• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1204-1208
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• 2017

Natural killer (NK) cells have been reported to be dysfunctional in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. However, the functional recovery of NK cells under antiviral therapeutic agents in CHB was not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic changes of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells in terms of their functional markers (CD16, NKG2A, NKG2D) during tenofovir therapy in CHB. The frequency of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells in CHB patients was significantly increased after 12 months of tenofovir therapy when compared with baseline. The expression levels of CD16+/CD56+CD3- and NKG2A+/CD56+CD3- cells were also affected by tenofovir treatment. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the proportion of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells and HBV DNA (log copies/ml) in CHB patients.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of the most widely used therapeutic agents based on its pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic, and anti-thrombotic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of aspirin on seizure susceptibility and hippocampal neuropathology following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). SE was induced by pilocarpine hydrochloride (280 mg/kg, i.p.) administration in C57BL/6 mice (aged 8 weeks). Aspirin was administered daily (15 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days starting 3 days before SE, continuing until 6 days after SE. After pilocarpine injection, SE onset time and mortality were recorded. Neuronal cell death was examined using cresyl violet and Fluoro-Jade staining, and glial responses were observed 7 days post SE using immunohistochemistry. In the aspirin-treated group, the onset time of SE was significantly shortened and mortality was markedly increased compared to the control group. However, in this study, aspirin treatment did not affect SE-induced neuronal cell death or astroglial and microglial responses in the hippocampus. In conclusion, these results suggest that the safety of aspirin should be reevaluated in some patients, especially with neurological disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.719-724
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• 2000

Objectives : It has been reported that the presence of a pharmacologically inactive foreign substance, polystyrene latex bead, in subarachnoid space activates a non-specific immunological response and elicits arterial narrowing. Recently the activation of potassium($K^+$) channels may be of benefit in relieving cerebral vasospasm. The present study examined the effects of systemic administration of a ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel activator, cromakalim, on the polystyrene latex bead-induced cerebral vasospasm. Methods : The spasm models similar to that caused by subarachnoid blood injection were created by injection of bead into rabbit cisterna magna. Intravenous injections of cromakalim were administered twice daily(bid) 30 minutes after induction of vasospasm. Animals were killed by perfusion-fixation 2 days after vasospasm. Basilar arteries were removed and sectioned, and the luminal cross-sectional areas were measured. Results : Injection of bead elicited an arterial constriction, reducing arterial diameter to 33.3% of resting tone. Cromakalim inhibited bead-induced constriction at a dose of 0.3mg/kg(Mann-Whitney test, p<0.01). Conclusion : These results support the concept that the cellular events triggered by inactivation of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels are responsible for the pathogenesis of vasospasm. The findings also indicate that cromakalim represents a potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.423-429
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• 2011

B13 analogues are being considered as therapeutic agents for cancer cells, since B13 is a ceramide analogue and inhibits ceramidase to promote apoptosis in cancer cells. B13 sulfonamides are assumed to have biological activity similar to B13, since they are made by bioisosterically substituting the carboxyl moiety of B13 with sulfone group. Twenty B13 sulfonamides were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities against human colon cancer HT-29 and lung cancer A549 cell lines using MTT assays. Replacement of the amide group with a sulfonamide group increased cytotoxicity in both cancer cell lines. The sulfonamides with long alkyl chains exhibited activities two to three times more potent than that of B13 and compound (15) had the most potent activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 27 and $28.7{\mu}M$ for HT-29 and A549, respectively. The comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) were used to carry out QSAR molecular modeling of these compounds. The predictive CoMSIA models for HT-29 and A549 gave cross-validated q2 values of 0.703 and 0.830, respectively. From graphical analysis of these models, we suppose that the stereochemistry of 1,3-propandiol is not important for activity and that introduction of a sulfonamide group and long alkyl chains into B13 can increase cytotoxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1571-1578
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• 2013

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Recently, the demand for more effective and safer therapeutic agents for the chemoprevention of human cancer has increased. As a white rot fungus, Inonotus obliquus is valued as an edible and medicinal resource. Chemical investigations have shown that I. obliquus produces a diverse range of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, melanins, and lanostane-type triterpenoids. Among these are active components for antioxidant, antitumoral, and antiviral activities and for improving human immunity against infection of pathogenic microbes. Importantly, their anticancer activities have become a hot recently, but with relatively little knowledge of their modes of action. Some compounds extracted from I. obliquus arrest cancer cells in the G0/G1 phase and then induce cell apoptosis or differentiation, whereas some examples directly participate in the cell apoptosis pathway. In other cases, polysaccharides from I. obliquus can indirectly be involved in anticancer processes mainly via stimulating the immune system. Furthermore, the antioxidative ability of I. obliquus extracts can prevent generation of cancer cells. In this review, we highlight recent findings regarding mechanisms underlying the anticancer influence of I. obliquus, to provide a comprehensive landscape view of the actions of this mushroom in preventing cancer.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2014

