• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

Objectives : Samhwangsashim-tang(SHSST), a mixture of Rhei radix et rhizoma, Scutellariae radix, and Coptidis rhizoma, has been regarded as being able to treat bleeding, gastric discomfort, dry mouth, insomnia and purpura due to Blood Heat. Currently, this herbal formula is applied to gastritis, gastric ulcer, hypertension, atherosclerosis or other types of vascular inflammatory disorders. Methods : We extracted this herbal mixture with 30% ethanol and examined for its effects on systemic inflammatory responses and in vitro macrophage activity. Mice were orally given to SHSST for 7 days and then lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was intraperitoneally injected. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) levels in serum were measured 1 h after LPS challenge. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from thioglycollate-injected mice and used for in vitro cellular activity. Cell death was measured using the MTT method and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. LPS-stimulated signaling molecules necessary for TNF-${\alpha}$ expression were determined by Western blotting. Results : Oral administration of SHSST for 7 days resulted in a significant reduction in LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ release into serum. In vitro treatment of SHSST was cytotoxic in a concentration-dependent manner. However, SHSST caused a concentration-dependent reduction in necrosis and increase in apoptosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages. SHSST inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK signaling molecules in response to LPS. Conclusion : Taken together, our results demonstrated that SHSST was effective in lowering LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ serum levels, possibly through its modulation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK in macrophages.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.117-124
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• 2019

Objective : Broccoli is edible green plant that has a wide variety of health benefits including cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction. However, leaves of broccoli are not eaten and are mostly left as waste. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the broccoli leaf extract (BLE) on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production related to nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Methods : BLE was prepared by extracting dried leaf with ethanol. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. PGE₂ and inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis. Results : In LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells, PGE₂ release into culture medium was dramatically enhanced compared to control cells. However, increased PGE₂ was attenuated dose-dependently by treatment with BLE. Inhibition of PGE₂ production by BLE was due to the suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression determined by Western blot analysis. BLE also inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Inhibition at PGE₂ and cytokine was mediated from inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-κB due to the repression of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation. Conclusion : This study showed that BLE exerted inhibitory activities against PGE₂, which is critical for the initiation and resolution of inflammatory responses, and that inhibition of PGE₂ was mediated by suppression of NF-κB signaling. These results suggest that the waste broccoli leaves could be used for controlling inflammation.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.434-444
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• 2022

Corrosion inhibitors based on Zn-Al hydrotalcites containing benzoate (ZnAlHB) with different molar ratios of Zn/Al were prepared with a co-precipitation process. Compositions and structures of the resulting hydrotalcites were studied with suitable spectroscopic methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface zeta potential measurements, respectively. Results of physico-chemical studies showed that crystallite sizes, compositions of products, and surface electrical properties were significantly changed when the molar ratio of Zn/Al was increased. The release of benzoate from hydrotalcites also differed slightly among samples. Anticorrosion abilities of hydrotalcites intercalated with benzoate at a concentration of 3 g/L on carbon steel were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), polarization curve, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and SEM. Corrosion inhibition abilities of benzoate modified hydrotalcites in 0.1 M NaCl showed an upward trend with increasing Zn/Al ratio. The reason for the dependence of corrosion resistance on the Zn/Al ratio was discussed, including changes in the microstructure of hydrotalcites such as crystal size, density, uniformity, and formation of ZnO.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2022

This study build finite element analysis (FEA) models describing the bending events of coiled tubing (CT) at the wellhead and trips into the hole, accurately provide the state of stress and strain while the CT is in service. The bending moment and axial force history curves are used as loads and boundary conditions in the diametrical growth models to ensure consistency with the actual working conditions in field operations. The simulation diametrical growth results in this study are more accurate and reasonable. Analysis the factors influencing fatigue and diametrical growth shows that the internal pressure has a first-order influence on fatigue, followed by the radius of the guide arch, reel and the CT diameter. As the number of trip cycles increase, fatigue damage, residual stress and strain cumulatively increase, until CT failure occurs. Significant residual stresses remain in the CT cross-section, and the CT exhibits a residual curvature, the initial residual bending configuration of CT under wellbore constraints, after running into the hole, is sinusoidal. The residual stresses and residual bending configuration significantly decrease the buckling load, making the buckling and buckling release of CT in the downhole an elastic-plastic process, exacerbating the helical lockup. The conclusions drawn in this study will improve CT models and contribute to the operational and economic success of CT services.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-144
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• 2021

There are some cases of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with chronic upper back pain that does not respond to dry needling or trigger point injection, well-known treatments for MPS. A 67-year-old female developed a stabbing upper back pain with trigger point at left T7~8 levels 10 years ago. She complained of the pain with Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) 8 points. Myofascial release technique and trigger point injection had no effect. Under ultrasound guidance 20 ml of 1% lidocaine was injected into thoracic paravertebral space. Immediately, the pain was reduced to NRS 4 points. One week later, the second block was performed in the same way as the first, and the pain was reduced to NRS 2 points. The stabbing pain disappeared, and oral opioids were discontinued. Ultrasound guided thoracic paravertebral space block is an effective and safe treatment for refractory MPS with chronic upper back pain.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2022

