• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.219-226
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• 2015

The anticancer activity of a methanolic extract from lemon leaves (MLL) was assessed in MCF-7-SC human breast cancer stem cells. MLL induced apoptosis in MCF-7-SC, as evidenced by increased apoptotic body formation, sub-G1 cell population, annexin V-positive cells, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as proteolytic activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Concomitantly, MLL induced the formation of acidic vesicular organelles, increased LC3-II accumulation, and reduced the activation of Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K, suggesting that MLL initiates an autophagic progression in MCF-7-SC via the Akt/mTOR pathway. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical step in the acquisition of the metastatic state, is an attractive target for therapeutic interventions directed against tumor metastasis. At low concentrations, MLL induced anti-metastatic effects on MCF-7-SC by inhibiting the EMT process. Exposure to MLL also led to an increase in the epithelial marker E-cadherin, but decreased protein levels of the mesenchymal markers Snail and Slug. Collectively, this study provides evidence that lemon leaves possess cytotoxicity and anti-metastatic properties. Therefore, MLL may prove to be beneficial as a medicinal plant for alternative novel anticancer drugs and nutraceutical products.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.41-46
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• 2012

Arabinoxylan (Ara) rice bran has been shown to be a potent biological response modifier as manifested by stimulation of different arms of the immune system. We examined the effects of Ara rice bran and exercise on the immune function and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rats. As the results, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ as representative inflammatory cytokines showed a significantly lower in Ara supplement group, thus the Ara rice bran had a higher inhibitory activity than the both exercise and control group. However, 4 weeks of exercise training significantly increased inflammatory reactions rather than treatment with Ara in LPS-treated rats. The Ara rice bran acted to decrease the inflammatory reaction. These results suggest that the supplement of Ara rice bran is likely contribute to inflammation response and the Ara rice bran can be used as a possible safe alternative to the immunotherapeutic modalities.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.224-232
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• 2008

The health benefits associated with tea consumption have resulted in the wide inclusion of green tea extracts in botanical dietary supplements, which are widely consumed as adjuvants for complementary and alternative medicines. Tea contains polyphenols such as catechins or flavan-3-ols including (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), as well as the alkaloid, caffeine. The contents of catechins and caffeine in green tea are considered as a standard of quality evaluation of green tea. Therefor, the purpose of this study was to investigate the most suitable HPLC condition for simultaneous determination of catechins and caffeine in green tea extracts. The efficient HPLC analytical condition of catechins and caffeine contained green tea extracts was developed. The gradient elution employed a $250\;mm\;{\times}\;4.6\;mm$ i.d. YMC-pak ODS-AM 303 column. The gradient system was used two mobile phases. A gradient elution was performed with mobile phase A, consisting of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid, and mobile phase B, comprising 100% MeOH, and delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL/min as follows: $0{\sim}25\;min$, 80% A; $26{\sim}50\;min$, $80{\sim}70%$ A; 51 min, 80% A. $51{\sim}55\;min$, 80% A. The UV detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. The limit of detection (LOD) for catechins and caffeine standards were under 50 ng/mL.

• Development and Reproduction
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2001

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been known to play a role in the regulation of hCG secretion by human placenta. Recently, a gene encoding the second f개m of GnRH (GnRH-II) was identified in human. Herein, we demonstrate that GnRH-II is expressed in human placenta and assess GnRH-II expression by nested RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in human placenta during the first trimester. We found that two altematively spliced transcripts of GnW-II mRNA were expressed in human placental tissues of first trimester and the shorter variant had a 21-bp deletion in GnRH-associated peptide (GAP). Immunoreactive GnRH-II was localized in both cytotrophoblastic and syncytiotrophoblastic cytoplasm. The immunostaining intensity was stronger in cytotrophoblast. Villous stromal cells also showed GnRH-II immunoreactiyiry. The results of our study report that the second isoform of GnRH (GnRH-II) is expressed in the first trimester human placenta and we suggest that GnRH-II may also play a regulatory role in maintenance of early pregnancy and hCG secretion in human placenta.

• Development and Reproduction
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.163-172
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• 2009

Some organotin compounds such as butyltins and phenyltins are known to induce impo-sex in various marine animals and are considered to be endocrine disruptors. In this study, the effect of organotins on follicular steroidogenesis in amphibians was examined using ovarian follicles of Rana dybowskii and Rana catesbeiana. Isolated follicles were cultured for 6 or 18 h in the presence and absence of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or various steroid precursors, and the levels of product steroids in the culture media oassay. Among the butyltin compounds, tributyltin (TBT) strongly and dose-dependently inhibited the FPH-induced synthesis of pregnenolone ($P_5$) and progesterone ($P_4$) by the follicles. TBT also strongly suppressed the conversion of cholesterol to $P_5$ and partially suppressed the conversion of $P_5$ to $P_4$. A high concentration of dibutyltin (DBT) also inhibited steroidogenesis by the follicles while monobutyltin and tetrabutyltin had negligible effects. The toxic effect of TBT or DBT was irreversible and a short time of exposure (30 min) was enough to suppress steroidogenesis. All the phenyltin compounds significantly inhibited FPH-induced $P_5$ synthesis by the follicles. The effective dose of 50% inhibition by diphenyltin was $0.04\;{\mu}M$ and those of monophenyltin and triphenyltin were $0.24\;{\mu}M$ and $0.3\;{\mu}M$, respectively. However, none of the phenyltin compounds significantly suppressed the conversion of $P_4$ to $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) (by $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase), $17{\alpha}$-OHP to androstenedione (AD) (by $C_{17-20}$ lyase), or AD to testosterone by the follicles. Taken together, the data show that among the steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc in the follicles is the most sensitive to organotin compounds and that an amphibian follicle culture system can be a useful screening model for endocrine disruptors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2009

