• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2010

As one of the mucous components of Cheonggukjang, traditional fermented soybean paste, $\gamma$-PGA is a natural substance with diverse functions. In this paper, an in-vivo experiment has been performed using NC/Nga mice in order to find out the efficacy of $\gamma$-PGA in human atopic dermatitis. The NC/Nga mice with BMAC-induced atopic dermatitis were administered $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-HM) with 300 kDa and low-molecular $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-LM), respectively. As a result, a significant decrease in clinical skin severity score was detected in the group that was administered PGA-LM. In terms of serum IgE levels, a significant decline was observed in PGA-LM, compared to the control group. The serum IgG1 levels also decreased more in PGA-LM than in the control group. However, no significant difference was observed in both groups. To witness the induction of $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells, mRNA was sampled from the back of PGA-HM- and PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. In terms of the production amount of foxp3 mRNA, which was measured in real-time PCR, the group that was administered PGA-LM was twice as high as the control group. According to a biopsy on the skin on the backs of the mice, the experimental group was also far lower than the control group in terms of epidermis thickness, mast cell infiltration and the number of $CCR3^+$ cells. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the atopic dermatitis symptoms decreased more in the PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice than the PGA-HM-administered group by facilitating $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells and suppressing the activity of eosinophils and production of IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to quantitate regional neurochemical profile of regional normal adult mice brain and assess regional metabolic differences by using ex vivo $^1H$ high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ($^1H$ HR-MAS NMRS). The animals were matched in sex and age. The collected brain tissue included frontal cortex, temporal cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus. Quantitative 1D spectra were acquired on 40 samples with the CPMG pulse sequence (8 kHz spectral window, TR/TE = 5500/2.2 ms, NEX = 128, scan time: 17 min 20 sec). The mass of brain tissue and $D_2O$+TSP solvent were 8~14 mg and 7~13 mg. A total of 16 metabolites were quantified as follow: Acet, NAA, NAAG, tCr, Cr, tCho, Cho, GPC + PC, mIns, Lac, GABA, Glu, Gln, Tau and Ala. As a results, Acet, Cho, NAA, NAAG and mIns were showed significantly different aspects on frontal cortex, hippocampus, temporal cortex and thalamus respectively. The present study demonstrated that absolute metabolite concentrations were significantly different among four brain regions of adult mice. Our finding might be helpful to investigate brain metabolism of neuro-disease in animal model.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.686-693
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• 2007

Purpose : Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is a potent inhibitor of inosine-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a new immunosuppressive drug used. It was reported that MPA protected neurons after excitotoxic injury, induced apoptosis in microglial cells. However, the effects of MPA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury has not been yet evaluated. Therefore, we examined whether MPA could be neuroprotective in perinatal HI brain injury using Rice-Vannucci model (in vivo) and in rat brain cortical cell culture induced by hypoxia (in vitro). Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using a 18-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and incubated in 1% $O_2$ incubator for hypoxia. MPA ($10{\mu}g/mL$) before or after a HI insult was treated. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 hours of hypoxic exposure (8% $O_2$). MPA (10 mg/kg) before or after a HI insult were administrated intraperitoneally. Apoptosis was measured using western blot and real-time PCR for Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3. Results : H&E stain revealed increased brain volume in the MPA-treated group in vivo animal model of neonatal HI brain injury. Western blot and real-time PCR showed the expression of caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 were decreased in the MPA-treated group In in vitro and in vivo model of perinatal HI brain injury, Conclusion : These results may suggest that the administration of MPA before HI insult could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via anti-apoptotic mechanisms, which offers the possibility of MPA application for the treatment of neonatal HI encephalopathy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.167-181
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• 2007

