• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.385-394
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• 2020

Eupatilin is known to possess anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. We report here that eupatilin has a protective effect on the ethanol-induced injury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups: control, vehicle, silymarin, eupatilin 10 mg/kg, eupatilin 30 mg/kg, and eupatilin 100 mg/kg. Plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were analyzed to determine the extent of liver damage. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were analyzed to determine the level of liver steatosis. Malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) level were analyzed to determine the extent of oxidative stress. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β were quantified to verify the degree of inflammation. Based on our findings, chronic alcohol treatment significantly changed the serum indexes and liver indicators of the model rats, which were significantly improved by eupatilin treatment. Rats in the eupatilin-treatment group showed reduced levels of AST, ALT, TG, TC, TNF-α, and IL-1β, increased SOD activity and GSH levels, and improved overall physiology compared to the alcoholic liver disease model rats. H&E staining also verified the eupatilin-mediated improvement in liver injury. In conclusion, eupatilin inhibits alcohol-induced liver injury via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.121-140
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• 2014

Objectives: Recently, the rate of death by chronic disease, is increasing steadily. To prevent this, the public health center will have taken a leading role in the local community medical business through an establish to the national health promotion act and an amendment to the law of public health center in Korea. Results: Accordingly this research, using the Pender's health promotion model which is related with subject health behavior who government employees serve at the public health center have taken important position in the local community health promotion, have comprehended the actual condition of health behavior. For increasing the health behavior practice of subject to comprehend the factor which have effect on health behavior practice, which can be a correct role model in the local community health promotion. A survey was performed on 406 government employees who serve at five public health centers in Seoul. The period of survey was from 25th October, 2010 to 15th November, 2010. The results of this study were summarized as below. 1. Work-related stress, perceptible beneficial obstacle, and self-efficacy were composed by 5 points measure. The results show those work-related stress were $3.06{\pm}0.469$, 74perceptible beneficial obstacle were $3.74{\pm}0.471$, and self-efficacy were $3.49{\pm}0.469$. 2. As for the health behavior by general characteristic, the results have specific differences on age, education level, state of marriage, rank of the position, field of the occupation and employment forms in statics analysis. 3. As for the past health behavior by health behavior characteristic, work-related stress have specific differences on the past frequency of drinking (p<.05) in statics analysis, perceptible beneficial obstacle have specific differences on the past frequency of having breakfast(p<.05), having snacks(p<.05) and doing exercise(p<.05) in statics analysis. Self-efficacy have specific difference on the past frequency drinking(p<.01) in statics analysis. 4. According to the correlation between the factors related with health behavior and health behavior, the health behavior have specific differences on perceptible health condition(p<.01), the past health behavior and perceptible beneficial obstacle(p<.05). Work-related stress and self-efficacy don't have specific relation in health behavior practice. 5. The factors, which effect on health behavior practice have specific differences on the past health behavior, employment forms and field of the occupations. The ability of explanation occupied 54.8% what explained of the health behavior practice by general characteristic, perceptible health condition, employment forms and perceptible beneficial obstacle. Conclusions: According to the correlation between the factors related with health behavior, the health behavior have specific differences on perceptible health condition(p<.01), the past health behavior and perceptible beneficial obstacle(p<.05). The factors, which effect on health behavior practice have specific differences on the past health behavior, employment forms and field of the occupations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.162-177
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• 2020

