• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2022

Recently, many hangover cure products containing natural ingredients have been made available in the market that are effective for alcohol-related liver damage or for improved liver function. However, the cure for of liver damage or medication for improved liver function are different from hangover cure. Therefore, the efficacy hangover cure products needs to be verified. In this study, we investigated and compared the ameliorating effect of four commercially available hangover cure products on acute ethanol-induced hangover in Sprague - Dawley rats. The four samples were labeled as C, M, R, and S. The efficacy of the samples was evaluated based on the serum concentration and area under the curve (AUC) of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations to quantitatively assess the hangover cure effect. Ethanol administration to the rats significantly raised the serum alcohol and acetaldehyde levels. The Cmax reduction rates of ethanol for the samples C, M, R, and S were 5.9%, 3.1%, 8.4%, and 11.7%, and the AUC were 8.9%, 2.2%, 12.1%, and 19.6%, respectively, whereas the Cmax reduction rates of acetaldehyde were 14.2%, 15.2%, 28.2%, and 35.0%, and the AUC were 21.6%, 7.5%, 22.4%, and 29.9%, respectively. In conclusion, all samples showed a tendency to relieve hangover in the order of S, R, C, and M in terms of the ethanol concentration, but only sample S showed a statistically significant decrease in both Cmax and AUC for ethanol and acetaldehyde. These results suggest that an objective method for verifying the efficacy of hangover cure products is lacking.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

The carbon-coated silicon monoxide (c-SiO_x), which is a negative electrode active material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), has a limited cycle performance due to severe volume changes during cycles, despite its high specific capacity. In particular, the significant volume change of the active material can deform the electrode structure and easily damage the electron transfer pathway. To improve performance and mitigate electrode damage caused by volume changes, we replaced parts of the carbon black conducting agent with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having a linear shape. The content of the entire conductive material in the electrode was fixed at 10% by mass, and the relative content of CNTs ranged from 0% to 25% by mass to prepare electrodes and evaluate electrochemical performance. As the CNT content in the electrode increased, both cycle life and rate capability improved. Even a small amount of CNT can significantly improve the electrochemical performance of a c-SiO_x negative electrode with large volume changes. Furthermore, dispersing CNTs effectively can lead to achieving the equivalent performance with a reduced quantity of CNTs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2024

Hepatocyte damage caused by medications or herbal products is one of the important problem when these compounds are chronically administrated. Thus, improving hepatocyte survival during treatment offers a wide range of opportunities. Valproic acid (VPA), a branched short-chain fatty acid derived from naturally occurring valeric acid, is commonly used to treat epilepsy and seizures. Although VPA exerts numerous effects in cancer, HIV therapy, and neurodegenerative disease, its effects on the liver and its mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that VPA caused moderate liver cell toxicity and apoptosis. Interestingly, VPA treatment increased transcription levels of PPAR alpha (PPAR-α) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in murine (Hepa1c1c7) hepatoma cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. VPA-induced FGF21 expression was significantly weaker under PPAR-α silencing condition than in cells transfected with non-targeting control siRNA. Subsequent experiments showed that cell viability was significantly lowered when the FGF21 signaling pathway was blocked by FGF receptor antagonist. Finally, we further determined that AMPK phosphorylation was not responsible for VPA-induced FGF21 expression and PPAR-a increments. These results indicate that increases of FGF21 expression alleviate VPA-induced hepatic toxicity, thereby making FGF21 a potential biomarker for predicting liver damage during VPA treatments.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.412-420
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effect of fermented Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruit water extract on biomarkers for acute (a) ethanol-induced hangover and chronic (c) ethanol-induced liver injury in rats. For acute ethanol-induced hangover, the rats were administered distilled water (D.W., 10 mL/kg body wt.), Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruit water extract (HWE, 400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.) and fermented HWE (FHWE, 400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.), respectively, before 40% ethanol (5 g/kg body wt.) was administered. For chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, the rats were randomly divided into the normal control (cNC), ethanol (cET), cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups. The cNC and cET groups were administered D.W. (10 mL/kg body wt.) before 40% alcohol (5 g/kg body wt.) was administrered for 21 days. The cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups were administered HWE (400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.) and FHWE (400 mg/10 mL/kg body wt.), respectively before 40% ethanol (5 g/kg body wt.) administration for 21 days. For acute ethanol-induced hangover, the serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were more significantly reduced in the aHWE and aFHWE groups than in the aET group. Moreover, the effect of FHWE was greater than that of HWE. For chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, the serum ethanol, acetaldehyde, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GTP) levels and the hepatic lipids concentration more significantly dropped in the cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups than in the cET group. The FHWE administration showed faster recovery of the serum glucose concentration than in the cET and cET-HWE groups. The body weight reduction tended to normalize in the cET-HWE and cET-FHWE groups, which is ideal for chronic ethanol administration. These results suggest that FHWE has a protective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage, as evidenced by its ability to lower the serum ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations after alcohol administration, and by its ability to decrease the level of ${\gamma}$-GTP and hepatic lipids. FHWE also elevated serum glucose concentration. Therefore, FHWE is effective in reducing ethanol-induced hangover and can play a beneficial role in the treatment of ethanol-induced liver damage as well as body weight reduction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.509-516
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• 2017

