• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

Cardiovascular disease is the prime cause of morbidity and mortality and the population ages that may contribute to increase in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Arginase upregulation is associated with impaired endothelial function in aged vascular system and thus may contribute to cardiovascular disease. According to recent research, Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGE) may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving vascular system health. The purpose of this study was to examine mechanisms contributing to age-related vascular endothelial dysfunction and to determine whether KRGE improves these functions in aged mice. Young ($10{\pm}3$ weeks) and aged ($55{\pm}5$ weeks) male mice (C57BL/6J) were orally administered 0, 10, or 20 mg/mouse/day of KRGE for 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and the aortas were removed. Endothelial arginase activity, nitric oxide (NO) generation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) coupling, vascular tension, and plasma peroxynitrite production were measured. KRGE attenuated arginase activity, restored nitric oxide (NO) generation, reduced ROS production, and enhanced eNOS coupling in aged mice. KRGE also improved vascular tension in aged vessels, as indicated by increased acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and improved phenylephrine-stimulated vasoconstriction. Furthermore, KRGE prevented plasma peroxynitrite formation in aged mice, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation. These results suggest KRGE exerts vasoprotective effects by inhibiting arginase activity and augmenting NO signaling and may be a useful treatment for age-dependent vascular diseases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2006

The present study was undertaken to determine the possible cellular mechanism of action of angiopoietin-2 in bone metabolism. The effects on the osteoblasts were determined by measuring 1) cell viability, 2) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, 3) gelatinase activity, and 4) nitric oxide production. The effects on the osteoclasts were investigated by measuring 1) tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)(+) multinucleated cells (MNCs) formation, and 2) resorption areas after culturing osteoclast precursors. Angiopoietin-2 treatment showed a significant increase in both the viability and ALP activity of osteoblasts. Angiopoietin-2 increased the activity of gelatinase and nitric oxide production. In addition, angiopoietin-2 decreased the osteoclast generation induced by macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL), and inhibited osteoclastic activity in (M-CSF)-dependent bone marrow macrophage (MDBM) cell cultures. Taken these results, angiopoietin-2 may be a regulatory protein within the bone marrow microenvironment.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.601-610
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• 2003

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin used as a skin conditioning agent and promotes the formation of intercellular lipid layers through increased lipid synthesis, which improves the skin's natural barrier function. The anti-inflammatory effects of biotin have been investigated using in vitro assay models, such as MTT assay, measurements of concentrations of nitric oxide(NO), prostaglandin E2(PGE$_2$), and inhibition rate of 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX). In comparison with biotin, other plant extracts were tested at the same time which were kudzu vine extract, sage extract, paeonia extract, and dipotassium glycyrrhetinate. Nitric oxide is a signal molecule with functions such as neurotransmission, local vascular relaxation, and anti-inflammation in many physiological and pathological processes. NO can cause apoptosis and necrosis of target cells such as keratinocytes and is generated from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Prostanoids, including prostaglandins and thromboxanes, are generated by the phospholipase $A_2$/cyclooxygenase(COX) pathway, and leukotrienes are generated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway from arachidonic acid. Prostaglandin E2 recently have been shown to be beneficial in the resolution of tissue injury and inflammation, also has been implicated as an immunosuppressive agent and plasma levels of PGE$_2$ are elevated in patients sustaining thermal injury. Lipoxygenase metabolites from arachidonic acid have been implicated in inflammation, anti-inflammatory activity of the raw materials was evaluated in vitro by the offered inhibition of lipoxygenase.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.130.1-130.1
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• 2002

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2006

Alterations in the amino acid structure or sequence can generate neo-epitopes from self-proteins causing autoaggressive immune attack. Reactive nitrogen species are an important factor that induces post-translational modification of proteins by cellular reduction and oxidation mechanism; cysteinyl-nitrosylation or tyrosine nitration leading to potentially pathogenic pathways. It was thought of interest to investigate the immunogenicity of nitrated poly L-tyrosine vis-$\`{a}$-vis its possible role in the induction of antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Commercially available poly L-tyrosine was exposed to nitrating species and the damage was monitored by UV spectroscopy and alkaline gel electrophoresis. The results indicated the formation of 3-nitrotyrosine. Nitrated poly L-tyrosine induced higher titre antibodies as compared to the native form. Nitrated poly L-tyrosine was recognized by the autoantibodies present in the sera of patients suffering from SLE by enzyme immunoassays and band shift assay. The possible role of nitrated self-proteins has been discussed in the production of circulating anti-DNA antibodies in SLE.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.75-84
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• 1988

