• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2016

Chronic alcoholic myopathy is one of the most common skeletal muscle disorders. It is characterized by a reduction in the entire skeletal musculature, skeletal muscle weakness, and difficulties in gait. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis have severe muscle loss that contributes to worsening outcome. Although the myopathy selectively affects Type II (fast twitch, glycolytic, anaerobic) skeletal muscle fibers, total skeletal musculature is reduced. The severity of the muscle atrophy is proportional to the duration and amount of alcohol consumed and leads to decreased muscle strength. The mechanisms for the myopathy are generally unknown but it is not due to overt nutritional deficiency, nor due to either neuropathy or severe liver disease. Skeletal muscle mass and protein content are maintained by a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and in vivo animal models studies have shown that ethanol inhibits skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Daekumeumja is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat various alcohol-induced diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. The main objective of this study was to assess that Daekumeumja extract could have protective effect against alcoholic myopathy in a Sprague-Dawley rat model. Rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) for 8 weeks. After 30 minutes, rats were administrated with Daekumeumja extract. Controls were similarly administrated with the vehicle alone. The weights of gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles were assessed and the morphologic changes of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were also assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In results, The muscles from ethanol treated rats displayed a significant reduction in muscle weight and average cross section area compared to Normal group. Daekumeumja extract treated group showed increased muscle weight and muscle fiber compared to the ethanol treated group. It was concluded that Daekumeumja extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol myopathy in skeletal muscle.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2020

Objectives : This experiment was designed to assess the single oral toxicity of Ethanol Extract Inulae Flos (IF) ethanol extracts. IF is one of the important herbs to remove phlegmy which is the viscous turbid pathological product that can accumulate in the body, causing a variety of diseases. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of research on the pharmacology toxicity of IF. Methods : In this study, IF was orally administered to 5 weeks ICR mice as an oral dose of 2,000 or 3,000 or 5,000 mg/kg. The condition of the mice was observed for 14 days and their weights were measured every two days. Results : None of the mice died for 14 days. The abnormal clinical symptoms and anatomical signs of toxicity were not found in any treatment groups. The gain of net body weight was observed. There was also no significant difference in the organ weight. The serum biochemistry and hematological analysis showed a decrease in BUN, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets although within the normal ranges. Conclusions : These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose of IF is more than 5,000 mg/kg. This could be thought that IF is a safe drug without acute toxicity and side effects. However, IF showed some weight loss and change in blood test, so it will need to be careful when using it for high doses.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.530-535
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• 2005

