• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

Ulmi cortex is the elm bark or root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance and has been used as an ingredient of traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer and wound healing on both the East and the West. This study investigated whether the Ulmus macrocarpa Hance Water extract (UMWE) has the in vivo and in vitro immune activating effect. Animals were orally administrated for 14 days as follows: no treat group with distilled water, cyclophosphamide (CY) group with 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100+CY group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 200+CY group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE and 120 mg/kg of CY, UMWE 100 group with 100 mg/kg of UMWE and UMWE 200 group with 200 mg/kg of UMWE. The immunosuppressive drug CY was intraperitoneally injected to induce immune suppression. Spleen indices showed small changes in CY injected groups but splenocyte indices showed greater decrease in the same groups. However, UMWE appeared to relieve CY’s immunosuppression. UMWE also delayed in vitro splenocyte death increasing its longevity. These data obtained by MTT assay and 7-amino-actinomycin D which stains preferentially dead than live cells. UMWE alone did not show cytotoxicity based on its apoptototic effect on splenocytes in vitro and in vivo. Splenic NK cell activity was maintained by UMWE under the presence of CY in vitro. The data indicated that UMWE protects splenocytes from the immunosuppressive drug CY under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 1997

Cytogenetic studies were performed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from hospital workers occupationally exposed to low doses of radiation (0.30 - 40.07mSv). The workers were divided into three groups according to their job area : 18 diagnostic radiology, 17 therapeutic radiology, and 16 nuclear medicine. The control group consisted of 49 non-radiation workers with no history of exposure to radiation. A higher percentage of cells with aberration(1.275%) was observed in the workers compared to the controls(0.677%) and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.001). The frequency of chromosomal aberration was $0.706{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the exposed and $0.344{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control(p<0.05). Chromosomal exchange frequency was $0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control vs $0.245{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the workers. There was no evidence of significant increase of chromosome aberration related to age or to the duration of employment. The frequency of chromosomal exchange in workers of nuclear medicine was $0.313{\times}10^{-2}$/cell, which was significantly higher than in the control($0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell) or other working groups: therapeutic radiology($0.265{\times}10^{-2}$/cell), and diagnostic radiology($0.167{\times}10^{-2}$/cell). No dose-effect relation was found between chromosome aberration and total cumulative doses, recent 5 yr, recent 2 yr cumulative dose. But in case of last 1 yr cumulative dose, dose-dependant increase was observed when controls were considered(p<0.05). The radiation dose which workers have received was much lower than the maximum permissible dose, but there was a significant difference in the frequency of chromosome aberration between occupationally exposed workers and control. So, it is clear that chromosome aberration is a quite sensitive indicator of radiation exposure and it can be detected at very low dose level of occupational exposure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.710-720
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• 2013

