• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (fiunarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of tyrosine metabolism that results in liver failure in infancy or chronic liver disease with cirrhosis, frequently complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma in childhood or early adolescence. Early detection of this condition is very important to early intervention for better prognosis of patients. Neonatal screening test using tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) is performed, and this method facilitates detection of the inborn error of tyrosine. For early treatment of tyrosinemia type I, phenylalanine and tyrosine restricted diet and NTBC (2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione) for inhibition of succinylacetone production are recommended. We studied a 10-month-old Korean boy with tyrosinemia type I whose condition was not discovered earlier through conventional neonatal screening testing available in Korea. The patient presented hyperbilirubinemia, liver failure, bleeding tendency, colicky pain and skin melanin pigmentation in neonatal period. MS-MS made it possible to detect tyrosinemia type I and allowed immediate treatment of the patient. This was the first successful NTBC trial on tyrosinemia type I patient in Korea.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2581-2587
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• 2010

Nitration of tyrosine and tryptophan residues is common in cells under nitrative stress. However, physiological consequences of protein nitration are not well characterized on a molecular level due to limited availability of the 3D structures of nitrated proteins. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation can be an alternative tool to probe the structural perturbations induced by nitration. In this study we developed molecular mechanics parameters for 3-nitrotyrosine (NIY) and 6-nitrotryptophan (NIW) that are compatible with the AMBER-99 force field. Partial atomic charges were derived by using a multi-conformational restrained electrostatic potential (RESP) methodology that included the geometry optimized structures of both $\alpha$- and $\beta$-conformers of a capped tripeptide ACE-NIY-NME or ACE-NIW-NME. Force constants for bonds and angles were adopted from the generalized AMBER force field. Torsional force constants for the proper dihedral C-C-N-O and improper dihedral C-O-N-O of the nitro group in NIY were determined by fitting the torsional energy profiles obtained from quantum mechanical (QM) geometry optimization with those from molecular mechanical (MM) energy minimization. Force field parameters obtained for NIY were transferable to NIW so that they reproduced the QM torsional energy profiles of ACE-NIW-NME accurately. Moreover, the QM optimized structures of the tripeptides containing NIY and NIW were almost identical to the corresponding structures obtained from MM energy minimization, attesting the validity of the current parameter set. Molecular dynamics simulations of thioredoxin nitrated at the single tyrosine and tryptophan yielded well-behaved trajectories suggesting that the parameters are suitable for molecular dynamics simulations of a nitrated protein.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2002

Cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects of a novel cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and five known stilbenes, transresveratrol, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, gnetin H, suffruticosols A and B, isolated from the seeds of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Paeoniaceae) were determined against five different cancer cell lines, and mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, respectively. Six stilbenes showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner, and especially did potent cytotoxic activity against C6 (mouse glioma) cancer cell with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 8.2 to $20.5{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$. trans-Resveratrol showed significant cytotoxic activity against HepG2 (liver hepatoma) and HT-29 (colon) human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values of 11.8 and 25.2 g/ml, respectively. In contrast, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and cis--viniferin, and gnetin H exhibited marked cytotoxic activity against Hela (cervicse) and MCF-7 (breast) human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values of 20.4, 21.5, and $12.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$, respectively. However, suffruticosol A and B had less cytotoxic effect against all cancer cells except C6. Meanwhile, six stilbenes exerted antimutagenic activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Of them, trans-resveratrol exhibited the strongest antimutagenic effect against MNNG with $IC_{50}$ value of $27.0{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/plate$, while other five resveratrol oligomers also did moderate antimutagenic activity with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 31.7 to $35.2{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/plate$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 1998

