• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2015

Background: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng (PG), is used widely as a herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases. Panax ginseng has pharmacological effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PG and its possible neuroprotective mechanisms in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced AD in a rat model. Methods: Advanced glycation end products were injected bilaterally into the CA3 region of the rats' brains. The Morris water maze test and step-down type passive avoidance test were performed to evaluate their memory and cognitive abilities. The oxidation indexes in the hippocampus were detected. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to visualize the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-${\kappa}B$). Results: Behavioral results showed that PG (1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 0.25 g/kg) significantly shortened the escape latency, remarkably increased the number of crossing times, significantly decreased the number of errors, and prolonged the latency in rats with AGE-induced AD. Panax ginseng also significantly reduced the malondialdehyde level, increased the glutathione content, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus. Panax ginseng significantly decreased the expression of RAGE and NF-${\kappa}B$. The blockade of anti-RAGE antibody could significantly reduce AGE-induced impairments and regulate these expressions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that PG significantly inhibits AGE-induced memory impairment and attenuates Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects of PG may be associated with the RAGE/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Our results provided the experimental basis for applying PG in preventing and treating AD.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2000

The effects of microgravity and hypergravity on aging are still poorly documented, particularly in mammals. However, there is a growing interest for the use of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and this species may be now considered as a model organism in gravitational biology studies dealing with aging.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.132-139
• /
• 2016

The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to be involved in the transformation of vascular endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EndMT has been confirmed that occur in various pathologic conditions. Transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) is a potent stimulator of the vascular endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) has been known to be involved in the resolution of inflammation, but whether it has effects on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AT-RvD1 on the EndMT of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells line (HUVECs). Treatment with TGF-${\beta}1$ reduced the expression of Nrf2 and enhanced the level of F-actin, which is associated with paracellular permeability. The expression of endothelial marker VE-cadherin in HUVEC cells was reduced, and the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin was enhanced. AT-RvD1 restored the expression of Nrf2 and vimentin and enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin. AT-RvD1 did also affect the migration of HUVEC cells. Inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ kinase 16 (IKK 16), which is known to inhibit the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, had an ability to increase the expression of Nrf2 and was associated with the inhibition effect of AT-RvD1 on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT, but it had no effect on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT alone. Smad7, which is a key regulator of TGF-${\beta}$/Smads signaling by negative feedback loops, was significantly increased with the treatment of AT-RvD1. These results suggest the possibility that AT-RvD1 suppresses the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT through increasing the expression of Smad7 and is closely related to oxidative stress.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.1441-1456
• /
• 2015

The bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) algorithm with high adaptability is more suitable to process multiple image fusion than traditional image fusion. However, the advantages of this algorithm are limited by the end effects problem, multiscale integration problem and number difference of intrinsic mode functions in multiple images decomposition. This study proposes the multiscale self-coordination BEMD algorithm to solve this problem. This algorithm outside extending the feather information with the support vector machine which has a high degree of generalization, then it also overcomes the BEMD end effects problem with conventional mirror extension methods of data processing,. The coordination of the extreme value point of the source image helps solve the problem of multiscale information fusion. Results show that the proposed method is better than the wavelet and NSCT method in retaining the characteristics of the source image information and the details of the mutation information inherited from the source image and in significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.193-201
• /
• 2018

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel fibrotic mediator, which is considered to mediate fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in diabetic cardiovascular complications. Statins have significant immunomodulatory effects and reduce vascular injury. We therefore examined whether fluvastatin has anti-fibrotic effects in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and elucidated its putative transduction signals. We show that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) stimulated CTGF mRNA and protein expression in a time-dependent manner. AGE-induced CTGF expression was mediated via ERK1/2, JNK, and Egr-1 pathways, but not p38; consequently, cell proliferation and migration and ECM accumulation were regulated by CTGF signaling pathway. AGE-stimulated VSMC proliferation, migration, and ECM accumulation were blocked by fluvastatin. However, the inhibitory effect of fluvastatin was restored by administration of CTGF recombinant protein. AGE-induced VSMC proliferation was dependent on cell cycle arrest, thereby increasing G1/G0 phase. Fluvastatin repressed cell cycle regulatory genes cyclin D1 and Cdk4 and augmented cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p21 in AGE-induced VSMCs. Taken together, fluvastatin suppressed AGE-induced VSMC proliferation, migration, and ECM accumulation by targeting CTGF signaling mechanism. These findings might be evidence for CTGF as a potential therapeutic target in diabetic vasculature complication.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.325-335
• /
• 2016

