• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.117-123
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• 2014

Objectives : Sinhyowoldo-san (SHWDS) is said to be a traditional medicine used for shigellosis, abdominal pain, diarrhea. But mechanism of SHWDS mediated-modulation of immune function is not sufficiently understood. To ascertain the molecular mechanisms of SHWDS 70% EtOH extract on pharmacological and biochemical actions in inflammation, we researched the effect of pro-inflammatory mediators in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)+ A23187-activated human mast cell line (HMC-1). Methods : In the present research, cell viability was measured by MTS assay. pro-inflammatory cytokine production was measured by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blot analysis to analyze the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$). The investigation focused on whether SHWDS inhibited the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), MAPKs and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in PMA+A23187-activated HMC-1 cells. Results : SHWDS has no cytotoxicity at measured concentration (50, 100, and $250{\mu}g/ml$). SHWDS ($250{\mu}g/ml$) inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in PMA+ A23187-activated HMC-1 cells. Moreover, SHWDS inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. In activated HMC-1 cells, SHWDS suppressed phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2) and c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK 1/2). Then, SHWDS suppressed activation of nuclear factor $NF-{\kappa}B$ in nuclear, degradation of IkB ${\alpha}$ in cytoplasm. Conclusions : We propose that SHWDS has an anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential, which may result from inhibition of ERK 1/2, JNK 1/2 phosphorylation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, thereby decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 1998

Purpose : Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been involved in several forms of immune-related glomerulopathy but the pathogenic role of HBV infection is not clear. To evaluate the clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy, a clinicopathological analysis and immunohistochemical stain for HBs Ag and HBe Ag were done. Methods : Clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy were analyzed with renal biopsies in 28 HBsAg seropositive patients from April 1990 to February 1997 at Pusan Paik Hospital, and immunohistochemical evaluation for HBsAg and HBeAg was done in renal tissues. Light microscopic, immunofluorescent and electron microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg (DAKO) and HBeAg (BIONIKE) of renal tissue were performed. Result ; 1. The age distribution was 6 to 73 years old, and eight were children and 20 were adults. Male : female ratio was 3:1. Nineteen (67.9%) and 21 (75.0%) of 28 cases showed hematuria and proteinuria, respectively at the time of biopsy. Sixteen (57.2%) of them had nephrotic syndrome. 2. Liver function test was performed in 11 patients and seven (63.6%) of them showed increased AST and ALT levels. Liver biopsy was done in three patients and revealed findings of chronic active hepatitis. 3. HBV-associated glomerulopathy was membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in 10 (35.7%), mesangiopathy in 8 (28.6%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 7 (25.0%) and minimal change disease in 3 (10.7%) out of 28 cases. 4. Ultrastructurally HBV-associated MGN showed conspicuous subepithelial deposits with intramembranous, mesangial and subendothelial deposits and proliferation of mesangial cells and matrix, which were suggestive of MPGN. In HBV-associated MPGN, intramembranous and subepithelial deposits were scattered. 5. Immunohistochemical staining revealed no expression for HBsAg, but positive reaction for HBeAg along capillary wall in 8 cases (28.6%), of which 3 cases were checked for serum HBeAg, all showed positivity. Conclusion : HBV-associated glomerulopathy showed a wide morphologic spectrum and overlapping ultrastructural features in MGN and MPGN, and the activity of hepatitis B virus may be related to the development of HBV-associated glomerulopathy but further studies are recommended to confirm this relationship.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.641-654
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• 1996

