• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.661-667
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• 2008

In this study, cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) was synthesized and applied as a polarizing component on the optical film of back light units (BLU) for LCDs. After mixing CLC with nematic liquid crystal, this mixture was fulfilled in the module consisting of two films and then its amplifying efficiency and polarizing ability for a planarly emitted light were examined to apply as a BLU polarizer film for increasing the brightness of light. The properties of CLC compound were tested by UV/Visible spectroscopy and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). Flexible spacer was made by linear carboxylic acid group of cholesteric derivatives between cholesterol mesogen units for one-axis orientation in each layer. The CLC containing film could be used as a module to increase the ability of polarization and to enhance brightness of BLU and to widen wavelength range by stacking the films.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

Phenolic compounds in safflower seeds were recently found to stimulate bone formation and increase plasma HDL cholesterol levels in estrogen deficient rats, and to inhibit melanin synthesis. Nine phenolic compounds: $N-feruloylserotonin-5-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;8'-hydroxyarctigenin-4'-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside,\;luteolin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, N-feruloylserotonin, 8'-hydroxy arctigenin (HAG), luteolin (LT), $acacetin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucuronide$ (ATG) and acacetin (AT), were quantified by HPLC in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds during growth and processing. During growth, levels of the nine phenolic compounds in the seeds increased progressively with increasing growth stages, reached a maximum on July 30 (42nd day after flowering), and then remained relatively constant. During the roasting process, levels of phenolic compounds, except HAG, LT and AT, generally decreased with increased roasting temperature and time, whereas those of HAG, LT and AT increased progressively with increased roasting temperature and time. During the steaming process, levels of other phenolic compounds except HAG and AT generally tended to increase with increased steaming time, whereas those of HAG and AT were scarcely changed. During the microwave treatment, quantitative changes of phenolic compounds were similar to the roasting process, although there were some differences in levels of phenolic compounds between two heat treatments. These results suggest that the steamed safflower seeds after harvesting on late July may be useful as potential dietary supplement source of phenolic compounds for prevention of several pathological disorders, such as atherosclerosis and osteoporosis and aging.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1925-1931
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• 2017

Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) bark extract, PineXol (PX), was investigated for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects in vitro. It was hypothesized that PX treatment ($25-150{\mu}g/ml$) would reduce the lipid synthesis in HepG2 hepatocytes as well as lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Hepatocytes' intracellular triglycerides and cholesterol were decreased in the PX $150{\mu}g/ml$ treatment group compared with the control (p < 0.05). Consequently, de novo lipogenic proteins (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1) were significantly decreased in hepatocytes by PX $150{\mu}g/ml$ treatment compared with the control (p < 0.05). In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the lipid accumulation was significantly attenuated by all PX treatments (p < 0.01). Regulators of adipogenesis, including CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins alpha, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor gamma, and perilipin, were decreased in PX $100{\mu}g/ml$ treatment compared with the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, PX might have anti-obesity effects by blocking hepatic lipogenesis and by inhibiting adipogenesis in adipocytes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.155-157
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• 2001

Bifidobacterium spp. is nonpathogenic, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria, which inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. In breast-fed infants, bifidobacteria comprise morethan 90％ of the gut bacterial population. Bifidobacteria spp. are used in commericial fermented dairy products and have been suggested to exert health promoting effects on the host by maintaining intestinal microflora balances, improving lactose tolerance, reducing serum cholesterol levels, increasing synthesis of vitamins, and aiding the immune enchancement and anticarcinogenic activity for the host. These beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium are strain-related. Therefore continued efforts to improve strain characteristics are warranted. in these respect, development of vector system for Bifidobacterium is very important not only for the strain improvement but also because Bifidobacterium is most promising in serving as a delivery system for the useful gene products, such as vaccine or anticarcinogenic polypeptides, into human intestinal tract. For developing vector system, we have characterized several bifidobacterial plasmids at genetic level and developed several shuttle vectors between E. coli and Bifidobacterium using them. Also, we have cloned and sequenced several metabolic genes and food grade selection marker. Also we have obtained bifidobacterial surface protein, which will be used as the mediator for surface display of foreign genes. Recently we have succeeded in expressing amylase and GFP in Bifidobacterium using our own expression vector system. Now we are in a very exciting stage for the molecular breeding and safe delivery system using probiotic Bifidobacterium strains.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.607-611
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• 2008

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the synthesis of several inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, NO and inflammation in the liver of rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Oriental herbs mixture extract (HCTM) against the hepatotoxicity-inducing LPS in the lipid metabolism. HCTM of 100 mg/kg concentration was intra-peritoneally administered into rats at dose of 1.5 ml/kg for 20 days. On the day 21, 1.5 ml/kg of LPS was injected 4 hours before anesthetization. The levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), total lipid, triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in serum. LPS-treatment markedly increased the levels of GOT, GPT, total lipid and TG, and decreased the level of HDL-C. However, HCTM pretreatment decreased the levels of GOT, GPT, total lipid and TG by 76.8%, 55.48%, 34.04% and 76.21% respectively, and increased the level of HDL-C by 97.84%. These results showed that HCTM had the protective effect against the hepatotoxicity-inducing LPS in the lipid metabolism, and it suggest that HCTM could be used for functional beverage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.6-16
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• 1998

