• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2008

In the previous studies, we isolated the compound K rich fractions (CKRF) and showed that CKRF inhibited Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4- or TLR9-induced inflammatory signaling. To extend our previous studies,1) we investigated the molecular mechanisms of CKRF in the TLR4-associated signaling via nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and in vivo role of CKRF for induction of tolerance in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock. In murine bone marrow-dervied macrophages, CKRF significantly inhibited the induction of mRNA expression of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In addition, CKRF significantly attenuated the transcriptional activities of TLR4/LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$. Nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in response to LPS stimulation was significantly abrogated by pre-treatment with CKRF. Furthermore, CKRF inhibited the recruitment of p65 to the interferon-sensitive response element flanking region in response to LPS. Finally, oral administration of CKRF significantly protected mice from Gram-negative bacterial LPS-induced lethal shock and inhibited systemic inflammatory cytokine levels. Together, these results demonstrate that CKRF modulates the TLR4-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, and suggest a therapeutic role for Gram-negative septic shock.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the daily vegetable and fruit intake status of Korean adults and to examine the relationship of vegetable and fruit intake with bone metabolism. The vegetable and fruit intake of 542 healthy male and female adults was analyzed. Then, by selecting 51 targets from the subjects, the relation of vegetable and fruit intake with serum calcium, osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion in urine was examined. The total vegetable intake per day was 397.7 g and 333.5 g by men and women respectively for the age group of 20-29, 366.9 g and 309.2 g respectively for the age group of 30-49, 378.4 g and 325.9 g respectively for the age group of 50-64. Of vegetable varieties, leafy and stem vegetables displayed the highest intake. The order of major intake items of vegetables and fruits was found to be Chinese cabbage kimchi, onion, radish, cucumber, and welsh onion for the age group of 20-29, watermelon, Chinese cabbage kimchi, peach, potato, and onion for the age group of 30-49 and watermelon, Chinese cabbage kimchi, tomato, potato, and peach for the age group of 50-64. Of 51 targets, ${\beta}$-carotene intake displayed a significantly negative correlation with serum osteocalcin. While caloric intake as well as protein, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorous, zinc and total food intake displayed a significantly negative correlation with DPD excretion in urine, tuber vegetable intake displayed a significantly positive correlation with DPD excretion in urine. In the future, a study will be necessary to accurately explain the relevance of vegetable and fruit intake with bone mineral density and bone metabolism. Also, efforts will be required to increase vegetable and fruit intake.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated genetic toxicity of HMCO5 using the Micronucleus Test in bone marrow cells of mice and Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay in plate incorporation method according to OECD Guidelines and KFDA Guidelines. Methods : 1. Micronucleus test: The male rats were divided into 5 groups, respectively; G(1), treated with distilled water: G(2), treated with 1250mg/kg HMC05: G(3), treated with 2500mg/kg HMC05, G(4), treated with 5,000mg/kg HMC05; G(5), treated with Cyclophosphamide $H_2O$. Sterilized distilled water and HMC05 were administered for two consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide $H_2O$ was administered once on the day of 2nd administration. 2. Bacterial Reverse Mutation Aassay: Experimental groups were divided into two groups: with S-9mix(+S) or without S-9mix(-S). Each group treated with sterilized distilled water only, HMCO5(62, 185, 556, 1,667, $5,000{\mu}g$/plate) and, positive vehicles(Sodium azide, 2-Aminoanthracene, 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide, ICR 191), respectively. Results : HMC05 did not show any changes in the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes(MNPCE) among 200 polychromatic erythrocytes compare to negative control. However, there were significant (p<0.01) increase with CPA in MNPCE. In Bacterial Reverse Mutation Aassay, no significant increases in the number of revertant colonies compared to (삭제) negative control were detected in all concentrations of HMC05. Conclusions : These results indicate that HMC05 did not show any genotoxicity against in Micronucleus test and Bacterial Reverse Mutation Aassay.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 2023

Iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) were synthesized employing Lagenaria siceraria (LS) leaf aqueous extract as a reducing and capping medium to remove methylene blue (MB) dye and have antibacterial properties against G-negative (Escherichia coli) and G-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). The formation of LS-Fe-NPs (Lagenaria-siceraria-iron-nanoparticles) was confirmed by a change in color from pale yellow to dark brown. Characterization techniques, such as particle size analysis (PSA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were employed to prove nano spherical particles of size range between 80-100 nm. Phytochemicals and the presence of iron in LS-Fe-NPs nanoparticles were proved by UV-visible spectrophotometry. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis results confirmed the existence of bioactive molecules in the plants. The magnetic property was analyzed using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), which displayed that the synthesized nanoparticles were superparamagnetic and exhibiting a saturation magnetization of 12.5 emu/g. Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were used in methylene blue (MB) dye removal through adsorption. About 83% of 100 mg/L MB dye was removed within 120 min at pH 6 with a maximum adsorption capacity of 246.8 mg/g. Antibacterial efficacy of LS-Fe-NPs was screened against G-negative (Escherichia coli) and G-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), respectively, and found that LS-Fe-NPs were effective against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2012

