• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.630-635
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• 2018

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small secreted protein that exhibits a structure similar to the proangiogenic subgroup of the CXC chemokine family. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that chemokines play a pivotal role in cancer progression and carcinogenesis. We examined the expression levels of 7 types of $ELR^+$ CXCLs messenger RNA (mRNA) in 264 clinical samples. We found that CXCL2 expression was stably down-regulated in 94% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens compared with paired adjacent normal liver tissues and some HCC cell lines. Moreover, CXCL2 overexpression profoundly attenuated HCC cell proliferation and growth and induced apoptosis in vitro. In animal studies, we found that overexpressing CXCL2 by lentivirus also apparently inhibited the size and weight of subcutaneous tumours in nude mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CXCL2 induced HCC cell apoptosis via both nuclear and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Our results indicate that CXCL2 negatively regulates the cell cycle in HCC cells via the ERK1/2 signalling pathway. These results provide new insights into HCC and may ultimately lead to the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches of HCC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2019

Chronic neuropathic pain is one of the primary causes of disability subsequent to spinal cord injury. Patients experiencing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury suffer from poor quality of life, so complementary therapy is seriously needed. Dehydrocorybulbine is an alkaloid extracted from Corydalis yanhusuo. It effectively alleviates neuropathic pain. In the present study, we explored the effect of dehydrocorybulbine on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury and delineated its possible mechanism. Experiments were performed in rats to evaluate the contribution of dehydrocorybulbine to P2X4 signaling in the modulation of pain-related behaviors and the levels of pronociceptive interleukins and proteins after spinal cord injury. In a rat contusion injury model, we confirmed that chronic neuropathic pain is present on day 7 after spinal cord injury and P2X4R expression is exacerbated after spinal cord injury. We also found that administration of dehydrocorybulbine by tail vein injection relieved pain behaviors in rat contusion injury models without affecting motor functions. The elevation in the levels of pronociceptive interleukins ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-18, MMP-9) after spinal cord injury was mitigated by dehydrocorybulbine. Dehydrocorybulbine significantly mitigated the upregulation of P2X4 receptor and reduced ATP-evoked intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Both P2XR and dopamine receptor2 agonists antagonized dehydrocorybulbine's antinociceptive effects. In conclusion, we propose that dehydrocorybulbine produces antinociceptive effects in spinal cord injury models by inhibiting P2X4R.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2021

Purpose: The present study assessed the role of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) in the growth of infants with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Methods: Non-breastfed, term infants aged 0-6 months with symptoms suggestive of CMPA were recruited from 10 pediatric centers in China. After enrollment, infants were started on AAF for two weeks, followed by an open food challenge (OFC) with cow's milk-based formula (CMF). Infants with confirmed CMPA remained on AAF until 9 months of age, in conjunction with a cow's milk protein-free complementary diet. Body weight, length, and head circumference were measured at enrollment and 9 months of age. Measurements were converted to weight-for-age, length-for-age, and head circumference-for-age Z scores (WAZ, LAZ, HCAZ), based on the World Health Organization growth reference. Results: Of 254 infants (median age 16.1 weeks, 50.9% male), 218 (85.8%) were diagnosed with non-IgE-mediated CMPA, 33 (13.0%) tolerated CMF, and 3 (1.2%) did not complete the OFC. The mean WAZ decreased from 0.119 to -0.029 between birth and enrollment (p=0.067), with significant catch-up growth to 0.178 at 9 months of age (p=0.012) while being fed the AAF. There were no significant changes in LAZ (0.400 vs. 0.552; p=0.214) or HCAZ (-0.356 vs. -0.284; p=0.705) from the time of enrollment to age 9 months, suggesting normal linear and head growth velocity. Conclusion: The amino acid-based study formula, in conjunction with a cow's milk proteinfree complementary diet, supported normal growth till 9 months of age in a cohort of Chinese infants with challenge-confirmed non-IgE-mediated CMPA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a natural fungus that has been valued as a health food and used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The fungus is parasitic and colonizes insect larva. Naturally occurring O. sinensis thrives at high altitude in cold and grassy alpine meadows on the Himalayan mountain ranges. Wild Ophiocordyceps is becoming increasingly rare in its natural habitat, and its price limits its use in clinical practice. Therefore, the development of a standardized alternative is a great focus of research to allow the use of Ophiocordyceps as a medicine. To develop an alternative for wild Ophiocordyceps, a refined standardized extract, CBG-CS-2, was produced by artificial fermentation and extraction of the mycelial strain Paecilomyces hepiali CBG-CS-1, which originated from wild O. sinensis. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro immune-modulating effect of CBG-CS-2 on natural killer cells and B and T lymphocytes. CBG-CS-2 stimulated splenocyte proliferation and enhanced Th1-type cytokine expression in the mouse splenocytes. Importantly, in vitro CBG-CS-2 treatment enhanced the killing activity of the NK-92MI natural killer cell line. These results indicate that the mycelial culture extract prepared from Ophiocordyceps exhibits immune-modulating activity, as was observed in vivo and this suggests its possible use in the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal immune function.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.261-274
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• 2016