Objectives: To evaluate expression of MIF mRNA, MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-6R-{\alpha}$, STAT-3, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, COX-2 and iNOS, MMP-9mRNA after injecting deer antler herbal acupuncture solution in a LPS rat model. Methods: The experiment was divided in category of the control group, RA group, and NA group. RA was induced in the mice via injecting 300ug/kg LPS. The deer antler herbal acupuncture solution 50ug/kg was applied on $ST_{35}$(犢鼻) and EX-LE201(內膝眼) for 19days from $3^{rd}$ day of RA inducement. Results: 1. In the deer antler herbal acupuncture solution treated RAW 264.7cell, the mRNA expression of cytokines, RA related inflammation factors, such as the MIF, COX- 2, iNOS, and MMP-g reduced concentration dependently. 2. In the deer antler herbal acupuncture treated mice's synovial membrane, decrease in the cell replication of synovial joint cells, regeneration of blood vessel, fibrosis and fibroblastic cells expansion were observed. 3. Positive reaction of RA-related cytokines MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-6R-{\alpha}$, STAT3, COX-2, iNOS, $NF-\;{\kappa}B$ p65, MMP-9 was reduced. Conclusion : On the basis of the results, it was concluded that deer antler herbal acupuncture extract has significant protecting ability against acute progressive RA by inhibiting the production of MIF, as a top in cytokines related to inflammation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2009

Poly-$\gamma$-glutamic acid ($\gamma$-PGA) was mixed natural flora of Bacillus subtilis, contaminated from cooked soybeans. Also, it was performed to find out the antiallergic activity by using NC/Nga mice, in vitro. The $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-HM : PGA-high molecular weight), Molecular weight 300 kDa, was decomposed and made PGA-LM (PGA-low molecular weight) which has molecular weight below 30 kDa by sonication. Therefore, it was same result between PGA-HM and PGA-LM, and reported PGA-LM as basic result. We found that PGA-LM contains antiallergic efficacy that inhibit B cells and Th2 cells activation from isolated CD4+T cells in NC/Nga atopic dermatitis model mice, and not show a cytotoxicity in the hFCs. To investigate the effects of these PGA-LM in vitro, isolation of splenic B cell and CD4+ T cells in atopic dermatitis mice were used. To elucidate the role of PGA-LM in anti-CD40+ interleukin-4 (IL-4)-mediated B-cell activation, showed that the capacity of B cells to expression IL-$1\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA down-regulated, and IL-10 mRNA up-regulation by PGA-LM treatment, but it had no effect on TGF-$\beta$ expression. In addition to CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+ and CD4+CD25+foxp3+, the functions of PGA-LM in the development of the CD4+CD25+foxp3+ and CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+cells, the phenotype and functions of PGA-LM induced CD4+CD25+foxp3+, and CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+cells in CD4+T cells. These results suggested that PGA-LM could change cytokine production and generate CD4+CD25+foxp3+ Tregs in NC/Nga mice, and may be effective for immunotherapy in patients with AD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1159-1166
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• 1997

For Improvement of lung preservation, many tripes of preservation solution were developed and tested. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the most frequently used extracellular type pieservation solution (Low Potassium Dextran, LPD) with a newly developed trehalose containing extracellular type preservation solution(ET-Kyoto, ETK) on postischemic lung function. Twelve New-Zealand white rabbit lungs were harvested and studied on an isolated, blood-perfused model of lung function after 4 hours of cold ischemia at $10^{\circ}C$ In group I (n=6), lungs were preserved with 100 mL/kg of LPD solution; in group II(n=6), lungs were preserved with 100 mL/kg of ETK solution. A few minutes before flushing with preservation solutions, 20$\mu\textrm{g}$ of PGEI were injected into main pulmonary artery. Functions of the preserved lung were compared with PO2, PA pressure, t acheal air pressure, and drylwet ratio. The pulmonary efferent blood oxygen tension at the end of the 60-minute reperfusion period was higher in group II compacted with group I(486.5 $\pm$ 80.3 mmHg versus $432.5\pm82.9$ mmHg at FiO2 1.0, p-value = NS). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was similar in both $groups.(33.7\pm2.2$ mmHg versus $35.5\pm2.0$ mmHg, p-value : NS). The peak inspiratory airway pressure was significantly lower in group 11(8.010.6 mmHg versus 11.8 $\pm$ 1.4 mmHg, p-value=0.02) The water content of the lung was lower in group II $(70.2\pm6.9%$ versus 78.5 $\pm6.1%),$ but not significant. These data demonstrate that a newly-developed trehalose-containing ET-Kyoto solution yield equal or slightly superior lung function after reperfusion compared with LPD solution.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.217-224
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• 2008

A stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for $ZnIn_2Se_4$ single crystal thin films was prepared from horizontal electric furnace. To obtain the single crystal thin films, $ZnIn_2Se_4$ mixed crystal was deposited on thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs(100) substrate by the Hot Wall Epitaxy (HWE) system. The source and substrate temperatures were $630^{\circ}C$ and $400^{\circ}C$, respectively. The crystalline structure of the single crystal thin films was investigated by the photoluminescence and double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXD). The carrier density and mobility of $ZnIn_2Se_4$ single crystal thin films measured from Hall effect by van der Pauw method are $9.41\times10^{16}cm^{-3}$ and $292cm^2/v{\cdot}s$ at 293 K, respectively. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $ZnIn_2Se_4$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g(T)=1.8622eV-(5.23\times10^{-4}eV/K)T^2/(T+775.5K)$. The crystal field and the spin-orbit splitting energies for the valence band of the $ZnIn_2Se_4$ have been estimated to be 182.7 meV and 42.6 meV, respectively, by means of the photocurrent spectra and the Hopfield quasicubic model. These results indicate that the splitting of the ${\Delta}so$ definitely exists in the ${\Gamma}_5$ states of the valence band of the $ZnIn_2Se_4/GaAs$ epilayer. The three photo current peaks observed at 10 K are ascribed to the $A_{1}-$, $B_{1}-exciton$ for n = 1 and $C_{27}-exciton$ peaks for n = 27.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2011

Objectives : The transient inflammation has been demonstrated to alter visceral motor response (VMR) and acute mucosal inflammation may precede the manifestation of visceral hyperalgesia in animal models. The purpose of our study is to compare effects of the different frequencies applied electroacupuncture (EA) on acupoints in acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS). Methods : In Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250~400g, a single colorectal administration of TNBS (5mg/kg) was made and electrode for electromyography (EMG) recording were stitched into the external oblique musculature. EA of either ST25 or ST36 were applied and stimulation parameter was modulated as follows: 2, 10, or 100 Hz with intensity of 2 mA and 1 ms pulse duration for 30 min. The balloon was inserted intra-anally and VMR to colorectal distension (CRD) was quantified with an EMG recording system. Results : The VMR increased significantly 3 days after TNBS intra-rectal colonic injection in rats. Both 2 Hz and 10 Hz EA on ST36 suppressed VMR to CRD in the acute colitis model but not 100 Hz. Only 10 Hz EA on ST25 suppressed VMR to CRD in the acute colitis. Conclusions : These data show that 10 Hz EA potently inhibits hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of raw (P) and roasted (RP) Perilla frutescens Britton (perilla) seeds in RAW 264.7 macrophages and an ulcerative colitis mouse model. In lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells, treatment with ethanol extract of P at the concentrations of 75 and $150{\mu}g/mL$ decreased nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) levels to 48-85% of the control (p<0.01). Treatment with RP extract exhibited similar effects on NO, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$, decreasing those levels to 51-84% of the control (p<0.01). In dextran sulfate sodium-treated ulcerative colitis mice, dietary treatment with 1% RP for 7 days decreased the colonic levels of prostaglandin $E_2$ and leukotriene $B_4$ to 34% and 58% of the control, respectively (p<0.05). Dietary P treatment, however, did not decrease those levels significantly. These results indicate that roasted perilla seed exerts anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2016

When the queue length of congestion vehicles in tunnel fire is extended beyond tunnel length, the capacity of smoke control system needs to be increased in line with ventilation resistance. However, the vehicle queue length is not defined, so a rational equation is necessary in current fire prevention guideline. This study is intended to propose an equation to calculate the queue length considering the number of vehicles in queue in tunnel fire and evaluate the applicability by tunnel length as well. When it comes to normal tunnel, it is necessary to compare the vehicle queue length with tunnel length up to the length of 1,200 m in a bid to avoid applying the vehicle queue length excessively in case of fire. As a result of evaluation of applicability to model a tunnel, saving the number of jet fan for smoke control appeared to be effective. Besides, quantitative approach to explain the vehicle queue length through the relationship between the percentage of large vehicles and tunnel length was presented. Consequently, when the queue length of the congestion vehicles exceeds the tunnel length in determining the capacity of smoke control system in case of fire, the number of vehicles beyond the tunnel length needs to be excluded from estimating the ventilation resistance by vehicles.