• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.438-442
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• 1997

Antisense oligonucleotide represents an interesting tool for selective inhibition of gene expression. However, their low efficiency of introduction within intact cells remains to be overcome. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (25 mer) and antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (18 mer) were used to study the cellular transport and biological function of antisense oligonucleotide in vitro. Since TGF and TNF play on important role in regulating the nitric oxide production from macrophages, the action of the above antisense oligonucleotides was easily monitored by the determination of nitrite. Poly-L-lysine, benzalkonium chloride and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride were used as polycations, which neutralize the negative charge of antisense oligonucleotide. The production of nitric oxide mediated by .gamma.-IFN in mouse peritoneal macrophage was increased by antisense-TGF.betha. in a dose-dependent manner. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ reduced the nitric oxide release from activated RAW 264.7 cells. Significant enhancement in the nitric oxide production was investigated by the cotreatment of poly-L-lysine with antisense-$TGF{\beta}$On the meanwhile, inhibition effect of antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ is not changed by the addition of poly-L-lysine. These results demonstrate that control of expression of $TGF{\beta}$ and TNF.alpha. gene is achieved using antisense technology and the cellular uptake of antisense oligonucleotide could be enhanced by ion-pairing.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.404-408
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• 1996

One of the major objectives of the food industry is the enrichment of the functional properties and nutritional value of soybean protein. To attain this goal, an expression system of cDNA encoding native and protein-engineered soybean proteins in a microorganism must be developed and the function then ability of self-assembly and the functionalities of the expressed proteins should be evaluated before the modified genes are transfered to soybean plants. The pro-$\beta$-conglycinin synthesized in E. coli BL21(DE3) comprised approximately 20% of the total bacterial proteins and the expressed protein are formed soluble and trimer such as native protein in E. coli cells. The highly expressed protein was purified to homogeneity by salt precipitation with 20~40$ Ammonium sulfate ion-exchange chromatography with Q-Sepharose and hydrophobic column chromatography with Butyltoyopearl. Therefore, we concluded that the high-level expression system of $\beta$-conglycinin cDNA was established and a relatively simple and rapid method for purifying pro-$\beta$-conglicinin was also developed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.477-481
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• 2012

The rhizomes of Acorus gramineus have frequently been used in traditional medicine mainly for sedation as well as enhancing brain function. In this study, the anti-allergic activity of A. gramineus was investigated. The 70% ethanol extract of the rhizomes of A. gramineus was found to inhibit the allergic response against 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-catalyzed leukotriene (LT) production from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-1 cells and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells with $IC_{50}$'s of 48.9 and > $200{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Among the 9 major constituents isolated, ${\beta}$-asarone, (2R,3R,4S,5S)-2,4-dimethyl-1,3-bis (2',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (AF) and 2,3-dihydro-4,5,7-trimethoxy-1-ethyl-2-methyl-3-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)indene (AI) strongly inhibited 5-LOX-catalyzed LT production in A23187-treated RBL-1 cells, AI being the most potent ($IC_{50}=6.7{\mu}M$). Against ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release by antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, only AI exhibited strong inhibition ($IC_{50}=7.3{\mu}M$) while ${\beta}$-asarone and AF showed 26.0% and 39.9% inhibition at $50{\mu}M$, respectively. In addition, the ethanol extract of A. gramineus showed significant inhibitory action against the hapten-induced delayed hypersensitivity reaction in mice by oral administration at 200 mg/kg. Therefore, it is suggested that A. gramineus possesses anti-allergic activity and the constituents including ${\beta}$-asarone and AI certainly contribute to the anti-allergic activity of the rhizomes of A. gramineus.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.394-399
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• 1999

As the prosthetic application of natural mineral substituted for chemical reagent, composites and a glass-ceramics containing hydro-xyapatite isolated from tuna bone were prepared by solid state reaction. On x-ray examinations, the major phases of composites were identified as pseudowollastonite(${\alpha}-CaSiO_3$) and ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate($\beta$-TCP) and the phase of a glass-ceramics was observed as $\beta$-TCP and fluoroapatite caused by $CaF_2$ respectively. SEM images depict that the microstructures of grain at the composites were a function of temperature. The measured strength of a glass-ceramics prepared at $900^{\circ}C$ for 4 hr in air was 90 MPa as a 4-point bending method and this value was similar to the cortical bone, as 50~150 MPa but it was lower than its maximum strength.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2008

