• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1997

Background : We studied the effects of lumbar spinal root block (RB) prospectively in 21 patients who had suffered from low back pain with radiating pain even treated epidural steroid injection three times. Method : RB was performed under the fluoroscopic C-arm guide. When the needle was in correct position, we confirmed the needle placement and expected drug spreading by injection of contrast medium ($Isovist^{(R)}$-300, Sobering, Germany). Next 2% mepivacaine 1 ml mixed to 40 mg of Depomedrol was injected. Pain assessment was carried out 7 days after RB by numeric pain score regarding the pain just before RB was 10. Remained pain after RB was graded as excellent; 0-2, good; 3-5, bad; 6-8 and poor 9-10. Results : Mean age of the patients was 52.3 years. 38.1% and 47.6% of the patients showed excellent and goo dresults after RB, respectively. Conclusion : We concluded that RB is easy and safe procedure to perfirm and effective for the treatment of remnant pain following epidural steroid injection, especially in the patients who had spinal stenosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 1998

The sphingomyelin cycle and ceramide generation have been recognized as potential growth suppression signals in mammalian cells. Ceramide has been shown to induce differentiation, cell growth arrest, senescence, and apoptosis. Although the intracelluar target for the action of ceramide remains unknown, recent studies have demonstrated the role of cytosolic ceramideactivated protein phosphatase(CAPP). In this study, the cytotoxic effect of C2-ceramide, a synthetic cellpermeable ceramide analog, on HEp-2 cells and the mechanism by which ceramide induces cell death were investigated. The addition of exogenous C2-ceramide resulted in a concentration dependent cell death. Okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of CAPP, enhanced ceramide-mediated cell death, which suggests that CAPP is not involved in this process. To understand the mechanism of action of ceramide, we studied the relationship between ceramide and c-Myc and pRb which are defined components of cell growth regulation. Western blot analyses revealed that C2-ceramide (10${\mu}M$) induced c-Myc down-regulation, but there were no significant changes in pRb. However, treatment of okadaic acid (10 nM) enhanced c-Myc and pRb down-regulation. Reduction of the amount of c-Myc and pRb occurred during HEp-2 cell death. These results suggest that the cytotoxic effect of ceramide in HEp-2 cells may not be mediated through the action of CAPP and that the downstream target for ceramide is c-Myc and pRb.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.482-486
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• 2012

Cerebral monoamines play important roles as neurotransmitters that are associated with various stressful stimuli. Some components such as ginsenosides (triterpenoidal glycosides derived from the Ginseng Radix) may interact with monoamine systems. The aim of this study was to determine whether ginsenoside Rb1 can modulate levels of the monoamines such as dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EP), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydorxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in mice frontal cortex and cerebellum in response to immobilization stress. Mice were treated with ginsenoside Rb1 (10 mg/kg, oral) before a single 30 min immobilization stress. Acute immobilization stress resulted in elevation of monoamine levels in frontal cortex and cerebellum. Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rb1 attenuated the stress-induced changes in the levels of monoamines in each region. The present findings showed the anti-stress potential of ginsenoside Rb1 in relation to regulation effects on the cerebral monoaminergic systems. Therefore, the ginsenoside Rb1 may be a useful candidate for treating several brain symptoms related with stress.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2005

We have observed the nonlinear magneto-optic effect(NMOE) based on atomic coherence in $^{87}$ Rb D$_1$-line using the Rb vapor cell containing 50 Torr of Ne. The width of the NMOE signal was measured to be 2$\pi$${\times}$464 Hz, when the peak-to-peak B-field variation was 1 mGauss. The result of this work may be applied to a high-sensitivity magnetometer.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.spc
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• pp.65-71
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• 2008

