• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.442-451
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• 2004

Protein-calories malnutrition is common among patients in the hospital. In particular, elderly patients with neurologic disorders has more risk of nutritional deficiency due to swallowing difficulty. Enteral tube feeding is more economical, physiological and immunological than parenteral nutrition for patients who have adequate gastrointestinal function. This study was conducted patients with neurologic disorders who received enteral nutrition at Asan Medical Center from February 1 to October 10, 2002. The control group (48 patients) were given traditional feeding methods 4 times a day while the treatment group (45 patients) were given improved feeding methods 3 times a day. We assessed nutritional status of patients and compared to both groups. We investigated body weight, serum albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count by means of nutrition markers. The objectives of this study is to reduce the time needed for nutritional requirement of patients without an increase in gastrointestinal intolerances. The results of this study are as follows: 1. Nutritional status of many patients in both groups were either malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. 2. The time to arrive to the nutritional requirements were 6.21 $\pm$ 0.35 days for the control group and 4.24 $\pm$ 0.52 days for the treatment group. The treatment group showed a significantly shorter amount of time. 3. The changes of the nutritional marker in the control group showed a significant drop in body weight, serum albumin and serum hemoglobin while the treatment group experienced a significant increase in body weight, serum albumin and total lymphocyte count. 4. Feeding intolerane such as diarrhea, high residual volume, ileus, nausea and vomiting were investigated. Diarrhea found in 25.1% (12 patients) of the control group and 22.2% (10 patients) of the treatment group and these findings are not significant.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.967-972
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• 2007

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent metabolic bone disease and is characterized by diminished bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. We investigated the effects of the extract from Acyranthes Radix on the progress of bone loss in ovariectomized rats for 6 weeks. Female Sprague-Dawley 40 rats of 3-4 weeks, weight 200 ${\pm}$ 10g were divided into two groups including the sham operation group(8 rats) and ovariectomy group(32 rats). The dose-dependent effect of Acyranthes Radix extract on bone mineral density and biochemical testing was assessed in ovariectomized rat. Body weights were increased in all groups was higher in experimental group than sham operation group. The level of bone mineral density, GPT, and serum P concentration, ALP were increased experimental group, but a little increase in sham operation group at same period. This longitudinal study result made conclusion that Acyranthes Radix extract treatment appeared to improve the osteoporosis delaying the progression to the osteoporotic process in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 1973

The influences of the acute hemorrhage on the intestinal functions were studied in the rabbits subjected to acute bleeding, amounting 1.5-2% of the body weight. The motility and the absorptive capacity of the ileum were compared before and after the bleeding. Transfusion of shed blood was also performed in order to see whether the deteriorations were reversible or not. The tension developed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ileum was recorded through an appropriate transducer, and the frequency of the rhythmic contraction was counted throughout the procedure. Test solution, 10ml in amount, was placed in the loop of the ileum, and the samples were drawn at zero time and at 20 minutes. Triplicated procedures were repeated on the same loop;namely, before and after bleeding and after transfusion. The test solution was composed of 200 mg% urea, 218 mEq/l of NaCl and 150 mg% of polyethylene glycol (PEG) No. 4,000 in distilled water. The latter substance was used as a marker substance for the volume change of the loop. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The motility of the ileum suffered little effects by acute hemorrhage. However, minor fluctuations were seen in the frequency of the rhythm, showing a slight tendency of decreasing rhythmicity, and it was reversed by transfusion. 2. Diminution of absorptive capacity of urea was noticed in acute hemorrhage and it was interpreted as the consequence of the secondary effect of the retardation of the active transport mechanism governing the sodium transport 3. Absorption rate of the sodium ion was dropped in the hemorrhage, suggesting the indispensable need of the blood supply. 4. Osmolarity of the luminal fluid remained higher in the case of acute hemorrhage. 5. There was a tendency of retaining more fluid in the intestinal lumen in acute hemorrhage, comparing with that observed prior to the bleeding. 6. The deteriorations in the absorptive capacity were restored by transfusion of shed blood.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2006

