• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2013

Platycodin D is a major constituent of triterpene saponins, which is found in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, Platycodi Radix, which is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Several pharmacological effects of this compound have been reported recently, such as anti-inflammation, immunogenicity, anti-adipogenesis, lowered cholesterol, and anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which this action occurs is poorly understood. In this study, we found that platycodin D greatly increased the potential of the anti-proliferative effect in various cancer cell lines. Our data revealed that platycodin D treatment resulted in a time- and concentration-response growth inhibition of U937 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis induction of U937 cells by platycodin D correlated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caused the down-regulation of IAP family members. In addition, platycodin D treatment resulted in proteolytic activation of caspase-3, the concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and the collapse of the mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$). However, the cytotoxic effects induced by platycodin D treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrated the important role that caspase-3 played in the observed cytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that platycodin D may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia U937 cells. These findings also provided important new insights into possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of platycodin D.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1147-1155
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• 2018

Agaricus blazei mycelial liquid culture extract (ABMLCE) promoted the production of testosterone (TS) in TM-3 mouse Leydig testis cells. Now, we report that ABMLCE containing eritadenine (EA) as a minor constituent (15.3 mg/100 g) reduced $5{\alpha}-reductase$ 2 ($5{\alpha}-R2$) enzyme activity and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) content which are key constituents for the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) inductions. RWPE-1 prostate cells were grown in a Keratinocyte serum-free medium (K-SFM) containing ABMLCE (0~50 ppm), EA (0~10 ppm,), and finasteride (FS $10{\mu}M$: a positive control) in a 24-well plate for 24 hr. Supernatants collected from cell-cultured media were used for the assay of $5{\alpha}-R2$, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme activities, and for TS, DHT, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) contents by their assay kits. The $5{\alpha}-R2$ activity and DHT content were proportionally reduced (p<0.05) to concentrations of ABMLCE. The SOD and CAT enzyme activities were significantly (p<0.05) elevated concomitant with ABMLCE concentrations, while COX-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ showed reverse results (p<0.05). Similarly, the effects of EA were similar to those of ABMLCE. Efficacies of ABMLCE 50 ppm and EA 10 ppm in $5{\alpha}-R2$ and DHT reduction were similar to those of $10{\mu}M$ FS. These results suggest that ABMLCE and EA reduced $5{\alpha}-R2$ and DHT through their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative actions. This implies that ABMLCE containing EA could be a beneficial material in the cure of BPH in humans.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2006

