• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.290-298
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of calcium (Ca) gluconate on collagen-induced DBA mouse rheumatoid arthritis (CIA). A single daily dose of 200, 100 or 50 mg/kg Ca gluconate was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA-related features (including body weight, poly-arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) were measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit and the knee joint regions. CIA-related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the Ca gluconate-administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in Ca gluconate-treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the Ca gluconate group. Finally, the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, were suppressed by treatment with Ca gluconate. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca gluconate is a promising candidate anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2020

In this study, the effect of complex hot water extracts of Cirsium jaonicum, Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa (CAC) on the improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was investigated. CAC inhibited fatty acid synthesis and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells cultured with free fatty acid (FFA). In the NAFLD animal model, CAC extract suppressed the increase in body weight, liver, and epididymis fat weight, and suppressed the increase in hepatocyte fat and blood triglyceride. In addition, by blocking the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, cells were protected from oxidative stress in hepatocytes. Moreover, CAC inhibited the expression of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-17 in hepatocytes. These results suggest the possibility that CAC extract can be applied in the field of health functional foods and pharmaceuticals for improvement and prevention of NAFLD.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2013

Hot forming using boron steel is currently used for manufacturing low-weight automobile body parts, and a high tensile strength of about 1,500 MPa is obtained after hot forming. However, a high fatigue life is a more important factor than high strength when it is used for automobile suspension parts. A tubular torsion beam axle (TTBA) is one of these suspension parts, and this research deals with the fatigue characteristic of TTBA using hot forming. The low cyclic fatigue life of boron steel is investigated according to the cooling method. In addition, a structural and fatigue analysis of TTBA is performed to predict the fatigue life. The stress concentration that occurs in the tubular torsion beam is found, and the longest fatigue life occurs when rapid cooling is utilized in the TTBA fabrication.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2017

Care for the human spirit is a core component of quality end-of-life care. Logotherapy, based on the premise that the primary motivation of human beings is to find meaning and purpose in life, can be helpful in providing care for patients, families, and loved ones in hospice care. The use of Socratic dialog in posing questions about one's life experiences, values, and attitudes is a useful method of evoking reflection. Guidance for finding meaning, even until one's last moments, can be found in the three categories: (a) tasks or deeds, (b) experiences of love and beauty, and (c) attitudes chosen in spite of a fate that cannot be changed. Self-transcendence, defined as getting outside the self for the good of others, can add meaning to life. A growing body of research concerning meaning-centered therapy is promising for improving spiritual well-being and a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.452-456
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• 2015

Obesity is the fifth leading risk for death globally, and a significant challenge to global health. It is a common, complex, non-malignant disease and develops due to interactions between the genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals; analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. To assess the effects of excessive weight and obesity on gene-specific methylation levels of promoter regions, we determined the methylation status of four genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress [interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and glucose transport 4 (GLUT4)] in blood cell-derived DNA from healthy women volunteers with a range of body mass indices (BMIs) by methylation-specific PCR. Interestingly, the samples from obese individuals ($BMI{\geq}30kg/m^2$) showed significantly increased hypermethylation for IL6 gene compared to normal weight ($BMI<23kg/m^2$) and overweight sample ($23kg/m^2{\leq}BMI<30kg/m^2$) (P = 0.034 and P = 0.026). However there was no statistically significant difference in promoter methylation of the other 3 genes between each group. These findings suggest that aberrant DNA methylation of IL6 gene promoter may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity and IL6 methylation could be used as molecular biomarker for obesity risk assessment. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the characteristics of fatigue fracture on TB(Tailored Blank) weldment by comparing the fatigue crack propagation characteristics of base metal with those of TB welded sheet used for vehicle body panels. We also investigated the influence of center crack on the fatigue characteristic of laser weld sheet of same thickness. We conducted an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on the base metal specimen of 1.2mm thickness of cold-rolled metal sheet(SPCSD) and 2.0mm thickness of hot-rolled metal sheet(SAPH440) and 1.2+2.0mm TB specimen. We also made an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on 2.0+2.0mm and 1.2+1.2mm thickness TB specimen which had center crack. The characteristics of fatigue crack growth on the base metal were different from those on 1.2+2.0mm thickness TB specimen. The fatigue crack growth rate of the TB welded specimens is slower in low stress intensity factor range $({\Delta}K)$ region and faster in high${\Delta}K$ region than that of the base metal specimens. The slant crack angle slightly influenced the crack propagation of the TB specimen of 2.0+2.0mm thinkness.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.535-546
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• 2013

