• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng, is one of the oldest herbal medicines. It has a variety of physiological and pharmacological effects. Recently, we isolated a subset of glycolipoproteins that we designated gintonin, and demonstrated that it induced transient change in intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in cells via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway(s). The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using methanol, butanol, and other organic solvents. In the present study, we developed a much simple method for the preparation of gintonin from ginseng root using 80% ethanol extraction. The extracted fraction was designated edible gintonin. This method produced a high yield of gintonin (0.20%). The chemical characteristics of gintonin such as molecular weight and the composition of the extract product were almost identical as the gintonin prepared using the previous extraction regimen involving various organic solvents. We also examined the physiological effects of edible gintonin on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel activity of Xenopus oocytes. The 50% effective dose was $1.03{\pm}0.3\;{\mu}g$/mL. Finally, since gintonin preparation through ethanol extraction is easily reproducible, gintonin could be commercially applied for ginseng-derived functional health food and/or drug following the confirmations of in vitro and in vivo physiological and pharmacological effects of gintonin.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.237-244
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• 2000

정자의 원형질막은 삼투압에 의해서 영향을 받는다고 보고되고 있다. 이중 세포막내 분자구조의 변화 특히 막지질 구조의 변화와 동반되는 이온채널의 변화 그리고 $Ca^{2+}$과 HCO$^{-}_{3}$의 유동성과도 밀접한 관련이 있는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 지금까지의 연구보고에 의하면, 정자의 첨체반웅 (acrosome reaction)이 일어날 경우 protein tyrosine phosphorylation이 증가되는데 이것은 cAMP, protein kinase A 둥을 통하여 작용되는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 막의 지질변화를 유도하는 물질로 일종의 sterol acceptor인 BSA가 알려져 있는 바, 실제로 BSA가 막지질 성분에 미치는 영향을 관찰한 결과 cholesterol이 유출되고 이온 둥의 유동성 변화가 일어나, 이 유동성 변화가 정자의 adenylyl cyclase를 활성화시켜 cAMP를 증가시키고, PKA가 활성화되어 결과적으로 protein tyrosine phosphorylation이 유도된다고 보는 것이다. 첨체반응과 protein tyrosine phosphorylation과는 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 사료되고 있다. 본 연구는 정자 원형질막에서 cholesterol이 유출되어 protein tyrosine phosphorylation이 유도될 때, BSA와 같은 sterol acceptor가 작용할 것이라는 전제하에, 고삼투압 하에서 탈수로 인해 원형질막이 위축되더라도 sterol acceptor가 존재한다면 막지질 성분의 구조적 변화가 억제될 수 있을 것이라는 가설을 설정하였다. 실험결과, 저온 및 고삼투압 하에서 정자운동은 감소되지만 원형질막의 구조적 변화는 없고, 삼투압에 대한 반응정도는 원형질막을 통한 수분이동과 세포공적 변화에 따라 비례적으로 일어난다고 하는 사실을 발견하였다. 이 결과는 정자보존에 있어서 저온변화에 영향을 미치는 여러 인자들 특히 protein tyrosine phosphorylation의 증가와 밀접한 관계가 있음을 시시해 준다. 또한 sterol acceptor로 알려진 BSA는 삼투압이 변화되더라도 역시 중요한 인자로 작용할 수 있음을 알 수 있었으며, 특히 고삼투압으로의 변화는 cAMP와 protein kinase A를 거치는 신호전달과정에 있어서 중요한 요인이라는 사실을 확인할 수 있었다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) participates in the regulation of numerous cellular functions, including the $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase (sodium pump). Ouabain, used in the treatment of several heart diseases, is known to increase cAMP levels but its effects on the atrium are not understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ouabain on the regulation of atrial cAMP production and its roles in atrial endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. Our results showed that ouabain ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$) significantly increased atrial dynamics and cAMP levels during recovery period. The ouabain-increased atrial dynamics was blocked by KB-R7943 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor for reverse mode of $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchangers (NCX), but did not by L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker nifedipine ($1.0{\mu}mol/L$) or protein kinase A (PKA) selective inhibitor H-89 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$). Ouabain also enhanced atrial intracellular cAMP production in response to forskolin and theophyline ($100.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, potentiated the ouabain-induced increase in cAMP. Ouabain and 8-Bromo-cAMP ($0.5{\mu}mol/L$) markedly increased atrial ET-1 secretion, which was blocked by H-89 and by PD98059 ($30{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changing ouabain-induced atrial dynamics. Our results demonstrated that ouabain increases atrial cAMP levels and promotes atrial ET-1 secretion via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathway. These findings may explain the development of cardiac hypertrophy in response to digitalis-like compounds.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.323-326
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• 2006

