• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.805-811
• /
• 2016

The present study was performed to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-proliferating activity of the water extract mixture of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and Allium tuberosum (AT). The water extract mixture rate of CM and AT was optimized by means of a sensory evaluation test. The optimized mixture rate were decided at 70% of CM, 30% of AT, and 10% of apple concentrate as an additive. The values of total acidity, pH, sugar contents, and turbidity of the water extract mixture were 0.1%, 4.28, 9.10 °Brix, and 1.48 respectively. The water extract mixture had effective DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power effect, and ABTS radical activity. DPPH radical activities of the water extract and the water extract mixture were 43.2% and 51.7% respectively; their reducing power (OD₇₀₀) was 1.14 and 1.43 respectively; and ABTS^.+ radical activities were 47.1% and 62.2% respectively. Also, the water extract mixture showed a higher anti-proliferating effect than the AT extract on human prostate cancer cells. These results provided experimental evidence that the water extract mixture of CM and AT is a better source of anti-oxidant and anti-cancer ingredients than a single extract of CM. In conclusion, the water extract mixture of CM and AT will be beneficial in development of a functional drink.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.311-318
• /
• 2013

Schisandra chinensis containing a variety of pharmacologically active lignans has been traditionally used in oriental medicine. In this study, anti-inflammatory compounds were screened from the hexane extracts of S. chinensis by activity-guided fractionation. First, we investigated the regulatory effects on the expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) with 38 fractions from the hexane extracts of S. chinensis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). As a result, SCKH1 among the 38 fractions from the hexane extract of S. chinensis was selected for further analysis based on its unique regulatory effect on cell adhesion molecules, especially on VCAM-1, in LPS-stimulated HUVECs. The subsequent activity-guided fractionation of SCKH1 resulted in the purification of SCKH1PAIBPB, which was found to suppress the expression of VCAM-1, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8 in HUVECs stimulated with LPS, and to inhibit the adhesive capacity between HUVECs and monocytes. Taken together, our data indicate that SCKH1PAIBPB can be proposed as an effective anti-inflammatory compound that may have a potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases as well as ischemic vascular diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2014

The peroxisome is an intracellular organelle that responds dynamically to environmental changes. Various model organisms have been used to study the roles of peroxisomal proteins in maintaining cellular homeostasis. By taking advantage of the zebrafish model whose early stage of embryogenesis is dependent on yolk components, we examined the developmental roles of the D-bifunctional protein (Dbp), an essential enzyme in the peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation. The knockdown of dbp in zebrafish phenocopied clinical manifestations of its deficiency in human, including defective craniofacial morphogenesis, growth retardation, and abnormal neuronal development. Overexpression of murine Dbp rescued the morphological phenotypes induced by dbp knockdown, indicative of conserved roles of Dbp during zebrafish and mammalian development. Knockdown of dbp impaired normal development of blood, blood vessels, and most strikingly, endoderm-derived organs including the liver and pancreas - a phenotype not reported elsewhere in connection with peroxisome dysfunction. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that zebrafish might be a useful model animal to study the role of peroxisomes during vertebrate development.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 2017

Cathepsin F, which is encoded by CTSF, is a cysteine proteinase ubiquitously expressed in several tissues. In a previous study, novel transcripts of the CTSF gene were identified in the crab-eating monkey deriving from the integration of an Alu element-AluYRa1. The occurrence of AluYRa1-derived alternative transcripts and the mechanism of exonization events in the CTSF gene of human, rhesus monkey, and crabeating monkey were investigated using PCR and reverse transcription PCR on the genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from several tissues. Results demonstrated that AluYRa1 was only integrated into the genome of Macaca species and this lineage-specific integration led to exonization events by producing a conserved 3' splice site. Six transcript variants (V1-V6) were generated by alternative splicing (AS) events, including intron retention and alternative 5' splice sites in the 5' and 3' flanking regions of CTSF_AluYRa1. Among them, V3-V5 transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in all tissues of rhesus monkey and crab-eating monkey, whereas AluYRa1-exonized V1 was dominantly expressed in the testis of the crab-eating monkey, and V2 was only expressed in the testis of the two monkeys. These five transcript variants also had different amino acid sequences in the C-terminal region of CTSF, as compared to reference sequences. Thus, species-specific Alu-derived exonization by lineage-specific integration of Alu elements and AS events seems to have played an important role during primate evolution by producing transcript variants and gene diversification.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.462-467
• /
• 2019

