• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

Vitamin C (VC) is an important antioxidant and enzyme co-factor that works by stimulating the immune system and protecting against infections. It is well known that melanoma cells are more susceptible to VC than any other tumor cells. However, the role of VC in the treatment of colon cancer has not been studied. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a DNA damaging agent and is widely used for treating cancer, while the role of p53 in CDDP-induced cell death has been stressed. Using cell growth assays, morphological methods, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation analysis, we measured the expression of p53 level involved in the effect of VC on CDDP-induced apoptosis of HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line. CDDP plus VC treatment resulted in significantly increased apoptosis along with upregulation of p53 compared to untreated cells and/or CDDP-treated cells. These results suggest that VC enhanced CDDP sensitivity and apoptosis via upregulation of p53.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2003

Proteolytic enzymes existing in plant cell cultured media are the major reason for the loss of secreted human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF). The addition of pepstatin, aprotinin and PMSF relatively decreased the proteolytic degradation of hGM-CSF in a conditioned medium, but sufficient prevention against the proteolytic activity could not be obtained with chemical protease inhibitors. Gelatin, as a competitive substrate for protease, showed a stabilizing effect in a conditioned medium. Compared to the initial hGM-CSF concentration in a conditioned medium. with 10 g/L of gelatin, 68% of the hGM-CSF remained after 5 days. In a cell culture experiment, 5 g/L of gelatin significantly stimulated the hGM-CSF production and accumulation in culture media, with no growth inhibition. compared to the controls (4.72 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L), the extracellular hGM-CSF level could be increased to 39.78 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L with the addition of 5 g/L of gelatin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2022

Disulfiram (DSF) is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. DSF has potent anti-cancer activity for solid and hematological malignancies. Although the effects on cancer cells have been proven, there have been few studies on DSF toxicity in bone marrow cells (BMs). DSF reduces the metabolic activity and the mitochondrial membrane potential of BMs. In subset analyses, we confirmed that DSF does not affect the proportion of BMs. In addition, DSF significantly impaired the metabolic activity and differentiation of BMs treated with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, an essential growth and differentiation factor for BMs. To measure DSF toxicity in BMs in vivo, mice were injected with 50 mg/kg, a dose used for anti-cancer effects. DSF did not significantly induce BM toxicity in mice and may be tolerated by antioxidant defense mechanisms. This is the first study on the effects of DSF on BMs in vitro and in vivo. DSF has been widely studied as an anti-cancer drug candidate, and many anti-cancer drugs lead to myelosuppression. In this regard, this study can provide useful information to basic science and clinical researchers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.439-446
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• 2005

This study was conducted to elucidate the influence of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) on the plasma IGF-I profiles in deer stags. Slow release rBST (250mg each) preparations were injected subcutaneously during the antler's non-growing period and growing period. It was observed that significant increases in the plasma IGF-I concentrations were occurred right after injections of the rBST irrespective of antler's non-growing period or growing period. When the rBST preparations were injected two times with one week interval during the antler's non-growing period, the mean level of IGF-I was found to be 2,920.7ng I mL, indicating that the IGF-I concentration increased up to 8.4-folds compared with a control. After two weeks from second shot, however, the IGF-I levels decreased to the level of the control. Similar results were also obtained with both a Sika and a Red deer during the antler's growing period. Increases in the IGF-I level of up to 5.6-folds with the Sika deer and 4.3-folds with the Red deer were found. Based on the present study, it is likely that the rBST may be used as a possible candidate for an antler's growth stimulating agent.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

We have developed 8 peptide derivatives as potential MC1R antagonists and their inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-MSH induced cell growth in cultured normal human melanocytes (NHM) were investigated. From these experiments, the two most potent peptide derivatives, 5-phenylvaleric acid-(D)His-Arg-Trp-$(Lys)_6NH_2$ (P 6) and 5-phenylvaleric acid-(D)His-Arg-Trp-$(Lys)_9NH_2$ (P 7) were selected for further studies. In ${\alpha}$-MSH depleted NHM cells, we have found that the treatment with 1 ${\mu}M$ of these two peptide derivatives, P 6 and P 7, inhibited the cell proliferation induced by the addition of 1 nM ${\alpha}$- MSH by 70% and 72%, respectively. In NHM cells without previous ${\alpha}$-MSH depletion, 1 ${\mu}M$ treatment in the presence of 10 nM ${\alpha}$-MSH resulted in 70% (P 6) and 80% (P 7) decrease in cell growth and 64% (P 6) and 71% (P 7) reduction in melanin synthesis, respectively. The peptide derivatives P 6 and P 7 were proved to have no apparent cytotoxicity and inhibited the elevation of intracellular cAMP concentration triggered by ${\alpha}$-MSH. In conclusion, our data suggest that the peptide derivatives reported in this study, 5-phenylvaleric acid-(D)His-Arg-Trp-$(Lys)_6NH_2$ (P 6) and 5-phenylvaleric acid-(D)His- Arg-Trp-$(Lys)_9NH_2$ (P 7) strongly antagonize ${\alpha}$-MSH, inhibit cell proliferation and melanin synthesis, and lower the intracellular cAMP concentration, hence have a promising potential as a novel skin lightening agent.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2005

