• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

Chemoprevention refers to the use of non-toxic chemical agents to prevent the neoplastic development by inhibiting, delaying, or reversing a multi-stage carcinogenesis. The primary goal of chemoprevention research is to identify or produce effective agents and strategies for clinical trials for applications to normal or high risk human populations. A large number of compounds have been tested for their possible chemopreventive activities, and it is of interest to note that many of them are naturally occurring substances. Thus, a variety of plant and vegetable constituents, particularly those included in our daily diet, have been found to possess substantial protective properties against experimental carcinogenesis. These substances, collectively known as dietary phytochemicals, exert their chemopreventive effects by influencing specific step(s) of multi-stage carcinogenesis: some inhibit metabolic activation or enhance detoxification of carcinogens, others interfere with covalent interactions between ultimate eloctrophilic carcinogens and the target cell DNA and still others may exert anti-promoting or anti-progressing effects. Mechanism-based interventions by use of safe dietary phytochemicals may provide one of the most practical and promising cancer chemopreventive strategies.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

The use of doxorubicin, which is one of the most effective anticancer agents, is often limited by occurrence of acquired resistance in tumor cells. GSH has been shown to be involved in the development of this drug resistance. Transcription factor Nrf2 governs the expression of GSH synthesizing glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL), as well as multiple phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. Here we show that Nrf2 is one of factors determining doxorubicin sensitivity. Nrf2-deficient fibroblasts (murine embryonic fibroblasts, MEF) were more susceptible to doxorubicin mediated cell death than wild-type cells. Doxorubicin treatment elevated levels of Nrf2-regulated genes including NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (Nqo1) and GCL in wild-type fibroblasts, while no induction was observed in Nrf2-deficient cells. Doxorubicin resistance in human ovarian SK-OV cells was reversed by treatment with L-buthionine-sulfoxamine (BSO), which is depleting intracellular GSH. Finally, transfection of SK-OV cells with Nrf2 siRNA resulted in exacerbated cytotoxicity following doxorubicin treatment compared to scrambled RNA control. These results indicate that the Nrf2 pathway, which plays a protective role in normal cells, can be a potential target to control cancer cell resistance to anticancer agents.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.495-510
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of several surface coating agents in preventing microleakage and increasing microhardness of light-cured glass ionomer restoration. 50 and 25 sound molar teeth were used for the microleakage test and microhardness test respectively. Data were analyzed statistically using Kruskal-Wallis and/or Mann-Whitney test. The results of the present study were as follows: 1. The effect of surface coating in reducing microleakage was proven only at the gingival margin of restorations with statistical significance(p<.05). 2. The distribution of microleakage score at gingival margin was shown to be better than that of occlusal margin in general but with no statistically significant differences(p>.05). 3. No statistically significant differences in microhardness could be found between groups (p>.05) regardless of depth of measurement. 4. Under the present experimental conditions, the types or application of surface coating agents did not impose any significant effect on microhardness of glass ionomer restorative material whereas the protective effect of surface coating in reducing microleakage was partly proven.

• KIEE International Transactions on Power Engineering
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• v.2A no.3
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

In this paper, a protection system using a Multi-Agent concept for power distribution networks is proposed. Every digital over current relay(OCR) is developed as an agent by adding its own intelligence, self-tuning and communication ability. The main advantage of the Multi-Agent concept is that a group of agents work together to achieve a global goal which is beyond the ability of each individual agent. In order to cope with frequent changes in the network operation condition and faults, an OCR agent, suggested in this paper, is able to detect a fault or a change in the network and find its optimal parameters for protection in an autonomous manner considering information of the whole network obtained by communication between other agents. Through this kind of coordination and information exchanges, not only a local but also a global protective scheme is completed. Simulations in a simple distribution network show the effectiveness of the suggested protection system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.171-174
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• 2007

Neuronal death is a common characteristic hallmark of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there have been no effective drugs to successfully prevent neuronal death in those diseases, whereas oriental medicinal plants have to possess valuable therapeutic potentials to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, in an attempt to provide neuroprotective agents from natural plants, 80% methanol extracts of a wide range of medicinal plants, which are native to Jeju Island in Korea, were prepared and their protective effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death were examined. Among those tested, extracts from Smilax china and Saururus chinesis significantly decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death. The extracts attenuated hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$)-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, plant extracts restored $H_2O_2$-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione, a major endogenous antioxidant. The data suggest that Jeju native medicinal plants could potentially be used as therapeutic agents for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.479-491
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• 2015

