• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2018

Objective : To investigates the effect of curcumin on proliferation of spinal cord neural stem/progenitor cells (SC-NSPCs) and functional outcome in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Methods : Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and blindly allocated into three groups (sham control group; curcumin treated group after SCI; vehicle treated group after SCI). Functional recovery was evaluated by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale during 6 weeks after SCI. The expression of SC-NSPC proliferation and astrogliosis were analyzed by nestin/Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining. The injured spinal cord was then examined histologically, including quantification of cavitation. Results : The BBB score of the SCI-curcumin group was better than that of SCI-vehicle group up to 14 days (p<0.05). The coimmunoreactivity of nestin/BrdU in the SCI-curcumin group was much higher than that of the SCI-vehicle group 1 week after surgery (p<0.05). The GFAP immunoreactivity of the SCI-curcumin group was remarkably lower than that of the SCI-vehicle group 4 weeks after surgery (p<0.05). The lesion cavity was significantly reduced in the curcumin group as compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that curcumin could increase the expression of SC-NSPCs, and reduce the activity of reactive astrogliosis and lesion cavity. Consequently curcumin could improve the functional recovery after SCI via SC-NSPC properties.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.793-797
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• 2014

To develop a methodology for absolute determination of the surface areal density of functional groups on organic and bio thin films, medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) spectroscopy was utilized to provide references for calibration of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or Fourier transformation-infrared (FT-IR) intensities. By using the MEIS, XPS, and FT-IR techniques, we were able to analyze the organic thin film of a Ru dye compound ($C_{58}H_{86}O_8N_8S_2Ru$), which consists of one Ru atom and various stoichiometric functional groups. From the MEIS analysis, the absolute surface areal density of Ru atoms (or Ru dye molecules) was determined. The surface areal densities of stoichiometric functional groups in the Ru dye compound were used as references for the calibration of XPS and FT-IR intensities for each functional group. The complementary use of MEIS, XPS, and FT-IR to determine the absolute surface areal density of functional groups on organic and bio thin films will be useful for more reliable development of applications based on organic thin films in areas such as flexible displays, solar cells, organic sensors, biomaterials, and biochips.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2015

This study was conducted to simultaneous analysis methods for water soluble vitamins B group (vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin $B_6$) which is used as health functional foods etc. Analytical methods of water-soluble vitamins B group by HPLC were established through instrumental analytical conditions, and the examination of data such as domestic and foreign reliable methods, and papers of journal. HPLC method analyzing water soluble vitamins B group was established using Capcell Pak C18 UG 120 column in 270 nm through test of columns. The validation has been performed on the method to determine linearity, accuracy, limits of quantification (LOQ) and repeatability for water soluble vitamins B group. An excellent linearity ($r^2=0.999$) was observed for vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin $B_6$ in the concentration range ($0.1{\sim}2{\mu}g/mL$). Observed recovery of vitamin $B_1$ was found to be between 100 and 103%, vitamin $B^2$ was found to be between 104 and 112%, nicotinic acid was found to be between 82 and 85%, nicotinamide was found to be between 121 and 124% and vitamin $B_6$ was found to be between 95 and 104%. LOQ of vitamin $B_1$ was found to be $0.04{\mu}g/mL$, vitamin $B_2$ was found to be $0.05{\mu}g/mL$, nicotinic acid was found to be $0.15{\mu}g/mL$, nicotinamide was found to be $0.08{\mu}g/mL$ and vitamin $B_6$ was found to be $0.63{\mu}g/mL$. Repeatability precision for vitamin $B_1$ was found to be 0.4%, vitamin $B_2$ was found to be 0.4%, nicotinic acid was found to be 0.5%, nicotinamide was found to be 0.7% and vitamin $B_6$ was found to be 0.4% relative standard deviation (RSD). Also, verify the accuracy of the simultaneous analysis methods, we monitored the labeled contents of the health functional foods and children's preferred foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2005

