• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

Many psychiatric disorders are associated with brain functional dysfunctions and neuronal degeneration. According to the research so far, enhanced brain plasticity reduces neurodegeneration and recovers neuronal damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain that plays major roles in neuronal survival, development, growth, and maintenance of neurons in brain circuits related to emotion and cognitive function. Also, BDNF plays an important role in brain plasticity, influencing dendritic spines in the hippocampus neurogenesis. Changes in neurogenesis and dendritic density can improve psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions. BDNF has potent effects on brain plasticity through biochemical mechanisms, cellular signal pathways, and epigenetic changes. There are pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to increase the expression of BDNF and enhance brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions such as physical exercise, nutritional change, environmental enrichment, and neuromodulation have biological mechanisms that increase the expression of BDNF and brain plasticity. Non-pharmacological interventions are cost-effective and safe ways to improve psychiatric symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.21 no.2 s.34
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• pp.121-132
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• 2005

We investigated the reproductive cycle with gonad developmental phases of Sinonovacula constricta by histological observations, and seasonal changes in biochemical component of the adductor muscle, visceral mass, foot muscle and mantle were studied by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2004. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classifed into five successive stages: early active stage (March to May), late active stage (May to July), ripe stage (July to September), partially spawned stage (August to October) and spentfinactive stage (October to March). Total protein content was the highest in the following order: adductor muscle, visceral mass, foot muscle, and mantle. Except for mantle, it was generally higher during the ripe and spawning stages, while lower during the spent/inactive stage. There were positive correlations in total protein contents among adductor muscle, foot muscle, and visceral mass. However, the correlations were not statistically significant. Total lipid content was the highest in the visceral mass; it was more than 5 or 6-fold higher than those in the adductor muscle, foot muscle, or mantle. The monthly change was also most dynamic in the visceral mass. It first Increased during the early active stage (March to May), decreased during late active stage (May to July), and then increased again rapidly during the spawning stage (September). There were a strong negative correlation in total lipid contents between foot muscle and adductor muscle (r = -0.634, p = 0.027), and a strong positive correlation between adductor muscle and mantle (r = 0.665, p = 0.018). Glycogen contents showed more or less similar pattern to total lipid contents in the adductor muscle, foot muscle, and visceral mass. It was higher during the early active and spawning stages, while lower during the late active and spent/inactive stages. There was no statistically significant correlation in glycogen contents among different tissues. Especially, total lipid content showed a negative correlationship between the foot muscle, adductor muscle, visceral mass and mantle. Therefore, these results indicate that the nutrient content of the foot muscle, adductor muscle, viseral mass and mantle changed in response to gonadal energy needs.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2004

We investigated the reproductive cycle of Corbicula japonica with its gonadal development by histological observations, and the seasonal changes in biochemical mass and foot muscle of the adductor muscle, visceral mass and foot muscle of the clam by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2003. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (February to April), late active stage (April to July), ripe stage (June to August), partially spawned stage (July to September) and spent/inactive stage (September to March). According to ANOVA test, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in total protein, total lipid and glycogen contents among months for all of the visceral mass, adductor muscle and foot muscle. Total protein content was highest in adductor muscle, while lowest in visceral mass. There was no correlation in total protein content between visceral mass and adductor muscle (p = 0.208). However, strong positive correlation was found between adductor muscle and foot muscle (r = 0.769, p < 0.001). In visceral mass, total lipid content was the highest; it was 2 or 3-fold higher than in adductor muscle or foot muscle. The monthly change was also most dynamic in visceral mass. It decreased from January to March (early active stage), and reached maximum in April (late active stage). From May to August (ripe and partially spawned stage), it dradually decreased and then increased again until October (spent/inactive stage). Multiple comparisons showed that total lipid content in visceral mass between all of the adjacent two months was significaltly different (p < 0.05). There were strong negative correlations in total lipid content between visceral mass and adductor muscle (r = 0.687, p < 0.001), and between visceral mass and foot muscle (r = 0.473, p = 0.008). Changes of glycogen content were more or less similar to the changes of lipid contents in visceral mass, adductor muscle and foot muscle, except for April. In April, glycogen content in visceral mass was over four times higher than that in adductor muscle or foot muscle. There was a positive correlation in glycogen content between adductor muscle and foot muscle (r = 0.686, p < 0.001). Especially, total lipid content showed a negative correlation between the adductor muscle and visceral mass. Therefore, these results indicate that the nutrient content of the adductor muscle, visceral muscle and foot muscle changed in response to gonadal energy needs.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.39-41
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• 2011

