• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Background: The biological actions of various ginseng extracts have been studied for treating obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of fermented Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) on metabolic syndrome. The present study evaluated the antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of fermented red ginseng (FRG) on old-aged, obese, leptin-deficient (B6.V-Lepob, "ob/ob") mice. Methods: The animals were divided into three groups and given water containing 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% FRG for 16 wk. The effect of FRG on ob/ob mice was determined by measuring changes in body weight, levels of blood glucose, serum contents of triglycerides, total cholesterol and free fatty acids, messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of key factors associated with insulin action, such as insulin receptor (IR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), glucose transporter 1 and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver and in muscle, and histology of the liver and pancreas. Results: FRG-treated mice had decreased body weight and blood glucose levels compared with control ob/ob mice. However, anti-obesity effect of FRG was not evident rather than hypoglycemic effect in old aged ob/ob mice. The hyperlipidemia in control group was attenuated in FRG-treated ob/ob mice. The mRNA expressions of IR, LPL, GLUT1, GLUT4, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and PEPCK in the liver and in muscle were increased in the FRG-treated groups compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that FRG may play a vital role in improving insulin sensitivity relative to reducing body weight in old-aged ob/ob mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 1988

혈액에서 생물학적 활성을 나타내는 (bioavailable) steroid hormone은 주로 비결합형(free form)과 알부민 결합형(albumin-bound form)으로 구성된다. 특히 Testosterone (T)과 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)의 활성적 분획이 전체의 T, DHT 양에 비해 생리적 현상과 보다 잘 일치하는 것으로 알려지고 있다. 본 연구는 섬광면역측정법(Luminescence immunoassay, LIA)으로 혈청내 활성적 T 및 DHT의 농도의 측정에 이용하고져 하였다. 항체는 T- 또는 DHT-3-CMO-BSA를 항원으로 토끼에 면역주사하여 얻었다. 추적자는 T-3-CMO, DHT-3-CMO에 aminobutylethylisoluminol(ABEI)를 부착시켜 사용하였다. 항체중 IgG분획을 Protein-A-Sepharose CL-4B로 분리한 후 Immunobead(Bio-Rad)에 부착시켜 Solid-phase LIA를 실시하였다. 본 연구에서 LIA는 정확도(accuracy), 정밀도(precision), 감도(sensitivity), 교차반응도(specificity)등을 조사하고, 기존의 방사면역측정법(RIA)과 비교하여 만족할만한 결과를 얻었다. 혈청내 T및 DHT의 활성적 분획의 농도를 측정한 결과는 다음과 같았다. T의 경우는 남성에서 T의 전체량의 33% 이상으로 $7.1{\pm}1.5nmol/l$, 여성에서는 26% 이상으로 $0.28{\pm}0.05nmol/l$이었다. DHT의 활성적 분획은 남성의 경우 $601.7{\pm}85.8pmol/l$, 여성의경우 $52.4{\pm}19.9\;pmol/l$이었다. 이상의 결과를 보아 본 연구에서 이용된 LIA는 혈청내 활성적 농도를 측정하기에 충분하다고 사료된다. 또한 이 방법을 이용하여 여성의 Androgenicity 및 남성 정소기능등의 제어방법에 응용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk factors according to Sasang constitution. Methods A total of 1773 participants, over 40 years old, were examined as part of a community-based cohort in Wonju city in Gangwon province of South Korea, from June 2006 to August 2009. We measured bone mineral density by Achilles ultrasonometer, serum levels of lipids, fasting blood sugar, insulin and other cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and waist circumference. Constitution was verified by a Sasang constitution specialist using the results of PSSC(Phonetic System for Sasang Constitution), facial photos and a simplified Sasang constitutional questionnaire. Results The prevalence rate was 11.2% in total participants, and 10.6% in Soyangin, 10.4% in Taeeumin and 13.9% in Soeumin. In general characteristics, educational and economic property and exercise were concerned with osteoporosis. Systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and total cholesterol were significantly high in osteoporosis group. Age and menopause were the key risk factors for osteoporosis. There was a significantly high prevalence in Soeumin for osteoporosis in men alone. Low physical activity was a major risk factor for osteoporosis. Waist circumference and hip circumference had significantly high odds ratio and weight had significantly low odds ratio. By Sasang constitution, Soyangin has the negative correlation with free fatty acid, Taeeumin has the negative correlation with waist circumference, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein and Soeumin has the positive correlation with body fat amount. Conclusions Regimens on osteoporosis should be considered according to Sasang constitution. Cardiovascular diseases should be considered according to Sasang constitution. Soeumin should be cautious of osteoporosis and gain weights and reasonable amount of fat food. Soyangin had better do exercise lower body and eat little food containing triglyceride. Taeeumin had better lose weights and eat little cholesterol food.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2005

