• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.117-132
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and mouse knee joints, perfom1ed several experimental items: those are MIF mRNA, MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS mRNA, iNOS, NO, synovial hyperplasia, angiogenesis and fibrosis. Methods : In order to observe mRAN expression of MIF and iNOS in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, RT-PCR was used. NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was measured by nitrite assay. All the female BALB/c mice were bred and maintained in pathogen-free mouse colonies and were 6 weeks of age on beginning of the experiment. The experimental model of RA was induced by injection of $50{\mu}g/kg$ LPS. Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution was injected into either S 35 (犢鼻) or EX-LE 202 (內膝眼) of mice in turn daily for 19 days. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out to assess $TNF-{\alpha}$, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and iNOS expression in synovial membrane. Synovial hyperplasia, angiogenesis and fibrosis in synovial membrane was observed with a microscope. Results : 1. Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution inhibited mRNA expression of MIF and iNOS in dependence on a density of it in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. 2. Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution decreased synovial hyperplasia, angiogenesis and fibrosis in LPS-stimulated mouse knee joints. 3. Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution curtailed production of MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS in LPS-stimulated mouse knee joints. Conclusion : On the basis of these results, It was shown that Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution is significantly able to inhibit the production of MIF as a top in cytokines related to inflammatory or irrlll1une responses. Our results may provide that Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture solution has beneficial effect in not only RA but other inflammatory or immune deases.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2009

Stents are frequently used throughout the human body. They keep pathways open in vascular or nonvascular duct for a long time. Therefore its stability is very important factor. In recent years, aconsiderable amount of research has been carried out in order to estimate mechanical properties of the stent such as expansion pressure behavior, radial recoil and longitudinal recoil using FEM (Finite element analyses). However, published works on simulation of stent fatigue behavior using FEM are relatively rare. In this paper, a nonlinear finite-element methodwas employed to analyses the compression of a stent using external pressure and fatigue behavior. Finite element analyses for the stent system were performed using NASTRAN FX. In conclusion this paper shows how the stent is behaved in the body, and its fatigue behavior.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.874-881
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• 2004

Angiogenesis has been implicated in progression of inflammation, arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis as well as tumor growth and metastasis. Intensive studies have been carried out to develop a strategy for cancer treatment by blocking angiogenesis. During angiogenesis, endothelial proliferation and migration essentially occurs upon activation. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of human umbilical endothelial cells activated by incubating in vitro in the rich medium containing several growth factors, and non-activated ones. cDNA targets derived from total RNAs of HUVEC activated for 13 h in M199 medium containing endothelial cell growth supplement, 20% fetal bovine serum, and heparin, after reaching 70～80% confluency, or non-activated, were hybridized onto oligonucleotide microarrays containing 1,8864 genetic elements. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis resulted in two subgroups on dendrogram exhibiting activated and non-activated HUVECs. We then extracted 122 outlier genes which were shown to be up-regulated or under-expressed by at least 2-folds in activated HUVECs. Among these, 32 annotated genes were up-regulated and 38 were down-regulated in activated HUVECs. Interestingly, genes involved in cell proliferation, motility, and inflammation/ immune response were up-regulated in activated HUVEC, whereas genes for cell adhesion or vessel morphogenesis/function were down-regulated. Unexpectedly, the expression of genes well-characterized as angiogenesis markers was not changed except Eph-B4, which was down-regulated about 4 folds. 52 unknown genes were also up- or down-regulated. Therefore, these results could provide an opportunity to targeting new vascular molecules for the development of anti-angiogenic molecules.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.225-228
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• 2018

