• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3363-3368
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• 2014

Background: Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has shown cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancers. The aim of this study was to identify potential microRNA (miRNA) mediators of the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were treated with curcumin ($10-60{\mu}M$) and miR-9 expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed. The effects of miR-9 depletion on curcumin-mediated growth suppression were also examined. Phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) was measured in cells with miR-9 overexpression or curcumin treatment. Results: Curcumin caused a significant and dose-dependent increase of miR-9 expression in SKOV3 cells, while significantly impeding cell proliferation and stimulating apoptosis. Depletion of miR-9 significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the growth-suppressive effects of curcumin on SKOV3 cells, coupled with reduced percentages of apoptotic cells. In contrast, overexpression of miR-9 significantly enhanced the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and promoted apoptotic death in SKOV3 cells. Western blot analysis showed that both miR-9 overexpression and curcumin similarly caused a significant (p<0.05) decline in the phosphorylation of Akt and FOXO1, compared to untreated cells. Conclusions: The present study provided evidence that curcumin exerts its cytotoxic effects against SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells largely through upregulation of miR-9 and subsequent modulation of Akt/FOXO1 axis. Further studies are needed to identify direct targets of miR-9 that mediate the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.409-428
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• 1994

Endodontic surgery is performed when conventional endodontic therapy fails or is contraindicated. In such cases, retrograde filling materials including amalgam, composite resin, and various cements have been used. Biocompatibilty and margin sealing ability of retrograde filling materials are important for the long term success of endodontic surgery. In vitro cell culture is frequently used as the method of measuring the biocompatibilty of dental materials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of six kinds of retrograde filling materials including newly developed light curing glass ionomer cements. Each material was mixed according to. the manufacture's instruction and evaluated as : freshly mixed, 24-hour after mixing, and 168-hour after mixing respectively. The elution solution was extracted after 24-hour contact with materials using media. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by direct contact, or elution contact. Test results of radiochromium($^{51}Cr$) release, cell viability using tetrazolium dye (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl dimethyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) test and lactate dehydrogenase(LD) of damaged L929 cells were analyzed. In the $^{51}Cr$ release of direct contact, all experimental retrograde filling materials except amalgam and glass ionomer cement showed increased cytotoxicity compared to control. In the $^{51}Cr$ release of elution solution, the released $^{51}Cr$ was so minimal that it was impossible. to evlauate the cytotoxicity exactly. The elution solutions of glass ionomer cement and IRM showed marked cytotoxicity in MTT test. LD enzyme activity was highest in tests of direct contact with composite, light curing composite, and light curing glass ionomer cement and IRM. Amalgam revealed least cytotoxicity while IRM showed cytotoxicity using all three methods. Composite, light curing composite and light curing glass iomomer cement were cytotoxic in the tests of $^{51}Cr$ release and LD activity. Glass ionomer cement showed cytotoxic effect only in the MTT method. From these results it is suggested that the standardization and optimization of cytotoxicity testing, especially using elution solutions, should be strongly advised.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.209-214
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• 2004

Cytotoxic anticancer chemotherapeutic agents generally produce severe side effects, while reducing host resistance to cancer and infections, especially through the destruction of lymphoid and bone marrow cells. In this study, we have investigated the effect of chitosan on cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and life span in mice. The direct cytotoxicity of chitosan or chitosan-combinated chemotherapeutic agents for tumor cells was observed. In addition, the effect of life span extention was counted on sarcoma 180 mice injected with chitosan-combinated mitomycin C. The effect of growth inhibion for cancer cells, K562 and Yac-1 was shown in the cytotoxicity test of chitosan or chitosan-combinated chemotherapeutic agents. Also, the effect of life span extension was observed on sarcoma 180 mice injected with chitosan-combinated mitomycin C. Our results suggest that life span extension in sarcom 180 mice exposed with chitosan-combinated chemotherapeutic agents showed the probability of its usefulness for cancer therapy if more research results were accumulated.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.339-348
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• 2012

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Although all-trans retionic acid (ATRA) is the agents for ALP therapy, there are various side effects. For overcome this problem, we need the development of new therapeutic agents for APL. A number of bacteria produce various virulence factors with cytotoxic effects on human cancer cells. To understand the anti-cancer effect of Listeria monocytogenes on APL, we examined alteration of the cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60 cells. The cell supernatant (LmSup) and the extract of L. monocytogenes (LmE) inhibited the cell viability and induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. These cytotoxic effect of LmSup and LmE mediated by modulation of cell cycle and ROS production. These results indicate that released or included bacterial molecules from L. monocytogenes have a cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. Therefore, LmSup and LmE may be used as the potential target for the treatment of cancer induced by HL-60 cells.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.608-608
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• 2003

