• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.226-234
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• 2011

We investigated the clinical effects of Korean red ginseng on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Eighteen subjects aged between 6 and 14 diagnosed with ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition diagnosis criteria were enrolled. Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) at 1,000 mg b.i.d. was administered to the subjects for 8 weeks. Eighteen children completed the questionnaire and clinical assessment by visiting the hospital at baseline, then in the first, fourth and eighth weeks. Clinical assessments were performed by using the ADHD Diagnostic System (ADS, a computerized attention assessment program), the abbreviated Conners' rating scale in addition to psychiatric interviews. After 8 weeks, significant differences were found in the omisssion errors of ADS ($78.56{\pm}43.33$ at baseline, $55.17{\pm}21.44$ at 8 weeks, p<0.023), Conners ADHD Rating Scale ($13.78{\pm}6.32$ at baseline, $9.50{\pm}4.80$ at 8 weeks, p<0.042) and Spielberger State Anxiety Scale ($30.94{\pm}6.25$ at baseline, $28.83{\pm}6.23$ at 8 weeks, p<0.024). In the Korean Personality Inventory for Children, a significant reduction of score was found in the physical development scale ($56.44{\pm}9.63$ at baseline, $50.94{\pm}8.91$ at 8 weeks, p<0.017) and social dysfunction scale ($56.33{\pm}6.82$ at baseline, $51.94{\pm}7.13$ at 8 weeks, p<0.025). These results suggest that Korean red ginseng may be effective in improving inattentiveness in ADHD children, but it remains uncertain if it improves the general severity of ADHD, depression, anxiety personality and behavioral changes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.212-217
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• 2000

This study was determined protein reaction, antioxidative activity, nitrite scavening ability and antimicrobial activity of tannins isolated from astringent persimmon fruits. Tannins extracted from green persimmon fruits reacted highly with BSA(bovine serum albumin). Reactions between tannins and BSA were more active when contents of tannin were higher than that of BSA. Antioxidative abilities of green persimmon tannin were comparable to that of BHT(butylated hydroxytoluene). Green persimmon tannins exhibited remarkable nitrite-scavenging activity. Different antimicrobial activities of persimmon tannins were observed depending on the maturity. The growth of V. parahaemolyticus and E coil were highly inhibited by the addition of persimmon tannins. Tannins from soft persimmon did not have antimicrobial activities against B. subtilis and S. typhimurium.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.79-97
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• 2000

Objectives : To investigate the effects of herb-acupunctures of Qi tonification herbs or formula on the rat immune depression induced by an anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX) Methods: Animals were divided into 5 groups; Normal control group was not given any treatment. Immune depression was induced by oral administration of 1mg/kg MTX b.i.d for 4 days in Control, Sample I, II, and III groups. We treated on CV 4 (Guanyuan) with saline, Bojoongiggi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang), Ginseng Radix and Astragali Radix herb-acupunctures in Control, Sample I, II, and Ill groups, respectively. In both blood and spleen, the assessment of CD4+ T-cell count, CD8+ T-cell count, CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio was performed. Results: Here we show that 3 herb- acupuncture groups have an influence, to some extent, on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio in both blood and spleen. Astragali Radix herb-acupuncture, in particular, was found to have significantly increased CD4+ T-cell count in blood and CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio in blood and spleen. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that herb-acupunctures of Bojoongiggi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang), Ginseng Radix and Astragali Radix may have an influence over rat immune depression induced by MTX.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1281-1290
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• 2015

Thermolysin and its homologs are a group of metalloproteases that have been widely used in both therapeutic and biotechnological applications. We here report the identification and characterization of a novel thermolysin-like protease, BtsTLP1, from insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis serovar Sichuansis strain MC28. BtsTLP1 is extracellularly produced in Bacillus subtilis, and the active protein was purified via successive chromatographic steps. The mature form of BtsTLP1 has a molecule mass of 35.6 kDa as determined by mass spectrometry analyses. The biochemical characterization indicates that BtsTLP1 has an apparent K_m value of 1.57 mg/ml for azocasein and is active between 20℃ and 80℃. Unlike other reported neutral gram-positive thermolysin homologs with optimal pH around 7, BtsTLP1 exhibits an alkaline pH optimum around 10. The activity of BtsTLP1 is strongly inhibited by EDTA and a group of specific divalent ions, with Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ showing particular effects in promoting the enzyme autolysis. Furthermore, our data also indicate that BtsTLP1 has potential in cleaning applications.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2015

This study is designed to investigate the protective effects of fermented Red Ginseng (FRG) against photoaging in vitro and in vivo. UVB was irradiated to the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell and dorsal skin of SKH-1 mice for the induction of photoaging. After treatment of non-fermented red ginseng (NRG), fermented red ginseng (FRG), and fortified fermented red ginseng (FFRG) to the UVB irradiated HaCaT cell, ROS production and activity of MMP-9 were examined by DCFC-DA assay and gelatin zymographic assay respectively. UVB irradiated SKH-1 mice were treated with NRG, FRG, and FFRG via oral(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical($100{\mu}{\ell}/mouse/day$) route.All of NRG, FRG, and FFRG had significantly reduced the intracellular ROS production elicited by UVB, among them FRG slightly more reduced the ROS production than NRG and FFRG. FFRG had slightly more reduced the MMP-9 activity in UVB irradiated HaCaT cells than NRG and FFRG in high dose. Oral and topical treatment of NRG, FRG, and FFRG had decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, and -9 in dorsal skin of UVB irradiated mice. Among them, inhibitory effect of FRG on the expression of MMP-2 was apparent. We speculate that FRG has therapeutic potentials on the UVB irradiated photoaging.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2017

