• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2008

There are increasing evidences in the literatures on the potential role of ginsenosides in treating cardiovascular diseases. In this article, current information about ginsenosides-mediated vascular relaxation are reviewed. From the published studies using isolated organs, cell culture systems and animal models, ginsenosides are shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow through diverse mechanisms, including nitric oxide release by activating eNOS phosphorylation via PI3K/Akt and/or ERK1/2 pathways in endothelial cells, induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase through activation of NF-${\kappa}$B, reducing the intracelluar Ca$^{2+}$ levels by activating Ca$^{2+}$-activated K$^{+}$ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells and reducing platelet aggregation by decreasing thromboxane A$_2$ formation and intracelluar Ca$^{2+}$in platelets. In addition, the relevant clinical trials regarding the effects of ginsenosides on the cardiovascular disease are summarized, particulary focusing on managing hypertension and improving thrombotic disorders. Finally, antagonistic effects of ginsenosides on the prostaglandin H$_2$ receptor and scavenging effects on the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.551-560
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• 2003

Particle deposition in human lungs was investigated theoretically by using asymmetric five-lobe lung model. The volumes of each of the five lobes were different, thereby forming an asymmetric lung structure. The tidal volume and flow rate of each lobe were scaled according to lobar volume. The total and regional deposition with various breathing patterns were calculated by means of tracking volume segments and accounting for particle loss during inhalation and exhalation. The deposition fractions were obtained for each airway generation and lung lobe, and dominant deposition mechanisms were investigated for different size particles. Results show that the tidal volume and flow rate have a characteristic influence on particle deposition. The total deposition fraction increases with an increase in tidal volume for all particle sizes. However, flow rate has dichotomous effects: a higher flow rate results in a sharp increase in deposition for large size particles, but decreases deposition for small size particles. Deposition distribution within the lung shifts proximally with higher flow rate whereas deposition peak shifts to the deeper lung region with larger tidal volume. Deposition fraction in each lobe was proportional to its volume. Among the three main deposition mechanisms, diffusion was dominant for particles < 0.5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ whereas sedimentation and impaction were most influential for larger size particles. Impaction was particularly dominant for particles> 8 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. The results may prove to be useful for estimating deposition dose of inhaled pollutant particles at various breathing conditions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1999

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) have recently emerged in Korean hospitals, as well as in those of other countries. VRE have been partially attributed to the overuse and misuse of vancomycin. The mecbanisms of VRE resistance are related to VanA, VanB, and VanC. Both VanA and VanB produce abnormal ligase enzymes to form D-ala-D-lactate termini in E. faecium and E. faecalis, instead of D-ala-D-ala termini. Meanwhile, Van C produces D-ser-D-ala termini in E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus. These abnormal termini have a low affinity to vancomycin. As a result, VRE avoid the activity of vancomycin by these mechanisms. Unfortunately, there is no approved therapy for the treatment of VRE. Thus, available but uncommonly prescribed antibiotics (due to their toxicity or unproven efficacy) may become possible options. They include chloramphenicol, novobiocin, fosfomycin, and bacitracin. The combination therapy of available agents may also be the other options. They include high doses of a penicillin- or ampicillin-aminoglycoside combination, high doses of an ampicillin/sulbactam and aminoglyoosidcs combination, an ampicillin and vancomycin combination, and a ciprofloxacin, aminoglycosides, and rifampin combination. With respect to the near future, many types of investigational agents will most likely expand their treatment options for VRE. Teicoplanin, a glycopeptide, can be used for VanB- and VanC-related VRE. LY333328, a new generation of glycopeptide, is effective in treating VanA as well as VanB and VanC. RP59500 (quinupristin/dalfopristin), a streptogramin, is effective in treating vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. New generation quinolones (especially clinatloxacin) are potential options for the treatment of VRE, even though they cannot work as effectively against VRE as they can against Staphylococci. Both glycylcyclines (a new generation of tetracyclines) and ketolides (a new generation of macrolides) show good activity against Enterococci, regardless of vancomycin susceptibility. Oxazolidinones (i. e. eperezolid and 1inezolid) and everninomicins (i. e. SCH27899) are new groups of antibiotics, which also demonstrate good activity against VRE. It is imperative that clinical pharmacists take the responsibility of investigating new treatment options for VRE in order to combat this growing problem throughout the world.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.296-300
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• 2012

