• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.401-408
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• 2005

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of various human diseases. Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one of the major means by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of ROS. SOD activity is dependent upon bound copper ions supplied by its partner metallochaperone protein, copper chaperone for SOD (CCS). In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of PEP-1-CCS against neuronal cell death and ischemic insults. When PEP-1-CCS was added to the culture medium of neuronal cells, it rapidly entered the cells and protected them against paraquat-induced cell death. Moreover, transduced PEP-1-CCS markedly increased endogenous SOD activity in the cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that it prevented neuronal cell death in the hippocampus in response to transient forebrain ischemia. These results suggest that CCS is essential to activate SOD, and that transduction of PEP-1-CCS provides a potential strategy for therapeutic delivery in various human diseases including stroke related to SOD or ROS.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by the progressive degradation of joint cartilage and is accompanied by secondary inflammation of synovial membranes. The purpose of this study describes a preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity on test material of Litsea japonica. fruit (LJTM) Also, this study was to evaluate the effects of LJTM on the joint cartilage of rat with OA induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). To study for anti-inflammatory agents effectively, we first examined the inhibitory effect of the LJTM on the production of pro-inflammatory factors and cytokines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. We identified anti-nociceptive effects of the LJTM by using in vivo peripheral and central nervous pain models. In addition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on mRNA expression of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -13, TIMP-1 and –2 in cartilage of OA. In the LJTM inhibited production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO and PGE₂) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). In cartilage, Expression of MMPs and TIMPs mRNA was suppressed in LJTM treatment group than in the control group. This study suggests that LJTM are potential candidates as anti-inflammation and anti-osteoarthritis agents (painkillers) for the treatment of OA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2009

Background: The "gold standard" for proper epidural catheter positioning is a clinical response, as assessed by a pinprick test. Yet it may take time or it may be difficult to perform this test after epidural catheter placement in sedated or uncooperative patients or during general anesthesia. We assessed the usefulness of aspirating injected air via an epidural catheter as an indicator of correct epidural catheter placement. Methods: We surveyed 200 patients who underwent surgery under general or epidural anesthesia. A Tuohy needle was inserted into the epidural space with using the hanging drop technique. After placement of the epidural catheter, 3 ml of air was injected via the catheter, and then the volume of aspirated air was measured. Results: The mean volume of aspirated air was $2.3{\pm}0.7ml$ (75% of the injected air volume) and this ranged from 0 to 3 ml. Conclusions: Aspiration of injected air is a simple alternative method for identifying the appropriate placement of epidural catheters in the epidural space.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.856-861
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• 2002

Surface-modified powders were produced by hybridization system using core freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121) and enteric coating materials. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria changed to smooth round shape during surface reforming process, although no significant physical damages affecting the activity of the lactic acid bacteria were observed based on viability and salt-tolerance tests. Signigicant difference was not found in acid tolerance test probably due to the inherent acid tolerance of L. acidophilus ATCC 43121. Significantly improved heat tolerance was obtained by surface modification process. Among the tested coating materials, Sureteric showed a higher surface- reforming ability than Eudragit S100 and L100-55. Core : coating ratio agent of 9 : 1 (w/w) with rotor speed of 15,000 rpm for 3 min were determined to be optimum conditions for the process.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1673-1691
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• 2014

Although most natural disaster related studies conducted in Korea recently have been related to typhoons or severe rainstorms, the occurrence frequency of disasters due to windstorms or rainstorms is also high. To reduce the strong wind damage caused by strong windstorms due to climate change, basic studies of strong winds are necessary. Therefore, in this study, the types and representative cases of windstorms that were observed to have been higher than 14 m/s, which is the criterion for strong-wind warnings from the Korea Meteorological Administration, were selected from among those windstorm cases that occurred on the Korean Peninsula for 10 years to conduct a statistical analysis of them and determine their synoptic meteorological characteristics. The cases of windstorms occurring on the Korean Peninsula were divided into six weather patterns according to the locations of the anticyclones/cyclones. Among these types, the SH type, which occurs when Siberian Highs expand into the Korean Peninsula, showed the highest occurrence frequency, accounting for at least the majority of the entire occurrence frequency of windstorms together with that of the EC type, which occurs when cyclones develop on the East Sea, and there was no clear yearly trend of the occurrence frequencies of windstorms. The monthly occurrence frequencies of windstorms were formed mainly by typhoons in the summer and the Siberian Highs in the winter, and the months with the highest windstorm occurrence frequencies were December and January, in which mainly the SH and EC type windstorms occurred. March showed the next highest occurrence frequency with10 times, and SH windstorms occurred the most frequently in March, followed by the CC, SC, and EC types of windstorms, in order of precedence. Therefore, attention to these types of windstorms is required. Countermeasures against storm and flood damage in Korea targeting the summer should be re-reviewed together with pre-disaster prevention plans, because cases of storm and flood damage due to windstorms occur more frequently than those due to typhoons, and they occur throughout the year.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.325-330
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 70% ethanol extracts of various germinated-rough rice cultivars: ('Ilpum', 'Goami2', 'Keunnun', 'Sulgaeng', 'Baegjinju', and 'Heugkwang') on proliferation of human cancer cell lines (MKN-45, HCT116 and NCI-H460). Antiproliferation effects of rough rice on different cancer cell lines were higher in after germination than before germination. The viability of HCT-116 colon cancer cells was lowest at 18.89% in after germination of 'Heugkwang' at 1.0 mg/mL. The cell viability of MKN-45 lung cancer cells and MKN-45 stomach cancer cells were in the range of 5~10% in after germination of 'Ilpum', 'Goami2', 'Baegjinju', and 'Sulgaeng', and 'Heugkwang' at 1.0 mg/mL. These results suggest that germinated rough rice might have a potential preventive effect on human cancer cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.786-796
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• 1999

