• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.544-552
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• 2004

In oriental medicine, Radix Polygalae(RP) has been to treat tremors et al. But the mechanism how to decrease tremors was not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of RP on neurodegenerative disease. We used RP to execute the study of this defense mechanism on dopamine-induced cell death in human SH-SY5Y dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells. MTT assay was used to know the cytotoxicity of dopamine and the defense mechanism. As a result of this experiment, dopamine had cytotoxicity in human SH-SY5Y cells, but when it treated with RP, the cell survival rate increased. This suppressed the cell apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 protease, production of ROS, and repair of membrane potential change. In conclusion, RP has the protective effect on dopamine-induced cell death in human SH-SY5Y dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells, so this could be an effective agent on the neurodegenerative disease like Parkinsonism.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 1999

Based on known physiological and psychophysical results, a neural network model for visual selection, called FeaureGate is proposed. The model consists of a hierarchy of spatial maps. and the flow of information from each level of the hierarchy to the next is controlled by attentional gates. The gates are jointly controlled by a bottom-up system favoring locations with unique features. and a top-down mechanism favoring locations with features designated as target features. The present study focuses on the top-down mechanism of the FeatureGate model that produces results similar to Moran and Desimone's (1985), which many current models have failed to explain, The FeatureGate model allows a consistent interpretation of many different experimental results in visual attention. including parallel feature searches and serial conjunction searches. attentional gradients triggered by cuing, feature-driven spatial selection, split a attention, inhibition of distractor locations, and flanking inhibition. This framework can be extended to produce a model of shape recognition using upper-level units that respond to configurations of features.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.646-652
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• 2010

Gambejaeseup-tang (GBJST) have recently been used as an anti-obesity herbal medicine but their effect and mechanism of action have not been studied. We modified ingredients of GBJST based on the previous experiments about exploring herbs to suppress triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We investigated the effects of modified GBJST on energy, glucose and lipid homeostasis using female rats with diet-induced obesity and their action mechanism was also determined. Rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were divided into 3 groups: rats in each group received 0.2 or 2 g water extracts of modified GBJST (L-GBJST or H-GBJST) or 2 g cellulose per kg body weight (a negative control) on a daily basis. A further group was fed a low-fat diet (LFD) as a positive control. We found that modified GBJST dose-dependently decreased body weight and mesenteric and retroperitoneal fat more than the control. This decrease was due to the reduction in energy intake and the increase of energy expenditure. HFD increased fat oxidation more than LFD and modified GBJST further increased fat oxidation as a major energy source more than the control in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, H-GBJST improved glucose tolerance without changing serum insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test. H-GBJST also suppressed the increase of serum total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels by HFD. In conclusion, modified GBJST have a good anti-obesity effect by decreasing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure mainly as fat in female rats with diet-induced obesity. It also improves glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1552-1556
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• 2005

Silymarin has been known to exert anti-tumoral activity in Korea. However, its molecular mechanism of action is not understood. In this study, we found that silymarin induced apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 cells as confirmed by DNA fragmentation. Our data demonstrated that silymarin-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by activation of caspase-3 and subsequent cleavages of its substrates, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Also, silymarin-induced apoptotic mechanism of DU145 cells involved the induction of Par-4 protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that silymarin induces the activation of caspase-3, degradation of PARP, increase of Par-4 expression, and eventually leads to apoptotic cell death.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2010

This study is about researching DongEuiBoGam by analysing with pattern identification of modern Traditional Korean medical patholgy as more logical, systematic and standardized theory. Disease pattern mechanisms of essence, spirit, qi and blood in NaeGyungPyeb of DongEuiBoGam are these. In Essence, this explain mechanism of disease patterns those are seminal emission, dream emission, spermatorrhea, white ooze. These disease pattern's mechanisms are kidney yang deficiency, kidney yin deficiency, heart yang deficiency, heart yin deficiency, heart qi deficiency, spleen qi deficiency and so on. On viewpoints of viscera and bowels they are related with heart, kidney, spleen. And most of them are deficiency from deficiency-excess Pattern Identification. Classifying disease pattern of qi is about upward, downward movement and more concentrated deficiency than excess pattern. Fright palpitations can be classified heart deficiency with timidity, heart blood and qi deficiency, heart qi deficiency, heart blood deficiency, heart qi movement stagnation, water qi intimidating the heart, phlegm-fire harassing the heart, phlegm clouding the pericardium, and so on. Palpitations can be classified heart blood deficiency, heart yin deficiency, heart deficiency with timidity, heart spleen blood deficiency, spleen qi deficiency, phlegm-fire harassing the heart, intense heart fire, and so on. Forgetfulness can be classified heart spleen blood deficiency, heart spleen qi deficiency, kidney essence deficiency, heart qi deficiency, non-interaction between the heart and kidney, etc. for deficiency pattern, phlegm clouding the pericardium for excess pattern. In Blood just say inside bleeding pattern's category, there are nose bleeding, flopping syncope, qi counterflow, blood vomiting, hemoptysis, spitting of blood, bloody stool, hematuria, and so on. Like these, this study identify pattern of disease in DongEuiBoGam by mechanism of disease theory.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.601-606
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to research the effects of acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 and to determine the mechanism of action of acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 by measuring the changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats. To determine the mechanism of action of acupuncturing BL40 and ST36, pretreatment with indomethacine and methylene blue was performed. Acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 significantly increased rCBF, and the increased rCBF by acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and methylene blue($10{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. Acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 decreased MABP, and decreased MABP by acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 was not changed by pretreatment with indomethacin and methylene blue. This result suggested that acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 might significantly increase rCBF by dilating arterial diameter and mechanism of acupuncturing BL40 and ST36 might be mediated by cyclooxygenase and guanylate cyclase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1760-1765
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• 2007

