• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) participates in the regulation of numerous cellular functions, including the $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase (sodium pump). Ouabain, used in the treatment of several heart diseases, is known to increase cAMP levels but its effects on the atrium are not understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ouabain on the regulation of atrial cAMP production and its roles in atrial endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. Our results showed that ouabain ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$) significantly increased atrial dynamics and cAMP levels during recovery period. The ouabain-increased atrial dynamics was blocked by KB-R7943 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor for reverse mode of $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchangers (NCX), but did not by L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker nifedipine ($1.0{\mu}mol/L$) or protein kinase A (PKA) selective inhibitor H-89 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$). Ouabain also enhanced atrial intracellular cAMP production in response to forskolin and theophyline ($100.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, potentiated the ouabain-induced increase in cAMP. Ouabain and 8-Bromo-cAMP ($0.5{\mu}mol/L$) markedly increased atrial ET-1 secretion, which was blocked by H-89 and by PD98059 ($30{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changing ouabain-induced atrial dynamics. Our results demonstrated that ouabain increases atrial cAMP levels and promotes atrial ET-1 secretion via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathway. These findings may explain the development of cardiac hypertrophy in response to digitalis-like compounds.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2000

This study was carried out to examine proliferative activity and expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p2lras in normal and preneoplastic rat livers induced by an in vivo mid-term chemical carcinogenesis assay. Sixty, six-week-old male specific pathogen free Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group I was received a single intraperitoneal(IP) dose(200mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine(DEN). Group 2(10 rats) was operated partial hepatectomy(PH) and Group 3 was received IP(200mg/kg) DEN, fed two weeks later with 500ppm of phenobarbital(PB). Group 4 was received IP(200mg/kg) DEN, fed two weeks later 500ppm(PB) and PH at week 3 after the onset of experiment. While group 5(20 rats) was not treated and used as a control group. All the rats were sacrificed at age 14 weeks except 10 rats from group 5 were sacrificed at the onset of experiment. Livers of all rats were examined for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine(BrdU) incoporation, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs) counts per nucleus and expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras. Both the number and area of the preneoplastic lesions were significantly(p<0.01) compared to other groups. A significant(p<0.01) increase in immunoreactive cells were detected in preneoplastic hepatocytes in Groups 3 and 4 by PCNA and BrdU immunohistochemical stain. The number of the positive cells were significantly(p<0.05) lower in normal 14-week-old rats than those of 6-week-old rats. The results showed that proliferative activity of the hepatocytes was increased by treatment with DEN, PH and PB. Meanwhile, AgNORs counts per nucleus were significantly(p<0.05) increased in the preneoplastic hepatocytes of rats in both groups 3 and 4. The expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras were more readily localized within the hepatic preneoplastic lesions such as hyperplastic nodules. Especially, group 4 showed significantly (p<0.05) overexpressed levels compared to groups 1 and 3. These findings suggest that PCNA, BrdU and AgNORs are significantly increased and c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras are significantly overexpressed in hepatic preneoplastic lesions induced by mid-term carcinogenesis. So these parameters can be an effective markers for hepatic prencoplastic lesions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.505-512
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• 2014

A new donor-accepter-donor-accepter-donor (D-A-D-A-D) type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-thiophene-based acceptor unit 2,5-di(4-(5-bromo-4-octylthiophen-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-7-yl)thiophene ($DTBTTBr_2$) was synthesized. Copolymerized with fluorene and indeno[1,2-b]fluorene electron-rich moieties, two alternating narrow band gap (NBG) copolymers PF-DTBTT and PIF-DTBTT were prepared. And two copolymers exhibit broad and strong absorption in the range of 300-700 nm with optical band gap of about 1.75 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels vary between -5.43 and -5.52 eV and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels range from -3.64 to -3.77 eV. Potential applications of the copolymers as electron donor material and $PC_{71}BM$ ([6,6]-phenyl-$C_{71}$ butyric acid methyl ester) as electron acceptors were investigated for photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs). Photovoltaic performances based on the blend of PF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) and PIF-DTBTT/$PC_{71}BM$ (w:w; 1:2) with devices configuration as ITO/PEDOT: PSS/blend/Ca/Al, show an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 2.34% and 2.56% with the open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) of 0.87 V and 0.90 V, short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) of $6.02mA/cm^2$ and $6.12mA/cm^2$ under an AM1.5 simulator ($100mA/cm^2$). The photocurrent responses exhibit the onset wavelength extending up to 720 nm. These results indicate that the resulted narrow band gap copolymers are viable electron donor materials for polymer solar cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.107-121
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain the curative effects of Gamisipjeon-tang (GST) used for wound healing on the skin regeneration of deep second degree burns in mice. Material & Methods: In vitro, the $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK) mRNA expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression in the GST concentration from 1 mg/$m{\ell}$ to 10 mg/$m{\ell}$ were measured. In vivo, the mice were divided into four groups : the normal group, the BE group (burn-elicited group, control group), the DC group (Duoderm CGF-treated group after burn elicitation), and the GST group (Gamisipjeon-tang treated group after burn elicitation). To determine the anti-inflammatory effects, nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS, COX-2 positive reaction were measured by immunohistochemistry. To estimate the skin regenerative effects, change of burn area, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) positive reaction were analyzed. Results: In vitro, the iNOS, IKK, COX-2 mRNA expression decreased according to the increase of GST concentration. The significant decrease of COX-2, iNOS, NF-${\kappa}B$ positive reaction were the highest in the GST group, followed by the DC group and the BE group (p<0.05). The diameter of burn area was significantly decreased in the GST group as compared to that in the DC and BE group (p<0.05). The BrdU and FGF positive reaction increased more significantly in the GST group than in the DC group, and more significantly in the DC group than in the BE group on the 3rd and 7th day after burn (p<0.05). FGF positive reaction increased in the BE and DC group, whereas it decreased significantly in the GST group on the 14th day (p<0.05). The BrdU positive reaction increased in the BE group, whereas it decreased significantly in the DC and GST group on the 14th day (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that GST could decrease the inflammatory response and accelerate the skin regeneration as compared to the duoderm CGF in mice with deep second degree burns.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.187-198
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on neural cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) expression in hippocampus of ethanol-intoxicated Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Methods : SD rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups ; the normal group, the alcohol-treated(control) group, the alcohol- and 1 mg/kg Daekumeumja- treated(sample A) group, the alcohol- and 5mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample B) group, the alcohol- and 10 mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample C) group(n = 6 in each group). Normal group were received with Saline, while control group were injected intraperitoneally with alcohol(2 g/kg) once per day for 5 days. Sample groups were treated Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on Chungwan(CV12) for 5 consecutive days. Bromo-deoxyuridine(BrdU) was injected into all animals once per day for 5 days. For the detection of BrdU-positive cells and NADPH-d- positive cells in hippocampus, immunohistochemistry was performed. Results : 1. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the sample $B(278.08{\pm}6.46)$, $C(331.33{\pm}16.68)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 2. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $C(86.50{\pm}10.02)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 3. In the CAI area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $A(63.90{\pm}2.69)$, $B(75.70{\pm}3.01)$, $C(97.70{\pm}4.06)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 4. In the CA 2-3 area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $B(30.20{\pm}1.89)$, $C(62.70{\pm}2.08)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that, neural cell proliferation and NOS expression in hippocampus was reduced in ethanol-intoxicated group. Treatment of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture increased this diminution. Daekumeumja could be able to effect on the prevention of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 1999

목적: 일산화질소 (nitric oxide; NO)는 생식계를 비롯한 여러 생체내 기관에서 다양하고도 중요한 작용을 하는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 복강액은 난관내강과 연결되어 복강액 내의 세포 성분의 변화는 난관의 미세환경을 변화시켜 수정과 초기 배아 발생에 영향을 줄 수 있다. 본 연구는 배아 발생에 있어서 일산화질소의 역할을 이해하고 복강액 내의 NO농도 변화가 배아 발생에 미치는 역할을 조사하기 위해 수행되었다. 방법: 과배란시킨 1세대 잡종 암컷 생쥐 (C57BL${\times}$CBA/Ca)로부터 1세포기 배아를 얻어 10% synthetic serum substitute가 첨가된 modified human tubal fluid 배양액에서 4일 동안 체외배양하였다(대조군). 실험을 위해 이러한 배양조건에 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)를 $0{\sim}1mM$의 다양한 농도로 배양초기부터 첨가하거나, $200{\mu}M$ SNP를 2-, 4-, 8-세포기의 각기 다른 배아시기에 첨가하였으며, 복강경수술을 받는 42명의 여성으로부터 채취한 복강액을 SSS대신 단백질원으로 사용하여 포배아까지의 배아 발달율을 관찰하였으며, 복강액 내의 NO농도를 Griess방법에 의해 측정하였다. 배아의 apoptotic body는 H33342 염색법으로 조사하였으며 배아 발달율은 3회 이상 반복 실험한 결과의 mean${\pm}$SEM으로 나타내었다. 결과: SNP는 농도에 의존적으로 배발생을 억제하였으나 배아 단계에 대한 특이성은 관찰할 수 없었으며, 특히 $100{\mu}M$ 이상의 고농도의 SNP는 2-세포기 단계에서 배아 발생을 정지시켰다. 또한 단백질원으로 복강액 이용시 배 발생율은 복강액 내의 NO 농도에 따라 현저한 차이가 발견되었으며, $2.5{\mu}M$이상의 NO를 함유한 복강액에서 배양한 배아의 발생율은 현저하게 감소하였다. cGMP analogue인 8-bromo-cGMP를 배양액에 첨가시 배아 발생에는 변화가 없었으며, SNP에 의해 배발생이 정지된 2-세포기 배아에서 apoptotic body를 발견할 수 없었다. 결론: 이상의 결과로 보아 NO는 고농도에서 배아 발생을 저해하며, 복강액 내의 NO와 같은 성분의 변화는 배아 발생에 유해한 효과를 유발할 것으로 사료된다. 이러한 NO의 배아 발생 억제효과는 cGMP로 중재되는 경로나 apoptosis유발과는 관계가 없는 것 같다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.168-177
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng has been widely used as a health-promoting tonic. Gintonin present in ginseng acts as a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand that activates six LPA receptor subtypes. The LPA6 subtype plays a key role in normal hair growth, and mutations in the LPA6 receptor impair normal human hair growth. Currently, human hair loss and alopecia are concerning issues that affect peoples' social and day-to-day lives. Objective: We investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of a gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) on mouse hair growth. Methods: Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used. The mice were divided into the four groups: control, 1% minoxidil, 0.75% GEF, and 1.5% GEF. The dorsal hair was removed to synchronize the telogen phase. Each group was treated topically, once a day, for 15 days. We analyzed hair growth activity and histological changes. Results: GEF induced transient [Ca²⁺]_i, which stimulated HFDPC proliferation and caused 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in a concentration-dependent manner. GEF-mediated HFDPC proliferation was blocked by the LPA receptor antagonist and Ca²⁺ chelator. HFDPC treatment with GEF stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor release. Topical application of GEF and minoxidil promoted hair growth in a dose-dependent manner. Histological analysis showed that GEF and minoxidil increased the number of hair follicles and hair weight. Conclusion: Topical application of GEF promotes mouse hair growth through HFDPC proliferation. GEF could be one of the main components of ginseng that promote hair growth and could be used to treat human alopecia.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1998

Digital hearing aids offer many advantages over conventional analog hearing aids. With the advent of high speed digital signal processing chips, new digital techniques have been introduced to digital hearing aids. In addition, the evaluation of new ideas in hearing aids is necessarily accompanied by intensive subject-based clinical tests which requires much time and cost. In this paper, we present an objective method to evaluate and predict the performance of hearing aid systems without the help of such subject-based tests. In the hearing impairment simulation(HIS) algorithm, a sensorineural hearing impairment medel is established from auditory test data of the impaired subject being simulated. Also, the nonlinear behavior of the loudness recruitment is defined using hearing loss functions generated from the measurements. To transform the natural input sound into the impaired one, a frequency sampling filter is designed. The filter is continuously refreshed with the level-dependent frequency response function provided by the impairment model. To assess the performance, the HIS algorithm was implemented in real-time using a floating-point DSP. Signals processed with the real-time system were presented to normal subjects and their auditory data modified by the system was measured. The sensorineural hearing impairment was simulated and tested. The threshold of hearing and the speech discrimination tests exhibited the efficiency of the system in its use for the hearing impairment simulation. Using the HIS system we evaluated three typical hearing aid algorithms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.329-337
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• 1995

