• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT; serotonin) system has been implicated in the modulation of male sexual behaviors and the secretion of reproductive hormones. In human males, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are known to improve the major male sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation, through the central nervous system-mediated pathways. As numerous hormone and local factors, 5-HT may have peripheral role in the regulation of male sexual function. The expression of 5-HT receptor subtypes in the target tissue, however, has not been explored yet. The present study was undertaken to test whether the 5-HT receptor subtypes are expressed in the reproductive tissues of male rat, especially in ejaculatory machinery such as seminal vesicle and vas deferens. To do this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis were employed. The transcripts for the 1A, 1B and 2C subtypes of 5-HT receptor were amplified in all the tested tissues. The present study demonstrated the expression of 5-HT receptor in the rat ejaculatory machinery, suggesting that 5-HT may play a pivotal role in the male sexual function via not only central pathway but also peripheral route. Further study on the receptor subtype-specific effect and their harmonized mode of action will be needed to establish the understanding of ejaculation mechanism and drug design.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 1986

The characteristics of anion exchange with internal $HCO_3\;^{-}\;(or\;OH^-)$ was studied by determining the time course of hemolysis in isoosmotic ammonium salt solution in human erythrocytes. The effects of inhibitors, pH and temperature on the exchange between internal $HCO_3\;^-\;(or\;OH^-)$ and external $Cl^-$ were observed and the permeabilities of various organic and inorganic anions were also measured. The results were compared with data previously reported from the experiments using radioisotopes. The results are as follows; 1) SITS $H_2DIDS$ and furosemide inhibited the hemolysis of erythrocytes in isoosmotic $NH_4Cl$ solution in a dose·dependent manner, and the concentrations for lengthening twice the time for $half-hemloysis(t_{1/2})\;were\;2.3{\times}10^{-7},\;1.3{\times}10^{-7}\;and\;2.5{\times}10^{-5}M$, respectively. 2) Acetazolamide also shifted the time-dependent hemolytic curve to the right in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentrations for lengthening twice $t_{1/2}\;was\;2.4{\times}10^{-5}M$. 3) The time-dependent hemolysis was delayed by decreasing pH from 7.0 to 6.2, but w·as not affected by the change of pH in the range of 7.0 to 8.2. 4) The time for $half-hemloysis(t_{1/2})$ showed a temperature-dependency and Arrhenius plot exhibited a break point at $20^{\circ}C$. The apparent activation energy calculated from this plot was 18.1 kcal/mol between $2^{\circ}C-20^{\circ}C$ and 11.2 kcal/mol between $20^{\circ}C-37^{\circ}C$, respectively. 5) The apparent permeabilities of various inorganic anions based on $t_{1/2}$ were in the order of $Cl^->NO_{3}\;^->SCN^->SO_4\;^{2-}>SSO_3\;^{2-}>HPO_4\;^{2-}$. which was similar with the previous reports based on the experiment using radioisotopes. The results Obtained from this study are comparable with the previous data reported from the experiments using radioisotopes. This indicates that the hemolysis of erythrocytes in isoosmotic ammonium salt solution can be used as a simple and good method for the study of anion exchange in erythrocyte membrane.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.368-374
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• 2004

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female death. Viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are selectively retained and expressed in carcinoma cells infected with HPV (Human papillomavirus) type 16. The HPV is cooperated in immotalization and transformation of primary keratinocyte. E6 and E7 oncoproteins interfere the functions of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and retinoblasoma protein (pRb), respectively. Among a lots of natural products, Artemisia scoparia Waldstein et Kitamura has inhibitory effects on the binding between E6 oncoprotein and tumor suppressor p53, or the binding between E6 and E6 associated protein (E6AP), an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. HPV oncoprotein inhibitors from Artemisia scoparia W. were isolated by solvent partition and column chromatography (Silica gel, RP-18) and the inhibitory compounds were finally purified by HPLC using an ELISA screening system based on the binding between E6 and E6AP. The aim of this study is to identify the structure of inhibitory compounds and to investigate whether these compounds have inhibitory effects on the functions of E6 oncoprotein. We investigated whether 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (DCQA) extracted from Artemisia scoparia W. Could inhibit the function of E6 oncoprutein. DCQA inhibited the in vitro binding of E6 and E6AP which are essential for the binding and degradation of the tumor suppressor p53 and also inhibited the proliferation of human cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa and CaSKi) in a dose response manner. These results suggest that DCQA inhibited the function of E6 oncoprotein, suggesting that it can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of cervical cancers infected with HPV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.263-270
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• 2005

