• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

Obesity is a critical risk factor for the hypertension. Although angiotensin II (Ang II) in obese individuals is known to be upregulated in obesity-induced hypertension, direct evidence that explains the underlying mechanism for increased vascular tone and consequent increase in blood pressure (BP) is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the novel mechanism underlying Ang II-induced hyper-contractility and hypertension in obese rats. Eight-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with 60% fat diet or normal diet for 4 months. Body weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma Ang II level, BP, Ang II-induced vascular contraction, and expression of regulatory proteins modulating vascular contraction with/without Ang II stimulation were measured. As a result, high fat diet (HFD) accelerated age-dependent body weight gaining along with increased plasma Ang II concentration. It also increased BP and Ang II-induced aortic contraction. Basal expression of p-CPI-17 and myosin light chain (MLC) kinase was increased by HFD along with increased phosphorylation of MLC. Ang II-induced phosphorylation of CPI-17 and MLC were also higher in HFD group than control group. In conclusion HFD-induced hypertension is through at least in part by increased vascular contractility via increased expression and activation of contractile proteins and subsequent MLC phosphorylation induced by increased Ang II.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권8호
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• pp.514-519
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• 2019

Osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells derived from myeloid progenitors. Excessive bone resorption by osteoclasts can result in serious clinical outcomes for which better treatment options are needed. Here, we identified fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2 (Flrt2), a ligand of the Unc5 receptor family for neurons, as a novel target associated with the late/maturation stage of osteoclast differentiation. Flrt2 expression is induced by stimulation with receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL). Flrt2 deficiency in osteoclasts results in reduced hyper-multinucleation, which could be restored by RNAi-mediated knockdown of Unc5b. Treatment with Netrin1, another ligand of Unc5b which negatively controls osteoclast multinucleation through down regulation of RANKL-induced Rac1 activation, showed no inhibitory effects on Flrt2-deficient cells. In addition, RANKL-induced Rac1 activation was attenuated in Flrt2-deficient cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Flrt2 regulates osteoclast multinucleation by interfering with Netrin 1-Unc5b interaction and may be a suitable therapeutic target for diseases associated with bone remodeling.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권4호
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• pp.344-350
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• 2017

Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by the condition of airway hyper-responsiveness, which serves to produce narrowing of the airway secondary to airway inflammation and/or various spasm-inducing stimulus. Nonspecific bronchoprovocation testing is an important method implemented for the purpose of diagnosing asthma; this test measures the actual degree of airway hyper-responsiveness and utilizes direct and indirect bronchoprovocation testing. Direct bronchoprovocation testing using methacholine or histamine may have superior sensitivity as these substances directly stimulate the airway smooth muscle cells. On the other hand, this method also engenders the specific disadvantage of relatively low specificity. Indirect bronchoprovocation testing using mannitol, exercise, hypertonic saline, adenosine and hyperventilation serves to produce reactions in the airway smooth muscle cells by liberating mediators with stimulation of airway inflammatory cells. Therefore, this method has the advantage of high specificity and also demonstrates relatively low sensitivity. Direct and indirect testing both call for very precise descriptions of very specific measurement conditions. In addition, it has become evident that challenge testing utilizing each of the various bronchoconstrictor stimuli requires distinct and specific protocols. It is therefore important that the clinician understand the mechanism by which the most commonly used bronchoprovocation testing works. It is important that the clinician understand the mechanism of action in the testing, whether direct stimuli (methacholine) or indirect stimuli (mannitol, exercise) is implemented, when the testing is performed and the results interpreted.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.722-730
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• 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogenic virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with major symptoms including hyper-inflammation and cytokine storm, which consequently impairs the respiratory system and multiple organs, or even cause death. SARS-CoV-2 activates inflammasomes and inflammasome-mediated inflammatory signaling pathways, which are key determinants of hyperinflammation and cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 inhibits inflammasome activation to evade the host's antiviral immunity. Therefore, regulating inflammasome initiation has received increasing attention as a preventive measure in COVID-19 patients. Ginseng and its major active constituents, ginsenosides and saponins, improve the immune system and exert anti-inflammatory effects by targeting inflammasome stimulation. Therefore, this review discussed the potential preventive and therapeutic roles of ginseng in COVID-19 based on its regulatory role in inflammasome initiation and the host's antiviral immunity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.149-162
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on Jogsamni (ST36) in the collagen-induced arthritis rats and investigate the role played by opioid receptor subtypes $({\mu},\;{\delta},\;{\kappa})$ in the antinociceptive effect of electroacupuncture (EA) In the thermal hyper algesia test. Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type H collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster injection 2 weeks later induced collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated weekly with tail flick latency (TFL). In the fourth week after first immunization, EA stimulation (2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni (5736) for 20 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by using the tail flick latency (TFL) after intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, naloxone, naltrindole and nor-binaltorphimine respectively to CIA rats. Results : The results were as follows; 1. The TFL were gradually decreased in CIA as time elapsed after e immunization of arthrogenic collagen and the maximum value was reached between the third to fifth week. 2. EA stimulation on 5736 inhibited chronic inflammatory pain induced by CIA. 3. The analgesic effect of EA was inhibited by pretreatment of ${\mu}-receptor$ antagonist (naloxone),${\delta}-receptor$ antagonist (naltrindole) and ${\kappa}-receptor$ antagonist (nor-binaltorphimine) respectively. Conclusion : Electroacupuncture has an analgesic effect on the CIA rat and has an antinociception mediated by 8, 5, H receptors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: One of the mechanisms considered to be prevalent in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hyper-stimulation of microglia. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocapa L.) is widely used to treat diabetes and atherosclerosis, and is known to exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, its neuroprotective effects have not been elucidated thus far. MATERIALS/METHODS: We undertook to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanolic extract of black chokeberry friut (BCE) in BV2 cells, and evaluate its neuroprotective effect in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of AD. RESULTS: Following stimulation of BV2 cells by LPS, exposure to BCE significantly reduced the generation of nitric oxide as well as mRNA levels of numerous inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin 1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$). In addition, AD was induced in a mouse model by intraperitoneal injection of LPS ($250{\mu}g/kg$), subsequent to which we investigated the neuroprotective effects of BCE (50 mg/kg) on brain damage. We observed that BCE significantly reduced tissue damage in the hippocampus by downregulating iNOS, COX-2, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels. We further identified the quinic acids in BCE using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Furthermore, we confirmed the neuroprotective effect of BCE and quinic acid on amyloid beta-induced cell death in rat hippocampal primary neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that black chokeberry has protective effects against the development of AD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.128-136
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• 2003

