• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.874-885
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• 2012

In the present study, the possibility of whether the pharmacological effects of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts(SR) were favorably changed by report that lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury was treated with Red-Koji(Monascus purpureus 12002) fermentation. Three different dosages of Red-Koji fermented SR extract(fSR), 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS(Escherichia coli 0111:B4) treatments, and then 5 hours after LPS treatment(500 ${\mu}g$/head, intra trachea instillation), all rats were sacrificed. Changes in the body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters(pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents were observed with histopathology of the lung, changes on luminal surface of alveolus(LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs). As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. Especially fSR 125 mg/kg showed quite similar favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injuries as compared with 60 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and 250 mg/kg of SR. The results suggest that over 125 mg/kg of fSR extracts showed favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injury mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, increases of the pharmacological effects of SR on LPS-induced acute lung injury were observed by Red-Koji fermentation in this study, at least 2-fold higher.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.141-152
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• 2016

The demand to develop more safe and efficient methods for treating allergic patient is now continuously growing due to the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases. Probiotics are endogenous microbial flora that gives health benefits within hosts. Probiotics are now considered as one of solutions to treat allergic patients since recent evidence shows that some of probiotics have immunomodulatory function. Also, the treatment of probiotics to patients is relatively safer than other anti-inflammatory agents. In this review, we summarized on immunomodulatory function of some probiotics which show preventive or therapeutic effects on major allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, or food allergy. Based on previous literature, the treatment of probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of allergic diseases via balancing $Th_1/Th_2$ response or increasing the number of regulatory T ($T_{reg}$) cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2004

Background : Cyclooxygenase is the main target enzyme for the nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that have been shown to suppress carcinogenesis in both experimental models and epidemiological studies. COX-2 plays an important role in solid tumor growth, invasiveness and angiogenesis, through, in part, the synthesis of prostaglandins, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In this study, the prognostic significance of an increase in COX-2 expression in lung cancer samples was evaluated. Material and Methods : The expression of COX-2, by immunohistochemistry, was studied in paraffin-embedded tumor blocks obtained from 84 patients(male 67, female 17, with a mean age of 63, ranging from 34 to 84 years) who had undergone surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital, between 1997 and 2002. For the evaluation of the relationships between COX-2 expression, and the clinical stage, metastasis to lymph nodes and survival, those cases showing the respective antigen expression in >10% of the tumor cells were considered positive. Result : Of the 84 patients, 61 (73%) exhibited more than 10% COX-2 immunoreactivities in the tumor and normal cells, whereas the remaining 23 showed no increase in the expression of COX-2. There was no significant relationship between the increased expression of COX-2 and the disease stage(p=0.1002) or cell type(p=0.152). The median survival was longer for the patients with a negative, compared to positive, COX-2 expression(36 compared to 24 months, p<0.05). The two year-survival rate was also higher in the patients with a negative COX-2 expression (78%) than those with a positive expression (47%, Kaplan-Meier, Log Rank, p < 0.05). Conclusion : The median survival was longer in the patients with a negative, compared to positive, COX-2 expression was longer than those with positive COX-2, having undergone complete resection due to primary non-small cell lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1027-1034
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• 2017

The immune system is a complex process within the body that protects against disease. Recently, many studies have attempted to discover immunomodulative compounds from natural sources. Pinus koraiensis (PK) cone shell is a by-product of PK. One of the major compounds of PK cone shell is dehydroabietic acid, which has bioactivity, including antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the immunomodulative effects of PK cone shell. The immunomodulatory effects of PK cone shell extracted with 20% ethanol (EtOH) in vivo were examined initially by measuring the natural killer (NK) cell activity, phagocytic activity, Th1/Th2 cytokines release, serum immunoglobulin, and T/B cell proliferation. The NK cell activity and phagocytic activity were increased significantly by a treatment with a 20% EtOH extract of PK cone shell. Th1 type cytokine and T cell proliferation increased and Th2 type cytokine, B cell proliferation and serum immunoglobulin A, G, and E decreased after a treatment with PK cone shell extract. The 20% EtOH extract of the PK cone shell normalized the unbalanced production of Th1/Th2 type cytokine. This suggests that a 20% EtOH extract of PK cone shell has great potential as a health food.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2093-2097
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• 2016

