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Orostachys japonicus shows various biological activities. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unknown in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Here, we investigated the anti-oxidizing effect of the dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane fractions from O. japonicus (OJD and OJH) against oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. OJD and OJH significantly increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, it was found that the expression of HO-1 was stimulated by Nrf2 activated via degradation of Keap1. ERK and p38 inhibitors repressed HO-1 induced by OJD and OJH in LPS-stimulated cells, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that OJD and OJH may block oxidative damage stimulated by LPS, via increasing the expression of HO-1 and Nrf2, and MAPK signaling pathway. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(2): 98-103]

The molecular mechanisms of the ethylacetate (EtOAc) fraction from Orostachys japonicus (OJE) (including gallic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin) for anti-cancer activities in HepG2 cells were investigated. Apoptosis was detected using morphological observation of nuclear changes and investigation of phosphatidylserine exposure at the cytoplasmic membrane using FITC-Annexin V/PI staining. Activities of the apoptotic factors bcl-2, bax, cytochrome c, pro-caspase-3, 8, and 9, as well as MAPKs levels, were measured using western blotting. Some morphologic features of apoptosis were identified using confocal microscopy. OJE caused the expression of apoptotic proteins to change, as evidenced by an increased bax/bcl-2 ratio and increased expression of cytochrome c, and decreased expressions of pro-caspase-3, 8, and 9. After HepG2 cells were exposed to OJE, expressions of p-JNK and p-ERK1/2 increased in a dose dependent manner. OJE exhibits anti-cancer activity via apoptosis induction through a mitochondria dependent signaling pathway in HepG2 cells.

The purpose of this study was to analyze women`s selection pattern on kindergarten/child care centers and private tutoring for young children. For this purpose, 1,810 women whose young children`s age was between 2 and 6 were selected from KLoWF data. After categorizing the education centers as daycare center, kindergarten, and private institute, it was investigated the women`s characteristics related to their decision making for selection of the centers. The results of survey data analyses showed that younger children`s mothers preferred to send their children to daycare centers, older children`s mothers did to kindergarten. In terms of their dual selection on education centers, the frequency of 6-old-year children attending kindergarten and private institutes was very high. As the children`s age was increasing, the frequency of women`s multiple selection on daycare center, kindergarten and private institute was also increasing. In addition, regardless of the women`s job pattern and existence, they preferred to send children to daycare centers. With these findings, limitations and suggestions for the future studies were also discussed.

This study was investigated elementary school children's cellular phone usage and relationships between the usage and their self-efficacy and self-control. The data were collected by boys(101) and girls(155) among 5th grades, boys(125) and girls(177) among 6th grades elementary school in Busan. The data analyzed with the frequency, percentage, mean, SD and t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation in use of SPSS Win 12.0 program. The results from the research can be summarized as follows; First, there was no significant difference in the children's general usage of cellular phone in terms of grade and sex. Second, it was found in a couple of significant difference in the subcategories of the usage according to grades. The 6th grades children is higher scores than 5th grades in the 'control of cellular phone usage' and 'living trouble'. Third, there was correlated negatively between cellular phone usage and the children's self-efficacy/self-control.

The purpose of this study were to investigate 1) present condition of children`s usage of computer game, 2) difference in extent of immersing in computer game according to grade, and 3) difference in extent of immersing in computer game according to conditions of computer game usage. A total of 239 children from 1st to 3rd grade in an elementary school in Busan were surveyed with two kinds of questionnaires about usage of and immersion in computer game. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. It was revealed that the 1st graders showed higher scores on experience of computer game, frequency of computer game per week, and amount of time for each computer game than the 3rd graders. However, there were no significant differences in extent of immersing in computer game according to grade and to conditions of computer game usage. The findings of this study implies that the age of using computer game is going down rapidly. Discussions and suggestions for further study were provided.

This paper reports the results of a Delphi study investigating young children’s readiness in Korea. Twenty-two (22) Korean experts in early childhood education participated in a 4-stage Delphi consensus-seeking process. Results indicate that behaviors related to social adjustment to school were considered the most important components of school readiness. Academic abilities such as understanding simple math and science concepts were of moderate or low importance. The results suggest the need for a continuous conversation between the experts and parents, more in-depth research about the young children’s readiness, and development of a new readiness assessment system for Korea.

Cancer rates are increasing dramatically, and there is currently a strong emphasis on identifying biologically active substances with anti-cancer activity from traditional herbs, as these are thought to have less adverse side-effects than conventional chemotherapy. Here, we examined the effects of extracts of Orostachys japonicus A. BERGER (O. japonicus) on cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis, and investigated the underlying signaling pathways. Dried powdered O. japonicus was extracted with 95% ethyl alcohol and fractionated with a series of organic solvents, including n-hexane (hexane), dichloromethane (DCM), ethylacetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (BuOH), and water (H(2)O). These extracts were tested for anti-cancer activity on a range of cancer cells; of all these, the EtOAc soluble fraction showed the highest anti-cancer activity, which was most marked in AGS human gastric cancer cells. The EtOAc fraction inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, as evidenced by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate staining, propidium iodide-labeling, and DNA fragmentation assays. Western blot analysis revealed that p53 and cleaved caspase-3 proteins were up-regulated, and B cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) protein and pro-caspase-3 were down-regulated, but bcl-2 associated x protein (bax) protein was not regulated, in response to treatment of AGS cells with the EtOAc fraction. However, the changes of pro-caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 could be abolished by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. These results suggest the EtOAc fraction from O. japonicus has substantial anti-cancer activity in human gastric cancer cells.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (O. japonicus) is known to reduce the risk of many diseases. Aim of the study We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the dichloromethane (DCM) fraction from O. japonicus (OJD) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Materials and methods NO was measured using the Griess method. Key pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators including IL-1β, TLR4, iNOS, and COX-2; 2 important pro-inflammatory transcription factors, NF-κB p65 and IκBα; and MAPKs such as ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 were analyzed by Western blotting. Results OJD significantly inhibited NO production, IL-1β, TLR4, iNOS, and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated cells. Additionally, it inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB p65 activation via inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation. Furthermore, phosphorylation of p38 and JNK was suppressed by OJD in a dose-dependent manner in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions Our data suggest that OJD inhibits the inflammatory response via suppression of NF-κB activation and MAPK signaling.