• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.438-443
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• 2018

The emergence of biofilms have generated urgent alarm in clinical and medicine manufacturing fields engaged in the search for novel antimicrobials from ethno-medicinal plants. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has estimated that 70% of all microbial infections in the world are associated with biofilms. In addition, the emergence of strains resistant to conventional antibiotics has become a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, finding alternative medicines is a major issue in the field of integrative medicine. In this study, four different herb extracts were screened for biofilm formation and the activities of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Of them, Scutellaria scordifolia Fisch. ex Schrank extracts had inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The Scutellaia scordifolia Fisch. ex Schrank extracts did not cause any cytotoxicity to L929 cells. The growth of K. pneumoniae was inhibited compared to other comparators in the experimental group containing Scutellaia scordifolia Fisch. ex Schrank. In a group of experiments with plant extracts, a maximum of 60 times the level of living bacteria was confirmed compared to the controls without the addition of the Scutellaia scordifolia Fisch. ex Schrank extracts. In a group of experiments with a significantly lower level of fluorescence extraction, differential interference contrast imaging showed that the number of K. pneumonae was reduced. These results suggest that extracts of this plant be applied as antimicrobial agents against K. pneumoniae, particularly in biofilm forms.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2019

The needs for precise diagnostics and farm management-decision aids have increased to reduce the risk of climate change and environmental stress. Crop simulation models have been widely used to search optimal solutions for effective cultural practices. However, limited knowledge on physiological responses to environmental variation would make it challenging to apply crop simulation models to a wide range of studies. Advanced research facilities would help investigation of plant response to the environment. In the present study, the sunlit controlled environment chambers, known as Korean SPAR (Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research) system, was developed by renovating existing SPAR system. The Korean SPAR system controls and monitors major environmental variables including atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and soil moisture. Furthermore, plants are allowed to grow under natural sunlight. Key physiological and physical data such as canopy photosynthesis and respiration, canopy water and nutrient use over the whole growth period are also collected automatically. As a case study, it was shown that the Korean SPAR system would be useful for collection of data needed for understanding the growth and developmental processes of a crop, e.g., soybean. In addition, we have demonstrated that the canopy photosynthetic data of the Korean SPAR indicate the precise representation of physiological responses to environment variation. As a result, physical and physiological data obtained from the Korean SPAR are expected to be useful for development of an advanced crop simulation model minimizing errors and confounding factors that usually occur in field experiments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.266-279
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• 2021

The present study examined the cytotoxic effects of a Smilax china L. extract (SCLE) in human cancer (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74, and SNU-601) and normal MRC-5 fibroblasts, as well as in mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissue (DSC). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for SCLE were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the cancer cell lines (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74 and SNU-601) than in the MRC-5 and DSC cells. Cell growth was significantly (p<0.05) more inhibited in the cancer cell lines treated with 200 ㎍/ml SCLE than in the normal MRC-5 and DSC, and anoikis-like floating cell morphology was observed in the SCLE-treated cancer cells. The cells detached by SCLE treatment were retrieved daily and assayed for viability and telomerase activity. Cells retrieved at 4 days showed significantly decreased viability and telomerase activity (p<0.05), as well as apoptosis-like abnormal morphology, when compared to cells retrieved in the previous 3 days. The ratio of apoptosis and cells in the G1 phase was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the A-549, AGS, and MCF-7 cancer cells treated with SCLE for 4 days compared to untreated controls. However, after SCLE treatment, cell adhesion was not increased by application of an inhibitor of the associated protein kinase (ROCK) that mainly contributes to the increase in cell attachment. This suggests that the cellular detachment by SCLE is probably controlled by a Rho-independent mechanism(s). These observations indicate that SCLE readily induces anoikis in cancer cells and could serve as a potent agent for cancer chemotherapy.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.6 s.101
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• pp.419-435
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate growth changes and skeletal characteristics of Korean children with Class III malocclusions from 10 to 14 years of skeletal age. Radiographs of 60 children with Class III malocclusion and 60 normal controls were assessed. Both groups were subdivided into 6 samples according to sex and skeletal age. Skeletal age was assessed using handwrist X-rays using the Greulich and Pyle norms. The Krogman-Walker plane (occipitale-maxillon) through Sella was used as a reference plane in this study with x-axis perpendicular to the x-axis. Sir Student t-tests were conducted to compare the control group with the Class III group according to each gender a:nd age. The characteristics of Class III malocclusion group compared to the control group included shorter anterior and posterior cranial base, shorter and retrusive maxilla, forger mandible, increased molar-incisor distance, retroclined lower incisors, labially proclined upper incisors, and anteriorly located mandibular molar, smaller upper and middle facial depth, and larger lower facial depth. Landmarks representing facial depth, size of maxilla and mandible, and their AP relationship including anterior facial height indicate that growth characteristic was determined early in life. But growth Pattern of cranial base and some of the dental landmarks showed progressive divergence between Control and Class III groups with age. The position of the posterior border of the mandible was found to be significantly forward in both females and males by the age of 14 and at the anterior border in males and females at all ages. Hyperdivergent mandibular plane, changes in anterior segment of mandible, small anterior cranial base, and decrease in cranial base flexure was also noted.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.499-510
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• 2006

