• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.199-209
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• 2020

In order to clarify the taxonomic status of the Korean Macroramphosus species, which were previously confused, we investigated morphological and molecular variations of Macroramphosus (18 individuals) from Korea, and Macroramphosus (35 individuals) from Japan and Taiwan, and compared with those of M. scolopax from type locality (Mediterranean Sea). Although the Korean and Japanese specimens of Macroramphosus were clearly divided into two types in the first dorsal spine length (22.8~32.1% in A-type vs. 15.6~21.4% in B-type), distance between the first dorsal fin and second dorsal fin (6.4~9.7% vs. 8.6~13.3%), and body depth (20.0~28.0% vs. 17.3~22.6%), no genetic differences among all individuals of longspine snipefish between them were found at the specific level [d=0.0~3.3% in control region (CR); 0.0~1.3% in cytochrome b (cytb); 0.0~0.5% in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)]. Whereas, they were well distinguished in genetics (9.9~11.5% in CR; 3.8~4.6% in cytb; 1.2~3.6% in COI) from those of M. scolopax in Mediterranean Sea. It needs the scientific name of the longspine snipefish (M. scolopax) in Korea be changed as M. japonicus (and/or M. sagifue). However, our results could not find evidence of consistency between morphological and mitochondrial DNA variations which suggests that their differentiation event may occur fairly recently. Further studies using more sensitive markers such as microsatellite are needed to clarify the degree of gene flow between the two types.

• Journal of Popular Narrative
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-98
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• 2021

This paper examines the ways in which Hollywood feature films produced and widely circulated with the establishment of the studio system was consumed in the ethnically segregated Korean movie theaters in Kyǒngsǒng in the 1920s. Focusing on how those theaters appropriated what Hollywood represented, this paper has three objectives. First, from a historical and economic perspective, I will historicize the emergence of so-called prestige pictures and how movies became a branded product in that process. Second, I will also loot at how Chosǒn Theater, one of the earliest movie theaters in the Korean-resident area in Kyǒngsǒng who sought to be a prestigious movie palace actively exploited Hollywood brand, by foregrounding its Paramount connection, in particular. Lastly, through a close reading of weekly programmes and handbills, I will examine how these promotional print materials, as an intermediating medium, helped to supplement the audiences' viewing of Hollywood movies while creating loyal audiences.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1037-1045
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• 2021

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and since obesity is associated with dietary factors and sedentary lifestyles, it is a disease that is readily developing in the modern population. Because obesity is accompanied by serious complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, prevention and treatment are important. Currently, drugs such as liraglutide and phentermine are used to treat obesity by suppressing appetite and inducing gastrointestinal motility delay. However, various side effects may occur, including thyroid cancer, cardiovascular problems, and central nervous system disorders. Therefore, to explore an obesity treatment method with relatively few side effects, a method known as "fat browning" was introduced to change white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue to increase energy consumption. Ongoing studies are attempting to find effective natural substances to safely induce browning. Many natural substances have been identified. The induction of browning by treatment with natural substances generally involves three mechanisms: positive control of browning-inducing factors, inhibition of differentiation into white adipose tissue, and the activation of mechanisms related to browning. In this study, we describe plant extracts with known browning-inducing effects, such as strawberry, black raspberry, cinnamomum cassia, and Ecklonia stolonifera extracts. We also summarize the underlying mechanisms of action identified thus far, including the signaling pathway mediated by these extracts to induce browning. Furthermore, the effects of brown adipose tissue generated through browning on heart disease as an endocrine organ disruptor are discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1120-1127
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• 2021

Depression has a negative impact on social functioning due to its high prevalence and increased suicide rate, and is a disease with a high economic burden. Depression is related to diverse brain-related phenomena, such as neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive deficit. As antidepressant drugs used in clinical trials have shown poor therapeutic effects, antidepressant drugs that show rapid efficacy urgently need to be developed. Although studies on various genes, proteins, and signaling pathways related to depression have been conducted, the pathogenesis of depression has not been clearly elucidated. Sirtuin 1 is a nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide- (NAD+-) dependent histone deacetylase and is involved in cell differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, and cancer metabolism. Recent genetic studies found that sirtuin 1 is a potential target gene for depression. In addition, preclinical studies reported that sirtuin 1 signaling affects depression-like behavior. In this review, we attempt to present up-to-date knowledge of depression and sirtuin 1. We describe the various roles of sirtuin 1 in the regulation of glial activation, circadian rhythm, neurogenesis, and cognitive function and the effects of its expression on depression. Further, we discuss the effect of sirtuin 1 on the impairment of neural plasticity, one of the key mechanisms of depression, and the associated mechanisms of sirtuin 1.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate inhibitory effects of steamed Polygonatum odoratum extract (POE) on differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Polygonatum odoratum (P. odoratum) extract was extracted with ethyl acetate. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in POE were measured for antioxidant activity. The spectrophotometric method was used to determine the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP). MTT assay was examined for cell toxicity, oil red O staining was performed for intracelluar adipogenesis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Western blot analysis for measurement of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expressions were performed. Results : The results revealed that POE has antioxidant activities. Contents of total polyphenolics and flavonoids were $50.83{\pm}1.52$ GAE mg/100g dry weight of POE and $17.05{\pm}2.47$ RE mg/100g dry weight of POE, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP in 10 mg/ml concentration were $92.1{\pm}0.6%$, $244.8{\pm}9.0{\mu}M$ Fe(II) and ABTS inhibition in 5 mg/ml concentration was $84.8{\pm}4.1%$. Treatment of POE in adipocytes inhibited the differentiation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to those of vehicle control. Additionally, protein expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, major transcription factor for the adipogenic genes, were significantly decreased compared to those of vehicle control (p<0.05). Futhermore, phosphorylation of AMPK was increased in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with POE compared to that of vehicle control (p<0.05). Conclusions : we demonstrate that steamed P. odoratum extract (POE) has potentiating antioxidant activities, inhibits differentiation and lipid accumulation and also induces energy expenditure in adipocytes, which may contribute to antiobesity property.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2018