This study was carried out to analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and general characteristics, psychological factors, eating habits, dietary behaviors, and health related quality of life using survey of 335 women aged 20 to 29 years in the Seoul and Kyungin areas. The 335 study subjects were divided into 4 groups by BMI ($kg/m^2$) levels; normal group($18.5{\leq}BMI{\leq}22.9$), overweight group($23.0{\leq}BMI{\leq}24.9$), mild obesity group($25.0{\leq}BMI{\leq}29.9$), and heavy obesity group ($BMI{\geq}30$) by Asian-Pacific obesity index criteria. The family income of the heavy obesity group was significantly (p<0.05) less than that of the normal weight group. Psychological factors, such as stress and depression of the normal weight group tended to be higher than those of overweight and obesity groups. The higher BMI level had the lower self-efficacy(p<0.05) among all subjects. As the BMI level increased, the preference for sweet, salty, and hot taste was significantly high. We found that normal weight women had healthier eating habits and dietary behaviors and a higher level of health-related quality of life than did those who were overweight, mildly obese, and heavily obese women. Overweight and mildly and heavily obese women were strongly associated with decreased physical and mental health related quality of life. Therefore, weight loss is desirable, and is likely to be beneficial for health-related quality of life in obese adult women. In conclusion, this study contains evidence to suggest that obesity management programs including different strategies according to obesity are required to determine the types of programs that are suitable for adult women, prior to their initiation of a program. The findings are helpful to inform researchers and practitioners who are seeking to implement appropriate strategies to create positive changes in the health behaviors of obese adult women.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the ameliorating effects of steamed soybeans (SS) and fermented SS (FSS) on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. ICR mice were divided into four groups and given the following different diets: normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with 1% SS (HFD + SS), and HFD with 1% FSS (HFD + FSS). After 14 weeks, the body weight gain was higher in the HFD group compared with the ND group but lower in the HFD + FSS group compared with the HFD group. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly higher in the HFD group compared to the ND group, but lower in the HFD + SS and HFD + FSS groups compared with the HFD group. In addition, leptin concentration in plasma was lower in the groups fed HFD + SS and HFD + FSS compared with the HFD group. The accumulation of hepatic TG and TC was significantly inhibited in the HFD + SS and HFD + FSS groups. Furthermore, SS and FSS attenuated lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide formation in the liver induced by the high-fat diet. These results suggest that soybeans, especially FSS, may be useful in preventing obesity-induced abnormalities in lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.353-361
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• 2007

This study searched the medical thought of Cheon Sun Eui (全循義). The relavance of his writings with the modern Korean Traditional Medicine, the science of food and nutrition, and the living science. His medical philosophy which was expressed in SikRyoChanYo(食療贊要), SanGaYoGok(山家要錄), ChimGuTaeKIlPeonJip(鍼灸澤日編集), etc., was investigated. The purpose of SikRyoChanYo(食療贊要) was to describe the food therapeutics before using drugs for treatment of diseases and stress the prevention of illness using foods. Second, he mentioned the science of breeding of plants and the method of food storage in his writing, SanGaYoGok(山家要錄). In this writings, the method of preparing and processing foods, storage of foods, fermentation of foods, the science of breeding of plants, etc., was mentioned. So, he could be called as a scientist. Also, he stressed the importance of food in maintaining health and curing illness in this book. Third, he wrote the good and bad luck of time and the day of getting away from the bad luck when the acupuncture and moxibustion was performed. In ChimGuTaeKIlPeonJip(鍼灸澤日編集), he reflected together the energy changes of nature and body in performing therapeutics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.350-356
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• 2008

Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role. Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Cheonghyul-san has been known to be effective for the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antiobesitic prescription, and composed of four crude herbs. In male ob/ob mouse with severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hypergiycemia, hyperlipidemia, the acting mechanisms of Cheonghyul-san were examined. Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and diabetic (ob/ob mice) control groups received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg Cheonghyul-san per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. The effects of Cheonghyul-san extract on the ob/ob mice were observed by measuring the serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid components, and the kidney levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA+HAE, GSH and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. Cheonghyul-san lowered the levels of serum glucose and insulin in a dose dependent manner. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were decreased, while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased, in Cheonghyul-san treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were inhibited in the Cheonghyul-san-administered groups. Cheonghyul-san inhibited the generation of ROS in the kidney. Finally, MDA+HAE level was increased and the GSH level was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were improved in the Cheonghyul-san-administered groups. The results suggested that Cheonghyul-san exerted the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging ROS, regulating the MDA+HAE and GSH levels in the ob/ob mice.