• Title/Summary/Keyword: Physiological Functions

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Review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Intervention Program for Internet Addicts: A Theoretical Framework and Implications with Physiological Perspectives (인터넷 중독 중재 프로그램으로서의 인지행동요법: 생리적 관점에서의 이론적 기틀 및 활용에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Nahyun;Hong, Seung Hee
    • Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.219-227
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: This study was conducted to review physiological mechanisms of internet addiction and to construct a theoretical framework for cognitive behavioral therapy for internet addicts. Methods: We searched for relevant literature in the PubMed and RISS databases using the terms "internet addiction", "internet game addiction", "internet abuser", and "online game". Only English, full-text articles published from 2000 to 2015 were included in this review of physiological indicators of internet addiction. Finally, 12 articles were selected for review. Results: The theoretical framework developed based on the review proposes that excessive internet use itself may induce physiological stress responses with an increase of stress-related hormones and neurotransmitters. Prolonged abnormal responses of these physiological features produce negative structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex, which is mainly involved in cognitive and executive functions. These changes may result in decreased cognitive function. As a stressor, excessive internet use leads to transforming voluntary use into involuntary, habitual use and thus promotes the development of internet addiction. Conclusion: The proposed theoretical framework encompasses cognitive processes that may contribute to the effects of internet use-induced physiological stress on internet addiction. We believe that this framework has important implications for developing cognitive behavioral strategies for internet addicts.

The Molecular Functions of RalBP1 in Lung Cancer

  • Lee, Seunghyung
    • Biomedical Science Letters
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.49-55
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    • 2014
  • RalBP1 is an ATP-dependent non-ABC transporter, responsible for the major transport function in many cells including many cancer cell lines, causing efflux of glutathione-electrophile conjugates of both endogenous metabolites and environmental toxins. RalBP1 is expressed in most human tissues, and is over-expressed in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and in many other tumor types. Blockade of RalBP1 by various approaches has been shown to increase sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs, leading to cell apoptosis. In xenograft tumor models in mice, RalBP1 blockade or depletion results in complete and sustained regression across many cancer cell types including lung cancer cells. In addition to its transport function, RalBP1 has many other cellular and physiological functions, based on its domain structure which includes a unique Ral-binding domain and a RhoGAP catalytic domain, as well as docking sites for multiple signaling proteins. Additionally, RalBP1 is also important for stromal cell function in tumors, as it was recently shown to be required for efficient endothelial cell function and angiogenesis in solid tumors. In this review, we discuss the cellular and physiological functions of RalBP1 in normal and lung cancer cells.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate: Physiological Functions and Applications

  • Wu, Nan;Yang, Mingyao;Gaur, Uma;Xu, Huailiang;Yao, Yongfang;Li, Diyan
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2016
  • Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a key molecule in the Krebs cycle determining the overall rate of the citric acid cycle of the organism. It is a nitrogen scavenger and a source of glutamate and glutamine that stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits protein degradation in muscles. AKG as a precursor of glutamate and glutamine is a central metabolic fuel for cells of the gastrointestinal tract as well. AKG can decrease protein catabolism and increase protein synthesis to enhance bone tissue formation in the skeletal muscles and can be used in clinical applications. In addition to these health benefits, a recent study has shown that AKG can extend the lifespan of adult Caenorhabditis elegans by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR. AKG not only extends lifespan, but also delays age-related disease. In this review, we will summarize the advances in AKG research field, in the content of its physiological functions and applications.

Mechanisms Underlying Plk1 Polo-Box Domain-Mediated Biological Processes and Their Physiological Significance

  • Lee, Kyung S.;Park, Jung-Eun;Kang, Young Hwi;Kim, Tae-Sung;Bang, Jeong K.
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.286-294
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    • 2014
  • Mammalian polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been studied intensively as a key regulator of various cell cycle events that are critical for proper M-phase progression. The polobox domain (PBD) present in Plk1's C-terminal noncatalytic region has been shown to play a central role in targeting the N-terminal kinase domain of Plk1 to specific subcellular locations. Subsequent studies reveal that PBD binds to a phosphorylated motif generated by one of the two mechanisms - self-priming by Plk1 itself or non-self-priming by a Pro-directed kinase, such as Cdc2. Here, we comparatively review the differences in the biochemical steps of these mechanisms and discuss their physiological significance. Considering the diverse functions of Plk1 during the cell cycle, a better understanding of how the catalytic activity of Plk1 functions in concert with its cisacting PBD and how this coordinated process is intricately regulated to promote Plk1 functions will be important for providing new insights into different mechanisms underlying various Plk1-mediated biological events that occur at the multiple stages of the cell cycle.

