β-carotene is present in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of β -carotene on oral cancer cells have not been clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of β-carotene on cell growth and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that treatment with β-carotene induced inhibition of cell growth, and that the effect was dependent on β-carotene treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Furthermore, treatment with β-carotene induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation in KB cells. β-carotene promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and –9 with associated increases in the concentration of cleaved caspase-3, -7, -8 and –9. In addition, the level of cleaved PARP was increased by β-carotene treatment in KB cells. These results suggest that β-carotene can suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and that it may have potential usefulness in anti-cancer drug discovery efforts.

MicroRNA (miRNA, miR) is essential in regulating cell differentiation either by inhibiting mRNA translation or by inducing its degradation. However, the role of miRNA in odontoblastic cell differentiation is still unclear. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanism of miR-27-mediated regulation of odontoblast differentiation in MDPC-23 mouse odontoblastic cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that the miR-27 expression increases significantly during MDPC-23 odontoblastic cell differentiation. Furthermore, miR-27 up-regulation promotes the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells and accelerates mineralization without cell proliferation. The over-expression of miR-27 significantly increased the expression levels of Wnt1 mRNA and protein. In addition, the results of target gene prediction revealed that Wnt1 mRNA has an miR-27 binding site in its 3’UTR, and is increased by miR-27. These results suggested that miR-27 promotes MDPC-23 odontoblastic cell differentiation by targeting Wnt1 signaling. Therefore, miR-27 is a critical odontoblastic differentiation molecular target for the development of miRNA based therapeutic agents in dental medicine.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a constituent of turmeric powder derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been shown to inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, a need exists to design more effective analogs because of curcumin's poor intestinal absorption. EF-24 (diphenyl difluoroketone), the monoketone analog of curcumin, has shown good efficacy in anticancer screens. However, the effects of curcumin and EF-24 on salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells are not clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin and EF-24 on cell growth and induction of apoptosis in human salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells. Our studies showed that curcumin and EF-24 inhibited the growth of HTB-41 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the potency of EF-24 was > 34-fold that of curcumin. Treatment with curcumin or EF-24 resulted in nuclear condensation and fragmentation in HTB-41 cells, whereas the control HTB-41 cell nuclei retained their normal regular and oval shape. Curcumin and EF-24 promoted proteolytic cleavages of procaspase-3/-7/-9, resulting in an increase in the amount of cleaved caspase-3/-7/-9 in the HTB-41 cells. Caspase-3 and -7 activities were detected in viable HTB-41 cells treated with curcumin or EF-24. These results suggest that the curcumin and EF-24 inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HTB-41 human salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells, and that they may have potential properties as an anti-cancer drug therapy.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between yearly variations of climatic elements and yearly variations of productivity in perilla. In addition, correlation coefficients among yield and yield components were estimated. The data of yield and yield components were investigated for 10 years from 1991 to 2000. The meteorological data gathered at the Yeosu Weather Station for the same period were used to find out the relationships between climatic elements and productivity. Yearly variation of the amount of precipitation in September was large with coefficients of variation(c. v.) of 11.1%, but the coefficient of variance(c. v.) in July and August were relative small with 1.8, 2.1%, respectively. Number of cluster per hill and weight of 1,000 grains were greatly with c. v. of 76.1, 79.3%, respectively, but the coefficients of variance(c. v.) of plant height and seed yield were more less with 9.58, 10.60%, respectively. Correlation coefficients between precipitation of September and seed yield were positively significant correlation at the level of 5.1%, respectively, but the duration of sunshine in September and seed yield were negatively significant at the level of 5.1%, respectively. Correlation coefficients of these, the plant height, number of branches per plant, cluster length, number of cluster per hill, weight of 1,000 grains and seed yield were positively significant at the level of 5.1% respectively.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between yearly variations of meteorological elements and yearly variations of productivity in rice. In addition, correlation coefficients among yield and yield components were used to find out the relationships between meteorological elements and productivity. Yearly variation of the mean air temperature in May was large with coefficients of variation(C.V.) of 25.0%, but the variation of the duration of sunshine in May were relative small. No. of panicles per hill and 1,000 grains wt. of brown rice were great with C.V. of 21.1, 19.7%, respectively, brown rice yield show more or less C.V. of 5.5% and milled rice show still less variation. Correlation coefficients between temperatures in period of cultivation from May and yield were positive correlations. Correlation Coefficients between precipitation in period of cultivation from Sep. to Oct. and yield are positive correlations. Correlation coefficients amount the panicle length, no. of panicles, no. of spikelets, ratio of ripened grains, 1,000 grains wt. of brown rice, milled rice yield, brown rice yield and milled rice yield were positively significant at the level of 1 %, respectively.

seeding rates(1.5,2.0,3.0 and 3.5l/10a). There were no differences in the yield components such as length of stem and ear diameter of stem number of branch, internode and ear, and yield of fresh and dry stem between the seeding methods with drilling and broadcasting, but yield components such as length of stem and ear, diameter of stem, number of branch, internode and ear, and yield of fresh and dry stem increased with seeding rates of from 2.5l /10a to 3.5l/10a. Therefore potimum rates and methods of sowing were from 2.5l/10a to 3.5l/10a with seeding at the drilling and broadcasting.