To enhance the bioavailability and bioactivities of mixed herbal medicines (RW), they were fermented with lactic-acid bacteria isolated from kimchi into postbiotics (FRW). Then, from the results of the 16s rRNA sequencing analysis, lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi were identified to be of two species, namely Lactobacillus sakei and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The FRW prepared from the RW were extracted using hot water (HW) and 70% EtOH (EtOH) for comparison of their macrophage-stimulating activities. Based on a comparison of the activities of the FRW extracts, nitric oxide (NO) production of HW was significantly higher than that in EtOH. An analysis of the chemical properties of the extracts showed that HW had higher contents of neutral sugar and uronic acid than EtOH as well as contained a large amount of glucose. In addition, crude polysaccharide (CP) was prepared to enhance the macrophage-stimulating activity. The FRW-CP not only secreted immunostimulatory mediators but also increased the expression of immunostimulatory genes (iNOS, TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6). The fractionated FRW-CP contained about 90% neutral sugars, and these sugars were mainly composed of glucose, galacturonic acid, and arabinose. Thus, FRW prepared by fermentation of RW with kimchi lactic acid bacteria were found to be immunostimulatory modulators.

The germination characteristics of the resting cysts of Pheopolykrikos hartmannii collected from the southern coastal sediments of Korea were studied at different temperature conditions, and the morphology and phylogeny of the germlings were examined. The resting cysts of Ph. hartmannii were round and characterized by a red accumulation body and many arrow-like spines and could germinate at temperature of 10 to 30°C. High germination rates (>90%) were observed at 15 and 20°C, indicating that the resting cysts could act as seed populations for the bloom initiation of Ph. hartmannii in Korean coastal waters in early summer or early fall. The morphology of the germlings was generally consistent with the previous description, and an apical groove characterized by a fully enclosed loop was observed. Phylogenetic analysis based on large SubUnit (LSU) rRNA gene sequences revealed that the germlings shared an identical sequence with the Korean and American isolates of Ph. hartmannii and was a sister clade of Polykrikos species.

Lymphoma, which accounts for 3.5% of all oral cancers, is further divided into Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). NHL accounts for 96% of lymphomas, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype accounting for 32% of NHL. In the oral cavity, extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may develop in the dentoalveolar region of the maxilla or mandible. It can also mimic inflammatory lesions that occur around periodontal tissues, such as periapical granuloma and chronic osteomyelitis. Misdiagnosis of jaw lymphoma can delay appropriate treatments and worsen the prognosis. Therefore, to avoid delay in diagnosis, clinicians should identify the possible malignancy based on unusual symptoms, clinical findings, radiographic examinations, and histopathological evaluation. We present two cases of DLBCL in the right posterior mandible of a 64-year-old man who was initially misdiagnosed as acute apical abscess and in the right posterior maxilla of an 81-year-old woman who was initially misdiagnosed as chronic periodontitis. These cases demonstrate that it is important for both pathologists and clinicians to consider malignant lesions such as lymphomas in the differential diagnosis of apical radiolucency.

Background: Ameloblastoma are benign but locally invasive neoplasms that represent 10% of all odontogenic tumors. Despite its benign characteristics, ameloblastoma has a high recurrence rate after treatment with a recurrence rate of 55-90%. It is important to identify the risk factors of recurrence to improve patient’s quality of life in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Pusan National University Dental Hospital for 5 years from 2017-2021 and were diagnosed with ameloblastoma as a result of postoperative histological examination were included. The patients were divided into two groups, recurrent and non-recurrent, and comparative analysis was performed according to various factors. Results: First, when the lesion was involved with the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), recurrence was more likely than when it was not. Next, recurrence occurs more often when cortical bone perforation is observed than when it is not. In particular, when resorption is shown on the lingual cortical bone, a remarkable tendency of recurrence is shown. Moreover, in radiographic characteristics, the multicystic type showed a higher recurrence tendency than the unicystic type. Conclusion: When the lesion is multicystic, perforating the cortical bone, infiltrating the adjacent soft tissue, or involving the IAN, a high recurrence rate is shown. The results of this retrospective analysis of the recurrence trend of ameloblastoma over a 5 years period are to contribute significantly to insight and reduction of recurrence rates in treatment for polymorphic lesion in oral and maxillofacial area.

