• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2717-2722
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• 2013

Background: The objective of this research is the computed axial tomography (CT) imaging grading of radiation induced pneumonitis (RP) and its correlation with clinical and radiotherapeutic parameters. Materials and Methods: The chest CT films of 20 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have undergone threedimensional conformal radiation therapy were reviewed. The proposed CT grading of RP is supported on solely radiological diagnosis criteria and distinguishes five grades. The manifestation of RP was also correlated with any positive pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) history, smoking history, the FEV1 value, and the dosimetric variable V20. Results: The CT grading of RP was as follows: 3 patients (15%) presented with ground glass opacity (grade 1), 9 patients (45%) were classified as grade 2, 7 patients (35%) presented with focal consolidation, with or without elements of fibrosis (grade 3), and only one patient (5%) presented with opacity with accompanying atelectasis and loss of pulmonary volume (grade 4). Both univariate and multivariate analysis revealed as prognostic factors for the radiological grading of RP the reduction of FEV1 and the V20 (P=0.026 and P=0.003, respectively). There was also a significant (P<0.001) correlation of radiological grading of RP with FEV1 and V20 (spearman rho 0.92 and 0.93, respectively). Conclusions: The high correlation of the proposed radiological grading with the FEV1 and the V20 is giving a satisfactory clinical validity. Although the proposed grading scale seems relevant to clinical practice, further studies are needed for the confirmation of its validity and reliability.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1180-1189
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• 2020

This study attempted to investigate the physiological activities of Passiflora caerulea extract and provide basic data needed to verify its availability as an inner beauty material. To examine its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects, the followings were measured: total polyphenol contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, cytotoxicity and NO inhibition effects in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and HDF cells and MMP-1 inhibitory effects in HDF cells. The results found the followings: First, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were great with 157 mg/g and 173.5 mg/g respectively at 10mg/mL, and DPPH radical scavenging activity was confirmed. In RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and HDF cells, no cytotoxicity was observed for Passiflora caerulea extract. In addition, 69.3% anti-inflammatory effects were found at 100 ㎍/mL through NO inhibition in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, a significant inhibition of MMP-1 expression in HDF cell was confirmed. The above results confirmed the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Passiflora caerulea extract, low toxicity on skin cells and its anti-aging effects by inhibiting MMP-1 expression. Therefore, it appears that Passiflora caerulea extract would be available as diverse inner beauty materials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10949-10955
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• 2015

Liver cancer is one of leading digestive malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies for this deadly disease. It has been proven that asparagus polysaccharide, one of the most active derivates from the traditional medicine asparagus, possesses notable antitumor properties. However, little is known about the efficacy of asparagus polysaccharide as an adjuvant for liver cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we reported that asparagus polysaccharide and its embolic agent form, asparagus gum, significantly inhibited liver tumor growth with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor model, while significantly inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. Moreover, asparagine gelatinous possessed immunomodulatory functions and showed little toxicity to the host. These results highlight the chemotherapeutic potential of asparagus polysaccharide and warrant a future focus on development as novel chemotherapeutic agent for liver cancer TACE therapy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.657-667
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• 2015

Cyanobacteria frequently dominate the freshwater phytoplankton community in eutrophic waters. Cyanotoxins can be classified according to toxicity as neurotoxin (Anatoxin-a, Anatoxin-a(s), Saxitoxins) or hepatotoxin (microcystins, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin). Microcystins are present within cyanobacterial cells generally, and they are extracted by the damage of cell membrane. It has been reported that cyanotoxins caused adverse effects and they are acculmulated in aquatic oganisms of lake, river and ocean. In natural, microcystins are removed by biodegradation of microorganisms and/or feeding of predators. However, in process of water treatment, the use of copper sulfate to remove algal cells caused extraction of a mess of microcystins. Microcysitns are removed by physical, chemical and biological methods according to reports. The reduction of nutrients (N and P) inflow is basic method of prevention of cyanobacteria bloom formation. However, it is less effective than investigation because nutrients already present in the eutrophic lake. In natural lake, cyanobacteria bloom are not formed because macrophytes invade from coastal lake by eutrophication. Therefore, a coastal lake has to recover to prevent of cyanobacteria bloom formation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2004

