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Shikonin (SK), a natural naphthoquinone isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb, has been known to suppress the proliferation of several cancer cells. However, its role in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) has yet to be demonstrated. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of SK on EMT. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EMT-like phenotypic changes, enhancing cell migration and invasion. SK markedly reduced the expression of the LPS-induced EMT markers, including N-cadherin in MDA-MB‑231 cells, and increased the expression of E-cadherin in MCF-7 cells. SK also inhibited cell migration and invasion in vitro. The effects of SK on the LPS-induced EMT were mediated by the inactivation of the NF-κB-Snail signaling pathway. The results provided new evidence that SK suppresses breast cancer cell invasion and migration by inhibiting the EMT. Therefore, SK is a potentially effective anticancer agent for breast tumors, by inhibiting metastasis.

Ojeok-san is a frequently used herbal medication for the management of osteoarthritic pain. We evaluated the effect of Ojeok-san on the pharmacokinetics of celecoxib at steady-state in healthy individuals. An open-label, fixed-sequence, two-period, two-treatment cross-over study was conducted. In period I, the individuals received celecoxib capsule 200 mg once daily for 4 days. In period II, only Ojeok-san (14.47 g/pack, three times daily) was administered for 4 days, followed by co-administration with celecoxib for 4 days. On the fourth (final) day of administration, Ojeok-san was administered as a single dose. The blood samples for pharmacokinetic evaluation were collected for up to 48 hr after the administration of celecoxib in each study period. Of the 22 enrolled individuals, 20 individuals completed the study. In the presence of Ojeok-san, the systemic exposure of celecoxib was decreased. The geometric mean ratios ([celecoxib + Ojeok-san]/celecoxib) and the 90% confidence intervals for the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve during dosing interval (AUCτ ) of celecoxib at steady-state were 0.725 (0.620-0.848) and 0.885 (0.814-0.962), respectively. The changes in the mean of the Cmax and AUCτ of celecoxib were greater in intermediate metabolizers of cytochrome 2C9 (CYP2C9) than in normal metabolizers. Our results suggested that the Cmax and AUCτ of celecoxib were reduced by Ojeok-san co-administration. This finding may be beneficial to determine the required adjustment of celecoxib dosage when co-administered with Ojeok-san.

Background To determine whether initial reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced endothelial cell injury is involved in early death after paraquat intoxication and concentrations of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and von Willebrand factor (VWF) reflecting endothelial cell injury, we investigated the initial endothelial cell injury marker involved in the pathogenesis of death within 5 days after paraquat ingestion. Material/Methods Sixty patients with paraquat poisoning were prospectively enrolled. Plasma samples were collected at admission. Plasma concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and VWF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patients were classified into 3 categories: survivors, early death (died within 5 days after ingestion), and late death (died more than 5 days after ingestion). Results The baseline concentration of Ang-2 and the Ang-2: Ang-1 ratio were significantly higher in patients who died (Ang-2 [pg/mL], 1012.75±468.02 vs. 1986.07±1675.37 [p=0.002]; Ang-2: Ang-1, 0.90±0.49 vs. 2.16±2.28 [p=0.002]). The Ang-2: Ang-1 ratio was significantly higher in the early death group (2.41±2.54) than in the survivors (0.90±0.49) and the late death group (1.33±0.64). The Ang-2: Ang-1 ratio was significantly associated with early death (OR, 2.602; 95% CI, 1.106–6.117; p=0.028) after adjusting for plasma levels of paraquat, age, PCO2, and creatinine. VWF did not predict mortality. Conclusions Endothelial cell damage could be involved in the pathogenesis of early death following paraquat ingestion.

Strain Gsoil 259(T), a beta-glucosidase-producing bacterium, was isolated from a soil sample from a ginseng field in the Republic of Korea and characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. Cells were Gram-positive, heterotrophic, strictly aerobic, non-motile short rods. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain Gsoil 259(T) belonged to the genus Microbacterium and was closely related to Microbacterium arborescens IFO 3750(T) (98.5 %) and Microbacterium imperiale IFO 12610(T) (97.9 %). However, it has low values for DNA-DNA relatedness with the above strains (20.7 and 17.5 %, respectively). Strain Gsoil 259(T) possessed chemotaxonomic markers that were consistent with classification in the genus Microbacterium, i.e. MK-11 and MK-12 were the major menaquinones and anteiso-C(17 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(16 : 0) were the predominant cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 69.4 mol%. The cell-wall sugar was rhamnose and the diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ornithine. On the basis of data from this polyphasic study, strain Gsoil 259(T) represents a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 259(T) (=KCTC 19189(T) =DSM 18659(T)).