A Korean traditional herbal formular, Taeumbiman-tang(TBT), was based on Taeumjowi-tang, currently the most widely used herbal formula compound, and which is known to be safe and have a positive effect on adult obesity. TBT was given to obese children for thirty days, and was found to be clinically safe and effective. The subjects were children who had been admitted into the hospital to be treated for obesity, that had more than 20% relative body weight. Originally there were 19 subjects, but 5 dropped out of the experiment. There were 5 girls and 9 boys, whose average ages were $11.00\;{\pm}\;2.60$ years, average weight was $54.01\;{\pm}\;18.59\;kg$. As a pretest, all of the volunteers were examined for height, weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, EKG, and chest radiography. The subjects underwent interview, body measurement tests, blood tests, and safety tests under 8 hour fasting state. After 15 days of TBT intake, the safety tests and the interview were conducted. The interview, body measurement tests, blood tests, and safety tests were conducted again after the 30 day trial was completed. The short term effects of TBT on obese children is weight loss. It did not cause any significant changes in the subject's livers, hearts, and kidneys, and clinically dangerous side effects or withdrawal symptoms were not observed.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, acute oral toxicity test of pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts was conducted in order to up-cycling to a high value-added industry using by-products discarded in the production process of Schisandra chinensis products and active ingredients such as dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Schisandra chinensis. Methods : Pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts were orally administered to SD-rats(female, n=3) without a control group according to the 'OECD guidelines'. After, mortality and clinical signs were observed, and the deceased animals were subjected to an autopsy. In addition, acute oral toxicity test was sequentially performed in step I (300 mg/kg), step II(300 mg/kg), step III(2,000 mg/kg), and step IV(2,000 mg/kg) according to the mortality. Results : There were no abnormalities caused by pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts in step I and step II. However, one animal each died in step III and step IV. In addition, clinical signs(salivation, decrease in food intake, prone position, decrease of locomotor activity, loss of locomotor activity, convulsion, hypothermia, lacrimation, staining around mouth, soiled perineal region, reddish urine, chromaturia, decrease of fecal volume, lying on side, blackish stool, no stool, compound-colored stool, refusal to feed, excitement, hypersensitivity, rigidity, dorsal position, etc.) were observed. But, no clinical signs were observed from 5th day, and experiment animals recovered completely. Conclusions : As a result of this study, pomace Schisandra chinensis extracts may exhibit acute toxicity at concentrations of 2,000 to 5,000 mg/kg, and the GHS classification was designated as 'Category 5'.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-280
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, it was investigated the effects of solid-phase fermentation extraction with Phellinus linteus of discarded Schisandra chinensis extract (PS) and its action mechanism on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in mice. Methods : In mice, muscle atrophy model was induced by dexamethasone (5 mg/kg, I.p) once daily for 2 weeks and with PS extract administration (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) as treatment groups. The changes in body weights, grip strength, Treadmill test, muscle weights, and the expression of atrophy-related genes were measured in muscle atrophy mice. The histological changes of gastrocnemius tissues were also observed by H&E staining with measurement of myofiber size. Results : The administration of PS extract increased significantly body weights, grip strength, treadmill test and muscle weights in muscle atrophy mice. PS extract administration increased significantly the area of myofibers and inhibited structural damages of muscle and increased significantly the expression of myogenin and decreased significantly the expression of MuRF1, Atrogin1 and phosphorylation of AMPK and PGC1α in muscle tissues of muscle atrophy mice. Conclusions : These results indicate that PS extract has a improvement effects on muscle atrophy with stimulation of myogenic differentiation and inhibition of mRNA degradation that could be related with the activation of AMPK and PGC1α signaling pathways in muscle. This suggests that PS extract can apply to treat muscle atrophy in clinics.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.223-251
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• 2017

Objectives : A lot of experiment results of Yugmijihwangtang(YM) are reported in various kinds of journals. Many of them report on the new effects that are not recorded in the traditional medical texts. So it is necessary to take it into consideration that newly reported effects could be of help to clinical practice, because this process of comparison of Donguibogam and scientific experiment results will have basis to lead into the evidence based medicine. Methods : We compared the effects of in Donguibogam and the experiment results of YM. Results : The effects of YM in Donguibogam are to replenish essence and marrow, and to treat red wen, fatigue, treat hypouresis, urinary sediment, urinary urgency, hematuria, hydrocephalus, speech and movement retardation, yin-deficiency, diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver, melanoma, disability to see near and far sight, tinnitus, hearing loss, alopecia, angiogenesis, cough, cough at night, trachyphonia, and, infantile convulsion. The experiment results of YM since 2000 in both Korea and China are to inhibit atopic dermatitis, renal interstitial fibrosis, anti-oxidant, emphysema, stress, glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, hemorrhage, plantar sweating, dermal aging, kidney aging, bone loss, breast cancer, pathological myocardial cell, primary liver cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, intrauterine growth retardation, chronic renal failure, IgA nepropathy, slow cerebral development, and hippocampal tissue lesions on the one hand, and to help bone formation, renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system, cerebral recovery, cognitive function and expression, osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, learning and memory, cold-tolerance and oxygen deficit-tolerance and anti-fatigue, endometrial formation, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immune regulation effect, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Axis, and spermatogenesis, on the other hand. Conclusion : When we compared the effects of YM with the experiment results of YM, there existed a considerable gap between them. So, from now on, it is expected that a great effort and consideration are needed to solve these gaps from an academic and clinical point of view.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.502-502
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• 2007