Paraquat, is a widely used for its great effect as a herbicide. But the mortality rate by paraquat intoxication is known to be very high. It is thought to act by changing form to superoxide and peroxide free radical. Almost paraquat intoxication is through ingestion. A few intoxication of paraquat is through skin absorption. But there was no known death case through skin absorption. We experienced a case of a expired patient by paraquat intoxication through skin abrasion and scratching wound. A 75-year-old man was visited emergency room after motorcycle accident during transporting paraquat. He has multiple abrasion and scratching wound on extremities, and pelvic bone fracture. There was no evidence of ingestion of paraquat. But serum/urine gramoxone level was all positive. In spite of wound irrigation and hemoperfusion, his condition was been gone form bed to worse. 2 days after, multiple organ failure and the respiratory arrest were developed and he was expired. Paraquat intoxication through skin wound is extremely dangerous and death by that could possibly happen

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Trolox, a hydrophilic analogue of vitamin E, on the alteration of vasoregulatory gene expression during hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Rats were subjected to 60 min of hepatic ischemia in vivo. The rats were treated intravenously with Trolox (2.5 mg/kg) or the vehicle as a control 5 min before reperfusion. Liver samples were obtained 5 h after reperfusion for a RT-PCR analysis on the mRNA for the genes of interest. These mRNA peptides are endothelin-1 (ET -1), potent vasoconstrictor peptide, its receptor $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, vasodilator endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). It was seen that serum alanine aminotransferase and lipid peroxi-dation levels were markedly increased after I/R and Trolox significantly suppressed this increase. In contrast, the glutathione concentration decreased in the I/R group, and this decrease was inhibited by Trolox. ET-1 mRNA expression was increased by I/R, an increase which was prevented by Trolox. The mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptor was significantly decreased, whereas ET$_{B}$ receptor transcript increased in the I/R group. The increase in $ET_A$ was prevented by Trolox. The mRNA levels for iNOS and HO-1 significantly increased in the I/R group and Trolox attenuated this increase. There were no significant differences in eNOS mRNA expression among any of the experimental groups. The mRNA levels for COX-2 and TNF-$\alpha$ significantly increased in I/R group and Trolox also attenuated this increase. Our findings suggest that I/R induces an imbalanced hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression and Trolox ameliorates this change through its free radical scavenging activity.y.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.775-781
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• 2003

In this study, we investigated to elevate the modulatory effect of flavonoid(fustin, sulfuretin, 10 mg/kg) which was isolated from Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS) in male Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 weeks on the toxicity of paraquat. In the flavonoids pretreated groups, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, malondialdehyde and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum and malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen in lung tissue which was induced paraquat toxicity were slightly decrease compared to the normal group. In the lung tissue of flavonoids pretreated groups, malodialdehyde value, G-6-phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis were recovered to tile normal values and alkaline phosphatase activity was increased. From these results, we concluded that flavonoids which were isolated from RVS is an effective agent to inhibit the pulmonary and internal toxicities and hence we concluded that acitive components of fustin and sulfuretin which were isolated from RVS might be removed free radicals induced by paraquat.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.10-16
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• 2001

