• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2022

Purpose: Obesity and a high-fat diet (HFD) are risk factors for colorectal cancer. We have previously shown that luteolin (LUT) supplementation in HFD-fed mice markedly inhibits tumor development in chemically induced colon carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effect of LUT in the inhibition of cell proliferation in HFD-fed obese mice and HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells grown in an adipocyte-derived medium. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 11.69% fat out of total calories consumed, n = 10), HFD (40% fat out of total calories consumed, n = 10), HFD with 0.0025% LUT (n = 10), and HFD with 0.005% LUT (n = 10) and were subjected to azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium chemical colon carcinogenesis. All mice were fed the experimental diet for 11 weeks. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and HT-29 cells were treated with various doses of LUT in an adipocyte-conditioned medium (Ad-CM). Results: The weekly body weight changes in the LUT groups were similar to those in the HFD group; however, the survival rates of the LUT group were higher than those of the HFD group. Impaired crypt integrity of the colonic mucosa in the HFD group was observed to be restored in the LUT group. The colonic expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors were suppressed by the LUT supplementation in the HFD-fed mice. The LUT treatment (10, 20, and 40 µM) inhibited the proliferation and migration of HT-29 cells cultured in Ad-CM in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Conclusion: These results suggest that the anticancer effect of LUT is probably due to the inhibition of IGF-1 signaling and adipogenesis-related cell proliferation in colon cancer cells.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.277-284
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• 2006

The genetic toxicity of environmental pollutants, namely, nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and chloropyriphos (CP) was investigated in aquatic sentinel species, freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and larva of aquatic midge, Chironomus tentans, using Comet assay. Physiological effect of such pollutants was also investigated by studying the specimens' rates of reproduction, growth and survival. Acute toxicity results showed that, as expected, Daphnia was more sensitive than Chironomus to chemical exposure. The order of acute toxicity was CP > NP > BPA in D. magna and NP > CP > BPA in C. tentans. BPA may exert a genotoxic effect on D. magna and C. tentans, given that DNA strand breaks increased in both species exposed to this compound, whereas NP- and CP-induced DNA damage occurred only in C. tentans. In vivo genotoxic data obtained in aquatic sentinel species could provide valuable information for freshwater quality monitoring. The experiments with NP-exposed D. magna showed that the pollutant has long-term effects on reproduction, whereas no short-term effect on DNA integrity was found, being an example of a false-negative result from the biomarkers perspective. This result could be interpreted that other mechanism than genetic alteration might be involved in NP-induced reproduction failure in D. magna. False-positive results from the genotoxic biomarker obtained in BPA-exposed D. magna and in NP-exposed C. tentans make it difficult to use DNA integrity as an early warning biomarker. However, as the mere presence of genotoxic compounds, which are potentially carcinogenic, is of high concern to human and ecosystem health, it could also be important to rapidly and effectively detect genotoxic compounds in the aquatic system in ways that do not necessarily accompany a higher level of alteration. Considering the potential of D. magna and C. tentans as bioindicator species, and the importance of genotoxic biomarkers in ecotoxicity monitoring, DNA damage in these species could provide useful information for environmental risk assessment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1510-1518
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• 2015

In this work, we wanted to develop a probiotic from famous longevity villages in Korea. We visited eight longevity villages in Korea to collect fecal samples from healthy adults who were aged above 80 years and had regular bowel movements, and isolated lactic-acid-producing bacteria from the samples. Isolated colonies that appeared on MRS agar containing bromophenol blue were identified by means of 16S rRNA sequencing, and 102 of the isolates were identified as lactic-acid-producing bacteria (18 species). Lactobacillus fermentum was the most frequently found species. Eight isolates were selected on the basis of their ability to inhibit the growth of six intestinal pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Enteritidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes) and their susceptibility to 15 antimicrobial agents. Among these eight isolates, four Lactobacillus fermentum isolates were found not to produce any harmful enzymes or metabolites. Among them, Lactobacillus fermentum isolate no. 24 showed the strongest binding to intestinal epithelial cells, the highest immune-enhancing activity, anti-inflammation activity, and anti-oxidation activity as well as the highest survival rates in the presence of artificial gastric juice and bile solution. This isolate, designated Lactobacillus fermentum PL9988, has all the characteristics for a good probiotic.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.310-316
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• 1999

