• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.358-366
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• 2016

The digestive system is gaining interest as a major regulator of various functions including immune defense, nutrient accumulation, and regulation of feeding behavior, aside from its conventional function as a digestive organ. The Drosophila midgut epithelium is completely renewed every 1-2 weeks due to differentiation of pluripotent intestinal stem cells in the midgut. Intestinal stem cells constantly divide and differentiate into enterocytes that secrete digestive enzymes and absorb nutrients, or enteroendocrine cells that secrete regulatory peptides. Regulatory peptides have important roles in development and metabolism, but study has mainly focused on expression and functions in the nervous system, and not much is known about the roles in endocrine functions of enteroendocrine cells. We systemically examined the expression of 45 regulatory peptide genes in the Drosophila midgut, and verified that at least 10 genes are expressed in the midgut enteroendocrine cells through RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, antisera, and 25 regulatory peptide-GAL transgenes. The Drosophila midgut is highly compartmentalized, and individual peptides in enteroendocrine cells were observed to express in specific regions of the midgut. We also confirmed that some peptides expressed in the same region of the midgut are expressed in mutually exclusive enteroendocrine cells. These results indicate that the midgut enteroendocrine cells are functionally differentiated into different subgroups. Through this study, we have established a basis to study regulatory peptide functions in enteroendocrine cells as well as the complex organization of enteroendocrine cells in the Drosophila midgut.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.172-181
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• 2018

Successful anticancer strategies require a differential response between tumor and normal tissue (i.e., a therapeutic ratio). In fact, improving the effectiveness of a cancer therapeutic is of no clinical value in the absence of a significant increase in the differential response between tumor and normal tissue. Although radiation dose escalation with the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy has permitted the maximum tolerable dose for most locally advanced cancers, improvements in tumor control without damaging normal adjacent tissues are needed. As a means of increasing the therapeutic ratio, several new approaches are under development. Drugs targeting signal transduction pathways in cancer progression and more recently, immunotherapeutics targeting specific immune cell subsets have entered the clinic with promising early results. Radiobiological research is underway to address pressing questions as to the dose per fraction, irradiated tumor volume and time sequence of the drug administration. To exploit these exciting novel strategies, a better understanding is needed of the cellular and molecular pathways responsible for both cancer and normal tissue and organ response, including the role of radiation-induced accelerated senescence. This review will highlight the current understanding of promising biologically targeted therapies to enhance the radiation therapeutic ratio.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.113-117
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• 2006

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that may affect many organ systems including the nervous system. The immune response in patients with SLE can cause inflammation and other damage that can cause significant injury to the arteries and tissues. A 48-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of transient monocular blindness. Magnetic resonance imaging and conventional angiography showed severe stenosis of the distal intracranial internal carotid artery. The patient was diagnosed as having SLE but the antiphospholipid antibodies were negative. Amaurosis fugax has not been previously reported as an initial manifestation of SLE in Korea. We report a patient with a retinal transient ischemic attack as the first manifestation of SLE.

• 대한신경집중치료학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.71-80
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• 2018

Nutritional assessment and support are often overlooked in the critically ill due to other urgent priorities. Unlike oxygenation, organ dysfunction, infection, or consciousness, there is no consensus of indicators. Making it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention. Nevertheless, appropriate nutritional support in the critically ill has been associated with less morbidity and lower mortality. But, nutritional support has been considered an adjunct, for body weight maintenance and to help patients during the inflammatory phase of illness. Thus, it has been assigned a lower priority, compared to mechanical ventilation or hemodynamic stability. Recent findings have shown that nutritional support may prevent cellular injury due to oxidative stress and help strengthen the immune response. Large-scale randomized trials and clinical guidelines have shown a shift from nutritional support to nutritional therapy, with an emphasis on the importance of protein, minerals, vitamins, and trace elements. Nutrition is also important in neurocritically ill patients. Since there are few studies or recommendations with regard to the neurocritical population, the general recommendations for nutritional support should be applied.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

The gut is a complex organ that has played an important role in digestion, absorption, endocrine functions, and immunity. The gut mucosal barriers consist of the immunologic barrier and nonimmunologic barrier. During critical illnesses, the gut is susceptible to injury due to the induction of intestinal hyperpermeability. Gut hyperpermeability and barrier dysfunction may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, gut microbiota are altered during critical illnesses. The etiology of such microbiome alterations in critical illnesses is multifactorial. The interaction or systemic host defense modulation between distant organs and the gut microbiome is increasingly studied in disease research. No treatment modality exists to significantly enhance the gut epithelial integrity, permeability, or mucus layer in critically ill patients. However, multiple helpful approaches including clinical and preclinical strategies exist. Enteral nutrition is associated with an increased mucosal barrier in animal and human studies. The trophic effects of enteral nutrition might help to maintain the intestinal physiology, prevent atrophy of gut villi, reduce intestinal permeability, and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The microbiome approach such as the use of probiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been suggested. However, its evidence does not have a high quality. To promote rapid hypertrophy of the small bowel, various factors have been reported, including the epidermal growth factor, membrane permeant inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, mucus surrogate, pharmacologic vagus nerve agonist, immune-enhancing diet, and glucagon-like peptide-2 as preclinical strategies. However, the evidence remains unclear.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause clinical manifestations of multiple organ damage, including various neurological syndromes. There are currently two oral antiviral drugs-Paxlovid and molnupiravir-that are recognized to treat COVID-19, but there are still no drugs that can specifically fight the challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multimolecular complex that can sense heterogeneous pathogen-associated molecular patterns associated with neurological disorders. The NLRP3 activation stimulates the production of caspase-1-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and other cytokines in immune cells. Panax (P.) ginseng is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been widely used to boost immunity and treat various pathological conditions in the nervous system due to its safety and anti-inflammatory/oxidant/viral activities. Several recent reports have indicated that P. ginseng and its active ingredients may regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the nervous system. Therefore, this review article discusses the current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of neurological disorders related to COVID-19 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the possibility of using P. ginseng in a strategy targeting this pathway to treat neurological disorders.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.56-73
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• 2002