Background: Ecologists have achieved much progress in the study of mechanisms that maintain species coexistence and diversity. In this paper, we reviewed a wide range of past research related to these topics, focusing on five theoretical bodies: (1) coexistence by niche differentiation, (2) coexistence without niche differentiation, (3) coexistence along environmental stress gradients, (4) coexistence under non-equilibrium versus equilibrium conditions, and (5) modern perspectives. Results: From the review, we identified that there are few models that can be generally and confidently applicable to different ecological systems. This problem arises mainly because most theories have not been substantiated by enough empirical research based on field data to test various coexistence hypotheses at different spatial scales. We also found that little is still known about the mechanisms of species coexistence under harsh environmental conditions. This is because most previous models treat disturbance as a key factor shaping community structure, but they do not explicitly deal with stressful systems with non-lethal conditions. We evaluated the mainstream ideas of niche differentiation and stochasticity for the coexistence of plant species across salt marsh creeks in southwestern Denmark. The results showed that diversity indices, such as Shannon-Wiener diversity, richness, and evenness, decreased with increasing surface elevation and increased with increasing niche overlap and niche breadth. The two niche parameters linearly decreased with increasing elevation. These findings imply a substantial influence of an equalizing mechanism that reduces differences in relative fitness among species in the highly stressful environments of the marsh. We propose that species evenness increases under very harsh conditions if the associated stress is not lethal. Finally, we present a conceptual model of patterns related to the level of environmental stress and niche characteristics along a microhabitat gradient (i.e., surface elevation). Conclusions: The ecology of stressful systems with non-lethal conditions will be increasingly important as ongoing global-scale climate change extends the period of chronic stresses that are not necessarily fatal to inhabiting plants. We recommend that more ecologists continue this line of research.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the subjective happiness and satisfaction with life of children with type 1 diabetes and explore related factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used and the study was conducted with children at a diabetes camp. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire to explore positive and negative psychological factors. The questionnaire included Subjective Happiness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Data from 15 children were used for data analysis. The correlational analysis results showed that subjective happiness was positively correlated satisfaction with life, social support, and self-efficacy, and was negatively correlated with perceived stress. Satisfaction with life was positively correlated social support, and was negatively correlated with perceived stress. Conclusion: Results indicate that the positive psychology factors were closely related with social support and self-efficacy and may alleviate perceived stress and depressive feelings. Therefore, researchers and clinicians should include positive psychological factors in their health management model for children with chronic illness.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.55-65
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• 2016

Objectives : Mibyeong is a korea medicine have original concept of the disease. However, no previous report has effect of mibyeong herbal medicine in fatigue types of mibyeong. This study investigated the question of whether Dang Gui Bo Hyul-tang(DGBHT) of effect on fatigue types of Mibyeong. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were randomaly divided into three group (n=10). The mice were then group (1) Nocontrol, (2) Restraunt stress(veh), (3) Dang Gui Bo Hyul-tang 200mg/kg. The administered Dang Gui Bo Hyul-tang 200mg/kg or distilled water (orally) 1 hr prior to daily exposure to repeated restraint stress (2 h) for 15 days. The performed behavior test (Mechanical hyperalgesia test,, Open-field test, Forced swimming test, Sucrose preference test and immunostaining and biochemical measured in serum. Results : Stress fatigue induced mices significantly increased lethargic, hyperalgesia through behavior test (Mechanical hyperalgesia test (decrease 43%), Open-field test ($4,809{\pm} 226.13cm$ vs. $3121{\pm}226.64cm$), Forced swimming test ($11.45{\pm}3.96$ vs. $79.10{\pm}8.12sec$), Sucrose preference test (decrease 58%)). In addition, chronic fatigue model evidently increased corticosterone level ($122.54{\pm}18.88$ vs. $186.94{\pm}18.26ng/ml$), AST level ($46.22{\pm}3.23$ vs. $31.40{\pm}3.86U/L$), ALT level ($38.78{\pm}5.72$ vs. $17.60{\pm}1.30$), liver necrosis, lateral ventricle size. These alterations were significantly ameliorated by DGBHT. DGBHT significantly attend the elevated serum concentrations of corticosterone ($155.90{\pm}6.29ng/ml$), AST ($31.40{\pm}3.86U/L$), ALT ($17.60{\pm}1.30U/L$). Moreover, DGBHT improved lethargic, hyperalgesia when compared the stress fatigue (Mechanical hyperalgesia test (improve 28%), Open-field test ($4,038{\pm}615.81cm$), Forced swimming test ($7.56{\pm}1.88sec$), Sucrose preference test (increase 21%) Conclusions : Theses result suggest that DGBHT have improved lethargic, hyperalgesia and fatigue-associated hormone and liver protective on stress fatigue model. It will be necessary to research to present evidences on benefits and effects of Korean medical treatment for Mibyeong through clinical researches based on benefits and effects of those animal models.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2015