Plasticizers added to thermoplastic polymers are known to shorten the life of products due to the elution to outside, and some of them are harmful to our environment and human body. Since the use of phthalate plasticizers suspected of being carcinogens has been gradually prohibited, there is a need for environmentally friendly plasticizers that can replace them. Most of the substances have a low compatibility with resin, high cost and lack of safety verification. Therefore, in this study, four kinds of norbornene dialkyl ester compounds possessing excellent physical properties, which are also reported as safe compounds from the toxicity evaluation, were added to PVC resin to evaluate the possibility of human exposure by leaching, and also the potential usage as plasticizer candidates alternative to commercial ones including DEHP, DINCH and DOTP. The test was carried out according to the American standard test method (ASTM). The results showed that di-2-ethylhexyl-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylate (DEHN) in aqueous solvents and diisopentyl-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylate (DIPN) compounds in oil solvents were superior or equivalent to DEHP. In addition, all four norbornene compounds showed lower values than 100 ppm, which is considered to have an influence on the environment, indicating that the polar norbornene structure affects the elution.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.30-39
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• 2001

To consider the distribution of the surface sediments and sedimentary processes in tidal flat after the construction of sea-walls in the semiclosed Muan Bay, the southwest coast of Korea, studies on the sediments and sedimentation rates along two transect lines from February 1999 to March 2000 were carried out. The surface sediments in the bay are classified into 5 facies on the basis of textural parameters. The gravelly sediments including the cobbles and pebbles deposited in the bay-mouth are relic sediments which are formed in nearshore and fluvial environments at the low stand of sea level. In addition, it is considered that the muddy sediments widely distributed on the tidal flat might be originated from suspended matter transported from several rivers and/or offshore. Although the sedimentation rates on the tidal flat vary with season, their estimation rates are -8.9 mm/yr on Line-GR and -48.9 mm/yr on Line-YH, respectively. The erosion-dominated processes in the tidal flat would be caused by strengthened ebb tides due to the decrease of tidal choking at Mokpogu and the migration of tidal currents at the bay-mouth. The hydrodynamical changes mentioned above are interpreted to be occurred after/before the construction of sea-dike/sea-walls in coastal zone of Mokpo.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• 제95권4호
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• pp.435-442
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• 2006

A total of 167 peculiar haplotypes confirmed from 28 cpSR variants that were observed in 19 populations of Japanese red pine in Korea through cpSSR marker analysis. Thirteen individuals that showed identical haplotype dispersed evenly in 10 populations, and the average number of effective haplotype within population was 13.37. Estimate of genetic diversity (He) was 0.987 on the basis of cpSSR haplotype variants that was equivalent to or higher than the estimates reported in other studies on some forest tree species. Estimation of genetic diversity (S.I.) on the basis of cpSSR variants composing each haplotype revealed the highest estimate of 1.109 for the population of Gangwon-Yeongwol and the lowest estimate of 0.411 for the population of Gyeongbuk Mungyeong with the average of 0.887. Most of observed cpSSR variants appeared to exist commonly in 19 populations (97.62%), and genetic differentiation of cpSSR variants among populations was turned out to be weak (${\Phi}_{ST}=0.024$). Relatively fast rate of mutation of cpSSR marker might be a major cause for such weak population differentiation. There was no identical haplotype shared between 39 population pairs of 173 pair-wise population pairs. Estimation of genetic distance among 19 populations on the basis of population pairs was also impossible, that might be resulted from restricted migration among 19 populations. Considering the observed distribution patterns of cpSSR variants in addition to the previous studies on I-SSR variants, informations on the present geographic location and genetic status of populations should be considered together for effective sustainable management of the genetic resources of Japanese red pine in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• 제96권6호
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• pp.633-638
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• 2007

The Elaeagnus macrophylla is a stenoecious evergreen plant with nitrogen-fixing symbionts and its timing of fruit-ripening coincides with spring migration of many birds in southwestern Korea. To recognize bird species which eat fleshy fruits of the Elaeagnus macrophylla and to evaluate the effects of bird ingestion on seed germination and dispersal, we monitored birds and carried out germination experiments using its fruits and seeds from March to April 2007 at Hongdo Island, Jeonnam Province, Korea. As a result, eight species of birds including the Gray Starling (Sturnus cineraceus), the Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) and the Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni) ingested the fruits. Germination rate was enhanced but length of seed dormancy was instead shortened in ingested (collected from the feces of birds) and manually extracted seeds (obtained directly from the fruits) than in intact fruits collected directly from the plant. Moreover, the possible scale of seed dispersal by the frugivorous birds ranged up to 6.9 ha based on home ranges of starlings. Consequently, the Elaeagnus macrophylla supplies food resources for migratory birds, and the birds give the plant opportunities of new colonization. We suggest that this kind of interaction between the nitrogen-fixing plant and avian seed dispersers is applicable as a process of natural restoration in degraded coastal evergreen forests.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.71-86
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• 1997

