• Biodesign
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.122-125
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• 2017

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is one of the single transmembrane domain containing receptors and causes various inflammatory diseases including diabetes and atherosclerosis. RAGE extracellular domain has three consecutive IgG-like domains (V-C₁-C₂ domain) which interact with various soluble ligands including heparan sulfate or HMGB1. Studies have shown that each ligand induces different oligomeric forms of RAGE which results in a ligand-specific signal transduction. The structure of mouse RAGE bound to heparan sulfate has been previously determined but the electron density map of heparan sulfate was too ambiguous that the exact position of heparin sulfate could not be defined. Furthermore, the complex structure of human RAGE and heparin sulfate still remains elusive. Therefore, to determine the structure, human RAGE was overexpressed using bacterial expression system and crystallized using the sitting drop method in the condition of 0.1 M sodium acetate trihydrate pH 4.6, 8 % (w/v) polyethylene glycol 4,000 at 290 K. The crystal diffracted to 3.6 Å resolution and the space group is C121 with unit cell parameters a= 206.04 Å, b= 68.64 Å, c= 98.73 Å, α= 90.00°, β= 90.62°, γ= 90.00°.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2010

Polyaniline doped with ionic liquid (1,3-dimethylimidazolium methylsulfate, I-DMS) soluble in polar solvents (NMP, DMSO, DMF, m-cresol etc.) were synthesized by nucleophilic addition. Solubilities of PAN/I-DMS powder in polar solvents were observed in the range of 3~6 wt%/vol., respectively. The electrical conductivities of PAN/I-DMS films appeared in the range of $10^{-2}{\sim}7S/cm$. Polyaniline doped with I-DMS (PAN/I-DMS) showed improved thermal stability and conductivity compared to that of HCl doped polyaniline (PAN/HCl) and dimethylsulfate (DMS) doped polyaniline (PAN/DMS) upon heat treatment at $160^{\circ}C$. These improved conductivity and solubility in organic polar solvents was explained with the interactions between the polar sulfonate group and polar solvents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.570-576
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• 2003

The remarkable change of phenomenon induced by stress increase energy metabolism that can induce many reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS can peroxidize cellular macromolecules including lipid and protein. The object of this study was to investigate whether stress may induce cellular damage by producing ROS and whether vitamin E, as a strong lipid-soluble antioxidant, can protect cells against reactive oxygen species produced by noise and immobilization stress in SD rats. The stress group increased 5-hydroxyindole aceti acid (5-HIAA) , one of the stress hormone, in brain tissue and free fatty acid in plasma. Vitamin I treatment had no effect on 5-HIAA but free fatty acid contents decreased with a fortified vitamin I diet. Furthermore, the body weight of vitamin I-treated rats increased more than that of the stress group. Lipid peroxidation and protein degradation as an index of oxidative damage in brain tissue decreased with the use of the fortified vitamin I diet supplement. The results suggest that vitamin I supplements have a protective effect against noise and immobilization stress-induced oxidative damage in brain tissue.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.337-347
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• 1999

This study was carried out to evaluate the characteristics of dissolved organics based on their origins, which were divided into two categories. The first group consisted of river, lake and secondary sewage treatment effluent, which were chosen as representative of their origins. The second group were artificial samples which were made of AHA(Aldrich humic acids) and WHA(Wako humic acids). Physicochemical characteristics, biological degradability and THMEP(trihalomethane formation potential) of the samples were analysed based on the AMWD(apparent molecular weight distribution). Large portion of dissolved organic carbon(DOC) in the river and lake samples was comprised of LMW(low molecular weight), which that of AHA and WHA was HMW(high molecular weight). The DOC of the lake was evenly distributed in the all range of molecular weight. The river, lake and secondary treated effluent have lower ultraviolet(UV) absorbance at 254nm, and have a higher amount of humic acids. Higher absorbance of humic acids means that aliphatic bond and benzenoid type components that absorb UV light were contained in these kind of humic acids. It was expected that lake sample was the most biodegradable in the different samples investigated, and in order of secondary sewage treatment effluent, river, WHA and AHA based on the result of determination of specific ultraviolet absorbance(SUVA). Biodegradability showed similar result except for AHA, while dissolved organics in the range of LMW decreased during the biodegradability test, and on the contrary those of HMW increased. Production of the SMPs(soluble micobial products) was observed during humicfication of dissolved organics and the SMPs were higher production of the SMPs. THM formation was high in the samples containing HMW and similar tendency was shown in the THMEP(trihalomethane formation potential), except for WHA.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.260-270
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• 2012

