• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Objectives We evaluated the improving effects of Taeksa-tang (TST) using 3T3-L1 cells and C57BL/6 mice were fed on a high-fat diet. Methods The anti-radical activities of TST were studied using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). The content of total polyphenol was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, whereas aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for the content of total flavonoid. Moreover, the factors related to lipid profile and the protein expressions such as 𝛽-oxidation and anti-oxidant enzyme were analyzed using serum and western blotting of 3T3-L1 cells. Additionally, we examined lipolysis through glycerol appearance in mouse adipose tissue. Results TST treatment showed strong free radical scavenging activities with half maximal inhibitory concentration and the presence of a amount of total polyphenol and total flavonoid. TST treatment significantly increased factors related to 𝛽-oxidation such as carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 and uncoupling protein 2 via the phosphorlyation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Moreover, the protein expressions of anti-oxidant enzyme and lipolysis were significantly elevated by TST administration. In addition, TST supplementation lowered serum malondialdehyde, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels compared with the control group. Taken together, these data suggest that TST treatment regulated lipid parameters via the increase of 𝛽-oxidation by LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway. Conclusions TST may have a potential remedy in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Therefore, this study may provide the scientific basis for TST use.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_3
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• pp.1383-1398
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• 2018

Sea surface wind is one of the most fundamental variables for understanding diverse marine phenomena. Although scatterometers have produced global wind field data since the early 1990's, the data has been used limitedly in oceanic applications due to it slow spatial resolution, especially at coastal regions. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is capable to produce high resolution wind field data. KOMPSAT-5 is the first Korean satellite equipped with X-band SAR instrument and is able to retrieve the sea surface wind. This study presents the validation results of sea surface wind derived from the KOMPSAT-5 backscattering coefficient data for the first time. We collected 18 KOMPSAT-5 ES mode data to produce a matchup database collocated with buoy stations. In order to calculate the accurate wind speed, we preprocessed the SAR data, including land masking, speckle noise reduction, and ship detection, and converted the in-situ wind to 10-m neutral wind as reference wind data using Liu-Katsaros-Businger (LKB) model. The sea surface winds based on XMOD2 show root-mean-square errors of about $2.41-2.74m\;s^{-1}$ depending on backscattering coefficient conversion equations. In-depth analyses on the wind speed errors derived from KOMPSAT-5 backscattering coefficient data reveal the existence of diverse potential error factors such as image quality related to range ambiguity, discrete and discontinuous distribution of incidence angle, change in marine atmospheric environment, impacts on atmospheric gravity waves, ocean wave spectrum, and internal wave.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.134-147
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• 2022

The anti-oxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. From a library of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines, we identified a novel compound KKC080096 that upregulated HO-1 at the mRNA and protein levels in microglial BV-2 cells. KKC080096 exhibited anti-inflammatory effects via suppressing nitric oxide, interleukin1β (IL-1β), and iNOS production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged cells. It inhibited the phosphorylation of IKK and MAP kinases (p38, JNK, ERK), which trigger inflammatory signaling, and whose activities are inhibited by HO-1. Further, KKC080096 upregulated anti-inflammatory marker (Arg1, YM1, CD206, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β]) expression. In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinetreated mice, KKC080096 lowered microglial activation, protected the nigral dopaminergic neurons, and nigral damage-associated motor deficits. Next, we elucidated the mechanisms by which KKC080096 upregulated HO-1. KKC080096 induced the phosphorylation of AMPK and its known upstream kinases LKB1 and CaMKKbeta, and pharmacological inhibition of AMPK activity reduced the effects of KKC080096 on HO-1 expression and LPS-induced NO generation, suggesting that KKC080096-induced HO-1 upregulation involves LKB1/AMPK and CaMKKbeta/AMPK pathway activation. Further, KKC080096 caused an increase in cellular Nrf2 level, bound to Keap1 (Nrf2 inhibitor protein) with high affinity, and blocked Keap1-Nrf2 interaction. This Nrf2 activation resulted in concurrent induction of HO-1 and other Nrf2-targeted antioxidant enzymes in BV-2 and in dopaminergic CATH.a cells. These results indicate that KKC080096 is a potential therapeutic for oxidative stress-and inflammation-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.103-114
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• 1979

