• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.106-113
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• 2009

Background: We previously demonstrated remarkable differences in the expression of IL-8/CXCL8 in aortic tissues and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to VSMC from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In the present study, we investigated the direct effect of IL-8/CXCL8 on expression of 12-lipoxygenase (LO), a hypertensive modulator, in SHR VSMC. Methods: Cultured aortic VSMC from SHR and WKY were used. Expression of 12-LO mRNA was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phosphorlyation of ERK1/2 and production of 12-LO and angiotensin II subtype 1 ($AT_1$) receptor were assessed by Western blots. IL-8/CXCL8-stimulated DNA synthesis was determined by measuring incorporation of [$^3H$]-thymidine. And effect of IL-8/CXCL8 on vascular tone was determined by phenylephrine-induced contraction of thoracic aortic rings. Results: Treatment with IL-8/CXCL8 greatly increased 12-LO mRNA expression and protein production compared to treatment with angiotensin II. IL-8/CXCL8 also increased the expression of the $AT_1$ receptor. The increase in 12-LO induced by IL-8/CXCL8 was inhibited by treatment with an $AT_1$ receptor antagonist. The induction of 12-LO mRNA production and the proliferation of SHR VSMC by IL-8/CXCL8 was mediated by the ERK pathway. The proliferation of SHR VSMC and the vascular contraction in the thoracic aortic ring, both of which were induced by IL-8/CXCL8, were inhibited by baicalein, a 12-LO inhibitor. Conclusion: These results suggest that the potential role of IL-8/CXCL8 in hypertensive processes is likely mediated through the 12-LO pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to re-interpretate the meaning of place from the perspective view of events. In the realm of events, time, process, and evolution are emerging as more important elements for better places rather than space or fixed physical elements. First, this study reviews the phenomenological contribution to the meaning of place by discussing differences between positivism and phenomenology. The phenomenological approach has strengths that can perceive individual experiences and idiosyncraises through a holistic approach and qualitative methods. However, it has weaknesses such as unpredictability, subjectivity and ambiguity. In order to overcome these weaknesses, the notion of singularities(pure events) on the metaphysical plane existing between nature and culture is explored via Deleuzean concepts(Post-structuralism); singularities become events(simulacre) through ´becoming´ and these events have meaning through this process in the particular place. By this process, the subject an feed a sense of place through this meaning. Events unexpectedly create a series of events and have impact in the future. Creating various events in the particular place requires many contextural settings where the embodied perceptions could take place. Describing the potentiality of embodied perceptions demands ´smooth space´ rather than ´striated space´. Smooth space refers to the space where orientations and linkages are in continuous variation. Recent architectural and landscape architectural design projects reveal that the emphasis is placed on the open-ended set of various events unfolding over time rather than the physical settings of the place. For better landscape design, new concepts need to be introduced and implemented. These new concepts should focus on creating a series of events and considering the evolution of the place over time through multi-contextural and rhizomatical synthesis rather than rigid and static master plan of SAD(survey-analysis-design) methodology.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2003

Long-term performance of smooth and textured type HDPE geomembranes which were used to the liner and slope systems of waste landfills was examined. Artificial surface defects were added to the surface of geomembranes by scratch addition apparatus specially designed. The mechanical and frictional properties, chemical and ultra violet light resistances and oxidative induction time(OIT) of geomembranes were examined for the cases of defective/non-defective surfaces. Frictional properties of textured type geomembranes showed more excellent than those of smooth type geomembranes. Finally, it was known that the long-term performance of non-defective and textured geomembranes was better than that of defective geomembranes through chemical and UV resistance and OIT tests etc.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2008

The drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is a widely acceptable treatment for coronary heart disease. It was reported that iron chelator had anti-proliferative effect on human vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs). In this study, tetraphenylporphine (TPP) was selected as an iron chelator and drug for DES. MTT assay showed that TPP had antiproliferative effect on HA-VSMCs. TPP and polycaprolactone (PCL) were coated onto stainless steel plate using a spraycoating method. From the surface morphology examination of the coated plate by SEM, smooth polymer coating layer could be observed. The thickness of coating layer could be controlled by changing repeating time of coating. From in vitro release test, sustained release of TPP was observed from plate during two weeks. Thus, TPP as iron chelator can be used as drug for stent coating because of its antiproliferative effect and sustain release profile.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2007

In order to investigate the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop during evaporation of $CO_2$, basic experiment on the evaporation heat transfer characteristics in a horizontal smooth tube was performed. The experimental apparatus consisted of a test section, a DC power supply, a heater, a chiller, a mass flow meter, a pump and a measurement system. Experiment was conducted for various mass fluxes ($200{\sim}1200\;kg/m^2s$), heat fluxes ($10{\sim}80\;kW/m^2$) and saturation temperatures ($-5{\sim}5^{\circ}C$). With the increase of quality, the evaporation heat transfer coefficient decreased. With the increase of heat flux, the evaporation heat transfer coefficient increased. Significantly change of the heat transfer coefficient was observed at any heat flux and mass flux. With the increase of saturation temperature, the heat transfer coefficient increased. Pressure drop increased with the increase of mass flux and the decrease of saturation temperature.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2008

