• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.105-117
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• 2018

This study conducted health assessment and multivariate vegetation analysis using the riparian vegetation index in 30 sites of the Geumgang mainstream and Mihocheon to obtain practical data on the river management of the Geumgang. The result showed that the number of plant communities was 54. The flora was 75 families, 185 genera, 243 species, 2 subspecies, 21 varieties, 2 varieties, and 268 taxa. The riparian vegetation index was 38.3 (3.3; G-D1 ~ 66.7; G-U2, G-U4, and G-M3), and the health of the rivers in this area was evaluated as normal (grade C). The health of rivers was the highest in the upper stream of Geumgang mainstream and lowest in the downstream of Geumgang mainstream. The relationship between riparian vegetation index and chlorophyll-a content was low. The riparian vegetation was divided into five groups of Digitaria ciliaris colony group, Salix gracilistyla colony group, Erigeron annuus colony group, the group dominated by Humulus japonicus, Salix koreensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica colonies, and the group dominated by Conyza canadensis and Echinochloa crusgalli var. echinata colonies. They had the similar health conditions. The CCA analysis showed that the environmental factors affecting the distribution of vegetation were physical factors such as vegetation area, artificial structure area, waterway area, branch width, channel width, and bank height and the biological factors such as the number of species. As such, it is necessary to maintain the health condition through continuous monitoring where the health condition is high and to apply active measures such as ecological restoration where the health condition is low.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.419-423
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• 2014

The purpose of the present study was to investigate cardiac damage biomarkers after a triathlon race in elite and non-elite athlete groups. Fifteen healthy men participated in the study. Based on performance, they were divided into elite athlete group (EG: n＝7) and non-elite athlete group (NEG: n＝8). Participants' blood samples were obtained during four periods: before, immediately, 2 hours and 7 days after finishing the race. creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-myoglobin (CK-MB), myoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased in both groups immediately after, and 2 hours after finishing the race (p<.05). CK, CK-MB, and myoglobin were completely recovered after 7 days (p<.05). Hematocrit (Hct) was significantly decreased in both groups (p<.05) 7 days after the race. LDH was significantly decreased in the EG (p<.05) only 7 days after the race. Homoglobin (Hb) was significantly decreased in the NEG (p<.05) only 2 hours after the race. Although cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was significantly increased in the EG but not in the NEG 2hours after the race (p<.05), there was no group-by-time interaction. cTnT was completely recovered in both groups 7 days after the race. In conclusion, cardiac damage occurs during a triathlon race and, is greater in elite than in non-elite. However, all cardiac damage markers return to normal range within 1 week.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

Objectives: We have studied the syndrome differentiation of ultrasound of retroverted uterus(RU) as the inspection in traditional Korean medicine. Methods: Eighty-four patients, who visited H clinic for infertility treatment, were recruited and evaluated by questionnaires and ultrasound, from April, 2012 to May, 2012. We used ultrasound(Logiq C3; GE Health care) for examination of RU. For statistics, we used Fisher's extract test to evaluate the RU and symptoms, and Chi-square test to evaluated the RU and syndrome differentiations, and Student T-test for the relationship between RU and each score of syndrome differentiation, using PASW Statistics(version 18.0.0) and GraphPad Prism(version 5.01). Results: 1. RU was correlated with moderate or severe dysmenorrhea and premenstrual lower abdominal pain. 2. In syndrome differentiation, blood stasis questionnaire was correlated with RU. 3. RU was related with dysmenorrhea, mass of low abdomen, pressure pain, clod of menstrual blood, dyspareunia. Conclusions: The ultrasound of RU might be related with the syndrome of blood stasis.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.495-505
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• 2012

Modeling the effects of high-rise buildings on thermo-dynamic conditions and meteorological fields over a coastal urban area was conducted using the modified meso-urban meteorological model (Urbanized MM5; uMM5) with the urban canopy parameterization (UCP) and the high-resolution inputs (urban morphology, land-use/land-cover sub-grid distribution, and high-quality digital elevation model data sets). Sensitivity simulations was performed during a typical sea-breeze episode (4~8 August 2006). Comparison between simulations with real urban morphology and changed urban morphology (i.e. high-rise buildings to low residential houses) showed that high-rise buildings could play an important role in urban heat island and land-sea breeze circulation. The major changes in urban meteorologic conditions are followings: significant increase in daytime temperature nearly by $1.0^{\circ}C$ due to sensible heat flux emitted from high density residential houses, decrease in nighttime temperature nearly by $1.0^{\circ}C$ because of the reduction in the storage heat flux emitted from high-rise buildings, and large increase in wind speed (maximum 2 m $s^{-1}$) during the daytime due to lessen drag-force or increased gradient temperature over coastal area.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.407-412
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the balance ability of patients whose head positions were altered due to stroke. Subjects were divided into three groups to determine the effects of the training on dynamic balance and gait. Methods: Forty-two stroke patients were enrolled. The Visual Feedback Training (VFT) group performed four sets of exercises per training session using a Sensoneck device, while the Active Range of Motion (ART) group performed eight sets per training session after receiving education from an experienced therapist. The Visual Feedback with Active Range of Motion (VAT) group performed four sets of active range of motion and two sets of visual-feedback training per session using a Sensoneck device. The training sessions were conducted three days a week for eight weeks. Results: The comparison of changes in dynamic balance ability showed that a significant difference in the total distance of the body center was found in the VFT group (p<0.05) and Significant differences were found according to the training period (p<0.05). The comparison of the 10 m walk test showed that the main effect test, treatment period and interactions between group had statistically significant differences between the three groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Head-adjustment training using visual feedback can improve the balance ability and gait of stroke patients. These results show that coordination training between the eyes and head with visual feedback exercises can be used as a treatment approach to affect postural control through various activities involving the central nervous system.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 1997