Proteins are involved in promoting or controlling virtually every event on which our lives depend. Proteins are synthesized in cytosol and in the endoplasmic reticulum where their synthesis machinery are tightly controlled. However, not all of newly synthesized proteins are survived and conduct their essential functions to maintain cell's lives. It was reported that one-third of synthesized proteins are rapidly destroyed by proteasome under the most physiological conditions. full-length translated proteins, which survived, must undergo proper folding and assemble process. Some proteins are spontaneously folded while others require molecular chaperones and folding enzymes to be properly folded. Molecular chaperones are ubiquitously present within the subcellular organelles and from bacteria to animals and plants. Among those members of Hsp70 family have been extensively studied and their regulators have been discovered in the last decade. Here, a brief overview is presented for functional mechanism of Hsp70 homologues and the roles of their regulators. Since biological function of Hsp70 family other than chaperonic function are expending the review would give basic understanding of partnership between Hsp70 family and their regulators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.175-180
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• 2022

The seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii (STK) used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of dry cough and constipation have diverse pharmacological activities, including hypolipidemic, antioxidant, immunosuppressive, and anticancer effects. However, the effect of STK on angiogenesis has not been studied yet. In this study, we investigated whether the ethanolic extract of STK (ESTK) can regulate the migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explored the underlying mechanism. Results of transwell assay showed that ESTK treatment dose-dependently suppressed the migration of HUVECs. The conditioned medium collected from H1299 human lung cancer cells was used as a chemoattractant. Our observation suggests that ESTK would inhibit the recruitment of endothelial cells into tumors. In addition, ESTK treatment significantly reduced the tube formation of HUVECs. As a molecular mechanism, we found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was completely blocked by ESTK treatment. The expression of angiogenic factors, including VEGFA, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), angiopoietin, placental growth factor (PGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), angiogenin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, was commonly decreased by ESTK treatment in H1299 cells, indicating that ESTK would reduce the production of angiogenic factors from cancer cells. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrated that ESTK exhibited anti-angiogenic effects in HUVECs, which provides another possible mechanism underlying the anticancer activities of STK.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2024

Haepyoijin-tang and its main components have been used for phlegm, cough and dyspnea. Using a respiratory inflammation model, we intend to reveal the anti-inflammatory effect and pharmacological mechanism of Haepyoijin-tang. We induced the respiratory inflammation model by Aspergillus oryzae protease and ovalbumin administration. Female Balb/c mice (8 weeks old) were classified into four groups as follows: saline control group, aspergillus oryzae protease and ovalbumin induced respiratory inflammation group (vehicle), inflammation with Haepyoijin-tang (200 mg/kg) administration group, inflammation with dexamethasone (5 mg/kg) administration group (n=7). To identify the anti-inflammatory effects of Haepyoijin-tang water extracts, we measured the inflammatory cell number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and total live lung cell number. In addition, we checked eosinophil ratio and number in BALF. And Interleukin (IL)-5 level was also measured in lung cell culture supernatant. To confirm the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects, we analyzed the activated helper T cell (CD4⁺CD25⁺ cell) and Th2 cell (CD4⁺GATA3⁺ cell) ratio and number in lung by using flow cytometry. Finally, we attempted to confirm the immune mechanism by measuring the ratio and number of regulatory T cells (CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ cell). Haepyoijin-tang extracts treatment diminished inflammatory cell, especially, eosinophil number in BALF and total live lung cell number. Moreover, IL-5 level was reduced in Haepyoijin-tang treated group. Surprisingly, Haepyoijin-tang extracts administration not only decreased the activated helper T cell but also Th2 cell population in lung. Additionally, regulatory T cell population was increased in Haepyoijin-tang administration group. Our findings proved that Haepyoijin-tang extract have anti-inflammatory efficacy by suppressing Th2 cell activation and promoting regulatory T cell population.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.243-245
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• 2002

Pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) is an octadecapeptide distributed in the optic lobe and the brain in a variety of insect species. There are lines of evidence suggesting possible involvement of PDF in the insect circadian system. However, its physiological roles in the circadian time keeping mechanism have not been clearly defined. In this study, we have examined the phase shifting effects of Gryllus-PDF on the circadian locomotor rhythm in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus of which circadian clock is located in the optic lobe. Phase shifts in the circadian activity rhythm were measured following microinjection of 22nl of vehicle (Ringer's solution) or O.lmM PDF into the optic lobe through the compound eye at various circadian times. The results showed that PDF induced phase shifts of the circadian clock in a phase-dependent manner, suggesting that it may play a role as an input signal for the circadian clock.