The recycling rate of recovered paper in Korea is the highest in the world, 92%, but remanufacturing yield is low due to the extremely poor quality of the paper. The poor quality, in turn, influences to the reject amount in deinking process. To increase the yield of old newspaper recycling process, hydrophobic degree of inorganic pigments of deinking stock must be reduced. To determine the hydrophobicity, Pitch Potential Deposit Tester (PDT) was newly designed and applied with respect to the SB latex property of various quality used in Korea; its hydrophobic degree according to Tg, gel content, charge and particle size of latex and optimum designing condition of SB latex. And below are the conclusions: 1. The reason of excessive reject from old newspaper deinking process for total amount of printed ink is loss of inorganic pigments. When lipase, a biochemical catalyst, was applied with the purpose of preventing inorganic pigments loss about more than 70% of total reject weight and promoting hydration of pulp for deinking, deinking process yield of pre flotation secondary stage increased remarkably without any changes of deinking efficiency. 2. Lipase improved deinking stock by cutting ester linkage on surface of hydrophobic materials to promote its hydration. From this, it reached the conclusion that hydration degree of stock exercises significant effect on flotation deinking process yield. 3. Inorganic alkali promotes hydration of deinking stock. But there have been needs for more fundamental measures other than inorganic alkali of promoting hydration for yield improvement. For this, this study intended to find out reasons of chemical properties change on surface of hydrophobic material by change of pH. 4. Pitch Deposit Test (PDT) was performed for understanding principle of why surface of coating flake from OMG is hydrophobic and why it becomes hydrophilic when pH of stock is alkaline. As a result of this test, it is determined that swelling property by change of pH of latex film, which were used as coating adhesive is the reason for hydrophobic change. 5. Hydrophilicity of coating flake increased with hydrophilic pigments. And as more of SB Latex adhesive was used and higher of calcium hardness of stock became, its hydrophilicity decreased. SB Latex adhesive film is reformed by mechanical friction. For having hydrophilicity under neutral pH, strong bruising action such as kneading is required. 6. Because swelling of adhesive film decreases as Tg of SB latex gets lower and mean diameter gets smaller, it shows hydrophobicity under neutral pH. This lowers hydrophilicity of coating flake, which leads to easy elimination with flotation reject on DIP process. Therefore, for improving future flotation yield, it is necessary to develop to use eco-friendly clean SB latex by raising Tg and increasing mean diameter for recycling, and as a result, to reduce excessive loss of coating flake as a reject from deinking process.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1000-1010
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• 2008

Objective : Hypothyroidism is a syndrome characterized by symptoms such as cold intolerance, or weight gain. Because of side effects of Western medicine treatment, interest in oriental medicine has been increasing. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of Evodiae fructus and histological modification in hypothyroidism rat model induced by PTU(6-propyl, 2-thiouracil). Methods : After inducing hypothyroidism in the rats by PTU injections, we divided the rats into four groups, the Evodiae fructus 100 500, control, and $LT_4$ (levothyroxine) groups. After 2 weeks Evodiae fructus and $LT_4$ were administered, respectively. The weight was measured once a week. After sampling the blood for biochemical analysis to check the levels of $T_3$, $T_4$ and TSH, the thyroid tissue was removed, stained with H&E, and an image was obtained using an optical microscope. Results : Compared with normals, controls showed low $T_4$ and high TSH. The Evodiae fructus group showed a statistically meaningful $T_3$ increase to be dose related. But the levels of TSH showed no meaningful difference between the Evodiae fructus group and normals. About the biochemical tests(liver, kidney etc) and weight change, there was no meaningful difference between the Evodiae fructus group and controls. In the biopsy, the Evodiae fructus group showed thyroid tissue improvement compared to controls. Conclusions : These results show that Evodiae fructus stimulates the decreased functions of the thyroid, and also has thyroid cell protecting effects. The lab results also showed that Evodiae fructus is a safe substance that doesn't cause hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. Therefore it is an effective substance in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2008

Alendronate is a bisphosphonate that selectively inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Dosing convenience is an important element for the enhancement of patient compliance and the effective management of osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and compliance among alendronate pharmaceutical products (oral once-weekly alendronate 70 mg, daily alendronate 10 mg, and once-weekly alendronate 70 mg with Vitamin $D_3$ 2800 IU) in terms of the change in bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers, and compliance estimates. A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients with osteoporosis who received alendronate 70 mg (Group 1), alendronate 10 mg (Group 2), or alendronate 70 mg with Vitamin D3 2800 IU (Group 3) at the endocrinology department of a hospital in Korea from Jan. 1, 1998 to Mar. 31, 2008. The primary endpoints were the increases in spine antero-posterior BMD T-score and femur trochanter BMD T-score, and the compliance of alendronate products. Secondary endpoints included changes in bone turnover-related biochemical markers including bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, urinary N-terminal telopeptides (NTX) and osteocalcin, and in serum vitamin $D_3$ concentration. There was no statistical difference in the BMD increase among the three alendronate products; spine BMD T-score increased by $0.49{\pm}0.52$, $0.39{\pm}0.48$ and $0.50{\pm}0.41$, and femur trochanter BMD T-score by $0.29{\pm}0.42$, $0.21{\pm}0.53$ and $0.24{\pm}0.22$ in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. With respect to the increases in femur trochanter BMD T-score and the decreases in NTX and osteocalcin, 70 mg once-weekly group was remarkably superior to 10 mg daily group (p < 0.05) The compliance of 70 mg once-weekly group was significantly higher than that of 10 mg daily treatment group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, all three alendronate treatment groups were equivalent in effectiveness, and the compliance of 70 mg once-weekly group was better than that of 10 mg daily treatment group.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.235-242
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• 2007

