• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 2008

Scolopendra was known to cure erectile dysfunction. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Scolopendra on the nitric oxide synthase activity, nitrite level, cyclic-GMP and erectile responses in rat's corpus cavernosum penis. The crushed Scolopendra was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 14.2 g. Scolopendra extract was oral-administered 50 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 30 days. First, samples were treated with Scolopendra, and then ethanol-treated rats and L-N-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treated rats were fed with the samples. The level of urethral nitrite and nitric oxide synthase activity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The level of urethral cyclic-GMP and guanylate cyclase actiyity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The level of urethral phosphodiesterase activity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats was as low as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was increased. The erectile response to a cavernous nerve stimulation in L-NAME $(10^{-4})-treated$ rats was restored by the Scolopendra to the similar level seen in the normal group. The electile response to cavernous nerve stimulation in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were increased as high as in the normal group while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. Scolopendra was effective in restoring the ethanol-induced or L-NAME-induced erectile dysfunction in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.259-267
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• 1996

In an attempt to dofine the early biochemical determinants that participate in the pathogenesis of glycerol-induced nephrotoxicity, especially focusing on oxygen free radicals and $N-acetyl-{\beta}-D-glucosaminidase$ (NAG) activity, we studied 24-hours urine outflow, 24-hours urinary protein excretion and urinary NAG activity after the injection of glycerol and also we studied malondialdehyde(MDA) level and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in the kidney of rats at 24hr after the injection of glycerol. Sprague-Dawley albino rats weighing 240 to 260 gm were injected intramuscularly with a 50% solution of glycerol(2ml/kg, 4ml/kg and 8ml/kg). The group treated with glycerol showed significantly lower urine outflow level and urinary protein excretion level and higher urinary NAG activity after the injection as compared to those of control group. Also the group treated with glycerol showed significantly higher MDA level and lower SOD activity at 24hr after the injection as compared to those of control group. These results suggest that the excessive oxygen free radicals resulting from the depression of SOD activity is an important determinant in the pathogenesis of glycerol-induced nephrotoxicity and higher urinary NAG activity is an index of renal tubular cell damage in the glycerol-induced nephrotoxicity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.246-267
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• 1997

In order to study the effects of Boyanghwanoh-tang(補陽還五湯) on blood pressure and hyperlipidemia, experimental study was performed on Hypertension in normal rats, SHR, and on Hyperlipidemia induced by Triton WR-1339 and 2% cholesterol Fed-diet in normal rats. Also the level of Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Phospholipid were measured. The results are summarized as follows : 1. After Boyanghwanoh-tang(補陽還五湯) was given to normal rats and SHR, the results showed that inhibitory effects on blood pressure were not significant but exitory effects on heart beat were significant. 2. In the model of hyperlipidemia Rats induced by 2% Cholesterol Fed-Diet, Boyanghwanoh-tang(補陽還五湯) had significantly decreasing effects on Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, Phospholipid level in serum but no significantly increasing effects on HDL-cholesterol level in serum. 3. In the model of hyperlipidemia Rats induced by Triton WR-1339, Boyanghwanoh-tang(補陽還五湯) had significantly decreasing effects on LDL-cholesterol, Phospholipid level in serum and significantly increasing effects on HDL-cholesterol level in serum but there were not significantly decreasing effects on Total cholesterol, Triglyceride. These results show that Boyanghwanoh-tang(補陽還五湯) has significantly inhibitory effects on hyperlipidemia and thal it could be clinically applied for hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.234-241
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• 2011

Mantidis Vagina Ovorum was formulated to contain various natural products known to cure erectile dysfunction. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Mantidis Vagina Ovorum on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, nitrite level, antioxidation and erectile responses in rat's corpus cavernosum penis. The crushed Mantidis Vagina Ovorum was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 16.6 g. Mantidis Vagina Ovorum extract oral-administered 75 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 30 days. First, samples were treated with Mantidis Vagina Ovorum, and then cimetidine-treated rats and L-N-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treated rats were put with the samples. The level of urethral lipid peroxide in the cimetidine-Mantidis Vagina Ovorum double administered rats was decreased as low as in the normal group, while the one in the cimetidine-treated group was increased. The urethral NOS activity, the level of urethral nitrite, the level of testosterone and the electile response to cavernous nerve stimulation in the cimetidine-Mantidis Vagina Ovorum double administered rats were increased as high as in the normal group while the one in the cimetidine-treated group was decreased. The electile response to cavernous nerve stimulation and the level of nitrite in L-NAME ($10^{-4}$)-treated rats was restored by the administration of Mantidis Vagina Ovorum as high as in the normal group. Mantidis Vagina Ovorum was effective in restoring the cimetidine-induced or L-NAME-induced erectile dysfunction in rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4369-4376
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• 2015

