• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.7
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2015

The complement system is part of the innate immune response and as such defends against invading pathogens, removes immune complexes and damaged self-cells, aids organ regeneration, confers neuroprotection, and engages with the adaptive immune response via T and B cells. Complement activation can either benefit or harm the host organism; thus, the complement system must maintain a balance between activation on foreign or modified self surfaces and inhibition on intact host cells. Complement regulators are essential for maintaining this balance and are classified as soluble regulators, such as factor H, and membrane-bound regulators. Defective complement regulators can damage the host cell and result in the accumulation of immunological debris. Moreover, defective regulators are associated with several autoimmune diseases such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, dense deposit disease, age-related macular degeneration, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the complement system is regulated is important for the development of novel therapies for complement-associated diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.163-166
• /
• 2012

In the present study, we investigated the effect of the water extract of Perilla frutescens var. acuta (Labiatae; WEPF) on the mast cell-mediated allergic reactions. WEPF was anally administered to mice for high and fast absorption. WEPF inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic allergic reaction. WEPF attenuated immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated local allergic reaction. In addition, WEPF decreased the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1 cells. These results indicate that WEPF inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reactions in vivo and in vitro.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 1991

A retrospective review of clinical records of 34 cases with polypoid vocal folds who underwent endolaryngeal microsurgery was carried out. The results were followings; 1) The incidence was high in elder age group(mean age : 53.7 years old). 2) Bilateral lesions were much more frequent than unilateral ones(67.6% vs. 32.4%). 3) Nine out of 34 patients had associated local pathologies and nine out of 34 patients had associated systemic pathologies. 4) Smoking appeared to be the most dominant predisposing factor(76.5%). 5) Maximal phonation time was decreased in 10 cases out of 14 cases(71.4%) and phonation quotient was increased in 9 cases out of 14 cases(64.3%). 6) All the cases were treated with sucking technique and the voice quality was improved in 32 cases(94.1%) The average duration for voice improvement was 2.8 months.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2010

NPR1 is a positive regulator of systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis and rice. Expression of the rice gene OsNPR1 is induced by salicylic acid (SA). To identify the region of the OsNPR1 promoter involved in response to SA, we carried out deletion mutagenesis of the region 1005 bp upstream of the OsNPR1 start codon. Ciselement analysis revealed that the OsNPR1 promoter contains W-boxes and ASF1 motifs, both of which are known to be functional cis-elements of the WRKY and bZIP proteins, respectively. The deletion constructs 1005:LUC and 752:LUC, were induced by up to 4.3- and 3.8-fold, respectively, following SA treatment, suggesting that W-boxes and ASF1 motifs may play an important role in the strong induction of these constructs by SA. Using mutation analysis, we also showed that both the W-box and ASF1 motif are necessary for SA-induced expression of OsNPR1.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 2011

The uniformity of lighting distribution on the roadway is essential factor for drivers and pedestrians's safety during nighttime in urban streets. Also, the importance of roadside trees is one of the growing concern for better citizens' health and mitigating environmental impact on the urban street. But roadway lightings and roadside trees have different design or planting standards and they are not integrated in the systemic viewpoint for better safety of users during nighttime. The purpose of this study is to propose a simulation approach which assesses lighting quality in the view of illumination uniformity distribution of roadway lighting from design step and consider the layout of roadside trees. For improving lighting quality of roadway, simulation approach is needed for assessing the impact of diverse planting situation of trees and encouraged from beginning of design step for roadway construction.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.414-423
• /
• 2002

Keep pace with economic development, the quality of transportation means such as railway, road, harbors has changed and those changes have affected to economic activities. It means that economic development and the changes of transportation quality have an inter-systemic relationship. So to speak, transportation means are major factor of national economic activities to implement economic and consumption activities by promoting supply of goods through the network between regions and industries. Currently, it is needed to connect railway and road between South and North Korea due to the economic cooperation of two sides and meeting of separated families based on the peacemaking mood. Moreover, to connect to T.C.R. and T.S.R. route will contribute to save time and cost of transporting freight to Europe comparing with shipping when South-North railway is connected. The possibility and method of connecting railway between South and North Korea will be introduced in this paper.

• Intestinal research
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 2013

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic immunological disorder characterized by recurrent mucosal ulcerative lesions including oral and genital ulcerations in association with skin and ocular involvements. BD also can involve the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal involvement of BD is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for this disease. However, clinical data are quite limited because of the rarity of intestinal BD. Therefore, the management of intestinal BD is heavily dependent on expert opinions and standardized medical treatments of intestinal BD are yet to be established. In this brief review, the authors summarized the currently available medical treatments such as 5-aminosalicylic acids, corticosteroids, immuno-modulators, and anti-TNF agents. Moreover, we sought to suggest a treatment algorithm for intestinal BD based on the recently published and updated data.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.335-341
• /
• 2019

Background: Inflammation is a host-defensive innate immune response to protect the body from pathogenic agents and danger signals induced by cellular changes. Although inflammation is a host-defense mechanism, chronic inflammation is considered a major risk factor for the development of a variety of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are systemic inflammatory and degenerative diseases that primarily affect connective tissues and are characterized by severe chronic inflammation and degeneration of connective tissues. Ginseng and its bioactive ingredients, genocides, have been demonstrated to have antiinflammatory activity and pharmacological effects on various rheumatic diseases by inhibiting the expression and production of inflammatory mediators. Methods: Literature in this review was searched in a PubMed site of National Center for Biotechnology Information. Results: The studies reporting the preventive and therapeutic effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases were discussed and summarized. Conclusion: Ginseng and ginsenosides play an ameliorative role on rheumatic diseases, and this review provides new insights into ginseng and ginsenosides as promising agents to prevent and treat rheumatic diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.272-276
• /
• 2019

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory follicular occlusive disease that involves the intertriginous areas. Treatment methods include conventional topical and systemic medication, radiotherapy, biologic agents, and surgical excision. Of late, there has been an increased focus on the use of biologic agents in patients with moderate to severe HS. Here, we present the case of a 46-year-old man with Hurley stage III HS for whom wide excision was ultimately curative, after aggressive medical therapy with the use of infliximab and adalimumab had succeeded in limiting the body surface area affected by the disease. This case demonstrates the effective treatment of severe HS with a combination of biologic therapy and surgery.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2022

Thyroid cancer is one of the slow-growing tumors with excellent oncological outcomes. However, a small set of patients with unexpectedly severe outcomes are usually ignored. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains one of the most aggressive and lethal solid tumors. Recently, dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy or neoadjuvant BRAF induction therapy has shown promising results. In addition, a combination of targeted drugs, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy can improve overall survival in ATC patients. Another disease for which there is no breakthrough treatment is radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). To date, multikinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib) targeting the growth factor signaling pathway have been developed and approved as anticancer agents for patients with advanced DTC. This review includes results from multikinase inhibitors to the emergence of new target molecules, including rearrangements during transformation (RET) and tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK).