• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Objectives: Galgeun-tang (GGT, gegen-tang, kakkon-to), an herbal formula, is used to treat the common cold, fevers, headaches, hangovers and neck and upper back stiffness. The drugs currently used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited by the significant adverse effects associated with their long-term usage. The need to efficiently manage the AD response while reducing side effects has led to the development of alternative remedies. Methods: To assess the effects of GGT on AD, the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD properties of GGT were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Results: Nitric oxide (NO) and histamine production on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and phorbol-12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/A23187-treated MC/9 cells, respectively, were inhibited by GGT. GGT reduced thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) release on TNF-${\alpha}$/IFN-${\gamma}$ stimulated HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner. GGT reduced both plasma levels of IgE and histamine and the dermatitis score in house dust mite induced atopic dermatitis-like lesions on NC/Nga mice. However, there were no significant histopathological differences observed between the GGT group and the AD-induced group, such as AD-like lesions in the dorsal skin or ear or mast cell infiltration in the dorsal skin. Conclusions: These results indicate that GGT inhibits chemokine production by keratinocytes and the atopic dermatitis response in NC/Nga mice, suggesting that GGT may be useful as a therapeutic remedy for treating AD and allergic inflammation-related diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2012

Allergic skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by edema and infiltration with various inflammatory cells such as mast cells, basophils, eosinophils and T cells. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is produced mainly by epidermal keratinocytes, as well as dermal fibroblasts and mast cells in the skin lesions of AD. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil can reduce inflammation in allergic patients. Fermentation has a tremendous capacity to transform chemical structures. The antiinflammatory effects of fish oil have been described in many diseases, but the beneficial effects by which fermented olive flounder oil (FOF) modulates the allergic response is poorly understood. In this study, we produced FOF and tested its ability to suppress the various allergic inflammatory responses. The ability of FOF to modulate the immune system was investigated using a mouse model of AD. The FOF-treated group showed significantly decreased immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine in serum. Also, the increased TSLP expression was significantly inhibited in the FOF group; the FOF-treated group was not appreciably different from the hydrocort cream treatment group. In addition, FOF treatment resulted in a smaller spleen size with reduced the thickness and length compared to the induction group. Splenocytes from mice treated with FOF produced significantly less IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression compared with the induction group. These results suggest that FOF may be effective in treating the allergic symptoms of AD. 5.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1998

A 40 kDa cysteine protease was purified from the crude extract of adult worms of GMnnophalloines seoi by two consecutive steps: Sephacryl S-200 HR and DEAE- Sephacel chromatography. Enzyme activities were completely inhibited by cysteine protease inhibitors, L-lorans-epoxysuccinylleucylamido (4-guanidino) butane (E-64) and iodoacetic acid, strongly suggesting that the purified enzyme belongs to the cysteine family of proteases. The enzyme was maximally acive at pH 4.5 in 0.1 M of buffer, and its activity was greatly potentiated in the presence of 5 mM dithiothreitol. The protease degraded macromolecules with differential capabilities : it degraded extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen and fibronectin, with a stronger activity against collagen than fibronectin . However, the enzyme digested hemoglobin and human immunoglobulins only slightly. leaving them nearly intact after an overnight reaction. Our results suggest that the cysteine protease of G. seoi adults is potentially significant in the nutrient uptake from the host intestine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.297-300
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• 1996

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon $\gamma$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley male rats from premating to mating period at least for 60 days and to female rats from at least for 2 weeks before mating to early gestation period (from day 0 to 7 of gestation) at dose levels of $0.35\times10^6, 0.39\times10^6, and 1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day. In the positive control group, ethynylestradiol ($EE_2$; 40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day) was subcutaneously administered only to female rats during the early gestation period. Effects of the test agents on reproductive performances of the male or female rats and embryonic development were as followings; (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in general behaviors, body weight, food and water consumption, and necropsy of parent animals. However, significant decreases of body weight, food consumption, and water consumption were observed in ($EE_2$ -treated female rats. (2) Mating performances and fertility of parent animals were not significantly affected by the treatment of LBD-001. In ($EE_2$ -treated females, however, the fertility was completely inhibited. (3) No changes in resorption rate and external abnormality of F1 fetuses were observed by the treatment of LBD-001. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of $1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day or less does not affect general toxicity and reproductive function of parent animals and embryonic development of F1 fetuses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 1996

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon ${\gamma}$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was intravenously administered to pregnant female rats (Sprague-Dawley) from day 7 to 17 of gestation at dose levels of 0.35$\times$10$^{6}$ , 0.69$\times$10$^{6}$ , and 1.38$\times$10$^{6}$ I.U./kg/day. As the control groups, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) was also similarly administered. Teratological effects of the test agents on fetuses and development of offsprings (F1 rats) were investigated. (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in body weight, food and water consumption, feeding and nursing behaviors, and autopsy of pregnant or lactating mother rats. However, in hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day)-treated group, significant decreases of body weight on day 16, 18, and 20 of gestation and food consumption on day 20 of gestation and outstanding atrophy of thymus and adrenals were observed in two rats autopsied on day 20 of gestation. (2) No significant changes in resorption rate, skeletal or visceral development of fetuses, and physical or sensory development of offsprings (Fl) by the treatment of LBD-001 were detected. In hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day)-treated group, however, there were significant decreases of body weight of fetuses, delay of ossification, temporary delay of body weights of offsprings (F1) on day 1 and 3 of lactation, and increased tendency of stillborn rate and malformation rate of bone. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of 1.38$\times$10$^{6}$ I.U./kg/day or less is not teratogenic in organogenesis of fetuses and the development of offsprings (F1). Meanwhile, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day) seems to delay ossification of fetuses and temporarily retard the development of offsprings (Fl).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2014

