• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.380-385
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• 2012

Glucosamine (GS) is well known for the treatment of inflammation. However, the mechanism and efficacy of GS for skin inflammation are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of GS in the mouse 12-O-tetradecanoyl 13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema model. TPA-induced ear edema was evoked in ICR or transglutaminase 2 (Tgase-2) (-/-) mice. GS was administered orally (10-100 mg/kg) or topically (0.5-2.0 w/v %) prior to TPA treatment. Orally administered GS at 10 mg/kg showed a 76 or 57% reduction in ear weight or myeloperoxidase, respectively, and a decreased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), NF-${\kappa}B$ and Tgase-2 in TPA-induced ear edema by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Role of Tgase-2 in TPA ear edema is examined using Tgase-2 (-/-) mice and TPA did not induce COX-2 expression in ear of Tgase-2 (-/-) mice. These observations suggested that Tgase-2 is involved in TPA-induced COX-2 expression in the inflamed ear of mice and antiinflammatory effects of glucosamine is mediated through suppression of Tgase-2 in TPA ear edema.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1825-1831
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• 2004

Phellinus linteus is known as a medicinal mushroom, which has the pharmaceutical activity on tumors and inflammatory diseases in traditional Oriental medicine. However, despite extensive pharmacological studies on P. linteus, the liquor of fermentation using mycelium of P. linteus(LFMP) has not been investigated. In the present study, it was examined the effect of the evaporating extract from LFMP(E-LFMP) on the expression of inflammatory proteins and the generation of reactive oxygen species in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. E-LFMP inhibited acetaldehyde-induced morphological change in HepG2 cells. Also, E-LFMP inhibits expression of inflammatory proteins including cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 and COX-2 through suppressing nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) and degradation of inhibitory κBα(IκBα). In addition, E-LFMP inhibits generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) by hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂) in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that LFMP has the pharmaceutical, especially anti-inflammatory, activity similar to P. linteus mushroom.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4 s.114
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• pp.494-502
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• 2005

Antialgal bacteria and ciliates were tested alone and in combination for their abilities to decrease the densities of the warm-weather cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, and the cold-weather centric diatom, Stephanodiscus hantzschii. Our results indicate that the density of M. aeruginosa was effectively suppressed by the bacterium, Streptomyces neyagawensis, and the heterotrich ciliate, Stentor roeselii. However, co-treatment with both bio-agents stimulated the algal density rather than decreasing it, suggesting that S. neyagawensis and S. roeselii may have an antagonistic relationship. Additional experiments revealed that the density of S. hantzschii was effectively suppressed by the bacterium, Pseudomonas putida, and by the above mentioned strain of S. roeselii. Co-treatment with both bio-agents had a higher antialgal activity than treatment with each alone, indicating that the bio-agents may act synergistically. These results suggest that the anti-alge efficacy of co-treatment with multiple biological control agents is likely to differ depending on the bio-agents and target organisms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.109-123
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• 2015

The object of this research is to take a bilateral look into cultural exchanges of the Netherlands and Japan through the East India Company and thereby improve the general understanding in regards to the exchanges of costume cultures between the East and the West. The study conducted qualitative analyses on features of contemporary costumes of the Netherlands and Japan from 1602 to 1799 by investigating the secondary sources, such as the histories of costumes, arts, and literature. The results are as follows; the traditional sleeves of the Japanese Kimono were basically cut out in a straight line. However due to the growing popularity of the kimono home gown in Europe, the producers of the kimono in India as well as several other European countries modified them into western-style sleeves. Regarding the costumes of the Netherlands, which were introduced to Japan, the study found that Japan imported Dutch fabrics, instead of specific clothing items. In Japan, costume controls and anti-conspicuous consumption regulations among social classes including a closed-door policy had negative effects on both developments and exchanges of costumes of the country. However, when it comes to the Jinbaori, a costume for ruling classes, Japan was open to using fabrics, patterns and designs of the West. In light of what have been discussed so far, the study confirmed that the costume exchanges between the two countries started long after their first business of the general cultural exchanges. Though it is clear that the advancements in the natural sciences that the Japanese made can be attributed to the West, Japan was one of the nations that impacted the costume cultures in Europe.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2023

Myelophycus caespitosus, a brown alga belonging to genus Myelophycus, has been traditionally used as a food and medicinal resource in Northeastern Asia. However, few studies have been conducted on its pharmacological activity. In this study, we evaluated whether methanol extract of M. caespitosus (MEMC) could protect against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in C2C12 murine myoblasts. Our results revealed that MEMC could suppress H₂O₂-induced growth inhibition and DNA damage while blocking the production of reactive oxygen species. In H₂O₂-treated cells, cell cycle progression was halted at the G2/M phase, accompanied by changes in expression of key cell cycle regulators. However, these effects were attenuated by MEMC. In addition, we found that MEMC protected cells from induction of apoptosis associated with mitochondrial impairment caused by H₂O₂ treatment. Furthermore, MEMC enhanced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in H₂O₂-treaetd C2C12 myoblasts. However, such anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective effects of MEMC were greatly abolished by HO-1 inhibitor, suggesting that MEMC could increase Nrf2-mediated activity of HO-1 to protect C2C12 myoblasts from oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.176-186
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• 2016

