• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3011-3015
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• 2014

Background: Level of midwife knowledge is particularly important because of their role in the cervical cancer prevention programme. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the level of knowledge among health care students, midwives and women in the general population of Serbia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used with health care students of the medical shool, midwives in their practice, and women visiting a chosen general practitioner as respondents. Results: In comparison with the students and midwives, women had lower level of knowledge of causative agents of the cervical cancer, genital warts, HPV types, screening for cervical cancer as well as about the target population for vaccine and its role. Differences in the numbers of right answers of respondents were statistically significant (p<0.001). Four or more correct answers were obtained from 22.7% women, 35.3% from midwives and 83.8% from students. Conclusions: Midwives should improve their own level of knowledge related to preventive practice for cervical cancer, as well as their personal compliance with recommended practices, in order to be qualified and credible promoters of cervical cancer control among women in Serbia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5287-5290
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• 2012

Throughout human history, plant products have been used for many purposes including as medicines. Herbal products and spices can be used as preventive agents against cancer due to their antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumorigenic properties. This study was designed to evaluate the potential protective effect of curcum in rats administered nitrosamine precursors; dibutylamine (DBA) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3); and infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and also to monitor changes in nuclear factor the Kappa B p65 (NF-${\kappa}B$ p56) pathway and its downstream products, Bcl-2 and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in parallel with nitrosamine precursors, E. coli and curcum treatment. Rats were divided into three groups (n=25 each; except of control group, n+20). Group I a normal control group, group II administered DBA/NaNO3 in drinking water and infected with E. coli and group III was administered DBA/NaNO3 in drinking water, infected with E. coli and receiving standard diet containing 1% curcum powder. Histopathological examination reflected that the curcum treated group featured a lower incidence of urinary bladder lesions, and lower levels of NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2 and IL-6, than the group receiving nitrosamine precursor and infected with E. coli. These findings suggested that curcum may have a protective role during the process of bladder carcinogenesis by inhibiting the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway and its downstream products.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2004

This study aims to investigate the changes in the lipid composition and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in serum of rats exposed to microwave radiation, and to examine improving effects of green tea catechin to the lipid composition. The microwave-exposed rats received the normal and one of 3 diets: catechin free (MW-0C), 0.25% catechin (MW-0.25C) or 0.5% catechin (MW-0.5C). Rats were sacrificed 6th day after microwave radiation (2.45 ㎓, 15 min). The concentration of serum triglyceridein MW-0C group was increased by 85%, compared with the normal group, but that of MW-0.25C group with 0.25% catechin supplementation was to 17% lower, compared with the MW-0C group. There was no significant difference between normal group and MW-0.5C group. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by 21.4% and 38.6%, respectively, by microwave irradiation. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in MW-0C group was lower to 29.3%, but it was maintained at the normal level by catechin supplementation. There was no significant difference among four groups in HLD-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol. Atherogenic index in MW-0C group was increased by 56%, compared with the normal group. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in lung tissue of MW-0C group was increased by 59 %, while that of MW -0.25C and MW -0.5C group were maintained at the normal level. ACE activity of MW-0C group in serum was increased by 122.8%, compared with the normal group. Catechin supplementation group was significantly reduced, compared with the MW-0C group ACE activity. In conclusion, microwave irradiation increased the serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and ACE activity which are considered as the blood pressure increasing agents. However, catechin supplementation decreased the level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and ACE activity, which maybe consider catechin as being agent of lowering effect for blood lipid profile for athero-genesis.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.836-852
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• 2012

Based on a long-term ethnographic study, this paper examines how the propositions and practices for desertification management in Inner Mongolia, China have changed over time. Desertification as an ecological issue cannot simply be treated as a something "natural" or "social," while it is an outcome of the construction made by both human and non-human agents. My research has found that the propositions for desertification management have been involved in the process of defining desertification, particularly by selecting different actors related to the ecological process in this region. Ultimately, the crisis in the inner Mongolia has always been constructed by the ways in which the selected actors and their relationships are differently defined. My study also reveals that although the proposed preventive measures, including afforestation, area protection, and pasturing prohibition, have tried to reconcile the conflicts of interest among the different actors, they have always been faced with certain limitations and failed in dryland management. In this historical context of crisis construction, by introducing a new non-human agent, "the chicken," the project of grassland chicken farming has eventually appeared to be an innovative strategy that can overcome the earlier limitations and coordinate the interests of Mongolian pastoralists who have suffered from economic difficulty.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.643-649
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• 2010

Evaluation of the primary etiologic agents that cause aseptic meningitis outbreaks may provide valuable information regarding the prevention and management of aseptic meningitis. In Korea, an outbreak of aseptic meningitis caused by echovirus type 30 (E30) occurred from May to October in 2008. In order to determine the etiologic agent, CSF and/or stool specimens from 140 children hospitalized for aseptic meningitis at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between June and October of 2008 were tested for virus isolation and identification. E30 accounted for 61.7% (37 cases) and echovirus 6 accounted for 21.7% (13 cases) of all the human enteroviruses (HEVs) isolates (60 cases in total). For the molecular characterization of the isolates, the VP1 gene sequence of 18 Korean E30 isolates was compared pairwise using the MegAlign with 34 reference strains from the GenBank database. The pairwise comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the VP1 genes demonstrated that the sequences of the Korean strains differed from those of lineage groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Reconstruction of the phylogenetic tree based on the complete VP1 nucleotide sequences resulted in a monophyletic tree, with eight clustered lineage groups. All Korean isolates were segregated from other lineage groups, thus suggesting that the Korean strains were a distinct lineage of E30, and a probable cause of this outbreak. This manuscript is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of the molecular characteristics of E30 strains associated with an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Korea, and their respective phylogenetic relationships.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.631-638
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• 2009

