• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2019

More effective treatments are needed for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that water extracts of blackberry fruits (BF) and leaves (BL) and their combinations (BFL) reduce fat deposition in HepG2 cells and modulate shor-tchain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal bacteria in vitro. HepG2 cells were treated with BF, BL, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 for 1 h, and 0.5 mM palmitate was added to the cells. Moreover, low ($30{\mu}g/mL$) and high doses ($90{\mu}g/mL$) of BL and BF were applied to fecal bacteria in vitro, and SCFA was measured by GC. BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 reduced triglyceride deposition in the cells in a dose-dependent manner, and BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 had a stronger effect than BF. The content of malondialdehyde, an index of oxidative stress, was also reduced in BL, BF, and BFL1:2 with increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c was reduced in BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 compared to the control, and BFL1:2 had the strongest effect. By contrast, the carnitine palmitolytransferase-1expression, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation, increased mostly in BFL1:2 and BFL1:3. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ expression was reduced in BL compared to that in BF and BFL1:2 in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, BL increased propionate production, and BF increased butyrate and propionate production and increased total SCFA content in fecal incubation. BF increased the contents of Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillales and decreased those of Clostridiales, whereas BL elevated the contents of Bacteroidales and decreased those of Enterobacteriales. In conclusion, BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 may be potential therapeutic candidates for NAFLD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1084-1098
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown maternal betaine supplementation alleviates fetal-derived hepatic steatosis. Therefore, this study examined the anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine intake in offspring mice and its mechanism. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6J mice and their offspring were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the treatment received during gestation and lactation: control diet (CD), fatty liver disease (FLD), and fatty liver disease + 1% betaine (FLD-BET). The FLD group was given a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD + STZ), and the FLD-BET group was treated with HFD + STZ + 1% betaine. After weaning, the offspring mice were given a normal diet for 5 weeks and then dissected to measure the relevant indexes. RESULTS: Compared to the CD group, the offspring mice in the FLD group revealed obvious hepatic steatosis and increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; maternal betaine supplementation reversed these changes. The hepatic mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-18, and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the FLD group than in the CD group. Maternal betaine supplementation reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC). Maternal betaine supplementation also reversed the increasing protein expressions of nitric oxide dioxygenase-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in offspring mice exposed to HFD + STZ. Maternal betaine supplementation decreased the homocysteine (Hcy) and s-adenosine homocysteine (SAH) levels significantly in the livers. Furthermore, the hepatic Hcy concentrations showed significant inverse relationships with the mRNA expression of TNF-α, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-18. The hepatic SAH concentration was inversely associated with the IL-1β mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: The lipotropic and anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine supplementation may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in the livers of the offspring mice.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a class of positional, geometric conjugated dienoic isomers of linoleic acid (LA). CLA activates the immune system, protects against tumorigenesis, and reduces the incidence of atherosclerosis. Trans-10, cis-12 CLA has specific effects on lipid metabolism, it has been shown to reduce body fat gain and regulates some adipocyte secreted proteins in vivo and in vitro. Here we report that a CLA mixture affects cytokine secretion from rat primary adipocytes. Rat primary adipocytes were treated with 1 mM, 100 $\mu$M, 1 $\mu$M or 100 nM CLA mixture doses; and leptin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF a ), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glycerol levels in the medium were measured. Leptin secretion was lower, TNF $\alpha$ secretion higher and IL-6 secretion did not change in response to the CLA mixture. Leptin and TNF $\alpha$ secretions did not change with CLA mixture treatment in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the CLA mixture did not appear to enhance lipolysis in rat primary adipocytes. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the decrease in leptin and increase in TNF $\alpha$ secretion in adipocytes treated with CLA mixture may be due to the apoptotic effect and to a reduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR ${\gamma}$ ) ligands.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.139-145
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• 1998

