• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.725-729
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• 1996

Reaction of carbonyl compounds with B-alkoxydiisopinocampheylborane (Ipc2BOR, R=H, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu) was investigated in detail in order to establish their usefulness as selective reducing agents. The reagents were extremely mild and reduced only aldehydes effectively under mild conditions. The reagents also reduced α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to the corresponding allylic alcohols without any detectable 1,4-reduction. Furthermore, aldehydes can be reduced in the presence of epoxides and acid chlorides. Consequently, the selective reduction of aldehyde groups in the presence of keto and all other functional groups has been realized with these reagents.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics T
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• v.36T no.3
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• pp.32-40
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• 1999

In this paper, we present a fast block matching motion estimation algorithm based on successive elimination algorithm (SEA). Based on the characteristic of center-biased motion vector distribution in the search area, the proposed method improves the performance of the SEA with a reduced the number of the search positions in the search area, In addition, to reduce the computational load, this method is combined with both the reduced bits mean absolute difference (RBMAD) matching criterion which can be reduced the computation complexity of pixel comparison in the block matching and pixel decimation technique which reduce the number of pixels used in block matching. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides better performance than existing fast algorithms and similar to full-search block motion estimation algorithm.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of athritis and function. Methodes : To analyse immunomodulatory effects of CS, cytotoxicity and inhibition of proliferation against of synovial cells, gene expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6, DNA-binding activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and AP-1 were measured in vitro. Results : CS didn't show cytotoxicity against human synovial cells and inhibited proliferation of human synovial cells in a dose-dependent manner in combination with rIL-6. CS reduced the gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1$\beta$ in a dose- dependent manner but didn't reduced that of TNF-$\alpha$ in human synovial cells. CS reduced the binding-activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and also reduced that of AP-1 remarkably. Conclusion: We found out that Cordyceps sinensis has immunomodulatory effect of suppressing synovial cells. And Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune disease in the future.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 1999

In order to know the inhibitory effect of magnesium carbonate(MgCO3) on cytotoxicity, DNA damage, mutagenicity, and cell transforming ability of nickel subsulfide, the inhibition of cell proliferation, DNA-protein crosslinks formation (DPC), HGPRT point mutation, and cell transformation were evaluated. Nickel subsulfide(Ni3S2) and magnesium carbonate as insoluble compounds were used for this study. BALB/3T3 cell, CHO-K1 cell, and C3H10T1/2 cell were used in this experiment. Exposure concentration of nickel subsulfide was 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. The concentrations of magnesium carbonate in this study were 0.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 1.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 2.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and the molar ratio of magnesium to nickel when exposed simultanously were 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 respectively. The results were as follows; 1. Magnesium carbonate reduced the inhibitory effect of nickel subsulfide on cell proliferation. 2. Magnesium carbonate also reduced the effect of nickel subsulfide on DNA-protein crosslinks formation. 3. HGPRT point mutagenicity of nickel subsulfide was reduced when magnesium carbonate treated simultaneously. 4. Magnesium carbonate reduced cell transforming ability of nickel subsulfide. Conclusively, nickel subsulfide showed cytotoxicity, cell transforming ability, and mutagenicity strongly and magnesium carbonate may have protective roles in these nickel effects.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 2002

Cancer is the second leading cause of the death in Korea. Family caregivers of dying patients manifest many psychological and physical symptoms of stress, and they often seek for informational support from health care providers. Unfortunately, however, few systematic studies identify the actual effect of such support on family caregivers. This study, thus, intends to evaluate the effect of informational support for hospice care. One group pretest-posttest design was used, employing the stress-coping model by Cohen and Wills as a conceptual framework. This research was conducted from July 1 to November 15, 1998, initially with 32 subjects sampled from hemato-oncology department of two general hospitals in Seoul, but reduced to 18 at the end due to the untimely death of patients or caregiver's refusal during the course of study. Informational supports were programmed to provide the family caregivers with 8 times of education and counseling as well as 24-hour hot-line for 4 weeks. A booklet that explains the various problems of hospice care was also prepared and distributed to all subjects. Data were collected by using self-report questionnaires and reviewing medical records. The tools used in this study were based on the Weinert's PRQ-II(scale of perceived social support), Spielberger's state anxiety inventory, and CES-D. Also included in the data collection were the general characteristics of family caregivers and patients, and the pain intensity and the performance status of patients. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon sign rank test and paired t-test using SPSSWIN program. The results of the study were as follows: 1.The perceived social support of family caregivers was not significantly increased with informational support for hospice care(t=1.64, one tailed p=.060). 2.The anxiety of family caregivers was significantly reduced following informational support for hospice care(t=3.48, one tailed p=.002). 3.The depression of family caregivers was significantly reduced following informational support for hospice care(t=-2.18, one tailed=.022). 4.The pain intensity of patients with terminal cancer was significantly reduced following informational support for hospice care(t=-2.41, two tailed p=.027). The results suggest that the informational support provided to family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer reduced not only their anxiety and depression but also the pain intensity of patients. Further study is necessary to consolidate the conceptual framework of this study with expanded number of subjects. Nevertheless, it was certain that the informational support program for hospice care was very helpful to both caregivers and patients. Thus, the informational support program is strongly recommended for the hospitals which have no hospice unit yet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2003