The main objectives of root canal therapy are cleaning and shaping and then obturating the root canal system in 3 dimensions to prevent reinfection. Many instrumentation techniques and devices, supported by an irrigation system capable of removing pulp tissue remnants and dentin debris, have been proposed to shape root canals. But current regimens in chemomechanical debridement using instrumentation and irrigation with NaOCl are not predictably effective in root canal disinfection. These findings are not surprising because the root canal system is complex and contains numerous ramifications and anatomical irregularities. The microorganisms in root canals not only invade the anatomic irregularities of the root canal system but also are present in the dentinal tubules. Therefore further disinfection with an effective antimicrobial agent may be necessary and it well1mown that use of intracanal medication will lower bacterial count in infected root canals. Calcium hydroxide has a long history of use in endodontics, and more attention has been given to the use of calcium hydroxide as intracanal dressing for the treatment of infected pulp. However, when treatment is completed in one visit, no intracanal medications other than intracanal irrigants are used. Recently, a mixture of a tetracycline isomer, an acid, and a detergent(MTAD), has been introduced as a final rinse for disinfuction of the root canal system. It has been shown that MTAD is able to remove the smear layer with minimal erosive changes on the surface of dentin, and is effective against Enterococcus faecalis, a microorganism resistant to the action of other antimicrobial medications. In another study, the ability of MTAD was investigated to disinfect contaminated root canals with whole saliva and compared its efficacy to that of NaOCl Based on the results, it seems that MTAD is significantly more effective than 5.25% NaOCl in eradicating bacteria from infected root canals. In the cytotoxicity evaluation, MTAD is less cytotoxic than engenol, 3% $H20_2,\;Ca(OH)_2$ paste, 5.25% NaGCl, Peridex, and EDTA and more cytotoxic than 2.63%,1.31% and 0.66% NaOCl. Is it promising or transient?

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2019

Background: Ginseng is believed to have antitumor activity. Autophagy is largely a prosurvival cellular process that is activated in response to cellular stressors, including cytotoxic chemotherapy; therefore, agents that inhibit autophagy can be used as chemosensitizers in cancer treatment. We examined the ability of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) to prevent autophagic flux and to make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells become more sensitive to doxorubicin. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of total RGE or its saponin fraction (RGS) on HCC cells were examined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay in a dose- or time-dependent manner. The effect of RGE or RGS on autophagy was measured by analyzing microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC)3-II expression and LC3 puncta formation in HCC cells. Late-stage autophagy suppression was tested using tandem-labeled green fluorescent protein (GFP)-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-LC3. Results: RGE markedly increased the amount of LC3-II, but green and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-mRFP-LC3 remained colocalized over time, indicating that RGE inhibited autophagy at a late stage. Suppression of autophagy through knockdown of key ATG genes increased doxorubicin-induced cell death, suggesting that autophagy induced by doxorubicin has a protective function in HCC. Finally, RGE and RGS markedly sensitized HCC cells, (but not normal liver cells), to doxorubicin-induced cell death. Conclusion: Our data suggest that inhibition of late-stage autophagic flux by RGE is important for its potentiation of doxorubicin-induced cancer cell death. Therapy combining RGE with doxorubicin could serve as an effective strategy in the treatment of HCC.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.12
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• 2023

Objectives: In this study, natural substances were introduced as primary dental pulp caps for use in pulp therapy, and the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of these substances were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, the antimicrobial properties of calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement, propolis, and propolis individually combined with the extracts of several medicinal plants were investigated against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Then, the cytotoxicity of each substance or mixture against pulp stem cells extracted from 30 primary healthy teeth was evaluated at 4 concentrations. Data were gathered via observation, and optical density values were obtained using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and recorded. SPSS software version 23 was used to analyze the data. Data were evaluated using 2-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test. Results: Regarding antimicrobial properties, thyme alone and thyme + propolis had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa bacteria. For E. faecalis, thyme + propolis had the lowest MIC, followed by thyme alone. At 24 and 72 hours, thyme + propolis, CEM cement, and propolis had the greatest bioviability in the primary dental pulp stem cells, and lavender + propolis had the lowest bioviability. Conclusions: Of the studied materials, thyme + propolis showed the best results in the measures of practical performance as a dental pulp cap.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2005

