Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in the world. This plant is known to have many health benefits and contain a wide variety of bioactive components. However, the knowledge on its lipid compound is still far from being fully explored. Although glycosyl inositol phosphoceramides (GIPCs) are the main sphingolipids in plant tissues, GIPCs of P. ginseng are unknown. The present study employed nanoESI-MS n , which generated characteristic fragmentation pattern that were used for the structural identification of P. ginseng GIPCs. In addition to detecting a typical mass fragmentation pattern for GIPC in positive ion mode, novel fragmentation correlating with cleavage of the last carbohydrate and fatty acyl chain of the ceramide moiety was identified. In total, 42 GIPC species were detected in P. ginseng. The major P. ginseng GIPC structure was hexose (R 1 )-hexuronic acid-inositol phosphoceramide, with three types of R 1 (amine, N-acetylamine, or hydroxyl). The most intense peak was found at m/z 1136.3 ([M+H] + ion), corresponding to a GIPC (d18:0/h16:0, R 1 = OH). Only three GIPC subtypes showed significantly different levels in five- and six-year-old P. ginseng tap roots.

Purpose: Intraoperative frozen section biopsy is used to reduce the margin positive rate and re-excision rate and has been reported to have high diagnostic accuracy. A majority of breast surgeons in the Republic of Korea routinely perform frozen section biopsy to assess margins intraoperatively, despite its long turnaround time and high resource requirements. This study aims to determine whether omitting frozen section biopsy for intraoperative margin evaluation in selected patients is non-inferior to performing frozen section biopsy in terms of resection margin positivity rate. Methods This study is a phase III, randomized controlled, parallel-group, multicenter non-inferiority clinical trial. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria and providing written informed consent will be randomized to the “frozen section biopsy” or “frozen section biopsy omission” group after lumpectomy. Patients with clinical stage T1–T3 disease who are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer by core-needle biopsy and plan to undergo breast-conserving surgery will be included in this study. If a daughter nodule, non-mass enhancement, or microcalcification is identified on preoperative imaging, these features must be within 1 cm of the main mass for inclusion in the trial. The target sample size is 646 patients per arm. The primary endpoint will be the resection margin positive rate, and the secondary endpoints include the reoperation rate, operating time, residual cancer after reoperation, residual cancer after re-excision according to the frozen section biopsy result, resection volume, patient quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.Discussion: This is the first randomized clinical trial utilizing frozen section biopsy for intraoperative margin evaluation and aims to determine the non-inferiority of omitting frozen section biopsy in selected patients compared to performing frozen section biopsy.We expect that this trial will help surgeons perform the procedure more efficiently while ensuring patient safety.

n this study, whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) imported from Vietnam were collected from South Korean markets, and examined for 2 viruses: infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV, recently classified as decapod penstyldensovirus-1), and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Among 58 samples, we detected IHHNV in 23 samples and WSSV in 2 samples, using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analyses.This is the first report of IHHNV and WSSV detection in imported shrimp, suggesting that greater awareness and stricter quarantine policies regarding viruses infecting shrimp imported to South Korea are required.

Human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, is highly invasive and aggressive, compared to less invasive cell line, MCF-7. To explore the genes that might influence the malignancy of MDA-MB-231, DNA microarray analysis was performed. The results showed that G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2) was one of the most highly expressed genes among the genes upregulated in MDA-MB-231. Although G0S2 acts as a direct inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase, action of G0S2 in cancer progression is not yet understood. To investigate whether G0S2 affects invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells, G0S2 expression was inhibited using siRNA, which led to decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Consequently, G0S2 inhibition inactivated integrin-regulated FAK-Src signaling, which promoted Hippo signaling and inactivated ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, G0S2 downregulation decreased β-catenin expression, while E-cadherin expression was increased. It was demonstrated for the first time that G0S2 mediates the Hippo pathway and induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our results suggest that G0S2 is a major factor contributing to cell survival and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cadherins ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Lipase ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is recognized as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs in Asia and it contains diverse phytochemicals that contribute to its pharmacological effects. Although lipids represent a major component of ginseng, ginseng lipids are still far from being fully explored. This review is focused on ginseng lipid components and methodologies of their analysis. The ginseng lipid compounds were categorized according to the structural features of each lipid class. This basic information on ginseng lipid components and the analysis methods will be applicable to authentification or quality control of ginseng products, and development of lipid-based pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals from ginseng.
Asia ; Dietary Supplements ; Panax ; Phytochemicals ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quality Control

