• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.102-114
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• 2009

Objectives: HMCO5 is an extract obtained from 8 different herbal mixtures. We undertook a safety evaluation of HMCO5 for a dose range finding (DRF) toxicity test in specific pathogen free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley (SD) male and female rats. Methods: The male and female rats were divided into 4 groups, respectively; G(0), treated with distilled water: G(1), treated with 222 mg/kg HMC05: G(2), treated with 667 mg/kg HMC05, and G(3), treated with 2,000 mg/kg HMC05; HMC05 was administered orally for 4 weeks. The safety evaluation examined clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, ophthalmic findings, urinalysis, hematological values, absolute & relative organ weights, and necropsy findings during the tests. Results: There were no changes in clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, and ophthalmic findings examined during the test periods. In serum biochemical values, triglyceride was increased in male group G(3) and Na$^+$ decreased significantly in male groups G(2), G(3) and G(4). In male group G(4), spleen weight decreased relatively and increases of absolute & relative left ovary weights were found. In addition, an adhesion of liver to diaphragm was found in male group G(2). However, we could not find any dose-interrelationships in these changes. Conclusions: These results indicate that HMC05 extract did not show any toxicity in the DRF toxicity study. Therefore, it suggests that establishment of 1,000, 333 and 111 mg/kg dosages are moderate in a repeated dose 26-week oral toxicity study of HMC05.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2010

Objectives : The oriental medicine Jangwonhwan originally described in the Korean medical text, DonguiBogam(amnesia chapter). Recently, a modified formula of Jangwonhwan(LMK02-Jangwonhwan), was shown to reduce $\beta$-amyloid deposition in the brain of Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. This experiment aimed to investigate the acute oral toxicity of LMK02 in SD rats by up-and-down procedure determinations. Methods : Quality control of tablet form of LMK02 was established by estimating indicative components, Ginsenoside Rg3 of Red Ginseng and Decursin of Angelicagigas Nakai. The toxicity of LMK02 was investigated in 6 week old, specific pathogen free(SPF), Sprageu-Dawley rats. 3 female rats received 5,000 mg/10 ml/kg of test substance and their death rate, clinical sings, weight changes and autopsy findings had been observed for 2 weeks. Results : Any specific symptoms or death were resulted in this experiment. No significant changes in rats' weight. No significant differences in atopsy. Conclusions : The minimum lethal dose(MLD) of LMK02 for female Sprauge-Dawley rats were more than 5,000mg/kg in this experiment.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.539-546
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• 2014

PURPOSE. Silk fibroin (SF) is a new degradable barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR) that can reduce the risk of pathogen transmission and the high costs associated with the use of collagen membranes. This study compared the efficacy of SF membranes on GBR with collagen membranes (Bio-$Gide^{(R)}$) using a rat calvarial defect model. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats with two 5 mm-sized circular defects in the calvarial bone were prepared (n=72). The study groups were divided into a control group (no membrane) and two experimental groups (SF membrane and Bio-$Gide^{(R)}$). Each group of 24 samples was subdivided at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation. New bone formation was evaluated using microcomputerized tomography and histological examination. RESULTS. Bone regeneration was observed in the SF and Bio-$Gide^{(R)}$-treated groups to a greater extent than in the control group (mean volume of new bone was $5.49{\pm}1.48mm^3$ at 8 weeks). There were different patterns of bone regeneration between the SF membrane and the Bio-$Gide^{(R)}$ samples. However, the absolute volume of new bone in the SF membrane-treated group was not significantly different from that in the collagen membrane-treated group at 8 weeks ($8.75{\pm}0.80$ vs. $8.47{\pm}0.75mm^3$, respectively, P=.592). CONCLUSION. SF membranes successfully enhanced comparable volumes of bone regeneration in calvarial bone defects compared with collagen membranes. Considering the lower cost and lesser risk of infectious transmission from animal tissue, SF membranes are a viable alternative to collagen membranes for GBR.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.436-442
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• 2010

Objective: Transmission of S. mutans, a major dental caries pathogen, occurs mainly during the first 2.5 years of age. Children appear to acquire S. mutans mostly from their mothers, but few studies have investigated preventive effect of xylitol to S. mutans transmission from mother to child. The aim of this study was to perform a follow-up evaluation the preventive effect of xylitol chewing gum of the S. mutans of children's oral cavities, which included the characteristics of vertical transmission from mother to child. Methods: The mothers voluntarily participating in a women's oral health prevention program were divided into two groups (a control and a xylitol group). The subjects were 20 mother-child pairs, who were monitored for 30 months. Xylitol chewing gum group had consumed 2 gum pellets, 3 times a day for 24 months, and then they were followed until 30 months. At baseline, 24 and 30 months whole stimulated saliva samples were collected from the mothers. Children were also recruited from 6 months to 30 months after birth and were collected their dental plaque samples. After isolation and identification, the analysis of the colony count, transmission electron microscopy and real-time RT-PCR were performed to analyze the characteristics of S. mutans. Results: The S. mutans counts decreased steadily in the xylitol group at 24 months, but increased at 30 months. The similar results were showed at their children. While the glucan synthesis was decreased at xylitol group both mother and child. The expression of gtfB, gtfD and ftf were significantly reduced in the xylitol group both mother and child (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that chewing xylitol gum over a long period may decrease the expression of the genes associated virulence and reduced the glucan synthesis of S. mutans, which can result the preventing the mother-to-child transmission of S. mutans.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.783-794
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• 2014

Since the introduction of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the field of the dentistry, numerous applications have been investigated. Especially with its advantages over existing vacuum plasma in terms of portability, low cost, and non-thermal damage, it can be directly applied in the oral cavity, giving number of potentials for dental application. First, possible application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the field of dentistry is relation to dental caries and periodontal diseases. Teeth and alveolar bones are one of the strongest bony structures in our body, but it cannot be regenerated when they are damaged by dental caries or periodontal disease. Hence many studies to prevent such diseases have been carried out, though no perfect solution has been found yet. With recent studies of modifying surfaces through non-thermal atmospheric pressure application that can prevent attachment of bacteria, or studies on bactericidal effects of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma can be applied here to prevent oral pathogen and 'biofilm' attachment to the surface of teeth or directly eliminate the dental caries/periodontal disease causing germs. Secondly, non-thermal atmospheric pressure application will be useful on the surface of dental implant. It is well known that the success of dental implant surgery depends on the process known as 'osseointegration' that result from osteoblast attachment, proliferation and differentiation. As the application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on the surface of dental implant just before its introduction by the chair-side of dental surgery. Despite its long history, the generation of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has been greatly increased with its application in dentistry.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.461-465
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• 2015

Microglia, the resident macrophages in the central nervous system, can rapidly respond to pathological insults. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a pattern recognition receptor that plays a fundamental role in pathogen recognition and activation of innate immunity. Although many previous studies have suggested that TLR2 contributes to microglial activation and subsequent pathogenesis following brain tissue injury, it is still unclear whether TLR2 has a role in microglia dynamics in the resting state or in immediate-early reaction to the injury in vivo. By using in vivo two-photon microscopy imaging and $Cx3cr1^{GFP/+}$ mouse line, we first monitored the motility of microglial processes (i.e. the rate of extension and retraction) in the somatosensory cortex of living TLR2-KO and WT mice; Microglial processes in TLR2-KO mice show the similar motility to that of WT mice. We further found that microglia rapidly extend their processes to the site of local tissue injury induced by a two-photon laser ablation and that such microglial response to the brain injury was similar between WT and TLR2-KO mice. These results indicate that there are no differences in the behavior of microglial processes between TLR2-KO mice and WT mice when microglia is in the resting state or encounters local injury. Thus, TLR2 might not be essential for immediate-early microglial response to brain tissue injury in vivo.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2023

Importance of accurate molecular diagnosis and quantification of particular disease-related pathogenic microorganisms is highlighted as an introductory step to prevent and care for diseases. In this study, we designed a primer/probe set for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) targeting rgpA gene, known as the specific virulence factor of periodontitis-related pathogenic bacteria 'Porphyromonas gingivalis', and evaluated its diagnostic efficiency by detecting and quantifying relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis within saliva samples collected from clinical subjects. As a result of qRT-PCR, we confirmed that relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis was detected and quantified within all samples of positive control and periodontitis groups. On the contrary, negative results were confirmed in both negative control and healthy groups. Additionally, as a result of comparison with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 16S metagenome profiling data, we confirmed relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis, which was not identified on bacterial classification table created through 16S microbiome analysis, in qRT-PCR results. It showed that an approach to quantifying specific microorganisms by applying qRT-PCR method could solve microbial misclassification issues at species level of an NGS-based 16S microbiome study. In this respect, we suggest that P. gingivalis-specific primer/probe set introduced in present study has efficient applicability in various oral healthcare industries, including periodontitis-related microbial molecular diagnosis field.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.99-120
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• 2012