The quantification of the toxicological effects of the heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Zn on the growth of Escherichia coli was performed, and the variations of toxicwith exposure time were evaluated in adaptation procedure. The characteristics of growth inhibition on Escherichia coli by heavy metals were different with metal species, and critical concentration of each metal, which inhibited cell growth completely, were Cu of 3.5 mM, Zn of 2.5 mM, Cd of 1.5 mM, Cr of 1.2 mM, and Hg of 0.12 mM, respectively. The tolerance of E. coli against heavy metals, based on $EC_{50}$ values, increased in order of Cu > Zn > Cr > Cd > Hg. The slopes obtained from the relationship between ECso values and expose time corresponds to adaptability of test organisms to the toxicants. The adaptability of test organisms to the toxicants was much higher at higher slope values. Adaptability of E. coli on heavy metals increased in order to Zn > Cd > CU >> Cr> Hg.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2012

The individual toxicity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) has been investigated by using the sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) germ cell and pluteus-larvae. The gametotoxic and embryotoxic effects of Pb and Zn on H. pulcherrimus were each investigated at 31, 63, 125, 250, 500 ppb and 16, 31, 63, 125, 250 ppb, respectively. Spawning was induced by 0.5 M KCl solution and the fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. In exposure to Pb, the fertilization rate was not significantly changed compared with control but normal embryogenesis rate was significantly decreased with concentration dependent manner. Fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates showed a significant decreased with concentration dependent manner in exposed to Zn. The normal embryogenesis rates were significantly inhibited in exposed to Pb ($EC_{50}$=45.13 ppb, 95% Cl=40.12~50.05 ppb) and Zn ($EC_{50}$=19.82 ppb, 95% Cl=18.26~21.31 ppb). In exposure to Pb and Zn, the NOEC of normal embryogenesis rate was <31.25 and <15.63 ppb, respectively. The LOEC showed each 31.25 and 15.63 ppb in exposed to Pb and Zn. These results suggest that the early embryo development of H. pulcherrimus is highly sensitive to heavy metals such as Pb and Zn, H. pulcherrimus can be used as a test organism for risk assessment in marine ecosystems.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.59-78
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• 2003

This research was conducted to determine the effects of chitosanoligosaccharide on liver poisoning induced by cadmium (Cd). Three groups of mice were used in this research. The first group was only injected with cadmium (5.0 mg/kg; i.p.) (group Cd) and the second one with cadmium and chitosanoligosaccharide (0.5% solution) at the same time (group Cd+Chi). The third one which had already been injeted with chitosanoligosaccharide (0.5% Solution) aweek before (group Ch7+Cd) was used. In order to investigate the inhibitory action of chitosanoligosaccharide on liver damage, enzyme activity in serum, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and glutathione reductase (GR) activity were relatively measured. In addition, histological observations were made to determine the morphologic injury of liver tissues. As the result of enzyme activity in serum, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in chitosanoligosaccharide-injected groups Cd+Chi and Chi7+Cd was lower than in group Cd. GSH-Px activity was sharply increased in groups Cd+Chi and Chi7+Cd compared to group Cd. GR activity was conspicuously decreased in groups Cd+Chi and Chi7+Cd compared to group Cd. As the result of light microscopic observation, liver cell necrosis caused by cadmium poisoning was obseved in liver cells. The finding of group Cd+Chi and Chi7+Cd was similar total on of normal groups. As the result of electron microscopic observation, mitochondria in group Cd showed a severe swelling phenomenon, RER fragment and ribosome dropout. However, in groups Cd+Chi and Chi7+Cd, mitochondria wiht high electron density were distributed and RER forming a typical lamellae with ribosome was observed. From these results, cadmium toxicity on rat liver tissues could be lessened by chitosanoligosaccharide.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2008

