• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2006

Some natural products are able to inhibit radiation effects and exert an antitumor effect with fewer adverse reactions; however, their antitumor effects are less than those of widely-used synthetic drugs. Propolis is a natural material that has been attracting attention, and we extracted this material with water and investigated the effect of continuous propolis administration on radioactivity-induced reduction of hemocytes, in addition to the antioxidant and antitumor effects of propolis. Following a 1-week adjustment period, water-soluble propolis was administered intraperitoneally to male ICR mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks. Following administration, 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed and the counts of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes and monocytes in the peripheral blood were determined 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after irradiation. These cells were considered since they are closely associated with immunity to radioactivity. In a second experiment, water-soluble propolis was similarly administered to the mice for 2 weeks after a 1-week adjustment period, and 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed. The antioxidant effects in hemocytes were then investigated using 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a radical generator. In a third experiment, $1\;{\times}\;10^6$ Sarcoma-180 cells were inoculated into the right thigh of mice, which were divided into four groups: control, water-soluble propolis-treated, 6 Gy irradiated and water-soluble propolis-treated + 6 Gy irradiated groups, and changes in tumor size were measured for 20 days. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA for multiple groups. In the three experiments, administration of water-soluble propolis inhibited the reduction of hemocytes caused by whole-body irradiation, showed antioxidant effects against radioactivity, and inhibited tumor growth, respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that the antioxidant effect of watersoluble propolis inhibits hemocyte reduction caused by whole-body irradiation and enhances immunological inhibition of tumor growth.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.69-76
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• 2014

Objectives : Gami-Chunggisan extract (GCE) is one of the oriental traditional medicine. We investigated the antioxidant effect and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products from the GCE. Methods : GCE was prepared by extracting with 80% ethanol. We analyzed total polyphenol and antioxidant activities. To evaluate antioxidant activity, we measured 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Also we measured the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) on Raw264.7 cells. We researched reduction of anti-inflammatory cytokines from concentration of GCE on Raw264.7 cells. Results : Total polyphenol quantity of GCE was included 46.6 mg/g. The GCE showed ABTS free radical scavenging ability with more than 89% at $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. In addition the DPPH free radical scavenging ability from the GCE was activated over 93% at $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Production of the ROS was decreased by approximately 26%, upon the GCE treatment at concentration of $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The GCE at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration showed inhibitory effect on NO production by 38%. Production of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were decreased by approximately 56% and 36%, respectively upon GCE treatment at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Also, production of TNF-${\alpha}$ was decreased by approximately 79% at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Moreover, the GCE showed inhibitory effects on the expression of the IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ genes in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusions : From the results above, we conclude that the GCE indicated significant antioxidant effects and induced reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.796-805
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• 2015

Gintonin is a novel ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. Oral administration of gintonin ameliorates learning and memory dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) animal models. The brain cholinergic system plays a key role in cognitive functions. The brains of AD patients show a reduction in acetylcholine concentration caused by cholinergic system impairments. However, little is known about the role of LPA in the cholinergic system. In this study, we used gintonin to investigate the effect of LPA receptor activation on the cholinergic system in vitro and in vivo using wild-type and AD animal models. Gintonin induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i $ transient in cultured mouse hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Gintonin-mediated $[Ca^{2+}]_i $ transients were linked to stimulation of acetylcholine release through LPA receptor activation. Oral administration of gintonin-enriched fraction (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, 3 weeks) significantly attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairment. Oral administration of gintonin (25 or 50 mg/kg, 1 2 weeks) also significantly attenuated amyloid-${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}$)-induced cholinergic dysfunctions, such as decreased acetylcholine concentration, decreased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and immunoreactivity, and increased acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity. In a transgenic AD mouse model, long-term oral administration of gintonin (25 or 50 mg/kg, 3 months) also attenuated AD-related cholinergic impairments. In this study, we showed that activation of G protein-coupled LPA receptors by gintonin is coupled to the regulation of cholinergic functions. Furthermore, this study showed that gintonin could be a novel agent for the restoration of cholinergic system damages due to $A{\beta}$ and could be utilized for AD prevention or therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2018

Eritadenine (EA), derived from Lentinus edodes (LE), reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), and phospholipids in bloods, and fatty acid depositions in animals and humans. Previously, we reported that EA inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in vitro. Now, we report that EA reduced blood pressures in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). EA-containing LE mycelial culture enzyme extract (EA-LEMSCEE) was prepared from LE mycelial solid cultures and the hot-water extract of LE fruit bodies. Both EA and EA-LEMSCEE inhibited ACE activity in immortalized human umbilical endothelial cells (EA.hy926). EA-LEMSCEE treatments (7.5 mg/kg, 22.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in SHR. At five weeks of treatment, EA-LEMSCEE treatment significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, similar to the positive control (captopril, CP; 4 mg/kg) treatment. In addition, the LEMSCEE without EA decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared to the control, but not significant. EA-LEMSCEE decreased renin and ACE activities, and angiotensin II (Ang II) contents in SHR compared to the control. After five weeks of treatment, the effect of EA-LEMCEE was similar to that of CP. These results indicate that EA and EA-LEMSCEE reduce blood pressure by inhibiting the renin and ACE activity of SHR. Furthermore, these results imply that EA or EA-LEMSCEE could be used as an antihypertension agent in humans.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.465-468
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• 2003

