• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.704-716
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a characterized component in red ginseng widely used in Korea and China. GRh2 exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, its effects on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection have not been clarified yet. Methods: The effect of GRh2 against T. gondii was assessed under in vitro and in vivo experiments. The BV2 cells were infected with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, and the effects of GRh2 were evaluated by MTT assay, morphological observations, immunofluorescence staining, a trypan blue exclusion assay, reverse transcription PCR, and Western blot analyses. The in vivo experiment was conducted with BALB/c mice inoculated with lethal amounts of tachyzoites with or without GRh2 treatment. Results and conclusion: The GRh2 treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of T. gondii under in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, GRh2 blocked the activation of microglia and specifically decreased the release of inflammatory mediators in response to T. gondii infection through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In mice, GRh2 conferred modest protection from a lethal dose of T. gondii. After the treatment, the proliferation of tachyzoites in the peritoneal cavity of infected mice markedly decreased. Moreover, GRh2 also significantly decreased the T. gondii burden in mouse brain tissues. These findings indicate that GRh2 exhibits an antieT. gondii effect and inhibits the microglial activation through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, providing the basic pharmacological basis for the development of new drugs to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.39-41
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• 2019

In the indeterminate chronic period of Chagas disease (ChD) the treatment has not been conclusive, because the serological negativization requires many years. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of nifurtimox (NF) in the treatment of chronic ChD in prolonged follow-up by serological techniques of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG comparing 2 groups of patients, treated and non treated. Mann-Whitney test was performed for ELISA and IFA, with significant difference between the groups (P<0.05). IgG levels were lower in individuals treated compared with untreated patients, indicating chemotherapeutic efficacy in prolonged follow-up.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2022

Liposomes are bilayered particles that are surrounded by an aqueous solvent with amphiphilic substances such as phospholipids. Liposomes have the potential to overcome the limitations of physiochemical properties of existing drugs, and are therefore widely used in research for the treatment of many diseases, especially cancer. Currently, there are many liposome manufacturing methods that use various lipids and amphiphiles. Among them, the thin film-hydration method is a traditional and very simple method to prepare liposomes by hydrating a dry lipid film in an aqueous solvent, which has been widely used in the laboratory until recently. Recently, approaches to new nuclear imaging agents and radiotherapy by loading radioactive isotopes inside liposomes have been actively studied. In this review, we would like to discuss considerations for preparing liposomes using the thin film-hydration method.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.25-37
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• 2021

Objectives: Depression is a mood disorder showing low energy, loss of interest, anhedonia, and anxiety. It affects a patients' daily life. This disease is considered a social problem because the patient may commit suicide in extreme cases. JSB is composed of 12 Korean medicinal herbs. It has been prescribed to patients with depression. The objective of this study is to investigate anti-depressive effects of JSB on restraint stress-induced depression in a mouse model. Methods: Depression was induced by restraint stress. Mice were orally administered JSB at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg for 14 days. Forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) were performed. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level was measured by real time-PCR. Plasma levels of corticosterone and serotonin were measured by ELISA. Blood levels of AST and ALS were measured using a biochemical analyzer. Results: JSB treatment significantly reduced the immobility time in FST. BDNF mRNA level was increased by JSB treatment in the hippocampi of mice. Although the expression of TNF-α was also increased by JSB, such increase was not statistically significant. The increase of corticosterone level in plasma induced by restraint stress was significantly down-regulated by JSB. JSB reduced blood level of AST, but not ALT. Conclusions: JSB has a potential to manage depression, setting a foundation for clinical application of Korean medicine with safety.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 2002년도 제54차 추계 학술대회 연제집
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• pp.431-431
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• 2002

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.248-252
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• 2005

Schisandra chinensis Baill. (Shisandraceae) is used commonly in traditional Korean herbal medicine. One new dibenzocyclooctene lignan compound, benzoylgomisin Q, was found, for the first time, in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis Baill., together with five known lignan compounds; schisandrin, gomisin A, gomisin G, deoxyschisandrin, and gomisin N, using an ESI-positive MS-preparative HPLC auto-purification system. The structures of these compounds were determined via UV, MS, and NMR spectral studies.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.140-142
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• 2004

As a molecular imaging is the most up-to-date technology in Nuclear Medicine, it has complicate ethical and regulatory problems. For animal experiment, we have to follow institutional animal care committee. for clinical experiment, we have to get approval of Institutional Review Board according to Helsinki declaration. In addition, approval from Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) is essential for manufacturing and commercialization. However, too much regulation would suppress development of new technology, which would result in the loss of national competitive power. In addition, most new radioactive ligands for molecular imaging are administered to human at sub-pharmacological and sub-toxicological level. In conclusion, a balanced regulation is essential for the safety of clinical application and development of new technology.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.221-231
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• 2003

To gain information on retrotransposons in the genome of Paragonimus westermani, PCR was carried out with degenerate primers, specific to protease and reverse transcriptase (rt) genes of long-terminal-repeat (LTR) retrotransposons. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced, after which 12 different retrotransposon-related sequences were isolated from the trematode genome. These showed various degrees of identity to the polyprotein of divergent retrotransposon families. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these sequences could be classified into three different families of LTR retrotransposons, namely, Xena, Bel, and Gypsy families. Of these, two mRNA transcripts were detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR, showing that these two elements preserved their mobile activities. The genomic distributions of these two sequences were found to be highly repetitive. These results suggest that there are diverse retrotransposons including the ancient Xena family in the genome of P. westermani, which may have been involved in the evolution of the host genome.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.875-881
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• 2021

The mitochondrial targeting domain (MTD) of Noxa contributes to its mitochondrial localization and to apoptosis induction. As a peptide, MTD fused with octa-arginine (R8), a CPP, induces necrosis related to intracellular calcium influx and destruction of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. We searched for homologs of MTD, and compared their cell killing capability when fused with R8. Three of the seven peptides triggered cell death with similar mechanisms. The comparative analysis of peptide sequences showed that four amino acid sites of MTD are critical in regulating necrosis, suggesting the potential to generate artificial, adjustable cytotoxic peptides, which could be effective medicines for many diseases. Thus, homologs functionality could hint to the functions of their belonging proteins.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.505-510
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods : Out of a total of 608 middle-aged adults who visited local health centers, 424 subjects (104 male, 320 female) who had not been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hyperlipidemia were included in this study. ACE genotypes were determined in all subjects by polymerase chain reaction methods. Results : Statistical differences in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels according to ACE genotype were observed using ANOVA (p<0.05), but no differences were found in other cardiovascular risk factors. Specifically, men with the DD and DI genotypes had significantly lower HDL cholesterol levels than those with the 11 genotype based on the LSD multi-comparison test (p<0.05). Conclusions : In men, the D-allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism was significantly associated with reduced HDL cholesterol levels. In the future, larger studies are needed to confirm this relationship between ACE I/D polymorphism and HDL cholesterol.