• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.227-231
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are active components of Panax ginseng that exert various health benefits including kidney protection effect. The medicinal activity of ginsenosides can be enhanced by modulating their stereospecificity by heat processing. Ginsenosides Rk2 and Rh3 represent positional isomers of the double bond at C-20(21) or C-20(22). Methods: The present study investigated the kidney-protective effects of ginsenosides Rk2 and Rh3 against cisplatin, a platinum based anticancer drug, induced apoptotic damage in renal proximal LLC-PK1 cells. Results: As a result, ginsenoside Rh3 shows a stronger protective effect than that shown by Rk2. Cisplatin-induced elevated protein levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and cleaved caspase-3 decreased after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rh3. The increase in the percentage of apoptotic LLC-PK1 cells induced by cisplatin treatment also significantly reduced after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rh3. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that inhibition of the JNK and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade plays a critical role in mediating the renoprotective effect of ginsenoside Rh3.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1678-1688
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• 2011

The apoptogenic effect of p-coumaric acid, a phenolic acid found in various edible plants, on human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells was investigated. Exposure of Jurkat T cells to p-coumaric acid (50-$150{\mu}M$) caused cytotoxicity and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic DNA fragmentation along with Bak activation, ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, activation of caspase-9, -3, -7, and -8, and PARP degradation in a dose-dependent manner. However,these apoptotic events were completely abrogated in Jurkat T cells overexpressing Bcl-2.Under these conditions, necrosis was not accompanied. Pretreatment of the cells with the pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) could prevent p-coumaric acid-induced sub-$G_1$ peak representing apoptotic cells, whereas it failed to block ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, indicating that the activation of caspase cascade was prerequisite for p-coumaric acid-induced apoptosis as a downstream event of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss. FADD- and caspase-8-positive wild-type Jurkat T cell clone A3, FADD-deficient Jurkat T cell clone I2.1, and caspase-8-deficient Jurkat T cell clone I9.2 exhibited similar susceptibilities to the cytotoxicity of p-coumaric acid, excluding an involvement of Fas/FasL system in triggering the apoptosis. The apoptogenic activity of p-coumaric acid is more potent in malignant Jurkat T cells than in normal human peripheral T cells. Together, these results demonstrated that p-coumaric acid-induced apoptogenic activity in Jurkat T cellswas mediated by Bak activation, ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, and subsequent activation of multiple caspases such as caspase-9, -3, -7, and-8, and PARP degradation, which could be regulated by anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Yong-dam-sa-gan-tang (YST) on apoptosis in HepG2 cells, First of all. to study the cytotoxic effect of methanol extract of YST on HepG2 cells, the cells were treated with various concentrations of YST and then cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and trypan blue exclusion assay. YST reduced proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of YST. The cleavage of poly AD P-ribose polymerase (P ARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, and the activation of caspase-3, procaspase-8 and procaspase-8 were examined by western blot analysis. YST decreased procaspase-3, procaspase-8 and procaspase-9 levels in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP. YST triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling by increasing the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol. Furthermore, YST also downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and upregulated the pro-apoptotic-Bax. Therefore, this result suggest that YST induced HepG2 cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Sustained activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in cells results in a cell cycle arrest and has been implicated in the differentiation of certain cell types, in many cases acting to promote differentiation. YST decreased the activation of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that YST is potentially useful as a chemo-therapeutic agent in HepG2.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2004

As a central component of a novel protein kinase cascade, the activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade has attracted considerable attention. We sought to determine the effect of exercise and diet on the activation of the extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 and the p38 MAP kinase pathways in rat soleus muscle. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of two dietary conditions: high-carbohydrate (CHO) or high-fat (FAT). Animals having each dietary condition were further divided into one of three subgroups: a sedentary control group that did not exercise (NT), a group that performed 8 weeks of treadmill running and was sacrificed 48 h after their final treadmill run (CE), and a group that was sacrificed immediately after their final routine exercise training (AE). A high-fat diet did not have any significant effect on phosphorylated and total forms of ERK 1/2 or p38 MAP kinase. In chronically trained muscle that was taken 48 h after the last training, phosphorylated ERK 1/2 significantly increased only in the FAT but not in the CHO groups. In the case of total ERK 1/2, it increased significantly for both groups. In contrast, both phosphorylated and total forms of p38 MAP kinase decreased markedly compared to sedentary muscle. In muscle that was taken immediately after a last bout of exercise, phosphorylated ERK 1/2 increased in both groups but statistical significance was seen only in the CHO group. Total ERK 1/2 in acutely stimulated muscle increased only in the CHO-AE group even though the degree was much lower than the phosphorylated status. Muscle that was taken immediately after the routine training increased in phosphorylation status of p38 MAP kinase for both dietary conditions. However, statistical significance was seen only in the CHO group owing to a large variation with FAT. In conclusion, a high-fat diet per se did not have any notable effect versus a high-carbohydrate diet on MAP kinase pathways. However, when diet (either CHO or FAT) was combined with exercise and/or training, there was differentiated protein expression in MAP kinase pathways. This indicates MAP kinase pathways have diverse control mechanisms in slow-twitch fibers.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.138-147
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• 2019

