• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.244-255
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• 2018

Low-grade pro-inflammatory state and leptin resistance are important underlying mechanisms that contribute to obesity-associated hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that Astragaloside IV (As IV), known to counteract obesity and hypertension, could prevent obesity-associated hypertension by inhibiting pro-inflammatory reaction and leptin resistance. High-fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the HFD control group (HF con group), As IV group, and the As IV + ${\alpha}$-bungaratoxin (${\alpha}-BGT$) group (As IV+${\alpha}-BGT$ group). As IV ($20mg{\cdot}Kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) was administrated to rats for 6 weeks via daily oral gavage. Body weight and blood pressure were continuously measured, and NE levels in the plasma and renal cortex was evaluated to reflect the sympathetic activity. The expressions of leptin receptor (LepRb) mRNA, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) mRNA, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA were measured by Western blot or qRT-PCR to evaluate the hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. Additionally, we measured the protein or mRNA levels of ${\alpha}7nAChR$, inhibitor of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ kinase subunit ${\beta}/nuclear$ factor ${\kappa}B$ ($IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$) in hypothalamus and adipose tissue to reflect the anti-inflammatory effects of As IV through upregulating expression of ${\alpha}7nAChR$. We found that As IV prevented body weight gain and adipose accumulation, and also improved metabolic disorders in HFD rats. Furthermore, As IV decreased BP and HR, as well as NE levels in blood and renal tissue. In the hypothalamus, As IV alleviated leptin resistance as evidenced by the increased p-STAT3, LepRb mRNA and POMC mRNA, and decreased p-PI3K, SOCS3 mRNA, and PTP1B mRNA. The effects of As IV on leptin sensitivity were related in part to the up-regulated ${\alpha}7nAchR$ and suppressed $IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$ signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, since co-administration of ${\alpha}7nAChR$ selective antagonist ${\alpha}-BGT$ could weaken the improved effect of As IV on central leptin resistance. Our study suggested that As IV could efficiently prevent obesityassociated hypertension through inhibiting inflammatory reaction and improving leptin resistance; furthermore, these effects of As IV was partly related to the increased ${\alpha}7nAchR$ expression.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.36-43
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Wicheon watershed has the largest irrigation area among the mid-watershed of Nakdong river. However, no investigation of irrigation water quality has been conducted on the Wicheon watershed, which evaluates the effects on the soil quality and crop cultivation. Therefore, this study aims to provide various assessments of water quality of Wicheon watershed as the scientific basic data for efficient agricultural activities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Water sampling was performed in five locations of the first tributaries of Wicheon. Wicheon watershed showed clean water quality with very low organic matters and safe water quality from metals at all points of investigation. It was estimated that the natural chemical components of Wicheon watershed were originated from water-rock interaction in Gibbs diagram. All samples were concentrated in the type of Ca-HCO₃-Cl in the Piper diagram. The quality of irrigation water was evaluated with sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), and percent sodium (%Na). The values of these water quality indices were in the range of 0.37-0.67, -2.11--0.24, 41.13-84.52% and 11.28-21.84%, respectively, and were classified as good grades at all sites. CONCLUSION: The water quality of Wicheon watershed was very low in salt, indicating good irrigation water suitable for growing agricultural products. We hope that the results of this study will be used as the basic data for the cultivation of agricultural products and promotion of their excellence.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.1-26
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to verify the effects of Moosim-Gi-Gong Doinbeop on low back pain targeting low back pain patients hospitalized in Korean medicine hospitals. For the study, 44 adult female and male patients hospitalized with low back pain at M Korean Medicine Hospital and H Korean Medicine Hospital located in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province were recruited. The subjects had a temperature difference between left and right 湧泉(KI1) of over 0.5℃ through infrared thermographic imaging, and 23 of them were classified in the control group for retrospective analysis based on the test records. Infrared thermographic imaging, X-ray pelvic AP view - standing position, a sit-and-reach test and a VAS survey were employed for detection, and IBM SPSS Statistics 24 for the statistical process. The results were rounded down to three decimal places as in an average±standard deviation, and the significance level was 0.05 to be evaluated significant if p<0.05. The result of the study is as follows: 1. In the comparison between before and after conducting Moosim-Gi-Gong Doinbeop, the meaningful difference was shown in the experimental group in all indicators. But Indicators except for the temperature difference between right and left 湧泉(KI1)(difference between before and after) and In displaced pelvic correction indicators on the X-ray showed a significant difference in the control group. 2. As for the variation widths of the experimental group and the control group, the former showed significant temperature differences between 印堂(EX-HN3) and 關元(CV4) and right and left 湧泉(KI1); difference variations of anteflexion; and changes in PI and In displacement on the X-ray. 3. As for changes in the experimental group according to demographic characteristics, gender, age and degree of obesity did not show significant differences in all indicators. However, those who experienced back pain for more than six months in the experimental group showed the biggest body temperature differences between 印堂(EX-HN3) and 關元(CV4), while other indicators had no significant difference. As a result, patients who received Korean medicine treatment showed relieved back pain and improvement in pelvic correction and sports activity; however, those who got Moosim-Gi-Gong Doinbeop together showed more clearer improvement effects in pelvic correction and sports activity.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.11-22
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• 2013

