• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.203-213
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• 2022

Abeliophyllum distichum (A. distichum, Korean endemic plant) is one genus and one species in the Oleaceae family. According to the color variation of petals and calyx, A. distichum is classified as A. distichum (white flower), A. distichum for. lilacinum (pink flowers), A. distichum for. eburneum (ivory flowers), and Okhwang 1 (golden flowers). In previous studies, bioactivities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer) of A. distichum have been reported. We conducted a comparison of the differences in bioactive compounds and the anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages among four flowers of A. distichum (FAD). The identification and quantification of glycosides were analyzed by HPLC/PDA and LCMS. These results were shown FAD has rutin, hirsutrin, and acteoside. Antioxidant activity of FAD significantly decreased reactive oxygen species. In addition, FAD reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, iNOS, and COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. For further study, we investigated the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In conclusion, FAD may exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing inflammatory mediators via regulations of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, these findings suggest that FAD is a potential resource as a preventative or therapeutic agent for inflammation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2022

Plasmodium vivax exhibits dormant liver-stage parasites, called hypnozoites, which can cause relapse of malaria. The only drug currently used for eliminating hypnozoites is primaquine. The antimalarial properties of primaquine are dependent on the production of oxidized metabolites by the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2D6 (CYP2D6). Reduced primaquine metabolism may be related to P. vivax relapses. We describe a case of 4 episodes of recurrence of vivax malaria in a patient with decreased CYP2D6 function. The patient was 52-year-old male with body weight of 52 kg. He received total gastrectomy and splenectomy 7 months before the first episode and was under chemotherapy for the gastric cancer. The first episode occurred in March 2019 and each episode had intervals of 34, 41, and 97 days, respectively. At the first and second episodes, primaquine was administered as 15 mg for 14 days. The primaquine dose was increased with 30 mg for 14 days at the third and fourth episodes. Seven gene sequences of P. vivax were analyzed and revealed totally identical for all the 4 samples. The CYP2D6 genotype was analyzed and intermediate metabolizer phenotype with decreased function was identified.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.75-94
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• 2022

Objectives : To identify the active ingredient of Poncirus Trifoliata Immaturus and to explore the mechanism expected to potentially act on dermatitis accompanied by pruritus. Methods : We conducted the network pharmacological analysis. We selected effective ingredients among the active compounds of Poinciri Fructus Immaturus. We found the target protein of the selected active ingredient, disease(dermatitis accompanied by pruritus) and fexofenadine. Then we established the network between the proteins which Poinciri Fructus Immaturus and fexofenadine intersected with disease respectively, and the coregene was also extracted. After that, the active pathways in the human body involving the groups and coregenes were searched. Results : Total of 7 active ingredients were selected, and 202 target proteins were collected. There were 756 proteins related to inflammatory skin disease accompanied by pruritus, and 75 proteins were related to fexofenadine. 42 proteins crossed by Poinciri Fructus Immaturus with a disease, and 31 proteins crossed by fexofenadine with a disease. 12 proteins were found as a coregene from the proteins that cross Poinciri Fructus Immaturus and disease. Coregenes are involved in 'Nitric-oxide synthase regulator activity', 'Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway'. 2 groups that extracted are invloved in 'Fc receptor signaling pathway', 'Central carbon metabolism in cancer', 'Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex, class IB', and 'omega-hydroxylase P450 pathway'. Conclusion : It is expected that Poinciri Fructus Immaturus will be able to show direct or indirect anti-pruritus and anti-inflammatory effects on skin inflammation accompanied by pruritus in the future. And it is also expected to have a synergy effect with fexofenadine on skin disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.430-440
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• 2022

Selenium is an important trace mineral that plays an essential role in maintaining the body's immunity with oxidative stress defense and antioxidant activity, immunity, thyroid hormone control, defense against drug or heavy metal harm, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. A selenium deficiency increases the risk of various chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disease, osteoarthritis, muscle necrosis and weakness, thyroid disease, and inflammatory diseases. This paper explains the criteria for establishing and revising selenium in the 2020 Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans (KDRIs) and reviews the current status of the selenium database and suggestions for setting the 2025 KDRIs in the future. In the 2020 KDRIs, the selenium intake with the maximum plasma selenoprotein P level was used as the criteria. The weight and coefficient of the variation were applied to the Chinese' reported values. Compared to 2015 KDRIs, there were some revisions in the selenium dietary reference intakes by gender and age according to the change in reference weight. To improve and revise selenium dietary reference intakes in the future, a selenium intervention study is needed to determine the maximum level of plasma selenoprotein P in Koreans. In addition, a revision of the selenium database of the nutritional assessment program (CAN-Pro 5.0) is needed. An analysis of the selenium content of foods should be expanded to assess the selenium intake accurately. In addition, research on the relationship between selenium intake and the biological indicators in the body is required for healthy people and subjects of special environments, such as patients and athletes with various oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2023