To evaluate an effect of circadian variation on the xylene metabolizing enzyme activities, 50% m-xylene in olive oil(0.25 $m\ell$/100g body weight) was intraperitoneally administered to the rats every other day for 6 days both in the night; 24:00 and the day; 12:00. Then animals were sacrigiced at 8hr after last injection of m-xylene. Hepatic microsomal cytochrome p450 contents were more increased both in control and xylene treated rats of night phase than those of day phase. But the activity of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) in control of night phase showed the similar value with that in those of day phase and xylene treated rats of day phase showed an increasing tendency of hepatic ADH activity as those of night phase showing similar activity. Furthermore, control rats of night phase than those of day phase. And by xylene treatment, enzyme activities of rats of day phase were higher tendency in rats of control but those of night phase were somewhat inhibited. Besides, xylene-treated animals of night phase showed increasing tendency of urinary methylhippuric acid concentration compared with those of day phase. On the other hand, liver weight per body weight(%), hepatic lipid peroxide content and serum xanthine oxidase activity were higher in night phase. And the activities of hepatic oxygen free radical metabolizing enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, gluthathione S-transferase, and xylene-treated rats of night phase than those of day phase. In conclusion, it can be hypothesized on the basis of the results that the accumulation rate of m-xylene intermediate metabolite, i.e. m-methylbenzaldehyde in liver tissus may be higher in night phase than in day phase and it may be responsible for higher liver toxicity in bight phase than in day phase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.712-720
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• 2007

To investigate clonal variations of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary(rCHO) clones in response to culture pH and temperature, serum-free suspension cultures of two antibody-producing CHO clones(clones A and B), which were isolated from the same parental clone by the limiting dilution method, were performed in a bioreactor at pH values in the range of 6.8-7.6, and two different temperatures, $33^{\circ}C\;and\;37^{\circ}C$. In regard to cell growth, clone A and clone B displayed similar responses to temperature, although their degree of response differed. In contrast, clones A and B displayed different responses to temperature in regard to antibody production. In the case of clone A, no significant increase in maximum antibody concentration was achieved by lowering the culture temperature. The maximum antibody concentration obtained at $33^{\circ}C$(pH 7.4) and $37^{\circ}C$(pH 7.0) were $82.0{\pm}2.6$ and $73.2{\pm}4.1{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of clone B, an approximately 2.5-fold increase in maximum antibody concentration was achieved by lowering the culture temperature. The enhanced maximum antibody concentration of clone B at $33^{\circ}C$($132.6{\pm}14.9{\mu}g/ml$ at pH 7.2) was due to not only enhanced specific antibody productivity but also to prolonged culture longevity. At $33^{\circ}C$, the culture longevity of clone A also improved, but not as much as that of clone B. Taken together, CHO clones derived from the same parental clone displayed quite different responses to culture temperature and pH with regards antibody production, suggesting that environmental parameters such as temperature and pH should be optimized for each CHO clone.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.852-858
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• 2008

An extracellular protease (Mc1) was isolated from the nematode-trapping fungus Monacrosporium cystosporium by gel filtration, anion-exchange, and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. This protease had a molecular mass of approximately 38 kDa and displayed an optimal activity at pH 7-9 and $56^{\circ}C$ (over 30 min). Its proteolytic activity was highly sensitive to the serine protease inhibitor PMSF (phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, 0.1 mM), indicating that it belonged to the serine-type peptidase group. The Michaelis constant ($K_m$) and $V_max$ for substrate N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA were $1.67{\times}10^{-4}\;M$ and 0.6071 $OD_{410}$ per 30 s, respectively. This protease could degrade a broad range of substrates including casein, gelatin, BSA (bovine serum albumin), and nematode cuticle. Moreover, the enzyme could immobilize the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus and the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, suggesting that it might playa role in infection against nematodes. The encoding gene of Mc1 was composed of one intron and two exons, coding for a polypeptide of 405 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of Mcl showed 61.4-91.9% identity to serine proteases from other nematode-trapping fungi. Our results identified that Mcl possessed biochemical properties including optimal reaction condition and substrate preference that are different from previously identified serine proteases.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2020

As a preclinical study, many researchers have been attempted to convert the porcine PSCs into several differentiated cells with transplantation of the differentiated cells into the pigs. Here, we attempted to derive neuronal progenitor cells from pig embryonic germ cells (EGCs). As a result, neuronal progenitor cells could be derived directly from pig embryonic germ cells through the serum-free floating culture of EB-like aggregates (SFEB) method. Treating retinoic acid was more efficient for inducing neuronal lineages from EGCs rather than inhibiting SMAD signaling. The differentiated cells expressed neuronal markers such as PAX6, NESTIN, and SOX1 as determined by qRT-PCR and immunostaining. These data indicated that pig EGCs could provide valid models for human therapy. Finally, it is suggested that developing transgenic pig for disease models as well as differentiation methods will provide basic preclinical data for human regenerative medicine and lead to the success of stem cell therapy.