• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2567-2573
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• 2012

We successfully synthesized $Fe_3O_4@SiO_2$ nanoparticles with ultrathin silica layer of $1.0{\pm}0.5$ nm that polyethyleneimine (PEI) with low molecular weight of 2.0-4.0 kDa was covalently conjugated with the resulting $Fe_3O_4@SiO_2$ nanoparticles by silane coupling reaction. The PEI-$Fe_3O_4@SiO_2$ nanoparticles were further used as gene delivery vector for a human fibroblast cell (IMR-90) line. Gene transfection efficiency of the PEI-$Fe_3O_4@SiO_2$ complexes did not increase remarkably after magnetofection; however, the addition of Lipofectamine 2000 significantly increased the transfection efficiency of the PEI-$Fe_3O_4@SiO_2$ complexes. We believe that the present approach could be utilized for magnetofection as alternative to $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles conjugated with the PEI of high molecular weight thanks to its relatively low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency.

• Ceramist
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.67-74
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• 2007

Crystallisation kinetics of the erbium doped soda-tellurite glasses were studied using the differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) techniques. The DTA curves in the temperature range of 350 K to 650 K were obtained from isochronal heating rates, chosen in the range of 2 to 20 K/min. DSC isothermal curves were used to calculate the fraction of crystals formed on reheating. The apparent activation energies for devitrification were derived by measuring the shifts in the values of $T_g$ and $T_x$ with heating rates, using the Kissinger method. The derived values of apparent activation energies for isochronal and isothermal methods varied in the range of $190-204\;{\pm}\;5\;kJ\;mol^{-1}$. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis of heat treated and transparent samples showed the presence of nano-scale size sodium-tellurite crystals. These crystallites were found to have a strong influence on the full width of half maxima of the transition in $Er^{3+}:\;^4I_{13/2}{\rightarrow}^4I_{15/2}$, which extended from 70 nm in the vitreous materials to 132 nm in glass-ceramic materials.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2010

The tumor microenvironment, particularly sufficient nutrition and oxygen supply, is important for tumor cell survival. Nutrition deprivation causes cancer cell death. Since apoptosis is a major mechanism of neuronal loss, we explored neuronal apoptosis in various microenvironment conditions employing neuroblastoma (NB) cells. To investigate the effects of tumor malignancy and differentiation on apoptosis, the cells were exposed to poor microenvironments characterized as serum-free, low-glucose, and hypoxia. Incubation of the cells in serum-free and low-glucose environments significantly increased apoptosis in less malignant and more differentiated N-type IMR32 cells, whereas more malignant and less differentiated I-type BE(2)C cells were not affected by those treatments. In contrast, hypoxia (1 % $O_2$) did not affect apoptosis despite cell malignancy. It is suggested that DLK1 constitutes an important stem cell pathway for regulating self-renewal, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity. This raises questions about the role of DLK1 in the cellular resistance of cancer cells under poor microenvironments, which cancer cells normally encounter. In the present study, DLK1 overexpression resulted in marked protection from apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation. This in vitro model demonstrated that increasing severity of nutrition deprivation and knock-down of DLK1 caused greater apoptotic death, which could be a useful strategy for targeted therapies in fighting NB as well as for evaluating how nutrient deprived cells respond to therapeutic manipulation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.469-473
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• 2009

Induced activation of the gamma-aminobutyric $acid_A$ ($GABA_A$) receptor in the retina of goldfish caused the fish to rotate in the opposite direction to that of the spinning pattern during an optomotor response (OMR) measurement. Muscimol, a $GABA_A$ receptor agonist, modified OMR in a concentration-dependent manner. The $GABA_B$ receptor agonist baclofen and $GABA_C$ receptor agonist CACA did not affect OMR. The observed modifications in OMR included decreased anterograde rotation $(0.01\sim0.03\;{\mu}M)$, coexistence of retrograde rotation and decreased anterograde rotation $(0.1\sim30\;{\mu}M)$ and only retrograde rotation $(100\;{\mu}M\sim1\;mM)$. In contrast, the $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist bicuculline blocked muscimol-induced retrograde rotation. Based on these results, we inferred that the coding inducing retrograde movement of the goldfish retina is essentially associated with the GABAA receptor-related visual pathway. Furthermore, from our novel approach using observations of goldfish behavior the induced discrete snapshot duration was approximately 573 ms when the fish were under the influence of muscimol.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.13-28
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of Korean and English terminology of acupotomy therapy among Korean Researchers. Methods: The search was conducted on eight medical journals (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OASIS, KISS, IMR, NDSL, RISS), Google Scholar and 8 Korean medine journals. The definitions of acupotomy therapy, Korean and English terminology were analyzed in the studies that met the criteria. Results: A total of 60 studies were finally included in the analysis. In Korean terminology, Chim-Do was the most used with 37 studies, Do-Chim with 23 (including duplicates). In English termology, 46 studies were used acupotomy and 10 studies were used miniscalpel acupuncture. Conclusions: As a result of analyzing the terminology use of acupotomy therapy studies in Korea, it was confirmed that Korean and English terminology are different according to the study. It will be necessary to discuss the standardization of terminology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2015