Background: HCV is a major global health problem. IL-27 is a member of the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family with a broad range of anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies highlighted the effect of a SNP in the IL-27 promoter region on modulating the progression of infectious diseases and individual responses to therapy. Aim of the work: The present study investigated the potential role of (-964 A/G) SNP in the promoter region of IL-27p28 gene (alleles rs153109) on the outcome of HCV infection among genotype 4a infected patients. Materials and Methods: HCV genotyping confirmed that all of the HCV-infected patients had genotype 4a infection. Genomic DNA was extracted from 111 patients with chronic HCV infection, 42 spontaneous resolvers (SR) and 16 healthy controls. IL- 27p28.rs153109 genotyping was assessed using PCR-RFLP then confirmed by DNA sequencing. Results: The frequency of IL-27-p28.rs153109AA, AG, and GG genotypes among chronically infected subjects were 74.8 %, 25.2%, and 0% while among the SR, they were 57.1%, 35.7%, and 7.14%, respectively. Our data show the unique presence of G/G genotype in the SR group (3 patients; 7.14%). Moreover, the "G" allele frequencies among chronic and resolved subjects were 12.6% and 25.0%, respectively (p=0.0136). Importantly, subjects with the GG genotype were more likely to clear their HCV infection than those with the AA genotype (p=0.0118). Conclusions: HCV genotype 4a subjects with the IL-27-p28.rs153109 A/G and G/G genotype were more likely to clear their HCV infection. Therefore, we propose IL- 27p28.rs153109SNPas a genetic biomarker for predicting HCV infection outcome.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.40.1-40.14
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• 2016

Background: Due to the paucity of oceanic resources utilized in the preparation of diets for cultured fish, commercial feed producers have been trying to replace fishmeal (FM) using alternative protein sources such as vegetable protein meals (VMs). One of the main drawbacks of using VMs in fish feed is related to the presence of a variety of anti-nutritional factors, which could trigger an inflammation process in the distal intestine. This reduces the capacity of the enterocytes to absorb nutrients leading to reduced fish growth performances. Methods: We evaluated the mitigating effects of butyrate and taurine used as feed additives on the morphological abnormalities caused by a soybean meal (SBM)-based diet in the distal intestine of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). We used three experimental diets, containing the same low percentage of FM and high percentage of SBM; two diets were supplemented with either 0.2% sodium butyrate or taurine. Histological changes in the intestine of fish were determined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Infiltration of $CD45^+$ leucocytes in the lamina propria and in the submucosa was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We also quantified by One-Step Taqman$^{(R)}$ real-time RT-PCR the messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of a panel of genes involved in the intestinal mucosa inflammatory response such as $TNF{\alpha}$ (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and interleukins: IL-8, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-10, and IL-6. Results: Fish that received for 2 months the diet with 30% soy protein (16.7% SBM and 12.8% full-fat soy) developed an inflammation in the distal intestine, as confirmed by histological and immunohistochemistry data. The expression of target genes in the intestine was deeply influenced by the type of fish diet. Fish fed with taurine-supplemented diet displayed the lowest number of mRNA copies of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-8, and IL-10 genes in comparison to fish fed with control or butyrate-supplemented diets. Dietary butyrate caused an upregulation of the $TNF{\alpha}$ gene transcription. Among the quantified interleukins, IL-6 was the only one to be not influenced by the diet. Conclusions: Histological and gene expression data suggest that butyrate and taurine could have a role in normalizing the intestinal abnormalities caused by the SBM, but the underling mechanisms of action seem different.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.209-223
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• 2004

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Coptidis Rhizoma on the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in mice by intracerebroventricular(I.C.V.) injection of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Method: 6 mice were assigned to each of the Normal group, the Control group, and the individual Experimental groups. In the Normal group only saline was administered intragastrically, and in the Control group LPS was injected intracerebroventricularly 1 hr after intragastric administration of saline. In the Experimental groups Coptidis Rhizoma(0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg, 3.0g/kg) was administered intragastrically to mice 1 hr prior to LPS (100ng/mouse) I.C.V. Injection. To measure the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level of mice, their blood samples were collected from retro-orbital venous plexus, immediately centrifuged at $4^{\circ}C$, and plasma was removed and stored frozen at $-83^{\circ}C$ for later determination of plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Result: 1. LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma IL-6 level significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared with Normal group. (P<0.01) The plasma IL-6 concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS(100ng/mouse) I.C.V. Injection.(P<0.001) 2. Both the 0.5g/kg(Sample A) and 1.0g/kg(Sample B) groups to which Coptidis Rhizoma was administered intragastrically 1 hr prior to LPS(100ng/mouse) I.C.V. Injection showed insignificant lower plama IL-6 level in 1 hr than Control group(P>0.05), and 3.0g/kg group(Sample C) conversely showed higher plama IL-6 level than Control group. 3. LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared with Normal group.(P<0.05) The plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS(100ng/mouse) I.C.V. Injection.(P<0.001) 4. All Sample groups(0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg, and 3.0g/kg) to which Coptidis Rhizoma was administered intragastrically with each constituent-dose 1 hr prior to LPS(100ng/mouse) I.C.V. Injection showed significant lower $TNF-{\alpha}$ plama level in 1 hr than Control group.(P<0.001) These data revealed that Coptidis Rhizoma might have anti inflammatory effect by reducing the plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in a dose dependent manner in mice LPS I.C.V. Injection.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.195-208
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• 2004