Nitric oxide synthase, NOS (EC.1.14.13.39), was purified from bovine pancreas over 5,500-fold with a 7.6% yield using 30% ammonium sulfate precipitation, and $2^1$,$5^1$-ADP-agarose and calmodulin-agarose affinity chromatography. The purified bovine pancreatic NOS (bpNOS) showed a single band on SDS-PAGE corresponding to an apparent molecular mass of 160 kDa, whereas it was 320 kDa on non-denaturating gel-filtration. This indicated a homodimeric nature of the enzyme. The specific activity of the purified bpNOS was 31.67 nmol L-citrulline fored/mtn/mg protein and an apparent $K\textrm{m}$ for L-arginine was 15.72 $\mu\textrm{M}$, The enzyme activity was dependent on $Ca^{2+}$ and calmodulin, and to a lesser extent on NADPH, FAD and FMN. $H_4B$ was not required as a cofactor for the activity. In an inhibition experiment with L-arginine analogues, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) had the most potent inhibitory effect on bpNOS, and $N^{G}$, $N^{G1}$-dimethyl-L-arginine (symmetric; sDMA) did not have any inhibitory effect. Immunohistochemical analysis of the bovine pancreas using brain type NOS antibody (anti-bNOS antibody) revealed that acinar cells showed strong immunoreactivity against the antibody.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

This study investigated the TNT decomposition by the treatment of alkaline hydrolysis. To obtain this objecitive, spectrum shift characteristics, pH effect, kinetics, and product analysis were examined during the alkaline hydrolysis by means of hydroxide ions. At pH = 12, an aqueous solution of TNT was changed into yellow-brown coloring, in which its absorbances were newly increased in a range of wavelength 400-600 nm. From the kinetic data, pseudo-first-order rate constant in a excess of hydroxide ion, in contrast to TNT concentration, was $0.0022min^{-1}$, which means that the reaction rate between TNT and hydroxide ion can be very slow, and that 1,047 min is necessary to achieve a 90% reduction of the initial TNT. In products analyses, nitrite ions and formic acid were mainly produced by the alkaline hydrolysis, nitrate ions and oxalic acid as minor products were generated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3293-3298
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo anticancer activity of two novel mononuclear ruthenium(II) compounds, namely Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)$_2$(2-nitro phenyl thiosemicarbazone)$Cl_2$(Compound $R_1$) and Ru (1,10-phenanthroline)$_2$(2-hydroxy phenyl thiosemicarbazone)$Cl_2$(Compound $R_2$) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) mice and in vitro cytotoxic activity against IEC-6 (small intestine) cell lines and Artemia salina nauplii using MTT [(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)] and BLT [brine shrimp lethality] assays respectively. The tested ruthenium compounds at the doses 2 and 4 mg/kg body weight showed promising biological activity especially in decreasing the tumor volume, viable ascites cell counts and body weights. These compounds prolonged the life span (% ILS), mean survival time (MST) of mice bearing-EAC tumor. The results for in vitro cytotoxicity against IEC-6 cells showed the ruthenium compound $R_2$ to have significant cytotoxic activity with a $IC_{50}$ value of $20.0{\mu}g/mL$ than $R_1$ ($IC_{50}=78.8{\mu}g/mL$) in the MTT assay and the $LC_{50}$ values of $R_1$ and $R_2$ compounds were found to be 38.3 and $43.8{\mu}g/mL$ respectively in the BLT assay. The biochemical and histopathological results revealed that there was no significant hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with the ruthenium administration to mice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5139-5145
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• 2016

There has been an increment in the number of studies focused on marine bioactive materials. Many peptides and other biomaterials with anticancer potential have been extracted from various marine animals. Artemia extracts have found uses in sun-light protection cosmetics and anti-aging products. However, contents of biochemical compounds in Artemia spp. and molecular mechanisms of have not been clearly studied in leukemic cells in vitro. In this work, we isolated and purified proteins of Artemia Urmiana. Six clear fractions (A-F) observed on DEAE-cellulose chromatography were assayed for effects on cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis using the human leukemic HL-60 cell line. Cell proliferation analysis by MTT and BrdU assays indicated that did not affect cells, growth. Cells treated with crude extract and fractions A, B and C, but not E and F (up to $100{\mu}g/mL$), exhibited increase of cell growth in a dose dependent manner. Stimulatory effects of fraction D were observed at concentrations of $10{\mu}g/mL$ and above. In nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assays, treatment with $100{\mu}g/mL$ of fraction E or F for 96 hr increased the fraction of differentiated cells up to $14.8{\pm}3.56%$ and $16.5{\pm}2.08%$ respectively. Combination of those fractions with retinoic acid had significant synergistic effects on the differentiation of cells ($56.8{\pm}3.7%$ and $67.4{\pm}4.2%$, $p{\leq}0.01$). Annexin-V FITC staining for apoptosis and flow cytometric assays indicated induction of apoptosis by fractions E and F up to 23.8 and 31.8% of cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.355-363
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• 2005

