• 대한약침학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

Objectives: Buxus Microphylla var. Koreana Nakai Extract (BMKNE) is used as a folk remedy for malaria and veneral disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BMKNE in the growth and the survival of AGS cells, the most common human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines. Methods: The AGS cells were treated with varying concentrations of BMKNE. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occured by apoptosis. Also, to identify the role of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 7 channels in AGS cell growth and survival, we used human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressed with TRPM7 channels. Results: Experimental results showed that the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were increased. Therefore, BMKNE was found to induce the apoptosis of these cells, and this apoptosis was inhibited by SB203580 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor), and by a c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) II inhibitor. Furthermore, BMKNE inhibited TRPM7 currents and TRPM7 channel over-expressions in HEK 293 cells, exacerbating BMKNE-induced cell death. Conclusions: These findings indicate that BMKNE inhibits the growth and the survival of gastric cancer cells due to a blockade of the TRPM7 channel's activity and MAPK signaling. Therefore, BMKNE is a potential drug for treatment of gastric cancer, and both the TRPM7 channel and MAPK signaling may play an important role in survival in gastric cancer cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.173-176
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• 2012

Opisthorchis viverrini infection was found to be highly prevalent in 3 riverside villages (Ang Svay Chek A, B, and C) of the Prey Kabas District, Takeo Province. This area is located in the southern part of Cambodia, where the recovery of adult O. viverrini worms was recently reported. From May 2006 until May 2010, fecal examinations were performed on a total of 1,799 villagers using the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. In the 3 villages, the overall positive rate for helminth eggs ranged from 51.7 to 59.0% (av. 57.4%), and the percentage positive for O. viverrini was 46.4-50.6% (47.5%). Other helminths detected included hookworms (13.2%), echinostomes (2.9%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.6%), and Taenia spp. (0.06%). The prevalence of O. viverrini eggs appeared to reflect a lower infection in younger individuals (<20 years) than in the adult population (>20 years). Men (50.4%) revealed a significantly higher (P=0.02) prevalence than women (44.3%). The Ang Svay Chek villages of the Prey Kabas District, Takeo Province, Cambodia have been confirmed to be a highly endemic area for human O. viverrini infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.37-47
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• 2009

National surveys on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections have been carried out every 5-7 years since 1971 in the Republic of Korea in order to establish control measures. The present nationwide survey was conducted from June to December 2004. The 10% population sampling data of Population and Housing Census by the Korean government in 2000 was used as the survey population. One sample was selected randomly from each of the 22,858 registered subjects, and a total of 20,541 people were ultimately included in this survey. Fecal examinations were performed by the cellophane thick smear and saturated brine flotation techniques. Pinworm infection was examined by cello-tape anal swab method. This survey also included a questionnaire study for a socioeconomic analysis. The total helminth egg positive rate was 3.7%, and the estimated total positive number among nationwide people was 1,780,000. The rates in urban and rural areas were 3.1% and 6.8%, respectively. As the total egg positive rate in the 6th survey in 1997 was 2.4%, the present survey showed that there was a considerable degree of increase in the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections over the 7-year period following the 6th survey. The largest increases occurred in the egg positive rates of Clonorchis sinensis and heterophyids including Metagonimus yokogawai.

• Spatial Information Research
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.13-24
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• 2012

기후 변화로 인한 건강 피해를 예방하기 위해서는 지역별로 취약성 평가를 실시하고 적응대책을 수립해야 한다. 본 연구에서는 적응 대책 수립을 위한 기초 정보 제공을 목적으로 취약성 평가를 실시하였다. 건강 부문의 취약성 평가는 폭염, 오존, 매개질환 전염병의 세부 부문으로 나누어 이루어졌다. 이를 위해 각 부문별로 민감도, 적응능력, 노출 규준을 설정하고, 적합한 평가 지표를 선정하였다. 그리고 GIS를 이용하여 지표별 공간자료를 구축하고 처리하였다. 그 결과, 폭염에 의한 취약성은 남부 지방의 저지대가 중부지방에 비해 높았고, 오존에 의한 취약성은 대구분지 주변과 자동차수가 많은 수도권 및 대도시권에서 높게 나타났다. 지역 특이성이 높은 말라리아와 쯔쯔가무시증은 각각 군사분계선 근방, 남서 평야지대에서 취약성이 높게 나타났다. 또한, 미래에는 전반적으로 취약성이 증가하는 것으로 나타났으며, 남부에서 중부로 그리고 평지에서 낮은 산간지대로 취약 지역이 확대되는 경향을 보였다. 향후 관련 지표 자료의 확보와 지표별 가중치를 산정하고, 새로운 시나리오에 따른 미래 기상예측자료를 사용하면 좀 더 신뢰성 높은 취약성 평가가 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.34-41
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• 2019

