• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2012

Osteoporotic fracture became a serious social problem, which related with mortality and morbidity in old age population. Osteoclast which is responsible for bone resorption is originated from hematopoietic cell line and plays a key role osteoporotic bone loss. Cynanchum wilfordii (Asclepiadaceae) roots have been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and aging progression. Also, recent studies have shown that the extract and fractions of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix have various pharmacological actions including scavenging free radicals, enhancing immunity, reducing high serum cholesterol, and anti-tumor activity. However, the effect of extract of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix in osteoclast differentiation had not been reported. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Through our study, we found that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis leads to fracture of bone and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.894-900
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• 2005

Purpose : Because of the unavailability of marrow transplantation, umbilical cord blood (CB) is increasingly being used. We evaluated the potential of ex vivo expansion and clonality in CD34+ cells separated from cord blood source and mobilized peripheral blood (PB) in a serum-free media. Methods : The CD34+ cells, selected from CB and mobilized PB, were expanded with hematopoietic growth factors. They were then cultured for burst-forming units of erythrocytes (BFU-E), colony-forming units of granulocytes and monocytes (CFU-GM) and colony-forming units of megakaryocytes (CFU-Mk) at culture days 0, day 4, day 7, and day 14 with various growth factors. Results : The CB-selected CD34+ cells showed significantly higher total cell expansion than those from the PB at day 7 (2 fold increase than PB). The CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more BFU-E colonies than did the PB on culture at days 7 and at day 14. Also, the CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more CFU-Mk colonies than did the PB on culture at day 4 and at day 7. Conclusion : The ex vivo expansion of the CB cells may be promising in producing total cellular expansion, CFU-Mk and BFU-E compared with PB for 7 to 14 days. The growth factors combination including megakaryocyte growth and development, flt3-ligand and interleukin-3 showed more expansion in the view of total cells and clonal maintenance compared with less combination.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2017

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are major methods to treat cancer. However, current cancer treatments report severe side effects and high recurrences. Recent studies about engineering nanoparticles as a drug carrier suggest possibilities in terms of specific targeting and spatiotemporal release of drugs. While many nanoparticles demonstrate lower toxicity and better targeting results than free drugs, they still need to improve their performance dramatically in terms of targeting accuracy, immune responses, and non-specific accumulation at organs. One possible way to overcome the challenges is to make precisely controlled nanoparticles with respect to size, shape, surface properties, and mechanical stiffness. Here, we demonstrate $500{\times}200nm$ discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs (DPNs) as a drug delivery carrier. DPNs were prepared by using a top-down fabrication method that we previously reported to control shape as well as size. Moreover, DPNs have multiple payloads, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), lipid-Rhodamine B dye (RhB) and Salinomycin. In this study, we demonstrated a potential of DPNs as a drug carrier to treat cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.428-436
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• 2003

Epidemiological studies have observed a negative association between increased consumption of green and yellow vegetables and cancer incidence. These vegetables contain carotenoids, which are reported to exhibit anticarcinogenic effects. Overexpression of ErbB2 and ErbB3 genes is a frequent event in several human cancers. The present study was performed to determine whether $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, lutein, or lycopene inhibits cell growth and to assess such an effect is related to changes in the levels of the ErbB receptor family and tile ErbB3 receptor signaling pathway in HT-29 cells. HT-29 cells were cultured in serum-free medium in the presence of various concentrations (0~100 $\mu$M) of the individual carotenoids. $\alpha$ -Carotene and lycopene significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, whereas lutein slightly inhibited cell growth and $\beta$-carotene increased cell growth. Lycopene is more potent than $\alpha$ -carotene in inhibiting HT-29 cell growth. Lycopene inhibited DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. The ErbB3 ligand heregulin (HRG) increased cell growth but did not prevent the lycopene-induced inhibition of cell growth. Lycopene decreased ErbB2 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoprecipitation/Western blot studies revealed that lycopene inhibited HRG-induced phosphorylation of ErbB3, recruitment of the 985 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to the ErbB3 receptor, and phosphorylation of Akt. These results indicate that downregulation of ErbB2/ErbB3/PI3K/Akt signaling may be one of the mechanisms by which lycopene inhibits HT-29 cell pro-liferation and induces apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 1994

