• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.316-322
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• 2007

Zinc finger transcription factor genes are a significant fraction of the genes in the vertebrate genome. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a human zinc finger-containing gene, ZNF435, from a fetal brain cDNA library. ZNF435 cDNA is 1290 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 349 amino acids with four C2H2-type zinc fingers at its carboxyl terminus and a SCAN motif at its amino terminus. RT-PCR results showed that ZNF435 was expressed in all tested tissues. A ZNF435-GFP fusion protein was located in the nucleus and the four zinc fingers acted as nuclear localization signals (NLSs). ZNF435 was found to be capable of homo-association, and this effect was independent of its zinc fingers. Furthermore, ZNF435 proved to be a transcription repressor as its overexpression in AD293 cells inhibited the transcriptional activities of AP-1.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2004

When ginseng water extract was incubated at $60^{\circ}C$ in acidic conditions, its protopanaxadiol ginsenosides were transformed to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$. However, protopanaxadiol glycoside ginsenosides $Rb_1, Rb_2$ and Rc isolated from ginseng were mostly not transformed to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ by the incubation in neutral condition. The transformation of these ginsenosides to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was increased by increasing incubation temperature and time in acidic condition: the optimal incubation time and temperature for this transformation was 5 h and $60^{\circ}C$ resepectively. The transformed ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ were metabolized to ginsenoside $Rh_2$ and $\Delta^{20}$--ginsenoside $Rh_2$, respectively, by human fecal microflora. Among the bacteria isolated from human fecal microflora, Bacteroides sp., and Bifidobacterium sp. and Fusobacterium sp. potently transformed ginsenoside $Rg_3$ to ginsenoside $Rh_2$. Acid-treated ginseng (AG) extract, fermented AG extract, ginsenoside $Rh_2$ and protopanaxadiol showed potent cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines. AG extract, fermented AG extract and protopanaxadiol potently inhibited the growth of Helicobacter pylori.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.484-487
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• 1996

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are members of a unique family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade components of the extracellular matrix. Significant evidence has accumulated to directly implicate members of the MMPs in tumor invasion and metastasis formation. To investigate the correlation between ras oncogene and MMP gene expression in various tumor cells, we detected mRNAs for the ras, MMP-2 and MMP-9 (72 kD and 92 kD type IV collagenases, respectively) genes in nine human tumor cell lines. The ras gene was expressed in seven cell lines; MMP-2 in three; MMP-9 in two cell lines tested. There was no direct correlation between the ras oncogene and MMP expression. A clear difference in the mRNA expression between MMP-2 and MMP-9 was observed among the cell lines. As an approach to study the effect of the ras oncogene on metastasis, we examined the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HT1080 cells transfected with the v-H-ras gene. MMP-9 expression was Significantly enhanced in the ras-transfected HT1080 cells compared with the nontransfectants while ras transfection did not affect the expression of MMP-2. These results suggest the possible inducing effect of the ras oncogene on the metastasis by activation of the MMP-9 gene in HT1080.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.650-666
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, the author tried to investigate whether wood vinegar produced from Morus alba (MA) significantly affects the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells of rats, and in vitro airway mucin secretion and PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production / gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Materials and Methods : For the in vivo experiment, the author induced hypersecretion of airway mucus and goblet cell hyperplasia by exposure of rats to SO2 over 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered MA over 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats and hyperplasia of goblet cells were assessed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with alcian blue. For the in vitro experiment, confluent RTSE cells were chased for 30 min in the presence of MA to assess the effect of MA on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of MA and treated with PMA (10 ng/ml), EGF (25 ng/ml) or TNF-alpha (0.2 nm) for 24 hrs, to assess both effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Possible cytotoxicities of MA in vitro were assessed by examining LDH release from RTSE cells and the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. In vivo liver and kidney toxicities of MA were evaluated by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN/creatinine concentrations of rats after administering MA orally. Results : 1. MA decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of rats exposed to sulfur dioxide inhalationally. 2. MA decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured RTSE cells. 3. MA significantly inhibited PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin productions and the expression levels of MUC5AC mRNA from NCI-H292 cells. 4. MA did not show either in vitro or in vivo hepatic or renal toxicities. Conclusion : The results from this study suggests that MA can regulate the secretion, production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in diverse respiratory diseases accompanied by mucus hypersecretion and does not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration. Effects of MA should be further studied using animal experimental models that simulate the diverse pathophysiology of respiratory diseases via future research.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2009

Rehmannia Radix Preparata (RRP) used to nourish Eum and enrich blood for consumptive fever, aching, and limpness of the loins and knees, and to replenish essence for tinnitus, premature greying of beard and hair. In the present study, we studied about the protective effect of RRP on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human vascular endothelial cells. ECV304 cells were preincubated with RRP (100, 200, 300 and $400{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) for 12hr and then treated with $600{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ for 12hr. The protective effects of RRP on $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis in ECV304 cells was determined by using MTT assay, FDA-PI staining, flow cytometric analysis, caspase-3 activity assay, ROS assay and western blot. The results of this experiment showed that RRP inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis and ROS production in ECV304 cells. Moreover, RRP increased ERK activation that decreased in $H_2O_2$-treated ECV304 cells, and inhibited p38 and JNK activation. Furthermore, RRP increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in $H_2O_2$-treated ECV304 cells. Also, HO-1 protein expression induced by RRP was reduced by the addition of ERK inhibitor (PD98059) in $H_2O_2$-treated ECV304 cells. These results suggest that protective effect of RRP on $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in ECV304 cells may be associated with increase of ERK activation and HO-1 protein, and reduction of p38 and JNK activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.15-30
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• 2001