Ceramides are currently emerging as the major skin care ingredients due to !heir barrier properties in the stratum corneum of the human skin. Thus, major cosmetic companies have developed synthetic ceramide analogs for their own use. In this study, several ceramide mimic compounds , new skin barrier lipids, were designed and synthesized, and their physical and biological properties were investigated to evaluate their skin care capability. Several structures were designed from the variation of hydrophobic alkyl chain and hydrophilic moiety by the use of molecular modeling software. The selected targets were synthesized, and their properties and activities were studied as the pure form, in the emulsion, or in the lamellar mixture containing cholesterol and fatty acid. Some compounds, such as 1,3-bis(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-palmitoylamino)-2-hydroxypropane, enhanced the restoration of skin barrier damaged by SDS(sodium dodecyl sulfate), and by acetone treatment. The rate of restoration was comparable to that of natural ceramides. The synthesized compounds alleviated SDS induced skin irritation and facilitated lamellar phase liquid crystal formation. The treatment of 1,3-Dis(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-palmitoylam ino)-2-hyd roxypropane on the acetone damaged skin revealed that the compound promoted the recovery of intercellular lipid lamellar structure of stratum corneum layer. The replacement of palmitoyl groups of the compound with shorter alkyl chain gave lower emulsion viscosity and liquid crystal density, suggesting easier formulation and poorer barrier activity. Most of the synthesized compounds were non-irritable in various toxicological tests proving that they can be safely introduced to the skin care formulations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.429-434
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• 2005

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration, which has been proposed to initiate the intimal thickening in coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Berberine is an alkaloid in Berberis aquifolium and many other plants. Recently, it has been shown to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, such as anti-hyperglycemic and cholesterol-lowering activity. In this study, we investigated its effects on lysoPC-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. Berberine inhibited lysoPC-induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in VSMCs, as well as migration of the lysoPC-stimulated VSMCs. It also inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and reduced transcription factor AP-1 activity and the lysoPC-induced increases in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of berberine on lysoPC-stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration are attributable to inhibition of ROS generation and hence of activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. This suggests that berberine has potential in the prevention of atherosclerosis and restenosis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2010

Background : The human being and the bacteria have accomplished a balance and have coexisted each other during long time. Probiotics have evolved with the human host to exist and the result they have operated profitably to human host. So it requires that the functions of probiotics are expounded in view of Traditional Korean Medicine. Aim : Suggest the functions of probiotics in view of Traditional Korean Medicine. Method : The author's research has been performed to review the related references. Results : Probiotics assist the absorption of the lactose, proteins and minerals and product several kinds of vitamins, organic acids. Probiotics suppresses the growth of noxious bacteria and the production of harmful substances or gases. They absorbed and discharge the bile acid, and thus help us maintain the optimal level of blood cholesterol concentration. They can reinforce the immune response of the mucous membrane and control the hypersensitivity immune reaction such as asthma, atopy on the other hand. Probiotics have right functions as above and so can be applied widely in treatment of various disease and symptom. Conclusion : Considering the functions of probiotics in view of Traditional Korean Medicine, they participate in our spleen-earth-system (digestion and synthesis) and liver-wood-system (regulation of digestion, metabolism, internal secretion etc.), assist the function of lung-metal system(respiration and regulation of water metabolism) and regulate wi-chi (reinforce/control immune system). Consequently, hereafter there would be a necessity of control a circumstance in treatment of various diseases under these categories that probiotics should be able to do their right functions inside the human body.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-59
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) has remarkable bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. On the other hand, the effects of AY against obesity-induced insulin resistance have not been reported. Therefore, this study examined the potential of AY against obesity-associated insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a 60% HFD for 16 weeks. The C57BL6/When ethyl acetate fraction from AY (EFAY) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally to mice fed a HFD for the last 4 weeks. Normal and control groups were administered water orally. The body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. Dietary intake was measured every other day. After dissection, blood and tissues were collected from the mice. RESULTS: The administration of EFAY reduced body and organ weights significantly compared to HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY-administered groups also improved the serum lipid profile by decreasing the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. In addition, EFAY ameliorated the insulin resistance-related metabolic dysfunctions, including the fasting blood glucose and serum insulin level, compared to the HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY inhibited lipid synthesis and insulin resistance by down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase and up-regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. EFAY also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver, indicating that EFAY protected hepatic injury induced by obesity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EFAY improved obesity-associated insulin resistance by regulating the lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting that AY could be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and insulin resistance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1199-1214
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• 2022

Apolipoprotein H (APOH) primarily engages in fat metabolism and inflammatory disease response. This study aimed to investigate the effects of APOH on fat synthesis in duck myoblasts (CS2s) by APOH overexpression and knockdown. CS2s overexpressing APOH showed enhanced triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) contents and elevated the mRNA and protein expression of AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), ELOVL fatty acid elongase 6 (ELOVL6), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) while reducing the expression of protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 1 (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 1 (ACSL1), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The results showed that knockdown of APOH in CS2s reduced the content of TG and CHOL, reduced the expression of ACC1, ELOVL6, and AKT1, and increased the gene and protein expression of PPARG, LPL, ACSL1, and AMPK. Our results showed that APOH affected lipid deposition in myoblasts by inhibiting fatty acid beta-oxidation and promoting fatty acid biosynthesis by regulating the expression of the AKT/AMPK pathway. This study provides the necessary basic information for the role of APOH in fat accumulation in duck myoblasts for the first time and enables researchers to study the genes related to fat deposition in meat ducks in a new direction.