• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1225-1228
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• 2005

C-terminal fragments of APP (APP-CTs), that contain A$\beta$ sequence, are found in neurotic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and the cytosol of lymphoblastoid cells obtained from AD patients. CT26, Thr639-Asp664 (TVIVITLVMLKKKQYTSIHH GVVEVD) includes not only the transmembrane domain but also the cytoplasmic domain of APP. This sequence is produced from cleavage of APP by caspase and $\gamma$-secretase. In this study, the solution structure of CT26 was investigated using NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimeter in various membrane-mimicking environments. According to CD spectra and the tertiary structure of CT26 determined in TFE-containing aqueous solution, CT26 has an α-helical structure from $Val^{2}\;to\;Lys^{11}$ in TFE-containing aqueous solution. However, according to CD data, CT26 adopts a $\beta$-sheet structure in the SDS micelles and DPC micelles. This result implies that CT26 may have a conformational transition between $\alpha$-helix and $\beta$-sheet structure. This study may provide an insight into the conformational basis of the pathological activity of the C-terminal fragments of APP in the model membrane.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.323-328
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• 2013

Traditionally, Ligustrum lucidum fruits (LL) is one of the well-known oriental herb used in the treatment of skin and lung inflammation. This study investigated anti-inflammatory effects of LL in the pathogenesis of acute pulmonary inflammation in mice. Acute pulmonary inflammation was induced by intratracheal instillation of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 5 times within 12 days in mice. LL extract was administered orally at a dose of 50 or 200 mg/kg. Administration of LPS and CSC significantly elevated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to mice, and increased in the levels of inflammatory cells and mediators in mice. However, the LL extract significantly reduced the elevated AHR, and the increase of neutrophils, $CD4^+/CD3^+$ cells and $CD8^+/CD3^+$ cells, along with reducing the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and MIP-2. Moreover, the LL extract alleviated the infiltration of inflammatory cells in expanded airway walls histologically. These results indicate that the LL extract has an inhibitory effects on acute pulmonary inflammation and AHR in murine model, and plays a crucial role as a immunomodulator which possess anti-inflammatory property.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of experimental study was to prove the effects of Boyangmakseong-bang (BYMSB) treatment on cBSA-induced in a MN mouse model. Methods: We divided mice into 4 groups. The Normal group had no treatment. We used cBSA and induced MN mouse model to the other 3 groups. The Control group was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) only. The second group, named 'BY-250', was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) and BYMSB extract (250mg/kg, p.o). The third group, named 'BY-500', was treated with cBSA (9mg/kg i.p) and BYMSB extract (500mg/kg, p.o). After cBSA and BYMSB extract treatment for 4 weeks, the increase in percentage of body weight, proteinuria, serum albumin, total cholesterol, creatinine and BUN of all groups were measured. The CD3+, CD19+, CD4+, CD8+ cell levels of spleen of all groups were analyzed. IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ levels of all groups were gauged. H&E staining, immunofluorescence staining and electron microscopy of kidney were observed. Results: BYMSB showed significant decrease in the 24hrs proteinuria, serum total cholesterol, serum IgG levels and BUN levels, and showed significant increase in the serum albumin levels compared with the control group. BYMSB showed increase in the increasing percentage of body weight and IFN-${\gamma}$ levels compared with the control. BYMSB showed decrease in the CD3+ T cells, CD4+ Th cells, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels, but did not show significant change compared with the control. BYMSB showed considerable decrease in the thickening of the GBM on H&E staining, deposition of IgG on immunofluorescence staining and deposition of electron-density on electron microscopy of kidney compared with the control. Conclusions: According to the above results, it is suggested that BYMSB decreases the symptoms of MN induced by cBSA in a mouse model. Therefore BYMSB seems to be applicable to MN in clinical practice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2010

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and chitosan have been used as matrix materials to support the dermal part of skin equivalent which is used for both pharmacological and toxicological evaluations of drugs potentially used for dermatological diseases. However, their biological roles of GAGs and chitosan in the skin equivalent are still unknown. In the present study, we evaluated whether GAGs and chitosan directly affect keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) and their transit-amplifying cells (TA cells). Among supporting matrix materials, chitosan significantly increased the number of ${\alpha}6$ $integrin^{high}/CD71^{high}$ human keratinocyte TA cells by 48.5%. In quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis, chitosan significantly increased CD71 and CD200 gene transcription whereas not ${\alpha}6$ integrin. In addition, the level of the gene transcription of both keratin 1 (K1) and K10 in the chitosan-treated human keratinocytes was significantly lower than those of control, suggesting that chitosan inhibit keratinocyte differentiation. We also found that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) and $\beta$-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (D-glc), two components of chitosan, have no effect on the expression of CD71, K1, and K10, suggesting that each monomer component of chitosan is not enough to regulate the number of epidermal keratinocyte lineage. Conclusively, chitosan increases keratinocyte TA cell population which may contribute to the cellular mass expansion of the epidermal part of a skin equivalent system.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.435-441
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• 1994

The inclusion compound constituted with three-dimensional metal-complex $Cd(pn)Ni(CN)_4$ has been prepared and determined the crystal structure from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Crystal data are as follows: $[Cd(pn)Ni(CN)_4]{\cdot}0.5(CH_3COCH_3{\cdot}H_2O)$, Fw = 387.35, Orthorhombic, $Pn2_1a$, a = 13.950(3) $\AA$, b = 26.713(7) $\AA$, c = 7.628(1) $\AA$, V = 2843(1) $\AA^3$, Z = 4, $D_x=1.81 gcm^{-3}$, $\mu(MoK{\alpha})$ = $28.153 cm^{-1}$, T = 297K, final R = 0.0418 for 3521($F_0>3{\sigma}(F_0)$). The metal-complex host provides tunnel cavity, similar to thiourea inclusion compounds, accommodated guest molecules $(=CH_3COCH_3\;and\;$H_2O).$ The stoichiometric host: guest ratio is 0.5. The title inclusion compound reveals another evidence for the host-selectivity, that is, the branched aliphatic guest molecule leads T-type host structure.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1609-1612
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• 2006