Purpose: Several studies have shown that the oral cavity is a secondary location for Helicobacter pylori colonization and that H. pylori is associated with the severity of periodontitis. This study investigated whether H. pylori had an effect on the periodontium. We established an invasion model of a standard strain of H. pylori in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs), and evaluated the effects of H. pylori on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Methods: Different concentrations of H. pylori were used to infect hPDLFs, with 6 hours of co-culture. The multiplicity of infection in the low- and high-concentration groups was 10:1 and 100:1, respectively. The Cell Counting Kit-8 method and Ki-67 immunofluorescence were used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blots were used to detect cell cycle progression. In the high-concentration group, the invasion of H. pylori was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: It was found that H. pylori invaded the fibroblasts, with cytoplasmic localization. Analyses of cell proliferation and flow cytometry showed that H. pylori inhibited the proliferation of periodontal fibroblasts by causing G2 phase arrest. The inhibition of proliferation and G2 phase arrest were more obvious in the high-concentration group. In the low-concentration group, the G2 phase regulatory factors cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) were upregulated, while cyclin B1 was inhibited. However, in the high-concentration group, cyclin B1 was upregulated and CDK1 was inhibited. Furthermore, the deactivated states of tyrosine phosphorylation of CDK1 (CDK1-Y15) and serine phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Cdc25C-S216) were upregulated after H. pylori infection. Conclusions: In our model, H. pylori inhibited the proliferation of hPDLFs and exerted an invasive effect, causing G2 phase arrest via the Cdc25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 signaling cascade. Its inhibitory effect on proliferation was stronger in the high-concentration group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.94-104
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• 2024

β-Lapachone is a natural quinone compound originally obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia vellanedae), which has been used in traditional medicine in several South and Central American countries for treating various diseases. Although β-lapachone has been reported to have potent anticancer activity in many types of cancer cells, its effect on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of β-lapachone on the proliferation of human HCC Hep3B cells. According to our results, the decrease in cell viability of Hep3B cells caused by β-lapachone was closely related to the induction of apoptosis, which was confirmed through changes in nuclear morphology and flow cytometry. In addition, in Hep3B cells treated with β-lapachone, the expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic factor, was decreased, while the expression of Bax, an apoptosis inducer, was increased, and the activity of the caspase cascade was also increased. However, in the presence of a pan-caspase inhibitor, β-lapachone-induced apoptosis was weakened, indicating that the induction of apoptosis by β-lapachone was caspase-dependent. Moreover, β-lapachone treatment activated extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling while inhibiting activation of the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Furthermore, the effect of the ERK inhibitor on suppressing the induction of apoptosis by β-lapachone was minimal, and the PI3K inhibitor significantly increased β-lapachone-induced apoptosis. The findings from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the anticancer activity of β-lapachone in HCC cells.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.235-240
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• 2004

This paper deals with the performance analysis of impulse turbine for owe type wave energy conversion device. Numerical analysis was performed using a commercially-available software FLUENT. This parametric study includes the variation of the setting angle of guide vane. Since parametric study at various flaw coefficients requires tremendous amounts of computing time, two-dimensional cascade flaw approximation was employed to find out optimum principal particulars in rather simple manner. Full three-dimensional calculation was also performed for several cases to confirm the validity of two-dimensional approach. Results were compared to other experimental data, for instance Setoguchi et al (2001)'s extensive set of data, and found to be well demonstrating the usefulness of 2-D analysis. Advantages and disadvantages of each method were also evaluated.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.83-87
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• 2017

Metatarsalgia means the pain under the lesser metatarsal heads. The many causes of metatarsalgia can be categorized into three groups: local disease in the region, altered forefoot biomechanics, and systemic disease affecting the region. Surgical options need to be considered if nonsurgical treatment fails. The metatarsal osteotomies are designed primarily to reduce the weightbearing forces on the metatarsal head by elevating or shortening the metatarsal. Many lesser metatarsal osteotomies have been described, and their success depends on many factors. Regardless of the method employed, it is important to maintain or restore the metatarsal cascade to maintain an even pressure under the lesser metatarsal heads and prevent transfer lesions. The surgeon must understand the effects of the metatarsal osteotomy on the forefoot patho-biomechanics and decide, using a combination of clinical examinations and imaging, whether the desired effect of the osteotomy is to shorten or elevate the metatarsal head or both.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2018

This paper deals with the development and application of control algorithms for series elastic relief robots for rescue operations in harsh environment like disasters or battlefield. The joint controller applied in this paper has a cascade structure combining inner loop for torque control and outer loop for position control. The torque loop contains feedforward and feedback controller and disturbance observer for independent, decentralized joint control. The effect of the elastic component and motor dynamics are treated as the nonlinear disturbance and compensated with the disturbance observer of torque controller. For the collision detection, Band Designed Disturbance Observer is configured to recognize/respond to external disturbance robustly in the continuously changing environment. The controller is applied to a 7-dof series elastic manipulator to evaluate the torque tracking and collision detection/response performance.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2014

CD28/T cell receptor ligation activates the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling cascade during CD4 T cell activation. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation is required for cytokine gene expression and activated T cell survival and proliferation. Recently, many reports showed that NF-${\kappa}B$ activation is also involved in T helper (Th) cell differentiation including Th17 cell differentiation. In this review, we discuss the current literature on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation pathway and its effect on Th17 cell differentiation.