Lecithin is a naturally occurring group of phospholipids found in nearly every living cell and has been widely used as the ingredient of functional foods. Lecithin has high content of phosphatidylcholine(PC), pharmaceutical material which promotes metabolism through the cell membrane. This study was carried out to improve the present inconvenient analytical method of PC in law for health & functional foods. The commodities used in this experiment, were two kinds of egg yolk and eight kinds of soybean lecithin functional foods. PC was separated with isocratic elution with hexane : isopropanol : D.W (30:60:8) through silica column (2.1$\times$150 mm) by HPLC with Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector (ELSD). The flow rate of the eluent was 0.5 ml/mim and infect volume was 10ul. The neubilizer temperature of detector was $60^{\circ}C$, drift tube temperature of that was $75^{\circ}C$ and gas flow was 30 psi. Quantification was carried out by external standardization. Limit of quantification was 0.15ppm. Lecithin contents of egg yolk and soybean Products were > $66\%$ and > $81\%$), respectively. Phosphatidylcholine contents of egg yolk and soybean products were > $74\%$ and > $18\%$, respectively.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2006

Early diagnosis and medical intervention are critical for the treatment of patients with metabolic disorders. A rapid analytical method was developed for simultaneous quantification of organic acids and amino acids in urine without labor-intensive pre-extraction procedure showing high sensitivity and specificity. A new method consisted of simple two-step trimethylsilyl (TMS)-trifluoroacetyl (TFA) derivatization using GC/MS-selective ion monitoring (SIM). Filter paper urine specimens were dried under nitrogen after being fortified with internal standard (tropate) in a mixture of distilled water and methanol. Methyl orange was added to the residue as indicator reagent. Silyl derivative of carboxylic functional group was followed by trifluoroacetyl derivative for amino functional group. N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide) and N-methyl-bistrifluoroacetamide were consecutively added and heated for 15-20 min at $65^{\circ}C-70^{\circ}C$, for TMS-TFA derivative, respectively. This reactant was analyzed by GC/MS-SIM. Linear dynamic range showed 0.001-50 mg with the detection limit of (S/N=3) 10-200 ng, and the quantification limit of 80-900 ng in urine. Correlation coefficient of regression line was 0.994-0.998. When the method was applied to the patients 'urine, it clearly differentiated the normal from the patient with metabolic disorder. The study showed that the developed method could be the method of choices in rapid and sensitive screening for organic aciduria and amino acidopathy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.495-510
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• 2018

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the possibility of quantification of the diagnosis of abdominal coldness (AC) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: Forty-four patients with FD were enrolled in this study. Three Korean medicine doctors each randomly examined all abdomens. Diagnosis of AC was made by consensus of at least two of the doctors. Body temperature (oral by digital oral thermometer) and skin temperature (by digital infrared thermal imaging [DITI]) were measured, followed by administration of the Cold and Heat questionnaire (CHQ) and the Instrument of Pattern Identification for Functional Dyspepsia (IPIFD). Results: Of the 44 patients with FD, 22 were assigned to the AC group and 22 to the non-AC group. The concordance rate of diagnosis among the three doctors was 63.6% (28/44), with a ${\kappa}$ of 0.504, indicating means moderate agreement). Neither the oral nor the skin temperatures showed statistically significant differences between the AC and non-AC groups. However, the CHQ scores and 'Simultaneous Occurrence of Cold and Heat Syndromes pattern' scores of the IPIFD were higher in AC group and showed statistically significant differences (p=0.010 and 0.009). Conclusions: This is the first study conducting quantitative measurements of abdominal coldness in patients with FD. Although oral and skin temperature showed no statistical significance between AC and non-AC groups, the concordance rate of diagnosis of AC among the three Korean Medicine doctors was moderate. The CHQ scores and 'Simultaneous Occurrence of Cold and Heat Syndromes pattern' scores of the IPIFD also suggest that diagnosis of AC is relevant to cold and heat patterns, and these questionnaires could be utilized as supportive data for the diagnosis of AC. Further studies should be conducted for the purpose of quantifying and standardizing abdominal examinations in Korean Medicine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2012

