New Bisabolane Sesquiterpenes from the Rhizomes of <i>Curcuma xanthorrhiza</i> <small>Roxb</small>. and Their Inhibitory Effects on UVB‐Induced MMP‐1 Expression in Human Keratinocytes

Park, Ji‐,Hae,Jung, Ye‐,Jin,Antar ,Aziz ,Mohamed, Mohamed,Hoon ,Lee, Tae,Lee, Chang‐,Ho,Han, Daeseok,Song, Myung‐,Chong,Kim, Jiyoung,Baek, Nam‐,In WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2014 Helvetica chimica acta Vol.97 No.3

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Two new bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, <B>1</B> and <B>2</B>, along with five known ones, 13‐hydroxyxanthorrhizol (<B>3</B>), 12,13‐epoxyxanthorrhizol (<B>4</B>), xanthorrhizol (<B>5</B>), <I>β</I>‐curcumene (<B>6</B>), and <I>β</I>‐bisabolol (<B>7</B>), were isolated from the rhizomes of <I>Curcuma xanthorrhiza</I> <SMALL>Roxb</SMALL><I>.</I> The chemical structures of the new compounds were determined to be (7<I>R</I>,10<I>R</I>)‐10,11‐dihydro‐10,11‐dihydroxyxanthorrhizol 3‐<I>O</I>‐<I>β</I>‐<SMALL>D</SMALL>‐glucopyranoside (<B>1</B>) and (−)‐curcuhydroquinone 2,5‐di‐<I>O</I>‐<I>β</I>‐<SMALL>D</SMALL>‐glucopyranoside (<B>2</B>) on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic analyses and optical‐rotation characteristics. Compounds <B>2</B> and <B>3</B> decreased MMP‐1 expression in UVB‐treated human keratinocytes by <I>ca.</I> 8.9‐ and 7.6‐fold at the mRNA level, and by <I>ca.</I> 9.2‐ and 6.6‐fold at the protein level, respectively. The results indicate that the isolated compounds may have anti‐aging effects through inhibition of MMP‐1 expression in skin cells.</P>

Emodin inhibits TNF‐α‐induced human aortic smooth‐muscle cell proliferation via caspase‐ and mitochondrial‐dependent apoptosis

Heo, Sook‐,Kyoung,Yun, Hyun‐,Jeong,Park, Won‐,Hwan,Park, Sun‐,Dong Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2008 Journal of cellular biochemistry Vol.105 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Vascular smooth‐muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation plays a vital role in hypertension, atherosclerosis and restenosis. It has been reported that emodin, an active component extracted from rhubarb, can stop the growth of cancer cells; however, it is not known if emodin exerts similar anti‐atherogenic effects in TNF‐α treated human aortic smooth‐muscle cells (HASMC). In this study, emodin treatment showed potent inhibitory effects in TNF‐α‐induced HASMC proliferation that were associated with induced apoptosis, including the cleavage of poly ADP‐ribose polymerase (PARP). Moreover, inhibitors of caspase‐3, ‐8 and ‐9 (Ac‐DEVD‐CHO, Z‐IETD‐FMK and Z‐LEHD‐FMK) efficiently blocked emodin‐induced apoptosis in TNF‐α treated HASMC. Therefore, emodin‐induced cell death occurred via caspase‐dependent apoptosis. Emodin treatment resulted in the release of cytochrome <I>c</I> into cytosol and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ<SUB>m</SUB>), as well as a decrease in the expression of an anti‐apoptotic protein (Bcl‐2) and an increase in the expression of an a pro‐apoptotic protein (Bax). Emodin‐mediated apoptosis was also blocked by a mitochondrial membrane depolarization inhibitor, which indicates that emodin‐induced apoptosis occurred via a mitochondrial pathway. Taken together, the results of this study showed that emodin inhibits TNF‐α‐induced HASMC proliferation via caspase‐ and a mitochondrial‐dependent apoptotic pathway. In addition, these results indicate that emodin has potential as an anti‐atherosclerosis agent. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 70–80, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.</P>

Suppressive effect of docosahexaenoyl‐lysophosphatidylcholine and 17‐hydroxydocosahexaenoyl‐lysophosphatidylcholine on levels of cytokines in spleen of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide

Jim, Mei Chen,Hung, Nguyen Dang,Yoo, Jae Myung,Kim, Mee Ree,Sok, Dai‐,Eun WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2012 European journal of lipid science and technology Vol.114 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) with polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains has been known to be anti‐inflammatory in vivo. In the present study, we examined the effect of docosahexaenoyl‐lysophosphatidylcholine (DHE‐lysoPC) and 17‐hydroxydocosahexaenoyl‐lysophosphatidylcholine (17‐HDHE‐lysoPC) on spleen weight and cytokine level in spleen of mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For this purpose, mice were administrated i.p. with DHE‐lysoPC or 17‐HDHE‐lysoPC 1 h before i.p. injection of LPS. First, DHE‐lysoPC (50–400 µg/kg) was found to suppress the LPS‐induced increase of spleen weight dose‐dependently, and such a suppressive effect was greater for 17‐HDHE‐lysoPC, compared to DHE‐lysoPC. Next, in an attempt to see the effect of DHE‐lysoPC on cytokine levels in spleen of mice treated with LPS, DHE‐lysoPC was found to suppress LPS‐induced increase in the levels of cytokines such as TNF‐α, IL‐1β, or IL‐6 in a dose dependent manner (50–400 µg/kg), in contrast to DHA showing a significant action at a high dose (400 µg/kg) only. The greater suppressive effect of 17‐HDHE‐lysoPC (15–150 µg/kg) than DHE‐lysoPC suggested that action of DHE‐lysoPC may be enhanced through lipoxygenation process. Presumably in support of this, when the interval time between 17‐HDHE‐lysoPC administration and LPS challenge was varied, the cytokine‐suppressing effect was found to be augmented in a time‐dependent manner. Taken all together, it is suggested that DHE‐lysoPC and 17‐HDHE‐lysoPC may be beneficial in suppressing the inflammation in spleen tissue.</P>

Antagonistic regulation of transmembrane 4 L6 family member 5 attenuates fibrotic phenotypes in CCl₄‐treated mice

Kang, Minkyung,Jeong, Soo‐,Jin,Park, Sook Young,Lee, Hyo Jeong,Kim, Hyun Jeong,Park, Ki Hun,Ye, Sang‐,Kyu,Kim, Sung‐,Hoon,Lee, Jung Weon Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012 FEBS JOURNAL Vol.279 No.4

<P>The development of liver fibrosis from chronic inflammation can involve epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Severe liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis, and further to hepatocellular carcinoma. Because the tetraspanin transmembrane 4 L6 family member 5 (TM4SF5) induces EMT and is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, it is of interest to investigate whether TM4SF5 expression is correlated with EMT processes during the development of fibrotic liver features. Using hepatic cells <I>in vitro</I> and a CCl<SUB>4</SUB>‐mediated mouse liver <I>in vivo</I> model, we examined whether TM4SF5 is expressed during liver fibrosis mediated by CCl<SUB>4</SUB> administration and whether treatment with anti‐TM4SF5 reagent blocks the fibrotic liver features. Here, we found that TM4SF5 expression was induced by the transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 and epidermal growth factor signaling pathways in hepatocytes <I>in vitro</I>. In the CCl<SUB>4</SUB>‐mediated mouse liver model, TM4SF5 was expressed during the liver fibrosis mediated by CCl<SUB>4</SUB> administration and correlated with α‐smooth muscle actin expression, collagen I deposition, and TGFβ1 and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling activation in fibrotic septa regions. Interestingly, treatment with anti‐TM4SF5 reagent blocked the TM4SF5‐mediated liver fibrotic features: the formation of fibrotic septa with α‐smooth muscle actin expression and collagen I deposition was attenuated by treatment with anti‐TM4SF5 reagent. These results suggest that TM4SF5 expression mediated by TGFβ1 and growth factor can facilitate fibrotic processes during chronic liver injuries. TM4SF5 is thus a candidate target for prevention of liver fibrosis following chronic liver injury.</P>

Enhanced Omnidirectional Photovoltaic Performance of Solar Cells Using Multiple‐Discrete‐Layer Tailored‐ and Low‐Refractive Index Anti‐Reflection Coatings

Yan, Xing,Poxson, David J.,Cho, Jaehee,Welser, Roger E.,Sood, Ashok K.,Kim, Jong Kyu,Schubert, E. Fred WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2013 Advanced Functional Materials Vol.23 No.5