The regeneration and differentiation of the cutaneous pigment system in the goldfish, Carassius auratus during the wound healing process were studied with high magnification electron microscope. The cutaneous pigment cells of the normal tissues were composed of three kinds of dermal chromatophores-xanthophores, leucoiphores and melanophores. While xanthophores contain two kinds of pigment granules-pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles, leucophores and melanophores contain amorphous pigment granules (leucosomes) and oval shaped electron dense melanin pigment granules (melanosomes) respectively. After injury, primary wound healing responses being carried out by migration of epidermal cells and hemocytes spreading over the wound surface at the day of wounding. And at the time of primary wound closure, 5 to 7 days after wounding, rER rich cells-presumably common precursors of dermal chromatophores-immigrated into the wound area. First redifferentiated chromatophores appeared 3 weeks after wounding. Pigment granules of the chromatophores were emerged from the cytoplasmic Golgi complex via rough endoplasmic reticulum. Pinocytotic vesicles which associated with accumulation of pigment material, appeared only at the inner surface of the chromatophores adhering to the rER rich cells, characteristically. The differentiation of each chromatophore in addition to integumental wound repair were accomplished within 4 weeks after wounding at most cases, however the total numbers and densities of these repaired chromatophores still primitive state. Moreover, It has been revealed that complete repair of chromatophores at wounded tissues from burns requirs more than 3 months in normal environment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.53-61
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• 2014

Background and Objectives : Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma(ATC) is a rare but highly aggressive thyroid malignancy that is associated with an extremely poor survival despite the best multidisciplinary care. BRAF(V600E) mutation is detected in about a quarter of ATC, but unlike its high treatment response to selective BRAF inhibitor (PLX4032) in metastatic melanoma, the treatment response of ATC is reported to be low. The purpose of this study is to investigate the innate resistance mechanism responsible for this low treatment response to BRAF inhibitor and its effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT). Materials and Methods : Two ATP cell lines, 8505C and FRO were selected and treated with PLX4032 and its drug sensitivity and effects on cell migration and EMT were examined and compared. Further investigation on the changes in signals responsible for the different treatment response to PLX4032 was carried out and the same experiment was performed on both orthotopic and ectopic xenograft mouse models. Results : FRO cell line was more sensitive to PLX4032 treatment compared to 8505C cell line. The resistance to BRAF inhibition in 8505C was due to increased expression of EGFR. Effective inhibition of both EGFR and p-AKT was achieved after dual treatment with BRAF inhibitor(PLX4032) and EGFR inhibitor(Erlotinib). Similar results were confirmed on in vivo study. Conclusion : EGFR-mediated reactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and MAPK pathway contributes to the relative insensitivity of BRAF(V600E) mutant ATC cells to PLX4032. Dual inhibition of BRAF and EGFR leads to sustained treatment response including cell invasiveness.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.566-571
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• 2010

This paper describes the sorption behaviors of aqueous uranium ions on the K-birnessite. K-birnessite was synthesized by adding a concentrated HCl to an aqueous solution of $KMnO_4$. Physicochemical characteristics of the K-birnessite, such as structure, specific surface area and surface charge, were investigated. K-birnessite is a layered material and the $K^+$ ions exist in the interlayer of layered K-birnessite. BET specific surface area of the K-birnessite was 38.30 m2/g. The surface charge of K-birnessite was $-1.65\;C/m^2$ at pH 5.00 and ionic strength of 0.010 M $NaClO_4$, at which the sorption experiments of uranium ions were carried out. Uranium ions were incorporated into the interlayer of the K-birnessite by cation-exchange reaction with $K^+$ ions, and the distribution coefficient is quite similar to those of common ion-exchange materials. The results might be applicable in the retardation of migration of radioactive materials from the underground disposal site of high-level radioactive waste.