• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2019년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.112-112
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• 2019

Baicalein is one of the main flavonoids derived from roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a traditional Oriental medicine. Although baicalein has high antitumor effect on several human carcinomas, the mechanism responsible for this property is not unclear. In this study, the data revealed that baicale-ininduced growth inhibition was associated with the induction of apoptosis connecting with cytochrome c release, down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xl and increased the percentage of cells with a loss of mitochondria membrane permeabilization. Baicalein also induced the proteolytic activation of caspases and cleavage of PARP; however, blockage of caspases activation by z-VAD-fmk inhibited baicalein-induced apoptosis. In addition, baicalein enhanced the formation of autophagosomes and up-regulated LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Interestingly, the pretreatment of bafilomycin A1 recovered baicalein-induced cell death suggesting that autophagy by baicalein roles as protective autophagy. Taken together, our results indicated that this flavonoid induces apoptosis and cell protective autophagy. These data means combination treatment with baicalein and autophagy inhibitor might be a promising anticancer drug.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2009

Autophagy, which is a process of self eating, has gained interest in the past decade due to its both beneficial and controversial roles in various biological phenomena. The discovery of autophagy genes (ATG) in yeast has led to focused research designed to elucidate the mechanism and regulation of this process. The role of autophagy in a variety of biological phenomena, including human disease, is still the subject of debate. However, recent findings suggest that autophagy is a highly regulated process with both beneficial and negative effects. Indeed, studies conducted using various model organisms have demonstrated that increased autophagy leads to an extended lifespan. Despite these findings, it is still unknown if all pathways leading to extended lifespan converge at the process of autophagy or not. Here, an overview of modern developments related to the process of autophagy, its regulation and the molecular machinery involved is presented. In addition, this review focuses on one of the beneficial aspects of autophagy, its role in lifespan regulation.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.34-39
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• 2015

Mood disorder is a common psychiatric illness with a high lifetime prevalence in the general population. A serious problem such as suicide is commonly occurring in the patients with depression. Till now, the monoamine hypothesis has been the most popular theory of pathogenesis for depression. However, the more specific pathophysiology of depression and cellular molecular mechanism underlying action of commercial antidepressants have not been clearly defined. Several recent studies demonstrated that glial cells, especially astrocytes, are a promising answer to the pathophysiology of depression. In this article, current understanding of biology and molecular mechanisms of glial cells in the pathology of mood disorder and new research on the pathophysiology of depression will be discussed.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.157-168
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• 1995

The neuropsychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain unjury(TBI) are effects on complex aspect of behavior, cognition and emotional expression. They include psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis, personality change, dementia, and postconcussion syndrome. The damage is done not only to the cortex of the brain but also to subcortical and axial structures. The diffuse degeneration of cerebral white mailer is axonal damage that is caused by mechanical forces shearing the neuronal fiber at the moment of impact(diffuse axonal injury, DAI). The DAI and the changed receptor-agonist mechanism ore the most important mechanisms in genesis of neuropsychiatric sequalae by mild TBI. The most important instrument for diagnosis of neuropsychiatric sequalae of TBI is a physician or psychiatrist with experience and knowledge. The most effective therapeutic tool is a professional who understands the nature of the problem.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권8호
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• pp.2675-2678
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• 2012

Studies on niobium anodization in the mixture of 1 M $H_3PO_4$ and 1 wt % HF at galvanostatic anodization are described here in detail. Interestingly, duplex niobium oxide consisting of thick barrier oxide and correspondingly thick porous oxide was prepared at a constant current density of higher than 0.3 $mAcm^{-2}$, whereas simple porous type oxide was formed at a current density of lower than 0.3 $mAcm^{-2}$. In addition, simple barrier or porous type oxide was obtained by galvanostatic anodization at a single electrolyte of either 1 M $H_3PO_4$ or 1 wt % HF, respectively. The formation mechanism of duplex type structures was ascribed to different forming voltages required for moving anions.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

Evolutionary studies conducted on NAC (NAM, ATAF1&2, and CUC2) genes for all major groups of land plants, indicate the presence of the NAC subfamilies, even in the early land plants. The varied roles played by NAC proteins in plant growth and development range from the formation of shoot apical meristem, floral organ development, reproduction, lateral shoot development, and defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Considering the value and importance of solanaceous crops, the study of NAC proteins in these plants needs to be intensified. This will help to identify and functionally characterize their promoters, which will subsequently aid in engineering plants with improved performance under stressful conditions. In this review, the functionally characterized NAC transcription factors specific to tomato, potato, tobacco, chili pepper and eggplant (aubergine) are summarized, clearly indicating their biological functions in the defense mechanism of the plants, against biotic and abiotic stresses.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.269-272
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• 2015

$La_2Ce_2O_7$ and $CeO_2$ membranes were fabricated from the corresponding powders derived from sol-gel process with polyvinyl alcohol binder. These powders and membranes were characterized by XRD, BET, and FE-SEM analysis. Hydrogen and CO gas permeation experiments were performed using Sievert's type equipment. Both fluxes on these membranes were found to decrease with increase of the temperature. This phenomenon was followed by the surface and Knudsen diffusion mechanism. The hydrogen permeability of the $La_2Ce_2O_7$ membrane was found to be $7.27{\times}10^{-5}mol/m^2sPa$, with perm-selectivity of 7.24 at 303 K.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.170-176
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• 2010

The Ribonucleotide reductases (RNR) are essential enzymes that catalyze the conversion of nucleotides to deoxynucleotides in DNA replication and repair in all living organisms. The RNRs operate by a free radical mechanism but differ in the composition of subunit, cofactor required and regulation by allostery. Based on these differences the RNRs are classified into three classesclass I, class II and class III which depend on oxygen, adenosylcobalamin and S-adenosylmethionine with an iron sulfur cluster respectively for radical generation. In this article thirty seven sequences belonging to each of the three classes of RNR were analyzed by using various tools of bioinformatics. Phylogenetic analysis, dot-plot comparisons and motif analysis was done to identify a number of differences in the three classes of RNRs. In this research article, we have attempted to decipher evolutionary relationship between the three classes of RNR by using bioinformatics approach.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.175-187
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• 2017

Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) is a clinically safe and effective method of delivering weak electric current to modulate cortical activities. And based on the cumulating scientific evidences, the method is recommended to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. In this paper, we review the development of TDCS in the rising field of neuromodulation. Then with suggested biochemical and physical mechanism of TDCS, we summarize the reported cases of using TDCS to alleviate major neuropsychiatric disorders. And, in particular, the treatment of MDD is highlighted as an illustrative example of using TDCS. We discuss here the therapeutic potentials of this method in psychiatry. And in closing remarks, we evaluate the current technical limitations and suggest the future directions of this method in both the clinical and research aspects.