• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2019

The equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of adsorption of murexide by granular activated carbon were investigated. The experiment was carried out by batch experiment with the variables of the amount of the adsorbent, the initial concentration of the dye, the contact time and the temperature. The isothermal adsorption equilibrium was best applied to the Freundlich equation in the range of 293 ~ 313 K. From the separation factor (${\beta}$) of Freundlich equation, it was found that adsorption of murexide by granular activated carbon could be the appropriate treatment method. The adsorption energy (E) obtained from the Dubinin- Radushkevich equation shows that the adsorption process is a physical adsorption process. From the kinetic analysis of the adsorption process, pseudo second order model is more consistent than pseudo first order model. It was found that the adsorption process proceeded to a spontaneous process and an endothermic process through Gibbs free energy change ($-0.1096{\sim}-10.5348kJ\;mol^{-1}$) and enthalpy change ($+151.29kJ\;mol^{-1}$). In addition, since the Gibbs free energy change decreased with increasing temperature, adsorption reaction of murexide by granular activated carbon increased spontaneously with increasing temperature. The entropy change ($147.62J\;mol^{-1}\;K^{-1}$) represented the increasing of randomness at the solid-solution interface during the adsorption reaction of murexide by activated carbon.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.594-599
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• 2020

Lin28a has diverse functions including regulation of cancer, reprogramming and regeneration, but whether it promotes injury or is a protective reaction to renal injury is unknown. We studied how Lin28a acts in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis following unilateral ureteral obstruction, in a mouse model. We further defined the role of Lin28a in transforming growth factor (TGF)-signaling pathways in renal fibrosis through in vitro study using human tubular epithelium-like HK-2 cells. In the mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction model, obstruction markedly decreased the expression of Lin28a, increased the expression of renal fibrotic markers such as type I collagen, α-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin. In TGF-β-stimulated HK-2 cells, the expression of Lin28a was reduced and the expression of renal fibrotic markers such as type I collagen, α-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin was increased. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Lin28a inhibited the expression of TGF-β-stimulated type I collagen, α-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin. Lin28a inhibited TGF-β-stimulated SMAD3 activity, via inhibition of SMAD3 phosphorylation, but not the MAPK pathway ERK, JNK or p38. Lin28a attenuates renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy, making its mechanism a possible therapeutic target for chronic kidney disease.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.13
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• 2012

Jeechool-Whan (JW) is a prescription of Ponciri Fructus Immaturus and Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba and improves the functions of the stomach and the spleen. Although it is said in Korean Medicine that the spleen and the stomach are the roots of the body's resistance, the meaning of 'improving the spleen and the stomach' is very comprehensive. Moreover, there are lots of drugs that are said to improve the spleen and the stomach, and the number of prescriptions using these drugs is huge. In this study, we focused on the new effect and mechanism of the JW on the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) model. The increased number of rubs and the increased levels of IgE and histamine in the OVA-sensitized mice were inhibited by JW administration. The balance of Th1/Th2 cytokine level was regulated by JW administration. The levels inflammatory proteins were decreased by JW administration in the nasal mucosa of the OVA-sensitized mice. Eosinophils and mast cells infiltration increased by OVA-sensitization was also decreased in the JW-administered mice. In addition, JW inhibited caspase-1 activity in the same nasal mucosa tissue. In activated human mast cells, JW inhibited the receptor interacting protein-2, I${\kappa}$B kinase-${\beta}$, nuclear factor-${\kappa}$B/Rel A, and caspase-1 activation. In conclusion, this study will be support the clear understanding of the concept of the spleen and the stomach in traditional Korean medicine as well as for a possibility of finding a cure for this AR in traditional medical treatments.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

Background : Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Lonicerae Flos and Paeoniae Radix on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, and GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Materials and Methods : In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-\alpha$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used for internal standard. After 24 hours of Lonicerae Flos, Paeoniae Radix, total cellular RNAs were collected treating RNA zol directly on the living cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT- PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In the Lonicerae Flos study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. In the Paeoniae Radix study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-l6 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. Conclusion : This study shows that Lonicerae Flus and Paeuniae Radix have no inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the other mechanisms of inhibitory effect by Lonicerae Flus and Paeoniae Radix in the asthma model.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2002

Objectives: We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Methods: In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used by internal standard. After 24 hours of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum, Liriopis Tuber-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected, treating RNAzol directly on the alive cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results: In the Maekmundongcheongpye-eum study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 48% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (P<0.001). In the IL-16, there was 53% and 57% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories (P<0.001). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. In the Liriopis Tuber study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 43% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (p<0.005). In the IL-16, 34% and 26% of transcriptional inhibitory effect was shown compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories, respectively (P<0.05). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. Conclusions: This study shows that Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-16 in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.34-34
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• 2003

Protein unfolding is a key step in several cellular processes, including protein translocation across some membranes and protein degradation by ATP-dependent proteases. C1pAP protease and the proteasome can actively unfold proteins in a process that hydrolyzes ATP, These proteases catalyze unfolding by processively unraveling their substrates from the attachment point of the degradation signal. As a consequence, the ability of a protein to be degraded depends on its structure as well as its stability. An ${\alpha}$-helix is easier to unravel than a ${\beta}$-strand. In multidomain proteins, independently stable domains are unfolded sequentially. The steric constraints imposed on substrate proteins during their degradation by the proteasome were investigated by constructing a model protein in which specific parts of the polypeptide chain were covalently connected through disulfide bridges. The cross-linked model proteins were fully degraded by the proteasome, but two or more cross-links retarded the degradation slightly. Our results suggest that the pore of the proteasome allows the concurrent passage of at least three stretches of a polypeptide chain, and also explain the limited degradation by the proteasome that occurs in the processing of the transcription factor NF-KB, and also implicate difficulty in degradation of amyloidal aggregates by the proteasome

