• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.200-207
• /
• 2010

The sewage treatment plants to be built to improve the water quality of the Mankyung River will total 11, of which combined capacity will reach $39,850m^3/day$, and saying in detail, 5 at Gunsan city, 2 at Iksan city, 1 at Kimje city and 3 at Wanju gun, The scenario for water quality improvement was developed, considering the conditions of plant operation ratio and the accomplishment of the water quality target (BOD 4.4 mg/L, T-P 0.356 mg/L) at the end of the watershed of Mankyung B was predicted, making use of QUAL2E model. As a result of prediction using QUAL2E model based on scenarios with 70% and 100% of operation ratio, respectively, at 11 plants in 2010, the water quality at the watershed of Mankyung B was estimated at 4.322 mg/L which was lower than the target of BOD 4.4 mg/L, indicating the target water quality was achieved, when it comes to 70% of operation ratio, But in case of T-P, it was estimated at 0.565 mg/L, which was higher than the target. When it comes to 100% of operation ratio, T-P also was 0.563 mg/L which exceeded the target, 0.356 mg/L. As indicated above, the effect of water quality improvement appeared very insignificant, which was attributable to the limit of small scale sewage treatment plant in total reduction capacity. Hence, the measures for additional reduction in a bid to achieve the target water quality of T-P at the designated location need to be taken, and the measures to build the Sewage treatment facilities at the place where the pollution is significantly caused by T-P appeared to be required as well.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2020

Purple loosestrife-Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. It has been used for centuries in Korea and other Asian traditional medicine. It has been showed pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer effect are not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis signaling pathways by ethanol extract of Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino (ELM) in human leukemia U937 cells. Treatment with ELM significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs), DNA fragmentation and increased populations of sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptosis by ELM was connected with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins, depending on dosage. This induction was associated with Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspases (-3, -8 and -9) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. Therefore, our data indicate that ELM suppresses U937 cell growth by activating the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-leukemic chemotherapeutic agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.255-263
• /
• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix is one of the most frequently prescribed ingredients in Oriental medicine, and Glycyrrhizae radix extract has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of programed cell death (apoptosis) by Glycyrrhizae radix are poorly defined. In the present study, it was examined the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis by water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix (GRW) in human bladder T24 cancer cells. It was found that GRW could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GRW was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2). In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of GRW induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of PARP. GRW also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the down-regulation of total Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that GRW may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.367-373
• /
• 2014

In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of methyl gallate (MG), which is the major biologically active component of Galla Rhois, in RC-58T/h/SA#4 human prostate cancer cells. MG inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Cell death induced by MG increased the population of cells in sub-G1 phase, formation of apoptotic bodies, nuclear condensation, and DNA fragmentation. Apoptosis induced by MG was associated with activation of initiator caspases-8 and -9 as well as effector caspase-3. Endocrine disruptors such as dioxin and bisphenol A increased growth of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells in charcoal-treated FBS (cFBS) medium. Cell proliferation was highest upon treatment with 1 nM and $0.1{\mu}M$ dioxin and bisphenol A, respectively. MG also dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with endocrine disruptors. These results indicate that MG exerts anticancer effects on RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary human prostate cancer cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2013

Geniposide is an active product extracted from the gardenia fruit, and is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for liver disorders. This study examined the cytoprotective properties of geniposide and its metabolite, genipin, against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Geniposide (100 mg/kg) and genipin (50 mg/kg) were administered orally 30 min before ischemia. In the I/R mice, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatic lipid peroxidation were elevated, whereas hepatic glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio was decreased. These changes were attenuated by geniposide and genipin administration. On the other hand, increased hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was potentiated by geniposide and genipin administration. The increased levels of tBid, cytochrome c protein expression and caspase-3 activity were attenuated by geniposide and genipin. Increased apoptotic cells in the I/R mice were also significantly reduced by geniposide and genipin treatment. Our results suggest that geniposide and genipin offer significant hepatoprotection against I/R injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.217-222
• /
• 2009

