• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2007

This study was carried out to review and evaluate anti-CCP ELISA assay for diagnostic in RA patients from an early arthritis clinic (EAC). The subjects were obtained from patients visiting the outpatient clinic of the Dept. of Rhumatology med.of P hospital in Daegu, during 6 months from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. The subjects were 140 cases : 80 cases from RA patients (60 women and 20 men; mean age 58 years; range, 32-68 years) confirmed by clinical diagnostic. 39 cases of these RA patients were classified as having early RA (EAC). 50 cases (non-RA) did not fulfill the criteria for RA, and 10 cases were from healthy individuals. We performed the analysis with solid phase-ELISA method (ETI-max3000, Diasorin; Italy) for anti-CCP and Nephelometry assay (Roche/Hitachi 902 analyzer; USA) for RF. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; anti-CCP ELISA is more specific than RF Nephelometry assay (specificity 94% vs 90%) to diagnose RA patients with suspected EAC (early arthritis clinic). The combination test "anti-CCP and RF" had a very high specificity (specificity 98.3%, PPV; RA group 96%, EAC 95%), the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Anti-CCP ELISA had more sensitivity in EAC (Early arthritis clinic) patients than chronic RA patients (sensitivity 64% vs 24%, respectively), anti-CCP of RA group and EAC group was more specific than RF (anti-CCP PPV; 92%, 89% vs 89%, 81% respectively), the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference of antibody concetration between anti-CCP and RF for RA and the control group is statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, anti-CCP ELISA testing may be useful if performed concomitantly with RF Nephelometry assay to diagnose RA patients with suspected EAC (early arthritis clinic).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 1996

Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to be a second messenger involved in secretion. Upon stimulating pancreatic acinar cells with cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ), NO formation has been shown to be associated with increased levels of cGMP (Seo et al., 1995). To elucidate the signaling pathway of VIP-induced enzyme secretion, we investigated the NO and cGMP synthesis steps as potential steps where two signal pathways triggered by CCK-PZ and VIP interact. The results obtained in this work provide evidence that increase in pancreatic enzyme secretion by treatment with VIP has no relationship with NOS activity and cGMP level. This conclusion was derived from the following findings that VIP treatment of rat pancreatic tissue increased amylase release as well as protein output in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas NOS activity and cGMP synthesis were not affected by VIP treatment as monitored by NOS activity assay and determining cGMP level, which was further confirmed by a NOS-inhibitor study. Consequently, CCK-PZ or VIP increases enzyme secretion in rat pancreatic tissue, but the two hormones are different in their mode of action. Together the results suggest that signaling pathway of VIP-induced enzyme secretion might either bypass the NO and cGMP synthesis steps or lie on a distinct pathway from CCK-PZ-induced pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.523-535
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• 1992

The conformations of hexapeptides, their complexation with alkali cations and the inhibition of the cation transport by 5,5-diphenylhydantoin(DPH) were studied theoretically using ECEPP/2 and MM2 force field. Several low energy conformations of uncomplexed cyclic hexapepides are obtained, and they adopt compact conformations in which most amide hydrogens form intramolecular hydrogen bond to amide carbonyl oxygens. The complexation energy of the peptide with $Na^+$ ion and DPH is -60 kcaal/mol and -18 kcal/mol, respectively. However, no suitable cavity to bind metal cation exists for the local minima of the peptide, and the internal energy of the uncomplexed hexapeptide having cavity is higher than that of the uncomplexed global minimum of this work by 10 kcal/mol. Also, one of the most important amino acid residue to bind DPH is Glycine, and this can explain experimental observation that the replacement of Gly by Sarcosine (N-methyl Glycine) reduce the inhibition ability of the cation transport.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2006

Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone(LHRH) is a decapeptide neurotransmitter known to be regulated by metal ions in the hyperthalamus. Zn-binding LHRH complex was systhesized, and zinc-LHRH complex was studied to understand what kinds of structural modifications would be critical in the LHRH releasing mechanism. Both nonexchangeable and exchangeable $^1H-NMR$ signal assignments were accomplished by pH-dependent and COSY NMR experiments. In addition, $^1H-NMR$ chemical shift changes of a-proton and peptide NH NMR signals at different pH condition, and $^1H-NMR$ signal differences between metal free and metallo-LHRH complex was monitored. NMR signals exhibit that primary metal-binding sites are nitrogens donor of imidazole ring and Arg, and peptide oxygen of Pro-His in the sequence. Structure obtained in this study has a cyclic conformation which is similar to that of energy minimized, and exhibits a specific a-helical turn with residue numbers $(2{\sim}7)$ out of 10 amino acids.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2017

