• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1036-1045
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• 2023

Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by the insidious loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, represents a significant and growing healthcare challenge, impacting the mobility and quality of life of aging populations worldwide. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of soybean leaf extract (SL) for dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy in vitro and in an in vivo model. In vitro experiments showed that SL significantly alleviated Dexa-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotube cells, as evidenced by preserved myotube morphology, density, and size. Moreover, SL treatment significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), key factors regulating muscle atrophy. In a Dexa-induced atrophy mouse model, SL administration significantly inhibited Dexa-induced weight loss and muscle wasting, preserving the mass of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles. Furthermore, mice treated with SL exhibited significant improvements in muscle function compared to their counterparts suffering from Dexa-induced muscle atrophy, as evidenced by a notable increase in grip strength and extended endurance on treadmill tests. Moreover, SL suppressed the expression of muscle atrophy-related proteins in skeletal muscle, highlighting its protective role against Dexa-induced muscle atrophy. These results suggest that SL has potential as a natural treatment for muscle-wasting conditions, such as sarcopenia.

• Sim-seong Yeon-gu
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.85-112
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• 2020

How does analytical psychology help understand patients at general psychiatric clinics? It's necessary to think about how knowledge of analytical psychology can help young psychiatrists who are in training. Patients who come to us bring symptoms(problems). Symptoms can be compared to tickets to a movie theater. Symptoms accompanied by complaints of pain are not only pathological phenomena to be eliminated, but an important pathway to access the patients' inner problems. In terms of seeing the whole, the point of view in analytical psychology is to see the unconscious as well as the consciousness, even the elements the patients do not speak or know of. When determining indications and contra-indications during the initial process of treating a patient, it is more important to acknowledge the therapist's capabilities and limitations than the patient's condition or limitations The approach to complaints of the same symptoms may differ depending on whether the patient is in the first half or the second half of one's life. Analytical psychology is empirical psychology that experiences and it adheres to a phenomenological position that recognizes the phenomenon as true in itself, not logically right or wrong. The analytical psychological view of understanding mental phenomena asks the causal perspective of why the symptoms occurred. At the same time, the therapist, along with the patient, must seek answers to the question of why now and for what purpose. A therapist is a person who experiences the patient's personal development process together. In analytical psychotherapy, the therapist's attitude is more emphasized than the treatment method or technique; it is regarded as of the utmost importance. In this regard, analytical psychology is a practical and useful therapeutic tool, and is a field of study that can be widely used in actual psychiatric clinics. In addition to understanding the patient, it is also the most important discipline for the therapists, especially for the education and growth of those who want to become a treatment tool themselves.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2011

Plantago asiatica L. (PA), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of liver diseases. A variety of activities of PA was reported, that is hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation and anti-oxidant effect. Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a potent nephrotoxic agent and has been reported to induce renal proximal tubular necrosis. In the present study, pre-treatment with PA extract (PAE) in Wistar rat followed by Fe-NTA i.p. treatment (13.5 mg Fe/kg body weight) was performed to detect the renal protective effect of PAE. Only Fe-NTA treated group showed increases in the level of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr), and renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the level of biomarkers indicate the antioxidants status, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were decreased. However, PAE pre-treated group showed decreases in the levels of serum BUN, serum Cr and renal tissue MDA in concentration dependent manner and increases in the level of GSH, GST and GR. These results are significantly different (p < 0.05) to the other groups. Our data suggest that PAE may be used as an chemopreventive material against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative stress.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 1984

The mechanism of the contractile response of longitudial muscle of rabbit ileum to substance P (SP) has been investigated. The contractions in rabbit ileum under various conditions were recorded isometrically The following results were obtained. 1) The contractions by SP increased according to concentrations. SP·induced contraction was not sustained but faded rapidly at $10^{-7}M$. The response to the commutative addition of SP was decreased in comparison to the response to separate administration of each concentration . 2) The response to $10^{-8}M$ SP after 5 min application cf $10^{-7}M$ SP was increased with increasing the time interval between the administration of $10^{-7}$ and $10^{-8}M$ SP. 3) The treatment of rabbit ileum by $10^{-7}M$ SP for 5 min didn't decrease the response to $10^{-6}M$ acetylcholine. 4) $10^{-6}M$ atropine had no effect of the contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP. The response to $10^{-7}M$ SP was normal or subnormal in the presence of 3 mM tetraethylammonium(TEA). 5) 100k solution, $10^{-4}M$ ouabain, and Na-free solution inhibited the response to $10^{-8}M$ SP and 3 mM TEA completely, and to $10^{-7}M$ SP incompletely. 3 mM TEA induced a considerable contraction in K-free solution, but $10^{-8}M$ SP didn't induce the contraction. $10^{-6}M$ norepinephrine decreased the contractile responses to SP and TEA. 6) The contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP was dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations to 1.8 mM. 7) The contractile response to $10^{-7}M$ SP remained 15% of the maximal response after bathing the ileum in a Ca-free solution for 2.5 min. 8) The responsiveness to SP was completely lost within 10 min of bathing in Ca-free solution, but was restored by the exposure to $Ca^{2+}$. The restorative effect of $Ca^{2+}$ depended on the concentration of $Ca^{2+}$, and on time for which the tissue exposed to this $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. These results suggest that there are two mechanisms of the action by which the low concentrations of substance P causes the contraction of intestinal smooth muscle: the reduction of K conductance and a mechanism dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, and that high concentration of SP may elicit a contraction by releasing $Ca^{2+}$ from an intracellular store, which is not as sensitive to removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ or as easily accessible to EGTA as the extracellular space of the muscle. The location of this store is not known; it may be associated with the internal side of the cell membrane.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.18-44
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• 2017

Purpose: The object of this study was to observe the anti-climacterium activity of Gagamguibiondam-tang (GGOT) on ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-documented rodent models resembles with women postmenopausal climacterium symptoms, as including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, organ steatosis and mental disorders. Methods: In this study, anti-climacteric effects were evaluated separated into three categories; 1) anti-obese, 2) anti-uterine atrophy and 3) anti-osteoporotic effects. Five groups were used (8 rats in each group); sham control, OVX control, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg administered groups. Twenty-eight days after bilateral OVX surgery, GGOT were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the body weight and gain during experimental periods, serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights with histopathology of abdominal fat pads (total thickness and mean adipocyte diameters) and uterus (total, epithelial and mucosal thickness, percentages of uterine gland regions) for anti-obese and estrogenic effects. In addition, femur, tibia and fourth or fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 or L5) wet, dry and ash weights, mineral density (BMD), bone strength (failure load), serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) contents, histological and histomorphometrical analyses - bone mass and structure with bone resorption, were monitored for anti-osteoporosis activity. Results: As a result of OVX, noticeable increases of body weight and gains, food and water consumption, weights of abdominal fat pad deposited in dorsal abdominal cavity, serum osteocalcin levels were demonstrated in this experiment with decrease of uterus, femur, tibia and L5 weights, serum bALP and estradiol levels. In addition, marked hypertrophic changes of adipocytes located in deposited abdominal fat pads, uterine disused atrophic changes, decreases of bone mass and structures of femur, tibia and L4 were also observed in OVX control rats with dramatic increases of bone resorption markers, the Ocn and OS/BS at histopathological and histomorphometrical analysis in this study as compared with sham-operated control rats, suggesting the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms - obese and osteoporosis were induced by OVX, respectively. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by 84 days of continuous oral treatment of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, respectively. Especially, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg showed clear dose-dependent inhibitory activities on the OVX-induced climacterium signs. Conclusion: The results suggest that oral administration of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg has clear dose-dependent favorable anti-climacterium effects - estrogenic, anti-obese and anti-osteoporotic activities in OVX rats in this experiment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.532-537
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• 2009

Previous studies reported that the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is related to alcohol dependence in terms of developing withdrawal or tolerance, however, it is controversial whether NMDA receptor antagonists are effective in preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients or not. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice, which prefer drinking hereditarily. Using limited access procedures in C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, naltrexone 1.0 mg/kg or, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg i.p. was administered respectively for twelve days. Medication effects on 2-hours alcohol, 22-hour water, and 24-hour food intake and body weight were studied. Using repeated measure ANOVA, the naltrexone 1 mg/kg, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg, and vehicle groups showed significant medication by day interaction (naltrexone, df=4, F=11.827, p<0.01, memantine 5 mg/kg, df=4, F=7.999, p<0.01; memantine 25 mg/kg, df=4, F=6.199, p<0.05; memantine 50 mg/kg, df=4, F=10.522, p<0.01) in 2-hour alcohol intake. In 3 memantine groups, there was no significant medication by day interaction with the vehicle group in 22-hour water intake, 24-hour food intake, or body weight. The naltrexone and vehicle groups showed significant medication by day interaction in body weight, but not in 22-hour water or 24-hour food intake. From these results, it is suggested that memantine treatment can affect alcohol intake in mice. Therefore, it is possible that a pure NMDA receptor antagonist is effective in preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 2014