Many studies in recent decades have revealed that olfactory stimulation by perfume or malodor inhalation exerts various psychological and physiological effects on humans. The most recent studies have examined the electrophysiological response of olfactory stimulation on the activity of human cortical nerve cells. The purpose of this current study is to quantitatively analyze what changes occur in the alpha activity in healthy participants (N=12) on olfactory stimulation using two types of odors (acacia and butanol). Exposure to the odor of acacia perfume was associated with a significant increase (66.7%) in alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor background EEG. Exposure to the odor of butanol was associated with a significant reduction (33.3% to 41.7%) in EEG alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor control. The results of this study demonstrated the potential to alter the cerebral cortex activity by olfactory stimulation. The results also suggest that olfactory perception has stimulatory effects on the function of the nervous system. In other words, it could be concluded from this study that inhalation of olfactory stimulation affected brain wave activities and mood states. Further research is needed to completely understand and describe the electrophysiological effects of different odors on the central nervous system.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.366-378
• /
• 1998

Thermocondensation root canal filling technique have been used to fill accessary canals or to obtain homogeneous root caral fillings. But these thermocondensation technique inevitably produce heat in the canal which can be transmitted through the dentin and cementum and consequently damage periodontal ligamental cells and osteoblasts. In this study, System $B^{TM}$(Analytic technology, WA.D.S.A.) was used to evaluate the reaction of periodontal ligament tissue to "Continous Wave condensation technique" introduced by Buchanan, and the transmitted root surface temperature was measured according to measured root thicknesses. 12 Mandibular incisors of two adult dogs were used for the experiment. 6 controls were filled by lateral condensation technique with sealer.3 specimens were apically filled by Continuous Wave technique at $200^{\circ}C$ for 5 seconds and remaining 3 specimens were additionally backfilled using System $B^{TM}$(Analytic technology, WA.D.S.A.) was used to evaluate the reaction of periodontal ligament tissue to "Continous Wave condensation technique" introduced by Buchanan, and the transmitted root surface temperature was measured according to measured root thicknesses. 12 Mandibular incisors of two adult dogs were used for the experiment. 6 controls were filled by lateral condensation technique with sealer.3 specimens were apically filled by Continuous Wave technique at $200^{\circ}C$ for 5 seconds and remaining 3 specimens were additionally backfilled using System $B^{TM}$ at $100^{\circ}C$ for 20 seconds. Six weeks later, the dogs were sacrificed and the teeth stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin for histologic examination. 6 extracted human teeth were used to measure the transmitted temperature. After cutting off the crown, the canals were prepared and divided into 3 groups with root thickness of 1.5mm, 1.0mm, 0.5mm, 2 teeth in each group. Inside each root canal, System $B^{TM}$ was heated as with the temperature for the apically condensed and the back filled group, and the transmitted heat was measured on the external surface of the root. The temperature of System $B^{TM}$ heat spreader at $200^{\circ}C$ and $100^{\circ}C$ was also measured at root temperature. It can be concluded as follows: 1. In the thin area (200-$250{\mu}m$) of the root, root resorption could be seen even with heating at $200^{\circ}C$ for 5 seconds. 2. When the spreader was heated at $200^{\circ}C$ for 5 seconds and additionally at $100^{\circ}C$ for 20 seconds for backfill, all teeth showed root resorption regardless of their root thickness. 3. The transmitted external root surface temperature was higher as the root thickness decreased and as the heating time increased. In the thermocompaction technique using System $B^{TM}$, the spreader should be heated for the minimal time and used only in the apical area. The heated spreader shouldn't inserted to the binding point of the canal and backfilling should be done with other means of minimally heated gutta percha technique.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.12
• /
• pp.1.1-1.14
• /
• 2018

DNA methylation is a regulatory mechanism in epigenetics that is frequently altered during human carcinogenesis. To detect critical methylation events associated with gastric cancer (GC), we compared three DNA methylomes from gastric mucosa (GM), intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric tumor (GT) cells that were microscopically dissected from an intestinal-type early gastric cancer (EGC) using methylated DNA binding domain sequencing (MBD-seq) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analysis. In this study, we focused on differentially methylated promoters (DMPs) that could be directly associated with gene expression. We detected 2,761 and 677 DMPs between the GT and GM by MBD-seq and RRBS, respectively, and for a total of 3,035 DMPs. Then, 514 (17%) of all DMPs were detected in the IM genome, which is a precancer of GC, supporting that some DMPs might represent an early event in gastric carcinogenesis. A pathway analysis of all DMPs demonstrated that 59 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes linked to the hypermethylated DMPs were significantly enriched in a neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. Furthermore, among the 59 GPCRs, six GI hormone receptor genes (NPY1R, PPYR1, PTGDR, PTGER2, PTGER3, and SSTR2) that play an inhibitory role in the secretion of gastrin or gastric acid were selected and validated as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of GC patients in two cohorts. These data suggest that the loss of function of gastrointestinal (GI) hormone receptors by promoter methylation may lead to gastric carcinogenesis because gastrin and gastric acid have been known to play a role in cell differentiation and carcinogenesis in the GI tract.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.185-211
• /
• 2002