Objectives: To determine the general characteristics of clinical studies about Hwabyung and assess their limitations and alternatives. Methods: Clinical studies that examined the effects of traditional Korean medicine intervention on Hwabyung were included in this study. A systematic search of English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean databases was performed. The characteristics of included articles were described and those articles were assessed by Risk of Bias (RoB) tool or Risk of Bias for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) tool. Results: Sixteen articles were selected from 1,826 articles. Most clinical studies about Hwabyung were published in Korea. The number of conducted trials was insufficient. The prevailing study design was randomized controlled trial. Traditional Korean medicine intervention used in the trials were acupuncture, herbal medicine, counselling, meditation, emotional freedom technique (EFT), music therapy, art therapy, and multi intervention program. Herbal medicine study used placebo as control while non-pharmacological intervention study mostly used no treatment as control. Most of the trials were supported by the government. Therefore, financial conflict of interest might not exist for results. We judged that some studies had a high risk of bias. In general, most of the studies with a high risk of bias were non-pharmacological intervention studies, and the risk of bias was mainly due to lack of blinding. Conclusions: More clinical studies of Hwabyung are needed. There are some issues about a suitable comparison and effective blinding strategy for non-pharmacological study. Improving methodological quality is required.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.491-500
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• 2017

Recently, there are many children's hospitals which medical facilities are need to be improved in China. Except medical facilities, the environmental element-children's emotional security and mental development-were often been ignored. The waiting space is a place for the formation of the impression of hospital and the important space of spatial constitution for emotional security. It is necessary to provide a friendly environment for children. Previous studies showed there are three factors that affected healing environment in children's hospitals' waiting space: physical, psychological and conduct. The result showed that Chinese children's hospitals performed better in physical factor, but lack of psychological and conduct factor based on the case study of 6 children's hospitals in Beijing. In order meet the needs of patients and protectors better, the main purpose of this study is provide the suggestion for improving the healing environment from the perspective of design.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 1981

This study aims to research on the actual state of the ways that the aged people live in Seoul use intentionally or unintentionally to maintain in their health. The aged people selected randomly for the study are 541 men and 902 women who are all more than 65 years old. This survey carried out from April to May in 1980. The results of this study are summed up as follows: 1. The main means of making a living engage was agriculture with the per cent of 57. 3 and next was commerce (11.9%). 2. As for their staple foods, the majority of them eat mixed food of rice and barley, and the rest eat rice or minor-grain mixed rice. As subsidiary foods, vegetables are the most common side dishes (68.9%) and see-weeds (6.7%) are taken by the minority of them. 3. Most of them (74.6%) frequently or occasionally take special health foods to maintaing their health. The most common health food turned out to be tonic liquor to men, while honey to women. 4. The majority of them(23.2% of men and 45.5% women) refrain from drinking and smoking. 5. 39.5 per cent of men and 25.5 per cent of wome) take light exercise such as going up hill and walking. 6. The majority of them undergo routine health check with the per cent of 10.8 or occasioanal health check with the 42.9. As medical treatment, many of them(45.9%) take Chinese remedies, western remedies(39.1%) and folk remedies (15.0%). 7. Many of them (66.0%) feel subjective symptoms about some geriatric diseases such as neuralgia, hypertension and cough. 8. Many of them (63.2%) free from mental trouble, while 17.7 per cent of them appeal to no job to do, 10.0 per cent of alienation and 9.1 per cent of domestic troubles. 9. Their subjective judgements of their secrets of health and longevity attach more importance to leading a regular life. 10. Most of them want to be served appropriate medical care, rest place, health consultations, etc. All these results reveal that health and longevity of the aged people are maintained by necessary cares and efforts, not by accident nor by apathy. It is thus highly desired tha tmany studies, enlightments and nationwide support about this problem be carried out in future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.675-682
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• 2013