Silica nanoparticles, which are applicable in many industrial fields, have been reported to induce cellular changes such as cytotoxicity in various cells and fibrosis in lungs. Because the immune system is the primary targeting organ reacting to internalized exogenous nanoparticles, we tried to figure out the immunostimulatory effect of silica nanoparticles in macrophages using differently sized silica nanoparticles. Using U937 cells we assessed cytotoxicity by CCK-8 assay, ROS generation by CM-$H_2DCFDA$, intracellular $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ levels by staining with Fluo4-AM and IL-8 production by ELISA. At non-toxic concentration, the intracellular $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ level has increased immediately after exposure to 15 nm particles, not to larger particles. ROS generation was detected significantly in response to 15 nm particles. However, all three different sizes of silica nanoparticles induced IL-8 production. 15 nm silica nanoparticles are more stimulatory than larger particles in cytotoxicity, intracellular $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ increase and ROS generation. But IL-8 production was induced to same levels with 50 or 100 nm particles. Therefore, IL-8 production induced by silica nanoparticles may be dependent on other mechanisms rather than intracellular $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ increase and ROS generation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.447-452
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• 2011

It is well known that the dominant damage mechanisms in high-temperature steam turbine facilities such as rotor and casing are creep and fatigue damages. Even though coupling of creep and fatigue should be considered while predicting the life of turbine facilities, the remaining life of large steam turbine facilities is generally determined on the basis of creep damage because the turbines must generate stable base-load power and because they are operated at a high temperature and pressure for a long time. Almost every large steam turbine in Korea has been operated for more than 20 years and is made of steel containing various amounts of principal alloying elements nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. In this study, creep damage model of 1Cr1Mo1/4V steel for turbine rotor is proposed and that can assess the high temperature creep life of large steam turbine facilities is proposed.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2020

The indiscriminate growth in global population poses a threat to the world in handling and disposal of Municipal solid waste. Rapid urban growth increases the production, consumption and generation of Municipal solid waste which leads to a drastic change in the environment. The methane produced from the Municipal Solid waste accounts for up to 11% global anthropogenic emissions, which is a major cause for global warming. This study reports the methane emission estimation using IPCC default, TNO, LandGEM, EPER and close flux chamber from open dump yards at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur in Chennai, India. The result reveals that the methane emission using close flux chamber was in the range of 8.8 Gg/yr-11.3 Gg/yr and 6.1Gg/yr to 9.1 Gg/yr at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dump yard respectively. The per capita waste generation was estimated based on waste generation and population. The waste generation potential was projected using linear regression model for the period 2017-2050. The trend of CH₄ emission in the actual field measurement were increased every year, similarly the emission trend also increased in IPCC default method (mass balance approach), EPER Germany (zero order decay model) where as TNO and Land GEM (first order decay model) were decreased. The present study reveals that Kodungaiyur dump yard is more vulnerable to methane emission compared to Perungudi dump yard and has more potential in waste to energy conversion mechanisms than compare to Perungudi dump yard.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.208-208
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• 1996

