• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.276-287
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• 2006

Background & Objective : The herbal medicine Sojukgunbihwan granule has been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, generally categorized as a gastric dysmotility disease. However, its mechanisms are not yet well known. Therefore, the effects of Sojukgunbihwan granules on gastric motility in rats was investigated. Methods : The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded by a bipolar electrode placed at the gastric antrum of rats. The contractile waves were measured for 30 minutes before and after intragastric administration of each solution(normal saline, Pyungwisan 40mg/kg, Sojukgunbihwan granules 60mg/kg) and expressed as the motility index. Gastric emptying was measured by the number of glass beads expelled from the stomach(containing one hundred 1mm glass beads) within an hour after glass beads and test drugs(normal saline, Pyungwisan 40mg/kg, Pyungwisan 120mg/kg, Sojukgunbihwan granules 60mg/kg, Sojukgunbihwan granules 180mg/kg) were administered. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanisms of Sojukgunbihwan granules under delayed conditions, the rats were treated with atropine sulfate(1 mg/kg, s.c.), cisplatin(10mg/kg, i.p.), and NAME($N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) respectively. Results : Intragastric administration of Sojukgunbihwan granules increased the myoelectrical activity significantly, gastric motility index rose 25%, and gastric emptying of glass beads was significantly enhanced over a period of 60minutes. Under the delayed gastric emptying induced by atropine sulfate, cisplatin, and NAME, Sojukgunbihwan granules aggravated gastric emptying in the atropine sulfate($5.71{\pm}3.45\;vs\;3.71{\pm}4.42$) and cisplatin($13.86{\pm}3.53\;vs\;5.14{\pm}5.05$, p<0.01) treated groups, but enhanced gastric emptying in the NAME treated group($5.00{\pm}3.21\;vs\;11.71{\pm}5.65$, p<0.05). Conclusions : Results suggest that Sojukgunbihwan granules stimulate gastric motility through cholinergic and 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptors. Results are indicative of Sojukgunbihwan as an especially effective remedy in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with impaired reservoir functions such as gastric adaptive relaxation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.16-34
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• 2011

Scirpus L. s.l. of Cyperaceae has been regarded as a monophyletic group, but the taxa of Scirpus s.l. were rearranged into the five independent genera in recent molecular phylogenetic research: Bolboschoenus (Asch.) Palla, Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla, Schoenoplectiella Lye, Scirpus L., and Trichophorum Pers. In this study, we examined the morphological characteristics and presented the delineation of the five genera of Scirpus s.l., including 21 taxa from South Korea. As a result of our investigation and analysis of domestic collections and those from abroad, the each taxon could be identified using key characteristics of the rhizome features; a cross-section of culm; the degree of development and the width of leaves; the shapes of the membranous region of leaf sheath; and the shapes and size of inflorescence, bract, floral scale, and achene. These major characteristics are illustrated and artificial keys are suggested in this study. In addition, we suggest a new combination for an unrecorded taxon of Schoenoplectiella that was discovered in Gangwon-do, Goseong-gun and give it the Korean name, as 'a-do-song-i-go-raeng-i'.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 2000

This study was conducted to prove that there exists a relation between the spleen and learning and memory as Oriental medicine believesTo promote the function of the Spleen, Guibitang was administered to rats in this study. Rats were 250～300g Sprague-Dawley, and were divided into three groups. One was the normal group without any pretreatment. Another was the control group which was administered normal saline and the abdominal injection of L-NAME before learning and memory test. And the 3rd was the sample group, to which was administered Guibitang extract and (no 'the') abdominal injection of L-NAME before the learning and memory test. Each group was made up of 12 rats. Morris water maze and radial arm maze tasks were performed in the learning test and Morris water maze task in the memory test. For 2 days to evaluate the ability of learning in the Morris water maze, 16 trials were carried out and first latency(lapse time to find the escape platform for the first time) was measured. The next day, to evaluate the ability of memory, the escape platform was eliminated from the maze, and total path, target entry number, first latency and memory score were measured. 48hrs before the radial arm maze task was performed, bait was deprived from each group. After learning test, bait was permitted to each group. So 85% of the body weight was maintained for 6 days of the test. Each of the eight arms was baited; correct choice numer and error were counted; each trial was finished when the rat had entered each of the eight arms, or more than 10 minutes had elapsed. The results were as follows: In the learning test, the first latency of the sample group in the Morris water maze showed evident improvement of learning compared to control group at the 11th, 12th, 13th trial of 16 trials, and correct choice number in radial arm maze showed noticeable improvement compared to the control group at 3rd, 4th and 5th; In the memory test, the memory score of the sample group showed evident improvement compared to the control group. From the above results, the administration of Guibitang, which tonifies the function of the Spleen, could enhance the ability of learning and memory. So it was suggested that the Spleen has a relation with learning and memory.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.175-182
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• 2007

Members of prostaglandin(PG) E-series elicit cellular effects mainly through adenylyl cyclase-cAMP signaling. The role of $PGE_2$-induced increase in cAMP has been shown to be compartmentalized in the cardiac myocytes: $PGE_2$-induced increase of cAMP is not involved in the control of cardiomyocytic contraction. The purpose of the present study was to define the effect of $PGE_1$ on the cGMP levels and the role of $PGE_1$ in the atrial secretory function. Experiments were performed in perfused beating rabbit atria and atrial contractile responses, cGMP and cAMP efflux, and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) secretion were measured. $PGE_1$ increased cGMP as well as cAMP efflux concentration in a concentration-dependent manner, however, no significant changes in atrial secretory responses were observed(with $1.0{\mu}M\;PGE_1$; for cGMP, $144.76{\pm}37.5%$, n=11 versus $-16.81{\pm}4.76%$, n=6, control, p<0.01; for cAMP, $187.60{\pm}41.52%$, n=11 versus $7.38{\pm}19.44%$, n=6, control, p<0.01). $PGE_1$ decreased atrial dynamics slightly but transiently, whereas $PGE_2$ showed similar effects but with lower potency. Isoproterenol increased atrial cAMP efflux(with 2.0 nM; $145.71{\pm}41.89$, n=5 versus $7.38{\pm}19.44%$, n=6, control, p<0.05) and mechanical dynamics and decreased ANP secretion. The $PGE_1$-induced increase in cGMP efflux showed a bell-shaped concentration-response curve. $PGE_1$-induced increase of cGMP efflux was not observed in the presence of L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide(NO) synthase, or ODQ, an inhibitor of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase. L-NAME and ODQ showed no significant effect on the $PGE_1$-induced transient decrease of atrial dynamics. These data indicate that $PGE_1$ increases cGMP levels via NO-soluble GC signaling in the cardiac atrium and also show that $PGE_1$-induced increases in cGMP and cAMP levels are not involved in the regulation of atrial secretory and contractile functions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2020

We found Diplachne fusca subsp. uninervia (J. Presl) P.M. Peterson & N. Snow, an unrecorded alien plant, in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do and Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City. Diplachne fusca subsp. uninervia is native to North America (the USA and Mexico), Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua), the Caribbean (the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico), and South America (Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay). It is reported as an invasive species worldwide. Diplachne fusca subsp. uninervia is closely related to D. fusca subsp. fascicularis (Lam.) P.M. Peterson & N. Snow (Gaet-deu-reong-sae in Korean), an invasive species in Korea, and both are infraspecific taxa of the species D. fusca. Diplachne fusca subsp. uninervia is distinguished from D. fusca subsp. fascicularis by the small size of its spikelets, glumes, and lemmas, with apex awnless. Its common name is "Jom-gaet-deu-reong-sae" based on the short spikelets. We found that D. fusca (≡Leptochloa fusca), previously known as "Gaet-deu-reong-sae", was misapplied. It is morphologically different from D. fusca subsp. fascicularis. Therefore, we changed the scientific name of Gaet-deu-reong-sae from D. fusca (≡L. fusca) to D. fusca subsp. fascicularis based on the type specimens, original descriptions, and recent studies.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 1998

Stimulated alveolar macrophages and neutrophils produce nitric oxide, a free radical by an inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), which reacts with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite, a more highly reactive toxic species. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate acute inflammatory lung injury and to determine iNOS mRNA induction and nitric oxide production by rat broncho-alveolar lavage cells following intratracheal treatment of silica. After 4 h exposure to silica, differential counts of broncho-alveolar lavage cells and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity as well as total protein in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were determined. Broncho-alveolar lavage cells were also assayed for iNOS mRNA and the productions of nitrite and nitrate measured in the cells cultured. Differential analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage cells showed that the number of alveolar macrophages slightly decreased following silica treatment; however, red blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils significantly were increased by 9-, 14-, and 119-fold following silica treatment, respectively, compared with the saline control. It was also found significant increases in the LDH activity and total protein in the lavage fluid obtained from silica-treated rats, indicating silica-induced acute lung injury. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the steady state levels of iNOS mRNA in broncho-alveolar lavage cells were increased following silica treatment. The productions of nitrite and nitrate in the cultured cells were significantly increased by 2-fold following silica treatment, respectively, which were attenuated by the NOS inhibitor $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine-methyl$ ester(L-NAME) and partially reversed by L-arginine. These findings suggest that nitric oxide production in alveolar macrophages and recruited neutrophils is increased in response to silica. Nitric oxide may contribute in part to acute inflammatory lung injury.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.2 s.145
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