Lamivudine belongs to the set of antiviral agents effective against hepatitis B virus infection. Given case reports on liver injuries after certain antiviral agent treatments, this study examined the effects of lamivudine on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) using a medical system database. A total of 1,321 patients taking lamivudine alone or with others were evaluated using laboratory hits in an electronic medical system at Seoul National University Hospital from 2005 through 2011. The patients were grouped according to prior ALT results: G#1, ALT < 40 IU/L; G#2, 40 IU/L ${\leq}$ ALT < 120 IU/L; G#3, 120 IU/L ${\leq}$ ALT < 240 IU/L; and G#4, ALT ${\geq}$ 240 IU/L. In G#1 and G#2 patients, lamivudine or adefovir treatment decreased ALT and TB compared to prior values. In G#3 and G#4 patients with three times the upper limit of normal (ULN) ${\leq}$ ALT < 15 times the ULN, both ALT and TB were decreased after treatment with lamivudine alone, or adefovir following lamivudine therapy, indicating that lamivudine therapy ameliorated liver functions. However, in G#4 patients who experienced severely advanced hepatitis (ALT ${\geq}$ 15 times the ULN, or ${\geq}$ 600 IU/L), lamivudine augmented TBmax ($6.3{\rightarrow}13.3mg/dL$) despite a slight improvement in ALT ($839{\rightarrow}783IU/L$), indicative of exacerbation of bilirubinemia. Patients who used adefovir after lamivudine also showed a high incidence of hyperbilirubinemia when they experienced severely advanced hepatitis. Treatment with adefovir alone did not show the effect. In conclusion, lamivudine may increase the risk of hyperbilirubinemia in patients with severely advanced hepatitis, implying that caution should be exercised when using lamivudine therapy in certain patient populations.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the quality characteristics and storage of noodle with added flowering cherry fruit powder. Wet noodles were prepared at concentration of 1, 2, and 3% (w/w) of the fruit based on flour weight. Moisture content of the noodles with or without flowering cherry fruit powder was 33.09~33.50%. Ca, K and Mg contents of flowering cherry fruit noodle were increasing at increasing concentrations of flowering cherry fruit powder. Cooked weight, volume, and water absorption decreased with increased fruit powder, whereas turbidity increased. For Hunter's color values of noodles, L (lightness) and b (yellowness) values decreased with increasing concentration of flowering cherry fruit powder, whereas a (redness) value increased. For mechanical characteristics of the noodles, adhesiveness of cooked noodle with flowering cherry fruit powder were higher than those of control. The pH of flowering cherry fruit noodle was lower than that of control during storage. Bacterial counts of wet noodle with flowering cherry fruit powders were lower than those of the control on the 10th day of storage at $5^{\circ}C$. From the sensory evaluation of 20's, texture, taste, and overall preference were not significantly different between the control and the fruit groups, but the color scores of 2% and 3% flowering cherry fruit noodle were significantly higher than that of 1% fruit noodle (p<0.05). In 40's sensory evaluation, color and overall preference scores of flowering cherry fruit noodle were significantly higher than those of control. In conclusion, the results of this study were suggested that the addition of flowering cherry fruit powder in combination with flour was tended to improve antimicrobial effects during storage when compared to control.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2007

A study was conducted in the Hong Kong with the aim of deriving an algorithm for the retrieval of suspended sediment (SS) and sea surface salinity (SSS) concentrations from Aqua/MODIS level 1B reflectance data with 250m and 500m spatial resolutions. 'In-situ' measurements of SS and SSS were also compared with coincident MODIS spectral reflectance measurements over the ocean surface. This is the first study of SSS modeling in Southeast Asia using earth observation satellite images. Three analysis techniques such as multiple regression, linear regression, and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on the MODIS data and the 'in-situ' measurement datasets of the SS and SSS. Correlation coefficients by each analysis method shows that the best correlation results are multiple regression from the 500m spatial resolution MODIS images, $R^2$= 0.82 for SS and $R^2$ = 0.81 for SSS. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between satellite and 'in-situ' data are 0.92mg/L for SS and 1.63psu for SSS, respectively. These suggest that 500m spatial resolution MODIS data are suitable for water quality modeling in the study area. Furthermore, the application of these models to MODIS images of the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta (PRO) Region are able to accurately reproduce the spatial distribution map of the high turbidity with realistic SS concentrations.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2019

We investigated whether ${\beta}$-carotene (${\beta}-CA$) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of ${\beta}-CA$ or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by ${\beta}-CA$ treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that ${\beta}-CA$, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.169-176
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• 2021

This study was conducted to suggest the Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai Complex (CAC) possibility of use as a functional natural material for improving bone disease. Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai were mixed in the same amount, extracted with hot water, and then powdered and used in the study. After, the cytotoxicity of CAC for osteoblasts (MG63 cell), osteoclasts (differentiated RAW264.7 cell), and macrophages (RAW264.7 cell) were evaluated by MTT assay, and ALP assay and TRAP assay were performed to confirm the differentiation capacity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages was evaluated by ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot assay. CAC did not proliferated osteoblasts and osteoclasts, but increased ALP activity against osteoblasts differentiation and decreased TRAP activity against osteoclasts differentiation. CAC did not proliferated macrophages but decreased nitric oxide production. Also, decreased NOS2, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, and TNFA gene expression, and JNK and p38 protein phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, but ERK protein phosphorylation was not changed. As a result, CAC increased the differentiation and activation of osteoblasts, inhibited the differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, and regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Therefore, it is thought that CAC can be used as a functional natural material that prevents bone disease and has an anti-inflammatory effect.