The effects of Jujubae Fructus and Licorice extracts on the main components of Sijotang Euphorbiae Kansui Radix, Daphinis Genkwa Flos, Euphonrbiae Pekinensis Radix (KWD) treatment [KWD decoction (KWDD) and KWD powder (KWDP)] related toxicities were examined in the kidney and the liver. To select more suitable extract which effectively reduce KWD-treatment related toxicities in the body, blood biochemical and histopathological changes induced by KWD were analyzed in the rats which received treament of KWD + Jujubae Fructus or KWD + Licorice. In the present study, no KWD-treatment related blood biochemical and histopathological change in the liver was detected. However, increase of tubules containing hyaline casts and atrophic tubules in the kidney was detected as the indicators of KWDD treatment related nephrotoxicity. Addition of Jujubae Fructus (KWDDJ) or Licorice (KWDDL) extracts effectively inhibited the nephrotoxcity induced by KWDD treatments. More ameliorated effects were acquired by addition of Jujubae Fructus extract (KWDDJ) than Licorice (KWDDL). In KWDP treatment, there was no significant difference in the number of tubules containing hyaline casts in all drug treated groups compared to normal or control group except for high dose of KWDP. Both of Jujubae Fructurs and Licorice reduced high dose of KWDP treatment related nephrotoxicity, and there was no significant difference between KWDPJs and KWDPLs. It is concluded that addition of Jujubae Fructus is more suitable than Licorice in reducing the nephrotoxicty of KWDD, also it is more suitable to taking Sipjotang in the form of powder than decoction.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2012

To evaluate the effect of endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs) to aquatic organisms, muddy loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) was exposed to low concentration methomyl for 21 days in order to identify the effect of biomarkers and endocrine. Vitellogenin (VTG) in blood plasma, which used widely as validated biomarker for endocrine disruption, was significantly greater in male fish exposed to 0.4 mg/L and 2 mg/L methomyl, and in female fish exposed to 0.08 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L, and 2 mg/L methomyl for 21 days (p<0.05). This results suggest that methomyl have probability of endocrine disruption to organism on aquatic system. While inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and increase of DNA damage in comet assay were verified by fish exposed to methomyl, change of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was not occurred, comparing the control group (p<0.05). Indicators at the level of organism such as condition factor (CF), hepato-somatic index (HSI), and gonado-somatic index (GSI) were not influenced by exposure of methomyl. In conclusion, these results showed the possibility of methomyl in regard to not only endocrine disruption but also impacts on biochemical biomarkers to aquatic organisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2018

L-Serine dehydratase (LSD) is an iron-sulfur containing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-serine to pyruvate and ammonia. Among the bacterial amino acid dehydratases, it appears that only the L-serine specific enzymes utilize an iron-sulfur cluster at their catalytic site. Moreover, bacterial LSDs are classified into four types based on structural characteristics and domain arrangement. To date, only the LSD enzymes from a few bacterial strains have been studied, but more detailed investigations are required to understand the catalytic mechanism of various bacterial LSDs. In this study, LSD type II from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtLSD) H37Rv was expressed and purified to elucidate the biochemical and catalytic properties using the enzyme kinetic method. The L-serine saturation curve of MtLSD exhibited a typically sigmoid character, indicating an allosteric cooperativity. The values of $K_m$ and $k_{cat}$ were estimated to be $59.35{\pm}1.23mM$ and $18.12{\pm}0.20s^{-1}$, respectively. Moreover, the plot of initial velocity versus D-serine concentration at fixed L-serine concentrations showed a non-linear hyperbola decay shape and exhibited a competitive inhibition for D-serine with an apparent $K_i$ value of $30.46{\pm}5.93mM$ and with no change in the $k_{cat}$ value. These results provide insightful biochemical information regarding the catalytic properties and the substrate specificity of MtLSD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.1286-1294
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• 2015

The acute and subchronic toxicity of 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange was evaluated in ICR mice. For acute toxicity, groups of 30 male and 30 female ICR mice were orally administered 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange (0, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg). The mortality, clinical sign, body weight changes, and necropsy findings of ICR mice were observed for 14 days. No significant changes in body weight or abnormal gross findings were observed in relation to 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters were within normal ranges. According to the results, 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange had no special toxic effects in male and female ICR mice at 2,000 mg/kg. For subchronic toxicity, groups of 36 male and 36 female ICR mice were given a diet of 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange for 13 weeks (control, non-irradiated, and irradiated imported orange). During the experimental period, mortality, clinical signs, body weight change, food consumption, organ weight, and histopathological examination did not show any changes in comparison to the control group. Several hematological and serum biochemical parameters showed statistically significant changes, but these changes were within normal range. These results indicate that 1 kGy gamma-irradiated orange did not cause any toxic effects in male and female ICR mice and therefore can be considered as safe.