Radiotherapy is commonly used in treating many kinds of cancers which cannot be cured by other therapeutic strategies. However, radiotherapy also induces the damages on the normal tissues. Radiation-induced fibrosis is frequently observed in the patients undergoing radiotherapy, and becomes a major obstacle in the treatment of intrahepatic cancer. Hedgehog (Hh) that is an essential in the liver formation during embryogenesis is not detected in the healthy liver, but activated and modulates the repair process in damaged livers in adult. The expression of Hh increases with the degree of liver damage, regulating the proliferation of hepatic progenitors and hepatic stellate cells (HSC). In addition, Hh induces epithelial-to-mesencymal transition (EMT) and activation of myofibroblasts. In the irradiated livers, up-regulated expression of Hh signaling was associated with proliferation of progenitors, EMT induction, and increased fibrosis. Female-specific expression of Hh leaded to the expansion of progenitors and the accumulation of collagen in the irradiated livers of female mice, indicating that gender disparity in Hh expression may be related with radiation-susceptibility in female. Hence, Hh signaling becomes a novel object of studies for fibrogenesis induced by radiation. However, the absence of the established experimental animal models showing the similar physiopathology with human liver diseases and fibrosis-favorable microenvironment hamper the studies for the radiation-induced fibrosis, providing a few descriptive results. Therefore, further research on the association of Hh with radiation-induced fibrosis can identify the cell and tissue-specific effects of Hh and provides the basic knowledge for underlying mechanisms, contributing to developing therapies for preventing the radiation-induced fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.456-463
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 types of medicinal herbs (Glycyrrhizae radix, Astragali radix and Dioscorea rhizoma) extracts on estrogen-like activities, proliferation and differentiation in osteoblast. Human breast cancer cell line MCF7 was transfected using an estrogen responsive luciferase reporter plasmid for measure the estrogen-like activity. Estrogen-like activities of extracts were in the range of 1.11~5.73 fold to that of negative control. The extract of G. radix showed the strongest estrogen-like activities. The estrogen-like activities of 50 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ extracts of G. radix were similar to that of $10^{-8}$ and $10^{-7}$ M standard solution ($17{\beta}-estradiol$), respectively. G. radix extract showed no cytotoxicity against osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells at $1{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/ml$. The extract of A. radix showed no significant proliferation of osteoblast. However, the extract of G. radix and D. rhizome showed maximum 148% and 133% proliferation effects. The extract of G. radix also increased alkaline phosphatase activity and the maximum was 122% at $100{\mu}g/ml$ compared to that of control. The nodule formation by the method of the Alizarin red S staining increased compared to control. These results suggest that G. radix is able to perform the bone formation and prevent osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1535-1542
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• 2009

To find the new use of Korean ginseng and mushroom, crude polysaccharides were prepared from submerged cultures of Hericium erinaceum in the medium supplemented with Korean ginseng extracts. When we fractionated crude polysaccharides (HE-GE-CP-1, 3, and 5) from hot-water extracts of submerged cultures of H. erinaceum with ginseng extracts (1%, 3%, and 5% addition of total medium), the yields of HE-GE-CP-1, 3, and 5 were identified at 5.7, 5.1, and 4.8%, respectively. Among crude polysaccharide fractions, HE-GE-CP-5 was significantly higher (1.89-fold of the saline control) than those of HE-GE-CP-1 (1.64-fold) or HE-GE-CP-3 (1.76-fold) on mitogenic activity of splenocytes. HE-GE-CP-5 also had the more potent bone marrow cell proliferation (1.83-fold) rather than HE-CP or HE-GE-CP-1 or HE-GE-CP-3 (1.59- or 1.44- or 1.69-fold, respectively), and anti-metastatic activity as anti-cancer effect showed the highest prophylactic value (72.4% inhibition of tumor control) in 5% supplementation of ginseng extract. However, the lysosomal phosphatase of macrophage was significantly stimulated after HE-GE-CP-3 treatment (2.03-fold). In addition, the immunostimulating and anti-metastatic crude polysaccharide, HE-GE-CP-5, contained mainly neutral sugars (63.2%) with considerable amounts of uronic acid (19.3%) and a small amount of proteins (8.8%). HE-GE-CP-5 can stimulate immune system to inhibit tumor metastasis, and its anti-tumor metastasis may be associated with macrophages, splenocytes and Peyer's patch cells activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2012

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In our previous study, hog millet (HM, $Panicum$ $miliaceum$ L.) water extract showed the highest anti-lipogenic activity among nine cereal types in 3T3-L1 cells. In this study, the effect of hog millet water extract on hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet was investigated. Mice were fed a normal-fat diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing 1% or 2% (w/w) HM for 7 weeks. Body weight and food intake were monitored during the study period. Insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), fasting lipid profile, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression determined, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) were performed at the study's end. The results indicated that 1% and 2% HM diets effectively decreased liver weights, blood TG and T-cholesterol levels (p<0.05), while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased (p<0.05) compared to HFD-induced steatotsis mice. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, and SCD1) expressions decreased, whereas lipolysis- related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 2% PME diet (p<0.05). In addition, mice fed 1% or 2% HM diet had markedly decreased IGTT and HOMA-IR, compared to the those of the HFD-induced hepatic steatosis control group (p<0.05). These results indicated that HM inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating fatty acid metabolism, and suggested that HM is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of high fat-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic steatosis-related disorders including hyperlipidemia, glucose sensitivity, and insulin resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