Suaeda (S.) asparagoides $M_{IQ}$, one of the halophyte groups, has been used as a folk remedy for digestive disturbances in Korea. However, its pharmacological activity on gastrointestinal motility has not been reported yet. In this study, the effects of this halophyte extracts with various solvent fractions (ethanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) on mice ileal spontaneous motility was examined. All solvent fractions at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ showed inhibitory actions on spontaneous motility of ileum with the potency order of water > 70% ethanol > hexane ${\gg}$ chloroform ${\geq}$ butanol ${\geq}$ ethyl acetate, respectively. In addition, the water fraction of extracts from S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ (WFSA) dose-dependently ($1-100{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited the amplitude of spontaneous phasic contraction and area under the contractile curve (AUC). The inhibitory effect of water fraction at the concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ was not affected by tetrodotoxin (TTX), $Na^+$ channel blocker ($1{\mu}M$), and $N^w$-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME), nitric oxide synthase inhibitor ($100{\mu}M$). However, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, $10{\mu}M$), inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, almost blocked the inhibitory effects of WFSA ($10{\mu}g/ml$) on the spontaneous phasic contraction of mouse ileum. But, CPA did not inhibit the lowering basal tone effects of WFSA. The result of this study showed that various extracts of S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ induce inhibitory effects on spontaneous contraction of mice ileal segments. More over, the polar solvent fractions were shown to be more potent than non-polar solvent fractions. The effects of S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ extracts are not mediated by nerve or nitric oxide. The inhibitory effects of WFSA at least partially mediated by sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase. However, further study is required to determine the exact pharmacological mechanisms of this halophyte on its gastrointestinal motility inhibitory effects.

• 센서학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.341-346
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• 1999

일반적으로 FET형 전해질 이온 센서는 유리전극에 비하여 여러 가지 장점을 가지고 있으나 드리프트 및 기억효과가 있고 재현성이 부족한 단점을 가지고있어 이온 측정 시스템에 적용한 경우 전체적인 시스템의 신뢰성 저하를 가져온다. 이러한 점을 개선하기 위하여 본 논문에서는 8개의 동종 FET형 전해질 이온 센서 어레이를 사용하여 높은 신뢰성을 가지며 4종류의 이온($H^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$) 농도 측정이 가능한 시스템을 개발하였다. 개발된 측정 시스템은 전자식 스위치를 사용하여 단일의 신호 검출회로로 8개의 센서 신호를 검출하는 방법을 채택하였다. 또한 8개의 센서 신호를 삽입 정렬을 하여 신뢰성이 낮은 센서를 제외시키는 신호 처리 알고리즘을 개발하여 신뢰성을 향상시켰다. 제작된 시스템으로 3종류의 이온($H^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$) 농도를 측정한 결과 개발된 신호처리 알고리즘은 여러 개의 센서 신호를 단순히 산술 평균을 취하는 방식에 비하여 오차의 범위를 더욱 줄일 수 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 기존의 단채널 방식의 전해질 이온 측정 시스템과 비교해볼 때 우수한 신뢰성을 가짐을 알 수 있었다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.697-703
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• 2002