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>An optimized four‐layer tailored‐ and low‐refractive index anti‐reflection (AR) coating on an inverted metamorphic (IMM) triple‐junction solar cell device is demonstrated. Due to an excellent refractive index matching with the ambient air by using tailored‐ and low‐refractive index nanoporous SiO<SUB>2</SUB> layers and owing to a multiple‐discrete‐layer design of the AR coating optimized by a genetic algorithm, such a four‐layer AR coating shows excellent broadband and omnidirectional AR characteristics and significantly enhances the omnidirectional photovoltaic performance of IMM solar cell devices. Comparing the photovoltaic performance of an IMM solar cell device with the four‐layer AR coating and an IMM solar cell with the conventional SiO<SUB>2</SUB>/TiO<SUB>2</SUB> double layer AR coating, the four‐layer AR coating achieves an angle‐of‐incidence (AOI) averaged short‐circuit current density, <I>J</I><SUB>SC</SUB>, enhancement of 34.4%, whereas the conventional double layer AR coating only achieves an AOI‐averaged <I>J</I><SUB>SC</SUB> enhancement of 25.3%. The measured reflectance reduction and omnidirectional photovoltaic performance enhancement of the four‐layer AR coating are to our knowledge, the largest ever reported in the literature of solar cell devices.</P>

Two New Phenolic Compounds from <i>Artemisia iwayomogi</i>

Yan, Xi‐,Tao,Ding, Yan,Li, Wei,Sun, Ya‐,Nan,Yang, Seo‐,Young,Koh, Young‐,Sang,Kim, Young‐,Ho WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2014 Helvetica chimica acta Vol.97 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Two new phenolic compounds, (<I>Z</I>)‐5′‐hydroxyjasmone 5′‐<I>O</I>‐{6″‐<I>O</I>‐[(<I>E</I>)‐caffeoyl]‐<I>β</I>‐<SMALL>D</SMALL>‐glucopyranoside} (<B>1</B>) and quercetin‐7‐<I>O</I>‐<I>β</I>‐<SMALL>D</SMALL>‐glucuronide methyl ester (<B>2</B>), along with ten known phenolic compounds, <B>3</B>–<B>12</B>, were isolated from the aerial parts of <I>Artemisia iwayomogi.</I> Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and HR‐ESI‐TOF‐MS techniques. The inhibitory effects of compounds <B>1</B>–<B>12</B> on the LPS‐stimulated production of IL‐12 p40, IL‐6, and TNF‐<I>α</I> in bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells were evaluated.</P>

Lithographically Encoded Polymer Microtaggant Using High‐Capacity and Error‐Correctable QR Code for Anti‐Counterfeiting of Drugs

Han, Sangkwon,Bae, Hyung Jong,Kim, Junhoi,Shin, Sunghwan,Choi, Sung‐,Eun,Lee, Sung Hoon,Kwon, Sunghoon,Park, Wook WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2012 ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol.24 No.44

<P><B>A QR‐coded microtaggant for the anti‐counterfeiting of drugs</B> is proposed that can provide high capacity and error‐correction capability. It is fabricated lithographically in a microfluidic channel with special consideration of the island patterns in the QR Code. The microtaggant is incorporated in the drug capsule (“on‐dose authentication”) and can be read by a simple smartphone QR Code reader application when removed from the capsule and washed free of drug.</P>

Anti‐Solvent Derived Non‐Stacked Reduced Graphene Oxide for High Performance Supercapacitors

Yoon, Yeoheung,Lee, Keunsik,Baik, Chul,Yoo, Heejoun,Min, Misook,Park, Younghun,Lee, Sae Mi,Lee, Hyoyoung WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2013 ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol.25 No.32

<P><B>An anti‐solvent for graphene oxide (GO)</B>, hexane, is introduced to increase the surface area and the pore volume of the non‐stacked GO/reduced GO 3D structure and allows the formation of a highly crumpled non‐stacked GO powder, which clearly shows ideal supercapacitor behavior.</P>

Prescription of antibiotics for adults hospitalized with community‐acquired pneumonia in Korea in 2004: A population‐based descriptive study

YOON, YOUNG KYUNG,KIM, EUN JU,CHUN, BYUNG CHUL,EOM, JOONG SIK,PARK, DAE WON,SOHN, JANG WOOK,KIM, MIN JA Blackwell Publishing Asia 2012 Respirology Vol.17 No.1

