Phellinus linteus extract. To analyze their pro-inflammatory phenotype, we were used several assays such as a real-time polymerase chain reaction, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent and nitric oxide assay. Prostate cancer cells were treated with the RAW 264.7-conditioned media, which was identified as a pro-inflammatory nature, for 48 h, and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes was determined. Not only N-cadherin, Snail, Twist, Slug, and Cadherin 11, which are mechenchymal-related proteins, were decrease, but epithelial marker of E-cadherin was increased. In addition, the mRNA level of vimentin, ccl2, and vegfa were decreased, as the EMT is closely related to the migration and invasion of cancer cells. In conclusion, the RAW 264.7-conditioned media stimulated with P. linteus extract inhibited migration and invasion and regulated the EMT pathway in human prostate cancer cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.124-131
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• 1995

High resolution transmission electron microscopic observations on the $Hg_{1-x}\;Tl_{x}\;Ba_{2}(Ca_{0.86}\;Sr_{0.14})_{2}\;Cu_{3}\;O_{8+\delta}$(x=0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) were carried out using side-entry type TEM working at 300 kV. The TEM samples are prepared by powder method. The pellets are crushed in agatar motar and suspended in $CCl_4$, solution and scooped in holely carbon microgrid. The 1223 structures are observed in all samples with [010] zone axis. Except x=0.25 sample, the lattice parameter a and c tend to decrease as the thallium contents are increased ranging from 0.3936 nm to 0.3713 nm for a, and from 1.6131 nm to 1.5138 nm for c parameter. Those of x=0.25 sample are reduced too much, 0.3785 nm for a, 1.5375 nm for c. The sample with x=0.25 shows the intergrowth of 1223 and 1234 structure with the ratio of 19 to 1. As the thallium content increases, the structures become more stable without having any defect. The samples are damaged by electron beam irradiation during the observation, however the structure can endure longer as the thallium contents are increased.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2000

The major components were isolated from the n-hexane, EtOAc and BuOH extract of Galla Rhois(Rhus Javanica Linne). Their structures were characterized as syringic acid, gallic acid methylester, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid and 1, 2, 3, 4, $6-penta-O-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$. This study was carried out to investigate the biological activities of isolated compounds. Five compounds were tested for hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes and antioxidative effect on Ferric-Thiocyanate method and TBA method. As a result, isolated five compounds showed stronger antioxidative activity than tocopherol, and the antioxidative activity of gallic acid methylester, protocatechuic acid and syringic acid were similar to that of BHA on Ferric-Thiocyanate method. Specially 1, 2, 3, 4, $6-penta-O-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$ showed stronger effect of lipid-peroxidation inhibition than BHA. Gallic acid appeared stronger inhibitory effect of malondialdehyde on TBA method. Hepatoprotective effect of 1, 2, 3, 4, $6-penta-O-galloyl -{\beta}-D-glucose$ was similar or even higher than that of glycyrrhizin on primary cultured rat hepatocyte cytotoxicity.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.751-758
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• 2000

A study was carried out on the dissolution of spent PWR fuels and performed on the fuels and the separation of iodide for the quantitative analysis using SIMFUEL which has chemical composition of a simulated spent PWR fuel (burn-up; 35,000 MWd/MTU and cooling time; 10 years). To dissolve the SIMFUEL effectively and to minimize the formation of volatile iodine through dissolution process, the optimum ratio of mixed acid ($HNO_3/HCl$ 80: 20 mol%) was established and ozone gas was purged. In the separation step of iodine with $CCl_4$, $NH_2OH{\cdot}HCl$ was used for reducing ${IO_3}^-$ to $I_2$.The optimum acidity of the dissolved solution and the added of $NH_2OH{\cdot}HCl$ were 2.5 M and more than $1.5{\times}10^{-3}mole$, respectively. The recovery of iodide by ion chromatography was $82.8{\pm}4.1%$ and the total yield was corrected by gamma spectrometery using $^{131}I$ as a tracer.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2002

