• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2006

Purpose: As basic information of antioxidant treatments for the patient with paraquat intoxication, in human peripheral lymphocytes, the cytotoxicity of paraquat was measured, and to evaluate the antioxidant effect of vitamin C and deferoxamine against this cytotoxicity, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured. Methods: From 10 healthy adults, after obtaining a consent, 20ml peripheral blood was collected. Experimental groups were divided to (1) control group, the group treated with an identical amount of saline, (2) P group: the group treated with paraquat only, (3) PV group: the group treated with paraquat followed by vitamin C 30 minutes later, (4) PD group: the group treated with paraquat followed by deferoxamine 30 minutes later, (5) PVD group: the group treated with paraquat followed by vitamin C 30 minutes later and subsequently deferoxamine one hour later, and (6) PDV group: the group treated with paraquat followed by deferoxamine 30 minutes later and subsequently vitamin C 1 hour later, and thus to total 6 groups. In each group, 10 samples of peripheral blood was assigned and $100{\mu}M\;paraquat,\;100{\mu}M$ vitamin C, and $100{\mu}M$ deferoxamine were used as reagent. Lymphocytes were isolated, cultured, and cytotoxicity was measured by the Microculture Tetrazolium method (MTT assay), MDA and SOD activity, and TAS concentration were measured. Results: In regard to the cytotoxicity measured in each group, their cytotoxicity was decreased in the group treated with antioxidants, in comparison with the group treated with paraquat only. In the cases that the order of the treatment of these two antioxidants was altered, viability in the PDV group $(1.077{\pm}0.121)$ was increased more that the PVD group $(0.888{\pm}0.152)$ statistically significantly (p=0.018). Concerning the amount of MDA, in comparison with the P group $(6.78{\pm}0.93{\mu}mol/L)$, after the treatment of each antioxidant, the concentration of MDA was decreased statistically significantly (p<0.05). In the group treated with two antioxidants together, in comparison with the group treated only with one antioxidant, the amount of MDA was increased statistically significantly $(PV:\;3.96{\pm}0.98{\mu}mol/L,\;PD:\;4.92{\pm}1.50{\mu}mol/L,\;PVD:\;3.22{\pm}0.83{\mu}mol/L,\;and\;PDV:\;3.42{\pm}0.95{\mu}mol/L,\;p=0.007)$. The concentration of SOD measured in the blood in each group after the administration of paraquat, in comparison with the control group, a pattern of the elevation of SOD activity and subsequent decrease was detected, however, it was not statistically significant. In the comparison of the groups treated with antioxidants, in comparison with the P group $(1419.9{\pm}265.9{\mu}mol/L)$, SOD activity was decreased statistically significantly in only the PDV group $(1176.4{\pm}238.9{\mu}mol/L)$ (p=0.017). In regard to TAS measured in each group, in comparison with the P group $(0.87{\pm}0.05{\mu}mol/L)$, in all groups treated with the antioxidants, the PV group was $1.00{\pm}0.03{\mu}mol/L$ (p=0.005), the PD group was $9.01{\pm}0.24{\mu}mol/L$ was $4.64{\pm}3.98{\mu}mol/L$ (P=0.005), and the PDV group was $9.41{\pm}0.27{\mu}mol/La$ (p=0.005), and thus total antioxidant activity was increased statistically significantly In a multiple comparison test, the PDV group showed the highest total antioxidant activity (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The result of the assessment of the antioxidant effect of vitamin C and deferoxamine on paraquat-induced cytotoxicity showed that in regard to cytotoxicity, SOD activity and TAS measurement, the best result was observed in the PDV group. Therefore, it was found that vitamin C and deferoxamine were effective antioxidants for the paraquat-induced cytotoxicity, and it suggests that the administration of deferoxamine followed by vitamin C may improve their antioxidant effect more.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.245-249
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• 2008

Epidermal growth factor is a single-chain polypeptide consisting of 53 amino acids and has a potent mitogenic activity that stimulates proliferation of various normal and neoplastic cells through the interaction with its specific receptor(epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR). Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary benign tumor and histologically, it contains the epithelial cell, the myo-epithelial cell and mesenchymal ingredient, which is various aspect. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is an infiltrative malignant salivary gland tumor with three different histological patterns: cribriform, tubular or solid. The tumor cell structure composed of modified myoepithelial cell, and basaloid cell. In this study, we used an immunohistochemical technique to investigate the expression of EGF in 6 specimens of adenoid cystic carcinoma and 10 specimens of pleomorphic adenoma taken from patients treated at Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dankook University. The results were as follows. 1. In pleomorphic adenoma, ductal structure and scattered spindle cells in hyalinized stroma, disclosing myxoid stroma and hyalin, cartilage formation were observed. Immunohistologically, weak EGF expression in ductal structure and negative in stromal area were observed. 2. Cribriform type of adenoid cystic carcinoma showed numerous pseudocyst surrounded by dark small neoplastic cells in the back-ground of fibrous connective tissue and moderate EGF expression of dark cells adjacent to pseudo lumen in cribriform pattern, while weak expression in other most cells. 3. Tubular type of adenoid cystic carcinoma showed numerous ductal pattern surrounded by two layered neoplastic cells in the back-ground of fibrous connective tissue and strong EGF expression in luminal cells of ductal structure, while weak expression in outer cells. From the results obtained, we suggest that EGF is mainly biosynthesized in cells forming duct like structures of tubulo-ductal type or cribriform adenoid cystic carcinoma and it may play a role, as a cell mitogen in adenoid cystic carcinoma growth.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.631-638
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• 2011

