• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Genistein is a potent, plant-derived isoflavone that displays estrogenic activity at low concentrations but inhibits proliferation at high amounts. However, the molecular mechanism of genistein is not completely understood. In the present study, the biphasic effects (estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity) of genistein on the growth of MCF-7 cells were identified. Genistein within a low range of concentration, $1-10\;{\mu}M$, stimulated proliferation, while $50-100\;{\mu}M$ caused apoptotic cell death. Additionally, genistein at a low concentration induced estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated gene expression and ER phosphorylation. When pre-treated with PD98059, an MEK inhibitor, ER-mediated gene expression and ER phosphorylation by genistein were noticeably increased. However, the increased gene expression and phosphorylation did not enhance cell proliferation. Moreover, it was observed that ER-mediated signaling performs an important role in the MAPK pathway. The proliferation and apoptosis in genistein-treated MCF-7 cells were partially dependent on the Bcl-2 level. The addition of IC1 182, 780, an estrogen receptor antagonist, inhibited Bcl-2 expression induced by genistein. This study suggests that there is a close relationship between Bcl-2 and the ER signaling pathways in MCF-7 cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.106-113
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• 2023

Plant extracts have been studied due to their potential as photoprotective agents against UV and blue light exposure. Previous studies have revealed that several plant extracts have photoprotection capacities and synergistic effects with synthetic products. However, such results for pu'er tea and Curcuma longa L. have not been reported yet for a cosmetic formulation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate photoprotection capacities of pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts for a sunscreen compound. The pu'er tea extract improved sun protection factor value of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate (a synthetic sunscreen compound) by 46% and showed a high antioxidant capability that could help skin recover from photo-induced damage. C. longa L. extract also showed a potential to protect skin from blue light-induced damage because it not only had a maximum absorption peak at the blue light range, but also protected human fibroblasts from blue light-induced damage. The addition of both extracts shifted the critical wavelength of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate from 350 nm to 386 nm, giving it a broad-spectrum feature. Thus, pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts may enhance the photoprotection ability of synthetic sunscreen products.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.423-427
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• 2003

Effect of the thermal poling on the 1.55 fm emission spectra in various Er$^{3+}$ -doped glasses was investigated with a special attention on the changes in the values of FWHM(Full Width at Half Maximum) intensity. Tellurite glasses poled at 28$0^{\circ}C$ with an electric voltage of 4 kV resulted in an approximately 6% increase in FWHM values compared with their unpoled counterparts. On the other hand, values for glasses, such as aluminosilicate, sulfide and chalcohalide, either decreased or remained unchanged. The characteristic results from tellurite glasses are most probably due to the presence of lone-pair electrons in the TeO$_4$ hi-pyramidal units that form the main network structure of tellurite glasses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.80.1-80.1
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.341.2-341.2
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• 2003

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 1993

Abstract Electrorheological effect on the dispersive system of polarizable fine powder/dielectric oil has been investigated. ER effect was explained divided into following 3 mechanisms; (1) surface conductance, (2) bulk conductance, and (3) induced polarization. Mathematical model which predicts the interactive force between two fine particles in the electrorheological fluid has been introduced based on the induced polarization mechanism. This model may provide guide to select materials for strong ER effect. The attractive force between two particles was calculated using the above model for the selected 7 materials such as ceramics, ferrites, polymers etc. From the calculation result, it was found that the ceramics and ferrites are good materials which show a strong ER effect.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.518-523
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• 2002

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of lipoxygenase, inhibits the secretion of proteins and causes the redistribution of resident Golgi proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, the effect of NDGA on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) secretion was investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and compared with those of brefeldin A (BFA), a well-known fungal metabolite that exhibits similar ER-Golgi redistribution. Both BFA and NDGA blocked secretions of LPL. In the presence of BFA, the active and dimeric LPL was accumulated in adipocytes. After endoglycosidase H (endo H) digestion, the proportion of LPL subunits with partially endo H-sensitive oligosaccharide was significantly increased with BFA. However, in the presence of NDGA, the cellular LPL became inactive, and only the endo H-sensitive fraction of the LPL subunit was observed. An increase of the aggregated forms was observed in the fractions of the sucrose-density gradient ultracentrifugation. These properties of LPL in the NDGA-treated cells were similar to those of LPL that is retained in ER, and the effects of NDGA could not be reversed by BFA. These results indicate that the inhibitory mechanism of NDGA on the LPL secretion is functionally different from the ER-Golgi redistribution that is induced by BFA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1365-1375
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• 2005

The antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate (MSC) and three major cannabinoids, i.e., $\bigtriangleup^{9}$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), were evaluated using in vitro bioassays, viz., the human breast cancer cell proliferation assay, the recombinant human estrogen receptor (ER) competitive binding assay, and the reporter gene assay. The inhibitory effects on estrogen were also examined using the ethoxyresorufin-O­deethylase (EROD) assay, the aromatase assay, and the 17$\beta$-estradiol ($E_{2}$) metabolism assay. The results showed that MSC induced the antiestrogenic effect via the ER-mediated pathway, while THC, CBD, and CBN did not have any antiestrogenic activity. This suggests that the combined effects of the marijuana smoke components are responsible for the antiestrogenicity of marijuana use. In addition, MSC induced the CYP1A activity and the $E_{2}$ metabolism, but inhibited the aromatase activity, suggesting that the antiestrogenic activity of MSC is also related to the indirect ER-dependent pathway, as a result of the depletion of the in situ $E_{2}$ level available to bind to the ER. In conclusion, pyrogenic products including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the non-polar fraction, which is the most biologically active fraction among the seven fractions of MSC, might be responsible for the antiestrogenic effect.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.265-279
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• 1997

This study aims to demonstrate the effect of chitosan, one of the natural chelator, on the ultrastructural changes in the mouse liver caused by cadmium. A total of 60 healthy ICR that weighted 30 gm $({\pm}2gm)$ was used for experiment. The experimental group was divided into three groups; group A, B, and C. The group A and B administrated cadmium (4.0 mg/kg) to the intraperitoneal after pretreated with chitosan (0.5% solution) for 30 and 7 days, respectively. Each group was observed at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours and one week after injected cadmium. The results were as follows: 1. Group A The nuclear membrane and the chromatin were normal shapes at overall the time. The inner and outer membranes of the mitochondria damaged a little but almost normal in shapes. And electron-density showed slightly compacted. some enlarged rER (rough endoplasmic reticulum) showed at 12 hours. At 48 hours, typical lamellae of the rER were reformed, and a lot of transvesicles observed around them. To 48 hours, sER (smooth endoplasmic reticulum) was slightly dilated. From 72 hours, sER rehalizated in normal shape. 2. Group B Nuclear membranes were rounded-shape and chromatin showed evenly. To 72 hours, a lot of mitochondria observed around rER and development of cristae showed weakly. But at one week, cristae were clear and electron-density of matrix showed high. At 72 hours lamellae of rER showed some broken, but were reformed at one week. Also at one week, glycogen granules evenly showed over cytoplasm. 3. Group C At 12 hours, Nucleus showed the condensation of nuclear membrane and clear condensation at 24 hours. However, nuclear membrane had a slightly rounded-shape from 72 hours. From 12 hours to the one week, mitochondria showed the dilation of inner cavity and weak development of cristae. Also electron-density of matrix was a little low. Occasionally, destruction of inner and outer membrane observed at one week. The dilation of cisternae and destruction of lamellae of rER showed from 12 to 48 hours. From 72 hours, rER showed slightly dilated only. And lamella observed at one week. In sER, dilation of inner cavity was observed during whole period. These results suggest that chitosan attenuates the toxic effect of the cadmium in the mouse liver.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Objectives: This study is aimed to compare the wound healing processes between conventional scapel wound and Er,Cr:YSGG (Erbium,Chromium, Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, Garnet) laser wound using experimental animals. Experimental Design: Two types of wounds were made by linear and round incisions using scalpel and Er,Cr:YSGG laser, respectively, on the thigh of Sprague-Dawley rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were serially sacrified as follows: post operative 12, 24, 48 hours, and 3, 7, 14 days. The skin wounds were grossly and microscopically analyzed during the healing period. Result: The Er,Cr:YSGG laser incision showed better wound healing for the linear incision experiment than the scapel incision. Whereas the scapel incision showed better wound healing for the round incision experiment than the Er,Cr:YSGG linear incision. As the Er,Cr:YSGG laser damage in the round incision experiment could be much increased compared with the round incision by scapel. So, the round incisions by the Er,Cr:YSGG laser were resulted in the poor wound healing compared with those by the scapel. Conclusion: The Er,Cr:YSGG laser is more favorable for the fast linear incision, while the scapel is more favorable for the modified round incision.