Some molybdenum(III) and (IV) complexes have been prepared from the reaction of $MoCl_4$·2MeCN with N, P, O-donating ligands and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and UV-Visible spectroscopy. 3,5-Lutidine, 1,2-phenylenediamine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, triphenylphosphine and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane were chosen as coordinating ligands. Stretching frequencies $\upsilon$ (Mo-Cl) of Mo(IV) appear at higher frequencies than those of Mo(III) complexes due to the increasing oxidation number of metal. $MoCl_4(L)_2$ exhibit one Mo-Cl stretching frequency, whereas Mo$Cl_4$(L^L) exhibit four Mo-Cl stretching frequencies. The number of Mo-Cl stretching frequency suggestes the former complexes have trans($D_{4h}$) and the latter complexes have cis($C_{2v}$) symmetry. Stretching frequency ${\nu}g(C{\equiv}N)$ of acetonitrile in Mo(III) complexes are shifted to about 30 $cm^{-1}$ higher frequency compared with that of a free ligand (2260 $cm^{-1}$). These spectral data indicates that Mo(III) complexes are in the octahedral geometries with the coordinated acetonitrile. Finally each molybdenum(III) and (IV) complexes showed the following formulation; $[MoCl_4(L)_2]$,[Mo$Cl_4$(L^L)], $[MoCl_3(L)_2MeCN]$ and [Mo$Cl_3$(L^L)MeCN].

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2011

Spectroscopic (infrared, electronic and $1^H$-NMR), elemental analyses CHN, molar conductivity, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA/DTG) and biological studies, of both benzanthrone derivatives 3-N-2-hydroxy ethylamine benzanthrone (HEAB) and 3-N-2-amino ethylamine benzanthrone (AEAB) with Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) chlorides were discussed herein. Based on the above studies, HEAB ligand was suggested to be coordinated to each metal ions via hydroxo and amino groups to form [Cu(HEAB)$(Cl)_2$].$2H_2O$, [Co(HEAB)$(Cl)_2(H_2O)_2$].$8H_2O$ and [Ni(HEAB)$(Cl)_2(H_2O)_2$].$7H_2O$ coordinated complex. On the other hand, AEAB has an octahedral coordinated feature with formulas [Cu(AEAB)$(Cl)_2(H_2O)_2$].$2H_2O$, [Co(AEAB)$(Cl)_2(H_2O)_2$].$4H_2O$ and [Ni(AEAB)$(Cl)_2(H_2O)_2$]. $6H_2O$. The molar conductance values at $25{\circ}C$ for all complexes in DMF are slightly higher than free ligands; this supported the presence of chloride ions inside the coordination sphere. Both benzanthrone ligands and their complexes have been screened against different kinds of bacteria.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

Background: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, binds to a wide variety of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds. AhR is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response during acute and chronic respiratory diseases. We investigated whether nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) could regulate transcriptional levels of AhR target genes and inflammatory cytokines in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated human bronchial epithelial cells. This study was based on our previous study that NCOA7 was differentially expressed between normal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease lung tissues. Methods: BEAS-2B and A549 cells grown under serum-free conditions were treated with or without TCDD (0.15 nM and 6.5 nM) for 24 hours after transfection of pCMV-NCOA7 isoform 4. Expression levels of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines were strongly induced by TCDD treatment in both BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. The NCOA7 isoform 4 oppositely regulated the transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines between BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NCOA7 could act as a regulator in the TCDD-AhR signaling pathway with dual roles in normal and abnormal physiological conditions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.687-691
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• 1993