In order to find out the basic information for salt tolerance in vice (Oryza sativa L.), effects of NaCl treatment on absorption of inorganic components and growth were investigated in 6 japonica and 5 tongil varieties and compared to the salt tolerance variety, Annapurna. The absorption of N and $\textrm{P}_2\textrm{O}_5$ was less repressed than that of $\textrm{K}_2\textrm{O}$, MgO, CaO, and $\textrm{Si}\textrm{O}_2$ which were a little affected by NaCl treatment. $\textrm{K}_2\textrm{O}$ was the most highly repressed component in the absorption of inorganic components, followed by MgO, CaO, total-N, $\textrm{P}_2\textrm{O}_5$ and $\textrm{Si}\textrm{O}_2$. $\textrm{Na}_2\textrm{O}$ content was increased about twenty times to the control at 30days after NaCl treatment, and tonsil varieties more than absorbed japonica ones. Dry weight of japonica varieties by NaCl treatment was less reduced than that of tonsil varieties, followed by Seomjinbyeo, Sinseonchalbyeo, Nakdongbyeo, Daechoungbyeo, Dongjinbyeo and Chuchoungbyeo in japonica group, and Milyang30, Gayeabyeo, Jangseongbyeo, Chilseongbyeo and Taebackbyeo in tonsil group. The relationship between dry weight reduction and Na/K ratio showed positively significant correlation in rice.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.697-706
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• 2002

Authigenic siderite grains, ranging 100 to 250-${\mu}$m in diameter, are abundant in an about 8,600-year-old sediment layer in Namyang Bay, west coast of Korea. The siderites exhibit the aggregated spherulitic morphology with well-developed rhombs on the grain surfaces. They consist mostly of FeCO$_3$ (average, 65%) and MnCO$_3$ (average, 22%) with low Mg/Ca ratio (less than 0.4) in their bulk composition. A series of compositional ternary discrimination diagrams, together with high Mn and low Mg contents, show that only meteoric porewater was involved in siderite precipitation, assuming that depositional environment of host sediment is an organic-rich freshwater system. Considering a series of results such as radiocarbon age, authigenic Mn-rich siderite and lithological features, siderite-hosting sediment (unit Tl) is interpreted as freshwater swamp or bog deposition, infilling the topographic depressions that locally existed before the formation of mid-to-late Holocene tidal deposits. Center-to-margin compositional variation within individual grain is very systematic; Mn and Ca decrease towards the margin of a siderite grain, while Fe and Mg increase. It suggests that the spherulitic siderites were precipitated in this sedimentary layer in a series during the early diagenesis of MnOx-FeOx reduction under steady-state.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.2076-2081
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• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate the gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit improvement effect of DL-methionine methylsulfonium chloride (MMSC) in functional dyspepsia animal models. Cisplatin causes nausea, vomiting, and inhibition of gastric emptying. Rats were divided into four groups: G1 (normal group), G2 (gastric emptying induced by cisplatin), G3 (gastric emptying induced by cisplatin with itopride 30 mg/kg pretreatment), and G4 (gastric emptying induced by cisplatin with MMSC 4 mg/kg pretreatment). Immediately after an oral administration of a liquid meal (phenol red), delayed gastric emptying was induced by cisplatin (10 mg/kg (i.p.)). After 20 min in the cisplatin administration, the animals were sacrificed. In rats treated with cisplatin, the gastric emptying rate was significantly reduced. On the other hand, MMSC reversed the reduction of gastric emptying induced by cisplatin. And also, MMSC caused to travel FITC-dextran more significantly longer distance than the control, which is based on the values of the mean geometric center in the atropine driven delayed gastrointestinal transit animal models. Furthermore, MMSC drastically increased the gastrointestinal transit in rats, considerably increased the values of the mean geometric center (MGC), compared to the control, which was comparable to that of mosapride. These results suggest that MMSC could be an effective component for the treatment of functional dyspepsia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2016

