• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.5
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• 2012

Adverse side-effects and lack of scientific validation of some chemotherapeutic agents prevent the use of many traditional medicines claimed to have anti-cancer effects. Ethanolic extract of Conium maculatum has long been used in traditional and alternative systems of medicine including homeopathy for the treatment of glandular enlargements, cancerous tumours or hard lumps of testicles, prostate, ovaries, breasts and/ or uterus, particularly in the breast. However, if and how it acts still remains scientifically unknown. This study aims to test if Conium extract (CE), used as mother tincture of Conium in homeopathy, has demonstrable anti-cancer potentials without having much cytotoxicity in normal cells. Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting MTT assay on both normal (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and HeLa cells. We also evaluated DNA fragmentation and DNA damage by DAPI and diphenylamine assay. The LDH activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. ROS accumulation also was evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. Administration of drug clearly demonstrated its anti-cancer potentials as evidenced by the DNA damage analysis. The ROS activity also increased in case of the CE treated cells. LDH data revealed that the mode of cell death was mainly apoptotic and not necrotic. CE appears to induce apoptosis of cancer cells through ROS mediated pathway, and has negligible cytotoxicity against normal cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2010

We analyzed parasitic diseases diagnosed by tissue biopsy specimens at KyungHee Medical Center (KMC) from 1984 to 2005. The total number of parasite infection cases was 150 (0.07%) out of the total 211,859 biopsy specimens submitted for histopathological examinations. They consisted of 62 cysticercosis, 23 sparganosis, 16 paragonimiasis, 15 amebiasis, 11 anisakiasis, 11 clonorchiasis, 3 ascariasis, 2 scabies, 2 enterobiasis, 2 trichuriasis, 1 leishmaniasis, 1 taeniasis, and 1 thelaziasis. Out of 62 cysticercosis cases, 55 were detected in subcutaneous tissues or the central nerve system. Eighteen out of 23 sparganosis cases were involved in muscular and subcutaneous tissues. In most anisakiasis cases, the involved organ was the stomach. The lung and the pleura were the most common site of paragonimiasis. The incidence of parasitic diseases during the first 5 years (1984-1988) was the highest of all observed periods. After 1989, similar incidences were shown throughout the period. Whereas cysticercosis was diagnosed in 34 cases during 1984-1988, no case has been diagnosed since 2000. In the case of sparganosis, the chronological incidence was almost uniform throughout the period 1984-2005. Paragonimiasis showed a similar tendency to cysticercosis. In gender and age distribution of parasitic diseases, men showed higher incidence rates than females, and the age groups of the 40s or older indicated higher infection frequencies than other age groups. Therefore, these results are a significant report to appear the tendency of human parasitic disease diagnosed by tissue biopsy in association with parasitosis at KMC in Seoul.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

Some small mammals occur as household pests and harbour a number of parasites that could be of public health importance. This study profiled the helminth and protozoan parasites in trapped small mammals within and around human dwelling places (houses) located across 4 major towns (Auchi, Benin, Ekpoma, and Uromi) and environs in Edo state, Nigeria. Six genera (Apodemus sp., Crocidura sp., Mastomys natalensis, Mus musculus, Rattus sp., and Sorex sp.) were identified from 502 trapped small mammals. Overall, M. musculus (71.9%) and Rattus rattus (20.1%) were the most frequently trapped. In total, on examination of blood, gastrointestinal contents, and brain tissues, 12 helminth taxa (Angiostrongylus sp., Aspicularis sp., Capillaria sp., Gongylonema sp., Heterakis spumosa, Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Mastophorus muris, Moniliformis moniliformis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides sp., Trichosomoides sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 6 protozoan parasites (Babesia sp., Trypanosoma lewisi, Plasmodium sp., Eimeria sp., Isospora sp., and Toxoplasma gondii) were isolated. Most prevalent helminths with relatively heavy mean intensity were Strongyloides sp. and Heterakis spumosa, while Plasmodium, Eimeria, and Isospora were the most prevalent protozoan parasites. Generally, intrinsic factors like sex and age had marginal influence on the rate and burden of infection in M. musculus and R. rattus. Although the infection rate and prevalence of zoonotic parasites were low, they were largely recovered in rodents from Ekpoma. This study elucidates the public health implication of the presence of zoonotic parasites in these small mammals.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.75-82
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• 1968

