• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2015

Citrus peel (CP) is used as a traditional herb with diverse beneficial pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-allergic effects. However, the anti-obesity effects of citrus peel are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate ethanol extracts of citrus peel (EECP) for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate an EECP for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EECP significantly suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content and an accumulation of cellular triglyceride. EECP exhibited potential adipogenesis inhibition and downregulated the expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory elementbinding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancerbinding proteins α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ, and adipocyte expressed genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and Leptin. In addition, EECP treatment effectively activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway; however, compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK, significantly reduced the EECP-induced inhibition of adipogenesis. Taken together, these results indicate EECP showed strong anti-obesity effects through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of EECP.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.514-520
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• 2019

This study investigated the improved lipid metabolism effect of 3T3-L1 cells induced by adipocytes using the dichloromethane (DCM) fraction in the organic solvent extract of Wassong (Orostachys japonicus). To confirm the cell cytotoxicity, each of 6 fractions of organic solvent extracts (EtOH, Hexane, DCM, EtOAc, BuOH, and H₂O) was examined using MTS assay. As a result, it was confirmed that the DCM extract was stable over the whole range of concentrations, and a DCM fraction was used to confirm the improved lipid metabolism effect. Lipid excretion was measured to confirm the change of lipid metabolism. 3T3-L1 cells induced by adipocytes were treated with DCM extract and stained with oil-red O to evaluate lipid accumulation. As a result, it was confirmed that the lipid efflux was significantly improved. In order to confirm the mechanism of lipid efflux, the mRNA expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1, which are lipid transport proteins, were confirmed by real-time PCR. Therefore, the present study confirmed that the DCM extract from Orostachys japonicus has the effect of improving the lipid metabolism on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, the results of this study will be used as the basis for the development of functional foods using Orostachys japonicus and also for conducting research on the detailed mechanisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1152-1158
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• 2019

Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey is used in home remedy for colic and gastritis in South Korea. Although Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey is used extensively for home remedies, no single study on its efficacy exists. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey. The anti-obesity effect of a 70% ethanol extract from Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to adipocytes was investigated with an Oil Red O assay, western blot analysis, and mRNA analysis. Compared to the control (only treated with DM), the 70% ethanol extract of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation and intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. To determine how the TG content was reduced, we measured the level of protein and mRNA expression of obesityrelated agents, such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAAT/enhancer- binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, LPL, and FAS. As a result, the 70% ethanol extract of Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis Bailey significantly increased the expression of AMPK and decreased the expression of genes related to adipogenesis and fat storage, such as $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, LPL, and FAS.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2019

Lips have a defect in maintenance of moisture due to their thin layer. As aging progresses, lips lose volume and redness, and become wrinkled. Fat grafting and filler surgery have been used to achieve attractive lips, but little research has been reported to develop better materials to replace the present methods. Recently, a study suggests that the increase of adipocyte number can be enhancing the expansion endogenous fat. In previous study, we identified that the efficacy of Magnolia officinalis bark extract (MOBE) was effective on the induction of adipogenic differentiation. In this study, we confirmed that MOBE enhanced the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells on the fat mimic 3D structure built by 3D bioprinting method From further experiments in human, we established a method to quantify the severity of lip wrinkle by measurement of standard deviation of gray value using Image J software. Finally, we found that topical treatment with 1% MOBE formulated lip balm significantly improved the lip wrinkle after using for 12 weeks. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MOBE has great potential, as a cosmetic ingredient, to reduce the lip wrinkle through the effect of promoting adipogenic differentiation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.542-549
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• 2022

Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are flavonoids mainly found in citrus fruits and have been reported to exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, including anti-obesity, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory actions. To utilize PMFs as functional materials, it is necessary to develop a simple method of obtaining PMFs from citrus tissues containing a large amount of PMFs. It has been reported that Jinkyool (C. sunki Hort ex. Tanaka) peel contained a large amount of PMFs, but there are no studies on PMFs isolated from its leaves. In this study, we established a simple procedure for obtaining the PMF-rich fraction (PRF) from the leaves of Jinkyool and investigated the effects of PRF on lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells. PRF inhibited lipogenesis during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. It decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR𝛾) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBP𝛼), FAS, and adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein 2 (aP2). In mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, PRF increases the phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA)/hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which are key factors involved in lipolysis. Moreover, it increases the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) involved in fatty acid oxidation. These results suggest that PRF from Jinkyool leaves can be used as an anti-obesity agent with the action of inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.693-702
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• 2023

