• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.125-137
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• 2009

Objectives : We studied anti-allergic effects of Cinnamomi Ramulus(CR) herbal acupuncture and Cinnamomi Ramulus extract. Methods : In vivo, animals were herbal-acupunctured with CR at both ST36s three times for 5 days. Then, we induced active systemic anaphylatic shock using compound 48/80 in ICR mice, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis using anti-DNP IgE in Sprague Dawley rat. In vitro, we measured cell viability, ${\beta}$ -hexosaminidase release and the expressions of IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells after treatment of various concentrations of CR extract. Results : In vivo, CR herbal acupuncture pretreatments at both ST36s inhibited compound 48/80-induced active systemic anaphylatic shock. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis was inhibited by CR herbal acupuncture pretreatments at both ST36s and optional points. In vitro, CR extract treatments did not affect on cell viability and inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release. CR extract treatments also decreased the expressions of IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that CR herbal acupuncture and CR extract should be beneficial in the inhibition of allergic inflammatory response.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.355-363
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• 2021

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common renal disorder in children attributed to podocyte injury. However, children with the same diagnosis have markedly variable treatment responses, clinical courses, and outcomes, suggesting molecular heterogeneity. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the molecular responses of podocytes to nephrotic plasma to identify specific genes and signaling pathways differentiating various clinical NS groups as well as biological processes that drive injury in normal podocytes. Methods: Transcriptome profiles from immortalized human podocyte cell line exposed to the plasma of 8 subjects (steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome [SSNS], n=4; steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome [SRNS], n=2; and healthy adult individuals [control], n=2) were generated using microarray analysis. Results: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of global gene expression data was broadly correlated with the clinical classification of NS. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis of diseased groups (SSNS or SRNS) versus healthy controls identified 105 genes (58 up-regulated, 47 down-regulated) in SSNS and 139 genes (78 up-regulated, 61 down-regulated) in SRNS with 55 common to SSNS and SRNS, while the rest were unique (50 in SSNS, 84 genes in SRNS). Pathway analysis of the significant (P≤0.05, -1≤ log2 FC ≥1) differentially expressed genes identified the transforming growth factor-β and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways to be involved in both SSNS and SRNS. DGE analysis of SSNS versus SRNS identified 2,350 genes with values of P≤0.05, and a heatmap of corresponding expression values of these genes in each subject showed clear differences in SSNS and SRNS. Conclusion: Our study observations indicate that, although podocyte injury follows similar pathways in different clinical subgroups, the pathways are modulated differently as evidenced by the heatmap. Such transcriptome profiling with a larger cohort can stratify patients into intrinsic subtypes and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of podocyte injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-161
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at Joksanmi($ST_{36}$) on Rat's aging by experimental methods. Methods : The author performed several experimental procedures to observe the effects of the EC-HAS at the arthritis. First, I measured the cell survival rate of the mice lung fibroblasts. Second, the incidence rate of arthritis and arthritis index of CIA were analyzed. Third, the levels of IL-6, $INF-{\gamma}$ , $INF-{\alpha}$ , $IL-1{\beta}$, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II were measured in serum and the level of $INF-{\gamma}$, $INF-{\gamma}$/IL-4 ratio in the CIA mouse spleen cell culture. Fourth, histological analysis of the mice joint was performed. Fifth, the expression ratio of $CD3e^+$ cells to $CD19^+$ cells, $CD4^+$ cells to $CD8^+$ cells, $CD11a^+CD19^+$ cells, $CD4^+CD25^+$ cells, $CD3^+CD69^+$ cells, and $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ cells were checked. Results: 1. The hematocrit was meaningfully (p<0.01, p<0.05) decreased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the control and sham group. 2. The glucose, ALP were meaningfully (p<0.05, p<0.05) decreased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the control group. 3. In the activation of hepatic antioxidase, the catalase was meaningfully (p<0.01) increased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the control group. 4. In the liver, the NO formation was meaningfully (p<0.001) decreased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the nomal, control and sham group. 5. In the activation of splenetic antioxidase, the GSH was meaningfully (p<0.01) increased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the sham group, and the catalase was meaningfully (p<0.001) increased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the control group. 6. In the spleen, the MDA formation was meaningfully (p<0.01, p<0.05) decreased in $ST_{36}$ group in comparison with the control and sham group. 7. In the spleen cell culture, the levels of IL-6 was meaningfully (p<0.05) decreased in comparison with the sham group, $INF-{\gamma}$( was meaningfully (p<0.05) increased in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: According to the results, it is considered that electroacupuncture at Joksamni($ST_{36}$) is effective in increasing the activities of antioxidative enzyme and inhibiting lipid peroxides, and has an immunomodulatory reaction. In conclusion, it han an significant anti-aging effect and need more experimental study.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.485-489
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• 2008