Background : Allergic asthma is thought to be mediated by $CD4^{+}$ T lymphocytes producing the Th2-associated cytokines. According to investigations of lung biopsies and respiratory secretions from patients, $CD4^{+}$ T cells and eosinophils are the main features of the inflammatory process. Object : This study aimed to find an inhibition effect on allergens induced by JCT (Jungchun-tang) and JCTG (Jungchuntanggagambang) through the change of $CD4^{+}$ T cells and $CD8^{+}$ T cells in BALF of rat, and to see the change of IgE m serum. Materials and Methods : Laboratory rats were primary sensitized with OA (ovalbumin); on day 1, rats of a control group and a sample group (SBP group) were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of A1(OH)3 in a total volume of 2 ml saline. The rats of the sample group were orally administered with an SBP water extract for 14 days after primary immunization. On day 14 after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2%(wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BAL fluid and serum were collected from the rats. Total cells, lymphocytes, $CD4^{+}$ T cells, $CD8^{+}$ T cells, and $CD4^{+}$/$CD8^{+}$ ratio in the BALF, and IgE level in serum were measured and evaluated. Results : L Total cell in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be significantly reduced but JCTG had no significant difference in comparison with the control group. 2. Lymphocytes in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. 3. $CD4^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be more significantly reducing than JCTG in comparison with the control group. 4. $CD8^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 5. $CD4^{+}/CD8^{+}$ ratio in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 6. The IgE level in serum : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that JCT inhibits allergen-induced specially select $CD4^{+}$T cell channel in BALF of rat.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.473-476
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• 2002

The effect of fertiltzer application on ponded and percolation water in rice paddy were investigated at the experimental plots during irrigation period. We laid out three experimental plots such as 150% Excessive, 100% Standard and 70% Reduced. The concentration of T-N and T-P in ponded water were increased rapidly after application. The concentration of T-N and COD in percolated water increased with fertilizer application rates, while T-P concentration were almost constant.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.589-596
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• 2004

In this study, the reduction rates of nutrients were suggested to prevent eutrophication on the Hwaong reservoir in the year of 2008 and 2012. With EPA's WASP6 model, future water quality were simulated. In 2008, T-N would be 1.36mg/L and T-P 0.100mg/L on average. ; In 2012, T-N 2.66mg/L and T-P 0.128mg/L. With all the water quality management plans that the government authorities are carrying out, these results indicate that the reservoir would be reach the eutrophic or hypertrophic state according to the Vollenweider's trophic states. Therefore, the Hwaong reservoir requires additional plans for nutrients management. Here, the target water quality to prevent eutrophication of the reservoir sets into mesotrophic state ; T-N 0.475mg/L and T-P 0.02mg/L.(median of Vollenweider index for mesotropphic state) The reduction rates of nutrients on Namyang and Eoeun streams were estimated with uniform treatment method to meet the goal. The results showed that nutrients from two streams should be reduced up to 78% in 2008, and 84% in 2012. Since the ratio of T-N/T-P would be higher than 16 at target years, T-N was not considered as the limiting factor and was not reduced.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.62-64
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• 2008

A major hurdle to the development of RNA interference as therapy for HIV infection is the delivery of siRNA to T lymphocytes which are difficult cells to transfect even in vitro. We have employed a single chain antibody to the pan T cell surface antigen CD7 was conjugated to an oligo-9-arginine peptide (scFvCD7-9R) for T cell-specific siRNA delivery in NOD/SCIDIL2${\gamma}$-/- mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (Hu-PBL). Using a novel delivery, we first show that scFvCD7-9R efficiently delivered CD4 siRNA into human T cells in vitro. In vivo administration to Hu-PBL mice resulted in reduced levels of surface CD4 expression on T cells. Mice infected with HIV-1 and treated on a weekly basis with scFvCD7-9R-siRNA complexes targeting a combination of viral genes and the host coreceptor molecule CCR5 successfully maintained CD4/CD3 T cell ratios up to 4 weeks after infection in contrast to control mice that displayed a marked reduction in CD4 T cell numbers. p24 antigen levels were undetectable in 3 of the 4 protected mice. scFvCD7-9R/antiviral siRNA treatment also helped maintain CD4 T cell numbers with reduced plasma viral loads in Hu-PBL mice reconstituted with PBMC from donors seropositive for HIV, indicating that this method can contain viral replication even in established HIV infections. Our results show that scFvCD7-9R could be further developed as a potential therapeutic for HIV-1 infection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2022

Macrophages are a major cellular component of innate immunity and are mainly known to have phagocytic activity. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), they can be differentiated into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). As the most abundant immune cells in the TME, TAMs promote tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis, suppressing T cells and increasing immunosuppressive cytokine production. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a tumor suppressor gene, whose expression is down-regulated in various cancers. However, the effect of NDRG2 on the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs in breast cancer remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of NDRG2 expression in breast cancer cells on the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs. Compared to tumor cell-conditioned medium (TCCM) from 4T1-mock cells, TCCM from NDRG2-over-expressing 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells did not significantly change the morphology of RAW 264.7 cells. However, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the mRNA levels of TAM-related genes, including MR1, IL-10, ARG1 and iNOS, in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the expression of TAM-related surface markers, such as CD206, in peritoneal macrophages (PEM). The mRNA expression of TAM-related genes, including IL-10, YM1, FIZZ1, MR1, ARG1 and iNOS, was also downregulated by TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells. Remarkably, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the expression of PD-L1 and Fra-1 as well as the production of GM-CSF, IL-10 and ROS, leading to the attenuation of T cell-inhibitory activity of PEM. These data showed that compared with TCCM from 4T1-mock cells, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells suppressed the TAM differentiation and activation. Collectively, these results suggest that NDRG2 expression in breast cancer may reduce the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs in the TME.