• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Objective : Despite the recent progress that has been made in intracerebral monitoring, it is still difficult to quantify the exact extent of primary brain damage after severe head injury. In this work, we investigate the role of S-100B protein as a serum marker of brain damage after severe head injury. Methods : 21 patients with severe head injury [GCS score <9] were selected for this prospective study. A venous blood sample was taken as soon as possible after head injury and the serum concentration of S-100B protein was measured daily for five consecutive days. The serum level of S-100B protein was compared with the patients' outcome. The outcome was measured twice, at hospital discharge and after 6 months of follow-up using the Glasgow Outcome Scale[GOS]. Results : Those patients who died within two weeks [after head injury] had a significantly higher serum S-100B value than those who survived [median, 9.64ug/L versus 2.91ug/L]. Seven [78%] of the nine patients who died had a maximum S-100B value of 2ug/L or higher, while three [25%] of the twelve surviving patients showed a maximum S-100B protein value of more than 2ug/L [P<005]. Conclusion : These results indicate that S-100B protein appears to be the most reliable index for estimating the extent of brain damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.413-424
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) is a traditional herbal medicine utilized to prevent endothelium dysfunction in the cardiovascular system; however, its underlying mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. We here examined the pharmacological effect and molecular mechanism of KRGE on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a serum-deprived apoptosis model. KRGE protected HUVECs from serum-deprived apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-9/-3 activation. This protective effect was significantly higher than that of American ginseng extract. KRGE treatment increased antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$ protein expression and Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation. Moreover, KRGE prevented serum deprivation-induced subcellular redistribution of these proteins between the mitochondrion and the cytosol, resulting in suppression of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. In addition, KRGE increased nitric oxide (NO) production via Akt-dependent activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), as well as inhibited caspase-9/-3 activities. These increases were reversed by co-treatment of cells with inhibitors of eNOS and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and pre-incubation of cell lysates in dithiothreitol, indicating KRGE induces NO-mediated caspase modification. Indeed, KRGE inhibited caspase-3 activity via S-nitrosylation. These findings suggest that KRGE prevents serum deprivation-induced HUVEC apoptosis via increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$ protein expression, PI3K/Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation, and eNOS/NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of caspases. The cytoprotective property of KRGE may be valuable for developing new pharmaceutical means that limit endothelial cell death induced during the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a traditional Korean medicine composed of three herbs, Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, and Liriope platyphylla. SMS is used to treat respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. However, whether SMS exerts antihyperuricemic effects is unknown. Methods: Effects of the SMS extract in water (SMS-W) and 30% ethanol (SMS-E) were studied in a rat model of potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Uric acid concentrations and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities were evaluated in the serum, urine, and hepatic tissue. Using renal histopathology to assess kidney function and uric acid excretion, we investigated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, as well as protein levels of renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1). The effects of SMS on in vitro XO activity and uric acid uptake were also evaluated. The components of SMS were identified using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Results: SMS-E reduced serum uric acid and creatinine concentrations, and elevated urine uric acid excretion. SMS-E lowered XO activities in both the serum and liver, and downregulated the expression of renal URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins. SMS-E reduced renal inflammation and IL-1b levels in both the serum and kidneys. SMS-E inhibited both in vitro XO activity and urate uptake in URAT1-expressing oocytes. Using UPLC, 25 ginsenosides were identified, all of which were present in higher levels in SMS-E than in SMS-W. Conclusion: SMS-E exhibited antihyperuricemic effects by regulating XO activity and renal urate transporters, providing the first evidence of its applicability in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

• Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.211-218
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• 2018

Objective This study aimed to determine whether simultaneous decreases in the serum levels of cell adhesion molecules (intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1], and E-selectin) and S100 proteins within the first 24 hours after the return of spontaneous circulation were associated with good neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors. Methods This retrospective observational study was based on prospectively collected data from a single emergency intensive care unit (ICU). Twenty-nine out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors who were admitted to the ICU for post-resuscitation care were enrolled. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 24 hours after ICU admission. According to the 6-month cerebral performance category (CPC) scale, the patients were divided into good (CPC 1 and 2, n=12) and poor (CPC 3 to 5, n=17) outcome groups. Results No difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and S100 at 0 and 24 hours. A simultaneous decrease in the serum levels of VCAM-1 and S100 as well as E-selectin and S100 was associated with good neurological outcomes. When other variables were adjusted, a simultaneous decrease in the serum levels of VCAM-1 and S100 was independently associated with good neurological outcomes (odds ratio, 9.285; 95% confidence interval, 1.073 to 80.318; P=0.043). Conclusion A simultaneous decrease in the serum levels of soluble VCAM-1 and S100 within the first 24 hours after the return of spontaneous circulation was associated with a good neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.564-569
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• 2000

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was developed for the detection of milk proteins in processed foods. The ${\alpha}_{s1}-casein({\alpha}_{s1}-CN)$, a heat stable major milk protein, was immunized into rabbits to produce specific antibodies. When competitive indirect ELISA(ciELISA) using $anti-{\alpha}_{s1}-CN$ antibodies was established, its detection limit was $0.1\;{\mu}g/mL$. The reactivities of the specific antibodies toward ${\alpha}_{s1}-CN$, skim milk, ${\beta}-CN$ and whey protein isolate(WPI) were 100, 37, 0.14 and 0.04%, respectively, as determined by ciELISA. However $anti-{\alpha}_{s1}-CN$ antibodies did not have any reactivity to other milk proteins such as ${\beta}-lactoglobulin,\;{\alpha}-lactalbumin$, bovine serum albumin, and isolated soy protein. When sandwich ELISA was established, its detection limit was $0.01\;{\mu}g/mL$ which was 10 times more sensitive than that of ciELISA. In the spike test which was performed by adding 1-10% of whole CN to market milk, mean assay recovery as determined by sandwich ELISA was 94.8%(CV, 8.2%). Food stuffs and dairy products were assayed by sandwich ELISA to show 29, 0.13, 0.25, and 6.9% of whole CN in skim milk powder, WPI, semi-solid yoghurt, and processed cheese, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1965

I. A Comparison of Sodium Sulfate Precipitation and Zone(Paper, Agar) Electrophoresis; Many kinds of techniques have been used for fractionating serum proteins. In the present study, using bovine serum, the fractions obtained with sodium sulfate were compared with those determined by zone electrophoresis. 1. Fibrinogen was precipitated with 4 to 10 percent of sodium sulfate. 2. ${\gamma}$-globulin required 10 to 16 percent of the salt for precipitation. 3. ${\beta}$-globulin began to precipitate at 12 percent sodium sulfate, and completed precipitation at approximately 26 percent in paper electrophoresis, while at 22 percent in agar electrophoresis. 4. ${\alpha}$-globulin completed precipitation at 13 to 28 percent sodium sulfate in paper electrophoresis and at 22 percent in agar electrophoresis. 5. Albumin began to precipitate at 14 percent of the salt, and was free from the mixture of globulins approximately at 28 percent in paper electrophoresis, while at 22 percent in agar electrophoresis. The results of comparing fractions by the two methods were as follows: 1. Euglobulin (15%) was equal to the sum of the most ${\gamma}$-globulin and a small quantity of the ${\alpha}$-, and ${\beta}$-globulins. 2. Pseudoglobulin I (15-17.5%) corresponded to the most ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-globulins and a small quantity of albumin. 3. Pseudoglobulin II(18-22%) was a mixture of the ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-globulins and albumin fraction. 4. Albumin (above 22%) contained the most albumin fraction separated by zone electrophoresis and a small quantity of the ${\alpha}$-, and ${\beta}$-globulins. As mentioned above the fractions obtained with sodium sulfate were a mixture of the various proportion of the fractions determined by zone electrophoresis. The solubility of serum fractions to sodium sulfate coincided with the mobility of those by zone electrophoresis. (By percent of sodium sulfate we mean gram of sodium sulfate contained in $100m{\ell}$ of solution). II. Immunological Studies on Serum Protein Fractions with Sodium Sulfate; In the previous report the fractions of bovine serum protein with sodium sulfate compared with those obtained by zone electrophoresis, and the findings were that the former contained various proportion components of the latter. In this study the author studied whether or not the fractions with sodium sulfate are simple component antigenically by immunoelectrophoresis and micro double diffusion test (Immuno-precipitation), using rabbit antiserum to bovine serum. In immunoelectrophoresis, normal bovine serum developed with rabbit antibovine serum showed about ten distinct precipitin arcs. The distribution of these arcs was as follows: 1 albumin, 2 ${\alpha}_1$-, 3 ${\alpha}_2$-, 2 ${\beta}_1$-, ${\beta}_2$-, and 1 ${\gamma}$-globulin (Fig. 7, 9). In micro double diffusion test, five to six precipitation bands could be seen between antigens and antibody, the order of the precipitation bands location is albumin, ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-, and ${\gamma}$-globulin from the side of antiserum well (Fig.19). Frequently the ${\alpha}$-, and ${\beta}$-precipitation bands were separated into two or three precipitation bands, which indicated that these globuline are not a pure component antigenically as shown in immuno-electrophoresis. In both Immunological methods, the two ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-precipitin arcs and bands appeared clear and strong, indicating that the two globulins reacted as strong antigens. The precipitate reaction of ${\gamma}$-globulin was shown at 12 to 16 percent sodium sulfate; ${\beta}$-globulin at 12 to 20 percent; ${\alpha}$-globulin at 12 to 22 percent (immuno-electrophoresis), at 12 to 26 percent (Diffusion); and albumin at above 22 percent. Antigenically euglobulin contained ${\gamma}$-, ${\beta}$-, and ${\alpha}$-globulins, Pseudoglobulin I and Pseudoglobulin II were composed of ${\alpha}$-, and ${\beta}$-globulins, and albumin was a mixture of ${\alpha}$-globulin and albumin determined by zone electrophoresis. The results indicated that the fractions of serum protein obtained by either method were constituents of various proteins antigenically except ${\gamma}$-globulin and albumin by Zone electrophoresis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 1990

