• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2005

Most suicides(about 90%) occur in the context of psychiatric disorders. Prediction of suicide risk in patients with mental illness is very important in preventing suicide attempts. However, current approaches to predict suicidality are based on clinical history and have low specificity and biological markers are not yet included. Many studies have explored the association between different biological parameters and suicidality. Studies of cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF) demonstrated that 5-HIAA and HVA levels were lower in patients with a history of suicide. Platelet serotonin transporter and the 5-HT2 serotonin receptor have also been studied in relation to violence and suicide. Depressive patients with greater suicidal tendency had significantly lower cholesterol concentrations but some researchers failed to find the correlation. DST non-supression is reported to predict suicidality in major depression. Several studies demonstrated a relationship between intron 7 polymorphism of tryptophan hydroxylase and suicidal behavior. Since suicide is not occurred in a single disease, the systematic and comprehensive study in large samples with various diagnoses is necessary to find the biological and genetic predictors of suicidal behavior.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2014

Artemisia apiacea is a traditional herbal medicine using treatment of eczema and jaundice in Eastern Asia including China, Korea, and Japan. In this study, the three phytosterol constituents were isolated and identified from the hexane fraction of 80% aqueous methanol extract of A. apiacea. Compounds were isolated using open column chromatography (silica gel). Their chemical structures were also established using $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR. Moreover, neuroprotective activity of each compound against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in hippocampal HT-22 cell line was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Furthermore, Inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium ion ($Ca^{2+}$) accumulation were measured for elucidation of neuroprotective mechanism of isolated compounds. They showed that stigmasterol had neuroprotective activity against the glutamate-induced toxicity by inhibition of ROS and $Ca^{2+}$ production. In conclusion, isolated compound of A. apiacea might be useful for therapeutic agent against neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2000

A new nutritional disease has occurred among the hatchery-reared Korean bullhead fingerlings (Pseudobagrus fulvidraco) in the Chonbuk Province in September 1997. Diseased fish were all dead within 3-7 days, showing sluggish behavior, head up and tail down swimming. Most characteristic clinical signs were anaemia, clubbed and fused gill, skin desquamation. haemorrhage around the mouth and at the base of pectoral fins. Any causative bacteria and parasites were not isolated from the lesions and internal organs of the diseased fish. The hepatosomatic index, red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocytes size of peripheral blood in the diseased fish were remarkably decreased compared with those of normal fish. In the histopathological observations, epithelial hyperplasia of the gill filaments initiated at the base of the gill was pronounced. This symptom was the characteristic appearence of all the diseased fish. A 0.6% saline bath and feeding a pantothenic acid-supplemented diet were conducted to decrease the mortality. Ten days after 0.6% saline bath or 25 days after feeding a pantothenic acid supplemented diet resulted in decreasing in the mortality. Microscopic appereance of the gill from the recovered fish was similar to that of the gill from healthy fish. These results indicate that the disease was caused by deficency of pantothenic acid in their diet and that 0.6% saline bath or supplementation of pantothenic acid in the diet was an effective way to decrease the mortality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.675-681
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• 2013

Home-made broccoli Kochujang (HMBK) was prepared with the addition of 5% broccoli leaf powder. Its physicochemical and functional properties were measured in extracts (80% methanol, 80% ethanol, and distilled water) and compared with home-made Kochujang (HMK) and factory-produced Kochujang (FPK). Total phenolic content (TPC) was 22% higher in methanol extract from HMBK (524.2 GAE/100 g) compared to HMK (431.0 GAE/100 g). TPC was 8% higher in ethanol extract from HMBK (541.9 GAE/100 g) compared to HMK (499.9 GAE/100 g). DPPH radical scavenging activity was 1.6 times higher in the methanol extracts from HMBK than HMK. In contrast there was no difference in DPPH radical scavenging activity between HMBK and HMK. Oxygen radical absorbance capacities in methanol and ethanol extracts from HMBK were similar to HMK, but both were higher than extracts from FPK (55% and 23% higher, respectively). Inhibition of angiotensin I converting enzyme activity in methanol extracts from HMBK was similar to HMK, but it was 2.6 times higher than inhibition activities from FPK. Interestingly, only ethanol extract from HMBK showed a 10.7% and 18.3% inhibition on cell growth of the human colon adenocarcinoma grade II cell line (HT-29) and human lung carcinoma cell line (NCI-H1229), respectively. These results indicate home-made Kochujang with broccoli leaf powder contains high total phenolics, antioxidant activities, and cancer cell growth inhibition activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.2 s.149
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• pp.108-112
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• 2007

