• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.329-339
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• 2009

Cortisol is present in high concentration in the ovary and its receptor is expressed in the ovarian cells. Moreover, cortisol is known to have a role in steroid synthesis and cell metabolism in human granulosa and lutein cells. However, little is known of the role of cortisol presenting in high concentration in the follicles after LH surge on the granulosa-lutein cells. Therefore, the this study we evaluated the apoptosis and the production of progesterone $(P_4)$ and estradiol $(E_2)$ in the granulosa-lutein cells that are obtained during oocyte-retrieval after treatment with 5, 50, and $500{\mu}g/m\ell$ cortisol and 1 IU/$m\ell$ FSH. Results of DNA fragment analysis and TUNEL assay demonstrated that DNA fragmentation and the rate of apoptotic cells were increased in a dose-dependent manner showing a significant increase in 50 and $500{\mu}g/m\ell$ cortisol treated cells. We found, however, that FSH did not suppress the apoptosis of the cells induced by cortisol. In the results of chemiluminescence assay for $P_4$ and $E_2$, $P_4$ production was decreased by cortisol treatment, whereas $E_2$ was not changed. We also demonstrated that FSH did not inhibit the suppressive effect of GnRH on $P_4$ production as the result of apoptosis. The present study suggests that cortisol of high concentration could cause the apoptosis of human granulosa-lutein cells by suppressing the production of $P_4$. However, we need more studies to elucidate the mechanism by which cortisol induces apoptosis in human granulosa-lutein cells in view of the fact that our results are inconsistent with previous reported data.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 1996

Purpose : Radiation-induced alteration in the immune function is well known phenomenon in cancer patients. Our purpose is to evaluate the extent of immune suppression immediately after mediastinal or pelvic irradiation, which include significant volume of active bone marrow in adults. Materials and Methods'48 cancer patients with mediastinal(N=29) and pelvic irradiation(N=19) were the basis of this analysis. Age ranged from 36 to 76 and mean and median value was 57 years, respectively Sex ratio was 1.3(M: F=27/21). The immunological parameters were the complete blood cell(CBC) with differential cell(D/C) count, T cell subset(CD3, CD4, CD8 CDl9), NK cell test(CDl6, CD56), and serum immunoglobulin(IgG, IgA, IgM) level. Results : The mean value of white blood cell(WBC) was reduced from 7017 to 4470 after irradiation(p=0.0000). In the differential count, the number of lymphocyte, neutrophil, and basophil was markedly reduced with statistical significance(p<0.01) and the number of monocyte was not changed and, on the contrary, that of eosinophil was increased by irradiation. In the lymphocyte subpopulation analysis, the number of all subpopulations, CD3(T cell), CD4(helper T cell), CD8(suppressor T cell), CDl6(NK cell), CDl9(B, cell) was reduced with statistical significance. The mean ratio of CD4 to CD8 in all patients was 1.09 initially and reduced to 0.99 after radiotherapy(p=0.34) , but the proportional percentage of all subpopulations was not changed except CD19(B cell) after irradiation. In the immunoglobulin study, initial values of Ig G, Ig A, and Ig M were relatively above the normal range and the only Ig M was statistically significantly reduced after radiotherapy(p=0.02). Conclusion : Mediastinal and pelvic irradiation resulted in remarkable suppression of lymphocyte count in contrast to the relatively good preservation of other components of white blood cells. But the further study on the functional changes of lymphocyte after radiotherapy may be necessary to conclude the effects of the radiation on the immunity of the cancer Patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 1993