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2018

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C on inflammation, tumor development, and dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammation-associated early colon cancer mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with AOM [10 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] and given two 7-d cycles of 2% DSS drinking water with a 14 d inter-cycle interval. Vitamin C (60 mg/kg b.w. and 120 mg/kg b.w.) was supplemented by gavage for 5 weeks starting 2 d after the AOM injection. RESULTS: The vitamin C treatment suppressed inflammatory morbidity, as reflected by disease activity index (DAI) in recovery phase and inhibited shortening of the colon, and reduced histological damage. In addition, vitamin C supplementation suppressed mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, Interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6, and reduced expression of the proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, compared to observations of AOM/DSS animals. Although the microbial composition did not differ significantly between the groups, administration of vitamin C improved the level of inflammation-related Lactococcus and JQ084893 to control levels. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C treatment provided moderate suppression of inflammation, proliferation, and certain inflammation-related dysbiosis in a murine model of colitis associated-early colon cancer. These findings support that vitamin C supplementation can benefit colonic health. Long-term clinical studies with various doses of vitamin C are warranted.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is known to be a risk factor for metabolic diseases. This study aimed to develop a Food-based Index of Dietary Inflammatory Potential (FBDI) and examine its association with metabolic biomarkers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the raw data from the 2012-2014 Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study data of 17,771 people. To analyze the relationship between foods consumed by Koreans and inflammation, we conducted a correlation analysis between 51 food groups and hs-CRP levels. The FBDI was developed from 17 food groups selected by multiple regression method. We examined whether FBDI was associated with metabolic markers (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol) in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We used binary logistic regression analysis to examine the association. RESULTS: The FBDI model included seven of the anti-inflammatory food groups and three of the pro-inflammatory food groups. The FBDI formula was calculated by multiplying the intake of food group by ${\beta}$-coefficients derived from the multiple regression model based on the correlation analysis. The FBDI was significantly associated with waist circumference (P < 0.001), blood pressure (P < 0.001), triglyceride level (P < 0.001), and HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001) level among adults aged 20-64 years in the KNHANES. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.618 times higher in the group with the highest FBDI than in the group with the lowest one (95% confidence interval: 1.778-3.856, P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study established an FBDI reflecting food intake patterns of Koreans, which showed a significant relationship with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.464-472
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• 2022

Background: Gut microbiota influence the central nervous system through gut-brain-axis. They also affect the neurological disorders. Gut microbiota differs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a potential factor that leads to progression of AD. Oral intake of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) improves the cognitive functions. Therefore, it can be proposed that KRG affect the microbiota on the gut-brain-axis to the brain. Methods: Tg2576 were used for the experimental model of AD. They were divided into four groups: wild type (n = 6), AD mice (n = 6), AD mice with 30 mg/kg/day (n = 6) or 100 mg/kg/day (n = 6) of KRG. Following two weeks, changes in gut microbiota were analyzed by Illumina HiSeq4000 platform 16S gene sequencing. Microglial activation were evaluated by quantitative Western blot analyses of Iba-1 protein. Claudin-5, occludin, laminin and CD13 assay were conducted for Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation demonstrated through Aβ 42/40 ratio was accessed by ELISA, and cognition were monitored by Novel object location test. Results: KRG improved the cognitive behavior of mice (30 mg/kg/day p < 0.05; 100 mg/kg/day p < 0.01), and decreased Aβ 42/40 ratio (p < 0.01) indicating reduced Aβ accumulation. Increased Iba-1 (p < 0.001) for reduced microglial activation, and upregulation of Claudin-5 (p < 0.05) for decreased BBB permeability were shown. In particular, diversity of gut microbiota was altered (30 mg/kg/day q-value<0.05), showing increased population of Lactobacillus species. (30 mg/kg/day 411%; 100 mg/kg/day 1040%). Conclusions: KRG administration showed the Lactobacillus dominance in the gut microbiota. Improvement of AD pathology by KRG can be medicated through gut-brain axis in mice model of AD.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2023

In this present article, the mechanical behavior of single-walled black phosphorene nanotubes (SW-αPNTs) is simulated using molecular dynamics (MD). The proposed model is subjected to the axial loading and the effects of morphological parameters, such as the mono-vacancy defect and strain rate on the tensile behavior of the zigzag and armchair SW-αPNTs are studied as a pioneering work. In order to assess the accuracy of the MD simulations, the stress-strain response of the current MD model is successfully verified with the efficient quantum mechanical approach of the density functional theory (DFT). Along with reproducing the DFT results, the accurate MD simulations successfully anticipate a significant variation in the stress-strain curve of the zigzag SW-αPNTs, namely the knick point. Predicting such mechanical behavior of SW-αPNTs may be an important design factor for lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and energy storage devices. The simulations show that the ultimate stress is increased by increasing the diameter of the pristine SW-αPNTs. The trend is identical for the ultimate strain and stress-strain slope as the diameter of the pristine zigzag SW-αPNTs enlarges. The obtained results denote that by increasing the strain rate, the ultimate stress/ultimate strain are respectively increased/declined. The stress-strain slope keeps increasing as the strain rate grows. It is worth noting that the existence of mono-atomic vacancy defects in the (12,0) zigzag and (0,10) armchair SW-αPNT structures leads to a drop in the tensile strength by amounts of 11.1% and 12.5%, respectively. Also, the ultimate strain is considerably altered by mono-atomic vacancy defects.