• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1159-1163
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• 2009

It has been postulated that endoplasmic (ER) stress is involved in the development of several diseases. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms have not been fully understood. Therefore, we characterized a genetic network of genes induced by ER stress using cDNA microarray and gene set expression coherence analysis (GSECA), and identified gene function as well as several transcription regulators associated with ER stress. We analyzed time-dependent gene expression profiles in thapsigargin-treated Sk-Hep1 using an oligonucleotide expression chip, and then selected functional gene sets with significantly high expression coherence which was processed into functional clusters according to the expression similarities. The functions related to sugar binding, lysosome, ribosomal protein, ER lumen, and ER to golgi transport increased, whereas the functions with mRNA processing, DNA replication, DNA repair, cell cycle, electron transport chain and helicase activity decreased. Furthermore, functional clusters were investigated for the enrichment of regulatory motifs using GSECA, and several transcriptional regulators associated with regulation of ER-induced gene expression were found.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2000

The purpose of this work is to develop a transurethral suppository containing prostaglandin $E_1\;(PGE_1)$, which stabilizes the drug, gives no irritation to physiological body and enhances the erectile response of $PGE_1.\;PGE_1$ transurethral suppositories were prepared with various amounts of compositions such as saturated polyglycolysed glyceride $(Suppocire^{\circledR}\;AP,\;SAP)$, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil (HCO-50) and ethanol. The melting points, viscosities and $PGE_1$ release of the suppositories were investigated. Ocular irritation test was carried out after application of $PGE_1$ suppository to rabbit's eye. The intracavernous pressure (ICP), penile length and duration of erectile response were determined after transurethral administration of $PGE_1$ suppository and compared with those after intracavernosal injection of $PGE_1$ solution to cats. HCO-50 hardly affected the melting points and viscosities of $PGE_1$ suppositories. Additionally, $PGE_1$ transurethral suppositories, whose melting point ranges was $34-35^{\circ}C$, was speedily melted in physiological body. HCO-50 significantly decreased the dissolution rates of $PGE_1$ from the suppositories. Dissolution mechanism analysis showed the release of $PGE_1$ was proportional to the square root of time, indicating that $PGE_1$ might be released from the suppositories by Fickian diffusion. The release rate of $PGE_1$ from $PGE_1$ suppository [PGE1/SAP/HCO-50/ethanol (1/94.5/2.5/2%)] was about 80% within 2 h. This $PGE_1$ suppository gave no significant irritation to the ocular tissue, expecting that it gave no irritation to the urethral tissue less sensive than ocular tissue. Furthermore, $PGE_1$ in this suppository was stable at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2 years. This suppository increased the ICP and penile erection similar to those of injectable $PGE_1$ solution. However, it gave 2.5-fold increased duration of erectile response than injectable $PGE_1$ solution. Our results suggested that it gave more effective erectile response than injectable $PGE_1$ solution in cats. It is concluded that this $PGE_1$ suppository with good safety, excellent stability and enhanced erectile response, could be a more effective and convenient transurethal delivery system of $PGE_1$.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare the polymerization shrinkage and the compressive strength of composite and compomer cured with two different light sources ; conventional halogen-light curing unit and recently-developed plasma arc curing unit. The 'strain gauge method' was used for determination of polymerization shrinkage and the compressive strength was measured by universal testing machine. The results of the present study can be summarized as follows: 1. Filling materials in polyethylene molds showed the initial expansion in the early phase of polymerization. This was followed by the rapid contraction in volume during the first 60 seconds and gradually diminished as curing process continued. 2. The polymerization shrinkage in tooth samples was generally lower than in the mold samples. 3. The generally lower amount of linear polymerization shrinkage was observed in compomer and plasma arc curing unit group when compared to composite and conventional curing unit. 4. The higher compressive strength values was found in composite groups regardless curing methods. The results of this study strongly support the application of plasma arc system and fluoride-containing compomer in the field of clinical pediatric dentistry claiming its effectiveness in curing the esthetic dental materials and the anticariogenic capacity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Curcumin has diverse anticancer activities that lead to tumor growth inhibition of cancer cells and induction of apoptosis. Curcumin is involved in the regulation of multiple genes via transcription factors including NF-${\kappa}B$, STATs, AP1, and SP. Notch signaling plays critical roles in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and thereby may contribute to the development of various cancers involving breast cancer. This study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on Notch1 gene expression and to explore the underlying mechanism. Here, we found that curcumin decreased the levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, along with the downregulation of Sp family genes (Sp1, Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4). The repressive effect of curcumin on Notch1 gene transcription was confirmed by performing Notch1 promoter-driven reporter assay and three Sp-binding sites were identified on Notch1 promoter that may act as curcumin-respose elements. Moreover, treatment with mitramycin A, a specific Sp inhibitor, decreased the levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in human breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results indicate that Notch1 gene expression is downregulated by curcumin, at least in part, through the suppression of Sp family, which may lead to apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.21-29
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between cervical spine lateroflexion and upper limb numbness after whiplash injury by traffic accident. Methods : Outpatients who visited Jaseng korean medicine hospital after traffic accident took cervical MRI. Patients who had Normal disc and bulging disc were reviewed to measure the cervical lateroflexion by C2-C7 Cobb's angle & scalenus muscle's length through neutrality AP X-ray views. For statistics, we used SPSS version 18.0 for windows. Results : Groups classified into difference of scalenus muscle's length were showen statistical significance than into cobb's angle. Means of numbness group's length difference are $4.18{\pm}2.26mm$ and that of non-numbness group is $1.59{\pm}1.17mm$. Unilateral numbness group had greater angle and longer of length's difference than non-numbness group. Conclusions : The more severe the lateroflexion of the upper extremity numbness occurs well. Group classifed into difference of scalenus muscle's length has more tendency of occurrence of upper limb numbness than that into cobb's angle. And upper limb numbness occurs more frequently at the same direction of lateroflexion.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

