• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2009

Objective : Moutan Cortex (the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) is widely used in oriental medicine as a remedy for inflammation. However, as yet there is no clear explanation of how MC(Moutan Cortex) affects the production of inflammatory cytokine. This study was to determine the effects of Essence extracted MC on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Method : We observed the effect of MC on compound 48/80-induced histamine release of rat peritoneal mast cells and the effect of administering MC on PCA in rat. We measured the amount of inflammatory cytokine production induced by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore(A23187) in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) incubated with various concentrations of MC. The TNF-$\alpha$ protein levels were analysised by Western blot. The TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 secreted protein levels were measured by the ELISA assay. The TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels were measured by the RT-PCR analysis. NF-$\kappa$B, phospho-I$\kappa$B and MAPKs were exmined by Western blot analysis. The NF-$\kappa$B promoter activity was examined by luciferase assay. Result : 1. Enzyme immunoassay indicated that MC suppressed histamine secretion of rat peritoneal mast cells. 2. In PCA dependent on IgE, MC had anti-allergic effect of the internal surface of rat skin. 3. Western blot indicated that MC decreased TNF-$\alpha$ protein levels. 4. ELISA indicated that MC decreased TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 but MC had no significant effect on IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. 5. RT-PCR indicated that MC decreased TNF-$\alpha$, IL-8 but MC had no significant effect on IL-6 in HMC-l cells. 6. Western blot indicated that MC suppressed the induction of MAPKs, NF-$\kappa$B & phospho-I$\kappa$B activity in HMC-1 cells. 7. Luciferase assay indicated that MC suppressed the PMA plus A23187-induced NF-$\kappa$B promoting activityin HMC-1 cells. Conclusion : In this study, we have found that MC is an inhibitor of NF-$\kappa$B, MAPKs & cytokines on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.233-238
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• 2010

The phase transformations and the shape memory effect in In-rich Pb alloys and In rich-Sn alloys have been studied by means of X-ray diffractometry supplemented by metallographic observations. The alloys containing 12~15 at.%Pb transform from the ${\alpha}_2$ (fct) phase to the ${\alpha}_1$ (fct) phase by way of an intermediate phase (m phase) on cooling. The results of X-ray diffraction show that the metastable intermediate phase is observed both on cooling and heating, and has a face-centered orthorhombic (fco) structure. It is concluded that the ${\alpha}_1{\rightleftarrows}{\alpha}_2$ transformation is expressed by the ${\alpha}_1{\rightleftarrows}m{\rightleftarrows}{\alpha}_2$ transformation both on usual cooling and heating with the rate more than $8{\times}10^{-3}$ K/s. The $m{\rightleftarrows}{\alpha}_2$ transformation takes place with a mechanism involving macroscopic shear and are of diffusionless (martensitic) type. The temperature hysteresis in the two transformations is 10~13 K between the heating and cooling transformations. The alloys containing 0~11 at.%Sn are -phase solid solutions with a face centered tetragonal structure (c/a > 1) at room temperature, the axial ratio increasing continuously with tin content. The In-(11~15) at.%Sn alloys are mixtures of ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ phases, the ${\beta}$ phase having a f. c. tetragonal structure (c/a < 1). The alloys containing more than 15 at.%Sn are ${\beta}$-phase solid solutions. The In-(12.9~15.0) at.%Sn alloys show a shape memory effect only when quenched to the temperature of liquid nitrogen, although their effect becomes weak and finally disappears after keeping at room temperature for a long time. The ${\beta}{\rightarrow}{\alpha}^{\prime}$ phase transformation is of the diffusionless (martensitic) type, and takes place between 330 K at 12.9 at.%Sn and 150 K at 14.5 at.%Sn. The hysteresis of transformation temperatures on heating and cooling is considerably large (29~40 K), depending on the composition. Both In-Pb and In-Sn alloys showed distinct the shape memory effects.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated whether Sargassum yezoense extract (SYE) could inhibit ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activities, and alleviate postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Freeze-dried S. yezoense was extracted with 80% ethanol and concentrated for use in this study. The hypoglycemic effect was determined by evaluating the inhibitory activities of SYE against ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ as well as its ability to decrease postprandial blood glucose levels. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of SYE against ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ were $0.078{\pm}0.004$ and $0.212{\pm}0.064mg/mL$, respectively. SYE was a more effective inhibitor of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activities than the positive control, acarbose. The increase in postprandial blood glucose levels was significantly alleviated in the SYE group compared with that in the control group of STZ-induced diabetic mice. Furthermore, the area under the curves significantly decreased with SYE administration in STZ-induced diabetic mice. These results suggest that SYE is a potent inhibitor of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activities and alleviates postprandial hyperglycemia caused by dietary carbohydrates.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2014

This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Polyopes lancifolia extract (PLE) on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity, ${\alpha}$-amylase activitiy, and postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The results of this study revealed a marked inhibitory effect of PLE on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase activities. The $IC_{50}s$ of PLE against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase were 0.20 mg/mL and 0.35 mg/mL, respectively. PLE was a more effective inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase activities than acarbose, the positive control. The postprandial blood glucose levels of STZ-induced diabetic mice were significantly lower in the PLE treated group than in the control group. Moreover, PLE administration was associated with a decreased area under the curve for the glucose response in diabetic mice. These results indicate that PLE may be a potent inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase activities and may suppress postprandial hyperglycemia.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.161-165
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• 1966

The critical concentrations of ${\alpha}$-amino capric acid for micelle formation have been determined by the surface tension measurements in both acidic and alkaline solutions, and also by the dye titration using Rhodamine B in alkaline solutions. The critical micelle concentrations obtained by the two methods show the good agreements within experimental errors. Since ${\alpha}$-amino acid is an ampholyte, it may aggregate to form the micelles in both more acidic and basic media than its isoelectric point. It is found that the basic media are rather preferable for the micelle formation than the acidic media. The effect of gegen ions upon the critical concentration for micelle formation in alkaline media is similar to that expected from the salt effect on the CMC (Critical Micelle Concentration).

