• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2014

Objectives: In this study, the author aimed to evaluate the effect of EtOH extract of Ganoderma lucidum (GLE) on osteoblast proliferation in rat fetus calvarial cells. Methods: The osteoblast separated from rat fetus calvariae was cultivated for 6~21 days and evaluated the cell function. After the addition of GLE on the culture medium, we determined the effect of GLE on the cell viability, cell proliferation, bone matrix protein synthesis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis and calcified nodule formation of the cultivated osteoblast. Results: GLE did not change the survival rate of rat calvarial osteoblast. GLE increased the proliferation of rat calvarial osteoblast. GLE increased ALP activity of rat calvarial osteoblast. GLE increased bone matrix protein synthesis of rat calvarial osteoblast. GLE increased collagen synthesis of rat calvarial osteoblast. GLE slightly affected calcified nodule formation of rat calvarial osteoblast. Conclusions: This study suggests that Ganoderma lucidum might improve the osteoporosis resulted from augmentation of osteoblast proliferation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2018

Objective: Recapitulation of the spermatogenesis process in vitro is a tool for studying the biology of germ cells, and may lead to promising therapeutic strategies in the future. In this study, we attempted to transdifferentiate Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) into male germ cells using all-trans retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium. Methods: Human WJ-MSCs were propagated by the explant culture method, and cells at the second passage were induced with differentiation medium containing all-trans retinoic acid for 2 weeks. Putative germ cells were cultured with Sertoli cell-conditioned medium at $36^{\circ}C$ for 3 more weeks. Results: The gene expression profile was consistent with the stage-specific development of germ cells. The expression of Oct4 and Plzf (early germ cell markers) was diminished, while Stra8 (a premeiotic marker), Scp3 (a meiotic marker), and Acr and Prm1 (postmeiotic markers) were upregulated during the induction period. In morphological studies, approximately 5% of the cells were secondary spermatocytes that had completed two stages of acrosome formation (the Golgi phase and the cap phase). A few spermatid-like cells that had undergone the initial stage of tail formation were also noted. Conclusion: Human WJ-MSCs can be transdifferentiated into more advanced stages of germ cells by a simple two-step induction protocol using retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.535-539
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• 2001

The modulating effect of feeding sea mustard (Undarina pinnatifida), a fiber-rich seaweed, during initiation and post-initiation phases of colon carcinogenesis was investigated in Sprague Dawley rats. Four groups of animals were exposed to the two weekly injections of a chemical carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). Animals were placed on diet containing 15% sea mustard during initiation. post-initiation or initiation+post-initiation phase of carcinogenesis for 10 weeks, and colonic aberrant crypt formation and cell proliferation were compared to those of rats fed semi-synthetic control diet. Results showed that sea mustard feeding significantly reduced the numbers of both aberrant crypts and aberrant crypt foci. Also, labeling indices and proliferation zones were significantly reduced in the colon of the rats fed sea mustard diets. These results indicate that the diet containing sea mustard may decrease the risk of colon cancer development, and a part of such effect may be mediated through both the blocking of initiation and the suppression of cell proliferation in the colonic crypts, although precise mechanisms should be further examined.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2012

Background/Aim: Pristimerin isolated from Celastrus and Maytenus spp can inhibit proteasome activity. However, whether pristimerin can modulate cancer metastasis is unknown. Methods: The impacts of pristimerin on the purified and intracellular chymotrypsin proteasomal activity, the levels of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS 4) expression and breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, and the migration and invasion were determined by enzymatic, Western blot, immunofluorescent, and transwell assays, respectively. Results: We found that pristimerin inhibited human chymotrypsin proteasomal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pristimerin also inhibited breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion in vitro by up-regulating RGS4 expression. Thus, knockdown of RGS4 attenuated pristimerin-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, pristimerin inhibited growth and invasion of implanted breast tumors in mice. Conclusion: Pristmerin inhibits proteasomal activity and increases the levels of RGS4, inhibiting the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.37-70
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• 2013

Christianity has desperately opposed to embryonic stem cell research, regarding it homicide. It made the opinion public many times and has tried to lead Christian to recognize the situation and make an appropriate decision with no actual result. It means that many other factors than religion have an effect on the process of making decision. This article aims to summarize the attitude of Christian believer towards embryonic stem cell research and identify the factors interacting in the developing situation. Also, it try to show how the factors have an influence on the others and Christian believers interpret and accept the information, finally leading to make a conclusion that religious factor have only a narrow influence on the formation and development of the believers' attitude.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4615-4619
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• 2013