Spikelet proteins expressed at the young microspore stage in rice were separated and analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE). The separated proteins were electro blotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane, and 50 proteins were analyzed by a gas-phase protein sequencer. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of 20 out of 50 proteins were determined. N-terminal regions of the remaining proteins could not be sequenced because of blocking. The internal amino acid sequences of proteins were determined by sequence analysis of peptides obtained by the Cleveland peptide mapping method. Results revealed the presence of the photosynthetic apparatus at rice young microspore stage. Major proteins identified in this study could be used as a marker for various studies on physiological stresses.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2007

Phylogenetic relationships in Korean watermelons were evaluated by genetic similarity coefficients using 15 SSR(simple sequence repeat), 14 SCAR(sequence characterized amplified region) and 14 CAPS(sequence characterized amplified region) markers. The SSR markers were selected from previously reported melon and watermelon SSRs through testing polymorphisms within a set of commercial $F_1$ varieties. The SCAR and CAPS markers were developed from polymorphic AFLP(amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers between inbred lines 'BN4001' and 'BN4002'. From the AFLP analysis, 105 polymorphic fragments were identified between the inbred lines using 1,440 primer combinations of EcoRI+CNNN and XbaI+ANNN. Based on the sequencing data of these polymorphic fragments, we synthesized sequence specific primer pairs and detected clear and reliable polymorphisms in 27 primer pairs by indels(insertion/deletion) or RFLP(restriction fragment length polymorphism). A total of 43 sequence-based PCR markers were obtained and polymorphic information content(PIC) was analyzed to measure the informativeness of each marker in watermelon varieties. The average PIC value of SCAR markers was 0.41, which was similar to that of SSR markers. Genetic diversity was also estimated by using these markers to assess the phylogenetic relationships among commercial varieties of watermelon. These markers differentiated 26 Korean watermelon varieties into two major phylogenetic groups, but this grouping was not significantly correlated with their morphological and physiological characteristics. The mean genetic similarity was 66% within the complete set of 26 commercial varieties. In addition, these sequence-based PCR markers were reliable and useful to identify cultivars and genotypes of watermelon.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.896-901
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• 2006

Zingiberis rhizoma(ZB) has been used to treat a various condition and disease in traditional oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous-extracted ZB(ZBE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced immune suppression in mouse spleen cells. In spleen cell proliferation assay, ZBE enhanced mitogenic activity in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR, ZBE induced IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 cytokine gene expression in mouse spleen cells. In spite of MTX treatment, IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 gene expressions sustained in MTX treated spleen cells. CD45R/B220, pan B marker was slightly increased in ZBE treated mouse spleen cells. IL-6, B cell tropical cytokine, production was induced by ZBE-treated mouse spleen cells and IL-6 production was sustained on MTX-ZBE co-cultured cells. ZBE administration enhanced suNival of S-180 bearing mouse. These data indicate that ZBE has a protective effect of immune suppression caused by MTX, and ZBE may be enhance cellular and humoral function by regulate cytokine gene expression as well as the mitogenic effect on spleen cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Bone destruction is a pathological symptom of some chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis. Inflammation-induced bone loss of these diseases results from increased number and activity of osteoclasts. Paeoniae Radix Alba has been used in korean traditional medicine to treat disease including inflammation, gynecopathy and various pain. However, these effects have not been tested on osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells that regulate bone metabolism. Here, we investigated the effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba ethanol extract (PRAE) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation and formation. Osteoclast differentiation and formation were measured by tartrate resistant acidic phosphatase (TRAP) staining and TRAP solution assay. The treatment of PRAE on bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs), which is known as osteoclast precursor cells, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of osteoclast differentiation marker genes was suppressed by PRAE treatment. This inhibitory effect of PRAE resulted from significant repression of c-Fos expression, and subsequent reduction of NFATc1 expression which was previously reported as a master transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate that PRAE negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation and formation and suggest that PRAE can be used as a potent preventive or therapeutic candidate for various bone diseases, such as postmenopausal osteoporosis, periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.530-535
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• 2016

