• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.511-516
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• 2009

A series of substituted 2-arylnaphthyridin-4-one analogues, which were previously synthesized in our laboratory, were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer A549 and human renal cancer Caki-2 cells using MTT assay. Some compounds (11, 12, and 13) showed stronger cytotoxicity than colchicine against both tumor cell lines, and compound 13 exhibited the most potent activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 2.3 and $13.4\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) were performed. Predictive 3D-QSAR models were obtained with $q^2$ values of 0.869 and 0.872 and $r^2_{ncv}$ values of 0.983 and 0.993 for CoMFA and CoMSIA, respectively. These results demonstrate that CoMFA and CoMSIA models could be reliably used in the design of novel cytotoxic agents.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.39-58
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors determining the participation of the poor elderly in economic activity. This study analyzed secondary data of the second wave of Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors that are associated with the economic activity of the poor elderly. The results of the analyses showed that age, gender, region, public assistance, education, health status, chronic illness, contacts with acquaintances, and support from children were associated with participation in economic activity. The study's findings have several implications for policies and services. The study identified the need for an age- and gender-specific approach to promoting participation in economic activity among the poor elderly. Regional differences should also be considered in the creation of work opportunities for older adults. In terms of human capital, the positive effect of good health indicates that strategies are needed to address the needs of older adults with health issues. In addition, there is a need for more jobs for elderly job seekers with high levels of education. Finally, policy makers and practitioners should explore interventions for enhancing the social network involvement and community support for the elderly living in poverty.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Water and alcohol extracts were prepared from dried and powdered leaves of Thuja orientalis (T. orientalis). The reducing power, total phenolic content, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, inhibitory effect on Fe (II)-EDTA-$H_{2}O_{2}$ (Fenton reaction system) induced DNA damage and inhibitory effect on human red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis were evaluated in the present study. At a concentration of 200 mg, water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis inhibited the hydrolysis of DNA by 72.859% and 65.312%, respectively. Water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis also inhibited 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride induced RBC hemolysis to the extent of 69.30% and 54.55%, respectively. The reducing power and antioxidative activity of water extract was found to be more than that of alcohol extract. This is attributable to the presence of higher amount of phenolic compounds in water extract. The present results indicate that the T. orientalis extracts are rich sources of natural antioxidants and can protect DNA and human red blood cells against free radical induced oxidative damage.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and telomerase are considered attractive targets for anticancer therapy. The in vitro anticancer activity of the gold(I) compound auranofin was investigated using MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells, in which STAT3 is constitutively active. In cell culture, auranofin inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), markedly blocked the effect of auranofin. Incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine into DNA and anchorage-independent cell growth on soft agar were decreased by auranofin treatment. STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity were also attenuated in cells exposed to auranofin, but NAC pretreatment restored STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity in these cells. These findings indicate that auranofin exerts in vitro antitumor effects in MDA-MB 231 cells and its activity involves inhibition of STAT3 and telomerase. Thus, auranofin shows potential as a novel anticancer drug that targets STAT3 and telomerase.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2001

The possibility of Chungpesagan-tang, which has been recommended on the stroke patients with constipation in Korean traditional clinic, and its ingredients as a novel antithrombotic agent was evaluated. Most of its ingredients except Puerariae Radix exhibited in vitro antiplatelet aggregation activity. However, Puerariae Radix was significantly effective on ex vivo anti-platelet aggregation activity, whereas Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix, Raphani Semen and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix was not effective. Plasma recalcification was potently inhibited only by Puerariae Radix and Rhei Rhizoma treated with intestinal bacteria. Urokinase was also activated only by Chungpesagan-tang, Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix and Puerariae Radix treated with intestinal bacteria. Chungpesagan-tang exhibited the potent anti-thromboembolic activity activity in vitro. These results suggest that anti-thrombotic activity of Chungpesagan-tang should be activated by intestinal bacteria and may be important in the prevention of thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infraction stroke and arteriosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.594-599
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• 2016