The authors observed the ultrastructure of the granular glands in the amphibian skin with an electron microscope. The specimens from the experimental animals (Bombina orientalis, Bufo bufo gargarizans, Rana nigromaculata and Rana rugosa) were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-paraformaldehyde fixative in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 prior to fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in graded ethanol and acetone, embedded in Epon 812 mixture, and sectioned with a LKB-ultramicrotome. the ultrathin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with a JEOL-100B electron microscope. The results were as follws: 1. The granular gland in the amphibian skin consisted of the glandular epithelial and the myoepithelial cells. 2. The epithelial cells of the granular gland in the amphibian skin consisted of the dark cells but the light cells were also observed in that of Bombina orientalis. 3. The granular glands of the amphibian skin were in holocrine fashion. 4. The nuclei of the epithelial cells of the amphibian cutaneous granular glands were round or oval and showed small and large inforldings of nuclear envelope. Heterochromatins were mainly distributed near the nuclear envelope. Mitochondria were mainly distributed in the perinuclear portion and rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulums were developed in the cytoplasm but smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulums were not well developed. 5. Secretory granules were round or oval and electron-dense and less electron-dense granules were observed. 6. The authors infer that the differences in electron density of the secretory granules in the granular glands of the amphibian skin are due to difference in the concentrations of secretory substances as related to the processes of its formation, and that those chemical components are identical.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.386-398
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• 2020

Tissue fibrosis is an eventual pathologic change of numerous chronic illnesses, which is characterized by resident fibroblasts differentiation into myofibroblasts during inflammation, coupled with excessive extracellular matrix deposition in tissues, ultimately leading to failure of normal organ function. Now, there are many mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis, which facilitate the discovery of effective antifibrotic drugs. Moreover, many chronic diseases remain a significant clinical unmet need. For the past five years, many research works have undoubtedly addressed the functional dependency of ginsenosides in different types of fibrosis and the successful remission in various animal models treated with ginsenosides. Caveolin-1, interleukin, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), liver X receptors (LXRs), Nrf2, microRNA-27b, PPARδ-STAT3, liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-AMPK, and TGF-β1/Smads are potential therapy targeting using ginsenosides. Ginsenosides can play a targeting role and suppress chronic inflammatory response, collagen deposition, and epitheliale-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as myofibroblast activation to attenuate fibrosis. In this report, our aim was to focus on the therapeutic prospects of ginsenosides in fibrosis-related human diseases making use of results acquired from various animal models. These findings should provide important therapeutic clues and strategies for the exploration of new drugs for fibrosis treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1983

The authors observed the ultrastructure of oral leukoplakia simplex of gingiva, buccal mucosa, tongue and alveolar ridge. For the purpose of clearly defining the lesions under investigation in this study, leukoplakias were cinsidered to be any white patches on the oral mucous membranes that could not be removed by rubbing and could not be classified clinically or microscopically as another diagnosable disease. The tissue to be examined were embedded in paraffin for light microscopic study. The tissue to be examined under the electronomicroscope were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer and 1% osmic acid in 0.1M cacodylate buffer, dehydrated with guaded alchol, and treated with propylene oxide, and embedded in Epon.Ultrathin sections were obtained by LKB III ultrotome, stained with uranyl acetate/lead citrate, and examined with Corinth 500EM. The results were as follows : 1. Epithelium of leukoplakia consisted of stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. 2. There was hyperorthokerotosis or hyperparakeratosis. 3. Granular cells contained a lot number of membrane coating granule showing lamellar structure, clearing ot codensation, and a lot of keratohyaline granule varied in size. 4. An increased concentration of tonofilaments and an increased number of desmosomes were found in the stratum spinosum. 5. Basal lamina generally showed its continuity, but in some locatoins, its interreption and multiplication appeared.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.425-426
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• 2018