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal event in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Prunella vulgaris (PV) inhibits the proliferation of various cancer cells; however, its possible role in EMT has not been demonstrated. In the present study, we explored the effect of PV aqueous extract (PVAE), a typical medicine for decoction, on EMT. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EMT-like phenotype changes in cancer cell lines that enhanced cell migration and invasion. PVAE markedly inhibited these effects and produced accompanying changes in the expression of EMT markers, including decreased expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, and increased expression of β-catenin. We found that PVAE effects on LPS-induced EMT were mediated by inhibition of the NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway. Our findings provide new evidence that PVAE suppresses cancer invasion and migration by inhibiting EMT. Therefore, we suggest that PVAE is an effective dietary chemopreventive agent with antimetastatic activity against malignant tumors.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal event in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) inhibits the proliferation of various cancer cells. However, its possible role in EMT has not been identified. In the present study, we examined the effects of an aqueous extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PCAE), a typical medicinal decoction, on the EMT. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EMT-like phenotypic changes, enhancing cell migration and invasion. However, PCAE markedly reduced the expression of the LPS-induced EMT markers, including N-cadherin and vimentin, and increased the expression of β-catenin. PCAE also inhibited cell migration and invasion in vitro. The effects of PCAE on the LPS-induced EMT were mediated by the inactivation of the NF-κB-SNAIL signaling pathway. The results provide new evidence that PCAE suppresses cancer cell invasion and migration by inhibiting EMT. Therefore, PCAE is a potentially effective dietary chemopreventive agent for malignant tumors since it inhibits metastasis.

Background: The skin prick test (SPT) for detecting atopic sensitization is not preferred in young infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) because of concerns about poor skin reactivity. This study aimed to evaluate whether the results of SPT agreed well with those of specific serum immunoglobulin E (sIgE) antibody test in young infants with AD. Methods: This study included 2,077 eligible infants (age

Ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) is a multifunctional protein involved in translation, DNA repair, and apoptosis. The relationship between rpS3 and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) involved in cell cycle regulation is not yet known. Here, we show that rpS3 is phosphorylated by Cdk1 in G2/M phase. Co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays revealed that Cdk1 interacted with rpS3. An in vitro kinase assay showed that Cdk1 phosphorylated rpS3 protein. Phosphorylation of rpS3 increased in nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells; however, treatment with Cdk1 inhibitor or Cdk1 siRNA significantly attenuated this phosphorylation event. The phosphorylation of a mutant form of rpS3, T221A, was significantly reduced compared with wild-type rpS3. Decreased phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of T221A was much more pronounced in G2/M phase. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of rpS3 by Cdk1 occurs at Thr221 during G2/M phase and, moreover, that this event is important for nuclear accumulation of rpS3.

Natural killer (NK) cells are important innate effector cells which can irradicate tumor cells through specific interactions between activating receptors on NK cells and their cognate ligands on cancer cells. Recently, it has been known that induction of activating NKG2D ligands including MHC class I chain-related (MIC) and UL16-binding protein (ULBP) families on tumor cells by various stresses makes them more susceptible to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Therefore, it was investigated whether sublethal dose of hematoporphyrin-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) could up-regulate NKG2D ligands on tumor cells and increase the susceptibility of cancer cells against NK cells. Treatment with sublethal dose of hematoporphyrin-based PDT increased mRNA transcription and surface expression of ULBP1 and ULBP2 genes in SNU-1 human gastric tumor cell line and MICA/B, ULBP1, ULBP2 and ULBP3 genes in SW-900 human lung cancer cell line. These results were followed by increased susceptibility of cancer cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity after sublethal PDT, which was abolished by addition of a blocking NKG2D mAb. Therefore, it could be suggested that the effect of hematoporphyrin-based PDT might be mediated in part by the increased susceptibility to NK cells via induction of NKG2D ligands on tumor cells, which survived after treatment with PDT.