Objectives: Aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ALETP) has potent relaxant activity. However, this relaxant activity in respiratory smooth muscle remains uninvestigated. This study investigates the effect of ALETP on the contractile activity of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in adult male Wistar rats. Methods: Twelve male Wistar rats divided into 2 groups and were treated with either 100 mg/kg of ALETP (ALETP treatment group) or vehicle (distilled water; control group) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. Dose responses of TSM from the 2 groups to acetylcholine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M), phenylephrine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M), and potassium chloride (KCl; 10^-9 to 10^-4 M) were determined cumulatively. Furthermore, cumulative dose responses to acetylcholine (10^-9 to 10^-5 M) after pre-incubation of TSM with atropine (10^-5 M), L-NAME (10^-4 M), indomethacin (10^-4 M), and nifedipine (10^-4 M), were determined. Results: Treatment with ALETP substantially inhibited TSM contraction stimulated by cumulative doses of acetylcholine, phenylephrine, and KCl. Furthermore, preincubation of TSM from the 2 groups in atropine significantly inhibited contractility in TSM. Incubation in L-NAME and indomethacin also significantly inhibited contractility in TSM of ALETP-treated rats compared to that of controls. Contractile activity of the TSM was also inhibited significantly with incubation in nifedipine in ALETP-treated rats. Conclusion: ALETP enhanced relaxant activity in rat TSM primarily by blocking the L-type calcium channel and promoting endothelial nitric oxide release. ALETP contains agents that may be useful in disorders of the respiratory tract.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2022

This study examines whether engine fuel efficiency is improved by optimization of the exhaust valve timing in a state where the intake valve timing has been optimized in a small turbo gasoline engine that has intake cams and exhaust cams with fixed valve opening periods. When the exhaust valve is opened late, the expansion stroke is longer, and the efficiency can be improved. A 2-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with 0.8 liters of displacement and an MPI (Multi Point Injection) fuel system was used. The engine was operated at 1,500 and 3,000 rpm, and the load conditions included a partial load of 50 N·m and a high load of 70 N·m. Data was recorded as the exhaust valve timing was controlled, and this was used to calculate the efficiency of combustion using a heat release, the fuel conversion efficiency, and the pumping loss. Results and the hydrocarbon concentrations in the exhaust gas were compared for each condition. Experiment results confirmed that additional fuel efficiency improvements are possible through exhaust valve timing control at 1,500 rpm and 50 N·m. However, in other operating conditions, fuel efficiency improvements could not be obtained through exhaust valve timing control because cases where the pumping loss and fuel/air mixture slip increased when the exhaust valve timing changed and the fuel efficiency declined.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.418-426
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• 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is one of the promising anticancer treatments. It shows a high overall response rate with complete response to blood cancer. However, there is a limitation to solid tumor treatment. Additionally, this currently approved therapy exhibits side effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Alternatively, bispecific antibody is an innovative therapeutic tool that simultaneously engages specific immune cells to disease-related target cells. Since programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule highly expressed in some cancer cells, in the current study, we generated αCD3xαPD-L1 bispecific antibody (BiTE) which can engage T cells to PD-L1⁺ cancer cells. We observed that the BiTE-bound OT-1 T cells effectively killed cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. They substantially increased the recruitment of effector memory CD8⁺ T cells having CD8⁺CD44⁺CD62L^low phenotype in tumor. Interestingly, we also observed that BiTE-bound polyclonal T cells showed highly efficacious tumor killing activity in vivo in comparison with the direct intravenous treatment of bispecific antibody, suggesting that PD-L1-directed migration and engagement of activated T cells might increase cancer cell killing. Additionally, BiTE-bound CAR-T cells which targets human Her-2/neu exhibited enhanced killing effect on Her-2-expressing cancer cells in vivo, suggesting that this could be a novel therapeutic regimen. Collectively, our results suggested that engaging activated T cells with cancer cells using αCD3xαPD-L1 BiTE could be an innovative next generation anticancer therapy which exerts simultaneous inhibitory functions on PD-L1 as well as increasing the infiltration of activated T cells having effector memory phenotype in tumor site.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2023

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, of which pathogenesis is caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the amino-terminus of huntingtin gene that resulted in the aggregation of mutant HTT proteins. HD is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a microtubule-associated deacetylase, has been shown to induce transport- and release-defect phenotypes in HD models, whilst treatment with HDAC6 inhibitors ameliorates the phenotypic effects of HD by increasing the levels of α-tubulin acetylation, as well as decreasing the accumulation of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) aggregates, suggesting HDAC6 inhibitor as a HD therapeutics. In this study, we employed in vitro neural stem cell (NSC) model and in vivo YAC128 transgenic (TG) mouse model of HD to test the effect of a novel HDAC6 selective inhibitor, CKD-504, developed by Chong Kun Dang (CKD Pharmaceutical Corp., Korea). We found that treatment of CKD-504 increased tubulin acetylation, microtubule stabilization, axonal transport, and the decrease of mutant huntingtin protein in vitro. From in vivo study, we observed CKD-504 improved the pathology of Huntington's disease: alleviated behavioral deficits, increased axonal transport and number of neurons, restored synaptic function in corticostriatal (CS) circuit, reduced mHTT accumulation, inflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation in YAC128 TG mouse model. These novel results highlight CKD-504 as a potential therapeutic strategy in HD.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2023

The external store fitted to the aircraft may affect the flight characteristics and flight safety of the aircraft, which requires the analyses and testing on it. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze types of failures that can affect the flight safety of aircraft due to the installation of external stores, and to check the flight safety of aircraft through dropping tests of the external stores. After identifying the types of failures that could affect the flight safety of the aircraft, the criticality was calculated to analyze the effect on the flight safety of the aircraft. Four types of failures were selected: unintentional dropping, failure of dropping, unintentional main wing deployment, and release of tail wing restraint of the external store, which are considered to affect the flight safety of the aircraft due to the operation of the external store. As a result of the aircraft's flight safety analysis on the failure types, the criticality requirements were met. Based on this, after obtaining the airworthiness certification, the drop test was successfully performed to confirm the flight safety of the aircraft by mounting an external store on the aircraft. However, in addition to the four hazards carried out in this study, the real external stores of the military aircraft may have various factors affecting the flight safety of the aircraft, so further research will be needed.