• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.2599-2605
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• 2013

The study aimed to evaluate immune-stimulating effects of a well-known Thai folkloric remedy when used for adjuvant therapy with conventional chemotherapeutics for treatment of breast cancer. Immunostimulating influence of the remedy (215 mg/kg body weight per day) on NK cell activity and TNF-${\alpha}$ release from the monocytes/macrophages were investigated in a total of 15 healthy women and 13 female patients with breast cancer (Group 1). The effect of breast tumor surgery on NK cell activity was further investigated in 18 female patients with breast cancer (Group 2). NK cell cytotoxic activity was determined by chromium release cytotoxic assay using K562, an erythroleukemic cell line. TNF-${\alpha}$ release from monocytes/macrophages separated from blood samples was determined through a biological assay using actinomycin D-treated L929 mouse fibroblast cells in the presence and absence of LPS. Baseline NK cell activity of the monocytes/macrophages separated from Group 2 patients expressed as %cytotoxicity was significantly lower than in the healthy subjects at E:T ratios of 100:1 and 25:1. In healthy subjects, there was no change in NK cell cytotoxic activity (%cytotoxicity or LU) following 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with the remedy compared with the baseline at various E:T ratios but the binding activity (%binding) was significantly increased after 2 weeks of treatment. The addition of one or two conventional chemotherapeutic regimens did not significantly reduce the NK cytotoxic activity but did affect release of TNF-${\alpha}$ in both unstimulated and LPS-stimulated samples. Surgery produced a significant suppressive effect on NK cell activity. The use of the remedy as an adjunct therapy may improve therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles of conventional chemotherapeutic regimens through stimulation of the immune system in cancer patients.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권7호
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• pp.461-467
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• 2010

Natural products with non-toxic and environmentally friendly properties are good resources for skin-whitening cosmetic agents when compared to artificial synthetic chemicals. Here, we investigated the effect of glyceollin produced to induce disease resistance responses of soybean to specific races of an incompatible pathogen, phytophthora sojae, on melanogenesis and discussed their mechanisms in melanin biosynthesis. We found that glyceollin inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity. To elucidate the mechanism of the effect of glyceollin on melanogenesis, we conducted western blot analysis for melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2. Glyceollin inhibited tyrosinase and TRP-1 protein expression. Additionally, glyceollin effectively inhibited intracellular cAMP levels in B16 melanoma cells stimulated by $\alpha$-melanocyte stimulating hormone ($\alpha$-MSH). These results suggest that the whitening activity of glyceollin may be due to the inhibition of cAMP involved in the signal pathway of $\alpha$-MSH in B16 melanoma cells.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.304-309
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• 1999

소나무, 일본잎갈나무, 자작나무 묘목을 대상으로 온실 내에서 질소와 인 비료를 사용하고, 묘목 생체량, 잎, 줄기, 뿌리 등의 부위별 양분 농도, 그리고 양분이용효율에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 대부분의 경우 시비가 묘목의 생체량 변화에 미치는 효과는 없는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 시비 후 묘목 내 부위별 질소와 인 농도는 증가하였다. 이러한 결과는 시비가 묘목을 양분 과다 이용상태에 이르게 한 것으로 사료되었다. 양분이용효율은 지상부와 지하부 생체량에 대한 묘목 내 양분 함량의 비로 계산하였는데, 시비 후 질소와 인의 이용효율은 소나무와 자작나무에서 감소하였으나, 일본 잎갈나무에서는 변화를 보이지 않았다. 수종별 양분이용효율은 자작나무에서 가장 높고, 소나무와 일본잎갈나무의 순으로 점차 감소하는 것으로 나타났다.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.392-397
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• 2007

We investigated whether ethanol extracts of the safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds were responsible for the bone-protecting effects. Crude ethanol extract (CEE) of the safflower seeds was fed for 4 weeks at the level of 1% in diet to female Sprague-Dawley rats that had been subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). The CEE effects (OVX+CEE) were evaluated by comparing results obtained from OVX, Sham, and OVX injected with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($OVX+E_2$) groups. OVX resulted in a dramatic reduction in the trabecular bone mass of the proximal tibia (approximately 40% of the Sham group) and an increase in fat deposition in bone marrow. In $OVX+E_2$ group, the bone loss was completely prevented as well as marrow adiposity. In OVX+CEE group, approximately 80% of the bone mass was maintained compared with Sham group and fat deposition in the bone marrow was prevented. Meanwhile, the partially purified ethanol extract containing the phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner, as potently as positive controls of $E_2$ and genistein. The present data demonstrate that the ethanol extracts of safflower seeds reduced bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. The bone-protecting effect of safflower seeds seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.13-22
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• 1979