The Effects of a Combined Exercise Program and Telephone Counseling on Physiological Functions, Self-efficacy and Depression in Obese Middle-aged Women (복합운동프로그램과 전화상담이 중년 비만여성의 생리적 기능, 자기효능감, 우울에 미치는 효과)

  • Park, Nam-Hee;Choi, Eun-Oak;Han, Chae-In
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.69-78
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    • 2007
  • Purpose: This study was to determine the effects of a combined exercise program and telephone counseling in obese middle-aged women. The study also attempted to measure the effects of the program on physiological functions, self-efficacy and depression. Method: This research employed a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The experimental group consisted of 29 obese middle-aged women, and the control group of 30 women. The subjects in the experimental group participated in a combined exercises program and telephone counseling for 12 weeks. Results: After performing the program for 12 weeks, BMI (p=.000), percent body fat (p<.007), TC (p=.026), TG (p=.035) and depression (p=.012) in the experimental group decreased significantly compared with the control group. Self-efficacy (p=.000) in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group after the program. Conclusion: From these findings, it was confirmed that a combined exercises program and telephone counseling for obese middle-aged women can increase self-efficacy and decrease BMI, percent body fat, total cholesterol, triglyceride and depression. Therefore, this program can be utilized for various population groups including women, and further researches are required on programs for men.

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Regulation of Chilling Tolerance in Rice Seedlings by Plant Hormones

  • Chu, Chun;Lee, Tse-Min
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.288-298
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    • 1992
  • Since the major important factors limiting plant growth and crop productivity are environmental stresses, of which low temperature is the most serious. It has been well known that many physiological processes are alterant in response to the environmental stress. With regard to the relationship between plant hormones and the regulation of chilling tolerance in rice seedlings, the major physiological roles of plant hormones: abscisic acid, ethylene and polyamines are evaluated and discussed in this paper. Rice seedlings were grown in culture solution to examine the effect of such plant hormones on physiological characters related to chilling tolerance and also to compare the different responses among tested cultivars. Intact seedlings about 14 day-old were chilled at conditions of 5$^{\circ}C$ and 80% relative humidity for various period. Cis-(+)-ABA content was measured by the indirect ELISA technique. Polyamine content and ethylene production in leaves were determined by means of HPLC and GC respectively. Chilling damage of seedlings was evaluated by electrolyte leakage, TTC viability assay or servival test. Our experiment results described here demonstrated the physiological functions of ABA, ethylene, and polyamines related to the regulation of chilling tolerance in rice seedlings. Levels of cis-(+)-ABA in leaves or xylem sap of rice seedlings increased rapidly in response to 5$^{\circ}C$ treatment. The tolerant cultivars had significant higher level of endogenous ABA than the sensitive ones. The ($\pm$)-ABA pretreatment for 48 h increased the chilling tolerance of the sensitive indica cultivar. One possible function of abscisic acid is the adjustment of plants to avoid chilling-induced water stress. Accumulation of proline and other compatible solutes is assumed to be another factor in the prevention of chilling injuies by abscisic acid. In addition, the expression of ABA-responsive gene is reported in some plants and may be involving in the acclimation to low temperature. Ethylene and its immediate precusor, 1-amincyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid(ACC) increased significantly after 5$^{\circ}C$ treatment. The activity of ACC synthase which converts S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to ACC enhanced earlier than the increase of ethylene and ACC. Low temperature increased ACC synthase activity, whereas prolonged chilling treatment damaged the conversion of ACC to ethylene. It was shown that application of Ethphon was beneficial to recovering from chilling injury in rice seedlings. However, the physiological functions of chilling-induced ethylene are still unclear. Polyamines are thought to be a potential plant hormone and may be involving in the regulation of chilling response. Results indicated that chilling treatment induced a remarkable increase of polyamines, especially putrescine content in rice seedlings. The relative higher putrescine content was found in chilling-tolerant cultivar and the maximal level of enhanced putrescine in shoot of chilling cultivar(TNG. 67) was about 8 folds of controls at two days after chilling. The accumulation of polyamines may protect membrane structure or buffer ionic imbalance from chilling damage. Stress physiology is a rapidly expanding field. Plant growth regulators that improve tolerance to low temperature may affect stress protein production. The molecular or gene approaches will help us to elucidate the functions of plant hormones related to the regulation of chilling tolerance in plants in the near future.

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Effects of Sayeok-tang on Papain-Induced Osteoarthritis in Mice (Papain으로 유도된 골관절염 생쥐 모델에서 사역탕(四逆湯)의 항골관절염 효능에 관한 연구)

  • Kung, Shyang En;Oh, Min Seok
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.212-224
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    • 2013
  • This study intends to clarify how Sayeok-tang(here in after reffered to SYT) affect C57BL/10 mice whose osteoarthritis was induced by papain. Osteoarthritis was induced by injecting papain in the knee joint of 3 groups(n=6) of mice. Normal group was non-treatment group and was not injected papain, whereas control mice were orally administered with $200{\mu}{\ell}$ of physiological saline. Positive comparison group was medicated with 100 mg/kg of Joins$^{(R)}$ mixed with $200{\mu}{\ell}$ of physiological saline. Experimental group was medicated with 400 mg/kg of SYT mixed with $200{\mu}{\ell}$ of physiological saline. Both Positive and experimental comparison groups were orally medicated once per day for 4 weeks. After the experiment, the functions of liver and kidney, inflammation cytokine values within serum, degree of revelation for inflammation cytokine genes, immune cells within blood, metabolism of arachidonic acid and amount of cartilage were measured and histopathological changes in the knee joint structures were observed. As results, SYT had no significant effect on the liver and kidney functions. Interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6(IL-6), monocyte chemo attractant protein-1(MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) were significantly decreased. Inflammation cytokines in joints were all significantly decreased. Prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, thromboxane $B_2(TXB_2)$ were significantly decreased. Destruction of cartilage on micro computed tomography(CT)-arthrography was meaningfully decreased. In terms of histopathology, infiltration of inflammation, proliferation of synovial membrane, subsidence of cartilage and bone due to penetration of excessive formation of synovial cell and destruction of cartilage were small. Based on all results mentioned above, Sayeok-tang(SYT) is believed to be meaningful for suppressing the progress of osteoarthritis and its treatments because of its anti-inflammatory effects and alleviation of pain with histopathological effective efficacy.

Crystal structure and functional analysis of the surE protein identify a novel phosphatase family

  • Lee, Jae-Young;Kwak, Jae-Eun;Suh, Se-Won
    • Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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    • 2001.06a
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    • pp.19-19
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    • 2001
  • The genome sequencing has revealed a large number of proteins of unknown or little characterized functions that have been well conserved during evolution. It remains a great challenge to decipher the molecular and physiological functions of these proteins. One example of the evolutionarily conserved protein family with little understood function is the surE family.(omitted)

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A Study on the Determination d Membership Function for Manual Materials Lifting (중량물 수인양에서의 구성함수 결정에 관한 연구)

  • 이종권;송서일
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.82-90
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    • 1993
  • Manual lifting, as a part of Manual Materials Handling Activities, is recognized by authorities in the field of occupational health and safety as a major hazard to industrial workers. The most important problem in applying fuzzy model of manual materials lifting is the decision of membership functions on each approaches. : Biomechanical, Physiological, Psychophysical. The primary objectives of this paper suggests to process deciding the most acceptable membership functions for establishing permissible weights on manual lifting activities using fuzzy sets.

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