Background: Artesunate, extracted from Artemisia annua, has been proven to have anti-cancer potential. Allicin, diallyl thiosulfinate, the main biologically active compound derived from garlic, is also of interest in cancer treatment research. This object of this report was to document synergistic effects of artesunate combined with allicin on osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Methods: After treatment with artesunate and allicin at various concentrations, the viability of osteosarcoma cells was analyzed by MTT method, with assessment of invasion and motility, colony formation and apoptosis. Western Blotting was performed to determine the expression of caspase-3/9, and activity was also detected after drug treatment. Moreover, in a nude mouse model established with orthotopic xenograft tumors, tumor weight and volume were monitored after drug administration via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. Results: The viability of osteosarcoma cells in the combination group was significantly decreased in a concentration and time dependent manner; moreover, invasion, motility and colony formation ability were significantly suppressed and the apoptotic rate was significantly increased through caspase-3/9 expression and activity enhancement in the combination group. Furthermore, suppression of tumor growth was evident in vivo. Conclusion: Our results indicated that artesunate and allicin in combination exert synergistic effects on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and apoptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.727-738
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• 2001

Macrophagal polykaryocytes (MPs) are terminally differentiated multinuclear macrophage cells responsible for remodeling and resorption of bone, foreign body, and tissue deposition in inflammation. MPs are encountered only in bone and cartilagenous tissues, in which they are referred to as osteoclasts, odontoclasts, in which they are referred to as osteoclasts, odontoclasts, and septoclasts. Depending on the disease, the MPs differentiate into many morphological variants that include foreign-body giant cells, Langhans-type cells, and Touton-type cells. Morphological heterogeneity of MPs could Touton-type cells. Morphological heterogeneity of MPs could reflect the giant cell formation from phenotypically different marophage precursors by the process of fusion. At present, many cytokines, adhesion/fusion molecules, and other factors of the microenvironment have been discovered that influence the multinucleation process. Many evidences suggest that conditions in giant cell fibrohistiocytomas, which facilitate MP formation, are similar to the inflammation site of granulomatosis. MPs in the giant cell tumors and granulomatosis foci are formed in response to the factors secreted by mesenchymal cells. It is proposed that one of the first steps in vertebrate evolution could be the organization of skeleton remodeling, in which osteoclasts play a major role. In this step, the same mechanism of regulations served as a basis for the development of both osteoclast and inflammatory forms of MPs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2006

The tadpole larvae of most ascidians have two sensory pigment cells in their brain vesicle. The anterior otolith pigment cell is sensitive to gravity, whereas the posterior ocellus pigment cell responds to light. Besides these two sensory cells, the larvae also possess another type of sensory receptor cell: hydrostatic pressure receptor (Hpr) cells. The Hpr cells have been presumed to sense hydrostatic water pressure, although no functional analysis has been performed. In larvae of the ascidian Halocynthia reretzi, the development of the Hpr cells and their structure in the brain vesicle are poorly understood. To investigate the morphology and formation of the Hpr cells, we established a monoclonal antibody, Hpr-1, that specifically recognizes Hpr cells. The Hpr-1 antigens became detectable in the brain vesicle at the late tailbud stage. Each Hpr cell projected a small globular body, connected by a short stalk, into the lumen of the brain vesicle. The brain vesicle showed remarkable left-right asymmetry. Pigment cells were located on the right side in the lumen of the brain vesicle, whereas Hpr cells were present in the left side. After metamorphosis, the Hpr cells were observed near the rudimental siphons of the juvenile.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to determine if hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) generated by glucose oxidase (GO) induces apoptosis or necrosis of BJAB cells and which radical is the direct mediator of cell death. We found that GO produced $H_2O_2$ continuously in low concentrations, similar to in vivo conditions, and decreased proliferation and cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The GO-mediated cytotoxicity resulted from apoptosis, and was confirmed by monitoring the cells after H33342/Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Decreases of mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular glutathione level were found to be critical events in the $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptosis. Additional experiments revealed that $H_2O_2$ exerted its apoptotic action through the formation of hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton rather than the Haber-Weiss reaction. Moreover, intracellular redox-active iron, but not copper, participated in the $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.334-341
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• 2005

Plants are sessile and rely on a wide variety of growth hormones to adjust growth and development in response to internal and external stimuli. We have identified a gene, designated NAN, encoding a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that regulates cell elongation and seed germination in plants. NAN has an HLH motif in its C-terminal region but does not have any other discernible homologies to bHLH proteins. A bipartite nuclear localization signal is located close to the HLH motif. An Arabidopsis mutant, nan-1D, in which NAN is activated by the insertion of the 35S enhancer, exhibits growth retardation with short hypocotyls and curled leaves. It is also characterized by reduced seed germination and apical hook formation, symptomatic of GA deficiency or disrupted GA signaling. The phenotypic effects of nan-1D were increased by treatment with paclobutrazol (PAC), an inhibitor of gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. NAN is constitutively expressed throughout the life cycle. Our observations indicate that NAN has a housekeeping role in plant growth and development, particularly in seed germination and cell elongation, and that it may modulate GA signaling.