• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2003

The different perceiving patterns of each picture, alphabetic words and Chinese characters, were widely investigated psychophysically. The more precise localisation can be done in terms of brain activity us-ing functional image technique such as PET and fMRI recently, Until now, there was no fMRI study to make direct comparison between perception of single Chinese character and simplified pictures (pictograph). We have made direct comparison of these two components using modern magnetic resonance techniques. We cannot confirm the right hemispheric dominance for perception of single Chinese character and pictographs. These two kinds of perceiving pattern can be underlying different mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.525-534
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• 2019

Objectives: Reduced glucose utilization in the main parts of the brain involved in memory is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease, in which ketone bodies are used as the only and effective alternative energy source of glucose. This study examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate and high-fat (LCHF) diet supplemented with a ketogenic nutrition drink on cognitive function and physical activity in the elderly at high risk for dementia. Methods: The participants of this study were 28 healthy elderly aged 60-91 years showing a high risk factor of dementia or whose Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score was less than 24 points. Over 3 weeks, the case group was given an LCHF diet with nutrition drinks consisting of a ketone/non-ketone ratio of 1.73:1, whereas the control group consumed well-balanced nutrition drinks while maintaining a normal diet. After 3 weeks, K-MMSE, body composition, urine ketone bodies, and physical ability were all evaluated. Results: Urine ketone bodies of all case group subjects were positive, and K-MMSE score was significantly elevated in the case group only (p=0.021). Weight and BMI were elevated in the control group only (p<0.05). Grip strength was elevated in all subjects (p<0.01), and measurements of gait speed and one leg balance were improved only in the case group (p<0.05). Conclusions: We suggest that adherence to the LCHF diet supplemented with a ketogenic drink could possibly influence cognitive and physical function in the elderly with a high risk factor for dementia. Further, we confirmed the applicability of this dietary intervention in the elderly based on its lack of any side effects or changes in nutritional status.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.449-459
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• 1997

The main component of dental plaque is the mutan containing the a-1,3 bond. The following results were obtained by using a blue mutan to assess the factors affecting the mutan-digesting activity of Streptomyces exfoliatus isolated from soil. A clear zone was produced by mutanase-producing Streptomyces exfoliatus on the minimal essential agar containing blue mutan. Streptomyces exfoliatus digested more blue mutan in the minimal essential broth at pH 7.0 than at pH 5.5 or 8.5. Streptomyces exfoliatus digested more blue mutan at $37^{\circ}C$ than at $32^{\circ}C$ or $42^{\circ}C$ (P<0.05). When the concentration of $CaCl_2$ was increased in the minimal essential broth, the digestion of blue mutan was increased (P<0.05). The optimal concentration of KCl was 10mM to digest blue mutan, but a similar amount of blue mutan was digested at the range of 0.1mM to 6.4mM of $MgCl_2$. When the culture supernatant of Streptomyces exfoliatus was mixed with 2X brain heart infusion broth containing 0.5% yeast extract and 10% sucrose, less artificial plaque was formed by Streptococcus mutans on the orthodontic wire (P<0.05). These results indicated that the secretion of mutanase was identified in culture supernatant of mutan-digesting Streptomyces exfoliatus, suppressing the formation of artificial plaque by Streptococcus mutans.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.421-432
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• 2005

In order to understand the renal reabsorption mechanism of neutral amino acids via amino acid transporters, we have isolated human L-type amino acid transporter 2 (hLAT2) and human T-type amino acid transporter 1 (hTAT1) in human, then, we have examined and compared the gene structures, the functional characterizations and the localization in human kidney. Northern blot analysis showed that hLAT2 mRNA was expressed at high levels in the heart, brain, placenta, kidney, spleen, prostate, testis, ovary, lymph node and the fetal liver. The hTAT1 mRNA was detected at high levels in the heart, placenta, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, spleen, thymus and prostate. Immunohistochemical analysis on the human kidney revealed that the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins coexist in the basolateral membrane of the renal proximal tubules. The hLAT2 transports all neutral amino acids and hTAT1 transports aromatic amino acids. The basolateral location of the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins in the renal proximal tubule as well as the amino acid transport activity of hLAT2 and hTAT1 suggests that these transporters contribute to the renal reabsorption of neutral and aromatic amino acids in the basolateral domain of epithelial proximal tubule cells, respectively. Therefore, LAT2 and TAT1 play essential roles in the reabsorption of neutral amino acids from the epithelial cells to the blood stream in the kidney. Because LAT2 and TAT1 are essential to the efficient absorption of neutral amino acids from the kidney, their defects might be involved in the pathogenesis of disorders caused by a disruption in amino acid absorption such as blue diaper syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.833-837
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• 2005