As highly conserved signaling cascades of multicellular organisms, Wnt and Hippo pathways control a wide range of cellular activities, including cell adhesion, fate determination, cell cycle, motility, polarity, and metabolism. Dysregulation of those pathways are implicated in many human diseases, including cancer. Similarly to ${\beta}-catenin$ in the Wnt pathway, the YAP transcription co-activator is a major player in Hippo. Although the intracellular dynamics of YAP are well-known to largely depend on phosphorylation by LATS and AMPK kinases, the molecular effector of YAP cytosolic translocation remains unidentified. Recently, we reported that the Dishevelled (DVL), a key scaffolding protein between canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathway, is responsible for nuclear export of phosphorylated YAP. The DVL is also required for YAP intracellular trafficking induced by E-cadherin, ${\alpha}-catenin$, or metabolic stress. Note that the p53/LATS2 and LKB1/AMPK tumor suppressor axes, commonly inactivated in human cancer, govern the reciprocal inhibition between DVL and YAP. Conversely, loss of the tumor suppressor allows co-activation of YAP and Wnt independent of epithelial polarity or contact inhibition in human cancer. These observations provide novel mechanistic insight into (1) a tight molecular connection merging the Wnt and Hippo pathways, and (2) the importance of tumor suppressor contexts with respect to controlled proliferation and epithelial polarity regulated by cell adhesion.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-28
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• 2009

The expression KES, one of the most commonly used words in the Korean language, has various usages. This expression is also used to express English-like cleft constructions. Korean seems to employ at least three different types of cleft constructions: predicational, identificational, and eventual. The paper tries to provide a constraint-based analysis of these three types of Korean cleft constructions and implement the analysis in the LKB(Linguistic Knowledge Building) system to check the feasibility of the analysis. In particular, the paper shows how a typed feature structure grammar, couched upon HPSG, can provide a robust basis for parsing Korean cleft constructions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1999

Taurine contents in alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, milk and milk products, sugars and condiments were determined for 83 food items commonly used by Koreans. Taurine concentrations of food samples were analyzed by using an automated amino acid analyzer(Biochrom 20, Pharmacia LKB) based on ion exchange chromatography. Taurine was not detected in most carbonated beverages, but found in a variety of fruit and vegetable beverages(canned) in the range of 0.13 ~1.43mg taurine/ 100g wt, and in instant coffee or tea beverages(canned) in the range of 0.10~0.41mg taurine/100g wt. The traditional Korean turbid rice wine(takju) sample contained the highest level of taurine (2.29mg/100g wt) among alcoholic beverages tested, which was followed by wine(0.59~0.88mg tau rine/100g wt) and beer(0.53~0.73mg taurine/100g wt). Ordinary milk samples contained 1.05~1.40 mg taurine/100g wt, and a variety of taurine supplemented infant formulas manufactured by Korean companies included 17.3~25.4mg taurine/100g wt. Taurine was not detected in most sugars and sweetners except a couple of chocolate samples(2.13~2.18mg taurine/100g wt). Exceptionally high level of taurine was found in a curry powder sample(16.9mg taurine/100g wt), while the rest of commonly used condiments contained less than 2.90mg taurine/100g wt.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.801-807
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• 1998

Taurine content in Korean foods of plant origin was determined for 118 commonly used food items including cereals, potatoes, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits. Taurine concentration in food sample was analyzed using an automated amino acid analyzer(Biochrom 20, Pharmacia LKB) based on ion-exchange chromatography. Taurine was frequently detected in plant kingdom in much lower concentrations(1/100~1/1000) than those found in marine lifes and mammals. Glutinous rice, glutinous millent and sorghum did not contain taurine, while 0.7~3.9mg taurine/100g dry wt were detected in rice, barley and their products. Potatoes and sweet potatoes contained 0.3~1.2mg taurine/100g wet wt, and seasame seeds, perilla seeds, almonds, walnuts and gigko nuts contained 0.7~3.0mg taurine/100g wt. Taurine concentration was undetectable in most of the pulses, and in a large number of vegetables. Garlic bulbs, eggplants, green peppers, lotus roots, and cabbages have a relatively high level of taurine(around 1mg taurine/100g wet wt) among vegetables. Taurine was absent or found in very low levels(<1mg taurine/100g wet wt) in most of the commonly used fruits.