The main purposes of this study were to compare the characteristics of fractionated natural organic matters(NOM) from Han River water and Wangsuk(W) stream water, and to investigate the relationships between NOM and the formation of disinfection by products(DBPs). Three types of resin such as XAD-4, XAD-7HP and IRC-50 were used to isolate the water samples into three organic fractions. The DOC concentrations of raw waters were relatively low($1.5{\sim}3.3$ mg/L) at all seasons. The hydrophilic was the major constituent, contributing $44{\sim}63%$ of the total NOM and hydrophobic $21{\sim}33%$, transphilic $16{\sim}31%$, respectively. The formation of trihalomethans(THMs) was highly influenced by particulated NOM especially in the rainy season, whereas haloaceticacid forming potentials(HAAFPs) depended more on the hydrophilic fraction of dissolved NOM which is known to be difficult to be removed through conventional processes. The NOM of W stream was characterized as 15% hydrophobic, 9% transphilic, and 76% hydrophilic. In the fractionation of NOM using resins, $20{\sim}40%$ of the NOM in W tributary water could not be clearly isolated, whereas, 85% of the NOM in the raw water was recovered. Although the DOC concentration of tributary water was higher than the raw waters from the Han River, the DBPFPs was approximately 40% of the raw waters. In DBPFPs aspect, W stream has less effect than Han River water itself. Bromide in tributary waters discharged from waste water treatment plants has been found to shift the distribution of THMs and HANs to the more brominated DBPs.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.352-363
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyze health-related habits, weight control experience and body composition of 344 female students visiting nutrition counselling office. Dietary habits of the subjects were assessed by means of interview with questionnaire and nutrient intakes were evaluated by the simple dietary assessment method. Weight and height were measured to get body mass index(BMI) and waist-hip ratio and their body composition were measured by Inbody 3.0. The obtained results were as follows: 1) Among students, 14.5% were exercising on a regularly basis, of which the exercises were walking and gymnastic exercise(22.1%), jogging(14.1%), and rope-skipping(4.7%), 48.4% of students were little drinking and 30.5% were once a week and smokers were 4.1%. 2) 28.3% of students were little having breakfast and 15.1% were once or twice a week. Two third of total students were not having breakfast regularly. Also only 59.6% of students were having dinner everyday, which means many of them were even skipping dinner. The reasons why they were not having breakfast were because they don't have enough time to eat(66.0%) and for a diet(2.8%) and the reasons for skipping dinner were because they were not hungry(23.0%), for the weight loss(18.2%). It was shown that they would skip dinner rather than breakfast for a weight control. 51.6% of students were taking snack 1~2 times a day and 5.3% were having little snack. 55.4% of students were dining out once a day and 15.4% more am 2 times a day. 3) 46.7% of students were already experiencing weight control before visiting the counselling office. 78.5% of students tried on one kind of weight control method, 11.4% on two kinds, and 10.1 % on more than three kinds. The method they tried for a weight control most was the one food diet using egg, fruits and beans, which is the most popular among them, and the next were an aerobic exercise(23.6%). a diet tried by a famous entertainer (15.5%), and the fasting(14.5%). 4) The average BMI was 21.2 and the body fat rate was 28.1%. As a result of grouping BMI, 12.8% were underweight 67.6% normal weight 11.6% overweight and 8% obesity. Less than standard for the body fat rate were 0.6%, 50.6% standard, 48.5% more than standard. 49.2% of students as normal weight on a BMI were assessed the so-called "skinny obesity. 50% of consulted students situated fat intra-abdominally at the umbilical level(WHR>0.8). 5) The energy intake was 76.6$\pm$17.8% of RDA and constituent ratio of carbohydrate, fat and protein were 64.2$\pm$5.2%, 21.6$\pm$3.7% and 14.3$\pm$2.3%, respectively, which is little over of 20% of recommended ratio of fat. Protein and niacin intake were more than 90% of RDA and riboflavin and vit. C were taken more than 100% of RDA. But Fe intake was 69.4$\pm$19.3%, Ca 76.6$\pm$23.6%, which were the least constituents. There was not remarkable significance between energy intake and nutrient density based on the groups of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity of BMI. 6) It was shown that body fat rate had remarkably significant correlation(p<0.000) with BMI(r=0.760) and WHR(r=0.817) respectively, but body fat rate was more correlated with WHR than with BMI. There was not much significant difference between body fat rate and WHR whether they exercised or not. However. BMI was significantly higher in the exercise group because one who showed higher BMI started to exercise since they looked fat in appearance and perceived as they were fat. fat.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.248-261
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• 1994

