• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.592-600
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• 2022

Background: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most common endocrine disrupting chemical used as a plasticizer. DEHP is associated with the development of endometrium-related diseases through the induction of inflammation. The major therapeutic approaches against endometrial cancer and endometriosis involve the suppression of inflammatory response. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a natural product with anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of KRG on DEHP-induced inflammatory response in endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells and a mouse model of endometriosis. Methods: RNA-sequencing was performed and analyzed on DEHP-treated Ishikawa cells in the presence and absence of KRG. The effects of KRG on DEHP-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA levels in Ishikawa cells were determined by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the effects of KRG on the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) pathway, COX-2, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) p65 after DEHP treatment of Ishikawa cells were evaluated by western blotting. In the mouse model, the severity of endometriosis induced by DEHP and changes in immunohistochemistry were used to assess the protective effect of KRG. Results: According to the RNA-sequencing data, DEHP-induced inflammatory response-related gene expression was downregulated by KRG. Moreover, KRG significantly inhibited DEHP-induced ERK1/2/NF-κB/COX-2 levels in Ishikawa cells. In the mouse model, KRG administration significantly inhibited ectopic endometriosis growth after DEHP-induced endometriosis. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that KRG may be a promising lead for the treatment of endometrial cancer and endometriosis via suppression of the inflammatory response.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.560-566
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of the changes between leisure and social activities, life satisfaction, and happiness of the disabled according to the time before and after COVID-19, and to examine the moderating effect of living alone. For the analysis, the data of 3,773 persons from the employment panel for the disabled were used for the analysis, and as a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the decrease in leisure and social activities further reinforced the decrease in life satisfaction, and consequently the decrease in happiness also increased. In addition, it was found that the effect of leisure social activities on life satisfaction increases according to living alone. In other words, the decrease in leisure and social activities of the disabled led to a decrease in life satisfaction and decreased happiness. Through these results, although social distancing is important, support such as online gatherings, participation in cultural and artistic activities, and education is necessary as an intervention in reducing leisure and social activities, which can be an important protective factor in the lives of the disabled. Furthermore, it was suggested that screening for mental health and intervention for persons with disabilities living alone are necessary in case management of persons with disabilities.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.183-192
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• 2022

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin factor present in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and induces various immune responses to infection. Recent studies have reported that LPS induces cellular stress in various cells including oocytes and embryos. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a regulatory hormone of circadian rhythm and a powerful antioxidant. It has been known that melatonin has an effective function in scavenging oxygen free radicals and has been used as an antioxidant to reduce the cytotoxic effects induced by LPS. However, the effect of melatonin on LPS treated early embryonic development has not yet been confirmed. In this study, we cultured mouse embryos in medium supplemented with LPS or/and melatonin up to the blastocyst stage in vitro and then evaluated the developmental rate. As a result of the LPS-treatment, the rate of blastocyst development was significantly reduced compared to the control group in all the LPS groups. Next, in the melatonin only treated group, there was no statistical difference in embryonic development and no toxic effects were observed. And then we found that the treatment of melatonin improved the rates of compaction and blastocyst development of LPS-treated embryos. In addition, we showed that melatonin treatment decreased ROS levels compared to the LPS only treated group. In conclusion, we demonstrated the protective effect of melatonin on the embryonic developmental rate reduced by LPS. These results suggest a direction to improve reproduction loss that may occur due to LPS exposure and bacterial infection through the using of melatonin during in vitro culture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.59-68
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the lecture method and physical activity level of Korean university students during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine their effect on the students' mental health, self-efficacy, and learning motivation. Methods : A total of 203 participants (53 male, 150 female) completed the study. An online survey was distributed through a social media platform between March 24 and April 7, 2021. Participants completed the international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF), COVID-19 stress scale for Korean people (CSSK), the Korean version of the general health questionnaire (KGHQ-30), and self-efficacy and learning motivation scales. Results : Among the general characteristics of the study subjects, there were statistically significant differences in the IPAQ-SF, CSSK, KGHQ, self-efficacy, and learning motivation measures by sex. There were no significant differences in the degree of IPAQ-SF, CSSK, KGHQ, self-efficacy, and learning motivation among any of the lecture method and university area groups. The level of physical activity corresponded with significant differences in KGHQ, self-efficacy, and learning motivation, excluding CSSK. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between IPAQ and self-efficacy (r=.273, p<.001), IPAQ-SF and learning motivation (r=.201, p<.01), CSSK and KGHQ (r=.271, p<.001), self-efficacy and learning motivation measures (r=.506, p<.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between IPAQ-SF and KGHQ (r=-.203, p<.01) and between KGHQ and self-efficacy (r=-.558, p<.001). Conclusion : CSSK and KGHQ measures were significantly higher in female students than in male students. Therefore, it is important to consider sex as a protective factor in the mental health management of university students in the context of an infectious disease pandemic. The results of this study suggest that university students should continue to engage in physical activities, even during a pandemic, and that it is necessary to prepare health management to improve mental health in such situations.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.179-186
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• 2022

