• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.756-763
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that repeated injections of nicotine produced an increase in locomotor activity, dopamine(DA), release and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major projection areas of the central DA system. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. And many studies have shown that Coptidis Rhizoma has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and can affect the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS. In order to investigate whether acupuncture and Coptidis Rhizoma have an influence on nicotine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of zusanli(ST36) and Coptidis Rhizoma on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity, and zusanli(ST36) on c-Fos expression as an important maker of postsynaptic neuronal activity in nucleus accumbens. Male SD rats received Coptidis Rhizoma (100mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity. Pretreatment with acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release. Our results suggest that acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.193-203
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• 2003

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect and pathway of contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture (EA) on pain induced by fonualin in rats. Methods : Acu-points in the right forepaws, HT 7 and PC 7 were stimulated with 3~4mA, 2ms, and 10Hz after 5% formalin (50ul) s.c. injection to the left hind paw. In addition, it was investigated whether the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), known to be related the descending inhibition, mediates analgesic effects of the contralateral heterotropic EA or whether administration of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, blocks the effect of EA. Results : The results showed that contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture (EA) inhibited late phase (63.311.7%) of pain induced by fonualin in the behavioral test, but sham-EA had little effect on pain behavior (85.616.8%) and no analgesic effects after transection of the dorsolateral funiculus (95.718.7%). The pretreatment of naltrexone (10mg/kg, i.p.) could not inhibit the analgesic effects of EA on formalin-induced pain behavior (70.713.1%). Also,EA suppressed formalin injection induced expression of cFos like protein (cFL) in the dorsal homo but not sham-EA. Suppressed expressions of cFL in the spinal cord were eliminated after transection of the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus at T10-11 leve1s. However, pretreatment of naltrexone could not prevent the suppressive expressions of cFL at the spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that the analgesic effect of contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture may be modulated through the dorsolateral funiculus constituting the descending inhibition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.64-65
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.64-65
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• 2005

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2012

Acute injuries to skeletal muscles can lead to significant pain and disability. Muscle pain results in muscle weakness and range of motion (ROM) decreases. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) promote tissue repair, healing rates and reduce musculoskeletal pain. The results of many previous studies suggest that PEMF can contribute to chronic pain reduction, particularly in musculoskeletal injurys. However, we do not have enough information of its effects compared to a placebo. The principal objective of this study was to investigate differences in acute pain induced by the direct destruction of muscle tissue (extensor digitorum) with varying times of the application of PEMF, measured through the expression of c-fos on the spinal cord. Significant reduction of pain was found in groups exposed to PEMF and the group exposed to PEMF immediately after muscle injury showed the most significant differences. In conclusion, PEMF may be a useful strategy in reducing acute pain in muscle injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.17-21
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• 1995

대부분의 인슐린의 작용들은 인슐린 수용체를 통하여 이루어진다. 인슐린이 수용체에 결합하면, 수용체 고유의 tyrosine kinase 효소활성의 증가를 유발시키며, 결과적으로 세포내에 존재하는 기질 단백질, IRS-1, 의 tyrosine 잔기의 인산화를 증가시키게 된다. 이후, 여러 형태의 serine / threonine protein kinase 의 연속적인 활성화가 일어난다. 이들에 부가해서, 인슐린의 효자는 세포핵 내에까지 전달되어 유전자 발현의 조절과 같은 세포핵 고유의 활동에도 관여한다. 현재, 세포막에서 시작된 인슐린의 신호들이 세포핵까지 전달되는 정확한 기전에 대해서는 알려진 바 없지만, 최근의 연구에 의하면 MAP Kinase 와 S6 Kinase 그리고 Transcription Factor AP-1의 중요성이 제시되고 있다. 특히 유전자 조절 기전에는 핵단백질인 transcription factor의 인산화 반응이 큰 역할을 한다고 보고되고 있는바, 본 연구에서 AP-1. transcription factor 의 인산화 반응이 인슐린의 신호전달계에 미치는 역할에 대하여 고찰하였다. 요약하면, AP-1 transcription factor의 구성원인 c-Jun, c-Fos 그리고 Fos 관련 단백질들의 인산화가 인슐린에 의해 증가되며, 동시에 그들의. DNA-binding activity 와 유전자 발현의 활성이 증가됨을 밝힘으로써, AP-1 transcription factor의 인산화 반응이 인슐린의 핵 내에서의 작용기전에 중요한 역할을 함이 제시되고 있다. 또한 AP-1 의 인산화 반응에 관여하는 세포핵 protein kinase로서 Casein Kinase II 의 중요성이 밝혀졌다.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2006

We performed comprehensive SNP validation and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of the c-fos induced growth factor (Figf) gene in Korean population. Out of 32 SNPs, only 9 SNPs were polymorphic in Korean population. Validated SNPs formed a single extended haplotype block with strong LD through the entire length of the gene. Tagging SNP analysis picked only 2 SNPs to represent most of the genetic variation information of the Figf gene. Our results demonstrate the utility of LD block and tagging SNP analysis for an efficient way of performing a candidate gene based association study.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.252-254
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• 2008

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1641-1647
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• 2008

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside plant compound found in the seeds of rosaceous stone fruits. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of amygdalin, using an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell line and a rat model with carrageenan-induced ankle arthritis. One mM amygdalin significantly inhibited the expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-l$\beta$ mRNAs in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Amygdalin (0.005, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg) was intramuscularly injected immediately after the induction of carrageenan-induced arthritic pain in rats, and the anti-arthritic effect of amygdalin was assessed by measuring the weight distribution ratio of the bearing forces of both feet and the ankle circumference, and by analyzing the expression levels of three molecular markers of pain and inflammation (c-Fos, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-l$\beta$) in the spinal cord. The hyperalgesia of the arthritic ankle was alleviated most significantly by the injection of 0.005 mg/kg amygdalin. At this dosage, the expressions of c-Fos, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-l$\beta$ in the spinal cord were significantly inhibited. However, at dosage greater than 0.005 mg/kg, the pain-relieving effect of amygdalin was not observed. Thus, amygdalin treatment effectively alleviated responses to LPS-treatment in RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced arthritis in rats, and may serve as an analgesic for relieving inflammatory pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2008

Objectives : Obesity is a metabolic disease resulted from various causes including nutritional disproportion, hormonal imbalance, and hypothalamic nuclei disorder. Samhwang-tang(Sanhuang-tang, SHT) is composed of 5 herbs (Ephedrae Herba, Scutellariae Radix, Typhae pollen, Acori Rhizoma and Ansu Semen) and is frequently used for obese patients. This study investigated anti-obesity effects of SHT on the rats. Methods : Obesity was induced by high fat diet (HFD), monosodium L-glutamate injection (MSG) and ovariectomy (OVX) in the Sprague-Dawley rats. Water extract of SHT was treated for 2 weeks, then changes of body weight gain and epididymal fat cell size were measured. In OVX animals, c-Fos and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressions in hypothalamic nuclei were observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of body weight gain in obesity induced by HFD and OVX, but not in obesity induced by MSG. SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of fat cell size in obesity induced by HFD, but not in obesity induced by MSG. On c-Fos and NPY expressions in hypothalamic nuclei, SHT treatment resulted significant decrease of immuno-reactivity of c-Fos and NPY in obesity induced by OVX. Conclusions : These results suggest that SHT has a weight loss effect against obesity induced by nutritional disproportion of diet intake and hormonal imbalance, especially without central nervous system disorder.