• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.1256-1261
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• 2021

Rubus coreanus Miquel (bokbunja), Korean black raspberry, is known to possess various phytochemicals that exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, most studies on Rubus coreanus Miquel have been performed with the solvent extracts and/or a single component to demonstrate the efficacy, while studies evaluating the effect of the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel are limited. In this study, therefore, we employed the isoproterenol (IPN)-induced myocardial infarction model and investigated the effect of freeze-dried powder of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCP) on oxidative stress and prevention of organ damage. Oral administration of RCP reduced the level of toxicity markers, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) without affecting body weight and diet intake. The oxidative stress marker glutathione (GSH) increased about 45% and malonaldehyde (MDA) decreased about 27% compared to the IPN group with RCP-H (3%) administration. By histological analysis, IPN induced significant myocardial damage in the heart and vascular injury in the liver, and RCP administration ameliorated the damages in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, RCP activated the antioxidant system leading to prevention of damage to organs by IPN in rats, making it possible to expect beneficial efficacies by consuming the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권9호
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• pp.647-657
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• 2021

As a pancreatic inflammatory marker, regenerating islet-derived protein 3A (Reg3A) plays a key role in inflammation-associated pancreatic carcinogenesis by promoting cell proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and regulating cancer cell migration and invasion. This study aimed to reveal a novel immuno-regulatory mechanism by which Reg3A modulates tumour-promoting responses during pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. In an in vitro Transwell system that allowed the direct co-culture of human peripheral blood-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and Reg3A-overexpressing/ silenced human PC cells, PC cell-derived Reg3A was found to downregulate CD80, CD83 and CD86 expression on educated DCs, increase DC endocytic function, inhibit DC-induced T lymphocyte proliferation, reduce IL-12p70 production, and enhance IL-23 production by DCs. The positive effect of tumour-derived Reg3A-educated human DCs on PC progression was demonstrated in vivo by intraperitoneally transferring them into PC-implanted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice reconstituted with human T cells. A Reg3A-JAK2/STAT3 positive feedback loop was identified in DCs educated with Reg3A. In conclusion, as a tumour-derived factor, Reg3A acted to block the differentiation and maturation of the most important antigen-presenting cells, DCs, causing them to limit their potential anti-tumour responses, thus facilitating PC escape and progression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer, known as Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), is one of the important age-old traditional herbs used in boosting libido and improving male fertility. In this study, the effects of Rg3-enriched KRG extract (KGC04P) on heat stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats was evaluated. Methods: Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus KGC04P-100 mg/kg (HK100), and heat-stressed plus KGC04P-200 mg/kg (HK200) groups. Starting 1 week prior to heat stress, animals were administered orally with KGC04P (100 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet and continued for 25 weeks. Heat stress was induced to HC, HK100, and HK200 groups by intermittently exposing the animals to high temperatures ($32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 2 h/day). After 6 months, animals were euthanized under general anesthesia with carbon dioxide and evaluated for various parameters in serum and testicular tissue by using Western blotting, biochemical kits, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in several parameters, such as body/organ weight, sperm kinematics, and lipid metabolism marker levels, in the serum and testis of rats were observed. Further, the expression of testicular antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, sex hormonal receptors, and spermatogenesis-related genes were also affected significantly (p < 0.05) in the heat-stressed group. However, KGC04P prevented the heat stress-induced changes in rats significantly (p < 0.05) at both concentrations. Conclusion: KGC04P attenuated heat stress-induced testicular damage by a multifunctional approach and can be developed as an excellent therapeutic agent for hyperthermia-mediated male infertility.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.191-196
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• 2018

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer are serious health problems worldwide, and their prevalences have been on the rise in recent years. It has been reported that adropin plays an important role in the development of T2DM, oxidative stress, inflammation, and obesity. However, there is limited information available on T2DM from human studies, especially for the Korean population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between adropin levels and obesity of Korean T2DM patients. Methods: Thirty-six T2DM patients were recruited for this study. The participants were further classified into female (n = 12) and male (n = 24). Their body composition, metabolic parameters, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress were measured. Results: The severity of obesity is more manifested in male than in female. Plasma triglyceride (TG) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels of male were significantly higher than female. The plasma adropin and adiponectin level of female was significantly higher than male. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass were negatively correlated with the plasma adropin level in female, whereas adropin has positive correlation with adiponectin in female. The hs-CRP was negatively correlated with the plasma adropin level in female and male. malondialdehyde, reactive oxidative species, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was not significantly correlated with adropin in patients with T2DM. Conclusions: These findings suggest that adropin may be more used as a biomarker for predicting the risk of obesity and inflammation in Korean patients with T2DM, especially women.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

Objectives : Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase of allergic disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix in human mast cell line, HMC-1. Method : The Angelicae gigantis Radix was fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus. The cell toxicity of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix(FAGR) was determined by MTT assay. The release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase assay. Also, the concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The gene expression of COX-2 from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1 was measured by histamine assay. Result : The FAGR suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, from HMC-1 stimulated by PMA plus A23187. The FAGR inhibited the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The FAGR inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA. The FAGR suppressed the release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1. Conclusion : These results provide that FAGR may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammatory disease.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.873-884
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• 2024

