Blocking of Cell Proliferation, Cytokines Production and Genes Expression Following Administration of Cordyceps Sinensis in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids Cells

Kuo, Yuh-Chi,Wu, Chia-Lin,Tasi, Wei-Jern,Wang, Jir-Yenn,Chang, Shi-Chung,Lin, Ching-Yuang,Shiao, Ming-Shi 경희대학교 동서의학연구소 1999 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON EAST-WEST MEDICINE Vol.1999 No.1

Yuh-Chi Kuo¹,Chia-Lin Wn¹,Wei-jern Tasi¹,Jir-Yenn Wang²,Shi-Chung Chang₃,Ching-Yung Lin⁴,and Ming-Shi Shiao⁴¹National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, ²Department of Biology,Fu Jen University, ³Department of Chest, ⁴Department of Pediatrics, □De[art,amt of Medical Research and Education. Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Yuh-Chi Kuo¹,Chia-Lin Wn¹,Wei-jern Tasi¹,Jir-Yenn Wang²,Shi-Chung Chang²,Ching-Yung Lin³,and Ming-Shi Shiao⁴.¹National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, ²Department of Biology,Fu Jen University, ³Department of Chest, ⁴Department of Pediatrics, □De[art,amt of Medical Research and Education. Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Blocking of Cell Proliferation, Cytokines Production and Genes Expression Following Administration of Cordyceps sinensis in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids Cells. Proceedings of international Symposium on East-West Medicine, Seoul. 44-64, 1999.-Cordyceps sinensis is a major parasitic fungus on larva of Lepidoptera. It is one of the well know fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment asthma, lung and kideney diseases. Many fungi belonging to the genus Cordyceps have been demonstrated to produce natural products with various biological activities. Reported biological activities of genus cordyceps include:(a)inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis;(b)enhancement of cell differentiation;(c)restruction of cytoskeleton;(d)inhibition of protein kinase activity;(e)antitumor activity on bladder, colon, lung carcinoma as well as fibroblastoma;(f)inhibition of the infection and revers transciptase activity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1; and(g) inhibition of methylation of nucleic acid. Thus, it is suggested that the extracts of Cordyceps sp. Contain antitumor, antiviral, and many other biological activities. In our previous studies, we proved that C. sinensis contains the antitumor and immunomodulatory agents. In the present studies, effects of C. sinensis on bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(BAL)cells were demonstrated. The crude methanolic extracts of C. sinensis were fractionated into 15 fractions by silica gel column chromatography. Effects of various fraction on BAL cells proliferation and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) stimulated interleukin-1β(IL-8),platelet activating factor(PAF), interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-8(IL-8) production on BAL cells were determined. The result indicated that the CS-19-22 fraction suppressed BAL cells proliferation activated by LPS. The median inhibitory concentration(IC50) was 6㎍/ml. The CS-19-22 fraction also decreased IL-1β,PAF,IL-6, TNF-αand IL-8 production.The results of revers transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) demonstrated that the CS-19-22 fraction did not affect IL-1β,PAF,IL-6, TNF-α,and IL-8 mRNAs expression in BAL cells activated by LPS. By contrast, it inhibited the IL-10 mRNA expression but enhanced IFN-γand IL-12 mRNAs expression in activated BAL cells. Moreover, the CS-19-22 fraction blocked PAF-induced platelet aggregation. It is unlikely that cytotoxicity was involved. Because no cell deths were observable. We hypothesize that inhibitory mechanisms of CS-19-22 on BAL cells proliferation may be related to the impairments of gene expression and production of cytokines in BAL cells. The explanation of C. sinensis antiasthma function may involved the following(1)C.sinenesis contained immunomodulatory agents that stimulated IFN-γand IL-12 expression in TH1cells.(2)Enhanced secretion of IFN-γand IL-12 will inhibit the Tγcells immune responses Ex. Decreasing of IL-6 and IL-10 production.(3) The impairments of cytokines production in TH2 cells suppressed th BAL cells proliferation then more cytokines production Ex.IL-1β,PAF,IL-6,TNF-αand IL-8 in activated BAL cells were decreased. (4)The suppression of TH2cells immune responses will inhibit the growth and differentiation of B cells then IgE production will be decreased. (5)Reduced production of IgE will decreased asthma attack occurring in individuals. However, the results of the present study suggested that C. sinensis may also have acted to treat asthma in part by inhibiting BAL cells proliferation and cytokine gene expression and production. Future, experiments with treatment of animals with asthma with C. sinensis will be necessary to defined whether C. sinensis can reduce asthma injury. Plans are underway for the isolation of pure principal growth inhibitors and their mechanisms of action are subjected for further study.

