• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2000

We detect lots of problems on the manufacturing spot because of working results done without considering the aptitude and inherited temper(constitution, blood type, male and female) of the worker, and they lead to results not only the occupational disease and the cause of industrial accidents but also quality deterioration and productivity reduction in point of view of manufacturing management. For the purpose of solving these problems, this study is perfomed by grasping the correlation sasang constitutions and job characteristic of small & medium enterprises. We classify sasang constitutions to four types : so-yang-in type, tae-yang-in type, tae-em-in type, so-em-in type by the utilization of QSCC II and the doctor aid of oriental medicine, and also survey differences of classified sasang constitutions with previous studies. This study tries to identify significant features between major jobs resulting from sasang constitution types in a specific small & medium enterprise producing agricultural machinery(a tractor, a combine, etc). The results of this case study indicate that sasang constitution types influences job types. Under the working conditions that virtual reality scene photographed by video camera are running, also the effects of brain function of each worker using Electroencephalograms(EEGs) are investigated. Electroencephalograms(EEGs) provide much information about the brain function, such as relaxation, concentration, various thoughts and so on. Previous studies reported the appearance of ${\theta}$ waves and an increase in the ${\alpha}$ waves during psychologically satisfaction conditions. An statistical analysis of experiments conducted shows the various changes of brain waves(${\alpha},{\beta},{\theta},{\delta}$ waves). By means of these study results, we can identify that sasang constitutions should be applied to contribute much to quality advancement and productivity improvement through a comparative study on the job characteristic.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.278-287
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• 2006

Cycloinulooligosaccharide fructanotransferase (CFTase) converts inulin into cycloinulooligosaccharides (cyclofructan, CF) of ${\beta}-(2{\to}1)$-linked D-fructofuranose as well as hydrolysis of cyclofructan. Sequences analysis indicated that CFTase was divided into five distinct regions containing three repeated sequences (R1, R3, and R4) at the N-terminus and C-terminus. Each domain function was investigated by comparison of wild type CFTase enzyme (CFT148) and deletion mutant proteins (CFT108: R1 and R3 deletion; CFT130: R4 deletion; and CFT88: R1, R3, and R4 deletion) of CFTase. The CFT108 mutant had both CFTase and CF hydrolyzing activity as CFT148 did. CFTase activities and CF hydrolysing activities were disappeared in CFT130 and CFT88 mutants. These results indicated that the C-terminal R4 region of P. polymyxa CFTase is necessary for cyclization and hydrolyzing activity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.1 s.52
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• pp.43-50
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• 1996

We experienced a case of nephropathy in chronic lead poisoning. The patient was 43-year-old male who has been working in secondary lead smelting plant for 14 years. On admission, blood pressure was 160/90 mmHg and the others were non-specific. In past history, he received chelating agent administration for lead poisoning irregularly and medicated for gout, and the blood lead concentration was $180.0{\mu}g/dl$ on 2 months before admission. Smoking habit has been 1 pack per day for 15 years and drinking habit has been 1 bottle of Soju per day but less flow. In liver function test, AST/ALT were 27/28 IU/l and $\gamma-GT$ was 456 IU/l. In blood test, Hb : 11.5 g/dl, Hct : 34.0% and basophilic stipplings were found in peripheral blood smear. Chest PA was normal and abdominal ultrasonographic finding was non-specific except fatty liver. In the test of lead exposure indices, $PbB:83.0{\mu}g/dl,\;PbU:28.3{\mu}g/l$, and blood ZPP was $300.0{\mu}g/dl$. And in renal function test, BUN : 31.4 mg/dl, blood creatinine : 2.7mg/dl, blood uric acid. 9.1 mg/dl, urinary albumin : 100.0 mg/g creatinine, urinary $\alpha_1-microglobulin$ : 120.5 mg/g creatinine, urinary $\beta_2-microglobulin$ : $183.8{\mu}g/g$ creatinine, and 24 hours urinary creatinine clearance was 31.9 ml/min. The ultrasonoguided renal biopsy showed the global sclerosis of glomerulus, moderate atrophy and loss of tubule, and interstitial fibrosis in light microscopy. There were diffuse losses of brush border of proximal tubule in electronmicroscopy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1425-1431
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• 2015

