• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.582-590
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• 2018

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) play a pivotal role in vascular regeneration in ischemic tissues; however, their therapeutic application in clinical settings is limited due to the low quality and quantity of patient-derived circulating EPCs. To solve this problem, we evaluated whether three priming small molecules (tauroursodeoxycholic acid, fucoidan, and oleuropein) could enhance the angiogenic potential of EPCs. Such enhancement would promote the cellular bioactivities and help to develop functionally improved EPC therapeutics for ischemic diseases by accelerating the priming effect of the defined physiological molecules. We found that preconditioning of each of the three small molecules significantly induced the differentiation potential of $CD34^+$ stem cells into EPC lineage cells. Notably, long-term priming of OECs with the three chemical cocktail (OEC-3C) increased the proliferation potential of EPCs via ERK activation. The migration, invasion, and tube-forming capacities were also significantly enhanced in OEC-3Cs compared with unprimed OECs. Further, the cell survival ratio was dramatically increased in OEC-3Cs against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress via the augmented expression of Bcl-2, a pro-survival protein. In conclusion, we identified three small molecules for enhancing the bioactivities of ex vivo-expanded OECs for vascular repair. Long-term 3C priming might be a promising methodology for EPC-based therapy against ischemic diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.599-603
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• 2009

To evaluate the anti-tumor activity of Flammulina velutipes extract, we used an in vitro wound-healing assay, and an in vivo approach using a mouse melanoma model. Wound-healing activity in B16 cells was affected by the extract in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the extract had anti-metastatic activity. The extract also exhibited strong anti-tumor activity against lung cancer when B16 cells were injected into mouse veins together with B16 melanoma cells. The results indicatethat the Flammulina velutipes extract decreased B16 cancer cell growth by inhibition of cell migration both in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.511-529
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• 2022

The forest vegetation of the Korean Peninsula is dominated by deciduous Fagaceae forests. The study aimed to comparethe correlation between species composition and environmental factors in Namsan, Odaesan, and Ulleungdo. A vegetation survey of 75 sites was conducted from May to August 2018. Seven vegetation types were classified. The inland representative vegetation was classified as a Quercus mongolica community, and the island representative vegetation was classified as a Fagus multinervis community. The Quercus mongolica community was subdivided into the Aria alnifolia group, representative of cities, and the Tilia amurensis group, representative of mountainous regions. Analysis of important values and indicator species to examine the succession trends according to regional types showed that urban and island forestswere maintained as Fagaceae communities, and that mountainous region foreststransitioned to broadleaf species, such as Tilia amurensis and Carpinus cordata. A CCA analysis of vegetation type and site environmental factors showed that altitude had the biggest effect on species composition at the same latitude. The study results should contribute to a better understanding of the Korean Peninsula forest ecosystem characteristics and provide basic data for establishing a systematic conservation and restoration plan.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.539-545
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of beekeeping by-products added to drinking water on the growth performance and intestinal and fecal microflora of Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. A total of 72 five-week-old ICR mice with an initial body weight (BW) of 24.57 ± 0.60 g were used in a two-week experiment. The four treatment groups were as follows; 1) CON, normal distilled water; 2) T1, CON with 0.7% beehive extract; 3) T2, CON with 0.7% propolis (PRO); and 4) T3, CON with 0.7% royal jelly (RJ). Each treatment consisted of 6 replicate cages with 3 mice per cage. At 0 - 1 week, T3 showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and feed efficiency (G : F) than that of CON. Compared with CON, T2 showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) BWG and feed intake at 1 - 2 weeks. During the entire period, T2 and T3 showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) BWG and G : F compared to CON. The amount of Salmonella and Lactobacillus in the large intestine was significantly decreased and increased (p < 0.05) in T2 and T3, respectively, compared to CON. The amount of Escherichia coli in the fecal matter was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to CON in all treatment groups to which beekeeping by-products were added. In conclusion, the addition of PRO or RJ to the drinking water of ICR mice had a positive effect on the growth performance and the intestinal and fecal microflora.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2013

Induction of G1 Arrest by Methanol Extract of Lycopus lucidus in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells Lycopus lucidus, a herbaceous perennial, is used as a traditional remedy in East Asia, including China and Korea. It has been reported that L. lucidus has anti-allergic effects, inhibitory effects on cholesterol acyltransferase in high glucose-induced vascular inflammation, and anti-proliferative effects in human breast cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of L. lucidus have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect and the mechanism of action of L. lucidus in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells using methanol extracts of L. lucidus (MELL). MELL treatment showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced G1 arrest in A549 cells. The induction of G1 arrest by MELL was associated with the up-regulation of phospho-CHK2 and the down-regulation of Cdc25A phosphatase. In addition, MELL treatment induced decreased expression of G1/S transition-related proteins, including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1 and cyclin E. MELL also regulated the mRNA expression of CDK2 and cyclin E. On the other hand, the expression of p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was not induced by MELL. Collectively, these results suggest that MELL may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the ATM/CHK2/Cdc25A/CDK2 pathway in A549 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.679-687
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• 2019

Litsea populifolia, a plant species of the Lauraceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. The phylogenetic relationships and botanical characteristics of L. populifolia have been reported; however, its anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects of ethanol extracts of L. populifolia (EELP) together with the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. EELP showed significant anti-oxidative effects with a 50% inhibitory concentration at $11.71{\mu}g/ml$, which was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. EELP exhibited cytotoxic activity and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EELP did not have the cytotoxic effect on the normal human lung cell line IMR90. Treatment with EELP also resulted in a decreased expression of G1/S transition-related molecules-including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin E-both for the transcription and translation levels. EELP-induced G1 arrest was associated with the phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), p53, cell division cycle 25 homolog A (CDC25A), and the reduction of CDC25A expression in A549 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that EELP may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase through both p53-dependent and p53-independent (ATM/CHK2/CDC25A/CDK2) pathways in A549 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.165-175
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• 2005