In recent years, a combination of two demographic phenomena, an increased number of older people in the population and an increase in the incidence of lung cancer with age, has made it mandatory to develop therapeutic modalities with less toxicity for the treatment of inoperable elderly patients with lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between COX-2 expression and cytotoxicity of Nimesulide, a specific COX-2 inhibitor. Material and Method: Immunohistochemical staining of COX-2 was performed. After exposure of Nimesulide, XTT analysis, FACS analysis and Hoechst staining were carried out. Result: COX-2 protein was expressed in non-treated A549 cells strongly, but not in H1299. Cytotoxicity of Nimesulide against A549 cell and H1299 cell were similar and $IC_{50}$ of Nimesulide in both cell lines were $70.9{\mu}M$ in A549 cell line and $56.5{\mu}M$ in H1299 cell line respectively. FACS analysis showed $G_0/G_1$ arrest in both cell lines and the S phase cell fraction was decreased. Morphologic assessment of apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining, many apoptotic cells were detected in both cell lines. Conclusion: Selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide, can inhibit the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro. Inhibitory effect of Nimesulide are induction of apoptosis and $G_0/G_1$ arrest. There is no correlation between COX-2 expression and cytotoxicity of Nimesulide, a specific COX-2 inhibitor. Therefore, highly selective COX-2 inhibitors such as Nimesulide can be expected to lead to even greater efficacy of their use as adjuncts to various anticancer angents and radiation therapy for the treatment of high-risk patients.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2011

This study was conducted to test the efficacy of plum (Prunus mume) and red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A Meyer) marc as stress inhibitors under heat stress and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in broilers by investigating their effects on blood biochemical parameters, immunoglobulin concentration and splenic cytokine mRNA expressions. A total of one hundred ninety-two 1-d-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided into 2 stress conditions (heat and LPS) experiments. Each experiment was divided into 4 treatment groups with 8 replicates of 3 birds in each group. NC (negative control, no immune substances), PC (positive control, 25 ppm ${\beta}$-glucan), PM (1% plum marc) and RGM (3% red ginseng marc) treatments were administered with respective substance through water supplementation. During heat stress, The Ca/Mg ratio in PM and RGM was significantly decreased in comparison with that of NC (P<0.05). The immunoglobulin M was significantly lower in PM than in NC (P<0.05). Expression patterns of splenic cytokine mRNAs (IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6) were similar over the treatment. Expression rates of IL-1 and IL-2 in PM were significantly decreased in comparison with NC. Also, expression rates of IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly lower in RGM than in NC (P<0.05). In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of plum and red ginseng marc improved coping ability to heat stress by preventing Ca/Mg ratio increment and by inhibiting inflammatory response in broiler chicks. However, it is necessary to determine optimal dietary level of red ginseng marc for improving growth performances in broiler chickens. These results suggest the possibility that plum and red ginseng marc could be used as the stress inhibitor under heat stress and inflammatory response in broiler chicks.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2016

Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels are the targets of physiological stimuli, such as intracellular pH, bioactive lipids, and neurotransmitters, and they set the resting membrane potential. Some types of K2P channels play a critical role in both apoptosis and tumoriogenesis. Among the K2P channels, no antagonists of the TREK2 channel have been reported. The aim of the present study was to determine if the TREK2 channel is blocked and whether cell proliferation is influenced by flavonoids in the TREK2 overexpressing HEK293 cells (HEKT2). The electrophysiological current was recorded using single channel patch clamp techniques and cell proliferation was measured using a XTT assay. The electrophysiological results showed that the TREK2 channel activity was reduced to $91.5{\pm}13.1%$ (n=5) and $82.2{\pm}13.7%$ (n=5) by flavonoids, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and quercetin in HEKT2 cells, respectively. In contrast, the EGCG analogue, epicatechin (EC), had no significant inhibitory effects on the TREK2 single channel activity. In addition, cell proliferation was reduced to $69.4{\pm}14.0%$ (n=4) by ECGG in the HEKT2 cells. From these results, EGCG and quercetin represent the first known TREK2 channel inhibitors and only EGCG reduced HEKT2 cell proliferation. This suggests that the flavonoids may work primarily by inhibiting the TREK2 channel, leading to a change in the resting membrane potential, and triggering the initiation of a change in intracellular signaling for cell proliferation. TREK2 channel may, at least in part, contribute to cell proliferation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2003

