• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.224-235
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• 2024

Despite enormous efforts, no effective medication has been found to significantly halt or even slow the progression of neurological diseases, such as acquired (e.g., traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, etc.) and chronic (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc.) central nervous system disorders. So, researchers are looking for alternative therapeutic modalities to manage the disease's symptoms and stop it from worsening. Concerning disease-modifying capabilities, stem cell therapy has emerged as an expanding domain. Among different types of stem cells, human endometrial regenerative cells have excellent regenerative properties, making them suitable for regenerative medicine. They have the potential for self-renewal and differentiation into three types of stem cells: epithelial stem cells, endothelial side population stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). ERCs can be isolated from endometrial biopsy and menstrual blood samples. However, there is no comprehensive evidence on the effects of ERCs on neurological disorders. Hence, we initially explore the traits of these specific stem cells in this analysis, followed by an emphasis on their therapeutic potential in treating neurological disorders.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.253-269
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• 2024

Pancreas serves endocrine and exocrine functions in the body; thus, their pathology can cause a broad range of irreparable consequences. Endocrine functions include the production of hormones such as insulin and glucagon, while exocrine functions involve the secretion of digestive enzymes. Disruption of these functions can lead to conditions like diabetes mellitus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Also, the symptoms and causality of pancreatic cancer very greatly depends on their origin: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most fatal cancer; however, most of tumor derived from endocrine part of pancreas are benign. Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreatic tissues, is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, the bile duct obstruction by gallstones, and the premature activation of digestive enzymes in the pancreas. Hereditary pancreatic diseases, such as maturity-onset diabetes of the young and hereditary pancreatitis, can be a candidate for disease modeling using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), due to their strong genetic influence. hPSC-derived pancreatic differentiation has been established for cell replacement therapy for diabetic patients and is robustly used for disease modeling. The disease modeling platform that allows interactions between immune cells and pancreatic cells is necessary to perform in-depth investigation of disease pathogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.85.2-85.2
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.190.2-191
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.103-103
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• 1998

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.884-884
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.306-311
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• 2009

We initially obtained human diseases-related proteins dataset from the OMIM and the SWISS PROT and then constructed disease-related protein-protein interaction network. The protein network contains 40 hub proteins such as CALM1, ACTB and ABL2. The protein network can be derived the map of the relationship between different disease proteins, denoted disease interaction network. We demonstrate that the associations between diseases are directly correlated to their underlying protein-protein interaction networks. From constructed the disease-protein bipartite network, we derived 38 diseasomal proteins, including APP, ABL1 and STAT1. We previously demonstrated that hub proteins in the network tend to be diseasomal proteins in the disease-related protein sub-networks. However, we found that 18% hubs are only diseasomal proteins in the whole disease network. At this point, we could not elucidate difference in the hub-diseasomal proteins tendency between sub0network and whole network. In spite of we still have unsolved problems, our results elucidate that the discovery of protein interaction networks assigned by diseases will provide insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms and biological processes in complex human disease system.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.47
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• pp.39-63
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• 2023

Modern medical science tends to categorize addiction as a kind of disease, but a Taoist world-view would not consider addiction to be a disease. Taoists do not have a concept of addiction as an eternal substance. Within the Taoist world-view, human beings are meant to live in harmony with the transformative cycles of nature. Human beings achieve self-realization through balancing themselves with nature. This is what is meant by Self-Realization in Harmony with Nature. There is no disease known as addiction when one's life is in harmony with nature. There are two main principles in the Taoist medical worldview. First, is the theory of correspondences. This theory of correspondences is the foundational to Taoism's value-neutral world-view wherein humans are seen as working together with Heaven and Earth in correlative relationships to create harmonious societies. Second, is the principle of harmony and balance in the Universe. One creature can be in harmony with other creatures and learn to appreciate the interconnectedness of all living beings. Survival of the forest is vital to the survival of natural harmony, balance, morality, and environment. The vitality of the human body depends on the movement of Qi energy. According to the principles of Korean traditional medicine, all human problems stem from the mind. There is no madness, no illness, no tempting fate, and even no death outside of what stems from the mind. Within the human body, there are two principles behind energy systems: harmony and balance. When human beings achieve the state of homeostasis, they obtain Qi flows which are associated with the various organs. In doing so, they can always maintain a healthy state of life in accordance with the cosmic rhythm. Taoist philosophy contains advice that prevents addiction. Empty your mind of all thought. Let your heart be peaceful. Finally, all worries are washed away by the cosmic wave.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.508-518
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• 2003

SZ95 cell is an immortalized human sebaceous gland cell line that shows the morphologic, phenotypic and functional characteristics of normal human sebocytes. Sebocytes may play crucial parts in the pathophysiologic processes and disorders of the pilosebaceous unit. The secretory activity of the sebaceous gland is remarkably species-specific and acne is an exclusively human disease. Thus, this SZ95 cells offer possibilities for investigations on the physiology of the sebaceous gland and its role in sebum-associated skin disease such as acne. In this study, we investigated the effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) and spironolactone, frequently used as therapeutic agents of acne, on the lipid synthesis and proliferation of human sebocytes. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and cytoplasmic lipid droplets was shown by Oil-red a staining. Total lipid levels were biochemically estimated by the sulfo-phospho-vanilline reagent. 13-cis-RA and spironolactone significantly inhibited proliferation and lipid levels in a dose-dependent manner. Combined treatment with testosterone and 13-cis-RA or spironolactone resulted in a lower total lipid levels than that with androgen alone. These observations indicate that 13-cis-RA and spironolactone are potent inhibitors of both cell proliferation and lipid synthesis in human sebocytes. We will provide experimental evidence that this human sebocyte cell line serves as an adequate tool for evaluating the anti-lipogenic activity of various compounds potentially useful for the bioactive cosmeceutical ingredients on acne skin, and studying the intracellular biochemical markers depending on the types of compounds from various sources.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2016

Mulberry fruits also have tremendous potential for providing various valuable industrial products of very high economic value for human beings. Nevertheless, through global warming, the popcorn disease caused by sclerotia forming fungi reduces the productivity of mulberry fruits in worldwide. So, in this study, we investigated damage ratio of mulberry popcorn disease in mulberry fruit production farm (Buan, Jeongueb, Sangju, Gochang in Korea). In Jeonbuk Buan, popcorn disease rate was the highest about 30%, on the other hand, in case of Gyungbuk Sangju and Jeonbuk Gochang, not damage. Also, we investigated about popcorn disease prevention by various of chemical treatment methods.