• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.2 s.49
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to find the possible protective effects of Angelica koreana water extract on biochemical parameters in benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced liver injury in rats. B(a)P treatment (0.1 mg/kg, 1.p.) caused a liver damages, which led to biochemical alterations in serum and liver enzyme activities and serum lipid levels. The activities of liver marker enzymes, especially, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were markedly changed in B(a)P treatment. Oral administration of Angelica koreana (50 mg/kg) recovered these biochemical Parameters to near normal levels. Therefore, the present results have revealed that Angelica koreana water extract might have the antihepatotoxic effect and consequently ameliorate liver damage associated with B(a)P in rats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.233-234
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• 2017

Aberrant expression of the polypeptide N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferase (GALNTs) has been associated with cancer, but their function(s) in metastasis remains elusive. We have recently identified GALNT14, one of the O-GalNAc glycosylation-initiating enzymes, as a prognostic marker for pulmonary relapse in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, we showed that GALNT14 promotes lung metastasis by the following novel mechanisms: 1) enhancing metastasis initiation by inhibiting the anti-metastatic effect of BMP produced from the lung stroma, 2) exploiting growth signals (e.g. FGF) supplied by macrophages, for their growth into macrometastases in the lung environment. These multi-faceted roles of GALNT14 in lung metastasis are achieved by GALNT14-mediated inhibition and activation of the BMP and FGF signaling pathways, respectively. The link among GALNT14, its downstream pathways and lung metastasis, provides us with an opportunity to develop effective therapeutic intervention for breast cancer.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2009

To investigate the antioxidant effect of lutein on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDEA)-induced oxidative stress in mice, we measured lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase of various tissues. Body weight was almost similar in lutein and control groups during 3 weeks. NDEA increased significantly the activities of typical marker enzymes of liver function (AST, ALT and ALP) in both groups. However, the increase of plasma aminotransferase activity significantly decreased in lutein group. Lipid peroxidation and SOD in various tissues, such as heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and plasma were significantly increased by NDEA, which were significantly reduced by lutein at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Catalase activity decreased significantly in control and lutein groups treated with NDEA, the effect being less in lutein group. Lesser effect on SOD and catalase in NDEA-treated lutein group indicates the improvement of protective mechanisms by lutein. Thus, it can be concluded from the present study that lutein can offer a useful protection against NDEA-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 1982

The changes in activities of glyoxysomal and peroxisomal enzymes during the transition from fat degradation to photosynthesis were investigated with the cotyledns of rape (Brassica napus L.) seedlings. The development and disappearance of glyoxysomal enzyme (isocitrate lyase, EC 4.1.3.1; malate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.37; catalase, EC 1.11.1.6) activities took place independently of light. It is concluded that the mobilization of storage fat is independent of photomorphogenesis. During early periods of development in the dark of light (days 1 through 3), the glyoxysomal enzyme activities were relatively high and the enzyme activities rose to a peak at 3rd day after sowing. Thereafter, the activities decreased gradually. While glyoxysomal enzyme activities were dropping, the peroxisomal enzyme (glycolate oxidase, EC 1.1.3.1) activities were increasing rapidly during the transition period in the light. Moreover, the changes of enzyme activities of the common microbody marker, catalase, indicated both functional patterns. The enzyme patterns in rape cotyledons indicate that the glyoxysomal function of microbodies is replaced by the peroxisomal function of these organelles during the transition from fat degradation to photosynthesis.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2001