For several decades, lactic acid bacterium (Lactobacillus graminis: LAB) has been generally recognized as safe. To develop the pan-environmental bio-control agent, algicidal activity of the live LAB cell and its culture filtrate (CF) was examined against Microcystis aeruginosa. LAB cells perfectly lysed M. aeruginosa within 3 days, while the CF had a less effect than the live cells, approximately 78% inhibition of algal growth during a same culture period. The concentration of microcystin in alone culture of M. aeruginosa was $7.1{\mu}gL^{-1}$, but gradually increased and leach $158.5{\mu}gL^{-1}$ on 10 days. However, LAB cells clearly decreased the microcystin by $10.3{\mu}gL^{-1}$ in the same period, approximately 93.5%. CF of LAB showed a strong algicidal activity over 75% between pH 2-7, 91.3% by the treatment of proteinase K, 87.8% by below 3 kDa in particle size, and 75.3% by heat treatment, respectively. Of five solvents, fractions of CF passed through solvents diethyl ether and ethyl acetate showed an obvious algicidal activity in the algal-lawn test. Among 5 fractions purified by silica-gel TLC plate, two spots showed a most strong removal activity on M. aeruginosa. Another analysis of GC indicate that CF contained six representative fatty acids. Even though most of these substance have been known as an anti-algal substance against M. aeruginosa, oleic acid is the most effective. These results suggested that the culture filtrate or specific substances, like a fatty acids, in comparison with live L. graminis can be a successful and eco-friendly agent to control Microcystis bloom.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.178-186
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• 2012

This study examined the concept-forming process of Design-Art and based on it, drew the significance of Design-Art. Design-Art is generated by the policy cultivating star artists and star designers so as to pioneer new art-market in 1990s in the foundation of anti-area formed by Postmodernism in 1960s. It started to be vitalized while designers were born as author. At the same time, because of the information's popularity by internet's propagation, users started to manufacture and propagate contents volunteerly. Meanwhile, designers accepted artistic value so as to guarantee independent position, so the area of Design-Art became more strengthened. Therefore, Design-Art means 'design as an art' and Design-Artist obtained general meaning, 'designer as an author'. In 2000s, it secured variety because of the acceptance of existing art galleries' Design-Art works and forming of new Design-Art market such as Design-Art fair, and vitalization of the market played its own roles with the movement to create new-concept of design in design ecology. Based on the contents, this paper analyzed Design-Art works by Design-Artists working actively in actual field and examined the possibility of future development of Design-Art.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.855-862
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• 2013

Although antioxidant activities of Korean traditional fermented foods were reported by many researchers, study on antioxidant activity of microorganism originated from Korean traditional fermented foods was little. Therefore, we improved condition for antioxidant production by a bacterium isolated from home-made Chungkookjang. We selected a bacterial strain, which showed the highest antioxidative activity, from Chungkookjang and then named GJ. The selected GJ strain was identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus by alignment data of 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences. Improved medium compositions for DPPH radical scavenging activity were 0.25% sucrose, 1% peptone, 0.01% $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ and initial pH 6.5, respectively. Optimal culture conditions were $30^{\circ}C$, 200 rpm and 4% inoculum volume, respectively. In improved conditions, DPPH radical scavenging activity of GJ reached to 91% in a short time. The strain GJ also possessed ACE inhibition and other antioxidative activities; ACE inhibition activity (49.4%), ABTS radical scavenging activity (99.8%), metal chelating activity (67.9%), SOD-like activity (36.5%) and reducing power ($A_{700}$ = 5.982) were observed, respectively. Therefore, our results suggest that B. methylotrophicus GJ strain may be potential candidate for functional foods, cosmetic products for anti-aging and medicine for diseases caused by oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2018

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the most common foodborne pathogens responsible for outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis, which can lead to the life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome. In this study, we identified phytochemicals that specifically inhibit the expression of LEE operon in E. coli O157:H7. Among phytochemicals, diosmin decreased the adherence of E. coli O157:H7 towards Caco-2 cells in vitro (p<0.01) and its biofilm formation activity (p<0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcripts of Ler-regulated genes and genes related to curli production were significantly reduced in the presence of diosmin. However, diosmin does not affect bacterial viability, indicating that the resistance rate to diosmin was remarkably low. Overall, these results provide significant insights into the development of a novel anti-infective agent that is different from conventional antibiotics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.