• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2018

Hibiscus syriacus (H. syriacus) as the national flower of Korea has been used as the herbal medicine in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of 70% ethanol extracts from the root of Hibiscus syriacus (RHS-E70) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS and IL-${\beta}$ expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, RHS-E70 suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38, which results in the inhibition of ATF2 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. These results indicate that RHS-E70 may exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK/ATF2 signaling. From these findings, RHS-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2009

Objectives: The present study is focused on the inhibitory effect of the rhizome hexane fraction extract of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (ginger hexan extract; GHE) on the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, $PGE_2$, and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells, a mouse microglial cell line. Methods: We separated the hexane fraction from Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus's methanol extract. The inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effect of GHE was examined on microglial activation. Results: GHE significantly inhibited the excessive production of NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-1${\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. In addition, GHE attenuated the mRNA expressions and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory properties of GHE may make it useful as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of human neurodegenerative diseases.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.181-200
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• 2007

Objevtives & Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 on lipid composition, cytokine level, liver function, anti-oxidative capacity and histological characters were investigated in diet-induced obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 4 groups of control, BL18, LI11 and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups and raised for 4 weeks. Results : 1. Plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, free fatty acids level and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels significantly decreased in the pharmacopuncture groups compared to those of no treatment group. Plasma and liver total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were also significantly lower than those of no treatment group. There was, however, no difference in TBARS level among pharmacopuncture groups. Liver total cholesterol level of BL18 pharmacopuncture group was lower than those of the other two pharmacopuncture groups. In LDL-cholesterol level, BL18 pharmacopuncture and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups only had significantly lower levels than that of no treatment group. 2. There was no significant difference between cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups and no treatment group in IL-6, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartic acid transaminase (AST) levels. 3. Compared with \ those of no treatment group, pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase activities. There was, however, no significant difference among pharmacopuncture groups. 4. Histological characters of heart, kidney and liver of BL18 pharmacopuncture group were similar to those of normal rats. Conclusions : These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 may suppress adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and activate antioxidant system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1285-1290
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• 2007

The present study aims to identify and characterize genes that cause differen genes between non-responders and responders to electroacupuncture (EA) on mechanical allodynia following peripheral nerve injury. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, animals were subjected to unilateral transection of the superior caudal trunk at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves. EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.3 ms, 0.2-0.3 mA) was delivered to Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min 2 weeks after the surgery. The degree of mechanical allodynia was assessed quantitatively by touching the tail with von Frey hair (2.0 g) at 10 min intervals. The rats, which showed an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies under 10 %, were classified as non-responders and those displaying an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies 20 % or more were classified as responders. Results from oligonucleotide microarray, to which cDNAs from the spinal dorsal horn (DH) were applied, showed that hemoglobin beta chain complex and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-5 decreased and limbic system-associated membrane protein increased in the non-responder group, whereas calcium-independent alpha-Iatrotoxin receptor homolog-3 increased in the responder group. These results suggest that The functional abnormality of molecules regulating cell adhesion, intracellular signal transduction and cell differentiation in the spinal DH may be involved in the anti-allodynic effect of EA.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2010

Expression of the genes for carotenoid bio-synthesis (crt) is dependent on light, but little is known about the underlying mechanism of light sensing and signalling in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter, Synechocystis). In the present study, we investigated the light-induced increase in the transcript levels of Synechocystis crt genes, including phytoene synthase (crtB), phytoene desaturase (crtP), ${\zeta}$-carotene desaturase (crtQ), and ${\beta}$-carotene hydroxylase (crtR), during a darkto-light transition period. During the dark-to-light shift, the increase in the crt transcript levels was not affected by mutations in cyanobacterial photoreceptors, such as phytochromes (cph1, cph2 and cph3) and a cryptochrome-type photoreceptor (ccry), or respiratory electron transport components NDH and Cyd/CtaI. However, treatment with photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors significantly diminished the accumulation of crt gene transcripts. Therefore, the light induction of the Synechocystis crt gene expression is most likely mediated by photosynthetic electron transport rather than by cyanobacterial photoreceptors during the dark-to-light transition.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 1996

