• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2009

Anti-inflammatory factor(AIF) is a water soluble extract of three herbs, Panax notoginseng(Burk.) F. H. Chen, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and Eleutherococcus senticosus. The present study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of herb extracts, AIF, on Korean knee osteoarthritis patients for six weeks. Fifty seven patients with knee osteoarthritis, ranging from 43 to 73 years of age, who fulfilled the "American College of Rheumatology"(ACR) classification of idiopathic osteoarthritis of knee and radiographic criteria were randomly selected and enrolled for the study. After initial screening and resting period, two capsules each of AIF(Each capsule contains; 400 mg) and similar identical placebo were administered twice a day to both groups. Pain intensity at second, fourth, and sixth weeks of study as well as one week after discontinuation of drugs was assessed by using 100 mm visual analogue scale(VAS). Changes in the Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities(K-WOMAC) index score were compared at the initiation and completion of the study. VAS assessed by patients were significantly reduced(at visit 2; $54.64{\pm}14.72$, at visit 4, $37.32{\pm}16.58$, p<0.001) after AIF administration. Results showed an improvement in the physical function of K-WOMAC scale which was significantly higher(p=0.013) in AIF than placebo group, and decreases of total K-WOMAC score were also significantly higher(p=0.030) in AIF groups than placebo group. No serious adverse effect was observed, and there was no difference in incidence of adverse effect between AIF and placebo groups. In this population of Korean patients with knee osteoarthritis, AIF was found to be safe, tolerable and effective for symptomatic improvement of pain and physical function.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.796-802
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• 2001

Novel monomer for polybenzimidazole was prepared and polymerized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction. Thus, N-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-4-methoxy-N'-naphthyl-1,2-phenylenediamine was synthesized from the reaction of 4-methoxy-N-naphthyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride. N-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-4-methoxy-N'-naphthyl-1,2-phenylenediamine was converted to 2-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-5-hydroxy-1-naphthylbenzimidazole by ring closure and demethylation reaction. Polymerization was done in N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidinone (CHP) containing potassium car bonate. The resulting polymer was soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and had inherent viscosity of 0.38 dL/g (NMP at $30^{\circ}C$). The glass transition temperature ($T_g$ ) of the polybenzimidazole was $270^{\circ}C$. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) thermograms of this polymer showed 5% weight losses at $550^{\circ}C$ in nitrogen and at $540^{\circ}C$ in air.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.113-116
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• 2008

Cementum is the mineralized tissue of the tooth. It is similar to bone in several aspects but it differs from bone. Human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and human cementum derived cells (HCDC) (10,000 $cells/cm^2$) were plated in 6 well plates as feeder cells. The next day, mouse bone marrow cells (1.5 million $cells/cm^2$) were added. One group of these plates were incubated in serum-free conditioned medium (SFCM) generated from BMSC or HCDC supplemented with 2% FBS, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ (Vit. $D_3$) and dexamethasone, or plain medium with the same supplements. Another group of plates were cocultured with BMSC or HCDC in plain medium supplemented with 2% FBS, PTH, Vit. $D_3$ and dexamethasone. Plates grown without SFCM or coculture were used as controls. After 10 days, the cells were stained for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). BMSC were found to support osteoclast formation under normal conditions. This was inhibited however by both SFCM generated from HCDC and also by coculture with HCDC. In addition, HCDC themselves did not support osteoclast formation under any conditions. Our results thus indicate that HCDC do not support osteoclast formation in vitro and that soluble factor (s) from HCDC may inhibit this process. In addition, we show that this inhibition also involves an active mechanism that is independent of osteoprotegerin, a feature that may distinguish cementoblasts from other cells present in periodontium.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2003

Anti-diabetic effect of various fractions of Cordyceps militaris (CM), CCCA (crude cordycepin containing adenosine), CMESS (ethanol soluble supernatant), and cordycepin were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice, CMESS showed potent inhibitory activity of 34.7% in starch-loaded mice (2 g/kg) while acarbose as a positive standard exhibited 37.8% of inhibition rate. After 3 days administration (50 mg/kg), cordycepin (0.2 mg/kg), and acarbose (10 mg/kg) dramatically reduced blood glucose level (inhibition ratio: 46.9%, 48.4% and 37.5% respectively). CCCA that has high contents of cordycepin (0.656 mg/4 mg) did not influence on reducing blood glucose level. The proliferation of splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages derived from STZ-induced diabetic mice administered samples were evaluated out by addition of mitogens to see the stability of the usage of these herbal medicines. Proliferation of T-lymphocyte was significantly decreased; while NO production was increased more than two fold to STZ control in the cordycepin-administered group. Changes of serum enzyme levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were also evaluated. Cordycepin administered group was appeared to acarbose. We conclude that CMESS and cordycepin may be useful tools in the control of blood glucose level in diabetes and promising new drug as an anti-hyperglycemic agent without defects of immune responses and other side effects.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.899-904
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• 2008

Dasik is a type of Korean traditional confectionery that is kneaded with various grains, nuts or herb flour and honey and then pressed with a decorative press. Soybeans are a rich in protein, lipids, dietary fiber, minerals and fat soluble vitamins. Spirulina is a functional food that contains protein, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber and pigments. In this study, soybean Dasik containing spirulina was developed in an attempt to provide an easy method of incorporating spirulina into daily dietary life. In addition, we evaluated the quality characteristics of the soybean Dasik with spirulina that was developed here. Specifically, 0, 10, 20 and 30% spirulina was added to the soybean powder that was used to prepare soybean Dasik. Soybean Dasik that contained 30% spirulina had a higher moisture content and lower hardness when compared to other groups. In addition, the L, a and b value decreased as the level of spirulina increased. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of soybean Dasik increased according to the increase in the addition of spirulina. Specifically, the $IC_{50}$ values of the DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the control group were 76.6 mg/mL and 100.7 mg/mL, respectively, whereas these values were 26.3 mg/mL and 32.9 mg/mL, respectively, in Soybean Dasik that contained 30% spirulina. When a sensory evaluation was conducted, the overall preference decreased as the level of added spirulina increased. When the buying intension was evaluated, the control group had the highest score (7.8), followed by that of the Dasik that contained 20% spirulina (7.2) The buying intention was lowest for the Dasik that contained 30% spirulina. In conclusion, Soybean Dasik that contained up to 20% spirulina would be maketable.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2007

A multiwavelength spectrophotometric titration method was applied to study protolytic constants of four water-soluble vitamins, folic acid(vitamin B9 or B0), thiamine(vitamin B1), riboflavin(vitamin B2) and pyridoxal (vitamin B6) in binary ethanol-water mixtures at 25oC and an ionic strength of 0.1M NaNO3. The protolytic equilibrium constants, spectral profiles, concentration diagrams and also the number of components has been calculated from the curve fitting of the pH-absorbance data with appropriate mass balance equations by an established factor analysis model. DATAN program was used for determination of acidity constant and SPECFIT program was used for calculation of standard deviations and partial correlation coefficients. A glass electrode calibration procedure based on the four parameter equation pH=α+SpcH+JH+[H+]+ JOH-Kw/[H+] based on the Gran,s plots was used to obtain pH-readings in the concentration scale (pcH). The effect of the solvent on the protolytic constants was discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5307-5312
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• 2012

Introduction: Breast cancer cells and tumor stroma produce different cytokines and soluble factors. Cytokines, while playing crucial roles in immune responses to tumors, also favour tumor growth and progression. IL-7 and G-CSF are two cytokines that may exert influences on the pathophysiology of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Sera were collected from 136 females with breast cancer before receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The control group comprised of 60 healthy age-matched females without any acute or chronic diseases with no family history of breast cancer. Serum levels of IL-7 and G-CSF were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: While there was no significant difference in the level of G-CSF between patients ($92.81{\pm}594.54$ pg/ml) and controls (0.00 pg/ml), G-CSF level in sera of patients with advanced stages of breast cancer was elevated compared to early stages (p=0.0001). Moreover, the highest level of G-CSF was seen in patients with N3 phase tumors (p=0.0001). IL-7 was slightly but not significantly higher in the control group ($0.04{\pm}0.11$ pg/ml) in comparison with patients ($0.02{\pm}0.10$ pg/ml). Interestingly, a significant increase in the level of IL-7 in patients with skin involvement was observed (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed an elevation of G-CSF in sera of patients with advanced stages of tumor, while IL-7 elevation correlated with skin involvement of breast cancer. IL-7 can be produced by keratinocytes in skin tissue and may be involved in the pathologic establishment of metastatic tumor cells in skin.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.561-568
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• 1995