혈소판 응집은 혈관 손상의 경우 지혈 플러그 형성에 필수적이다. 그러나, 과도한 혈소판 응집은 혈전증, 죽상 동맥 경화증 및 심근 경색과 같은 순환기 장애를 일으킬 수도 있다. Scopoletin은 Scopolia 또는 Artemisia 속 식물의 뿌리에서 발견되는 성분으로, 항응고 및 항말라리아 작용을 가지는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 collagen에 의해 유발된 혈소판 응집에 scopoletin이 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. Scopoletin은 활성화된 혈소판에서 생성되는 응집 유도 분자인 thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) 및 세포 내 $Ca^{2+}$ 동원 ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$)의 하향 조절을 통해 항 혈소판 효과를 나타내었다. 한편, scopoletin은 세포 내 $Ca^{2+}$-길항제인 것으로 알려져 있는 cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)와 cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) 수치를 증가시켰다. 특히, scopoletin은 cGMP보다 cAMP 수준을 강력하게 증가함으로써 콜라겐에 의해 유발된 사람 혈소판 응집에서의 ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$에 대한 피브리노겐 결합을 억제하였다. 또한, scopoletin은 용량 의존적으로 collagen에 의해 증가된 adenosine trisphosphate (ATP)의 방출을 억제하였다. 이 결과는 혈소판 내 과립 분비를 통한 응집 증폭작용이 scopoletin에 의해 억제되었음을 의미한다. 따라서, 본 연구는 scopoletin이 강력한 항혈소판 효과를 가지며 혈소판-유래의 혈관 질환을 예방할 가능성이 크다는 것을 입증하였다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.82-85
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• 2007

The Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua is the source of the antimalarial compound artemisinin. By the way, Artemisin annula was known have endoperoxide ring structure is included and has anti-malarial effect. Malaria and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is belong to Apicomplexa genera. So, confirmed whether we go compound 1,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane that have endoperoxide ring structure and there is anti-toxoplasmosis effect. The efficacy of 1,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.2] nonane alone was examined in vitro and in a murine model of acute toxoplasmosis. In vitro studies were peformed with HeLa cell cultures, with quantification of Toxoplasma growth by a cell proliferation assay. Selectivity of 1,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane was 4.9 in vitro cell proliferation assay, this is higher than sulfadiazine (selectivity was 1.63). For in vivo studies, mice were acutely infected intraperitoneally with 10$^5$ tachyzoites of the virulent RH strain and then treated perorally for 4 days from 6 hours postinfection. Efficacy was assessed by sequential determination of parasite burdens in peritoneal cavity. in vitro, 1,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-6,7-dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane inhibited Toxoplasma growth at a concentration of 150mg/kg of body weight per day, the inhibition ratio was estimated to be 85.72%.

• 셀메드
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.21.1-21.15
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• 2016

