• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.170-172
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• 2002

In continuous efforts for discovery of novel potent antitumor agents from natural products, fifty-seven methanolic extracts derived from indigenous Korean plants were primarily evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity in cultured human lung (A549) and colon (Col2) cancer cells. As a result, 16 plant extracts were found to be active against A549 cells and 15 extracts were active against Col2 cells in the criteria of $IC_{50}$<$50\;{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, the extracts of Calystegia soldanella $(IC_{50}$<$8.0\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549;IC_{50}=27.4\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$, Heloniopsis orientalis $(IC_{50}=4.6\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549; IC_{50}=4.5\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$, and Thuja koraiensis $(IC_{50}=1.2\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;A549;IC_{50}=0.6\;{\mu}g/ml\;in\;Col2)$ showed a potent cytotoxic activity. Further study for the identification of active compounds from these lead extracts might be warranted.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.380-386
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• 2017

Purpose: To compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of Fuchs dystrophy patients according to COL8A2 gene mutation status. Methods: Eighty-one patients (162 eyes) initially diagnosed with Fuchs dystrophy from 1996 to 2015 were divided into two groups according to COL8A2 gene mutation status. Retrospective analysis was performed comparing gender, age at diagnosis, presence of family history, diabetes mellitus, symptoms of blurred vision in the morning, changes in central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density with time, need for corneal transplantation, and pre-operative corneal status in the two groups. Results: Of the 81 patients, 12 were shown to harbor a COL8A2 gene mutation. Individuals with mutation were significantly associated with presence of family history, diabetes mellitus, and blurred vision in the morning (p = 0.021, p = 0.024, p = 0.044, respectively). They also had significantly thicker central cornea and lower endothelial cell density at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.020, p = 0.005, respectively). The differences in central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density between the two eyes in one patient were significantly smaller in patients with gene mutation (p = 0.043, p = 0.022, respectively). Over a 5-year follow-up period, 60.0% of eyes in patients with gene mutation and 19.2% of eyes in patients without gene mutation underwent corneal transplantation, a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.014). Conclusions: By testing for COL8A2 gene mutation, early binocular disease progression and the possible need for corneal transplantation in the future can be predicted among patients diagnosed with Fuchs dystrophy.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.359-368
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the impact of Krill Oil (KO, Superba^TM Boost) on skin moisturization regulation. The research involved five groups: an intact control, a reference group (L-AA 100 mg/kg), and KO groups (400, 200, and 100 mg/kg), each comprising ten mice. Oral administration was conducted for 8 weeks (56 days), during which changes in body weight, hyaluronan, collagen type 1 (COL1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), ceramide, and water contents were analyzed in dorsal back skin tissue. Real-time PCR was employed to assess gene expression related to hyaluronic acid synthesis (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), COL1 synthesis (COL1A1 and COL1A2), and TGF-β1. Results demonstrated that KO administration significantly increased hyaluronan content, hyaluronic acid synthesis (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), COL1 content, COL1 synthesis (COL1A1 and COL1A2), TGF-β1 content, TGF-β1 mRNA expression, ceramide content, and water content in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the intact control. Importantly, no discernible disparities were noted between the KO and L-AA groups, even though they received equivalent oral dosages. This study accentuates the potential utility of exogenous KO in the regulation of skin moisture, thus positioning it as a promising avenue for the development of nutricosmetics. Future research endeavors should delve into the role of KO in safeguarding against both intrinsic and extrinsic aging-related skin manifestations, as well as its potential to ameliorate skin wrinkles, in conjunction with its moisturizing attributes.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1993.07b
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• pp.657-659
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• 1993

We have developed a repetitive TEA $CO_2$ laser excited by a magnetic switch pulse source, and have measured the laser output energy for the mixing ratio of the laser gas mixture in single pulse. As a result of experiments, we have obtained the laser output energy of 252 mJ($\eta_{intrinsic}$=7.8%) in $CO_2:N_2$:He=1:1:8(1 atm.). At a repetition-rate frequency of 10 Hz, an average laser power of 1.5 W was obtained.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-129
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• 2011

Stickler syndrome is a very rare connective tissue disorder. The authors of the present study describe an 11-month-old girl with high myopia, retinal abnormalities, flat nose, cleft palate, retrognathia, micrognathia, short stature and arthrogryposis. Radiological evaluation also showed irregularity of the epiphysis of the femur and tibia and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Genetic analysis using a peripheral blood sample revealed a novel variant c.787G>A (p.Gly246Asp) mutation of the COL2A1 gene. This is the first Korean case with Stickler syndrome confirmed by genetic testing.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2011

The latitudinal variation of sunspots appearing during the period from 1874 to 2009 has been studied in terms of centerof-latitude (COL). The butterfly diagram has been used to study the evolution of the magnetic field and the dynamics at the bottom of the solar convection zone. Short-term periodicities have been of particular interest, in that they are somehow related to the structure and dynamics of the solar interior. We thus have focused our investigation on shortterm periodicities. We first calculated COL by averaging the latitude of sunspots with the weight function in area. Then, we analyzed the time series of COL using the wavelet transform technique. We found that a periodicity of ~5 years is the most dominant feature in the time series of COL, with the exception of the ~11 year solar cycle itself. This periodicity can be easily understood by considering small humps between the minima in the area-weighted butterfly diagram. However, we find that periodicities of ~1.3 (0.064), ~1.5 (0.056), or ~1.8 (0.046) years ($\frac{1}{month}$), month ), which have been previously suggested as evidence of links between the changing structure of the sunspot zone and the tachocline rotation rate oscillations, are insignificant and inconsistent. We therefore conclude that the only existing short-term periodicity is of ~5 years, and that periodicities of ~1.3, ~1.5, or ~1.8 years are likely to be artifacts due to random noise of small sunspots.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-16
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• 2020