Two methods, precipitation and ultrafiltration, were applied in order to recover platinum group metals(PGM) by complexing them with water-soluble polyelectrolytes, e.g., polyethyleneimine [PEl], poly(2-vinylpyridine) [2-PVP], poly (4-vinylpyridine) [4-PVP], and poly (styrene sulfonic acid) [PSSA]. In the precipitation method, the PGM-polyelectrolyte complex that was formed by mixing first with polybase, e.g.,4-PVP at pH 1 was precipitated by further mixing with polyacid, e.g., PSSA. However, the recovery of PGM obtained by this method was not quantitative(less than 70%). The "sandwiching" binding between the metal anions and two polyelectrolytes was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). The XPS studies indicated that the PGM atom was bound with the acdic and basic polyelectrolyte via its oxygen and nitrogen atom, respectively. The recovery of PGM using polyelectrolyte was further studied by ultrafiltration methods as follows : The PGM ions, eomplexed at pH 1 with polyelectrolyte, allowed the applicntion of membrane filtration by virtue of the great differences in molecular weights between PGM and other low molecular weight species. By applying this method, Pd and Pt (ca. $10^{-4}M$) were selectively separated almost quantitatively from coexisting metal ions, e.g., $Cu^{2+}$ and $Ni^{2+}$. The EPR spectra and viscosity measurements indicated that these polyelectrlytes were not bound to $Cu^{2+}$ and $Ni^{2+}$ ions at this pH, which provided the basis for selective separation of PGM(Pd, Pt and Rh) from these coexisting ions.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 1995

In order to formulate an aqueous topical preparation of epidermal growth factor(EGF) for the treatment of open wound and bum, the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles containing various stabilizers was evaluated and the pharmacological activity of gel preparations formulated with poloxamer 407 was determined with wound model. Various additives, which are known as potent stabilizers for proteins and polypeptides so far, were used to increase the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles. The contents of EGF in the vehicles containing stabilizers were determined with an HPLC method after the storage at $37^{\circ}C$. EGF was more stable in ultrapure water than RO water or saline. All the additives studied resulted in deleterious effects on EGF stability. Therefore, it was speculated that any additives or impurities in the vehicle made EGF unstable. However, nitrogen purge of solution increased the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles. The aqueous topical preparations of EGF were formulated with poloxamer 407 as a gel base in saline. Gelatin or amastatin was employed as a protease inhibitor. The pharmacological effect of EGF gel was studied with open wound model in mice. EGF preparations, made of oleaginous base or poloxamer gel base, showed significant healing effect compared to the control group(p<0.05). The addition of protease inhibitor in poloxamer 407 gel resulted in significant healing effect compared to the gel without it(p<0.05). Body weights of mice treated with EGF preparation were increased at the first day after the formation of open wound, while those of the control group were decreased. The EGF gel made of poloxamer 407 containing a pretense inhibitor would be a promising aqueous topical preparation for EGF.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.989-993
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• 2006

The antimicrobial substance from Pyrola japonica were extracted and isolated. Eighty percent ethanol extract of dried Pyrola japonica was fractionated to hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and aqueous layer. The hexane-soluble fraction showed the highest inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis. Moreover the hexane layer was fractionated into 5 groups by silica gel column chromatography. From the results, group No. 2 ($18{\sim}40$ fractions) showed the highest antimicrobial activity. The group was re-separated to 10 fractions by preparative thin layer chromatography and the peak I as active fraction was isolated by HPLC.