A retrospective analysis of various characteristics in 32 limited stage small cell lung cancer patients treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College from April 1983 to September 1991, was carried out to identify factors which had prognostic significance for survival from initiation of radiation therapy. There were 26 men and 6 women. Median age was 63 years (range: 24-78 years). The follow up duration was 1.5 to 44 months (median: 9 months). External radiation therapy was done with daily 160-180 cGy,5 fraction/week, total of 1000-6660 cGy (median: 4500 cGy) to the mediastinum by 6 MV linear accelerator. Of 32 Patients, 27 ($84.4{\%}$) patients were treated with combined modality (chemotherapy plus radiation therapy), and 5 ($15.6{\%}$) patients were treated with radiation therapy only. Complete responders were 12 patients ($37.5{\%}$), partial responders were 11 ($34.4{\%}$), and no responders were 9($28.1{\%}$). Karnofsky performance status over 70 (p<0.04), chemotherapy regimen (CAV, PV, and CAV+PV) (p<0.04),6 or more cycles of chemotherapy (p<0.007), radiation therapy over 4500 cGy (p<0.03), and radiation therapy responder (CR+PR) (p<0.003) showed a significantly favorable influence on 1 year survival rate. Age (p=0.545), sex (p=0.666), presence of superior vena cava syndrome (p=0.719), prophylactic cranial irradiation (p=0.217), and radiation therapy duration (p=0.491) had no effect on survival. Radiation induced side effects were transient esophagitis in 11 ($34{\%}$), general weakness in 9($28{\%}$), gastrointestinal symptoms in terms of nausea, vomiting and indigestion in 5 ($15{\%}$) and leukopenia in 1 ($3{\%}$).

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

The effects of ginseng extracts on liver damage induced by high energy x-ray were studied. To one group of ICR male mice were given white(50 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally) and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally)before irrdiation. To another group were irradiated by 5 Gy dose of high energy x-ray. Contrast group were given with saline(0.1 ml). This study also investigated the effect between MDA, protein content and ginseng extracts on hepatic damage. This study measured the level of MDA(malondialdehyde), protein content in liver tissue. Administrating orally white (50 mg/kg/day for 7 days, orally)and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day), the level of MDA were generally decreased and the inhibition was increased. And the protein contents were identical with control group. After irradiation, the protein contents were increased and MDA(malondialdehyde) was increased. Therefore, ginseng extracts increased antioxidative enzyme activity. And We know that the antioxidatant effect of extracts from white and fermenta ginseng protect radiation damage by direct antioxidant effect involving SOD, CAT, GPX. It was included that ginsengs can protect against the lipid peroxidation in radiation damage through its antioxidatant properties.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2019

This study was performed to investigate the effect of heat-stressed environment on rumen microbial diversity in Holstein cows. Rectal temperature and respiration rate were measured and rumen fluid was collected under normal environment (NE; Temperature humidity index (THI)=64.6) and heat-stressed environment (HE; THI=87.2) from 10 Holstein cows (60±17.7 months, 717±64.4 kg) fed on the basis of dairy feeding management in National Institute of Animal Science. The rumen bacteria diversity was analyzed by using the Illumina HiSeq^TM 4000 platform. The rectal temperature and respiratory rate were increased by 1.5℃ and 53 breaths/min in HE compared to that in NE, respectively. In this study, HE exposure induced significant changes of ruminal microbe. At phylum level, Fibrobacteres were increased in HE. At genus level, Ruminococcaceae bacterium P7 and YAD3003, Butyrivibrio sp. AE2032, Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium NK3D112, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Lachnospiraceae bacterium FE2018, XBB2008, and AC2029, Eubacterium celulosolvens, Clostridium hathewayi, and Butyrivibrio hungatei were decreased in HE, while Choristoneura murinana nucleopolyhedrovirus, Calothrix parasitica, Nostoc sp. KVJ20, Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047, Fibrobacter sp. UWB13 and sp. UWB5, Lachnospiraceae bacterium G41, and Xanthomonas arboricola were increased in HE. In conclusion, HE might have an effect to change the rumen microbial community in Holstein cows.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2010

The nutritional components, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of water and a 50% methanol extract from litchi fruit pericarp were investigated. The most abundant mineral, amino acid, and fatty acid were K, proline, and palmitic acid, respectively. In addition, the total water phenolics and 50% methanol extracts were 8.02 and 12.28 mg/g, respectively. The DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the water and 50% methanol extracts showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity. In a cell viability assay using MTT, almost all extracts showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity, and lactate dehydrogenase leakage was also inhibited by the pericarp extracts. In particular, the 50% methanol extract showed a higher cell membrane protective effect than the water extract at the highest concentration. Consequently, these data suggest that litchi fruit pericarp can be utilized as an effective and safe functional food substances for natural antioxidants and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1690-1697
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• 2009

CD11c and costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86 express mainly in dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, we investigated the biologic effects of recombinant Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (Flt-3) ligand on the expression of DC surface markers, including CD11c in leukemia cell lines, such as KG-1, HL-60, NB4, and THP-1 cells. The expression of the Flt-3 receptor was found in NB4 and HL-60 cells, as well as KG-1 cells, but not in THP-1 cells. When KG-1 cells were cultured in a medium containing Flt-3 ligand or granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, cell proliferation was inhibited and the expression levels of CD11c, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I, and MHC-II were increased in the cells. Flt-3 ligand also increased the expression level of CD11c on HL-60 and NB4 cells, but not on THP-1 cells. In comparison with CD11c expression, the expression level of CD11b on KG-1 cells, but not on NB4 and HL-60 cells, was slightly increased by Flt-3 ligand. Flt-3 ligand induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2) and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) in KG-1 cells, and the up-regulation of CD11c expression by Flt-3 ligand in the cells was abrogated by PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK. The results suggest that Flt-3 ligand up-regulates DC surface markers on $CD34^+$ myelomonocytic KG-1 cells, as well as promyelocytic leukemia cells, and that the differentiation of the leukemia cells into DC-like cells by Flt-3 ligand is mediated by ERK-1/2 activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.352-360
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• 2014

We evaluated the growth performance, biochemical characteristics, and immune responses in weaning pigs given a diet containing MR-1 (0.2%/feed) or antibiotics (0.1%/feed) for 45 days. In vitro study showed that MR-1 has antibacterial activity against a variety of strains of pathogenic bacteria, especially a strain of cattle-derived Escherichia coli K99 (E. coli K99) by agar diffusion assay. In the in vivo model, 0.2% MR-1-given group clearly ameliorated the weight gain and feed efficiency in the growth performance of weaning pigs compared to the basal diet group (p<0.05). Additionally, 0.2% MR-1 induced an elevation in the levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and showed a similar pattern ($TNF{\alpha}$ and $IFN{\gamma}$ production) to the antibiotic treated pigs. Taken together, we suggest that 0.2% MR-1 makes probiotics an alternative to antibiotics in weaning pigs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1431-1437
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• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 1999

In order to characterize the property of $Ca^{2+}$ transport in plant cell, microsomes were prepared from the roots of tomato and microsomal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was measured. When 1 mM vanadate, a selective inhibitor of P-type ATPases, 50 mM $NO_3^-$, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar $H^{+}-ATPase$, and both of these inhibitors were treated, the microsomal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptakes were inhibited by 20, 33 and 47%, respectively. The inhibitory effects of these two inhibitors were investigated by using a protonophore, gramicidin. When the chemical gradient of $H^{+}$ was relieved by gramicidin, the uptake was decreased by 30%, implying the presence of $Ca^{2+}/H^+$ antiporter in the microsomal membrane. In the $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake experiment, the effect of gramicidin was independent of vanadate-induced inhibition. However, when the activity of vacuolar $H^{+}-ATPase$ was inhibited by $NO_3^-$, the effect of gramicidin was severely decreased. Meanwhile, thapsigargin, a specific antagonist of ER/SR-type $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, inhibited the microsomal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and the maximum inhibitory effect was obtained at $10\;{\mu}M$. The effect of thapsigargin was blocked by $NO_3^-$ and gramicidin, but not by vanadate. These results imply that vanadate directly inhibits the activity of $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$; however, $NO_3^-$ and thapsigargin block the activity of $Ca^{2+}/H^+$ antiporter by inhibiting the vacuolar $H^{+}-ATPase$. In conclusion, the microsomal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptakes are mediated by two major enzymes, $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ and $Ca^{2+}/H^+$ antiporter in tomato root tissue.