• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.84 no.4
• /
• pp.326-332
• /
• 2021

Background: The association of invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis (ITBA) with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is not well established. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics between patients who exhibited ITBA with IPA and those who exhibited isolated ITBA (iITBA). Additionally, the usefulness of serum or bronchial galactomannan (GM) tests in diagnosing ITBA was evaluated. Methods: This retrospective single-center case-control study was conducted over a period of 4 years. Fifteen patients were enrolled after confirming the presence of ITBA using bronchoscopy-guided biopsy (iITBA, 7 vs. ITBA+IPA, 8). Clinical characteristics of patients and results obtained from serum or bronchial GM tests were compared between the two groups. Mortality was assessed using data collected from a 6-month follow-up period. Results: The ITBA+IPA group showed a higher prevalence of hematologic malignancy (75% vs. 14%, p=0.029), a greater number of patients with multiple bronchial ulcers (75% vs. 14%, p=0.029), lower platelet counts (63,000/μL vs. 229,000/μL, p<0.001), and a mortality rate which was significantly higher (63% vs. 0%, p=0.026) than the iITBA group. In the ITBA+IPA group, 57% of patients tested positive according to the serum GM assay, whereas in the iITBA group, all patients tested negative (p=0.070). The bronchial GM level was high in both groups, but there was no significant difference between them. Conclusion: Patients with ITBA+IPA had a greater number of hematologic malignancies with lower platelet counts and a poorer prognosis than patients diagnosed with iITBA. Findings obtained from bronchoscopy and bronchial GM tests were more useful in diagnosing ITBA than the serum GM test results.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.44 no.7
• /
• pp.468-480
• /
• 2021

Ubiquitin D (UBD) is highly upregulated in many cancers, and plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiological processes of cancers. However, its roles and underlying mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of UBD in patients with OSCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure the expression of UBD in OSCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the differential expressions of UBD in 244 OSCC patients and 32 cases of normal oral mucosae. In addition, CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the effect of UBD on the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OSCC. Furthermore, a xenograft tumor model was established to verify the role of UBD on tumor formation in vivo. We found that UBD was upregulated in human OSCC tissues and cell lines and was associated with clinical and pathological features of patients. Moreover, the overexpression of UBD promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells; however, the knockdown of UBD exerted the opposite effects. In this study, our results also suggested that UBD promoted OSCC progression through NF-κB signaling. Our findings indicated that UBD played a critical role in OSCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.04a
• /
• pp.54-54
• /
• 2019

Apple (Malus domestica) is one of the most economically important fruits in Korea. But virus infection has decreased sustainable production of apple and caused the serious problems such as yield loss and poor fruit quality. Virus or viroid infection including Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) has been also reported in Korea. In many cases, apple is infected with virus and viroid with no specific symptoms, the damage caused by the virus are unaware significantly. In our research, we tried to eliminate viruses in the rootstock for the disease-free seedlings of the apple dwarfing rootstock M.9 and M.26. The method of virus elimination was meristem culture, heat($37^{\circ}C$, 6weeks) treatment and chemistry($Ribavirin^{(R)}$) treatment. The analytical methods commonly used for the detection of virus is Enzyme-linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay(ELlSA) and Reverse Transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR). RT-PCR method was more 30% sensitive than ELISA method. Efficiency of method eliminate virus appeared meristem method > heat treatment > chemistry treatment. The higher acquisition rate of disease-free seedlings is 30~40% on meristem treatment. In meristem treatment, the apple dwarfing rootstock M.9 gained infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV were 45%, 60% and 50% respectively. In the apple dwarfing rootstock M.26, infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV and ASGV were 40%, 55%, 55%, respectively. Based on our results, it was found that most effective method of disease-free seedlings apple dwarfing rootstocks was by meristem treatment than heat method and chemistry treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.430-438
• /
• 2019