Controlled gene expression in specific cells is a valuable tool for gene therapy. We attempted to determine whether the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On inducible system could be applied to cancer gene therapy. In order to select the genes that induce cancer cell death, we compared the ability of the known pro-apoptotreic genes, Bax and tBid, and a cell cycle inhibitor, p21cip1/waf1, and determined that Bax was the most effective. For the cancer cell-specific expression of $rtTA2^S$-M2, we tested the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoter and determined that it is highly expressed in cancer cell lines, including SNU475 cells. The co-transduction of two lentiviruses that contain sequences for TRE-Bax and $rtTA2^S$-M2, the expression of which is controlled by the MMP-2 promoter, resulted in the specific cell death of SNU475, whereas other cells with low MMP-2 expression did not evidence significant cell death. Our data indicate that the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On system using the cancer-specific promoter is applicable for cancer gene therapy.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Industry Society
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2001

Existing internet auction systems have adopted the form which gives a win to the auction bidder who proposes the top bid price for the goods posted on the auction board. But they haven't been satisfying the automatical one-step processing for user’s convenience because they must require continuous care of user for bidding and checking as well as neglecting the convenience of user interface while participating in the electronic bidding system. The agent push mail to a auctioneer information that able to get how much profit as calculate duration time and start price with bidding history stored database. So, this thesis propose a multi-agent system in internet auction that generate the highest margin for auctioneer’s goods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.409-418
• /
• 2017

In Korea, Rhus verniciflua Stokes is used to purge hardness, alleviate blood stasis, and treat cancer. However, the mechanisms of related anti-cancer activity are not fully understood in human cancer cells. This study investigated the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of Rhus verniciflua Stokes on MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and found that treatment with a Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract resulted in time- and concentration-responses that indicated growth inhibition of breast cancer cells by induced apoptosis. This was followed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential; the activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9; and the up-regulation of tBid. Caspase-dependent apoptosis was induced through the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the Akt signaling pathway. This study provides evidence that Rhus verniciflua Stokes might be useful for the treatment of breast cancer.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.282-287
• /
• 2016

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a homo-trimeric cytotoxic ligand. Several studies have demonstrated that incorporation of artificial trimerization motifs into the TRAIL protein leads to the enhancement of biological activity. Here, we show that linkage of the isoleucine zipper hexamerization motif to the N-terminus of TRAIL, referred as ILz(6):TRAIL, leads to multimerization of its trimeric form, which has higher cytotoxic activity compared to its native state. Size exclusion chromatography of ILz(6):TRAIL revealed possible existence of various forms such as trimeric, hexameric, and multimeric (possibly containing one-, two-, and multi-units of trimeric TRAIL, respectively). Increased number of multimerized ILz(6):TRAIL units corresponded with enhanced cytotoxic activity. Further, a high degree of ILz(6):TRAIL multimerization triggered rapid signaling events such as activation of caspases, tBid generation, and chromatin condensation. Taken together, these results indicate that multimerization of TRAIL significantly enhances its cytotoxic activity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.70-73
• /
• 2005

A 9-year old female Shih Tzu dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University with a history of chronic intermittent anorexia and vomiting of 4-year duration. She visited 3 years ago with the same clinical signs but has not been treated regularly due to waxing-waning course. On the physical examination, no specific findings were found. CBC, serum chemistry, radiography, ACTH stimulation test, evaluation of serum T4 and TSH concentration were performed. Hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed with the ACTH stimulation test. And then, secondary hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed with ACTH stimulation test, pre-ACTH aldosterone concentration, endogenous ACTH concentration. As electrolyte concentrations were normal, glucocorticoid (0.15 mg/kg bid PO) alone was administered. She has recovered from the clinical signs and has been doing well. It is suggested that the differentiation of secondary hypoadrenocorticism from primary hypoadrenocorticism is important as the secondary hypoadrenocorticism occurs rarely and the symptoms are non-specific with normal electrolyte concentrations.