In this study, the quality characteristics of kimchi, such as its salinity, pH, and acidity, were measured and compared, and the HT-29 human colon cancer cells were used to show the anticancer effects of kimchi. The kimchi samples used herein included standard kimchi (SK), turnip kimchi (TK), and turnip-powder-added kimchi (TPK). The measured pH and acidity of TK and TPK showed no significant differences with those of SK. Compared to SK and TK, TPK had higher DPPH scavenging activity and higher total flavonoid content, confirming its antioxidant activity. The cancer cell growth inhibition rates of TK and TPK were significantly higher than that of SK. In HT-29 cells treated with TPK, the mRNA expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptosis-related gene, was lower, and the mRNA expressions of the apoptosis-related genes Bax, Bad, and caspase-9 were higher. TPK showed significantly higher levels of mRNA expressions for the cell-cycle-related genes p53 and p21 than the other samples, in addition to suppression effects on cancer cell proliferation. Compared to SK, TK and TPK suppressed the growth of colon cancer cells and showed higher anticancer effects. Therefore, it is shown that kimchi with added turnip powder had high anticancer effects.

The bones of the human body support the structures of the body and provide protection for a person’s internal organs. Bone metabolic diseases are on the rise due to a significant increase in life expectancy over a short period of time. Therefore, we investigated the osteoblast differentiation promoting and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory activities of fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf). We evaluated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MC3T3-E1 mouse calvarial-derived osteoblasts. We also evaluated expression of ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), which regulate osteoblast differentiation. To assess effects on osteoclast formation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in RAW264.7 cells was analyzed. ALP activity increased by 121-136% and 140-156%, respectively in the presence of HR1901-BS and HR1901- BSaf. Expression of osteoblast differentiation factor also increased significantly. We also confirmed that HR1901-BS and HR1901-BSaf decreased TRAP activity in osteoclasts by 35-47% and 23-39%, respectively. Our results showed that fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf) increase bone mineralization and osteoblast differentiation activity in MC3T3-E1 cells, and inhibit bone resorption activity in RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, fermented Benincasa hispida cong. (HR1901-BS, HR1901-BSaf) can be used as an effective natural resource for preventing and treating bone-related diseases.

The effect of permanganate oxidation was investigated as water treatment strategy with a focus on comparing the reaction characteristics of NaOCl and sodium permanganate (NaMnO4) in algae (Monoraphidium sp., Micractinium inermum, Microcystis aeruginosa)-contained water. Flow cytometry explained that chlorine exposure easily damaged algae cells. Damaged algae cells release intracellular organic matter, which increases the concentration of organic matter in the water, which is higher than by NaMnO4. The oxidation reaction resulted in the release of toxin (microcystin-LR, MC-LR) in water, and the reaction of algal organic matter with NaOCl resulted in trihalomethanes (THMs) concentration increase. The oxidation results by NaMnO4 significantly improved the concentration reduction of THMs and MC-LR. Therefore, this study suggests that NaMnO4 is effective as a pre-oxidant for reducing algae damage and byproducts in water treatment process.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major pathogen of chronic periodontitis, colonizes in subgingival crevice and affects surrounding oral tissues, especially in periodontitis patients. Oral cancer mainly occurs in old-aged persons, and are exposed to the P. gingivalis, released from periodontitis, one of the most common inflammatory disease of oral cavity. Thus oral cancer cells may be infected with P. gingivalis, and its biologic behavior are autologously and/or heterogeneously modulated by altering gene expression. Exosomes which are derived from cells contain not only coding genes but also non-coding RNAs such as long non-coding RNAs, miRNA, and piRNAs. Here, to investigate the effect of P. gingivalis on oral cancer cells and to gain insight into the crosstalk between inflammatory signal from tumor microenvironment and oral cancer, we observed miRNA profiles of exosomes from P. gingivalis–infected oral cancer cells. Upregulation of 6 miRNAs, miR-203-3p, miR-6516-3p, miR-483-5p, miR-1275, miR-8485, and miR-19a-3p, were observed whereas 14 miRNAs including let-7a-3p, miR-106a-5p were downregulated. In addition, KEGG pathway analysis using the upregulated- and downregulated- miRNAs showed association with cell adhesion molecules pathway and ECM-receptor interaction pathway, respectively. These findings suggest that P. gingivalis could modulate biologic behavior of oral cancer cells through changes of exosomal miRNAs.