Physiological responses (cortisol, glucose, GPT, GOT, total protein, hematocrit, sodium, chloride, potassium, total calcium and osmolality), growth and survival rates of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by the manipulation of salinity were studied. Salinity was increased directly from freshwater to $33\%_{\circ}$ and remained for 15 days. Then, salinity was decreased directly from seawater to freshwater and remained for other 15 days. All tilapias were dead at the third day, but $96.5\%$ of grey mullet were survived at the 30th day. The grey mullet showed no significant differences for cortisol and glucose concentrations in the seawater and freshwater. However, those of the Nile tilapia were increased in seawater. The grey mullet showed no significant differences for sodium, chloride and potassium concentrations during experimental period. However, those of the Nile tilapia were significantly increased when exposed to seawater. The osmolality of grey mullet ranged between 293.5 mOsm/kg and 335.0 mOsm/kg for the whole experimental period.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2813-2818
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• 2015

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of curcumin on expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in skin squamous cell carcinoma tissues as well as possible mechanisms of curcumin in prevention and treatment of skin squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Highly invasive A431 cells were treated with curcumin at various doses .The cytotoxic effects of treatment with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50 umol/L curcumin for 24, 48 and 72 hours on A431 cells were measured by MTT assay. The invasion capacity of cells treated with 5, 10 and 15 umol/L curcumin was measured by Transwell test, while adhesive ability was assessed by cell adhesion assay. The effects of 5,10 and 15 umol/L curcumin on expression levels of STAT3 were determined by Western blotting and on transcription levels of STAT3 mRNA by RT-PCR. Results: Treatment with curcumin at a doses of more than 15 umol/L for more than 24 hour inhibited the growth of A431 cells in a time-and dose-dependent fashion (p<0.001). The doses of 15 umol/L and less for 24 hours showed no significant cytotoxic effects on the cells, survival rates being more than 85%.The invasion and adhesive abilities decreased gradually with the increasing curcumin concentration, 15 umol/L exerting the strongest inhibitory effects (p<0.05). Curcumin showed significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the transcription level of STAT3 mRNA (p<0.05). Conclusions: Curcumin may reduce the invasive ability of A431 cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signal pathway and expression of STAT3 as a target gene in the pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.23-31
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• 2005

Green spaces in cities were insufficient and decreased as artificial structures increase. Accordingly, greening rooftop space contributed to urban ecosystems as green space. Especially, since 2002 Seoul supported rooftop greening and introduced 'Ecology-area rates'. Thus rooftop greening had the potentiality of extension. This prepared the extensive rooftop greenings within planting-base for extensive management rooftop greening system to be easily popularized. The extensive rooftop greening conducted from 1997-2005 reported that soil depth was 8cm and soil mixtures were 5 types. And plant were Crysanthemum zawaskii var. latilobum, Aster hayatae, Crysanthemum zawaskii herb. ssp. coreanum, Sedum sarmentosum, Sedum rotundifolium, Sedum oryzifolium, Sedum takemensis, Sedum middendorffianum, Sedum telerium var. purpureum, Sedum spectabile, Carypteris incana, Dianthus superbus, Hosta minor. As a result, for nine years after the modular type rooftop greening established, survival plants were Sedum takemensis, Sedum sarmentosum, Sedum spectabile, Sedum middendorffianum, Carypteris incana, Crysanthemum zawaskii var. latilobum, Sedum telerium var. purpureum, Sedum rotundifolium, Dianthus superbus. Also effect of greening was possibled soil depth 8cm. And growth of plants from 1997 to 2005 were fine on two soil mixtures of 'perlite+peatmoss+vermicompost+moisturizer' and 'perlite+moisturizer+bark(mulching)'. Invasive plants are Ixeris dentata Nakai, Ixeris chinensis var. strigosa, Youngia sonchifolia, Eragrostis ferruginea, Aster pilosus Willd., Ixeris japonica Nakai, Valpia myuros, and Setaria viridis. In conclusion, selection of suitable native plants was possible extensive management rooftop greening with effect of continuous greening. The extensive rooftop greening were lightweight and simple preparation without management and can popularize readily.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.582-589
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• 2015