Objective : We need to develop a new treatment method which can curve cancer growth and enhance immunity of patients with various kinds of cancer more safely and effectively, for conventional anticancer treatment has lots of problems to be overcomed, in other words, Its efficacy can be recognizible but it doesn't actually give aid to patients due to its side effects. This study was taken up to evaluate the anticancer and immune-enhancing effect of Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Alli bulbus, Oldenlandiae Herba(SAO) Herbal acupuncture. Methods : SAO Herbal acupuncture solution was made from Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Alli bulbus, Oldenlandiae Herba by decoction. Experimental group was divided into normal(N), control(TC, cancer group induced by S 180), high and low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group. In the high and low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group, SAO Herbal acupuncture solution was injected, on the left and right Chok-samni(足三里, ST36) of ICR-male S 180 rats alternatively, by 200mg/kg and 100mg/kg respectively. In vitro, S 180 was cultured with $200{\mu}g$ and $500{\mu}g$ of SAO Herbal acupuncture solution. In each experimental group, we examined the effect of SAO complex Herbal acupuncture on body weight, antitumor, organ weight, activity of macrophage, activity of B cell, spleen cell division, IL-2 production and population of lymphocytes. Results : 1. In Body weight, no significant change was shown, but In solid cancer weight, the high concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed signigicant(P<0.05) decrease and significant(P<0.05) increase in the weight of kidney, compared with control group. 2. In activity of macrophage, low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed significant(P<0.01) increase, but in vitro, there was no significant increase, compared with control group. 3. In activity of B cell, high and low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed no significant decrease, but in vitro, low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed significant(P<0.01) increase, compared with control group. 4. In spleen cell division, high and low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group had no significant influence on spleen cell division induced by Co A, meanwhile, it was found that macrophge promote spleen cell division in low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group(P<0.05), compared with control group. 5. In IL-2 production, high concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed significant((P<0.05) increase, compared with control group. 6. In population of lymphocytes, high concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed significant increase of CD3+(P<0.05), CD4+(P<0.05), CD3+ and CD4+ T cell(P<0.01) and B cell(P<0.05), while low concentration SAO complex Herbal acupuncture group showed significant increase of CD4+(P<0.05), CD8+ T cell(P<0.05) and B cell(P<0.01), compared with control group. Conclusion : SAO Herbal acupuncture inhibited cancer growth and enhanced immunity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2008

Kwashiorkor는 단백질 결핍으로 인한 영양실조로 저알부민혈증, 설사, 피부염, 부종을 증상으로 나타낸다. 단백질-열량 결핍은 면역결핍을 초래하고 이는 감염에 대한 감수성을 높임으로써 생명을 위협하는 상태가 될 수 있다. 치료는 조기 영양공급, 감염증 치료가 주이며, 치료 경과 중 확장성 심근증이 나타날 수 있으며 이 경우 예후가 안 좋다. Kwashiorkor는 주로 빈곤한 나라에서 생긴다고 알려져 왔으며, 기술적으로 진보한 나라에서 치명적인 결과까지 낳은 예는 보고된 바가 없었다. 치명적인 kwashiorkor 1례를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다. 환아는 가난때문이 아니라 부모의 잘못된 생각으로 2개월 동안 곡물에 태운 곡식가루만 먹었으며, 설사, 전신 부종, 홍반, 저체온증 등을 주소로 입원하였다. 면역 결핍이 있는 상태였으며, 혈액 배양 검사상 Alcaligenes Xylosoxidans가 동정되었다. 단백질 보충식이 및 항생제 치료, 정주용 면역글로불린치료, 미세영양소 보충하였으나 확장성 심근병증, 다발성 장기 부전으로 사망하였다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.87-94
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• 2017

Tissue engineering (TE) has been developed to create functional organs and tissue by combining 3D matrix and cells in vitro. Vascularization and angiogenesis are utmost important for supply of nutrients and oxygen in tissue engineered organs. The present study was performed to isolate and characterize primary endothelial cells (EC) from aorta of alpha 1, 3-enzyme galactosyltransferase knock out (GalT KO) pig, to minimize immune rejection and analyze body immune system for future xenotransplantation studies. Isolation of primary EC from aorta were performed by incubation with dispase for 8-10 min at $37^{\circ}C$. Primary EC were cultured in EC growth medium on different extra cellular matrix (ECM), either collagen or gelation. Primary EC exhibits morphological characteristics and showed positive expressions of EC specific marker proteins i.e. PECAM1, KDR and VWF despite of their ECM surface; however, on collagen based surface they showed increase in mRNA level analyzed by qPCR. Primary EC cultured on collagen were sorted by flow cytometer using KDR marker and cultured as KDR positive cells and KDR negative cells, respectively. KDR positive cells showed dramatically increased in PECAM1 and VWF level as compared to KDR negative cells. Based on the above results, primary EC derived from GalT KO are successfully isolated and survived continuously in culture without becoming overgrown by fibroblast. Therefore, they can be utilize for xeno organ transfer, tissue engineering, and immune rejection study in future.