• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.467-472
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• 2007

Background: Lung transplantation is the definitive therapy for end stage lung disorders. The success of allogenic lung transplantation has led to an increasing shortage of donor lungs from humans, including cadavers, and attention has now turned to transplantation of lungs from other species. However, there are many biological hurdles when using organs from other species because of hyperacute rejection after discordant xenotransplantation. Material and Method: Pigs (n=6, weighing $20{\sim}30kg$ each) for the donors and mongrel dogs (n=6, weighing $20{\sim}28kg$ each) for the recipients were used in this experiment. The left kidney of a pig was perfused to a mongrel dog for 30 minutes through the femoral artery and vein of the dog, and the right kidney was perfused for 30 minutes sequentially. Then, both lungs of the pig were perfused to the dog through the pulmonary artery and left atrium with using the same time intervals. The levels of IgM and IgG were measured from the blood and specimens of the kidney and lung. Result: The average levels of serum IgM gradually decreased after the perfusion, but the average levels of serum IgG did not charge from before to after perfusion. The immunohistochemical findings revealed decreased deposition of IgG and IgM after the perfusion. Conclusion: We conclude that the levels of the serum natural antibodies would be decreased with pre-transplantation xenograft perfusion in the recipient and the occurrence rate of hyperacute rejection after transplantation would be decreased.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.643-658
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• 1994

The sedimentary records of anthropogenic metal loads in the Suyeong Bay, Pusan were determined by combining the Pb-210 dating technique with the measurements of heavy metals in the sediment cores. The sedimentation rates of sediment particles ranged from $0.12\;to\;0.20\;g/m^2/yr\;or\;2.4{\sim}4.0\;mm/yr$ in accumulation rates. The lowest sedimentation rate was observed at station S3 which was characterized by a bottom with relatively low organic matter contents(e.g. TIL and TOC). Heavy metals showed generally higher concentrations at station S1 and S2 near the mouth of the Suyeong River than at station S3 and the outmost station S4. The contents of copper, lead and zinc in the sediment cores especially from station S1 and S2 began to increase around 1930, and were at their highest levels in the $1960{\sim}1970$ period as a result of increasing industrial activities. Concentrations of these heavy metals have slightly decreased since 1970, probably due to regulation of pollution discharge. The natural background levels of copper, lead and zinc in the sediments of this bay ranged $18{\pm}4ppm,\;28{\pm}6ppm\;and\;74{\pm}9ppm$, respectively, by averaging the contents in the sediment depths corresponding to periods between about 1900 and 1920 at the four stations. The total amounts of anthropogenic loads deposited in the sediments since about 1930 were estimated to be $9{\sim}291{mu}g/cm^2$ for lead, $165{\sim}1122{mu}g/cm^2$ for zinc and $20{\sim}208{mu}g/cm^2$ for copper. These values were remarkably high at stations S1 and S2 relative to the other two stations. At stations S1 and S2, the anthropogenic loads of lead, copper and zinc constituted $29{\sim}30\%,\;32{\sim}42\%\;and\;28{\sim}35\%$ of the total sedimentary inventories at the present day, respectively. These metal contents have a good correlation(r>0.7) with each other and cadmium measurements also show a positive linear relation with nickel or total organic nitrogen.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng effectively reduces fatigue in both animal models and clinical trials. However, the mechanism of action is not completely understood, and its molecular targets remain largely unknown. Methods: By screening for proteins that interact with the primary components of ginseng (ginsenosides) in an affinity chromatography assay, we have identified muscle-type creatine kinase (CK-MM) as a potential target in skeletal muscle tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry analysis showed that ginsenoside metabolites, instead of parent ginsenosides, had direct interaction with recombinant human CK-MM. Subsequently, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), which is a ginsenoside metabolite and displayed the strongest interaction with CK-MM in the study, was selected as a representative to confirm direct binding and its biological importance. Biolayer interferometry kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry assay demonstrated that PPD specifically bound to human CK-MM. Moreover, the mutation of key amino acids predicted by molecular docking decreased the affinity between PPD and CK-MM. The direct binding activated CK-MM activity in vitro and in vivo, which increased the levels of tissue phosphocreatine and strengthened the function of the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine system in skeletal muscle, thus buffering cellular ATP, delaying exercise-induced lactate accumulation, and improving exercise performance in mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest a cellular target and an initiating molecular event by which ginseng reduces fatigue. All these findings indicate PPD as a small molecular activator of CK-MM, which can help in further developing better CK-MM activators based on the dammarane-type triterpenoid structure.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.131-138
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• 2011