This study aimed to investigate the cerebroprotective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on permanent focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 6 and 24 hours by an intraluminal monofilament technique. An open cranial window was made on the right parietal bone for determination of continuous changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The infarct size was morphometrically determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique. Brain edema was determined by measuring brain water content. In normal rats, rCBF was significantly increased by intravenous infusion of VEGF for 10 minutes. The VEGF-induced increase in rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with suramin, a heparin-binding growth factor inhibitor as well as $N^{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In focal cerebral ischemic rats, the amplitude of decrease in rCBF during ischemic period was significantly less in VEGF-treated group, compared with that in vehicle-treated group. The cerebral infarct size was reduced by VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The brain edema formation was dose-dependently reduced by VEGF in 24-hour MCA occlusion group but not in 6-hour MCA occlusion group. It is suggested that VEGF not only improves the rCBF during cerebral ischemic period but also reduces the brain edema formation, and thereby exert a protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2003

Effects of L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the renal dysfunction that is induced by cisplatin (CDDP) were investigated. A single dose of CDDP (7.5 mg/kg i.p.) induced renotoxicity, which was manifested by increasing the sensitivity of isolated urinary bladder rings to acetylcholine (ACh), together with a significant elevation of serum urea and creatinine, and a severe decrease in serum albumin. Moreover, renal dysfunction was further confirmed by a significant decrease of enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px (E.C 1.11.1.9), catalase (E.C 1.11.1.6), as well as a significant increase in lipid peroxides that were measured as malondialdhyde (MDA) in kidney tissue homogenates. The administration of L-arginine (70 mg/kg/d p.o in drinking water 5 d before and 5 d after the CDDP injection) significantly ameliorated the renotoxic effects of CDDP, as judged by restoring the normal responses of isolated bladder rings to Ach, and also by an improvement in a range of renal function indices, which included serum urea and creatinine concentrations and kidney weight. In addition, L-arginine prevents the rise of MDA, as well as a reduction of GSH-Px and catalase activities in kidney tissues homogenates. On the other hand, the administration of L-NAME (4 mg/kg/d p.o) resulted in no protection against renal dysfunction that was induced by CDDP treatment. The findings of this study suggest that L-arginine can attenuate kidney injury that is produced by CDDP treatment. In addition, L-arginine may be a beneficial remedy for CDDP-induced renal toxicity, and could be used to improve the therapeutic index of CDDP.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4897-4900
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• 2012

Objective: In this study, anticancer effects of mirtazapine on rats were investigated in an adenocarcinoma model induced by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and compared with those of cisplatin. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 10 mg/kg doses of mirtazapine were administered orally to one group of rats, while 1 mg/kg doses of cisplatin were administered intraperitoneally to another group. At 1 hour after administration, 200 mg/kg doses of MNNG were given orally to both groups. MNNG administration was repeated once every 10 days through 3 months, after which period, gastric tissue was taken and pathologically evaluated. Results: Mirtazapine prevented adenocarcinoma induction by MNNG in rats to a greater extent than cisplatin. Some of the rats receiving cisplatin demonstrated severe dysplasia in gastric samples and others exhibited mild dysplasia. Rats given mirtazapine were not observed to suffer severe dysplasia, only mild dysplasia being observed. Conclusion: For adenocarcinoma induced by MNNG on rats, mirtazapine was determined more effective than cisplatin. In order to make statement about mechanism of anticancer activity of mirtazapine, wider studies are required.