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aconiti Tuber on the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in mice stimulated by intracerebroventricular(I.C.V.) Injection of Lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Method: 6 mice were assigned to each of the normal group, the control group, and the experimental group. In the normal group only saline was administered intragastrically, and in the control group LPS was injected intracerebro-ventricularly 1 hr after intragastric administration of saline. In the experimental groups (Aconiti Tuber 0.5g/kg, Aconiti Tuber 1.0g/kg, Aconiti Tuber 3.0g/kg) each sample was administered intragastrically to mice 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection. To measure the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level of mice, their blood samples were collected from retro-orbital plexus, immediately centrifuged at $4^{\circ}C$, and plasma was removed and stored frozen at $-83^{\circ}C$ for later determination of plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Result : 1. LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma IL-6 level significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared with normal group(P<0.01). The plasma IL-6 concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS I.C.V. Injection(P<0.001). LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level significantly in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05). The plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS I.C.V. Injection(P<0.001). 2. Sample A group to which Aconiti Tuber(0.5g/kg) was administered intragastrically 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection showed insignificant lower plasma IL-6 level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.0635), and sample B group (Aconiti Tuber 1.0g/kg) showed significant lower plasma IL-6 level in 1 hr than control group(P〈0.05), and sample C group (Aconiti Tuber 3.0g/kg) showed significant lower IL-6 plasma level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.01). 3. sample A group to which Aconiti Tuber(0.5g/kg) was administered intragastrically 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection showed insignificant lower plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in 1 hr than control group(P>0.05), and Both sample B(1.0g/kg) and sample C(3.0g/kg) groups showed significant lower $TNF-{\alpha}$ plasma level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.01). These data revealed that Aconiti Tuber might have the anti inflammatory effect by reducing the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in a dose dependent manner in mice LPS I.C.V. Injection.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1239-1247
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• 2020

Sedum kamtschaticum Fisch., a native plant of Korea, has been used in Korean traditional medicine in the form of water extract for its capacity to improve blood circulation and for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Since previous research suggests that S. kamtschaticum Fisch. has excellent antioxidant and mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activities, in this study, the root and stem parts of S. kamtschaticum Fisch. are extracted in 70% ethanol (SKS, SKR), fractionated with and in order of n-hexane (SSH), ethyl acetate (SSE, SRE), chloroform (SSC, SRC) and water (SSW, SRW) according to the polarity of each solvent, and tested for its applicability as a cosmetic material. According to the total polyphenol, flavonoid contents and DPPH radical scavenging activity of each fraction, the contents and scavenging activity of the root extractions (SKR) were higher than those of the stem extractions (SKS), ethyl acetate fractions (SSE, SRE) being the most effective. In addition, ethyl acetate fractions had the highest tyrosinase inhibition activity and melanin synthesis inhibition activity used on B16F10 melanoma cells, at the concentration of 10 ㎍/mL. HPLC analysis detected a variety of polyphenols including gallic acid and quercetin. This study suggests the potential role of S. kamtschaticum Fisch. as a natural cosmeceutical material.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.262-266
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• 2010

Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) is a major proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathophysiology of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Etanercept is an effective inhibitor of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and has shown a beneficial effect in patients with JRA. However, the most important cause of concern related to etanercept administration is infection. We report a case of encephalitis in a JRA patient receiving long-term treatment with etanercept. The patient was a 4-year-old boy with refractory JRA, and he received etanercept subcutaneously at a dose of $0.4\;mg\;kg^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ twice a week for 14 months, along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, oral steroids, and sulfasalazine. The patient presented with sudden fever, headache, vomiting, a generalized tonic seizure, and changes in mental status. We suspected a central nervous system infection, and simultaneously administered antibiotics, an antiviral agent, and steroids. After 2 days of hospitalization, his mental function returned to normal, and he showed no further seizure-like movements. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scan of the patient showed a multifocal cortical lesion on both sides of the temporoparietooccipital lobe, which indicated encephalitis. Although we were unable to identify the causative organism of encephalitis, we think that the encephalitis may be attributed to infection, and the use of etanercept may have increased the risk of severe infection. Therefore, etanercept was discontinued and the patient recovered shortly after. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of encephalitis in a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient treated with etanercept.