• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.349-361
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity and four weeks repeated dose determination of Gamisasangja-tang (GST) in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : In the single oral toxicity study, rats were orally administered a single dose of 0 and 5,000 mg/kg GST. There were 5 rats in each group. After single administration, mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross pathological finding were observed for 14 days. In the 4-weeks repeated oral dose determination study, rats were orally administered a single dose of 0, 1,250, 2,500 or 5,000 mg/kg GST. There were 5 rats in each group. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, food consumption and gross pathological finding were observed for 28 days. Organ weight, clinical chemistry and hematology were tested after 28 days. Results : There was no mortality in either of the two studies. There were also no significant differences in clinical sign, body weight, organ weights, hematological or serum chemical parameters between the GST and control groups. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that the 50% lethal dose of GST is over 5,000 mg/kg, so this finding would be expected to provide scientific evidence for the safety of GST.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.532-541
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• 2010

Peroxidase-like activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has been recently disclosed. To maximize such activity, two catalytically conserved residues (histidine and arginine) found in the distal pocket of peroxidases have successfully been introduced into that of the VHb. A 15-fold increase in catalytic constant ($k_{cat}$) was obtained in P54R variant,which was presumably attributable to the lower rigidity and higher hydrophilicity of the distal cavity arising from substitution of proline to arginine. None of the modifications altered the affinity towards either $H_2O_2$ or ABTS substrate. Spectroscopic studies revealed that VHb variants harboring the T29H mutation apparently demonstrated a spectral shift in both ferric and ferrous forms (406-408 to 411 nm, and 432 to 424-425 nm, respectively). All VHb proteins in the ferrous state had a $\lambda_{soret}$ peak at ~419 nm following the carbon monoxide (CO) binding. Expression of the P54R mutant mediated the downregulation of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). According to the high peroxidase activity of P54R, it could effectively eliminate autoxidation-derived $H_2O_2$, which is a cause of heme degradation and iron release. This decreased the iron availability and consequently reduced the formation of the $Fe^{2+}$-ferric uptake regulator protein ($Fe^{2+}$-Fur), an inducer of FeSOD expression.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 2008

Recently, a lot of epidemiological studies revealed that low HDL-cholesterol level was a better predictor of risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol. This study investigated the anthropometric parameters, clinical blood indices, and dietary factors influencing serum HDL-cholesterol level by using a cross-sectional study for Korean female college students. The subjects were 94 female college students. They were divided into three groups according to their serum HDL-cholesterol levels, low HDL-cholesterol (<50 mg/dL, n=20), medium HDL-cholesterol (50 $\leq$, < 60 mg/dL, n=39) high serum HDL-cholesterol groups (60 $\leq$ mg/dL, n = 35). This study examined their demographic data and dietary intake throughout a questionnaire. Clinical blood indices were measured using an automatic blood chemistry analyzer (Selectra E), after 12 hours of fasting. BMI, body weight, fat mass, and waist circumferences were significantly increased according to low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Serum lipid analysis showed a significantly higher level of TG, LDL-/HDL-Ratio, atherogenic index in the low HDL-cholesterol group. Serum levels of GPT, uric acid and alkaline phosphatase in the low HDL-cholesterol group were significantly higher than in the other group. The average consumption of energy was 1627 kcal and 77.76% of estimated energy requirement (EER). The mean ratio of calories from carbohydrate: protein: fat was 57:15:28. The low HDL-cholesterol group was significantly higher than the other groups in eggs, fat and oils consumption. Interestingly, milk and diary products consumption of low HDL-cholesterol group was half (p < 0.05) of those of the other groups. In conclusion, serum HDL-cholesterol levels appeared to be decreased by increasing BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and serum TG level. In addition, some dietary factors seemed to be related to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact relationship between serum HDL-cholesterol level and dietary factors.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2008

Objective: Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease in childhood. Phellinus linteus, an orange color mushroom, has been used as a traditional herb medicine for years. Recent preliminary animal experiments suggest that Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown rice is effective in chronic inflammatory disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown rice in the treatment of atopic dermatitis(AD). Methods: 35 patients, 2 to 14 years of age, with mild to moderate AD were treated with Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown rice powder per oral, $6{\sim}12g$/day adjusted by the body weight, divided three for up to 12 weeks without other treatment. The mean age of patients was 7.3 years. The disease activity has been monitored by objective SCORAD index. The symptom score of the pruritus was measured by using a traditional visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, the global assessments of clinical response were also monitored by patients or their parents. Results: After 12 weeks of the study, significant reductions in mean severity scores and mean symptom scores were observed. The mean objective SCORAD indices of 35 patients decreased from 25.31${\pm}$8.96 to 18.73${\pm}$13.89(p<0.05). And the mean symptom score of pruritus assessment decreased from 7.37${\pm}$1.33 to 4.6${\pm}$2.3(p<0.05). The patient's global assessment of clinical response were also improved through the period of treatment(p<0.05). Conclusions: Phellinus linteusgrown on germinated brown rice may play a role in the treatment of mild and moderate AD in Children.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2009