The present experiment was performed in order to know the therapeutic effect of laserpuncture and aquapuncture with methionine on recovery in artificially induced hepatic damaged rats by carbon tetrachloride. The animals were divided into control, laserpuncture and aquapuncture groups. The changes of serum enzyme activities(ALT and AST), serum total protein contents, protein fractions(ALB and GLB) and A/G ratio were examined before and after application of laserpuncture and aquapuncture. In change of serum ALT activity, recovery with treatment in laser and aquapuncture groups was more rapid than that of control. The significant decreased value was shown on 3rd(P < 0.05) and 7th day(P < 0.01) after treatment in laserpuncture group and on 7th day(P < 0.05) after treatment in aquapuncture group. In addition, significance was detected on 2nd day(P < 0.05) between laserpuncture and aquapuncture groups. In change of serum AST activity, recovery with treatment in laserpuncture and aquapuncture groups was more rapid than that of control. The significant lower values on 7th day(P<0.01) in aquapuncture groups. In addition, significant low value was detected on 7th day(P < 0.05) in aquapuncture group comparing with that of laserpuncture group. The change of serum TP contents showed similar pattern in control, laser and aquapuncture groups. The significances were detected on 7th day(P < 0.05) in both experimental groups. In addition, significant high value was detected on 2nd day(P < 0.05) in laserpuncture group comparing with that of aquapuncture group. The change of serum ALB content with treatment in laser and aquapuncture groups was more rapid than that of control. The significant high value was shown on 2nd(P < 0.01), 5th(P < 0.05) and on 7th day(P < 0.01) in laserpuncture group. In addition, significant high value was detected on 3rd day(P<0.01) only in aquapuncture group comparing with laserpuncture group. The change of serum GLB content showed similar pattern among groups. The significant low values were detected on 2nd day(P < 0.05) in aquapuncture group. In addition significant high value was detected on 5th day(P < 0.01) only in laserpuncture group comparing with that of aquapuncture group. In change of A/G ratio laser and aquapuncture groups showed higher values than that of control. The significant high values were detected on 1st day(P < 0.Of) and 2nd day(P < 0.05) in laserpuncture group, and on 1st day(P < 0.05) and 2nd day(P < 0.01) in aquapuncture group. In addition, significant high value was detected on 5th day(P < 0.05) in aquapuncture group comparing with that of laserpuncture. Considering above findings collectively, it was considered that both laserpuncture and aquapuncture were effective; aquapuncture was more effective than laserpuncture for recovery of hepatic damage.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.1 s.88
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• pp.82-86
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• 1999

The production of hepatoprotective exo-polysaccharide by using synthetic and industrial grade media of the submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum WK-003 was compared. The optimum concentrations of molasses and corn steep liquor (industrial grade) for the production of exo-polysaccharide were 5% and 2.5%, respectively. The productions of the exo-polysaccharide by using a 5l jar fermenter with industrial grade medium and synthetic medium were 11.2 g D.W./l and 7.2g D.W./l, respectively. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the serum of intoxicated Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of the exo-polysaccharide produced from the industrial grade and synthetic media for 4 consecutive days were decreased from 704 IU/L to 356IU/L and 704IU/L to 349IU/L, respectively.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.25
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• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread over the world causing a pandemic which is still ongoing since its emergence in late 2019. A great amount of effort has been devoted to understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 with the hope of developing better therapeutic strategies. Transcriptome analysis using technologies such as RNA sequencing became a commonly used approach in study of host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. Although substantial amount of information can be gathered from transcriptome analysis, different analysis tools used in these studies may lead to conclusions that differ dramatically from each other. Here, we re-analyzed four RNA-sequencing datasets of COVID-19 samples including human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs, lung biopsy and hACE2 transgenic mice using the same standardized method. The results showed that common features of COVID-19 include upregulation of chemokines including CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL10, inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and alarmin S100A8/S100A9, which are associated with dysregulated innate immunity marked by abundant neutrophil and mast cell accumulation. Downregulation of chemokine receptor genes that are associated with impaired adaptive immunity such as lymphopenia is another common feather of COVID-19 observed. In addition, a few interferon-stimulated genes but no type I IFN genes were identified to be enriched in COVID-19 samples compared to their respective control in these datasets. These features are in line with results from single-cell RNA sequencing studies in the field. Therefore, our re-analysis of the RNA-seq datasets revealed common features of dysregulated immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and shed light to the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.163-173
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• 2007

