• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 1994

Interorder somatic hybrids were obtained by protoplast fusion between Pleurotus ostreatus in the order Agaricales and Elfvingia applanata in the order Aphyllophorales. The fusants were classified into stable heterokaryons and spontaneously segregated heterokaryons. Hyphae of all fusion products except two strains did not form clamp connections. Out of them, two clamped and three clampless fusants produced mature fruiting bodies by light-dark cycle on sawdust rice bran medium. All of these basidiocarps had clamp connections. Three fusants were analysed with the distribution of progenies and segregation of genetic characters by random spore analyses. The genetic markers were shown to segregate and recombine in the first generation of monospores isolated from basidiocarps. Phenotypes of a large number of auxotrophic progenies were not detected in the two clamped fusants. The aberration ratio of segregants indicated the gene interaction resulting from different genome structure between distantly related species. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was adopted for the detection of somatic hybrids nuclear DNA. Four fusants showed a positive results in three kinds of primers. The prominent reaction products are represented by new bands in primer # 87 and # 125. Out of four fusants, two somatic hybrids had non-parental mtDNA patterns when digested with EcoR1 and HindIII. Comparison of somatic hybrids, tissue culture isolates(TC) and multispore germination isolates(MS) were made using esterase isozyme analysis. It is apparent that somatic hybrids had a minor banding patterns which are quite different from those of parents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc is widely distributed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China), and its fruit is often used as a medication and food material. However, because most previous studies have only investigated the state of Prunus mume fruit extract, studies on the various ways of processing this extract are still needed to increase its utilization. In this study, we evaluated the physicochemical properties and physiological activities of spray-dried Prunus mume vinegar powder (SPP). The sugar content, pH, total acidity, and moisture content of the SPP were 8.90 °Brix, 3.19, 1.05%, and 3.07%, respectively. The SPP exhibited significantly high antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity (65.55%), reducing power (1.48), and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (48.07%). In addition, the SPP remarkably decreased the cell viability of human breast MDA-MB-231 and human skin cancer SK-MEL-28 in a dose-dependent manner. The morphological results of the treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with SPP were distorted, shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, apoptotic bodies and nuclear condensation formed in the SPP-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the SPP were 59.58 ㎍/g (gallic acid equivalent) and 57.56 ㎍/g (quercetin equivalent). The results of this study indicate that SPP, which has antioxidant activity and anticancer effects, can be useful in the development of natural medicines and functional food ingredients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematopoietic malignancy driven by promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion gene. The therapeutic drugs currently used to treat APL have adverse effects. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is an anticancer medicine with high effectiveness and low toxicity. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of GRh2-induced PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in human APL cell line (NB4 cells) remain unclear. Methods: Apoptosis-related indicators and PML-RARA expression were determined to investigate the effect of GRh2 on NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK, LY294002, and C 87, as inhibitors of caspase, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pathways were used to clarify the relationship between GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. Results: GRh2 dose- and time-dependently decreased NB4 cell viability. GRh2-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 activation in NB4 cells after a 12-hour treatment. GRh2-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was accompanied by massive production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression. GRh2 also induced PML/PML-RARA degradation, PML nuclear bodies formation, and activation of the downstream p53 pathway in NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK inhibited caspase activation and significantly reversed GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. GRh2 also upregulated TNF-α expression and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, enhanced the antitumor effects of GRh2, and C 87, an inhibitor of the TNF-α pathway, reversed NB4 cell viability, and GRh2-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-8-dependent manner. Conclusion: GRh2 induced caspase-dependent PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in NB4 cells via the Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 pathways.

• International Journal of Oncology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.203-210
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• 2019

To overcome the poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer, attempting to target ovarian cancer with effective antitumor compounds has been conducted for numerous years. Although the 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivative KYS05090S was known to exert antitumor effects in A549 and ovarian cancer cells by inhibition of T-type Ca²⁺ channels, the complete underlying antitumor mechanism of this compound remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, the potential apoptotic mechanism of KYS05090S was elucidated in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells. KYS05090S exerted significant cytotoxicity in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells, and also increased the number of apoptotic bodies, and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling positive cells and the sub-G1 population as a feature of apoptosis. Consistently, KYS05090S induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-9/3 in ovarian cancer cells. Notably, KYS05090S attenuated the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, including cyclin D1 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and reduced the phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, KYS05090S blocked the nuclear translocation of STAT3 and suppressed the signaling of JAK2/STAT3 in interleukin-6-treated SKOV3 cells, as a STAT3 activator. Overall, these observations indicated that inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and activation of caspase-9/3 are critically involved in the effects of KYS05090S on apoptosis in ovarian cancer types, and the compound may be beneficial as a potent antitumor agent.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-66
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's dementia (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), pose diagnostic challenges. This review examines the effectiveness of ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) in differentiating these subtypes for precise treatment and management. Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted using databases like PubMed and Embase to identify studies on the diagnostic utility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET in dementia. The search included studies up to November 16, 2022, focusing on peer-reviewed journals and applying the goldstandard clinical diagnosis for dementia subtypes. Results: From 12,815 articles, 14 were selected for final analysis. For AD versus FTD, the sensitivity was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.98) and specificity was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). In the case of AD versus DLB, ¹⁸F-FDG PET showed a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.98) and specificity of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). Lastly, when differentiating AD from non-AD dementias, the sensitivity was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.91) and the specificity was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.91). The studies mostly used case-control designs with visual and quantitative assessments. Conclusions: ¹⁸F-FDG PET exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating dementia subtypes, particularly AD, FTD, and DLB. This method, while not a standalone diagnostic tool, significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy in uncertain cases, complementing clinical assessments and structural imaging.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1033-1041
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• 2016