The butanol extracts of Agrimonia pilosa (BAP) induced dose-dependent vascular relaxation of phenylephrine-precontracted aorta, which was abolished by removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the endothelium-intact aortic tissues with $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[$4,3-{\alpha}$]-quinoxalin-1-one(ODQ) inhibited the relaxation induced by BAP. BAP-induced vascular relaxation was also markedly attenuated by addition of verapamiI, while the relaxant effect of BAP was not blocked by indomethacine, glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium (TEA), atropine, or propranolo. In addition, incubation of endothelium-intact aortic rings with BAP increased the vascular production of cGMP. These results suggest that BAP relaxes vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathway, which may be causally related with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.69
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• pp.201-220
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• 2016

A bill of lading is a document which is signed by the carrier or his agent acknowledging that the goods have been shipped on board a named vessel bound for the destination and stating the terms on which the goods so received are to be carried. Therefore, the bill of lading is a document of title enabling the holder to obtain credit from banks before the arrival of the goods, for the transfer of the bill of lading can operate as a pledge of the goods themselves. In the other words the bill of lading creates a privity between its holder and the carrier as if the contract was made. A bill of lading, for obtaining credit from banks, must appear to indicate the carrier's name and signature, the "shipped on board" notation, the port of loading and unloading stated in the sales contract and the credit. Data in the bill of lading, when read in context with the sales contract, the credit, the bill of lading itself and international standard banking practice, need not be identical to, but must not conflict with, data in that bill of lading, any other stipulated document, the sales contract or the credit. The surrender bill of lading, stamping "surrendered" on the original bill of lading by request of the shipper, is not recognized the legal effectiveness as a document of title by the statutory law and court. The surrender bill of lading may increase the risk of impossibility of payment to the holder. Therefore, the surrender bill of lading should be used restrictively between the credible parties and suggested to avoid in the other cases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.641-647
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• 2016

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by vascular remodeling of pulmonary arteries (PAs) and increased vascular resistance in the lung. Monocrotaline (MCT), a toxic alkaloid, is widely used for developing rat models of PAH caused by injury to pulmonary endothelial cells; however, characteristics of vascular functions in MCT-induced PAH vary and are not fully understood. Here, we investigated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) responses and effects of various vasoconstrictors with isolated/perfused lungs of MCT-induced PAH (PAH-MCT) rats. Using hematoxylin and eosin staining, we confirmed vascular remodeling (i.e., medial thickening of PA) and right ventricle hypertrophy in PAH-MCT rats. The basal pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and PAP increase by a raised flow rate (40 mL/min) were higher in the PAH-MCT than in the control rats. In addition, both high $K^+$ (40 mM KCl)- and angiotensin II-induced PAP increases were higher in the PAH-MCT than in the control rats. Surprisingly, application of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-$N^G$-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), induced a marked PAP increase in the PAH-MCT rats, suggesting that endothelial functions were recovered in the three-week PAH-MCT rats. In addition, the medial thickening of the PA was similar to that in chronic hypoxia-induced PAH (PAH-CH) rats. However, the HPV response (i.e., PAP increased by acute hypoxia) was not affected in the MCT rats, whereas HPV disappeared in the PAH-CH rats. These results showed that vascular contractility and HPV remain robust in the MCT-induced PAH rat model with vascular remodeling.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

To reduce the effect of color distortions on reading colors, it is more desirable to statistically process as many pixels in the individual color region as possible. This process may require segmentation, which usually requires edge detection. However, edges in color codes can be disconnected due to various distortions such as dark current, color cross, zipper effect, shade and reflection, to name a few. Edge linking is also a difficult process. In this paper, k-means clustering was performed on the images where edge detectors failed segmentation. Experiments were conducted on 311 images taken in different environments with different cameras. The primary and secondary colors were randomly selected for each color code region. While segmentation rate by edge detectors was 89.4%, the proposed method increased it to 99.4%. Color recognition was performed based on hue, a*, and b* components, with the accuracy of 100% for the successfully segmented cases.