The avocado is a widely grown and consumed fruit that is high in nutrients and low in calories, sodium, and fats. In this study, antioxidant activities and induction of apoptosis by methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel of avocado were investigated in vitro. Contents of total polyphenols in methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel were 13.89, 137.12 and $223.45{\mu}g/mg$ respectively. Radical-scavenging activities of the methanol extracts were examined by using ${\alpha},{\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The methanol extracts from the peel of avocado showed higher scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS than those from sarcocarp and seed. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells mediated by the methanol extracts of avocado was associated with the increase of activation of caspase-3 and caspase-3 target protein, PARP. Therefore, with more researches on identification and action mechanism of active compounds, the methanol extracts from peel and seed of avocado is expected to be a natural source for the developments of functional food and medical agents to prevent human breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.416-421
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• 2008

This study was performed to determine the antimutagenic and anticytotoxic effects of soybean paste (doenjang) added deep sea water salt and see tangle in Salmonella Typhimurium TA98, TA100 and human cancer cell lines. In the Ames test, methanol extract of doenjang did not exhibit any mutagenicity but showed substantial inhibitory effects against mutation induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO). The methanol extracts of doenjang ($200{\mu}g$/plate) added deep sea salt and see tangle (doenjang C) showed approximately 89.1% and 70% inhibitory effect on the mutagenesis induced by MNNG and 4NQO against TA100 strain, whereas 84.4% inhibitions were observed on the mutagenesis induced by 4NQO against TA98 strain. The cytotoxic effects of doenjang methanol extracts against the cell lines with human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B), human gastric carcinoma (AGS), human lung carcinoma (A549) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) were inhibited with the increase of the extract concentration. The treatment of 1.0 mg/mL doenjang C of methanol extracts showed strong cytotoxicities of 71%, 74.4%, 66.2%, 77.3%, and 71.2% against HeLa, Hep3B, AGS, A549, and MCF-7, respectively. In contrast 1 mg/mL treatment of doenjang C methanol extracts had only $10{\sim}40%$ cytotoxicity on normal human embryonal kidney cell (293). Doenjang methanol extract inhibited significantly the tumor growth in mice injected sarcoma-180 cells. Especially, doenjang C methanol extract showed an inhibition of tumor cell activity of 33% by the administration of 25 mg/kg methanol extracts.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2006

Purpose: Oral mucositis is a common toxicity of radiation or chemotherapy, which is used a treatment for head and neck cancer. We investigated effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on radiation-induced oral mucositis in rat model. Materials and Methods: Spraque-Dawley rats (7 per group) exposed to a single dose of 25 Gy (day 0) on their head, except for one group, were randomly divided into un-treated, vehicle-treated, and two rhEGF-treated groups. Rats were topically applied with rhEGF (15 or $30{\mu}g/oral$ cavity/day) or vehicle to their oral mucosa. Survival rate of rats, weight changes, and food intakes were examined from day 0 to 18 after radiation. Histology study was performed from oral mucosa of rats at day 7 and 18 after radiation. Results: rhEGF-treated groups (15 or $30{\mu}g/oral$) showed all survival rate 33%, whereas un-treated and vehicle-treated groups showed all survival rate 0% at the end of experiment. rhEGF-treated groups statistically had less weight loss compared to vehicle-treated group from day 2 to 7 after radiation. Food intake of rats with rhEGF treatment turned to increase at day 14 after radiation. At 7 day after radiation, un-treated and vehicle-treated groups showed severe pseudomembraneous or ulcerative oral mucositis. On the other hand, rhEGF-treated groups had no more than cellular swelling and degeneration of epidermal cells in oral mucosa of rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that rhEGF has significantly positive effects on radiation-induced oral mucositis in rats. rhEGF display a therapeutic potential on a clinical level.