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) mediates various responses to stress through CRF receptors 1 and 2. CRF receptor 2 has two forms, $2{\alpha}$ and $2{\beta}$ each of which appears to have distinct roles. Here we used dopaminergic neuron-derived MN9D cells to investigate the function of CRF receptor 2 in dopamine neurons. We found that n-butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, induced MN9D cell differentiation and increased gene expression of all CRF receptors. CRF receptor $2{\beta}$ was minimally expressed in MN9D cells; however, its expression dramatically increased during differentiation. CRF receptor $2{\beta}$ expression levels appeared to correlate with neurite outgrowth, suggesting CRF receptor $2{\beta}$ involvement in neuronal differentiation. To validate this statement, we made a CRF receptor $2{\beta}$-overexpressing $MN9D/CRFR2{\beta}$ stable cell line. This cell line showed robust neurite outgrowth and GAP43 overexpression, together with MEK and ERK activation, suggesting MN9D cell neuronal differentiation. From these results, we conclude that CRF receptor $2{\beta}$ plays an important role in MN9D cell differentiation by activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-103
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: The data were collected from 307 older adults aged 65 years or older with chronic musculoskeletal pain, who visited senior welfare centers in two cities. We used self-rated questionnaires including NRS for pain, WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life, Pain Response Inventory for coping responses to pain, and MSPSS for social support. Stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS/WIN 23.0 to identify factors affecting the study subjects' quality of life. Results: The regression model explained 43% of quality of life, which was statistically significant (F=34.11, p<.001). Educational level of high school (${\beta}=.13$, p=.006), pain (${\beta}=-.13$, p=.013), restriction of function (${\beta}=-.13$, p=.028), accommodative pain coping (${\beta}=.24$, p<.001), family support (${\beta}=.18$, p<.001), colleague's support (${\beta}=.25$, p<.001), and perceived health status (${\beta}=.25$, p<.001) were identified as influential factors on subjects' quality of life. Conclusion: Developing integrative interventions is necessary to improve accommodative pain coping skills and to engage family and colleague in support for positive perception of older adults' health status and management of symptoms.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.480-488
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by deficits in memory and cognitive functions. The accumulation of amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$) and oxidative stress in the brain are the most common causes of AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: Caffeic acid (CA) is an active phenolic compound that has a variety of pharmacological actions. We studied the protective abilities of CA in an $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected AD mouse model. CA was administered at an oral dose of 10 or 50 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Behavioral tests including T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze were carried out to assess cognitive abilities. In addition, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO) production in the brain were measured to investigate the protective effect of CA in oxidative stress. RESULTS: In the T-maze and object recognition tests, novel route awareness and novel object recognition were improved by oral administration of CA compared with the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected control group. These results indicate that administration of CA improved spatial cognitive and memory functions. The Morris water maze test showed that memory function was enhanced by administration of CA. In addition, CA inhibited lipid peroxidation and NO formation in the liver, kidney, and brain compared with the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected control group. In particular, CA 50 mg/kg/day showed the stronger protective effect from cognitive impairment than CA 10 mg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that CA improves $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced memory deficits and cognitive impairment through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and NO production.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2017

Glycogen synthase kinase $(GSK)-3{\beta}$ and related enzymes are associated with various forms of neuroinflammation, including spinal cord injury (SCI). Our aim was to evaluate whether lithium, a non-selective inhibitor of $GSK-3{\beta}$, ameliorated SCI progression, and also to analyze whether lithium affected the expression levels of two representative $GSK-3{\beta}$-associated molecules, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) (a target gene of Nrf-2). Intraperitoneal lithium chloride (80 mg/kg/day for 3 days) significantly improved locomotor function at 8 days post-injury (DPI); this was maintained until 14 DPI (P<0.05). Western blotting showed significantly increased phosphorylation of $GSK-3{\beta}$ (Ser9), Nrf-2, and the Nrf-2 target HO-1 in the spinal cords of lithium-treated animals. Fewer neuropathological changes (e.g., hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and tissue loss) were observed in the spinal cords of the lithium-treated group compared with the vehicle-treated group. Microglial activation (evaluated by measuring the immunoreactivity of ionized calcium-binding protein-1) was also significantly reduced in the lithium-treated group. These findings suggest that $GSK-3{\beta}$ becomes activated after SCI, and that a non-specific enzyme inhibitor, lithium, ameliorates rat SCI by increasing phosphorylation of $GSK-3{\beta}$ and the associated molecules Nrf-2 and HO-1.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.65-71
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• 2019

The propose of this study has been conducted to examine expression of c-Myc and Thymosin-${\beta}4$ in liver cirrhosis model from liver fibrosis and For the method of study, the experiment was conducted in 2 groups; liver cirrhosis model experiment group due to liver fibrosis and control group with distilled water. This study outcome showed that liver cirrhosis model experiment group had significantly higher expression of c-Myc and Thymosin-${\beta}4$. with changes to hepatic tissue of special staining and electron microscopy. In conclusion, in clinical tests regarding liver function, molecular evaluation of c-Myc and Thymosin-${\beta}4$ and their expression along with serological change and histological assessment can be utilized as a reference for diagnosing liver disease for prevention and diagnosis of the disease, Based on this research in the future, we will carry out an in-depth study by adding the types of experimental groups and related genes.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.121-121
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• 2019

In Islamic dietary guidelines, Halal foods are allowed as edible blessed food. Most foods were categorized within halal for Muslims. The main point of Halal food is that foods are clean in every process and based on Halal standard which might be different in each country. Most pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells synthetize, store, and release insulin. Specific molecular, functional as well as ultrastructural traits of pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells could control their insulin secretion properties and survival phentoype. Insulin-secreting pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells are essential regulators of mammalian metabolism. In addition, the pancreatic ${\beta}$ cell plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes as improving glucose homeostasis by preserving, expanding and improving the function of this key cell type. However, the pharmacological effect of halal food has not been unclear yet, especially food habit-dependent diabetes. The aim of the this study was to determine the preventive effect of Iran plants extract (Almond, Garlic, Cumin, Ginkgo biloba, Holy basil, Psyllium, Satureja khuzistanica, Fenugreek, Green tea, Ipomoea betatas, Blueberry) on RINm5F cells and MIN6 cells as pancreatic ${\beta}$ cell line. The cytotoxicity of the extracts of Iran plants on RINm5F cells and MIN6 cells were measured by using MTT assays. The preventive effects of Iran plant extracts were measured by WST-8 cell proliferation assay on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced cell death in MIN6 cells. In presented result showed that all extract of Iran plants (0.01-10mg/ml) did not show cytotoxicity in RINm5F cells and MIN6 cells. Among non-cytotoxic extract, the protective effects could be detect in high dose concentration. These results suggest that the extract of Iran plants may serve as a potential therapy for diabetes.