• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.108-120
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• 1999

In this study, body weight levels of glucose, insulin and triglyceride in blood and glucosidase activity of the small intestine were investigated to determine the effect of Sangbaegpitang and Supungsungiwhan on the glucose metabolism of db/db mice. The GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissue and the Acetyl CoA Carboxylase and the activation rate of GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissue were measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method and by the vitro transcription. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In the Sangbaegpitang administration group, (1) The level of triglyceride was decreased significantly and the glucosidase activity of the small intestine was inhibited remarkably, (2) The amounts of the GLUT4 mRNA in muscle tissue and Acetyl CoA Carboxylase mRNA in liver tissue were increased significantly. (3) Though glucose level in both fasting and non-fasting, were decreased and the insulin level in blood was increased, the results showed no statistical significance. 2. In the Supungsungiwhan administration group, (1) The levels of glucose and triglyceride were decreased significantly in the blood of non-fasting animals. (2) The glucosidase activity of small intestine was inhibited markedly and the amounts of GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissue and GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissue were increased significantly. (3) The glucose levels in the fasting group were reduced, while insulin level was increased but showed no statistical significance, Based on the above results, our conclusions are as follows: Sangbaegpitang & Supungsungiwhan are thought to be capable of inhibiting the activity glucosidase, the enzyme which influences carbohydrate metabolism in the small intestine of db/db mice(the experimental diabetic model) and delaying the absorption of carbohydrate, thus proving effective on inhibiting the increase of non-fasting glucose level effectively. Futhermore Sangbaegpitang and Supungsungiwhan are though: to be capable of preventing the composition of free fatty acids by restoring the production of GLUT4 mRNA of muscle tissues and GLUT2 mRNA of liver tissues. Those results suggests that above prescriptions can be applied to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in order to improve insulin resistance.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the synergistic protective effects of medicinal herbal mixture (HME) including Mori Ramulus (MR), Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC), Eucommiae Cortex (EC), and Black soybean (BS) in C2C12 cells, mouse myoblasts. Methods : Effects of HME on cell viability of C2C12 myoblasts were monitored by MTT assay. Anti-atrophic activity of HME was determined in myoblasts and myotubes under oxidative stress by H₂O₂. C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes in a medium containing 2% horse serum for 6 days. After that, we measured that expression of MyoD and myogenine, the myogenic regulatory factors, to identify the mechanism of inhibiting muscle atophy after HME treatment. In addition, suppression of phosphorylation of Akt, FoxO3a and MARF-1, transcription factors of degradation proteins were analyzed via western blotting. Results : As a result of MTT, HME there was no show cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The cytoprotective effects on oxidative stressed myoblast and myotube was better in HME extract than those of MR, AC, EU, and BS, respectively. HME treatment in Myotube induced by oxidative stress after H₂O₂ treatment increased Myo D, Myogenine activation, and Akt, FoxO3a phosphorylation and decreased expression of MuRF-1. As the results, HME has synergistic effects on protection against proteolysis of C2C12 myotubes through activation of the Akt signaling pathway under oxidative stress. Conclusions : These results suggest that HME may also be useful as a preventing and treating material for skeletal muscle atrophy caused by age-related diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.435-441
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• 2020

Background: As a process of aging, skeletal muscle mass and function gradually decrease. It is reported that ginsenoside Rb1 and Rb2 play a role as AMP-activated protein kinase activator, resulting in regulating glucose homeostasis, and Rb1 reduces oxidative stress in aged skeletal muscles through activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/Nrf2 pathway. We examined the effects of Rb1 and Rb2 on differentiation of the muscle stem cells and myotube formation. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts treated with Rb1 and/or Rb2 were differentiated and induced to myotube formation, followed by immunoblotting for myogenic marker proteins, such as myosin heavy chain, MyoD, and myogenin, or immunostaining for myosin heavy chain or immunoprecipitation analysis for heterodimerization of MyoD/E-proteins. Results: Rb1 and Rb2 enhanced myoblast differentiation through accelerating MyoD/E-protein heterodimerization and increased myotube hypertrophy, accompanied by activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. In addition, Rb1 and Rb2 induced the MyoD-mediated transdifferentiation of the rhabdomyosarcoma cells into myoblasts. Furthermore, co-treatment with Rb1 and Rb2 had synergistically enhanced myoblast differentiation through Akt activation. Conclusion: Rb1 and Rb2 upregulate myotube growth and myogenic differentiation through activating Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and inducing myogenic conversion of fibroblasts. Thus, our first finding indicates that Rb1 and Rb2 have strong potential as a helpful remedy to prevent and treat muscle atrophy, such as age-related muscular dystrophy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.147-164
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• 2009