Purpose : To investigate biochemical markers for osteosarcoma, activities of deoxyribocuclease(DNase), ribonuclease(RNase), 5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase were determined in the osteosarcoma tissue and serum of patients with osteosarcoma. Also studied were DNase, RNase in osteosarcoma tissue, isolating the enzymes from the sarcoma tissue and investigating the sarcoma specific enzymes. Materials and Methods : The experimental tissue and serum were obtained from twelve patients with osteosarcoma. The control group were obtained from the normal healthy tissue of the same patients. The tissue were centrifugalized to obtain extracts. The extracts were analized for the estimation of nucleic acid, protein contents and enzyme activities. And then each enzymes were isolated and analized by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and estimated for activities. Result : Activities of acid DNase, RNase, 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in osteosarcoma tissue. Neutral RNase in osteosarcoma tissue was shown to bo highly active, exhibiting secretory form of RNase inhibitor associated with the RNase was also increased. In the serum of patients with osteosarcoma, RNase activity was significantly increased. DEAE-cellulose column chromatographical analysis revealed that acid DNase was isolated as a single enzyme and neutral RNase as five isozymes in osteosarcoma tissue. Conclusion : The results indicated that combination of these enzymes could be used as markers for osteosarcoma. The results indicated that acid DNase and neutral RNase might play a role in genesis of sarcoma and suppression of sarcoma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1342-1347
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• 2008

The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective effect of silkworm excrement powder (SEP) on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Semisynthetic diet supplemented with SEP (3%, w/w) given to alcohol-feeding rats for 30 days, then blood and tissues were collected, processed and used for alcohol concentration mensuration, various biochemical estimations and histopathological examination. Chronic alcohol administration resulted in significantly increase in the activities of the clinically important liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, a highly significant increase in the blood alcohol level by alcohol treatment was observed. But alcohol-induced elevation of ALT and LDH levels markedly prevented and the level of blood alcohol decreased in SEP treated rats as compared to alcohol-administered control rats. SEP supplementation showed highly decreased the concentrations of total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol in serum, as compared with alcohol treated control rats. Alcohol treatment induced the marked accumulation of large lipid droplets, hepatocytes necrosis and inflammation in the liver, but SEP administration attenuated to alcohol-induced accumulation of lipid droplets and hepatocyte necrosis. The results indicated that SEP may exert a protective effect against alcoholic hepatotoxicity through decreasing the activity of hepatic marker enzymes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the effects of extracts of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) with a Monascus purpureus strain on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven dietary groups (n=8 per group), as follows: a normal diet group (N) and six HFD groups (C: control, HFD and no treatment; AG: HFD +10% A. gigas extracts; FAG2.5: HFD +2.5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG5: HFD +5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG10: HFD +10% fermented A. gigas extracts; GC: HFD + Garcinia cambogia extracts). FAG-fed rats exhibited effectively lowered rates of increasing body weight and visceral fat accumulation in the HFD-induced obesity model. The activities of several hepatic marker enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were increased with HFD-induced obesity, but levels of these marker enzymes were significantly decreased in FAG-fed rats. The consumption of FAG reduced triglyceride concentrations in serum to normal levels. FAG-fed rats showed effectively increased leptin concentrations in the HFD-induced obesity model. HFD ingestion induced a significant increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, which was decreased in FAG-fed rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased via FAG feeding. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of epididymal adipose adipose tissue showed that the adipocyte were decreased by feeding FAG.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.705-712
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• 1996

We have previously shown that determination of glucose uptake using ${\alpha}$-methylglucose(${\alpha}$-MG) is very sensitive and rapid parameter for the assessment of loss of cellular fu nction in renal cell line($LLC-PK_1$). The present study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of ${\alpha}$-MG uptake and the intracellular site of toxic action of cisplatin(CIS). $LLC-PK_1$ cells were exposed to various concentrations(5 ${\mu}$M-l00 ${\mu}$M) of CIS for 5 hrs or 24 hrs and ${\alpha}$-MG uptake was determined. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring intracellular ATP content and MTT reduction. The activities of marker enzymes for the basolateral membrane(Na$^+$-K$^+$ ATPase) and brush border membrane (alkaline phosphatase: ALP) were also measured. CIS treatment significantly inhibited the ${\alpha}$-MG uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner above 25 ${\mu}$M for 5 hrs. Intracellular ATP content and MTT reduction were affected by 24 hr-treatment of 50 ${\mu}$M CIS. The activities of Na$^+$-K$^+$ ATPase and ALP were significantly decreased at 10 ${\mu}$M and 5 ${\mu}$M of CIS for 24 hrs, respectively. The incubation with CIS for 5 hrs had no effects on the intracellular ATP content, MTT reduction and the activities of marker enzymes up to 100 ${\mu}$M. These results partly indicate that inhibition of ${\alpha}$-MG uptake by CIS may not be attributed to the disturbance of mitochondrial function or inhibition of the activity of Na$^+$-K$^+$ ATPase and can be resulted from direct effect of CIS on the Na$^+$/glucose cotransporter in brush border membrane. This study shows that additional mechanistic information, indicating the intracellular site of nephrotoxic action, can be gained by coupling the ${\alpha}$-MG uptake and ATP content or the activity of Na$^+$-K$^+$ ATPase.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 1996

This study was carried out to clarify the genetic constitution of biochemical polymorphic loci controlling blood protein and enzymes as genetic rnarkers in Korean native chicken(KNG) population Blood samples were collected from 230 KNG representing three colored-lines(reddish-, yellowish- and blackish- brown) raised in Daejeon branch of National Livestock Research Institute. Eight blood marker loci, transferrin(Tf), post-albumin(Pas), albumin(Alb), amylase-1(Arny-1), es-terase-1(Es-1), alkaline phosphatase(Akp), catalase(Cat) and hemoglobin(Hh) were analyzed by using starch, agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the gene frequencies of polymorphic marker loci, the genetic characteristics of KNF population was analyzed, and the genetic ariability within population was quantified. The genetic relationships between KNC and other native fowls or improved breeds were also estimated. The gene frequencies of Tf, Pas and AIb loci were similar to those of improved breeds among the seven biochemical polymorphic loci, while gene frequencies of Cat and Es-i loci were remarkably different between KNC and improved breeds. Gene frequencies of amy-i and Akp loci were similar to those of New Hampshire and Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn, respectively. However in comparison with other improved breeds, great differences were observed in gene frequencies of these loci The average heterozygosity, effective number of alleles and homogeneity index for the seven loci combined were estimated to be .334, 1.639 and .373, respectively. Based on the dendrogram and genetic distances, the KNC was genetically closer to New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red breeds than to the White Leghorn breed.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2000

The present study was aimed at investigating the nutritional and physiological significance of rice bran as a source of dietary fiber as compared to pectin and wheat bran. The parameters for comparison included hypertrophy and morphology of intestines, stool weights and villus marker enzyme activity. For 6 weeks, 10 Sprague Dawley male rats were given one of six experimental diets: 1% cellulose control (CC), 5% pectin (P5), 5% rice bran(RB5), 10% rice bran(RB10), 5% wheat bran (WB5) or 10% wheat bran (WB10) based on the level of dietary fiber. Among experimental groups, food efficiency ratio and body weight gain was comparable. RB10 increased cecal and colonic tissue weights and content weights of cecum and colon as much as P5 did. Stool weight was positiviely correlated with colonic tissue weight (r=0.727, P<0.001), with colonic content weight(r=0.647, P<0.001). Small intestine length increased most in the P5 group, followed by the RB10 group. The scanning electron micrograph of jejunal villi from rice bran groups showed a leaf-shaped, smooth and regular pattern, whereas that of CC group produced a rather long shape. The wheat bran groups showed an irregular leafshaped pattern, and the pectin group typically produced leaf-shaped villi with surface damage. The activities of villus marker enzymes (maltase and sucrase) were higher in the bran-fed rats than in the control or pectin-fed rats. The results indicate than not only dietary fiber amounts but also fiber sources are closely related to the physiology and morphology of the large and small intestines in rats. Rice bran exerted effects on fecal output and trophic effects on the intestines similar to those of pectin.