This report describes a rare, congenital hypertrophy of the left upper extremity that appeared after compressive bandage of right arm at the age of two. He is eighteen years old, and hypertrophy was aggravated for about 2 years since he started weight training exercise. Recently, skin turgor changed and he visited the Dermatology department. Skin biopsy revealed increased thickness of the dermis. On Orthopaedic examination, the left arm showed non­specific neuro-muscular changes other than easy fatigability a.nd increased skin consistency after exercise, compared to the right arm. The differences of circumference were 2.5 to 4cm according to the level of the upper limb. But the relative proportion of hypertrophy of the limb was balanced., On X-ray examination, bony changes were not shown. Through the MRI, we could find edematous changes of subcutaneous fatty tissue. Muscular structures showed unremarkable changes. Through the endurance test of both arms, we could find a decrease in endurance of the left upper arm musculatures. On histologic examination, infrequent focal necrosis and peri fascicular degeneration of the muscle fiber were present.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2013

The object of this study was to observe anticancer and related immunomodulatory and anticachexic effects of Insamyangyoung-tang aqueous extracts (ISYYTe) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous epithelial carcinoma), NCI-H520, xenograft Balb/c nu-nu nude mice. Changes on the tumor volume and weights, lymphatic organ(spleen and popliteal lymph node), serum interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ levels, splenocytes and peritoneal macrophage activities (NK cell activity), splenic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-10 contents, splenic T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) and TNF-${\alpha}+$ cells were observed with tumor mass and lymphatic organ histopathology to detect anticancer and immunomodulatory effects. In addition, changes on the body weights, epididymal fat weights and serum IL-6 levels were also detected with the thicknesses of deposited cervical brown adipose tissue and their mean diameters to monitor the tumor-related anticachexic effects. The results obtained in this study suggest that over 50 mg/kg of ISYYTe showed favorable anticancer effects on the NCI-H520 cell xenograft with immunomodulatory and anticachexic effects. However, detail mechanism studies should be conducted in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in this herb.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2012

A total of 18 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates that were recovered from 1949 through 1997 were characterized and pathotyped. All viruses were highly virulent as determined by intracerebral pathogenicity indices ${\geq}1.81$ in day-old. These pathotypes are typical for viscerotropic velogenic NDV (VVNDV) pathotype viruses. Some differences were observed for the chicken red blood cell elution rate and thermostability of the hemagglutinin at $56^{\circ}C$. Three antigenic groups were identified by a hemagglutination-inhibition assay using NDV monoclonal antibodies. And the predominant gross lesions were as follows: discharge from the nasal cavity, tracheal mucus, petechial hemorrhage in the heart fat, kidney urates and hemorrhage with or without necrosis in the gastrointestinal tract. Severe hemorrhagic or necrotic lesions were also noted in the lymphoid organs and were localized primarily in the spleen and cecal tonsil. However, differences in the occurrence and frequency of the gross lesions were observed between the virus strains. Among them, NDV strains that induced neurological symptoms belonged only to genotype VI. This strain had spread throughout Korea during the late 1980s to the 1990s, which suggests that specific VVNDVs genotypes might result in neurological symptoms.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2002

Since 1993, the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) disease occurred in China among cultured shrimps resulting in mass mortality. Epizootiological surveys undertaken during the outbreak period of 1993-1994 indicated that all stages of Penaeus chinensis, P. japonicus and P. monodon were infected. Consequent to the transport of contaminated shrimp seedlings and seawater, the disease spread all over the farms of China. The disease was more rapidly transmitted at temperatures above $25^{\circ}C$. Challenge experiments showed the causative agent was highly virulent. White spots appeared on the carapace of both span-taneous and experimentally infected shrimps. Moribund shrimps contained turbid hemolymph, hypertrophied Iymphoid organ and a necrotic mid-gut gland. Electron microscopy showed the presence of viral particles in the gills, stomach, lymphoid organ, and epidermal tissue of the infected shrimp. The visions were slightly ovoid with an envelope and averaged 350 $\times$ 150 nm; nucleocapsids measured 375 $\times$ 157 nm. With discontinuous sucrose gradient of 35, 50 and 60% (w/v), the virus was separated from hemolymph of the infected shrimp. The estimated molecular weight of genomic DNA was 237 Kb with EcoR I, 247 Kb with Hind III and 241kb with Pst I. A total of 9 hybridoma colones secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced from mouse myeloma and spleen cells immunized with WSSV. The immunofluorescence assay of gill tissue showed that the MAbs reacted with diseased but not with healthy shrimp. The MAbs belonged to IgGl, IgG2b subclass and IgM class, all with kappa light Immune-electron-microscopy with colloidal gold marker showed the presence of 5 MAbs epitopes on the envelope and one on the capsid of the virus. Baculoviral mid-gut gland necrosis showed the specificity of the MAbs produced. For diagnosis 5 different methods were selected. Using Kimura primers for PCR, or MAbs for immunoblot, ELISA or FAT method, in situ hybridization was carried out to show the gene. All these methods detected WSSV in the organ samples of the diseased shrimp but not in healthy one.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.417-419
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• 2012