Beauvericin (BEA), a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by the fungus Beauveria bassiana, is known to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial actions. However, how BEA suppresses macrophage-induced inflammatory responses has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory properties of BEA and the underlying molecular mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Levels of nitric oxide (NO), mRNA levels of transcription factors and the inflammatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and interleukin (IL)-1, and protein levels of activated intracellular signaling molecules were determined by Griess assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), luciferase reporter gene assay, and immunoblotting analysis. BEA dose-dependently blocked the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells without inducing cell cytotoxicity. BEA also prevented LPS-triggered morphological changes. This compound significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ subunits p65 and p50. Luciferase reporter gene assays demonstrated that BEA suppresses MyD88-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. By analyzing upstream signaling events for $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and overexpressing Src and Syk, these two enzymes were revealed to be targets of BEA. Together, these results suggest that BEA suppresses $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory responses by suppressing both Src and Syk.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2013

In order to improve capacitance of activated carbon for electric double layer capacitors, peptide bond was induced on the surface of the activated carbon by urea. Urea induced activated carbon has been stabilized through carbonization. Electrochemical characteristics was observed by cyclic voltammetry for specific capacitance, electrochemical impedance spectroscope for measuring resistance and charge-discharge for testing the cyclic ability. In the result, specific capacitance is increased about 22.9% than the activated carbon. And it shows excellent cycle performance and decreasing resistance with the introduction of nitrogen functional groups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1717-1720
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• 2007

In the course of screening for nitric oxide inhibitors in activated microglial BV-2 cells, cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was isolated from solid-state fermentation cultures of an unidentified fungal strain, Fb956. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR and chiral TLC analyses. Cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was found to have an inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production with an $IC_{50}$ of $6.5\;{\mu}M$ in activated BV-2 cells. The structure determination and biological activity of cyclo(dehydrohistidyl-L-tryptophyl) was reported for the first time in this study.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.214-217
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• 2002

Cyclosporin A (CSA) is a poorly water-soluble cyclic peptide comprising 11 amino acids. It inhibits T-lymphocyte function that plays an important role in the induction of immune response. The potent immunosuppressive activity of CSA has been used for the prevention of rejection following transplantation of liver, kidney and bone marrow, etc. The use of CSA has been often limited by several disadvantages including low bioavailability, narrow therapeutic window, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Moreover, CSA injection is limited to patients who are unable to take the oral preparations, because it has a risk of anaphylactic shock and nephrotoxicity due to Cremophor EL$\textregistered$, a solubilizing agent used in the commercial intravenous formulation. Owing to above mentioned disadvantages of commercial products, there is a great interest in the development of the alternative dosage forms. (omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.268-272
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• 2005

Different detection characteristics of fluorescence immunochromatography method and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins were studied. In particular, low and high limits of detection, detection time and reproducibility and detectable microcystin species were compared when fluorescence immunochromatography method and high performance liquid chromatography method were applied for the detection of microcystin (MC), a cyclic peptide toxin of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. A Fluorescence immunochromatography assay system has the unique advantages of short detection time and low detection limit, and high performance liquid chromatography detection method has the strong advantage of individual quantifications of several species of microcystins.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-162
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• 1992

The objectives of the present experiments were to characterize the effects of the peptides belonging to the pancreatic polypeptide family on the contractility of cerebral arteries and to observe the interactions of these peptides with the cyclic nucleotide activators and the potassium channel openers. Dogs of either sex, $20{\sim}30\;Kg$ in weight, were sacrificed. Basilar and middle cerebral arteries from brain were isolated and prepared for myography in the PSS equilibrated with 95% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$ at $37^{\circ}C$. The endothelial cells of the spiral strips were removed by CHAPS solution (0.3% w/v, 15 seconds). 1. PP, PYY and NPY contracted the arterial strips concentration-dependently with a rank order of potency of PYY>NPY>PP. These peptides were 20 to 200 times more potent than norepinephrine, and only PYY showed a greater potency than 5-HT. 2. Cyclic nucleotide activators, forskolin (for cAMP) and sodium nitroprusside (for cGMP) reduced the basal tone and inhibited the PP-, PYY- and NPY- induced contractions by concentration-dependent manners. Forskolin was more potent in reducing basal tone than sodium nitroprusside. 3. Potassium channel openers, RP 49356, P 1060 and BRL 38227 reduced the basal tone concentration-dependently and tended to inhibit the PP-, PYY- and NPY- induced contractions. Notably, BRL 38227 with low concentration $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$ enhanced the contractions induced by those peptides while P 1060 inhibited the contractions concentration-dependently. 4. The combinations of the cyclic nucleotide activators and the potassium channel openers were slightly additive in reducing the basal tone. P 1060 and BRL 38227 enhanced the relaxant effect of sodium nitroprusside significantly. On the PYY-induced contration $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, $K^+$ channel openers tended to inhibit the inhibitory actions of forskolin and sodium nitroprusside. P 1060 and BRL 38227 antagonized the inhibitory action of sodium nitroprusside significantly. The results of the present study may be summarized that in canine cerebral arteries, not only NPY but also PYY may play a role in a cerebrovascular spasm, and intracellular concentration of either cAMP or cGMP may be involved in the mechanism of vasoconstrictive actions of these peptides, which may be affected either positively or negatively by a $K^+$ channel opener.