This study is to investigate increase immunomodulatory activity of Chungkukjang added with Dendropanax morbifera extract. There are four groups divided that Control, Dendropanax morbifera extract group, Chungkookjang group and Chungkukjang added to Dendropanax morbifera extract group which of five mouses each group. Their immunological characteristics were compared with either general Chungkukjang or non treated group in the tested male ICR mice. There were no significant difference in body weight and organ weight. In the plaque forming cell assay, Dendropanax morbifera extract 250 and 500 mg/kg groups measured significant increase over the control group. The values of lymphocytes were significantly increased in the Dendropanax morbifera extract 500 mg/kg group campared with the control group. In the general Chungkukjang 400 mg/kg added with Dendropanax morbifera extract 500 mg/kg group, total serum immunoglobulin G concentration was significantly higher than the control group and their spleen tissues observed proliferation of white puls. These results demonstrated that Chungkukjang Added with Dendropanax morbifera extract was provided enhance of immunomodulatory activity and suggest that it can be used as various functional foods, based on foods promote immune system health.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.131-140
• /
• 2019

The objective of present study is to evaluate concentration-dependent in vitro anti-osteoarthritic (OA) effects of synergic mixed formula consisted of dried pomegranate juice concentrate powder, Eucommiae Cortex aqueous extract and Achyranthis Radix aqueous extract 5:4:1 (g/g) mixture on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes. First, any cytotoxic effect of mixture was observed using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium Bromide) assay. Next, cyto-protective effect of test substances was evaluated by using the recombinant human interleukin $(rhIL)-1{\alpha}$ induced chondrocytes. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects were also observed on the lipopolysaccaride (LPS) treated chondrocytes through prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ productions and 5-lipoxygenase (LPO) activities, and inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities were observed on $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ treated chondrocytes with their extracellular matrix (ECM) related mRNA expressions. No obvious cytotoxic effects of mixture were demonstrated. Inflammatory damages of chondrocytes and related ECM degradations induced by treatment of LPS or $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ were significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited by pretreatment of mixture from a concentration level of 0.001 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml. In addition, mixture showed $IC_{50}$ for $rhIL-1{\alpha}-induced$ MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities as 44.01 and $162.47{\mu}g/ml$, and also showed $EC_{50}$ for $rhIL-1{\alpha}-induced$ inhibition of collagen type II, SOX9 and aggrecan mRNA expression as 8.61, 10.79 and $4.47{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. It is observed that mixture showed concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective ECM preserved effects on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes without cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.46-52
• /
• 2019

Pimobendan has inotropic and vasodilating effects on cardiovascular system, and pentoxifylline is known to decrease blood viscosity and improve blood flow to the heart. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics following oral administration of pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture in dogs. Eight healthy dogs were included and were divided into control (n = 4) and experimental (n = 4) groups. Vehicle powder and pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture (pimobendane 0.25 mg/kg, pentoxifylline 15 mg/kg) were administrated orally to control and experimental groups, respectively. Plasma samples and measurement of echocardiographic indices were obtained for 24 hours following administration. Pimobendan and pentoxifylline concentrations were investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) assay. The elimination half-life ($T_{1/2}$) were $2.65{\pm}1.42hours$ for pimobendan and $0.29{\pm}0.23hours$ for pentoxifylline. The time to reach maximum concentration ($T_{max}$) were $1.08{\pm}0.72hours$ for pimobendan and $0.29{\pm}0.14hours$ for pentoxifylline. The maximum blood concentration ($C_{max}$) were $2.83{\pm}1.50ng/mL$ for pimobendan and $1184.33{\pm}932.37ng/mL$ for pentoxifylline. Among echocardiographic indices, fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular internal diameter at end systole (LVIDs), and pre-ejection period (PEP) showed significant changes at 1-4 hours after the administration of pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture. No adverse effects were observed during the investigation. This study demonstrates that pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture can be used to control cardiovascular diseases in dogs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.204-215
• /
• 2019

