• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2016

Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. (P. densiflora) contains several phenolic compounds that exhibit biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of P. densiflora on skin has rarely been reported. Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a commensal microbe that induces skin inflammation and is associated with several chronic disorders, such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, papillomatosis, and sepsis. The aim of our study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of P. densiflora needle extracts on skin health subjected to M. furfur-induced inflammation. The methanolic extract of the pine needles was partitioned into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water layers. We measured the anti-inflammatory effects (in macrophages) as well as the antioxidant, antifungal, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of each of these layers. The antioxidant activity of the individual layers was in the order EtOAc layer > n-BuOH layer > water layer. Only the n-BuOH, EtOAc, and n-hexane layers showed antifungal activity. Additionally, all the layers possessed tyrosinase inhibition activity similar to that of ascorbic acid, which is used as a commercial control. The EtOAc layer was not cytotoxic toward the RAW 264.7 cell line. Interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression levels in M. furfur-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with the EtOAc layer were decreased markedly compared to those in cells treated with the other layers. Taken together, we believe that the needle extracts of P. densiflora have potential application as alternative anti-inflammatory agents or cosmetic material for skin health improvement.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2014

In order to elucidate the usefulness of Lycopene, a cherry tomato variety, as a food material, the compositions of free amino acids, amino acid metabolites and polyphenol compounds were analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS/MS method. Lycopene contained eighteen free amino acids except for L-Cys and L-Try. L-Glu was the most abundant free amino acid, followed by L-Gln and L-Asp. The percentages of L-Glu, L-Gln and L-Asp of total free amino acid were 55.5%, 15.9% and 9.9% respectively. Lycopene contained essential amino acids with the exception of tryptophan. The following amino acid metabolites were found : ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid(GABA), carnitine(L-Car), o-phosphoethanolamine(o-Pea), hydroxylysine(Hyl) phosphoserine (p-Ser), N-methyl-histidine(Me-His), ethanolamine($EtNH_2$). Especially, GABA known as a neurotransmitter was present at a high level(305.99 mg/100 g dry weight). We identified the following polyphenol compounds in the cherry tomatoes : caffeic acid-hexose isomer I (CH I), caffeic acid-hexose isomer II (CH II), 3-caffeoylquinic acid(3-CQA), 5-caffeoylquinic acid(5-CQA), caffeoylquinic acid isomer(CQAI), quercetin-hexose-deoxyhexose-pentose(QTS), quercetin-3-rutinoside(Q-3-R), di-caffeoylquinic acid(di-CQA), tri-caffeoylquinic acid(tri-CQA), naringenin chalcone(NGC). Large quantities of Q-3-R and NGC known as bioactive compounds were found. These results revealed that Lycopene variety contained various nutritional and bioactive compounds and would be a potent functional food material.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.336-342
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-obesity effects of fermented kochujang supplement in C57BL/6J mice. Thirty mice were divided into 3 groups; normal diet control group (ND), high fat diet control group (HD), and high fat diet plus kochujang supplemented group (HDK). Results were as follows: 1. Fennented kochujang supplement in high fat diet decreased body weight and epidydimal and back fat weight compared to non-supplement in HD group. 2. Lipid content and blood glucose level were lower in HDK group than HD group. 3. Fermented kochujang supplement increased mRNA level of lipolytic genes such as acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), and uncoupling proteins-1 (UCP-1) expression, whereas decreased mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) expression. These findings suggest that fermented kochujang supplement in high fat diet normalized body weight, epididymal and back fat weight, lipid content, and blood glucose levels through controlling lipid metabolism and provides basic information on the control of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.285-291
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• 2012

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is well known as a biocompatible and bioactive material. HA has been practically applied as bone graft materials in a range of medical and dental fields. In this study, two types of dense hydroxyapatite ceramics were prepared from natural bones and synthetic materials. The biocompatibility of HA ceramics for supporting osteoblast cell growth and cytotoxicity using an in vitro MG-63 cell line model were respectively evaluated. Artificial hydroxyapatite shows relative density of 93% with 1-2 ${\mu}m$ after sintering, but a hydroxyapatite compact derived from bovine bone has low sintered density of 85% with a small content of MgO. Irrespective of the starting raw materials, both types of sintered hydroxyapatite displayed similar biocompatibility in the tests. FE-SEM observations showed that most MG-63 cells had a stellar shape and formed an intercellular matrix containing fibers on sintered HA. The cells were well attached and grown over the HA surface, indicating that there was no toxicity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.328-335
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• 2014

Vehicle toxicity is one of the main obstacles for intracellular delivery of bioactive compounds. Silk fibroin is a natural polymer proven to have high biocompatibility since being used as suture material. In this report, fibroin microspheres were prepared without any chemical modification or cross-linking not to affect its biocompatibility. The microspheres were taken up by more than 90% of 3T3 cells. Cellular uptake continued after medium replenishment with a different-colored fluorescent microsphere, suggesting that simultaneous ingestion and exocytosis occurred. Cellular uptake of fibroin microspheres did not affect cell viability. Intracellular trafficking of the microspheres using lysosome-specific fluorescent dye revealed that fibroin microspheres were localized both in the cytoplasm and in the lysosome. Accordingly, fibroin microspheres can be a potential vehicle for intracytoplasmic delivery of large cargos, such as mixtures of proteins, nutrients or artificial organelles.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1343-1346
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• 2004

