• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2022

A chemically sintered and binder-free paste of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared using a binary-liquid mixture of 1-octanol and CCl₄. The 1:1 (v/v) complex of CCl₄ and 1-octanol easily interacted chemically with the TiO₂ NPs and induced the formation of a highly viscous paste. The as-prepared binary-liquid paste (P_BL)-based TiO₂ film exhibited the complete removal of the binary-liquid and residuals with the subsequent low-temperature sintering (~150℃) and UV-O₃ treatment. This facilitated the fabrication of TiO₂ photoanodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (f-DSSCs). For comparison purposes, pure 1-octanol-based TiO₂ paste (P_O) with moderate viscosity was prepared. The P_BL-based TiO₂ film exhibited strong adhesion and high mechanical stability with the conducting oxide coated glass and plastic substrates compared to the P_O-based film. The corresponding low-temperature sintered P_BL-based f-DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.5%, while it was 2.0% for P_O-based f-DSSC. The P_BL-based low- and high-temperature (500℃) sintered glass-based rigid DSSCs exhibited the PCE of 6.0 and 6.3%, respectively, while this value was 7.1% for a 500℃ sintered rigid DSSC based on a commercial (or conventional) paste.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2020

Objectives : Bombyx batryticatus L. is the dried larval form of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) infected by Beauveria bassiania (Bals.) Vuill. It is used as a food and medicinal resource to treat asthma, headaches, epilepsy, and convulsions in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines. However, the research of the toxicity about B. batryticatus is not enough yet. Here, we investigate the effects of potential subacute toxicity following the repeated oral administration of B. batryticatus water extract to C57BL/6 mice, at various doses of 0, 50, 150, and 450 mg/kg/day during a two-week period. Methods : The following parameters were examined during the study period: body weight, gross findings, clinical signs, organ weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, histopathology, and mortality. At the end of the treatment period, all the mice were euthanized. Results : No changes were observed in the body weights, gross findings, clinical signs, organ weights, and mortality after two weeks of administration of the B. batryticatus extract. In addition, compared with the normal control group, no noticeable treatment-related changes were observed in the hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters in the treated group following treatment with doses of up to 450 mg/kg/day. Conclusion : Based on these findings, we conclude that the treatment of mice with the water extract of B. batryticatus did not cause considerable C57BL/6 toxicity, and therefore, it could be considered safe for further pharmacological studies.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.139-146
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• 2019

Objective : Recently, hair has become one of the important aspects of beauty. So, there are many studies about prevention and treatment of alopecia. Finasteride and minoxidil have been known to drug for alopecia treatment. However, these agents have side effects such as irritation, pruritus, and erythema when they were used for a long time. So, we assessed hair growth effect on herbal mixture (RAA) include in Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Achyranthis Radix, and Acanthopanacis Cortex. Methods : 6 weeks aged C57BL/6 mice were divided three treatment groups. : CON group (vehicle solution), MNXD group (positive control, 3% minoxidil), RAA group (15% RAA solution). And we applied 200 ㎕ of three groups to shaved dorsal skin every day. Hair growth effects of treatment were determined through phototrichogram by folliscope and hair follicle morphometry by H&E staining. And we assessed hair growth-related gene (VEGF, IGF-1, TGF-β1) expressions by western blot and 5-α reductase II analysis of dermal (skin) or internal organ (prostate gland). Results : Hair density and hair follicle size in MNXD or RAA group was enhanced compared to those of CON group, respectively. Also, the protein expression levels in dermal of VEGF, IGF-1 increased but TGF-β1 decreased in RAA and MNXD group, compared to CON group, respectively. 5-α reductase II levels of tissues in MNXD or RAA group significantly decreased compared to those of CON group, respectively. Conclusion : These results suggest that RAA has the promoting effect on hair growth.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.141-154
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• 2022