Metabolomics has been used as a powerful tool for the analysis and quality assessment of the natural product (NP)-derived medicines. It is increasingly being used in the quality control and standardization of NP-derived medicines because they are composed of hundreds of natural compounds. The most common techniques that are used in metabolomics consist of NMR, GC-MS, and LC-MS in combination with multivariate statistical analyses including principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Currently, the quality control of the NP-derived medicines is usually conducted using HPLC and is specified by one or two indicators. To create a superior quality control framework and avoid adulterated drugs, it is necessary to be able to determine and establish standards based on multiple ingredients using metabolic profiling and fingerprinting. Therefore, the application of various analytical tools in the quality control of NP-derived medicines forms the major part of this review. Veregen® (Medigene AG, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany), which is the first botanical prescription drug approved by US Food and Drug Administration, is reviewed as an example that will hopefully provide future directions and perspectives on metabolomics technologies available for the quality control of NP-derived medicines.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dermatoglyphics ; Metabolomics* ; Prescriptions ; Quality Control* ; United States Food and Drug Administration

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Rubus Coreanus Miquel (RCM), used as a traditional Korean medicine, reduces chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. However, its mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we examine the anti-inflammatory effects of RCM and their possible mechanisms using RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Unripe RCM ethanol extract (UE), unripe RCM water extract (UH), ripe RCM ethanol extract (RE), and ripe RCM water extract (RH) were prepared. Inflammatory response was induced with LPS treatment, and expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) and NO and PGE2 productions were assessed. To determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of RCM, we measured NF-kappaB and MAPK activities. RESULTS: UE and UH treatment significantly reduced NF-kappaB activation and JNK and p38 phosphorylation and reduced transcriptional activities decreased iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines expressions, and NO and PGE2 productions. RE and RH treatments reduced IL-1beta and IL-6 expressions through suppressions of JNK and p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that RCM had anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory mediator expressions. Especially, unripe RCM showed strong anti-inflammatory effects through suppression of NF-kappaB and MAPK activation. These findings suggest that unripe RCM might be used as a potential functional material to reduce chronic inflammatory responses.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Ethanol ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; NF-kappa B* ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water

PURPOSE: Androgen replacement therapy has been shown to be safe and effective for most patients with testosterone deficiency. Male partners of infertile couples often report significantly poorer sexual activity and complain androgen deficiency symptoms. We report herein an adverse effect on fertility caused by misusage of androgen replacement therapy in infertile men with hypogonadal symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 8 male patients referred from a local clinic for azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia between January 2008 and July 2011. After detailed evaluation at our andrology clinic, all patients were diagnosed with iatrogenic hypogonadism associated with external androgen replacement. We evaluated changes in semen parameters and serum hormone level, and fertility status. RESULTS: All patients had received multiple testosterone undecanoate (NebidoR) injections at local clinic due to androgen deficiency symptoms combined with lower serum testosterone level. The median duration of androgen replacement therapy prior to the development of azoospermia was 8 months (range: 4-12 months). After withdrawal of androgen therapy, sperm concentration and serum follicle-stimulating hormone level returned to normal range at a median 8.5 months (range: 7-10 months). CONCLUSION: Misusage of external androgen replacement therapy in infertile men with poor sexual function can cause temporary spermatogenic dysfunction, thus aggravating infertility.
Adult ; Androgens/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Azoospermia/*drug therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction/drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism/*drug therapy ; Infertility, Male/*chemically induced/drug therapy ; Male ; Oligospermia/*drug therapy ; Testosterone/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

During an investigation of fungi from an elm tree infested with bark beetles in Korea, one isolate, DUCC401, was isolated from elm wood. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA (large subunit) sequences, the isolate, DUCC401, was identified as Mariannaea samuelsii. Mycelia of the fungus grew faster on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar media. Temperature and pH for optimal growth of fungal mycelia were 25degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus demonstrated the capacity to degrade cellobiose, starch, and xylan. This is the first report on isolation of Mariannaea samuelsii in Korea.
Agar ; Beetles ; Cellobiose ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Starch ; Ulmus ; Wood

Korean raspberry, Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), contains high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which prevent oxidative stress. To determine the effect of RCM on antioxidant capacity in humans, we assessed in vivo lipid oxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities from plasma in 15 healthy men. The subjects ingested 30 g of freeze-dried RCM daily for 4 weeks. Blood was taken at baseline and at the end of the study to determine blood lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, liver function, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities. RCM supplementation had no effect on blood lipid or fasting plasma glucose concentrations but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. RCM supplementation increased glutathione peroxidase activities (P < 0.05) but had no effect on lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that short-term RCM supplementation may offer health benefits by enhancing antioxidant capacity in a healthy population.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenol ; Plasma