Objectives : This study aimed to examine the moderating effects of reasons for living on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among psychiatric patients. Methods : Patients were recruited from the department of psychiatry of university hospital. A total of 137 participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing depression (Beck Depression Inventory), suicidal ideation (Ultra-Short Suicidal Ideation Scale) and reasons for living (The Reasons for Living Inventory). Results : Among 4 sub-scales of the reasons for living inventory, survival and coping beliefs, fear of death and social disapproval, and future expectation moderated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. Conclusions : The results suggest that the reasons for living can work as a protective factor on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among psychiatric patients.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.513-520
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cheonggukjang pills with aronia and blueberries on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. There have been several reports that Cheonggukjang is effective for intestinal health, but the efficacy of Cheonggukjang containing fruits has not yet been reported. In this study, we showed the effect of cheonggukjang pills with blueberries and aronia (CPBA) on DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. CPBA was obtained from Soonchang Moonokae foods and orally administered once a day for 2 weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice by feeding 5% (w/v) DSS drinking water for 7 days. The results showed that CPBA treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced disease activity index associated with a decrease in colon length. CPBA improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice colon. In addition, CPBA administration significantly reduced the levels of DSS-mediated interferon-γ and interleukin-6 in serum and tumor necrosis factor-α in colon tissue. Moreover, the gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS, which are factors involved in inflammatory signaling, was significantly reduced by CPBA treatment. These results suggest that CPBA have a protective effect against DSS-induced mice colitis and may be a candidate for colitis treatment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (SMR) water extract against the cerebral hemorrhage and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment in the intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Method : ICH was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type IV in Sprague-Dawley rats. SMR was orally given three times every 20 hours during 3 days after the ICH induction. Hematoma volume, water content of brain tissue and volume of evans blue leakage were examined. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive neutrophils and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) were observed with immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscope. Results : SMR significantly reduced the hematoma volume of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR significantly reduced the water content of brain tissue of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR reduced the percentage of the evans blue leakage around the hematoma on the caudate putamen compared to the ICH group, especially on the cerebral cortex. SMR significantly reduced the volume of the evans blue leakage level in the peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR significantly reduced MPO positive neutrophils in the peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR reduced the TNF-${\alpha}$ expression in peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. TNF-${\alpha}$ immuno-labeled cells were coincided with MPO immuno-labeled neutrophils in peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. Conclusion : These results suggest that SMR plays a protective role against the blood-brain barrier impairment in the ICH through suppression of inflammation in the rat brain tissues.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Objectives: To investigate the protective effect of hesperidin and hesperetin against oxidative stress in 2,2'-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced liver toxicity in rats. Methods: Hesperidin or hesperetin (200 mg/kg/day, respectively) was orally administered for 7 days once daily in rats. Subsequently, AAPH (50 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide production, catalase activity, and protein expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the liver tissues were measured. Results: Administration of hesperidin and hesperetin significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels in AAPH-induced oxidative stress liver tissues compared with control group. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO) production were also significantly reduced by hesperidin and hesperetin in AAPH-induced oxidative stress liver tissues. In particular, lipid peroxidation levels of hesperetin-administered group significantly decreased to 5.02 nmole/mg protein in oxidative stress rats. Hesperidin and hesperetin significantly increased antioxidant activity, such as that of catalase. Furthermore, administration of hesperidin and hesperetin substantially down-regulated the expression of NF-κB and iNOS in liver tissues. Administration of hesperidin reduced NO levels and iNOS expression more than in the hesperetin-administered group. Conclusions: Administration of hesperidin and hesperetin led to a reduction in AAPH-induced liver toxicity by regulating oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.67-73
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• 2021

Tanks are key weapons of ground combat that are equipped with powerful weapons and have strong protective bodies. One tank component, the engine clutch flange, is located in the part of the tank where the engine and transmission are installed, and it is a key part of the power transfer and shutoff. The engine clutch flange transmits high power to secure the mobility of the tank; thus, it must have high strength and hardness. In addition, high durability and safety must be ensured because tank operations must exclude concerns about damage. In this study, an engine clutch female flange for tanks made of SNCM439 was developed. The 2D design used AutoCAD programs, and the 3D shape design used CATIA programs. The structural analysis was conducted using ANSYS. The mesh grid has a tetrahedron shape and is created by adding a mid-side node. After the mechanical properties and constraints of SNCM439 were entered, the changes in the safety factor, total deformation, and Von-Mises stress were identified according to the increase in torque. Prototype processing was performed to verify the engine clutch female flange for the tank. To determine the productivity of the product, the cutting processing time was measured when processing the prototypes. Based on the results of measuring the cutting processing time, it is concluded that research is needed to improve productivity because MCT slot cutting processing is time consuming.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.36-41
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• 2022

Background: Distal biceps rupture is a relatively uncommon injury that can significantly affect quality of life. Early complications following biceps tendon repair are not well described in the literature. This study utilizes a national surgical database to determine the incidence of and predictors for short-term complications following distal biceps tendon repair. Methods: The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients undergoing distal biceps repair between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017. Patient demographic variables of sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, functional status, and several comorbidities were collected for each patient, along with 30-day postoperative complications. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate risk ratios for these complications using patient predictor variables. Results: Early postoperative surgical complications (0.5%)-which were mostly infections (0.4%)-and medical complications (0.3%) were rare. A readmission risk factor was diabetes (risk ratio [RR], 4.238; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.180-15.218). Non-home discharge risk factors were smoking (RR, 3.006; 95% CI, 1.123-8.044) and ≥60 years of age (RR, 4.150; 95% CI, 1.611-10.686). Maleness was protective for medical complications (RR, 0.024; 95% CI, 0.005-0.126). Surgical complication risk factors were obese class II (RR, 4.120; 95% CI, 1.123-15.120), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; RR, 21.981; 95% CI, 3.719-129.924), and inpatient surgery (RR, 8.606; 95% CI, 2.266-32.689). Conclusions: Complication rates after distal biceps repair are low. Various patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and surgical factors were all predictive of short-term complications.