• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.396-403
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• 2011

Ceramides (Cer) comprise the major constituent of sphingolipids in the epidermis and are known to play diverse roles in the outermost layers of the skin including water retention and provision of a physical barrier. In addition, they can be hydrolyzed into free sphingoid bases such as $C_{18}$ sphingosine (SO) and $C_{18}$ sphinganine (SA) or can be further metabolized to $C_{18}$ So-1-phosphate (S1P) and $C_{18}$ Sa-1-phosphate (Sa1P) in keratinocytes. The significance of ceramide metabolites emerged from studies reporting altered levels of SO and SA in skin disorders and the role of S1P and Sa1P as signaling lipids. However, the overall metabolism of sphingoid bases and their phosphates during keratinocyte differentiation remains not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed these Cer metabolites in the process of keratinocyte differentiation. Three distinct keratinocyte differentiation stages were prepared using 0.07 mM calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) (proliferation stage), 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$ (early differentiation stage) in serum-free medium, or serum-containing medium with vitamin C (50 ${\mu}L$/mL) (late differentiation stage). Serum-containing medium was also used to determine whether vitamin C increases the concentrations of sphingoid bases and their phosphates. The production of sphingoid bases and their phosphates after hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to cells treated with 0.07 mM Ca$^{2+}$, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were not altered after treatment with 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$. However, in keratinocytes cultured in serum-containing medium with vitamin C, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were dramatically higher than those in 0.07- and l.2-mM Ca$^{2+}$-treated cells; however, compared to serum-containing medium alone, vitamin C did not significantly enhance their production. Taken together, we demonstrate that late differentiation induced by vitamin C and serum was accompanied by dramatic increases in the concentration of sphingoid bases and their phosphates, although vitamin C alone had no effect on their production.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Objectives : To characterize the thermal properties of several Korean electric moxibustion apparatus and to suggest methods for improving their quality for related industry as well as the welfare of Korean. Methods : We reviewed previous literatures on traditional moxibustion to find necessary factors for electric moxibustion apparatus. We measured the thermal characteristics of electric moxibustion apparatus commercially available by using an automatic temperature acquisition system in a controlled environment. Uniformity and heat loss of the apparatus were also analysed. We followed the user's manuals of apparatus provided by manufacturers. Results : Temperature control of all apparatus could not be achieved by automatic manners. Most of them were dependent on user's discretion. Maximum temperatures obtained were barely in the therapeutic temperature of $40-45^{\circ}C$. Unnecessary heating of moxibustion parts was detected. Chemicals from moxa were not properly delivered to the human skin. Conclusions : Temperature control of all apparatus needs to be improved in terms of temperature setting, retention time and maximum temperature. Design should be altered to utilize pharmacological effects from moxa to obtain its maximum efficacy. User's manuals should be revised for its clarity.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2003

Carbon-14 is one of the major radionuclides released by CANDU Nuclear Power Plants(NPPs). It is almost always emitted as gas through the stack. From CANDU NPPs about 95% of all carbon-14 is released as carbon dioxide. Carbon-14 is a low energy beta emitter which, therefore, gives only a small skin dose from external radiation. As carbon dioxide Is physiologically rather inert gases for man's metabolism, the inhalation dose is probably less than 1 % of the ingestion dose. But this source of carbon-14, formed in a closed, nor-oxidative environment, was subsequently released into the workplace as an insoluble particulate when these systems were opened lip for re-tubing at CANDU NPPs. As a part of the improvement of dosimetry program at Wolsong Nuclear Power Plants, the carbon-14 metabolism based on references was investigated and studied to setup the internal dosimetry program due to inhalation of carbon-14.