Tumors of the central nervous system are common in the pediatric population and constitute the second most prevalent tumor type in children. Within this group, spinal cord tumors are relatively rare and account for 1 to 10% of all pediatric central nervous system tumors. We describe a very rare case of an intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor with a subcutaneous mass and discuss its clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment. A male infant was delivered normally, with uneventful development. At 16 days post-delivery, his family took him to a pediatrician because of a mass on his upper back. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed a well-demarcated soft-tissue mass with central cystic change or necrosis at the subcutaneous layer of the posterior back (T2-7 level). Another mass was found with a fat component at the spinal canal of the T1-3 level, which was intradural extramedullary space. After six weeks, the spinal cord tumor and subcutaneous mass were grossly total resected; pathologic findings indicated an atypical myxoid spindle cell neoplasm, possibly nerve sheath in type. The final diagnosis of the mass was an atypical myxoid spindle cell neoplasm. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after nine days without any neurological deficit. We report a rare case of an intradural extramedullary spinal tumor with subcutaneous mass in a neonate. It is necessary to monitor the patient's status by examining consecutive radiologic images, and the symptoms and neurological changes should be observed strictly during long-term follow-up.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.711-714
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• 2006

Purpose: Contralateral reduction mammaplasty at the time of breast reconstruction using autogenous tissue gives aesthetically improved results in the patients with mammary hypertrophy or ptosis. It also reduces required flap size for reconstruction and permits discarding zones of poor perfusion, decreasing flap size-related problems such as partial flap loss or fat necrosis. Considering the high rate of bilaterality of breast cancer, it also provides a good opportunity for exploration and occult cancer diagnosis in such high risk group patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 45 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous breast reconstruction and contralateral reduction mammaplasty was performed about surgical technique, pathologic diagnosis, and subsequent treatment. Results: Three occult breast cancers were found in 45 patients(6.7%); one was microinvasive, and the other two were invasive carcinomas and their mean diameter was 1.2 cm. One patient underwent subsequent breast conserving mastectomy, adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. The others underwent only radiation and hormone therapy. They were followed up for 10 to 42 months without evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Conclusion: Occult breast cancer diagnosed in reduction mammaplasty specimen will lead to good prognosis due to its early detection. Treatment options depend on pathologic finding, stage, marginal status, and the timing of diagnosis. We recommend adequate markings for orientation and margins, excision with sufficient margin, and confirmation by frozen biopsy for suspected lesions.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2014

Background The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of lateral intercostal artery perforator-based adipofascial free flaps for facial reconstruction in patients with facial soft tissue deficiency. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of five consecutive patients diagnosed with facial soft tissue deficiency who underwent operations between July 2006 and November 2011. Flap design included the area containing the perforators. A linear incision was made along the rib, which had the main intercostal pedicle. First, we dissected below Scarpa's fascia as the dorsal limit of the flap. Then, the adipofascial flap was elevated from the medial to the lateral side, including the perforator that pierces the serratus anterior muscle after emerging from the lateral intercostal artery. After confirming the location of the perforator, pedicle dissection was performed dorsally. Results Dominant perforators were located on the sixth to eighth intercostal space, and more than four perforators were found in fresh-cadaver angiography. In the clinical case series, the seventh or eighth intercostal artery perforators were used for the free flaps. The mean diameter of the pedicle artery was 1.36 mm, and the mean pedicle length was 61.4 mm. There was one case of partial fat necrosis. No severe complications occurred. Conclusions This is the first study of facial contour reconstruction using lateral intercostal artery perforator-based adipofascial free flaps. The use of this type of flap was effective and can be considered a good alternative for restoring facial symmetry in patients with severe facial soft tissue deficiency.