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.26-33
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• 2002

Dyeing properties and crosslinking effect of bifunctional reactive dyes on chitosan fiber were investigated to improve the stability of chitosan fiber against the mild acidic solution and the wet processing. Chitosan fibers were crosslinked with epichlorohydrin for comparing purpose, and dyed with C. I. Reactive Red 194, C. I. Reactive Blue 50, and the reactive dye having two $\alpha$-bromoacrylamide groups at various concentrations. The initial dyeing rates of reactive dyes are rapid and chitosan fibers absorb the relatively large amount of dyes. The chitosan fibers dyed with these dyes show the low degree of swelling and the low solubility in 1 % acetic acid solution and also represent the higher thermal stability The reactive dye with two $\alpha$-bromoacrylamide groups shows higher crosslinking effect than other dyes.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.297-305
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• 2005

The compatibilizing effect of maleic anhydride (MA) in the immiscible blends of EVA22 (vinyl acetate content 22%)/ethylene-${\alpha}$-olefin copolymers with 1-butene (EtBC) and 1-octene (EtOC)) comonomers was studied. By adding 1, 2, and 3 phr of MA in the presence of dicumylperoxide, the morphology, tensile strength at break, and 100 and 300 % modulus of EVA22/EtBC and EVA22/EtOC blends were significantly enhanced. The melting point and crystallization point depression were observed upon the addition of MA. The changes in the ${\beta}$ transition and glass transition temperature of ethylene-${\alpha}$-olefin copolymers and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, respectively, indicate that MA plays a role of compatibilizer for these immiscible blends. The TGA thermograms, measured from the blends with MA, show that thermal stability is slightly enhanced with MA, indicating that MA acts as a reinforcing agent either by grafting or crosslinking with other copolymers.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.435-440
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• 2002

In this study, we have investigated photo-induced changes of optical energy gap( $E_{OP)}$ and photoluminescence (PL) in amorphous ($\alpha$-) S $e_{100-x}$G $e_{x}$ (x=5, 25 and 33) thin films prepared by conventional thermal evaporation method. In the $\alpha$-S $e_{100-x}$G $e_{x}$ thin film, the $E_{OP}$ is obtained by a linear extrapolation of the ($\alpha$hν)$^{\frac{1}{2}}$ versus hν plot to the energy axis using the optical absorption coefficient ($\alpha$) calculated from the extinction coefficient k measured in the wavelength range of 290~900nm. Although the values of $\Delta$ $E_{OP}$ are very different, all films exhibit photo-induced photo-darkening (PD) effect that is a red shift of $E_{OP}$ . In particular, $\Delta$ $E_{OP}$ in $\alpha$-S $e_{75}$ G $e_{25}$ thin film exhibits the largest value (i, e., $\Delta$ $E^{OP}$ ~40meV for $\alpha$-S $e_{95}$ G $e_{5}$ , $\Delta$ $E_{OP}$ ~200meV for $\alpha$-S $e_{75}$ G $e_{25}$ , $\Delta$ $E_{OP}$ ~130meV for $\alpha$-S $e_{67}$ G $e_{33}$ ). PL spectra in $\alpha$-SeGe by hν$_{HeCd}$ have no-Stokes shift (SS) and show a tendency dependent on both composition and illumination time. We explain the energy-induced phenomena such as the PD and thermal bleaching, the native charged-defect generation and the no-SS PL, etc..the PD and thermal bleaching, the native charged-defect generation and the no-SS PL, etc..tc..

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.246-252
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• 2012

After a mixed carbohydrate diet, inhibition of ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase involved in the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates can significantly decrease the postprandial increase of blood glucose level. In the course of screening these useful enzyme inhibitors, we selected five kinds of bean, using an in-vitro enzyme inhibition assay method. To evaluate the effect of germination process on the functionality of the bean, we investigated the inhibitory activities of the water extracts of non-germinated bean and germinated bean against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, relevant to postprandial hyperglycemia. We also investigated the oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC), total phenolics content, and postprandial blood glucose lowering effect in rats(Sprague-Dawley rat model). Most germinated beans showed significantly higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, compared with non-germinated beans. Among germinated beans, Glycine max had the highest ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity(53.3%). The water extract of germinated Phaseolus vulgaris L. had the highest ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity(95.1%), followed by Glycine max(58.7%), and Glycine max L. Merr(54.1%). Furthermore, the five germinated beans also showed high antioxidant activities in ORAC assay. Results suggested that the germination process may improve and enhance the anti-hyperglycemia potential and antioxidant activity of the bean.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

This study was to investigate the effect of Danchunwhangagam(DCWGG) extract on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Cerebral infarction(CI) patients. Methods: We examined how the inhibition rate of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin(IL)-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and IL-8 productions in DCWGG pretreatment PBMCs culture supernatant in the lipopolysaccaride(LPS)- or desferrioxamine(DFX)treated cells compared to unstimulated cells. Results: DCWGG inhibited the productions of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and IL-8 induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: DCWGG might have regulatory effects on LPS or DFX-induced cytokine production, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of CI.