• CELLMED
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2011

Bioelectric impedance measurements have been reported to show significant variation between individuals. Different physiological conditions like thickened skin, obesity, and fluid retention can affect the impedance measurement. Therefore, it is important to learn what other factors can affect the measurements of impedance even in healthy individuals. Such information is a prerequisite for understanding the changes in impedance associated with acupuncture treatment. This study investigated the bio-impedance properties of tissue segments in the arms of a number of healthy subjects, so as to define the factors that might influence the variation of the bio-impedance data in acupuncture meridians studies. 51 healthy subjects were recruited through Liverpool Hospital, Sydney. Demographic data was collected from each subject including the age, sex, BMI, and time since most recent meal. Electrodes were applied to the forearms of each test subject. Measurements were done by a purpose-built Bio-Impedance Research Device (BIRD-I) which allowed the determination of core resistance (Rc) and core reactance (Xc) of each of the three meridian tissue segments on the anterior surface of the forearm. No significant difference was found in the core resistance attributable to age group, gender, BMI or meal intake. However, a statistically significant trend in increasing resistance from the radial to ulnar aspect of the forearm (p < 0.001) was found. No significant difference was found in the core resistance of test tissue segments among the 51 healthy subjects measured in this study. However, the trend of increasing core resistance from the radial to ulnar aspects of the arm deserves further investigation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.243-247
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• 2007

Retinoids have many important and diverse functions and particularly, have been widely used as anti-aging agent and for the treatment of acne and psoriasis in cosmetics. However, retinoids have low stability against the air, light, water, oxygen and heat, thus, to stabilize the retinoids in formulations is very critical procedure. In this study, cubic liquid crystalline phase of monoolein was applied to stabilize the retinylpalmitate (RP) and to enhance the transdermal permeation. Cubic liquid crystalline phase significantly enhanced the stability of RP. After 15 days, the content of RP in the cubic formulation was 94.7% while the content of RP in ethanol solution was below 0.5% at room temperature. Although BHT containing crystalline phase showed the slightly increased stability of RP, there were no significant differences in RP stability between with or without antioxidants (ascorbic acid, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, BHT, BHA) at $40^{\circ}C$. The skin retention of RP in crystalline formulations was approximately $5.3{\sim}6.4$ times greater than that of o/w cream formulation. Incorporation of RP into cubic liquid crystalline phase of monoolein effectively stabilized the RP and worked as excellent topical vehicle for RP. Liquid crystalline phase is considered to be suitable formulation for RP for topical delivery system as a stabilizer and permeation enhancing agent.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.146-156
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• 2001

Objectrve : To research the trends of the study related to aging process, and to establish the direction of the study on aging process. Method : We reviewed the journal and essay about the aging process which are published as well in Korea as in foreign country. Results : 1. The study on the Oriental Medicine field can be classfied with the fourth. first, the study of single herb medication's effect on the aging process. second, the study of multiple herb medication's effect on the aging process. third, the study of herb-acupuncture solution's effect on the aging process. fourth, journal review. We find the fact that the study on the Oriental Medicine is concerned with pathology of deficiency syndrome of the kidneys, retention of phlegm and fluid, blood stasis. 2. On the Western Medicine field, mechanism and pathology of aging pracess primarily has been studied. The mechanism of aging process is classified with 'Wear and tear theory' and 'Genome-based theory'. Among the mechanism of aging process, 'Free radical theory' is the most important. Additionally 'Senescence-Accelerated Mouse' has been studied. 3. We review the journal published in foreign country and its subject was the following: first, moxibustion combined with acu-area skin allograft therapy for the aging was effective, second, the traditional chinese medicine bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in mice have anti-aging effect. third, the overview Preventive geriatrics of Traditional chinese medicine. 4. We researched anti-aging effect study in the journal of the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and we found a few journal of Herb-acupuncture solution's anti-aging effect. Hereafter, it is necessory that we will study about relationship between acupuncture-moxibustion therpy and anti-aging effect using Senescence-Accelerated Mouse.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.342-349
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• 2018

In this study, the physicochemical properties, emulsifying capacity, moisture content and cytotoxicity of the composite material produced by transesterification reactions of the olive oil (olive oil esters) were investigated for cosmetic applications. Olive oil esters with short (S) and long (L) reaction times were studied. From the TLC-image analysis, composition ratios of the olive oil esters S were found to be 5.2, 24.1, 46.4, and 21.9% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. Those of the olive oil esters L were 4.1, 24.7, 40.6, and 28.8% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. The iodine value, acid value, saponification value, unsaponified matter, refractive index, and specific gravity were determined and purity tests were also carried out and normalized to establish standards and testing methods for using olive oil esters in cosmetics. To evaluate their emulsifying capacities, the O/W emulsion was prepared without surfactants and the formation of the emulsified particles were confirmed. After 5 days of applying the olive oil esters to human skin, the skin moisture retention was improved by 13.1% from the initial state. For the evaluation of toxicity on human skin cells, the olive oil esters showed 90% or more of the cell viability at $0.2-200{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggested that olive oil esters can be applied as natural/non-toxic ingredients to cosmetics industries.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2008

This report describes 46 studies related to the use of Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii main blended prescriptions from Dongeuibogam. The following conclusions were reached through investigations on the prescriptions that use Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii as a key ingredient. 1. 19.6% of feces recorded the largest number of clinical frequency of the prescriptions in therapeutic use when Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii was taken as a monarch drug in prescriptions. In addition, 13.0% of each of a cough and an abdominal mass with distention and pain ranked second. 2. Prescriptions that utilize Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii as the main ingredient are used in the treatmeant of 5 diseases related to each of feces and an abdominal mass with distention and pain, and they are also used for treating different types of diseases related to the following ; a cough, a chest, ribs, eyes, the fullness in the chest, Qi, skin areas. 3. In the view of the causative agent of a disease, the prescriptions which are compounded with Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii as a monarch drug are related to endogenous agents such as seven emotion, food, deficiency, exogenous agents such as wind-cold pathogen, heat and non-endo-exopathogcnic factors like diseases due to external factors, poison. And in the view of the pathology of a disease, they are applied to the viscera pathology related to the lung, the spleen and stomach, the pathology of Qi and blood related to the reversed flow of Qi, the congestion of Qi, the deficiency of blood, the obstruction of Qi and blood, and the pathology about the retention of phlegm and fluid related to phlegm stagnation. 4. The dosage of Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii is 1.25pun(about 0,47g) to 2jeon(about 7.5g), however 1jeon(about 3.75g) has been taken the most for clinical application. 5. We can find out that according to herbs or prescriptions blended with itself, Fructus Ponciri Seu Aurantii makes a variety of functions to penetrate and remove stagnation, regulate Qi flow, relieve stagnation, expell wind and get rid of pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.502-508
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• 1994

A total of 24 specimens of the pufferfish, Fugu xanthopterus, purchased at a fixhmarket in Pusan, korea were examined for toxicity using the assay method of tetrodotoxin (TTX). Also, the toxins isolated from the puffer liver were partially purified and analyzed for their chemical composition by instrumental behaviors. On the whole, when the level of toxicity in each organ was analyzed compared to that of liver, they were 100 % of the lover, 92 % for the intestine, 75% for the skin, 17% for the muscle, 785 for the testis, 87% for the ovary, and 71% for bile. The highest and average scores of toxicity for the liver were 917 and $231{\pm}51MU/g$ liver, respectively. The toxins of the puffer gave four peaks in HPLC whose retention times (10, 20, 22 and 25 min) were close to those of TDA, TTX, 4-epi-TTX, and and -TTX, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.52-65
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• 2012

Objectives: Toad venom, called Chan-Su, is a traditional Oriental medicine secreted from the auricular and the skin glands of the Bufo bufo gargarizanz Cantor or B. melanosticus Schneider and has been widely used in China, Korea and other parts of Asia for the treatment of pain, heart conditions, and cancer. We examined the concentrations of the main chemical constituents within a commercially available toad venom product and compared the levels for different extraction methods. Methods: Toad venom was extracted using either cold or hot water, ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), or ethyl acetate (EtOAc), was fractionated using precipitation or reflux, and was then analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HTLC), and liquid chroma-tography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Individual components were identified by comparisons of the retention times, the ultraviolet spectra, and mass spectras and differences in chemical constituents for different solvents and extraction methods are presented. Results: Components with authentic standards, including serotonin and bufodienolides (cinobufagen, bufalin, cinobufalin, and resibufogenin), were detected. The water extract of toad venom contained the greatest amount of serotonin ($75.7{\pm}0.1$ mg/g), but very small amounts of bufodienolides ($3.8{\pm}0.0$ mg/g). In contrast, the use of MeOH or EtOH extraction solutions resulted in 5-26 times higher concentrations of bufodienolides, with only trace amounts of serotonin. The relative and the absolute concentrations of the component also varied based on the extraction method; i.e., EtOH extracts yielded the greatest total amounts of bufodienolides, and EtOAc precipitation had the lowest amounts of bufodienolides. Conclusions: Toad venom consists of serotonin and several bufodienolides, and the choice of solvent to extract chemical the constituents is important as a way to enrich the purported active components for treating different conditions.