Purpose : To determine the histological findings and treatment outcome in cases of child hood nephrotic syndrome which required renal biopsy. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, laboratory, pathologic findings and therapeutic outcomes of 159 nephrotic children who received a renal biopsy at the Department of Pediatrics, Kyunghee Medical University Hospital, Seoul from 1984 to 2004 over a period of 21 years. The renal biopsy was performed in nephrotic children who showed atypical features at presentation, or needed cytotoxic therapy because of frequent-relapsing, steroid-dependent, or steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome(SRNS). Results : Minimal change disease(MCD) was found in 52.1$\%$ of the patients, followed by diffuse mesangial proliferation(33.1$\%$), focal segmental gomerulosclerosis(5.3$\%$), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(2.4$\%$), membranous nephropathy(2.4$\%$), and IgA nephropathy(1.8$\%$). In MCD children, 14.8$\%$ had hematuria, 22.7$\%$ had hypertension, 5.7$\%$ showed decreased renal function, and no patient was found to have an abnormal complement level. Among patients diagnosed with diseases other than MCD, 43.2$\%$ had hematuria, 21.0$\%$ was found to be hypertensive, 7.4$\%$ of children showed decreased renal function and only 3(3.7$\%$) had decreased complement level; the rates of hematuria and SRNS were found to be significantly higher than MCD patients. Among 37 SRNS patients, 30(81.0$\%$) showed a final remission state with long-term steroid therapy, including methylprednisolone pulse therapy, over 4 months, with or without cytotoxic therapy. Conclusion : Almost half of the cases of childhood nephrotic syndrome requiring renal biopsy were not diagnosed with MCD. Among atypical features, hematuria and steroid-resistance would be the most probable indicators for a diagnosis other than MCD. Even in patients with SRNS, long-term methylprednisolone pulse therapy may result in a good remission rate. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:149-158)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2771-2774
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• 2012

Aim: Tumors of upper gastrointestinal tract are among the cancers that have a quite lethal course. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the most efficient therapeutic modality for metastatic gastric cancer. In patients who do not respond to first-line treatment, the response rate to second-line therapies is generally low and the toxicity rates high. This study concerned the efficacy and the side effect profile of second-line therapy with irinotecan in the patients who were being followed-up with the diagnosis of metastatic gastric cancer in $\dot{I}$zmir, Turkey. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and toxicity in 31 patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma who presented to the polyclinic of Medical Oncology of Izmir Ataturk Education and Research Hospital between May 2008 and July 2011. All received chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin, fluoropyrimidine (5-FU) and docetaxel as the first-line therapy for late stage disease. Irinotecan as a single agent was given at a dose of 210 mg/$m^2$ on each 21 days. Irinotecan (180 mg/$m^2$ on day 1), 5-FU (500 mg/$m^2$ on days 1-2) and leucovorin (LV; 60 mg/$m^2$ on days 1-2) as a combined regimen were given over a 14 day period. Results: Median age was 54 (range, 31-70). Irinotecan was given as a combined regimen for median 6 cycles (range, 3-12) and as a single agent for median 3 cycles (range, 1-10). Metastases were detected in one site in six patients (19%), in two different sites in 17 patients (55%) and in three or more sites in eight patients (26%). Four patients (12.9%) showed partial response and six patients (19.3%) showed stable disease. Progression-free survival (PFS) was found to be 3.26 months (95% CI, 2.3-4.2). Median overall survival (OS) was found to be 8.76 months (95% CI, 4.5-12.9). The most commonly seen grade 3/4 side effect was neutropenia but the the therapy was generally well-tolerated. Conclusions: In this study, it was demonstrated that second-line therapy with irinotecan given following the first-line therapy with cisplatin, fluoropyrimidine (5-FU) and docetaxel was efficient and safe. Further studies are needed for confirmation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2001

Background: Nitric oxide (NO), a cytotoxic molecule is produced in various tissues including tumor cells during interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy . Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells are induced during IL-2 therapy, and have cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. The current study investigated the effects of NO synthesized in target cells or exposure of target cells to NO on the sensitivity of target cells to LAK cell cytotoxicity. Methods: Cytotoxicity was measured using 4 h chromium release assays. LAK cells which were induced by a 4 day incubation of BALB/c mouse splenocytes with IL-2 (6,000 IU/mL) were employed as effector cells. RD-995 skin tumor cells originated from a C3H/HeN mouse were employed as target cells. NO synthesis in target cells was induced by a 24 h incubation of RD-995 cells with $IFN{\gamma}$ (25 U/mL), TNF (50 U/mL) and IL-1 (20 U/mL). S-nitrosyl acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), an NO donor, was used to expose target cells to NO. $N^G$-monomethyl-L-arginine (MLA) and carboxy-PTIO were added during cytotoxicity assays to inhibit NO synthesis, and to scavenge NO produced by target cells, respectively. Results: Sensitivity of NO-producing RD-995 cells to LAK cell cytotoxicity was decreased by addition of MLA and carboxy-PTIO during cytotoxicity assays. However, the two reagents had no effect on the sensitivity of non-NO-producing RD-995 cells. Pretreatment of RD-995 target cells with SNAP increased the sensitivity in comparison with untreated cells. Conclusions: Sensitivity of target cells to LAK cell cytotoxicity is increased by target cell NO synthesis or exposure to NO. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether these in vitro results have relevance to in vivo phenomena.