Objectives : The oriental medicine Jangwonhwan, a boiled extract of 12 medicinal herbs/mushrooms, has been prescribed to patients with cognitive dysfunction, as originally described in the Korean medical text, DonguiBogam(amnesia chapter). Recently, a modified formula of Jangwonhwan (LMK02-Jangwonhwan) consisting of seven medicinal plants/mushrooms, was shown to reduce the ${\beta}$-amyloid deposition in the brain of Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. The toxicity of LMK02-Jangwonhwan was investigated in SD rats, by a daily oral administration for 13 weeks and NOAEL(No observed adverse effect dose), a definite toxic dose and target organ, as well. Methods : Quality control of the tablet form of LMK02-Jangwonhwan was established by estimating the indicative components, Ginsenoside Rg3 of Red Ginseng and Decursin of Angelicagigas Nakai. The toxicity of LMK02-Jangwonhwan was investigated in 6 week old, specific pathogen free (SPF), Sprageu-Dawley rats by oral administration. Each test group consisted of 10 male and 10 female rats. The groups received doses of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg/day of test substance for 13 weeks. The clinical signs, death rate, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematological and serum biochemistry, organ weight and pathological changes were examined and compared with those of the control group. Results : The 13-week repeated oral treatment doses didn't result in any specific symptoms or death. There were no significant changes in the rat's weight and food consumption. Further, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematological, serum biochemistry test and organ weight revealed no significant differences. Conclusions : The no-observed-adverse-effect level(NOAEL) of LMK02 for male and female Sprague-Dawley rats was determined as 2,000mg/kg/day and the target organ wasn't confirmed. Because no significant adverse effects were observed, the target organ could not be determined.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.663-676
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• 1999

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram negative, anaerobic, asaccharolytic rod, is one of the most frequently implicated pathogens in human periodontal disease and has a requirement for hemin for growth. A 30 kDa (heated 24 kDa) hemin-binding protein whose expression is both hemin and iron regulated has recently been purified and characterized in this oral pathogen. This study has identified a hemin-binding P. gingivalis protein by expression of a P. gingivalis genomic library in Escherichia coli, a bacterium which does not require or transport exogenous hemin. A library of genomic DNA fragments from P. gingivalis was constructed in plasmid pUC18, transformed into Escherichia coli strain $DH5{\alpha}$ , and screened for recombinant clones with hemin-binding activity by plating onto hemin-containing agar. Of approximately 10,000 recombinant E. coli colonies screened on LB-amp-hemin agar, 10 exhibited a clearly pigmented phenotype. Each clone contained various insert DNA. The Hind III fragment transferred to the T7 RNA polymerase/promoter expression vector system produced a sligltly smaller (21 kDa) protein, a precursor form, immunoreactive to the antibody against the 24 kDa protein, suggesting that the cloned DNA fragment probably carried an entire gene for the 24 kDa hemin-binding protein.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.113.2-114
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• 2003

Five pepper-infecting potyviruses, Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV), Chilli veinal mottle virus (CVMV), Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV), Pepper severe mosaic virus (PSMV) and Tobacco each virus (TEV), are known filamentous virus and can be infected pepper crops systemically. To understand pathology and genome information of the five viruses on pepper plants, host reactions and sequences were compared to the 5 viruses. Five potyviruses were inoculated onto some typical cultivars of hot peppers and compared their symptoms, and virus accumulations. A set of degenerate primers for potyviruses were applied to 5 viruses and RT-PCR was performed. RT-PCR products containing partial nuclear inclusion b and coat protein (CP) genes were cloned. Then, oligo dT primer and species-specific primer were redesigned to amplify the C-terminal part of CP and 3' noncoding regions of each viruses. Sequences of the viruses were analyzed and compared to serological relationships among the viruses. The data can be useful for screening of potyviruses in pepper plants and pathogen-derived transgenic pepper plant development.