Objectives : Hippocampus, a region of temporal lobe, plays an important role in the pathogenic mechanisms of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, depression and temporal lobe epilepsy. This research is designed to investigate hippocampal changes after acupuncture stimulation at Shinmun(HT7) using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE). Methods : On postnatal-day 15, rat pups were randomly devided into Normal(NOR) or HT7 group. All of Pups kept with their mothers for 7 days, but pups in HT7 group received acupuncture stimulation at HT7 daily. On postnatal-day 21, hippocampus of each rat pup was dissceted 30 minutes after last acupuncture stimulation and the protein expressions were investigated using 2-DE. Results : After acupuncture stimulation at HT7, expression of 20 proteins were significantly increased. Succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-like, transketolase, aconitate hydratase and phosphoglucomutase-1 were related to glucose methabolism. Eukaryotic initiation factor(eIF) 4A-II, eIF 4A-III, mitochondrial Tu translation elongation factor and chain A of crystal structure of the 70-Kda heat shock cognate protein involve in the protein synthesis in ribosome. Tubulin ${\beta}$-4 chain, tubulin T ${\beta}$-15 and tubulin ${\alpha}$-1B chain comprise cytoskeleton. Glutathione S-transferase(GST) ${\omega}$-1, GST P and GST Yb-3 can reduce oxidative stress. ${\beta}$-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein is required for vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase plays a major role in lipid biosynthesis, creatine kinase U-type catalyses the conversion of creatine and consumes adenosine triphosphate to create phosphocreatine and adenosine diphosphate. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase IB subunit alpha and voltage depedent anion-selective channel protein 2 were also increased. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture stimulation at HT7 may enhance glucose and lipid metabolism, protein synthesis, cytoskeletal substance and anti-oxidative stress in hippocampus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.217-224
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• 2013

Transgenic plants have been tested as an alternative host for the production and delivery of experimental oral vaccines. Here, we developed transgenic potatoes that express the major antigenic sites A and D of the glycoprotein S from transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV-$S_{0.7}$) under three expression vector systems. The DNA integration and mRNA expression level of the TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ gene were confirmed in transgenic plants by PCR and northern blot analysis. Antigen protein expression in transgenic potato was determined by western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results revealed that based on a dilution series of Escherichia coli-derived antigen, the transgenic line P-2 had TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ protein at levels that were 0.015% of total soluble proteins. We then examined the immunogenicity of potato-derived TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ antigen in mice. Compared with the wild-type potato treated group and synthetic antigen treated group, mice treated with the potato-derived antigen showed significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA responses.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 1999

