• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule (mol. wt. 30 Da) and oxidative free radical. It is uncharged and can therefore diffuse freely within and between cells across membrane. Such characteristics make it a biologically important messenger in physiologic processes such as neurotransmission and the control of vascular tone. NO is also highly toxic and is known to acts as a mediator of cytotoxicity during host defense. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway which is a dioxygenation process. NO synthesis involves several participants, three co-substrates, five electrons, five co-factors and two prosthetic groups. Under normal condition, low levels of NO are synthesized by type I and III NOS for a short period of time and mediates many physiologic processes. Under condition of oxidant stress, high levels of NO are synthesized by type II NOS and inhibits a variety of metabolic processes and can also cause direct damage to DNA. Such interaction result in cytostasis, energy depletion and ultimately cell death. NO has the potential to interact with a variety of intercellular targets producing diverse array of metabolic effects. It is known that NO is involved in hemodynamic regulation, neurogenic inflammation, re-innervation, management of dentin hypersensitivity on teeth. Under basal condition of pulpal blood flow, NO provides constant vasodilator tone acting against sympathetic vasoconstriction. Substance P, a well known vasodilator, was reported to be mediated partly by NO, while calcitonin-gene related peptide has provided no evidence of its relation with NO. This review describes the roles of NO in dental pulp in addition to the known general roles of it.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.7-19
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• 2007

The purpose of posted speeds is to provide a speed that ensures the safety of vehicle flow according to given road situations. Because of this, posted speeds must be carefully examined, and posted speeds at freeway exits and entrances in particular should consider car characteristics. Posted speeds at freeway exits and entrances must take changing speeds due to curve radiuses into consideration and in this study, an 85th percentile speed becomes the most important element to consider. When it is considered that most traffic accidents occur because of variations in speed between cars, posted speeds should be set after considering car traveling characteristics. Within these dimensions, instead of putting significance on an upper direction regulation or lower direction regulation, speed distributions which fit to the characteristics of each road should be fully considered. Accordingly, this study evaluated appropriate posted speeds that will reduce the dangers of traffic accidents through posted speed regulations of roads now in operation by offering a posted speed setting method theory, using entries at Yangji, Yongin, and Cheongwon interchanges as subjects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1000-1010
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the comparison of immunomodualtory effects of water-extracted Aconiti lateralis Preparata Radix(PR), Zingiberis Rhizoma(ZR), Cinnamomi Cortex(CC) and Evodiae Fructus(EF). The parameter examined to assess apparent immunomodulatory effect of the water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF included the regulation of Nitric oxide (NO). Also, ZR and EF represent the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine, the change of B cell phenotype. The water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression, the water-extracted ZR and EF induced IL-2, IFNr and IL-10 mRNA gene expression. Therefore, it seems that the water-extracted ZR and EF have a inducing effect of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines. In the Flow cytometry analysis, the water-extracted ZR and EF changed B cell phenotype (CD45R/B220), did NOT in PR and CC. The water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF have a reducing effect of immune suppression cause by Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of the water-extracted ZR and EF may be, in part, associated with the inducing IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression In and regulation of NO production in macrophage cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2012

Although the immense efforts have been made for cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, cancer morbidity and mortality has not been decreased during last forty years. Especially, lung cancer is top-ranked in cancer-associated human death. Therefore, effective strategy is strongly required for the management of lung cancer. In the present study, we found that novel daphnane diterpenoids, yuanhualine (YL), yuanhuahine (YH) and yuanhuagine (YG) isolated from the flower of Daphne genkwa (Thymelaeaceae), exhibited potent anti-proliferative activities against human lung A549 cells with the $IC_{50}$ values of 7.0, 15.2 and 24.7 nM, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the daphnane diterpenoids induced cell-cycle arrest in the G0/G1 as well as G2/M phase in A549 cells. The cell-cycle arrests were well correlated with the expression of checkpoint proteins including the up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and p53 and down-regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin E, cyclin dependent kinase 4, cdc2, phosphorylation of Rb and cMyc expression. In the analysis of signal transduction molecules, the daphnane diterpenoids suppressed the activation of Akt, STAT3 and Src in human lung cancer cells. The daphnane diterpenoids also exerted the potent anti-proliferative activity against anticancer-drug resistant cancer cells including gemcitabine-resistant A549, gefitinib-, erlotinib-resistant H292 cells. Synergistic effects in the growth inhibition were also observed when yuanhualine was combined with gemcitabine, gefitinib or erlotinib in A549 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that the novel daphnane diterpenoids might provide lead candidates for the development of therapeutic agents for human lung cancers.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.531-536
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• 2007