Basal cell nevus syndrome is a hereditary disease of an autosomal dominant trait with variable conditions such as basal cell carcinomas of the skin, deformity of rib, fusion of vertebrae, mental retardation, hypertelorism, and multiple odontogenic keratocysts. A 32 years old man with pus discharge from fistula on the vestibule of left upper 1st molar visited to Chosun University Dental Hospital. Radiographic evaluation revealed multiple maxillary and mandibular cysts that had multilocular radiolucency on left mandibular body area, thining of inferior border of left border of ramus and well defined unilocular radiolucency above right upper 1st and 2nd molar and from left upper 1st premolar to 2nd molar. In chest PA view, he had a forked rib in the left 4th rib and in skull PA view the calcification of falx cerebri was observed. There was not any skin lesion. After the preliminary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with basal cell nevus syndrome and he underwent marsupialization for decreasing the size of cystic lesion and came to hospital for dressing 3days a week. As time goes by, the size of lesion decreased. So, one and half year after marsupialization, he underwent cyst enucleation and iliac bone graft for the mandibular lesion and buccal fat pad grafts for the maxillary lesions. After the surgery, the patient experienced normal healing without any complications and he is on long-term follow-up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2012

Background: While qualitative analysis of methylation has been reviewed, the quantitative analysis of methylation has rarely been studied. We evaluated the methylation status of CDKN2A, $RAR{\beta}$, and RASSF1A promoter regions in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) by using pyrosequencing. Then, we evaluated the association between methylation at the promoter regions of these tumor suppressor genes and the clinicopathological parameters of the NSCLCs. Methods: We collected tumor tissues from a total of 53 patients with NSCLCs and analyzed the methylation level of the CDKN2A, $RAR{\beta}$, and RASSF1A promoter regions by using pyrosequencing. In addition, we investigated the correlation between the hypermethylation of CDKN2A and the loss of $p16^{INK4A}$ immunoexpression. Results: Hypermethylation of CDKN2A, $RAR{\beta}$, and RASSF1A promoter regions were 16 (30.2%), 22 (41.5%), and 21 tumors (39.6%), respectively. The incidence of hypermethylation at the CDKN2A promoter in the tumors was higher in undifferentiated large cell carcinomas than in other subtypes (p=0.002). Hyperrmethylation of CDKN2A was significantly associated with $p16^{INK4A}$ immunoexpression loss (p=0.045). With regard to the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC, certain histopathological subtypes were found to be strongly associated with the loss of $p16^{INK4A}$ immunoexpression (p=0.016). Squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated large cell carcinoma showed $p16^{INK4A}$ immunoexpression loss more frequently. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves analysis showed that methylation level and patient survival were barely related to one another. Conclusion: We quantitatively analyzed the promoter methylation status by using pyrosequencing. We showed a significant correlation between CDKN2A hypermethylation and $p16^{INK4A}$ immunoexpression loss.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.115-124
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• 2007

Objective: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on streptozotocin(STZ)-treated rats by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pump. Methods: STZ was administered to rats at a low dose with osmotic pump to induce beta cell death and diabetes (STZ osmotic pump model), The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups: 1. The control group which was not treated in the STZ osmotic pump model 2. The sham group which was acupunctured at an arbitrary point in the STZ osmotic pump model 3. The sample A group which was acupunctured at the Chung-wan($CV_{12}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model 4. The sample B group which was acupunctured at the Chok-samni($ST_{36}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model. The effect of acupuncture in the STZ osmotic pump model was observed by measuring the serum glucose level and immunostaining of pancreatic tissue of the rats. Results : STZ injection by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pump caused hyperglycemia by destroying the pancreatic beta cell selectively. Acupuncture at the Chung-wan acupuncture point($CV_{12}$) and Jhok-samni acupuncture point ($ST_{36}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model separately resulted in a decrease of the serum glucose level. In addition, the cyto-protective effect of the pancreatic beta-cell was detected in the STZ osmotic pump model by acupuncture. And there were few differences between the effects of acupuncture at the CV12 and $ST_{36}$. Conclusion : Acupuncture at the CV12 and ST36 had beneficial effects on Type II diabetes mellitus, and action mechanism of the effect was thought to be concerned with secretion of endogenous beta-endorphin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.364-372
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• 1995