The performance and emission for the 4-cylinder 4-cycle gasoline engine fueled with methanol is predicted in this paper. The model for all the processes is illustrated. It computes the gas pressure, gas temperature and the rate of formation of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide at each crank angle using basic energy equation and reaction kinetic mechanism. The results are obtained at different operating conditions encompassing changes in fuel-air equivalence ratio, engine speed, spark timing and compression ratio. The special characteristics of methanol such as high power output and nitric oxide emissions have been truthfully predicted by the model.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2000

The water extract of Seongpungtang(SPT) has commonly been used for treatment of ischemic brain damage in Oriental traditional medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of SPT rescues brain cells from ischemic damage. To elucidate the protective mechanism of ischemic induced cytotoxicity, the regulation of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and PMA (phobol-12-myristate-13-acetate) induced iNOS expression in microglial cells was investigated. LPS and PMA treatment for 48 hr in microglial cells markedly induced nitric oxide (NO), but treatment of the cells with the water extract of SPT decreased nitrite formation. In addition, LPS and PMA treatment for 48 hr induced severe cell death in microglial cells. However treatment of the cells with the water extract of SPT did not induce significant changes compared to the control cells. Furthermore, NO production was markedly decreased by treatment of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-kB) inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC). According to the above results, it is suggested that the protective effects of the water extract of SPT against ischemic brain damage may be mediated by regulation of iNOS during ischemic condition.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2003

This research was undertaken to find the in vitro inflammatory action of the essenetial oil (CS-oil) extracted from Chrysanthemum sibiricum (Compositae) herbs. We investigated the effects of the CS-oil not only on the formation NO, $PGE_2$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ but also on inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The data obtained were consistent with the modulation of iNOS enzyme expression. A similar fashion was also observed when LPS-induced $PGE_2$ release and COX-2 expression were tested. The significant inhibitory effects were shown in concentration-dependent manners. In addition, CS-oil also mildly but significantly reduced the formation of TNF-a. These findings support the application of CS-oil as an antiinflammatory essential oil.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.434-439
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• 1995

In pancreatic cells, NO formation is associated with increased levels of cGMP and endocrine/exocrine secretion. In the present study, the role of NO in the regulation of exocrine secretion was investigated in rat pancreatic tissues. Treatment of rat pancreatic tissue with sholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ) resulted in an significant increase in arginine conversion to citruline, the amount of nitrite/nitrate, the release of amylase, and the level of cGMP. Furthermore, CCK-PZ stimulated increase of amylase release and conversion of arginine to citrulline transformation were counteracted by the inhibitor of NO synthase, $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester. The results on the time course of CCK-PZ-induced citrulline formation within the first seconds of simulation. The kinetics of citrulline accumulation correlate well with those of cGMP rise, which further confirms the conclusion that NO mediates the response to CCK-PZ by cGMP.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.390-401
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• 2000

In this study, numerical calculation is carried out to investigate the influence of injection timing, fuel amount, intake $O_2$ concentration, and EGR on Nitric Oxide(NO) formation using a two-zone model in a diesel engine. Results can be summarized as follows. The NO formation is very sensitive to the burned gas temperature, so multi-zone model must be applied to combustion process to predict the burned gas temperature exactly. Since the burned gas temperature increases rapidly during the premixed combustion, most NO is formed within 20 crank angle degrees after ignition. As the injection timing is retarded, the combustion occurs later in the expansion process which causes the decrease of burned gas temperature and, as a result, NO formation decrease. The increase of fuel amount results in the increase of earlier formation of NO in the engine. As the intake $O_2$ concentration increases, the maximum pressure and burned gas temperature increase due to activate combustion. And, [O] mole fraction of equilibrium combustion products also increase. Therefore NO exponentially increases. If exhaust gas is recirculated, the burned gas temperature decreases which results in NO decrease. If exhaust gas is cooled, more NO can be decreased.