Strain DCY24(T), a Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in South Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, it was closely related to Nocardioides aromaticivorans DSM 15131(T) (95.1 % similarity), Nocardioides simplex KCTC 9106(T) (95.0 %), Nocardioides nitrophenolicus DSM 15529(T) (94.8 %) and Nocardioides kongjuensis DSM 19082(T) (94.7 %). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain DCY24(T) possessed MK-8(H(4)) as the predominant menaquinone, ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol as predominant polar lipids and iso-C(16 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) and C(18 : 1)omega9c as predominant fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 71.0 mol%. Based on evidence from this polyphasic study, strain DCY24(T) (=KCTC 19265(T) =LMG 24128(T)) should be classified as the type strain of a novel Nocardioides species, for which the name Nocardioides humi sp. nov. is proposed.

Strain Gsoil 098(T), a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile coccus, was isolated from soil from a ginseng field in South Korea and characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain Gsoil 098(T) belongs to the family Nocardioidaceae, and the highest degrees of sequence similarity were found with Aeromicrobium marinum T2(T) (99.0%), A. panaciterrae Gsoil 161(T) (98.9%), A. alkaliterrae KSL-107(T) (98.4%), A. fastidiosum KCTC 9576(T) (98.1%) and A. erythreum NRRL B-3381(T) (97.5%). Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that strain Gsoil 098(T) possesses menaquinone MK-9(H(4)) and predominant fatty acids C(16 : 0), 10-methyl C(18:0) and C(18:0). DNA-DNA hybridization results and physiological and biochemical tests clearly demonstrated that strain Gsoil 098(T) represents a distinct species. Based on these data, Gsoil 098(T) (=KCTC 19207(T) =JCM 14732(T) =GBS 39(T)) should be classified as the type strain of a novel Aeromicrobium species, for which the name Aeromicrobium ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed.

Strain DCY16T, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, was isolated from soil and characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DCY16T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus; highest sequence similarities were with Paenibacillus validus JCM 9077T (94.4 %), P. chinjuensis WN9T (94.4 %), P. naphthalenovorans DSM 14203T (94.2 %), P. ehimensis KCTC 3748T (92.8 %) and P. elgii KCTC 10016BP(T) (92.4 %). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain DCY16T possessed menaquinone MK-7 and the predominant fatty acids were C15 : 0 anteiso, C17 : 0 anteiso, C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 iso. The DNA G+C content of strain DCY16T was 50.9 mol%. Results of physiological and biochemical tests clearly demonstrated that strain DCY16T represents a distinct Paenibacillus species. Based on these data, DCY16T (=KCTC 13141T =JCM 14928T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus ginsengihumi sp. nov. is proposed.

Two novel polysaccharide-degrading bacteria (strains DCY03T and DCY04) were isolated from a soil sample of a ginseng field in the Republic of Korea and were identified as representing members of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic inference based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Cells of the two isolates were Gram-positive, spore-forming, non-motile, straight rods. Based on DNA–DNA relatedness data, the strains were considered to belong to the same species. The DNA G+C content ranged from 56.6 to 57.0 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0 (63.8–62.8 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the two novel isolates and the type strains of recognized Paenibacillus species were 91.4–96.5 %. Strains DCY03T and DCY04 could clearly be distinguished from phylogenetically closely related Paenibacillus species on the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness data and phenotypic characteristics. Therefore, on the basis of these data, the two isolates are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY03T (=KCTC 13010T=LMG 23604T).

A bacterial strain (designated KMY03T) that possesses β-glucosidase activity was isolated from soil from a ginseng field in South Korea and was characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. The bacterium was found to comprise Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile cells with unipolar polytrichous flagella. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain KMY03T was shown to belong to the family Burkholderiaceae of the Betaproteobacteria, being most closely related to Burkholderia caledonica LMG 19076T (97.8 %), Burkholderia terricola LMG 20594T (97.5 %), Burkholderia xenovorans LMG 21463T (97.4 %) and Burkholderia phytofirmans LMG 22146T (97.3 %). Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone, Q-8; major fatty acids, C17 : 0 cyclo, C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed feature 2) supported the affiliation of the novel strain with the genus Burkholderia. The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the strain to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from Burkholderia species with validly published names. On the basis of these data, strain KMY03T represents a novel species of the genus Burkholderia, for which the name Burkholderia ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMY03T (=KCTC 12389T=NBRC 100965T).