• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

Objectives : Neuroinflammation is characterized by microglial activation and the expression of major inflammatory mediators. The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 ($GRg_1$), a principle active ingredient in Panax ginseng, on pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in the mouse brain tissue. Methods : Varying doses of $GRg_1$ was orally administered (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) 1 h before the LPS injection (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain tissue was measured using the quantitative real-time PCR method at 4 h after the LPS injection, Microglial activation was evaluated using western blotting and immunohistochemistry against ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) in the brain tissue. Cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) expressions also observed using western blotting and immunohistochemistry at 4 h after the LPS injection, In addition, double-immunofluorescent labeling of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and COX-2 with microglia and neurons was processed in the brain tissue. Results : $GRg_1$ (30 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the upregulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 mRNA in the brain tissue at 4 h after LPS injection. Morphological activation and Iba1 protein expression of microglia induced by systemic LPS injection were reduced by the $GRg_1$ (30 mg/kg) treatment. Upregulation of COX-2 protein expression in the brain tissue was also attenuated by the $GRg_1$ (30 mg/kg) treatment. Conclusion : The results suggest that $GRg_1$ is effective in the early stage of neuroinflammation which causes neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2004

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the possible involvement of the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and inferior vestibular nucleus (IVN) following acute hypotension in the vestibuloautonomic reflex through vestibulosolitary or vestibuloventrolateral projections. Acute hypotension-induced cFos expression was assessed in combination with retrograde cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) tract tracing. After injection of CTb into the solitary region, CTb-labeled neurons were located prominently around the lateral borders of the caudal MVN and medial border of the IVN. The superior vestibular nucleus also had a scattered distribution of CTb-labeled neurons. After injection of CTb toxin into the unilateral VLM, the distributions of CTb-labeled neurons in the MVN and IVN were similar to that observed after injection into the solitary region, although there were fewer CTb-labeled neurons. In the caudal MVN, about 38% and 13% of CTb-labeled neurons were double-labeled for cFos after injection of CTb into the solitary region and the VLM, respectively. In the IVN, 14% and 7% of CTb-labeled neurons were double-labeled for cFos after injection of CTb into the solitary region and the VLM, respectively. Therefore, the present study suggests that acute arterial hypotension may result in activation of vestibulosolitary pathways that mediate behavioral and visceral reflexes, and vestibuloventrolateral medullary pathways that indirectly mediate vestibulosympathetic responses.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.643-648
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• 2013

Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from rice husks using the chemical activation method with KOH, NaOH, a combination of (NaOH + $Na_2CO_3$), and a combination of (KOH + $K_2CO_3$) as the chemical activating reagents. The activated carbon with the highest surface area (around $2000m^2/g$) and high porosity, which allows the absorption of a large number of ions, was applied as electrode material in electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs). The AC for EDLC electrodes is required to have a high surface area and an optimal pore size distribution; these are important to attain high specific capacitance of the EDLC electrodes. The electrodes were fabricated by compounding the rice husk activated carbons with super-P and mixed with polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) at a weight ratio of 83:10:7. AC electrodes and nickel foams were assembled with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution as the electrolyte. Electrochemical measurements were carried out with a three electrode cell using 6 M KOH as electrolyte and Hg/HgO as the reference electrode. The specific capacitance strongly depends on the pore structure; the highest specific capacitance was 179 F/g, obtained for the AC with the highest specific surface area. Additionally, different activation times, levels of heating, and chemical reagents were used to compare and determine the optimal parameters for obtaining high surface area of the activated carbon.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2022

