• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.362-366
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• 2017

In this study, Banhasasim-tang extracts (BSTE) have an inhibitory effects on cisplatin-induced decrease of body weights in two mouse model. Cisplatin is the most widely used anticancer drug for treatment of various cancer. However, cisplatin treatment to cancer patients leads to many side effects such as nausea, vomiting and body weight decrease. BSTE has been used to decrease digestive disorders in South Korea. We hypothesize that BSTE improve the cisplatin-induced side effects in mouse models. We found that pre- and co-administration of BSTE inhibited decreases of body weights and food intake by cisplatin in mouse models. But BSTE had no synergistic effects for tumor shrinkage by cisplatin in xenograft model. Collectively, our data suggest that BSTE have great potential as a agent for having decrease effects on side effects by cisplatin in cancer patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2002

The effects of a newly synthesized $H^+/K^+$ ATPase inhibitor,1-(2-methyl-4-methoxypheny)-4-[(3-hy-droxypropyl)amino] -6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyrrolo (3,2-c) quinoline (DBM-819) , on the central nervous system, isolated smooth muscle, cardiovascular and digestive systems and renal function were investigated in various experimental animals. Oral administration of DBM-819 had no effect on the central nervous system except body temperature of mice slightly decreased at doses of 15 and 50 mg／kg. DBM-819 produced a moderate analgesic effect in acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at 50 mg／kg (p.o.). In conscious rats, DBM-819 (15 and 50 mg／kg, p.o.) showed a slight increase in blood pressure and a small decrease in heart rate. DBM-819 had an significant effect on agonist-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum at $1.5{\times}10^{-5}g/ml.$ No significant effect of DBM-819 (5 and 15 mg／kg, i.p) on urinary volume or urinary excretion of $Na^+,\;K^+$ and Cl- was observed in rats. DBM-819 had no significant effect on intestinal transport of a semisolid meal in mice at 15 and 50 mg／kg (p.o.). These findings suggest that DBM-819 exerts no significant pharmacological effects on the central nervous system and renal function at 15 mg／kg (p.o.), but produces some effects on the smooth muscle and circulatory system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.348-353
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• 2006

In this study, a 40% ethanol extract of Chinese yam flour (Dioscoreae rhizoma), containing $177{\pm}58{\mu}g/mL$ of dioscin, was tested in order to evaluate its pharmacological effects on the gastrointestinal tracts of Sprague-Dawley rats. Via the ingestion of the Chinese yam extract, the secretion of gastric acid was suppressed in the rats, and gastrointestinal motility increased by as much as 10%. The fecal quantity of rats fed on the Chinese yam extract also increased, by more than 40% as compared with that of the controls. The Chinese yam extract was found not to affect the growth of normal intestinal bacteria. However, a great deal of lactose-fermenting bacteria was observed in the fecal samples of rats fed for 6 weeks on 2% Chinese yam extract. This finding would appear to suggest that Chinese yam extract not only induces an improvement in digestive capability, but also affects the conversion of some intestinal flora to helpful bacteria. Our serochemical analyses indicated that serum glucose, neutral lipid, and total cholesterol levels were reduced to some degree by long-term feeding on Chinese yam extract. This finding bolsters the notion that Chinese yam extract may prove helpful as a digestion-aiding agent for patients suffering from hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.109-121
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the correlation among body mass index (BMI), dysmenorrhea and digestion function. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 307 high school girls about their menstruation and digestion function from one high school located in Seoul from Mar. 23 to Mar. 28 in 2009. And the we measured their height and weight to calculate their BMI. Using one way ANOVA, chi-square test and pearson correlation, statistical analysis was made by SPSS 12.0. We significance level p-value was determined as 0.05. Results: 1. There was no significant correlation between BMI and the severity of dysmenorrhea. 2. There was no significant correlation between BMI and digestion power. 3. There was statistically mild correlation between dyspepsia and the severity of menstrual pains. Conclusion: From above results, we could conclude that dyspepsia had mild relation to menstrual pains.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-162
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the critical environmental factors on healthy-aging of Korean people, we investigated the significant factors influencing health status of septuagenarians living in rural area of Jeonla province, known to be one of the representative longevity regions in Korea. Methods: We divided subjects into healthy group (36M/25F) or poor-health group (26M/73F) based on self-reported health status, body mass index, a number of prescription, and blood test data. General characteristics, physical measurements, lifestyle, dietary behavior and nutrient intake, physical health and mental health data were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: Average age was not different between healthy group and poor-health group in men and women, respectively. In men, significantly favorable factors to health were observed to be higher education, regular exercise, higher grip strength and walking function, body mass index (${\geq}18.5kg/m^2$), moderate frequency of drinking and eating-out, non-smoking, normal red blood cell (RBC) count, higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) level, good digestive function and appetite, normal hearing function, regular meals, adequate vegetable and fruit intake, diverse food intake, adequate energy and nutrients (protein, vitamin $B_1$, $B_6$, C and E, folate, niacin, P, Zn and K) intake, higher mini-nutrient status assessment (MNA) score and low level of depression. On the other hand, in women, those were literacy, living arrangement, moderate frequency of drinking, healthy teeth, higher grip strength and walking function, bone mineral density, normal RBC and white blood cell (WBC) count, higher DHEAS concentration, higher MNA score, normal cognition and memory function, having snack and adequate fruit intake. Conclusions: These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase health-life expectancy of Korean old people living in rural areas.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 2007

