• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4121-4126
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• 2013

Objective: Low dose radiation may stimulate the growth and development of animals, increase life span, enhance fertility, and downgrade the incidence of tumor occurrence.The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect and hormesis in an erythrocyte system induced by low-dose radiation. Methods: Kunming strain male mice were subcutaneously implanted with S180 sarcoma cells in the right inguen as an experimental in situ animal model. Six hours before implantation, the mice were given 75mGy whole body X-ray radiation. Tumor growth was observed 5 days later, and the tumor volume was calculated every other day. Fifteen days later, all mice were killed to measure the tumor weight, and to observe necrotic areas and tumor-infiltration-lymphoreticular cells (TILs). At the same time, erythrocyte immune function and the level of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) were determined. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of EPO and VEGFR of tumor tissues. Results: The mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation had a lower tumor formation rate than those without low dose radiation (P < 0.05). The tumor growth slowed down significantly in mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation; the average tumor weight in mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation was lighter too (P < 0.05). The tumor necrosis areas were larger and TILs were more in the radiation group than those of the group without radiation. The erythrocyte immune function, the level of 2,3-DPG in the low dose radiation group were higher than those of the group without radiation (P < 0.05). After irradiation the expression of EPO of tumor tissues in LDR group decreased with time. LDR-24h, LDR-48h and LDR-72h groups were all statistically significantly different from sham-irradiation group. The expression of VEGFR also decreased, and LDR-24h group was the lowest (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Low dose radiation could markedly increase the anti-tumor ability of the organism and improve the erythrocyte immune function and the ability of carrying $O_2$. Low-dose total body irradiation, within a certain period of time, can decrease the expression of hypoxia factor EPO and VEGFR, which may improve the situation of tumor hypoxia and radiosensitivity of tumor itself.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2022

Artemisinin is a secondary metabolite of Artemisia annua that shows potent anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumor effects. The supply of artemisinin depends on its content in Artemisia annua, in which various environmental factors can affect the plant's biosynthetic yield. In this study, the effects of different light-emitting diode (LED)-irradiation conditions were tested to optimize the germination and growth of Artemisia annua for the enhanced production of artemisinin. Specifically, the ratio between the red and blue lights in the irradiating LED was varied for investigation as follows: [Red : Blue] = [6 : 4], [7 : 3], and [8 : 2]. Furthermore, additional stress factors like UV-B-irradiation (1,395 ㎼/cm²), low temperature (4℃), and dehydration were also explored to induce hormetic expressions of ADS, CYP, and ALDH1, which are essential genes for the biosynthesis of artemisinin. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the expression levels of the respective genes and their correlation with the specified conditions. [8 : 2] LED-irradiation was the most optimal among the tested conditions for the cultivation of Artemisia annua in terms of both fresh and dry weights post-harvest. For the production of artemisinin, however, [7 : 3] LED-irradiation with dehydration for six hours pre-harvest was the most optimal condition by inducing around twofold enhancement in the biosynthetic yield of artemisinin. As expected, a correlation was observed between the expression levels of the genes and the contents of artemisinin accumulated.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.415-422
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• 2013

Gamma irradiation (${\gamma}IR$) is widely used for radiotherapy as a treatment of cancer cells although it has a risk to damage normal cells. Inflammation is regarded as one of side effects of ${\gamma}IR$ while the effect of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on inflammation has not been researched well. Here, we investigated the inflammatory responses of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on murine spleen cells. It was evaluated if ${\gamma}IR$ affected the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, IL-10), and the involvement of Ikaros and MAPK/NF-${\kappa}B$ medicated mechanism. Exposure of $^{137}Cs-{\gamma}IR$ below 2 Gy decreased the lymphocytes proliferative response to mitogens (LPS, ConA) except at the lowest dose, 0.05 Gy. IL-17, IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA increased at 0.5 and 2 Gy, but not altered at 0.05 Gy. IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine, increased only at 0.05 Gy. In regard to intracellular signaling, p-JNK, p-p38 and p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were not changed, whereas the activation of ERK and Ikaros increased at the lowest dose. These results suggest that exposure of ${\gamma}IR$ less than 0.5 Gy (or below 0.05 Gy) has beneficial effects as a radiation hormesis on immune function.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.539-550
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• 2008

Lung cancer is the most prevalent global cancer, ${\sim}90%$ of which is caused by cigarette smoking. The LNT hypothesis has been inappropriately applied to estimate lung cancer risk due to ionizing radiation. A threshold of ${\sim}1\;Gy$ for lung cancer has been observed in never smokers. Lung cancer risk among nuclear workers, radiologists and diagnostically exposed patients was typically reduced by ${\sim}40%$ following exposure to <100 mSv low LET radiation. The consistency and magnitude of reduced lung cancer in nuclear workers and occurrence of reduced lung cancer in exposed non-worker populations could not be explained by the HWE. Ecologic studies of indoor radon showed highly significant reductions in lung cancer risk. A similar reduction in lung cancer was seen in a recent well designed case-control study of indoor radon, indicating that exposure to radon at the EPA action level is associated with a decrease of ${\sim}60%$ in lung cancer. A cumulative whole-body dose of ${\sim}1\;Gy$ gamma rays is associated with a marked decrease in smoking-induced lung cancer in plutonium workers. Low dose, low LET radiation appears to increase apoptosis mediated removal of $\alpha$-particle and cigarette smoke transformed pulmonary cells before they can develop into lung cancer.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.441-446
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• 2011

