• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.593-600
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• 2014

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease characterized by low bone mass which is caused by disturbance in the balance between the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is one of the most common disorders in women after menopause, which is linked to an estrogen deficiency and characterized by an excessive loss of trabecular bone. Rubus coreanus has been used for their various pharmacological properties in Asia as a traditional medicine. To investigate the effect of unripe fruits of R. coreanus 30% ethanol extract (RCE) on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) differentiation, we examined the effects of RCE on in vitro osteoblastic differentiation markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}$-B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. The high concentration (50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) of RCE markedly increased ALP activity, whereas decreased the RANKL/OPG. We also investigated the effect of RCE on M-CSF plus RANKL-induced differentiation of pre-osteoclast cells (RAW 264.7). RCE treatment remarkably inhibited M-CSF/RANKL-induced formation of osteoclast-like multinuclear cells from RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of RCE was reduced by selective estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ antagonist. Our research suggests that suggested that unripe fruits of R. coreanus may act beneficial effects on bone mass by regulating both osteoblast and osteoclast.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ (RANK) axis, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) participate in vascular calcification process including atherosclerosis, but their contributions under high glucose (HG) and phosphate (HP) condition for a long-term period (more than 2 weeks) have not been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HG and HP levels over 2 or 4 weeks on the progression of vascular calcification in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Calcium deposition in VSMCs was increased in medium containing HG (30 mmol/L D-glucose) with ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate (${\beta}$-GP, 12 mmol/L) after 2 weeks and increased further after 4 weeks. OPG mRNA and protein expressions were unchanged in HG group with or without ${\beta}$-GP after 2 weeks. However, after 4 weeks, OPG mRNA and protein expressions were significantly lower in HG group with ${\beta}$-GP. No significant expression changes were observed in RANKL, RANK, or TRAIL during the experiment. After 4 weeks of treatment in HG group containing ${\beta}$-GP and rhBMP-7, an inhibitor of vascular calcification, OPG expressions were maintained. Furthermore, mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a marker of vascular mineralization, was lower in the presence of rhBMP-7. These results suggest that low OPG levels after long term HG and phosphate stimulation might reduce the binding of OPG to RANKL and TRAIL, and these changes could increase osteo-inductive VSMC differentiation, especially vascular mineralization reflected by increased ALP activity during vascular calcification.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.273-291
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• 2017

Purpose: Although static magnetic fields (SMFs) have been used in dental prostheses and osseointegrated implants, their biological effects on osteoblastic and cementoblastic differentiation in cells involved in periodontal regeneration remain unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of SMFs (15 mT) on the osteoblastic and cementoblastic differentiation of human osteoblasts, periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs), and cementoblasts, and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods: Differentiation was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralized nodule formation based on Alizarin red staining, calcium content, and the expression of marker mRNAs assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Signaling pathways were analyzed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Results: The activities of the early marker ALP and the late markers matrix mineralization and calcium content, as well as osteoblast- and cementoblast-specific gene expression in osteoblasts, PDLCs, and cementoblasts were enhanced. SMFs upregulated the expression of Wnt proteins, and increased the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase $kinase-3{\beta}$ ($GSK-3{\beta}$) and total ${\beta}-catenin$ protein expression. Furthermore, p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathways were activated. Conclusions: SMF treatment enhanced osteoblastic and/or cementoblastic differentiation in osteoblasts, cementoblasts, and PDLCs. These findings provide a molecular basis for the beneficial osteogenic and/or cementogenic effect of SMFs, which could have potential in stimulating bone or cementum formation during bone regeneration and in patients with periodontal disease.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2000

Glycyrrhizae Radix aqua-acupuncture solution (GRAS) and Glycyrrhizae Radix water-extracted solution (GRWS) were prepared and tested for organ toxicities, antitumor activities, and immunomodulatory effects. The organ-toxicity of GRAS to male ICR mice was studied by the measurements of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP-s) activities after injection of GRAS for 7 days. The activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP-s were decreased with GRAS. It was shown to possess considerable toxicity toward various tumor cell lines. Concentration of GRAS at 1.5g/ml and 3g/ml resulted in more than 80% inhibition of growth in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC), Hepa1c1c7, and HeLa cells. Toxicity of GRAS to A549 revealed that 68% inhibition of growth. GRWS at the concentration of 3g/ml showed more than 80% inhibition of growth with EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa. In morphological study, the number of cells were decreased, and the shape of cells was round-form in EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa cells with GRAS. Administration of GRAS inhibited the growth of EATC in vivo. Mice given EATC at 1.5g/ml or 0.3g/ml GRAS had 16.7% to 50% survival after 21 days. GRAS increased the proliferation of T and B cells and the cytolytic activity of purified T cell. The biosyntheses of nucleic acid and protein of EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa cells were inhibited by GRAS.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.1 s.128
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• pp.5-12
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• 2002

This study was performed to evaluate hepatoprotective effect of Daewhang-whangryunhaedok-Tang(DWT) on liver injured rats induced by $CCl_4$ and the acute oral toxicity of it in mice. The activities of serum transaminase(ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), the levels of serum total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG), change of liver enlargement, and inhibitory activities of lipid peroxidation, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase(GST) in liver microsome were determined in hepatotoxic rats induced by $CCl_4$ DWT DWT was significantly reduced the serum ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, TC and TG levels. And, the increase of lipid peroxidation, decrease of catalase and GST activities in the liver microsome of $CCl_4$-intoxicated rat were significantly improved by the treatment of DWT. Male and female mice were administered maximum dosages of 5,000 mg/kg b.w. of DWT. After single oral administration of DWT to mice, we observed them daily for 2 weeks. DWT did not induce any toxic signs in the mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, and gross necropsy findings of mice. Based on these results, it is concluded that DWT may have the hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Also, DWT may have no side effect and its $LD_{50}$ value may be over 5,000 mg/kg b.w. in mice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2004

