• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2020

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are secondary metabolites produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers in the intestine. Intestinal SCFAs exert various beneficial effects on intestinal homeostasis, including energy metabolism, autophagy, cell proliferation, immune reaction, and inflammation, whereas contradictory roles of SCFAs in the oral cavity have been reported. Herein, we found that low and high concentrations of SCFAs induce differential regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, respectively, in gingival fibroblast cells. Additionally, cell viability was found to be differentially regulated in response to low and high concentrations of SCFAs. These findings demonstrate that the physiological functions of SCFAs in various cellular responses are more likely dependent on their local concentration.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1938-1948
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• 2003

This paper represents that an enhanced genetic algorithm (EGA) is applied to optimal design of a squeeze film damper (SFD) to minimize the maximum transmitted load between the bearing and foundation in the operational speed range. A general genetic algorithm (GA) is well known as a useful global optimization technique for complex and nonlinear optimization problems. The EGA consists of the GA to optimize multi-modal functions and the simplex method to search intensively the candidate solutions by the GA for optimal solutions. The performance of the EGA with a benchmark function is compared to them by the IGA (Immune-Genetic Algorithm) and SQP (Sequential Quadratic Programming). The radius, length and radial clearance of the SFD are defined as the design parameters. The objective function is the minimization of a maximum transmitted load of a flexible rotor system with the nonlinear SFDs in the operating speed range. The effectiveness of the EGA for the optimal design of the SFD is discussed from a numerical example.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the health effects of the general components of acorns in animals. In Korea, acorns have been used as food material in the form of acorn starch. Acorns contain tannin, gallic acid, digallic acid, and gallotannin. Therefore, the health effects of acorns as functional food are actively being studied. The chemical composition of acorns may vary according to the harvest time, region, and breed. Acorns have excellent antioxidant properties and might be beneficial in controlling hyperlipidemia, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, as well as strengthening immune competence. Further study is necessary to better understand the benefits of acorns, as it is expected to represent a large part of the food industry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1719-1722
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• 2012

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein family Verprolin - homologous proteins (WAVEs), encoded by a metastasis promoter gene, play considerable roles in adhesion of immune cells, cell proliferation, migration and destruction of foreign agents by reactive oxygen species. These diverse functions have lead to the hypothesis that WAVE proteins have multi-functional roles in regulating cancer invasiveness, metastasis, development of tumor vasculature and angiogenesis. Differentials in expression of WAVE proteins are associated with a number of neoplasms include colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, human breast adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer. In this review we attempt to unify our knowledge regarding WAVE proteins, focusing on their potentials as diagnostic markers and molecular targets for cancer therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2020

Protein phosphatase 4 (PP4), one of serine/threonine phosphatases, is involved in many critical cellular pathways, including DNA damage response (DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis), tumorigenesis, cell migration, immune response, stem cell development, glucose metabolism, and diabetes. PP4 has been steadily studied over the past decade about wide spectrum of physiological activities in cells. Given the many vital functions in cells, PP4 has great potential to develop into the finding of key working mechanisms and effective treatments for related diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In this review, we provide an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which PP4 impacts and also discuss the functional significance of it in cell health.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2012

For human including newborn baby, the intestinal microbiota can play an important role in the development of the intestinal mucosa and in maintaining the balance of the immune cells. Important functions of the intestinal microbiota include the inhibition of the colonization of the intestine by potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, the research of probiotics have been focused on the prevention and treatment of disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including pathogen infection, traveler's diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and constipation. Probiotics have also been suggested as therapeutic agents against irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases. An increasing amount of evidence from clinical studies suggests that they are effective in the prevention of atopic allergies and may have potential anti-carcinogenic effects. Until recent years many scientific research for this use has been based on empirical observations. Therefore, probiotics in the form of fermented milk products have been long part of attempts to maintain good health in world wide.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 1988

Experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effects of brazilin and hematoxylin on immune functions in normal young mice. Brazilin and hematoxylin decreased the circulating leucocyte counts. Brazilin and hematoxylin decreased the cirulating leucocyte counts. Both compounds did not produce a significant change of immunoorgan weights in comparison with those in the control group. Brazilin decreased significantly IgM plaque forming cells. Brazilin and hematoxylin decreased significantly Arthus reaction at 3 hours-post challenge with respect to aggregated bovine serum albumin.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.228-232
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• 2006

The Drosophila protein, Rbp9, is homologous to human Hu, which is reported to be involved in small cell lung cancer. Rbp9 functions in cystocyte differentiation, and mutations in Rbp9 cause ovarian tumors. Here we show that the antimicrobial peptide, Attacin, is upregulated in Rbp9 mutants, especially in ovaries where tumors form. Upregulation seems to result from activation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway since we detected nuclear localization of Relish in Rbp9 mutant ovaries but not in wild type ovaries. Inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the Rbp9 mutant allows prolonged survival of malformed egg chambers. We conclude that Drosophila initiates an anti-tumor defense response via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2012

Asbestos exposure has been known to contribute to several lung diseases named asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, but the disease-related molecular and cellular mechanisms are still largely unknown. To examine the effects of asbestos exposure in human bronchial epithelial cells at gene level, the global gene expression profile was analyzed following chrysotile treatment. The microarray results revealed differential gene expression in response to chrysotile treatment. The genes up- and down-regulated by chrysotile were mainly involved in processes including metabolism, signal transduction, transport, development, transcription, immune response, and other functions. The differential gene expression profiles could provide clues that might be used to understand the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic targets involved in chrysotile-related diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.874-882
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• 2018

Curcumin is known to possess various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-cancer activities. Natural killer (NK) cells are large lymphocytes that directly kill cancer cells. However, many aggressive cancers, including breast cancer, were reported to escape the successful killing of NK cells in a tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of curcumin in coculture of human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 and NK (NK-92) cells. We found that curcumin had an immune-stimulatory effect on NK-92 by increasing the surface expression of the $CD16^+$ and $CD56^{dim}$ population of NK-92. We confirmed that the cytotoxic effect of NK-92 on MDA-MB-231 was significantly enhanced in the presence of curcumin, which was highly associated with the activation of Stat4 and Stat5 proteins in NK-92. Finally, this improved anticancer effect of curcumin was correlated with decreased expression of pErk and PI3K in MDA-MB-231.