• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2016

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) that is used as a food material has antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently the demand for functional foods and drugs has increased. The present study was carried out to determined of contents of residual sulfur dioxide, heavy metals, ash, acid insoluble ash and curcuminoids in turmeric from the Seoul Yak-ryeong market. Methods and Results: A total of 31 samples were obtained. Residual sulfur dioxide was not detected in any samples. Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) were analyzed by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) and a mercury analyzer and were detected in the ranges of 0.00 - 0.28, 0.00 - 0.07, 0.00 - 0.29 and 0.002 - 0.027mg/g respectively. No significant difference were observed between the average heavy metal contents of domestic and imported tumeric. However, average content of ash in domestic samples (7.8%) were significantly higher than that in imported samples (6.1%), whereas that of curcuminoids was significantly higher in imported samples (47.6mg/g) than in domestic samples (11.2mg/g). The average content of acid insoluble ash was not significantly different between two sample types (0.9% in each). Conclusions: There are no specific standards for turmeric used as food materials. Therefore, this study can be provided as basic data for the establishment of quality standards for turmeric.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7656-7666
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of subjective happiness among Korean adolescents and to supply basic data for enhancing to subjective happiness among Korean adolescents. This study used the 2014 Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior On-lin Survey data. It conducted a secondary data analysis of 72,060 cases. It conducted frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis by SPSS 18.0. Although various independent variables influenced on emotional support(t=44.335, p<,001), gender(t=27.730, p<.001), grade(t=25.347, p<.001), economic status(t=-25.345, p<.001), living arrangement(t=-6.158, p<.001), school record(t=-7.512, p<.001), father's educational status(t=-2.378, p<.001), subjective health status(t=46.062, p<.001), depression(t=-23.837, p<.001), sleep(t=19.871, p<.001), level of stress(t=-78.685, p<.001), alcohol(t=-13.481, p<.001) and drug use(t=-2.671, p<.01), smoking(t=-11.988, p<.001), breakfast(t=4.443, p<.001), activity(t=4.757, p<.001) were key factors of subjective happiness among Korean adolescents. The findings of this study were as follow: male middle students, who had emotional support, higher economic status, school record and father's educational level, living with family showed higher levels of subjective happiness. It also having good subjective health status, not depressed, more sufficient sleep, lower stress, no experience of drinking, smoking and drugs, more physical activity and having breakfast showed higher levels of subjective happiness.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2019

Due to the rapid global expansion of aquaculture industry during the past decades, production volume of aquatic organisms has accordingly grown. This has been accompanied by a rise in the incidence of diseases in aquatic organisms, leading to an increased use of aquatic medicines. While aquatic medicines are essential for the prevention and treatment of diseases of aquatic organisms, misuse can cause evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pose serious problems to the safety and hygiene of fisheries products. In this study, we surveyed and compared, by analyzing data compiled by all national control centers for aquatic animal diseases in South Korea, to estimate the amount of aquatic medicines sold in different regions between 2012 through 2015. Since we also examined the marketing routes of aquatic medicines, this basic data can be utilized for policy implementation to improve drug safety. In the future research, however, it will be clearly necessary to estimate directly the amounts of drugs actually applied to aquaculture organisms. The current sales figure data should be helpful for preparation of an effective system for aquatic drug use management.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematopoietic malignancy driven by promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion gene. The therapeutic drugs currently used to treat APL have adverse effects. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is an anticancer medicine with high effectiveness and low toxicity. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of GRh2-induced PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in human APL cell line (NB4 cells) remain unclear. Methods: Apoptosis-related indicators and PML-RARA expression were determined to investigate the effect of GRh2 on NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK, LY294002, and C 87, as inhibitors of caspase, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pathways were used to clarify the relationship between GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. Results: GRh2 dose- and time-dependently decreased NB4 cell viability. GRh2-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 activation in NB4 cells after a 12-hour treatment. GRh2-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was accompanied by massive production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression. GRh2 also induced PML/PML-RARA degradation, PML nuclear bodies formation, and activation of the downstream p53 pathway in NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK inhibited caspase activation and significantly reversed GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. GRh2 also upregulated TNF-α expression and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, enhanced the antitumor effects of GRh2, and C 87, an inhibitor of the TNF-α pathway, reversed NB4 cell viability, and GRh2-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-8-dependent manner. Conclusion: GRh2 induced caspase-dependent PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in NB4 cells via the Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.593-604
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• 2023

The ocean accounts for over 70% of the Earth's surface and is a space of largely unexplored unknowns and opportunities. Korea is a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, emphasizing the importance of marine research. The ocean has an extremely complex environment with immense biological diversity. In terms of microbiology, the marine environment has varying factors like extreme temperature, pressure, solar radiation, salt concentration, and pH, providing ecologically unique habitats. Due to this variety, marine organisms have very different phylogenetic classifications compared with terrestrial organisms. Although various microorganisms inhabit the ocean, studies on the diversity, isolation, and cultivation of marine microorganisms and the secondary metabolites they produce are still insufficient. Research on bioactive substances from marine microorganisms, which were rarely studied until the 1990s, has accelerated in terms of natural products from marine Actinomycetes since the 2000s. Since then, industries for bioplastic and biofuel production, carbon dioxide capture, probiotics, and pharmaceutical discovery and development of antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory drugs using bacteria, archaea, and algae have significantly grown. In this review, we introduce current research findings and the latest trends in life science and biotechnology using marine microorganisms. Through this article, we hope to create consumer awareness of the importance of basic and applied research in various natural product-related discovery fields other than conventional pharmaceutical drug discovery. The article aims to suggest pathways that may boost research on the optimization and application of future marine-derived materials.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.39.1-39.23
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of different topical/systemic agents in reducing the damage caused by bleaching gel to pulp tissue or cells. Materials and Methods: Electronic searches were performed in July 2023. In vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the effects of different topical or systemic agents on pulp inflammation or cytotoxicity after exposure to bleaching agents were included. The risk of bias was assessed. Results: Out of 1,112 articles, 27 were included. Nine animal studies evaluated remineralizing/anti-inflammatories agents in rat molars subjected to bleaching with 35%-38% hydrogen peroxide (HP). Five of these studies demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammation caused by HP when combined with bioglass or MI Paste Plus (GC America), or following KF-desensitizing or Otosporin treatment (n = 3). However, orally administered drugs did not reduce pulp inflammation (n = 4). Cytotoxicity (n = 17) was primarily assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on human dental pulp cells and mouse dental papilla Cell-23 cells. Certain substances, including sodium ascorbate, butein, manganese chloride, and peroxidase, were found to reduce cytotoxicity, particularly when applied prior to bleaching. The risk of bias was high in animal studies and low in laboratory studies. Conclusions: Few in vivo studies have evaluated agents to reduce the damage caused by bleaching gel to pulp tissue. Within the limitations of these studies, it was found that topical agents were effective in reducing pulp inflammation in animals and cytotoxicity. Further analyses with human pulp are required to substantiate these findings.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.33-44
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• 2024

Chungbuk has various regional characteristics in terms of population composition by region, industrial facilities, and distribution of emergency medical institutions. However, there are no studies yet that have analyzed regional characteristic factors related to the occurrence characteristics of cardiac arrest patients. Therefore, this study provided basic data to establish a response system for OHCA patients suitable for the characteristics of the Chungcheongbuk-do region by analyzing the characteristics of OHCA patients and the transfer status of 119 paramedics in Chungcheongbuk-do. This study is a retrospective study that analyzed 1,188 cardiac arrest patients transferred by ambulance based on raw data from the survey on acute cardiac arrest in Chungbuk (2020). There are a total of 11 emergency medical institutions in Chungbuk-do, which are concentrated in city-level areas, so the transfer time of patients to hospitals in county-level areas was delayed. In the county-level area, the frequency of dispatch of special paramedics was relatively small, and the frequency of administration of cardiac arrest drugs to help resuscitate cardiac arrest patients was also low. In conclusion, efforts should be made to improve accessibility of emergency medical services (deployment of emergency vehicles in marginal areas, proper placement of emergency medical institutions, etc.), to promote prevention of traumatic cardiac arrest patients, and to expand the scope of work to strengthen the first aid expertise of paramedics.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.601-608
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to predict the criminal patterns and risks of conflicts caused by inequality such as weakening regional ties and social exclusion caused by climate change and present basic policy data to solve them. Method: This study was mainly conducted through analysis of contents and cases through the use of media information such as the Internet and newspapers, and some literature research. Result: The crime patterns and characteristics of climate gentrification are as follows. First, rising sea levels caused by climate change will temporarily increase crimes related to real estate speculation. Second, social exclusion due to public service and environmental inequality will intensify, leading to terrorist crimes such as riots and hate crimes. Third, due to the weakening of regional ties, young people in poverty in the region will participate in organized violence crimes such as drugs and gangs or become crime victims. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to prepare policy countermeasures through cooperation with institutions. In particular, it is necessary to explore ESG policy measures in police activities in consideration of environmental factors in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.454-463
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• 2024

Background: Panax quinquefolius L, widely recognized for its valuable contributions to medicine, has aroused considerable attention globally. Different from the extensive research has been dedicated to the root of P. quinquefolius, its berry has received relatively scant focus. Given its promising medicinal properties, this study was focused on the structural characterizations and anti-inflammatory potential of acidic polysaccharides from the P. quinquefolius berry. Materials and methods: P. quinquefolius berry was extracted with hot water, precipitated by alcohol, separated by DEAE-52-cellulose column to give a series of fractions. One of these fractions was further purified via Sephadex G-200 column to give three fractions. Then, the main fraction named as AGBP-A3 was characterized by methylation analysis, NMR spectroscopy, etc. Its anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by RAW 264.7 cell model, zebrafish model and molecular docking. Results: The main chain comprised of α-L-Rhap, α-D-GalAp and β-D-Galp, while the branch consisted mainly of α-L-Araf, β-D-Glcp, α-D-GalAp, β-D-Galp. The RAW264.7 cell assay results showed that the inhibition rates against IL-6 and IL-1β secretion at the concentration of 625 ng/mL were 24.83 %, 11.84 %, while the inhibition rate against IL-10 secretion was 70.17 % at the concentration of 312 ng/mL. In the zebrafish assay, the migrating neutrophils were significantly reduced in number, and their migration to inflammatory tissues was inhibited. Molecular docking predictions correlated well with the results of the anti-inflammatory assay. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the structure of acidic polysaccharides of P. quinquefolius berry and their effect on inflammation, providing a reference for screening anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.596-603
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• 2003

Cells respond to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by increasing transcription of genes encoding molecular chaperones and folding enzymes. The information is transmitted from the ER lumen to the nucleus by intracellular signaling pathway, called the unfolded protein response (UPR). To obtain genes related to UPR from B. mori, the cDNA library was constructed with mRNA isolated from Bm5 cell lines in which N-glycosylation was inhibited by tunicamycin treatment. From the cDNA library, we selected 40 clones that differentially expressed when cells were treated with tunicamycin. Among these clones, we have isolated ATFC gene showing similarity with Hac1p, encoding a bZIP transcription factor of 5. cerevisiae. Basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) domain in amino acid sequences of ATFC shared homology with yeast Hac1p. Also, ATFC is up-regulated by accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER through the treatment of ER stress drugs. Therefore we suggest that ATFC represents a major component of the putative transcription factor responsible for the UPR leading to the induction of ER-localized stress proteins.