ATP in quantity co-stored with neurotransmitters in the secretory vesicles of neurons, by being co-released with the neurotransmitters, takes an important role to modulate the stimulus-secretion response of neurotransmitters. Here, in this study, the modulatory effect of ATP was studied in $Ca^{2+}$ channels of cultured rat adrenal chromaffin cells to investigate the physiological role of ATP in neurons. The $Ca^{2+}$ channel current was recorded in a whole-cell patch clamp configuration, which was modulated by ATP. In 10 mM $Ba^{2+}$ bath solution, ATP treatment (0.1 mM) decreased the $Ba^{2+}$ current by an average of $36{\pm}6%$ (n=8), showing a dose-dependency within the range of $10^{-4}{\sim}10^{-1}mM$. The current was recovered by ATP washout, demonstrating its reversible pattern. This current blockade effect of ATP was disinhibited by a large prepulse up to +80 mV, since the $Ba^{2+}$ current increment was larger when treated with ATP ($37{\pm}5%$, n=11) compared to the control ($25{\pm}3%$, n=12, without ATP). The $Ba^{2+}$ current was recorded with $GTP{\gamma}S$, the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue, to determine if the blocking effect of ATP was mediated by G-protein. The $Ba^{2+}$ current decreased down to 45% of control with $GTP{\gamma}S$. With a large prepulse (+80 mV), the current increment was $34{\pm}4%$ (n=19), which $25{\pm}3%$ (n=12) under control condition (without $GTP{\gamma}S$). The $Ba^{2+}$ current waveform was well fitted to a single-exponential curve for the control, while a double-exponential curve best fitted the current signal with ATP or $GTP{\gamma}S$. In other words, a slow activation component appeared with ATP or $GTP{\gamma}S$, which suggested that both ATP and $GTP{\gamma}S$ caused slower activation of $Ca^{2+}$ channels via the same mechanism. The results suggest that ATP may block the $Ca^{2+}$ channels by G-protein and this $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking effect of ATP is important in autocrine (or paracrine) inhibition of adrenaline secretion in chromaffin cell.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze and investigate temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and dental clinic outpatients by food intake ability to improve the quality of life. A survey of questionnaires with 208 subjects visiting a dental clinics located in Daejeon city from January to September in 2010 was performed. Analysis were performed with survey results, in which a symptoms of TMD, parafunctional habits and abnormal functions, food intake ability : 1. The main symptoms of TMD showed pain on TMJ(45.7%), pain on joint sound(45.2%), pain during chewing(41.3%), pain during mouth opening(38.0%), pain during non chewing(19.7%) and pain on joint dislocation(13.0%) in turn. 2. The symptoms of TMD by gender showed joint dislocation of 18.0% for male and 8.3% for female(p=0.038); pain on chewing of 49.0% for male and 34.3% for female(p=0.031), which were statistically significant. 3. The parafunctional habits and abnormal functions by gender showed clenching habit of 35.0% for male and 22.0% for female; bruxism of 21.0% for male and 9.3% for female, which were statistically significant. 4. The symptoms of TMD by age showed 52.8% of 27.8% for often and 25.0% for sometimes of 21-30 age in pain on TMJ, which were statistically significant(p=0.001). 5. The parafunctional habits and abnormal functions by age showed over 31 age of 48.3%, which were statistically significant(p=0.003). 6. The food intake ability by symptoms of TMD showed no joint sound(p=0.000), no pain on chewing(p=0.000) and without pain on TMJ(p=0.000), which were statistically significant. 7. The food intake ability by parafunctional habits and abnormal functions showed no clenching habit(p=0.000), no bruxism(p=0.000) and no headache, which were statistically significant. 8. The distribution type of operation by symptoms of TMD showed 30.8% of rest, 24.0% of physical medicine and 16.4% of pharmacotherapy. The pain on chewing showed 36.0% of pharmacotherapy; 52.4% of pain on TMJ for often and 40.5% for sometimes, in which pharmacotherapy and physical medicine were statistically significant(p=0.000). These results showed that management run parallel with survey for multiple factors in TMD we consider aspect of physical, social, physiology to enhance quality of life to increase food intake, construction of program for treatment and prevention because the individual differences need to be multifaceted, further research is suggested to continue.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DEXA) is commonly used to diagnose Osteoporosis. The errors of DEXA bone density operation are caused by operator, bone mineral density meter, blood testing, patient. We focus on operator error then study about how much influence operator's region of intest(ROI) in bone testing result. During from March to July in 2011. 50 patients ware selected respectively from 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 age groups who came to Korea University Medical Center(KUMC) for their Osteoporosis treatment. A-test was performed with usually ROI and B-test was performed with most widely ROI. Then, We compare A-test and B-test for find maximum difference of T-score error which occurred operator ROI controlling. Standard deviation of T-score of B-test showed 0.1 higher then A-test in femur neck. Standard deviation of B-test showed 0.2 higher then A-test in Ward's area which in Greater trocanter and Inter trocanter. Standard deviation of B-test showed 0,1 lower then A-test in L-1. Bone density testing about Two hundred patients results are as follow. When operator ROI was changed wider than normal ROI, bone density of femur was measured more higher but bone density of L-spine was measured more lower then normal bone density. That means, sometime DEXA bone density testing result is dependent by operator ROI controlling. This is relevant with the patient's medicine and health insurance, thus, tester always keep the size of ROI for to prevent any problem in the patient.