• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.525-538
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• 2018

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extermination, hyperarousal, and anxiety that may involve the release of monoamines in the fear circuit. The reported pharmacological properties of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, and neuropsychiatric activities. However, the anxiolytic-like effects of TMP and its mechanism of action in PTSD are unclear. This study measured several anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of TMP on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure by reversing the serotonin (5-HT) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Rats were given TMP (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days after SPS exposure. Administration of TMP significantly reduced grooming behavior, increased the time spent and number of visits to the open arm in the elevated plus maze test, and significantly increased the number of central zone crossings in the open field test. TMP administration significantly reduced the freezing response to contextual fear conditioning and significantly restored the neurochemical abnormalities and the SPS-induced decrease in 5-HT tissue levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The increased 5-HT concentration during TMP treatment might be partially attribute to the tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid mRNA level expression in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These findings support a role for reducing the altered serotonergic transmission in rats with PTSD. TMP simultaneously attenuated the HPA axis dysfunction. Therefore, TMP may be useful for developing an agent for treating psychiatric disorders, such those observed in patients with PTSD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.644-654
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• 2020

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder induced by traumatic stress and often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety, may involve an imbalance in the neurotransmitters associated with the fear response. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used as a traditional medicine and is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We used the open field test and forced swimming test to examine the effects of KRG on the depression-like response of rats after exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), leading to activation of the serotonergic system. Methods: Male rats received KRG (30, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. Results: Daily KRG administration significantly improved depression-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, increased the number of lines crossed and time spent in the central zone in the open field test, and decreased freezing behavior in contextual and cued fear conditioning. KRG treatment attenuated SPS-induced decreases in serotonin (5-HT) tissue concentrations in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. The increased 5-HT concentration during KRG treatment may be partially attributable to the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT ratio in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These effects may be caused by the activation of hippocampal genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylase-1 and 2 mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRG has an antidepressant effect in rats subjected to SPS and may represent an effective use of traditional medicine for the treatment of PTSD.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2007

Ginsenoside Rgl (Rgl), the pharmacologically active constituent of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has a variety of biological activities. The present study was undertaken to evaluate a possibility of Rgl whether it can be used in treatment or prevention of stress disorders. Animals were stressed by immobilization for 2 hours or electroshocks for 20 minutes. The normal group was not exposed to any stress. Rgl was subcutaneously injected as dosages of 5 and 10 mg/kg and red ginseng (RG) was orally administered 200 mg/kg as the positive control. Animals were given supplements for 5 days without stress, and then were given supplements for 5 days with stress. We recorded stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals using the Etho-vision system. Weight of adrenal gland and levels of corticosterone in plasma were measured and stress related behaviors (smelling, grooming, face washing, rearing) were observed. Rgl didn't make significant behavioral changes in total open field and elevated plus maze test. Rgl did not influence on behavioral changes induced by electroshock stress. Whereas, 10 mg/kg of Rgl alleviated the increment of the freezing and face washing time and the decrement of the smelling and rearing time induced by restraint stress. The administration of Rgl 10 mg/kg has significantly increased the endurance time on rotating rod and swimming pool tests compared to the control group. These results indicate that Rgl can alleviate the damage induced by physical stress. This result suggests that Rgl may bea new candidate for treating stress related disorder.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2020

Objectives : Increasing evidence supports the biological and pharmacological activities of essential oils on the central nervous system such as pain, anxiety, attention, arousal, relaxation, sedation and learning and memory. The purpose of present work is to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of cypress essential oil (CEO) against scopolamine (SCO)-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice. Methods : A series of behavior tests such as Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and fear conditioning tests were conducted to monitor learning and memory functions. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were also performed in the hippocampal tissue to determine the underlying mechanism of CEO. Results : SCO induced cognitive impairments as assessed by decreased step-through latency in passive avoidance test, relatively low freezing time in fear conditioning test, and increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test. Conversely, CEO inhalation significantly reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice comparable to control levels. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of memory enhancing effect of CEO we have examined the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. CEO effectively elevated the protein as well as mRNA expression of BDNF via activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CEO inhalation effectively restored the SCO-impaired cognitive functions in C56BL/6 mice. This learning and memory enhancing effect of CEO was partly mediated by up-regulation of BDNF via activation of CREB.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

In cold regions, the integrity of the infrastructures built on weak soils can be extensively damaged by weathering actions due to the cyclic freezing and thawing. This damage can be mitigated by exploiting soil stabilization techniques. Generally, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is the most commonly used binding material for investigating the chemo-hydromechanical behavior. However, due to the environmental issue of OPC producing a significant amount of carbon dioxide emission, calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement can be used as one of the eco-sustainable alternatives. Although recently several studies have examined the strength development of CSA treated sand, no research has been concerned about CSA cement-stabilized sand affected by cyclic freeze and thaw. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive laboratory work to assess the effect of the cyclic freeze-thaw action on strength and durability of CSA cement-treated sand. For this purpose, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests were performed on the stabilized soil specimens cured for 7 and 14 days which are subjected to 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 freeze-thaw cycles. The test results show that the strength and durability index of the samples decrease with the increase of the freeze-thaw cycles. The loss of the strength and durability considerably decreases for all soil samples subjected to the freeze-thaw cycles. Overall, the use of CSA as a stabilizer for sandy soils would be an eco-friendly option to achieve sufficient strength and durability against the freeze-thaw action in cold regions.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