Background: It has been anticipated that the amount and composition of mucin are changed in patients with chronic airway diseases. We evaluated whether RTO3(mAb against rat tracheal mucins) could quantify the amount of mucin from the airway in the patients with chronic airway diseases. Methods and results; 1) RTO3 was bound to high molecular weight of mucin based on Western blot in sputum and BALF from patients with chronic airway diseases. 2) The goblet cells and submucosal glands in main bronchus from human were observed by PAS stain. And immunohistochemical stain with RTO3 showed immunoreactivity on some goblet cells. 3) The amount of mucin was more increased in patients with chronic airway diseases compared to those in normal subjects. 4) In the exacerbation of asthmatics, mucin amounts were more increased than stable asthmatics. Conclusion: We suggested that secreted mucin in chronic airway diseases can be quantified by ELISA with RTO3.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.387-393
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the fermentative characteristics of wheat bran inoculated with a starter culture of direct-fed microbes as a microbial wheat bran (DMWB) feed additive. Wheat bran was prepared with 1% (w/w, 0.5% Lactobacillus plantarum and 0.5% of Saccharomyces cerevisiae) starter culture treatment (TW) or without starter culture as a control (CW). Those were fermented under anaerobic conditions at $30^{\circ}C$ incubation for 3 days. Samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, and 3 days to analyze chemical composition, microbial growth, pH, and organic acid content. Chemical composition was not significantly different between CW and TW (p > 0.05). In TW, the number of lactic acid bacteria and yeast increased during the 3 days of fermentation (p < 0.05) and the population of lactic acid bacteria was significantly higher than in CW (p < 0.05). After 3 days, the number of yeast in TW was $7.50{\pm}0.07log\;CFU/g$, however, no yeast was detected in CW (p < 0.05). The pH values of both wheat bran samples decreased during the 3 days of fermentation (p < 0.05), and TW showed significantly lower pH than CW after 3 days of fermentation (p < 0.05). Contents of lactic acid and acetic acid increased significantly at 3rd day of fermentation in TW. However, no organic acids were generated in CW during testing period. These results suggest that 3 days of fermentation at $37^{\circ}C$ incubation after the inoculation wheat bran with starter culture makes it possible to produce a direct-feed with a high population of lactic acid bacteria at more than $10^{11}CFU/g$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2011

Gastritis is the most common disease among Korean. The demand for the development of gastritis drugs has been increasing. Currently, however, there is no guideline available for the clinical evaluation of gastritis drugs worldwide. As a consequence, domestic and international pharmaceutical companies make errors in the drug development processes, and it becomes difficult for them to establish the scientific validity and objectivity of newly developed drugs. The objective of this study was to develop the Guideline for Clinical Trials Evaluation of Gastritis which can be used in improving the quality and consistency of clinical trials. First, we collected and reviewed the clinical trials on gastritis drugs that were available from Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), and investigated the recent research trends on clinical trials of gastritis drugs. Reviewers from KFDA and National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation and scientific experts from the pharmaceutical industries developed the guidelines through regularly scheduled meetings. Opinions and consultation from academic fields and industry experts were also obtained. This project will provide the clinical trial practitioners, investigator and reviewers the scientific and rational guidelines for performance and evaluation of clinical trials for gastritis drugs. Furthermore, we hope this guideline contributes to establishing the national competitiveness, improving the quality of clinical trial, and encouraging researches on drug development for gastritis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.439-446
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• 2015

The turnout system, which determines the direction of the train, is not only a key system but also a vulnerable system. Failure of this system may lead to a delay of the train or even casualties. In this light, it is necessary to precisely the conditions of the turnout system. Currently, ROADMASTER of Germany is used as a diagnostic system in Korea. However, a new diagnostic system should be developed for optimized operation of the turnout system with maintenance that is suitable for the Korean railway environment. In this paper, a Fault Tree Analysis for the representative faults of the turnout system is conducted and physical quantities, which can be the cause of the fault, are classified according to the component and function. Also, the measuring factors for the monitoring are derived and a decision making theory is suggested. On the basis of the results, we propose a new turnout diagnostic system that can provide more driverse and precise information than the conventional system.