Infection with HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus), over time, develops into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The development of non-toxic and effective anti-HIV drugs is one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of AIDS. In this study, we investigated the anti-HIV-1 activity of gelatin hydrolysates from Alaska pollack skin. Gelatin hydrolysates were prepared using four enzymes (alcalase, flavourzyme, neutrase, and pronase E). Among these, the pronase E gelatin hydrolysate was found to inhibit HIV-1 infection in the human T cell-line MT4. It exhibited inhibitory activity on HIV-1_IIIB-induced cell lysis, reverse transcriptase activity, and viral p24 production at noncytotoxic concentrations. Moreover, it decreased the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in vitro. Because HIV infection-induced activation of MMP-2 can accelerate collagen resolution and collapse of the immune system, pronase E gelatin hydrolysate might prevent the activation of MMP-2 in cells, resulting in collagen stabilization and immune cell homeostasis consistent with anti-HIV activation. These results suggest that pronase E gelatin hydrolysate could potentially be incorporated into a novel therapeutic agent for HIV/AIDS patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.484-490
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• 2005

Human ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3), which has a DNA repair endonuclease activity, is a multifunctional protein. This protein is involved in DNA repair, translation, and apoptosis. In particular, rpS3 has a lyase activity, which cleaves the phosphodiester bond of damaged sites such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and AP sites. Here, using deletion analysis, we identified that the repair endonuclease domain resides in the C-terminal region (165-243 aa) of rpS3. We also found that ectopic expression of GST-rpS3 in bacterial strain BL21 promoted the resistance of these cells to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and hydrogen peroxide ($H_{2}O_{2}$) treatment. The repair domain of rpS3 was sufficient to exhibit the resistance to UV irradiation and recover cell growth and viability, showing that the repair activity of rpS3 is responsible for the resistance to UV irradiation. Our study suggests that rpS3 is able to process DNA damage in bacteria via its repair domain, showing the resistance to genotoxic stress. This implies that rpS3-like activity could be operative in bacteria.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.507-511
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• 2004

From the flowers of Chromolaena odorata (Eupatorium odoratum) four flavanones, isosakuranetin (5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone) (1), persicogenin (5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone) (2), 5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavanone (3) and 4'-hydroxy-5,6,7-trimethoxyfla-vanone (4), two chalcones, 2'-hydroxy-4,4',5',6'-tetramethoxychalcone (5) and 4,2'-dihydroxy-4',5',6'-trimethoxychalcone (6), and two flavones, acacetin (5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone) (7) and luteolin (5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone) (8) were isolated and identified. Compound 1 exhibited moderate antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with the MIC value of 174.8 $\mu$M, whereas compounds 4,7, and 8 exhibited weak activity with the MIC values of 606.0, 704.2 and 699.3 $\mu$M respectively. Compound 7 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187) cells with the MIC value of 24.6 $\mu$M, whereas compound 8 exhibited moderate toxicity against NCI-H187 cells and week toxicity against human breast cancer (BC) cells with the MIC values of 19.2 and 38.4 $\mu$M respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.3005-3008
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• 2014

Human ChlR1 protein (hChlR1), a member of the cohesion establishment factor family, plays an important role in the segregation of sister chromatids for maintenance of genome integrity. We previously reported that hChlR1 interacts with hFen1 and stimulates its nuclease activity on the flap-structured DNA substrate covered with RPA. To elucidate the relationship between hChlR1 and Okazaki fragment processing, the effect of hChlR1 on in vitro nuclease activities of hFen1 and hDna2 was examined. Independent of ATPase activity, hChlR1 stimulated endonuclease activity of hFen1 but not that of hDna2. Our findings suggest that the acceleration of Okazaki fragment processing near cohesions may aid in reducing the size of the replication machinery, thereby facilitating its entry through the cohesin ring.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2006

Effects of cultivars, cooking, and processing on hemagglutinin activity were evaluated by observing macroscopic hemagglutination using serial twofold dilution of trypsinized human blood type-O or rabbit blood. Hemagglutinin activity was expressed as maximal geometric dilution fold. Agglutination of rabbit blood was more sensitive compared to human blood. Hemagglutinin activities of glyphosate-tolerant soybean, HS2906, and imported conventional soybeans were not statistically different, although significant differences were observed among conventional soybean cultivars cultivated in Korea (286 to 1535 HU/mg protein). Time required to reach fifty percent inhibition of hemagglutinin activity ($IT_{50}$) value decreased with increasing cooking temperature and pressure. Most effective conventional cooking method to inhibit hemagglutinin activity was pressure-cooking ($IT_{50}$: 1.36 min). Calculated activation energy based on reaction rate constant was 4.88 kcal. No hemagglutinin activities were detected in processed soybean products such as tofu, soybean paste, and soysauce.