Objective: Valproic acid (VPA), as known as histone deacetylase inhibitor, has neuroprotective effects. This study investigated the histological changes and functional recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) associated with VPA treatment in a rat model. Methods: Locomotor function was assessed according to the Basso-Beatlie-Bresnahan scale for 2 weeks in rats after receiving twice daily intraperitoneal injections of 200 mg/kg VPA or the equivalent volume of normal saline for 7 days following SCI. The injured spinal cord was then examined histologically, including quantification of cavitation. Results: Basso-Beatlie-Bresnahan scale scores in rats receiving VPA were significantly higher than in the saline group (p<0.05). The cavity volume in the VPA group was Significantly reduced compared with the control (saline-injected) group (p<0.05). The level of histone acetylation recovered in the VPA group, while it was significantly decreased in the control rats (p<0.05). The macrophage level was significantly decreased in the VPA group (p<0.05). Conclusion: VPA influences the restoration of hyperacetylation and reduction of the inflammatory reaction resulting from SCI, and is effective for histology and motor function recovery.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2017

Purpose: A sensitive gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed for screening of fatty acid oxidation disorders. Methods: The assay utilized a simple protein precipitation with sulfosalicylic acid followed by tert-butyl dimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatization of hydroxyl functional group by N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA). Results: Calibration curves of spiked pooled plasma showed a linear relationship in the range of 0.01 ng -2 mg with correlation coefficient value greater than 0.98. Limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were found in the range of 0.9-8.8 ng and 9-88 ng, respectively. Conclusion: The new developed method might be useful for a rapid, sensitive screening of inherited fatty acid oxidation disorders. In addition, the method expected to be one of the alternative method for screening newborns of metabolic disorders in the laboratories where expensive MS/MS is unavailable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2012

It was well known that working memory highly related with academic achievement. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of brain activation which visually evoked working memory(encoding and retrieval) through functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI) in Higher Academic Achievement Group(HAAG) and Lower Academic Achievement Group(LAAG) of college students. 20 assigned college students participated in fMRI studies. They underwent totally 210 seconds repeated paradigm. Stimulation paradigm composed with resting time and encoding and retrieval seeing the figures from the mirror with head coil. The brain activation maps and their quantification were analyzed by the statistical parametric mapping(SPM99) program from level of significance 95%. HAAG was more significantly higher than LAAG in bilateral prefrontal lobe(brodmann 46) associated with working memory, inferior parietal lobe associated with attention, and visual association area in encoding figures test. Right dosoprefrontal lobe(BA 44), right fusiform gyrus associated with decision of figure and, lingual gyrus were more activated in retrieval test with HAAG. On the other hand, LAAG was more significantly higher than HAAG in cingulate gyrus during encoding test. Thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum were more activated in retrieval test. Consequently, We could guess from these results HAAG more effectively executed than LAAG in visual working memory test.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.218-224
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• 2005

Surface modification of glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium (GFBP) was success­fully carried out with hyaluronic acid (HA) derivatives. At first, HA was chemically modified with adipic dihydrazide (ADH) to introduce hydrazide functional group into the carboxyl group of HA backbone. Then, GFBP was surface modified by grafting HA-ADH to the free aldehyde groups on the tissue and the subsequent HA-ADH hydrogel coating. HA-ADH hydrogels could be prepared through selective crosslinking at low pH between hydrazide groups of HA-ADH and crosslinkers containing succinimmidyl moieties with minimized protein denaturation. When HA­ADH hydrogels were prepared at low pH of 4.8 in the presence of erythropoietin (EPO) as a model protein, EPO release was continued up to $85\%$ of total amount of loaded EPO for 4 days. To the contrary, only $30\%$ of EPO was released from HA-ADH hydrogels prepared at pH=7.4, which might be due to the denaturation of EPO during the crosslinking reaction. Because the carboxyl groups on the glucuronic acid residues are recognition sites for HA degradation by hyaluronidase, the HA-ADH hydrogels degraded more slowly than HA hydrogels prepared by the crosslinking reaction of divinyl sulfone with hydroxyl groups of HA. Following a two-week subcutaneous implantation in osteopontin-null mice, clinically significant levels of calcification were observed for the positive controls without any surface modification. However, the calcification of surface modified GFBP with HA-ADH and HA-ADH hydrogels was drastically reduced by more than $85\%$ of the positive controls. The anti-calcification effect of HA surface modification was also confirmed by microscopic analysis of explanted tissue after staining with Alizarin Red S for calcium, which followed the trend as observed with calcium quantification.