Malignant tumors of the human salivary glands may arise from major or minor salivary glands. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant neoplasm in the salivary glands. ACC is occasionally highly aggressive tumor that readily invades adjacent tissues and metastasize to distant organs at early stages of the disease. Although ACC tends to grow slowly, treatment outcome may be poor due to wide local infiltration, perineural or intraneural spread and a propensity for hematogenous metastasis. Therefore, knowledge of cellular and molecular characteristics that influence the growth, survival and metastasis of tumor cells, is important for new treatment strategies of salivary ACC. I determined expressions of epiderma growth factor (EGF)-signaling molecules using surgical specimens of human ACCs. Protein expressions of EGF, transforming growth $factor(TGF)-{\alpha}$, EGF receptor (EGFR), phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR), and human EGF receptor (HER)-2 were assessed in 18 cases of salivary ACC by immunohistochemical staining. Adjacent normal salivary tissues and mucosal tissues, uninvolved by the malignant tumor, served as internal controls. Most of the tumors, especially ACC with a tubulocribriform pattern, were positive for EGF signaling molecules. The overall percentages of the 18 specimens expressing EGF, $TGF-{\alpha}$, EGFR, pEGFR, and HER2 were 50, 89, 61, 61 and 83% respectively. Moreover, tumor-associated endothelial cells and infiltrating immune-related cells in the stroma of ACC, also expressed these biomarkers. Taken together, EGF-signaling molecules are actively expressed in salivary ACC. Therefore, we suggest that these biomarkers can be molecular targets for new treatment strategies of salivary tumors.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

The toxic assessment of the PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-209) has been comprehensively investigated by using the rates of survival and population growth in the marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis. Chiefly, the survival rate was determined after a measurement of 24 hours of exposure to the BDE-47 (2,2'4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether) and the BDE-209 (2,2',4,4'-Decabromodiphenyl ether) was performed. The BDE-47 reduced survival rate in dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction were noted to have occurred at a concentration of greater than $3.9mg\;L^{-1}$, but the BDE-209 had no effect which was subsequently observed in this study. The population growth rate (r) was determined after 72 hours of exposure to toxicants in the study. It was observed that the r value in the controls (absence PBDEs) was greater than 0.5, and that it decreased as the dose-dependent manner as recorded. The survival rate when exposed to BDE-47 and BDE-209, $EC_{50}$ value was $13mg\;L^{-1}$ and $>1,000mg\;L^{-1}$, and population growth rate was $3.67mg\;L^{-1}$ and $862.75mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Therefore, the BDE-47 is considered to be 76-235 times more harmful than the BDE-209 as noted. In this study, the ecotoxicological bioassay using a noted survival rate and population growth rate of B. plicatilis can be used as a baseline data for the continued establishment of the environmental quality standard of the incidences of the BDE-47 and BDE-209 in a marine environment.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2002

