• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2020

Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene helps to regulate energy homeostasis in mammals by controlling energy expenditure. In addition, FTO functions in the regulation of obesity and adipogenic differentiation; however, a role in osteogenic differentiation is unknown. This study investigated the effects of FTO on osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells and the underlying mechanism. Expression of osteogenic and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers were characterized by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining was performed to assess ALP activity. BMP2 treatment increased mRNA expression of osteogenic genes and FTO. Overexpression of FTO increased expression of the osteogenic genes distal-less homeobox5 (Dlx5) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). Activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) increased FTO expression, and there was a positive feedback loop between FTO and p-AMPK. p-AMPK and FTO induced mild ER stress; however, tunicamycin-induced severe ER stress suppressed FTO expression and AMPK activation. In summary, FTO induces osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells upon BMP2 treatment by inducing mild ER stress via a positive feedback loop with p-AMPK. FTO expression and AMPK activation induce mild ER stress. By contrast, severe ER stress inhibits osteogenic differentiation by suppressing FTO expression and AMPK activation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

Malarial infection induces tissue hypoxia in the host through destruction of red blood cells. Tissue hypoxia in malarial infection may increase the activity of $HIF1{\alpha}$ through an intracellular oxygen-sensing pathway. Activation of $HIF1{\alpha}$ may also induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to trigger angiogenesis. To investigate whether malarial infection actually generates hypoxia-induced angiogenesis, we analyzed severity of hypoxia, the expression of hypoxia-related angiogenic factors, and numbers of blood vessels in various tissues infected with Plasmodium berghei. Infection in mice was performed by intraperitoneal injection of $2{\times}10^6$ parasitized red blood cells. After infection, we studied parasitemia and survival. We analyzed hypoxia, numbers of blood vessels, and expression of hypoxia-related angiogenic factors including VEGF and $HIF1{\alpha}$. We used Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry to analyze various tissues from Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. In malaria-infected mice, parasitemia was increased over the duration of infection and directly associated with mortality rate. Expression of VEGF and $HIF1{\alpha}$ increased with the parasitemia in various tissues. Additionally, numbers of blood vessels significantly increased in each tissue type of the malaria-infected group compared to the uninfected control group. These results suggest that malarial infection in mice activates hypoxiainduced angiogenesis by stimulation of $HIF1{\alpha}$ and VEGF in various tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2019

The effects of Lavandula angustifolia extract fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus DK1 on UVB-mediated MMP-1 expression and collagen decrease in human skin fibroblasts were determined, and the conversion of its components was also analyzed. Fermentation was performed at varying L. angustifolia extract and MRS medium concentrations, and optimal fermentation conditions were selected. L. angustifolia extracts showed decreased cytotoxicity after fermentation in the fibroblasts. UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extract showed MMP-1 expression 8.2-14.0% lower than that in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with non-fermented extract. This was observed even at fermented extract concentrations lower than those of non-fermented extracts. Fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extract showed 20% less reduction in collagen production upon UVB irradiation than those treated with non-fermented extracts. UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with fermented L. angustifolia extracts showed 50% higher inhibition of ROS generation than those treated with non-fermented extract. Luteolin and apigenin glycosides of L. angustifolia were converted during fermentation, and identified using RP-HPLC and LC/ESI-MS. Therefore, the effects of L. angustifolia extract on MMP-1 expression and collagen decrease in UVB-irradiated human skin fibroblasts were increased through fermentation by P. pentosaceus.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.326-343
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• 2022