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) expression increases proportionally with prostate cancer progression, making it useful in prognosticating intermediate to high-risk prostate cancers. A novel ligand that can specifically bind to PAP would be very helpful for guiding prostate cancer therapy. RNA aptamers bind to target molecules with high specificity and have key advantages such as low immunogenicity and easy synthesis. Here, human PAP-specific aptamers were screened from a 2'-fluoropyrimidine (FY)-modified RNA library by SELEX. The candidate aptamer families were identified within six rounds followed by analysis of their sequences and PAP-specific binding. A gel shift assay was used to identify PAP binding aptamers and the 6N aptamer specifically bound to PAP with a Kd value of 118 nM. RT-PCR and fluorescence labeling analyses revealed that the 6N aptamer bound to PAP-positive mammalian cells, such as PC-3 and LNCaP. IMR-90 negative control cells did not bind the 6N aptamer. Systematic minimization analyses revealed that 50 nucleotide sequences and their two hairpin structures in the 6N 2'-FY RNA aptamer were equally important for PAP binding. Renewed interest in PAP combined with the versatility of RNA aptamers, including conjugation of anti-cancer drugs and nano-imaging probes, could open up a new route for early theragnosis of prostate cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.530-545
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• 2019

Tumor cells can vary epigenetically during ionizing irradiation (IR) treatment. These epigenetic variegations can influence IR response and shape tumor aggressiveness. However, epigenetic disturbance of histones after IR, implicating in IR responsiveness, has been elusive. Here, we investigate whether altered histone modification after IR can influence radiation responsiveness. The oncogenic CXCL12 mRNA and protein were more highly expressed in residual cancer cells from a hepatoma heterotopic murine tumor microenvironment and coculture of human hepatoma Huh7 and normal IMR90 cells after radiation. H3K4 methylation was also enriched and H3K9 methylation was decreased at its promoter region. Accordingly, invasiveness and the subpopulation of aggressive $CD133^+/CD24^-$ cells increased after IR. Histone demethylase inhibitor IOX1 attenuated CXCL12 expression and the malignant subpopulation, suggesting that responses to IR can be partially mediated via histone modifications. Taken together, radiation-induced histone alterations at the CXCL12 promoter in hepatoma cells are linked to CXCL12 upregulation and increased aggressiveness in the tumor microenvironment.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.195-219
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• 2015

Acupuncture therapy has been proved to be effective for diverse diseases, symptoms, and conditions in numerous clinical trials. The growing popularity of acupuncture therapy has triggered the development of modern acupuncture-like stimulation devices (ASDs), which are equivalent or superior to manual acupuncture with respect to safety, decreased risk of infection, and facilitation of clinical trials. Here, we aim to summarize the research on modern ASDs, with a focus on featured devices undergoing active research and their effectiveness and target symptoms, along with annual publication rates. We searched the popular electronic databases Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and analyzed English-language studies on humans. Thereby, a total of 728 studies were identified, of which 195 studies met our inclusion criteria. Electrical stimulators were found to be the earliest and most widely studied devices (133 articles), followed by laser (44 articles), magnetic (16 articles), and ultrasound (2 articles) stimulators. A total of 114 studies used randomized controlled trials, and 109 studies reported therapeutic benefits. The majority of the studies (32%) focused on analgesia and pain-relief effects, followed by effects on brain activity (16%). All types of the reviewed ASDs were associated with increasing annual publication trends; specifically, the annual growth in publications regarding noninvasive stimulation methods was more rapid than that regarding invasive methods. Based on this observation, we anticipate that the noninvasive or minimally invasive ASDs will become more popular in acupuncture therapy.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2016

Recent studies have focused on evidence-based interventions to prevent mobility decline and enhance physical performance in older adults. Several modalities, in addition to traditional strengthening programs, have been designed to manage age-related functional decline more effectively. In this study, we reviewed the current relevant literatures to assess the therapeutic potential of eccentric exercises for age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia). Age-related changes in human skeletal muscle, and their relationship with physical performance, are discussed with reference to in vitro physiologic and human biomechanics studies. An overview of issues relevant to sarcopenia is provided in the context of the recent consensus on the diagnosis and management of the condition. A decline in mobility among the aging population is closely linked with changes in the muscle force-velocity relationship. Interventions based specifically on increasing velocity and eccentric strength can improve function more effectively compared with traditional strengthening programs. Eccentric strengthening programs are introduced as a specific method for improving both muscle force and velocity. To be more effective, exercise interventions for older adults should focus on enhancing the muscle force-velocity relationship. Exercises that can be performed easily, and that utilize eccentric strength (which is relatively spared during the aging process), are needed to improve both muscle force and velocity.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 2017

Background: The present study optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions to maximize extraction yields of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice. Methods: The optimal extraction temperature ($X_1$), extraction time ($X_2$), and methanol concentration ($X_3$) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain the optimal processing parameters. Results: Statistical analyses revealed that three variables and the quadratic of $X_1$, $X_2$, and $X_3$ had significant effects on the yields and were followed by significant interaction effects between the variables of $X_2$ and $X_3$ (p<0.01). A 3D response surface plot and contour plots derived from the mathematical models were applied to determine the optimal conditions. The optimum ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were as follows: extraction temperature, $69^{\circ}C$; extraction time, 34?min; and methanol concentration, 57%. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of glycyrrhizic acid was 3.414%, which agreed closely with the predicted value (3.406%). Conclusion: The experimental values agreed with those predicted by RSM models, thus indicating the suitability of the model employed and the success of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions.