• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

Since 1990s, some events - detection of a dirty bomb in a Russian nation park in 1995, 9/11 terrorist attack to WTC in 2001, discovery of Al-Qaeda's experimentation to build a dirty bomb in 2003 etc - have showed that nuclear or radiological terrorism relating to radioactive materials (hereinafter "radioactive materials" is referred to as "nuclear material, nuclear spent fuel and radioactive source") is not incredible but serious and credible threat. Thus, to respond to the new threat, the international community has not only strengthened security and physical protection of radioactive materials but also established prevention of and response to illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. In this regard, our government has enacted or revised the national regulatory framework with a view to improving security of radioactive materials and joined the international convention or agreement to meet this international trend. For the purpose of prevention of nuclear/radiological terrorism, this paper reviews physical characteristics of nuclear material and existing detection instruments used for prevention of illicit trafficking. Finally, national detection regime against nuclear/radiological terrorism based on paths of the smuggled radioactive materials to terrorist's target building/area, national topography and road networks, and defence-in-depth concept is suggested in this paper. This study should contribute to protect people's health, safety and environment from nuclear/radiological terrorism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4893-4898
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• 2016

Objective: To investigate the impact of a Croton tiglium extract on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549) in vitro. Methods: A Croton tiglium seed methanol extract was prepare and assessed for effects on A549 cells regarding cellular proliferation, apoptotic rates, and expression of apoptosis related genes and proteins using real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. Results: The tested Croton tiglium extract inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with significant elevation of apoptotic indexes at various concentrations after 24 h. In addition, rates in both early and late stages were higher in treated than untreated groups, the $100{\mu}g/ml$ dose causing the highest levels of apoptosis. RT-PCR showed that A549 cells treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ Croton tiglium extract for 24 h has markedly higher Bax mRNA expression levels and obviously lower Bcl-2 expression levels than controls, equivalent results being observed for proteins by immunofluorescence. However, the mRNA expression levels of Fas and caspase-8 were not significantly altered. Conclusion: A Croton tiglium extract can inhibit proliferation of A549 cells and promote apoptosis though Bax/Bcl-2 pathways.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.563-569
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• 2011

The effects of cortisol on proliferation and apoptosis of tilapia surface immunoglobulin positive ($sIg^+$) lymphocytes isolated from different tissues were investigated. $sIg^+$ lymphocytes from the tilapia head kidney (HK) and spleen showed a higher proliferation and lower intracellular calcium ($Ca^{2+}{_i}$) level to Ig-crosslinking compared with peripheral blood $sIg^+$ lymphocytes. Peripheral blood $sIg^+$ lymphocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed high levels of apoptosis in the presence of cortisol. HK and to a lesser extent spleen $sIg^+$ lymphocytes, although less sensitive than their equivalent in peripheral blood, showed cortisol-induced apoptosis irrespective of LPS stimulation of control levels. Compared to plasma values measured during stress conditions, proliferation regardless of LPS stimulation was apparently suppressed by cortisol that is effective in inducing a significant increase in apoptosis in all three different cell populations of $sIg^+$ cells, suggesting the immunoregulatory effect of cortisol in both LPS stimulated and non-stimulated conditions. Different sensitivity of $sIg^+$ cells to the cortisol, in regard to developmental stage and activity, could be related in inhibiting excessive and continuing depletion of $sIg^+$ lymphocytes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2003

The use of skin whitening agents has been recently increased in various kinds of cosmetic products, although there were some reports that whitening agents might cause allergic contact dermatitis. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pigs for contact sensitization potential. This study was carried out to investigate the skin sensitization potential of three whitening agents, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, by LLNA using a non-radiois-topic endpoint. Female Balb/c mice were exposed topically to a weak allergen, $\alpha$-hexylcinnamalde-hyde (HCA), and three whitening agents following LLNA protocol. Lymph node (LN) weight and cell proliferation in ears and auricular lymph node using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry were evaluated. LN weights were significantly increased at the HCA group compared to the vehicle control. A weak allergen, HCA elicited 3-fold or greater increase in cell proliferation of lymph nodes as well as increase in cell proliferation of ear as measured by BrdU immunohistochemistry. However, in the case of skin whitening agent groups, there were no significant changes in LN weight and cell proliferation in the ear and lymph node of mice treated with 5, 10 and 20% of three whitening agents compared to the vehicle control. These results show that these three skin whitening agents may not have contact sensitization potentials at tested concentrations in Balb/c mice by LLNA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-37
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• 2008