The effect of rice bran (RB) applied alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer at different application rate on the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of rice was investigated. The treatments were 3 levels of RB namely: 200% RB (500 kg $10a^{-1}$), 100% RB (250 kg $10a^{-1}$), 50% RB (125 kg $10a^{-1}$), Recommended fertilizer dose (RF: $N-{P_2}{O_5}{K_2}O$, 11-5.5-4.8 kg $10a^{-1}$) combined with each RB, Half-recommended fertilizer dose (HRF: $N-{P_2}{O_5}{K_2}O$, 5.5-2.75-2.4 kg $10a^{-1}$) combined with each RB, RF and HRF applied at 1, 5, 10 days before rice transplanting (DBT). The parameters investigated were antioxidant, phytosterol and fatty acid contents. Results showed that the antioxidant property and phytosterol contents were high at 10 DBT HRF plus RB, 5 DBT RF plus RB, and 1 DBT 100 and 200% RB. However, total polyphenols increased from 10 to 1 DBT. In the case of fatty acids, no general trend was observed between treatments at different application times. Linoleic acid was high at 10 DBT HRF plus RB while linolenic acid was not affected at different application times. Palmitoeic and oleic acids were not also affected at 5 and 10 DBT. Saturated fatty acids were not also affected by any treatment at different application times except for palmitic acid.Most parameters obtained higher values at 100 and 200% RB treatments in 1 DBT.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.spc
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• pp.24-30
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• 2008

Effect of rice bran applied alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer on growth and edible quality of rice was investigated. The experiment consisted of 11 treatments: 3 levels of rice bran (RB) (500, 250 and 100kg $10a^{-1}$), 100 and 50% recommended fertilizer (RF) combined with above-mentioned 3 levels of RB, and 100 and 50% RF only. The rice brans were applied at 10 days before rice transplanting. Results showed that plant height 30 days after transplanting was significantly higher at 100% RF treatment than the RB treatments. However, plant height during heading stage was not significantly different between the 100% RF and the RB treatments. At higher RB treatments, ripened grain decreased, while panicle number and plant height increased. In the case of rice yield, 50% RF + RBtreatments exhibited similar or slightly higher yield than 100% RF. These results suggested that the recommended fertilizer can be reduced by 50% in case of applying RB. In terms of nutritional quality, protein content on rice grain increased at higher RB treatment, while amylose content at 50% RF + RB treatments ($17.3{\sim}17.8%$) decreased compared to that of RF ($17.9{\sim}18.1%$). Results showed significant effects of RB application on rice growth and quality.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2015

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), the major active constituent of ginseng, improves insulin sensitivity and exerts antidiabetic effects. We tested whether the insulin-sensitizing and antidiabetic effects of G-Rb1 results from a reduction in ectopic fat accumulation, mediated by inhibition of lipolysis in adipocytes. Methods: Obese and diabetic db/db mice were treated with daily doses of 20 mg/kg G-Rb1 for 14 days. Hepatic fat accumulation was evaluated by measuring liver weight and triglyceride content. Levels of blood glucose and serum insulin were used to evaluate insulin sensitivity in db/db mice. Lipolysis in adipocytes was evaluated by measuring plasma-free fatty acids and glycerol release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with G-Rb1. The expression of relevant genes was analyzed by western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: G-Rb1 increased insulin sensitivity and alleviated hepatic fat accumulation in obese diabetic db/db mice, and these effects were accompanied by reduced liver weight and hepatic triglyceride content. Furthermore, G-Rb1 lowered the levels of free fatty acids in obese mice, which may contribute to a decline in hepatic lipid accumulation. Corresponding to these results, G-Rb1 significantly suppressed lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and upregulated the perilipin expression in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and mouse epididymal fat pads. Moreover, G-Rb1 increased the level of adiponectin and reduced that of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in obese mice, and these effects were confirmed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusion: G-Rb1 may improve insulin sensitivity in obese and diabetic db/db mice by reducing hepatic fat accumulation and suppressing adipocyte lipolysis; these effects may be mediated via the upregulation of perilipin expression in adipocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.533-541
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• 2000