Large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels participate in many important physiological functions in excitable tissues such as neurons, cardiac and smooth muscles, whereas the knowledge of BK channels in bone tissues and osteoblasts remains elusive. To investigate the role of BK channels in osteoblasts, we used transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) to establish a BK knockout cell line on rat ROS17/2.8 osteoblast, and detected the proliferation and mineralization of the BK-knockout cells. Our study found that the BKknockout cells significantly decreased the ability of proliferation and mineralization as osteoblasts, compared to the wild type cells. The overall expression of osteoblast differentiation marker genes in the BK-knockout cells was significantly lower than that in wild type osteoblast cells. The BK-knockout osteoblast cell line in our study displays a phenotype decrease in osteoblast function which can mimic the pathological state of osteoblast and thus provide a working cell line as a tool for study of osteoblast function and bone related diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.34-47
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• 2020

The circadian clock regulates various physiological processes, including bone metabolism. The nuclear receptors Reverbs, comprising Rev-erbα and Rev-erbβ, play a key role as transcriptional regulators of the circadian clock. In this study, we demonstrate that Rev-erbs negatively regulate differentiation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The knockdown of Rev-erbα in osteoclast precursor cells enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation, as well as expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The overexpression of Rev-erbα leads to attenuation of the NFATc1 expression via inhibition of recruitment of c-Fos to the NFATc1 promoter. The overexpression of Rev-erbα in osteoblast precursors attenuated the expression of osteoblast marker genes including Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin (OC). Rev-erbα interfered with the recruitment of Runx2 to the promoter region of the target genes. Conversely, knockdown of Rev-erbα in the osteoblast precursors enhanced the osteoblast differentiation and function. In addition, Rev-erbα negatively regulated osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation by suppressing the p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of GSK4112, a Rev-erb agonist, protects RANKL-induced bone loss via inhibition of osteoclast differentiation in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism of Rev-erbs in the bone remodeling, and provide a molecular basis for a potential therapeutic target for treatment of bone disease characterized by excessive bone resorption.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.229-238
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• 2021

Background: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), an important physiological feature of asthma, is a prognostic marker of childhood asthma. Purpose: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with BHR in adolescents with childhood asthma. Methods: Two hundred and fifteen adolescents (≥13 years of age; 149 males, 66 females) who were diagnosed with asthma during childhood were enrolled, underwent methacholine challenge tests, and were divided into the BHR group (<25 mg/mL of provocation concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV₁] [PC₂₀], n=113) or non-BHR group (≥25 mg/mL of PC₂₀, n=102). We examined longitudinal changes in BHR and the risk factors for its persistence in the 108 adolescents for whom baseline data, including methacholine PC₂₀ at age 6 years, were available. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with BHR in adolescents. Results: Mold sensitization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.569; P=0.005) and increased blood eosinophil count (aOR, 1.002; P=0.026) were independently associated with BHR in boys but not girls. The odds of BHR decreased by 32% with each 1-year increase in age in boys (aOR, 0.683; P=0.010) but not girls. A reduced FEV₁/forced vital capacity ratio (<90%) was independently related with BHR in female patients only (aOR, 7.500; P=0.007). BHR decreased with age throughout childhood. A low methacholine PC₂₀ at age 6 years was independently associated with persistent BHR throughout childhood in male and female patients, whereas early mold sensitization was a risk factor for persistent BHR in male patients only (aOR, 7.718; P=0.028). Conclusion: Our study revealed sex-specific differences in the factors associated with BHR in adolescents with childhood asthma. Our findings suggest the risk factors that might affect asthma transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood.