• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.868-873
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, that exhibit various pharmacological and physiological actions are transformed into compound K (CK) or M4 by intestinal microorganisms. CK is a metabolite derived from protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides, whereas M4 is a metabolite derived from protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides. Recent reports shows that ginsenosides might playa role as pro-drugs for these metabolites. In present study, we investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is one of major binding proteins on various neurotransmitters, hormones, and other pharmacological agents, on ginsenoside $Rg_{2-}$, CK-, or M4-induced regulation of $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In the absence of BSA, treatment of ACh elicited inward peak current ($I_{Ach}$) in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor. Co-treatment of ginsenoside $Rg_2$, CK, or M4 with ACh inhibited IAch in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. In the presence of 1% BSA, treatment of ACh still elicited $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor and co-treatment of ginsenoside $Rg_2$ or M4 but not CK with ACh inhibited $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. These results show that BSA interferes the action of CK rather than M4 on the inhibitory effect of $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor and further suggest that BSA exhibits a differential interaction on ginsenoside metabolites.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.16-27
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• 2017

IEEE 802.15.6 standard, a Wireless Body Area Network, aims to transfer not only medical data but also non-medical data, such as physical activity, streaming, multimedia game, living information, and entertainment. Services which transfer those data have very various data rates, intervals and frequencies of continuous access to a medium. Therefore, an efficient anti-collision operations and medium assigning operation have to be carried out when multiple nodes with different data rates are accessing shared medium. IEEE 802.15.6 standard for CSMA/CA medium access control method distributes access to the shared medium, transmits a control packet to avoid collision and checks status of the channel. This method is energy inefficient and causes overhead. These disadvantages conflict with the low power, low cost calculation requirement of wireless body area network, shall minimize such overhead for efficient wireless body area network operations. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a medium access scheduling scheme, which adjusts the time interval for accessing to the shared transmission medium according to the amount of data for generating respective sensor node, and a priority control algorithm, which temporarily adjusts the priority of the sensor node that causes transmission concession due to the data priority until next successful transmission to ensure fairness.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2011

Ginseng has been used as a general tonic agent to invigorate the human body as an adaptogenic agent. In a previous report, we have shown that ginseng contains a novel glycolipoprotein called gintonin. The main function of gintonin is to transiently enhance intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in animal cells. The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using organic solvents. In the present report, we developed a simple method for the preparation of crude gintonin from ginseng root as well as stem and leaf, which produced a higher yield of gintonin than the previous one. The yield of gintonin was 0.20%, 0.29%, and 0.81% from ginseng root, stem, and leaf, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of gintonin isolated from stem and leaf through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was almost same as that from root but the compositions of amino acids, carbohydrates or lipids differed slightly between them. We also examined the effects of crude gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel (CaCC) activity of Xenopus oocytes through mobilization of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. We found that the order of potency for the activation of CaCC was ginseng root > stem > leaf. The $ED_{50}$ was $1.4{\pm}1.4$, $4.5{\pm}5.9$, and $3.9{\pm}1.1$ mg/mL for root, stem and leaf, respectively. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that in addition to ginseng root, ginseng stem and leaf also contain gintonin. Gintonin can be prepared from a simple method with higher yield of gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf. Finally, these results demonstrate the possibility that ginseng stem and leaf could also be utilized for ginstonin preparation after a simple procedure, rather than being discarded.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-140
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to understand the special character and the tendency of the movement change that 12 meridians possess. We studied about the incidental and fundamental rule of the six atmospheric influence that was presented by Pyobonjoong(the incidental, fundamental, intermediate) theory, and the Hwang won-uh's the Six Channel activity of the Qi theory that presented movement form of the meridian through the six atmospheric influence. Then we found the following substances. The Pyobonjoong(the incidental, fundamental, intermediate) theory is applicable to understand the special character and the tendency of the movement change that Meridians possess. But, because the Pyobonjoong(the incidental, fundamental, intermediate) theory can't classify the characteristic difference of the hand and foot meridians, then the principle that can devide the meridians of the hand and foot, must be supplied. The Jungwha(right changing)-Daewha(opposite changing) theory is able to concretely classify the special character of the hand and foot six meridians. And Hwang's Shawha(superintending change)-Jongwha(following change) theory that is base on Jungwha(right changing)-Daewha(opposite changing) theory, is able to classify the special character of the hand and foot six meridians, too. If the concept of the Meridians is understood by the Shawha(superintending change)-Jongwha(following change) theory, the special character of the hand and foot six meridians could be concretely classified and then the meridian of the Bowels and the six atmospheric influence corresponded to the meridians could be expansively explained as the point that take charge and control these special Qi in the human body The Bon-Qi(fundamental Qi) act on the special character of Shawha(superintending change) six meridians and the tendency of the movement change is cause by the insufficiency and excessiveness of the Bon-Qi(fundamental Qi). The Qi of the Shawha(superintending change) meridians act on the special character of Jongwha(following change) six meridians and the tendency of the movement change is cause by the exuberance of Yang and the deficiency of Yang.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2006

Lethal toxin is a critical virulence factor of anthrax. It is composed two protein: protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to specific cell surface receptors and, forms a membrane channel that mediates entry of LF into the cell. LF is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, which cleaves MKKs [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases] at peptide bonds very close to their N-termini. In this study, we suggest application of cell-based assays in the early phase of drug discovery, with a particular focus on the use of yeast cells. We constructed MEK1 expression system in yeast to determine LF activity and approached cell-based assay system to screen inhibitors, in which the results covering the construction of LF-substrate in yeast expression vector, expression, and LF-mediated proteolysis of substrate were described. These results could provided the basic steps in design of cell-based assay system with the high efficiency, rapidly and easy way to screening of inhibitors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.289-295
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• 2006

Sodium fluoride (NaF) has been shown to be cytotoxic and elicit inflammatory response in human. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying NaF-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues have not yet been elucidated. This study is aimed to investigate the mechanisms of NaF-induced apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast (HGF). NaF decreased the cell viability of HGF in a dose- and time-dependent manner. NaF gave rise to apoptotic morphological changes including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. However, NaF did not affect the production of ROS. In addition, NaF augumented cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, and enhanced caspase -9 and -3 activities., cleavage (85 kDa fragments) of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and upregulation of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) 1. These results demonstrated that NaF-induced apoptosis in HGF may be mediated with mitochondria. Furthermore, NaF elevated caspase-8 activity and upregulated Fas-ligand (Fas-L), suggesting involvement of death receptor mediated pathway in NaF-induced apoptosis. Expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was downregulated, whereas expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was not affected in NaF-treated HGF. These results suggest that NaF induces apoptosis in HGF through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated pathway mediated by Bcl-2 family.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2011

Previously most of flood prevention efforts have been made for relatively large watersheds near to channel flow. However, as economical development and the expansion of leisure areas to mountainous region, human casualty by flash flood occurs frequently, requiring additional prevention activity. Therefore, to reduce the damage of human lives and property by flash flood, we develop an assessment method for flash flood occurrence for mountainous areas considering various factors involving it. PROMETHEE(Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluations) which is one of the MCDM(Multi-Criteria Decision Making) was adopted to assess the contribution of each factor to the risk of the flash flood in the mountainous area. The main evaluation criteria are classified into three categories, namely, the regional and rainfall characteristics, and geographical features. Also, the Entropy method is used to determine the weight of each evaluation criteria without survey. The suggested method based on PROMETHEE with Entropy method is applied to BongHwa region to verify its applicability. After applied, the method successfully assesses the relative risk of flash flood occurrence of each sub region in the BongHwa region. Out of the seventeen sub-regions, five, seven and five of them are evaluated as high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk, respectively. To verify the results, we searched the historical data of flash flood and the flash flood had occurred in one of high-risk sub-regions at 2008.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_4
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• pp.1519-1529
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• 2018

The volcanic ash can spread out over hundreds of kilometers in case of large volcanic eruption. The deposition of volcanic ash may induce damages in urban area and transportation facilities. In order to respond volcanic hazard, it is necessary to estimate efficiently the diffusion area of volcanic ash. The purpose of this study is to compare in-situ volcanic deposition and satellite images of the volcanic eruption case. In this study, we used Near-Infrared (NIR) channels 7 and 8 of Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) images for Mt. Aso eruption in 16:40 (UTC) on October 7, 2016. To estimate deposit area clearly, we applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a series of morphology filtering (Eroded, Opening, Dilation, and Closing), respectively. In addition, we compared the field data from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) report about Aso volcano eruption in 2016. From the results, we could extract volcanic ash deposition area of about $380km^2$. In the traditional method, ash deposition area was estimated by human activity such as direct measurement and hearsay evidence, which are inefficient and time consuming effort. Our results inferred that satellite imagery is one of the powerful tools for surface change mapping in case of large volcanic eruption.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.360-369
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• 2021

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are neurotoxins that display pharmacological activity that is similar to that of specific sodium channel blockers; they are the principle toxins involved in shellfish and puffer fish poisoning. In Korea, puffer fish is a very popular seafood, and several cases of accidental poisoning by TTX have been reported. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether puffer fish poisoning incidents are caused by PSTs or by TTX. In this study, we used mouse bioassay (MBA) and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine the presence of PSTs and TTX in puffer fish from an area near Mireuk-do, Tong-Yeong on the southern coast of Korea from January through March, 2014. The toxicity of PSTs and TTX extracts prepared from three organs of each specimen was analyzed by MBA. Most of the extracts killed mice with typical signs of TTX and PSTs. The LC-MS/MS analysis of seven specimens of Takifugu pardalis and Takifugu niphobles, each divided into muscles, intestines, and liver, were examined for TTX. In T. pardalis, the TTX levels were within the range of 1.3-1.6 ㎍/g in the muscles, 18.8-49.8 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 23.3-96.8 ㎍/g in the liver. In T. niphobles, the TTX levels were within the range of 2.0-4.5 ㎍/g in the muscles, 23.9-71.5 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 28.1-114.8 ㎍/g in the liver. Additionally, the toxicity profile of the detected PSTs revealed that dcGTX3 was the major component in T. pardalis and T. niphobles. When PSTs were calculated as saxitoxin equivalents the levels were all less than 0.5 ㎍/g, which is below the permitted maximum standard of 0.8 ㎍/g. These findings indicate that the toxicity of T. pardalis and T. niphobles from the southern coast of Korea is due mainly to TTX and that PSTs do not exert an effect.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

In order to avoid the spread of Covid-19, outdoor activities are decreasing worldwide and the time spent at home is increasing. As physical activity declines, the number of people who feel bored, restless and immune deficient is increasing. As indoor life becomes more permanent, multiple approaches to home workout are becoming active. This paper examines how the Covid blue (boredom and social anxiety) produced in the no-touch era affects quality of life through the use of home training applications. Questionnaires were collected from Chinese people using a website dedicated to Chinese questionnaires, and finally 383 appropriate data were analyzed using SPSS24.0 and AMOS24.0. The research results showed that the actual experience of using home workout had a positive impact on quality of life. The higher the user's sense of social unease about being late in the untact, It was found that the higher the social anxiety perceived by users about the untact era, the higher the interactivity and exercise satisfaction with the home workout app. Home workout application can improve exercise satisfaction and quality of life, which are more positive effects beyond the result of resolving consumers' boredom. Therefore, it can be used as a channel for digital services.