• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate how Rhei Radix et Rhizoma affects on insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammatory response in high fat diet induced obese C57BL/6 mice. Methods : Obesity was induced in C57BL/6 mice by high fat diet for 12 weeks. Models were divided into 3 groups (n=6) of normal diet, high fat diet (HFD), and high fat diet with Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and investigated for 12 weeks. We measured body weight, FBS and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), weight of liver and epididymal fat pad. Inflammatory markers such as adipose tissue macrophage (ATM), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interlukin-10 and CD68 of epididymal adipocyte were determined to evaluate the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma on adipose tissue inflammation. Results : Compared with the HFD group, we observed loss of body weight and epididymal fat pad weight, improvement of glucose level and HOMA-IR, reduction of ATM and gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, CD68 in the high fat diet with Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group. Conclusions : This study suggests that Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has effects on insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammatory response in high fat diet induced obese mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

Objectives: Astragalus membranaceus has been reported to inhibit immune responses, but its effect on hair loss is not clear. In this study, the effect of A. membranaceus extract (AM) on hair regrowth in C57BL/6 mice with natural hair loss in the telogen phase was investigated. Methods: Mice with natural hair loss were topically treated with 1% AM on the dorsal skin for 2 weeks. Dorsal skin samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and probed with an anti-mouse CD8a IgG. The mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-4 were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: AM treatment induced hair regrowth in hair loss mice, while control mice suffered continued hair loss. Tapering hair shafts and broken hair follicles were decreased as well as CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration. In addition, the expressions of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 were reduced by AM treatment. Also, AM treatment significantly increased the KGF expressions in Hs68 fibroblast cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that topical application of A. membranaceus may be an alternative therapy for hair loss.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.90-97
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• 2008

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) comprises a group of lung diseases resulting from repeated inhalation of various antigens such as Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR). HP is categorized as a Th1 disease. Therefore, it has been suggested that IL-4, Th2 type cytokine, plays a protective role in the development of HP. However, the functional role of IL-4 in HP has not been extensively investigated in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the functional role of IL-4 in HP using IL-4 knockout (KO) mice. Methods: HP was induced by repeated exposure to SR in C57BL/6 (B6) and IL-4 KO (C57BL/6 background) mice. Results: IL-4 KO mice aggravated HP in terms of histological alteration, SR-specific immune responses, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs compared with B6 mice. IL-4 KO mice produced high levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, TGF-${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the lungs, whereas B6 mice showed the enhanced production of IL-4. Moreover, chemokines such as MIP-1${\alpha}$, MCP-1, and RANTES were highly expressed in IL-4 KO mice. IFN-${\gamma}$-secreting CD4, CD8 T cells, and neutrophils were enhanced in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of IL-4 KO mice than those of B6 mice. The administration of recombinant(r) IL-4 restored these immunologic parameters in IL-4 KO mice. Conclusion: These results indicate that IL-4 plays a suppressive role in SR-induced HP by attenuating Th1-dominant immune responses.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-88
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• 2010

Objectives: This research investigates the effect of the DHJHT extract on Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the effects of the DHJHT extract on (1) the behavior (2) the infarction area of the hippocampus, and brain tissue injury in AD mice induced with ${\beta}A$ were investigated. Methods: The effects of the DHJHT extract on the proinflammation cytokines mRNA expression and production of BACE, APP and ${\beta}A$ in in BV2 microglial cell line treated by lipopolysacchaide(LPS) plus ${\beta}A$ were investigated. The effects of the DHJHT extract on the behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated. Results: 1. The DHJHT extract suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, COX-2, and NOS-II, BACE and APP mRNA in BV2 microglial cell line treated by LPS plus ${\beta}A$. 2. The DHJHT extract suppressed the expression of ${\beta}A$ production in BV2 microglial cell line treated with LPS plus ${\beta}A$. 3. The DHJHT extract showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. 4. The DHJHT group suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, MDA, and CD68+/CD11b+ in the brain tissue of the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. 5. The DHJHT group reduced the infarction area of hippocampus, and controlled the injury of the brain tissue in the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. 6. The DHJHT group reduced tau protein, and GFAP in the brain tissue of the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. Conclusions: These results suggest that the DHJHT group may be effective for the treatment of AD. Thus, DHJHT could be considered among the future therapeutic drugs indicated for the treatment of AD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.869-883
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• 2019

Interleukin (IL)-15 is an essential immune-modulator with high potential for use in cancer treatment. Natural IL-15 has a low biological potency because of its short half-life and difficulties in mass-production. IL-15Rα, a member of the IL-15 receptor complex, is famous for its high affinity to IL-15 and its ability to lengthen the half-life of IL-15. We have double-transfected IL-15 and its truncated receptor IL-15Rα into CT26 colon cancer cells to target them for intracellular assembly. The secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα complexes were confirmed in ELISA and Co-IP experiments. IL-15:IL-15Rα secreting clones showed a higher anti-tumor effect than IL-15 secreting clones. Furthermore, we also evaluated the vaccine and therapeutic efficacy of the whole cancer-cell vaccine using mitomycin C (MMC)-treated IL-15:IL-15Rα secreting CT26 clones. Three sets of experiments were evaluated; (1) therapeutics, (2) vaccination, and (3) long-term protection. Wild-type CT26-bearing mice treated with a single dose of MMC-inactivated secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα clones prolonged survival compared to the control group. Survival of MMC-inactivated IL-15:IL-15Rα clone-vaccinated mice (without any further adjuvant) exceeded up to 100%. This protection effect even lasted for at least three months after the immunization. Secreted IL-15:IL-15Rα clones challenging trigger anti-tumor response via CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T, and natural killer (NK) cell-dependent cytotoxicity. Our result suggested that cell-based vaccine secreting IL-15:IL-15Rα, may offer the new tools for immunotherapy to treat cancer.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.177-198
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• 1997

Since decomposed granite soil shows various characteristics of shear behavior dependent on initial conditions such as weathering degree and grain breakage, it is nacessary to invert ligate stress -strain relationship and changes of shear characteristics for different initial conditions. Associated with abovefnentioned view, direct shear tests, and triaxial compression tutsts(Ef, CD) were carried out in this study for undisturbed and disturbed compacted weathered granite samples obtained from 4 construction work sites with the various weathering degree and components of parent rocks. The deformation behavior of undisturbed samples under small confining stress shows hardening to softening, which is similar to that of over nsolidated clay whereas disturbed weathered granite soils do hardeningfonstant regardless of weathering degree, which is also similar to sedimentary clay. Conventional direct shear-tests for undisturbed samples show a tendency to overestimate cohesion. It is possidle to approximate stress ratio(q/p') and volumetric increment ratio(dv/ds) in the triaxital compression tests by an equation, ($dv/d\varepsilon,=\alpha(M-\eta))$ irrespective of moisture content, weathering degree and disturbance.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.101-109
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• 2001

In recent year, the use of digital picture information and general picture information has been increased, However, numerous copyright infringement and pirate copy of picture information through Internet and CD-ROM happen very often, As a result, several methods of watermarking have been presented to solve and verify distortion of the original data, In addition, watermark data have been suggested to resolve the vastness of the original data, Watermarking methods are often used to protect the right of ownership of a copyright, However, these Watermarking methods have brought the obscurity of recognition caused by the complexity of verification procedure and the increase of magnitude computation occurrence, This paper mainly mentions about the local optimization of scaling parameter, the maximization of hiding of Watermark information and maximization of watermark information in case of restoration that determine the amount of inserted information which is used for preventing distortion and transformation of the original data caused by insertion and hiding of Watermark information on compounding Autostereogram into JPEG picture information.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1287-1293
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• 2007