The baculovirus/insect cell expression system is of great value for the large-scale production of normal and mutant mammalian passive glucose-transport proteins heterologously for structural and functional studies. In most mammalian cells that express HepG2, this transporter isoform is predominantly located at the cell surface. However, it had been reported that heterologous expression of other membrane proteins using the baculovirus system induced highly vacuolated cytoplasmic membranes. Therefore, how a cell responds to the synthesis of large amounts of a glycoprotein could be an interesting area for investigation. In order to examine the subcellular location of the human HepG2 transport proteins when expressed in insect cells, immunofluorescence studies were carried out. Insect cells were infected with the recombinant baculovirus AcNPVHIS-GT or with wild-type virus at a MOI of 5, or were not exposed to viral infection. A high level of fluorescence displayed in cells infected with the recombinant virus indicated that transporters are expressed abundantly and present on the surface of infected Sf21 cells. The evidence for the specificity of the immunostaining was strengthened by the negative results shown in the negative controls. Distribution of the transporter protein expressed in insect cells was further revealed by making a series of optical sections through an AcNPVHIS-GT-infected cell using a confocal microscope, which permits optical sectioning of cell sample. These sections displayed intense cytoplasmic immunofluorecence surrounding the region occupied by the enlarged nucleus, indicating that the expressed protein was present not only at the cell surface but also throughout the cytoplasmic membranous structures.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.189-198
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of social support on type 2 diabetes by classifying it into diabetes and impaired fasting blood sugar, a pre-diabetic state. Subjects of this study were 22,846 adults aged 30 years or above who agreed and registered to participate in the "Korean Health Examine Cohort (KOEX)" study that simultaneously collects questionnaires and biological samples at 8 university hospitals around the nation. Normal fasting blood sugar was defined as below 100 mg/dL, and impaired fasting blood sugar was defined as 100~125 mg/dL. Diagnosis of diabetes was defined as fasting blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or above, diagnosis by a doctor, or medication of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agent. Social support groups were divided into 4 groups, and Group 1 (G1) had high positive support and low negative support. This is the reference group with the highest social support. During multivariate analysis, female group (G3) that had high positive support and high negative support showed prevalence of impaired fasting blood sugar 1.19 times higher (95% CI = 1.02~1.41) than G1. As this study confirmed that social support increases fasting blood sugar of women after correction for socioeconomic status, health behavior, and biological and medical variables, it implies the importance of social relations such as social support in addition to management of personal risk factors for prevention of type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

The photocatalytic decomposition characteristics of single n-pentane, n-pentane mixed with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and n-pentane mixed with ethyl acetate (EA) by cylindrical UV reactor installed with $TiO_2$-coated perforated plane were studied. The effects of the residence time, the inlet gas concentration, and the oxygen concentration were investigated. The removal efficiency of n-pentane was increased with increasing the residence time and the oxygen concentration, but decreased with increasing the inlet concentration of n-pentane. The photocatalytic decomposition rates of single n-pentane, n-pentane mixed with MEK, and n-pentane mixed with EA fitted well on Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics equation. The maximum elimination capacities of single n-pentane, n-pentane mixed with MEK, and n-pentane mixed with EA were obtained to be $465g/m^3{\cdot}day$, $217g/m^3{\cdot}day$, and $320g/m^3{\cdot}day$, respectively. The presence of coexisting MEK and EA vapor had a negative effect on the photocatalytic decomposition of n-pentane and the negative effect of MEK was higher than that of EA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.415-420
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• 2001

Eighteen kinds of medicinal edible herbs, which are nontoxic and has been widely used in traditional folk medicine, were extracted and antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated against various foodborne pathogens or food poisoning microorganisms. Among them, the ethanol extract of Quercus mongolica showed the strongest antimicrobial activities against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and followed by Quercus aliena and Quercus dentata, respectively. Thus, further study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of Quercus species extracts. The plants were extracted with ethanol, methanol and water, respectively. The ethanol, methanol, and water extracts of Quercus mongolica leaf showed 10~21 mm inhibition zone against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at two thousand $\mu\textrm{g}$ per disc, but little antimicrobial activity was observed against fungi and yeast. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the ethanol extract of Quercus mongolica leaf was 250$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against Bacillus cereus. Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 62.5~125 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

To investigate the influences on semen parameters and fertilizing capacity of immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and regional distribution of antisperm antibody (ASA) on the human sperm surface. Sixty-seven ASA-positive patients were compared with 96 ASA-negative donors. ASAs in semen showed significant negative effects on both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity; in those with ASAs in the sperm head and/or tail, the reductions were significant. In the head as well as the tail, there was close correlation between fertilizing capacity and both IgG and IgA. Both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity are significantly affected by the presence of ASA in semen. In particular, antibodies IgG to sperm head and/or tail, and antibodies IgA to sperm tail appeared to have a highly detrimental effect on fertilizing capacity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.279-282
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• 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate the various chemical components present in the cone volatile oil of Cupressus macrocarpa and also determine its antimicrobial activity. Totally 13 compounds were identified with 99.99% by GC-MS analysis. The major compounds identified were terpinene-4-ol (19.42%), dinopol (15.63%), ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.58%), and ${\beta}$-pinene (12.16%). The antimicrobial activity was carried out for the oil and a 2% cream formulation using cup plate method by measuring the zone of inhibition. The gram positive organisms used were Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cogulans. The gram negative organisms used were Escherichia coli, Kleibseilla pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. In vitro antifungal studies were also carried out by using organisms, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma lignorum and Cryptococcus neoformans. The standard drugs used were penicillin ($100{\mu}g/mL$), gentamycin ($100{\mu}g/mL$) and griseofulvin ($100{\mu}g/mL$) for gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria and fungi respectively. Both oil and cream formulation showed good activity against fungi than bacteria. This study is being reported for the first time on cone volatile oil of this plant.