Neurological disorders represent a substantial healthcare burden worldwide due to population aging. Acorus gramineus Solander (AG) and Acorus tatarinowii Schott (AT), whose major component is asarone, have been shown to be effective in neurological disorders. This review summarized current information from preclinical and clinical studies regarding the effects of extracts and active components of AG and AT (e.g., α-asarone and β-asarone) on neurological disorders and biomedical targets, as well as the mechanisms involved. Databases, including PubMed, Embase, and RISS, were searched using the following keywords: asarone, AG, AT, and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression and anxiety, epilepsy, and stroke. Meta-analyses and reviews were excluded. A total of 873 studies were collected. A total of 89 studies were selected after eliminating studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Research on neurological disorders widely reported that extracts or active components of AG and AT showed therapeutic efficacy in treating neurological disorders. These components also possessed a wide array of neuroprotective effects, including reduction of pathogenic protein aggregates, antiapoptotic activity, modulation of autophagy, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, regulation of neurotransmitters, activation of neurogenesis, and stimulation of neurotrophic factors. Most of the included studies were preclinical studies that used in vitro and in vivo models, and only a few clinical studies have been performed. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on AG and AT therapeutic effects as a basis for further clinical studies, and clinical trials are required before these findings can be applied to human neurological disorders.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.218-222
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• 2023

Background: Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic substance with a wide range of uses, from the treatment of musculoskeletal spasms to anti-aging regimens by improving wrinkles. Split-face studies in which drugs are injected in the right and left sides of the faces have been actively conducted in botulinum toxin studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the reliability of a split-face study for determining the effectiveness of botulinum toxin based on eyebrow height and movement, and electromyography results. Methods: Thirty-one women aged 35 to 55 years were included in the study. Eyebrow height was measured as the distance from the eyebrows to the upper eyelid margin on the primary gaze, and eyebrow movement was measured as the distance when the forehead was wrinkled for 5 seconds. A noninvasive method was used for electromyography of the frontalis muscles. Results: No statistically significant differences in right and left eyebrow heights and movements, and electromyography findings (p= 0.256, p= 1.000, and p= 0.978, respectively) were found. Pearson correlation analysis showed that electromyography muscle activity is positively associated with eyebrow movement, respectively (p< 0.001). Conclusion: We advocate the reliability of split-face study and the usefulness of electromyography of frontalis muscle in forehead rejuvenation research.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.126-135
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• 2007

This study was conducted to identify the effects of the oriental medicine Qigong Exercise on the brain power, HRV, pulsation, live blood condition among young boys and girls. The study was performed with two group(control group and experimental group) in a pre-test/post-test design. The subjects were 44 young boys and girls selected by a some middle school in Busan. The oriental medicine Qigong Exercise program consists of 80-minute sessions three times a week over 5 months. All of the subjects were examined on the congnition assessment tool, stress assessment tool, oriental medicine pulsation 3-D MAC, live blood condition analyzer Prior and post surveys were measured before and after the experiment. In the cognition assessment, the amplitude of ERS were increased afer Qigong Exercise. The Success and the Concentration were significantly increased afer Qigong Exercise, the Error was significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. The Cognition strength was significantly increased, but the Reponse time was not significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. And the Workload was not significantly decreased, the Total Score was not significantly increased afer Qigong Exercise. Among the stress assessment, RRV tachogram's ‘mean RR’ was significantly increased, ‘mean HRV’ was significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. SDNN was not significantly increased, Complexity was not significantly increased afer Qigong Exercise. And TP(RRV power's total power) was not significantly increased, VLF and HF was significantly increased, and LF was significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. ANS's norm LF was not significantly decreased, but norm HF was significantly increased afer Qigong Exercise. In the RRV's Phase Plot, RMSSD and SDSD were not significantly increased, pnn50 was not significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. On the whole, Parasympathetic Activity and Stress Endurance were significantly increased, but Cardiac Activity and Physical Arousal were not significantly increased afer Qigong Exercise. Cardiac Aging was not significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. Sympathetic Activity, Autonomic Nervous System Balance and Heart-load were not significantly decreased afer Qigong Exercise. In the pulsation, press power was increased(15%), and w/t(pressurization time / pulsation time) was decreased(20%) afer Oigong Exercise. And the live blood condition was not changed afer Qigong Exercise. As mentioned above; the oriental medicine Qigong Exercise program was identified the effects of the inspiration of the brain power, heart rate and anti-stress.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3081-3088
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• 2013

Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities were determined in the water and ethanol extracts from six species of edible seaweeds, Phaeophyceae (Laminaria japonica, Hizikia fusiformis and Undaria pinnatifida), Rhodophyceae (Porphyra tenera and Gracilaria verrucosa) and Chlorophyceae (Ulva lactuca). The highest extraction yield was observed in water extract (pH 8.0) of G. verrucosa (44.23 %) and phenolic content was the highest in ethanolic (75 %) extract of H. fusiformis (52.82 ${\mu}g/mg$). 25 % ethanolic extract from U. lactuca was found to have the highest DPPH radicals scavenging activity(19.29 %) and superoxide anion scavenging activitiy was higher in water extract (pH 8.0) from H. fusiformis (81.20 %) than that other seaweeds. Phenolic contents were strongly correlated with antioxidant activity in the six edible seaweeds extracts ($R^2$=0.852). Taken together, these results indicate that H fusiformis may be a excellent source for development of natural antioxidants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1143-1150
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• 2005

Antioxidative activities of 5 common edible seaweeds in Korea, three brown algae (seaweed fusiforme, sea mustard, sea tangle), one green algae (sea lettuce) and one red algae (laver), were examined. The antioxidative activities of ethanol extracts from these seaweeds were examined by measuring of inhibition rates against iron-induced linoleate peroxidation, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl) radical generation and MDA-BSA (malondialdehyde-bovine serum albumin) conjugation. Sea lettuce ethanol extract showed the strongest anti-oxidative activity among them, especially in inhibition against conjugation of lipid peroxide and protein. Second to sea lettuce, laver and sea tangle ethanol extracts showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibition against MDA-BSA conjugation. However, seaweed fusiforme and sea mustard ethanol extracts did not show antioxidative activities. Sea mustard contained the highest total flavonoids (11.33 mg/g dry wt) and sea lettuce contained the highest total polyphenol (8.97 mg/g dry wt) among these seaweeds. In addition, there was strong positive correlation between the antioxidative activity and total polyphenol content in these seaweeds, suggesting polyphenol compounds may contribute to antioxidative effect of seaweeds. From these data, it is suggested to consume much of seaweeds such as sea lettuce, laver and sea tangle to prevent age-related chronic diseases, and also develope neutraceutical products using polyphenol rich fraction from sea lettuce.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.459-464
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• 2011

In this study, the canadian peat moss extract was purified by a supercritical ₂ using three different conditions and assessed its biological activities. Peat moss was extracted by acid-alkaline extraction method (sample 1) and purified by a supercritical $CO_2$ at $40^{\circ}C$ under pressure of 100 bar (sample 2), 120 bar (sample 3) or 150 bar (sample 4). We evaluated the antioxidant activities of the samples by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging, $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbate (FTC) and 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods. The antioxidant activities were examined by comparing the results with that of ascorbic acid as a positive control. Sample 3 showed relatively higher DPPH radical-scavenging activities than other samples. The antioxidant activity by FIC method exhibited similar results as the DPPH radical-scavenging activities. On the other hand, sample 2 showed higher antioxidant activity measured by TBA method of all. The whitening effects of the samples were examined using mushroom tyrosinase and B16F10 melanoma cells. Sample 3 exhibited overall significant whitening effects, however, other samples showed relatively lower effects. These results suggest that the peat moss extract purified by a supercritical ₂ could be used as a cosmetic ingredient for the anti-aging and whitening effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.972-976
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• 2019

Polyopes affinis is a kind of red algae found in the South coast and near Jeju Island of Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Polyopes affinis ethanol extract (PAEE) on melanogenesis in ${\alpha}-MSH$ stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. Melanoma cells were cultured for 72 hr treated with PAEE. Total melanin content and the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanogenesis, were measured. When the melanin content in B16F10 melanoma cells was tested, PAEE was decreased in a dose-dependent manner: treatment with 100, 300, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ caused 25%, 30%, and 35% reduction, respectively. Treatment of 100, 300, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of PAEE caused 6%, 12%, and 21% reduction of tyrosinase activities in B16F10 melanoma cells. Also, PAEE suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, tyrosinase-related protein-2, and melanocyte-inducing transcription factor in B16F10 melanoma cells. A concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$ of PAEE showed a greater decrease in tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and melanogenic enzyme protein expression. These results indicate that PAEE inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, and Polyopes affinis ethanol extract could be used as a functional whitening agent.