Rice cultivation in paddy field affects the global balance of methane ($CH_4$) as a key greenhouse gas. To evaluate a potential use of by-product gypsum fertilizer (BGF) in reducing $CH_4$ emission from paddy soil, $CH_4$ fluxes from a paddy soil applied with BGF different levels (0, 2, 4 and $8Mg\;ha^{-1}$) were investigated by closed-chamber method during rice cultivation period. $CH_4$ flux significantly decreased (p<0.05) with increasing level of BGF application. $8Mg\;ha^{-1}$ of BGF addition in soil reduced $CH_4$ flux by 60.6% compared to control. Decreased soil redox potential (Eh) resulted in increasing $CH_4$ emission through a $CO_2$ reduction reaction. The concentrations of dissolved calcium (Ca) and sulfate ion (${SO_4}^{2-}$) in soil pore water were significantly increased as the application rate of BGF increased and showed negatively correlations with $CH_4$ flux. Decreased $CH_4$ flux with BGF application implied that ${SO_4}^{2-}$ ion led to decreases in electron availability for methanogen and precipitation reaction of Ca ion with inorganic carbon including carbonate and bicarbonate as a source of $CH_4$ formation under anoxic condition. BGF application also increased rice grain yield by 16% at $8Mg\;ha^{-1}$ of BGF addition. Therefore, our results suggest that BGF application can be a good soil management practice to reduce $CH_4$ emission from paddy soil and to increase rice yield.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-127
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• 1987

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission function disorder characterized by fatigue and weakness of voluntary muscles. This muscular weakness is intensified by activity and stress, and improved by the use of anticholinesterase compounds. It was initially described by Erb in 1879 and later named myasthenia gravis by Jolly in 1895. Although the pathogenesis is Known to be an autoimmune related reduction in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions, the role of thymus in myasthenia gravis is still unclear and under investigation. Thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis has become increasingly important since Dr. Blalock observed in 1939 that some patients with thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis improved following thymectomy. A clinical study of 102 cases of myasthenia gravis was performed at Yonsei University College of Medicine. Seoul, Korea from Jan. 1976 to Jun. 1986. In order to determine which factors are of prognostic significance, attention is focused upon pre-operative patient evaluation, problems in operative and post-operative care, and long-term follow-up observations. The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution was 67 females and 35 males, the mean age of onset was 28.95*1.69 years, and the maximal incidence occurred between 21 and 40 years of age [56 cases: 54.9%]. 2. Clinical manifestations of ocular symptoms were seen to 70 patients [68.6%] extremities weakness in 33 [32.3%], bulbar weakness in 29 [28.4%], and dyspnea in 13 [12.7%]. 3. Study cases more than two thirds were classified as mild types [MG 1 and MG 11A] and 6 cases as grave [MG 1V] based on the modified Osserman`s classification system, 4. Thymectomy was performed in 19 cases which presented in severe myasthenia symptoms and showed no improvement with cholinergic drugs. Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed no abnormalities in 4 cases, thymic hyperplasia in 5, benign thymoma in 5, and malignant thymoma in 5. 5. Immediate post-operative complications included 2 cases of pneumothorax which were treated by tube thoracostomies, there was no operative mortality. 6. The response to cholinergic drugs in 36 cases younger than 20 years old and in 27 cases older than 40 years was relatively poor, while that in 35 cases between the ages of 21 and 40 years old was good. 7. Thirty of 39 cases in groups IIB, III & IV improved markedly with medical or surgical management while only 16 of 59 cases in the mild groups [I and IIA] improved, almost all surgical cases improved in all categories. 8. There were 5 deaths. occurring between 7 months and 3 years 3 months of treatment of myasthenia gravis. The causes of death were myasthenic crisis in 2 cases, respiratory failure due to candidiasis & radiation pneumonitis in one case, cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure in two case.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2001

Bucillamine is a novel cysteine derivative with two free intramolecular sulfhydryl groups, and has a preventive and therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis, suggesting its antirheumatic action. With respect to the effect on the immune system, bucillamine-exerted such immunoregulating actions are to nomalize an excessive reduction or acceleration in immune reaction. It is useful not only in patients with early stage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but also in those with active RA retained for more than 10 years. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two bucillamine tablets, $Rimatil^{TM}$ (Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and $Bucilin^{TM}$ (Kuhn Il Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Eighteen normal male volunteers, $23.67{\pm}2.09$ years in age and $65.03{\pm}6.73\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After three tablets containing 100 mg of bucillamine per tablet were orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of bucillamine in serum were determined using GC/MS with mass selective detector. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t$, $C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets were -0.29%, -3.20% and 8.22%, respectively, when calculated against the $Rimatil^{TM}$ tablet. The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$ were 84.31 % and 91.16%, respectively. Minimum detectable differences $({\Delta})$ at ${\alpha}=0.10$ and $1-{\beta}=0.8$ were less than 20% (e.g., 18.58% and 16.51% for $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals were within ${\pm}20%$ (e.g.,$-12.77{\sim}12.20$ for $AUC_t$ and $-14.30{\sim}7.90$ for $C_{max}$). Two parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that $Bucilin^{TM}$ tablet is bioequivalent to $Rimatil^{TM}$ tablet.