The effects of x-irradiation on the utilization of glucose, succinate, citrate and $\\alpha$-ketoglutarate, on the response of the cell metabolism to $NaN_3$ and DNP, and on the uptake of lysine in the presence or absence of the metabolitesor the inhibitors were studied using HeLa cells and the results are summarized as follows: 1. 200r of x-irradiation had no immediate effect on the oxygen consumption of cells. 2. The oxygen consumption was greatly stimulated by succinate, $\\alpha$-ketoglutarate and citraed and in decreasing order and x-irradiation caused no remarkable change in this order. 3. The respiratory response of the cell to the metabolic inhibitors seems to be altered by x-irradiation. 4. The initial rate of the uptake of lysine was markedly retarded and the accumulation of lysine in the cell was decreased by irradiation. 5. Glucose increased the lysine uptake whereas succinate had no effect and citrate and $\\alpha$-ketoglutarate reduced the absorption. X-irradiation did not alter this tendency. 6. The inhibitory effects of $NaN_3$ and DNP on the lysine uptake were quite different from those seen in the oxygen consumption.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7785-7792
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• 2014

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a potent anticancer and antiangiogenic agent. However, design and synthesis of chemical derivatives with improved antiangiogenic and anticancer activities are still necessary. In this study a library of novel derivatives of VPA was synthesized and tested. Methods: A human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and a human normal embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293) were exposed to various concentrations of VPA derivatives for 24 hours and cell viability was checked by MTT colorimetric assay. Anti-angiogenic properties were evaluated in transgenic zebrafish embryos. Results: N-valproylglycine derivatives suppressed survival almost 70% (p value 0.001) in HepG2 cells but only 10-12% in HEK 293 cells (p value 0.133). They also suppressed angiogenic blood vessel formation by 80% when used between $2-20{\mu}M$ in zebrafish embryos. Valproic acid hydrazides showed moderate level of anticancer activity by affecting 30-50% (p value 0.001) of cell viability in HepG2 cells and 8-10% in HEK293 cells (p value 0.034). Conclusion: The majority of compounds in this study showed potent and stronger antiangiogenic and anticancer activity than VPA. They proved selectively toxic to cancer cells and safer for normal cells. Moreover, these compounds inhibited developmental angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos. Based on the fact that liver is a highly vascularized organ, in case of liver carcinoma these compounds have the potential to target the pathological angiogenesis and could be an effective strategy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 1974

Fragmente dsarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle was prepared and biochemical properties of its ATPase activity were studied. The ATPase of the fragments could be distinguished as $Mg^++ - ATPase and (Mg^++ - Ca^++)$-ATPase. The activity of $(Mg^++ - Ca^++)$-ATPase was predominant over that of $Mg^++$-ATPase in the temperature range of $0 \\sim 40^\\circ C$ and in the pH 6.4$\\sim$7.6. At higher temperatures the predominance of $(Mg^++ - Ca^++)$-ATpase was far greater. The apparent energies of activation were 14 kcal/mole for $Mg^++$-ATPase, 21kcal/mole for $(Mg^++ - Ca^++)$-ATPase, and 18kcal/mole for total ATPase. Changes in pH and Mg concentration did not alter the energies of activation of these ATPases. The Km values of these ATPases were found to be 0.36 mM for $Mg^++$-ATPase, 2.20 mM for $(Mg^++ - Ca^++)$-ATpase, and 0.86 mM for total ATPase.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2011

