• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.509-516
• /
• 2017

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-1), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.113-126
• /
• 2002

Background : DNA repair plays a crucial role in protection from cancer-causing agents. Therefore, a reduced DNA repair capacity can increase the susceptibility to lung cancer. The XPC gene contains 15 exons and encodes a 940 amino acid protein that plays a central role in DNA damage recognition of the nucleotide excision repair pathway, which is a major DNA repair mechanisim removing the bulky-helix distorting DNA lesions caused by smoking. Recently several polymorphisms in the XPC gene were identified. In addition, it is possible that these polymorphisms may affect the DNA repair capacity, which modulate cancer susceptibility. The relationship between codon 499 and 939 polymorphisms, and a poly(AT) insertion/deletion polymorphism in the XPC gene, and the lung cancer risk were investigated. Materials and Methods : The genotypes were determined using either PCR or PCR-RFLP analysis in 219 male lung cancer patients and 150 healthy males controls. Results : The frequencies of the genotypes (Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln) among the cases were not significantly different from those of the controls. There was no significant associantion between these polymorphi는 and the lung cancer risk when the analyses were stratified according to age, smoking status and the pack-years of smoking. Moreover, the genotypes had no apparent relationship with any of the histological types of lung cancer. There was a linkage disequilibrium among the Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms. The PAT polymorphism had a strong linkage disequilibrium with the Lys939Gln polymorphism (kappa value=0.87). The XPC haplotypes showed no significant association with the lung cancer risk. Conclusion : These results suggest that XPC Val499Ala, PAT and Lys939Gln polymorphisms are not major contributors to the individual lung cancer susceptibility in Koreans.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The objective of this study was to determine whether the expressions of the two components of DNA-dependent protein kinase, Ku70 and DNA-PKcs, influence the response to radiotherapy (RT) and outcome of treatment of non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in patients who received definitive RT. Materials and Methods : Sixty-six patients with NPC who were treated with radiotherapy alone or with concurrent chemotherapy between June 1995 and December 2001 were divided into groups based on the levels of immunoreactivity for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs in pretreatment biopsy specimens. The over-expression of Ku70 or DNA-PKcs groups Included patients whose biopsy specimens showed at least 50% immunopositive tumor cells; patients in which less than 50% of the tumor cells in the biopsy tissues were immunopositive were placed in the low Ku70 and DNA-PKcs groups. The immunoreactivities for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs were retrospectively compared with the sensitivity of the tumor to radiation and the patterns of therapy failure. Univariate analyses were peformed to determine the prognostic factors that influenced locoregional control of NPC. Results : The five-year locoregional control rate was significantly higher in the low Ku70 group (Ku(-)) (85%) than in the high Ku70 group (Ku(+)) (42%) (p=0.0042). However, there were no differences in the metastases-free survival rates between the two groups (Ku70 (+), 82%; Ku70 (-), 78%; p=0.8672). Univariate analysis indicated that the over-expression of Ku70 surpassed other well-known predictive clinocopathologic parameters as an Independent prognostic factor for locoregionai control. Eighteen of 22 patients who had locoregional recurrences of the tumor displayed an over-expression of Ku70. No significant association was found between the level of DNA-PKcs expression and the clinical outcome. Conclusion : Our data suggest that the level of Ku70 expression can be used as a molecular marker to predict the response to RT and the locoregional control after RT and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with non-disseminated NPC.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.55
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 1996

Underlying malocclusions and dentofacial deformities are often related to variations in the craniofacial development. Type I and type II collagens are considered the major collagens of bone and cartilage respectively. Monitoring the patterns of those protein expressions during development will Provide a basis for the understanding of normal and abnormal growths. This study was undertaken to investigate the morphogenetic changes and the expression patterns of type I and II collagen proteins involved in the developing mandible of human embryos and fetuses. 50 embryos and fetuses were studied with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Alcian, blue-PAS, Masson Trichrome, md Immunohistochemical stains. The results were as follows : 1. A 13.5 mm embryo showed the stomatodeum with dental lamina, maxillary and mandibular processes. Meckel's cartilage appeared in the mandibular arch of a 20.5 mm embryo. New bone formation was bilaterally initiated at the outer side of middle portion of Meckel's cartilage of 22-38 mm embryos. 2. Meckel'cartilage was resorbed at the 15th week fetus. The endochondral ossification was observed where there was direct replacement of cartilage by bone. Meckel'cartilage disappeared and membraneous ossification were observed at the 25th week. 3. Before the appearance of Meckel's cartilage, the expression of type I collagen was moderate at the odontogenic epithelium of maxillary & mandibular process, but mild for the expression of type II collagen. 4. During the appearance of Meckel's cartilage and new bone formation, the immunoactivity of type II collagen was more expressed than type I collagen at the Meckel's cartilage and new bone. 5. During intrarmembranous bone formation, the expression of type II collagen was rare in the bony trabeculae. There was a switch for the expression of collagens from type II to type I during the appearance of Meckel's cartilage.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2005