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary energy and crude protein (CP) levels on growth performance, blood profiles, and carcass traits in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 180 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace] ${\times}$ Duroc) with an average body weight of $30.96{\pm}3.068kg$ were used for a 12-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement using a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The first factor was two levels of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) density (13.40 MJ/kg or 13.82 MJ/kg), and the second factor was three dietary CP levels based on subdivision of growing-finishing phases (high: 18%/16.3%/16.3%/13.2% middle: 17%/15.3%/15.3%/12.2% and low: 16%/14.3%/14.3%/11.2%). Average daily gain (ADG) and gain-feed ratio (G:F ratio) decreased as dietary CP level was decreased linearly (linear, p < 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively) in the early growing period, and G:F ration also decreased as dietary CP level was decreased linearly (linearly, p < 0.05) over the whole growing phase. Over the entire experimental period, G:F ratio decreased as dietary ME level decreased (p = 0.01). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was increased as dietary energy level decreased in growing period (p < 0.01). During finishing period, total protein concentration was decreased by lower dietary energy level (p < 0.05). In this study, there were no significant differences in proximate factors, physiochemical properties, muscle TBARS assay results, pH changes, or color of pork by dietary treatments. However, saturated fatty acid (SFA) increased (p < 0.01) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) decreased (p < 0.05) when ME was decreased by 0.42 MJ/kg in growing-finishing pig diets. In addition, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) tended to increase when CP level was decreased in growing-finishing pig diets (p = 0.06). A growing-finishing diet of 13.82 MJ/kg diet of ME with the high CP level can improve growth performance and show better fatty acids composition of pork.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1152-1158
• /
• 2019

Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey is used in home remedy for colic and gastritis in South Korea. Although Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey is used extensively for home remedies, no single study on its efficacy exists. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey. The anti-obesity effect of a 70% ethanol extract from Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to adipocytes was investigated with an Oil Red O assay, western blot analysis, and mRNA analysis. Compared to the control (only treated with DM), the 70% ethanol extract of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation and intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. To determine how the TG content was reduced, we measured the level of protein and mRNA expression of obesityrelated agents, such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAAT/enhancer- binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, LPL, and FAS. As a result, the 70% ethanol extract of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey significantly increased the expression of AMPK and decreased the expression of genes related to adipogenesis and fat storage, such as $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, LPL, and FAS.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2019

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects motor system with clinical features such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and abnormal posture. PD is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which is associated with accumulation of oxidative stress and dysregulation of intracellular signaling pathway. Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Q3GA), a major metabolite of quercetin, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effect of Q3GA against 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium ($MPP^+$)-induced neurotoxicity of PD and the underlying molecular mechanisms in SH-SY5Y cells. MTT and LDH assay showed that Q3GA significantly decreased $MPP^+$-induced cell death, which is accompanied by a reduction in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Furthermore, it attenuated $MPP^+$-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the reduction of Bax/ Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, Q3GA significantly increased the phosphorylation of Akt and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), but it has no effects on the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Taken together, these results demonstrate that Q3GA significantly attenuates $MPP^+$-induced neurotoxicity through ROS reduction and Akt/CREB signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. Our findings suggest that Q3GA might be one of the potential candidates for the prevention and/or treatment of PD.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.836-843
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment on proliferation of human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116, PC-3 and AGS) of crude soyasaponin extracts in germinated black soybean. Black soybean was germinated and subjected to HHP, followed by preparation of crude soyasaponin extracts. Cell treatments done with extracts less than $400{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations had no significant effect on 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell viability. The inhibitory effect of crude soyasaponin extracts with germination periods and applied pressure on breast cancer cell (MCF-7), human colon cancer cell (HCT-116), human gastriccancer cell (AGS) and prostate cancer cell (PC-3) growth were investigated using MTT assay. The highest anti-proliferation of human cancer cell line of crude soyasaponin extracts was observed at 150 MPa treatment after germination for 4 days (150 MPa-Day 4). The cell viability on MCF-7, HCT-116, PC-3 and AGS cell lines of crude soyasaponin extract in 150 MPa-Day4 was 48.82%, 57.37%, 39.89% and 23.94% at $400{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. These results suggest that soyasaponin extracts from black soybean subjected to HHP after germination may mediate physiological activity.