목 적 : Hyper IgM syndrome(HIGM)은 크게 세 부류로 나누는데, CD40L 분자의 돌연변이로 초래되며 X-linked로 유전되는 형태를 HIGM1이라고 하고, 상염색체성 열성 형태로 유전되면서 CD40L는 정상적으로 표현되는 형태로 activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID) 유전자에 이상 때문에 오는 경우를 HIGM2로 분류하고 있다. 다른 한 부류는 X-linked HIGM 증후군의 매우 드문 한 형태로서 발한 저하성 외배엽 이형성증이 동반된 경우로, 이 질환은 전사인자인 nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$의 활성화에 관여하는 nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ essential modulator를 coding하는 유전자의 돌연변이 때문에 오는 것으로 알려져 있다. 연구자들은 HIGM2와 유사하지만 AID 유전자에 변이는 없는 새로운 형태의 HIGM 환자의 말초 B세포를 이용하여 병인을 조사하고자 본 연구를 시도하였다. 방 법 : 환자의 말초혈액 단핵구를 분리하고, EBV로 immortalization을 시켜 Cycle TEST PLUS DNA Reagent kit를 이용하여 cell cycle을 분석하였다. 환자의 말초혈액 T 세포에서 CD40L의 표현을 immunostaining으로 알아보고, RNA를 추출하여 RT-PCR을 하고 direct sequencing을 통하여 CD40L 유전자의 돌연변이 부위를 찾아보았다. 아울러 AID 유전자의 돌연변이를 찾기 위하여 같은 방법으로 sequencing하고 조사하였다. 환자의 림프절을 병리학적인 검사를 시행하고 CD3, CD23, CD40, Fas-L, bcl-2, BAX의 표현을 알아보기 위하여 immunostaining을 실시하였다. 결 과: 림프절의 광학적 소견은 반응성 여포증식의 소견을 보였으며, 여포와 단구양 증식은 B-세포 표시인자인 L26에 양성을 보였고, 대부분의 형질세포는 IgM에 양성을 보였다. 여포는 CD40, Fas, BAX에 양성반응을 보이고, bcl-2와 Fas-L에 음성반응을 보였다. 말초혈액 B 림프구를 이용하여 cell cycle을 분석한 결과 정상(17.9%)에 비하여 G2/mitosis phase(M3 in figure)가 현저하게 감소(8.5%)되어 있는 양상을 보여주고 있으며, IL-4로 자극한 경우에는 정상인에서 보여주는 양상으로 회복되는 양상을 볼 수 있었다. 단핵수에서 CD40L의 표현은 정상이었고 CD40L 유전자에도 돌연변이는 발견할 수 없었으며, HuAID 유전자에도 돌연변이를 발견할 수 없었다. 결 론 : 환자의 말초혈액 B림프구를 통한 연구 결과, 기존에 보고 되어진 HIGM2 형태와 임상적으로는 비슷하지만, 정상적인 AID유전자를 보이고, G2/mitosis phase가 정상에 비하여 감소된, 새로운 형태의 HIGM이라고 여겨진다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.63-72
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• 2017