Objectives: The stomach is a sensitive digestive organ that is susceptible to exogenous pathogens from the diet. In response to such pathogens, the stomach induces oxidative stress, which might be related to the development of both gastric organic disorders such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer, and functional disorders such as functional dyspepsia. This study was accomplished to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum pharmacopuncture (GLP) on chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Methods: The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: the normal, the control, the normal saline (NP) and the GLP groups. In this study, the modified ethanol gastritis model was used. The rats were administrated 56% ethanol orally every other day. The dose of ethanol was 8 g/kg body weight. The normal group received the same amount of normal saline instead of ethanol. The NP and the GLP groups were treated with injection of saline and GLP respectively. The control group received no treatment. Two local acupoints CV12 (中脘) and ST36 (足三里) were used. All laboratory rats underwent treatment for 15 days. On last day, the rats were sacrificed and their stomachs were immediately excised. Results: Ulcers of the gastric mucosa appeared as elongated bands of hemorrhagic lesions parallel to the long axis of the stomach. In the NP and GLP groups, the injuries to the gastric mucosal injuries were not as severe as they were in the control group. Wound healings of the chronic gastric ulcers was promoted by using GLP and significant alterations of the indices in the gastric mucosa were observed. Such protection was demonstrated by gross appearance, histology and immunehistochemistry staining for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}1$). Conclusion: These results suggest that GLP at CV12 and ST36 can provide significant protection to the gastric mucosa against an ethanol induced chronic gastric ulcer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2008

Oxidative stress may represent a common link between chronic liver damage and hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated activity changes of sphingomyelin catabolic enzymes, such as sphingomyelinases and ceramidases by using dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-treated Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats hepatic fibrosis model as a hepatic fibrosis model. Twenty rats divided into five groups received: (1) saline; (2) DMN for 1 week, (3) DMN for 2 weeks, (4) DMN for 3 weeks, and (5) DMN for 4 weeks by intraperitoneally 10 mg/kg of body weight for three consecutive days a week. Activities of acidic and neutral sphingomyelinases and acidic, neutral and alkaline ceramidases were measured in the liver and kidney from DMN-treated rats. We found increased ceramidase activities from 2-week and/or 3-week DMN treated rat livers compared to control rat liver. Acidic sphingomyelinase and alkaline ceramidase activities were significantly increased in 3-week DMN-treated rat kidneys compared to control rat kidney. Therefore, sphingolipid metabolizing enzymes and sphingolipid metabolites are supposed to be involved in liver fibrosis, although further investigation is necessary to elucidate meanings of sphingolipids during the liver fibrosis

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.830-843
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• 2006

Clinical evidence suggests that Nelumbinis Semen extracts have antidepressive properties and may offer an interesting alternative for the treatment of mood disorders. It was the aim of the present study to compare the effects of Nelumbinis Semen extracts with those of fluoxetine and hypericum perforatum extract in the rat forced swimming test (FST) and chronic mild stress (CMS), a model of depression. In the FST, p.o. administration of Nelumbinis Semen extracts (1 mg) induced a statistically significant reduction of immobility. The active behaviors in that test did not reflect decreased general activity because Nelumbinis Semen extracts failed to alter the locomotor activity of rats, measured in the open field test. Moreover Nelumbinis Semen extracts was superior to fluoxetine and hypericum perforatum extract in the incidence of sexual side-effects. These effects of Nelumbinis Semen extracts on the rat behavior is to be ascribed to increased Cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide Vla-liver, Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 , Adenylosuccinate synthetase, and Aldehyde dehydrogenase in rat hippocampus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.423-429
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• 2022

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to decreased dopamine levels in the midbrain. Although the specific etiology of PD is not yet known, oxidative stress, inflammation, and subsequent apoptosis have been proposed to be closely related to PD pathophysiology. Cera Flava (CF) is a natural extract obtained from beehives and is isolated through the heating, compression, filtration, and purification of beehives. CF has been used in traditional medicines for its various clinical and pharmacological effects. However, its effects on neurodegenerative diseases are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CF against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD in mice and explored the underlying mechanism of action. In MPTP-induced PC12 cells, CF protected NADH dehydrogenase activity and inhibited lactate dehydrogenase. In the mouse model, CF promoted recovery from movement impairments, prevented dopamine depletion, and protected against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal degradation. Moreover, CF downregulated glial and microglial activation. Taken together, our results suggest that CF improves behavioral impairments and protects against dopamine depletion in MPTP-induced toxicity by inhibiting glial and microglial activation.