기능성 위장관장애 환자의 자율신경계기능과 음-양(陰陽)체질 특성에 관한 연구

이정호,송지영,황의완,정두훈,김영미 大韓神經精神醫學會 1999 신경정신의학 Vol.38 No.4

연구목적 : 기질적 원인이 없이 장기간 소화장애 및 복통이 지속되는 기능성 위장관 장애 환자를 대상으로 하여, 음양체질의 특성이 위장관을 조절하는 자율신경계 기능 이상과 관련되는지를 알아보기 위하여, 사상체질 특성에 따른 자율신경계 기능의 차이유무를 측정해 보고자 하였다. 이로써 이들 환자에서 보이는 자율신경계 기능의 불균형 상태가 한의학에서 말하는 음양(陰陽)이론으로 설명할 수 있을지 알아 보고자 하였다. 그리고 만일 이러한 설명이 가능하게 되면 향후 기능성 위장관 장애 환자에 대한 음양이론에 입각한 치료의 이론적 배경이 될 것으로 기대하였다. 방 법 : 기능성 위장관 장애 환자 27명과 대조군으로서 위장관 증상 이외의 증상을 가진 신체형 장애 환자(이하 기타 신체형 장애) 28명과 건강 대조군 26명을 조사 대상으로 하였다. 이들에게 사상체질(四象體質)분류검사를 이용하여 소음 체질과 기타 체질군으로 나누고, 자율신경 기능검사를 실시하여 체질에 따른 자율신경계 기능을 비교해 보았다. 결 과 : 기능성 위장관 환자군에서 소음체질이 의미있게 많은 빈도를 차지하지는 않았으며, 기능성 위장관 장애군과 기타 신체형 장애군과의 비교에서 자율신경 기능의 차이는 없었다. 이로서 비기질성 기능 장애의 하나인 기능성 위장 장애에서 체질 특성과 부교감신경계 기능 저하와는 관련성은 거의 없다고 추정된다. 단지 기능성 위장 장애군과 기타 신체형 장애군을 합한 신체형 장애 환자군에서는 건강 대조군에 비하여 소음체질의 빈도가 높았으며 부교감신경 기능이 의미있게 낮은 소견을 보였다. 결 론 : 비기질성 기능 장애인 기능성 위장관 장애에서는 한의학에서의 음양가설이라는 일원론에 입각한 이분법적인 개념이 자율신경계의 교감, 부교감 신경계 기능과 일치하는 부분은 적은 것으로 추정된다. 기능성 위장관 장애를 대상으로 해서 앞으로는 음양의 체질이라는 포괄적인 개념보다는 확실한 증상 몇 개 중심으로 하는 좀 더 세분화된 부분으로부터 접근해 볼 필요가 있으리라 사료된다. Objectives : It was revealed that autonomic dysfunction especially decreased parasympathetic functions, seems to be one of the major etiological factors in functional gastrointestinal disorders(FGID). The physiological characteristics of sympathetic and parasympathetic functions are externally similar to the features of Yin and Yang based on oriental medicine theory. And it was also revealed that gastrointestinal symptoms are prevalent in Lesser Yin con-stitutional type(少陰) originated from four types of constitution shown in Sasang constitutional theory(四象醫學). If we obtain the findings on the similarities or compatibilities between autonomic nervous functions and physical constitutional features in functional gastrointestinal disorders, we could apply various oriental treatment modalities to the patients with functional disorders, especially according to Yin-Yang constitutional concept. Methods : We investigated the correlations between characteristics of physical constitution (Yin and Yang) and imbalance of the autonomic functions in patients with FGID. Subjects consisted with three groups : 27 patients with FGID (including irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, functional abdominal pain syndrome according to the Rome criteria), 28 patients with somatoform disorders who had symptoms other than abdominal symptoms(other somatoform disorders), and 26 normal healthy controls. Characteristics of constitutions were evaluated and divided into two major groups, i.e., Lesser Yin constitution and other constitutions(Greater Yin & Yang and Lesser Yang included) according to the Je-Ma Lee's Classification Questionnaire for Four Constitutional Types(Song et al. 1993). For evaluating the autonomic functions, three parasympathetic functions and two sympathetic functions were measured. Levels of anxiety and depression were also evaluated to be used as a covariant controlling the autonomic functions. Results : 1) FGID group showed significantly lower parasympathetic functions compared to healthy controls, however, there was no differences between FGID and other somatoform disorder groups. 2) Lesser Yin constitutional type was not so prevalent in FGID group. 3) When FGID and other somatoform disorder groups were combined and compared with normal healthy controls, the former group showed significantly lower parasympathetic functions than the latter group. Conclusions : According to these results, Lesser Yin constitutional type do not seem to be closely related with FGID. However, it was suggested that decreased parasympathetic functions were partly associated with this group. We could not find any correlations or compatibilities between two constitutional characteristics and autonomic dysfunction in FGID. This means that functional symptoms of FGID when those were deducted as Yin and Yang characteristics based on oriental medicine could not be understood as two oppositional and co-operative functions such as autonomic functions. Further research with more restricted symptoms selected in the functional disorders and with other physiological cues applied would be needed.

