• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Oriental medicine, certain foods may be beneficial or detrimental based on an individual's constitution; however, the scientific basis for this theory is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of body constitution, based on the Sasang type of Korean traditional medical classification system, on the bioavailability of soy isoflavones of Cheonggukjang, a quick-fermented soybean paste. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A pilot study was conducted on 48 healthy Korean men to evaluate the bioavailability of isoflavone after ingestion of food based on constitution types classified by the Sasang typology. The participants were classified into the Taeeumin (TE; n = 15), Soyangin (SY; n = 15), and Soeumin (SE; n = 18) groups. Each participant ingested 50 g of Cheonggukjang per 60 kg body weight. Thereafter, blood was collected, and the soy isoflavone metabolites were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Ntrikinetic analysis of individual isoflavone-derived metabolites was performed. RESULTS: Our nutrikinetic analysis identified 21 metabolites derived from isoflavones in the blood samples from 48 healthy Korean men (age range, 21-29 years). Significant differences were observed in the time to maximum concentration (T_max) and elimination half-life (t_1/2) for nine metabolites among the three groups. The T_max and t_1/2 of the nine metabolites were higher in the SE group than in the other groups. Moreover, the absorption rates, as determined by the area under the plasma-level curve (AUC) values of intact isoflavone, were 5.3 and 9.4 times higher in the TE group than in the SY and SE groups, respectively. Additionally, the highest AUC values for phase I and II metabolites were observed in the TE group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that isoflavone bioavailability, following Cheonggukjang insgestion, is high in individuals with the TE constitution, and relatively lower in those with the SE and SY constitutions.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 2007

To investigate the innate immune response involved in early stage of anti-viral defence, carps were injected with UV-inactivated spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV), poly inosinic:cytidylic acid (Poly I:C) and concanavalin A (Con A), respectively and examined lysozyme activity, serum complement activity and chemiluminescent (CL) response of leucocytes isolated from head kidney at 3 days post-injection. There was no significant difference in plasma lysozyme activities among all experimental groups. However, lysozyme activities of head kidney in the groups injected with antiviral activity inducers were significantly higher than those of the control injected with physiological saline. Bactericidal activities of serum of the groups injected with antiviral activity inducers were not significantly different from control group. However, the CL responses were significantly higher at lower dose of Poly I:C and Con A, whilst dose-dependent increase was shown in UV-inactivated SVCV-injected group. In the challenge test with 1×104 TCID50/fish of SVCV at 4 days post-injection, UV-inactivated SVCV- and Poly I:C-injected groups showed higher relative percent survival (RPS) than Con A-injected group. Furthermore, strong protection was observed in the group injected higher dose of Poly I:C although showed lower activities in lysozyme and CL response. These results suggested that Poly I:C might stimulate other factors belonging to non-specific immune system have induced protective immunity against the SVCV challenged.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 1994

To assess the role of adrenal medulla and renin-angiotensin system in the regulation of sympathetic neurotransmission, the pressor response to PNS was evaluated in pithed SHR and normotensive WKY or SDR with or without adrenal demedullation and/or enalapril pretreatment. Three weeks after adrenal demedullation, MAP and the heart rate of demedullated rats were similar to their corresponding sham-operated groups. The pressor response to PNS was frequency-dependent, and blocked by prazosin. In contrast to the normotensive rats, in SHR, the pressor response to PNS was attenuated in demedullated rats as compared with sham-operated rats. However, the attenuation of PNS-induced pressor responses in demedullated SHR was not observed in enalapril-treated SHR. The adrenal demedullation in SHR did not affect the plasma and aortic catecholamine contents in spite of the decreased catecholamine contents of adrenal gland, nor ACE activity in aortic strips. But, in WKY rats, the aortic catecholamines, especially epinephrine, contents as well as ACE activity were increased by adrenal demedullation. These results suggest that the facilitatory role of adrenal medulla in sympathetic neurotransmission depends upon the activation of renin-angiotensin system, and that the compensatory regulation of renin-angiotensin system takes place in normotensive rats but not in SHR.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.637-643
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• 2013

We have demonstrated that 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI could enhance the levels of adiponectin and its receptors in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. DNJ was not toxic to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes for up to a concentration of $5{\mu}M$. In terms of expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), DNJ in concentrations as low as $0.5{\mu}M$ elevated both mRNA and protein levels of adiponectin and transcript levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. In addition, DNJ increased phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a statistically significant manner. Finally, treatment with DNJ resulted in increased mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which encodes for a glucose transporter, along with a significant increase in glucose uptake into the adipocytes based on results of a 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$] glucose uptake assay. Our findings indicate that DNJ may greatly facilitate glucose uptake into adipose tissues by increasing the action of adiponectin via its up-regulated expression as well as its receptor genes. In addition, the glucose-lowering effects of DNJ may be achieved by an increased abundance of GLUT4 protein in the plasma membrane, as a consequence of the increased transcript levels of the GLUT4 gene and the activation of AMPK.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.405-414
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• 1999