Objectives: The present investigation aimed at examining if post-cancer treatment with a potentized homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, which is generally used to treat oesophageal cancer, could also show an ameliorating effect through apoptosis induction on lung cancer induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in white rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: Lung cancer was induced after four months by chronic feeding of BaP to rats through gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for one month. After four months, the lung-cancer-bearing rats were treated with Condurango 30C for the next one ($5^{th}$), two ($5^{th}-6^{th}$) and three ($5^{th}-7^{th}$) months, respectively, and were sacrificed at the corresponding time-points. The ameliorating effect, if any, after Condurango 30C treatment for the various periods was evaluated by using protocols such as histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), annexinV-FITC/PI assay, flow cytometry of the apoptosis marker, DNA fragmentation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses of lung tissue samples. Results: Striking recovery of lung tissue to a near normal status was noticed after post-cancerous drug treatment, as evidenced by SEM and histology, especially after one and two months of drug treatment. Data from the annexinV-FITC/PI and DNA fragmentation assays revealed that Condurango 30C could induce apoptosis in cancer cells after post-cancer treatment. A critical analysis of signalling cascade, evidenced through a RT-PCR study, demonstrated up-regulation and down-regulation of different pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively, related to a caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway, which was especially discernible after one-month and two-month drug treatments. Correspondingly, Western blot and immunohistochemistry studies confirmed the ameliorative potential of Condurango 30C by its ability to down-regulate the elevated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, a hallmark of lung cancer. Conclusion: The overall result validated a positive effect of Condurango 30C in ameliorating lung cancer through caspase-3-mediated apoptosis induction and EGFR down-regulation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제19권9호
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• pp.39.1-39.9
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• 2016

Magnesium hydrogen phosphate (MHP, $MgHPO_4$) recovered from swine manure was prepared as an alternative phosphorus (P) source. Conventional P additives, monocalcium phosphate (MCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP), and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) were compared with the MHP in terms of growth and P availability by juvenile carp Cyprinus carpio. A basal diet as a negative control was prepared using practical feed ingredients without P supplementation to which four supplemental P sources were added at the level of 2%. Five groups of 450 fish having mean body weight of 6.5 g following 24 h fasting after 2 weeks of adaptation period were randomly distributed into each of 15 tanks (30 fish/tank). Fish were hand-fed to apparent satiety twice a day for 9 weeks. Fish fed the MHP had weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and specific growth rate (SGR) comparable to those fed the MCP. Those values of both the MHP and MCP groups were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the other groups. Fish groups fed control and the TCP showed the lowest WG, PER, and SGR and the highest FCR among treatments. No fish were died among treatments during the experimental period. Fish fed control and the TCP showed hematocrit and hemoglobin significantly lower (p < 0.05) than fish fed the MHP. The lowest inorganic P (Pi) in plasma was found in the control group. Even though Pi was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from other phosphate groups, fish fed the MCP and MHP retained higher P in whole body than the other groups. P availability was determined to be 93.2, 62.4, 6.1, and 98.0% for MCP, DCP, TCP, and MHP, respectively. The present results suggested that the MHP recovered from wastewater stream could be used as an alternative P source in carp diet.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.14-27
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Acanthopanacis Cortex Radicis extract(ACRE) on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Methods: After treatment with various concentration of ACRE, cell growth was evaluated in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Hoechst 33342 staining was performed to estimate DNA fragment effect of ACRE on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay was used to estimate the effects of ACRE on the early apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. RT-PCR was used to estimate the apoptosis gene expression effect of ACRE on Hela cell MCF-7 cell. Results: Under $0.1mg/m\ell$ of ACRE, cytotoxic effect was not found per NIH3T3 cell. The viability of HeLa cell and MCF-7 cells was significantly decreased ACRE ($100{\mu}g/m\ell$) in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell, ACRE ($50{\mu}g/m\ell$) in HeLa cell 3 days after treatment, in MCF-7 cell 1&3 days after treatment (p<0.01). DNA fragmentation was observed 3 days after treatment of cl of ACRE on HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. In Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACRE, the early apoptotic cell increased both in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. In RT-PCR analysis, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACRE, bcl-2 were decreased and bax, caspase-3 were increased both in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell. Conclusions: ACRE appears to have considerable activity on the apoptosis in HeLa cell and MCF-7 cell.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the analysis of apoptosis by Scirpi Tuber in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Methods: For cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract, Scirpi Tuber extract were cultured on NIH3T3 cell in vitro. After treatment with various concentration of Scirpi Tuber, cell growth was evaluated in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Hoechst 33342 staining was performed to estimate DNA fragment effect of Scirpi Tuber on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay was used to estimate the effects of Scirpi Tuber on the early apoptosis in Hela cell MCF-7 cell. All the stained cells were analyzed by a FACS. RT-PCR was used to estimate the apoptosis gene expression effect of Scirpi Tuber extract on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Results: Cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract was not found on per NIH3T3 cell. The viability of Hela cell was significantly decreased Scirpi Tuber (500, $1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in Hela cell 1day, 3day and 5days after treatment (p<0.01). The viability of MCF-7 cell was significantly decresed Scirpi Tuber ($1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell (p<0.01), Scirpi Tuber ($500{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell only 3days after treatment (p<0.01). In RT-PCR analysis, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACR extract, BCL-2 were decreased and BAX, caspase-3 were increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. DNA fragmentation was observed the Scirpi Tuber on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on DNA fragmentation incresed. In Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, after treatment of $1mg/m\ell$ of Scirpi Tuber, the early apoptotic cell increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on apoptotic cell increased. Conclusion: Scirpi Tuber appears to have considerable activity on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권5호
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• pp.351-355
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• 2010