We present the case of a 65-year-old man with maxillary and mandibular complete dentures prepared using neutral zone technique after undergoing mandibulotomy due to tonsil cancer 10 years ago. The patient had a short edentulous period; hence, there was minimal absorption of the alveolar ridge and no abnormality in the motor function of the tongue. However, the retromolar pad was located inside the hamular notch, and the posterior alveolar ridge was relatively turned inward. If the artificial teeth would have been aligned conventionally, the functional space of the tongue would have been invaded, which would have moved the tongue posteriorly thereby reducing the stability of the denture. Therefore, applying the concept of the neutral zone can be a good reference point in such cases. The neutral zone was registered using tissue conditioner, and tooth alignment was performed by making a silicone putty index. The biggest advantage of using neutral zone concept is denture stability. In this case, the neutral zone technique was applied to obtain the lingual alignment limit of the posterior teeth to avoid invasion of the tongue space by the left posterior part of the mandible. Particularly, in case of a patient in which denture stability is difficult to obtain due to absorption of the alveolar ridge, it is believed that better results can be obtained using neutral zone technique.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.32-36
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• 2022

Purpose There are reports that the COVID-19 vaccine causes false positive uptake of axillary lymph nodes. Therefore, this paper intends to evaluate the change in SUVmax of axillary lymph nodes with the period after the COVID-19 vaccination. Materials and Methods In 134 breast cancer patients who were tested for ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT at Severance hospital, 3.7 MBq/kg of ¹⁸F-FDG was intravenously injected and scanned for 2 minutes per bed after 60 minutes. The equipment was Discovery 600 (GE Healthcare, MI, USA). The period was divided into four groups, 0 to 2 weeks, 3 to 6 weeks, 7 to 10 weeks, and 11 weeks or more. SUVmax was measured after checking the uptake of axillary lymph nodes on the ipsilateral side of vaccination and the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed using SPSS Statistics 28 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results From 0 to 2 weeks groups to 11 weeks or more group, the average of SUVmax was measured in the order of 5.52, 2.85, 1.82, and 1.7. As a result of the Kruskal-Wallis test, there was a significant difference between 0 to 2 weeks group from all other groups (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the remaining three groups. Conclusion The SUVmax of axillary lymph nodes decreased over the period after the COVID-19 vaccination and no significant difference was found after 3 weeks of vaccination. Therefore, it is recommended to record COVID-19 vaccination information before examination.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.609-614
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• 2022

Mutation of the gene for adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), as seen in Apc^Min/+ mice, leads to intestinal adenomas and carcinomas via stabilization of β-catenin. Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) is involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fibrosis, and cancer. However, the functional linkage between TM4SF5 and APC or β-catenin has not been investigated for pathological outcomes. After interbreeding Apc^Min/+ with TM4SF5-overexpressing transgenic (Tg^TM4SF5) mice, we explored pathological outcomes in the intestines and livers of the offspring. The intestines of 26-week-old dual-transgenic mice (Apc^Min/+:Tg^TM4SF5) had intramucosal adenocarcinomas beyond the single-crypt adenomas in Apc^Min/+ mice. Additional TM4SF5 overexpression increased the stabilization of β-catenin via reduced glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) phosphorylation on Ser9. Additionally, the livers of the dualtransgenic mice showed distinct sinusoidal dilatation and features of hepatic portal hypertension associated with fibrosis, more than did the relatively normal livers in Apc^Min/+ mice. Interestingly, TM4SF5 overexpression in the liver was positively linked to increased GSK3β phosphorylation (opposite to that seen in the colon), β-catenin level, and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression, indicating fibrotic phenotypes. Consistent with these results, 78-week-old Tg^TM4SF5 mice similarly had sinusoidal dilatation, immune cell infiltration, and fibrosis. Altogether, systemic overexpression of TM4SF5 aggravates pathological abnormalities in both the colon and the liver.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2023