<P><B>ABSTRACT</B></P><P><B>Background and objective: </B> Community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) is generally considered to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. There is much controversy regarding the optimal choice of antibiotics for patients with CAP. The aim of this study was to identify the antibiotics prescribed for adults hospitalized with CAP in Korea during a calendar year.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> This population‐based, descriptive epidemiological study was performed using data from nationwide health insurance claims from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004. The study population was adults (≥18 years old), who had been hospitalized with CAP as determined by discharge diagnosis, and who had been treated with antibiotics for ≥3 days. The exclusion criteria were tuberculosis, underlying malignancies and potential nosocomial pneumonia, based on the department providing care, or surgery reports during the admission.</P><P><B>Results: </B> Of the 5592 adults hospitalized with CAP, data for 3662 (65.5%) patients was eligible for inclusion in the analysis. This included data for 1899 (51.9%) males, and 2045 (55.8%) patients ≥65 years of age. The most frequently prescribed antimicrobial regimen was β‐lactam/β‐lactamase inhibitors and fluoroquinolones in combination (31.0%), followed by β‐lactam/β‐lactamase inhibitors plus macrolides (30.2%), monotherapy (17.0%), β‐lactam/β‐lactamase inhibitors plus aminoglycosides (12.9%), β‐lactam/β‐lactamase inhibitors plus clindamycin (4.9%), and cephalosporins plus fluoroquinolones (2.5%). Monotherapy included, in decreasing order of use, cephalosporins (6.0%), fluoroquinolones (3.5%), β‐lactam/β‐lactamase inhibitors (2.3%) and macrolides (2.2%).</P><P><B>Conclusions: </B> In this study, patterns of antimicrobial prescription for patients hospitalized with CAP were assessed for the first time in Korea. There was divergence from the 2009 Korean guidelines for the treatment of CAP, reinforcing the need for assessment of physicians' adherence to the guidelines.</P>

Effect of αGal on corneal xenotransplantation in a mouse model

Choi, Hyuk Jin,Kim, Mee Kum,Lee, Hyun Ju,Jeong, So Hee,Kang, Hee Jung,Park, Chan‐,Sik,Park, Chung‐,Gyu,Joon Kim, Sang,Wee, Won Ryang Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Xenotransplantation Vol.18 No.3

<P>Choi HJ, Kim MK, Lee HJ, Jeong SH, Kang HJ, Park C‐S, Park C‐G, Kim SJ, Wee WR. Effect of αGal on corneal xenotransplantation in a mouse model. Xenotransplantation 2011; 18: 176–182. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.</P><P><B>Abstract: </B><B> Background: </B> It has been reported that hyperacute rejection (HAR) does not occur after pig‐to‐nonhuman corneal xenotransplantation. However, considering that immune privilege is already disrupted in most human corneal recipients, and the expression of αGal can be gradually reduced after pig‐to‐rat corneal transplantation, the long‐term survival of corneal grafts from wild‐type pigs cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the effect of αGal on the change in anti‐Gal antibodies, using sensitized α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout (GTKO) mice recipients.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> C57BL/6 (B6) and GTKO mice were divided into 5 groups and underwent orthotopically full thickness cormeal transplantation as follows (n=4 for each group): (1) group 1: B6 to B6; (2) group 2: fresh porcine posterior corneal lamella to B6; (3) fresh porcine posterior corneal lamella to GTKO; (4) group 4: decellularized porcine posterior corneal lamella to GTKO, and (5) group 5: B6 to GTKO. Before transplantation, all GTKO recipients were sensitized using intraperitoneal injections of rabbit blood cells. Median survival times (MST) for the corneal grafts of the different groups were compared and plasma concentrations of IgG/IgM anti‐Gal antibodies were evaluated at 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks post‐transplantation.</P><P><B>Results: </B> There were no differences in MSTs between groups. Although there was no HAR of fresh porcine posterior corneal grafts even in sensitized GTKO recipients, αGal expression was induced in the transplanted fresh porcine corneal grafts and plasma concentration of IgG anti‐Gal antibody was gradually increased in fresh porcine cornea‐grafted GTKO recipients. On the contrary, αGal expression did not increase in the grafts and plasma concentration of anti‐Gal antibodies did not change after transplantation using decellularized porcine corneas.</P><P><B>Conclusions: </B> Our findings suggest that αGal may affect the long‐term survival of porcine corneal xenografts via antibody‐mediated rejection, although αGal does not have an effect on acute rejection and decellularized porcine corneas may enable the long‐term survival of porcine corneal xenografts.</P>