The effects of UV irradiation, as a hormetic stimulus, on the postharvest persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki cv. Fuyu) were investigated in regards to the change of carotenoid contents and flesh softening, when the UV irradiation was combined with or without the pretreatment of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) as an ethylene action inhibitor. The major carotenoid pigments in persimmon fruits were ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin. Of them, the lycopene was a pigment, which increased markedly after harvest. UV irradiation increased the contents of ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene, enhancing the skin color to scarlet. The treatment accelerated however also the softening of fruit flesh. But the softening of UV irradiated fruits could be delayed significantly by pretreatment with 1-MCP without reducing the advantageous effect of UV irradiation on the carotenoid increase.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.66-69
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• 1999

To investigate the hormetic effect of the low dose ${\gamma}-ray$, soybean(Glycine max L.) seeds of three cultivars (Hwangkeumkong, Bansakong, S900 cv.) were irradiated with the dose of 0.5∼20.0 Gy and cultivated in the experimental field. The hormetic effects of the low dose ${\gamma}-ray$ on the growth of field experiment were different from each cultivar, that is, more effective in the S900 cultivar of black seedcoat color than in the Hwangkeumkong and Bangsakong of yellow ones. The germination rate of S900 cultivar increased about 30% in the 0.5Gy irradiated group compared with that of the control. The plant height of the 4.0Gy irradiated group in both Bangsakong and S900 cultivar increased 15% more than that of the control. Grain yield and the number of pod in 1.0 Gy and 4.0 Gy irradiated group of S900 cultivar and that of 2.0 Gy irradiated group of Hwangkeumkong increased 25 and 35% on the average, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1999

To investigate the stimulating effects of the low- dose radiation, the seeds of chinese cabbages (Brassica campestris L. cv. Hanyoreum and cv. Tropic emperor) were irradiated at the dose of 0.5 Gy~20 Gy with the ${\gamma}$-ray radition. In case of ‘Hanyoreum’cultivar, there were no significant promoting effects on the germination rate except the 0.5 Gy irradiated group. The increase in seedling height and fresh weight in 8 Gy and 12 Gy irradiated groups was 20% and 40%, respectively, which suggested the stimulating effect of the low-dose radiation on the early growth. In case of‘Tropic emperor’cultivar, the germination rate of 1 Gy irradiated group increased approximately 10% and the seedling height and fresh weight of 1 Gy and 12 Gy irradiated group in the greenhouse 20% on the average, and plant height and fresh weight of 0.5 Gy and 4 Gy irradiated group in the field increased 10% and 20% on the average, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.156-159
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• 1998

Germination rate and early growth in crop such as rice,soybean,and perilla were observed after irradiation of $^{\gamma}$-ray (Co-60) in order to determine the effects of low does radiation. The low dose radiation was able to improve the early growth in crops and their agricultural charaters. Germination rate of 2Gy-irradiatied rice seeds was high and also were seeding height and fresh weight of the 0.5 Gy-irradiated. Germination rate and early growth of soybean were high in 4Gy-irradiated group. Perilla gew ot so promisingly after after low dose irradiation,however there slightly increasing effects on germination rate, seeding height and fresh weightat 2Gt-, 1Gy-, and 1Gy irradiated group, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 2000

This study was conducted to determine the effect of low dose ${\gamma}-ray$ on the germination rate and physiology of germinative seeds of welsh onion ( Allicm fistulosum L. cv. Sukchangwoidae ) and spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Chungrok ). The germination rate of irradiation group was much higher than that of the control. Especially it was noticeably higher in 1 or 2 Gy irradiation groups in the sowing spinach seeds on paper towel. On the welsh onion, the germination rate of the 1 Gy irradiation group increased by 17% compared to that of the control. Ion leakage from seeds irradiated with low dose of ${\gamma}-ray$ was decreased compared to that from the control especially at the early stage of incubation when examined by means of electric conductance. This tendency was confirmed in seeds of welsh onion and spinach. Starch hydrolysis was stimulated by ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation in welsh onion. Furthermore ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation was beneficial to keeping the vitality of seeds as determined through decarboxylation of glutamic acid.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.257-261
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• 1999

Effect of low dose gamma radiation on the growth of groundnut (Arachis hypognea L.) were investigated with respect to germination rate, seedling development and yield. Seeds of “Palpal” cultivar were irradiated with 0.5~20 Gy of ${\gamma}$ radiation in order to determine the hermetic effect of low dose radiation. The germination rate of ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation group was lower than that of the control but the seedling height of groundnut grown from seeds irradiated with low dose ${\gamma}$-ray was slightly higher than that of the control. The number of pod and kernels, and the seed yield increased by 27%, 17% and 19 %, respectively, in the 12.0 Gy irradiation group compared to that in the control group. The 100 seed weight was 87.2 g in the 4.0 Gy irradiation group, which was 11% heavier than 78.3 g in the control group. Low dose radiation showed an enhancement effects on the growth and yield components of groundnut.