The concentration levels of n-alkanes and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) at Anmyon, a Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) station operated by Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), has been characterized for the PM10 samples collected in 2010. It was found that the concentrations of WSOC at Anmyon were comparable to those in Seoul and lower than those in Gosan, another background area in Korea. However, the maximum concentration of the WSOC at Anmyon was observed in fall while that at Seoul was in winter. It suggests that the emission and/or transformation characteristics at two areas are different. The concentrations of n-alkanes at Anmyon were slightly lower than at Gosan and about one thirds at Seoul. However, it was found that at Gosan the n-alkanes from natural sources were dominant at Gosan. On the other hand, n-alkanes from anthropogenic sources were dominant at Anmyon. Study directions to further understand the characteristics of aerosols at Anmyon are discussed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.334-351
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the improvement effect of white ginseng extract (GS-KG9) on D-galactosamine (Ga1N)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups. Rats were orally administrated with GS-KG9 (300, 500, or 700 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The rats of the GS-KG9- and silymarin-treated groups and a control group were then intraperitoneally injected Ga1N at a concentration of 650 mg/kg for 4 days. To investigate the protective effect of GS-KG9 against GalN-induced liver injury, blood liver function indicators, anti-oxidative stress indicators, and histopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GS-KG9 ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in GalN-treated rats. The hepatoprotective effects of GS-KG9 involved enhancing components of the hepatic antioxidant defense system, including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). In addition, GS-KG9 treatment inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by GalN treatment in hepatocytes and significantly increased the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins, which are antioxidant proteins. In particular, by histological analyses bases on hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, α-smooth muscle actin, and transforming growth factor-β1 staining, we determined that the administration of 500 mg/kg GS-KG9 inhibited hepatic inflammation and fibrosis due to the excessive accumulation of collagen. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that GS-KG9 improves GalN-induced liver inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GS-KG9 may be considered a useful candidate in the development of a natural preventive agent against liver injury.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3035-3042
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• 2015

Background: Isorhamnetin (Iso), a novel and essential monomer derived from total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides that has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, has also shown a spectrum of antitumor activity. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action Iso on cancer cells. Objectives: To investigate the effects of Iso on A549 lung cancer cells and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were treated with $10{\sim}320{\mu}g/ml$ Iso. Their morphological and cellular characteristics were assessed by light and electronic microscopy. Growth inhibition was analyzed by MTT, clonogenic and growth curve assays. Apoptotic characteristics of cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), DNA fragmentation, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay, immunocytochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL). Tumor models were setup by transplanting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into C57BL/6 mice, and the weights and sizes of tumors were measured. Results: Iso markedly inhibited the growth of A549 cells with induction of apoptotic changes. Iso at $20{\mu}g/ml$, could induce A549 cell apoptosis, up-regulate the expression of apoptosis genes Bax, Caspase-3 and P53, and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, cyclinD1 and PCNA protein. The tumors in tumor-bearing mice treated with Iso were significantly smaller than in the control group. The results of apoptosis-related genes, PCNA, cyclinD1 and other protein expression levels of transplanted Lewis cells were the same as those of A549 cells in vitro. Conclusions: Iso, a natural single compound isolated from total flavones, has antiproliferative activity against lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanisms of action may involve apoptosis of cells induced by down-regulation of oncogenes and up-regulation of apoptotic genes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.188-200
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• 2003