Tyrosinase plays an important role in the process of melanin polymer biosynthesis. Therefore, the enzyme inhibitors have been of great concern as cosmetics to have skin-whitening effects on the local hyperpigmentation. During the search for new inhibitory compounds on melanin polymer biosynthesis from natural sources, MeOH extracts of 589 higher plants were tested for the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity by the muschroom tyrosinase assay in vitro. Among plants tested, the leaves of Cercis chinensis exhibited potent inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity. Subsequently seven active compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble part of acetone extract of the leaves of C. chinensis by the activity guided fractionation monitoring the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. Their chemical structures were identified as $kaempferol-3-0-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$, quercitrin, $myricetin-3-0-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$, myricetin-3-0-(2'-O-galloyl)- ${\alpha}$ -L-rhamopyranoside (desmanthin), (-)-epicatechin-3-0-gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-0-gallate, and methyl gallate on the basis of the speculation of spectral data and chemical reaction. Among the flavonol rhamnosides, myricetin-3-0-(2'-O-galloyl)- -L-rhamnoside(desmanthin) showed most potent inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity and the structure of B-ring in flavonol moiety was related to the activity. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate having pyrogallol group in flavan-3-ol moiety exhibited more potent inhibitory effect than (-)-epicatechin-3-0-gallate having catechol group in flavan-3-ol moiety on mushroom tyrosinase activity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.455-468
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to understand the time series and origin of a chemical component and to compare the difference during yellow sand episodes for analysis $PM_{10}$ chemical components in the region of west in Korean Peninsula, 1999-2001. An annual mean concentration of $PM_{10}$ is $29.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$. A monthly mean and standard deviation of $PM_{10}$ concentration are very high in spring but there is no remarkably seasonal variation. Also, water soluble ionic component of $PM_{10}$ be influenced by double more total anion than total cation, be included $NO_{3}^-\;and\;SO_{4}^{2-}$ for the source of acidity and $NH_{4}^+$ to neutralize. Tracer metals of $PM_{10}$ slowly increases caused by emitted for soil and ocean (Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, Na) and Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn for anthropogenic source. According to method of enrichment factor (E.F) and statistics, assuming that the origin of metal component in $PM_{10}$ most of element in the Earth's crust e.g. Mg, Ca, Fe originates soil and Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb derives from anthropogenic sources. The ionic component for $Na^{+}\;Cl^-,\;Mg^{2+}\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ and Mg, Al, Ca, Fe originated by soil component largely increase during yellow sand period and then tracer metal component as Pb, Cd, Zn decrease. According to factor analysis, the first group is ionic component ($Na^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+}$) and metal component (Na, Fe, Mn and Ni) be influenced by soil. The second group, Mg, Cr also be influenced by soil particle.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of extracts from Geranium thunbergii (GT) in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. Animals were randomly divided into four groups [normal diet, high fat diet, MeOH extract of GT (GTM), and BuOH fraction of GT (GTB)] and GT samples were treated with dose of 100 mg/kg for 8 weeks. It was observed that GTB-treated group significantly reduced body weight gain, food intake, epididymal fat weight, and triglyceride level in serum and liver compared to control group. The rats fed GTB also decreased contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), hydroxyl radical, and xanthin oxidase (XO) increased by high fat diet. Furthermore, the anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase were increased by GTB treatment. The experimental results indicate that GTB has anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic effects, as well as radical scavenging activity.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 1999

Epidemiologic studies consistently demonstrate an inverse relationship between risk for colon canter and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Wheat bran, flax and soy contain dietary fiber and phytochemicals, such as lignans and isoflavones, that may inhibit colon carcinogenesis. Orange juice contains hesperidin, a flavanone glucoside that protects against colon carcinogenesis. This study determined if feeding orange juice, wheat bran, soy and flaxseed (combined diet) would inhibit azoxymethane (AOM) induced colon cancer. Cancer was initiated in male Fisher 344 rats by injecting 15 mg AOM/kg of weight at 22 and 29 days of age. One week after the second AOM injection, rats (N = 30) in the combined diet group received dry diet containing wheat bran (4%), soy with ethanol soluble phytochemirals(13%) and flaxseed (8%) and orange juice replaced drinking water. The control group remained on the control diet and received distilled water to drink. The rats were killed 28 weeks later, and colon tissues and tumors were removed for histologic analysis. Feeding the combined diet significantly reduced tumor incidence (p < 0.05), however tumor multiplicity was not changed (p > 0.05, 0.9 tumors/rat fed the combined diet vs 1.2 for controls). Also, tumor burden was only marginally reduced in rats fed the combined diet vs control rats (65 vs 210 mg of tumor/rats, respectively). The reduction in tumor incidence was associated with a decreased labeling index and proliferation zone in normal appearing colon mucosa. Therefore, this study shows that phytochemicals in wheat bran, soy, flax and orange juice reduce colon carcinogenesis, presumably by decreasing cell proliferation and enhancing cell differentiation.