• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.337-345
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• 2014

The present study examined the effects of soybean-derived phosphatidylserine (SB-PS) on the learning and memory function and the neural activity in rats with trimethyltin (TMT)-induced memory deficits. The cognitive improving efficacy of SB-PS on the amnesic rats, which was induced by TMT, was investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) immunohistochemistry. A positron emission tomography (PET) scanning the rat brain was by performed administer 18F-Fluorodeoxy-glucose (18F-FDG). The rats with TMT injection showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks and treatment with SB-PS produced a significant improvement of the escape latency to find the platform in the Morris water maze at the 2nd day compared to that of the MCT group. In the retention test, the SB-PS group showed increased time spent around the platform compared to that of the MCT group. Consistent with the behavioral data, SB-PS 50 group significantly alleviated the loss of acetyl cholinergic neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the MCT group. Treatment with SB-PS significantly increased the CREB positive neurons in the hippocampus as compared to that of the MCT group. In addition, SB-PS groups increased the glucose uptake in the hippocampus and SB-PS 50 group increased the glucose uptake in the frontal lobe, as compared to that of the MCT group. These results suggest that SB-PS may be useful for improving the cognitive function via regulation of cholinergic marker enzyme activity and neural activity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.111-124
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• 2002

A line of study reported that electroacupuncture(EA) modulate natural killer cell(NK Cell) activities. One report suggested that EA enhanced splenic interferon-gamma($IFN-{\gamma}$), interleukin-2(IL-2), and NK cell activity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Another study suggested that $IFN-{\gamma}$ mediates the up-regulation of NK cell activity, and endogenous ${\beta}$-endorphin secretion also play a role in the up-regulation of NK cell activity induced by EA stimulation. In order to better understand the molecular regulation underlying the activation of NK cell induced by EA, we have utilized cDNA microarray to elucidate how EA alters program of gene expression of spleen in rats. First, we divided three groups, group I was EA group treated with EA in restriction holder, group II was sham group with only holder stress, and last group III was control group with no treatment. We measured NK cell activity after EA stimulation three times for 2 days using $^{51}Cr$ release assay. Second, Biotin-labeled cDNA probes synthesized from EA group and sham group, were competitively hybridized to the microarray that contained variable genes. Such high-throughput screening has identified a number of EA-responsive gene candidates. Of these, we found that EA induced a subset of genes of genes that functionally could modulatory effects on NK cell activity. Genes(vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, protein-tyrosine kinase, CD94 mRNA) related to boost NK cell activity, were increased by EA And, genes(protein-tyrosine-phospatase mRNA, protein-tyrosine phosphatase(SHP-1) mRNA) related to inhibit NK cell activity, were decreased by EA. These EA-responsive genes may provide key insights from which to understand mechanisms of activation of NK cell induced by EA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

Xenobiotics and their reactive intermediates bind to cellular macromolecules and/or generate oxidative stress. which provoke deleterious effects on the cell function. Induction of xenobiotic-biotrans-forming enzymes and antioxidant molecules is an important defense mechanism against such insults. A group of genes involved in the defense mechanism. e.g. genes encoding glutathione S-transferases. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) and ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GGCS). have a common regulatory sequence, Antioxidant or Electrophile Responsive Element (ARE/EpRE). Recently. Nrf2. discovered as a homologue of erythroid transcription factor p45 NF-E2, was shown to bind ARE/EpRE and induce the expression of these defense genes. Mice that lack Nrf2 show low basal levels of expression and/or impaired induction of these genes. which makes the animals highly sensitive to xenobiotic toxicity. Indeed. we show here that nrf2-deficient mice had a higher mortality than did the wild-type mice when exposed to acetaminophen (APAP). Detailed analyses of APAP hepatotoxicity in the nrf2 knockout mice indicate that a large amount of reactive APAP metabolites was generated in the livers due to the impaired basal expression of two detoxifying enzyme genes, UDP-GT (Ugt1a6) and GGCS. while the cytochrome P450 content was unchanged. Thus. the studies using the nrf2 knockout mice clearly demonstrate significance of the expression of Nrf2-regulated enzymes in protection against xenobiotic toxicity.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.170-175
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• 2006

The extensive isolation of genes responsive to stressful conditions from a soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum was described. Soft coral colonies were exposed to thermal and chemical stressors to induce the expression of stress related genes. Differentially expressed genes by natural or anthropogenic stressors were identified by construction of standard and stress exposed-paired subtractive cDNA library. Thirty-two and thirty-seven kinds of candidate genes were identified from thermal or benzo[a]pyrene stress exposed group, respectively, which are associated with cell cycle, cell signaling, transcription, translation, protein metabolism, and other cellular functions. The expected function of each gene was described. The isolated and identified differentially expressed genes have a great potential to identify environmental stressors in global environmental changes and could act as molecular biomarkers for biological responses against environmental changes. Finally, it may open a new paradigm on soft coral health assessment.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.762-770
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• 2014

