• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2009

The roots of Rumecis Radix have been used for the treatment of heat phlegm, jaundice, constipation, scabies and uterine hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to confirm whether Rumecis Radix water extract (RJWE) has a preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-applied BALB/c mice. Oral administration (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg) and topical application (0.5 mg/mouse, 1.0 mg/mouse) of RJWE decreased the development of AD-like skin lesions, ear swelling, spleen weight and total serum IgE. RJWE significantly also inhibited the infiltration of mast cells in the dorsal skin. Furthermore, the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) was suppressed significantly. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of RJWE on AD might be associated with mast cells.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1999

To evaluate whether different qualifications of a cytologic diagnosis of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS)" predict a greater or lesser likelihood of tissue diagnosis of uterine cervix, we compared different cytologic qualifications of ASCUS with the tissue diagnosis. One hundred twenty-two consecutive Papanicolaou smears showing ASCUS in women who had undergone cervical biopsy within nearest 30 days were collected. The 122 smears were qualified as "favor reactive"(25%), "favor low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)"(24%), "favor squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL)"(16%), "favor high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL)"(16%), and "not otherwise specified"(19%). Squamous intraepithelial or invasive lesion was pathologically confirmed by cervical biopsy in 13%, of the "favor reactive", 27% in "favor LSIL", 70% in "favor SIL", 75%, in "favor HSIL", and 35% in "not otherwise specified" smears. There were significant associations between the favor reactive smear and the benign biopsy finding and between the favor SIL smear and the biopsy shewing a squamous intraepithelial or more severe lesion. Nevertheless, most of favor LSIL smears exhibit reactive process in tissue biopsy. Conclusively, qualified ASCUS stratifies women Into different risk groups for SIL. The cytopathologist should make the cytologic diagnosis of "ASCUS, favor LSIL" circumspectly.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2015

The flower buds of Sophora japonica L (SF), as a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used to treat bleeding-related disorders such as hematochezia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and diarrhea. However, no specific anti-cancer effect and its molecular mechanism of SF have been described. Thus, we performed in vitro study to investigate if treatment of SF affects activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression and ATF3-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. The effects of SF on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and Western blot analysis against cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ATF3 activation induced by SF was evaluated using Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and ATF3 promoter assay. SF treatment caused decrease of cell viability and increase of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Exposure of SF activated the levels of ATF3 protein and mRNA via transcriptional regulation in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by PD98059 and p38 by SB203580 attenuated SF-induced ATF3 expression and transcriptional activation. Ectopic ATF3 overexpression accelerated SF-induced cleavage of PARP. These findings suggest that SF-mediated apoptosis may be the result of ATF3 expression through ERK1/2 and p38-mediated transcriptional activation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.370-379
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• 2022

Human pregnancy is a delicate and complex process where multiorgan interactions between two independent systems, the mother, and her fetus, maintain pregnancy. Intercellular interactions that can define homeostasis at the various cellular level between the two systems allow uninterrupted fetal growth and development until delivery. Interactions are needed for tissue remodeling during pregnancy at both fetal and maternal tissue layers. One of the mechanisms that help tissue remodeling is via cellular transitions where epithelial cells undergo a cyclic transition from epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) and back from mesenchymal to epithelial (MET). Two major pregnancy-associated tissue systems that use EMT, and MET are the fetal membrane (amniochorion) amnion epithelial layer and cervical epithelial cells and will be reviewed here. EMT is often associated with localized inflammation, and it is a well-balanced process to facilitate tissue remodeling. Cyclic transition processes are important because a terminal state or the static state of EMT can cause accumulation of proinflammatory mesenchymal cells in the matrix regions of these tissues and increase localized inflammation that can cause tissue damage. Interactions that determine homeostasis are often controlled by both endocrine and paracrine mediators. Pregnancy maintenance hormone progesterone and its receptors are critical for maintaining the balance between EMT and MET. Increased intrauterine oxidative stress at term can force a static (terminal) EMT and increase inflammation that are physiologic processes that destabilize homeostasis that maintain pregnancy to promote labor and delivery of the fetus. However, conditions that can produce an untimely increase in EMT and inflammation can be pathologic. These tissue damages are often associated with adverse pregnancy complications such as preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (pPROM) and spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). Therefore, an understanding of the biomolecular processes that maintain cyclic EMT-MET is critical to reducing the risk of pPROM and PTB. Extracellular vesicles (exosomes of 40-160 nm) that can carry various cargo are involved in cellular transitions as paracrine mediators. Exosomes can carry a variety of biomolecules as cargo. Studies specifically using exosomes from cells undergone EMT can carry a pro-inflammatory cargo and in a paracrine fashion can modify the neighboring tissue environment to cause enhancement of uterine inflammation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2000

The chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya has been screened for the hormonal properties using ovariectomized female rats for estrogenicity, estrogen primed immature rats for progestogenicity and castrated adult male rats for androgenicity. The results revealed that the extract lacks progestogenicity and androgenicity as evident from the failure of the extract treated animals to mimic progestogen and androgen related changes in the target tissues. The increased weight of vagina and uterus, open status of vagina, cornified and epithelial cells in the vaginal smears and hypertrophy in the uterine epithelium, endometrium and stroma with increased glycogen and sialic acid content in the uterus of the chloroform extract treated animals, which are comparable to those of the ovariectomized estrogen treated animals, suggest that the chloroform extract possesses mild estrogenic activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.503-507
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• 2002

Chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) were prepared and fractionated into three groups of COS [a high molecular weight COS (HMWCOS), medium molecular weight COS (LMWCOS), and low molecular weight COS (LMWCOS)] according to their molecular weight, using an ultrafiltration membrane enzymatic bioreactor designed earlier [8]. Antitumor activity of these COSs was then examined against Sarcoma 180 solid (S180) or Uterine cervix carcinoma No. 14 (Ul4) tumor cell-bearing mice. Among these COSs, MMWCOS with molecular weight range from 1.5 to 5.5 kDa effectively inhibited the growth of both tumor cells in the mice. In addition, the administration of MMWCOS resulted in increased thymus weight among lymphoid organs. The mice treated with MMWCOS showed improved survival rate and larger number of survivors after 40 days of feeding. The most effective of MMWCOS far antitumor activity in the S180- or U14-bearing mice was 20 mg/kg/day or more.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2011

The ultimate function of the endometrium is to allow the implantation of a blastocyst and to support pregnancy. Cycles of tissue remodeling ensure that the endometrium is in a receptive state during the putative 'implantation window', the few days of each menstrual cycle when an appropriately developed blastocyst may be available to implant in the uterus. A successful pregnancy requires strict temporal regulation of maternal immune function to accommodate a semi-allogeneic embryo. To preparing immunological tolerance at the onset of implantation, tight temporal regulations are required between the immune and endocrine networks. This review will discuss about the action of steroid hormones on the human endometrium and particularly their role in regulating the inflammatory processes associated with endometrial receptivity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.567-572
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• 1994

A 14-year-old virgin, female Yorkshire Terrier showed enlarged abdomen after udderectomy was diagnosed with canine mammary gland tumor accompanied with hydrometra. Gross findings appeared a white-yellowish $l0{\times}7{\times}7cm sized solid mass containing cysts filled with various colored mucoid fluids in the udder. Both uteri were distended greatly with white-yellowish watery fluids and their serosal surfaces were translucent. Characteristic micyoscopic findings in the mass of the udder showed great expansion of the mammary lobule and stroma and complete replacement of the glandular elements by prolifaration of myoepithelial cells. The mucosa of the uterus showed severe atrophy of the uterine epithelium.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 1997

A 13-years and 8-months old Jindo dog showed vomiting and pale red vulvular discharge. At necropsy, the uterus was swollen and endometrium was diffusely thickened by numerous protruding cysts which measured approximately from 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter. On sectioning the cysts exuded pale red watery fluid. histologically the endometrium was thickened and characterized by mild to moderate edema congestion and hemorrhagic foci. The cystic endometrial glands were lined by a single layer of flattened cuboidal or vacuolated columnar epithelium. Occasional dilated glands had traversed through the submucosa into the myometrial region. Afew mixed inflammatory cells infiltrated in the lamina propria. Bacteriologically Escherichia coli was isolated from the uterine contents. Gross and microscopic finding were consistent with cystic endometrial hyperplasia.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 1991

Actinomycosis involving the female genital tract has increased since the advent of the intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUD) : the incidence of actinomyces in IUD users with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was reported to be between 17% and 30%. However a definte relationship between actinomyces and PID has not been demonstrated as yet. We present a case of pelvic actinomycotic infection that was initially diagnosed by means of fine needle aspiration. A 57-year-old female presented with urinary frequency and difficulty for 100 days. Computerized tomographic findings showed a mixed heterogenous soft tissue mass in the left superior aspect of urinary bladder. Fine needle aspiration was done under the impression of urinary bladder cancer. Microscopically, smears disclosed many sulfur granules in necrotic background with many neutrophils, histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells and granulation tissue. These findings were confirmed by surgical removal of the mass.