The lymphocyte component of the immune system is divided into B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes produce antibodies (humoral immunity) via maturation into plasma cells, and T lymphocytes kill other cells or organisms (cellular immunity). A traditional immunological paradigm is that B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions are a one-way phenomenon, with T lymphocytes helping to induce the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin class-switched plasma cells. A deficiency of T lymphocytes was reported to result in defective B lymphocyte function. However, evidence for a reciprocal interaction between B and T lymphocytes is emerging, with B lymphocytes influencing the differentiation and effector function of T lymphocytes. For example, B lymphocytes have been shown to induce direct tolerance of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and induce T lymphocytes anergy via transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) production. The present study showed that LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes inhibited the differentiation of Th1 lymphocytes by inhibiting the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from dendritic cells. An interaction between the B lymphocytes and dendritic cells was not needed for this inhibition, and the B lymphocytes did not alter dendritic cell maturation. B lymphocyte-derived soluble factor (BDSF) suppressed the LPS-induced IL-12p35 transcription in the dendritic cells. Overall, these results point to a novel B lymphocyte- mediated immune suppressive mechanism. The findings cast doubt on the traditional paradigm of immunological interactions involving B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2006

This study has been carried out to understand the effect of SP3 and GV6 acupuncture on the hyperglycemic rat induced with Streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetes was induced in experimental groups by inraperitoneal injection of STZ (50mg/kg of body weight) twice by 24 h interval and the additional 100mg/kg 3 days after the earlier treatment. Control group was treated with tail-non acupoint, and experimental groups were treated SP3, GV6 and SP3+GV6 after hyperglycemic induction for 6 weeks. The body weight of control was lower than the experimental groups. The blood glucose was decreased significantly in the experimental groups. Glucose tolerance in acupuncture treated groups was improved. Blood cholesterol level and transaminase activites were lower in the experimental groups than in the control. In the SP3 or GV6 treated rats, hepatocyte degeneration were apparently decreased and the organelles were properly arranged. Furthermore, decrease in liver IGF-I mRNA expression was improved by the acupuncture in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In conclusion, our observation indicate that SP3 or GV6 acupoints treatment can exert beneficial effects in diabetes, with preservation of ${\beta}-cell$ function and liver function.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2014

Background: Roles of immune reaction and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) have widely been established in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods: We evaluated the biologic efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), urushiol, and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052) in mouse models of ALD. Sixty C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into six feeding groups for 10 weeks: normal diet, alcohol, control, alcohol + KRG, alcohol + urushiol, and alcohol + probiotics. Alcohol was administered via a LiebereDeCarli liquid diet containing 10% alcohol. TLR-4 expression, proinflammatory cytokines, and histology, as well as the results of liver function tests were evaluated and compared. Results: No between-group differences were observed with regard to liver function. TLR-4 levels were significantly lower in the KRG, urushiol, and probiotics groups than in the alcohol group ($0.37{\pm}0.06ng/mL$, $0.39{\pm}0.12ng/mL$, and $0.33{\pm}0.07ng/mL$, respectively, vs. $0.88{\pm}0.31ng/mL$; p < 0.05). Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ levels in liver tissues were decreased among the probiotics and KRG groups. The tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ level of liver tissue was decreased in the KRG group. Conclusion: The pathological findings showed that alcohol-induced steatosis was significantly reduced by KRG and urushiol. As these agents improve immunologic capacity, they may be considered in potential anti-ALD treatments.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.468-476
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• 2016

PLZF-expressing invariant natural killer T cells and CD4 T cells are unique subsets of innate T cells. Both are selected via thymocyte-thymocyte interaction, and they contribute to the generation of activated/memory-like CD4 and CD8 T cells in the thymus via the production of IL-4. Here, we investigated whether $PLZF^+$ innate T cells also affect the development and function of $Foxp3^+$ regulatory CD4 T cells. Flow cytometry analysis of the thymus and spleen from both CIITA transgenic C57BL/6 and wild-type BALB/c mice, which have abundant $PLZF^+$ CD4 T cells and invariant natural killer T cells, respectively, revealed that $Foxp3^+$ T cells in these mice exhibited a $CD103^+$ activated/memorylike phenotype. The frequency of $CD103^+$ regulatory T cells was considerably decreased in $PLZF^+$ cell-deficient $CIITA^{Tg}Plzf^{lu/lu}$ and $BALB/c.CD1d^{-/-}$ mice as well as in an IL-4-deficient background, such as in $CIITA^{Tg}IL-4^{-/-}$ and $BALB/c.IL-4^{-/-}$ mice, indicating that the acquisition of an activated/ memory-like phenotype was dependent on $PLZF^+$ innate T cells and IL-4. Using fetal thymic organ culture, we further demonstrated that IL-4 in concert with TGF-${\beta}$ enhanced the acquisition of the activated/memory-like phenotype of regulatory T cells. In functional aspects, the activated/ memory-like phenotype of Treg cells was directly related to their suppressive function; regulatory T cells of $CIITA^{Tg}PIV^{-/-}$ mice more efficiently suppressed ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation compared with their counterparts from wild-type mice. All of these findings suggest that $PLZF^+$ innate T cells also augmented the generation of activated/memory-like regulation via IL-4 production.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.742-752
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• 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra (SN). Although circadian dysfunction has been suggested as one of the pathophysiological risk factors for PD, the exact molecular link between the circadian clock and PD remains largely unclear. We have recently demonstrated that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$, a circadian nuclear receptor, serves as a key molecular link between the circadian and DAergic systems. It competitively cooperates with NURR1, another nuclear receptor required for the optimal development and function of DA neurons, to control DAergic gene transcription. Considering our previous findings, we hypothesize that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ may have a role in the onset and/or progression of PD. In the present study, we therefore aimed to elucidate whether genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ affects PD-related phenotypes in a mouse model of PD produced by a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the dorsal striatum. $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ deficiency significantly exacerbated 6-OHDA-induced motor deficits as well as DAergic neuronal loss in the vertebral midbrain including the SN and the ventral tegmental area. The exacerbated DAergic degeneration likely involves neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxicity. The $REV-erb{\alpha}$ knockout mice showed prolonged microglial activation in the SN along with the over-production of interleukin $1{\beta}$, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in response to 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ can increase vulnerability of DAergic neurons to neurotoxic insults, such as 6-OHDA, thereby implying that its normal function may be beneficial for maintaining DAergic neuron populations during PD progression.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2017