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Sopungsungi-won(Shu!engshunqiyuan) (SSEx1, SSEx2) to treat the metabolic syndrome by the molecular mechanism of regulation of PPAR and modulation of mitochondrial MCAD, VLCAD mRNA expression. Methods : Mouse NMu2Li liver cells and C2C12 skeletal muscle myogenic progenital cells were transiently transfected with expression plasmids for PPAR(PPAR${\alpha}$, PPAR${\delta}$), a luciferase reporter gene construct containing 3 copies of the PPRE from the rat acyl-CoA oxidase gene and ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene. Cells were treated with several concentrated kinds of SSEx1, SSEx2 at the initial time of culture and analyzed PPAR${\alpha}$, PPAR${\delta}$ reporter gene activity using spectrophotometer (405 nm). Total RNA was extracted from SSEx1, SSEx2 and measured mRNA levels of mitochondrial MCAD, VLCAD. Representative RT-PCR bands are shown. Results : 1. SSEx1 increased the expression of PPAR${\alpha}$ reporter gene activities at 0.1 ${\mu}$g/ml (p${\mu}$g/ml (p<0.05), SSEx2 at 0.1 ${\mu}$g/ml (p${\mu}$g/ml (p<0.05) significantly in NMu2Li liver cell lines. 2. SSEx1 increased the expression of PPAR${\alpha}$ reporter gene activities at 1 ${\mu}$g/ml (p${\mu}$g/ml (p${\alpha}$ reporter gene activities in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. 4. SSEx1 increased the modulation of mitochondrial MCAD mRNA expression (p<0.05) significantly in NMu2Li liver cell lines. 5. SSEx1, SSEx2 both increased the modulation of mitochondrial MCAD mRNA expression (p<0.05) significantly in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Conclusions : These results show the SSEx1, SSEx2 can be used as therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome and it's molecular mechanisms of PPAR more contribute to the activation of PPAR${\alpha}$ then PPAR${\delta}$ reporter gene activities and it's total RNA more contribute to the modulation of mitochondrial MCAD then VLCAD mRNA expression.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.323-333
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of gait patterns and muscle activations with increased loads during stair walking. Also, it can be used as descriptive data about continuous stair walking in a real life setting. Method : Twelve sedentary young male adults(Age: $27.0{\pm}1.8yrs$, Weight: $65.8{\pm}9.9kg$) without any lower extremity injuries participated in this study. Participants performed stair walking up 7 floors and their ascending and descending motion on each floor was analyzed. A wireless electromyography(EMG) were attached on the Rectus Femoris(RF), Biceps Femoris(BF), Gastrocnemius(GN), Tibialis Anterior(TA) muscle to calculate integrated EMG(iEMG), median frequency(MDF) and co-contraction index(CI). Chest and left heel accelerometer signal were recorded by wireless accelerometer and those were used to calculate approximate entropy(ApEn) for analyzing gait pattern. All analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 and for repeated measured ANOVA and Post-hoc was LSD. Results : During ascending stairs, there were a statistically significant difference in Walking time between 1-2nd and other floors(p=.000), GN iEMG between 2-3th and 6-7th(p=.043) floor, TA MDF between 1-2nd and 5-6th(p=.030), 6-7th(p=.015) floor and TA/GN CI between 2-3th and 6-7th(p=.038) floor and ApEn between 1-2nd and 6-7th(x: p=.003, y: p=.005, z: p=.006) floor. During descending stairs, there were a statistically significant difference in TA iEMG between the 6-5th and 3-2nd(p=.026) floor, and for the ApEn between the 1-2nd and 6-7th(x: p=.037, y: p=.000, z: p=.000) floor. Conclusion : Subjects showed more regular pattern and muscle activation response caused by regularity during ascending stairs. Regularity during the first part of stair-descending could be a sign of adaptation; however, complexity during the second part could be a strategy to decrease the impact.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2002

In this study, inorganic elemental distribution in Korean adult human tissue of liver, lung, muscle, kidney, rib and thyroid has been investigated. These tissues were collected from human's body within 48 hours after their death according to IAEA's recommended method, dried by freeze drying method and then pulverized. Neutron activation analysis was applied to these samples to determine the concentrations of 5 major elements of Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Cl and 12 trace elements of Mn, I, Sr, As, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Se, and Zn. To confirm accuracy of analytical result was performed using three kinds of standard reference materials and resulted that the relative error is within 10% for the most of elements and the Z-score indicating a performance of analysis is within 2. The elemental distribution shows that the major elements are distributed homogeneously with a specific concentration and that the trace elements shows a distribution of different concentration with kinds of tissue and their age. Particularly, iodine shows higher concentration with 1000 ${\mu}g/g$ in thyroid, and calcium and strontium show the concentration with 15.9% and 84.4 ${\mu}g/g$ in rib, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1982

