• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2004

The present study was designed to determine the impact of mercury on endotoxin-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and corresponding signal transduction in mouse kidney. Male BALB/c mice were exposed continuously to 0, 0.3, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 ppm of mercury in drink-ing water for 14 days and at the end of the treatment period, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to euthanasia. The doses of mercury and LPS did not cause hepatotoxicity or renal toxicity as indicated by unaltered plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and terminal UTP nucleotide end-labeling assay from kidney, respectively. Mercury decreased kidney glutathione (GSH) and with LPS, it additively decreased GSH. Mercury activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and additively increased LPS-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, mercury inhibited LPS-induced activation of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but had no effect alone. Mercury increased the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TN F$\alpha$) and potentiated LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression. Mercury did not affect LPS-induced interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) expression but decreased LPS-induced IL-6 expression. These results suggest that low levels of mercury might augment LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression by altering GSH and p38 MAPK. Mercury modulates LPS-induced p38 and ERK activation, and downstream TNF$\alpha$ and IL-6 expression in kidney, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.214-223
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• 2017

Objective: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a well-known method for the treatment of infertility. The present study aimed to compare the differences between infertile women with successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes regarding the expression of T helper (Th) cell transcription factors and a group of related cytokines before and after exposure to their husbands' seminal plasma. Methods: This study was performed on 19 couples with unexplained infertility undergoing IVF treatment. Among the studied group, nine and 10 couples had successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes, respectively. This study was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Before seminal plasma exposure, the expression levels of T-bet (p< 0.007), $interferon-{\gamma}$ (p= 0.013), and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ (p= 0.017) were higher in the infertile women with IVF failure than in those with successful IVF outcomes, while those of GATA3 (p< 0.001), Foxp3 (p= 0.001), and interleukin (IL)-35 (p< 0.003) were lower. After seminal exposure, the expression of T-bet (p= 0.02), Rorc (p< 0.001), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (p= 0.001), Foxp3 (p= 0.02), and $interferon-{\gamma}$ (p= 0.001) increased in the unsuccessful IVF group, while the expression of Foxp3 (p= 0.02), Rorc (p< 0.001), IL-23 (p= 0.04), IL-17 (p= 0.02), IL-6 (p< 0.001), transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ (p= 0.01), and IL-35 (p< 0.001) increased in the successful IVF group. Conclusion: In summary, IVF failure was associated with imbalanced Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg responses. Moreover, our results show that seminal plasma might have a positive effect on IVF outcomes via changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soybean peptide on antioxidant enzymes, cortisol hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels. 19 high school male judo athletes participated in the experiments. They were randomly divided into two groups, one group took soybean peptide (S-peptide, n=10) 4 g a day for 4 weeks and the other group placebo (placebo group, n=9) for the same time. Blood samples were collected before intake, after 2 weeks intake and 4 weeks intake and these were analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS), catalase (CAT), levels of cortisol hormone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). As a result, the S-peptide group was significantly increased in TAS and CAT (P<0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels showed decrease after soybean peptide intake but there was no significant difference. In the levels of plasma cortisol which reflect stress status, there was significantly decreased in the S-peptide and placebo group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). There were significant decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 after 4 weeks in S-peptide group (P<0.05). These results suggest that the intake of soybean peptide can activate antioxidant defenses and decrease exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2017

