• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has been known well as one of traditional medicine for fever reduction, detoxication, and blood circulation improvement. This study was carried out to isolate biological active compounds from roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and to investigate their low density lipoprotein (LDL) antioxidant and anticancer activities. The hexane extract of Lithospermi Radix has been separated on silica gel chromatography and a naphthoquinone pigment compound 1 has been isolated. The structure of the compound 1 has been identified by spectroscopic technique, including MS and NMR, as acetylshikonin (1). Acetylshikonin showed significantly inhibitory activity on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation with $IC_{50}$ value of $8.8\;{\mu}M$ and obvious anticancer effect by inhibiting farnesyl:protein transferase (FPTase) activity with $IC_{50}$ value of $23\;{\mu}M$, which suggested that acetylshikonin might be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis and cancer.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.252-256
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• 2017

Opuntia cactus grows in the southern part of Korea, Geoje Island, Jeju Island, and South Coast. The flowers bloom around April to May of each year, and purple berries ripen around November to December. It has been widely used in home medicine since ancient times and it has great effects on blood circulation, detoxification, analgesia and antioxidant activity. In this study, we tried to demonstrate antioxidant, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities of Opuntia monacantha Haw., and also grasp the value as a functional raw material. As a result, a strong antioxidative effect was confirmed by extracting taxifolin which is an antioxidative substance in Opuntia monacantha Haw. In the antidiabetic function test, a high level of antidiabetic function was confirmed when compared to that of using a commercially available diabetic drug. In addition, as a result of the antimicrobial effect measurement, it showed a strong antimicrobial activity on E.coli and Salmonella, and proved the excellent value of Opuntia manacantha Haw. as a functional ingredient.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2021

Objective: Biological monitoring of trace elements in human blood samples has become an important indicator of the health environment. The purpose of this study was to detect and evaluate multiple metal items in blood samples based on ICP-MS, to perform comparative evaluation with the existing analysis method, and to develop and verify a new method. Methods: 100 μL of whole blood from 80 healthy subjects was used to analyze ten metals (Sb, tAs, Cd, Pb, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Tl) using ICP-MS. Verification of the analysis method included calculation of linearity, accuracy, precision and detection limits. In addition, a comparative test with the conventional graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) method was performed. In the case of Pb, Cd, and Hg in whole blood, cross-analysis between Pb, Cd, and Hg analysis methods was performed to confirm the difference between the existing method and the new method (ICP-MS). Results: The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.999 or higher in seven items and 0.995 or higher in three items. The Pb result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was very high at 0.983, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.966. The Cd result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.917 between the existing method and the new analysis concentration value. Its intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.960, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Hg had a low correlation at 0.687, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.761, which was lower than that of Pb and Cd. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy of Pd and Cd were satisfactory, but Hg did not meet the criteria for both accuracy and precision when compared with the conventional analysis method. Conclusion: This study can be meaningful in that it proposes a more efficient and feasible analysis method by verifying a blood heavy metal concentration experiment using multiple simultaneous analyses. All samples were processed and analyzed using the new ICP-MS. It was confirmed that the agreement between the two methods was very high, with the agreement between the current and new methods being 0.769 to 0.998. This study proposes an efficient simultaneous methodology capable of analyzing multiple elements with small samples. In the future, studies of various applications and the reliability of ICP-MS analysis methods are required, and research on the verification of accurate, precise, and continuous analysis methods is required.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2002