Objectives : Daesiho-tang (DSHT) has been widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarct in traditional medicine. However, there was not report on the anti-obesity-related diseases efficacy of DSHT. In this study, we investigated the effects for the new formulation of DSHT, on the adipocyte differentiation cycle in 3T3-L1 cells. Methods : 3T3-L1 cells were treated with DSHT (50, 100, $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) during differentiation for 6 days. Also, the inhibitory effect of DSHT against 3T3-L1 adipogenesis was evaluated in various stage of adipogenesis such as early (0-2day), intermediate (2-4day), and terminal stage (4-6day). The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. and, the expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Results : DSHT showed inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation at 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without affect cell toxicity as assessed by measuring fat accumulation and adipogenesis. In addition, DSHT significantly reduced the expression levels of several adipocyte marker genes including proliferator activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/ enhancer-binding $protein-{\alpha}$ ($C/EBP-{\alpha}$). Also, the anti-adipogenic effect of DSHT was strongly limited in the intermediate (2-4 day), terminal stage (4-6 day) of 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. In addition, the DSHT treatment down- regulated mRNA expression levels of $PPAR-{\gamma}$,, $C/EBP-{\alpha}$ in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusions : These results suggest that, the ability of DSHT has inhibited overall adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. The new formulation of DSHT may be a promising medicine for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.73-85
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• 2022

The cynoglossid fishes are popular for food in the world including Korea, China and Japan, and among them, Paraplagusia japonica lives all over the sea of Korea. In order to establish appropriate management measure, it is essential to clarify population structure of P. japonica from the morphological and molecular perspectives. We collected a total of 132 individuals of P. japonica from six localities in Korea between 2008 and 2021. Canonical discriminant analysis results showed that the West Sea population (Incheon) slightly differed from the South (Tongyeong, Busan) and East Sea populations (Pohang, Donghae, Sokcho). Similar results were also shown in Kruskal-Wallis test of meristic characters. Furthermore, neighbor-joining and maximum-likelihood trees based on 849 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences showed that P. japonica was divided into two lineages (designated as A and B) with a high significance (Φ_st=0.0781, P<0.001). Interestingly, however, the two lineages in the admixture area (South-East Sea) were not different in morphological characters. Our results suggest that P. japonica had undergone differentiated history during the Late Pleistocene, but secondary contact may occur at the admixture area.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2022

Ubiquitin signaling regulates virtually all aspects of eukaryotic biology and dynamic processes in which protein substrates are modified by ubiquitin. To regulate these processes, deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) cleave ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like proteins from these substrates. DUBs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, leading to the development of increasing numbers of small-molecule DUB inhibitors. On the other hand, recent studies have focused on the function of DUBs in metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver diseases. DUBs play a positive or negative role in the progression and development of metabolic diseases. Their involvement in cell pathology and regulation of major transcription factors in metabolic syndrome has been examined in vitro and in animal and human biopsies. UCH, USP7, and USP19 were linked to adipocyte differentiation, body weight gain, and insulin resistance in genetic or diet-induced obesity. CYLD, USP4, and USP18 were found to be closely associated with fatty liver diseases. In addition, these liver diseases were accompanied by body weight change in certain cases. Collectively, in this review, we discuss the current understanding of DUBs in metabolic diseases with a particular focus on obesity. We also provide basic knowledge and regulatory mechanisms of DUBs and suggest these enzymes as therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.276-283
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• 2022

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin helps to retain calcium and phosphorus but also has shown to affect immune regulation and homeostasis. In humans, vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 and their metabolite has intensively studied in both innate and adaptive immune system that they are important to regulate overwhelmed inflammation. The vitamin D receptor is a nuclear hormone receptor which regulate various downstream target gene expressions as a transcription factor related to metabolism, immune regulation, etc. Vitamin D deficiency is a high-risk factor for inflammatory diseases like autoimmune disease and allergy. In addition, reduced vitamin D seem to correlate with susceptibility to the virus infection such as HIV and COVID-19. In this review, we will summarize up-to-date vitamin D's role in various immune cells, immune regulatory functions during autoimmune, allergic, and infectious diseases. We will also discuss about vitamin D supplement effects in human trial studies for COVID-19.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2022

In modern society, interest in antioxidants is increasing as the stress caused by oxidants increases. However, the demand for synthetic antioxidants is decreasing because some studies have confirmed that they are harmful when consumed in large quantities; thus, studies on antioxidants derived from natural substances are actively being conducted to replace synthetic antioxidants. Blueberry, known as one of the world's top ten long-lived foods, is a plant of the Vaccinium (Ericaceae) family, and various pharmacological activities of blueberry including antioxidant activity have been studied. Vaccinium oldhamii (VO) is a deciduous broad-leaved shrub in the same genus as blueberries, and in this paper, we summarize the studies on the efficacy analysis of VO extracts and purified products. The content of phenolic compounds in VO fruits was proportional to antioxidant and anti-influenza activity such as the inhibition of NO production, and the total content of polyphenols and anthocyanin was higher than that in blueberries. VO fruit extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity and anti-cancer activity against human acute leukemia; in contrast, VO branch extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity, activity to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption due to inflammatory response, and anti-cancer activity against several human cancer cell lines. Compared to blueberries, VO showed higher phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and various physiological activities. In addition, VO is considered to have sufficient value as an alternative crop to blueberries, such as it can be grown natively in Korea, with simple mass cultivation and no need to pay royalties for commercialization.