Antioxidative activities of pine, oak, and lily pollen extracts were evaluated based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in animal tissues. Each pollen was extracted with 50% ethanol, 100% ethanol or water. DPPH radical-scavenging capacity of 50% ethanol extract ($EC_{50}$ 40.0 mg/mL) of pine pollen was higher than those of water (46.8 mg/mL) and 100% ethanol (131.2 mg/mL) extracts of pollen. Fifty percent ethanol (3,2 mg/mL) was also better than 100% ethanol (4.5 mg/mL) and water (8.3 mg/mL) for extraction of oak pollen. For preparation of lily pollen extracts, 100% ethanol was most effective (14.0 mg/mL), followed by water (18.8 mg/mL) and 50% ethanol (24.0 mg/mL). Oak pollen showed higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity than others. Lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate induced by ascorbate-Fe3+-EDTA and rat kidney homogenate were inhibited by water extracts of all pollens in dose-dependent manner. Extracts of oak and lily pollen showed higher lipid peroxidation inhibition than pine pollen extract. Polyphenol content was highest in oak pollen extract $(32.5{\pm}0.7\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$, followed by lily extract $(25.9{\pm}1.4\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$ and pine extract $(9.3{\pm}0.7\;{\mu}g/mg\;pollen)$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.934-942
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• 2009

This study was performed to observe the effect of hot-water extracts from garlic and 13 kinds of medicinal plants composites (GMP) on hyperlipidemia and hepatoprotective activity in rats administered with alcohol. Male Sprague-Dawly rats were fed an AIN-93 diet (Normal), a normal diet plus ethanol (control, 10 ml of 40% ethanoljkgjday), a control diet plus 0.5% garlic and 1.0% medicinal plants composites extracts (GMP-I), and a control diet plus 1.0% garlic and medicinal plants composites extracts (GMP-II) for 7 days. Blood glucose was higher than the control, but it was markedly decreased in the GMP-II group. Elevation total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids in serum were markedly decreased in rats fed with GMP-I. GMP-II also inhibited the increase of lipid content in serum. Activities of GOT, GPT, $\gamma$-GTP and ALP in serum elevated by alcohol were significantly inhibited in the GMP group. TBARS content of serum was significantly decreased in GMP groups administered with garlic and medicinal plant extracts. Extracts of garlic and medicinal plants play an important role in recovering liver function in rats from alcohol induced damage.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.105-116
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• 1996

Rendering the brain ischemic would evoke the cerebral ischemic reflex which is characterized by an arterial pressor response, apnea and bradycardia. Since the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is known to play a key role in the maintenance of normal cardiopulmonary activity, during the cerebral ischemic reflex some cardiac related cells should be excited and respiration related cells inhibited. In this context, the responses of RVLM neurons to systemie and focal hypoxia were analyzed in the present study. Twenty-five adult cats of either sex were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$ and the single neuronal activities were identified from RVLM area. For the induction of focal hypoxia in the recording site, sodium cyanide was applied iontophoretically and for systemic hypoxia the animal was ventilated with nitrogen gas for a twenty-second period. Cellular activities were analyzed in terms of their discharge pattern and responses to the hypoxia by using post-stimulus time and single-pass time histograms. Of eighteen cardiac related cells recorded from the RVLM area, twelve cells were excited by iontophoresed sodium cyanide and of twenty-five respiration related cells, fourteen cells were excited by iontophoresed sodium cyanide. Remaining cells were either inhibited or unaffected. Eight of fifteen cells tested with iontophoresed sodium lactate were excited and remaining seven cells were inhibited. Systemic hypoxia induced by nitrogen gas inhalation elevated the arterial blood pressure, but excited, inhibited or unaffected the single neuronal activities. Some cells showed initial excitation followed by inhibition during the systemic hypoxia. Bilateral vagotomy resulted in a decrease of arterial pressor response to the systemic hypoxia, and a slight decrease in the rhythmicity related to cardiac and/or respiratory rhythms. The single neuronal responses to either systemic or focal hypoxia were not affected qualitatively by vagotomy. From the above results, it was concluded that the majority of the cardiac- and respiration- related neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla be excited by hypoxia, not through the mediation of peripheral chemoreceptors, and along with the remaining inhibited cells, all these cells be involved in the mediation of cerebral ischemic reflex.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.282-288
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• 2008

