• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aims to analyze the anti-obesity effect of Syzygium aromaticum L. (SA) in obese mice made by a 60% high-fat diet (HFD). Methods : The antioxidant activities of SA were evaluated in vitro. To assess the anti-obesity effect of SA, male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: Normal, Control, GC100 (Garcinia cambogia 100 mg/kg/day), SA100 (SA 100 mg/kg/day), SA200 (SA 200 mg/kg/day). All groups underwent a 6-week regimen of HFD and oral administration, except for the Normal group. Subsequently, we performed blood analysis, western blotting, and histopathological staining. Results : SA demonstrated effectiveness in antioxidant measurements. SA treatment resulted in a significant decrease in body weight gain, along with reductions in liver and epididymal fat weights. Serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and leptin levels were reduced with SA treatment. Moreover, in the SA100 group, the reduction of both TG and TC synthesis was caused by inhibiting the sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP-1) and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2 (SREBP-2) through the Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)/phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) pathway. Furthermore, SA treatment at a dose of 100 mg/kg reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver and the adipocyte size of the epididymal fat. Conclusion : Our research reveals the anti-obesity effects of SA by demonstrating its ability to inhibit body weight gain and lipid accumulation, suggesting that SA might be promising for obesity treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.117-123
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• 2014

Adenophorae Radix (AR) has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases. However, the regulatory effects of AR in atopic dermatitis are not yet understood. This study attempted to determine the pharmacological effects of AR and its constituent on both compound 48/80 or histamine-induced scratching behaviors and 2, 4-dinitrochlrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in mice. The findings of this study demonstrated that AR reduced compound 48/80 or histamine-induced scratching behaviors in mice. Treatment of AR attenuated the AD symptoms such as eczematous, erythema and dryness and serum IgE and IL-6 levels in AD model. Additionally, AR inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced the Nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activation in HaCaT cells. Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with novel insights into the pharmacological actions of AR as a potential molecule for therapeutic agent against atopic dermatitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1331-1336
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• 2015

Natural glycoproteins can induce apoptosis of tumor cells and exert anti-tumor activity by immunomodulatory functions, cytotoxic and anti-inflammation effects, and inhibition of endothelial growth factor. Given their prospects as novel agents, sources of natural antitumor glycoproteins have attracted attention and new research directions in glycoprotein biology are gradually shifting to the direction of cancer treatment and prevention of neoplastic disease. In this review, we summarize the latest findings with regard to the tumor suppressor signature of glycoproteins and underlying regulatory mechanisms.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate corelation between mix proportion of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and Coptis chinensis (CC) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TYPE-1 interferon production. Methods : I examined TYPE-1 interferon, interferon regulating factor (IRF)-1,7 and interleukin(IL)-10 production on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells to evaluate inhibitory effect of mix proportion of SB and CC using real time PCR. Results : Mixture of SB and CC regulated TYPE-1 interferon and IRF-1,7 mRNA expression with SB dose dependent manner, while maintained IL-10 mRNA expression on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion : In mixture of SB and CC, SB plays a key role in reducing TYPE-1 interferon through inactivation IRF-1,7. Furthermore mixture of SB and CC maintained IL-10 mRNA level. Collectively, this results suggest that SB confer beneficial effects in autoimmune diseases clinically.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.376-380
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• 2006

Gene expression is regulated in large part at the level of transcription under the control of sequence-specific transcriptional regulatory proteins. Therefore, the ability to affect gene expression at will using sequencespecific artificial transcription factors would provide researchers with a powerful tool for biotechnology research and drug discovery. Previously, we isolated 56 novel sequence-specific DNA-binding domains from the human genome by in vivo selection. We hypothesized that these domains might be more useful for regulating gene expression in higher eukaryotic cells than those selected in vitro using phage display. However, an unpredictable factor, termed the "context effect", is associated with the construction of novel zinc finger transcription factors--- DNA-binding proteins that bind specifically to 9-base pair target sequences. In this study, we directly selected active artificial zinc finger proteins from a zinc finger protein library. Direct in vivo selection of constituents of a zinc finger protein library may be an efficient method for isolating multi-finger DNA binding proteins while avoiding the context effect.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.116-119
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• 1999