본 연구의 목표는 S. boulardii 유래 세포벽 추출물 (CWSB)의 첨가가 반추위 발효에 미치는 영향을 평가하는 것이다. 본 연구의 in vitro 발효 실험은 CWSB의 첨가용 량이 다른 2개의 실험으로 구성되었다. 실험 1에서는 대 조구(CON, 시험사료)와 CWSB0.05(시험사료+CWSB 0.5g/kg 첨가), CWSB0.075(시험사료+CWSB 0.75g/kg 첨 가)의 처리구로 구성되었고, 실험 2의 처리구는 대조구 (CON, 시험사료)와 CWSB0.5(시험사료+ CWSB 5g/kg 첨 가), CWSB1.0(시험사료+CWSB 10g/kg 첨가)의 처리구로 구성되었다. In vitro 배양 이후 3, 6, 12, 24, 48h 동안 발 생한 가스 발생량 및 48h 배양 이후 발효 성상을 분석하 였다. 실험 1에서는 CWSB0.05 처리구에서 유의적으로 높 았던 Vmax(p<0.01)를 제외한 모든 반추위 발효성상에서 처 리구간 유의적 차이가 관찰되지 않았고, 이에 따라 사료 내 0.5%, 1%의 고용량 첨가 수준을 설정한 실험 2를 수행 하였다. 실험 2에서의 CWSB1.0 처리구는 대조구에 비해 총 VFA 발생량이 유의적으로 높았으나 전체 배양시간 내 가스 발생량 및 건물 소화율, 섬유소 소화율은 대조구와 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 본 연구 결과를 종합 해 볼 때, CWSB의 첨가수준은 0.5% 이상에서 반추위 발 효 개선효과를 나타낼 것으로 추정된다.

쥐참외뿌리 추출물이 항산화 활성 및 피부 세포에서의 독성을 확인하여, 피부에 효과적으로 사 용할 수 있는 기능성 소재로써의 활용 가능성을 확인해 보고자 하였다. 쥐참외뿌리 추출물의 항산화 활성 의 지표가 되는 총 폴리페놀과 총 플라보노이드 함량을 확인하였고, 피부에서의 Neutral red assay를 이용 하여 세포 독성을 확인하였다. 연구 결과, 총 폴리페놀과 총 플라보노이드의 함량은 농도 의존적으로 증가 하였다. 섬유아 세포인 HDF cell에서의 높은 생존율이 확인되었으며, B16F10 melanoma cel와 RAW 264.7 cell에서는 5 μg/mL부터 세포 생존율이 유의하게 낮아지는 것이 확인되었다. 본 연구 결과는 쥐참 외뿌리 추출물의 항산화 활성 및 피부 세포에서의 기초적인 자료로 사용가능할 것으로 사료되어 진다.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological activity of fucoidan, a sulfur-containing polysaccharide, on cytotoxicity and apoptosis in the human HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line using cell viability, Flow cytometry, Western blot, and RT-PCR analyses. Fucoidan inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells by 39.6% at a concentration of 100 μg/mL for 72 h. The inhibition was dose-dependent and accompanied by apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis showed that fucoidan increased early apoptosis and late apoptosis by 65.84% and 72.09% at concentrations of 25 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Analysis of the mechanism of these events indicated that fucoidan-treated cells exhibited increases in the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that fucoidan may inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells by various apoptosis-promoting effects, as well as by apoptosis itself.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The onset of asthma for most patients begins early in life, and current asthma treatment with anti-inflammatory agents can have adverse effects, eventually leading to impaired quality of life. In the pathogenesis of asthma, macrophages and basophils play a vital role during progression. Macrophages not only induce inflammation by secreting inflammatory cytokines but also promote DNA damage and mucus production through nitric oxide (NO) production. Basophils enhance eosinophil recruitment and aggravate asthma through the FcεRIα receptor with high affinity for histamine and IgE. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the activation of macrophages and basophils is suppressed by the individual extracts of 28 natural products. RAW 264.7 cells (mouse macrophages) were treated with the natural products in LPS, and 4 natural product extracts resulted in decreased NO production. In β-hexosaminidase assay using RBL-2H3 cells (rat basophils), 19 natural product extracts decreased β-hexosaminidase production. In NO production and β-hexosaminidase assay using macrophages and basophils, 3 natural product extracts (Plantago asiatica, Centella asiatica, and Perilla frutescens var. japonica) significantly inhibited NO production and β-hexosaminidase release. Overall, we examined the inhibitory effects of 28 natural product extracts on macrophage and basophil activity, and the findings demonstrated the potential of natural product extracts for treating asthma and macrophage- and basophil-related diseases.