The determination of the boron isotopic ratio in solutions was achieved by means of a solid state track detector by using an alpha track. The neutron flux was optimized by using a Cd-foil to find the optimum conditions for counting the number of alpha tracks on the selected solid detector caused by the (n, $\alpha$) nuclear reaction of boron. The home-made multi-dot detector plate was utilized in this study to increase the reproducibility of the measurement by uniformly drying the boron solution within the marked circle area on the detector plate. The experimental results of this study verified that the $^{11}B/^{10}B $ isotopic ratio can be measured by observing the number of alpha tracks for different concentrated standard solutions with various isotopic compositions. This technique was applied to the determination of $^{10}B$ enrichment factor in a biological sample for a boron neutron capture therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.539-545
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• 2001

Undoped and Co$^{2+}$ $\alpha$-Ga$_2$S$_3$ thin films were grown by spray pyrolysis method. It has been found that these thin films have a monoclinic structure and direct optical energy gap and indirect were located to 3.477eV and 3.123 eV at 10K respectively. In the photoluminescence due to a D0A(donor-acceptor) pair recombination were observed at 502 nm and 671 nm for the $\alpha$-Ga$_2$S$_3$ thin film, where is excited by the 325 nm-line of He-Cd laser. These peaks are identified to be corresponding to the electron transition between the energy levels of Co$^{2+}$ ion sited a the T$_{d}$ symmetry point in the $\alpha$-Ga$_2$S$_3$;Co$^{2+}$ thin film. film.

• Journal of Information Display
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2003

In order to improve the device performances of organic electroluminescent devices (OELDs), the efficiency of carrier injections into the organic layers from electrodes and the balance of injected carrier densities in the emission region are critical factors. Especially, energy barriers, which exist at the interfaces between electrodes and organic layers, interrupt carrier injections, which lead to unbalanced carrier densities. In this study, ${\alpha}-septithiophene$ (${\alpha}$-7T), as a buffer layer, and composite cathode composed of Al and CsF were formed to improve hole and electron injections, respectively. The orientations of ${\alpha}$-7T molecules were adjusted using the simple rubbing method and the mass ratio of CsF was varied from 1 to 10 wt%. Upon investigation of we believe that the 3 wt% mass ratio of CsF and the horizontal orientation of ${\alpha}$-7T molecules are the optimized conditions for achieving better the performance of OELDs. Device with the horizontally oriented 20 nm thick ${\alpha}$-7T layer and composite cathode shows a turn-on voltage of 7V and luminance of 172 cd/$m^2$ at 4 mA/$cm^2$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.857-863
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• 2018

This study examined whether the supplementation of Salicornia herbacea L. (SH), a member of the Chenopodiaceae subfamily, affects tissue specific triglyceride (TG) accumulation and the peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ $coactivator-1{\alpha}$ ($PGC-1{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) protein expressions of skeletal muscle in rats with a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups: control normal diet group (CD), high-fat diet group (HD), and 5.0% SH supplemented high-fat diet group (SD). The weights of fat tissue of the SD group were reduced by approximately 25%(p<0.01), while the skeletal muscle weight of the SD group increased approximately 5% compared to those in the HD group (p<0.01). The serum and hepatic TG of the SD group decreased approximately 20% compared to those of the HD group (p<0.05). In the protein expression levels in the skeletal muscle, the $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expressions of the SD group were 1.5-folds higher than those of the HD group (p<0.01). From these results, SH supplementation contributes to the improvement of the serum and hepatic TG concentrations, and the $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein expression levels in the skeletal muscle of fed a high-fat diet. Thus, SH supplementation was effective in reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-55
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of Astragali Radix Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(AR-HAS) at $ST_{36}$(jok-samni, $Z\acute{u}s\bar{a}n$ Li) on collagen- II -induced arthritis(CIA) in mice. Methods : DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen(CII) on days 0 and 21 to induce arthritis. The mice were divided into 5 groups : normal group(no CIA), control group(CIA+no treatment), needle prick group(CIA+single prick with an injection needle), saline group(CIA+saline injection) and ARHA group(CIA+ R-HA treatment). The needle prick, saline injection, and AR-HA groups were injected on the right $ST_{36}$(jok-samni) of mice for 9 weeks, 3 times a week, beginning 4 weeks after the booster immunization. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis, AI(arthritis index), and joint edema decreased in the AR-HA group. 2. Weight gain, hypertrophy of the spleen, adhesion of the tissues, and transformation of the joint were restrained in the AR-HA group. 3. The concentrations of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in CIA mouse serum and $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-10 in the CIA mouse spleen cell culture decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the AR-HA group. 4. Total cell counts increased significantly, and the ratio of $CD3e^+$ to $CD45R^+$, $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$, and $CD4^+$ to $CD25^+$ cells decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse spleen cell culture of the AR-HA group. 5. Total cell counts decreased significantly, and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ and $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse lymph nodes of the AR-HA group. 6. $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse joints of the AR-HA group. 7. The histological examination showed that cartilage destruction and synoviocyte proliferation decreased in the CIA mouse joints of the AR-HA group, and collagen fiber was expressed similar to that seen in the normal group. Conclusions : Our experiments show that at $ST_{36}$, an anti-inflammatory mechanism of AR-HA controls synovial cell proliferation and protects against cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.