A catenary system should be designed to have an uniform elasticity over a span in order to maintain the lowest possible loss of contact between a pantograph and a contact wire. A elasticity uniformity of a catenary can be regarded as a important design factor used for predicting the current collection performance for a catenary. There are a couple of formulas to calculate the degree of elasticity uniformity of a catenary according to the literature survey. The effectiveness of these formulas is reviewed by performing catenary elasticity and loss of contact analysis for various different configurations of catenary systems using a beam element based FEM program. The results reveals that these formulas are not suitable to predict the current collection performance for a catenary. Therefore, a new formula based on the standard deviation of the elasticity over a span is proposed in this study. The analysis results show that the new formula for an elasticity uniformity of a catenary is very effective in predicting the current collection performance for a catenary.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6B
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• pp.635-642
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• 2008

The influence of unsubmerged resistance bodies in a channel turbulence flow on energy loss was investigated by hydraulic experiments. Square-shaped multi-piers were used for unsubmerged structure or rigid vegetation in an open channel. In experimental channel flows multi-piers were arranged in double or single row along the channel direction, and mean-concept uniform elevations were attained and measured with a set of discharges and channel slopes. Applying the experimental results to the Manning equation, the equivalent resistance coefficient n, which implicates flow resistance and energy loss due to bottom friction as well as drag, was evaluated with varying the interval of piers and the uniform water depth. And the experimentally evaluated n values were compared with the semi-theoretical formula of the equivalent resistance coefficient derived from momentum analysis including a drag interaction coefficient. From the comparisons it was found that the interaction effect of piers on flow resistance was significant for the overall energy losses in a channel flow. The n values decrease when the interval of piers in flow-direction is less than about 2.2 times of the pier width. And it was also found that the n values increase with the 2/3 power of water depth in the theoretical formula, since the drag interaction coefficient was found to be mostly dependent on the interval of piers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2014

The reflection and transmission coefficients of waves due to perforated wall are mainly determined by both the porosity and wall thickness of the perforated wall and the period and nonlinearity of incident waves. Among them the wall thickness is very important because it affects the head loss coefficient and the inertia length of the wall. However, by employing the head loss coefficient derived for sharp crested orifice, the previous researches have neglected, or incorrectly considered the effect of wall thickness on the head loss coefficient. Even though it is considered, the effect of the inertia length is neglected in some empirical formulae. Thus, the effect of wall thickness on the reflection and transmission coefficients of waves is not properly considered. In this study comprehensive experiments are conducted for the perforated walls with various thicknesses, and the results are compared with those predicted by the empirical formulae. As a result it is found that the existing formulae can not properly consider the effect of wall thickness, and it is confirmed that a new formula which can correctly consider the effect of wall thickness on the head loss coefficient is necessary.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-120
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was investigated the improvement effects of Gangjihwan (DF) and combination of Gangjihwan and Gamisochehwan (GSH) on obesity in a high fat diet-fed obese mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an obese control group given a high fat diet, and DF and DF+GSH groups given a high fat diet with DF (40 mg/kg), and DF+GSH (80 mg/kg), respectively. After 8 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood lipid markers, fat weight and histology were examined. Results : 1. Body weight gain and fat mass were significantly decreased in DF and DF+GSH groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF+GSH group. 2. Feeding efficiency ratio and circulating concentration of leptin were decreased in DF and DF+GSH groups compared with control. These decreases were significant in DF+GSH group. 3. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain and fat mass, circulating concentrations of triglyceride, glucose and insulin were decreased in DF and DF+GSH groups compared with control. 4. The size of adipocytes was decreased by DF and DF+GSH compared with control, whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was increased by them, suggesting that DF and DF+GSH decreased the number of large adipocytes. 5. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, liver fibrosis was also improved in DF and DF+GSH groups compared with control. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF and DF+GSH groups decrease feeding efficiency ratio, plasma leptin concentration, blood anti-obesity biomarkers and fat mass, improves body weight gain contributing to the inhibition of liver fibrosis. In addition, these effects were more effective in DF+GSH combination group than in DF-only group.