Bioimaging has advanced the field of nanomedicine, drug delivery, and tissue engineering by directly visualizing the dynamic mechanism of diagnostic agents or therapeutic drugs in the body. In particular, wide-field, planar, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has the potential to revolutionize human surgery by providing real-time image guidance to surgeons for target tissues to be resected and vital tissues to be preserved. In this review, we introduce the principles of NIR fluorescence imaging and analyze currently available NIR fluorescence imaging systems with special focus on optical source and packaging. We also introduce the evolution of the FLARE intraoperative imaging technology as an example for image-guided surgery.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.219-232
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• 1998

Paljintanggagmbang has been used for cure of tumor as a traditional medicine without any experimental evidence to support the rational basis for its clinical use. This study was carried out to evaluate. the possible therapeutic or antitumoral effects of Paljintanggagmbang extract against tumor, and to carry out some mechanisms responsible for its effect. Experimental studis were performed for measurement of Humoral and Cellular Immune Response and Phagocytosis in Mice treated with mitomytion C(MMC) and Paljintanggagmbang alone and combination. The results obtained in this study were as follows 1. The adminstration of Paljintanggagmbang extract decresed size of tumors cell which MCA induced. 2. The adminstration of Paljintanggagmbang extract decresed growth of the tumors which S 180 transplant. 3. The adminstration of Paljintanggagmbang extract decresed reproduction of A549, Hep3b, 3LL cell and S 180 in vivo. 4. The adminstration of Paljintanggagmbang extract incresed activity of the NK cell. These results also suggested that effect of Paljintanggagmbang might be chiefly due to nonspecific enhancement of Humoral and Cellular Immune Response and Phagocytosis in Mice treated with MMC and Paljintanggagmbang alone and combination.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.447-450
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• 2002

Previously, a methanol extract from seeds of Paeonia lactiflora was shown to have a potent inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and soybean lipoxygenase (SLO). Seven stilbenes, trans-resveratrol-4-Ο-$\beta$-D-glucoside, trans resveratrol, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, gnetin H, suffruticosol A and B were isolated from the seeds as active principles for inhibition of the enzymatic activity. Among them, the resveratrol trimer, gnetin H exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and SLO, respectively. Additionally, the resveratrol dimers, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the two oxidative enzymes. Meanwhile, three other stilbene derivatives, such as trans-resveratrol, suffruticosol A and suffruticosol B had also weak inhibition activity. The least inhibitory activity was observed in transresveratrol-4-Ο-$\beta$-D-glucoside. These results suggest that resveratrol dimers and trimer in the seeds of Paeonia lactiflora are potentially useful therapeutic agents against pathological disorders such as hyperpigmentation and inflammation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.251-256
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• 2014

Severe intraventricular hemorrhaging (IVH) in premature infants and subsequent posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) causes significant mortality and life-long neurological complications, including seizures, cerebral palsy, and developmental retardation. However, there are currently no effective therapies for neonatal IVH. The pathogenesis of PHH has been mainly explained by inflammation within the subarachnoid spaces due to the hemolysis of extravasated blood after IVH. Obliterative arachnoiditis, induced by inflammatory responses, impairs cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resorption and subsequently leads to the development of PHH with ensuing brain damage. Increasing evidence has demonstrated potent immunomodulating abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in various brain injury models. Recent reports of MSC transplantation in an IVH model of newborn rats demonstrated that intraventricular transplantation of MSCs downregulated the inflammatory cytokines in CSF and attenuated progressive PHH. In addition, MSC transplantation mitigated the brain damages that ensue after IVH and PHH, including reactive gliosis, cell death, delayed myelination, and impaired behavioral functions. These findings suggest that MSCs are promising therapeutic agents for neuroprotection in preterm infants with severe IVH.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate the photodynamic effect of various photosensitizing agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA was exposed to light from a 632 urn diode laser (15 J/$cm^2$) in the presence of various photosensitizer, such as photofrin, photogem, radachlorine and ALA. In vivo study was performed using ICR mice. Twenty eight mice had a standard wound ($100\;mm^2$) created on the dorsum, and MRSA was inoculated into the wound region. The four groups were classified as follows: (1) the untreated control group (bacteria alone), (2) the bacteria plus light group (15 J/$cm^2$), (3) the bacteria plus photofrin group (kept in the dark), and (4) the photodynamic therapy (PDT) group (bacteria, photofrin, and light). After photofrin (dose 1 mg/kg) injection, the experimental group was irradiated with 632 urn diode laser (15 J/$cm^2$) for 30 minutes after In vitro results of PDT showed the complete killing of MRSA at the photofrin, radachlorine, and photogem However, ALA-PDT was ineffective on MRSA viability. In vivo results showed that photofrin has therapeutic effect on the wound infection. These results demonstrate that selective lethal photosensitization of MRSA can be achieved using phofrin, photogem and radachlorin. Thus, PDT can inactivate MRSA survival.