Purpose: C57BL/6 mice, which are among the most common backgrounds for genetically engineered mice, are resistant to the induction of periodontitis by oral infection with periodontal pathogens. This study aimed to develop a periodontitis model in C57BL/6 mice using coaggregation between human pathogens and the mouse oral commensal Streptococcus danieliae (Sd). Methods: The abilities of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 (Pg33277), P. gingivalis ATCC 49417 (Pg49417), P. gingivalis KUMC-P4 (PgP4), Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum ATCC 25586 (Fnn), and F. nucleatum subsp. animalis KCOM 1280 (Fna) to coaggregate with Sd were tested by a sedimentation assay. The Sd-noncoaggregating Pg33277 and 2 Sd-coaggregating strains, PgP4 and Fna, were chosen for animal experiments. Eighty C57BL/6 mice received oral gavage with Sd once and subsequently received vehicle alone (sham), Fna, Pg33277, PgP4, or Fna+PgP4 6 times at 2-day intervals. Mice were evaluated at 5 or 8 weeks after the first gavage of human strains. Results: Fnn, Fna, and PgP4 efficiently coaggregated with Sd, but Pg33277 and Pg49417 did not. Alveolar bone loss was significantly higher in the PgP4 group at both time points (weeks 5 and 8) and in all experimental groups at week 8 compared with the sham group. The PgP4 group presented greater alveolar bone loss than the other experimental groups at both time points. A higher degree of alveolar bone loss accompanied higher bacterial loads in the oral cavity, the invasion of not only PgP4 but also Sd and Fna, and the serum antibody responses to these bacteria. Conclusions: Periodontitis was successfully induced in C57BL/6 mice by oral infection with a P. gingivalis strain that persists in the oral cavity through coaggregation with a mouse oral commensal bacterium. This new model will be useful for studying the role of human oral bacteria-host interactions in periodontitis using genetically engineered mice.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

We evaluated the effects of prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharides, Mos) and probiotic diet supplements on growth performance, innate immunity, antioxidant activity, and intestinal changes in the microbial flora of red seabream Pagrus major. A basal diet (Con) was formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of red seabream. The dietary starch in Con was replaced with 0.6% Mos, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis and probiotic mixture (labeled as Mos, Pro-LP, Pro-BS, Pro-BL and Pro-Mix, respectively). We stocked 450 fish in 18 polypropylene tanks (400 L) in triplicate groups per dietary treatment. The fish were fed one of the diets twice (08:30, 18:30 h) a day for 63 days. Lysozyme activity was significantly higher in all the supplemented groups than that of the Con group. The immunoglobulin level of Pro-Mix, anti-protease activity of Pro-BL, and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity of Pro-BS, Pro-BL and Pro-Mix groups were significantly higher than those of the Con group. The ratio of total Vibrio/heterotrophic marine bacteria counts was significantly lower in Pro-LP, Pro-BL and Pro-Mix groups than that of the Con group. Therefore, dietary supplementation of Mos and probiotics to improves immune response and antioxidant enzyme activity and inhibits Vibrio bacteria in the intestine.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.181-212
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• 2023

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and safety of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder and provide clinical evidence that could contribute to further research. Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that verified effects of cupping therapy for insomnia disorder from 11 domestic and foreign databases. Included studies were evaluated using Risk of Bias (RoB). Results: Nineteen RCTs were selected. Wet cupping was more frequently used than dry cupping. Moving cupping was mostly used among dry cupping methods. Dry cupping was mainly performed in Bladder Meridian on the back. Wet cupping was mainly performed on BL18, LR14, and BL15. The most common treatment period was 4 weeks. The average number of treatments per week was about 2.4 times for all types of cupping, about 3.2 times for dry cupping and about 1.9 times for wet cupping. All selected studies showed a significant sleep improvement compared to the control group. As a result of the meta-analysis, in terms of effective rate, SAS score, and SDS score, the wet cupping in combination with acupuncture was significantly more effective than acupuncture alone, although the quality of selected RCTs was low. Conclusions: Cupping therapy is effective for insomnia disorder. Based on results of this study, it is reasonable to use wet cupping two times per week on BL18, LR14, and BL15 or use moving cupping three times per week in Bladder Meridian on the back for 4 weeks to treat insomnia disorder.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.198-202
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• 2020

A 30-year-old woman with Grade III hemorrhoid complained of excruciating pain that continued for several hours, especially with defecation. She was not able to frequent the clinic due to COVID-19 shutdowns, therefore additional treatment using acupoint electrical stimulation (AES) was self-administered. She administered AES bilaterally on BL57 and LR10 for fifteen minutes before each defecation as a preconditioning treatment. She assessed her pain using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) during defecation, and 3 hours later. The patient initially complained of pain rating 9 on the NRS. After the first session of AES, the pain dropped to 5. On one-month follow-up, the pain was at 3 and the patient was able to terminate all treatment. Self-administered AES preconditioning at BL57 and LR10 can be used to reduce extreme cases of hemorrhoid pain.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3519-3528
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• 2012

