• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.642-650
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• 2016

Cynanchi wilfordii Radix (CW) and Perilla sikokiana (PS) were extracted under different conditions to study their antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities. Their potentials as functional food ingredients were investigated. The highest total phenol contents were $15.74{\pm}0.69mg/g$ for CW100 [100% fermented ethanol (FE) extract from CW] and $39.37{\pm}3.46mg/g$ for PS50 (50% FE extract from PS). When extracts were processed at 1 mg/mL, DPPH radical scavenging activities were $79.79{\pm}0.79%$ and $82.69{\pm}1.07%$, respectively, at CW100 and PS50. ABTS radical scavenging activities were $80.20{\pm}2.86%$ and $75.00{\pm}1.78%$, respectively, at CW100 and PS50. However, ferric reducing antioxidant power activities at 1 mg/mL were higher than 80% for PS under all extraction conditions. The highest ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities were $51.56{\pm}0.56{\sim}59.2{\pm}1.13%$ at CW50 and $46.70{\pm}0.32{\sim}66.17{\pm}0.55%$ at PS0. Cell differentiation inhibitory effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were $29.49{\pm}2.98%$ at CW100 and $23.31{\pm}0.61%$ at PS50. The inhibitory effect of the CW100-PS50 mixture was $43.03{\pm}1.63%$, which was significantly higher than those of individual extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.242-249
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• 2015

This study examined the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of 70% ethanol extracts and water extracts of Allium hookeri root. We evaluated the effects of water extracts of A. hookeri root on storage of seasoned pork added with water extracts at $4^{\circ}C$ for 21 days in order to evaluate its potential as a functional food material. A. hookeri root water extracts displayed antioxidant activities (total polyphenol content and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities) that were superior to those of 70% ethanol extracts. The 70% ethanol extracts and water extracts of A. hookeri root showed antimicrobial activities against food-borne Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that were about 1/400 times greater than that of vancomycin. Chemical composition analysis was conducted on pork seasoned with sauce containing 5%, 10%, and 15% water extracts. Moisture and crude ash contents significantly decreased as the amount of water extracts increased (P<0.05), and the highest crude protein content was in the 10% group. Acidity of seasoned pork increased proportionally in the early stages of storage, whereas it significantly decreased as the amount of water extracts increased after day 12 (P<0.05). Although the total number of bacteria in seasoned pork continuously increased during storage, growth of bacteria was significantly restricted as level of A. hookeri root water extracts increased (P<0.05). In the sensory evaluation, pork seasoned with 10% A. hookeri root water extracts showed the highest scores for taste, texture, and overall acceptance (P<0.05). In summary, A. hookeri water extracts display antioxidant and antimicrobial activities that can improve quality characteristics of seasoned pork and have potential as natural preservatives to restrict bacteria growth. Regarding the amount of extracts, 10% was determined to be the most appropriate level to minimize changes in seasoned pork during storage and improve sensory quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.695-702
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of seed vinegar on antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activities of concentrated blueberry vinegar (CBV). Of the nine strains of yeast and six strains of acetic acid bacteria provided by the Microbial Institute for Fermentation Industry, each strain of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae SRCM 100610, showing the highest ethanol content) and acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter pasteurianus SRCM 101342, showing the highest total acidity) was selected for production of CBVs. Sugar content, pH, total acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), and browning intensity (280 nm and 420 nm) in CBVs using concentrated blueberry juice were $11.05{\sim}12.70^{\circ}Brix$, 2.63~2.98, 1.65~5.72%, 3.03~4.24 mg/mL, 0.95~1.50, and 0.11~0.20, respectively. Sugar content and total acidity of CBVs increased upon addition of seed vinegar, whereas pH, TPC, and browning intensity decreased. Of all CBVs with various additions of seed vinegar, the control showed the lowest $EC_{50}$ values in DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS radical scavenging assay, and reducing power (23.80, 19.48, and 79.21 dilution factor, respectively), whereas the 40% seed vinegar group showed the highest clear zone diameter values for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus (4.31, 4.59, 5.81, and 3.97, respectively). Antioxidant activities of CBVs were closely correlated with their TPC, browning intensity at 280 nm, pH, and total acidity values, showing correlation determination coefficient ($R^2$) values higher 0.82. However, antimicrobial activities of CBVs were closely correlated with their pH and total acidity values, showing higher $R^2$ values more than 0.92. These results suggest that CBVs using concentrated blueberry juice, S. cerevisiae SRCM 100610, and A. pasteurianus SRCM 101342 may be useful as potentially functional foods for enhancing health.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2007

