• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2014

Background: There is limited understanding of the effect of dietary components on the absorption of ginsenosides and their metabolites into the blood. Methods: This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of the ginseng extract and its main constituent ginsenoside Rb1 in rats with or without pretreatment with a prebiotic fiber, NUTRIOSE, by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. When ginsenoside Rb1 was incubated with rat feces, its main metabolite was ginsenoside Rd. Results: When the intestinal microbiota of rat feces were cultured in vitro, their ginsenoside Rd-forming activities were significantly induced by NUTRIOSE. When ginsenoside Rb1 was orally administered to rats, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma drug concentratione-time curve (AUC) for the main metabolite, ginsenoside Rd, were $72.4{\pm}31.6ng/mL$ and $663.9{\pm}285.3{\mu}g{\cdot}h/mL$, respectively. When the ginseng extract (2,000 mg/kg) was orally administered, Cmax and AUC for ginsenoside Rd were $906.5{\pm}330.2ng/mL$ and $11,377.3{\pm}4,470.2{\mu}g{\cdot}h/mL$, respectively. When ginseng extract was orally administered to rats fed NUTRIOSE containing diets (2.5%, 5%, or 10%), Cmax and AUC were increased in the NUTRIOSE receiving groups in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings reveal that intestinal microflora promote metabolic conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 and ginseng extract to ginsenoside Rd and promote its absorption into the blood in rats. Its conversion may be induced by prebiotic diets such as NUTRIOSE.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2006

Background: Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells in the immune system and can induce T cell response against virus infections, microbial pathogens, and tumors. Therefore, immunization using DC loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is a powerful method of inducing anti-tumor immunity. For induction of effective anti-tumor immunity, antigens should be efficiently introduced into DC and presented on MHC class I molecules at high levels to activate antigen-specific $CD8^+$ T cells. We have been exploring methods for loading exogenous antigens into APC with high efficiency of Ag presentation. In this study, we tested the effect of the cationic liposome (Lipofectin) for transferring and loading exogenous model antigen (OVA protein) into BM-DC. Methods: Bone marrow-derived DC (EM-DC) were incubated with OVA-Lipofectin complexes and then co-cultured with B3Z cells. B3Z activation, which is expressed as the amount of ${\beta}$-galactosidase induced by TCR stimulation, was determined by an enzymatic assay using ${\beta}$-gal assay system. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with OVA-pulsed DC to monitor the in vivo vaccination effect. After vaccination, mice were inoculated with EG7-OVA tumor cells. Results: BM-DC pulsed with OVA-Lipofectin complexes showed more efficient presentation of OVA-peptide on MHC class I molecules than soluble OVA-pulsed DC. OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC pretreated with an inhibitor of MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation, brefeldin A, showed reduced ability in presenting OVA peptide on their surface MHC class I molecules. Finally, immunization of OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can promote MHC class I- restricted antigen presentation. Therefore, antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can be one of several useful tools for achieving efficient induction of antigen-specific immunity in DC-based immunotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.595-599
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• 2005

The efforts of Korean and Japanese radishes on the viability and interleukin (JL)-8 production by Helicobacter pylori were investigated in human gastric epithelial cell. Cell viability was significantly decreased when they were incubated with H. pylori toxin (p <0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.005). Co-incubation with Korean or Japanese radish increased H. pylori toxin-inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. The production of IL-8 was greatly increased in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cell in concentration- and time-dependent manners. The increased production of IL-8 was significantly inhibited by Korean (p<0.05 and p<0.01) or Japanese (p<0.05) radishes $(5\~10mg/ml)$. These results indicate that Korean and Japanese radishes have protective effects on H. pylori-inhibited cell growth and H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal cell inflammation by suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokine (IL-8) from gastric epithelial cell.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2017