Recently, recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) has been used to treat various types of anemia. YHB216 is a new rHu-EPO developed by Yuhan Research Institute. In this study, we investigated the single dose and 4-week repeated dose toxicity of YHB216 in Beagle dogs. In the single dose toxicity study, YHB216 was administered intravenously at single dose levels of 0 and 25,000 IU/kg to dogs (2 dogs/sex/group). There were no treament-related changes in survivals, clinical signs, body weight gain, hematological values, blood chemical values, and necropsy finding during experimental period. In the repeated dose toxicity study, YHB216 was administered intravenously to dogs for 4 weeks at the dose levels of 0, 100, 500, and 2,500IU／kg (3 dogs/sex／group). There were no toxicologically significant changes in clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumptions, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis and blood chemistry. There were increased values of red blood cell, hemoglobin, and hematocrit at all treated groups. Spleen revealed increased weight and extramedullary hematopoiesis at 500 IU/kg or more. These changes are all considered to be Pharmacology-related effects and were recovered after 4-week recovery period. From these results, it is concluded that LD50 value was above 25,000 IU/kg in the single dose toxicity study of YHB216 in dogs and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 100 IU/kg day in the repeated dose toxicity study of YHB216 in dogs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between C-reactive protein(CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness(carotid IMT) in a population of middle-aged Koreans. Methods : A total of 1,054 men and 1,595 women(aged 40-70 years) from Kanghwa County, Korea, were chosen for the present study between 2006 and 2007. We measured high-sensitivity CRP and other major cardiovascular risk factors including anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood chemistry, and carotid ultrasonography. Health related questionnaires were also completed by each study participant. Carotid IMT value was determined by the maximal IMT at each common carotid artery. The relationship between CRP level and carotid IMT was assessed using multiple linear and logistic regression models after adjustment for age, body mass index, menopause(women), systolic blood pressure, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, triglyceride level, fasting glucose, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Results : Mean carotid IMT values from the lowest to highest quartile of CRP were 0.828, 0.873, 0.898, and 0.926 mm for women(p for trend<0.001), and 0.929, 0.938, 0.949, and 0.979 mm for men(p for trend=0.032), respectively. After adjustment for major cardiovascular risk factors, the relationship between CRP and carotid IMT was significant in women(p for trend=0.017), but not in men(p for trend=0.798). Similarly, adjusted odds ratio of increased IMT, defined as the sex-specific top quartile, for the highest versus lowest CRP quartiles was 1.55(95% CI=1.06-2.26) in women, but only 1.05(95% CI=0.69-1.62) in men. Conclusions : CRP and carotid IMT levels appear to be directly related in women, but not in men.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 2014

Interferences were removed using anion exchange solid phase extraction (AE SPE) in quantification of selenoproteins in Korean human blood serum with affinity high performance liquid chromatography (AF HPLC)-inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). The average selenium level obtained for healthy Koreans was $94.3{\pm}2.3ngg^{-1}$ using isotope dilution method. AE SPE was coupled to AF column to separate 3 selenoproteins, glutathione peroxidase GPx, selenoprotein SelP, and selenoalbumin SeAlb. Post column isotope dilution was employed to quantify the proteins. The certified reference material of human blood serum BCR-637 was analyzed to give total selenoprotein concentration of $85.4{\pm}3.4ngg^{-1}$, which agreed well with the reference value of $81{\pm}7ngg^{-1}$. The pooled concentration of GPx, SelP, and SeAlb from healthy Koreans (n=20) was $12.1{\pm}1.4ngg^{-1}$, $57.2{\pm}2.0ngg^{-1}$, and $20.0{\pm}1.9ngg^{-1}$, respectively. The sum of selenoproteins is $89.3ngg^{-1}$, which is about the same as the total selenium concentration of $94.3ngg^{-1}$. The fact suggests that selenium in blood serum is mostly consisted of selenoproteins. After the removal of interference, GPx showed a significant decrease (more than 50%) from $25.0ngg^{-1}$ to $12.1ngg^{-1}$. It was identified that the interference in blood serum was mostly from GPx and the use of AE SPE was proven to be efficient in eliminating Cl and Br that cause interference to GPx.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-110
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• 1982