Complexation of $Cd^{2+},\;Pb^{2+}\;and\;Hg^{2+}$ ions with four cryptands were studied by potentiometry and solution calorimetry in various weight percent methanol-aqueous solvent at 25${\circ}$C under $CO_2$free nitrogen atmosphere. The stabilities of the complexes were dependent on the cavity size of macrocycles. The $Hg^{2+}$ ion stability constants are higher than those of $Cd^{2+}\;and\;Pb^{2+}$ ion. All the cryptands formed complexes having 1 : 1 (metal to ligand) mole-ratio except for $Hg^{2+}-L_1$ (cryptand 1,2b: 3,5-benzo-9,14,17-trioxa-1,7-diazabicyclo-(8,5,5) heptadecane) and $Cd^{2+}-L_2$ (cryptand 2,2b: 3,5-benzo-10,13,18,21-tetraoxa-1,7-diazabicyclo (8,5,5) eicosane) complexes. $Hg^{2+}-L_1$ complex was a sandwitch type, and the $Cd^{2+}-L_2$ complex showed two stepwise reactions. Thermodynamic parameters of the $Cd^{2+}-L_2$ complex were $6.08(log\;K_1)$, -7.28 Kcal/mol $({\Delta}H_1)$, and $4.78\;(log\;K_2)$, -4.62 Kcal/mol $({\Delta}H_2)$, respectively, for 1 : 1 and 2: 1 mole-ratio. The sequences of the selectivity were increased in the order of $Hg^{2+}\;>Pb^{2+}\;>Cd^{2+}$ ion for $L_3\;and\;L_4$ macrocycles, and the $L_2$-macrocycle has a selectivity for $Cd^{2+}$ ion relative to $Zn^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;Pb^{2+}\;and\;Hg^{2+}$ ions. Thus, it is expected that the $L_2$ can be used as carrier for seperation of the post transition metals by macrocycles-mediated liquid membrane because $L_2$ is not soluble in water, and the difference of stability constants of the metal complexes with $L_2$ are large as compared with the other transition metal complexes. The $^1H\;and\;^{13}C-NMR studies indicated that the nitrogen atoms of cryptands have greater affinity to the post transition metal ions than the oxygen atoms, and that the planarities of the macrocycles were lost by complexation with the metal ions because of the perturbation of ring current of benzene molecule attached to macrocycles and counter-anions.

• Journal of Breast Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2018

Purpose: T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) is an emerging immune response molecule related to T-cell anergy. There has been tremendous interest in breast cancer targeting immune checkpoint molecules, especially in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This study was designed to investigate TIM-3 expression on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), its relationships with clinicopathological parameters and expression of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)/programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1), and its prognostic role. Methods: Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray blocks produced from 109 samples of invasive ductal carcinoma type TNBC was performed with antibodies toward TIM-3, PD-1, PD-L1 and breast cancer-related molecular markers. Associations between their expression and clinicopathological parameters as well as survival analyses were performed. Results: TIM-3 was expressed in TILs from all 109 TNBCs, consisting of 17 cases (<5%), 31 cases (6%-25%), 48 cases (26%-50%), and 13 cases (>51%). High TIM-3 was significantly correlated with younger patients (p=0.0101), high TILs (p=0.0029), high tumor stage (p=0.0018), high PD-1 (p=0.0001) and high PD-L1 (p=0.0019), and tended to be associated with higher histologic grade, absence of extensive in situ components and microcalcification. High TIM-3 expression was significantly associated with a combinational immunophenotype group of high PD-L1 and high PD-1 (p<0.0001). High TIM-3 demonstrated a significantly better disease-free survival (DFS) (p<0.0001) and longer overall survival (OS) (p=0.0001), together with high TILs and high PD-1. In univariate survival analysis, high TIM-3 showed reduced relapse risk (p<0.0001) and longer OS (p=0.0003), together with high PD-1 expression. In multivariate analysis, high TIM-3 was statistically significant in predicting prognosis, showing better DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.0994; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0296-0.3337; p=0.0002) and longer OS (HR, 0.1109; 95% CI, 0.0314-0.3912; p=0.0006). Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrate that TIM-3 expression is an independent positive prognostic factor in TNBC, despite its association with poor clinical and pathologic features.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.476-486
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• 2023

Purpose: The optimal tumor mutational burden (TMB) value for predicting treatment response to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) checkpoint inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the optimal TMB cutoff value that could predict the efficacy of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in AGC. Materials and Methods: Patients with AGC who received pembrolizumab or nivolumab between October 1, 2020, and July 27, 2021, at Samsung Medical Center in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. The TMB levels were measured using a next-generation sequencing assay. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the TMB cutoff value was determined. Results: A total 53 patients were analyzed. The TMB cutoff value for predicting the overall response rate (ORR) to PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors was defined as 13.31 mutations per megabase (mt/Mb) with 56% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Based on this definition, 7 (13.2%) patients were TMB-high (TMB-H). The ORR differed between the TMB-low (TMB-L) and TMB-H (8.7% vs. 71.4%, P=0.001). The progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) for 53 patients were 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.600-2.268) and 4.26 months (95% CI, 2.992-5.532). The median OS was longer in the TMB-H (20.8 months; 95% CI, 2.292-39.281) than in the TMB-L (3.31 months; 95% CI, 1.604-5.019; P=0.049). Conclusions: The TMB cutoff value for predicting treatment response in AGC patients who received PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy as salvage treatment was 13.31 mt/Mb. When applying the programmed death ligand-1 status to TMB-H, patients who would benefit from PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors can be selected.