• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.158-164
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• 2007

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common tumor in the female genital tract. Although the tumor is benign, it is a matter of paramount importance since it often causes profuse menstrual bleeding, pressure symptoms and infertility. Nevertheless, the etiology and pathophysiology of this abnormality remain poorly understood. The traditional definitive treatment for uterine leiomyomas is hysterectomy and, even today, symptomatic leiomyomas are the leading cause of hysterectomy in Korea. Clearly, the development of a safe, effective, and nonsurgical method of treatment for leiomyoma would be of great benefit to many women. This study demonstrated growth inhibition of uterine leiomyoma cells using Haeohyultang (HT). When human leiomyoma cells were treated with Haeohyultang, cells showed dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect. Cell growth was inhibited by over 40% as determined by both cell counts and MTS assay. Reduction of cellular viability as a consequence of exposure to Haeohyultang resulted from induction of apoptosis, as assessed by DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, caspase 9 and caspase 3 assay. Flow cytometry analysis with uterine leiomyoma cells demonstrated sub G1 cell cycle arrest after treatment with drug Haeohyultang. But, the expression levels of p27 and p21 were not changed in Haeohyultang treated cells compared with control. However, the expression levels of clAP1 were reduced by Haeohyultang compared with control. This reduction of clAP1 data means activation of the caspase family, and then induction of PARP cleavage and apoptosis. These results suggest that Haeohyultang may be potential therapeutic approach in the clinical management of uterine leiomyoma.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3429-3443
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• 2013

Chemokine receptor (CCR2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that contains seven transmembrane helices. Recent pharmaceutical research has focused on the antagonism of CCR2 and candidate drugs are currently undergoing clinical studies for the treatment of diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we analyzed the time dependent behavior of CCR2 docked with a potent 4-azetidinyl-1-aryl-cyclohexane (4AAC) derivative using molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) for 20 nanoseconds (ns). Homology modeling of CCR2 was performed and the 4AAC derivative was docked into this binding site. The docked model of selected conformations was then utilized to study the dynamic behavior of the 4AAC enzyme complexes inside lipid membrane. MDS of CCR2-16b of 4AAC complexes allowed us to refine the system since binding of an inhibitor to a receptor is a dynamic process and identify stable structures and better binding modes. Structure activity relationships (SAR) for 4AAC derivatives were investigated and reasons for the activities were determined. Probable binding pose for some CCR2 antagonists were determined from the perspectives of binding site. Initial modeling showed that Tyr49, Trp98, Ser101, Glu291, and additional residues are crucial for 4AAC binding, but MDS analysis showed that Ser101 may not be vital. 4AAC moved away from Ser101 and the hydrogen bonding between 4AAC and Ser101 vanished. The results of this study provide useful information regarding the structure-based drug design of CCR2 antagonists and additionally suggest key residues for further study by mutagenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.63-68
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2000

• 대한임상약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.12a
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• pp.22-22
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.25-27
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.41-45
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• 2002

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2004

Multiple drug administration is common in elderly, HIV, and cancer patients. Such treatments may result in drug-drug interactions due to interference at the metabolic enzyme level, and due to modulation of transporter protein functions. Both kinds of interference may result in altered drug distribution and toxicity in the human body. In this review, we have dealt with drug-drug interactions related to the most studied human transporter, P-glycoprotein. This transporter is constitutively expressed in several sites in the human body. Its function can be studied in vitro with different cell lines expressing P-glycoprotein in experiments using methods and equipment such as flow cytometry, cell proliferation, cell-free ATP as activity determination and Transwell culture equipment. In vivo experiments can be carried out by mdr1a(-/-) animals and by noninvasive methods such as NMR spectrometry. Some examples are also given for determination of possible drug-drug interactions using the above-mentioned cell lines and methods. Such preclinical studies may influence decisions concerning the fate of new drug candidates and their possible dosages. Some examples of toxicities obtained in clinics and summarized in this review indicate careful consideration in cases of polypharmacy and the requirement of preclinical studies in drug development activities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2014

In this study, the detection method was developed using molecular biological technique to distinguish authenticity of animal raw materials. The genes for distinction of species about animals targeted at Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), Cytochrome b (Cytb), and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes in mitochondrial DNA. The species-specific primers were designed by that Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) product size was around 200 bp for applying to processed products. The target 24 raw materials were 2 species of domestic animals, 6 species of poultry, 2 species of freshwater fishes, 13 species of marine fishes and 1 species of crustaceans. The results of PCR for Rabbit, Fox, Pheasant, Domestic Pigeon, Rufous Turtle Dove, Quail, Tree Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Catfish, Mandarin Fish, Flying Fish, Mallotus villosus, Pacific Herring, Sand Lance, Japanese Anchovy, Small Yellow Croaker, Halibut, Jacopever, Skate Ray, Ray, File Fish, Sea Bass, Sea Urchin, and Lobster raw materials were confirmed 113 bp ~ 218 bp, respectively. Also, non-specific PCR products were not detected in compare species by species-specific primers. The method using primers developed in this study may be applied to distinguish an authenticity of food materials included animal raw materials for various processed products.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.109-120
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The pathological hallmarks of AD are senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Major component of senile plaques is amyloid beta peptide(A$\beta$) which is derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP). A$\beta$ is generated through the sequential cleavage of App by $\beta$ - and $\gamma$-secretases. $\beta$-secretase excises the ectodomain of APP ($\beta$-APPs) to leave a 99-amino acid long C-terminal fragment (APP-C99-CTF) in the membrane. $\gamma$-secretase then cleaves this membrane-tethered APP-CTF within the transmembrane domain, so releasing A$\beta$ peptides and APP-intracellular domain (AICD). Thus, $\beta$- and $\gamma$-secretase are regarded to perform the key steps in the pathogenesis of AD and have become important therapeutic targets in the prevention and treatment of AD. Enormous efforts have been focused to develop the amyloid beta related drug for cure of AD becuase A$\beta$ is believed to be one of the major causes of AD. since major pharmaceutical companies in world wide base compete to develop new drug for AD, we have to be careful to choose the drug target to success the tough race. In the present talk, possible drug targets based on basic research results will be discussed. These molecules should be a good target for development of new drug for AD and be less competitive to have a good shape for world wide competition.