Background: Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that recognize a specific sequence of sugar residues. The availability of a large number of lectins has provided the capacity to identify selectively glycoconjugates possessing distinctive chemical structure in diverse sites of highly specialized biological activity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the lectin binding patterns of various components in human pulmonary tubercles. Method: Biopsy specimens of tuberculous lung were obtained from male adult patients who underwent a surgical resection for severe pulmonary tuberculosis. The specimens were processed and stained with 13 kinds of biotinylated lectins according to some modification of Hsu and Raine's methods. Results: 1) In the caseous necrotic lesions, BS $I-B_4$ showed negative reaction and BS I were also negative except some irregularly-shaped cells located in the marginal zone. All other lectins, however, showed a positive reaction with various binding patterns. 2) The epithelioid cells were broadly divided into three groups according to the reaction patterns in the cytoplasms and cell membranes. 3) WGA, ECL, PHA-L, PHA-E and LCA showed strong staining in the lymphocytes. 4) SBA showed a different binding patterns between the endothelial layers located in the region beyond the fibrous layers and those located within the fibrous layers. 5) PNA showed a positive reaction in the outer 1/3 to 1/2 of the fibrous layer, but showed no staining in the inner 1/2 to 2/3 of the fibrous layers. Conclusion: The present lectin histochemical study provided a useful information to assess the characterization and distribution of various glycoconjugates in each constituent of human pulmonary tubercles. The results demonstrate structural differences in the glycoconjugate composition of various components of the tubercles and reveal changes in glycosylation in the components during soft tubercle formation. This study provides a new data useful for the studies on the pathogenesis and pathology of human pulmonary tubercles.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2004

Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.85-96
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• 2001

Experimental magnetization-temperature curves for melt-spun ribbons of amorphous alloys (Dy$\_$0.33/Fe$\_$0.67/)$\_$1-x/B$\_$x/(x=0 ,0.05, 0.1, and 0.15) and (Sm$\_$0.33/Fe$\_$0.67/)$\_$1-x/B$\_$x/(x=0, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03) (in atomic fraction) are fitted with theoretical equations based on the mean field theory in order to calculate exchange couplings between constituent elements as a function of the B content. In the case of the DyFe$_2$-B system, the sign of the exchange coupling between Dy and Fe is negative, indicating that the magnetization direction of Dy is antiparallel to that of Fe. The sign of the other two couplings are positive indicating a parallel alignment. The exchange coupling between Fe ions are greatest, while that between Dy ions is negligible. In the case of the SmFe$_2$B alloys, the sign of all the couplings are positive, indicating ferromagnetic coupling between the spins. The exchange couplings between Fe ions, and Fe and Sm are comparable to each other, but they are much greater than that between Sm ions. The high exchange coupling between Fe and Sm, which is considered to occur indirectly, is rather unexpected, but it is considered to be unique characteristics of amorphous Sm-Fe alloys. In both alloy systems, the exchange coupling between Fe ions increases with increasing B content. and this may be explained by the increase of the Fe-Fe separation with increasing B content. The exchange coupling between Fe and RE also increases with increasing B content. As the B content increases, the magnetization decreases over the whole temperature range, and the Curie temperature also decreases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.147-160
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• 2011

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a natural phenolic constituent extensively used in dentistry as a component of zinc oxide eugenol cement and is applied to the mouth environment. Chios gum mastic (CGM) is a resinous exudate obtained from the stem and the main leaves of Pistacia lenticulus tree native to Mediterranean areas. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with a natural product, CGM and natural phenolic compound, eugenol on SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. To investigate whether the co-treatment with eugenol and CGM compared to each single treatment efficiently reduces the viability of SCC25 cells, MTT assay was conducted. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, TUNEL staining and DNA hypoploidy. Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining were performed to study the alterations of the expression level and the translocation of apoptosis-related proteins in co-treatment. In this study, co-treatment of with eugenol and CGM on SCC25 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, DNA fragmentation, the increase and decrease of Bax and Bcl-2, decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-6 caspase-7, caspase-9, PARP, Lamin A/C and DFF45 (ICAD) whereas each single treated SCC25 cells did not show or very slightly these patterns. Although the single treatment of 40 ${\mu}g$/ml CGM and 0.5 mM eugenol for 24 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment of these reagents prominently induced apoptosis. Therefore our data provide the possibility that combination therapy with CGM and eugenol could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.191-205
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• 2008

In order to use the geologic information data such as industrialization of rock resources, site enlargement and development planning, distributive ratios of rock types and geologic ages were obtained by the ArcGIS 9.2 program, and digital geologic and geographic maps of 1:250,000 scale, in the Chungbug, Chungnam and Daejeon areas, respectively. In the Chungbug area, 64 rock kinds are developed and their geologic ages can be classified into 8 large groups. In the geologic ages, the ratios are decreasing in the order of Jurassic, Precambrian, Age-unknown, Cretaceous, Quaternary, Cambro-Ordovician and Carboniferous-Triassic ages, all of which comprise most ratios of 98.48% in the area. In the rock types, the ratios show the decreasing order of Jurassic Daebo granite, Precambrian banded gneiss of Gyeonggi metamorphic complex, Cretaceous biotite granite, Quaternary alluvium, Great limestone group, Lower phyllite zone and Meta-sandy rock zone of age-unknown Ogcheon group, Triassic Cheongsan granite, Precambrian granitic gneiss of Gyeonggi gneiss complex, Pebble bearing phyllite zone of age-unknown Ogcheon group and biotite gneiss of Sobaegsan metamorphic complex, all of which comprise the prevailing ratio of 84.27% in the area. In the Chungnam area, 35 rock types are developed and their geologic ages can be classified into 6 large groups. In the geologic ages, the ratios are decreasing in the order of Precambrian, Jurassic and Quaternary ages, which occupy the prevailing ratio of 87.55% in the area. In the rock types, the ratios show the decreasing order of Jurassic Daebo granite, Precambrian banded gneiss of Gyeonggi metamorphic complex, Quaternary alluvium, Precambrian granite and granitic gneiss of Gyeonggi gneiss complex, Cretaceous acidic dykes, Lower phyllite zone and Pebble bearing phyllite zone of age-unknown Ogcheon group and Quaternary reclaimed land, which occupy the ratios of 74.28% in the area. In the Daejeon area, 11 rock types are developed and their geologic ages can be classified into 5 large groups. In the ages, the ratios are decreasing in the order of Jurassic, Age-unknown and Quaternary, which occupy most ratios of 93.40% in the area. In the rock types, the ratios show the decreasing order of Jurassic Daebo granite, Quaternary alluvium and Lower phyllite zone and Pebble bearing phyllite zone of age-unknown Ogcheon group, which occupy the prevailing ratios of 91.09% in the area.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.179-195
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• 2013

The study area, which is located in the southeastern part of the Jirisan province, Yeongnam massif, Korea, is mainly composed of the Precambrian Hadong southern anorthosite complex (HSAC), the Jirisan metamorphic rock complex (JMRC) and Cretaceous sedimentary rock which unconformably covers them. Lithofacies distribution of the Precambrian constituent rocks mainly shows NS and partly NE trends. This paper researched deformational phased structural characteristics of HSAC and JMRC based on the geometric and kinematic features and the forming sequence of multi-deformed rock structures, and suggests that the geological structures of this area was formed through at least three phases of ductile deformation. The first phase ($D_1$) of deformation happened due to the large-scale top-to-the SE shearing, and formed the sheath or "A"-type fold and the regional tectonic frame of NE trend in the HSAC and JMRC. The second phase ($D_2$) of deformation, like the $D_1$ deformation, regionally occurred under the EW-directed tectonic compression, and most of the NE-trending $D_1$ tectonic frame was reoriented into NS trend by the active and passive folding, and the persistent and extensive ductile shear zone (Hadong shear zone) with no less than 2.3~1.4 km width was formed along the eastern boundary of HSAC and JMRC through the mylonitization process. The third phase ($D_3$) of deformation occurred under the NS-directed tectonic compression, and partially reoriented the pre-$D_3$ structural elements into ENE or WNW direction. It means that the distribution of Precambrian lithofacies showing NE trend locally and NS trend widely in this area is closely associated with the $D_1$ and $D_2$ deformations, respectively, and the NS-trending Hadong shear zone in the eastern part of Hadong northern anorthosite complex, which is located in the north of Deokcheon River, also extends into the HSAC with continuity.