The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) was investigated in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced acute lung injury associated with oxidative stress. To induce acute lung injury following intestinal I/R, superior mesenteric arteries were clamped with bulldog clamp for 60 min prior to the 120 min reperfusion in Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute lung injury by intestinal I/R was confirmed by the measurement of lung leak index and protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Lung leak and protein content in BAL fluid were increased after intestinal I/R, but decreased by WEB 2086, the PAF receptor antagonist. Furthermore, the pulmonary accumulation of neutrophils was evaluated by the measurement of lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and the number of neutrophils in the BAL fluid. Lung MPO activity and the number of neutrophils were increased (p＜0.001) by intestinal I/R and decreased by WEB 2086 significantly. To confirm the oxidative stress induced by neutrophilic respiratory burst, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity was measured. Lung GGT activity was significantly elevated after intestinal I/R (p<0.001) but decreased to the control level by WEB 2086. On the basis of these experimental results, phospholipase $A_2\;(PLA_2),$ lysoPAF acetyltransferase activity and PAF contents were measured to verify whether PAF is the causative humoral factor to cause neutrophilic chemotaxis and oxidative stress in the lung following intestinal I/R. Intestinal I/R greatly elevated $PLA_2$ activity in the lung as well as intestine (p<0.001), whereas WEB 2086 decreased $PLA_2$ activity significantly (p<0.001) in both organs. LysoPAF acetyltransferase activity, the PAF remodelling enzyme, in the lung and intestine was increased significantly (p<0.05) also by intestinal I/R. Accordingly, the productions of PAF in the lung and intestine were increased (p<0.001) after intestinal I/R compared with sham rats. The level of PAF in plasma was also increased (p<0.05) following intestinal I/R. In cytochemical electron microscopy, the generation of hydrogen peroxide was increased after intestinal I/R in the lung and intestine, but decreased by treatment of WEB 2086 in the lung as well as intestine. Collectively, these experimental results indicate that PAF is the humoral mediator to cause acute inflammatory lung injury induced by intestinal I/R.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.175-185
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• 1986

The measurement of angled erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as a replacement for perpendicular ESR, for cattle blood was scrutinized since it has been well known that perpendicular ESR in cattle is too slow to be adopted as an effective clinical test. Samples of blood were taken from 186 Korean native cattle over 2 years old. The results obtained in the experiment were summarized as follows. 1. Average values of perpendicular ESR/24hrs in 15 apparently healthy cattle, as measured by Wintrobe, Westergren and capillary tubes, were $5.8{\pm}2.2$, $11.1{\pm}3.7$ and $10.4{\pm}4.5%$ respectively, which were found to be similar to the values of perpendicular ESR/hr of normal blood of human. 2. The ESR was determined in the tubes held at 90, 75, 60, 45, 30 and 15-degree angles, using 3 types of tubes. For the diagnostic purposes, the best results were obtained from the tubes held at 45-degree angle. 3. The angled ESR values increased as the diameters of the tube-bores decreased. 4. The tube length did not affect the angled ESR(%). 5. The angled ESR values increased with the increased environmental temperature during the ESR measurement. 6. The storage temperature at $5^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$, of the blood for 24 hours did not affect the angled ESR. 7. Samples of blood were treated with 4 kinds of anticoagulants (heparin, $K_2$-EDTA, double oxalate and sodium citrate) and the ESR was determined at 45-degree angle, using capillary hematocrit tubes. The ESR values were higher in the blood samples treated with sodium citrate than in those treated with other anticoagulants. 8. By using the autologous plasma, the PCV was adjusted to be 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50ml/100ml and the ESR was determined in the capillary hematocrit and Wintrobe tubes held at 45 degrees. In both of the methods the ESRs increased as the values of PCV decreased. The regressions of ESR to PCV in both 45-degree-angled capillary and Wintrobe tubes were curvilinear. For the capillary hematocrit tubes the second degree polynomial $Y=61.9779-2.3533x+0.0228x^2$ (r=0.9999) fits the data. And in the case of Wintrobe tubes the second degree polynomial $Y=27.9767-1.1314x-0.0117x^2$ (r=0.9998) fits the data. 9. The 45-degree angled ESR was determined in the blood of 71 healthy Korean native cows using capillary hematocrit tubes. The average PCV was $35.4{\pm}3.6ml/100ml$. The observed ESR/hr averaged $7.2{\pm}2.7%$, while the corrected ESR/hr to a PCV of 36ml/100ml averaged $6.6{\pm}1.3%$. From these results it was concluded that to obtain the best results the ESR/hr of Korean native cattle should be determined at 45-degree angle at room temperature($20^{\circ}C$) using capillary hematocrit tubes.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.87-97
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• 2017