Objectives Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and plasma levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), have previously been determined to be associated with depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of plasma levels of ACE and cytokines with recurrent depression. Methods A total of 52 participants (14 male, 38 female, aged $43.9{\pm}14.0years$) were enrolled after being diagnosed with depression by experienced psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center. The participants completed blood sampling, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Results ACE plasma levels are higher in patients with recurrent depression ($27.4{\pm}10.4U/L$) than in patients with newly diagnosed depression ($19.1{\pm}7.7U/L$) (p = 0.004). The levels of cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, are not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, the ACE plasma level is negatively correlated with a reduction in the HAMD over six weeks (r = -0.429, p = 0.046, n = 22). Conclusions The current findings show that plasma ACE levels may be associated with recurrent depression and further suggest that the renin-angiotensin system could play a role in recurrent depression.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of Ojeoksangamibang ($W\check{u}j\bar{i}s\check{a}nji\bar{a}w\grave{e}if\bar{a}ng$) extract on recovery of liver function in carbontetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-exposed rat. Methods Male rats weighing $230{\pm}7.21g$ fed experimental diet for 1 week and 28 rats were divided into 4 groups. Each of 7 rats was devided into a control group and experimental groups. We fed a control group of rats a basal diet and administered normal saline (100 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 3 weeks. And we fed each experimental group of rats basal diet and administered an extract of Ojeoksangamibang extracts (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 3 weeks. We measured lipid of plasma and liver, concentration of proinflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-10). Statistical analysis was done by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple range test with significance level at p<0.05. Results Plasma a-fetoprotein (AFP) and total protein concentration showed a tendency to decrease in Ojeoksangamibang extract-treated groups. However, plasma albumin concentration showed no significant differences in all treatment groups. Activity of plasma Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the Ojeoksangamibang extract-treated groups, increased addition amount of Ojeoksangamibang extracts tended to decline. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase (${\gamma}$-GT) activities showed a tendency to decrease in Ojeoksangamibang extract-treated groups, increased addition amount of Ojeoksangamibang extracts tended to decline. Concentration of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol showed a lower value than that of control group. The liver $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration were decreased, and IL-10 was increased in Ojeoksangamibang extract groups, compared to control group. Plasma $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration were decreased, and IL-10 was increased in Ojeoksangamibang extract groups, compared to control group. Conclusions This study suggested that Ojeoksangamibang may alleviate liver inflammatory reaction induced by liver toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1183-1189
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of oyster shell extract (OSE) on papain-induced osteoarthritis in C57BL/6J mice. Osteoarthritis was induced in mice by a papain injection into the knee joint. The mice were divided into a total of five groups (n=8). The normal group was untreated, whereas the papain group (negative control) was induced with osteoarthritis and treated with water daily. The papain+DS group (positive control) was treated with diclofenac sodium. Papain+OSE groups were treated with OSE concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg/bw for 20 days. Proteoglycan content in articular cartilage was analyzed through safranine-O fast green staining and H&E staining. The histopathological changes in cartilage were measured by the Rudolphi score approach. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in plasma were analyzed by the ELISA method. After experiments, body weights of the treated groups were not significantly different compared with the normal group. Cartilage loss and joint instability significantly improved in a dose-dependent manner in the OSE-treated group compared with the papain group (P<0.05). Proteoglycan content was significantly higher in the OSE-treated group than the papain group (P<0.05). Osteoarthritis scores of the OSE-treated group were significantly decreased compared with the papain group (P<0.05). TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 content in the plasma of the papain+OSE treated groups significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the papain group (P<0.05). These results suggest that OSE treatment might have anti-arthritic effects on papain-induced osteoarthritis in C57BL/6J mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.982-988
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• 2011