In infectious disease, invasion of host tissue by bacteria or their products frequently induces a wide variety of inflammatory and immunopathologic reaction. Evidence indicates that cytokines are involved in the initiation and progression of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis. Interleukin-6, which is a multifunctional cytokine, has important roles in acute and chronic inflammation and may also be implicated in bone resorption. Periodontal diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation of the periodontium with alveolar bone resoption. A principal driving force behind this response appears to lie in the immune system's response to bacteria. Many of the cell components which have been shown to function as virulence factors in gram-negative bacteria are associated with the bacterial surface. Of these, lipopolysaccharide has been characterized as one that mediates a number of biological activities which can lead to the destruction of host tissue. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug is used for reduce inflammation, and most of NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandine $E_2$ production, but it is shown that $PGE_2$ production is stimulated by IL-1 in recent study. So, the influence of other cytokines except $PGE_2$ on periodontium can not be avoided. Therefore, new antiinflammatory drug is needed. Rhizoma coptidis is used in oriental medicine for anti-inflammation and antiseptics. In this present study, we examined the IL-6 release in periodontal ligament cells treated with the lipopolysaccharide, and also the effect of rhizoma coptidis on cellular activity and IL-6 production of periodontal ligament cells. To evaluate the effect of rhizoma coptidis on cellular activity, the cells were seeded at a cell density of $1{\times}10^4$ cells/well in 24-well culture plates. After one day incubation, 1-6, 10-9 and 10-12 g/ml of rhizoma coptidis and 5, $10{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS were added to the each well and incubated for 1 and 2 days, respectively. Then, MTT assay were carried out. To evaluate the effect of rhizoma coptidis on IL-6 production, the cells were seeded at a cell density of $1.5{\times}10^4$ cells/well in 24-well culture plates. After one day incubation, 10-9 g/ml of rhizoma coptidis and 5, $10{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS were added to the each well and incubated for 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Then, amounts of IL-6 production is measured by IL-6 ELISA kit used. The results were as follows : 1. Rhizoma coptidisrbelow to ($10^{-6}g/ml$) significantly increaed cellular activity of periodontal ligament cells than control. 2. Rhizoma coptidist ($10^{-9}g/ml$) significantly increased cellular activity of LPS($5{\mu}g/ml$)-treated periodontal ligament cells than control. 3. LPS(5 and $10{\mu}g/ml$) significantly increased IL-6 production of periodontal ligament cells than control. 4. Rhizoma coptidis($10^{-9}g/ml$) decreased IL-6 production of LPS ($5{\mu}g/ml$)-treated periodontal.ligarnent cells than LPS only tested group. These findings suggest that stimulation of the IL-6 release of periodontal ligament cells by LPS may have a role in the progression of inflammation and alveolar bone resoption in periodontal disease, and that inhibition of the IL-6 release of cells and stimulation of cellular activity by rhizoma coptidis may help the periodontal regeneration.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.1 s.72
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• pp.73-81
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• 1999

Midpalatal suture expansion is often used for patients haying narrow maxillary arch, cleft palate, respiratory handicap with narrow nasal cavity. CGRP has been known as a modulator of pain transmission in central nervous system and a local effector to peripheral tissue causing vasodilation, increase of blood flow, modulation of immune system, regulation of macrophagic function and stimulation of bone formation. To investigate changes of CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in midpalatal suture during the expansion, immunohistochemical study was performed by using rats. Experimental rats (10 weeks, 250 gm) were divided into five groups (control, 1, 4, 7, 14 days group (each n=4) and applied orthodontic force (approximately 200gm) to upper anterior incisors. Frozen sections of midpalatal suture area were immunostained by using rabbit antisera. The results were as follows. ${\cdot}$ The CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were hardly observed in control group. ${\cdot}$ In 1 day group, the CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were more increased around the vessels than control group. ${\cdot}$ In 4 days group, the CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were more increased than control group, but not more increased than 1 day group. Vascular diameter was more enlarged. ${\cdot}$ In 7 days group, especially, hematoxilin affinity of cells was remarkable and cells were arranged along the bone margin. The CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were more reduced than 4 days group and vascular diameter was also reduced. ${\cdot}$ In 14 days group, the CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were similar to those of 7 days group and the irregularity of bone margin was almost recoverd. In Conclusion, the CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers nay be related to initial neurogenic inflammatory reaction in expanding mid-palatal suture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.608-615
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• 2002

Background : ADA is an enzyme found in most cells, and is involved in purine metabolism, but its chief role concerns the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes, especially T-lymphocytes. For that reason ADA has been looked on as a marker of cell-mediate immunity, which is the key mechanism of the tuberculous pleural effusion. Thus, the pleural fluid ADA activity is increased in the tuberculous pleural effusion. Age associated immune decline is characterized by decreases in both B and T-lymphocyte function and the former may be largely a result of the latter. Therefore, the pleural fluid ADA activity would be lower in old rather than in young, patients with tuberculous pleural effusion. We studied the relationship between age, and pleural fluid ADA activity, in patients with tuberculous pleural effusion. Materials and Methods : In the 46 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion enroll in this study, the pleural fluid ADA activities were measured by means of an automated kinetic method. Results : The mean age of the patients was $53.0{\pm}22.0$ years, with a male to female ratio of 30:16. The patients were divided into two groups, young patients, regarded as < 65 and old regarded as ${\geq}65$ years with 28 and 18 patients, respectively. The pleural fluid ADA activity in both groups show significant differences : $99.4{\pm}22.6$ IU/L(young patients) Vs. $75.8{\pm}30.9$ IU/L(old patients)(p<0.05), but a negative correlation with age (r=-0.311, p<0.05). Conclusion : Although pleural fluid ADA activity was not adequately increased, tuberculous pleural effusion, in older patients, would have to be considered clinically suspicious tuberculous pleural effusion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.796-804
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• 2011

Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2014

Genetic determinism of human behaviors is considered as a philosophical perspective that genes in humans determine biological as well as social traits. However, many biologists agree that human traits are determined by interactions between genes and genes, as well as between genes and environments. In this context, genetic determinism still affect ideas of the general public as well as research directions of biologists. According to Cl$\acute{e}$ment's KVP model (Cast$\acute{e}$ra & Cl$\acute{e}$ment, 2012), teachers' conceptions of genetic determinism influence students' concepts of genetics. This study intends to investigate teachers' conceptions on genetic determinism of human behaviors. For this end, a questionnaire adopted from a previous research (Cast$\acute{e}$ra & Cl$\acute{e}$ment, 2012) has been administered to 308 teachers including 151 pre-service and 157 in-service. Factor analysis has been conducted to extract major factors and one-way ANOVA has been employed to find out differences in extracted factors among different groups of teachers. Four factors have been extracted from 14 items of questionnaire, including factor 1, a perspective of genetic determinism of gender differences in intellectual ability, social status, and emotional traits; factor 2, a perspective of genetic determinism of individual differences in intellectual ability; factor 3, a perspective of genetic determinism of individual differences in biological immune function and behavioral trait; and factor 4, a perspective of genetic determinism of ethnic differences. From the results of One-way ANOVA among teacher groups on four factors, first, it has shown a significant difference in factor 1 (F=3.325, p=.006), factor 3 (F=3.320, p=.006) and factor 4 (F=4.325, p=.001) due to their subject matters. In post-hoc comparison there have been no significant difference between biology teachers and other teachers. It has also been found that there was a significant difference between pre-service and in-service teachers in factor 1 (t=-3.938, p=.000) and factor 4 (t=-3.121, p=.002) and in-service teachers are more genetic deterministic than pre-service teachers. Finally, different religions have no influence on teachers' conceptions of genetic determinism of human behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2005

Houttuynia cordata THNUB (He; Uh-Sung-Cho) is a medicinal plant which has been widely used as a component of blood-building decoctions. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effect of He in mice. In vitro experiment, the mice splenocytes proliferation and three kinds of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) production by mice peritoneal macrophages cultured with six (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water) fractions of He were used to indicate the immunomodulative effect. Ex vivo experiment, the different concentrations of He water extract was orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages and the mice splenocytes proliferation were used as an index for the immunocompetence. The supplementation of all six fractions of He enhanced the splenocytes proliferation at the level of 6.58$\pm$1.23∼47.82$\pm$5.48 compared to that of control in the range of 1∼50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. IL-1$\beta$ production was significantly increased with the supplementation of chloroform and water extract of He. Higher level of IL-6 production was detected by the supplementation of ethylacetate, butanol and water extract. TNF - $\alpha$ production was enhanced by the supplementation of all six fractions of He. From the ex vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen from the mice orally administrated with the He water extract at the concentration of 500 mg/kg bw In case of cytokines production, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF- $\alpha$ release by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of He water extract. These results indicated that He may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokines production capacity in mice.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.88-98
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• 2016

The pharmacological effects of ginseng berry have been known to improve psychological function, immune activities, cardiovascular conditions, and certain cancers. It is also known that fermentation improves the bioavailability of human beneficial natural materials. Accordingly, we investigated the optimal fermentation conditions of ginseng berry extract with strain isolated from conventional foods. We also analyzed the fermentation product and its antioxidant activity. The bacterium isolated from fermented kimchi was identified as Lactobacillus sp. strain KYH. To optimize the process, fermentation was performed in a 5 L fermenter containing 3 L of ginseng berry extract at 200 rpm for 72 hr. Under optimized conditions, batch and fed-batch fermentations were performed. After fermentation, organic acids, amino acids, sugars, ginsenosides, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. The optimum fermentation conditions were determined as pH 7.0 and a temperature of $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. After fermentation, the amounts and compositions of organic acids, amino acids, sugars, ginsenosides, and antioxidant activity were altered. In comparing the distribution of ginsenosides with that before fermentation, the ginsenoside Re was a major product. However, amounts of ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, and Rd were reduced, whereas amounts of ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2 increased. Total phenol content increased to 43.8%, whereas flavonoid content decreased to 19.8%. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity increased to 27.2 and 19.4%, respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

Background : Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from chronic inhalation of coal dust. The precise mechanism of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis is uncertain. However, a relationship between the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production by mediators released from in flammatory and resident lung cells is thought to be a major factor. The transforming growth factor-$\beta$(TGF-$\beta$), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in the scarring and fibrotic processes due to its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. To determine the involvement of TGF-$\beta$ in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in plasma was measured in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Methods : Plasma was collected from 40 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (20 with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 20 with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis) and from 10 normal controls. The ELISA method was used to measure the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration. Results : Compared to the control group ($0.63{\pm}01.8$ ng/mL), there was no significant difference in the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis ($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL) (p>0.05). However, in patients with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion : The data suggests that TGF-${\beta}_1$ has some influence in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.