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease caused by an abnormal proliferation of plasma cells, of which the prognostic factors include chromosomal abnormality, ${\beta}$-2 microglobulin, and albumin. Recently, the term chromothripsis has emerged, which is the massive but highly localized chromosomal rearrangement in response to a one-step catastrophic event. Many studies have shown an association of chromothripsis with the prognosis in several cancers; however, few studies have investigated it in MM. Here, we studied the association between chromothripsis-like patterns and treatment resistance or prognosis. First, we analyzed nine MM cell lines (U266, MM.1S, RPMI8226, KMS-11, KMS-12-BM, KMS-12-PE, KMS-28-BM, KMS-28-PE, and NCI-H929) and bone marrow samples of four patients who were diagnosed with MM by next-generation sequencing-based copy number variation analysis. The frequency of the chromothripsis-like pattern was observed in seven cell lines. We analyzed the treatment-induced chromothripsis-like patterns in KMS-12-BM and KMS-12-PE cells. As a result, breakpoints and chromothripsis-like patterns were increased after drug treatment in the relatively resistant KMS-12-BM. We further analyzed the patients' results according to the therapeutic response, which was divided into sensitive and resistant, as suggested by the International Myeloma Working Group. The chromothripsis-like pattern was more frequently observed in the resistant group. In the sensitive group, the frequency of the chromothripsis-like pattern decreased after treatment, whereas the resistant group showed increased chromothripsis-like patterns after the treatment. These results suggest that the chromothripsis-like pattern is associated with treatment response in MM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2012

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare inherited metabolic disease which results in impaired peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation and the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in the adrenal cortex, the myelin of the central nervous system, and the testes. X-linked ALD is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene encoding an ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily located in the peroxisomal membrane. This disease is characterized by a variety of phenotypes. The classic childhood cerebral ALD is a rapidly progressive demyelinating condition affecting the cerebral white matter before the age of 10 years in boys. We report the case of a 8-year-old with childhood cerebral X-linked ALD who developed inattention, hyperactivity, motor incoordination and hemiparesis. We diagnosed ALD with elevated plasma very long chain fatty acid level and diffuse high signal intensity lesions in both parieto-occipital white matter and cerebellar white matter in brain MRI. We identified a novel c.983delT (p.Met329CysfsX7) mutation of the ABCD1 gene. There is no correlation between X-ALD phenotype and mutations in the ABCD1 gene. Further studies for searching additional non-genetic factor which determine the phenotypic variation will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2016

Ammonia is very toxic, and causes neuronal damage via excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Because the liver is the primary organ for ammonia metabolism, compromised liver function can result from inborn errors of metabolism. Measurement of blood ammonia has some limitations. Recently, several laboratories examined possible concurrent increases in plasma ammonia. However, the collection, handling, storage, and analysis of blood samples are all potential sources of error. For evaluation of rapidity and reliability of measurement of blood ammonia, the DRI-CHEM 100 (Fuji Film Co., Japan) and COBAS 8000 (Roche Diagnostic Ltd., Switzerland) analyzer were used for analysis of ammonia level values. The results of this study detected a high correlation between analyzer. Therefore, one-step measurement was suitable for ammonia analysis. After sampling of the ammonia in the time slot for measurement an increase to 46.5, 57.4, and 79.0 (${\mu}g/dL$) was observed at 30, 90, and 180 minutes. In addition, specific capacity of the ammonia, 7, 10, and 13 (${\mu}L$), was measured as 39, 46, and 43 (${\mu}g/dL$), respectively, and the FDC-100 analyzer was more effective in $10{\mu}L$ (p<0.001). In conclusion, the evaluated analysis may offer useful information for clinical application.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Korean red ginseng has broad efficacious effects against hypertension, diabetes, nociception, and cancer, and it counteracts weakness. It has been reported that Korean red ginseng is able to normalize blood pressure, improve cholesterol and lower blood glucose levels. We have recently reported that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) significantly prevented rat carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo, and inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KRGE on blood circulation in human by measuring ex vivo platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation and serum lipid profiles in healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (placebo-group, KRGE-low dose group, KRGE-high dose group). Administration of KRGE to subjects significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $72.79{\pm}20.53$ to $62.00{\pm}23.06%$ (p=0.0009), and in KRGE-high dose group from $75.14{\pm}21.86$ to $64.52{\pm}24.72%$ (p=0.0039), respectively. Administration of KRGE to subjects also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $85.52{\pm}12.57$ to $79.62{\pm}20.47%$ (p=0.0916), and in KRGE-high dose group from $80.24{\pm}18.11$ to $70.31{\pm}25.93%$ (p=0.0565), respectively. Whereas, KRGE has no significant effects on coagulation system, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serum lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. KRGE also has no significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical profiles. These results suggest that KRGE has a potential to improve blood circulation through antiplatelet activity in human, and KRGE intake may be beneficial for the individuals with high risks of thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.