The sense of crisis on seriousness of earth environment is gradually getting greater and the importance of environment education followed by this trend is being highlighted. As an environment friendly New Environmental Paradigm opposed to the human Dominant Social Paradigm on the existing environment is on the rise, the environment education considers not only the perceptive field, but the definitive field and behavioral pattern to follow as important values. Accordingly, the basic awareness of students on environment was found out in order to perform a proper environment education and tried to find out the behavior pattern that the students have on environment on this basis. For the research tool of this study, the one that has revised the Revised NEP Scale for elementary school students which Geum, Ji Hun Kim, Jin Mo have validated the feasibility and reliability while the test paper was prepared by dividing into recycling behavior, energy preservation behavior and source of information. The target of this study was 600 students in sixth grade of elementary school residing in Kimhae, Gyeongsangnamdo while the mean, average, standard deviation, independent t-test and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 15.0 statistics program for a total of 462 copies including 235 copies from male students and 227 copies from female students. The results of this study are as follows. First, everyone had high pro-NEP tendencies on the environmental problem with 4.14. On the other hand, the anti-NEP did not have high awareness standard with 2.98. Second, the awareness level on resource recycling was shown as being quite high with 4.05. Between NEP and resource recycling, a positive correlation of r=.155 was shown so that the awareness level on resource recycling was getting quite high as the awareness on environment problem was getting higher. Third, the awareness level on energy saving activity was shown as being very high with 3.0. Between NEP and resource recycling, a positive correlation of r=.210 so that the awareness level on energy saving was getting quite high as the awareness on environment problem was getting higher. Fourth, for the source of information on environmental problems of region, our country and global village, the television and internet were shown as main sources of information while the ratio of positive answers on teachers and region as sources of information was shown as quite low.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.309-338
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• 2010

In this paper, we studied the brain-computer interface (BCI). BCIs help severely disabled people to control external devices by analyzing their brain signals evoked from motor imageries. The findings in the field of neurophysiology revealed that the power of $\beta$(14-26 Hz) and $\mu$(8-12 Hz) rhythms decreases or increases in synchrony of the underlying neuronal populations in the sensorymotor cortex when people imagine the movement of their body parts. These are called Event-Related Desynchronization / Synchronization (ERD/ERS), respectively. We implemented a BCI-based mouse interface system which enabled subjects to control a computer mouse cursor into four different directions (e.g., up, down, left, and right) by analyzing brain signal patterns online. Tongue, foot, left-hand, and right-hand motor imageries were utilized to stimulate a human brain. We used a non-invasive EEG which records brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time by placing electrodes on the scalp. Because of the nature of the EEG signals, i.e., low amplitude and vulnerability to artifacts and noise, it is hard to analyze and classify brain signals measured by EEG directly. In order to overcome these obstacles, we applied statistical machine-learning techniques. We could achieve high performance in the classification of four motor imageries by employing Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) which transformed input EEG signals into a new coordinate system making the variances among different motor imagery signals maximized for easy classification. From the inspection of the topographies of the results, we could also confirm ERD/ERS appeared at different brain areas for different motor imageries showing the correspondence with the anatomical and neurophysiological knowledge.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.654-660
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• 2020

Through the output of brain waves during muscle operation, this paper checks whether it is possible to find characteristic vectors of brain waves that are capable of dividing left and right movements by extracting brain waves in specific areas of muscle signal output that include the motion of the left and right muscles or the will of the user within EEG signals, where uncertainties exist considerably. A typical surface EMG and noninvasive brain wave extraction method does not exist to distinguish whether the signal is a motion through the degree of ionization by internal neurotransmitter and the magnitude of electrical conductivity. In the case of joint and motor control through normal robot control systems or electrical signals, signals that can be controlled by the transmission and feedback control of specific signals can be identified. However, the human body lacks evidence to find the exact protocols between the brain and the muscles. Therefore, in this paper, efficiency is verified by utilizing the results of application of CSP (Common Spatial Pattern) filter to verify that the left-hand and right-hand signals can be extracted through brainwave analysis when the subject's behavior is performed. In addition, we propose ways to obtain data through experimental design for verification, to verify the change in results with or without filter application, and to increase the accuracy of the classification.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3_4
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• pp.19-28
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• 1990

Nitroarenes are ubiquitous environmental pollutants displaying potent mutagenicity in bacteria and carcinogenicity in mammal. In this study, the concentration of nitroarenes in coarse and fine particles and mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction was investigated in suspended particulates at the Shinchon and Bulkwang area of Seoul. The suspended particulates were collected bimonthly by a high volume cascade impactor air sampler from July 1987 to May 1988. Extractable organic matter was obtained by ultrasonic extraction on diethly ether/cyclohexane (8/2, v/v). Neutral fraction was obtained by liquid-liquid extraction. Polar neutral organic compounds (POC$\_$N/) was fractionated by thin-layer chromatography. Finally, the concentrations of nitroarenes in POC$\_$N/ fraction were measured and determined by capillary gas chromatography. Direct and indirect mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction were measured using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The result were as follows: 1) Major nitroarenes at the Shinchon area was 1-nitropyrene and at the Bulkwang area it was 2,7-dinitro-9-fluorenone during the year. 2) Average concentration of total nitroarenes measured was 67.26 ng/m$^3$in fine particles which was 1,3 folds higher that in coarse particle (52.30 ng/m$^3$). 3) Annual pattern of nitroarenes concentrations revealed that concentration during heating season (Feb., Jan., Mar.) was 2.2 folds higher than that in non heating season (May, Jul., Sep.). Concentration of each season has 157.68 ng/m$^3$and 80.39 ng/m$^3$. 4) The mutagenic activity of POC$\_$N/ fraction from fine particles was higher compared to that of coarse particles and was increased when metabolically activated, with 59 mixture. Mutagenicities, Metabolically activated, were significantly different between Shinchon and Bulkwang area, 322.8 rev/250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate and 286.8 rev/250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate, respectively. 5) Annual pattern of mutagenicity of POC$\_$N/ fraction revealed that mutagenicity during the heating season was 1.7 folds higher at Shinchon area and 1.2 folds higher at Bulkwang than during the non heating season. The variable contents and levels of nitroarenes in suspended particulates may affect human health significantly. Further studies such as risk assessment should be conducted on the basis of these kind of studies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.626-635
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• 2005

Liposome as a carrier of topotecan (TPT), a promising anticancer drug, has been reported in attempt to improve the stability and antitumor activity of TPT. However, the biodistr ibution pattern of TPT liposome in vivo and PEG-modified liposome containing TPT have not been studied systemically. In this paper, the in vitro stability and in vivo biodistribution behavior of several liposomes containing TPT with different lipid compositions and PEG-modification were studied. Compared with the 'fluid' liposome (S-Lip) composed of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), the 'solid' liposome (H-Lip) composed of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine HSPC decreased the leaking efficiency of TPT from liposome and enhanced the stability of liposome in fetal bovine serum (FBS) or human blood plasma (HBP). The results of biodistribution studies in S$_{180}$ tumor-bearing mice showed that liposomal encapsulation increased the concentrations of total TPT and the ratio of lactone form in plasma. Compared with free TPT, S-Lip and H-Lip resulted in 5- and 19- fold increase in the area under the curve (AUC$_{0\rightarrow\propto}$), respectively. PEG- modified H-Lip (H-PEG) showed 3.7-fold increase in AUC$_{0\rightarrow\propto}$ compared with H-Lip, but there was no significant increase in t$_{1/2}$ and AUC$_{0\rightarrow\propto}$ for PEG-modified S-Lip (S-PEG) compared with S-Lip. Moreover, the liposomal encapsulation changed the biodistribution behavior, and H-Lip and H-PEG dramatically increased the accumulation of TPT in tumor, and the relative tumor uptake ratios were 3.4 and 4.3 compared with free drug, respectively. There was also a marked increase in the distribution of TPT in lung when the drug was encapsulated into H-Lip and H-PEG. Moreover, H-PEG decreased the accumulation of TPT in bore marrow compared with unmodified H-Lip. All these results indicated that the membrane fluidity of liposome has an important effect on in vitro stability and in vivo biodistribution pattern of liposomes containing TPT, and PEG-modified 'solid' liposome may be an efficient carrier of TPT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.318-327
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• 2008