Purpose: The Gated cardiac blood pool scan is non-invasive method that a quantitative evaluation of left ventricular function. Also this scan have shown the value of radionuclide ejection fraction measurements during the course of chemotherapy as a predictor of cardiac toxicity. Therefore a reliable method of monitoring its cardiotoxic effects is necessary. the purpose of this study is to minimize the overestimate of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by modified body position to reduce the influence of scattered rays from surrounding organs of the heart in the background region of interest. Materials and Methods: Gated cardiac blood pool scan using in vivo $^{99m}Tc$-red blood cell (RBC) was carried out in 20 patients (mean $44.8{\pm}8.6$ yr) with chemotherapy for a breast carcinoma. Data acquisition requires about 600 seconds and 24 frames of one heart cycle by the multigated acquisition mode, Synchronization deteriorates toward the end of the cycle and with the distance from the trigger signal (R-wave) by ECG gating. Gated cardiac blood pool scan was studied with conventional method (supine position and the detector head in $30-45^{\circ}$ left anterior oblique position and caudal $10-20^{\circ}$ tilt) and compared with modified method (left lateral flexion position with 360 mL of drinking water). LVEF analysis was performed by using the automatically computer mode. Results: The ROI counts of modified scan method were lower than LV conventional method ($1429{\pm}251$ versus $1853{\pm}243$, <0.01). And LVEF of modified method was also decrease compared with conventional method ($58.3{\pm}5.6%$ versus $65.3{\pm}6.1%$, <0.01). Imaging analysis indicated that stomach was expanded because of water and spleen position was changed to lateral inferior compared with conventional method. Conclusion: This study shows that the modified method in MUGA reduce the influence of scattered rays from surrounding organs. Because after change the body position to left lateral flexion and drinking water, the location of spleen, left lobe of liver and stomach had changed and they could escaped from background ROI. Therefore, modified method could help to minimize the overestimate LVEF (%).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2004

Sexually matured guppies (Poeiria reticulata) were exposed to TBTCI (0.1, 0.32, 1, 3.2, 10, 25, 32, 50, 75 and 100 $\mug/l$) for 144 hours to determine the bioaccumulation rate and effects on the reproduction and behavior. The ratio of TBT residues to $\SigmaBTs\; (TBT:\SigmaBTs)$ was 67% or higher in all the guppies exposed to TBTCl, and the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the higher the ratio of TBT:∑BTs, suggesting that the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the lower the metabolism rate of the fish. TBTCl exposure led to a poor reproductivity and an abnormal sexual behavior in the fish, i.e. a reduced number of the male sexual sigmoid display and of spermatophore in the efferent duct was observed in the fish exposed to 0.1 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, and a decreasing ratio of the testicular spermatophore cyst to the whole germ cell cysts was observed in the fish exposed to 0.32∼10 $\mug/l$)of TBTCl. The reduced ratio of the spermatophore cyst seems to be an effect of the endocrine disrupter inhibiting spermiogenesis. In the fish exposed to 25 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, more serious effects, such as a rapid increase of mortality, the necrosis of most of the germ cells, great damages in Sertoli cells and epithelial cells of the efferent duct, a significant increase of abnormal swimming behavior, and a cessation of feeding were observed, which suggest the acute toxicity of TBTCl inhibiting not only the reproduction and behavior but also the survival of the fish itself.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.518-526
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• 2015

Objectives This study investigated the effect of purified safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linne) and safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L. seed; CS) extract, using hot water and ethanol extract methods , on the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3E1 cells.Methods The safflower and safflower seed were extracted with hot water and ethanol. The samples were concentrated by a rotary evaporator and then freeze-dried using a freeze-dryer. The MC3T3E1 cells were propagated and maintained in DMEM (Gibco) containing 10% FBS and a 1% antibiotic antimycotic solution. To induce osteogenic differentiation, the cells were treated for 14 days with DMEM with 10 mM β-glycerophosphate and 50 μM ascorbic acid. Extract doses were confirmed by the results of an MTT assay, and treatment of the extracts was performed in a differentiation medium every two days. The ALP staining and activity were tested after osteogenic differentiation for five days, and after 14 days, osteogenic differentiation was determined by alizarin red S staining. The mRNA expressions of osteogenic-related genes were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR.Results In the results of the MTT assay, all concentrations of safflower extracts had no toxicity in the MC3T3El cells. But in the groups of 100 ng/ml and 200 ng/ml concentrations of safflower seed extracts, the cell viability was significantly reduced by up to 40-50%. So we fixed the treatment concentration of the extract at 50 ng/ml. In the ALP and alizarin red S staining, all extract groups increased osteogenic differentiation compared with the control group. The water-safflower extract group showed the highest mRNA level of Alp, Runx2, and Dlx5 genes. The mRNA level of Ocn, an osteogenic gene related to late-stage differentiation, in the ethanol-safflower extract group increased the mineralization more significantly than in other groups.Conclusions These data suggest that the extract of safflower increases the osteoblastic differentiation activates of MC3T3E1 cells like the extract of safflower seed. The water-extract and ethanol-extract of safflower have effects on different stages of osteogenesis in MC3T3El. Not only safflower seed but also safflower will be useful therapeutic reagents for age-associated chronic diseases such as osteoporosis.