Background: The current regulations regarding the storage of medicinal herbs do not define the storage temperature; instead, but the only requirement is that the plastic bags used for storing the medicinal herbs should be tightly sealed during storage. The practice of storing medicinal herbs at room temperature ($28^{\circ}C$), causes many problems, including growth of insect pests on the stored medicinal herbs. Thus, it is necessary to understand the effect of insect pests on the quality of medicinal herbs stored at room temperature ($28^{\circ}C$) for the improving the relevant regulations. Methods and Results: Cnidium rhizome and Angelica radix were infested with Lasioderma serricorne F. adults and incubated at $28^{\circ}C$ for 2.5 and 5 months. The population of L. serricorne was established rapidly, and left many holes, cadavers, and feces on the stored medicinal herbs, thereby greatly damaging the product appearance and hygiene. In addition, active ingredients of the medicinal herbs were significantly decreased, probably reducing their medicinal quality as well. Conclusions: These results indicate that the current regulations are not sufficient to prevent the establishment of storage insect pests and guarantee the quality and hygiene of stored medicinal herbs. Therefore, it is necessary to devise proper storage protocols and upgrade the current relevant regulations to maintain the quality of medicinal herbs during storage.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 1998

During cerebral ischemia two important factors such as hypoxia and reduction of glucose can act as modulating stressor affecting the release of amine neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). This study was performed to investigate the effect of glucose deprivation on the oxygen deprivation-induced changes of [3H]-5-HT release in the rat hippocampal slices. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups for this study: normoxic/normoglycemic group, oxygen-deprived group, glucose-deprived group, and oxygen/glucose-deprived group. The hippocampus of rat brain was sliced by 400 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness with manual chopper. After 30 minutes preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 min in buffer containing [3H]-5-HT (0.1 M, 74 $\mu\textrm$Ci) for uptake. To measure the release of [3H]-5-HT into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained of and refilled with fresh buffer every ten minutes through a sequence of 14 tubes. Oxygen deprivation by gassing with 95% $N_2$/5% $CO_2$ and/or glucose deprivation was done in the 6th and 7th tube. The radioactivities in each buffer and the tissue were counted using scintillation counter. The results were expressed as fractional release. When slices were exposed to oxygen-deprived media for 20 min, the diminution followed by the rebound release of [3H]-5-HT was observed during the post-oxygen deprived period. However, glucose deprivation or oxygen/glucose deprivation markedly increased the release of [3H]-5-HT. which was opposite to the pattern observed in oxygen-deprived group. These results suggested that oxygen deprivation itself inhibits [3H]-5-HT release in rat hippocampal slices during oxygen-deprived period, but additional glucose deprivation convert the inhibitory response to increase of [3H]-5-HT release.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.284-290
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• 2000

A marine bacterium Bacillus cereus ASK202 showing a high agar degrading activity, was incubated in the culture medium containing agar. After incubation for 30 hr, the productivity of agarase in the culture broth reached to maximum value (160.8 units/L). As the results of TLC and HPLC analysis, agarooligosaccharides (degrees of polymerization 2, 4 and 6) were produced from the hydrolysis of agar by using the crude agarase. Physical and chemical properties of agarooligosaccharides were compared with the manufactured products of other oligosaccharides (fructooligosaccharide; isomaltooligosaccharide; maltotetraoligosaccharide) and agarooligosaccharides showed higher viscosity, higher contents of oligosaccharides, higher stability at low pH's and higher temperatures, and lower sweetness than other oligosaccharides.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.498-503
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• 2004

