• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.320-327
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• 2020

In current study, we aimed to investigate whether the gentiopicroside (GPS) derived from Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa could block the progression of alcoholic hepatic steatosis to fibrosis induced by chronic ethanol intake. C57BL/6 mice were fed an ethanol-containing Lieber-DeCarli diet for 4 weeks. LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells were treated with GPS 1 h prior to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulation, and murine hepatocyte AML12 cells were pretreated by GPS 1 h prior to ethanol treatment. GPS inhibited the expression of type I collagen (collagen I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and tissue inhibitor of metal protease 1 in ethanol-fed mouse livers with mild fibrosis. In addition, the imbalanced lipid metabolism induced by chronic ethanol-feeding was ameliorated by GPS pretreatment, characterized by the modulation of lipid accumulation. Consistently, GPS inhibited the expression of collagen I and α-SMA in LX-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β. Inhibition of lipid synthesis and promotion of oxidation by GPS were also confirmed in ethanol-treated AML12 cells. GPS could prevent hepatic steatosis advancing to the inception of a mild fibrosis caused by chronic alcohol exposure, suggesting GPS might be a promising therapy for targeting the early stage of alcoholic liver disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.831-837
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• 1999

Ochratoxin A (OA), a naturally occurring mycotoxin, has been known to cause renal and hepatic lesion in human and animals. This study was carried out to investigate the modulation effects of antioxidant vitamins on OA-induced lipid peroxidation associated with oxidative damage. Vitamin C (10 mg/kg/day) and vitamin E (63.8 mg/kg/day) were administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection to male ICR mice, and 1 hr later, OA which was dissolved in 0.1 M $NaHCO_3$, treated 4 mg/kg/day by i.p. injection. During 4 days repeated, and then measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in microsomes of liver and kidney. Additionally, the relationship between cell damage and modulation effects of antioxidant vitamins was evaluated by comet assay. Results were as followed; i) SOD, catalase activity and MDA level were significantly increased by OA treated, ii) SOD, catalase activity and MDA formation were significantly decreased by antioxidant vitamins combine treated, iii) blood cell damage associated with lipid peroxidation, induced by OA, also modulated by antioxidant vitamins. These results indicated that antioxidant vitamins might be used for prevention of renal and hepatic damage due to ochratoxicosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.41-44
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• 2004

The pond smelt Hypomesus olidus and minnow Zacco platypus were collected from the Soyang and Daechung Lakes in January 2003, and their metacercarial infections was examined by the muscle compression and artificial digestion techniques. In the Soyang Lake, 161 metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis (0.35 per fish) were harvested from 459 pond smelts examined. Also, 13 metacercariae of C. sinensis (0.43 per fish), 1 of Metagonimus sp., 4 of Echinostoma sp., 148 of Centrocestus armatus and 44 unidentified species were collected from 30 minnows. In the Daechung Lake, 369 metacercariae of C. sinensis (3.69 per fish) and 51 unidentified species were recovered from 100 pond smelts. The metacercariae of C. sinensis were fed to experimental rats, in which the adult flukes were identified. The pond smelts and minnows collected from the Soyang and Daechung Lakes were verified to be the second intermediate hosts and the sources of human C. sinensis infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.95-106
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• 1998

The prevalence of primary liver carcinoma (PLC) is relatively high in Clonorchis sinensis (CS) endemic areas in Korea. PLC is a malignant tumor which can be subclassified into hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma(CC). CC has been associated with clonorchiasis, but it is unclear whether clonorchiasis is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. This experiment was designed to investigate relationships between clonorchiasis and early changes of hepatocarcinogenesis. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150g were divided into two groups of 8 rats in each. All rats were fed choline-devoid(CD) diet for 4 weeks. Group 1 was given 0.015-0.020% diethylnitrosamine(DEN) as drinking water for 1 week. After one week, the rats were treated orally with 1% N-acetylaminofluorene(AAF) (5 times per week for 2 weeks). Group 2 was treated equally to group 1 except for CS infection during AAF treatment. Two rats in each group were sacrificed at 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th week of the experiment. Livers were stained with OV -6, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and GST-p. Results were as follows: Group 2 livers showed more oval cell proliferation in parenchyma and portal areas at the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th weeks than did livers of group 1 (p＜0.01). PCNA was mostly localized in oval cell populations, rather than hepatocytes and biliary cells. The ratio of oval cells to hepatocytes was much higher in group 2 than in group l(p＜0.01 The ratio of hepatocytes to biliary cells is higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p＜0.05), More group 2 acidophilic foci reacted to GST-p monoclonal antibody than in the noninfected group. It appeared that CS infection promoted potentially precancerous acidophilic foci and oval cell proliferation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.37-42
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• 2013