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-1), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2010

The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon on acute hepatotoxicity induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by a single dose of galactosamine (400 mg/kg, i.p). The animals were divided into four groups. The animals in the Con group were fed basal diet. GalN group were administered with galactosamine. LE200 and LE500 groups treated with water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (such as 200 and 500 mg/kg/day, p.o) for 7 days before galactosamine injection. In the change of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and LDH contents, as compared with GalN group, LE200 group were significantly decreased. According to the electron microscopical observation, liver cells were increased the lipid droplet, change of mitochondria in the GalN compared with LE200. These results suggest that administration of water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon suppress or retard galactosamine induced acute liver injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2000

독성약물에 의한 급성신부전시 세뇨관세포의 물질 재흡수 장애에 대한 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 효과를 조사하였다. 토끼에 수은(HgCl2)을 10 mg/kg되게 피하 주사하여 급성신부전을 유발하였고, 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 효과는 수은을 주사하기 전 7일 동안 0.05% 액(液) 0.3 g/kg 용량을 경구 투여하여 관찰하였다. 수은을 주사하기 전 24시간 동안 요와 혈액을 채취하여 신장기능을 측정하여 대조기간(basal period)의 값으로 하였고, 수은을 주사한 후 24시간 동안 요와 혈액을 얻어 수은에 의한 신장기능 변화를 평가하였다. 수은을 처리한 후 사구체여과율이 대조값에 비해 감소하였고, 혈청내 creatinine 농도가 증가하였다. 이러한 결과들은 수은이 급성신부전을 유발하였음을 가리킨다. 수은을 처리한 동물에서 포도당 및 인산의 배설분율이 증가하였고, 이러한 변화는 brush-border membrane에서 물질의 이동장애와 Na-pump 활성의 감소에 기인하였다. 수은을 주사한 동물의 신장피질 절편에서 유기이온인 PAH와 TEA 이동이 억제되었다. 토끼의 신장조직에서 지질의 과산화가 수은을 주사한 후 증가하였다. 단삼(丹參) 추출액을 전 처리한 후 수은을 주사한 경우 수은에 의해 유발된 사구체여과율의 감소와 혈청내 creatinine 농도 증가 현상이 유의하게 완화되었다. 수은에 의한 세뇨관에서 물질의 재흡수 장애가 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 전처리에 의해 방지되었다. 단삼(丹參) 추출액은 수은에 의한 지질의 과산화를 억제하였다. 수은에 의한 급성신부전은 항산화제로 잘 알려진 DPPD에 의해 방지되었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 생체실험결과 수은에 의한 급성신부전의 유발과정에 지질의 과산화가 중요한 역할을 할 가능성을 보이고 있고, 단삼(丹參) 추출액은 수은에 의한 급성신부전을 방지하는 효과를 가지고 있으며, 그 효과는 단삼(丹參)의 항산화작용에 기인(起因)할 가능성이 많다.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.9-20
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• 2011

