• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.248-253
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• 2014

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) on immune system. The subjects were 42 male workers, among whom 13 office workers (Group I) had never been occupationally exposed to heavy metals, 21 were worked in manufacturing factories (Group II) and 8 were welders (Group III). The mean blood Mn and Pb level by groups were significantly different. The numbers of CD19+ and total lymphocytes in Group I were significantly higher than those in other groups, but no significant differences were found in other T lymphocytes subpopulation. Mn and Pb concentrations showed negative correlation with T lymphocytes subpopulation, but Mn concentrations were statistical significances with T lymphocytes subpoplation except CD4+CD45RO+ and natural killer cell. Pb concentration was only statistical significance with total lymphocytes. Our results suggest that occupationally exposed to Mn and Pb can affect the cellular immune response.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.51.1-51.17
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• 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe pulmonary disease in infants, young children, and the elderly. Formalin inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine trials failed due to vaccine enhanced respiratory disease, but the underlying immune mechanisms remain not fully understood. In this study, we have used wild type C57BL/6 and CD4 knockout (CD4KO) mouse models to better understand the roles of the CD4 T cells and cellular mechanisms responsible for enhanced respiratory disease after FI-RSV vaccination and RSV infection. Less eosinophil infiltration and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine production were observed in FI-RSV vaccinated CD4KO mice after RSV infection compared to FI-RSV vaccinated C57BL/6 mice. NK cells and cytokine-producing CD8 T cells were recruited at high levels in the airways of CD4KO mice, correlating with reduced respiratory disease. Depletion studies provided evidence that virus control was primarily mediated by NK cells whereas CD8 T cells contributed to IFN-γ production and less eosinophilic lung inflammation. This study demonstrated the differential roles of effector CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as NK cells, in networking with other inflammatory infiltrates in RSV disease in immune competent and CD4-deficient condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2024

Background: Delirium is a recognized neurological complication following cardiac surgery and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including elevated mortality and prolonged hospitalization. While several clinical risk factors for post-cardiac surgery delirium have been identified, the pathophysiology related to the immune response remains unexamined. This study was conducted to investigate the immunological factors contributing to delirium in patients after thoracic aortic surgery. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 43 consecutive patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery between July 2017 and June 2018. These patients were categorized into 2 groups: those with delirium and those without it. All clinical characteristics were compared between groups. Blood samples were collected and tested on the day of admission, as well as on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 30. Levels of helper T cells (CD4), cytotoxic T cells (CD8), B cells (CD19), natural killer cells (CD56+CD16++), and monocytes (CD14+CD16-) were measured using flow cytometry. Results: The median patient age was 71 years (interquartile range, 56.7 to 79.0 years), and 21 of the patients (48.8%) were male. Preoperatively, most immune cell counts did not differ significantly between groups. However, the patients with delirium exhibited significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 and lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) than those without delirium (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that lower TNF-α levels were associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium (p<0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative delirium may be linked to perioperative changes in immune cells and preoperative cytokine levels. Additional research is required to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying delirium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the decidual NK cell populations between increased pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell population and normal pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell population in women with a history of recurrent abortion. Methods: Fourteen women with history of recurrent abortion and elevated pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell, above 15% of peripheral lymphocyte population were included in this study. As a control, twelve women with history of recurrent abortion and their peripheral NK cell percentage showed below 15% were included. Distribution of $CD56^+$ and $CD16^+$ NK cells in paraffin embedded decidual tissues including implantation sites were examined by immunohistochemical staining using anti-CD56, 16 monoclonal antibodies. After immuohistochemical staining, the numbers of decidual NK cells were counted and compared these results between study and control groups. Results: There was significant difference in decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell count ($170.1{\pm}132.1$ vs. $68.3{\pm}66.1$, p=0.02) between increased peripheral $CD56^+$ NK cell group and control group. But, there showed no statistically significant correlation between decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell count and peripheral $CD56^+$ NK cell percentage (r=0.229, p=0.261). Also there was no statistically difference decidual $CD16^+$ NK cell count between study and control group ($25.70{\pm}11.72$ vs. $31.17{\pm}22.67$), and no correlation between decidual $CD16^+$ NK cell and peripheral $CD16^+$ NK cell percentage (r=-1.40, p=0.535). Conclusions: This study shows that decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell are significantly increased in decidua of women exhibiting a history of recurrent abortion with increased $CD56^+$ peripheral NK cell. This study suggests that the percentage of peripheral NK cell reflect the expression of decidual NK cell. Consequently, pre-conceptional peripheral blood NK cell population can be the useful marker for detecting the risk of subsequent miscarriage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6275-6281
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• 2014