A total of 286 individuals from 3 selected communities (Areedi-Aje, Ipakodo/Ojokodo, and Ijebu-Igbo) of Ijebu-North, southwestern Nigeria were examined for Loa loa microfilaremia using finger prick blood smear, between December 2008 and March 2009. Rapid assessment procedure for loiasis (RAPLOA) was used to obtain information, from 187 Ijebu-Igbo residents, on adverse reactions experienced from retrospective treatments with ivermectin and history of eye worm. Only 33.9% of the respondents reported having had a history of eye worm while 33.2% had microfilaremia. The demographic factor of gender was not significant determinants of the prevalence (p>0.05) while age was significant (P<0.05). The highest prevalence of eye worm history and microfilaremia were recorded in 61-70 and 15-20 years of age categories, respectively. Ijebu-Igbo had 27.3% eye worm history, 32.1% microfilaremia, and the highest intensity of 140 microfilariae (mf)/ml. Ipakodo area had the highest eye worm history of 54.4% and the highest intensity of 420 mf/ml. Areedi-Aje had the highest occurrence of 45.2% microfilaremia and the highest intensity of 460 mf/ml. Predictably, Areedi-Aje and Ipakodo areas were high risk communities. The low intensity of L. loa infection with an insignificant (2.1%; P>0.05) adverse reactions from 187 subjects involved in the retrospective ivermectin administration confirmed that ivermectin delivery may be considered safe. The community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) programme was most probably responsible for the low prevalence and intensity.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2015

Objectives: Condurango (Gonolobus condurango) extract is used by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners as a traditional medicine, including homeopathy, mainly for the treatment of syphilis. Condurango bark extract is also known to reduce tumor volume, but the underlying molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. Methods: Using a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) as our model, the molecular events behind condurango extract's (CE's) anticancer effect were investigated by using flow cytometry, immunoblotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Other included cell types were prostate cancer cells (PC3), transformed liver cells (WRL-68), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Results: Condurango extract (CE) was found to be cytotoxic against target cells, and this was significantly deactivated in the presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that its action could be mediated through ROS generation. CE caused an increase in the HeLa cell population containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage at the G zero/Growth 1 (G0/G1) stage. Further, CE increased the tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and the fas receptor (FasR) levels both at the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the protein levels, indicating that CE might have a cytotoxic mechanism of action. CE also triggered a sharp decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) both at the RNA and the protein levels, a possible route to attenuation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caused an opening of the mitochondrial membrane's permeability transition (MPT) pores, thus enhancing caspase activities. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest possible pathways for CE mediated cytotoxicity in model cancer cells.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 1974

The metabolism of CdR-2-$^14 C$ and UdR-2-$^14 C$ in mouse small intestine has been studied in connection with the effect of heat treatment on the enzymes concerned in vitro. CdR-2-$^14 C$ is deaminated reaidly by CdR-aminohydrolase at nucleoside level and then degraded into U by the action of nucleosidase which is quite resistant to cleave N-pentose bond of cytosine nucleosides, CdR and CR. High inactivation temperature of $80^\\circC$ was observed for CdR-aminohydrolase, while nucleosidase has an inactivation temperature of $60^\\circC$. CdR-aminohydrolases in various tissues of mouse were inactivated at $80^\\circC$, but not one in tissues of rabbit. It might be assumed that there are correlations between order specificity and inactivation temperature of the enzyme. A physiological significance of the appearance of CdR-aminohydrolase in differentiated tissues of mammals possibly be regarded as a main function in catabolic pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.294-306
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• 1986

In order to find out whether myoblast cells release into the culture medium any substances that induce or promote the fusion of myoblasts, chick embryonic myoblasts were cultured and the cultured medium (muscle-conditioned medium, MCM) was collected. The MCM was then added to the newly cultured myoblasts to examine if it has fusion-promoting activity. The MCM was also analyzed for its protein content before and after its addition to the second culture. The MCM apparently showed fusion-promoting activity when applied to unfused young myoblasts, suggesting that it contained substances that promote the fusion and that had been released from cells fo the previous culture. Analysis of proteins in the myoblasts and in the MCM suggested that the released protein was absorbed by or tightly bound to myoblasts of the second culture. One of the released proteins of about 175 kilodalton was degraded to a polypeptide of approximately 145 kilodalton, which appeared to act upon the membrane proteins of unfused myoblasts so as to stimulate their membrane to fuse with neighboring cells.