Our previous proteomic study demonstrated that oxidative stress and antioxidant delphinidin regulated the cellular level of $p27^{kip1}$ (referred to as p27) as well as some heat shock proteins in human colon cancer HT 29 cells. Current study was conducted to validate and confirm the regulation of these proteins using both in vitro and in vivo systems. The level of p27 was decreased by hydrogen peroxide in a dose-dependent manner in human colon carcinoma HCT 116 (p53-positive) cells while it was increased upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide in HT 29 (p53-negative) cells. However, high concentration of hydrogen peroxide (100 ${\mu}M)$ downregulated p27 in both cell lines, but delphindin, one of antioxidative anthocyanins, enhanced the level of p27 suppressed by 100 ${\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide. ICR mice were injected with varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, delphinidin and both. Western blot analysis for the mouse large intestinal tissue showed that the expression of p27 was upregulated by 25 mg/kg BW hydrogen peroxide. To investigate the association of p27 regulation with hypoxia-inducible factor 1-beta (HIF-$1{\beta}$), the level of p27 was analyzed in wild-type mouse hepatoma hepa1c1c7 and Aryl Hydrocarbon Nuclear Translocator (arnt, HIF-$1{\beta}$)-defective mutant BPRc1 cells in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide and delphinidin. While the level of p27 was responsive to hydrogen peroxide and delphinidin, it remained unchanged in BPRc1, suggesting that the regulation of p27 requires functional HIF-$1{\beta}$. We also found that hydrogen peroxide and delphinidin affected PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway which is one of upstream regulators of HIFs. In conclusion, hydrogen peroxide and antioxidant delphinidin seem to regulate intracellular level of p27 through regulating HIF-1 level which is, in turn, governed by its upstream regulators comprising of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The results should also encourage further study for the potential of p27 as a biomarker for intracellular oxidative or antioxidant status.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.325-330
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• 2016

In this study, we evaluated the antidiabetic effect of submerged culture of Ceriporia lacerata mycelium (CL01) on glucose uptake and the expression of mRNA and protein of major signal markers of insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. After 3T3-L1 adipocytes were pre-treated by CL01 (0, 2, 10 mg/ml) for 8 hours, followed with treatment of insulin, the glucose uptake levels significantly increased by more 55.1%, 94.4% than negative control respectively (p<0.01, 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. However, in case of CL01 pre-treatment without insulin, the glucose uptake did not increase compared with insulin-treated 3T3-L1. Also we demonstrated that the protein expression levels of pIR β, pAkt, pPI3K and pAMPK and the mRNA expression levels of GLUT4 in adipocytes inducing insulin resistance increased in CL01-treated group compared with negative control. These results demonstrated that CL01 affected glucose metabolism and the protein and gene expression through insulin signaling pathway, and increased glucose uptake levels effectively. More than 90% of those who have suffered for type 2 diabetes are more likely to have from hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, obesity and etc. because of altered insulin signaling pathway. So, it is probably considered that intake of CL01 may treat type 2 diabetes by normalization of insulin signaling pathway, and it will provide useful evidences regarding a mechanism for cure of type 2 diabetes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.55-66
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• 1994

After proving home-made imaging pulse sequences including tailored RF pulse by phantom, susceptibility-contrast-enhanced MR venograms of cat brain were obtained using tailored RF gradient-echo(TRGE) method. Sagittal MR imaging of the cat brain obtained by TRGE technique shows several veins, for example, dorsal sagittal sinus, straight sinus, vein of corpus callosum and internal cerebral vein, etc., compared with cats anatomical figure. Tailored RF waveform was generated by PASCAL language in ASPECT 3000 computer(Switzland, Bruker). Rectangular-shaped slice profile with bi-linear ramp function as phase distribution in the slice, at which maximum value was 2$\pi$, was fourier transformed to make tailored RF pulse. Experimental MR imaging parameters were TR/TE=205/10 msec, slice thickness TH=7mm, maxtrix size=256$\times$256, in-plane resolution=0.62$\times$0.31mm$^2$, and field of view(FOV)=8cm for both conventional gradient-echo(GE) imaging and TRGE imaging techniques.