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of glucocerebrosidase (GBA). This condition is characterized by accumulation of glucocerebrosidase in liver, spleen, lung, skeletal system, and central nervous system. Gaucher disease is the prototype of disease in which efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy has been established. However, because recombinant enzyme is not able to enter the central nervous system, its efficacy is limited to the non-neurological manifestations of Gaucher disease. Importantly, approximately a half of Korean patients with Gaucher disease suffer from neurological manifestations. In addition, Korean Gaucher disease patients exhibit distinct mutation spectrum from those in other populations. Common mutations in Korean patients with Gaucher disease are also associated with neurological phenotype. Therefore, therapeutic strategies tailored to Korean patients were necessary. Interestingly, a chemical chaperone, ambroxol, has been known to increase residual enzymatic activities of the select mutant GBAs encoded by mutations prevalent in Korean patients. One promising aspect of this drug is that it can cross blood-brain barrier, and enhance the enzyme activity in the brain. In vitro study suggested this chemical chaperone as one of new therapeutic agents in Gaucher disease, and a well-designed human trial is required to confirm its efficacy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.19.1-19.7
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• 2016

Background: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.]) is a legume cultivated throughout most tropical countries and is valued as food and feed for human and livestock respectively. The search for an improved cowpea variety has been on-going with the aim of improving traits such as grain yield, drought and pest resistance. But no information exist on the feeding value of these improved varieties. Phosphate (P) fertilizer application is recommended to augment grain yield in grain legumes but data on the effect of P fertilizer on haulm quality is limited. Results: Two separate experiments were conducted to determine the effect of P fertilizer dose on the nutritive value of haulms from different cowpea varieties (V). In experiment 1, effect of three P doses (30, 60 and 90 kg $P_2O_5/ha$) on in vitro gas production (IVGP) characteristics, concentrations of digestible organic matter (DOM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of haulms from five cowpea varieties (Zaayura-SARC 4-75, Songotra-IT97K-499-35, Hewale-IT93K-192-4, IT99K 573-1-1 and Asomdwe-IT94K-410-2) were investigated using the $3(P){\times}5(V)$ factorial treatment arrangements in a completely randomized design. In experiment 2, the effects of two P doses (30 and 90 kg $P_2O_5/ha$) and two varieties (Zaayura-SARC 4-75 and Hewale-IT93K-192-4) on the voluntary feed intake, live weight, haematology and carcass characteristics of Djallonke lambs were also assessed using a $2(P){\times}2(V)$ factorial treatment arrangement. The $V{\times}P$ interaction significantly affected CP, NDF and ADF with CP concentration increasing with increase in P doses in Zaayura-SARC 4-75 and Asomdwe-IT94K-410-2. Whilst an increase (P < 0.05) in NDF was observed in Songotra-IT97K-499-35and Asomdwe-IT94K-410-2 as P doses increased, the other V only increased from P dose 30 to 60 kg/ha and declined at P dose 90 kg/ha. The ADF decreased (P < 0.05) with increase in P dose for all V with the exception of Songotra-IT97K-499-35. There was a significant V effect on DOM with the highest reported in Zaayura-SARC 4-75 (43.44 %). Daily DM intake, carcass length and blood urea nitrogen of the lambs were significantly affected by the V x P interaction. There was a significant V effect on globulin and P effect on live weight at slaughter, dressed weight, chuck, leg, loin, rib and flank and liver and lungs. Conclusion: It can be concluded that nutrient concentrations of cowpea haulms were positively influenced by different P dose and varieties with favorable effects on growth, haematology and carcass composition of lambs. Varieties Zaayura-SARC 4-75 and Hewale-IT93K-192-4 at P dose at 90 kg/ha are recommended to enhance growth performance and carcass yield of Djallonke lambs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.293-298
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Pyrethroids (PYRs) are a widely used insecticide in agriculture and household area. In mammals, PYRs such as deltamethrin is metabolized to 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) in liver that is mainly excreted in urine. This study is designed to single exposure of deltamethrin to rats in a dose-dependent manner and identify the correlation between deltamethrin exposure and its metabolite (3-PBA) in urine. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exposure levels of deltamethrin were control (0 mg/kg bw), low (0.0705 mg/kg bw), medium (0.705 mg/kg bw) and high (7.05 mg/kg bw) dose. Low concentration was derived by ussing Korea predictive operator exposure model (KoPOEM). Dermal exposure persisted for 6 h, and urine specimens were collected for 24 h. The urine matrix was removed after a series of procedures and 3-PBA was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION: There was a strong correlation ($R^2=0.83$) between the amount of oral exposure to delta me thrin and urinary levelof3-PBAexcreted. In dermal exposure groups of deltamethrin except high-dose, also there was a good correlation between urinary 3-PBA and deltamethrin exposure, but not stronger than in oral deltamethrin exposure groups. Based on these results, therefore, the amount of 3-PBA in urine can be used as a good monitoring indicator that reflexing the exposure level of deltamethrin to human body.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

