• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

Background: Naringenin (NRG) is a common dietary polyphenolic constituent of fruits. NRG has diverse pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells of the GI tract. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of NRG on ICCs and on GI motility in vitro and in vivo. Methods: ICCs were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in cultured ICC clusters. The effects of NRG on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR) using Evans blue in normal mice. Results: NRG inhibited ICC pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride or iberiotoxin, NRG had no effect on pacemaker potentials, but it continued to block pacemaker potentials in the presence of glibenclamide. Preincubation with SQ-22536 had no effect on pacemaker potentials or on their inhibition by NRG. However, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. In addition, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester blocked pacemaker potential inhibition by NRG. Furthermore, NRG significantly suppressed murine ITR enhancement by neostigmine in vivo. Conclusion: This study shows NRG dose-dependently inhibits ICC pacemaker potentials via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide-dependent pathway and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels in vitro. In addition, NRG suppressed neostigmine enhancement of ITR in vivo.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.192-194
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• 2022

The trophic factor Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) plays a critical role in the development of the peripheral nervous system and the repair of nerve injuries. The regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by cytokine secretion from structural cells is an important process in inflammatory diseases, including asthma. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NRG-1 and the alteration of neutrophil apoptosis by the regulation of cytokine release in the human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induce the increase in the release of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). NRG-1 alone had no effect on the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. However, co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 that had been increased by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Treatment with NRG-1 did not have a direct effect on neutrophil apoptosis. Co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 was not effective on suppression of neutrophil apoptosis due to TNF-α and IFN-γ. The supernatant of BEAS-2B cells after co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 suppressed the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis that had been caused due to the supernatant treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Taken together, NRG-1 has an anti-inflammatory effect in an inflammatory milieu by the regulation of cytokine secretion and neutrophil apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.449-454
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• 2016

Stress Granules (SGs) are microscopically visible, phase dense aggregates of translationally stalled messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes formed in response to distinct stress conditions. It is generally considered that SG formation is induced to protect cells from conditions of stress. The precise constituents of SGs and the mechanism through which SGs are dynamically regulated in response to stress are not completely understood. Hence, it is important to identify proteins which regulate SG assembly and disassembly. In the present study, we report Neuregulin-2 (NRG2) as a novel component of SGs; furthermore, depletion of NRG2 potently inhibits SG formation. We also demonstrate that NRG2 specifically localizes to SGs under various stress conditions. Knockdown of NRG2 has no effect on stress-induced polysome disassembly, suggesting that the component does not influence early step of SG formation. It was also observed that reduced expression of NRG2 led to marginal increase in cell survival under arsenite-induced stress.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2015

This study is designed to investigate the protective effects of fermented Red Ginseng (FRG) against photoaging in vitro and in vivo. UVB was irradiated to the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell and dorsal skin of SKH-1 mice for the induction of photoaging. After treatment of non-fermented red ginseng (NRG), fermented red ginseng (FRG), and fortified fermented red ginseng (FFRG) to the UVB irradiated HaCaT cell, ROS production and activity of MMP-9 were examined by DCFC-DA assay and gelatin zymographic assay respectively. UVB irradiated SKH-1 mice were treated with NRG, FRG, and FFRG via oral(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical($100{\mu}{\ell}/mouse/day$) route.All of NRG, FRG, and FFRG had significantly reduced the intracellular ROS production elicited by UVB, among them FRG slightly more reduced the ROS production than NRG and FFRG. FFRG had slightly more reduced the MMP-9 activity in UVB irradiated HaCaT cells than NRG and FFRG in high dose. Oral and topical treatment of NRG, FRG, and FFRG had decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, and -9 in dorsal skin of UVB irradiated mice. Among them, inhibitory effect of FRG on the expression of MMP-2 was apparent. We speculate that FRG has therapeutic potentials on the UVB irradiated photoaging.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2014

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation by water splitting ($H_2O_{(1)}{\rightarrow}H_2_{(g)}+1/2O_2_{(g)}$) has been studied on photocatalysts based on Zn, Cd, Fe and Cu, synthesized by coprecipitation. Iron and copper nanoparticles were incorporated as cocatalysts to enhance the photocatalytic activity of the ZnCd solid solution. The effect of the different synthesis parameters (temperature, elemental atomic ratios, amount of Cu and Fe incorporated in the catalyst and calcination temperature) on the photocatalytic production of hydrogen has been studied in order to determine the best experimental synthesis conditions. The catalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET. The experiments of photocatalytic water splitting were performed in aqueous solution of the photocatalysts previously dispersed in a soft ultrasound bath. The photocatalysts were irradiated under different lights ranging from 220 to 700 nm. The photocatalytic activity was found to be clearly dependent on the specific area of the photocatalyst.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.289-303
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• 2004