In this study, we evaluated antioxidant and antiproliferating effects of Setaria italica extract (SIE), Panicum miliaceum extract (PME) and Sorghum bicolor extract (SBE). Antioxidant effects of these extracts were determined by assessing DPPH radical scavenging activity, $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity, reducing power and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. From high concentrations ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) of each extract at DPPH radical scavenging activities of SIE, PME and SBE were 10.5%, 5.5% and 86.8% respectively, $ABTS^+$ radical activities were 4.92%, 5.9% and 62.3% respectively, reducing powers (OD 700) were 0.15, 0.18 and 1.7 respectively, and SOD-like activities were 17.0%, 15.9% and 38.6% respectively. In addition, SBE significantly decreased the cell viability of androgen-sensitive lymph node metastasis type of prostate cancer (LNCaP) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological study of SBE-treated LNCaP cells revealed distorted and shrunken cell masses. SBE-induced cell death was confirmed by observation of nuclear condensation and increased formation of apoptotic bodies. The antiproliferative effect of SBE seems to be associated with the antioxidant activity of its polyphenol content. The results of this study indicate that SBE can exert antioxidant and antiproliferative effects and may be as a useful food material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1227-1234
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• 2019

Prunus mume, also known as maesil, is a popular fruit consumed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China). It contains high amounts of organic acids, minerals, and polyphenols and has been used as a medication for fever, vomiting, and detoxification. In this study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of solvent fractions from maesil were evaluated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays, morphological evaluations, Hoechst 33258 staining, and western blotting. Addition of the maesil methanol fraction (MMF) and the maesil butanol fraction (MBF) significantly and dose-dependently decreased the cell viability of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Colony-forming assays confirmed that the MMF and MBF treatments decreased colony numbers when compared with untreated control cells. Treatment of HT-29 cells with MMF and MBF caused a distortion of the cell morphology to a shrunken cell mass. Treatment with MMF and MBF also dose-dependently increased nuclear condensation and the formation of apoptotic bodies in HT-29 cells. Treatment with MMF and MBF significantly and dosedependently increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein), caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein). MMF significantly and dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation induced by bisphenol A, an environmental hormone. Therefore, MMF may have potential use as a functional food and as a possible therapeutic agent for the prevention of colon cancer.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.140-156
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• 2007

This research was performed to investigate the morphological changes of folliculus ovary according to the radiation dose. The whole body radiation of 200 cGy, 400 cGy, and 600 cGy was given to the each groups of 5 months-aged female mouse. Various staining methods used in this research are: Hematosylin-Eosin method, and immunohistochemistrical methods using BrdU, TUNEL, p53, p21, PCNA and inhibin. The minute structural changes of folliculus ovary were observed through an electron microscope with high magnification. The morphological changes of growing folliculus ovary became distinct as the dose of X-rays increased. Especially, the nuclei of granular cells showed manifest condensation and the changes of the transparent zone were distinct. As a result of histochemical reaction according to Masson's trichrome method and reticular fiber method, the changed granular cells, the deformed basilar membrane of folliculus ovary and the abnormal arrangement of the reticular fiber were observed. In the reaction of BrdU, the granular cells of normal folliculus ovary with positive reaction rapidly decreased according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In TUNEL study, granular cells showing positive reaction in retarded folliculus ovary were expanded to growing folliculus ovary and primordial folliculus ovary according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In case of 600 cGy of X-rays, oocyte underwent apoptosis. In p53 immunohistochemistry, p53 manifested to be stronger as the dose of X-rays increased. p53 reactivity was manifested distinctively in all cells comprising folliculus ovary following irradiation of 600 cGy. p21 was manifested in granular cells of folliculus ovary and showed very positive reaction around follicular antrum according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In PCNA, positive reaction was manifested in growing folliculus ovary, mature folliculus ovary and primordial folliculus ovary, but the extent of the reaction decreased as the dose of the X-rays decreased. The finding that the reaction of granular cells around folliculus ovary was stronger than that near follicular membrane indicates that what was damaged first by X-ray was the cells near folliculus ovary and follicular antrum. The reactivity of $inhibin-{\alpha}$ showed difference according to the growing stage of folliculus ovary: $inhibin-{\alpha}$ showed the most strong reaction in mature folliculus ovary with follicular antrum. There was strong reaction in granular cells around follicular membrane but $inhibin-{\alpha}$ did not occur at all in theca cells comprising follicular membrane. $Inhibin-{\alpha}$ in ovary tissue exposed to 400 cGy of X-rays was manifested more strongly than in ovary tissue exposed to 600 cGy of X-rays, which was related to the phenomenon that granular cells of mature folliculus ovary underwent necrosis or apoptosis increasingly due to X-rays. In an electron microscope with high magnification, nuclei and protoplasm of granular cells in growing folliculus ovary abruptly underwent minute structural changes according to the increase of dose of X-rays. Cell residue, by-product of cell decease, neutrophil and macrophage around follicular antrum were observed. The minute structural changes in granular cells showed typical characteristics of apoptosis: the increase of electronic density due to nuclear condensation, fragmentation of nuclei and atrophy of protoplasm. Necrosis of cells was identified but it was not so remarkable. Macrophage with apoptotic bodies was scattered. Proportional to the radiation dose, we found that the generation of heterogeneous substance of normal ovary texture's follicular fluid, the emergence of dyeing characteristic in the basilar membrane of folicle, the generation of apoptosis, and the transformation of macrophages, etc. From this results, we can infer the possible radiation hazard on the ovary of cervix cancer patient with radiation therapy.