One of the most extensively studied populations of multipotent adult stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs derived from the human umbilical cord vein (HUC-MSCs) are morphologically and immunophenotypically similar to MSCs isolated from bone marrow. HUC-MSCs are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. Since neural tissue has limited intrinsic capacity of repair after injury, the identification of alternate sources of neural stem cells has broad clinical potential. We isolated mesenchymal-like stem cells from the human umbilical cord vein, and studied transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells. Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation of HUC-MSCs was also studied. Neural differentiation was induced by adding bFGF, EGF, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in N2 medium and N2 supplement. The immunoreactive cells for $\beta$-tubulin III, a neuron-specific marker, GFAP, an astrocyte marker, or Gal-C, an oligodendrocyte marker, were found. HUC-MSCs treated with bFGF, SHH and FGF8 were differentiated into dopaminergic neurons that were immunopositive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody. HUC-MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly showed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including NeuroD1, $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and nestin was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. While the stem cell markers such as SCF, C-kit, and Stat-3 were not expressed after neural differentiation, we confirmed the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons by TH/$\beta$-tubulin III positive cells. In conclusion, HUC-MSCs can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUC-MSCs are alternative cell source of therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.295-300
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• 2009

Statement of problem: As the number of elders is growing with the advancement of medicine, partially or fully edentulous patients have increased. Medically compromised conditions are common in the older population so that it should be taken into account in prosthetic treatment planning as well as their economic conditions. In the older patients, removable prosthesis has been preferred to implant prosthesis. However, cast metal based removable partial dentures also has several limitations. Purpose: In this report, we present several cases of Valplast$^{(R)}$ flexible denture which were fabricated in patients who had medically compromised conditions or whose remaining teeth showed a relatively poor prognosis. Results & Conclusion: This article describes an alternative treatment for a partially edentulous patient with mouth opening limitation, after cancer surgery, compromised general condition and questionable remaining teeth. In these patients, Valplast$^{(R)}$ flexible denture was used because of its unique characteristics and the results were all satisfactory. Patients had 1-2 check-up and there were no postoperative pain or fracture of denture up to now.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.1048-1053
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• 2017

Objective: The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of cacao bean husk as bedding material in free-stall barn on the behavior, productivity, and udder health of dairy cattle, and on the ammonia concentrations in the barn. Methods: Four different stall surfaces (no bedding, cacao bean husk, sawdust, and chopped wheat straw) were each continuously tested for a period of 1 week to determine their effects on nine lactating Holstein cows housed in the free-stall barn with rubber matting. The lying time and the milk yield were measured between d 4 and d 7. Blood samples for plasma cortisol concentration and teat swabs for bacterial counts were obtained prior to morning milking on d 7. The time-averaged gas-phase ammonia concentrations in the barn were measured between d 2 and d 7. Results: The cows spent approximately 2 h more per day lying in the stalls when bedding was available than without bedding. The milk yield increased in the experimental periods when cows had access to bedding materials as compared to the period without bedding. The lying time was positively correlated with the milk yield. Bacterial counts on the teat ends recorded for cows housed on cacao bean husk were significantly lower than those recorded for cows housed without bedding. Ammonia concentration under cacao bean husk bedding decreased by 6%, 15%, and 21% as compared to no bedding, sawdust, and chopped wheat straw, respectively. The cortisol concentration was lowest in the period when cacao bean husk bedding was used. We observed a positive correlation between the ammonia concentrations in the barn and the plasma cortisol concentrations. Conclusion: Cacao bean husk is a potential alternative of conventional bedding material, such as sawdust or chopped wheat straw, with beneficial effects on udder health and ammonia concentrations in the barns.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.811-816
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum amount of Artemisia annua L. powder for adding rice flour. The A. annua powder was added to the rice flour at ratios of 1% (30 g/3 kg), 2% (60 g/3 kg), 3% (90 g/3 kg, w/w). As the amount of A. annua powder in rice cake dough increased, carbohydrate, ash content, total amino acid, and dietary fiber contents increased whereas the moisture content decreased. Hunter's L value decreased as A. annua powder content increased. On the contrary, the a- and b values increased. The sensory score of the rice cakes containing 30 g of A. annua powder was the highest of all the rice cakes tested. Based on these results, adding A. annua powder could improve the quality and sensory characteristics of rice cake.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.53-67
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• 2012

Improvisational music therapy is known to promote social engagement in children with autism. This study investigated salient features that characterize the engagement of the child with autism and the therapist in improvisational music therapy. Through video analysis of the children's behavior, this study sets out to investigate what engages children with autism into mutual play with the therapist in improvisational music therapy by measuring the shared musical elements between the child and the therapist during musical synchronicity episodes and the children's choice of instruments. A repeated measures, a crossover design was employed in two different conditions (n = 10). Children were randomly assigned into two groups; group 1 participated music therapy first, followed by play therapy second. Group 2 followed the reverse order. Specific target behaviors were analyzed in the selected sessions 1, 4, 8 and 12. As expected, improvisational music therapy produced markedly more and longer events of musical synchronicity in children with autism than the play sessions with toys (p < .001). Rhythm and dynamic appeared to be the two most salient elements during musical synchronicity events between the child and the therapist. Observational findings confirmed that horns and whistles were the most frequently selected instruments in music therapy, whereas a dollhouse set was in play therapy by children with autism. The clinical implications and the details of these findings are discussed further.