This study examined the cultural dietary habits as well as attitudes toward food, within other life pattern elements, of students living in Gwangju City and Chonnam Province, Korea. Questionnaires from 1,000 student respondents were analyzed. The survey consisted of questions regarding physical condition and health status, dietary consciousness, food preference, knowledge of food and nutrition, and dietary culture. The results showed that 1.6% of the students considered their own physical condition to be extremely poor, and 2.7% and 2.1% also considered their father's and mother's physical conditions as extremely poor, respectively. Among the respondents, 18.3% were smokers and consumed an average of 14.8 cigarettes per day. With regard to their dietary habits, the students answered that they preferred to eat meals with friends rather than with family members, fruit was chosen for eating over health food supplements, and there was very little participation or interest in various food and cultural festivals. The female students had a tendency to alleviate mental stresses by eating, while the male students performed more physical activity to deal with stress. The female students also preferred cereal, fruit, fast food, and sweetened foods more than the male students. Between the smokers and non-smokers, significantly more non-smokers chose fruit (p<0.01), ethnic foods (p<0.05), and sweetened foods (p<0.05) as compared to the smokers. Body mass index (BMI) had significant positive correlations with soft drink (p<0.01), health food supplement (p<0.01), and alcoholic beverage (p<0.001) consumption, while BMI was negatively correlated with cereal (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.001), and sweetened food (p<0.01) intake. The health status of students was positively correlated with their father's health status (p<0.01), mother's health status (p<0.001), and BMI (p<0.05), as well as cereal (p<0.001), high protein side dish (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.01), vegetable (p<0.01), and traditional food (p<0.001) intake. The average body weight for female students was approximately 5 kg less than the Korean Nutrition Society's standardized weight, therefore, it is strongly recommended that measures be taken to develop a systematic nutrition education program that would help those students who often unintentionally skip breakfast or go on extreme diets to improve body image.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.618-624
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are widely believed to be beneficial to human health, in relation to their antioxidant potentials. Exercise can cause an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. This study was conducted in order to investigate the ability of isoflavones in amelioration of oxidative stress induced by exercise. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four groups: isoflavone-free with no exercise (CON-sd), isoflavone-free with exercise (CON-ex), isoflavone-supplemented with no exercise (ISF-sd), and isoflavone-supplemented with exercise (ISF-ex). Animals exercised on the treadmill for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. TBARS as a marker of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity, including SOD, GSH-px, and catalase were determined in liver tissue. Serum lipid profile was also examined. RESULTS: A significant effect of isoflavone alone was observed on abdominal fat pad mass. ISF-ex had significantly less abdominal fat pad than CON-ex. Both exercise and isoflavone treatment had significant effects on lowering plasma triglyceride (TG), thus, the ISF-ex group had a significantly lower TG level than the CON-sd group, by 30.9%. However, no differences were observed in plasma cholesterol, HDL-C, and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. Exercise, isoflavone, and exercise-isoflavone interaction effects were significant on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (P = 0.001, 0.002, and 0.005, respectively). The CON-ex group showed a higher TBARS level than the other three groups. By contrast, in the ISF-ex group, TBARS was restored to the level of the ISF-sd or CON-sd group. Isoflavone had a significant effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P = 0.022) and catalase activities (P = 0.049). Significantly higher SOD and catalase activities were observed in ISF-ex than CON-ex. SOD and catalase activities showed an inverse pattern of TBARS. Taken together, isoflavones increased the activities of SOD and catalase with concomitant decreases in TBARS, indicative of decreased oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflavone supplementation enhances antioxidant action with attenuation of exercise-induced oxidative stress, as measured by decreases in TBARS, and inhibits body fat accumulation and plasma TG increase. Antioxidative effects ascribed to isoflavones may be partially exerted via enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 2000

Objectives : The effects of aqueous extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (a traditional medicine for cancer treatment in oriental medicine) on the induction of apoptotic cell death were investigated in human liver origm hepatoma cell lines, HepG2. Methods : The death of HepG2 cells was markedly induced by the addition of extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was not observed in cell death of HepG2. In addition, it was not shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under hoechst staining. However, by the using annexin V staining assay, externalizations of phosphatidylserine in HepG2 cell which were treated with Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts were detected in the early time (at 9 hr after extract treatment). Furthermore, LDH release was not detected in this early stage. Therefore, Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced cell death of HepG2 cells is mediated by apoptotic death signal processes. Result : The activity of caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HepG2 cells which treated with the extract of Cordyceps sinensis. However, it was markedly increased in HepG2 cells which treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) which were differently extracted (respectively, 2.3 and 3.3 fold). On a while, the phosphotransferase activities of JNK1 was markedly induced in HepG2 cells which were treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae. On the contrary, the activation of transcriptional activator, activating protein1(AP-1) and NF-kB were severely decreased by these two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K). In addition, antioxidants (GSH and NAC) and intracellular $Ca2^+$ level regulator (Bapta/AM and Thapsigargin) did not affect Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced apoptotic death of HepG2 cells. Conclusions : In conclusion, our results suggest that two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) induces the apoptotic death of human liver origin hepatoma HepG2 cells via activation of caspase 3-like proteases as well as JNK1, and inhibition of transcriptional activators, AP-1 and $NK-{\kappa}B$.