Background: To investigate in-vitro antagonistic effect of low-dose liquiritigenin on gemcitabine-induced capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma via inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signalling pathways. Materials and Methods: Human pancreatic adenocarcinoma Panc-1 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pre-treated using low-dose liquiritigenin for 24 h, then added into gemcitabine and incubated for 48 h. Cell viability, apoptosis rate and ROS levels of Panc-1 cells and HUVECs were respectively detected through methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and flow cytometry. For HUVECs, transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and transcellular and paracellular leak were measured using transwell assays, then poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and metal matrix proteinase-9 (MMP9) activity were assayed via kits, mRNA expressions of p53 and Rac-1 were determined through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR); The expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and PARP-1 were measured via western blotting. Results: Low-dose liquiritigenin exerted no effect on gemcitabine-induced changes of cell viability, apoptosis rate and ROS levels in Panc-1 cells, but for HUVECs, liquiritigenin ($3{\mu}M$) could remarkably elevate gemcitabine-induced decrease of cell viability, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), pro-MMP9 level and expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (p<0.01). Meanwhile, it could also significantly decrease gemcitabine-induced increase of transcellular and paracellular leak, ROS level, PARP-1 activity, Act-MMP9 level, mRNA expressions of p53 and Rac-1, expression of PARP-1 and apoptosis rate (p<0.01). Conclusions: Low-dose liquiritigenin exerts an antagonistic effect on gemcitabine-induced leak across HUVECs via inhibiting ROS-mediated signalling pathways, but without affecting gemcitabine-induced Panc-1 cell apoptosis. Therefore, low-dose liquiritigenin might be beneficial to prevent the occurrence of gemcitabine-induced CLS in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.179-204
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• 1998

The purpose of this research was to investigate the efficacy of Goiwhasan extract powder on the gastric injuries, antiulcer, gastrointestinal tract and blood hemostasis. Animals were used through this studies mice and rats. All animals were divided into 3 groups, contol group(no treatment), sample Ⅰ group(375mg/kg administration), sample Ⅱ group(750mg/kg administration). The gastric injuries and ulcer have been made by using pyloric ligation, indomethacin, HCI-ethanol, acetic acid and then The histological observation was followed. In the gastrointestinal tract, gastric juice secretion, gastric acidity, pepsin output, blood gastrin and secretin level, transport potentials in the small and large intestine were checked. And studies on blood hemostasis were performed on normal hemostatic activities and plasma prothrombin time, plasma recalcification time, plasma fibrinogen levels in the hypoprothrombinemic mice induced by warfarin. The results were as follows: 1. The antigastric ulcer effects on the pyloric ligation, indomethacin, HCl-ethanol, acetic acid induced gastric injuries were shown in Sample Ⅱ group(p<0.05). 2. Through the morphologic examination on the acetic acid induced ulcer, Sample Ⅰ group showed mild regeneration of epithelium and slight decrease of periulcer edema then that of Control group, while Sample Ⅱ group showed more retraction of round ulcer site, remarkable loss of swelling and edema then that of Control group, and revealing the regenerated epithelium in the surrounding ulcer site. Thus it was noted that both Sample groups have antigastriculcer effects on the experimentally induced gastric ulcer. 3. The inhibitory effects on gastric juice were noted in both Sample Ⅰ group(p<0.05) and Sample Ⅱ group(p<0.01). However, only Sample Ⅱ group showed the inhibitory effects on total acidity and pepsin output(p<0.05). 4. The significant inhibition of blood gastrin level showed at 30 min.(P<0.05) and 90 min.(P<0.05) after starting medication in only Sample Ⅱ group, but significance of blood secretin level in both groups was not recognized. 5. Any significant changes in barium sulfate transport in the small intestine of mice was not recognized in both groups, but the significantly inhibitory effect in large intestine was recognized in both Sample Ⅰ group(p<0.05) and Sample Ⅱ group(p<0.001). 6. In hemostatic effect on both normal mice and hypoprothrombinemic mice induced by warfarin, the significantly shortening effect on coagulation time was seen in only Sample Ⅱ group(p<0.01). 7. On plasma prothrombin time in hypoprothrombinemic rat induced by warfarin, Sample Ⅱ group have shortened the prothrombin time significantly(p<0.001). 8. On plasma reclcification time in hypoprothrombinemic rat induced by warfarin, the recalcification time have been shortened significantly in both Sample Ⅰ group(p<0.05) and Sample Ⅱ group(p<0.01). 9. On plasma fibrinogen levels in hypoprothrombinemic rat induced by warfarin, the fibrinogen contents in Sample Ⅱ have been decreased significantly(p<0.01). Overall the above results suggest that Goiwhasan has an therapeutic efficacy on antigastric ulcer and blood hemostasis. Further studies would be needed on the interaction of its herbal medicine and its mechanism in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1654-1663
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• 2014

To examine the effect of tumor suppressor protein p53 on the antitumor activity of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-$E_2$), 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cell cycle changes and apoptotic events were compared between the human colon carcinoma cell lines HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) and HCT116 ($p53^{-/-}$). When both cell types were exposed to 2-MeO-$E_2$, a reduction in the cell viability and an enhancement in the proportions of $G_2/M$ cells and apoptotic sub-$G_1$ cells commonly occurred dose-dependently. These 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cellular changes, except for $G_2/M$ arrest, appeared to be more apparent in the presence of p53. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis using anti-${\alpha}$-tubulin and anti-lamin B2 antibodies revealed that after 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, impaired mitotic spindle network and prometaphase arrest occurred similarly in both cell types. Following 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, only HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells exhibited an enhancement in the levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser-15), $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$, and Bax; however, the Bak level remained relatively constant in both cell types, and the Bcl-2 level decreased only in HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells. Additionally, mitochondrial apoptotic events, including the activation of Bak and Bax, loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of lamin A/C, were more dominantly induced in the presence of p53. The Bak-specific and Bax-specific siRNA approaches confirmed the necessity of both Bak and Bax activations for the 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These results show that among 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptotic events, including prometaphase arrest, up-regulation of Bax level, down-regulation of Bcl-2 level, activation of both Bak and Bax, and mitochondria-dependent caspase activation, the modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 levels is the target of the pro-apoptotic action of p53.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.197-201
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• 1988

Effects of high concentration of KC1 and caffeine on cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level $([Ca^{2+}]_{cyt})$, measured simultaneously with muscle tension using a fluorescent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ indicator fura 2, were examined in isolated smooth muscle of rat aorta. High $K^+$ (72.7 mM) solution induced sustained increase in both $([Ca^{2+}]_{cyt})$ and tension. In contrast to this, caffeine (20 mM) induced a rapid increase in $([Ca^{2+}]_{cyt})$ followed by a decrease to a level which was higher than the resting level. However, muscle tension showed only a transient increase followed by a decrease below the resting level. In a $Ca^{2+}-free$ solution, high $K^+-induced$ neither $([Ca^{2+}]_{cyt})$ nor tension, whereas caffeine induced a transient increase in both $([Ca^{2+}]_{cyt})$ and muscle tension. These results suggest that high $K^+-induced$ contraction in vascular smooth muscle of rat aorta is due to $Ca^{2+}$ influx whereas caffeine-induced contraction is due to $Ca^{2+}$ release from cellular store. Further, caffeine seems to have an additional effect to decrease the sensitivity of the contractile elements to $Ca^{2+}$.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.13-25
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate extract from mixed culture with Trichloloma matsutake mycelium in oriental medicine and cereal medium(OCM) to develop new material for pharmaceutical products and medicinal food for diabetes mellitus. To evaluate of hypoglycemic activity of OCM extracts, we examined the inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidasein OCM, blood glucose level and liver function of streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rat. Experimental group was divided into 6 groups: first, it was divided into normal control group(hereafter NC group) and diabetes-induced group, and diabetes-induced group was subdivided into diabetic control group(DC group), treated by hot water extracts group(HE), ultra sonic waves, micro waves, and micro bubble extracts g roup(UE), crude polysaccharide of HE group (HEE) and crude polysaccharide of UE group(UEE) at a dose of 300mg/kg/body weight, respectively. In diabetic-induced groups, after streptozotocin was melted in 0.01M citrate buffer at 50mg/kg/body weight, when the non-fasting blood glucose levelwas 300 mg/dl or more in blood collected from the tail vein, it was regarded as diabetic induction and then such diabetic-induced experimental animals were used in this experiment. At the end of the experiment, blood glucose level increased by 4.19% in DC group but significantly decreased by 32.34%, 19.19%, 17.81% and 17.64%, respectively in UEEE, UE, HE, and HEE groups. In the cases of AST, ALT, and ALP, the experiment group treated with extracts showed significantly lowerblood glucose level than DC group. The levels of BUN and uric acid were found to be lower in the UMPM extract group(UE) than HW extract group(HE), which implies that herb medicine medium extracts in which Tricholoma matsutake mycelia were cultured are effective in reducing impaired liver function as well as high blood glucose level caused by diabetes. In addition, the administration of low temperature UMPM extracts was found to produce better results than that of high temperature hot water extracts. In this regard, it is expected that extracts from herb medicine obtained by cultivating Tricholoma matsutake mycelia will be widely used as new ingredients for foods and medicines for prevention and treatment of diabetes.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.129-140
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• 2015

The statistical analysis of aviation turbulence occurred over South Korea and East Asia regions is performed, using pilot reports (PIREPs) during December 2002~November 2012 that were provided by the Korea Aviation Meteorological Agency (KAMA) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). In South Korea, the light (LGT)- and moderate or greater (MOG)-level turbulence events occurred most frequently in spring and winter due to strong vertical wind shear below or above jet stream in these seasons. Spatially, the LGT- and MOG-level events occurred mainly along domestic flight routes. The higher occurrences of the LGT- and MOG-level convectively induced turbulence (CIT) events show in spring and summer when convective systems frequently affect the Korean peninsula. The results are generally similar to a previous study on the aviation turbulence over South Korea during 2003~2008, except that MOG-level CIT events occurred more in February, June, and October. Over East Asia region, the LGT- and MOG-level events appeared mostly in summer and spring, respectively, and the highest occurrence is over the southeast region of Japan and Kamchatka peninsula near Russia.