Jeungaektang (JAT) is the herbal formula, has the effect of moistening the dryness by activating lung Qi and by nourishing Yin, has being used for dryness syndromes. Generally the herbal formulae for moistening dryness are used for exogenous or endogenous dryness syndromes. JAT has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous dryness syndromes. It is composed of Scrophulariae Radix. Rehmanniae Radix and Liriopis Tuber. Recent studies showed that JAT has a protective effect against $CCl_{4}-induced$ hepatotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects against ear swelling of mouse induced by Crotonis Fructus. However, the effect of JAT on the immunological activity was rarely studied. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of JAT the regulatory mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. After the treatment of JAT water extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX -2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results provided evidence that JAT inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml), iNOS ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ( $0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml) in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. Furthermore, JAT inhibited the expression of COX-2 expression and production of prostagladin E2 ($0.1{\sim}1.0$ mg/ml). These findings suggest that JAT can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2019

Ovarian cancer is the fifth main cause of pre-senescent death in women. Although chemotherapy is generally an efficient treatment, its side effects and the occurrence of chemotherapeutic resistance have prompted the need for alternative treatments. In this study, ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin were evaluated as possible anticancer alternatives to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, used herein as a positive control. The ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3 (ATCC No. HTB77) was used as model ovarian cancer cells, whereas the skin fibroblast line CCD-986Sk (ATCC No. CRL-1947) and lung fibroblast line WI-38 (ATCC No. CCL-75) were used as model untransformed cells. Apigenin and doxorubicin inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 72 hr exposure, doxorubicin was mostly toxic to SKOV-3 cells, whereas apigenin was toxic to SKOV-3 cells but not CCD-986Sk and WI-38 cells. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin was more toxic to SKOV-3 cells than to CCD-986Sk cells. A lower cell density, cell shrinkage, and more unattached (floating round) cells were observed in all treated SKOV-3 cells, but the greatest effects were observed with ${\alpha}$-mangostin. With regard to programmed cell death, apigenin caused early apoptosis within 24 hr, whereas ${\alpha}$-mangostin and doxorubicin caused late apoptosis and necrosis after 72 hr of exposure. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells after 12 hr of exposure, whereas only caspase-9 activity was significantly increased in apigenin-treated SKOV-3 cells at 24 hr. Both ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin arrested the cell cycle at the $G_2/M$ phase, but after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Significant upregulation of BCL2 (apoptosis-associated gene) and COX2 (inflammation-associated gene) transcripts was observed in apigenin- and ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells, respectively. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin and apigenin are therefore alternative options for SKOV-3 cell inhibition, with apigenin causing rapid early apoptosis related to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and ${\alpha}$-mangostin likely being involved with inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.918-928
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• 1998

The present study was done with two aims. First, to evaluate the radiographic measurements of liver volumes in normal and hepatomegaly dogs induced by carbon tetrachloride. Second, to investigate quantitative tissue echo pattern by ultrasonography. Gray level histogram of the normal liver and the kidney were estimated with carbon tetra-chloride intoxication. In normal, r-square for liver volume to body weight was 0.93372, and this showed direct linear regression. Gray level histograms of the normal liver and the kidney were $19.150{\pm}2.490$(mean${\pm}$SD) and $13.175{\pm}2.686$(mean${\pm}$SD) respectively(p < 0.01). Liver parenchymal echogenicity was more hyperechogenic than kidney cortex echogenicity. Liver/Kidney ratio was $1.504{\pm}0.313$ and it can be used relative comparison of liver and kidney parenchymal echogenicity. In carbon-tetrachloride($CCl_4$) intoxication, changes of liver volume appeared to increase up to 24 hours after administration (p < 0.05), and decreased gradually to normal level after 2~5 days. Gray level histogram of liver parenchyma decreased up to 24hours (p < 0.01) after intoxication and then gradually increased to normal level. But that of kidney cortex had no significant change. Liver/Kidney ratio also decreased by 2 days(p < 0.01) and then gradually increased to normal level. On histopathologic features of hepatic tissues in carbon tetrachloride intoxication, both coagulative necrosis of hepatic cell and hemorrhage of centrilobular & midzonal area were identified. Conclusively, plain radiography is a useful diagnostic method for evaluating liver volume in mild hepatomegaly. Especially, it is considered that an adequate numerical processing of the liver length, depth and thoracic width and depth measurement would be helpful. Using gray level histogram, ultrasonographic evaluation was useful objective methods in early diagnosis of diffuse hepatic disease.