Several theories emphasize that aging is closely related to oxidative stress and disease. The formation of excess ROS can lead to DNA damage and the acceleration of aging. Vigna angularis is one of the important medicinal plants in Korea. We isolated vitexin from V. angularis and elucidated the lifespan-extending effect of vitexin using the Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Vitexin showed potent lifespan extensive activity and it elevated the survival rates of nematodes against the stressful environments including heat and oxidative conditions. In addition, our results showed that vitexin was able to elevate antioxidant enzyme activities of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. These studies demonstrated that the increased stress tolerance of vitexin-mediated nematode could be attributed to increased expressions of stress resistance proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) and heat shock protein (HSP-16.2). In this work, we also studied whether vitexin-mediated longevity activity was associated with aging-related factors such as progeny, food intake, growth and movement. The data revealed that these factors were not affected by vitexin treatment except movement. Vitexin treatment improved the body movement of aged nematode, suggesting vitexin affects healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode. These results suggest that vitexin might be a probable candidate which could extend the human lifespan.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.184-189
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• 2005

In order to select probiotics having both a high survival rate and an ability to inhibit virulent pathogens, we have screened lactic acid bacteria and yeasts from Jeot-gal to examine their resistance to artificial gastric and bile juice. After being introduced in the artificial gastric acid for 2 hr, the isolated lactic acid bacteria and yeast were incubated for 24 hrs in the artificial bile juice. In particular, the strain ML 36, ML 128, and ML 178 survived the longest during 2 hr incubation period in the artificial gastric acid. All 3 strains of lactic acid bacteria, and 2 strains of yeast demonstrated higher growth rates than control in the artificial bile. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts was investigated to determine their efficiency as probiotic organisms. The lactic acid bacteria inhibited Gram positive and negative bacteria, while the yeast was marginally inhibited.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 1996

We investigated the effects of rearing water temperatures during sex differentiation period on sex ratios in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Control and gynogenetic diploid juvenile flounder reared at water temperature of 18, 21, 24 and $27^{\circ}C$ for 65 days from 35 to 100 days after hatching. Fish were sampled to examine sex ratios at 195 or 260 days after hatching. Female ratios of control and gynogenetic diploid flounder declined rapidly as water temperature increased. Sex ratio of gynogenetic diploid reared at $27^{\circ}C$ was very close to 1 : 1 ratio (P<0.01), The survival rates of control and gynogenetic diploid reared at $27^{\circ}C$ were different from other water temperature groups. The growth of body weight of control and gynogenetic diploid reared at $18^{\circ}C$ were different from other water temperature groups.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.144-154
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• 2007

Liver tumors in children are rare, relatively complex, and encompass a broad spectrum of disease processes. This study reviews our experience of liver tumors during the last 10 years. Medical records of 36 cases of liver tumors in children, treated at Samsung Medical Centers, from October 1994 to December 2005, were reviewed in this study. We analyzed disease characters and survival rates as a whole and by specific disease. The median age was 3.6 years. Male and female ratio was 1:1. The most common symptom was the palpable mass in 15 cases. Others were abdominal distension in 9 cases, jaundice in 2, vomiting in 2, weight loss in 2, and pubic hair growth in 1. CT or US and liver biopsy were performed for diagnosis. There were 28 malignant tumors: malignant rhabdoid tumor (1 case), hepatocellular carcinoma (3 cases), hemangioendothelioma type II (3 cases), angiosarcoma (1 case), and hepatoblastoma (20 cases). Eight tumors were benign; hepatic adenoma (1 case), focal nodular hyperplasia (2 cases), hemangioendothelioma type I (2 cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (3 cases). In this study the clinical characteristics were not different from the other reports. Liver transplantation was performed in 3 cases-1 with hepatoblastoma and 2 with hepatocelleular carcinoma. Accurate and early diagnosis, and individualized multimodality therapeutic approaches might be important for better outcome.