Objective: Hyperstimulation methods are broadly used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with infertility; however, the side effects associated with these therapies, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), have not been well studied. N-glycoproteomes are subproteomes used for the remote sensing of ovarian stimulation in follicular growth. Glycoproteomic variation in human follicular fluid (hFF) has not been evaluated. In this study, we aimed to identify and quantify the glycoproteomes and N-glycoproteins (N-GPs) in natural and stimulated hFF using label-free nano-liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-quad time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Methods: For profiling of the total proteome and glycoproteome, pooled protein samples from natural and stimulated hFF samples were selectively isolated using hydrazide chemistry to obtain the total proteomes and glycoproteomes. N-GPs were validated by the consensus sequence N-X-S/T (92.2% specificity for the N-glycomotif at p<0.05). All data were compared between natural versus hyperstimulated hFF samples. Results: We detected 41 and 44 N-GPs in the natural and stimulated hFF samples, respectively. Importantly, we identified 11 N-GPs with greater than two-fold upregulation in stimulated hFF samples compared to natural hFF samples. We also validated the novel N-GPs thyroxine-binding globulin, vitamin D-binding protein, and complement proteins C3 and C9. Conclusion: We identified and classified N-GPs in hFF to improve our understanding of follicular physiology in patients requiring assisted reproduction. Our results provided important insights into the prevention of hyperstimulation side effects, such as OHSS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.205-210
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• 1989

To investigate the effects of ovarian cysts on the controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation cycles, 16 patients with 16 paired cycles for IVF-ET were analyzed. These patients had taken both type of cycles, i.e., with cyst(cyst group) and without cyst(control group). Mean diameter of ovarian cysts in cyst group was 18.2mm. There were no significant differences in hormone levels in early follicular phase between two groups. No significant differences were found in total dosage of hMG(IU) administered during the ovarian stimulation $843.8{\pm}123.0$ vs $891.0{\pm}129.8$, serum estradiol level (pg/ml) on the day of hCG administration($1542.8{\pm}1100.6$ vs $1567.5{\pm}1193.0$), the number of aspirated follicles $10.0{\pm}3.4$ vs $11.2{\pm}4.3$ and oocytes $5.3{\pm}3.3$ vs $6.2{\pm}3.1$, the fertilization rate(51.2 % vs 57.2 %) and the cleavage rate(40.5 % vs 52.0 %). Serum estradiol terminal patterns during COH in one group tended to be repeated in the other group. In conclusion, this study suggests that small ovarian cysts do not adversely impact on the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation parameters in IVF - ET program and the presence of small ovarian cyst without concomitant high basal serum estradiol level is not an indication of the cancellation of the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권9호
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• pp.1021-1028
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• 2009

목 적:저자들은 그레이브스병으로 인한 갑상샘기능항진증을 가진 소아나 청소년에게 항갑상샘 약물 치료 전, 치료 중, 그리고 치료 종료 시에 관해를 예측할 수 있는 예측인자를 각각 찾아보고 그레이브스병의 관해율을 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법:그레이브스병으로 인한 갑상샘기능항진증으로 진단받고 3년 이상 외래 추적 관찰이 가능했던 64명의 환자를 관해를 획득한 군과 관해를 획득하지 못한 군으로 나누어 후향적으로 진단 당시의 갑상선 기능 검사와 TBII, 진단 당시 Tanner stage, 갑상샘 질환 가족력, 발현시의 증상, TBII가 정상화되는 시기와 TRH 자극 검사 시행 여부 등을 조사 분석하였다. 결 과:총 64명의 환아 중 관해가 온 환아는 37명(57.8%), 마지막 외래 추적 관찰 때 까지 관해가 오지 않은 환아는 27명(42.2%)이었다. 관해를 획득한 군과 관해를 획득하지 못한 군에서 성별이나, 발병 당시 나이, 안구돌출 여부나 진단 당시 갑상샘종의 크기, 갑상샘 질환의 가족력, 그리고 진단 당시 갑상샘 기능 검사나 TBII 수치도 차이가 없었다. 약물 치료 후 TBII가 정상화되기까지 걸리는 기간은 관해를 획득한 군은 평균 $15.5{\pm}12.07$개월, 관해를 획득하지 못한 군은 $41.69{\pm}35.70$개월로 관해를 획득한 군에서 관해를 획득하지 못한 군에 비해 유의하게 짧았다(P<0.05). 관해에 도달 한 후 TRH 자극 검사를 시행한 28명의 환아 중 정상 또는 과도한 반응을 보인 26명 중 24명(92.8%)은 마지막 외래 추적 관찰 시까지 관해를 유지하고 있었고 오직 2명(7.7%)에서만 재발하였다. 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 통해 약물 치료 후 TBII가 빨리 정상화 되는 경우 관해가 올 가능성이 높음을 알 수 있었다. 그리고 본 연구에서의 관해율은 3년에 6.3%, 6년에 55.8%로 나타났다. 결 론:치료 중 TBII가 빨리 정상화되는 것은 소아 및 청소년 그레이브스병 환자의 관해여부를 예측할 수 있는 인자가 될 수 있을 것으로 생각되며 약물 중단 시에는 TRH 자극 검사가 그레이브스병이 재발 없이 관해를 유지할 수 있는지 예측 하는데 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.