An-11-year-old male Shih-tzu was admitted to emergency care unit of Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital with signs of dyspnea, anuria and depression. There were abnormalities on complete blood count and serum chemistry included leukocytosis with mild left shift, mild azotemia, and increased ALT activity. Fluid therapy(0.9% saline, 40 ml/hr) and antibiotics were immediately initiated. The patient began to vomit after 5 hours' rest and pale mucous membrane, bradycardia, and hypertension were noted. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed enlarged left adrenal gland and thrombus in caudal vena cava(CVC). Result of ACTH stimulation test was normal. Cytology of ultrasound-guided FNA smears showed numerous naked nuclei, which was suggestive of adrenal medullar tumor. Concentrations of 24 hour urine metanephrine and normetanephrine was moderately increased compared to those of a control dog. Adrenal mass was surgically removed, and biopsy of the CVC mass was obtained. After surgery the patient began to recover but the dog acutely developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died. On histopathology the adrenal mass and biopsy of the CVC mass were consistent with pheochromocytoma. On electron microscopic view norepinephrine specific granules were found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the toxicity and to find the lethal dose of the test substance Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture when used as a single-dose in 6 week old, male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech (Chungwon, Korea), an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). SD rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture extracts, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mL, were administered to the experimental group, and 0.5 mL doses of normal saline solution were administered to the control group. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the groups. Also, no significant changes in body weights were observed among the groups, and no significant differences in hematology/biochemistry, necropsy, and histopathology results were noted. Hematologically, some changes in the male rats in two experimental groups were observed, but those changes had no clinical or toxicological meaning because they were not dose dependent. Histopathological tests on the injected parts showed cell infiltration in the male rats in one of the experimental groups; however, that result was due to spontaneous generation and had no toxicological meaning. Therefore, this study showed that Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture had no effect on the injected parts in terms of clinical signs, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, and necropsy. Conclusion: As a result of single-dose tests of the test substance Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture in 4 groups of rats, the lethal dose for both males and females exceeded 0.5 mL/animal. Therefore, the above findings suggest that treatment with Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2021

Stachys sieboldii Miq. (SSM) and Acorus gramineus Soland. (AGS) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SSM and AGS have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, neurodegenerative disease effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SSM and AGS, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. SSM, AGS and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SSM, AGS and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SSM, AGS and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2007

Nanomedicine is a young and rapidly emerging field, which integrates clinical medicine with nanotechnology. Although the commercial nanomedicine is still in a fairly embryonic state, the recent advances in the nanotechnology-based therapeutics and diagnosis has changed the landscape of medicine. Bibliometric analysis shows a surge in research activity over the past decade. In this review, we have discussed some of the promising materials and their applications to this nascent field, such as carbon nanomaterials, polymeric drug delivery systems, and diagnostic imaging agents.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2009

As part of an investigation to identify microorganisms that are biotechnologically interesting for industrial application, we isolated a bacterial strain from Chungkookjang that produces extracellular neutral lipase. In addition, the crude enzyme was characterized. This isolated strain, designated as JKA-3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis JKA-3 based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. The cells were rod-shaped and $0.6-0.8{\times}2.0-2.3\;{\mu}m$ in size. Optimal growth conditions were $35-40^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0-8.0. The isolate was able to grow in up to 0-10.0% (w/v) NaCl. Optimal activity conditions of the crude lipase fraction of B. subtilis JKA-3 were pH of 7.0 at $35^{\circ}C$. This enzyme was stable in the pH ranging 6.0-8.0.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.451-455
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• 2008

Body weights and blood biochemical values in chickens infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)-HI, a Korean isolate, were studied. REV-HI causes severe body weight depression in chickens inoculated but not in chicken contact-infected. Body weights of infected chickens in 3, 4, and 5 weeks after infection were 78%, 76% and 65% of those of control respectively. Blood glucose levels in REVinfected chickens were extremely high compared with those in control (226 $\geq$ 21 vs. 814 $\geq$91.3 mg/dl in week 2) during the experiment period. Triglyceride levels in REV-infected chickens were significantly higher in week 2 and 3, whereas in week 4, REV-infected chickens showed significantly lower levels than the control. Blood lipase, amylase and alkaline phosphatase levels of REV-infected chickens in week 2 were significantly higher, whereas cholesterol, magnesium and calcium values in week 4 were significantly lower than the control. Other blood biochemical values such as alkaline aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and $\gamma$-glutamyltransferase were nonsignificantly different from the control. These above results suggest that weight depression by REV may be related with increase of blood glucose, which indicated that REV-infected chickens could not use blood glucose as energy source.