Amplification factor spectrum, using the observed strong ground motions database in the Korean Peninsula, has been obtained and compared with Standard Response Spectrum, which was suggested by United States Nuclear Regulatory Committee. The observed und motions from the Yongwol and the Kyoungju, and the other recent Earthquakes, respectively, which ate supposed to represent domestic seismotectonic characteristics such as seismic source, attenuation of the propagation medium, and site specific effect, are used for the analysis of amplification factor spectrum. The database are slightly different from the those of the second study. Amplification factors hue been calculated by comparing the observed peak ground motions with results from responses to the observed horizontal na vertical ground motions. The comparison have shown that the amplification factors resultant from this study exceeds these of Standard Response Spectrum, The results suggest that the characteristics of seismic strong ground motion, which are supposed to represent the domestic seismotectonic characteristics, differs from those of Standard Response Spectrum, especially at higher frequencies. The results from the 2nd study are similar to those of 1st analysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.589-594
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• 2015

The shadow enhancer of the short gastrulation (sog) gene directs its sequential expression in the neurogenic ectoderm and the ventral midline of the developing Drosophila embryo. Here, we characterize three unusual features of the shadow enhancer midline activity. First, the minimal regions for the two different enhancer activities exhibit high overlap within the shadow enhancer, meaning that one developmental enhancer possesses dual enhancer activities. Second, the midline enhancer activity relies on five Single-minded (Sim)-binding sites, two of which have not been found in any Sim target enhancers. Finally, two linked Dorsal (Dl)- and Zelda (Zld)-binding sites, critical for the neurogenic ectoderm enhancer activity, are also required for the midline enhancer activity. These results suggest that early activation by Dl and Zld may facilitate late activation via the noncanonical sites occupied by Sim. We discuss a model for Zld as a pioneer factor and speculate its role in midline enhancer activity.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.57-60
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• 1999

Amplification factor spectrum using the observed strong ground motions database in the Korean Peninsula has been obtained and compared with Standard Rpectrum which wa suggested by United States Nuclear Regulatory Committee. The observed ground motions from the Yongwol and the Kyoungju Earthquakes respectively which are supposed to represent domestic seismotectonic characteristics such as seismic source attenuation of the propagation meium and site specific effect are used for the analysis of amplification factor spectrum,. The database are slightly different from the those of the second study. Amplification factors have been calculated by comparing the observed peak ground motions with results from responses to the observed horizontal na vertical ground motions. The comparison have shown that the amplification factors resultant from this study exceeds those of Standard Response Spectrum The results suggest that the characteristics of seismic strong ground motion which are supposed to represent the domestic seismotectonic characteristics differs from those of Standard Response Spectrum especially at higher frequencies. The results from the 2nd study are similar to those of 1st analysis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1029-1036
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• 2015

Appropriate vessel development and its coordinated function is essential for proper embryogenesis and homeostasis in the adult. Defects in vessels cause birth defects and are an important etiology of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, tumor and diabetes retinopathy. The accumulative data indicate that ETV2, an ETS transcription factor, performs a potent and indispensable function in mediating vessel development. This review discusses the recent progress of the study of ETV2 with special focus on its regulatory mechanisms and cell fate determining role in developing mouse embryos as well as somatic cells.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common glomerular disorder in childhood, and a vast majority of cases are idiopathic. The precise cause of this common childhood disease is not fully elucidated despite significant advancements in our understanding of podocyte biology. Idiopathic NS has been considered "a disorder of T-cell function" mediated by a circulating factor that alters podocyte function resulting in massive proteinuria since the last four decades. Several circulatory factors released from T-cells are considered to be involved in pathophysiology of NS; however, a single presumptive factor has not been defined yet. Extended evidence obtained by advances in the pathobiology of podocytes has implicated podocytes as critical regulator of glomerular protein filtration and podocytopathy. The candidate molecules as pathological mediators of steroid-dependent NS are CD80 (also known as B7-1), hemopexin, and angiopoietin-like 4. The "two-hit" hypothesis proposes that the expression of CD80 on podocytes and ineffective inhibition of podocyte CD80 due to regulatory T-cell dysfunction or impaired autoregulation by podocytes results in NS. Recent studies suggest that not only T cells but also other immune cells and podocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of MCNS.