Background: Although various conventional approaches have been employed to reduce spasticity in neurological rehabilitation, only a few studies have shown scientific evidence for its effectiveness. Thus, we introduced a different concept (Ueda method) of rehabilitation therapy that can complement the limitations of conventional therapy. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the application of the Ueda method on patients with spasticity after stroke via an electrophysiological study. Methods: We conducted a randomized double-blind pilot study in two rehabilitation hospitals involving 30 stroke patients who were randomly allocated to the Ueda (n = 15) and convention (n = 15) groups. Electromyographic data of six examined muscles in both upper extremities of all patients were recorded. The A-ApA index and activation ratios of upper extremity muscles were evaluated and compared between the groups to confirm post-intervention changes in upper-extremity flexor spasticity and flexion synergies. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to confirm the therapeutic effect (2 × 2) as a function of group (Ueda vs. convention) and time (pre-/post-intervention) on all outcome measures (p < 0.05). Results: In the Ueda group, the mean A-ApA index values differed significantly before and after the intervention (p = 0.041), indicating a weak evidence level; however, the effect size was medium (d = -0.503). The interaction effects of the A-ApA index between the Ueda and convention groups and between pre-intervention and post-intervention stages were significant (p = 0.012). The effect size was large (n_p² = 0.220). In the Ueda group, the activation ratios of the anterior deltoid fiber significantly decreased after the intervention in all reaching tasks. Conclusion: The Ueda method reduces upper-extremity flexor spasticity and changes its synergy in stroke patients and should be considered a rehabilitation therapy for spastic stroke patients.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.814-821
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• 1999

The specific capacitance characteristics of the electric double layer capacitors(ELDC) which were made of phenol based activated carbon fiber(ACF) electrodes. Also the effect of aqueous electrolytes on the cell performance has been investigated with respect to different specific surface areas of electrodes and different kinds of aqueous electrolytes. It has been shown that larger surface area and pore size, higher conductivity of electrodes, and higher ion mobility of electrolytes have better specific capacitances. It has been found that heat treatment at $1200^{\circ}C$ and $CO_2$ post-activation at $900^{\circ}C$ of the electrode are effective to improve the specific capacitance over 145F/g and 165F/g, respectively. The EDLC showed high efficiency and long cycle life over 30000 cycles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.192-198
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• 2017

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) is used as an electrode material for electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs), and is being consistently researched to improve its electrochemical performance. However, CNF still faces important challenges due to the low mesopore volume, leading to a poor high-rate performance. In the present study, we prepared the unique architecture of the activated mesoporous CNF with a high specific surface area and high mesopore volume, which were successfully synthesized using PMMA as a pore-forming agent and the KOH activation. The activated mesoporous CNF was found to exhibit the high specific surface area of $703m^2g^{-1}$, total pore volume of $0.51cm^3g^{-1}$, average pore diameter of 2.9 nm, and high mesopore volume of 35.2 %. The activated mesoporous CNF also indicated the high specific capacitance of $143F\;g^{-1}$, high-rate performance, high energy density of $17.9-13.0W\;h\;kg^{-1}$, and excellent cycling stability. Therefore, this unique architecture with a high specific surface area and high mesopore volume provides profitable synergistic effects in terms of the increased electrical double-layer area and favorable ion diffusion at a high current density. Consequently, the activated mesoporous CNF is a promising candidate as an electrode material for high-performance EDLCs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.253-257
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• 2004

Schwann cells play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration. Upon neuronal injury, activated Schwann cells clean up the myelin debris by phagocytosis, and promote neuronal survival and axon outgrowth by secreting various neurotrophic factors. However, it is unclear how the nerve injury induces Schwann cell activation. Recently, it was reported that certain cytoplasmic molecules, which are secreted by cells undergoing necrotic cell death, induce immune cell activation via the toll-like receptors (TLRs). This suggests that the TLRs expressed on Schwann cells may recognize nerve damage by binding to the endogenous ligands secreted by the damaged nerve, thereby inducing Schwann cell activation. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to examine the expression and the function of the TLRs on primary Schwann cells and iSC, a rat Schwann cell line. The transcripts of TLR2, 3, 4, and 9 were detected on the primary Schwann cells as well as on iSC. The stimulation of iSC with poly (I : C), a synthetic ligand for the TLR3, induced the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and RANTES. In addition, poly (I : C) stimulation induced the iNOS expression and nitric oxide secretion in iSC. These results suggest that the TLRs may be involved in the inflammatory activation of Schwann cells, which is observed during Wallerian degeneration after a peripheral nerve injury.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.840-844
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• 2006