The aerial part of Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura has traditionally been used for inflammation, infectious disease, cancer, pyretic, diuretic, liver protective effect, and choleretic purposes in Korea. We investigated that the essential oil induces apoptosis in KB cell as evidenced by Hoechst-33258 dye staining, flow cytometry (cell cycles), and DNA fragmentation for nuclear condensation and Western blotting for activation of caspases-3, -8, -9, Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. In the present study, we found that the essential oil could induce apoptosis in KB cells, as characterized by DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, and PARP cleavage. The efficacious induction of apoptosis was observed as a dose-dependent. The essential oil-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2. The essential oil also caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol. These findings indicate that mitochondrial pathways might be involved in the essential oil-induced apoptosis and enhance our understanding of the anticancer function of the essential oil in herbal medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.401-411
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• 2015

Aldose reductase (AR) is known to play a crucial role in the mediation of diabetic and cardiovascular complications. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that allergen-induced airway remodeling and ovalbumin-induced asthma is mediated by AR. Epalrestat is an aldose reductase inhibitor that is currently available for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Whether AR is involved in pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and whether epalrestat attenuates pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) in rats. Primary pulmonary fibroblasts were cultured to investigate the proliferation by BrdU incorporation method and flow cytometry. The expression of AR, TGF-${\beta}_1$, ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I was analyzed by immunohistochemisty, real-time PCR or western blot. In vivo, epalrestat treatment significantly ameliorated the bleomycin-mediated histological fibrosis alterations and blocked collagen deposition concomitantly with reversing bleomycin-induced expression up-regulation of TGF-${\beta}_1$, AR, ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I (both mRNA and protein). In vitro, epalrestat remarkably attenuated proliferation of pulmonary fibroblasts and expression of ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I induced by TGF-${\beta}_1$, and this inhibitory effect of epalrestat was accompanied by inhibiting AR expression. Knockdown of AR gene expression reversed TGF-${\beta}_1$-induced proliferation of fibroblasts, up-regulation of ${\alpha}$-SMA and collagen I expression. These findings suggest that AR plays an important role in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and epalrestat inhibited the progression of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is mediated via inhibiting of AR expression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.96-105
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• 1995