Metastaic bone tumors are usually accompanied with severe pain. The treatment modalities for this pain are so variable that patients are sometimes afraid of using them. Salmon calcitonin has a function to increase beta-endorphines followed by increasing the blood level of prostaglandin and thromboxan A2, which results in analgesic effect. This drug also has been known to decrease bone resorption. There were a few reports that parenteral use of salmon calcitonin decrease the pain from metastatic bone tumor. We wanted to know the effectiveness and tolerability of nasal spray of salmon calcitonin in relieving bone pain with metastatic tumor. We analyzed the effectiveness in the aspects of pain, sleep, performance status, mobility, supplementary analgesic use. The biologic effect of salmon calcitonin was analysed with CBC, Ca/P, BUN/Cr, uric acid. Simple radiography, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, pyrilink-K were used as parameters for bone change. Eighteen cases of metastatic bone tumors took nasal spray of salmon calcitonin($Miacalcic^{(R)}$, 200IU/day) for 4 weeks, to relieve bone pain. With Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed Ranks Test, we could find pain decreased significantly at 3 week and mobility become improved at 4 week of salmon calcitonin use. Other parameters didn't show any significant changes. We think the analgesic effect is mainly due to effect not on the local bone lesion but on the central nervous system, and that increased dose of salmon calcitonin can induce earlier and stronger analgesic effect.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2011

Destruction of the skin barrier by thermal injury induces microbial invasion, which can lead to the development of systemic infection and septic shock. Microbial pathogens possess pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by conserved receptors. To understand the role of PAMPs in thermal injury-induced mice, LPS or CpG-DNA were topically applied to dorsal skin after thermal injury. We observed an increase in the number of inflammatory cell infiltrates as well as thickening in the dermis upon treatment with LPS or CpG-DNA. We also found that expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, MIP-2, and RANTES induced by thermal injury was enhanced by LPS or CpG-DNA. In addition, the proportions of $CD4^+$ and $CD^8+$ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were altered by LPS or CpG-DNA. These results provide important information concerning PAMPs-induced inflammation upon thermal injury and provide a basis for studying the role of PAMPs in thermal injury-induced complications.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2001

Purpose : Eyeball movement is one of the main artifacts in EEG. A new approach to the removal of these artifacts is presented using independent component analysis(ICA). This technique is a signal-processing algorithm to separate independent sources from unknown mixed signals. This study was performed to show that ICA is a useful method for the separation of EEG components with little data deformity. Methods : 12 sets of 10 sec digital EEG data including eye opening and closure were obtained using international 10~20 system scalp electrodes. ICA with 18 tracings of double banana bipolar montage was performed. Among obtained 18 independent components, two components, which were thought to be eyeball movements were removed. Other 16 components were reconstructed into original bipolar montage. Power spectral analysis of EEGs before and after ICA was done and compared statistically. Total 12 pairs of data were compared by visual inspection and relative power comparison. Results : Waveforms of each pair looked alike by visual inspection. Means of relative power before and after ICA were 29.16% vs. 28.27%, 12.12% vs. 12.41%, 10.55% vs. 10.52%, and 19.33% vs. 18. 33% for alpha, beta, theta, and delta, respectively. These values were statistically same before and after ICA. Conclusions : We found little data deformity after ICA and it was possible to isolate eyeball movements in EEG recordings. Many other components of EEG could be selectively separated using ICA.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2018

The expression, purification, and characterization of cold-adapted lipase from the psychrophile, Janthinobacterium sp. were investigated. The gene encoding lipase from Janthinobacterium sp. PAMC 25641 was cloned into a pET28a(+) vector and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence (930 bp) corresponded to a protein having 309 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 32.7 kDa and a pI of 5.55. Recombinant E. coli harboring the Janthinobacterium lipase gene were induced by addition of isopropyl-${\beta}$-D-thiogalactopyranoside. $Ni^{2+}$-NTA affinity chromatography was used to purify the lipase, which had a specific activity of 107.9 U/mg protein. The effect of temperature and pH on the activity of lipase was measured using p-nitrophenyl octanoate as a substrate. The stability of the lipase at low temperatures indicated it is a cold-adapted enzyme. The lipase activity was increased by $Na^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$, and decreased by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$. Analysis of the lipase activity using various p-nitrophenyl esters showed a strong preference toward short acyl chains of the esters, indicating the ability of the cold-adapted lipase to hydrolyze short-chain esters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1661-1669
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• 2007

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid. It is well known for its role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of developing and operating nervous systems in brains. In this study, a novel function of GABA in the healing process of cutaneous wounds was presented regarding anti-inflammation and fibroblast cell proliferation. The cell proliferation activity of GABA was verified through an MTT assay using murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. It was observed that GABA significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. To evaluate in vivo activity of GABA in wound healing, excisional open wounds were made on the dorsal sides of Sprague-Dawley rats under anesthesia, and the healing of the wounds was apparently assessed. The molecular aspects of the healing process were also investigated by hematoxylineosin staining of the healed skin, displaying the degrees of re-epithelialization and linear alignment of the granulation tissue, and immunostaining and RT-PCR analyses of fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, implying extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling of the skin. The GABA treatment was effective to accelerate the healing process by suppressing inflammation and stimulating re-epithelialization, compared with the epidermal growth factor treatment. The healing effect of GABA was remarkable at the early stage of wound healing, which resulted in significant reduction of the whole healing period.