The mature domain of a cysteine protease of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoid larva (i.e., sparganum) was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its value as an antigen for the serodiagnosis of sparganosis was investigated. The recombinant protein (rSepCp-1) has the molecular weight of 23.4 kDa, and strongly reacted with the sparganum positive human or mice sera but not with negative sera by immunoblotting. ELISA with rSepCp-1 protein or sparganum crude antigen (SeC) was evaluated for the serodiagnosis of sparganosis using patient's sera. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA using rSepCp-1 protein were 95.0% (19/20) and 99.1% (111/112), respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA with SeC were 100% (20/20) and 96.4% (108/112), respectively. Moreover, in experimentally infected mice, the sensitivity and specificity of both ELISA assays were 100% for the detection of anti-sparganum IgG. It is suggested that the rSepCp-1 protein-based ELISA could provide a highly sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis of sparganosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.634-640
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder mediated by inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and mast cells. Rifampicin is mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Recently, it was reported that rifampicin has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of rifampicin on atopic dermatitis in vivo and in vitro. AD was induced by treatment with 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in NC/Nga mice. A subset of mice was then treated with rifampicin by oral administration. The severity score and scratching behavior were alleviated in the rifampicin-treated group. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were also ameliorated in mice treated with rifampicin. We next examined whether rifampicin has anti-atopic activity via suppression of mast cell activation. Rifampicin suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine from human mast cell (HMC)-1 cultures stimulated with compound 48/80. Treatment with rifampicin also inhibited secretion of inflammatory mediators, such tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$), in mast cells activated by compound 48/80. The mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was reduced in the cells treated with rifampicin in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that rifampicin can be used to treat atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2001

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of far infrared radiological materials on growth performance, immune response and changes of microbial flora in feces for growing pigs. Twelve growing pigs($Duroc{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$, average initial body weight of $15.6{\pm}0.5kg$) were used in a 40 day growth assay. Treatments were control(saline injection with diet: S); saline injection with Bio-Plus in diet(SBP); and vaccination with Bio-Plus in diet(VBP) in a randomized complete block design with initial BW as the blocking criterion. Serum concentrations of IgG of SBP and VBP were higher than those of S at day 10(p<0.05), 20(p<0.05), 30(p<0.05) and 40(p<0.05). Pigs fed with treatment diets had increased lymphocyte level compared to S at day 20(p<0.05) and 40(p<0.05). Cortisol was lower in treatments than in S at day 30(p<0.05). At day 20, there was no significant difference in E. coli among the treatments. However, it was observed that E, coli of the treatments was decreased compared to S at day 40(p<0.01). Lactobacillus of SBP was significantly higher(p<0.05) than that of S at day 40. In conclusion, the results of the experiment suggest that far infrared radiological materials could be a very beneficial immune response for growing pigs in health aspects.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 2000

Coxiella burnetii (C burnetii) is the causative agent of Q fever in animal and human. The distribution of the disease has been documented around world. In this study we developed the competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(cELISA) and compared it with indirect immunofluorescent assay(IFA). A monoclonal antibody(Mab) against C burnetii and a peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse IgM were used as an indicator system competing against antibody in animal serum or as an indicater of the absence of antibody. Sera were considered antibody positive when the percentage inhibition index(PI index) is upper than 30. PI index is calculated as 100-[sample OD/Mab OD)${\times}100$]. Among 162 bovine serum samples, 23 samples were antibody positive both in cELISA and IFA. And 156 samples showed same results. From goat with experimentally induced infection with C burnetii the antibody was detected 20 days early in cELISA compared to IFA. On the basis of present findings, it was demonstrated that cELISA is a reliable diagnostic method for The detection of specific antibodies against C burnetii infection.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

Groundwater sampling was performed at 38 wells where they are located in the areas with high uranium and radon (marked as A and B, respectively) concentrations, which were based on the previous research results. In-situ parameters (temperature, pH, EC, Eh, DO) and natural radionuclides (uranium and radon) were analyzed to figure out the characteristics of groundwater environments. In-situ data did not show any relations to natural radionuclide data, which could be caused by groundwater mixing, depths of wells, and geological settings, etc. But the highest radon well presented relatively low temperature value and the highest uranium well presented relatively low pH values The highest uranium concentration ranging $1.14{\sim}188.19{\mu}g/L$ showed in the area of A region consisted of Jurassic two-mica granite. The areas of Jurassic biotite granite and Cretaceous granite in the A region have the uranium concentrations ranging $0.10{\sim}49.78{\mu}g/L$ and $0.36{\sim}3.01{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The uranium values from between wells of community water systems (CWSs) penetrating fractured bed-rock aquifers and personal boreholes settled in shallow aquifers near the wells of CWSs show big differences. It implies that the groundwaters of the two areas have evolved from different water-rock interaction paths that may caused by various types of wells having different aquifers. High radon activities in the area of B region composed of Precambrian gneiss showed ranging from 6,770 to 64,688 pCi/L. Even though the wells are located in the same geological settings, their rodon concentration presented different according to depth and distance.