The Theory for Monarch, Minister, Adjuvant and Dispatcher (or the Theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding Korean Oriental Herbal Medicines) has served as a standard principle for newly developed prescription formulas as well as established ones. Despite its significance, however, this theory hasn't been thoroughly studied and covered in the academic journals of Korean Oriental Herbal Medicines (KOHM) yet. This paper inquires into the origin of the theory while presenting the definitions and functions of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM. In the end, the recommended doses and number of the KOHM comprising each of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM are suggested. The compatibility theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM can be traced back to the Warring States Period during which it was recorded in the treatise of the various schools of thoughts and their exponents. The theory was firmly established as a full system in ${\ulcorner}Shinnong's\;Pharmacopoeia{\lrcorner}\;and\;{\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$. While ${\ulcorner}Shinnong's\;Pharmacopoeia{\lrcorner}$ focuses on the classification of the properties of KOHM, ${\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$ mainly deals with the principles for writing prescriptions. In this regard, it is ${\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$ that systemized the Theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM in a real sense. Principal KOHM aims at the causes of diseases and treat main symptoms. The doses are greater than Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM. With their comprehensive effects, Principal KOHM is a leading ingredient of any prescription formula. Assistant KOHM are similar to Principal KOHM in its natures and flavors. Although its natures, flavors as well as efficacies may slightly differ from those of Principal KOHM, Assistant KOHM strengthens the therapeutic effects, jointly working with Principal KOHM. They mainly treat accompanying diseases and symptoms. Adjuvant KOHM is divided into two types: facilitator and inhibitor. Facilitators with the similar properties to those of Principal and Assistant KOHM help strengthen the therapeutic effects. Since they usually treat accompanying symptoms or secondary accompanying symptoms (minor accompanying symptoms), there are two kinds of facilitators. (1) The first kind of facilitators assists Principal KOHM, targeting accompanying symptoms. (2) The second ones supporting Assistant KOHM are for accompanying or secondary accompanying symptoms (or minor accompanying symptoms). Inhibitors counteract and thereby complement Principal and Assistant KOHM. Some of them inhibit the side effects or toxicity of Principal KOHM for the sake of the safety of the whole prescription formula while the others generate induced interactions. Guiding KOHM can be used for two purposes: guiding and mediating. The Guiding KOHM for the former purpose leads the other KOHM in a prescription formula to the lesion. But, the Guiding KOHM for mediating coodinate and harmonize all the ingredients in a prescription formula. The number of KOHM for those Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM and their doses are different, depending on the types of prescriptions: classical prescriptions, prescriptions after ${\ulcorner}$Treatise of Cold-Induced Diseases${\lrcorner}$ and prescriptions of Sasang Constitutions Medicines. In the case of the prescriptions after ${\ulcorner}$Treatise of Cold-Induced Diseases${\lrcorner}$, it is highly recommended to follow the view of ${\ulcorner}$Thesaurus of Korean Oriental Medicine Doctors in Chosun Dynasty${\lrcorner}$ for the number of KOHM to be used. For the doses, however, ${\ulcorner}$Elementary Course for Medicine${\lrcorner}$, is found to be more accurate. The most appropriate number of KOHM per prescription is 11-13. To be more specific, for one prescription formula, it is recommended to administer one kind of KOHM for Principal KOHM, 2-3 for Assistant KOHM, 3-4 for Adjuvant KOHM and 5 for Guiding KOHM. As for the proportion of the doses, when 10 units are to be administered for Principal KOHM in a formula, the doses for the other three should be 7-8 units for Assistant KOHM, 5-6 for Adjuvant KOHM and 3-4 for Guiding KOHM. The doses of the KOHM added to or taken out of the prescription correspond to those of Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2006