Geographic Information System(GIS) is useful to preserve cultural heritage and land use management using both spatial information management technique and spatial analysis function in cultural heritage management. The purpose of this study is to build a database of pottery and kiln sites in South Korea, to analyze site locations and finally to make prediction model. The locations of 1,200 sites are put into GIS database. Such factor elevation, slope angle, aspect, horizontal/vertical distance from the nearest water are analyzed. Each factor was statistically analyzed on GIS and represented to rank 1-5. Pottery/kiln can be predicted by the spatial analysis function in overlay methods. As a result of this study, preliminary application of prediction model shows that the high potential area is between the slope and alluvial plain. Field survey in the Sungbuk-dong in Daejeon city supports the preliminary result. More data can make improve efficient prediction model in unknown areas.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.566-573
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• 2012

Purpose : This study evaluated the impact of the presence and aspect of mandibular third molars to the mandible angle fracture or condyle fractures in Korean. Materials and Methods : A retrospective study was designed for patients attending the division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kang-dong sacred heart hospital for treatment of mandibular fracture from January 2006 to September 2010. The primary variable was the presence of mandibular third molar and the secondary variable was the aspects of third molar impaction. Mandibular third molars were classified by the impaction depth and the available space as Pell & Gregory system. Outcome variables were the presence of mandibular angle fracture or condyle fracture. Also the source of trauma, age, sex were studied. Hospital charts, radiographs were used for study. Statistic analysis was done with descriptive statistics, the X2-test, linear-by-linear association. P value under 0.05 was considered significant statistically. Results : The number of involved patients was 86. The ratio of male to female patients was about 9:1 for angle fracture and 7:3 for condyle fracture. The most common source of trauma was assault for angle fracture and fall down for condyle fracture. The presence of mandibular third molar increased frequency of angle fracture and decreased condyle fracture with larger impaction depth. But available space of mandibular third molar did not show high association with angle or condyle fractures. Conclusion: Preventive extraction of mandibular third molar is recommended for patients with high risk of angle fracture. Male patients at their third decade or martial artists, police officer could be the case. But it is not recommended for patients with low risk of angle fracture and high risk of condyle fracture relatively. Elder female patients without any symptom on their third molar could be the case.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2004

Background and Purpose : Hypertension is one of the modifiable risk factors for stroke. Lowering blood pressure is a primary or secondary preventative measure for stroke. This study aims to assess the efficacy of Chunghyul-dan(Qingxue-dan) in stage 1 hypertensive patients who have suffered a stroke by 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(24ABPM). Subjects& Methods : We enrolled 40 hospitalized stroke patients with stage 1 hypertension and divided them into 2 groups by stratified randomization; group A took 1200mg of Chunghyul-dan(Qingxue-dan) at 8:00 a.m. for two weeks without changing herbal medicine, and group B was the control group. 28 patients were included in the final analysis(15 in group A. 13 in group B). Blood pressure is monitored from 8:00 am to 7:30 am every 30 minutes for 24 hours. Blood pressure was monitored two times at baseline and again two weeks later. We used 3 parameters for evaluating the efficacy of Chunghyul-dan(Qingxue-dan); The first parameter is change from baseline to two weeks later in blood pressure and pulse rate. The second parameter is the trough/peak ratio(TPR) and smoothness index(SI). The third parameter is antihypertensive rate by antihypertensive efficacy guideline. Results : There is no significant difference in the baseline assessment hetween the two groups. Systolic blood pressure $(141.37{\pm}8.96\;mmHg\;vs\;132.28{\pm}9.46\;mmHg)$ decreased after two weeks of 1200mg(P=0.03) intake of Chunghyul-dan(Qingxue-dan). Systolic TPR and SI was 0.87 and 1.04 in group A. Antihypertensive rate was higher in group A. Conclusion: These results suggest that 1200mg doses of Clunghyul-dan(Qingxue-dan) is an effective antihypertensive agent on stage 1 hypertension patients who have suffered a stroke.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2013

A burnt-out prostate cancer tumor is a very rare clinical entity. The term 'burnt-out' refers to a primary tumor that has spontaneously and nearly completely regressed without treatment. Since metastasis of prostate cancer is usually encountered in the presence of advanced disease, distant metastasis with an undetectable primary tumor is very rare. We report herein a case of a burnt-out prostate cancer tumor that metastasized to the thoracic (T) spine and caused cord compression. A 66-year-old man visited the Emergency Department due to weakness of both legs for the past two days. His blood and urine tests were normal at the time. His spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans looked like bone metastasis that involved the T-7 vertebral body and a posterior element, and caused spinal cord compression. Other images, including from the brain MRI, neck/chest/abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and endoscopy, revealed no lesions that suggested malignancy. After total corpectomy T-7 and screw fixation/fusion at T5 to T10, the pathology report revealed a metastatic carcinoma that was strongly positive for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The serum PSA value was 1.5 ng/mL. The transrectal 12-core prostate biopsy and ultrasonography showed no definitive hypoechoic lesion, but one specimen had slight (only 1%) adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 6 (3+3). The final diagnosis was burned-out prostate cancer with an initial normal PSA value. Although metastatic disease with an unknown primary origin was confirmed, a more aggressive approach in seeking the primary origin could provide a more specific treatment strategy and greater clinical benefit to patients.