This paper studies the effects of steel fibre geometry and architecture on the cracking behaviour of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC), with the reinforcements being four types, namely 5DH ($Dramix^{(R)}$ hooked-end), 4DH, 3DH-60 and 3DH-35, of various hooked-end steel fibres at the fibre dosage of 40 and $80kg/m^3$. The test results show that the addition of steel fibres have little effect on the workability and compressive strength of SFRC, but the ultimate tensile loads, post-cracking behaviour, residual strength and the fracture energy of SFRC are closely related to the shapes of fibres which all increased with increasing fibre content. Results also revealed that the residual tensile strength is significantly influenced by the anchorage strength rather than the number of the fibres counted on the fracture surface. The 5DH steel fibre reinforced concretes have behaved in a manner of multiple crackings and more ductile compared to 3DH and 4DH ones, and the end-hooks of 4DH and 5DH fibres partially deformed in steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFR-SCC). In practice, 5DH fibres should be used for reinforcing high or ultra-high performance matrixes to fully utilize their high mechanical anchorage.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.620-627
• /
• 2015

Long continuous bridge deck can become contracted considerably as temperature drops, which can lead to a large expansion of sleeper span at the end of it. Since this huge sleeper span then can cause problems both with safety of train operation and structural stability of tracks, it is necessary to take the issue into consideration systematically in the designing process of the bridge. In this paper, an evaluation process through the analysis of train-track interaction was presented which can basically review the effects of the expansion of sleeper span at the end of long continuous bridge deck on the safety of the train and the structural stability of the track. The analyses of the interaction between the light rail train and tracks were carried out targeting the sleeper span as a main parameter. The safety of train operation and structural stability of tracks in a light rail system due to the expansion of the sleeper span were evaluated by comparing the numerical results with the related criteria.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.274-280
• /
• 2017

In a search for novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural resources, we found that the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction from the 80% ethanol extract of the leaves of Homonoia riparia has a considerable inhibitory effect on advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation. Bioassay-guided isolation of this fraction resulted in identification of 15 phenolic compounds (1 - 15). These compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibitory activity against the formation of AGE. The majority of tested compounds, excluding ethyl gallate (15), markedly inhibited AGE formation, with $IC_{50}$ values of $2.2-89.9{\mu}M$, compared with that of the positive control, aminoguanidine ($IC_{50}=962.3{\mu}M$). In addition, the effects of active isolates on the dilation of hyaloid-retinal vessels induced by high glucose (HG) in larval zebrafish was investigated; (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (6), corilagin (7), and desmanthine-2 (11) significantly decreased HG-induced dilation of hyaloid-retinal vessels compared with the HG-treated control group.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.172-181
• /
• 2001

This is a paper to understand the economic effects of the measurement standards by translog cost function. The data, as of the end of 1998, are from a survey of 514 firms in Korean industry. The analysis is compared to that of 1992 data analysis to check the trend. There are a little differences on the estimated coefficients, but there is no basic difference on trend of economic effects. The Investment on measurement standards have been contributed positively on the major managerial indicators such as productivity, profit, and so on.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.116-127
• /
• 2000

This study investigated the effects of sales supervisors on salespeople's goal orientations and sales performance in fashion retail setting. Specifically, it examined: 1) the differences in salespeople's goal orientations by salespeople characteristics; 2) the effects of supervisor's behavioral orientations on goal orientations of salespeople; and 3) the effects of salespeople's goal orientations on performance. A total of 343 questionnaires collected from salespeople in various apparel and accessory selling departments at four department stores in Korean were analyzed. Variables included supervisor's behavioral orientations(end-results, activity and capability), salespeople's goal orientations(learning and performance), sales performance and salespeople characteristics. MANOVA revealed that three was no difference in goal orientations by salespeople characteristics except by selling department. Multiple regression analysis revealed that supervisor's end-result orientation affected salespeople's learning orientation and performance orientation while activity and capability orientations did not. The study suggests that for long-term performance supervisors and retail organizations need to develop various supervisory behaviors, stimulate learning demands of salespeople, and provide training programs to achieve the learning goal.