• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.271-279
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• 2022

Background: Inflammation is known to underlie the pathogenesis in neuropathic pain. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms involved in antinociceptive effects of co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced peripheral neuropathy in male Wistar rats. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups (n = 8) treated with normal saline/acetaminophen/acetaminophen + L-carnosine. CCI was used to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hyperalgesia and allodynia were assessed using hotplate and von Frey tests, respectively. Investigation of spinal proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant system were carried out after twenty-one days of treatment. Results: The results showed that the co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine significantly (P < 0.001) increased the paw withdrawal threshold to thermal and mechanical stimuli in ligated rats compared to the ligated naïve group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the levels of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer B cell inhibitor, calcium ion, interleukin-1-beta, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha in the spinal cord of the group coadministered with acetaminophen and L-carnosine compared to the ligated control group. Co-administration with acetaminophen and L-carnosine increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the lipid peroxidation in the spinal cord. Conclusions: Co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine has anti-inflammatory effects as a mechanism that mediate its antinociceptive effects in CCI-induced peripheral neuropathy in Wistar rat.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.274-282
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) stimulated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling is one of the major mechanisms in promoting cell survival after stroke. However, the underlying mediators remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the docking protein of ginsenoside CK mediating the neuroprotective effects. Materials and methods: Molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, and cellular thermal shift assay were performed to explore ginsenoside CK interacting proteins. Neuroscreen-1 cells and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats were utilized as in-vitro and in-vivo models. Results: Ginsenoside CK interacted with recombinant human PTP1B protein and impaired its tyrosine phosphatase activity. Pathway and process enrichment analysis confirmed the involvement of PTP1B and its interacting proteins in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. PTP1B overexpression reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in neuroscreen-1 cells. These regulations were confirmed in the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere of the rat brains after MCAO/R. Ginsenoside CK treatment reversed these alterations and attenuated neuronal apoptosis. Conclusion: Ginsenoside CK binds to PTP1B with a high affinity and inhibits PTP1B-mediated IRS1 tyrosine dephosphorylation. This novel mechanism helps explain the role of ginsenoside CK in activating the neuronal protective PI3K-Akt signaling pathway after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.441-449
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• 2023

Background: Hypertonic saline is used for treating chronic pain; however, clinical studies that aid in optimizing therapeutic protocols are lacking. We aimed to determine the concentration of intrathecally injected hypertonic saline at which the effect reaches its peak as well as the underlying γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-related antinociceptive mechanism. Methods: Spinal nerve ligation (SNL; left L5 and L6) was performed to induce neuropathic pain in rats weighing 250-300 g. Experiment 1: one week after implanting the intrathecal catheter, 60 rats were assigned randomly to intrathecal injection with 0.45%, 0.9%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% NaCl, followed by behavioral testing at baseline and after 30 minutes, 2 hours, 1 day, and 1 week to determine the minimal concentration which produced maximal analgesia. Experiment 2: after determining the optimal intrathecal hypertonic saline concentration, 60 rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, hypertonic saline without pretreatment, and hypertonic saline after pretreatment with one of two GABA receptor antagonists (GABA_A [bicuculline], or GABA_B [phaclofen]). Behavioral tests were performed at weeks 1 and 3 following each treatment. Results: Hypertonic saline at concentrations greater than 5% alleviated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and had a significant therapeutic effect, while showing a partial time- and dose-dependent antinociceptive effect on thermal and cold hyperalgesia. However, pretreatment with GABA receptor antagonists inhibited the antinociceptive effect of 5% NaCl. Conclusions: This study indicates that the optimal concentration of hypertonic saline for controlling mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain is 5%, and that its analgesic effect is related to GABA_A and GABA_B receptors.

• 생약학회지
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of Lindera glauca (ELG). We found that ELG significantly suppressed NO production through decreased enzyme activity and expression of iNOS in the IFN-γ/LPS-activated murine peritoneal macrophages. The treatment of ELG also down-regulated the expression of COX-2. Our western blot data revealed that inhibitory effects of ELG on these pro-inflammatory mediators were attributed to inactivation of NF-κB. In addition, ELG-fed mice showed a marked decrease in paw edema induced by subplantar injection of trypsin, suggesting in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of ELG. We further investigated the anti-nociceptive properties of ELG using thermal and chemical nociception model. We found that ELG has a strong anti-nociceptive activities in both central and peripheral mechanism. An additional combination test with naloxone revealed that opioid receptor was not involved in the ELG-mediated anti-nociception. In conclusion, ELG may possibly be used as valuable anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pains.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.66.3-67
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• 2021

