• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2022

Background: Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), generally known as Indian ginseng, is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to identify the bioactive metabolites from Indian ginseng and elucidate their structures. Methods: Withanolides were purified by chromatographic techniques, including HPLC coupled with LC/MS. Chemical structures of isolated withanolides were clarified by analyzing the spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS experiment. Absolute configurations of the withanolides were established by the application of NMR chemical shifts and ECD calculations. Anti-adipogenic activities of isolates were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: Phytochemical examination of the roots of Indian ginseng afforded to the isolation of six withanolides (1-6), including three novel withanolides, withasilolides GeI (1-3). All the six compounds inhibited adipogenesis and suppressed the enlargement of lipid droplets, compared to those of the control. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Fabp4 and Adipsin, the adipocyte markers decreased noticeably following treatment with 25 µM of 1-6. The active compounds (1-6) also promoted lipid metabolism by upregulating the expression of the lipolytic genes HSL and ATGL and downregulating the expression of the lipogenic gene SREBP1. Conclusion: The results of our experimental studies suggest that the withasilolides identified herein have anti-adipogenic potential and can be considered for the development of therapeutic strategies against adipogenesis in obesity. Our study also provides a mechanistic rationale for using Indian ginseng as a potential therapeutic agent against obesity and related metabolic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.276-280
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• 2020

A 49-year-old male was found unconscious at his accommodation and visited the emergency room. He was on antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs (vortioxetine hydrobromide, mirtazapine, sertraline hydrochloride, quetiapine, and alprazolam) for schizophrenia and major depression. At the time of discovery there were signs of overdose of the drugs around the patient. A physical examination revealed, pain, pallor, and edema in the left buttocks and lateral thigh. Active ankle movements below the left ankle were not possible and sensations in the tibia and peroneal nerves were lost. The pressure in the buttock compartment was measured at 42 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed edema and high intensity signals in the left hip muscles and surrounding soft tissue. An emergency fasciotomy was performed and partial restoration of the lower extremity sensation and muscle strength were achieved after 24 hours.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2022

Polar microorganisms produce physiologically active substances to adapt to harsh environments, and these substances can be used as biomedical compounds. The green microalga Micractinium variabile KSF0031, which was isolated from Antarctica, produced phytol, a natural antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3, exhibit antioxidant properties. Here statistical methods (Plackett-Burman design and Box-Behnken design) were used to optimize the culture medium of KSF0031 to improve biomass production, and K₂HPO₄, MgSO₄·7H ₂O, and ammonium ferric citrate green (AFCg) were selected as significant components of the culture medium. Changes in the concentration of K₂HPO₄ and MgSO₄·7H ₂O as positive factors and AFCg as a negative factor affected cell growth to a remarkable degree. The biomass production in a 100 L culture using the optimized medium for 24 d at 18℃ was improved by 37.5% compared to that obtained using the original BG-11 medium. The quantities of PUFAs and phytol obtained were 13 mg g^-1 dry cell weight (DCW) and 10.98 mg g^-1 DCW, which represent improved yields of 11.70% and 48.78%, respectively. The results of this study could contribute to an improved production of phytol and fatty acids from Antarctic microalgae in the biomedical industry.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2023

Recently, viral infectious diseases and new diseases are not limited to one region, but are spreading worldwide, causing serious economic and social damage. In addition, the development cycle of new diseases is shortening, and the rate of spread is accelerating. In order to prevent the spread of disease, passive forms of response after a disease outbreak, such as personal and regional quarantine and border closure, are prioritized. This type of response has many shortcomings as a fundamental response to preventing the spread of disease. Therefore, this study proposes a disease prevention monitoring system including new disease occurrence information. In this study, disease information and user information are collected through the establishment of the IoMT environment. Information collection using an agent collects and classifies data registered in the disease information server. In the IoMT environment, user data is collected, and whether the user is infected with a disease is evaluated and provided to the user. Through this study, individual disease symptom information can be provided and active countermeasures against the spread of disease can be provided.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1-19
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• 2016

The emergence of digital media has enabled visitors' active intervention based on the existing art information archiving. Accordingly, this study was conducted to analyze how archiving data that art museums have developed so farcan be provided significantly to visitors and generate a contemporary appreciation code. This study intended to solve the problems in case study analysis through the restructuralization of information that reflected visitors' appreciation activities as the principal agent. The structure of information, which was reframed for multilayered information approach and use by keyword, is meaningful as it has developed an information structure to mainly enhance visitors' understanding. It is expected that the use of art information proposed in this study will be helpful for setting the specific direction of actual transmedia storytelling service by art museums based on web later on.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.479-487
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• 2023