The object of this study is to investigate the effects of intermittent cyclic stretching on the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) seeded onto aligned multi-layered fibrous scaffold. To make multi-layered fibrous scaffold, polyurethane (PU) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were electrospun alternatively, then were immersed into distilled water to extract PEO. Various types of scaffolds were fabricated depending on fiber directions, i.e., aligned or randomly oriented. The direction of stretching was either parallel or vertical to the fiber direction for the aligned scaffolds. The stretching was also applied to the randomly aligned scaffolds. The duration of stretching was 2 min with 15 min resting period. During the stretching, the maximum and minimum strain was adjusted to be 10 and 7%, respectively with the frequency of 1 Hz. The bioactivities of cells on the scaffolds were assessed by quantifying DNA, collagen, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels. And the cell morphology was observed by staining F-actin. SMCs under parallel stretching to the fiber direction responded more positively than those in other conditions. From the results, we could explain the morphological effect of a substrate on cellular activities. In addition the synergistic effects of substrate and mechanical stimuli effects were confirmed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2009

Olibanum (Boswellia serrata) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and anticancer effects. This study determined the role of a water extract of olibanum in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated proliferation and migration of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). PDGF-BB induced the migration and proliferation of RASMCs that were inhibited by olibanum extract in a dose-dependent manner. The PDGF-BB-increased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); the heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 was significantly inhibited by the olibanum extract. The effects of PDGF-BB-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 was not altered by the olibanum extract. Treatment with olibanum extract inhibited PDGF-BB-stimulated sprout out growth of aortic rings. These results suggest that the water extract of olibanum inhibits PDGF-BB-stimulated migration and proliferation in RASMCs as well as sprout out growth, which may be mediated by the inhibition of the p38 MAPK and Hsp27 pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.349-360
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• 2018

Autophagy has been studied as a therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases. However, insufficient studies have been reported concerning the influence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through autophagy regulation. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of VSMCs on the regulation of autophagy under in vitro conditions similar to vascular status of the equipped micro-tubule target agent-eluting stent and increased release of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Cell viability and proliferation were measured using MTT and cell counting assays. Immunofluorescence using an $anti-{\alpha}-tubulin$ antibody was performed to determine microtubule dynamic formation. Cell apoptosis was measured by cleavage of caspase-3 using western blot analysis, and by nuclear fragmentation using a fluorescence assay. Autophagy activity was assessed by microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC-II) using western blot analysis. Levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using $H_2DCFDA$. The proliferation and viability of VSMCs were inhibited by microtubule regulation. Additionally, microtubule-regulated and PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs increased the cleavage of caspase-3 more than only the microtubule-regulated condition, similar to that of LC3-II, implying autophagy. Inhibitory autophagy of microtubule-regulated and PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs resulted in low viability. However, enhancement of autophagy maintained survival through the reduction of ROS. These results suggest that the apoptosis of conditioned VSMCs is decreased by the blocking generation of ROS via the promotion of autophagy, and proliferation is also inhibited. Thus, promoting autophagy as a therapeutic target for vascular restenosis and atherosclerosis may be a good strategy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Rhizoma Coptidis, a traditional herb medicine, has been used in Korea and China for many centuries as a treatment for many disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Rhizoma Coptidis on histamine-induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in guinea pigs and rats. Guinea pigs(500g, male) and rats(250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine ($10^{-7}-10^{-3}M$). Contractions evoked by histamine($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Rhizoma Coptidis. The mean percent inhibition was 33.2% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 69.5% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in guinea pigs, and the mean percent inhibition was 25.3% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 65.8% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in rats. Indomethacin ($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Rhizoma Coptidis. But propranolol and methylene blue ($10^{-7}M$) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Rhizoma Coptidis. These results indicate that Rhizoma Coptidis can relax histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves, in part, cyclooxygenese inhibitor.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1233-1240
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• 2006

We have recently demonstrated that Siegesbeckia glabrescens(SG), a herbal medicine, induces apoptosis via nitric oxide(NO) production in human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMCS). However, the molecular pathways involved in SG-mediated apoptosis are not fully understand. In the present study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms of SG-induced apoptosis in HASMCS. SG induced NO production through inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) induction. The apoptotic effect of SG was attenuated by L-NNA, a NOS inhibitor. In the presence of L-NNA, the degradation of procaspase-3 by SG was inhibited. SG treatment induced a decrease in Bcl-2 expression but did not affect the expression of Bax. In addition, SG treatment evoked both down-regulation of PKC ${\alpha}$ and inhibition of PKC ${\alpha}$ phosphorylation. These downregulations were reversed by addition of L-NNA. It seems likely to De a downregulation of PKC${\alpha}$ due to long term treatment with PMA. Taken together, these results suggest that apoptotic effects of SG may be due to NO production via iNOS mRNA expression. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and PKC${\alpha}$ downregulation, and caspase-3 activation may be involved in the mechanisms for apoptotic effects by SG.