Low-mass stars form by the gravitational collapse of dense molecular cores. Observations and theories of low-mass protostars both suggest that accretion bursts happen in timescales of ~100 years with high accretion rates, so called episodic accretion. One mechanism that triggers accretion bursts is infalling fragments from the outer disk. Such fragmentation happens when the disk is massive enough, preferentially activated during the embedded phase of star formation (Class 0 and I). Most observations and models focus on the gas structure of the protostars undergoing episodic accretion. However, the dust and ice composition are poorly understood, but crucial to the chemical evolution through thermal and energetic processing via accretion burst. During the burst phase, the surrounding material is heated up, and the chemical compositions of gas and ice in the disk and envelope are altered by sublimation of icy molecules from grain surfaces. Such alterations leave imprints in the ice composition even when the temperature returns to the pre-burst level. Thus, chemical compositions of gas and ice retain the history of past bursts. Infrared spectral observations of the Spitzer and AKARI revealed a signature caused by substantial heating, toward many embedded protostars at the quiescent phase. We present the AKARI IRC 2.5-5.0 ㎛ spectra for embedded protostars to trace down the characteristics of accretion burst across the evolutionary stages. The ice compositions obtained from the absorption features therein are used as a clock to measure the timescale after the burst event, comparing the analyses of the gas component that traced the burst frequency using the different refreeze-out timescales. We discuss ice abundances, whose chemical change has been carved in the icy mantle, during the different timescales after the burst ends.

• 대한토목학회논문집
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• 제26권1A호
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• pp.107-115
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• 2006

전단보강이 없는 철근콘크리트 보의 파괴특성의 정의는 현재까지는 어려운 주제이다. 과거의 본질적인 실험적 연구와 이론적인 노력에도 불구하고 전단파괴의 특성은 완전히 이해되지 않았다. 따라서 보의 설계시 전단강도 산정에 반경험식의 적용이 되어오고 있다. 최근의 다양한 건설환경 하에서 고성능 콘크리트의 수요가 증가하고 있으며 내구성을 포함한 가격경쟁력이 뛰어난 재료들이 필요하며 특히 경량철근콘크리트의 경우에는 경량이면서 적절한 강도를 가지고 온도와 소음차단에 효과적이기 때문에 주요부재 및 구조물에 응용할 수 있다. 이러한 장점에도 불구하고 그의 극한파괴거동에 대해서는 다소 잘 정리되어 있지 않다. 이러한 이유로 본 연구에서는 경량철근콘크리트 보의 전단거동을 살펴보며 그의 특이성을 기존 실험적 연구와 해석적 연구를 통해 비교, 검토하고자 하였다.

• 한국결정성장학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.178-189
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• 1994

$BaTiO_3$ 미분말은 여러종류의 0.05 M 출발용액으로부터 초음파 분무 열분해법으로 합성하였다. 이때, 유속은 0.5 cm/sec, 저온로는 $300^{\circ}C$, 고온로는$700^{\circ}C$로 고정하였다. 입자의 형성과정은 반응 단계별로 포집된 분말을 SEM으로 직접 관찰하였고 또한, 반응기내에서의 입자의 거동을 이론적으올 고찰하고자 하였다. 순수한 $BaTiO_3$ 미분말은 출발용액이 nitrate aqueous solution인 경우에 합성이 가능하였다. 합성된 미분말은 19.1 nm의 일차입자들로 구성된 porous한 약 $0.42 {mu}m$크기의 구형의 이차임자였다. 형성과정은 건조단계에서 입자의 크기가 감소한 후 열분해 초기단계에서 증가하고 반응이 진행됨에 따라 점차 다시 감소하여 최종 $0.42 {mu}m$의 고화된 입자로 되었고 입도분포는 반응이 진행됨에 따라 점차 넓어졌다. 또한, 반응기내에서 입자들의 이론적 거동은 반응기 중심쪽으로 향하여 진행된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.244-249
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• 2024

Many types of cancer are associated with excessive angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic treatment is an effective strategy for treating solid cancers. This study aimed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of (E)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl) prop-1-en-1-yl) phenol (MMPP) in VEGFA-induced angiogenesis. The results indicated that MMPP effectively suppressed various angiogenic processes, such as cell migration, invasion, tube formation, and sprouting of new vessels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mouse aortic ring. The inhibitory mechanism of MMPP on angiogenesis involves targeting VEGFR2. MMPP showed high binding affinity for the VEGFR2 ATP-binding domain. Additionally, MMPP improved VEGFR2 thermal stability and inhibited VEGFR2 kinase activity, suppressing the downstream VEGFR2/AKT/ERK pathway. MMPP attenuated the activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB, and it downregulated NF-κB target genes such as VEGFA, VEGFR2, MMP2, and MMP9. Furthermore, conditioned medium from MMPP-treated breast cancer cells effectively inhibited angiogenesis in endothelial cells. These results suggested that MMPP had great promise as a novel VEGFR2 inhibitor with potent anti-angiogenic properties for cancer treatment via VEGFR2/AKT/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제4권8호
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• pp.895-905
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• 1994