Purpose: Multidrug resistance (MDR) of the cancer cells related to mdr1 gene expression can be effectively treated by selective short hairpin RNA for mdr1 gene (shMDR). Sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene is well known to have both reporter and therapeutic gene characteristics. We have co-transfected both shMDR and NIS gene into colon cancer cells (HCT15 cell) expressing MDR and Tc-99m sestamibi and I-125 uptake were measured. In addition, cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin and I-131 therapy were also assessed after transfection. Material and Methods: At first, shMDR was transfected with liposome reagent into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and HCT cells. shMDR transfection was confirmed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Adenovirus expressing NIS (Ad-NIS) gene and shMDR (Ad-shMDR) were co-transfected with Ad-NIS into HCT15 cells. Forty-eight hours after infection, inhibition of P-gycoprotein (Pgp) function by shMDR was analyzed by a change of Tc-99m sestamibi uptake and doxorubicin cytotoxicity, and functional activity of induced NIS gene expression was assessed with I-125 uptake assay. Results: In HEK293 cells transfected with shMDR, mdr1 mRNA and Pgp protein expressions were down regulated. HCT15 cells infected with 20 MOI of Ad-NIS was higher NIS protein expression than control cells. After transfection of 300 MOI of Ad-shMDR either with or without 10 MOI of Ad-NIS, uptake of Tc-99m sestamibi increased up to 1.5-fold than control cells. HCT15 cells infected with 10 MOI of Ad-NIS showed approximately 25-fold higher I-125 uptake than control cells. Cotransfection of Ad-shMDR and Ad-NIS resulted in enhanced cytotoxic by doxorubicin in HCT15 cells. I-131 treatment on HCT15 cells infected with 20 MOI of Ad-NIS revealed increased cytotoxic effect. Conclusion: Suppression of mdr1 gene expression, retention of Tc-99m sestamibi, enhanced doxorubicin cytotoxicity and increases in I-125 uptake were achieved in MDR expressing cancer cell by co-transfection of shMDR and NIS gene. Dual therapy with doxorubicin and radioiodine after cotransfection shMDR and NIS gene can be used to overcome MDR.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.505-514
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• 2014

To examine the anti-obese activity of miscellaneous cereal grains, 80% ethanol extracts from eight selected miscellaneous cereal grains were compared for their cytotoxic effects on 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes. The ethanol extract of proso millet exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. Further fractionation of the ethanol extract with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol showed that the cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract was mainly partitioned into the butanol fraction. As compared with differentiated mature adipocytes, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were more susceptible to the cyctotoxicity of the butanol fraction. When each organic solvent fraction (25 ${\mu}g/ml$) was added during the differentiation period for 6 days, the cell viability was not affected significantly except for the butanol fraction, but the intracellular lipid accumulation declined to a level of 81.5%~50.3% of the control. The Oil Red O staining data also demonstrated that the ethanol extract as well as the butanol fraction could inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. The presence of the butanol extract during the induced adipocytic differentiation also resulted in a significant reduction in the expression levels of critical adipogenesis mediators $(C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, and LPL) to a barely detectable or undetectable level and the cells retained the fibroblast-like morphology of 3T3-L1. In 3T3-L1 cells, the cytotoxicity of the butanol fraction (50-100 ${\mu}g/ml$) was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) loss, caspase-3 activation, and PARP degradation. Taken together, these results indicate that proso millet grains possess pro-apoptotic and anti-adipocytic activities toward adipocytes, which can be applicable to prevention of obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Traditional Korean fermented herbal plants are potential sources of new food that promote health, but they are still produced by yeast, fungi or bacteria fermentation. In the present work, mushroom (Paecilomyces tenuipes and Cordyceps militaris) fungal dongchunghacho were used to fermented Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (licorice) or mixed with pupa. The pupa were tested as solid substrates for the production of corcycepin, liquiritin, and liquiritigenin. The fermented substrates were analyzed the content of cordycepin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, and glycirrhizin productivity and inhibitory activity of NO. The cordycepin content of 70% EtOH extract from the fermented mixture of licorice and 50% pupa with C. militaris increased maximum at 33 times. Pupa was very excellent for the production of cordycepin. The liquiritin content was decreased in all the assays inoculated with P. tenuipes and C. militaris dongchunghachos. The liquiritigenin content was higher when fermented with P. tenuipes than C. militaris. The addition of pupa significantly reduced the liquiritin content and glycyrrhizin production. As a result, the liquiritigenin content increased in fermented P. tenuipes and C. militaris, and liquiritin and glycyrrhizin decreased. The inhibition of NO production in the different ethanolic extracts fermented with licorice and pupa was also significantly increased and higher than that of a nonfermented extract in higher polar solvent extracts. The contents of cordycepin and biological active compounds were altered in accordance with the concentration of pupa and fungi. This study provides basic data for use in developing dongchunghacho fungi as a functional food resource.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1769-1775
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• 2010