Maternal serum ${\beta}$-specific human chorionic gonadotropin(${\beta}$-hCG) and pregnancy-specific ${\beta}_1$-glycoprotein($SP_1$) levels were determined more than one per week during 11-41 days post embryo transfer(ET) in 21 consecutive pregnancies after in vitro fertilization(IVF), which included 8 normal singleton pregnancies, 3 twin pregnancies, 4 clinical abortions, 1 ectopic pregnancy, and 5 preclinical abortions. The sensitivity of serum ${\beta}$-hCG and $SP_1$ radioimmunoassays was 3mIU/ml and 0.7ng/ml relatively. At the 7th to 8th week of gestation, ultrasonographic confirmation of fetal pole and fetal heartbeat was performed. Both serm ${\beta}$-hCG and $SP_1$ levels showed logarithmic increase, but log[$SP_1$] had more steep rising curve and had wider variation than log[${\beta}$-hCG] in normal singleton pregnancies. In 3 twin pregnancies and one ectopic pregnancy, both serum ${\beta}$-hCG and $SP_1$ levels located within the 95% confidence interval of the mean levels of 8 normal singleton pregnancies(normal range). In 2 clinical abortions which had a fetal pole without heartbeat, serum ${\beta}$-hCG level showed lower limit of the normal range or just below, but all $SP_1$ levels showed within the normal range. In other 2 clinical abortions which were diagnosed as blighted ovum, both serum ${\beta}$-hCG levels from 11 days post-ET and serum $SP_1$ levels from later days compared with ${\beta}$-hCG were below the normal range. In 5 preclinical abortions, serum $SP_1$ levels were within the normal range but serum ${\beta}$-hCG levels were far below the normal range. In conclusion, both serum ${\beta}$-hCG and $SP_1$ levels increased exponentially with similar pattern in normally conceived pregancy after IVF-ET. Both serum ${\beta}$-hCG and $SP_1$ levels could predict outcome of early pregnancy to a certain degree, but log[${\beta}$-hCG] levels had more significant correlation with outcome of pregnancy compared with log[$SP_1$] levels. In addition, ultrasonographic examination of fetal poles and fetal heartbeats gives very important clinical information and prognosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.242-253
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• 2008