Panax Ginseng C. A. Meyer which has been known for more than 2000 years, occupies a particular place in folk medicine as so called tonic remedy. The brief pharmacological action of Ginseng complied from the numerous reports can be summarized as adaptogenic effect to be increased nonspecific resistance. Among the various components of Ginseng, the effective components has been known Ginseng butanol fraction as so called Ginseng saponin. In order to study on the effect of the Ginseng butanol fraction which influences spontaneous activity by CNS drugs in mice. Experiment of response was measured the change of spontaneous activity by CNS drugs in which mice were treated Ginseng butanol fraction. A method of measuring spontaneous activity in mice used by counting the number of times which were interrupted a beam of light. Results of experiment can be summarized as follows: 1. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol fraction for 1 day, stimulating effect of Ginseng was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine in comparison with the control. at the first, but after 45 minutes no significant change was observed. 2. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol, fraction for 5days, decreasing tendency was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine. 3. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol fraction for 10days, marked decrease was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine in comparison with the control. From the experiment on the increased dose of caffeine, nonsignificant change was observed in comparison with caffeine and sodium benzoate 25mg/kg group. 4. A state of increased resistance was lasted until 5 days, and after 10 days it was disappeared. 5. Otherwise, nonsignificant change was observed for chlorpromazin HCl in comparison with the control. 6. From this result, 10 days administrating of ginseng butanol fraction appeared to have increased resistance in mice against caffeine.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.67-84
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• 2008

Objective : The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Jasinwhalhyul-tang (Zishenhuoxue-tang, JWT) on MRL/MpJ-Ipr/Ipr mouse model with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods: The effect of JWT on MRL/MpJ-Ipr/Ipr mice that have autoimmune disease similar to SLE in humans was evaluated after JWT per oral in the present study. Mice were administered with Jasinwhalhyul-tang (Zishenhuoxue-tang, JWT) (80 or 400mg/kg) or distilled water for control group from experimental week 10 for 22 weeks. Results : The amount of erythematosus skin lesion and proteinuria were significantly decreased. The size and weight of cervical lymph nodes and spleen were significantly reduced. The ratio between activated $CD3^+CD69^+$ T-cells and undifferentiated $CD3^+CD4^-CD8^-$ T-cells in lymph nodes, spleen and kidney was effectively reduced. The gene expression of TGF-$\beta$ in spleen and kidney was increased. The amount of anti-dsDNA IgG in blood was decreased. The gene expression of TGF-$\beta$ in normal mouse spleen cells was increased depending on concentration by treatment of with T cell stimulating agent. In the histological examination of skin and kidney, the amount of infiltration of immune cells involved in the inflammatory response was decreased. Conclusions : According to the above results, JWT should be considered as an applicable therapeutic agent to SLE in clinical practice. Further research is required to investigate other efficacies of JWT on SLE.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.169-176
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• 1983

It is well known that the acupuncture has been used effectively for the relief of certain types of pain. Although the precise mechanism of action of acupuncture analgesia is unknown, it is generally accepted that their analgesic properties are related to the activation of endogenous opiate system in central nervous system. And it is suggested that pain-relieving properties of acupunture may be related to a stimulation of peripheral nerve underlying the acupuncture point on the skin. However, the efficacy of acupuncture has no relationship between the site of pain and the acupuncture point. Consequently, the present study was undertaken to investigate electroacupuncture analgesia in relation to the site of peripheral nerve stimulation. Cats were decerebrated ischemically and the flexion reflex as an index of pain was elicited by stimulating the sural nerve (20V, 0.5 msec duration) and recored as a compound action potential from the nerve innervated to the posterior biceps femoris muscle in the ipsilateral hindlimb. Bilateral common peroneal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve were selected as the site of peripheral nerve stimulation. For the stimulation of peripheral nerve, a stimulus of 20 V intensity, 2 msec-duration and 2 Hz-frequency was applied for 60 min respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) Both stimulation of contralateral common peronal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve did not change the flexion reflex and there were no significant differences between them. 2) Stimulation of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve markedly depress the flexion reflex, the effect being reversed by naloxone application. These results suggest that stimulation of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve has the analgesic effect but both stimulation of contralteral common peroneal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve to the pain site where flexion reflex was elicited have no analgesic effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.161-165
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• 2004