In Kenya, traditional knowledge on herbal medicine has remained a mainstream source of maintaining wellbeing for generations in many communities. However, the knowledge has been eroded in the course of time due to sociocultural dynamics virtually advanced by Christianity and formal education especially in the Kikuyu community. The study documented current ethnobotanical knowledge and threat to the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants among the Kikuyu community. A survey was carried out in Mathira, Tetu, Kieni, Othaya, Mukurweini, and Nyeri Town constituencies. Thirty practicing herbalists were purposively sampled; 5 per constituency. Data was obtained through semi - structured questionnaires and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. A total of 80 ailments treated using 111 medicinal plant species distributed within 98 genera and 56 families were documented. Prevalent communicable diseases treated using herbal medicine included; gonorrhea (17.5%), malaria (15%), respiratory infections (12%), colds (10%) and amoebiasis (10%). Non-communicable diseases were; joint pains (11.1%), ulcers/hyperacidity (8.7%), high blood pressure (8.7%), intestinal worms (11.1%) and arthritis/gout (10%). Frequently harvested plant materials were; roots, barks and leaves. The study concluded that, traditional medicine practitioners in Nyeri County possessed wide knowledge of herbal medicine but this knowledge was on the verge of disappearing as it was largely a preserve of the aged generation. The study recommended massive campaign about the benefits of using herbal medicine in the study area. Further pharmacological studies are recommended on the mentioned plant species aimed at establishing their efficacy and safety as well as standardization as potential drugs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.203-206
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• 2017

The seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis has been increasing in Korea, and it is controversial whether cats are an important infection source or not. This study was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a high risk group (cat sitters) and to determine the possible importance of cats as an infection source in Korea. Risk factors, including the age, sex, and diet of cat sitters, their contact experience and contact frequency with stray cats, and origin, number, and outdoor activity of their pet cats, were analyzed using structured questionnaires. A total of 673 serum samples from people who have frequent contact with cats (high risk group) and 1,114 samples from general people (low risk group) were examined for specific IgG antibodies against T. gondii by ELISA. The results revealed that the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 7.4% (n=1,787). The seroprevalence among low risk group was 8.0% (89/1,114), whereas that among high risk group was rather lower 6.4% (43/673), though this difference was statistically not significant (P=0.211). Among the risk factors, only the outdoor activity of pet cats was important; people having cats with outdoor activities revealed 2 times higher seroprevalence than people having cats with only indoor activities (P=0.027). In conclusion, the seroprevalence of T. gondii was not significantly different between the high risk group and low risk group, and the importance of cats as a source of infection in Korea is questionable.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.233-238
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• 2012

The precise diagnosis of the acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and immunocompromsied patients has critical importance. Most of the commercially available assays use the whole Toxoplasma soluble extract as the antigen. However, the assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was production and evaluation of the usefulness of the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii GRA7 antigen for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG by ELISA. A total of 70 T. gondii IgM positive sera, 74 T. gondii IgG positive sera, and 60 sera from subjects who were not infected with T. gondii were examined. These sera were shown different absorbance values in ELISA test. To control the specificity of the rGRA7 other parasitic diseases, for example, echinococcosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, fascioliasis, and strongyloidiasis were tested of which none showed positive results. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA (com ELISA) were 89% and 90%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 96% and 90%, respectively. The results obtained here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.215-220
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• 2012

The source of human infection with intestinal flukes was surveyed in estuarine fishes, including the dotted gizzard shad, common sea bass, common blackish goby, redlip mullet, black sea bream, and oyster collected from Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea during August and September 2007. Collected fishes and oysters were artificially digested in pepsin-HCl solution and examined under a stereomicroscope. In 36 shads (Konosirus punctatus) and 20 basses (Lateolabrax japonicus) examined, Heterophyopsis continua metacercariae were found in 58.3% and 100%, and their average numbers were 12.0 and 6.3 per infected fish, respectively. In 34 gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus) examined, metacercariae of H. continua were detected in 79.4%, Stictodora lari in 97.1%, and Acanthotrema felis in 92.1%, and their average numbers were 45.8, 189.3, and 235.3 per infected fish, respectively. In 37 redlip mullets (Chelon haematocheilus), Heterophyes nocens metacercariae were found in 56.8%, Pygidiopsis summa in 94.6%, and Stictodora fuscata in 45.9%, and the average metacercarial densities were 17.4, 31.3, and 35.1 per infected fish, respectively. In 30 black sea breams (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) and 45 oysters (Crassostrea gigas) examined, no metacercariae were detected. From the above results, it has been confirmed that the dotted gizzard shad, common sea bass, common blackish goby, and redlip mullet from Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea are infected with the metacercariae of heterophyid flukes.