We investigated that the role of nitric oxide (NO) on ischemic rats in brain and heart. Ischemia was induced by both common carotid arteries (CCA) occlusion for 24h following reperfusion. Then tissue samples were removed and measured NOx. In brain, NOx was increased by about 40% vs. normal and it was significantly inhibited by aminoguanidine, selective iNOS inhibitor. This result showed that NOx concentration was increased by iNOS. We investigated the role of $Ca^{2+}$ during ischemia. Nimodipine, L-type calcium channel blocker, didn't inhibit the increases of NOx concentration during ischemia. It suggested that increased NOx was due to calcium-independent NOS. MK-801, which N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, didn't significantly prevent the increases of NOx. In heart, ischemia caused NOx decrease and it is inconsistent with NOx increase in brain. Aminoguanidine and nimodipine didnt affect on NOx decrease. But MK-801 more lowered NOx concentration than those of ischemia control group. It seemed that $Ca^{2+}$ influx in heart partially occurred via NMDA receptor and inhibited by NMDA receptor antagonist. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) in ischemic rats after 24h of CCA occlusion was decreased when compared to normal value, whereas the heart rates (HR) was not different between two groups. Aminoguanidine or MK801 had no effect on MAP or HR, but nimodipine reduced MAP. There was no difference the effects of aminoguanidine, nimodipine, or MK-801, on MAP and HR between normal rats and ischemic rats. In summary, ischemic model caused an increase of NOx concentration, suggesting that this may be produced via iNOS, which is calcium independent in brain. However in heart, ischemia decreased NOx concentration and NMDA receptor was partially involved. The basal MAP was decreased in ischemic rats but HR was not different from normal control, suggesting that increased NOx in brain of ischemic rat may result in the hypotension.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.200-208
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• 1986

원자로 냉각 계통의 배관 파열에 근거한 냉각재 상실 사고를 방출계수 0.4에 대하여 분석하였다. 분석은 원자로 냉각계통의 배관 파열에 의하여 발생된 감압부터 노심 복구까지의 전 과도 상태를 포함한다. 계통 열수력과 핵연료 성능 평가를 위하여 BLOWDOWN 단계에서는 RELAP4/MOD6-EM 코드와 RELAP4/MOD6-HOT CHANNEL 코드를 사용하였으며 REFLOOD 단계에서는 RELAP4/ MOD6-FLOOD 코드와 TOODEE2 코드를 각각 사용하였다. LOWER PLENUM 충전을 고려하기 위하여 DOWNCOMER에서 증기-물역방향 유동과 과열벽효과를 근사하여 간단한 해석적 모델이 개발되었다. EOB 발생시의 정보를 근거로 하여 재충전지속 시간과 초기 복구 온도가 계산되었으며 RELAP4/MOD6에 의한 분석결과와 비교하여 상당한 일치를 보였다. 또한, 조기 EOB 발생에 영향을 미치는 계통변수의 연구가 수행되어졌다. DOWNCOMER와 UPPER HEAD사이의 마찰손실이 조기 EOB 발생에 지대한 영향을 미쳤으며 적당한 마찰손실계수의 선택을 통하여 조기 EOB 발생을 방지할 수 있었다. 노심 nodalization이 여섯 개인 경우와 세 개인 경우의 분석 결과가 계통열수력학적 면에서 유사한 결과를 나타내지만, 좋은 결과를 얻기 위하여 전자의 경우가 요구된다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.189-199
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• 1996