The biological activities of immune modulating activities of the extracts from Echinacea purpurea, Chrysanthmum indicum L. and Circium japonicum var. ussuriense KITAMURA were compared. About 70% of the growth of human hepatocarcinoma and 80% of human gastric cancer cell was inhibited in adding 0.5mg/ml of the ethanol extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Chrysanthmum indicum L. and Circium japonicum var. ussuriense KITAMURA, respectively. The growth of human breast cancer cells was also inhibited in adding 0.5mg/ml of the extracts as well as 60% of the human cancer cells. It was proved that the growth of human normal lung cell, scored as 15% for the extracts. Overall selectivity of the extracts on several human cancer cell line was over 3, which is higher than those from the conventional herbs. The growth of both human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.4 to 2.0 times by adding the extracts, compared to the controls. The secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-alpha(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cell was also increased up to 94 pg/ml in adding the Echinacea purpurea ethanol extract (0.5mg/ml). Circium japonicum var. ethanol extract also increased up to about 96 pg/ml of interleukin-6(IL-6) from B cell.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

Background : Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from chronic inhalation of coal dust. The precise mechanism of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis is uncertain. However, a relationship between the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production by mediators released from in flammatory and resident lung cells is thought to be a major factor. The transforming growth factor-$\beta$(TGF-$\beta$), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in the scarring and fibrotic processes due to its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. To determine the involvement of TGF-$\beta$ in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in plasma was measured in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Methods : Plasma was collected from 40 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (20 with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 20 with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis) and from 10 normal controls. The ELISA method was used to measure the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration. Results : Compared to the control group ($0.63{\pm}01.8$ ng/mL), there was no significant difference in the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis ($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL) (p>0.05). However, in patients with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion : The data suggests that TGF-${\beta}_1$ has some influence in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2003

The biological activities of extracts from Rubus coreanus Miq. were compared. About 70% of the growth of human hepatocarcinoma and 79% of human gastric cancer cell was inhibited in adding 1.0 mg/ml of the extracts of Rubus coreanus Miq. respectively. The growth of human breast cancer cells was also inhibited in adding 1.0 mg/ml of the extracts as well as 78% of the human cancer cells. It was proved that the growth of human normal lung cell, scored as 15% for the extracts. Overall selectivity of the extracts on several human cancer cell line was over 5, which is higher than those from the Rubus coreanus Miq. The growth of both human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.4 to 1.8 times by adding the extracts, compared to the controls. The secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-alpha(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cell was also increased up to 78.8 pg/ml in adding the ethanol extract (0.5 mg/ml). Ethanol extract also increased up to about 70 pg/ml of interleukin-6(IL-6) from B cell. For screening regulate function of blood pressure, angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) activity was inhibited up to 25% by adding the ethanol extract (1.0 mg/ml). In testing the hypoglycemic activity, 20% of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity was inhibited for the extracts (0.5 mg/ml). GST activity was increased in the range of 1.2 to 1.6 times by adding extracts.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2003

The biological activities of extracts from Rosa rugosae Radix were compared. About 78% of the growth of human hepato- carcinoma and 68% of human gastric cancer cell was inhibited in adding 0.5 mg/ml of the extracts of Rosa rugosae Radix respectively. The growth of human breast cancer cells was also inhibited in adding 0.5 mg/ml of the extracts as well as 66% of the human cancer cells. It was proved that the growth of human normal lung cell, scored as 20% for the extracts. Overall selectivity of the extracts on several human cancer cell line was over 4, which is higher than those from the Rosa rugosae Radix. The growth of both human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.2 to 1.5 times by adding the extracts, compared to the controls. The secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha$(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cell was also increased up to 61.9 pg/ml in adding the ethanol extract (0.5 mg/ml). Ethanol extract also increased up to about 61.3 pg/ml of interleukin-6(IL-6) from B cell.