The present study examined the rate of cell growth and differentiation potential into adipocytes in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells exposed to each adipogenic medium containing glucose metabolism hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid (GC) adrenal steroid hormone, as well as pioglitazone (PGZ), a PPARγ agonist. Following each adipogenic treatment for 2 weeks, the rate of cell growth was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited, and the level of telomerase activity was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC hormone compared with those containing each T4 or GC hormone. Moreover, the adiposome-like vesicles were highly reacted with Oil-Red O staining solution, and the levels of transcripts expressed in the differentiating adipocytes for adipogenesis, including adinopectin, leptin, and resistin, were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC hormone compared with those of the adipogenic medium containing each T4 or GC hormone, implying that adipocytic differentiation has fully occurred in the A549 cancer cells. Based on present observations, the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC efficiently induces inhibition of cell growth and cellular differentiation into adipocytes in A549 cancer cells rather than in the adipogenic medium containing only T4 or GC hormone. Adipogenic treatment could provide potential probability in cancer chemotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.385-408
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to build the tax ontology which can be used to manage imposables by the state or local governments. In this, the tax and related concepts were analyzed and then concept hierarchy i.e., taxonomies were formed. Especially, in the concept hierarchy, after multiple inherits were decomposed as 'primitive concepts' and then Rector's 'methodology of ontology implementation normalization', in which defined concepts were recombined, was used. The methodology employed was that the tax system, which was entangled with the direct taxes, local taxes, and property taxes that has multiple-inherits, was expressed explicitly and logically. After that, automatic classification was carried out through the inference engine, consistency was verified. Finally, some practical cases of ontology created were enumerated.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.185-202
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• 2004

There is an increasing interest in measuring and comparing the efficiency of organization units whose operations are functionally similar and autonomous. Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) has been extensively used to evaluate the efficiency of non-profit organizations as a whole. This study applies a modified DEA model (Input-oriented BCC model with Nondiscretionary variables) to identify the performance of local government in Korea. It is found that utilizing DEA as a mean of evaluating the performance of local governments yields useful information to decision makers trying to maintain more efficient practices.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.115-130
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• 2022

In this study, I focus on analyzing how the effects of implementing ETS are different depending on whether Korean ETS linking with carbon markets in other countries. The global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model built in this study analyzes the chages in the production and trade of industrial sectors according to the international linkage of ETS compared to the reference scenario of emissions reduction targets and implementation of ETS. From the analysis of internatioanl linkage of carbon markets scenarios, Annex B countries-South Korea carbon market linkage with individual ETS in China worse the economic outcomes in South Korea the most. This means South Korea lose the international competitiveness compared to China in this scenario. On the other hand, Annex B-China carbon market linkage with Korean individual ETS implementation reduce the decreases in production and trading. The most effective way is to join a global emissions trading market with China. The results are consistent in most industries of South Korea. These results are caused by that the supply of emission allowance is increased and the price of emissions allowances is dropped by China's participation to the carbon market, which can be understood to reduce the carbon reduction cost for industrial sectors. In addition, it can be also concluded that the determinant of the negative impact of ETS on changes in production and trade is more sensitive to the price of emissions allowances than to the characteristics of production and trade structure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.486-493
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• 2014

Adipocytes are endocrine cells that release bioactive mediators called adipokines. In condition of obesity characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation, adipocytes release inflammatory adipokines, which is related to insulin resistance. Bojungchiseub-tang (BJCST) has been used in symptoms and signs of edema, dampness-phlegm, kidney failure, and so on in Korean medicine. BJCST is also expected to have anti-obesity activities. In the present study, we examined whether BJCST modulate the production of inflammatory adipokines and the activations of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway related to induce adipocyte inflammation to elucidate the effects and its mechanism of BJCST on lowering the content of inflammatory adipokines in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. As a result, BJCST suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) $-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL) $-1{\beta}$, IL-6, interferon (IFN) -${\gamma}$, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the production of other inflammatory mediators, prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and nitric oxide(NO)viadownregulationofcyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)andinducible NO synthase (iNOS) gene expressions. In addition, BJCST decreased the phosphorylation of MAPK that promotes the production of inflammatory adipokines in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. In conclusion, BJCST could regulate the production of inflammatory adipokines and MAPK signaling pathway related to induction of adipose inflammation.