The purpose 7f this study is to investigate the change of the ideal beauty of human bodies and the related clothing form designs from the ancient Egypt to the Romantic Period in the aspect of optical illusions effects to achieve the ideal beauty so that we can accumulate the knowledges for the modern clothing form design and the related optical illusion effects. The scope of this study is limited to the female body forms and female dress forms. The analysis on the optical illusions in the dress forms of the various period relied on the literatures and some representative photographs and figures. The important results are as follows : 1. In the body Priority type designs of Egypt, Greece and Rome, the natural Beauty of human bodies was represented by H type silhouett, the smooth and transparent drapery materials were used with radiant line pleats resulting in slant optical illusions. 2. In the clothing priority type designs of Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Romantic Period, manteau, cotehardie, hennin and poulain were used to emphasize long arms and legs, high waists, belly curves and large heads resulting in optical illusions of vertical emphasize. Also long train, farthingale and panier were used to emphasize body expansion resulting in the optical illusions of Titchener alld Lipps. Large and complex patterns showed the optical illusions of Aubert. 3. In the clothing priority/body concealment type of Byzantine period, thick materials with precious gems and voluminous silhouettes were used to emphasize body expansion resulting in optical illusions of materials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.605-611
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• 2023

Recently, sporadic cases of human infection by genetic reassortants of H7Nx influenza A viruses have been reported; such viruses have also been continuously isolated from avian species. In this study, A/wild bird/South Korea/sw-anu/2023, a novel reassortant of the H7N1 avian influenza virus, was analyzed using full-genome sequencing and molecular characterization. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A/wild bird/South Korea/sw-anu/2023 belonged to the Eurasian lineage of H7Nx viruses. The polymerase basic (PB)2, PB1, polymerase acidic (PA), and nucleoprotein (NP) genes of these viruses were found to be closely related to those of avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds, while the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix (M), and nonstructural (NS) genes were similar to those of avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic ducks. In addition, A/wild bird/South Korea/sw-anu/2023 also had a high binding preference for avian-specific glycans in the solid-phase direct binding assay. These results suggest the presence of a new generation of H7N1 avian influenza viruses in wild birds and highlight the reassortment of avian influenza viruses found along the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Overall, H7Nx viruses circulate worldwide, and mutated H7N1 avian viruses may infect humans, which emphasizes the requirement for continued surveillance of the H7N1 avian influenza virus in wild birds and poultry.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.542-549
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• 2016

This paper presents a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) dedicated for a single-chip smart capsule which can be used to continuously monitor human alimentary canal pH and temperature values. The SoC is composed of the pH and temperature sensor interface circuit, a wireless transceiver, the power management circuit and the flow control logic. Fabricated in $0.18{\mu}m$ standard CMOS technology, the SoC occupies a die area of ${\sim}9 mm^2$. The SoC consumes 6.15 mW from a 3 V power supply, guaranteeing the smart capsule battery life is no less than 24 hours when using 50 mAh coin batteries. The experimental results show that measurement accuracy of the smart capsule is ${\pm}0.1$ pH and ${\pm}0.2^{\circ}C$ for pH and temperature sensing, respectively, which meets the requirement of in-body pH and temperature monitoring in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2017

This experiment was carried out with the purpose of testing cadmium adsorption abilities of multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), activated carbon, and synthesized layered double hydroxide (LDH). In the acidic condition, only MWCNT was effective for removing cadmium ion in the aqueous phase while other adsorbents rarely removed it. The MWCNT and cadmium ion adsorption reactions followed pseudo-first order kinetic. When the initial pH value was neutral (pH = 7), cadmium ion was rapidly removed by MWCNT and activated carbon in 4 hr (100% and 99.2%, respectively). Increasing adsorbent dosages affects the pH evolution and cadmium ion removal (0 to 99%). Cytotoxicity test showed that both MWCNT and LDH has low cytotoxic effects on three kind of human cells (A549, HS-294t, and HT-29).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2014

Human organic cation/carnitine transporter 1 (OCTN1) plays an important role in the transport of drugs and endogenous substances. It is known that a missense variant of OCTN1 is significantly associated with Crohn's disease susceptibility. This study was performed to identify genetic variants of the OCTN1 promoter in Korean individuals and to determine their functional effects. First, the promoter region of OCTN1 was directly sequenced using genomic DNA samples from 48 healthy Koreans. OCTN1 promoter activity was then measured using a luciferase reporter assay in HCT-116 cells. Seven variants of the OCTN1 promoter were identified, two of which were novel. There were also four major OCTN1 promoter haplotypes. Three haplotypes (H1, H3, and H4) showed decreased transcriptional activity, which was reduced by 22.9%, 23.0%, and 44.6%, respectively (p<0.001), compared with the reference haplotype (H2). Transcription factor binding site analyses and gel shift assays revealed that NF-Y could bind to the region containing g.-1875T>A, a variant present in H3, and that the binding affinity of NF-Y was higher for the g.-1875T allele than for the g.-1875A allele. NF-Y could also repress OCTN1 transcription. These data suggest that three OCTN1 promoter haplotypes could regulate OCTN1 transcription. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify functional variants of the OCTN1 promoter.