We have found many beneficial effects of the long-tenn intake of Korean red ginseng (KRG) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-I infected patients, including the maintenance of CD4+ T cell count for 10 years with KRG only and the delayed development of resistance mutation to ZDV. In this study, to investigate whether KRG-intake could affect the clinical progression and nef gene variation, we determined 200nef sequences from 70 patients. Follow-up period was $8.8{\pm}2.9$ years and annual decrease in CD4+T cell was $41{\pm}57/ul.$ Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were perfonned with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained at times during the study period. First, there was a significant correlation between survival duration and duration of KRG-intake $(36.8{\pm}38$ months)(P=0.000). There were significant correlations between the last NefProg score and CD4+ T cell count (r= 0.208, P<0.05) and annual decrease in CD4+ T cell count (r =0.346, P<0.01) in 70 patients. In addition, there were significant correlations between KRG-intake and annual decrease (r= 0.323, P<0.01), and the CD4+ T cell count itself (r=0.229, p<0.05). Furthennore, there was also a mild significance between the NefProg score and the duration of KRG-intake in only SP and RP (n=30, r=-0.281, P=0.067). In addition, we detected various defects in 21 patients $(30.0\%),$ not including 5 premature stop codons. Ten $(12.5\%)$ patients showed repeated deletion of an amino acid. Four of 10 patients were gross deletions and they were treated with KRG for more than 20 months. The number of patients with repeated gross deletions was significantly higher in the order of slow progressors $(18\%)$, typical progressors($3\%$), and rapid progressors($0\%$) (P<0.05). We also observed that long-tenn intake of KRG might make the change from A or D to T at position 54 and decrease NefProg score. Taken together, our results show clear evidence that the long-term intake of KRG has effects on nef gene variation as well as definite clinical usefulness.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.1 s.49
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2005

Most of the cells, specially in the skin, free radicals and reactive oxygen species induced aging, accompanying with diseases. The pinaceae family is very familiar plant with Korean spirit. However, those plants were not estimated for natural products in manufactural process. We employed 4 different plants, Pinus koraienis S et Z. Pinus banksiana LAMBERT. Pinus rigida MILL. Pinus densiflora S. et Z. in pinceae family. The ethanol extracts were prepared for three different parts of plant, wood, bark and leaf, respectively. In this study, we carried out free radical and superoxide radical scavenging assay to investigate the anti-oxidative activity The bark and leaf part of plants showed similar anti-oxidant effect. L-ascorbic acid and $\alpha$-tocopherol at $10{\mu}g/mL$. Also we tried to investigate inhibitory effects of elastase activity in in vitro experiments on pinaceae plant extract as a matters for functional cosmetics. Among those plants, the bark of Pinus rigida MILL. and Pinus densiflora S. et Z. showed inhibitory effect. The cell viability was evaluated with MTT assay. The potential relationship was shown between the cell viability and anti-oxidant effect because the anti-oxidant effects were positively correlated wvith the cell growth in MTT assay. As the results in our experiments, we expect the potential activities of pinaceae as a material of functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.76-81
• /
• 2012

Silk protein has been explored to be used for biomedical applications for several decades. However, it has not been used in this field cause to their irreversible crystallization after dissolving in water. The existing methods of silk protein hydrolysis using silkworm cocoon were used with harmful solvents and through a very complicated process. Therefore, we have developed novel methods for the production of water-soluble hydrolysate using silkworm gland. We manufactured two types of silkworm gland-derived hydrolysate (water-soluble SGH, SSGH; total SGH, TSGH) and compared the characteristics with commercial cocoon-derived sericin hydrolysate (CSH). The molecular weight of SGH ranged from 7 to 50 kDa (SSGH) and 5 to 15 kDa (TSGH) within glycine, alanine, and aspartic acid as a main amino acid composition. In contrast, CSH ranged from 15 to 50 kDa within serine and aspartic acid. The results of FTIR implied that SGH was more soluble form than CSH, as shown by the decrease in the ${\beta}$-sheet structure at $1630cm^{-1}$ on amide I peak. In comparison with 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.1% (1 mg/ml) SSGH had equivalent effect on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. All results of the SSGH made by novel manufacturing process indicate the SSGH is more preferable as a culture medium supplement than cocoon-derived sericin.