• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1807-1810
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• 2014

Background: It is known that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) plays an integral role during intestinal inflammation, an important factor for colon cancer development. Natural compounds from Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) have long been a potential source of bioactive materials with various beneficial biological functions. Among them, a major active curcuminoid, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages or microglia cells. However, the role of DMC on iNOS expression and NO production in an in vitro inflamed human intestinal mucosa model has not yet been elucidated. This study concerned inhibitory effects on iNOS expression and NO production of DMC in inflamed human intestinal Caco-2 cells. An in vitro model was generated and inhibitory effects on NO production of DMC at 65 ${\mu}M$ for 24-96 h were assessed by monitoring nitrite levels. Expression of iNOS mRNA and protein was also investigated. DMC significantly decreased NO secretion by 35-41% in our inflamed cell model. Decrease in NO production by DMC was concomitant with down-regulation of iNOS at mRNA and protein levels compared to proinflammatory cytokine cocktail and LPS-treated controls. Mechanism of action of DMC may be partly due to its potent inhibition of the iNOS pathway. Our findings suggest that DMC may have potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation-related diseases, especially in the gut.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.680-684
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate effects of KH-304 in improving erectile dysfunction (ED), particularly in terms of nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. After oral administration of the KH-304 water extract, 1OOmg, 300mg, 500mg or 700mg per 1 kg of Dody weigh for 10days, We examined the expression and activity of two enzyme: neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and that act upon the major NO-cGMP signaling pathway in penile tissue. Effect of KH-304 on COMP degradation was also examined using bovine vascular smooth muscle cells pretreated with an NO donor, S-nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), Also, it examined the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) for seaching effecting period (100mg, 300mg/kg for 10 and 30days) and peak intracavernous pressures (ICPS) in penile tissues rabbit copus cavernosum contracted by 10-6 M phenylephrine. The severely reduced peak intracavernous pressures (ICPS) in penile tissues were restored completely after KH-304 treatment, and KH-304 treatment significantly made the latency period earlier. Furthermore, the penile expression levels of nNOS, eNOS dependent NOS activities and COMP concentrations were increased significantly in the KH-304 100, 300mg treated rats. These results suggest that KH-304 with high expression of NOS may be useful in erectile dysfunction.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.558-570
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• 2005

The importance of teaching the nature of science (NOS) has been always emphasized in science education. However, the NOS is hardly taught in elementary science class. We are lacking in the strategies and materials for teaching NOS. So we designed the science drama teaching, and investigated the effects on pupils' perceptions about NOS. The subjects of this study were 185 third graders from a elementary school. The treatment group was provided with science drama lessons and the control group was provided with traditional lecture-type lessons. Their perceptions about NOS were investigated before/after the science lessons and after 3 months following them, and both of two groups were compared. The pretest results revealed that the pupils of both groups were found to have similar views on NOS. Dey had traditional views of the most items except for social construction of theories, mathematical knowledge and decision-making. After science lessons, they tended to change their views toward modem views, but the pupils of the treatment group showed more modem views than those of the control group on the observation, model, social construction of theories, predictions. After 3 months, the pupils of the control group tended to come back to their traditional views, but those of the treatment group showed tendencies that their changed views were kept up on the observation, scientific model, scientific knowledge, scientific methods, decision-making, social construction of theories, mathematical knowledge. Therefore this study suggests that science drama teaching could be one of the effective ways for teaching NOS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 1995

Cytokine release from alveolar macrophages and subsequent interaction of these cytokines with the bronchial epithelium can induce epithelial cells to release inflammatory mediators. Nitric oxide(NO), a highly reactive gas formed from arginine by nitric oxide synthase(NOS), is known to be involved in inflammation and edema formation, and the inducible form of NOS(iNOS) can be increased by cytokines. In this context, we hypothesized that lung epithelial cells could be stimulated by cytokines released by alveolar macrophages to express iNOS. To test this hypothesis, the murine lung epithelial cell line, LA-4, or the human lung epithelial cell line, A549, were stimulated with culture supernatant fluids from alveolar macrophages. NO production was assessed by evaluating the culture supernatant fluids for nitrite and nitrate, the stable end products of NO. Both murine and human cell culture supernatant fluids demonstrated an increase in nitrite and nitrate which were time- and dose-dependent and attenuated by $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ antibodies(p<0.05, all comparisons). Consistent with these observations, cytomix a combination of $TNF{\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and $\gamma$-interferon, stimulated the lung epithelial cell lines as well as primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells to increase their NO production as evidenced by an increase in nitrite and nitrate in their culture supernatant fluids, an increase in the iNOS staining by immunocytochemistry, and an increase in iNOS mRNA by Northern blottin(p<0.05, all comparisons). The cytokine effects on iNOS were all attenuated by dexamethasone. To determine if these in vitro observations are reflected in vivo, exhaled NO was measured and found to be increased in asthmatics not receiving corticosteroids. These data demonstrate that alveolar macrophage derived cytokines increase iNOS expression in lung epithelial cells and that these in vitro observations are mirrored by increased exhaled NO levels in asthmatics. Increased NO in the lung may contribute to edema formation and airway narrowing.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2016