The non-rigid molecule group theory (NRG) in which the dynamical symmetry operations are defined as physical operations is a new field of chemistry. Smeyers in a series of papers applied this notion to determine the character table of restricted NRG of some molecules. In this work, a simple method is described, by means of which it is possible to calculate character tables for the symmetry group of molecules consisting of a number of NH3 groups attached to a rigid framework. We study the full non-rigid group (f-NRG) of tetraammineplatinum(II) with two separate symmetry groups C2v and C4v. We prove that they are groups of order 216 and 5184 with 27 and 45 conjugacy classes, respectively. Also, we will compute the character tables of these groups.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesio taping and neuromuscular rehabilitation exercise for patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders. Methods: Twenty acute whiplash-associated disorders patients were recruited for the study. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Neuromuscular rehabilitation group (NRG) received neuromuscular rehabilitation exercise, kinesio taping group (KTG) received kinesio taping. All subject was evaluated before and after intervention by their range of motion (ROM), neck disability index (NDI), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and fatigability. Results: First, the ROM was significantly increased in all group (p<.05). The NDI, NPRS and fatigability were significantly decreased in all group (p<.05). Secondly, NRG had significantly more increased ROM (flexion, both rotation) than KTG (p<.05). NRG had significantly more decreased NDI, NPRS and fatigability than KTG (p<.05). Conclusion: According to the results above, increased in range of motion in the neck, decreased in NDI, NPRS, fatigability were more effective in the NRG that received neuromuscular rehabilitation exercise than the KTG that received kinesio taping.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.27 no.3_4
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• pp.915-931
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• 2009

The non-rigid molecule group theory in which the dynamical symmetry operations are defined as physical operations is applied to deduce the character table of the full non-rigid molecule group (f-NRG) of 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine The f-NRG of this molecule is seen to be isomorphic to the group $\mathbb{Z}_3{\wr}(\mathbb{Z}_2{\times}\mathbb{Z}_2)$, where $\mathbb{Z}_n$ is the cyclic group of order n, of order 324 which has 45 conjugacy classes. We determine the some properties and relations between characters of the group. Also, we examine the symmetry group of this molecule and show that its symmetry group is $\mathbb{Z}_2{\times}\mathbb{Z}_2$.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.63.2-64
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.206-216
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• 2014

To investigate the anti-photoaging effect of fermented Red Ginseng(RG) in SKH-1 mice. We examined the effects of extracts of non-fermented RG(NRG group), fermented RG(FRG group) and fortified fermented RG(FFRG group) on skin wrinkles formation, histological changes related to the number of epidermal cell layers, epidermal thickness, neutrophil infiltration into dermis, degradation of collagen fibers, and the number of mast cells, and immunohistochemical changes related to cytokines and enzymes in photoaging skin caused by UVB irradiation of SKH-1 mice. The oral administration(300 mg/Kg B.W./day) and topical application($100{\mu}{\ell}/mouse/day$) of extracts of NRG, FRG and FFRG inhibited increases in epidermal thickness and wrinkle formation compared to control group in dorsal skin induced by UVB irradiation. We observed more increased stainability of acid fuschin and aniline blue in dermis of FFRG group than those of other groups. Furthermore, NRG, FRG and FFRG prevented the disruption of collagen fibers within papillary layer of dermis, and decreased number of mast cells in the dorsal skins induced by UVB irradiation. We observed fine wrinkle formation in FFRG group. Treatment with NRG, FRG and FFRG decreased immunohistochemical density of myeloperoxidase related to inflammation in the photoaging skin. We observed more decreased immunohistochemical density of myeloperoxidase in FFRG group than those of other groups. Immunohistochemical density of PCNA and Ki-67 in FFRG group was more decreased than those of other groups. Our study suggests that fermented red ginseng extracts participates in inhibitory effects in the morphological processes related to photoaging skin on UVB irradiated SKH-1 mice.