GLEDITSIAE SPINA (GS) has been used as folk remedies traditionally for treatment of antiphlogistic and antifebrile agents. An ethanol extract and its fraction of GS were assessed to determine the mechanism of its antioxidant activity. Also, inhibitory effect of extract from GS and its fraction measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. GS ethanol extract and its fraction exhibited a concentration-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenging activities, including trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), OPPH radical, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite and nitric oxide, using different assay systems. Furthermore, the GS ethanol extract and its fraction showed dose-dependent protection of LDL oxidation induced by $CuSO_4$. In addition, the GS ethanol extract and its fraction were characterized as containing a high amount of total phenolics. These results suggest that GS ethanol extract and its fraction might be helpful for preventing oxidative stress and protecting LDL oxidation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1215-1222
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• 2008

Recent studies indicate that the deposition of ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) is associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying mechanism is not clear yet. To investigate the effects of Jangwonhwangagambang (JWHG) extract on AD pathogenicity, we have generated transgenic Drosophila model in which GMR-APP-GAL4/UAS-GRIM system was designed to overexpress amyloid precursor protein(APP), We examined fly's survival ratio, flight behavior, and morphological patterns of chest and eye. We found that JWHG treatment improved fly's survival ratio by inhibiting apoptosis and flight behavior. APP-GRIM transgenic flies treated with JWHG showed had significantly lower levels of APP deposition in the chest and eye compared to control animals. JWHG treatment further inhibited chest and eye degeneration. These results suggest that JWHG prevents APP-induced neurotoxicity, and thus may be applicable for the development of preventive or therapeutic agents for AD treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.346-354
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• 2008

The combined effects of EDTA-Tris and eighteen antimicrobial agents have been evaluated in eight clinically isolated methicillin-resistant bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus agalactiae) from bovine mastitis. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by measuring the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for the antibiotics alone or in combination with EDTA-Tris in Mueller-Hilton broth and milk. Combined use of EDTA-Tris and antibiotics potentiated or antagonized activity of antibiotics against mastitic pathogens. Milk increased the antibiotic potency of erythromycin and spiramycin on S. aureus. Culture in milk changed patterns of EDTA-Tris combinational effects compared with that in standard Mueller-Hilton broth. Combined with EDTA-Tris in milk, synergic effects were observed in colistin, dihydrostreptomycin, kanamycin, erythromycin, gentamycin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin to E. coli, Str. uberis, and Str. agalactiae. However, significant antagonistic effects of milk on antibiotic susceptibility in combination with EDTA-Tris were noted in neomycin, streptomycin, penicillin, roxithromycin, and amoxicillin. This study indicates that combination therapy of EDTA-Tris with antibiotics in bovine mastitis should be used with caution because of the possible antagonistic effects of antibiotic combination with EDTA-Tris on mastitic pathogens. In addition, antibiotic susceptibility test in combination with EDTA-Tris in milk culture condition can be benefit in search of effective treatment regimen for some antibiotic-resistant bacteria of mastitis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

We recently extracted lignans such as matairesinol and 2-hydroxyarctigenin from safflower seeds and found that they exhibit a potent cytotoxic effect on human promyleocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. In this study, we investigated whether mechanisms of the matairesinol-induced cell death are associated with the programmed cell death, apoptosis. Matairesinol dose-dependently reduced viability of HL-60 cells with an IC/sun 50/ value of 60 $\mu$M. Staining of cells with Hoechst 33342 revealed distinct morphological features of apoptosis, such as the nuclei broken into chromatin containing fragments of various sizes in the cells exposed to 100 $\mu$M matairesinol for 24 hr. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from the cells treated with matairesinol showed internucleosomal DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal sizes. DNA ladder like patterns were easily detected after treatment with matairesinol concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 $\mu$M after 24 hr. In cells treated with 100 $\mu$M matairesinol for differing time periods, the DNA ladder was detectable from 6 hr onward. A time course histogram of the DNA content analyzed by flow cytometry revealed a rapid increase in subdiploid cells and a concomitant decrease in diploid cells exposed to 100 $\mu$M matairesinol. These results indicate that matairesinol-induced HL-60 cell death was due to the DNA damage and apoptosis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2015

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are crucial extracellular matrices degrading enzymes that have important roles in metastasis of cancer progression as well as other significant conditions such as oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis. Marine plants are on the rise for their potential to provide natural products that exhibit remarkable health benefits. In this context, brown algae species have been of much interest in the pharmaceutical field with reported instances of isolation of bioactive compounds against tumor growth and MMP activity. In this study, eight different brown algae species were harvested, and their extracts were compared in regard to their anti-MMP effects. According to gelatin zymography results, Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia bicyclis, and Ishige okamurae showed higher inhibitory effects than the other samples on MMP-2 and -9 activity at the concentrations of 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$. However, only I. okamurae was able to regulate the MMP activity through the expression of MMP and tissue inhibitor of MMP observed by mRNA levels. Overall, brown algae species showed to be good sources for anti-MMP agents, while I. okamurae needs to be further studied for its potential to yield pharmaceutical molecules that can regulate MMP-activity through cellular pathways as well as enzymatic inhibition.