Lactobacillus species have been shown to enhance intestinal epithelial barrier function, modulate host immune responses, and suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses. Thus, lactobacilli have been used as probiotics for treating various diseases, including intestinal disorders, and as biological preservatives in the food and agricultural industries. However, the molecular mechanisms used by lactobacilli to suppress pathogenic bacterial infections have been poorly characterized. We previously isolated Lactobacillus plantarum JSA22 from buckwheat sokseongjang, a traditional Korean fermented soybean food, which possessed high enzymatic, fibrinolytic, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. In this study, we investigated the effects of L. plantarum JSA22 on the growth of S. Typhimurium and S. Typhimurium-induced cytotoxicity by stimulating the host immune response in intestinal epithelial cells. The results showed that coincubation of S. Typhimurium and L. plantarum JSA22 with intestinal epithelial cells suppressed S. Typhimurium infection, S. Typhimurium-induced NF-κB activation, and IL-8 production, and lowered the phosphorylation of both Akt and p38. These data indicated that L. plantarum JSA22 has probiotic properties, and can inhibit S. Typhimurium infection of intestinal epithelial cells. Our findings can be used to develop therapeutic and prophylactic agents against pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1282-1284
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• 2006

In the course of search for hepatoprotective agents from oriental traditional medicines, one compound was isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruits of Schizandra chinensis, and its structure was determined as gomisin J(1). The evaluation for hepatoprotective activity of isolated compound 1 on drug-induced cytotoxicity was conducted, and compound 1 showed protective effect with an EC$_{50}$value of 86.0 ${\pm}$ 5.3 ${\mu}$M against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. One of the well-known hepatoprotective agents, silybin, used as a positive control, and the hepatoprotective effect of compound 1 is similar with that of silybin (EC$_{50}$ value = 90.5 ${\pm}$ 9.8 ${\mu}$M).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.8
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• 2022

5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and vincristine are chemotherapy agents used to treat various cancers, such as breast cancer and lymphoma for decades, and their effects on cancer have been proven. On the other hand, these anti-cancer drugs cause fatal side effects, including immunosuppression. This study investigated whether sonicated Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterin (B. bronchiseptica) can attenuate the immunosuppression of spleen cells induced by these chemotherapy agents and which subsets of spleen cells were affected. B. bronchiseptica increased the metabolic activity of spleen cells treated with 3 anti-cancer drugs. Cell death analysis using Annexin V/propidium iodide showed that B. bronchiseptica markedly decreased the death of spleen cells. The subsets of spleen cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a surface marker-specific antibody. B. bronchiseptica increased nitric oxide production in the spleen cells treated with anti-cancer drugs (p < 0.0001). Despite the pharmacological effects of anti-cancer drugs, many patients suffer from the fatal side effects of immunosuppression. This study provides valuable information on how to overcome chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9635-9641
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• 2014

Background: This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of prophylactic agents in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving TACE and compare the difference between lamivudine and entecavir. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 203 HBV-related HCC patients receiving TACE were analyzed including 91 patients given prophylactic agents. Virologic events, defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA level to more than 1 log10 IU/ml higher than the nadir level, hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation and progression free survival (PFS) were the main endpoints. Results: Some 48 (69.6%) reached virologic response. Prophylaxis significantly reduced virologic events (8.8% vs 58.0%, p=0.000) and hepatitis flares (1.1% vs 13.4%, p=0.001). Patients presenting undetectable HBV DNA levels displayed a significantly improved PFS as compared to those who never achieved undetectable HBV DNA. Prophylaxis and e-antigen positivity were the only significant variables associated with virologic events. In addition, prophylaxis was the only independent protective factor for hepatitis flares. Liver cirrhosis, more cycles of TACE, HBV DNA negativity, a lower Cancer of the Liver Italian Program score, non-metastasis and no hepatitis flares were protective factors for PFS. Prophylactic lamivudine demonstrated similar efficacy as entecavir. Conclusions: Prophylactic agents are efficacious for prevention of HBV reactivation in HCC patients receiving TACE. Achievement of undetectable HBV DNA levels displayed a significant capability in improving PFS. Moreover, persistent tumor residual lesions, positive HBV DNA and hepatitis B flares might be causes of tumor progression in these patients.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2009

Activity-guided fractionation of the EtOH extract of flowers of Bidens bipinnata L. have been furnished five flavonoids, sulfuretin(1), butein(2), 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavanone(3), maritimetin(4) and okanin(5). All of the compounds showed significant activities on both linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition and DPPH radical scavenging effect. The evaluation for protective effect of isolated compounds against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells was conducted. Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 showed significant protective effects with the $EC_{50}$ values of $36.1{\pm}0.9$, $23.3{\pm}0.7$, $41.0{\pm}1.0$ and $29.8{\pm}1.1{\mu}M$, respectively. Silybin, one of the well-known hepatoprotective agents, used as a positive control, and also showed protective effect with an $EC_{50}$ value of $84.3{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$.