The primary goal of six sigma is to improve patient satisfaction, and thereby profitability, by reducing and eliminating defects. Defects may be related to any aspect of customer satisfaction: high product quality, schedule adherence, cost minimization, process capability indices, defects per unit, and yield. Many six sigma metrics can be mathematically related to the others. Literally, six means six standard deviations from the mean or median value. As applied to quality metrics, the term indicates that failures are at least six standard deviations from the mean or norm. This would mean about 3.4 failures per million opportunities for failure. The objective of six sigma quality is to reduce process output variation so that on a long term basis, which is the customer's aggregate experience with our process over time, this will result in no more than 3.4 defect Parts Per Million(PPM) opportunities (or 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities. For a process with only one specification limit (upper or lower), this results in six process standard deviations between the mean of the process and the customer's specification limit (hence, 6 Sigma). The results of applicative six sigma experiment studied on 18 items TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA tests in clinical chemistry were follows. Assessment of process performance fits within six sigma tolerance limits were TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA with 72.2%, items that fit within five sigma limits were total bilirubin, chloride and sodium were 3 sigma. We were sure that the goal of six sigma would reduce test variation in the process.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2006

The effects of the erect bipedal stance exercise on bone mass and the biomarkers of bone formation and resorption were investigated in rats. Five-week old rats were assigned into control and exercise groups. The rats of exercise group were weight-bearing-trained for 13 weeks in the cage designed to adjust progressively the height from 26.5 cm to 31.5 cm to force the rats rising an erect bipedal stance for feeding and drinking. There was no significant difference in food intakes between two groups. But body weight gain was significantly increased in control group. The lengths of femur, tibia, humerus and radius were significantly longer in control group than exercise group, but the femur and tibia weights per body weight were significantly higher in exercise group than control group. Also the breaking force of femur and tibia in exercise group were higher than control group significantly. The calcium contents of femur and tibia were significantly increased in exercise group than control group. The activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and the osteocalcin contents of serum (the biomarkers of bone formation) in exercise group were higher than control group, but the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1CP) contents of serum did not show any difference between two groups. However the urinary deoxypridinolin (DPD) excretion, biomarker of bone resorption, was significantly lower in exercise group than control group. From these results, it has been indicated that the erect bipedal stance exercise enhanced the density and the strength of femur and tibia by increasing biomarkers of bone formation and suppressing a biomarker of bone resorption in rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1031-1039
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of extracts from silkworm Bombyx mori L. fermented with Bacillus subtilis KACC 91157 at levels of 5%(v/w) and 10%(v/w) in Sprague-Dawley rats intoxicated with 1%(w/w) orotic acid (OA) for 10 days. The rats were divided into a normal group (N), a control group (C: OA), and treatment groups (SP10: OA + 10% extracts from B. mori L.; BSP5: OA + 5% extracts from B. mori L. fermented with B. subtilis KACC 91157; BSP10: OA + 10% extracts from B. mori L. fermented with B. subtilis KACC 91157). Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased following OA feeding, but the rise was slightly reduced by administration of BSP10. The total lipid, free fatty acid, phospholipid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride contents in serum were significantly lower in the OA treatment groups than in the N group. However, the contents slightly increased following the administration of BSP10. Glutathione concentrations in liver and serum were reduced in the OA-induced fatty liver, but they increased following the administration of BSP10. Hepatocytes in the OA-induced fatty liver contained numerous large droplets. However, SP10, BSP5, and BSP10 feeding prevented OA-induced lipid droplet accumulation in hepatocytes. Accordingly, extracts from silkworm powder fermented with B. subtilis could be an ideal material as a dietary supplement in healthy functional foods to improve the effects of fatty liver.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.392-398
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to assess improvements caused by silk sericin extract in blood glucose and lipid concentrations in the sera of streptozotocin(STZ, 55 mg/kg B.W., I.P. injection)-induced diabetic rats fed on experimental diets for 5 weeks. Serum concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, triglyceride(TG) and phospholipids(PL) were remarkably higher in the diabetic group(group BSW) and STZ(I.P.)-plus-silk sericin extract group(group ESS) than in the control group(group CG, basal diet-plus-water). However, the serum concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio, TG and PL were lower in the ESS group than in the BSW group, whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration in the ESS group were higher than in the BSW group. The activities of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and aminotransferase(AST, ALT) in serum were lower in the ESS group than in the diabetic BSW group. The results shown above suggested that silk sericin extract effectively improves blood glucose and lipid concentrations in the sera of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.516-520
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Semisulcospira libertina and garlic on the acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl$_4$) of rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200∼220g were pretreated with dehydrated powder of Semisulcospira libertina (2.1 g/kg, po; SL) and dehydrated powder mixture of Semisulcospira libertina and garlic (3g/kg, 7:3 ratio, po; SG) once daily for 3 consecutive days, and then given a single dose of CCl$_4$(1g/kg in 5ml/kg corn oil, po) and liver function was determined 24 hrs later. Liver damage was assessed by quantitating activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as by histopathological examination. Pretreatments with SL and SG significantly decleased CCl$_4$-elevated ALT (48% and 61% respectively), AST (32% and 47%) and SDH (51% and 76%), but had no effect on ALP. SL and SG had revealed hepatoprotective effects against CCl$_4$-induced histopathological changes such as severe necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion in the central gene of hepatic lobule. These findings demonstrate that SL and SG may haute the hepatoprotective effect on CCl$_4$-induced liver damage.