Exogenous carbon monoxide (0.2%) increases L-type calcium $(Ca^{2+})$ current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. The stimulatory effect of carbon monoxide (CO) on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current is inhibited by pre-application of L-NNA, a classical competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with no significant isoform selectivity (Lim, 2003). In the present study, we investigated which isoform of NOS affected CO induced stimulation of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. Cells were voltage clamped by whole-cell mode patch clamp technique, and membrane currents were recorded with 10 mM barium as the charge carrier. Before the addition of CO, cells were pretreated with each inhibitor of three NOS isoforms for 15 minutes. CO-stimulating effect on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current was partially blocked by N-(3-(Amino-methyl) benzyl) acetamidine 2HCl (1400W, an iNOS inhibitor). On the other hand, 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (BNI, a nNOS inhibitor) or $N^5-(1-Iminoethyl)-L-ornithine$ dihydrochloride (L-NIO, an eNOS inhibitor) completely blocked the CO effect. These data suggest that low dose of exogenous CO may stimulate all NOS isoforms to increase L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel through nitric oxide (NO) pathway in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.760-765
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• 2008

Low power laser therapy is internationally certified and is known to be effective in stimulating DNA in living organisms, increasing protein synthesis and activating cell division, smoothing blood circulation, promoting cell activation, cell regeneration and function. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-edemic, anti-fibrous dysplastic and neuralogic hyperfunctional effects. This study was intended to verify the effect of LED irradiation therapy on wound healing in cell and animal tests by applying LED irradiator using a laser and laser diode, which was independently designed and developed to emit beams of similar wavelength to that of a laser. This equipment was fabricated using a micro-controller and a high brightness LED, and designed to enable us to control light irradiation time, intensity and reservation. In case of cell proliferation experiment, each experiment was performed to irradiation group and non-irradiation group for tissue cells. MTT assay method was chosen to verify the cell increase of two groups and the effect of irradiation on cell proliferation was examined by measuring 590 nm transmittance of micro-plate reader. In the wound healing experiment, 1$cm^2$ wounds on the skin wound of SD-Rat(Sprague-Dawley Rat) were made. Light irradiation group and none light irradiation group divided, each group was irradiated one hour a day for 9 days. As a result, the cell increase of tissue cells was verified in irradiation group as compared to non-irradiation group. And, compared with none light irradiation group, the lower incidence of inflammation and faster recovery was shown in light irradiation group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.84-88
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• 2002

The effect of dietary xylitol on growth performance and nitrogen retention was studied in male broiler chicks during immunological stimulation. In experiment 1, chicks (10 day of age) were fed a corn-soybean diet containing 10% glucose or 10% xylitol with identical metabolizable energy and crude protein for 14 days. In experiment 2, ten-day-old chicks were fed 10% glucose or 6% xylitol diet for 8 days. During the final 6 days of the experimental periods, a half of birds fed each diet were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg body weight of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0127:B8) on days 1, 3 and 5, and with 250 mg/kg body weight of Sephadex-G50 superfine on days 2 and 4 to stimulate immune system in both experiments. Feeding of the xylitol diets partially prevented the reduction in body weight gain or feed efficiency due to LPS and Sephadex injections, but the glucose diet did not in both the experiments. LPS and Sephadex injections decreased nitrogen retention, whereas the diet containing xylitol partly in experiment 1 and almost completely in experiment 2, prevented the reduction due to immunological stimulation. These results indicate that dietary xylitol probably prevents the reduction in nitrogen retention with growth retardation due to LPS and Sephadex injection. The beneficial effect on nitrogen retention is obtained when chicks are given xylitol 2 days before stimulating the immune system.