Tangible Space Initiative (TSI) is a new framework that can provide a more natural and intuitive Human Computer Interface for users. This is composed of three cooperative components: a Tangible Interface, Responsive Cyber Space, and Tangible Agent. In this paper we present a Tangible Tele-Meeting system in TSI, which allows people to communicate with each other without any spatial limitation. In addition, we introduce a method for registering a Tangible Avatar with a Tangible Agent. The suggested method is based on relative pose estimation between the user and the Tangible Agent. Experimental results show that the user can experience an interaction environment that is more natural and intelligent than that provided by conventional tele-meeting systems.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.539-546
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• 2013

Amino group-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm-$NH_2$) was synthesized via a radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) using 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride (AESH) as a chain transfer agent. The molecular weight of the PNIPAAm-$NH_2$ was controlled by changing the concentration of AESH. The LCST of the aqueous solution of PNIPAAm-$NH_2$ increased slightly with increasing the AESH concentration. Alginate-g-PNIPAAm copolymer was synthesized by grafting PNIPAAm-$NH_2$ onto sodium alginate using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide. The formation of the grafted copolymers was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, solubility in water, and SEM-EDS. Alginate-g-PNIPAAm also exhibited swelling-deswelling behavior. However, it showed a LCST at a slightly increased temperature compared to PNIPAAm. The swelling ratio of the alginate-g-PNIPAAm hydrogel increased with the increase of the grafted PNIPAAm content.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2008

Purpose : We wanted to determine the characteristics of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who were unresponsive to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Methods : The patients with KD were divided into two groups: the IVIG responsive group (25 cases) and the IVIG unresponsive group (14 cases). We analyzed various parameters before and after the administration of IVIG, including the complete blood cell count with the differential count (%), the erythrocyte segmentation rate (ESR), the C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the protein and lipid profiles. Results : The IVIG unresponsive group had a prolonged duration of fever and a higher incidence of CAL compared to the IVIG responsive group (P<0.001, respectively). Before IVIG infusion, the neutrophil differential, the ESR and the CRP values were higher (P<0.001), and the total protein and albumin values were lower in the IVIG unresponsive group (P=0.01) compared to the IVIG responsive group. After IVIG infusion, there were no significant changes in the WBC count and CRP levels in the IVIG unresponsive group. The reduction of the HDL-cholesterol levels by IVIG was more significant in the unresponsive group (P=0.02). Conclusion : A more severe and prolonged inflammatory response occurred in the IVIG unresponsive group at an early stage, and this finding can be detected by such inflammatory parameters as the neutrophil count and the CRP and HDL-cholesterol levels after IVIG infusion.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.111-128
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• 2004

Responsiveness and initiative between infant and mother from toy centered play situation at 6, 7 months of age and infant's social communication skills at 12 months were studied in a sample of 62 infant-mother pairs. Through the video analysis, infants were grouped into simple react group, cooperated group, and active initiative group. In the between groups, we analyzed whether mother's initiative act styles and response styles were different, and whether their social communication skills were different when they tested at 12 months. The results showed that mother's initiative styles were not different but mother's response styles were significantly different with infant groups. Further result showed that cooperated group gained higher score than active initiative group in the total score of Eary Social Communication Skills scales at 12 months of age. The results suggested that mother's responsive behaviors were more important than initiative behaviors for the infant's positive interaction, and the difference of these behaviors would lead to a gap of early social communication abilities.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2008

AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 are two putative G group bZIP transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana, the other three members of G group bZIPs are GBF1-3 which can bind G-box. Members of G group have conservative protein structure: highly homological basic region and a proline-rich domain in the N-terminal region. Here, we report that AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 could bind cis elements with ACGT core, such as G-box, Hex, C-box and As-1, but with different binding affinities which from high to low were G-box > Hex > C-box > As-1; AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 could form homodimer and form heterodimer with other members of G group; N-terminal proline rich domain of AtbZIP16 had transactivation activity in yeast cells while that of AtbZIP68 did not; AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 GFP fusion protein localized in the nucleus of onion epidermal cells. These results indicated that AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 were two new members of GBFs. In Arabidopsis, AtbZIP16 and AtbZIP68 may also participate in light-responsive process in which GBF1-3 are involved.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.228-234
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• 2004

Brazilin shows hypoglycemic effect in diabetic animals through enhancement of glucose metabolisms in insulin responsive tissues. One of the major mechanisms of brazilin to enhance glucose metabolism is stimulation of glucose transport in adipocytes. In this study, the essential molecular moiety of brazilin for the stimulation of glucose transport was investigated. We found that brazilin undergoes a structural change in physiological buffer and produces hydrogen peroxide. Methylation of hydroxyl group of brazilin or addition of catalase along with brazilin resulted in the complete inhibition of brazilin-induced glucose transport in adipocytes. Because hydrogen peroxide increases glucose transport by inhibition of phosphatases, we examined the effect of brazilin on phosphatase activity. Brazilin inhibited phosphatases in a wide range of activity, and protein phosphatase 1 and 2A were also inhibited. These results suggest that the production of hydrogen peroxide by oxidation of catechol hydroxyl group of brazilin mediates glucose transport through inhibition of phosphatases which otherwise decrease glucose transport in adipocytes.