To obtain the risk assessment of hazardous materials in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, the residual pesticides and heavy metals in samples on the Korea and China are surveyed. Group I ($BHC-{\delta}$, $BHC-{\beta}$, Fenitrothion, Penthoate, Endosulfan-${\alpha}$, Dieldrin, Endosulfan-${\beta}$ and Endosulfan-sulfate), Group II (BHC-${\gamma}$, Aldrin, DDD, DDT-p,p Permethrin and Fenvalerate), Group III(BHC-${\alpha}$, Chlorpyrifos, Tolyfluanid, Captan and DDT-o,p) and Group IV(Quintozene, Vinclozolin, DDE and Chlorfenapyr) could analysed on gas chromatography-ECD for evaluation of residual pesticides. Qualified detection concentration on the GC-ECD are $0.45 ng/g{\sim}2.50 ng/g$. Group I, Group II, Group III and Group IV are not detected in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata on the Korea and China. Concentration of As, Cd and Pb in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. on the Korea are 3.06%, 7.00% and 5.78% for Korea Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). Concentration of As, Cd and Pb in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. on the China are 5.16%, 5.33% and 6.50% for Korea Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). The hazardous materials in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata on the Korea and China were verified the safety of the residual heavy metals and pesticides compare with Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) advisory level.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-47
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• 2010

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory rat model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups; LPS control (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV17 (n=6), and LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at Ex-HN1 (n=6). Pharmacopuncture (0.1 ml) was given every two days for 4 weeks followed by inflammation induction by peritoneal LPS injection (5 mg/kg). Blood, liver tissue, and peritoneal lavage fluid were taken and proinflammatory cytokines and other related factors were analysed. Results: Compared with the control group, CV4 and Ex-HN1 pharmacopuncture groups significantly attenuated plasma IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ increase at 2h and 5h after LPS injection (P<0.05). A significant difference from control group emerged at 5 h for plasma IL10 (P<0.05). For liver cytokines analyzed at 5 h after LPS injection, only CV4 pharmacopuncture group showed significant difference in TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-10 (P<0.05). Blood CD4/CD8 ratio and the phagocytic activities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were not different from those of control group in all pharmacopuncture groups (P>0.05). CV4 pharmacopuncture significantly attenuated increase of plasma ${NO_3}^-/{NO_2}^-$, Intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) compared with the control group (P<0.05). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, $PGE_2$, and CINC-1 level of CV4 pharmacopuncture group was significantly different from those from the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 may have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in an LPS-induced inflammatory rat model.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2019

We first confirmed the involvement of MalQ (4-${\alpha}$-glucanotransferase) in Escherichia coli glycogen breakdown by both in vitro and in vivo assays. In vivo tests of the knock-out mutant, ${\Delta}malQ$, showed that glycogen slowly decreased after the stationary phase compared to the wild-type strain, indicating the involvement of MalQ in glycogen degradation. In vitro assays incubated glycogen-mimic substrate, branched cyclodextrin (maltotetraosyl-${\beta}$-CD: G4-${\beta}$-CD) and glycogen phosphorylase (GlgP)-limit dextrin with a set of variable combinations of E. coli enzymes, including GlgX (debranching enzyme), MalP (maltodextrin phosphorylase), GlgP and MalQ. In the absence of GlgP, the reaction of MalP, GlgX and MalQ on substrates produced glucose-1-P (glc-1-P) 3-fold faster than without MalQ. The results revealed that MalQ led to disproportionate G4 released from GlgP-limit dextrin to another acceptor, G4, which is phosphorylated by MalP. In contrast, in the absence of MalP, the reaction of GlgX, GlgP and MalQ resulted in a 1.6-fold increased production of glc-1-P than without MalQ. The result indicated that the G4-branch chains of GlgP-limit dextrin are released by GlgX hydrolysis, and then MalQ transfers the resultant G4 either to another branch chain or another G4 that can immediately be phosphorylated into glc-1-P by GlgP. Thus, we propose a model of two possible MalQ-involved pathways in glycogen degradation. The operon structure of MalP-defecting enterobacteria strongly supports the involvement of MalQ and GlgP as alternative pathways in glycogen degradation.