비정질 $Si_{1-x}Ge_{x}$(X=0, 0.14, 0.34, 0.53)합금박막의 결정화거동을 X-ray diffractometry(XRD)와 투과전자현미경(transmission electron microscopy, TEM)을 이용하여 조사하였다. 비정질 박막은 열산화막(thermal oxide, $SiO_{2}$)이 입혀진 Si기판위에 MBE(Molecular Beam Epitaxy)를 이용하여 $300^{\circ}C$에서 증착하였으며 각 Ge조성에 해당하는 기편들을 $500^{\circ}C$ ~ $625^{\circ}C$에서 열처리한 다음 XRD를 이용하여 결정화분율과 결정화후 박막의 우선순방위(texture)경향ㅇ르 조사하였다. 또한 TEM을 사용하여 열처리한 박막의 미세구조를 분석하였다. XRD분석결과 박막내의 Ge함량의 증가는 결정화에 대한 열처리시간을 크게 감소시키는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 또한 결정화후 강한(111) 우선방위를 나타내는 Si박막과는 달리 $Si_{1-x}Ge_{x}$합금은 (311)우선방위를 가지는 것을 알았으며 이는 비정질 Si박막과 $Si_{1-x}Ge_{x}$박막의 결정화기구에 현저한 차이가 있음을 암시한다. TEM관찰에서, 순수한 Si박막은 결정화후 결정립이 타원형이나 수지상(dendrite)형태를 취하고 있었으며 결정립내부에 미페쌍정이나 적층결함들의 많은 결정결함들이 존재하고, 결정립의 성장이 이들 결함을 따라 우선적으로 성장함을 알 수 있었다. 반면에 $Si_{0.47}Ge_{0.53}$의 경우에서는 결정립모양이 원형에 가까운 동축정(dquiaxed)형상을 하며 결정립내부의 결함밀도도 매우 낮았다. 특히 Si에서 보았던 결정립성장의 방향성은 관찰되지 않았다. 이상의 결과에서 비정질 $Si_{1-x}Ge_{x}$(합금박막의 결정화는 Ge이 포함되지 않은 순수한 Si의 twin assisted growth mode에서 Ge 함량의 증가에 따라 \ulcorner향성이 없는 random growth mode로 전개되어간다고 결론지을수 있다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제43회 하계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.222-222
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• 2012

Metal oxide gas sensors based on semiconductor type have attracted a great deal of attention due to their low cost, flexible production and simple usability. However, most works have been focused on n-type oxides, while the characteristics of p-type oxide gas sensors have been barely studied. An investigation on p-type oxides is very important in that the use of them makes possible the novel sensors such as p-n diode and tandem devices. Monoclinic cupric oxide (CuO) is p-type semiconductor with narrow band gap (~1.2 eV). This is composed of abundant, nontoxic elements on earth, and thus low-cost, environment-friendly devices can be realized. However, gas sensing properties of neat CuO were rarely explored and the mechanism still remains unclear. In this work, the neat CuO layers with highly ordered mesoporous structures were prepared by a template-free, one-pot solution-based method using novel ink solutions, formulated with copper formate tetrahydrate, hexylamine and ethyl cellulose. The shear viscosity of the formulated solutions was 5.79 Pa s at a shear rate of 1 s-1. The solutions were coated on SiO2/Si substrates by spin-coating (ink) and calcined for 1 h at the temperature of $200{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ in air. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies of the formed CuO layers were observed by a focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and porosity was determined by image analysis using simple computer-programming. XRD analysis showed phase evolutions of the layers, depending on the calcination temperature, and thermal decompositions of the neat precursor and the formulated ink were investigated by TGA and DSC. As a result, the formation of the porous structures was attributed to the vaporization of ethyl cellulose contained in the solutions. Mesoporous CuO, formed with the ink solution, consisted of grains and pores with nano-meter size. All of them were strongly dependent on calcination temperature. Sensing properties toward H2 and C2H5OH gases were examined as a function of operating temperature. High and fast responses toward H2 and C2H5OH gases were discussed in terms of crystallinity, nonstoichiometry and morphological factors such as porosity, grain size and surface-to-volume ratio. To our knowledge, the responses toward H2 and C2H5OH gases of these CuO gas sensors are comparable to previously reported values.