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is a highly invasive cancer with a poor prognosis. More effective and safer treatment regimens for ENKL are needed. Pegaspargase (PEG-Asp) has a similar mechanism of action to L-asparaginase (L-Asp), but presents lower antigenicity. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the safety profile and the latent efficacy of a PEG-Asp-based treatment regimen in patients with ENKL. Data collected from 20 patients with histologically confirmed ENKL, admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2009 to August 2013, were included in the study. All patients received $2500IU/m^2$/IM PEG-Asp on day 1 of every 21-day treatment cycle. Patients received combination chemotherapy with CHOP (n=5), EPOCH (n=7), GEMOX (n=7) or CHOP with bleomycin (n=1). After 2-5 treatment cycles (median, 4 cycles) of PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy, five patients (25%) showed a complete response (CR), and the overall response rate (ORR) was 60%. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in fourteen patients (70%). Grade 3 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was observed in two. Grade 1-2 non-hematological toxicity consisted of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) elongation (n=9), hypofibrinogenemia (n=6), hypoproteinemia (n=17), hyperglycemia (n=3), and nausea (n=6). No allergic reactions were detected. No treatment related death was reported. Our results suggested that PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy presented an acceptable tolerance and a potential short-term outcome in patients with nasal-type ENKL.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.13-27
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• 2009

Objectives: Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is the main component of Cinnamomi Ramulus and it has been reported that TCA inhibits inflammatory responses in various cell types. Inflammation-mediated neurological disorders induce the activation of macrophages such as microglia in brain, and these activated macrophages release various inflammation-related molecules, which can be neurotoxic if overproduced. In this study, we evaluated gene expression profiles using gene chip microarrays in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells to investigate the antiinflammatory effect of TCA on inflammatory responses in brain microglia. Methods: A negative control group was cultured in normal medium and a positive control group was stimulated with $1{\mu}g/ml$ in the absence of TCA. TCA group was pretreated with $10{\mu}g/ml$ before $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS stimulation. The oligonucleotide microarray analysis was performed to obtain the expression profiles of 28,853 genes using gene chip mouse gene 1.0 ST array in this study. Results: In positive control group, 1522 probe sets were up-regulated in the condition of the cutoff value of 1.5-fold change and 341 genes with Unigene ID were retrieved. In TCA group, 590 probe sets were down-regulated from among 1522 probe sets and 33 genes with Unigene ID were retrieved, which included 6 inflammation-related genes. We found out that Id3 gene is associated with transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) signaling pathway and Klra8 gene is related to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway. Conclusions: The results mean that TCA inhibits inflammatory responses through down-regulating the expressions of inflammation-related genes in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2018

Background: Korean ginseng has been widely evaluated to treat human diseases; however, most studies on Korean ginseng have focused on its root. In this study, polysaccharides [acidic-polysaccharide-linked glycopeptide (APGP) extracted with 90% ethanol and hot water] were prepared from Korean ginseng berries, and their effect on immunosenescence was explored. Methods: The effect of APGP on thymic involution was evaluated by measuring the size of thymi dissected from aged mice. The effect of APGP on populations of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, age-correlated CD11c-positive B cells, and several subtypes of T cells [CD4-positive, CD8-positive, and regulatory (Treg) T cells] in the thymi and spleens of aged mice was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. Profiles of APGP components were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Results: APGP suppressed thymic involution by increasing the weight and areas of thymi in aged mice. APGP increased the population of NK cells, but showed no effect on the population of dendritic cells in the thymi and spleens of aged mice. APGP decreased the population of age-correlated CD11c-positive B cells in the spleens of aged mice. APGP showed no effect on the populations of CD4- and CD8-positive T cells in the thymi of aged mice, whereas it increased the population of Treg cells in the spleens of aged mice. APGP further decreased the reduced serum levels of IL-2 in aged mice, but serum levels of IL-6 were not statistically changed by APGP in aged mice. Finally, HPLC analysis showed that APGP had one major peak at 15 min (a main type of polysaccharide) and a long tail up to 35 min (a mixture of a variety of types of polysaccharides). Conclusion: These results suggested that APGP exerted an anti-immunosenescent effect by suppressing thymic involution and modulating several types of immune cells.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-42
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• 1996