The better industry develops, the more spaces need but in the limited area. Most building become larger and more complicated if the more spaces need in the constant area. And this leads to do underground work in long period generally six(6) months for 6 basement stories due to the selection of TOP DOWN technique. Working environment in this underground area can be problems and should not be overlooked, because air quality in underground spaces become quickly worse. Recently, department name to control construction safety has been changed to ENVIRONMENT & SAFETY TEAM from SAFETY TEAM. This means that it is very important to control against environmental condition at site so much. Overall construction work as well as underground work should conform to the requirement of working environment, particularly against inhabitants around the construction area. Strut protection, one of earth protection method, in case to 40m long strut may become weaker due to thermal stress or its longitudinally compressive strain and the another one, earth anchor protection may not be applied to the site In case of encroaching on vertical underground borderline because of regulation to prohibit it. It is necessary that TOP DOWN technique should be introduced in order to solve the external and internal problem of the site such as difficulty level of the work, potential danger with excavating depth, and shortening workperiod. It is needed that improving way of working condition should be shown and simplified computer simulation program should be also provided for checking pollution level & ventilation, excluding of lighting problem here. Results measured with conformance to the Regulation for Working Environment Measurement, enforced by Ministry of Labor have been applied to the computer program developed here. Sample air taken at unit workplace which was considered as exposing condition of pollutant at breathing point and within a range of behavior of the workers, Identified exposing group in underground work, using Moded Flow Life Finally, three types of ventilation system, type I with blower & ventilator, type II natural supply with mechanical ventilation system, and type I mechanical ventilation with Drivent Fan Unit System are selected for this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effects of ethanol extract of Polygalae radix (EEPR) against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide, $H_2O_2$)-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in Chang liver cells. Methods: Chang liver cells were pretreated with various concentrations of EEPR and then challenged with 0.5 mM $H_2O_2$. The cell viability and apoptosis were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs) and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) contents were measured. Expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were also determined using Western blot analysis. Results: The results showed that the decreased survival rate induced by $H_2O_2$ could be attributed to the induction of DNA damage and apoptosis accompanied by the increased production of ROS, which was remarkably protected by EEPR. In addition, the loss of $H_2O_2$-induced MMPs and ATP contents was significantly attenuated in the presence of EEPR. The inhibitory effect of EEPR on $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis was associated with up-regulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax, thus reducing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Conclusions: Our data prove that EEPR protects Chang liver cells against $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage and apoptosis by scavenging ROS and thus suppressing the mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1885-1895
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• 2020

Rumex japonicus Houtt (RJH) is a valuable plant used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases, such as scabies and jaundice. In this study, Jurkat cell growth inhibitory extracts of R. japonicus roots were subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation, resulting in the isolation of three naphthalene derivatives (3-5) along with one anthraquinone (6) and two phenolic compounds (1 and 2). Among these compounds, 2-methoxystypandrone (5) exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects on Jurkat cells. Analysis by flow cytometry confirmed that 2-methoxystypandrone (5) could significantly reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and promote increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting a strong mitochondrial depolarization effect. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis was also performed, and the results revealed that the accumulation of ROS was caused by reduced mRNA expression levels of heme oxygenase (HO-1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, 2-methoxystypandrone (5) triggered strong apoptosis that was mediated by the arrest of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, 2-methoxystypandrone (5) downregulated p-IκB-α, p-NF-κB p65, Bcl2, and Bcl-xl and upregulated BAX proteins. Taken together, these findings revealed that 2-methoxystypandrone (5) isolated from RJH could potentially serve as an early lead compound for leukemia treatment involving intracellular signaling by increasing mitochondrial ROS and exerting anti-proliferative effects.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2022

In-situ pilot experiment was carried out to establish a countermeasure on the soil loss from the hill side uplands that was rehabilitated by soil remediation method nearby abandoned mine sites for 2 years. It was considered that the affect of an inclination of cover surface, a stabilization treatment of cover layer by lime and steel refining slag (SRS) and a vegetation of soil surface as an effect factors in the experiment. It was constructed 4 lysimeters (plots, 22 m long, 4 m width) on the hilly side (37% inclination). One plot was control and two plots was treated by 1% lime and SRS. A remind one plot was modified a inclination to 27% to compare the affect of inclination on the amount of cover soil loss. It was attached a reservior tank and water level gauge in the end of lysimeters to measure the amount of the surface water flow and soil loss. It was also installed the automated sensors that could be collect the precipitation, soil moisture content, tension of cover layer in each plots. It was observed that the event of precipitation were caused the soil loss and it were related the physical and chemical properties of cover soil and inclination of surface layer of plots. During the experiment, it was exceeded the national regulation (50 t/ha/yr) in 37% inclination plots even though it was vegetated on the cover soil surface. However, in 27% inclination plot, it was shown that the amount of soil loss was maintained below the national regulation and, more ever, vegetation could reduce the the amount of soil loss. Therefore it was expected that such results could be applied to the future design of rehabilitation projects on the polluted farmland nearby abandoned mine sites.