Objectives : A persistent inflammatory response can cause diseases such as fibrosis, cancer, and allergies. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Curcumae longae Rhizoma and Cinnamomi Ramulus Mixture (CCM) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methods : The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of CCM were confirmed through an in vitro experiment. Also, radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and Hydroxyl were confirmed. Moreover, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity were confirmed. After, CCM (50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL) were applied to 0.1 ㎍/mL LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the supernatant fraction were determined. Also, the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways were detected using Western blot. Results : As a result of in vitro experiments, there was an excellent antioxidant activity in CCM-treated cells. In addition, in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS, the increased NO level was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the treatment of CCM. In addition, inflammatory cytokines production were significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner in CCM-treated group. CCM treatment significantly decreased the protein expressions of MAPKs. Moreover, the expressions of NF-κBp65 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were significantly decreased when 200 mg/kg of CCM was applied, and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B-α (p-IκBα) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were significantly decreased at all concentrations treated with CCM. Conclusion : Our findings show that CCM exhibited excellent antioxidant activity and exhibited superior anti-inflammatory effect through the MAPKs and NF-κB pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2023

Background: When particles are absorbed into the human body, they penetrate deep into the lungs and interact with the tissues of the body. Heavy metals in PM_2.5 can cause various diseases. The main source of PM_2.5 emissions in South Korea's atmosphere has been surveyed to be places of business. Objectives: The concentration of heavy metals in PM_2.5 near the Ulsan Industrial Complex was measured and a health risk assessment was performed for residents near the industrial complex for exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5. Methods: Concentrations of heavy metals in PM_2.5 were measured at four measurement sites (Ulsan, Mipo, Onsan, Maegok) near the industrial complexes. Heavy metals were analyzed according to the Air Pollution Monitoring Network Installation and Operation Guidelines presented by the National Institute of Environmental Research. Among them, only five substances (Mn, Ni, As, Cd, Cr⁶⁺) were targeted. The risk assessment was conducted on inhalation exposure for five age groups, and the excess cancer risk and hazard quotient were calculated. Results: In the risk assessment of exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5, As, Cd, and Cr⁶⁺ exceeded the risk tolerance standard of 10^-6 for carcinogenic hazards. The highest hazard levels were observed in Onsan and Mipo industrial complexes. In the case of non-carcinogenic hazards, Mn was identified as exceeding the hazard tolerance of 1, and it showed the highest hazard in the Ulsan Industrial Complex. Conclusions: This study presented a detailed health risk from exposure to heavy metals in PM_2.5 by industrial complexes located in Ulsan among five age groups. It is expected to be utilized as the basis for preparing damage control and industrial emission reduction measures against PM_2.5 exposure at the Ulsan Industrial Complex.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2021

⁸⁹Zr is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which has known as well-suited radioisotope for use in a monoclonal antibody-based imaging agent for immuno-PET. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the diagnostic ability of general trastuzumab and thio-trastuzumab as HER2 positive receptors based on Df hexadentate iron chelator. Desferrioxamine-p-SCN (Df-Bz-NCS) and desferroixamine-maleimide (Df-Mal) were purchased from Macrocyclics (Dallas, TX, USA). The trastuzumab was purchased from Roche (Schweiz), and thio-trastuzumab was obtained from professor Hyo-Jeong Hong group (Kangwon National University). The radioisotope ⁸⁹Zr was produced by domestic purification system and KIRAMS using medical cyclotron (50 MeV, Scantronix). The conjugates of Df-trastuzumab and Df-thio-trastuzumab were prepared with Df-Bz-NCS and Df-Mal under basic aqueous solution (pH 8-9) at room temperature, respectively. The conjugates purified by PD-10 column were mixed with dried ⁸⁹Zr chloride. ⁸⁹Zr-labeled conjugates were purified and concentrated by Amicon ultra centrifugal filter. The preparation step and time of ⁸⁹Zr-labeled conjugates was shorted as 4 steps within 2 hours. ⁸⁹Zr-labeled conjugates showed the highly radiochemical purity of over 98%, and were very stable until 7 days by the analysis of radio-ITLC method. Each radio-labeled conjugates were also exhibited the highly stability in both PBS buffer and mouse serum. Immuno-PET imaging of ⁸⁹Zr-labeled conjugates in mice bearing gastric cancer xenograft tumors with HER2 expression showed high tumor uptake in the NCI-N87 HER2-expressing. However, ⁸⁹Zr-Df-Mal-thio-trastuzumab showed a relatively lower tumor-to-background ratio than ⁸⁹Zr-Df-Bz-trastuzumab, as well as whole-body distribution. In the results, ⁸⁹Zr-Df-Bz-trastuzumab was evaluated to have a relatively higher HER2 diagnostic ability than ⁸⁹Zr-Df-Mal-thio-trastuzumab.