Myocardial ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptors$ have been shown to mediate a biphaslc inotropic response that was characterized by a transient decline followed by a sustained increasing phase in guinea pig ventricular muscle. Recently one group reported that an ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptors-induced$ intracellular $Na^+$ decrease is linked to fast $Na^+$ channel inhibition and another group reported that it is linked to $Na^+$-$K^+$ pump activation by ${\alpha}_{1b}-adrenoceptors$. But until now, its mechanism is not clear. Therefore, to see whether the $Na^+$channel or $Na^+-K^+$ pump is related to a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity and/or the negative inotropic response, and which ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ subtype was involved in the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$activity by phenylephrine, we used conventional and sodium selective microelectrodes, and tension transducer to determine the effects of ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force in guinea pig ventricular muscles. $10^{-5}$ M Phenylephrine produced a slight hyperpolarization of the diastolic membrane potential, a decrease or increase in $a_N^i_a$, and a biphasic inotropic response. The negative inotropic response accompanied by a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$activity, whereas in muscles showing a remarkable positive inotropic response without initial negative inotropic effect was accompanied by an increase in intracellular $Na^+$ activity. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was apparently inhibited by WB4101, an antagonist of the ${\alpha}_{1a}-adrenoceptors$. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity caused by phenylephrine was not abolished or reduced by a block of the fast $Na^+$ channels. $V_{max}$ also was not affected by phenylephrine. Phenylephrine produced an increase in intracellular $Na^+$ activity in the presence of a high concentration of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ (in quiescent muscle) or phorbol dibutyrate, a protein kinase C activator(in beating muscle). These suggest that the ${\alpha}_{1a}-adrenoceptors-mediated$ decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity may be related to the protein kinase C.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.490-495
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rk1, a saponin component isolated from heat-processed Panax ginseng Meyer, has been implicated in the regulation of antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Although our previous studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg3 significantly attenuated the activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in hippocampal neurons, the effects of ginsenosides Rg5 and Rk1, which are derived from heat-mediated dehydration of ginsenoside Rg3, on neuronal NMDARs have not yet been elucidated. Methods: We examined the regulation of NMDARs by ginsenosides Rg5 and Rk1 in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using fura-2-based calcium imaging and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Results: The results from our investigation showed that ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 inhibited NMDARs with similar potencies. However, ginsenoside Rk1 inhibited NMDARs most effectively among the five compounds (Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rg5/Rk1 mixture, and protopanaxadiol) tested in cultured hippocampal neurons. Its inhibition is independent of the NMDA- and glycine-binding sites, and its action seems to involve in an interaction with the polyamine-binding site of the NMDAR channel complex. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rk1 might be a novel component contributable to the development of ginseng-based therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2559-2563
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• 2014

Purpose: We investigated the expression of epithelial $Ca^{2+}$ channel transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 5 and 6 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and assessed their prognostic role in patients after surgical resection. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to January 2009, 145 patients who had undergone surgical resection of NSCLCs were enrolled in the study. Patient clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. Fresh tumor samples as well as peritumor tissues were analyzed for TRPV5/6 expression using immune-histochemistry (IHC) and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Patients were grouped based on their TRPV5 and TRPV6 levels in the tumor tissues, followed up after surgery, and statistically analyzed to examine the prognostic roles of TRPV5 and TRPV6 on patients' survival after surgical resection of NSCLCs. Results: Using IHC, among the 145 patients who had undergone surgical resection of NSCLCs, strong protein expression (grade${\geq}2$) of TRPV5 and TRPV6 was observed in a lower percentage of primary tumor tissues than in non-tumor tissues of same patients. Similar findigns were obtained with the RT-PCR test for mRNA levels. Decreased overall mRNA levels of TRPV5 and TRPV6 were associated with a worse overall survival rate (p=0.004 and p=0.003 respectively) and shorter recurrence-free survival (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). The combining effect of TRPV5 and TRPV6 on survival was further investigated using multivariate analysis. The results showed that a combination of low expression of TRPV5 and TRPV6 could be an independent predictor of poor recurrence-free survival (p=0.002). Conclusions: Decreased expression of TRPV5/6 in tumor tissues was observed in NSCLC patients and was associated with shorter median survival time after surgical resection. Combined expression of TRPV5 and TRPV6 in tumor tissues demonstrated promising prognostic value in NSCLC patients.