Force development of smooth muscle cells is directly regulated by the concentration of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the sarcoplasmic concentration of calcium ion can be modulated by electrogenic Na-K pump. The role of Na-K pump on vascular tone was studied in isolated rabbit renal artery. Helical strips of arterial muscle were prepared from left renal arteries. All experiments were performed in $HCO_3^--buffered$ Tyrode solution which was aerated with $3%CO_2-97%\;O_2$ mixed gas and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. In some experiments, rabbit was injected intraperitoneally $18{\sim}24$ hours prior to the experiments, with a large dose(5 mg/kg body wt) of reserpine, in order to eliminate the catecholamines present in intrinsic adrenergic nerve terminate. Treatment used in this experiment that inhibits Na-K pump was the exposure of strips to K-free Tyrode solution. Contractile response to K free Tyrode solution developed slowly and the time required for maximum contracture was $20{\sim}30$ minutes. This K-free contracture was rapidly relaxed by the addition of potassium to the bathing solution. No K-free contracture occurred in a Ca-free Tyrode solution. But contraction developed rapidly when calcium ion was added to the bathing solution after 30 minute exposure of the strip to Ca-free Tyrode solution. This contracture was completely inhibited by Ca-antagonist, verapamil. The K-free contracture was abolished by ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ blocker, phentolamine, as well as by the catecholamine depletion from adrenergic nerve terminals. Even in reserpinized strip, the exogenous norepinephrine-induced contraction in K-free Tyrode solution was rapidly suppressed by the addition of potassium ion. The results of this experiment suggest that K free contracture develops by norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerve terminals, while the relaxation of K-free contracture is induced by the activation of electrogenic Na-K pump.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.252-260
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• 2019

Background: Increases in the average global temperature cause heat stress-induced disorders by disrupting homeostasis. Excessive heat stress triggers an imbalance in the immune system; thus protection against heat stress is important to maintain immune homeostasis. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) has been used as a herbal medicine and displays beneficial biological properties. Methods: We investigated the protective effects of Korean ginseng extracts (KGEs) against heat stress in a rat model. Following acclimatization for 1 week, rats were housed at room temperature for 2 weeks and then exposed to heat stress ($40^{\circ}C$/2 h/day) for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with three KGEs from the beginning of the second week to the end of the experiment. Results: Heat stress dramatically increased secretion of inflammatory factors, and this was significantly reduced in the KGE-treated groups. Levels of inflammatory factors such as heat shock protein 70, interleukin 6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were increased in the spleen and muscle upon heat stress. KGEs inhibited these increases by down-regulating heat shock protein 70 and the associated nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Consequently, KGEs suppressed activation of T-cells and B-cells. Conclusion: KGEs suppress the immune response upon heat stress and decrease the production of inflammatory cytokines in muscle and spleen. We suggest that KGEs protect against heat stress by inhibiting inflammation and maintaining immune homeostasis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.921-929
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• 2011

Stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling followed by increase of glucose uptake in L6 myotubes were studied with organic solvent extract of Malva verticillata (MV) seeds. Ethanol extract of M. verticillata seeds (MVE) significantly increased the phosphorylation level of AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and glucose uptake in L6 myotube cells. The MVE was fractionated with n-hexane (MVE-H), chloroform (MVE-C), ethylacetate (MVE-E), n-butanol (MVE-B), and water (MVE-W). MVE-H (150 ${\mu}g$/ml) showed the highest phosphorylating activity and increased glucose uptake by 2.3-fold. Oral administration of MVE-H (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks to type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice reduced non-fasting and fasting blood glucose levels by 17.1% and 23.3%, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC in the soleus muscle and liver tissue of db/db mice were significantly increased by the administration of MVE-H. MVE-H was further fractionated using preparative HPLC to identify the AMPK-activating compounds. The NMR and GC-MS analyses revealed that ${\beta}$-sitosterol was a major effective compound in MVE-H. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC, and glucose uptake were significantly increased by the treatment of MVE-S (${\beta}$-sitosterol) isolated from M. verticillata to L6 cells, and these effects were attenuated by an AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) pretreatment. These results, taken together, demonstrate that increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by MVE-H treatment is mainly accomplished through the activation of AMPK. Our finding suggests that the extract isolated from M. verticillata seed would be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic disease including type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2024

We investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (BMSC-CM) on immortalized renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTEC/TERT1) in a fibrotic environment. To replicate the increased stiffness characteristic of kidneys in chronic kidney disease, we utilized polyacrylamide gel platforms. A stiff matrix was shown to increase α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels, indicating fibrogenic activation in RPTEC/TERT1 cells. Interestingly, treatment with BMSC-CM resulted in significant reductions in the levels of fibrotic markers (α-SMA and vimentin) and increases in the levels of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and aquaporin 7, particularly under stiff conditions. Furthermore, BMSC-CM modified microRNA (miRNA) expression and reduced oxidative stress levels in these cells. Our findings suggest that BMSC-CM can modulate cellular morphology, miRNA expression, and oxidative stress in RPTEC/TERT1 cells, highlighting its therapeutic potential in fibrotic kidney disease.