Chitosan oligomer having aldehyde group at reducing end was prepared by oxidative-deamination reaction of chitosan by using sodium nitrite, and the resulting aldehyde group was redeced to 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol group. The obtained chitosan oligomer showed an average degree of polymerization(DP) 2 by GPC analysis. It was highly soluble in lipophilic solvents. N,N-diacyl, O-acyl chitosan oligomer was obtained trom the reaction between chitosan oligomer and acyl chloride under 4-dimethoxyaminopyridine catalyst. From DSC measurement, N,N-dilauroyl, O-lauroyl chitosan oligomer showed mesophase region, which was confirmed by polarizing microscope as thermotropic liquid crystalline state. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed that N,N-dilauroyl, O-lauroyl chitosan oligomer was highly crystalline, whereas chitosan oligomer was not.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.395-408
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• 2007

This study reports the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing property of alcoholic extract of Ophiorrhiza nicobarica (ON), a wild herb, used as an anti-infective ethnomedicine of Nicobarese and Shompen tribes of Great Nicobar Island, India. We for the first time investigated the analgesic and antiinflammatory potential of this herb in acute, subacute and chronic model of inflammation in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats, along with sheep RBC-induced sensitivity and membrane stabilization. The acetic acid induced writhing, tail flick and tail immersion tests are used as a model for evaluating analgesic activity; while the carrageenin-induced paw oedema was used as the model for acute inflammation, dextran-induced oedema as sub-acute and cotton-pellateinduced granuloma as chronic inflammatory model. The probable mode by which ON mediate its effect on inflammatory conditions was studied on sheep RBC-induced sensitivity and membrane stabilization. The in vitro results revealed that the ON extract possesses significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent analgesic and antiinflammatory activity at 200 and 300 mg/kg and its fractions at 50 mg/kg, p.o. respectively, compared to the control groups. However, the extract failed to exhibit membrane-stabilizing property as it unable to reduce the level of haemolysis of RBC exposed to hypotonic solution. The acute toxicity studies of ON extract in rats and mice revealed that the extract was nontoxic even up to 3.0 g/kg body weight of the animals, with a high safety profile. We have isolated ursolic acid, ${\beta}$-sitosterol and harmaline respectively, from the bioactive part of the extract. The results indicated that the O. nicobarica is indeed beneficial in primary health care, and suggest that its anti-inflammatory activity may not be related to membrane-stabilization.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2009

Acetaminophen (AP) is widely used as an over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug. AP-induced hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of AP overdose and may lead to acute liver failure. In this study, we investigated the liver damage in mice using single dose (300 mg/kg) of AP and the possible protective effects of administration (50-200 mg/kg body weight) of Joo-Juk on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were determined in the plasma of mice. The effect of Joo-Juk on lipid peroxidation product thiobarbituric reacting substances (TBARS) and some antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, d-aminolevulinate dehydratase ($\sigma$-ALA-D) activities, and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), were also evaluated in the mouse liver homogenate. AP caused liver damage as evident by statistically significant increased in plasma activities of AST and ALT. There were statistically significant losses in the activities of SOD, catalase, $\sigma$-ALA-D, and GPx and an increase in TBARS in the liver of AP-treated group compared with the control group. However, Joo-Juk was able to counteract these effects. These results suggest that Joo-juk can act as hepato-protectant against AP toxicity and is a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2010

The seed of Phaseolus calcaratus Roxburgh (PHCR) is traditionally used for anti-pyretic and antiinflammatory effects. Although these effects are believed to be related to its antioxidant potential, little information is available for the mechanisms by which PHCR seed might scavenge free radicals or otherwise act as an antioxidant. In the present study, we purified some fractions from the ethanol extract of PHCR seed and evaluated each fraction's ability to scavenge free radicals generated by cell-free systems. We also identified active compound that is putatively responsible for free radical scavenging by analyzing NMR spectra. PHCR samples exhibited a concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, and DPPH radicals. Of the samples tested, a methanol-eluted sub-fraction from the PHCR extract, named $FF_4$, scavenged these radicals more effectively than the other fractions. We identified catechin-7-O-$\beta$-Dglucopyranoside as the active compound responsible for free radical scavenging potential of $FF_4$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.416-425
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• 2015

NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a basic leucine zipper transcription factor, has recently received a great deal of attention as an important molecule that enhances antioxidative defenses and induces resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and Nrf2- upregulating effects of quercetin on malignant mesothelioma (MM) MSTO-211H and H2452 cells. Quercetin treatment inhibited cell growth and led to upregulation of Nrf2 at both the mRNA and protein levels without altering the ubiquitination and extending the half-life of the Nrf2 protein. Following treatment with quercetin, analyses of the nuclear level of Nrf2, Nrf2 antioxidant response element-binding assay, Nrf2 promoter-luc assay, and RT-PCR toward the Nrf2-regulated gene, heme oxygenase-1, demonstrated that the induced Nrf2 is transcriptionally active. Knockdown of Nrf2 expression with siRNA enhanced cytotoxicity due to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the level of proapoptotic Bax, a decrease in the level of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 with enhanced cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP proteins, the appearance of a sub-$G_0/G_1$ peak in the flow cytometric assay, and increased percentage of apoptotic propensities in the annexin V binding assay. Effective reversal of apoptosis was observed following pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown exhibited increased sensitivity to the anticancer drug, cisplatin, presumably by potentiating the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin. Collectively, our data demonstrate the importance of Nrf2 in cytoprotection, survival, and drug resistance with implications for the potential significance of targeting Nrf2 as a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to chemotherapeutics in MM.