This research seeks a basis for developing new anti-inflammatory medicine by investigating Cornus Walteri extract for its anti-inflammatory effects. After the injection of LPS in to rats with Cornus Walteri extract, its anti-inflammatory effects were compared among the treatment groups. The plasma concentration of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ peaked at 5h after LPS injection, and the values of the Cornus Walteri extract groups were lower than those of the control group. In the increment of concentration of these cytokines at 2h and 5h after LPS injection, the Cornus Walteri groups were lower than that of control group. The plasma concentration of IL-10 peaked at 5h after LPS injection, and the values of the Cornus Walteri extract groups were higher than those of the control group. In the increment of cytokines concentration at 2h and 5h after LPS injection, the Cornus Walteri groups were higher than that of control group. Liver cytokines measurement was done at 5h after LPS injection. The concentration of liver IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the Cornus Walteri groups was lower than that of the control group. The concentrations of liver TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-10 showed no significant differences among all the treatment groups. In the studies of lipopolysaccharide-exposed Raw 264.7 cells, the concentration of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups was higher than that of control group (normal group). However, in lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups, they showed lower values than those of control group and these values showed a tendency to decrease in the Cornus Walteri groups. The concentration of IL-10 in the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups was higher than that of control group (normal group), and among the lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups, all Cornus Walteri extract groups showed higher values than single lipopolysaccharide-exposed cells groups. This studies have shown that in vitro and in vivo Cornus Walteri extracts are significantly more sensitive to inflammatory cytokines and LPS induced lethality. We conclude that the Cornus Walteri extracts have an functional material for inflammatory activities.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.9-21
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was investigating effects of Jengjengamiyijin-tang (zhengzhuanjiaweierchentang) (JGYT) on lowering lipid, antioxidation and production of inflammatory mediators being used rats fed on high oxidized fat. Methods We divided fat Sprague-Dawley rats fed on high oxidized into 4 groups. Each of 8 rats was divided into a control group and experimental groups. We fed a control group of rats a basal diet and administered normal saline (100 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. And We fed each experimental group of rats basal diet and administered an extract of JGYT extracts (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed to determine their chemical composition. We measured lipid of plasma and liver, concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, antioxidative activity and plasma tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), Apo-B, Apo-E and Leptin gene expression. Results 1. Concentration of plasma FFA, LDL-cholesterol, plasma and liver total cholesterol showed a significant decrement in JGYT groups. However, concentration of plasma HDL-cholesterol showed a significant increment in JGYT groups. 2. Concentration of plasma and liver TG, TBARS showed a significant decrement in JGYT groups. However, concentration of liver GSH-Px, SOD and CAT showed a significant increment in JGYT groups. 3. Plasma GPT activity and concentration of plasma IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, Ceruloplasmin, ${\alpha}1$-acid glycoprotein showed a significant decrement in JGYT groups. 4. In the analysis of RT-PCR, gene expression of Apo-B and Apo-E in the JGYT groups showed a low expression than that of control group. However, the gene expression of leptin showed no difference in all the treatment groups. 5. The ratio of leptin expression per ${\beta}$-actin expression showed no significant difference among all treatment groups. However, The ratio of Apo-B and Apo-E expression per ${\beta}$-actin expression showed a significant decrement in JGYT groups. Conclusions According to this study, extract of JGYT showed a positive effect in lowering lipid, antioxidation and control of inflammatory mediators production.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2002

Background: The washing of packed red blood cells could remove pro-inflammatory mediators, cell debris, and micro-particles contained in packed red blood cells, and the preci-rculation-ultrafiltration (recirculation and ultrafiltration of circuit itself before cardiopulmonary bypass) could attenuate the initial inflammatory reaction and remove the initial proinflam-matory mediators. This study was performed to evaluate whether the washing of packed red blood cells and precirculation-ultrafiltration can reduce the production of cytokines that have an important role in myocardial reperfusion injury. This study investigated the effects of washing the packed red blood cells and precirculation-ultrafiltration on the production of cytokines during and after cardiopulmonary bypass and open heart surgery. Material and Method: Forty eight infants with VSD undergoing open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized into control group (group C, n=12), washing group (group W, n= 12), precirculation-ultrafiltration group (group F, n: 12), and combined group(washing and precirculation-ultrafiltration, group WF, n=12). Blood samples were obtained before, during, and after the bypass to assess plasma level of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Results: Expressions of TNF-$\alpha$ were significantly reduced in combined group (group WF) compared with group C, group W, and group F (p<0.05). Expression of IL-6 were significantly reduced in group W, group F, and group WF compared with group C (p<0.05), but similar among group W, group F, and group WF (p=0.053). Expression of IL-8 were reduced in group W and group WF compared with group C (p<0.05), but similar among group W, group F, and group WF (p=0.067). Conclusion: In conclusion, the washing of packed red blood cells and precirculation-ultrafiltration blunted the increase of TNF-$\alpha$ , IL-6, and IL-8 during and after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the clinical benefits of these treatments remains unproven.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2020

Objectives : Postpartum depression is known to occur in 10-15% of mothers. The concentration of cytokine varies depending on stress, depression, pregnancy and general medical conditions. We hypothesized that the concentration of cytokines may be related to reproduction and childbirth, and that women with postpartum depression would show alterations in cytokines levels. Methods : A total of 104 pregnant women were selected as subjects, and 60 non-pregnant women were selected as normal controls. Symptoms of depression were evaluated in the pregnant study subjects using the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The pregnant subjects were divided into three groups perinatal non-depression controls (n=61), postpartum depression-recovery (n=18), and postpartum depression (n=25). Results : The plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1 was higher in the pregnant group than in non-pregnant controls (TGF-β1 ; p<0.01, IGF-1 ; p=0.026). At 24 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks of delivery, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1, β-NGF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α between the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference in all three groups during the course of depression in pregnant women. Conclusions : This study found significant difference in plasma cytokines concentrations between non-pregnant controls and perinatal non-depression controls.