One hundred and sixty Taiwan country chickens (d-old chicks) were randomly assigned into four groups with four replicates and equal sex. Basal diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% of Bazhen powder, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine complex. The study was conducted for 14 wks. Experimental results indicated that Bazhen supplement did not influence feed intake, body weight gain and feed:gain ratio. Compared with control group, the percentage of serum HDL (high-density lipoprotein) linearly increased (p<0.03) and that of VLDL+LDL (very low-density+low-density lipoprotein) linearly decreased (p<0.03) in Bazhen supplemented groups, that 2% Bazhen was significantly different with control group (p<0.05). Chickens fed diets containing 2% Bazhen displayed reduced (p<0.05) serum GOT (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) levels. The IgG, ${\gamma}$-globulin levels and PHA (phytohemagglutinin) skin challenge results in 1% Bazhan supplemented group were higher (p<0.05) than in the control group, the SRBC (sheep red blood cell) and ND (newcastle disease) titers in Bazhen supplemented groups were linear higher (p<0.05) than in the control group. The liver catalase activity and the capacity of scavenging DPPH (${\alpha}$-${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl) radical were linearly increased (p<0.03) in Bazhen supplemented groups, and the 1 and 2% groups were different from the control group (p<0.05). Liver TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) levels in all Bazhen supplemented groups and total glutathione level in the 2% group were reduced (p<0.05) compared to the control group and displayed a linear response (p<0.05). The TBA (thiobarbituric acid) and pH value of the breast muscle after 24 h post-mortem in the Bazhen supplemented groups was linear lower (p<0.05) than in the control group. Results from this study demonstrated that Bazhen supplement in chicken had several beneficial effects, including increased SRBC and ND titers, HDL and IgG, ${\gamma}$-globulin levels, PHA skin challenge result, decreased VLDL+LDL and GOT levels, and displayed antioxidation effects in serum and carcass meat parameters.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.381-401
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• 1996

The diagnostic requirements were suggested and explained regarding the systems of differentiation of syptoms and signs in the second year study of standardization and unification of the terms and conditions used for diagnosis in oriental medicine. The systems were as follows : -differential diagnosis according to condition of body fluid, differentiation of syndromes according to the state of qi and blood, differential diagnosis according to reletive excessiveness or deficiency of yin and yang(氣血陰陽津液辨證) -differentiation of diseases according to pathological changes of the viscera and their interrelation(臟腑辨證) -analysing and differentiating of febrile diseases in accordance with the theory of the six channels(傷寒辨證) The individual diagnosis pattern was arranged by the diagnostic requirements in the following odor : another name(異名), notion of diagnosis parrern(證候槪念), index of differentiation of syptoms and sings(辨證指標), the main point of diagnosis(診斷要點), analysis of diagnosis pattern(證候分析), discrimination of diagnosis pattern(證候鑑別), a wayof curing a diseases(治法), prescription(處方) , herbs in common use(常用藥物), dieases appearing the diagnosis pattern(常見疾病), documents(文獻調査). This study was carried out on the basis of the Chinese documents and references.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.278-288
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• 2014

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is a traditional medicinal plant famous for its strong therapeutic effects and serves as an important herbal medicine. To understand and manipulate genes involved in secondary metabolic pathways including ginsenosides, transcriptome profiling of P. ginseng is essential. Methods: RNA-seq analysis of adventitious roots of two P. ginseng cultivars, Chunpoong (CP) and Cheongsun (CS), was performed using the Illumina HiSeq platform. After transcripts were assembled, expression profiling was performed. Results: Assemblies were generated from ~85 million and ~77 million high-quality reads from CP and CS cultivars, respectively. A total of 35,527 and 27,716 transcripts were obtained from the CP and CS assemblies, respectively. Annotation of the transcriptomes showed that approximately 90% of the transcripts had significant matches in public databases.We identified several candidate genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis. In addition, a large number of transcripts (17%) with different gene ontology designations were uniquely detected in adventitious roots compared to normal ginseng roots. Conclusion: This study will provide a comprehensive insight into the transcriptome of ginseng adventitious roots, and a way for successful transcriptome analysis and profiling of resource plants with less genomic information. The transcriptome profiling data generated in this study are available in our newly created adventitious root transcriptome database (http://im-crop.snu.ac.kr/transdb/index.php) for public use.