Cornis fructus were extracted by successive extractions and then fractionated with chloroform extract to get active fractions. This study was performed to determine the cytotoxic effect of chloroform extract from Corn is fructus on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and cancer cell lines using MTT assay. All extracts did not exhibit cytotoxicity in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Chloroform extract exhibited antitumor activity in A549, MDA-MB-123, B16 melanoma and SNU-C4 cells. Futher fractionation with chloroform extract was performed to obtain effective fractions. 3 fraction showed the strongest cytotoxic effect against A549, MDA-MB-123, B16 melanoma and SNU-C4 cells. These results suggest that 3 fraction of the chloroform extract from Cornis fructus possessed bioactive material of antitumorous agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.520-526
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• 2018

Conessine, a steroidal alkaloid, is a potent histamine H3 antagonist with antimalarial activity. We recently reported that conessine treatment interferes with $H_2O_2$-induced cell death by regulating autophagy. However, the cellular signaling pathways involved in conessine treatment are not fully understood. Here, we report that conessine reduces muscle atrophy by interfering with the expression of atrophy-related ubiquitin ligases MuRF-1 and atrogin-1. Promoter reporter assay revealed that conessine treatment inhibits FoxO3a-dependent transcription, $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent transcription, and p53-dependent transcription. We also showed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot assays that conessine treatment reduced dexamethasone-induced expression of MuRF1 and atrogin-1. Finally, we demonstrated that conessine treatment reduced dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy using differentiated C2C12 cells. These results collectively suggest that conessine is potentially useful in the treatment of muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.251-261
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• 2013

A paradigm shift is taking place in medicine and dentistry from using synthetic implants and tissue grafts to a tissue engineering approach that uses degradable porous three-dimensional (3D) material hydrogels integrated with cells and bioactive factors to regenerate tissues such as dental bone and other oral tissues. Hydrogels have been established as a biomaterial of choice for many years, as they offer diverse properties that make them ideal in regenerative medicine, including dental applications. Being highly biocompatible and similar to native extracellular matrix, hydrogels have emerged as ideal candidates in the design of 3D scaffolds for tissue regeneration and drug delivery applications. However, precise control over hydrogel properties, such as porosity, pore size, and pore interconnectivity, remains a challenge. Traditional techniques for creating conventional crosslinked polymers have demonstrated limited success in the formation of hydrogels with large pore size, thus limiting cellular infiltration, tissue ingrowth, vascularization, and matrix mineralization (in the case of bone) of tissue-engineered constructs. Emerging technologies have demonstrated the ability to control microarchitectural features in hydrogels such as the creation of large pore size, porosity, and pore interconnectivity, thus allowing the creation of engineered hydrogel scaffolds with a structure and function closely mimicking native tissues. In this review, we explore the various technologies available for the preparation of macroporous scaffolds and their potential applications.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.291-295
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• 2012

We previously reported that Hydnocarpi Semen (HS) has a wound healing effect on diabetic foot ulcer lesion in mice. In this study, ethylacetate (EtOAc) fraction from HS extract were evaluated for their wound healing activity by using in vitro acute inflammation model. GC and GC/MS analysis shows that the main constituents in EtOAc fraction are chaulmoogric acid, hydnocarpic acid, and gorlic acid. EtOAc fraction activated macrophages to increase the production of TNF-${\alpha}$. The fraction also increased the production of TGF-${\beta}$ and VEGF, which induced fibroblast activation and angiogenesis. These results suggest that the mechanism that the fraction helps to enhance healing of skin wound is possibly associated with the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, as well as secretion of VEGF, TGF-${\beta}$ and HS may have a new bioactive material for the treatment of skin wound.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.518-536
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• 1997

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the pulpal tissue reactions to several capping materials. 8 adult Mongrel dogs and 4 different capping materials (G I : Calcium hydroxide, G II : Bonding resin, G III : Glass ionomer liner, G IV : Bioactive ceramic) we-reused in the study. The results can be summarized as follows : 1. The formation of hard tissue barrier was observed to begin after 2 weeks in all groups with various forms or positions. 2. According to the result of statistical analysis, G I and G IV showed significantly higher degree of inflammation than G II, G III in 1-week samples(p<.05). And in 2-week samples, G I showed higher degree of inflammation than G II, G IV with statistical significance(p<.05). Howere, these inflammatory reactions have gradually dimiished with time resulting in negligible difference between groups. 3. No bacterial penetration was observed in any group. 4. Hard tissue formation was evident in all groups after 2 weeks regardless of material type in this experiment. Conclusion can be drawn from the above-mentioned results that the perfect marginal sealing after pulp capping procedure is thought to be the most important factor in determining the propgnosis of direct pulp capping.