Purpose: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are positive for the expression of c-Kit protein at immunohistochemistry, and their clinical presentations vary. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the clincopathologic characteristics of GISTs and to define the prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: 40 patients who underwent a complete resection of a GIST during the period $1996\~2003$ at the Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, were studied. We divided them into low- and high-risk. groups by using tumor size and mitotic count: 23 cases were low risk, and 17 were high risk. Clinicopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, and prognoses were compared between the low- and the high-risk groups. Results: The mean age of the 40 patients was $61.3\pm11.1$years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1：1.1. There was no significant difference in age and sex between the groups. A comparative analysis revealed tumor size, mitotic count, clinical symptoms, preoperative pathologic diagnosis, ulceration, and necrosis to be variables that had statistically significant differences between the high- and the low-risk groups. In the univariate analysis, tumor size, mitotic count, ulceration, necrosis, and abnormal endoscopic ultrasound findings were associated with disease-free survival, but in the multivariate analysis, mitotic activity was the only independent factor associated with disease-free survival. 8 patients had recurrences during the follow-up period, and four of them were treated with STI-571 (imatinib mesylate, $Gleevec^{(R)}$). The treated patients have survived until now; however, two of non-treated patients died from disease progression. Conclusion: Based on this study, tumor size, ulceration, and necrosis are significant factors affecting survival, and mitotic activity may be a useful prognostic marker. STI-571 may be used in an adjuvant setting because the drug has shown anticancer activity in patients with recurrence or metastasis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.375-395
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Lingual nerve (LN) damage may be caused by either tumor resection or injury such as wisdom tooth extraction, Although autologous nerve graft is sometimes used to repair the damaged nerve, it has the disadvantage of necessity of another operation for nerve harvesting. Moreover, the results of nerve grafting is not satisfactory. The nerve growth factor (NGF) is well-known to play a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration and its local delivery to the injured nerve has been continuously tried to enhance nerve regeneration. However, its application has limitations like repeated administration due to short half life of 30 minutes and an in vivo delivery model must allow for direct and local delivery. The aim of this study was to construct a well-functioning $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus for the ultimate development of improved method to promote peripheral nerve regeneration with enhanced and extended secretion of hNGF from the injured nerve by injecting $rhNGF-{\beta}$ gene directly into crush-injured LN in rat model. Materials and Methods: $hNGF-{\beta}$ gene was prepared from fetal brain cDNA library and cloned into E1/E3 deleted adenoviral vector which contains green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene as a reporter. After large scale production and purification of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, transfection efficiency and its expression at various cells (primary cultured Schwann cells, HEK293 cells, Schwann cell lines, NIH3T3 and CRH cells) were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy, RT-PCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, the function of rhNGF-beta, which was secreted from various cells infected with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, was evaluated using neuritogenesis of PC-12 cells. For in vivo evaluation of efficacy of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, the LNs of 8-week old rats were exposed and crush-injured with a small hemostat for 10 seconds. After the injury, $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus($2{\mu}l,\;1.5{\times}10^{11}pfu$) or saline was administered into the crushed site in the experimental (n=24) and the control group (n=24), respectively. Sham operation of another group of rats (n=9) was performed without administration of either saline or adenovirus. The taste recovery and the change of fungiform papilla were studied at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Each of the 6 animals was tested with different solutions (0.1M NaCl, 0.1M sucrose, 0.01M QHCl, or 0.01M HCl) by two-bottle test paradigm and the number of papilla was counted using SEM picture of tongue dorsum. LN was explored at the same interval as taste study and evaluated electro-physiologically (peak voltage and nerve conduction velocity) and histomorphometrically (axon count, myelin thickness). Results: The recombinant adenovirus vector carrying $rhNGF-{\beta}$ was constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequence analysis. GFP expression was observed in 90% of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells compared with uninfected cells. Total mRNA isolated from $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells showed strong RT-PCR band, however uninfected or LacZ recombinant adenovirus infected cells did not. NGF quantification by ELISA showed a maximal release of $18865.4{\pm}310.9pg/ml$ NGF at the 4th day and stably continued till 14 days by $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cells. PC-12 cells exposed to media with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cell revealed at the same level of neurite-extension as the commercial NGF did. $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus injected experimental groups in comparison to the control group exhibited different taste preference ratio. Salty, sweet and sour taste preference ratio were significantly different after 2 weeks from the beginning of the experiment, which were similar to the sham group, but not to the control group.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.223-230
• /
• 2015