Inhibitory effects of Maclura amboinenesis Bl, one plant used traditionally for the treatment of cancers, on metastatic potential of highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells were investigated in vitro. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT colorimetric assay. Details of metastatic capabilities including invasion, migration and adhesion of B16F10 melanoma cells were examined by Boyden Chamber invasion and migration, scratch motility and cell attachment assays, respectively. The results demonstrated that n-hexane and chloroform extracts exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects (p<0.01), whereas the methanol and aqueous extracts had less pronounced effects after 24 h exposure. Bioactivity-guided chromatographic fractionation of both active n-hexane and chloroform extracts led to the isolation of two main prenylated xanthones and characterization as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I, respectively, their structures being identified by comparison with the spectral data. Interestingly, both exhibited potent effective effects. At non-toxic effective doses, n-hexane and chloroform extracts (10 and $30{\mu}g/ml$) as well as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I (3 and $10{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited B16F10 cell invasion, to a greater extent than $10{\mu}m$ doxorubicin, while reducing migration of cancer cells without cellular cytotoxicity. Moreover, exposure of B16F10 melanoma cells to high concentrations of chloroform ($30{\mu}g/ml$) and geratoxanthone-I ($20{\mu}M$) for 24 h resulted in delayed adhesion and retarded colonization. As insights into mechanisms of action, typical morphological changes of apoptotic cells e.g. membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, apoptotic bodies and loss of adhesion as well as cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase with increase of sub-G1 cell proportions, detected by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry were observed, suggesting DNA damage and subsequent apoptotic cell death. Taken together, our findings indicate for the first time that active n-hexane and chloroform extracts as well as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I isolated from Maclura amboinensis Bl. roots affect multistep of cancer metastasis processes including proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration, possibly through induction of apoptosis of highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells. Based on these data, M. amboinensis Bl. represents a potential candidate novel chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent. Additionally, they also support its ethno-medicinal usage for cancer prevention and/or chemotherapy.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2009

Extracts and fractions of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga in Russia) have been known to have various biological activities, including antimutagenic, anticancer, antioxidative, and immunostimulating effects. This study was performed to confirm anticancer effect of 10% superfine Chaga mushroom processed by nano-mill technology on C57BL/6 mice. Chaga particles belonged in the size of 1 ${\mu}m$ was about 40% after nanomill processing according to the volume distribution. As the result of subcutaneous injection of B16BL6 melanoma cells to the mice, the tumor volume (p<0.001) and tumor weight (p<0.01) was significantly decreased in the experimental (NCh) group as compared with control (C) group and the tumor growth inhibitory rate was 29.2%. On examination of survival rate after intraperitoneal injection of B16BL6 melanoma cells, the mean survival time per a mouse was 17.7 and 26.0 days in C and NCh group respectively. The survival rate of NCh group was 40% when that of C group was 0% at the 35th day. On the result of examination to confirm histological toxicity by Chaga superfine particles, both groups did not show any morphological and pathological changes in the small and large intestine under the light microscope. These results suggest that feeding of superfine Chaga produced by nanomill technique has a tumor growth inhibitory effect in vivo.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.453-461
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• 2007

Drynariae Rhizoma has been used for promotes mending of the sinews and bone, tonifies the kidney for such symptoms as weak low back and knees, and stimulates the growth of hair as a tinctute for alopecia in oriental medicine. This experiment examined the effect of an acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas(GSB-1), its EtoAc fraction(GB-2) and n-buOH fraction(GSB-3), on hair growth activity of the C57BL/6L mice after topical application to skin. First, We examined on hair growth activity of extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas compare to control and 1 % minoxidil groups. Second, We investigated on the number of hair follicle and mast cells after topical application of extracts of the Drynariae Rhizomas to skin for 16 day. Third, We investigated immunoreactive density of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), protein kinase C-${\alpha}$(PKC-${\alpha}$) and stem(mast) cell factor(SCF) in skin of C57BL/6N mice by immunohistochemical methods. The results were as follows : Hair growth effect of acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas, its EtoAc fraction and n-BuOH fraction was observed in 98 %, 96 % and 60 % in hair removed skin area in 16 day respectively, Immunoreactive density of VEGF in skin of GSB-1 group was weakly stained compare to control group in 10 day, But GSB-2 and GSB-3 groups were mildy stained in bulge and root sheath of skin. Immunolocalization of SCF antigens was observed weakly stained density in epidermis, bulge, stem cells and dermal papilla of control gruop. but in experimental group, immunoreactivity of SCF antigens was observed mildly stained density in bulge, epidermis and root sheath of GSB-1 gruop, heavily stained density in epidermis, bulge and root sheath of GSB-2 and GSB-3 groups to the hair removal skin of C57BL/6N mice on day 10. These experiment suggest that acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas and its EtoAc fraction may be used for topical treatment of alopecia areata.