Objective : The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of NaisoOkseol-Tang (NOT) on solid tumor in mice in terms of immune-potentiating and direct cytotoxic action of NOT in vitro and vivo study. Methods: The present author investigated thymocyte proliferation and NO production to confirm immune-potentiating activity of NOT and also investigated body/tumor weight and survival rates in tumor bearing mice. In this study, administration of NOT decreased tumor/weight ratio significantly, and prolonged survival duration compared to non-treated control. Treatment with NOT also elevated proliferation rates of thymocytes isolated from tumor bearing mice. Results: In vitro study, treatment with NOT suppressed proliferation rate of Sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells. Contrary, treatment with NOT elevated proliferation rate of thymocytes. These results were co-related with in vivo study. In addition, NO production from abdominal macrophages isolated from normal mice was not affected by treatment with NOT. Conclusion : NOT is useful to treat patient with solid tumor, because NOT has direct toxic action for tumor cell and immune-potentiating action for T cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2008

Objective: There is increasing evidence that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is recognized to be a local inflammatory disease, and there is substantiating evidence to support the role of the inflammatory responses in its pathogenesis, and clinical value in the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. Prunella vulgaris has been traditionally used in treatment of inflammatory diseases, including of scrofula, goiter, and allergy diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of Prunella vulgaris on inflammatory cytokines and cytopathological alternation in the rat model of non-bacterial prostatitis induced by castration and $17{\beta}-estradiol$ treatment. Methods: Two-month-old rats were treated with $17{\beta}-estradiol$ after castration for induction of experimental non-bacterial prostatitis, which is similar to human chronic prostatitis in histopathological profiles. Prunella vulgaris as an experimental specimen, and testosterone as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological parameters including the epithelial score and epithelial-stromal ratio for glandular damage, and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes including the interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-5, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Results: While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Prunella vulgaris showed a diminished range of tissue damage. Epithelial score was improved in Prunella vulgaris over that of the control (P<0.05). The epithelial-stromal ratio was lower with Prunella vulgaris when compared to that of the control (P<0.05). In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of inflammatory cytokine genes, Prunella vulgaris inhibited the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ genes, while it modulated the expression of IL-5, which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Prunella vulgaris may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the immune modulation including the suppression of inflammatory cytokines and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokine. From theses results, we suggest that Prunella vulgaris could be a useful remedy agent for treating chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2291-2295
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• 2014

Although nucleolar protein nucleostemin (NS) is essential for cell proliferation and early embryogenesis and expression has been observed in some types of human cancer and stem cells, the molecular mechanisms involved in mediation of cell proliferation and cell cycling remains largely elusive. The aim of the present study was to evaluate NS as a potential target for gene therapy of human breast carcinoma by investigating NS gene expression and its effects on SKBR-3 cell proliferation and apoptosis. NS mRNA and protein were both found to be highly expressed in all detected cancer cell lines. The apoptotic rate of the pcDNA3.1-NS-Silencer group ($12.1-15.4{\pm}3.8%$) was significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1-NS ($7.2-12.0{\pm}1.7%$) and non-transfection groups ($4.1-6.5{\pm}1.8%$, P<0.01). MTT assays showed the knockdown of NS expression reduced the proliferation rate of SKBR-3 cells significantly. Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays indicated that the number of invading cells was significantly decreased in the pcDNA3.1-NS-siRNA group (P<0.01), but there were no significant difference between non-transfected and over-expression groups (P>0.05). Moreover, RNAi-mediated NS down-regulation induced SKBR-3 cell G1 phase arrest, inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted p53 pathway-mediated cell apoptosis in SKBR-3 cells. NS might thus be an important regulator in the G2/M check point of cell cycle, blocking SKBR-3 cell progression through the G1/S phase. On the whole, these results suggest NS might be a tumor suppressor and important therapeutic target in human cancers.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.120-126
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• 2003