Tissue ischemia resulting from the constriction or obstruction of blood vessels leads to an illness that may affect many organs including the heart, brain, and legs. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the field of therapeutic angiogenesis and the new approaches are expected to cure those "no-option patients" who are unsuited to conventional therapies. Although single angiogenic growth factor may be successful in inducing angiogenesis, combination of multiple growth factors is increasingly sought these days to augment the therapeutic responses. This trend is proper in light of the fact that blood vessel formation is a complex and multi-step process that requires the actions of many different factors. To meet the growing need for functionally significant blood flow recovery in the ischemic tissues, a novel strategy that can provide concerted actions of multiple factors is required. One way to achieve such a goal is to use a transcription factor that can orchestrate the expression of multiple target genes in the ischemic region and thus induce significant level of angiogenesis. Here, a putative transcription factor, cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP), was evaluated in adenoviral vector context for angiogenic activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The results indicated significant increase in proliferation, capillary-like structure formation, and induction of vascular endothelial growth factor, a typical angiogenic gene. Taken together, these results suggest that CARP represents itself as a novel target for therapeutic angiogenesis and warrants further investigation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.582-591
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• 2008

Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson Disease(PD). The contribution of many environmental factors including dietary factor remains unproven. The purpose the study was to investigate the dietary habits, nutrient intake and dietary quality of Korean PD patients according to the duration of disease. PD patients were recruited from K and S university hospitals from May 2005 to January 2006. This study was carried out after approval by the Institute Review Board(IRB). British Brain Bank criteria was used to diagnose PD. The subjects were classified into 2 groups based on the duration of PD: <25 months and $\geq$25 months groups. General characteristics, anthropometric measurements, food habits and dietary intakes were investigated. The results of this study were as follows: 1) The mean age of <25 months group($66.9{\pm}8.0$ yr) was significantly higher than that of $\geq$25 months group($62.2{\pm}8.8$ yr)(p<0.05). No significant differences were found for academic background, occupation, living status and social activity, however, numbers of diseases, exercise and family history of PD were significantly different. 2) Anthropometric measurements were not different between the two groups. 3) The frequency of taking snacks was significantly higher in <25 months group and the amounts of alcohol consumption were significantly higher in $\geq$25 months group. 4) Daily intakes of most nutrients were very low compared with DRI. 5) The MAR score was significantly lower in <25 months group(p<0.05;) however, the scores of DVS, DDS and DQI were not significantly different. As a conclusion an overall nutrient intake and dietary quality of the Parkinson's Disease patients need to be improved regardless of duration of the disease and a well-balanced diet should be emphasized.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.431-437
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• 2011

Aberrant activation of microglia has been reported to cause neuronal damages by releasing a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Besides where microglia become active, damages have been also observed in remote places, which is considered due to the migration of activated microglia. Therefore, an agent that could suppress abnormal activation of microglia and their subsequent migration might be valuable in activated microglia-related brain pathologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of betulinic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Pretreatment of betulinic acid significantly attenuated LPS-induced NO production and protein expression of iNOS. Betulinic acid also significantly suppressed LPS-induced release and expression of cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Furthermore, betulinic acid significantly uppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression, which has been suggested to play an important role in the migration of activated microglia. In order to understand the possible mechanism by which betulinic acid suppresses LPS-induced cytokine production and migration of microglia, the role of NF-kB, a major pro-inflammatory transcription factor, was examined. Betulinic acid significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of IKB, which retains NF-kB in the cytoplasm. Therefore, nuclear translocation of NF-kB upon LPS stimulation was significantly suppressed with betulinic acid. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that betulinic acid possesses anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of nuclear translocation of NF-kB in BV2 microglial cells.