Eggs are an important source of protein for the human diet. Consumers want fresher, more delicious and more sanitary eggs. In Korea, the Shell Egg Grading system (EGS) was employed in 2001. The portion of graded shell eggs has increased every year, but graded shell eggs account for only 6% of all eggs. The EGS should satisfy producers, distributors and consumers. However, the EGS does not have an official function because of many problems. Consumers cannot select various graded shell eggs in the market, and producers do not receive enough profit even though they produce top-quality graded shell eggs. There are few studies on the EGS, Therefore, this study was performed to improve the EGS. We surveyed the EGS, GP Centers and farmers. Large companies (farmers) are more satisfied than small companies with the EGS. There was a high tendency for the companies (farmers) that are not involved with the EGS to think that graded and ungraded shell eggs are similar, in contrast to the companies (farmers) connected to the EGS. We should have to change the grading system of grade shell eggs, establish of the cold chain system, change of the law for the school meals, minimize payment for the grading shell eggs for developing EGS. Based on this study, the egg industry can benefit through the improvement of the EGS.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.373-384
• /
• 2011

This experiment was conducted to investigate the selection of regional double cropping system for production of organic forage in middle part of Korea and investigated their productivity, feed values and stock carrying capacity. The test results proved the Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid was 10.9 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$, the one of Rye + Red clover and Rye + Hairy vetch were the highest one as 3.3 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and the relative yield about a Rye is higher in the dry matter yield in the field soil. And as for the relative forage values (RFV), Corn is the most excellent ones as 96.6 but there were no the significant difference between the Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid of 84.4 and it. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) content in Rye + Hairy vetch is higher than others as 59.7%. As for the relative feed value, Rye + Red clover is the highest one as 83.8 but there was no significant differences between them. As for the ability to raise livestock in the field soil, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ are shown as 4.27 head/ha/yr in Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid. As for the same crops, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ showed the highest ones as 1.74 head/ha/yr, in Rye + Red clover but there were no the significant differences. As for the dry matter yield of the rice field soil, organic rice straw was 3.3 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and Rye + Red clover significantly showed the highest values as 4.1 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$. In the rice filed soil, the crude protein content of organic rice straw was 3.1% and the TDN content of organic rice straw was 55%. The TDN content in Rye + Red clover was higher than others as 59.7%. As for the relative forage values, Rye + Red clover showed the highest one as 83.8 but there were no significant differences between them. As for the ability to raise livestock in the rice field, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ in the organic rice straw was 1.04 head/ha/yr and the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ in Rye + Red clover is the highest one as 1.84 head/ha/yr, but there were no significant differences in all of them.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.667-682
• /
• 2014

The effects of liquid pig manure (LM) on the yield and quality of rice as well as soil chemical properties were determined in the field of sandy loam soil under the different fertilizer management. Treatments consisted of 100%, 130% and 160% N application rates of liquid manure as calculated on the basis of the recommended rate of nitrogen (9 kg N/10a) for rice cultivation. Chemical fertilizer (CF) was used as control. Concentrations of T-N and T-P in paddy water were measured by 5-day intervals up to 20days after application. LM treatments significantly increased T-N concentrations in paddy water proportionally with increasing rates of LM (13.2 to 25.7 mg/L). Similarly Total-P content in paddy water was increased right after LM applications but was well below the quality standard of wastewater and manure. Plant height and tillers in 100% and 130% N LM treatments were lower than those in CF control. In the 160% LM treatment, however, plant height and numbers of tillers were higher than those in the CF control. Yields in 100% LM and 160% LM plots were decreased by 3 and 5%, respectively, as compared with 422 kg per 10a in the CF plot. Rice protein contents were similar between 100% LM and CF control (about 6.8%) but it was increased to 7.2% and 7.7% in 130% LM and 160% LM treatments, respectively. Toyo-taste value in the 100% LM treatment was higher than in CF control plot. The proportions of perfect grain of the brown rice were lower in 130% LM and 160% LM treatments than that in CF control. Soil organic matter content, heavy metal and exchangeable cations were highest in the 160% LM plot. Thus considering yield and quality of rice and heavy metals contents in soil, 130% N basal application of liquid manure can be recommended for rice cultivation in this experiment.