It is a common clinical practice to recommend taking iron supplements for pregnant women during gestation. Although it is required to ensure adequate iron stores during pregnancy, there has been some debate over the interference effects of excessive iron load, because it is possible to compete in the transport in the intestine and placenta and in binding to serum proteins of other trace minerals. In this study, maternal and neonatal serum concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Cr, Mn, and Co were assessed along with maternal Fe intakes. A total of 124 pregnant women and their term neonates participated voluntarily in this research. The women were divided into one of the three groups {high Fe intake (HFI), median Fe intake (MFI), and low Fe intake (LFI)} by their total Fe intakes and one of the two groups (Anemic and Normal) by their Fe nutritional status. All the data were compared among the three groups and between the two groups also. Total Fe intakes of HFI, MFI, and LFI groups were 140.8 ${\pm}$ 76.1, 68.0 ${\pm}$ 11.2, and 30.2 ${\pm}$ 8.6 mg/day, respectively. Those of Anemic and Normal groups were 90.1 ${\pm}$ 74.8 and 86.6 ${\pm}$ 46.8 mg/day, respectively. Maternal Hb concentration and Hct were not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups but those were significantly different between Anemic and Normal groups. However, neonatal Hb concentration was not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups and between Anemic and Normal groups either. Maternal serum Fe concentrations of the three groups, HFI, MFI, and LFI, were similar but that of Anemic group was significantly lower compared to Normal group. However, there was no significant difference in neonatal serum Fe concentrations among the three groups and between the two groups either. Serum concentrations of the other trace minerals in both mothers and neonates were not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups and between Anemic and Normal groups. In addition, in the maternal serum, Fe concentration was positively correlated to Zn and Se concentration, respectively. As for the neonatal serum, Fe concentration showed a positive correlation to Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, and Co concentration, respectively. No trace mineral concentration was found to correlate negatively to Fe concentration in both maternal and neonatal serum, The results in this study indicate that Fe intakes of pregnant women, even if it is considerably above the level of estimated average requirement (EAR), may not affect serum Fe concentration in both mothers and neonates. In addition it might not influence adversely on the availability of other trace minerals including Zn and Cu in both mothers and neonates.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.926-932
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• 2013

Glutamine and serum are essential for cell survival and proliferation in vitro, yet the signaling pathways that sense glutamine and serum levels in endothelial cells remain uninvestigated. In this study, we examined the effects of glutamine deprivation and serum starvation on the fate of endothelial cells using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. Our data indicated that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation trigger a progressive reduction in cell viability through apoptosis induction in HUVECs as determined by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. Although the apoptotic effects were more predominant in the glutamine deprivation condition, both apoptotic actions were associated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, down-regulation of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins, activation of caspase activities, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of Bid or up-regulation of truncated Bid (tBid) were observed in cells grown under the same conditions, indicating that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation induce the apoptosis of HUVECs through a signaling cascade involving death-receptor-mediated extrinsic pathways, as well as mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase pathways. However, apoptosis was not induced in cells grown in glutamine- and serum-free media when compared with cells exposed to glutamine deprivation or serum starvation alone. Taken together, our data indicate that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation suppress cell viability without apoptosis induction in HUVECs.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2008

The early diagnosis of bovine pregnancy is an essential component of successful reproductive planning on farms, because lack of bovine pregnancy over the long term results in reproductive failure and low milk yield-the latter of which is a special concern on dairy farms. This study was designed to identify early pregnancy-specific whey proteins in bovine, by comparing milk samples collected from cattle during pregnancy (Days 30 and 50) and from non-pregnant cattle. In this study, differentially expressed proteins in five pregnant and five non-pregnant Holstein dairy cattle were investigated and compared, using proteomics analysis. The first dimension was applied to a pH $3.0{\sim}10.0$ strip, by loading a 2-mg milk protein sample. After the second-dimension separation was performed, the gels were stained with colloidal Coomassie brilliant blue. The stained gels were scanned and the images were analyzed, to detect variations in protein spots between non-pregnant and pregnant cattle milk protein spots, using ImageMaster, this was followed by analysis with MALDI TOF-MS. Analysis of the 2-DE gel image resulted in a total of approximately $500{\sim}600$ protein spots, of which 12 spots were differentially expressed, six spots were up-regulated, and four spots were down-regulated; two spots were identified as pregnancy-specific proteins. These proteins were identified as lactoferrin, NA-DH dehydrogenase subunit 2, albumin, serum albumin precursor and transferrin. Our results via 2-D PAGE analysis revealed composite profiles of several milk proteins related to early bovine pregnancy, implying the possible use of these milk proteins in the early detection of bovine pregnancy.