Objectives The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone healing effect of Pahyeolsandong-tang (PHT)(Poxiesanteng-tang) extract in tibia fracture-induced mice. Methods PHT was extracted using a solution of 35% ethanol in 60℃ for 8 hours. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (normal, control, PHT 50 and PHT 100). Mice of experimental groups were medicated with PHT 50 or 100 mg/kg for 7 to 21 days. To clarify the effect of bone fracture healing, relative messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osterix (OSX), Sox9, collagen type II alpha 1 chain (Col2a1), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) were examined. Results In in vitro experiment, relative mRNA expression of OCN, Runx2, Col2a1 was significantly increased in PHT treated group to compare with control differentiation group. In in vivo experiment, relative mRNA expression of OCN, Runx2, OSX, Sox9, Col2a1, RANKL, OPG was significantly increased in PHT treated group. Conclusions This study showed that PHT accelerates bone fracture healing through the activation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. It was showed that PHT significantly promotes osteoblasts differentiation by osteoblast differentiation markers such as OCN, Runx2, Col1a2. Also it was investigated that PHT had stimulatory effect on osteoblasts function through enhancing OCN, Runx2, OSX, Sox9, Col2a1 and, osteoclasts function through enhancing RANKL and OPG markers. PHT effectively promotes bone fracture healing process through activation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2007

Background & Objective : Uncaria rhynchophylla is traditional medicine herb used for enhancing body resistance against various diseases. The aim of this study was to identify if Uncaria rhynchophylla extracts induce osteogenic activity in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Methods : The osteogenic activity of Uncaria rhynchophylla was evaluated on cell proliferation assay by WST-8, and osteoblast-specific genes, such as VEGF, type I collagen (Col I), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN) by RT-PCR analysis and ELISA assay in osteoblasts-like SaOS-2 cells. Bone mineralization was stained with Alizalin red method. Results : Uncaria rhynchophylla had significantly increased cell proliferation at a dose dependent manner in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Uncaria rhynchophylla markedly increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression at 7 days and dose dependently increased ALP activity and VEGF secretion in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Also, Uncaria rhynchophylla time-dependently increased type I collagen (Col I), osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA in SaOS-2 cells. Extracellular accumulation of proteins such as Col I and OCN was maximal increased by Uncaria rhynchophylla at 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. Also, Uncaria rhynchophylla significantly induced mineralization in the culture of SaOS-2 cells. Conclusion : This study showed that Uncaria rhynchophylla had enhanced proliferation, ALP activity, VEGF, bone matrix proteins such as OCN, OPN, and Col I, and mineralization in SaOS-2 cells. These results propose that Uncaria rhynchophylla can play an important role in osteoblastic bone formation, osteogenesis, and may possibly lead to the development of bone-forming drugs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2005

Background & Object : The differentiation of osteoblasts controlled by various growth factors and matrix proteins expression in bone. The aim of this study was to identify the Astragalus membranaceus that may induce the osteogenic activity in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Methods : The osteogenic activity of Astragalus membranaceus were evaluated by WST-8 assay, ALP activity, RT-PCR analysis of VEGF, OCN, OPN, Col I mRNA, and ELISA or colorimetric analysis, and mineralization by Alizarin red staining in SaOS-2 cells. Results : Astragalus membranaceus had no effect on viability of osteoblastic cells, and dose dependently increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Astragalus membranaceus markedly increased mRNA expression for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), and type I collagen (Col 1) in SaOS-2 cells. Extracellular accumulation of proteins such as VEGF, and Col I was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Also, Astragalus membranaceus significantly induced mineralization in the culture of SaOS-2 cells. Conclusion : This study showed that Astragalus membranaceus not affect on viability, but it enhanced ALP activity, VEGF, bone matrix proteins such as OCN, OPN and Col I, and mineralization in SaOS-2 cells. These results propose that Astragalus membranaceus plays an important role in osteoblastic bone formation, and possibly lead to the development of bone-forming drug.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.63-74
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• 2022

Objectives : Skin aging is generally characterized by wrinkles, sagging, loss of elasticity roughness, pigmentation and dryness. This changes is caused by reducing the elements constituting the extracellular matrix contributing to the physiological properties of the skin, such as collagen fiber, elastic fiber, and hyaluronic acid. Adequate skin hydration is important to maintain normal skin function and reduce skin aging. The present study is objective to observe skin moisturizing effects of Unripe apple(UA, Immature fruit of Malus pumila Mill) in vivo and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods : ICR mice were orally administerd UA(100, 200 and 400mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks, and skin water contents and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-𝛽1, ceramide, hyaluronan and collagen type I(COL1) were measured in dorsal back skin of the mice. Gene expression of hyaluronan synthase(HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), collagen synthase(COL1A1, COL1A2) and TGF-𝛽1 were also determined by realtime RT-PCR. Results : Skin water contents and the expression of TGF-𝛽1, ceramide, COL1 and hyaluronan were significantly increased in UA group(100, 200 and 400mg/kg/day) compared to vehicle control. The mRNA expression of HAS isoform(HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), COL1A1, COL1A2, and TGF-𝛽1 were also significantly increased by UA. Conclusions : UA has skin moisturizing effects and enhancement activities in skin function related components(COL1, hyaluronan, ceramide and TGF-𝛽1). These results suggested that UA can be a developing candidate for developing alternative skin protective agent or functional food ingredient.