Purpose : In Korea, the school urine screening program is a useful tool for screening urine abnormalities. It is particularly useful in early detection of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(MPGN) I, which frequently progresses to chronic renal failure. In this study, we studied the medical history, laboratory findings, and histologic findings of MPGN to gain helpful information on early detection and treatment. Methods : The subjects were 19 children, who were diagnosed with MPGN from kidney biopsies that were performed in ten nationwide university hospitals because of abnormal urine findings from school urine screening programs conducted from July 1999 to April 2004. We divided the patients into 2 groups, a nephrotic range proteinuria group(n=8) and a non-nephrotic proteinuria group(n=11), and retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, laboratory findings, histologic findings, treatment, and clinical course. Results : The mean age at the first abnormal urinalysis was $10.6{\pm}2.2$ years in the nephrotic proteinuria group and $9.6{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group. The mean age at the time of kidney biopsy was $11.3{\pm}2.3$ years in the nephrotic range proteinuria group and $10.4{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean age and sex between the two groups. In the nephrotic proteinuria group, 6 children had a low plasma C3 level and in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group, 8 children had a low plasma C3 level, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the laboratory test results(including WBC count, RBC count, platelet count and other serologic tests) between the 2 groups except for 24 hour urine protein secretion. There was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to the acute and chronic changes in the glomerulus on light microscopic findings, IgG, IgA, Ig M, C1q, C3, C4, fibrogen deposition on immunofluoroscence findings, and mesangial deposits, subendothelial deposits, and subepithelial deposits on electron microscopic findings. The children were treated with corticosteroids, ACE(angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, dipyridamole and other immunosuppressive agents. During the course of treatment, there were no children whose clinical condition worsened. Among 19 children, 3 children went into remission(2 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 1 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) and 9 children went into a partial remission(4 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 5 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) on urinalysis. There was no significant difference in the treatment results between the two groups. Conclusion : The 73.7% of children who were incidentally diagnosed with MPGN by the school urine screening program had reduced C3. 42.1% of the children had nephrotic range proteinuria. There were no significant differences in clinical features, laboratory test results, light microscopic, immunofluorescence microscopic, and electron microscopic findings between the nephrotic proteinuria group and the non-nephrotic proteinuria group except for the 24 hour urine protein secretion. Therefore, for early detection of MPGN during the school urine screening program, we strongly recommend a kidney biopsy if children have abnormal urine findings such as persistent proteinuria and persistent hematuria, or if the serum C3 is reduced.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1990

We established an in vitro system of central serotonergic neurons by culturing dissociated rat embryonic (El4) brainstem cells to 14 days in vitro and monitored the serotonergic neuronal growth by measuring 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contents in the cells with hish performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). We studied also tile effects of various drugs on the contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, confirming in vivo reports. The 5-HT content (13 ng/mg protein) and 5-HT turnover rate (17 pmol/mg protein/h) at 14 days in vitro were in good agreement with those reported in the adult rat brain. The 5-HT content was more easily depleted with p-chlorophenylalanine, a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor than with NSD 1015 (3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine), an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) inhibitor. Incubation of the cultures with tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan increased the rate of serotonin formation implying that neither tryptophan hydroxylase nor AADC is saturated with its amino acid substrate in this in vitro system . The 5-HT content was depleted by reserpine. The 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents were increased and decreased, respectively, by monoamine oxidase inhibitors. All the above results indicate that the biochemical properties of the central serotonergic neurons in this culture system reflect reliably those of central serotonergic neurons in vivo. We suggest that measuring 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents in the primary cultured dissociated brainstem-cells with HPLC-EC is useful in the study of pharmacology as well as toxicolgy of the central serotonergic neurons.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.529-536
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• 2011

In this study, we confirmed that the SWRO(Sea Water Reverse Osmosis) production water has more hard corrosiveness than the tap water by fundamental experiment. According to the result, the target of this study was aimed at developing maintenance and anti-corrosion method. In the early stages of the research, batch tests using mild steel coupons and electrochemical experiments were applied to compare the corrosiveness between SWRO production water and the tap water. After then, two corrosion control methods for SWRO production water were applied. Liquid lime($Ca(OH)_2$) and Carbon Dioxide($CO_2$) were inserted and compared with the combination of liquid lime with phosphate corrosion inhibitor and carbon dioxide. The water qualities were evaluated through LSI(Langelier Saturation Index) and proper injection ratio was deduced by the result. Since then, simulated loop system test were performed to evaluate anti-corrosion effect depending on corrosion inhibitors. Subsequently, carbon steel pipes equipped at the loop system were detached for SEM, EDX and XRD analysis to acquire quantitative and qualitative data of the major corrosion products inside the pipes. In conclusion, the controled groups with anti-corrosion techniques applied were effective by appearing 97.4% and 90.9% of improvements in both case of liquid lime and the liquid lime with a phosphate corrosion Inhibitor. furthermore, major components of scale were iron oxides, on the other hand, protective effect of film formation by calcium carbonate($CaCO_3$) could be confirmed.