The properties of ideal root canal sealers include the ability of sealing the total root canal system and no toxic effects to periradicular tissues. Cytotoxicity test using cell culture is a common screening method for evaluation of the biocompatibility of root canal sealers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of newly developed resin-based sealer (Adseal 1, 2, and 3) comparing with those commercial resin-based sealers (AH26 and AH Plus), ZOE-based sealers (Tubliseal EWT, Pulp Canal Sealer EWT) and calcium hydroxide based sealer (Sealapex), An indirect contact test of cytotoxicity by agar diffusion was performed according to the international standard ISO 10993-5. L929 fibroblast cells were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in humidified 5% $CO_2-containing$ air atmosphere. The freshly mixed test materials were inserted into glass rings of internal diameter 5 mm and height 5 mm placed on the agar. After the 24 hrs incubation period, the decolorization zones around the test materials were assessed using an inverted microscope with a calibrated screen. A Decolorization Index was determined for each specimen. Adseal 1. 2, and 3 did not exert any cytotoxic effects, whereas AH26, AH Plus, Tubliseal EWT, Pulp Canal Sealer EWT, and Sealapex produced mild cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2010

Korean Sophora japonica has been found to posses an anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, Korean Sophora japonica extract, rutin, was used to know whether rutin inhibits to produce inflammatory mediators NO and TNF-$\alpha$ from the mouse peritoneal macrophages that were treated an inflammatory agent LPS. The rutin-1 hr pretreated macrophages were incubated with LPS for 0.5~5 hrs, and then collected the supernatant and the cell lysate for measurements of the level of iNOS, NO, TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA, TNF-$\alpha$, and p-NF-${\kappa}B$. Minimal and maximal effective doses of the rutin on them were 1 and $100{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The maximal effective dose of rutin certainly inhibted the productions of iNOS, NO, TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA, TNF-$\alpha$and p-NF-${\kappa}B$ from the LPS-treated macrophages (p<0.0001). Its $ED_{50}$ for inhibition of TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA and p-NF-${\kappa}B$ was $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, and for iNOS, NO, and TNF-$\alpha$ was $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The rutin did not have any cytotoxic effect. As the results, the Sophora japonica rutin could be a good candidate for an anti-inflammatory action.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2019

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are key players during an immune response at the mucosal surfaces, such as lung, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Giardia lamblia is an extracellular protozoan pathogen that inhabits the human small intestine. In this study, ILCs prepared from the lamina propria of mouse small intestine were incubated with G. lamblia trophozoites. Transcriptional changes in G. lamblia-exposed ILCs resulted in identification of activation of several immune pathways. Secretion of interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, $IL-1{\beta}$, and interferon-${\gamma}$ was increased, whereas levels of IL-13, IL-5, and IL-22, was maintained or reduced upon exposure to G. lamblia. Goup 3 ILC (ILC3) was found to be dominant amongst the ILCs, and increased significantly upon co-cultivation with G. lamblia trophozoites. Oral inoculation of G. lamblia trophozoites into mice resulted in their presence in the small intestine, of which, the highest number of parasites was detected at the 5 days-post infection. Increased ILC3 was observed amongst the ILC population at the 5 days-post infection. These findings indicate that ILC3 from the lamina propria secretes IL-17 in response to G. lamblia, leading to the intestinal pathology observed in giardiasis.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2019

The embryonic development and hatchability of the artificially fertilized eggs of convict grouper (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus) ♀${\times}$giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) ♂ (CGGG) were compared to those of the maternal pure species (convict grouper ♀${\times}$♂, CG) to establish a novel grouper hybrid for aquaculture industry. The fertilized eggs were divided into nine 5-L beakers (3,000~5,000 eggs/beaker) filled with UV sterilized seawater and incubated at a temperature range of $23.5{\sim}24.8^{\circ}C$ (32.1~32.8 psu). The percentages of fertilization and hatching of CGGG were $69.4{\pm}1.5%$ and $59.0{\pm}5.1%$, respectively and were significantly lower than those of CG (p<0.05). The CGGG proceeded normal embryonic development similar to that of CG, but showed an irregular cleavage, immature embryonic body and spinal deformity in hatched larvae. The incubation time from fertilization to hatching of CGGG was 31 hrs, which was approximately 2 hrs slower than that of CG. Our study provided the possibility of mass production of grouper hybrid CGGG larvae.