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The purpose of this study was designed to evaluate the possibility of osteoporosis prevention in postmenopausal women. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ecklonia stolonifera (ES) extracts on bone turnover markers in ovariectomized rats. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with ES extracts. We measured the osteocalcin and C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (CTx) content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the ES extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with ES extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the ES may be an effective functional food to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2010

Purpose: To compare the incidence and risk factors for osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between two groups using bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and hamstring tendon (HT) autograft. Materials and Methods: 53 cases of ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon and 40 cases using hamstring tendon were followed up at least 8 years. Radiographic evaluation was done according to the Kellgren and Lawrence's classification. Clinical functional testing (Lysholm Knee Scores, the Tegner activity scores) and laxity testing (Lachman, pivot shift tests), and the instrumented laxity testing with $Telos^{(R)}$ were all examined in relation to the development of osteoarthritis. Results: Radiographic osteoarthritic changes were detected in 24 patients (45.3%) in BPTB group and 14 patients (35.0%) in HT group. Accompanying meniscal injury (BPTB p<0.001; HT p=0.091), intervals from the injury to reconstruction of > 12 months (BPTB p=0.037; HT p=0.021), and patient's age at reconstruction of > 25 years (BPTB p=0.003; HT p=0.048) were found to be significant independent predictors of osteoarthritis. However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the development of osteoarthritis and the clinical outcome or the radiographic stability in both groups. Conclusion: Although ACL reconstruction using BPTB or HT autograft had good clinical results at an average follow-up of 10 years, considerable incidence of radiographic osteoarthritic changes were noted. Various factors such as accompanying meniscal injury, protracted time from injury to reconstruction, more than 25 years old at the time of reconstruction were related to radiographic osteoarthritic changes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2009

Background: With the advances of cardiac surgery, the demand for an artificial prosthesis has increased, and this has led to the development and utilization of diverse alternative materials. We conducted this research to improve an artificial prosthesis by examining the changes of the physical qualities, the pressure related tensile strength, the change in elasticity and the thermostability of a xenograft valve (porcine) and pericardium (bovine, porcine) based on the type of fixation liquid we used. Material and Method: The xenograft valves and pericardium were assigned into three groups: the untreated group, the fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA) group and the glutaraldehyde with GA+solvent such as ethanol etc. group. The surgeons carried out each group's physical activities. Each group's uniaxial tension and elasticity was measured and compared. Thermostability testing was conducted and compared between the bovine and porcine pericardium fixed with GA group and the GA+solvent group. Result: On the physical activity test in the surgeon's hand, no significant difference between the groups was sensed on palpation. For suture and tension, the GA+solvent group was slightly firmer than the low GA concentration group. In general, the circumferential uniaxial tension and elasticity of the porcine aortic and pulmonary valves were better in the fixed groups than that in the untreated group. There was no significant difference between the GA and GA+solvent groups (p>0.05). Bovine and porcine pericardium also showed no significant difference between the GA group and the GA+solvent group (p>0.05). When comparing between the groups for each experiment, the elasticity tended to be stronger in most of the higher GA concentration group (porcine pulmonary valve, porcine pericardium). On the thermostability testing of the bovine and porcine pericardium, the GA group and the G+solvent group both had a sudden shrinking point at $80^{\circ}C$ that showed no difference (bovine pericardium: p=0.057, porcine pericardium: p=0.227). Conclusion: When fixing xenograft prosthetic devices with GA, adding a solvent did not cause a loss in pressure-tension, tension-elasticity and thermostability. In addition, more functional solvents or cleansers should be developed for developing better xenografts.