In order to study the effect of Sikbuntang on the in vitro Cell-cytotoxicity, this study had put through MTT Assay. And to investigate the effects of Sikbuntang on the ICR mice which had Abdominal tumor induced by Sarcoma-180 cell line, C57Bl/6 mice which had pulmonary melanoma induced by B16 cell line. After Sarcoma-180 cell line and B16 cell line were transplanted, the extract of Sikbuntang was orally administered to the mice to observe the extension of survival time of the mice, inhibition of solid tumor, inhibition of pulmonary melanoma metastasis, productivity of Interleukin-2, NK-Activity. The results were summarized as follows : 1. On the MTT assay, in case of $100{\mu}g/ml$ and $10{\mu}g/ml$ of Sikbuntang concentration were inhibited cell viability significantly. But $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Sikbuntang concentration just had tend to inhibit cell viability. 2. In the effect of life extension, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to survive longer than the control group, but which were not significant. 3. In the effect of inhibition solid tumor, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to decrease than the control group, but which were not significant. 4. In the effect of inhibition melanoma pulmonary metastasis, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to inhibit than the control group significantly. 5. In the productivity of Interleukin-2, on 7 and 14 day, Sikbuntang treated group increased than control group significantly. But on 21 day, Sikbuntang treated group had tend to increase with no significance. 6. In the NK-Activity, the ratio of effector cell and target cell. In case which the ratio was 50:1, Sikbuntang treated group showed increase than control group significantly. But in another cases, they showed increase with no significance.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.494-502
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Reducing the number of adipocytes by inducing apoptosis of mature adipocytes as well as suppressing differentiation of preadipocytes plays an important role in preventing obesity. This study examines the anti-adipogenic and pro-apoptotic effect of red pepper seed water extract (RPS) prepared at $4^{\circ}C$ (RPS4) in 3T3-L1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Effect of RPS4 or its fractions on lipid accumulation was determined in 3T3-L1 cells using oil red O (ORO) staining. The expressions of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and adipogenic associated proteins [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)] were measured in 3T3-L1 cells treated with RPS4. Apoptosis and the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 family proteins [B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad), Bcl-2 like protein 4 (Bax), Bal-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak)] were measured in mature 3T3-L1 cells treated with RPS4. RESULTS: Treatment of RPS4 ($0-75{\mu}g/mL$) or its fractions ($0-50{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 h did not have an apparent cytotoxicity on pre and mature 3T3-L1 cells. RPS4 significantly suppressed differentiation and cellular lipid accumulation by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK and reducing the expression of $PPAR-{\gamma}$, C/EBP ${\alpha}$, SREBP-1c, FAS, and ACC. In addition, all fractions except ethyl acetate fraction significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation. RPS4 induced the apoptosis of mature adipocytes by hypophosphorylating Akt, increasing the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bak, Bax, and Bad, and reducing the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and p-Bad. CONCLUSIONS: These finding suggest that RPS4 can reduce the numbers as well as the size of adipocytes and might useful for preventing and treating obesity.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong on the viability of tumor cells in vitro(MTT assay), on antitumor effects after Sarcoma-180 cells transplantation into the peritoneal cavity or left groin, and on decreased immune responses in mice induced by methotrexate. The extracts of its herbal medicines were orally administered for 14 or 21 days. To evaluate the effects of the Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong many items such as 50% inhibitory concentration($IC_{50}$), mean survival days, tumor and body weight for antitumor effects, and delayed type hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin titer, hemolysin titer, rosette forming cells, natural killer cell activity, lymphocyte transformation, productivity of interleukin-2 and phagocytic activity for immune responses were measured in ICR mice. The results were obtained as follows; 1. $IC_{50}$ of Eunwhasagantang treated group was 0.000204mg/ml on SNU-396 and that of Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was 0.000103mg／ml on SNU-1, those results indicate that the medicine has high antitumor activity. 2. Mean survival times in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated groups were slightly increased with no significance, as compared with the control group. 3. Tumor weight in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was depressed, as compared with the control group(p<0.01). 4. Body weight in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was significantly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). 5. Delayed type hypersensitivity in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantang-ganokyong treated group was slightly decreased with no significance, as compared with the control group. 6. Hemagglutinin titer in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was slightly increased with no significance, as compared with the control group. 7. Hemolysin titer only in Eunwhasagantang treated group was significantly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.01). 8. Rosette forming cells only in Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was slightly increased with no significance, as compared with the control group. 9. In the NK cell activity, the ratio of effector cells and target cells of the Eunwhasagantang treated group was significantly increased(p<0.01) in case which the ratio was 100: 1, and that of the Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was significantly increased(P<.01, p<0.05) in case which the ratio was 100:1, 50:1, as compared with the control group. 10. Lymphocyte trasnformation in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was significantly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.01). 11. Interleukin-2 in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was significantly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.05, p<0.01). 12. Phagocytic activity in Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong treated group was significantly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). According to the above results, it could be suggested that Eunwhasagantang and Eunwhasagantangganokyong have prominent antitumor effects, and enhance both cellular and humoral immunity.