Background & Objective : Angiogenesis consists of the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells, and angiogenic factors and matrix protein interactions modulate this process. The aim of this study was to determine whether Puerariae radix could induce angiogenic activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: The angiogenic activity of Puerariae radix were evaluated by using BrdU assay, chemotactic migration assay, tube formation assay, measurement of bFGF in HUVECs, and Matrigel plug assay in mice. Results : Puerariae radix significantly increased HUVECs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Puerariae radix increased migration and tube-like formation in HUVECs. Interestingly,the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenesis-stimulating growth factor, was dose-dependently increased by Puerariae radix. The angiogenic activity of Puerariae radix was confirmed using an in vivo Matrigel angiogenesis model, showing promotion of blood vessel formation. Conclusion : Puerariae radix significantly induces angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that Puerariae radix is a potent angiogenic agent, and a promising drug, for the induction of neovascularization.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.229-240
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phosphorus acid (H₃PO₃) addition to the horticultural bed soil on the initial growth of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv.), and kimchi cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr. cv.). The stem heights of red pepper and cucumber were 46.1% and 23.0% greater in the 50 mg/L of phosphorus acid treatment than the untreated (control). Further, the stem diameter of pepper and cucumber were 48.7% and 23.0% greater in the 50 mg/L of phosphorus acid treatment than the control. In addition, the number of kimchi cabbage leaves was 47.5% greater in the 50 mg/L of phosphorus acid treatment than the control. The dry weights of red pepper, cucumber and kimchi cabbage were 72.9%, 16.5%, and 30.4% heavier in the 50 mg/L than the control, respectively. Cations (K, Ca, and Mg) and total phosphorus (T - P) were quantitatively analyzed for these three horticultural crops. The concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg, and T - P were higher in the 50 mg/L of phosphorus acid than the control, respectively. Based on the results obtained in this study, it appears that treatment of phosphorus acid in horticultural bed soil enhanced the growth of red pepper, cucumber and Kimchi cabbage.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.1 s.66
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• pp.143-153
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• 1998

Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) may be the important regualtors of bone metabolism Exogenous PDGF is recognized to have a stimulating effect on bone resorption in organ culture but to stimulate the formation of new bone ultimately. LPS is known to be a stimulating agent on the osteoclastic activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects and the interaction of PDGF and LPS on periodontal ligament(PDL) cells which have important roles in bone remodeling. Cultured human periodontal ligament cells were tented with various concentration or PDGF and/or LPS. The cellular viability was measured by Microtitration(MTT) assay according to the lapse time of culture. The obtained results were as follows: 1. The viability of PDL cells was not different from the con01 in 0.1ng/ml of PDGF, but was significantly increased to be over the level of control in 1ng/ml of PDGF at the second day of culture, and in 10ng/m1 of PDGF at the second and the third day of culture. 2. The cellular viability was decreased in $0.5{\mu}g/ml$ or $5{\mu}g/ml$ LPS at the third day of culture. 3. Incubation with both 1ng/ml or 10ng/ml of PDGF and $0.5{\mu}g/ml$ of $5{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS resulted in the increased cellular viability at the third day, which was greater than LPS only treated group. It was greater than even the control group in 10ng/m1 of PDGF. From the above findings, we could summarize that the admixture of PDGF and LPS could not less increase the viability of the human periodontal ligament cells than PDGF only.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.37-48
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• 2017

Objectives: Artemisiae Annuae Herba is the dried aerial part of Artemisia annua L. (AAL). In Oriental medicine, Artemisiae Annuae Herba (AAH) is traditionally used to treat fever. AAH clears summerheat or damp-Heat, clears deficiency fevers, cools the blood and stops bleeding, stops malarial disorders and relieves heat, clears liver heat and brightens the eyes. Recently, there were many studies about effects of AAH on anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hair growth and plasma lipid composition. So, we expected AAH has an availability that can effect on skin whitening and elasticity. Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of AAH on skin whitening and elasticity in SK-MEL-2 cells. In this experiment, the effects of AAH on proliferation rates, melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activities and production levels of tyrosinase, MMP-1 and MMP-9 in vitro were examined. Results: AAH did not affect viability of SK-MEL-2 cells and inhibited melanin synthesis induced by ${\alpha}$-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) significantly. In addition, AAH also inhibited tyrosinase activity and lowered tyrosinase level in SK-MEL-2 cells. Finally, AAH inhibited productions of Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Conclusions: These data suggest that AAH can be used to treat patients with skin diseases such as freckled face and also used as skin whitening agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2001

Adriamycin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for cancer, including acute leukemia, lymphoma, and a number of solid human tumors. However, recent studies have recognized severe cardiotoxicity after an acute dose, which are likely the result of generation of free radicals and lipid peroxidation. Therefore, the clinical uses of adriamycin have been limited. Melatonin, the pineal gland hormone known for its ability to modulate circardian rhythm, has recently been studied in its several functions, including cancer growth inhibition, stimulating the immune system, and acting as an antioxidant and radical scavenging effects. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of melatonin administration on adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rat. Heart slices were prepared using a Stadie-Riggs microtome for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) content used as an index of lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release as an indicator of lethal cell injury. Serious adriamycin-induced lethality was observed in rat by a single intraperitoneal injection in a dose-dependent manner. A single injection of adriamycin (25 mg/kg, i.p.) induced a lethality rate of 86%, with melatonin (10 mg/kg s.c. for 6 days) treatment reducing the adriamycin-induced lethality rate to 20%. The severe body weight loss caused by adriamycin was also significantly attenuated by melatonin treatment. Treatment of melatonin marked reduced adriamycin-induced the levels of MDA formation and LDH release. A cell damage indicated by the loss of myofibrils, swelling of the mitochondria as well as cytoplasmic vacuolization was seen in adriamycin-treated group. Melatonin attenuated the adriamycin-induced structural alterations. These data provide evidence that melatonin prevents adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and might serve as a combination with adriamycin to limit free radical-mediated cardiotoxicity.