Biochemical and genetic analysis were carried out to investigate the potential recovery of pathogenecity or related mutations of Brucella abortus RB51 vaccine strains. RB51 strains were recovered from commercial vaccines, including related seed stocks from private companies in Republic of Korea, strain from USA, a reference strain from C university and a field isolate (Daehungjin) from aborted dairy cow after RB51 vaccination were compared with two identified virulent wild strains (S2308 and a field strain isolated from dairy cow in Korea) at the same conditions. All the strains examined, except identified pathogenic strains, revealed the identical characteristics to the original RB51 in biochemical properties, antigen and bacteriophage typing. Outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles from strains of RB51 showed the same patterns with standard RB51 in SDS-PAGE. In addition, Western blotting with the brucella specific monoclonal antibody also indicated that all the vaccine strains were completely deficient in their LPS compared to the pathogenic Br abortus strains. The differences in DNA structures among strains were also possible to detect after PCR. All vaccine strains, except S19, S1119-3, S1075, S544 and Br suis, were amplified a 178bp DNA fragment of eri-gene, and 364bp of IS711 elements. In contrast, 498bp DNA product was only found with Br abortus. Overall evidences in the present study confirmed that the RB51 strains for vaccine production in Korea did not originated from the phenomena of possible recovery of pathogenicity or related to any potential mutation event at all.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.300-307
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• 2010

This study examined the effects of the dietary inclusion of various concentrations of red ginseng byproduct (RB) and a mixture containing red ginseng byproduct, garlic extract, yeast and filler (CR) on the growth, body composition, serum chemistry, and lysozyme activity of juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Juvenile fish (n= 630) weighing 5.0 g were randomly distributed into 21 180 L flow-through tanks (30 fish/tank). Seven experimental diets were prepared in triplicate: a control diet without additive, and diets containing 0.5, 1 and 2% concentrations of RB (RB-0.5, RB-1, RB-2) and CR (CR-0.5, CR-1, CR-2) at the expense of wheat flour. After an 8-week feeding trial, serum chemistry and lysozyme activity of fish were measured. Mean weight gain was significantly higher in fish fed the control diet than in fish fed the RB and CR diets. The dietary inclusion of RB and CR reduced feed utilization. Mean serum glucose and triglyceride (TG) levels were higher in fish fed the control diet than in fish fed the other diets. Mean glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels of fish fed the control and RB-2 diets were higher than those of fish fed the RB-0.5, RB-1, CR-1, and CR-2 diets. Mean lysozyme activity levels of fish fed the RB-0.5 and RB-1 diets were higher than those of fish fed the control and CR diets. The results of this study indicate that red ginseng byproduct may be utilized as an immunostimulant rather than as a growth promoter for juvenile olive flounder. Dietary inclusion of 0.5% red ginseng byproduct effectively improved serum glucose, GPT, TG, and lysozyme activity of the fish in this study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 2012

In this paper, the kinetics of a cloned special glucosidase, named ginsenosidase type III hydrolyzing 3-O-glucoside of multi-protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides, were investigated. The gene (bgpA) encoding this enzyme was cloned from a Terrabacter ginsenosidimutans strain and then expressed in E. coli cells. Ginsenosidase type III was able to hydrolyze 3-O-glucoside of multi-PPD-type ginsenosides. For instance, it was able to hydrolyze the 3-O-${\beta}$-D-(1${\rightarrow}$2)-glucopyranosyl of Rb1 to gypenoside XVII, and then to further hydrolyze the 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl of gypenoside XVII to gypenoside LXXV. Similarly, the enzyme could hydrolyze the glucopyranosyls linked to the 3-O-position of Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rb3, and Rg3. With a larger enzyme reaction $K_m$ value, there was a slower enzyme reaction speed; and the larger the enzyme reaction $V_{max}$ value, the faster the enzyme reaction speed was. The $K_m$ values from small to large were 3.85 mM for Rc, 4.08 mM for Rb1, 8.85 mM for Rb3, 9.09 mM for Rb2, 9.70 mM for Rg3(S), 11.4 mM for Rd and 12.9 mM for F2; and $V_{max}$ value from large to small was 23.2 mM/h for Rc, 16.6 mM/h for Rb1, 14.6 mM/h for Rb3, 14.3 mM/h for Rb2, 1.81mM/h for Rg3(S), 1.40 mM/h for Rd, and 0.41 mM/h for F2. According to the $V_{max}$ and $K_m$ values of the ginsenosidase type III, the hydrolysis speed of these substrates by the enzyme was Rc>Rb1>Rb3>Rb2>Rg3(S)>Rd>F2 in order.