The effect of N-(4-chlorophenyl) maleimide(CPMI), plant growth regulators, and alkylating agents on gluathione(GSH) content and glutathione S-transferase(GST) activity was examined with 3-day-old etiolated sorghum(Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) seedlings. The GSH content and GST activity of untreated seedlings were higher in shoots than that in roots. Response of GST activity in coleoptile was significantly greater than in other tissues of sorghum seedling. In CPMI-treated seedlings, GSH content was not significantly different from that in untreated seedlings. CPM treatment resulted in 2.3-fold increase in GST activity measured with metolachlor as substrate in the coleoptile region. In contrast, change in GST activity measured with metolachlor as substrate in the coleoptile region. In contrast, change in GST activity measured with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene did not occur. The increase of GST activity was caused by induction of a GST isozyme, which is substrate-specific to metolachlor. Subsequently, two hypotheses related to metolachlor detoxification were evaluated on the basis of regulation of plant growth regulators and substrate induction of GST activity. In coleoptile, GST activity measured with metolachior was increased to 2.1-and 3.4-fold by both 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D) and metolachlor treated at the germination stage of sorghum, respectively. Treatments of 2.4-D and metolachlor also induced isozymes exhibiting the activity toward metolachlor. One of the isozymes was co-eluted with that induced by CPMI. These results indicated that increase in GST activity by CPMI may be partially related to auxin regulation and substrate induction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 1971

Since ${\beta}-aminoethylphosphonic$ acid was discovered in the living organism, the biosynthesis and biological function of aminophosphonic acids have been extensively studied. The purpose of this project consists in the two parts: 1)the preparation of DL-1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonic acid (Phenylalanine aminophosphonic acid) and DL-1-amino-3-methylbutyl-phosphonic acid (Isoleucine aminophosphonic acid) by the method of Chamber and Isbell. 2) the study of metabolism and biological functions of those synthetic materials by the animal experiment (white rats) The importance of this project proved to be the first experience fed by animals for the elucidation of biochemical and metabolic functions in the animal body. The following organic synthesis of DL-1-amino-3-methylbutylphosphonic acid and DL-1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonic acid are studied. 1)Synthesis of DL-1-amino-3-methylbutylphosphonic acid a) Synthesis of Iso-butylbromide b) Synthesis of Ethyl iso-butylmalonate c) Synthesis of Iso-caproic acid d) Synthesis of $Ethyl-{\alpha}-bromo$ iso-caproate e) Synthesis of $Triethyl-{\alpha}-phosphono$ iso-caproate f) Synthesis of DL-1-amino-3-methylbutylphosphonic acid 2)Synthesis of DL-1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonic acid a) Synthesis of Diethyl phosphite b) Synthesis of Ethylchloro acetate c) Synthesis of Triethyl phospho acetate d) Synthesis of Triethyl benzyl phospho acetate e) Synthesis of DL-1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonic acid The synthetic compounds; DL-1-amino-3-methylbutylphosphonic acid and DL-1-amino-2-phenyl ethylphosphonic acid which are essential amino acid (isoleucine, phenylalanine)analogue are supplemented to the animal diet at the level of 0.2% and 0.4% for isoleucine analogue and 0.35% and 0.7% for phenylalanine analogue. The plain isoleucine and phenylalanine at the same level in the diet are fercilitated as comparable groups in this study. Two sets of experience including 100 male rats were carried out for seven weeks each total 14 weeks. During this period, urine samples, and each big organs were collected for the analysis of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and glycogen contents in the individual samples by Micro Kjeldahl Fisk & Subbarow and Nelson Somogye, method. 1) The result of the project a) The yield of DL-1-amino-3-methylbutylphosphonic acid and DL-1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonic acid showed low tendency at the level of 12.5% and 20% Melting point of those two compounds were very high and the ${\alpha}-amino$ group in the synthetic compounds showed positive reaction with ninhydrin in the violet color. b) Ail the experimental groups included in this study revealed statistically no significant difference in the organ weight, total body nitrogen retention and urinary phosphorus excretion This means isoleucine aminophosphonic acid and Phenylalanine aminophosphonic acid were utilized in the body as much as the plain amino acids, isoleucine and phenylalanine did. c) The glycogen contents in the liver of the phenylalaine aminophosphonic acid gruop showed higher statistically significant(p<0.05) in the comparision with the group of the Phenylalanine and the Standard-2. It was noteworthy that the higher glycogen content in the liver might indicate the significance in the incorporation of phenylalanine aminophosphonic acid into the intermediate of tricarboxylic acid cycle as activated state.