• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of osteoblast-like cells to Ca-P coated surface obtained via Ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) method and Sol-Gel process on anodized surface by cellular proliferation and differentiation. Material and methods: The surface of a commercially pure titanium (Grade IV) discs with dimension of 10mm diameter and 2 mm thickness was modified by anodic oxidation under a constant voltage of 300 V. The experimental groups were coated with Ca-P by the IBAD method and Sol-Gel process on anodized surface. The surface roughness (Ra) of specimens was measured by optical interferometer and each surface was examined by SEM. To evaluate cell response, MG63 cells were cultured and cell proliferation, ALP activity and the ability of cell differentiation were examined. Also, cell morphology was examined by SEM. The significant of each group was verified by Kruskal-Wallis Test ($\alpha$=.05). Results: The Ra value of Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method was significantly higher than Ca-P coated surface by Sol-gel process (P < .05). The level of cell proliferation and ALP activity was higher in Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method (P<.05). The expression of ALP showed higher level expression in Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method. Cells grown on Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method were uniformly distributed and developed a very close layer. Conclusion: These experiments showed better performances of Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method with respect to Ca-P coated surface by Sol-gel process. Ca-P coated surface by IBAD method appear to give rise more mature osteoblast characteristics and might result in increased bone growth and bone-implant contact.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2006

Neuronal apoptotic events, consequently resulting in neuronal cell death, are occurred in hypoxic/ischemic condition. This cell death has been shown to be accompanied with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can attack cellular components such as nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipid. However, the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induced in hypoxic/ischemic condition and its treatment methods are unsettled. Cobalt chloride $(CoCl_2)$ has been known to mimic hypoxic condition including the production of ROS. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has diverse pharmacologial activities in cell growth and death. This study was aimed to investigate the apoptotic mechanism by $CoCL_2$ and effects of EGCG on $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells. Administration of $CoCl_2$ decreased cell survival in dose- and time-dependent manners and induced genomic DNA fragmentation. Treatment with $100{\mu}M$ EGCG for 30 min before PC12 cells were exposed to $150{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$, being resulted in the cell viability and DNA fragmentation being rescued. $CoCl_2$ caused morphologic changes such as cell swelling and condensed nuclei whereas EGCG attenuated morphologic changes by $CoCl_2$. EGCG suppressed the apoptotic peak and a loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ induced by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ decreased Bcl-2 expression but Bax expression was not changed in $CoCl_2$- treated cells. EGCG attenuated the Bcl-2 underexpression by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ augumented the cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytoplasm and increased caspase-8, -9 and caspase-3 activity a marker of the apoptotic executing stage. EGCG ameliorated the incruement in caspase-8, -9 and -3 activity, and cytochrome c release by $CoCl_2$ NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), a scavenger of ROS, attenuated $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in consistent with those of EGCG. These results suggest that $CoCl_2$ induces apoptotic cell death through both mitochondria- and death receptor-dependent pathway and EGCG has neuroprotective effects against $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 1999

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN) are the predominant inflammatory cells recruited in acute lung injury such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and also chronic lung disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary emphysema. Interleukin-8(IL-8) is an 8,000 D protein produced by many cells and has potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activating properties. The GRO, also called melanoma growth-stimulatory activity(MGSA), referring to a peptide of 73 amino acids, was reported to be mitogenic for cultured human melanoma cells. Mature GRO/MGSA has marked sequence similarity to IL-8. In view of the structural similarities to IL-8, it was of particular interest to test GRO for neutrophil activating and chemotactic properties. We found a significant release of IL-8 and GRO/MGSA from the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) which was stimulated either with TNF$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$ and also found the expression of IL-8 and GRO/MGSA mRNA. Neutrophil chemotactic activity was enhanced in accordance with the increased IL-8 and GRO/MGSA. Our study also suggest that the IL-8 is more important in the increased neutrophil chemotactic activity than GRO/MGSA when endothelial cell is stimulated with TNF$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$ in vitro.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.128-138
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• 2007