Objectives : A previous study demonstrated that the connecting points of three yang meridians attenuated changes of nNOS, and Norepinephrine(NE) in rats. The current study investigated the changes in nNOS, NO and NE upon the needle insertion at varying depths at the connecting point of three yin meridians of the hand. Methods : Needles were inserted into rats, on both left and right sides of the connecting point, including the LU7, HT5 and PC6 acupoints which are three yin meridians of the hand. After insertion, needles were retained for five minutes. Each acupuncture groups were treated acupuncture at each acupoint and at the depths of superficial, middle and deep layer. After the retention, blood was drawn via cardiac puncture, and tissues of each point near meridian vessel was extracted to examine the changes in the expression of nNOS, NO and NE. Results : Compared with the superficial layer group, nNOS production significantly decreased in the middle and deep layer at LU7 acupoint group and in the deep layer at HT5, PC6 acupoint group. The tissue NE decreased in the deep layer on PC6 acupoint and the plasma NE increased at the middle layer at LU7 acupoint group but decreased at the deep layer on at LU7 acupoint group. Conclusions : Acupuncture at connecting points of three yin meridians of the hand can regulate the activities of nNOS, and NE.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.533-538
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• 2016

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in embryo development, tissue repair, inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth. In the present study, we showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulates retinal angiogenesis. Mice that lack eNOS showed growth retardation, and retinal vessel development was significantly delayed. In addition, the number of tip cells and filopodia length were significantly reduced in mice lacking eNOS. Retinal endothelial cell proliferation was significantly blocked in mice lacking eNOS, and EMG-2-induced endothelial cell sprouting was significantly reduced in aortic vessels isolated from eNOS-deficient mice. Finally, pericyte recruitment to endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cell coverage to blood vessels were attenuated in mice lacking eNOS. Taken together, we suggest that the endothelial cell function and blood vessel maturation are regulated by eNOS during retinal angiogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1717-1722
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• 2007

In the present study, all of the treadmill exercise-trained SHR expressed clear adaptive changes such as reduced resting heart rate and blood pressures, LPOA, homocysteine Therefore, treadmill exercise was sufficient to induce physiological adaptation in the SHR. Endurance training is known to induce physiological cardiac hypertrophy, while hypertension induces patho logical cardiac hypertrophy that increases cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The pathological adaptation to pressure overload has also been associated with a further increase in the expression of several marker genes including cardiomyocyte ET-1 in the SHR, but not in the exercise-trained SHR. Additionally, there is an increase in the endothelial nitricoxide synthases (eNOS) protein expression of soleus, gastrocnemius, and extensor digitorum longus muscle in the exercise-trained SHR but not in the SHR in the present study. Thus, compared to pathological adaptation to pressure overload, physiological adaptation to exercise training is associated with distinct alterations in cardiac and molecular phenotypes. based on these results, exercise training improves hypertension by cardiovascular regulating genes and hemodynamic parameters.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.753-760
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• 2015

Although nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) plays a key role in inflammation, its anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action in periodontitis are still unknown. This study aimed to identify the effects of NFAT on the proinflammatory mediators activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus nicotine stimulation in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). The production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ was evaluated using Griess reagent and an enzyme immunoassay, respectively. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NFAT proteins was evaluated by Western blot analysis. LPS plus nicotine synergistically induced the production of NO and $PGE_2$ and increased the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2 and NFAT. Treatment with an NFAT inhibitor blocked the LPS plus nicotine-stimulated NO and $PGE_2$ release as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Our data suggest that the LPS plus nicotine-induced inflammatory effects on hPDLCs may act through a novel mechanism involving the action of NFAT. Thus, NFAT may provide a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of periodontal disease associated with smoking and dental plaque.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2023

Triglyceride (TG) accumulation can cause monocytic death and suppress innate immunity. However, the signaling pathways involved in this phenomenon are not fully understood. This study aimed to examine whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is involved in the TG-induced death of THP-1 monocytes. Results showed that iNOS was upregulated in TG-treated THP-1 monocytes, and iNOS inhibition blocked TG-induced monocytic death. In addition, TG-induced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and caspase-3 and -7 activation were suppressed by iNOS inhibition. Furthermore, the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and survivin, which inhibit caspase-3 and -7, was reduced in TG-treated THP-1 monocytes, but iNOS inhibition recovered the TG-induced downregulation of XIAP and survivin expression. Considering that TG-induced monocytic death is triggered by caspase2 and -8, we investigated whether caspase-2 and -8 are linked to the TG-induced expression of iNOS in THP-1 monocytes. When the activities of caspase-2 and -8 were inhibited by specific inhibitors, the TG-induced upregulation of iNOS and downregulation of XIAP and survivin were restored in THP-1 monocytes. These results suggest that TG-induced monocytic death is mediated by the caspase-2/caspase-8/iNOS/XIAP and survivin/executioner caspase/PARP pathways.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.183-186
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• 2002

Hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in its etiology. Since the impairment of nitric oxide (NOS) production plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene is supposed to be a candidate gene of hypertension. Our study group investigated the 27 bp insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) polymorphism of ecNOS gene in 99 Korean normotensives and 98 hypertensives, respectively. There was no significant association with any cardiovascular risk factors as well as hypertension in Koreans. The Ins/Del polymorphism of the ecNOS gene indicated the similar allele distribution among ethnic groups studied. Further studies using larger sample size and subject information is required to describe the general picture of the association between the ecNOS gene polymorphic loci and hypertension