In currently, stress diseases are increased that present several sign and symptoms. Under stress condition, there are dry mouth, burning mouth syndrome, oral mucosa diseases and halitosis more frequently. Changing of salivary proportion is checked in almost patients with changing of function and structure in salivary gland. This study purpose are what effect stress does on salivary gland, and a-amylase on salivary gland. This study was resulted that 1. Under restraint stress, acinar cells are vacuolization and changing of intercellular spaces are separated, and peripheral tissues of duct are changed 2. Acinar cells were shrunk after 3 hours under restraint stress, intercellular space was separated after 6hours, peripheral tissues of duct started to change after 72 hours, and acinar cells and peripheral tissues of duct were all severely changed after 168hours. 3. In immunohistochemical study, amylase reaction was showed partially and irregularly after 3 hours, was getting little milder after 6 hours. And amylase reaction was gradually increased from the time of 12 hours after experiment up to the time of 48 hours after experiment. But after 168 hours, amylase appearance was diminished. According this result, emotional stress can change of salivary gland structure, and amylase secretion, the important digestive enzyme from salivary gland is changed and it is supposed to make digestive disorder and to make halitosis efficiency. So, we need to study about secretion of amylase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1291-1300
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• 2014

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a ubiquitous family of antioxidant enzymes that participate in a variety of biological processes, including $H_2O_2$-mediated signal transduction, molecular chaperoning, and mitochondrial function. In this study, we isolated and characterized a Prx 2 cDNA from abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). The abalone Prx 2 cDNA encoded a 199-amino acid polypeptide that belongs to a class of typical 2-Cys Prxs that contain peroxidatic and resolving cysteines. The deduced abalone Prx 2 protein showed strong homology (64-99%) with Prx 2 proteins from other species, including mollusk, fish, amphibians, and mammals, and it was most closely related to disk abalone (H. discus discus) Prx 2. Abalone Prx 2 mRNA was ubiquitously detected in tested tissues, and its expression was comparatively high in the mantle, gills, liver, foot, and digestive duct. The expression level of abalone Prx 2 mRNA was 106.7-fold, 51.9-fold, and 437.8-fold higher, respectively, in the gills, digestive duct, and liver than in the muscles. The expression level of abalone Prx 2 mRNA in the liver peaked at 6 hr postinfection with Vibrio parahemolyticus and decreased at 12 hr postinfection. The expression level of abalone Prx 2 mRNA in hemocytes was drastically increased at 1 hr postinfection with V. parahemolyticus. These results suggest that abalone Prx 2 is conserved through evolution and that it may play a role similar to that of its mammalian counterpart.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.237-270
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• 2013

Determinism and compatibilism have thought that libertarianism contradicts the scientific view. This paper demonstrates that the hypothesis that free will exists does not cause any problems and contradictions, while maintaining pro-scientific view. Rather, determinism lacks scientific and demonstrative bases. At first, I reject dualistic self by assuming identity theory of the self and physical body & brain. Free will is a functional concept or property that can have multiple realization. Therefore we can recognize whether aliens or robots have free will through observation on their acts. 'Free will' is a functional kinds term like 'digestion'. As we know we have digestive function, we can know that we have free will even before knowing the necessity of its existence by understanding micro structure of human free will. The judgement that an individual has free will function depends on whether it has particular actions. Those actions are controlling and restraining actions in context, predicting future, making elaborate conditional sentences, etc. Real being of free will is the physical occupant of the function that makes those actions. Determinism is based on various kinds of misconceptions and misunderstandings. Determinists often confuse necessity of physical law and determinism. Another decisive misunderstanding is that free will postulates same conditions and different results from the same point of time. However, free will postulates that the two points of time are different. Because determinism is unnecessary redundant hypothesis influenced by religions, according to Ockham's Razor, determinism should be eliminated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.880-884
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• 2001

Rumen microbiology research has undergone several evolutionary steps: the isolation and nutritional characterization of readily cultivated microbes; followed by the cloning and sequence analysis of individual genes relevant to key digestive processes; through to the use of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) sequences for a cultivation-independent examination of microbial diversity. Our knowledge of rumen microbiology has expanded as a result, but the translation of this information into productive alterations of ruminal function has been rather limited. For instance, the cloning and characterization of cellulase genes in Escherichia coli has yielded some valuable information about this complex enzyme system in ruminal bacteria. SSU rRNA analyses have also confirmed that a considerable amount of the microbial diversity in the rumen is not represented in existing culture collections. However, we still have little idea of whether the key, and potentially rate-limiting, gene products and (or) microbial interactions have been identified. Technologies allowing high throughput nucleotide and protein sequence analysis have led to the emergence of two new fields of investigation, genomics and proteomics. Both disciplines can be further subdivided into functional and comparative lines of investigation. The massive accumulation of microbial DNA and protein sequence data, including complete genome sequences, is revolutionizing the way we examine microbial physiology and diversity. We describe here some examples of our use of genomics- and proteomics-based methods, to analyze the cellulase system of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 and explore the genome of Ruminococcus albus 8. At Illinois, we are using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors to create libraries containing large (>75 kbases), contiguous segments of DNA from R. flavefaciens FD-1. Considering that every bacterium is not a candidate for whole genome sequencing, BAC libraries offer an attractive, alternative method to perform physical and functional analyses of a bacterium's genome. Our first plan is to use these BAC clones to determine whether or not cellulases and accessory genes in R. flavefaciens exist in clusters of orthologous genes (COGs). Proteomics is also being used to complement the BAC library/DNA sequencing approach. Proteins differentially expressed in response to carbon source are being identified by 2-D SDS-PAGE, followed by in-gel-digests and peptide mass mapping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, as well as peptide sequencing by Edman degradation. At Ohio State, we have used a combination of functional proteomics, mutational analysis and differential display RT-PCR to obtain evidence suggesting that in addition to a cellulosome-like mechanism, R. albus 8 possesses other mechanisms for adhesion to plant surfaces. Genome walking on either side of these differentially expressed transcripts has also resulted in two interesting observations: i) a relatively large number of genes with no matches in the current databases and; ii) the identification of genes with a high level of sequence identity to those identified, until now, in the archaebacteria. Genomics and proteomics will also accelerate our understanding of microbial interactions, and allow a greater degree of in situ analyses in the future. The challenge is to utilize genomics and proteomics to improve our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology, diversity and ecology, and overcome constraints to ruminal function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.356-360
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• 2005

The maintenance of intestinal health is complex and relies on a delicate balance between the diet, the normal microflora and mucosa, including the digestive epithelium and overlying mucus layer. The colorectal mucosa is protected by a visco-elastic mucus gel formed by high molecular mass glycoproteins referred to as mucins. Abnormality of mucin have been identified with colorectal disease. Constipation increases with age, and is more common among women than men in all age groups, e.g. 10% of men and 20% of women in the USA. The aim of the present study was conducted to investigate that the effects of formulation KTG075 from edible plants on intestinal function on mucus secretion, were examined by loperamide-induced constipation method using Sprague Dawley male rats. Epithelial cells of colonic crypt contained more mucus in the KTG075 group compared with those of the control group and the thickness of the mucus layer stained with alcian blue was significantly thicker in KTG075 treated rats compared with in control rats. Mucus production of epithelial cells of crypt and mucus contents at fecal and mucosa surfaces were reduced by loperamide-induced constipation. These results indicates that a poly herbal formulation KTG075 accelerates evacuation and activated intestines.