In this study, porous Mo-5 wt% Cu with unidirectionally aligned pores is prepared by freeze drying of camphene slurry with $MoO_3-CuO$ powders. Unidirectional freezing of camphene slurry with dispersion stability is conducted at $-25^{\circ}C$, and pores in the frozen specimens are generated by sublimation of the camphene crystals. The green bodies are hydrogen-reduced at $750^{\circ}C$ and sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that $MoO_3-CuO$ composite powders are completely converted to a Mo-and-Cu phase without any reaction phases by hydrogen reduction. The sintered bodies with the Mo-Cu phase show large and aligned parallel pores to the camphene growth direction as well as small pores in the internal walls of large pores. The pore size and porosity decrease with increasing composite powder content from 5 to 10 vol%. The change of pore characteristics is explained by the degree of powder rearrangement in slurry and the accumulation behavior of powders in the interdendritic spaces of solidified camphene.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2019

In this study, freeze drying of a porous Ni with unidirectionally aligned pore channels is accomplished by using a NiO powder and camphene. Camphene slurries with NiO content of 5 and 10 vol% are prepared by mixing them with a small amount of dispersant at $50^{\circ}C$. Freezing of a slurry is performed at $-25^{\circ}C$ while the growth direction of the camphene is unidirectionally controlled. Pores are generated subsequently by sublimation of the camphene during drying in air for 48 h. The green bodies are hydrogen-reduced at $400^{\circ}C$ and then sintered at $800^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the NiO powder is completely converted to the Ni phase without any reaction phases. The sintered samples show large pores that align parallel pores in the camphene growth direction as well as small pores in the internal walls of large pores. The size of large and small pores decreases with increasing powder content from 5 to 10 vol%. The influence of powder content on the pore structure is explained by the degree of powder rearrangement in slurry and the accumulation behavior of powders in the interdendritic spaces of solidified camphene.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.331-335
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• 2021

The effects of drying temperature on the microstructure of porous W fabricated by the freeze-casting process of tert-butyl alcohol slurry with WO₃ powder was investigated. Green bodies were hydrogen-reduced at 800℃ for 1 h and sintered at 1000℃ for 6 h. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that WO₃ powders were completely converted to W without any reaction phases by hydrogen reduction. The sintered body showed pores aligned in the direction of tert-butyl alcohol growth, and the porosity and pore size decreased as the amount of WO₃ increased from 5 to 10vol%. As the drying temperature of the frozen body increased from -25℃ to -10℃, the pore size and thickness of the struts increased. The change in microstructural characteristics based on the amount of powder added and the drying temperature was explained by the growth behavior of the freezing agent and the degree of rearrangement of the solid powder during the solidification of the slurry.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.31-40
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• 2022

Recently, the Arctic resource development project, where undeveloped energy resources (oil, natural gas, etc.) are deposited, is actively being promoted for the perspective of diversifying the construction market and developing future energy resources. However, the frozen ground always has problems such as sinking and frost-heaving due to extreme weather. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the thermal characteristics of the frozen soil to secure the stability of the ground structure. In this study, a series of laboratory tests were performed to evaluated the thermal characteristics of frozen soil samples in the oil sand field in Alberta, Canada. In additon, it was compared with the results of domestic(Gangwond-do) sample performed under the same conditions. As a comparison results of the experiments, it was clarified that the different frozen water content and thermal conductivity characteristics by temperature after completion of freezing could affect the frozen soil behavior.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 1999

The present study was performed to improve the reproductive disturbance as well as the elimination of microbiological contamination for animals bred under conventional conditions followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer techniques including embryo and sperm freezing, using a mouse strain(M. m. molossinus-tt＠Kist) showing the abnormal behavior disorder derived from Korean wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus). Moreover, hematological and serum biochemical analyses were also carried out to obtain the basic data of this mouse strain The results are summarized as follows: 1. In comparison with hematological data, the numbers of RBC and platelet of this mouse strain were appeared as the higher value those that of the same aged inbred strains such as BALB/c, DBA/2, C57BL/6 and C3H /Hen. However, no differences were found in values of WBC, Hb and Ht. Moreover, total cholesterol of this strain showed a low value but triglyceride, total protein and albumin values were similar as in inbred strains. 2. The average numbers of superovulated oocytes treated with 2.5/2.5 IU and 5.0/5.0 IU of PMSG/hCG were 11.6 and 12.7, respectively. The fertilization rates of 2.5/2.5 IU PMSG /hCG treatment(87.9%) was higher than 5.0/5.0 IU treatment(52.0%) (p＜0.05) and the developmental rate of 2 cell stage embryos were 외 so appeared as higher value 99.0% and 90.6%, respectively. 3. The rates of in vitro fertilization treated with frozen sperm(24.8%) was significantly lower than of that fresh sperm(87.9%), (p＜0.05). 4. The five, six and ten heads of offspring were obtained from frozen-thawed 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilized, 2 cell embryos from in vitro fertilized by frozen-thawed spermatozoa. and 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilization, respectively. These offspring developed the expected disease about 2 weeks after birth, which was confirmed that the disease character of this mutant mouse strain was reliably reproduced. 5. MHV(Mouse hepatitis virus) and Staphylococcus aureus were successfully eliminated from conventional animals by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and the use of SPF recipient animals.