On the outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning in April 1993 in most of shellfish harvesting areas in Jinhae Bay, Korea, to clarify the toxin production of causative organism Alexandrium species, 19 axenic clonal isolates established from the benthic resting cysts in three different stations of those culture grounds were subjected to PSP toxin analysis by HPLC. Individual toxin content per cell was highly variable among the strains isolated from a sampling area and originated from an individual cyst. Average toxin contents in those areas revealed higher values of 54-70 fmol/cell. Toxin profiles included C1/C2(epiGTX8/GTX8), GTX1/GTX4 and neoSTX as the major components, and GTX2/GTX3, GTX5, C4, dcSTX and STX as the minor or sporadic ones. neoSTX on the dominant toxins showed not only most diverse compositional changes comprising $5-54 mol\%$ ranges but also no detection on the half of the strains examined, which were implicated in arising of heterogeneity with a genetic trait within a geographical region. When average toxin composition was compared, carbamate toxins comprised large proportions of $57\%,\;54\%\;and\;67\%$ as total toxin in St. 1, St. 2 and St. 4, respectively. These results suggested that an extensive paralytic shellfish toxification in Jinhae Bay could be largely due to the production of highly potent carbamate toxins in the causative dinoflagellate Alexandrium species.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2012

The recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) has been used for increasing milk production of dairy cows without adverse health effects. This study was conducted to compare effects of supplementation with $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 containing 250 mg of rbST on milk production with those of $Posilac^{(R)}$ and $Boostin^{(R)}$-S. And safety of rbST supplementation on target animals was also observed. Each twenty-five lactating dairy cows were assigned randomly to one of four groups. $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 and vehicle (control) were administered weekly. $Boostin^{(R)}$-S and $Posilac^{(R)}$ were administered two week intervals. Milk yield, milk components, milk somatic cell count, health status, and body condition score of cows were examined. Supplementation with $Posilac^{(R)}$, $Boostin^{(R)}$-S, and $Boostin^{(R)}$-250 induced more milk yield than control group by 2.9 kg/day (12.3%), 4.2 kg/day (17.9%), and 4.1 kg/day (17.4%), respectively. There was a significant difference in milk yield among three rbST treatment groups and control group (${\alpha}$ = 0.05). The rbST supplementation did not increase the incidence of clinical mastitis and milk somatic cell counts. Supplementation with rbST did not significantly affect milk components (milk fat, protein, and solid not fat). The rbST supplementation of the dairy cows after peak milk yield did not cause negative effect on BCS. However, some cows less than 100 days in milking had decreased BCSs after rbST supplementation. In conclusion, milk production in 250 mg of rbST administered cows every week was similar to that of 500 mg of rbST administered cows every 2 weeks. And supplementation of 250 mg of rbST every week could reduce metabolic stress in cows.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2002

Although direct skeletal muscle invasion by carcinoma is well recognized, distant metastasis to skeletal muscle is uncommon. Furthermore, multifocal skeletal muscle metastasis is a very exceptional event. Some factors such as variable intra-muscular blood flow, mechanical factors including turbulent blood flow and muscle contraction, intra-muscular acidic condition, lactic acid, protease inhibitors in the extra-cellular matrix were proposed as causes of the rarity of distant metastasis to skeletal muscle. We report here a case of a 67 year old male who had multifocal skeletal muscle metastasis from the transitional cell carcinoma of left kidney.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2001

A novel clonidine binding sites were characterized in the intestinal membrane isolated from seawater eels, Anguilla japonica. The specific clonidine binding sites consisted of at least two classes, high affinity ($K_d=1.4{\pm}0.3$ nM n = 5) and low affinity ($K_d=175{\pm}34$ nM n = 5) sites. The specific binding of 2 nM [$^3H$]clonidine was most enhanced at $20^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, and reversed by unlabelled clonidine. Such binding was hardly inhibited by adrenaline, yohimbine or rauwolscine, indicating that most binding sites are distinct from $\alpha_2$-adrenoceptor. The specific clonidine binding sites was inhibited by various imidazoline/guanidinium drugs, indicating existence of imidazoline/guanidinium receptive sites (IGRS) or imidazoline receptors in the eel intestine. Competition experiments revealed that rank order to displace 2 nM [$^3H$]clonidine from their binding sites was as follows : guanabenz > cirazoline = naphazoline = UK14,304 = ST587 $\geq$ clonidine $\geq$ idazoxan = RX821002 = tolazoline > ST93 = oxymetazoline = amiloride = ST91 > yohimbine = efaroxan = rauwolscine $\geq$ adrenaline = ST567 = histamine = agmatine. Although physiological role of IGRS is not clear yet even in mammalian cell/tissues, eel intestine may be a good model to elucidate how the IGRS act in the cell and to decide what is the endogenous ligand for the IGRS.