Flunixin is a veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent whose residues have been investigated in their original form within tissues such as muscle and liver. However, flunixin remains in milk as a metabolite, and 5-hydroxy flunixin has been used as the primary marker for its surveillance. This study aimed to develop a quantitative method for detecting flunixin and 5-hydroxy flunixin in milk and to strengthen the monitoring system by applying to other livestock and fishery products. Two different methods were compared, and the target compounds were extracted from milk using an organic solvent, purified with C₁₈, concentrated, and reconstituted using a methanol-based solvent. Following filtering, the final sample was analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Method 1 is environmentally friendly due to the low use of reagents and is based on a multi-residue, multi-class analysis method approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The accuracy and precision of both methods were 84.6%-115% and 0.7%-9.3%, respectively. Owing to the low matrix effect in milk and its convenience, Method 1 was evaluated for other matrices (beef, chicken, egg, flatfish, and shrimp) and its recovery and coefficient of variation are sufficient according to the Codex criteria (CAC/GL 71-2009). The limits of detection and quantification were 2-8 and 5-27 ㎍/kg for flunixin and 2-10 and 6-33 ㎍/kg for 5-hydroxy flunixin, respectively. This study can be used as a monitoring method for a positive list system that regulates veterinary drug residues for all livestock and fisheries products.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권10호
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• pp.1671-1679
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• 2021

Objective: We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1-S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics. Results: The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = -0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = -0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = -0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = -0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = -0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.25.1-25.11
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• 2022

IL-34 can promote osteoclast differentiation and activation, which may contribute to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Animal model was constructed in both BALB/c and IL-34 deficient mice to detect the relative expression of inflammation cytokines. Micro-CT was utilized to reveal the internal structure. In vitro differentiated osteoclast was induced by culturing bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-34 conditioned medium or M-CSF. The relative expression of pro-inflammation cytokines, osteoclast marker genes, and relevant pathways molecules was detected with quantitative real-time RT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot. Up-regulated IL-34 expression could be detected in the serum of ONFH patients and femoral heads of ONFH mice. IL-34 deficient mice showed the resistance to ONFH induction with the up-regulated trabecular number, trabecular thickness, bone value fraction, and down-regulated trabecular separation. On the other hand, inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-2, and IL-17A, showed diminished expression in IL-34 deficient ONFH induced mice. IL-34 alone or works in coordination with M-CSF to promote osteoclastogenesis and activate ERK, STAT3, and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. These data demonstrate that IL-34 can promote the differentiation of osteoclast through ERK, STAT3, and non-canonical NF-κB pathways to aggravate steroid-induced ONFH, and IL-34 can be considered as a treatment target.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.567-572
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• 2014

Extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum have been reported to show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-metastatic, and hepato-protective effects. This study was designed to evaluate T-cell activation and M1/M2 differential macrophage activation by extracts of P. grandiflorum or P. grandiflorum containing various medicinal herbs. Using real-time RT-PCR, we analyzed expression levels of c-fos, and CD40L (T-cell activation markers) in splenocytes and iNOS, Ym1, and ARG1 in RAW 246.7 cells after treatment of CC (hot water extract of P. grandiflorum), MAEK (hot water extract of P. grandiflorum [82%] and six different plants), and HWAL (hot water extract of P. grandiflorum [7%] and eight different plants. The results showed that MAEK significantly elevated the expression of T-cell activation markers of splenocytes, with the c-fos gene activated more than 10-fold and the CD40L gene activated more than 6-fold. Although CD40L was significantly increased by CC and HWAL, the increase was only about 2-fold. In addition, CC and HWAL did not significantly activate the expression of the c-fos gene. On the other hand, CC elevated the M1 activation marker iNOS, and HWAL elevated the M2 activation marker Ym1 and ARG1 gene expression. In conclusion, MAEK could be used as an immune stimulant because of its ability to activate T cells (elicited c-fos and CD40L gene expression), whereas HWAL could serve as an anti-inflammatory agent because of its differential activation of M2 macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.322-327
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• 2011

The effects of green tea consumption and/or exercise for 12weeks on body weight and select biochemical markers in plasma were evaluated in obese adolescents with a fat ratio of greater than 25%. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group (n=9), green tea consumption group (n=9), exercise group (n=9) and green tea consumption with exercise group (n=9). Subjects in both green tea consumption group and green tea consumption with exercise group were given more than five cups of green tea extract in hot water ($90^{\circ}C$) daily, equivalent to 1.5-1.7 g dry green tea, for 12 weeks. Subjects in both the exercise group and green tea consumption with exercise group participated in a training program (HRmax 60-70%, 60 min/day) for 12 weeks. Control subjects were only given water equal to the quantity of green tea being given to the subjects of green tea consumption. No significant changes body weights were seen in any of these treatments, but the waist to hip ratio was reduced with treatments of both green tea and exercise. The control group showed no significant changes in TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and leptin levels. Green tea consumption reduced leptin (p<0.05), TNF-$\alpha$, and leptin levels. Exercise lowered TNF-$\alpha$ (p<0.05), IL-6 (p<0.01), and leptin (p<0.05) concentrations. Meanwhile, a combination of green tea consumption and exercise lowered TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 (p<0.05) and leptin (p<0.05) levels. These results indicate that green tea consumption and exercise both had a positive effect on the reduction of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and leptin, in obese adolescents, but no synergistic effect on the reduction of these cytokines.