It is well documented that giant cells can be observed in some types of odontogenic tumors such as central odontogenic tumor and dentinogenic ghost cell tumor. However, the presence of stromal giant cells has only rarely been reported in ameloblastoma, although being the most common epithelial odontogenic tumor. In this study, we present a novel case of peripheral ameloblastoma associated with peripheral giant cell granuloma arising in the mandibular alveolar mucosa of a 65-year-old male patient. The possible pathogenesis of this combined lesion will be discussed, in addition to the review of previous reports of ameloblastoma accompanied by stromal giant cells.

Comparing the quality characteristics of kimchi were measured and anticancer effects using AGS human gastric cancer cells were observed. Five kinds of kimchi samples were made of Kanghwa Baek kimchi (KB), Kangwha Turnip kimchi (KT), Turnip: Chinese cabbage = 1:1 Baek kimchi (T1B1), Turnip:Chinese cabbage = 4:1 Baek kimchi (T4B1), Turnip mul kimchi (T). As a result T kimchi showed the best fermentation characteristics among the five samples. T kimchi had a lower percentage of the total number of aerobic bacteria, while the number of lactobacillus was higher than that of other samples. The mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-related factors found that T kimchi significantly increases the mRNA expression levels of caspases-3 and caspases-9 in AGS human gastric cancer cells as compared to the other kimchi samples. It showed high anticancer effects in the order of T, T1B1, and KB kimchi. As the anticancer effect of Turnip mul kimchi made only of turnip was higher, the higher the turnip content, the higher the anticancer effect. These results show that there were changes in fermentation characteristics such as pH, acidity, number of lactic acid bacteria, and anticancer effects according to the ratio of turnip and cabbage.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the anti-inflammatory effect of Chung-Dae Indigo Pulverata Levis, indigo naturalis) produced during indigo dyeing. As a result of in vitro cytotoxicity experiments using RAW 264.7 cell, Chung-Dae extract did not inhibit cell proliferation in Raw 264.7 cells in the range of 1~32 μg/mL. NO production was significantly reduced when Chung-Dae extracts were treated at concentrations of 2, 8, and 32 μg/mL (p<0.05). The pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IFN-γ significantly decreased when the Chung-Dae extract was treated at concentrations of 2, 8, and 32 μg/mL compared to the LPS group, and similarly, the TNFα and IL-6 mRNA levels also decreased. Additionally, the mRNA level of COX-2 was also suppressed. At the protein expression level, the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 were observed with LPS and Chung-Dae extract significantly decreased compared to the group treated with only LPS (p<0.05). From the above results, it shows that Chung-Dae extract, a plant-derived compound, inhibits the inflammatory response induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. and in particular, regulates the inflammatory response by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related enzymes.