Most of domestic expansion joint system was applied by exposed expansion joint system. There are cases where it is damaged by driving. As the result noise and impact happened, and the social cost due to frequent repair works is increasing. So based on the Asphalt Plug Joint(APJ) system that applied in the United States and Europe, new buried expansion joint system was lately developed a system of Buried Folding Lattice Joint(BFLJ) that changed substructure. In this research, we have tested for durability and flexibility performance of buried expansion joint system that based on the type of asphalt mixture. Also we have evaluated for durability of BFLJ system against vehicle load using accelerated pavement testing. As a result of the experiment, the developed BFLJ system gives high flexibility performance and resolves transformation concentration along the joint section more than APJ system. Also it could be seen that the BFLJ system could overcome the disadvantages of APJ and prevent early damage. Because surface deflection of BFLJ system against vehicle load was measured low, and sub system in the buried expansion joint system was not damaged against vehicle load.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.684-685
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• 2013

p-형 반도체인 Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS) 광 흡수 층은 이보다 에너지 밴드 간격이 큰 n-형 반도체와 이종 접합을 형성한다. 흡수층과 윈도우층 사이의 결정구조 차이와 밴드갭 에너지 차이를 완화시키기 위해 버퍼층이 필요하다. 버퍼층을 형성하는 물질로 화학적 용액 성장법(Chemical Bath deposition)을 사용한 CdS가 많이 적용되어 왔으나 Cd의 유해성 및 습식 공정으로 인한 연속공정에 대한 어려움이 있다. 따라서 버퍼층을 Cd을 포함하지 않는 ZnS, $In_2S_3$, (Zn, Mg)O 등과 같은 물질로 대체하여 원자층 증착법(Atomic Layer Deposition), 펄스레이져증착법(Pulsed Laser Deposition), 스퍼터링(sputtering) 등과 같은 건식으로 성장시키는 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 $ZnO_{1-x}S_x$ ($0.2{\leq}x{\leq}0.4$)를 반응성 스퍼터링으로 증착하여 큰 밴드갭 에너지와 높은 광투과율를 갖는 버퍼층을 제작하였다. CIGS 박막의 손상을 줄여주기 위하여 RF 파워는 240, 200, 150, 100 W로 변화시켰다. CIGS 태양전지의 I-V 측정 결과, RF 파워가 150 W일 때 10.7%의 가장 높은 변환 효율을 보였고, 150 W 이상에서는 파워가 증가할 때 단락전류는 감소하였으며 개방전압은 다소 증가하였다. 반면 100 W에서 단락전류는 다소 증가하는 것에 반해 개방 전압이 급격히 낮아졌다. 이것은 파워에 따라 결합되는 산소의 양이 다르기 때문으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2006

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the roles of the spinal and peripheral ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- ergic systems for the mechanical hypersensitivity produced by chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD). Methods: CCD was performed at the left 5th lumbar dorsal root ganglion. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to von Frey stimuli was measured. The mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons was examined. GABAergic drugs were delivered with intrathecal (i.t.) or intraplantar (i.pl.) injection or by topical application onto the spinal cord. Results: CCD produced mechanical hypersensitivity, which was evidenced by the decrease of the PWT, and it lasting for 10 weeks. For the rats showing mechanical hypersensitivity, the mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons was enhanced. A similar increase was observed with the normal lumbar dorsal horn neurons when the GABA-A receptor antagonist bicuculline was topically applied. An i.t. injection of GABA-A or GABA-B receptor agonist, muscimol or baclofen, alleviated the CCD-induced hypersensitivity. Topical application of same drugs attenuated the CCD-induced enhanced mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons. CCD-induced hypersensitivity was also improved by low-dose muscimol applied (i.pl.) into the affected hind paw, whereas no effects could be observed with high-dose muscimol or baclofen. Conclusions: The results suggest that the neuropathic pain associated with compression of the dorsal root ganglion is caused by hyperexcitability of the dorsal horn neurons due to a loss of spinal GABAergic inhibition. Peripheral application of low-dose GABA-A receptor agonist can be useful to treat this pain.