Object : This study was done to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Samul-tang (Siwu-tang) on collagen production by cultured murine hepatic non-parenchymal cells. Methods : Hepatic non-parenchymal cells were cultured from normal Sprague-Dawley rats and established in a primary cell culture on uncoated plastic culture plates. The Samul-tang (Siwu-tang) was treated into the cell culture media for 72 hours and the cells were harvested for analysis. Analyses were done on cell proliferation, [3H]thymidine incorporation assay and procollagen type IC-peptide. Results : The cultured cells resembled fibroblasts in shape and produced procollagen which is consistent to fibrogenesis in vivo. Proliferation of the non-parenchymal cells was inhibited slightly and the [3H]thymidine incorporation assay showed a dose-dependent decrease by Samul-tang (Siwu-tang) treatment. Production of procollagen type I C-peptide was decreased by low-concentration treatment of the Samul-tang (Siwu-tang), but increased by high-concentration treatment. Conclusion : It seemed that the cells were responding to the Samul-tang (Siwu-tang) in low-concentration, thus producing less collagen. However, when the drug was administered with high enough concentration to cause excessive stimulation of cells, it seemed that the activated cells might overly produce procollagen, the precursor of collagen, thus aggravating fibrosis of the liver. So, it is considered that the proper concentration of Samul-tang (Siwu-tang) is important when treating patients with liver cirrhosis based on the patients' status.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.470-480
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• 2000

The epithelium of odontogenic cyst seems to be in a specific status of cellular proliferation and cytodifferentiation. With the identification of various genes, which play essential roles in the specific stages of cellular proliferation and differentiation, the cellular conditions of odontogenic cyst epithelium need to be reevaluated. This study aimed to estimate the degree of proliferating, differentiating and apoptotic activities of odontogenic cyst epithelium using antisera of PCNA, Ki-67, MPM-2, transglutaminase C, heat shock protein 70 and $ApopTag$^{(R)}$. method in 19 cases of odontogenic cysts. Cellular changes of the cyst epithelium were measured by intensity of each immunohistochemical staining. Results were as follows: 1. The proliferating activity of the cyst epithelium was slightly lower than that of normal oral mucosal epithelium, with the use of primary antibodies against PCNA, Ki-67, and MPM-2. And the proliferating activity of the epithelium in OKC group was even higher than that of the epithelium in non-OKC group. 2. The odontogenic cysts showed weakly positive reaction with transglutaminase C, but strongly positive reaction with HSP 70. 3. Occasionally, only a few apoptotic cell was observed in the superficial keratin layer of OKC. 4. The hyperplastic cyst epithelium infiltrated with mild inflammatory cells showed diffusely positive reaction with different proliferating factors. From the above results, we presumed that the endogenous proliferating and differentiating activity of the cyst epithelium was slightly lower than that of normal oral mucosal epithelium, and also supposed that the cyst epithelium could be reactivated for the further proliferation by the exogenous factors, such as inflammatory reaction and any chemicophysical irritations.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2019

Objectives The loss of maternal care during early postnatal period may increase development of mood-related disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. In this study, the effect of acupuncture on depression in relation with cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was investigated using maternal-separated rat pups. Methods On the postnatal 14th day, rat pups from six dams were grouped into following groups: maternal care group, maternal separation group, maternal separation and non-acupoint-acupunctured group, maternal separation and Zusanli-acupunctured group, and maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group. Acupuncture was performed from postnatal 28th day to postnatal 37th day. The rat pups that belong in the maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group were injected subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride once a day for the same period of time. To evaluate activity of the rat pups, open field test was performed. Immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe and for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was conducted. Results The present results reveal that the activity was decreased by maternal separation. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli overcame maternal separation-induced hypoactivity. Maternal separation suppressed TPH expression and 5-HT synthesis in the dorsal raphe and decreased cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus of rat pups. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli alleviated maternal separation-induced decrease of 5-HT synthesisand TPH expression. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that acupuncture at Zusanli ameliorated depressive state through increasing cell proliferation and enhancing 5-HT synthesis.