This research was to elucidate the generation method of daily precipitation data from monthly data. We applied a combined method of Markov chain and gamma distribution function using 4 specific parameters of ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, p(W/W) and p(W/D) for generation of daily rainfall data using daily precipitation data for the past 30 years which were collected from the country's 23 meteorological offices. Four parameters, applied to use for the combination method, were calculated by maximum likelihood method in location of 23 sites. There are high correlations of 0.99, 0.98 and 0.98 in rainfall days, rainfall probability and mean amount of daily rainfall between measured and simulated data in case of those parameters. In case of using parameters estimated from monthly precipitation, correlation coefficients in rainfall days, rainfall probability and mean amount of daily rainfall are 0.84, 0.83 and 0.96, respectively. We concluded that a combination method with parameter estimation from monthly precipitation data can be applied, in practical purpose such as assessment of climate change in agriculture and water resources, to get daily precipitation data in Korea.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2004

We have conducted questionnaire and measured serum liver function tests on 153 patients whom have received a treatment at a local Oriental medicine clinic in Seoul from Sept. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2002. Patients were categorized into the groups of control(10), decoction group(41), herbal group(5), western medicine group(45), and the group taking both herbal and western medicines(55) concurrently or separately. This study was conducted to investigate how these treatment methods can affect the liver functions. Following results were obtained : 1) Most of the research subjects were male(l03 individuals) living in large urban area, with drinking habit, highly educated, and with normal marriage. For the treatment history, 45 individuals received western medicine treatment(28.85%), 46 with Oriental medicine (29.49%), and 55 patients(35.26%) experienced both forms of treatment. 2) Measuring SD of serum liver functions for all the research subjects, T-protein was 6.95(0.73)g/dl, 4.07(0.51)g／dl for albumin, 0.44(0.19)mg／dl for T-bilirubin, 23.18(18.68)U／L for ALT, 27.42(27.43)U／L for AST, and 22l.27(64.58)mg／dl for LDH. 3) Among the research subjects with the liver functions outside of normal range were 0.64% for T-protein, 3.21% for T-bilirubin and ALT, 36.62% for AST, 0.64% for LDH, and none for Albumin. 4) Confusion variables which may affect the liver functions such as age, smoking, drinking, occupation, and residence were eliminated in calculation and no significant differences were witnessed between the control and experiment groups. 5) In measuring affects of treatment duration on the liver functions, no statistical significances were shown in multiple regression's ,${\beta}$(SE) values. 6) The values of odd ratio in the experiment groups compared to the control were in the range of $0.26(0.22){\sim}0.62(1.23)$. but T-bilirubin of the group receiving both Oriental and western medicine was 1.47(1.90) which showed statistical increase(p<0.001). 7) Factors affecting the liver functions are drinking volume per round duration of alcohol intake, western medicine treatment, gender, and age difference caused significant influences. 8) 57 individuals with serum liver functions out of normal range were mostly male, living in large urban area, median age of 38.89, with normal marriage, highly educated drinking less than once a week with less than 2 bottles per round, and with prior treatment in either western or Oriental medicine. Summarizing above results, we can carefully deduce that taking herbal medicine (both decoction and pills) or western medicine doesn't cause much affect in the liver functions. But taking two forms of medication simultaneously or altering dosage affect significant increase in the T-bilirubin level, thus one needs to take precaution when taking both. Further research is needed in this field to verify this evidence.