Overexpression of Ornithine Decarboxylase Suppresses Thapsigargin-Induced Apoptosis

Wei-Chung Hsieh,Pei-Chen Hsu,Ya-Fan Liao,Shu-Ting Young,Zeng-Wei Wang,Chih-Li Lin,Gregory J. Tsay,Huei Lee,Hui-Chih Hung,Guang-Yaw Liu 한국분자세포생물학회 2010 Molecules and cells Vol.30 No.4

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of poly-amine biosynthesis, has paradoxical roles in apoptosis. Our published papers show overexpression of ODC pre-vents the apoptosis induced by many cytotoxic drugs. Thapsigargin (TG) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/en-doplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pumps and causes ER stress-induced apoptosis. We used ODC overexpressing cell lines to examine whether overexpres-sion of ODC inhibits TG-induced apoptosis. Our results indicated overexpression of ODC attenuated TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of ODC blocked procaspse-4 cleavage and phosphorylation of protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase (PERK), triggered by TG. It also attenuated the increase in CAAT/enhancer binding protein homolo-gous protein (CHOP). Cells with overexpressed ODC had greater Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of ODC pre-served the expression of Bcl-2, inhibited the increase in Bak and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential without the influences of TG. Cytochrome c release and downstream caspase activation were blocked. That is, overexpression of ODC inhibits the mitochondria-medi-ated apoptotic pathway, induced by TG. Finally, overex-pression of ODC maintains the protein and mRNA expres-sion of SERCA. In conclusion, overexpression of ODC suppresses TG-induced apoptosis by blocking caspase-4 activation and PERK phosphorylation, attenuating CHOP expression and inhibiting the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Overexpression of Ornithine Decarboxylase Suppresses Thapsigargin-Induced Apoptosis

Hsieh, Wei-Chung,Hsu, Pei-Chen,Liao, Ya-Fan,Young, Shu-Ting,Wang, Zeng-Wei,Lin, Chih-Li,Tsay, Gregory J.,Lee, Huei,Hung, Hui-Chih,Liu, Guang-Yaw Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2010 Molecules and cells Vol.30 No.4

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, has paradoxical roles in apoptosis. Our published papers show overexpression of ODC prevents the apoptosis induced by many cytotoxic drugs. Thapsigargin (TG) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase (SERCA) pumps and causes ER stress-induced apoptosis. We used ODC overexpressing cell lines to examine whether overexpression of ODC inhibits TG-induced apoptosis. Our results indicated overexpression of ODC attenuated TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of ODC blocked procaspse-4 cleavage and phosphorylation of protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase (PERK), triggered by TG. It also attenuated the increase in CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). Cells with overexpressed ODC had greater Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of ODC preserved the expression of Bcl-2, inhibited the increase in Bak and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential without the influences of TG. Cytochrome c release and downstream caspase activation were blocked. That is, overexpression of ODC inhibits the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, induced by TG. Finally, overexpression of ODC maintains the protein and mRNA expression of SERCA. In conclusion, overexpression of ODC suppresses TG-induced apoptosis by blocking caspase-4 activation and PERK phosphorylation, attenuating CHOP expression and inhibiting the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

국가이미지 및 브랜드이미지가 브랜드선호도에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

가미미(Jia, Wei Wei),김세범(Kim, Sae Bum),변충규(Byun, Chung Gyu) 한국서비스경영학회 2009 서비스경영학회지 Vol.10 No.2

Formation of CuInGaSe2 Thin Film Photovoltaic Absorber by Using Rapid Thermal Sintering of Binary Nanoparticle Precursors

Chung Ping Liu,Ming Wei Chang,Chuan Lung Chuang 한국물리학회 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.63 No.11

It was known that properties of copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) thin films were evidentlyaffected by precursor nanoparticle-ink and sintering technology. The nanoparticles were fabricatedby using a rotary ball-milling (RBM) technique. After RBM, the particle size of the agglomeratedCIGS powder was smaller than 100 nm. The nanoparticle ink was printed onto a Mo/soda limeglass substrate and baked at a low temperature to remove solvents and to form a dry precursor. Crystallographic, morphological, and stoichiometric properties of films were then obtained by usingthe precursor CIGS samples sintered at various heating rates in a non-vacuum environment withoutselenization. Analytical results revealed that the 2-theta data of the sample sintered at a heatingrate of 15 C/s were the closest to the data on the JCPDS card for Cu(Ga0.3In0.7)Se2.0 because theirangles were 26.8, 44.5, and 52.7, respectively. In addition, analytical results indicated that theCIGS absorption layer prepared at a heating rate of 15 C/s had a chalcopyrite structure and favorablecompositions. For this sample, the mole ratio of Cu:In:Ga:Se was equal to 0.98:0.81:0.28:1.93,and related ratios of Ga/(In+Ga) and Cu/(In+Ga) were 0.26 and 0.90, respectively.

Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Understanding Slow-moving Landslide

( Wei-an Chao ),( Ming-chien Chung ),( Keng-hao Kang ),( Chih-pin Lin ),( Tung-lin Tai ),( Hao-wen Yang ) 대한지질공학회 2019 대한지질공학회 학술발표회논문집 Vol.2019 No.2

Landslides have caused extensive infrastructure damage and threatened the human fatalities through the centuries. Among all triggered factors, massive precipitation and large earthquakes are considered to be the two key activators for pushing landslide moving, particularly for catastrophic landslides. The most acceptable mechanism resulting the landslide movement is liquefaction due to increasing water pore pressure. In this study, a landslide site has been well understood by hydrological, geophysical, geological, geodetic, geotechnical and seismological (H4GS) perspectives. Our seismic monitoring of daily relative velocity changes (dv/v) in sliding material decreased coinciding with first-half rainy period yet increased observing in post-half raining event. Geodetic survey (real-time kinematic, RTK; total station) before and after rainy period presents the vertical subsidence without any horizontal movement. The results from multidisciplinary investigation allow us to draw the conceptual model of landslide healing process caused by the water loading. Under the stability condition (F > 1.0) for each sliding materials, unconsolidated landslide colluvium and impermeable sliding surface could trap the seepage water to be as water pool, provided compact force acting on the materials below the sliding boundary. The vertical force of compaction facilitates to increasing the cohesion and strength of materials, tending the landslide material to be much stability. We demonstrated that healing process is periodically occurred but only for prolonged and intense precipitation combined with stability condition.

Research on Correlation between Innovative Activities & Development Strategies of New Product and Development Performance in Taiwan's High-tech Companies

Chung, Yi-Chan,Tsai, Chih-Hung,Deng, Wei-Jaw,Chen, Wen-Chin The Korean Society for Quality Management 2006 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.7 No.2

Due to the advancement of technology and rapidly changing environment of the market, the life cycle of high-tech products is becoming shorter. The enterprise must constantly innovate and select correct development strategy of new product in order to respond to customers' demands for upgrading operational performance of industry. Development of new product is the critical activity for enterprise's survival and growth. This research focuses on the effects of Taiwan high-tech companies' introduction of innovative activity and development strategy of new product on development performance of new product for analysis and exploration. The result findings reveal that: (1) High execution degree of innovative activity has positive effect on the implementation of development strategy of new product; (2) The companies with better implementation of development strategy of new product reveal better development performance; (3) The companies with higher degree of execution of innovative activity and better execution of development strategy of new product reveal better development performance of new product.

Impact of fine fillers on flowability, fiber dispersion, strength, and tensile strain hardening of UHPC

Chung-Chan Hung,Kuo-Wei Wen,Yueh-Ting Chen Techno-Press 2023 Advances in concrete construction Vol.15 No.6

While ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is commonly reinforced with micro straight steel fibers in existing applications, studies have indicated that the use of deformed steel macro-fibers leads to enhanced ductility and post-peak responses for UHPC structural elements, which is of particular importance for earthquake-resistant structures. However, there are potential concerns regarding the use of UHPC reinforced with macro-fibers due to the issues of workability and fiber distribution. The objective of this study was to address these issues by extensively investigating the restricted and non-restricted deformability, filling ability, horizontal and vertical velocities, and passing ability of UHPC containing macro hooked-end steel fibers. A new approach is suggested to examine the homogeneity of fiber distribution in UHPC. The influences of ultra-fine fillers and steel macro-fibers on the workability of fresh UHPC and the mechanics of hardened UHPC were examined. It was found that although increasing the ratio of quartz powder to cement led to an improvement in the workability and tensile strain hardening behavior of UHPC, it reduced the fiber distribution homogeneity. The addition of 1% volume fraction of macro-fibers in UHPC improved workability, but reduced its compressive strength, which is contrary to the effect of micro-fiber inclusion in UHPC.

Intra-Arterial Treatment in Patients with Acute Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding after Endoscopic Failure: Comparisons between Positive versus Negative Contrast Extravasation Groups

Wei-Chou Chang,Chang-Hsien Liu,Hsian-He Hsu,Guo-Shu Huang,Ho-Jui Tung,Tsai-Yuan Hsieh,Shih-Hung Tsai,Chung-Bao Hsieh,Chih-Yung Yu 대한영상의학회 2011 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.12 No.5

Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage. Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage.