• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.350-361
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• 2020

Background: Black ginseng (BG) is a type of Korean ginseng prepared by steaming and drying raw ginseng to improve the saponin content. This study examined the effects of BG on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in HepG2 cells and diet-induced obese mice. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acids to induce lipid accumulation before supplementation with BG. NAFLD-induced mice were fed different doses (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) of BG for 8 weeks. Results: BG significantly reduced lipid accumulation and expression of lipogenic genes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, and fatty acid synthase in HepG2 cells, and the livers of mice fed a 45% high-fat diet with 10% fructose in the drinking water (HFHF diet). BG supplementation caused a significant reduction in levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, while antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly increased in 45% high-fat diet with 10% fructose in the drinking water diet-fed mice. Expression of proliferator-activated receptor alpha and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I were upregulated at the transcription and translation levels in both HepG2 cells and diet-induced obese mice. Furthermore, BG-induced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl CoA carboxylase in both models, suggesting its role in AMP-activated protein kinase activation and the acetyl CoA carboxylase signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate that BG may be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of NAFLD.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2010

Background and Objectives Various tumor markers have been studied in an attempt to evaluate and decide the optimal treatment of the patients with head and neek squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A nuclear antigen Ki-67 is a proliferative marker of tumor cells in all phases of cell cycle except G0. c-met gene, the tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth tactor, may play various roles in malignant transformation. The authors evaluated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 and c-Met in surgical specimens of HNSCC to determine the relationship with the various clinicopathological characteristics. Materials and Methods Formatin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were obtained from 54 patients with HNSCC. Ki-67 and c-Met expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemical staning and were compared with the clinicopathological characteristics such as, pathologic differentiation, tumor stage, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Results Ki-67 and c-Met over-expression was detected in 66.7% and 90.7% in HNSCC. There was positive correlation of increased expression of Ki-67 with tumor stage. and clinical stage, increased expression of e-Met with tumor stage, clinical stage, and nodal status. The expression of c-Met had a significant positive relationship with Ki-67 index (p<0.05). Conclusion Therefore, Ki-67 and c-Met are useful markers of tumor progression, aggressiveness and prognosis in HNSCC.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2001

Background: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin $1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$). Methods: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not. To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-$1{\beta}$, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-$1{\beta}$ quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-$1{\beta}$ production from macrophages were $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 8 hours, respectively. This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay. indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effects of M11C on the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA were $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 4 hours, respectively. Maximum gene expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ was much earlier than maximum production of it. Conclusion: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 1995

Two hybridoma cell lines against Cwptosporinium possum oocysts nFRl-CN911 were produced. The isotype of these 2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was IgG2b (lE7.2) and and IgM (C6). Enzyme immuno-transfer blotting analysis showed that 157.2 reacted specifically to 36 kDa protein and C6 reacted to 67 and 70 kDa proteins. C. pcnlum was bound specifically to the surface region of oocysts by these mobs. No cross-reactivity was observed with tachyzoites of ToxopLosma gonnii and oocysts of Eimeria zuernii,5. bouis and E. canadensis of bovine origin. The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) using mAb C6 was successful with counterstain. With the IIF using mob C6, oocysts appeared as 3 to $5{\mu}m$ spherical objects fluorescing bright apple green against a reddish dark background. The IIF using mAb C6 was agreed in specificity and sensitivity with those of a commercial diagnostic kit. These results demonstrated that the produced mAbs were specific to C. parvum and that the mAb C6 could be used for diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

Background: We examined global gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with ulcerative colitis (DC), and tested whether the identified genes with the altered expression might be associated with susceptibility to UC. Methods: PBMCs from 8 UC and 8 normal healthy (NH) volunteers were collected, and total RNAs were subjected to the human 8.0K cDNA chip for the micro array analysis. Real time-PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the results of micro array. One hundred forty UC patients and 300 NH controls were recruited for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results: Twenty-five immune function-related genes with over 2-fold expression were identified. Of these genes, two chemokines, namely, CXCL1 and CCL20, were selected because of their potential importance in the evocation of host innate and adaptive immunity. Four SNPs were identified in the promoter and coding regions of CXCL1, while there was no significant difference between all patients with UC and controls in their polymorphisms, except minor association at g.57A>G (rs2071425, p=0.02). On the other hand, among three novel and one known SNPs identified in the promoter region of CCL20, g. -1,706 G>A (p=0.000000055), g. -1,458 G>A (p=0.0048), and g. -962C>A (p=0.0006) were found to be significantly associated with the susceptibility of Uc. Conclusion: Altered gene expression in mononuclear cells may contribute to IBD pathogenesis. Although the findings need to be confirmed in other populations with larger numbers of patients, the current results demonstrated that polymorphisms in the promoter region of CCL20 are positively associated with the development of Uc.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.17.1-17.13
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• 2017

Background: Omega-3 long-chain (${\geq}C_{20}$) polyunsaturated fatty acids (${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA) confer important attributes to health-conscious meat consumers due to the significant role they play in brain development, prevention of coronary heart disease, obesity and hypertension. In this study, the ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA content of raw and cooked Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle from genetically divergent Australian prime lambs supplemented with dietary degummed crude canola oil (DCCO) was evaluated. Methods: Samples of LTL muscle were sourced from 24 first cross ewe and wether lambs sired by Dorset, White Suffolk and Merino rams joined to Merino dams that were assigned to supplemental regimes of degummed crude canola oil (DCCO): a control diet at 0 mL/kg DM of DCCO (DCCOC); 25 mL/kg DM of DCCO (DCCOM) and 50 mL/kg DCCO (DCCOH). Lambs were individually housed and offered 1 kg/day/head for 42 days before being slaughtered. Samples for cooked analysis were prepared to a core temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ using conductive dry-heat. Results: Within raw meats: DCCOH supplemented lambs had significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of eicosapentaenoic (EPA, $20:5{\omega}3$) and EPA + docosahexaenoic (DHA, $22:6{\omega}3$) acids than those supplemented with DCCOM or DCCOC; Dorset sired lambs contained significantly (P < 0.05) more EPA and EPA + DHA than other sire breeds; diet and sire breed interactions were significant (P < 0.05) in affecting EPA and EPA + DHA concentrations. In cooked meat, ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA concentrations in DCCOM (32 mg/100 g), DCCOH (38 mg/100 g), Dorset (36 mg/100 g), White Suffolk (32 mg/100 g), ewes (32 mg/100 g) and wethers (33 mg/100 g), all exceeded the minimum content of 30 mg/100 g of edible cooked portion of EPA + DHA for Australian defined 'source' level ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA classification. Conclusion: These results present that combinations of dietary degummed crude canola oil, sheep genetics and culinary preparation method can be used as effective management tools to deliver nutritionally improved ${\omega}3$ LC-PUFA lamb to meat consumers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.602-606
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated total 26 ingredients of Saengshik which will be commercially produced as an anti-diabetic dietary supplement. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Thirteen vegetables, nine cereals, three legumes and one seed were extracted with aqueous ethanol for 2 h at $60^{\circ}C$, and evaluated for their inhibitory effects against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and for total phenolic and flavonoid contents. RESULTS: All ingredients inhibited ${\alpha}$-amylase activity except cabbage. Strong inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase was observed in leek, black rice, angelica and barley compared with acarbose as a positive control. Stronger inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was found in small water dropwort, radish leaves, sorghum and cabbage than acarbose. All Saengshik ingredients suppressed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity in the range of 0.3-60.5%. Most ingredients contained total phenols which were in the range of 1.2-229.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract. But, total phenolic contents were not observed in carrot, pumpkin and radish. All ingredients contained flavonoid in the range of 11.6-380.7 mg catechin equivalent/g dried extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Saengshik containing these ingredients would be an effective dietary supplement for diabetes.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.28 no.11C
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• pp.1161-1168
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• 2003

In this paper, we propose an improved statistical model-based voice activity detection algorithm and threshold update method. We first improve signal-to-noise ratio by using speech enhancement preprocessing algorithm combined power subtraction method and matched filter, then apply it to LLR test optimum decision rule for improving the performance even in low SNR conditions. And we propose an adaptive threshold update method that was not concerned in any papers. We also perform extensive computer simulations to demonstrate the performance improvement of the proposed VAD algorithm employing the proposed speech enhancement preprocessing algorithm and adaptive threshold update method under various background noise environments. Finally we verify our results by comparing ITU-T G.729 Annex B.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.29 no.12C
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• pp.1660-1668
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• 2004

This paper proposes a Voice Activity Detection (VAD) algorithm based on Radial Basis Function (RBF) network using dual threshold. The k-means clustering and Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm are used to upade the RBF network to the underlying speech condition. The inputs for RBF are the three parameters in a Code Exited Linear Prediction (CELP) coder, which works stably under various background noise levels. Dual hangover threshold applies in BRF-VAD for reducing error, because threshold value has trade off effect in VAD decision. The experimental result show that the proposed VAD algorithm achieves better performance than G.729 Annex B at any noise level.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.408-416
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• 2018

Background: The ginsenosides Rb1 (G-Rb1) and Rg1 (G-Rg1) are used as marker compounds, and are the principal bioactive compounds assessed in the quality control of white ginseng. This study was conducted to analyze white ginseng samples of different and to obtain useful data for the quality control of white ginseng. Methods and Results: The variation in the content of G-Rb1 and G-Rg1 was evaluated among 35 samples of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old white ginseng. The content of both G-Rb1 and G-Rg1 did not significantly differ among ages, and the relative ratio of the maximum to the minimum content of these within ginseng of the same ages was more than two. However, the ratio of G-Rb1 to G-Rg1 content in the 5- and 6-year-old ginseng was significantly higher than that in the 4-year-old one. According to the 'Ginseng industrial act', the standard (w/w, %) minimum $G-Rg_1$ and $G-Rb_1$ content is 0.10% and 0.20% or more, respectively. Among the 35 samples examined, the content of $G-Rg_1$ was found to be 0.124 - 0.399% with none being less than the standard level, while that of $G-Rb_1$, was 0.147 - 0.595%, with 4 samples (11.4%) failing to meet the standard levels. The content of $G-Rg_1$ and $G-Rb_1$ did not show a constant relationship with the size of ginseng. Conclusions: In our study, the content of both G-Rg1 and G-Rb1 varied widely, and there was no significant difference among cultivation ages. The results of the present study might provide useful information for the quality control of raw ginseng and processed white ginseng using marker compound.