For the exploration of pharmacophoric moiety of malloapelta B (1) possessing the inhibitory activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, structural variation of ${\alpha},{\beta}-unsaturated$ carbonyl motif was attempted. 1 was reduced by catalytic hydrogenation, sodium borohydride, and lithium aluminumhydride. Catalytic hydrogenation with 30 psi or 15 psi of $H_2$ gas of 1 generated 8-butyl-5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman (2) and 1-(5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-8-yl)butan-1-one (3), respectively. Reduction with sodium borohydride occurred at the double bond of ${\alpha},{\beta}-unsaturated$ ketone of 1 to give 1-(5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-8-yl)butan-1-one (4). Reduction of 1 with lithium aluminumhydride and then quenched with methanol and water produced unexpected products, 1-(5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-8-yl)-3-methoxy-1-butene (5) and 1-(5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-8-yl)-3-hydroxy-1-butene (6). These are formed from the isomerization of initial product 9 through the continuous conjugate carbocation intermediate 11. Addition of ethylmagnesium bromide and dimethyl malonate anion to 1 gave the conjugate adducts 7 and 8. Ethylmagesium bromide and sodium borohydride reduction unusually gave the conjugate addition due to steric congestion around carbonyl group of 1. Compound 2 exhibits the reduced inhibitory activity against $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and the others do not show the activity. Therefore ${\alpha},{\beta}-unsaturated$ carbonyl group of 1 should be important for its inhibitory activity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1978.09a
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• pp.85-92
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• 1978

The aim of the double blind test was to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of the preparation GINSANA, containing the standardized ginseng extract PHARMATON G115,. The determination was carried out with special emphasis on the following features : general physical condition, physical performance, mental performance, enjoyment of life/mood, concentration and memory, as well as sleeping habits. Sixty test persons took part in the study, men and women between the ages of 22 and 80. The 90-day test was carried out in the form of a double blind experiment. Experimental measurements were made and the persons were also questioned. The reaction time, the optical merging threshold, the coordination of both hands and the recovery quotients, as well as the recovery rates were analyzed. The results for the serum group were clearly better than those for the placebo group, particularly for the characteristics: general physical condition, physical performance and sleeping habits. The results of the test methods used, especially with regard to the reaction time, the coordination of both hands, the recovery quotient and the recovery period, permit the following conclusion to be drawn: when administered for several weeks, GINSANA has a positive action, in the sense of an activation of the entire personality by the ginseng glycosides contained in the standardized Extracts G115.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 1990

This study was performed by experiments with ASTM's apparatus for determination of autoignition temperature to obtain autoignition characteristics of 1-Heptene, 2-Heptene and 3-Heptene, respectively. As results, minimum autoignition temperatures (MAIT) of 1-Heptene, 2-Heptene and 3-Heptene were 246$^{\circ}C$, 248$^{\circ}C$ and 254$^{\circ}C$, respectively and each dropping volume of these temperatures was 0.25$m\ell$, 0.20$m\ell$ and 0.20$m\ell$. Instantaneous ignition temperatures measured at each dropping volume of Heptene were 371$^{\circ}C$, 357$^{\circ}C$ and 342$^{\circ}C$, respectively. Relation ignition delay time with ignition temperature at minimum autoignition temperature agreed well with Semenov's equation, and the values of apparent activation energy from this equation were 47Kca1/mo1 for 1-Heptene, 35Kca1/mo1 for 2-Heptene and 29Kca1/mo1 for 3-Heptene. It was found that the values of apparent activation energy decreased as the position of double bond changed from end to center in C-C chain.