Copper is cost-effective and abundantly available as a biocidal coating agent for a wide range of material surfaces. Natural oxidation does not compromise the efficacy of copper, allowing it to maintain antimicrobial activity under prolonged exposure conditions. Furthermore, copper compounds exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic yeast, both enveloped and non-enveloped types of viruses, as well as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Contact killing of copper-coated surfaces causes the denaturation of proteins and damage to the cell membrane, leading to the release of essential components such as nucleotides and cytoplasm. Additionally, redox-active copper generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause permanent cell damage through enzyme deactivation and DNA destruction. Owing to its robust stability, copper has been utilized in diverse forms, such as nanoparticles, ions, composites, and alloys, resulting in the creation of various coating methods. This mini-review describes representative coating processes involving copper ions and copper oxides on various material surfaces, highlighting the antibacterial and antiviral properties associated with different oxidation states of copper.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.12
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• 2023

Objective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of different whitening toothpastes on a composite resin during at-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide. Materials and Methods: Sixty samples (7 mm × 2 mm) were used for color and roughness analyses, while another 60 samples (3 mm × 2 mm) were utilized to assess microhardness. The factors analyzed included toothpaste, for which 5 options with varying active agents were tested (distilled water; conventional toothpaste; whitening toothpaste with abrasive agents; whitening toothpaste with abrasive and chemical agents; and whitening toothpaste with abrasive, chemical, and bleaching agents). Brushing and application of whitening gel were performed for 14 days. Surface microhardness (SMH), surface roughness (Ra), and color (ΔL^*, Δa^*, Δb, ΔE^*_ab, and ΔE₀₀) were analyzed. The Ra and SMH data were analyzed using mixed generalized linear models for repeated measures, while the color results were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Results: Between the initial and final time points, all groups demonstrated significant increases in Ra and reductions in SMH. No significant differences were found between groups for SMH at the final time point, at which all groups differed from the distilled water group. Conventional toothpaste exhibited the lowest Ra, while whitening toothpaste with abrasive agent had the highest value. No significant differences were observed in ΔL^*, Δa^*, and Δb. Conclusions: While toothpaste composition did not affect the color stability and microhardness of resin composite, combining toothbrushing with whitening toothpaste and at-home bleaching enhanced the change in Ra.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.10 no.spc
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• pp.69-86
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• 2004

A review of literature revealed that damaged self-confidence of men as social agents may be the primary, if not proximal, cause of domestic violence. Accumulated damages in social confidence and self-assurance may be moderated by action repertoire acquired during childhood, and mediated by adulthood circumstances such as marital discords and the lack of social support to result in the typical cycle of violence and subsequent feeling of remorse. The present treatments for the domestically violent men in Korea seem to be ineffective to reduce the number of incidents in the society because the treatments are viewed as punishments by the men, damage their social confidence further by stigmatizing them in the community, and destroy their social resources and support systems. It was suggested in this paper to reduce the role of law enforcement and correctional administration to rehabilitate the currently violent men. At the same time, it was also suggested for the Korean court to implement the paradigm of Therapeutic Jurisprudence in handling domestic violence cases. It was argued that the court should take active roles as a healing and rehabilitating agent by cooperating with non-government community establishments such as hospitals, universities and self-help organizations. The reasons and implications of those suggestions were discussed in detail.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.18
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• 2022

IL-22, a pleiotropic cytokine, is known to have a profound effect on the regeneration of damaged intestinal barriers. The tissue-protective properties of IL-22 are expected to be potentially exploited in the attenuation and treatment of colitis. However, because of the disease-promoting role of IL-22 in chronic inflammation, a comprehensive evaluation is required to translate IL-22 into the clinical domain. Here, we present the effective production of soluble human IL-22 in bacteria to prove whether recombinant IL-22 has the ability to ameliorate colitis and inflammation. IL-22 was expressed in the form of a biologically active monomer and non-functional oligomers. Monomeric IL-22 (mIL-22) was highly purified through a series of 3 separate chromatographic methods and an enzymatic reaction. We reveal that the resulting mIL-22 is correctly folded and is able to phosphorylate STAT3 in HT-29 cells. Subsequently, we demonstrate that mIL-22 enables the attenuation of dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis in mice, as well as the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Collectively, our results suggest that the recombinant mIL-22 is suitable to study the biological roles of endogenous IL-22 in immune responses and can be developed as a biological agent associated with inflammatory disorders.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2023

In Korea, >90% of children and adolescents aged <19 years have been infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since 2020. Among confirmed cases of pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 40-60% of patients developed neurologic symptoms such as seizures, headache, and encephalitis. Herein, we report the case of a 3-year-old female patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented with seizures and altered consciousness and was diagnosed with COVID-19 encephalitis. The patient recovered after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, high-dose steroids, anti-seizure drugs, and an anti-viral agent. She was discharged after regaining the ability to speak words and walk alone on hospital day 39. Complete recovery was observed at the 1-year follow-up. The findings in this case suggest that early detection and active intervention is associated with better outcomes in patients with COVID-19 encephalitis.