We examined the inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidase (MAO) of Gardenia jasminoides in vitro and in vivo methods. Methanolic extract and ethylacetate fraction of Gardenia jasminoides fruit showed a significant inhibitory activity on MAO-A and MAO-B in vitro. The IC$_{50}$ values of each fraction on MAO-A and MAO-B are as fo11owed; total methanol extracts 1.23 and 1.34 mg/ml, EtOAc fraction 0.72 and 0.77 mg/ml. Water-soluble fraction also showed IC$_{50}$ values of 0.81 mg/ml on MAO-B. MAO-A activity was increased by the oral administration of ethanolic extract of G. jasminoides, while MAO-B activity was decreased. The concentration of serotonin of brain tissue administrated of ethanolic extract of G. jasminoides is slightly increased in rat. This tendency is not different from the activity of deprenyl which is a well known MAO inhibitor was used as a positive control. Consequently, we suggest that G. jasminoides may have the effects on the inhibitory activity against MAO This activity of G. jasminoides is considerable for development of functional materials for treatment and control of depression, dementia, Parkinson' disease, stress and promoting exercise, etc.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Sa-am acupuncture and Moxibustion on urgency by Overactive bladder in a 79-year-old female patient who has undergone Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) operation. Methods : Patient was treated with Sa-am acupuncture on four acupoints including 太淵(LU9), 太白(SP3), 魚際(LU10) and 少府(HT8) and Moxibustion on two acupoints including 水道(ST28) and 中極(CV12). Patient's symptom was assessed Overactive Bladder Symptom Score(OABSS), Bladder diary and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). The treatment was executed once everyday from June, 13th to June, 22th of 2017. Patient was observed from June, 11th to June, 22th. Results : After ten sessions of Sa-am acupuncture and Moxibustion, patient's urinary symptoms were evaluated by OABSS, Bladder diary, and KHQ. After the treatment, total OABSS score decreased from 9 to 5. The frequency of Urgency decreased from 4 to 1. The Urgency grade decreased 4~5 to 1. The mean number of pad changing decreased 3.5 to 1. The score of Role Limitations, Physical Limitations, Social Limitations, Emotions in KHQ decreased. Conclusions : The results suggest that Sa-am acupuncture and Moxibustion can be a valuable option in treating urgency by OAB.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2013

To determine the potential function of Rhus javanica in Korean medicine, it was fermented with each strain of Lactobacillus spp. Each strain of Lactobacillus spp. was inoculated in lactobacilli MRS broth, and 5 mg/ml of methanol extract of Rhus javanica was added. In mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, ethyl acetate extract of R. javanica fermented with L. brevis KCTC 3498 induced heme oxygenase-1 expression and showed a significant cytoprotective effect on glutamate-induced oxidative damage. The cytoprotective effect was related to the transcription of the nuclear factor E2-related factor2 (Nrf2), which is responsible for the induction of heme oxygenase-1 within the nucleus. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and heme oxygenase-1 expression activities of fermented R. javanica were measured after extraction with ethyl acetate. R. javanica fermented with L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCTC 3108, L. fermentum KCTC 3112, and L. brevis KCTC 3498 had higher antioxidant activity than nonfermented R. javanica. The fermented R. javanica with L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCTC 3108, L. casei KCTC 3109 after ethyl acetate extraction showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis PCI 219, Escherichia coli KCTC 1682, Shigella flexneri KCTC 2517, Vibrio parahaemolyticus KCTC 7471, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCTC 2004. An ethyl acetate extract of the fermented R. javanica with Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 3498 exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than a nonfermented one against strains of B. subtilis PCI 219, E. coli KCTC 1682, S. flexneri KCTC 2517, and V. parahaemolyticus KCTC 7471.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.139-160
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• 2004

The obesity is detrimental to the health of people living in affluent societies. Individual differences in energy metabolism are caused primarily by single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), some of which promote the development of obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common multifactorial genetic syndrome, which is determined by several different genes and environmental factors. In this review, five major conclusions are reached: (1)To be clinically significant, SNPs must be relevant, prevalent, modifiable, and measurable. (2)Differences in SNPs may have been caused by famine, ultraviolet light, alcohol, climate, agricultural revolution. livestock, lactase persistence, and westernized lifestyle. (3)Candidate obesity genes of calorie intake restriction are SIM 1, MC3R, MC4R, AGRP, CART, CCK, CNTFR, DRD2, Ghrelin, 5-HT receptor, NPY, PON and those of energy metabolism are LEP, LEPR, UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, B2AR, B3AR, PGC-1, Androgen receptor and those of fat mobilization are AGT, ACE, ADA, APM1, Apolipoproteins, PPAR, FABP, FOXC2, GCGR, $11-{\beta}HSDI$, LDLR, Hormonal sensitive lipase, Perilipin, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $TNF-{\beta}$ (4)Candidate obesity genes in the eastern are NPY, LEP, LEPR, UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, B2AR, B3AR, ACE, APM1, PPAR, and FABP. (5)Candidate obesity genes in type 2 diabetes mellitus are MC3R, MC4R, B2AR, B3AR, ADA, APM1, PPAR, FABP, FOXC2, PC1, PC2, ABCC8, CAPN10, CYP19, CYP7, ENPP1, GCK, GYS1, IGF, IL-6, Insulin receptor, IRS, and LPL. The discovery of SNPs will lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity and to better diagnostics, treatment, and eventually prevention.