Background: Immunization of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor antigen can activate tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that are responsible for protection and regression. In this study, we examined whether the uptake of necrotic tumor cells could modulate DC phenotypes and whether the immunization of necrotic tumor cell-loaded DCs could elicit efficient tumor specific immune responses followed by a regression of established tumor burdens. Methods: We prepared necrotic tumor cell-pulsed DCs for the therapeutic vaccination and investigated their phenotypic characteristics, the immune responses induced by these DCs, and therapeutic vaccine efficacy against colon carcinoma in vivo. Several parameters including phagocytosis of tumor cells, surface antigen expression, chemokine receptor expression, IL-12 production, and NK as well as CTL activation were assessed to characterize the immune response. Results: DCs derived from mouse bone marrow efficiently phagocytosed necrotic tumor cells and after the uptake, they produced remarkably increased levels of IL-12. A decreased CCR1 and increased CCR7 expression on DCs was also observed after the tumor uptake, suggesting that antigen uptake could induce DC maturation. Furthermore, co-culturing of DCs with NK cells in vitro enhanced IL-12 production in DCs and IFN-${\gamma}$ production in NK cells, which was significantly dependent on IL-12 production and cell-to-cell contact. Immunization of necrotic tumor cell-loaded DCs induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as NK activation, and protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. In addition, intratumoral or contra-lateral immunization of these DCs not only inhibited the growth of established tumors, but also eradicated tumors in more than 60% of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: Our data indicate that production of IL-12, chemokine receptor expression and NK as well as CTL activation may serve as major parameters in assessing the effect of tumor cell-pulsed DC vaccine. Therefore, DCs loaded with necrotic tumor cells offer a rational strategy to treat tumors and eventually lead to prolonged survival.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.18 no.1 s.38
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• pp.49-53
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• 1979

Paddy lands around industrial areas in Gyeonggi and Jeonbuk provinces are increasingly concerned about pollution by heavy metals. This stimulated the quantitative analysis of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in the soil from the aress concerned. Results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Heavy metal contents of the soil from Sue-Myun, Siheung-Gun, Gyunggi province were 20.95 ppm of Cu, 226.46 ppm of Zn, 84.17 ppm of Pb, and 2.62 ppm of Cd, respectively. Those of Anyang, Kimpo, and Jeonbuk areas were as low as the natural background levels, about 10 ppm. 2. The contentration of heavy metals of the river valley soils tended to increase from upper stream to the lower. This seemed to be caused by the fact tat disposed water from plants flows to the lower stream and metals contained in the water accummlate in the soils around the lower stream. 3. Cadmium content was exceptionally lower than 0.2 ppm in all the areas tested. The present concentartion of cadmium is not of the extent to which any injury could occur to rice plants.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2020

This study examined the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects of ethanol extracts obtained from Diospyros kaki core (DCE). The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in DCE was 786.47±15.27 and 31.14±0.82 mg/g, respectively. In addition, DCE exhibited a dose-dependent induction of radical scavenging activity, determined by 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and reducing power assays. The viability of HT22 hippocampal cells was examined to investigate the neuroprotective effect of DCE. DCE treatment did not induce cytotoxicity at concentrations below 1,000 ㎍/mL. Additionally, DCE treatment in the background of H₂O₂ induce oxidative stress revealed a significant increase in the survival rat, indicated by increased SOD activity and decreased levels of MDA, a lipid peroxidation product. Therefore, the results suggest that DCE can be used as a source of natural antioxidants source and a therapeutic agent for the treatment of brain disorders induced by oxidative stress and neuronal damage.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

Background: Calcineurin plays a crucial role in T cell activation, cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, and its over-expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and stroke. However, the expression and function of calcineurin in the pathologic lesion of chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid synovium, remain to be defined. This study was aimed to determine the role of calcineurin in inflammatory arthritis and investigate the expression and function of calcineurin in the rheumatoid synovium and synoviocytes, the actual site of chronic inflammation. Methods: Immuno-histochemical staining using specific antibody to calcineurin was perfomed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were isolated from RA and OA patients, and cultured with IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor. The calcineurin expression was assessed by phosphatase assay and Western blotting analysis. IL-6, -10, -17, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9 released into the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. After transfection with GFP-Cabin 1 gene into synoviocytes, the levels of IL-6 and MMPs were measured by ELISA. Results: Calcineurin was highly expressed in the lining layer of synovium and cultured synoviocytes of RA patients. The elevated calcineurin activity in the rheumatoid synoviocytes was triggered by proin flammatory cytokines such as IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In contrast, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, failed to increase the calcineurin activity. The targeted inhibition of calcineurin by the over-expression of Cabin 1, a natural calcineurin antagonist, inhibited the production of IL-6 and MMP-2 by rheumatoid synoviocytes in a similar manner to the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that abnormal activation of calcineurin in the synoviocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis, and thus provide a potential target for controlling inflammatory arthritis.