Backgrounds: Mutations of katG and inhA (ORF and promoter) are known to be related to isoniazid (INH) resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Because reports on these mutations in Korean isolates are limited (i.e. only the frequency of katG codon 463 was evaluated.), we tried to know the kinds of mutations of two genes and their frequencies in INH resistant Korean M. tuberculosis strains. Methods: PCR was performed to amplify katG (2,223 bp), inhA ORF (-77~897, 975 bp), and inhA promoter (-168~80, 248 bp) from 29 multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB) DNAs prepared by bead beater-phenol method. Their sequences were determined and analyzed by ABI PRISM 3730 XL Analyzer and MegAlign package program, respectively. Results: All of the isolates had more than one mutation in katG or inhA gene. Twenty seven (93%) of 29 tested strains had katG mutations, which suggests that katG is a critical gene determining INH resistance of M. tuberculosis. Amino acid substitutions, such as Arg463Leu and Ser315Thr, due to point mutations of the katG were the most frequent (62.1% and 55.2%) mutations. In addition, deletion of the katG gene was frequently observed (17.2%). Analyzed Korean MDR-TB isolates also had variable inhA mutations. Point mutation of inhA promoter region, such as -15 ($C{\rightarrow}T$) was frequently found. Substitution of amino acid (Lsy8Asn) due to point mutation ($AAA{\rightarrow}AAC$) of inhA ORF was found in 1 isolate. Interestingly, 14 point mutated types that were not previously reported were newly found. While four types resulted in amino acid change, the others were silent mutations. Conclusions: Although it is not clear that the relationship of these newly found mutations with INH resistance, they show marked diversity in Korean MDR-TB strains. It also suggests their feasibility as a molecular target to supplement determining the INH resistance of clinical isolates because of the possible existence of low-level INH resistant strains.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2009

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of Malus micromalus were studied in vitro. Ethanol extract of M. micromalus showed scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. In addition, ethanol extract of M. micromalus inhibited the generation of superoxide anion ($O_2^-$) radical and uric acid by xanthine oxidase. We also investigated the effect of ethanol extract of M. micromalus on NO production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Ethanol extract of M. micromalus significantly inhibited NO production and this inhibitory action was not due to the cytotoxicity. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was markedly down-regulated by ethanol extract of M. micromalus. These results indicate that the inhibitory action of ethanol extract of M. micromalus on NO production in LPS-stimulated macropages might be due in part to abrogation of iNOS and COX-2 protein induction. Taken together, this study suggests that ethanol extract of M. micromalus could contribute to the chemoprevention and therapy of oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2006

Objectives : Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder with a strong genetic component. Previous neurochemical and genetic studies suggested the possible involvement of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor in autism. The aim of study was to investigate the association between the NMDA2B receptor gene(GRIN2B) and autism spectrum disorders(ASD) in the Korean population. Methods : The patients with ASD were diagnosed with Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule based on DSM-IV diagnostic classification. The present study was conducted with the detection of four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in GRIK2 and family-based association analysis of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in Korean ASD trios using transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). Results : One hundred twenty six patients with ASD and their biological parents were analyzed. 86.5% were male and 85.1% were diagnosed as autistic disorder. The mean age was $71.9{\pm}31.6$ months(range : 26-185 months). We found that rs1805247 showed significantly preferential transmission(TDT ${\chi}^2$=12.8, p<0.001) in ASD. Conclusion : One SNP in GRIN2B gene was significantly associated with ASD in the Korean population. This result suggests the possible involvement of glutamate NMDA receptor gene in the development of ASD.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.426-436
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• 2007

Oral cancer take up 2-6% of all carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common type in oral cancer, has a poor prognosis due to its high metastasis and recurrence rates. In treating oral cancer, chemotherapy to the primary, metastasized and recurrent lesion is a very important and useful treatment, even though its widespread usage is limited due to high general toxicity and local toxicity to other organs. Taxol, a microtubule stabilizing agent, is an anticancer drug that induces cell apoptosis by inhibiting depolymerization of microtubules in between the metaphase and anaphase of the cell mitosis. Recently, its effectiveness and mechanism on various tumor has been reported. However, not much research has been done on the application of Taxol to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cyclosporin A, which is an immunosuppressant, is being used on cancers and when co-administered with Taxol, effectiveness of Taxol is enhanced by inhibition of Taxol induced multidrug resistance. In this study, Cyclosporin A with different concentration of Taxol was co-administered to HN22, the oral squamous cell carcinomacell line. To observe the cell apoptosis and the mechanisms that take part in this process, mortality evaluation of tumor cell using wortmannin, c-DNA microarray, RT-PCR analysis, cytometry analysis and western blotting were used, and based upon the observation on the effect and mechanism of the agent, the following results were obtained: 1. The HN22 cell line viability was lowest when $100{\mu}M$ of Wortmannin and $5{\mu}g/ml$ of Taxol were co-administered, showing that Taxol participates in P13K-AKT1 pathway. 2. In c-DNA microarray, where $1{\mu}g/ml$ of cyclosporine A and 3mg/ml of Taxol were co-administered, no up regulation of AKT1, PTEN and BAD c-DNA that participate in cell apoptosis was observed. 3. When $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Cyclosporin A was applied alone to HN22 cell line, no difference was found in AKT1, PTEN and BAD mRNA expression. 4. Increased AKT1, mRNA expression was observed when $3{\mu}g/ml$ of Taxol was applied alone to HN22 cell line. 5. When $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Cyclosporin A and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml\;and\;5{\mu}g/ml$) were co-administered to HN22 cell line, PTEN mRNA expression increased, whereas AKT1 and BAD mRNA decreased. 6. As a result of cytometry analysis, in the group of Cyclosporin A($1{\mu}g/ml$) and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml$) co-administration, increased Annxin V was observed, which shows that apoptosis occurred by deformation of plasma membrane. However, no significant difference was observed with vary ing concentration. 7. In western blot analysis, no caspase 3 was observed in the group of Cyclosporin A($1{\mu}g/ml$) and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml$) co-administration. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that synergistic effect can be observed in combination therapy of Taxol and Cyclosporin A on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, where decreased activity of the cell line was observed. This resulted in decreased AKT1 and BAD mRNA and increased PTEN mRNA expression and when wortmannin and Taxol were co-administered, the viability decreased which confirms that Taxol decreases the viability of tumor cell line. Hence, when Taxol and cyclosporine A are co-administered, it can be assumed that cell apoptosis occurs through AKt1 pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.186-196
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• 2010

Introduction: The first aim of this study was to isolate the dental tissue-derived stem cells from the dental follicle (DF), dental pulp (DP), and root apical papilla (RAP) of the extracted wisdom teeth. Second was to evaluate their characterization with the expressions of transcription factors and cell surface markers. Finally, their ability of the in vitro multi-lineage differentiations into osteogenic and adipogenic cells were compared, respectively. Materials and Methods: Dental tissues, including dental follicle, dental pulp, and root apical papilla, were separated in the extracted wisdom teeth. These three dental tissues were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with supplements, respectively. After passage 3, the homogeneous shaped dental tissue-derived cells were analyzed the expression of transcription factors (Oct-4, Nanog and Sox-2) and cell surface markers (CD44, CD90 and CD105) with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. In order to evaluate in vitro multi-lineage differentiations, the culture media were changed to the osteogenic and adipogenic induction mediums when the dental tissue-derived cells reached to passage 3. The characteristics of these three dental tissue-derived cells were compared with immunohistochemistry. Results: During primary culture, heterogenous and colony formatted dental tissue-derived cells were observed in the culture plates. After passage 2 or 3, homogenous spindle-like cells were observed in all culture plates. Transcription factors and mesenchymal stem cell markers were positively observed in all three types of dental tissue-derived cells. However, the quantity of expressed transcription factors was most large in RAP-derived cells. In all three types of dental tissue-derived cells, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations were observed after treatment of specific induction media. In vitro adipogenic differentiation was similar among these three types of cells. In vitro osteogenic differentiation was most strongly and frequently observed in the RAP-derived cells, whereas rarely osteogenic differentiation was observed in the DP-derived cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that three types of human dental tissue-derived cells from extracted wisdom teeth were multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, have the properties of multi-lineage differentiations. Especially, stem cells from root apical papilla (SCAP) have much advantage in osteogenic differentiation, whereas dental follicle cells (DFCs) have a characteristic of easy adipogenic differentiation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2001

Background : Examining the biological susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to pyrazinamide (PZA) in vitro is very difficult as PZA is inactive under normal culture conditions. The biological susceptibility test, an enzyme assay for Pzase activity, and a genetic test for pncA gene mutations, were performed in order to predict PZA resistance. Methods : 28 cultured clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were tested. The biological susceptibility was performed by the absolute concentration method using Lowenstein-Jensen media. The PZase activity was tested by means of Wayne's method. A 710-bp region includes the entire open reading frame of pncA was amplified and sequenced. Results : All six strains with positive PZase activity exhibited no pncA mutations with one strain showing a false resistance in the biological susceptibility test. Among the 22 strains with no PZase activity, 21 exhibited showed pncA mutations. In the biological susceptibility test, 20 strains were resistant, and one was susceptible, and the other flied to test. The mutation types varied with ten missense, one silent and one nonsense mutation 1 slipped-strand mispairing, and 6 frameshift mutations. Three strains had an adenine to guanine mutation at position -11 upstream of the start codon. Conclusion : The mutation at the pncA promotor region is frequent at -11 upstream position. Automatic sequencing of pncA is a useful tool for rapid and accurate detection of PZA resistant M. tuberculosis, and for demonstrating the epidemiological relatedness of the PZA resistant M. tuberculosis strains.