The effects of packaging material and method on quality of fresh-cut mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus Sing.) were investigated in terms of weight loss, surface color, phenolics, vitamin C and sensory characteristics during storage at $5^{\circ}C$. The fresh-cut mushrooms were subjected to passive, gas exchange and vacuum packaging conditions at st. Polyethylene film (PE), polypropylene film (PP), anti-fogging film (AP) and pen orated film (PF) were used for the passive packaging. The mixed gas of $5\% CO_2/\;2\%O_2$ (MA1) and $10\%CO_2/\;2\%O_2$(MA2) were applied for the gas exchange packaging. The respiration rate of sliced mushroom was 1.27 times higher than intact mushroom at $5^{\circ}C$. Gas concentrations in the passive packaging were $1-2\%\;O^2\;and\;5-16\%m$ during storage of sliced mushrooms for 14 days at $5^{\circ}C$, and levels of the gases were different by the films used The mushroom in perforated film (PF) showed the highest weight loss of $4.56\%$. Anti-fogging film (AF) was somewhat effective for prevention of the weight loss compared with other films after 14 days storage. The mushrooms in MA1 and MA2 packages showed lower delta L value than in other films. PE packaging mitigated decrease of free and bound phenolics during storage. The mushrooms in MA2 kept better quality in sensory aspect, and then in MA1, PE and PP in order during storage at $5^{\circ}C$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.340-346
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• 2000

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female death from cancer worldwide with about 500,000 deaths per year. A strong association between certain human papilloma viruses (HPV types 16 and 18) and cervical cancer has been well known. An extract of natural products, named as Somatid, has been used to investigate whether this agent has the ability of inhibiting the oncogenes E6 and E7 of HPV type 16. This Somatid inhibited the proliferation of human cervical cancer cell lines (C-33A, SiHa, CaSki) and HaCaT keratinocytes in a dose response manner, In vitro binding assay and ELISA showed that Somatid inhibited the in vitro biding of E6 and E6AP which are essential for the binding and degradation of the tumor suppressor p53. In addition, Somatid inhibited the in vitro binding of E7 and Rb which is essential tumor suppressor for the control of cell cycle. The levels of mRNA for E6 and E7 were also decreased by Somatid. Our data suggested that Somatid inhibited the oncogenecity of E6 and E7 of HPV 16 type, thus can be used as a putative anti-HPV agent for the treatment of cervical carcinomas caused by HPV.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.2 s.86
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• pp.171-177
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• 2005

Even though the cost associated with the repair and rehabilitation of existing structures are rapidly increasing, vast number of the repaired and rehabilitated structures do not function properly as expected during their remaining service lives. This paper focused on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete slabs repaired and reinforced by PS strand and polymer mortar in the tension face. The slabs have the size of 700${\times}120{\times}$2200 m and 700${\times}120{\times}$1300 mm. Variables of experiment were space of strengthening, chipping, the number of strand, the kind of mortar in this experimental study. Attention is concentrated upon overall bending capacity, deflection, ductility and failure mode of repaired and reinforced slabs. Test results show that deflection of repaired and reinforced slabs reduced to approximately $40 \%$ comparison to standard slabs. Boundary cracking of chipping slab started ultimate load afterward. Concrete-mortar interface cracked 64.5 kN in repaired slab with AP mortar and 36.0 kN in repaired slab with general polymer mortar. Reinforcement effect increased with reducing space of strand. Also, Reinforcement effects are more by strand than by polymer mortar.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.511-518
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• 2012

The mechanisms of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling have been the focus of extensive studies because TLRs are the target of therapeutic intervention on multiple diseases. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of Vigna angularis (azuki bean) on the TLR signaling. The effect of Vigna angularis extract (JSD) on TLR activation was investigated by assessing NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 inducible secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) activity. JSD significantly inhibited SEAP activity induced by poly I:C (TLR3 ligand) and poly I (TLR7 ligand) in a dose-dependent manner at concentration below 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ with no sign of cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of JSD markedly suppressed mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesive molecules such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, RANTES, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 induced by TLR ligands. It also diminished the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase and $I{\kappa}B$, and followed by $I{\kappa}B$-mediated nuclear translocation of p50, p65, and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and IRF signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that Vigna angularis has inhibitory activity on TLR-3 and -7 signaling and it can be further developed as a remedy in curing TLR-related multiple diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of a glycoprotein isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (CTB glycoprotein, 75 kDa) on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-induced allergic inflammation in RBL-2H3 cells. This experiment evaluated the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activities of mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), transcription factor (c-jun), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and histamine release in cells. The results showed that the CTB glycoprotein inhibited histamine release and COX-2 expression induced by IgE in the cells. The CTB glycoprotein also had suppressive effects on the expressions of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, c-jun, and the production of intracellular ROS in IgE-treated RBL-2H3 cells. The activities of c-jun and COX-2 were collectively blocked by ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and p38 MAPK inhibitor (SKF86002), respectively. Hence, we speculate that CTB glycoprotein might be a component with potential use in the preparation of health supplements for the prevention of allergic diseases.