In this work we investigated coupling of the m2 and m4 subtypes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity in detector neuroblastoma cells was used as an index of generation of nitric oxide (NO) in CHO cells. The agonist carbachol induced marked time and concentration-dependent enhancement of the activity of nNOS at m2 receptors. In sharp contrast, the response in CHO cells transfected with the m4 receptor gene was similar in magnitude to that observed in non-transfected cells, suggesting lack of significant coupling of m4 muscarinic receptors to NO signaling. This novel observation of functional divergence of the two muscarinic receptor subtypes at the level of activation of nNOS is quite intriguing, in light of the currently accepted dogma that they belong to the same functional class. This functional selectivity was not due to differential effects on intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ concentration, since activation of both subtypes of muscarinic receptors produced a comparable, albeit quite small, Ca$\^$2+/ signal. Taken together, our present data strongly suggest that the generally assumed functional equivalence of m2 and m4 muscarinic receptors should be carefully reexamined. These data also suggest the presence of alternate mechanisms of activation of nNOS, which might be operative in the absence of large changes in the concentration of cellular Ca$\^$2+/. The latter mechanisms are expected to be activated by m2, but not m4 muscarinic receptors. Both sets of findings are quits important in regards to refining the functional classification of muscarinic receptor subtypes and the cellular mechanisms of activation of NOS.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.158-172
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• 2017

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, family Ranunculaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for centuries throughout the world as a natural remedy. A wide range of chemical compounds found in N. sativa expresses its vast therapeutic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component (up to 50%) in the essential oil of N. sativa. Also, pinene (up to 15%), p-cymene (40%), thymohydroquinone (THQ), thymol (THY), and dithymoquinone (DTQ) are other pharmacologically active compounds of its oil. Other terpenoid compounds, such as carvacrol, carvone, 4-terpineol, limonenes, and citronellol, are also found in small quantities in its oil. The main pharmacological characteristics of this plant are immune system stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, anti-tussive, milk production, uricosuric, choleretic, anti-fertility, and spasmolytic properties. In this regard, we have searched the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with keywords of N. sativa, anti-cancer, apoptotic effect, antitumor, antioxidant, and malignancy over the period from 2000 to 2017. The effectiveness of N. sativa against cancer in the blood system, kidneys, lungs, prostate, liver, and breast and on many malignant cell lines has been shown in many studies, but the molecular mechanisms behind that anti-cancer role are still not clearly understood. From among the many effects of N. sativa, including its anti-proliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation, anti-metastasis/anti-angiogenesis effects, Akt pathway control, modulation of multiple molecular targets, including p53, p73, STAT-3, PTEN, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and activation of caspases, the main suggestive anti-cancer mechanisms of N. sativa are its free radical scavenger activity and the preservation of various anti-oxidant enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and the anti-cancer effects of N. sativa, with a focus on its molecular targets in apoptosis pathways.

• Journal of KIISE:Information Networking
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2002

In the third generation mobile telecommunication systems such as UMTS, one of the important problems for value-added services is to check the recoverability of costs used by a mobile user. Previous authentication and payment schemes for value-added services by a mobile user across multiple service domains, rely on the concept of the on-line TTP, which serves as the users certification authority. In the third generation systems with many service providers, a wide range of services, and a diverse user population, authentication mechanisms with the on-line TTP provide a far from ideal solution. In this paper we present an efficient public-key protocol for mutual authentication and key exchange designed for value-added services in the third generation mobile telecommunications systems. The proposed ticket based authentication and payment protocol provides an efficient way for VASP to check the recoverability of costs without communication with the on-line TTP Furthermore, the proposed ticket based protocol can provide anonymous service usage for a mobile user.

• Journal of KIISE:Information Networking
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.545-551
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose the secure key management framework to connect USN with different network. Although connected USN with different network has no CA (Certificate Authority), it is important to use public key based cryptography system because this network consists of numerous devices. The proposed mechanisms focus on device authentication and public/private key management without existing PKI system of IP network. To solve no CA and certificate problems, the IDC (Identity Based Cryptography) concept is adopted in our proposed mechanism. To verify the possibility of realization, we make an effort to implement the proposed mechanisms to real system. In the test bed, both USN and PLC network are connected to IP network; and proposed mechanisms are implemented to PLC and sensor devices. Through this test using the proposed mechanism, we met the similar performance with symmetric algorithms on key generation and update process. Also, we confirmed possibility of connection between different network and device authentication.