In late December 2013, the Ebola virus emerged from West Africa. The outbreak started in Guinea and rapidly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Initially, the virus is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, semen, and breast milk. The Ebola virus infects endothelial cells, mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes. It causes massive damage to internal tissues and organs, such as blood vessels and the liver, and ultimately death. Most tests for the virus RNA rely on a technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While this method is highly sensitive, it is also expensive, requiring skilled scientists, and delicate power supplies. The strip analytical technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA) detects antigens or antibodies to the Ebola virus. This test is cheap and does not require electricity or refrigeration. Despite ongoing efforts directed at experimental treatments and vaccine development, current medical work on the Ebola viral disease is largely limited to supportive therapy. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnoses of the Ebola virus are critically important for patient management, infections, prevention, and control measures.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is inactivated in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line, Hep3B. Berberine has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. This study examined whether apoptosis was induced in berberine-treated Hep3B cells and observed the association between apoptosis and the expression of p53 and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). The cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Apoptosis of Hep3B was measured using annexin V flow cytometry. Berberine-treated cells were examined for their DNMT enzymatic activity, mRNA expression, and protein synthesis. The p53 levels were examined by Western blot analysis. The berberine treatment resulted in increased Hep3B cell death and apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The DNMT3b activity, mRNA expression, and protein levels all decreased after the berberine treatment. In contrast, the p53 protein levels increased with a concomitant decrease in DNMT3b. No change in the expression of ERK was observed, but the P-ERK levels decreased in a dose dependent manner. These results indicate that a treatment of Hep3B cells with berberine can reduce the expression of DNMT3b, leading to an increase in the tumor suppressant gene p53 and an increase in cell apoptosis. This shows that berberine can effectively suppress the proliferation of liver cancer cells.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.769-773
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• 2006

This study was to investigate the biological activities of green tea seed methanol extract (GTSME) and compared those of green tea methanol extract (GTME) for using green tea seed as the functional food material. The hydrogen-donating activity of GTSME was over 50% at the $100 {\mu}g/mL$ concentration the activity of GTME was 21.86% at the $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration compared with that of control. The MDA (malondialdehyde) production was 60 Mol/g and 50 Mol/g in the mouse liver homogenate teated with GTME and GTSME of $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations, respectively, and the values were lower than 86 Mol/g of control. GTME and GTSME of $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration inhibited the proliferation of over 50% and over 20% in A549 and SW480 human cancer cells, respectively. The morphology transformation was shown in the cancer cells treated with GTSME of $500{\mu}g/mL$ with the decrease of cell numbers lower than that of control cells numbers. The NO production was increased in a dose dependent manner in the RAW264.7 macrophage cells treated with GTME and GTSME of 1, 10, 100 and $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations, and the NO production by GTSME was $2.04{\mu}M$ at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration, and the value was higher than $0.77{\mu}M$ by GTME.