For the purpose of investigation to identify the quantities of heavy metals contained in the tissues of the Korean people, a series of analyses was conducted with atomic absorption spectrophotometry to measure the amount of lead, cadmium and copper distributed in various tissues, such as brain, liver, kidney, heart, lung, spleen, large intestine, hair, muscle, fat, stomach, costal cartilage, blood and urine, obtained from 30 cadaverous bodies who were believed not exposed to the said heavy metals during their life time either occupationally or therapeutically. 1. Lead content: Inter-individual difference was noted in lead contents in each tissue, vis., the average content of lead in hair was the highest with $14.90{\pm}9.74ppm$. The next was in costal cartilage that contained $5.56{\pm}3.86ppm$. The average contents of lead in liver, kidney and muscle were the lowest in value, showing $1.11{\pm}0.92ppm,\;0.73{\pm}0.48ppm\;and\;0.06{\pm}0.06ppm$, respectively, The lead contents in tissues of children under the age of 10 were significantly lower than those of adults, and the higher values were shown in males than in females in general. The lead contents in most of the tissues such as hair, costal cartilage, kidney, lung, fat, stomach, large intestine, heart, muscle and urine were well correlated with age. 2. Cadmium content: The average content of cadmium in kidney appeared to be the highest of other tissues showing $20.72{\pm}9.82ppm$, and liver came next with the value of $1.17{\pm}0.99ppm$. It was estimated that 83.9% of the total cadmium absorbed into the body was stored in kidney, 4.796 in liver, and the remaining 11.4% was distributed in the rest of the tissues. Cadmium contents in tissues showed difference between both sexes showing higher values in the females than in the males, which was quite contrary to the lead content. Cadmium contents in tissues steadily increased in amount with age, showing a significant correlation with age in all tissues. 3. Copper content: The average content of copper in hair was the highest with $10.36{\pm}2.21ppm$, and liver came next with $6.31{\pm}1.24ppm$. The copper that was absorbed into the body was distributed in each tissue: 29.9% in hair, 18.2% in liver, $5{\sim}11.0%$ in brain, heart and kidney, and $3.0{\sim}3.5%$ in stomach, blood, and lung. The copper contents in tissues of children under the age of 10 showed significantly higher values in liver, kidney, heart and large intestine than those of the adults. The copper contents in brain, costal cartilage and fat were well correlated with age showing the highest correlation coefficient of 0.870 (p<0.01) in brain tissue. There was no difference in copper contents in tissues between both sexes, and the values were, in general, lower than those for Japanese.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.174-178
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate a role of cytochrome $P_{450}$, for the toxicity of the phosalone in in vitro and in vivo bioactivation systems. The bimolecular inhibition rate constants$(k_i)$ of the phosalone to acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase(BuChE) were approximately $10^2M^{-1}{\cdot}min^{-1}$, respectively, which meant a poor inhibitor. The potency of the phosalone as an inhibitor of AChE and BuChE was increased about 300 and 40 fold, respectively, when the inhibitor and the ChE were incubated with microsomes fortified with NADPH compared with microsome alone. Piperonyl butoxide(PB) addition to these coupled systems greatly reduced the inhibition of both target enzymes by blocking a bioactivation process. The $I_{50}$ value of the Phosalone alone for rat brain AChE was 170 mg/kg. When PB was pretreated, that value was altered to 42.5 mg/kg. PB pretreatment synergized the inhibition of brain AChE with four times. Rat blood erythrocyte AChE and plasma BuChE were similarly inhibited in vivo by the phosalone and PB pretreatment didn't affect significantly the pattern of the inhibition. The in vivo studies showed different results in the role of cytochrome $P_{450}$ from those of the in vitro studies.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.74-84
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• 2005

1. Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out effects of Choeongsimyeonja-tang and Taeumjowi-tang on the against decline of physical function as aging. 2. Methods In Wistar rat 10, 30, 50 week and 40 week Choeongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang between 10 weeks form condition change of weight, change of intestine weight, hematology, blood chemistry, research result about serum content following conclusion get. 3. Results and Conclusions 1. Observed gain in weight than control group form of Cheongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang to aged Wistar rat. 2. Is thought to promote activation of living body action gaining intestine weight along with gain in weight. 3. Displayed decrease of MDA's content of serum than control group form of Cheongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang to aged Wistar rat. 4. Change that is Wistar rat's hematological value by aging according to 10, 30, 50 week WBC, RBC, Hgb, monocyces, eosinophil ere. increase, and HCT, PLT ere. showed tendency that decrease accorcling to old-week, and observed improvement that is hematological value than control group form of Cheongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang.5. Change that is Wistar rat's biochemical value by aging was measured highest in 50 week because ALT, AST, BUN, CRN, T-bili., T-chol., TG, TP, ALB, A/G. P ete. increase according to 10, 30, 50 week, and observed improvement that is biochemical value than control group form of Cheongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang. Is considered by being effect that Cheongsimyeonja-tang & Taeumjowi-tang living body function decline by aging by this result.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.337-345
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• 2004

Using aged Wistar rat living body change by aging CheongSimYeonJaTang was each orally administrated and achieved research about aging control. In Wistar rat 10, 30, 50 week and 40 week CheongSimYeonJaTang between 10 weeks form condition change of weight, change of intestine weight, hematology, blood chemistry, research result about serum content following conclusion get. 1. Observed gain in weight than control group form of CheongSimYeonJaTang to aged Wistar rat. 2. Is thought to promote activation of living body action gaining intestine weight along with gain in weight. 3. Displayed decrease of MDA's content of serum than control group form of CheongSimYeonJaTang to aged Wistar rat. 4. Change that is Wistar rat's hematological value by aging according to 10, 30, 50 week WBC, RBC, Hgb, monocytes, eosinophil etc. increase, and HCT, PLT etc. showed tendency that decrease according to old-week, and observed improvement that is hematological value than control group form of CheongSimYeonJaTang. 5. Change that is Wistar rat's biochemical value by aging was measured highest in 50 week because ALT, AST, BUN, CRN, T-bili., T-chol, TG, TP, ALB, A/G, P etc. increase according to 10, 30, 50 week, and observed improvement that is biochemical value than control group form of CheongSimYeonJaTang. Is considered by being effect that CheongSimYeonJaTang living body function decline by aging by this result.